Hjalmar Petersen, Governor

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Hjalmar Petersen

Birthdate:
Birthplace: Ryslinge, Gudme, Svendborg, Danmark (Denmark)
Death: March 29, 1968 (78)
Columbus MS, United States
Place of Burial: Bethlehem Luteran, United States
Immediate Family:

Son of Laurids Petersen and Ane Kirstine Hansine Hansen
Husband of Private and Medora Petersen
Father of Evelyn Kirkpatrick
Brother of Johanne Marie Strandvold; Preben Peder Thorvald Petersen; Vagn Aage Petersen; Rasmus Petersen and Svend Petersen

Managed by: Private User
Last Updated:

About Hjalmar Petersen, Governor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hjalmar_Petersen

Hjalmar Petersen (January 2, 1890 – March 29, 1968) was an American politician who served as the 23rd Governor of Minnesota.

Background

Hjalmar Petersen was born in Eskildstrup, Denmark. His career in journalism culminated in his purchase in 1914 of the Askov American in Askov, Minnesota, a weekly newspaper he owned for the rest of his life.

Political career

After serving as Askov's village clerk and mayor, Petersen won two terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives, where he sponsored the state income-tax law and urged that tax revenues be spent on public education. Before he ran for the Minnesota Legislature he had been a member of the Republican Party. By the time he ran for office he was a member of the Farmer-Labor Party. He served in the legislature from 1931 to 1934, representing the old House District 56.

Petersen was elected the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota in 1934 and served with Governor Floyd B. Olson. He was sworn in as governor two days after Olson died of cancer on August 22, 1936. He served the remainder of Olson's term but declined to run for governor himself in the November general election, opting instead to launch a successful bid for Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner, a position he then assumed after leaving the governship on January 4, 1937. He later ran for governor in 1940 and 1942, losing both times to Harold Stassen.

Personal life

After his term as governor, he served as the president of the American Publishing Company. He was married twice, first to Rigmor C. Wosgaard in 1914 and later to Medora Grandprey in 1934. He died in 1968 in Columbus, Ohio.

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Hjalmar Petersen, Governor's Timeline

1890
January 2, 1890
Ryslinge, Gudme, Svendborg, Danmark (Denmark)
February 22, 1890
Ryslinge, Gudme, Svendborg, Danmark (Denmark)
1968
March 29, 1968
Age 78
Columbus MS, United States
1968
Age 77
1968, Bethlehem Luteran, United States
????
United States