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Basford, Harry Elsworth

House 1949-62 (District 63)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Counties Served:  Becker

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 5/21/1908
Birth Place: Deer River, Minnesota
Birth County: Itasca
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 6/18/1974
Gender: Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Wolf Lake
Occupation (when first elected): Tool and Die Maker/Dairy Farmer, Breeder of Purebred Holstein Cattle/Former Worker; Ship Coalpasser and Fireman, Hospitals, Restaurants, Woods, Coal Mines, Harvest Fields, Factories, and Machine Shops

EDUCATION

Grade School; Elementary School;
High School; Secondary;
University of Minnesota; Attended College; 2 years
Vocational-Technical School; Vocational Training, 4 years
Night School; Postsecondary; 3 years

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Emma Miller (married on June 19, 1939)
Children:
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

"His main legislative interests were agriculture, conservation, Indian affairs, and economic development" (Harry E. Basford Papers, 1941-1973).

He died at home in Wolf Lake, Minnesota. He is buried in Balmi Cemetery in Becker County, Minnesota.

Total Days Served: 5117

SESSIONS SERVED

62nd Legislative Session (1961-1962)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 63
Elected: 11/8/1960
Residence: Wolf Lake
Term of Office: 1/3/1961 to 1/7/1963
Counties Represented: Becker
Occupation: Farm Owner
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Commercial Transportation and Communications
  • Forestry and Public Domain
  • Game and Fish (Chair)
  • Veterans and Military Affairs
  • Welfare

61st Legislative Session (1959-1960)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 63
Elected: 11/4/1958
Residence: Wolf Lake
Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/2/1961
Counties Represented: Becker
Occupation: Farm Owner/Treasurer, Wolf Lake Fire Department/Former Tool and Diemaker
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Drainage and Soil Conservation
  • Game and Fish (Chair)
  • Public Domain
  • State and County Fairs
  • Veterans and Military Affairs
  • Welfare

60th Legislative Session (1957-1958)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 63
Elected: 11/6/1956
Residence: Wolf Lake
Term of Office: 1/8/1957 to 1/5/1959
Counties Represented: Becker
Occupation: Farm Owner and Operator (Specializing in Sheep)/Treasurer, Wolf Lake Fire Department/Formerly Tool and Die Maker and Machine Shop Owner
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Compute Mileage Special
  • Game and Fish (Chair)
  • Public Domain
  • State and County Fairs
  • Veterans and Military Affairs
  • Welfare

59th Legislative Session (1955-1956)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 63
Elected: 11/2/1954
Residence: Wolf Lake
Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/7/1957
Counties Represented: Becker
Occupation: Tool and Die Maker
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Dairy Products and Livestock
  • Game and Fish (Chair)
  • Penal Institutions
  • State and County Fairs
  • Veterans and Military Affairs
  • Welfare

58th Legislative Session (1953-1954)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 63
Elected: 11/5/1952
Residence: Wolf Lake
Term of Office: 1/6/1953 to 1/3/1955
Counties Represented: Becker
Occupation: Tool and Die Maker
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Game and Fish
  • Markets and Marketing
  • Temperance and Liquor Control
  • Welfare

57th Legislative Session (1951-1952)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 63
Elected: 11/7/1950
Residence: Wolf Lake
Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/5/1953
Counties Represented: Becker
Occupation: Tool and Die Maker
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Elections
  • Game and Fish
  • Markets and Marketing
  • State and County Fairs

56th Legislative Session (1949-1950)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 63
Elected: 11/2/1948
Residence: Wolf Lake
Term of Office: 1/4/1949 to 1/1/1951
Counties Represented: Becker
Occupation: Tool and Die Maker/Dairy Farmer, Breeder of Purebred Holstein Cattle/Former Worker; Ship Coalpasser and Fireman, Hospitals, Restaurants, Woods, Coal Mines, Harvest Fields, Factories, and Machine Shops
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Elections
  • Game and Fish
  • Markets and Marketing
  • Taxes
Articles & Books About
"Harry Basford, Former Representative, Dies (Obituary)." Becker County Record, June 19, 1974.


Archive Collections
Harry E. Basford Papers, 1941-1973 - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.