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    Petersen, Hjalmar

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1931-34 (District 56)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  Pine

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 1/2/1890
    Birth Place: Eskildstrup,
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: Denmark
    Date of Death: 3/29/1968
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Askov
    Occupation (when first elected): Founder and Editor, Askov American

    EDUCATION

    Secondary; His formal schooling ended at age 14

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Mayor: Askov, Minnesota (Village Mayor); 19?? to 19??
    Municipal Government: Askov, Minnesota (Village Clerk); 1918 to 19??
    State Lieutenant Governor: Minnesota; 01/08/1935 to 08/24/1936
    State Governor: Minnesota; 08/24/1936 to 01/04/1937 [Appointed]
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Railroad and Warehouse Commission; 01/05/1937 to 19?? [Elected]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Rigmor C. Wosgaard (married in 1914); Medora B. Grandprey Petersen (married on June 28, 1934; she died on April 7, 1997)
    Children:
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He became Governor of Minnesota when Floyd B. Olson died while in office.

    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.

    "As a state representative from Pine County from 1930-1934, he was a strong Farmer-Labor party member." (Anderson, Kendall. "Income Tax Sponsor Briefly Held State's Top Office." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 11, 1997, p. 15.)

    He came to the United States with his parents as a baby.

    He owned the Askov American newspaper.

    He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Minnesota Legislature in 1926 and 1928.

    He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Farmer-Labor Party primary endorsement for Governor of Minnesota in 1938. He lost as the Farmer-Labor Party candidate for Governor of Minnesota in 1940 and 1942. He was an usuccessful candidate for the Republican Party primary endorsement for Governor of Minnesota in 1946.

    He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsement to run for the United States Senate in 1958.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 1463

    SESSIONS SERVED

    48th Legislative Session (1933-1934)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 56
    Elected: 11/8/1932
    Residence: Askov
    Term of Office: 1/3/1933 to 1/7/1935
    Counties Represented: Pine
    Occupation: Founder and Editor, Askov American
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "As a state representative from Pine County from 1930-1934, he was a strong Farmer-Labor party member." (Anderson, Kendall. "Income Tax Sponsor Briefly Held State's Top Office." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 11, 1997, p. 15.)
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Education
    • Elections
    • Public Domain
    • Reapportionment
    • Taxes and Tax Laws (Chair)
    • Towns and Counties
    term photo
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    47th Legislative Session (1931-1932)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 56
    Elected: 11/4/1930
    Residence: Askov
    Term of Office: 1/6/1931 to 1/2/1933
    Counties Represented: Pine
    Occupation: Founder and Editor, Askov American
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "As a state representative from Pine County from 1930-1934, he was a strong Farmer-Labor party member." (Anderson, Kendall. "Income Tax Sponsor Briefly Held State's Top Office." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 11, 1997, p. 15.)
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Military Affairs
    • Printing and Publishing
    • Public Welfare and Social Legislation
    • Soldiers Home, State Bonus and Ex-Service Men
    • State Prison
    • Towns and Counties
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    Anderson, Kendall. "Income Tax Sponsor Briefly Held State's Top Office." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 11, 1997, p. 15, 23.

    Keillor, Steven J. "Hjalmar Petersen of Minnesota: The Politics of Provincial Independence" St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1987.

    Memorial Services. Minnesota Journal of the House, April 3, 1969, p. 1252-1253.

    Hjalmar Petersen. Biographical Information from the Minnesota Historical Society's Governors of Minnesota.



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