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    Basford, Harry Elsworth

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    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.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    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

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