Luren Dickinson
Encyclopedia
Luren Dudley Dickinson (April 15, 1859 – April 22, 1943) was an American politician. He served as the 37th Governor
of Michigan
from 1939 to 1940. He holds the record of the oldest person to ever serve as Michigan governor, at the age of 79, as well as the only Michigan governor to enter office upon the death of an incumbent.
but as an infant his family moved to Michigan. In Michigan his family purchased land and undertook farming. As a boy Dickinson spent most of his time working on the family farm but by studying often at home he was able to complete high school and at the age of eighteen qualified to be a teacher. He was impressive as a teacher and thus moved up quickly becoming first principal and then superintendent
of schools at the age of 21. In 1888, he married Zora Della Cooley and they had one child.
and served from 1897 to 1898 and 1905 to 1908. He was the elected to the Michigan Senate
and served from 1909 to 1910.
He served only one term in the State Senate before being elected the 35th Lieutenant Governor
in 1914 & later re-elected Lieutenant Governor. He would spend most of the rest of his political career in this office being elected to it seven times and was defeated three times (1924, 1932, and 1936). He was also an unsuccessful candidate in the Republican primaries for Governor of Michigan in 1920 against Alex Groesbeck
who was successful in the general election. He served with five Governors as Lieutenant;
Woodbridge Nathan Ferris
, 1915–17; Albert Sleeper
1917–21; Fred Green
1927–29; Wilber Marion Brucker
1929–33, and Frank Fitzgerald
1939.
died suddenly in office and thus, a month short of Dickenson's 80th birthday, he became Governor of Michigan.
As governor he spent much of his time conducting state business at his farm near Charlotte, Michigan
rather than at the state capital in Lansing
. He was well known for his informal appearance and actions which included having his swearing in ceremony at his farm, dressing in modest clothing and continuing to undertake farm work during his term. During his twenty one and a half months in office, a law was passed which made it mandatory for public school teachers to take an oath of loyalty to the government. Also during his term, gambling and open bars were contested and the Michigan National Guard
was activated for service in World War II.
In 1940, he ran for re-election but his campaigning was hampered due to the illness and later death of his wife. He lost the election to Democrat
Murray Van Wagoner
.
. He died two years after leaving office at the age of eighty-four in Charlotte and is buried at the Maple Hill Cemetery of that town.
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
from 1939 to 1940. He holds the record of the oldest person to ever serve as Michigan governor, at the age of 79, as well as the only Michigan governor to enter office upon the death of an incumbent.
Early life
Dickinson was born in Niagara County, New YorkNiagara County, New York
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
but as an infant his family moved to Michigan. In Michigan his family purchased land and undertook farming. As a boy Dickinson spent most of his time working on the family farm but by studying often at home he was able to complete high school and at the age of eighteen qualified to be a teacher. He was impressive as a teacher and thus moved up quickly becoming first principal and then superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
of schools at the age of 21. In 1888, he married Zora Della Cooley and they had one child.
Politics
His involvement in community schools sparked his interest in local politics. He joined the Republican Party, was elected to the Michigan State House of RepresentativesMichigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
and served from 1897 to 1898 and 1905 to 1908. He was the elected to the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
and served from 1909 to 1910.
He served only one term in the State Senate before being elected the 35th Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
The Lieutenant Governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor, and one of four great offices of state...
in 1914 & later re-elected Lieutenant Governor. He would spend most of the rest of his political career in this office being elected to it seven times and was defeated three times (1924, 1932, and 1936). He was also an unsuccessful candidate in the Republican primaries for Governor of Michigan in 1920 against Alex Groesbeck
Alex Groesbeck
Alexander Joseph Groesbeck was an American politician who served as Attorney General and the 30th Governor of the State of Michigan.-Early life:...
who was successful in the general election. He served with five Governors as Lieutenant;
Woodbridge Nathan Ferris
Woodbridge Nathan Ferris
Woodbridge Nathan Ferris was an educator from New York, Illinois and Michigan, as well as Democratic statesman and the 28th Governor of Michigan .-Early life in New York, Michigan and Illinois:...
, 1915–17; Albert Sleeper
Albert Sleeper
Albert Edson Sleeper was an American politician and served as the 29th Governor of Michigan from 1917 to 1921.-Early life in Vermont and Michigan:...
1917–21; Fred Green
Fred Green
-Military service and legal work:Green served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War. He was a first lieutenant in the 31st Michigan Volunteer Infantry and later was promoted to battalion adjutant. After the war, he returned to Ypsilanti as the city attorney, as well as attorney for the...
1927–29; Wilber Marion Brucker
Wilber Marion Brucker
Wilber Marion Brucker was an American Republican politician. Born in Saginaw, Michigan, he served as the 32nd Governor of Michigan from 1931 to 1933 and as the United States Secretary of the Army between July 21, 1955 and January 19, 1961.-Early life:Brucker was born in Saginaw, Michigan, the son...
1929–33, and Frank Fitzgerald
Frank Fitzgerald
Frank Dwight Fitzgerald was an American politician. He was elected as the 34th and 36th Governor of Michigan and was the only Michigan governor to die in office.-Early life:...
1939.
Gubernatorial succession
In 1939 incumbent Governor Frank FitzgeraldFrank Fitzgerald
Frank Dwight Fitzgerald was an American politician. He was elected as the 34th and 36th Governor of Michigan and was the only Michigan governor to die in office.-Early life:...
died suddenly in office and thus, a month short of Dickenson's 80th birthday, he became Governor of Michigan.
As governor he spent much of his time conducting state business at his farm near Charlotte, Michigan
Charlotte, Michigan
Charlotte is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,074. It is the county seat of Eaton County....
rather than at the state capital in Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
. He was well known for his informal appearance and actions which included having his swearing in ceremony at his farm, dressing in modest clothing and continuing to undertake farm work during his term. During his twenty one and a half months in office, a law was passed which made it mandatory for public school teachers to take an oath of loyalty to the government. Also during his term, gambling and open bars were contested and the Michigan National Guard
Michigan National Guard
The Michigan National Guard consists of the Michigan Army National Guard and the Michigan Air National Guard.-Units:Michigan Army National Guard units include:* Joint Forces Headquarters, Lansing, MI* 177th Military Police Brigade, Taylor, MI...
was activated for service in World War II.
In 1940, he ran for re-election but his campaigning was hampered due to the illness and later death of his wife. He lost the election to Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Murray Van Wagoner
Murray Van Wagoner
Murray Delos Van Wagoner was an American politician. He served as the 38th Governor of Michigan from 1941 to 1942.-Early life:...
.
Death
Dickinson was a member of the Grange and Knights of PythiasKnights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been...
. He died two years after leaving office at the age of eighty-four in Charlotte and is buried at the Maple Hill Cemetery of that town.