Louis Kossuth Church (December 11, 1846 – November 23, 1897) was an American politician who was a New York Supreme Court justice, a member of the New York Legislature, and the ninth and penultimate Governor of Dakota Territory, serving from 1887 to 1889.[1]
Louis K. Church was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 11, 1846.[2] He was educated at the Hudson River Institute at Claverack, New York. After studying law at the office of Judge N. B. Moore, Church was admitted to the bar. He practiced law with Judge Moore until eventually practicing by himself in 1874. Church was a member of the New York State Assembly (Queens Co., 1st D.) in 1883, 1884 and 1885.[3] Then, President Cleveland appointed Church as judge in the Third District of Dakota Territory, replacing Seward Smith, whose mental health had come into question.
Because of Church's good reputation as a judge, President Cleveland appointed Louis Church as Governor of Dakota Territory. A number of Democrats in Dakota Territory were disappointed in the appointment because they had expected the appointment of Dakota resident Frank M. Ziebach. Church became governor on February 21, 1887. He scrutinized every bill and restrained excessive spending with his veto power. He allowed the reform school to be established at Plankinton. Church opposed the division of Dakota Territory into two separate states. Governor Church and former Governors, Nehemiah G. Ordway and John L. Pennington, wanted Dakota to enter the Union as a single state.
In spite of his integrity, Church became very unpopular as governor because of his opposition to separate statehood. When Benjamin Harrison defeated Cleveland as president, Church became a lame duck who was generally ignored by the territorial legislature. On March 4, 1889, Harrison was inaugurated as president, and Church resigned as governor on March 9, 1889.
After leaving office, Louis Church returned to practicing law, first in Huron and then in Everett, Washington. He died after developing pneumonia during a trip to Juneau, Alaska on November 23, 1897.[2]
^ abJohnson, Rossiter; Brown, John Howard, eds. (1904). The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Vol. II. Boston: The Biographical Society. Retrieved March 1, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
^The Argus Almanac: A Political and Financial Annual, 1880, p. 100
External links
Louis K. Church's biography at the Historical Society of North Dakota website
louis, church, louis, kossuth, church, december, 1846, november, 1897, american, politician, york, supreme, court, justice, member, york, legislature, ninth, penultimate, governor, dakota, territory, serving, from, 1887, 1889, louis, churchgovernor, dakota, te. Louis Kossuth Church December 11 1846 November 23 1897 was an American politician who was a New York Supreme Court justice a member of the New York Legislature and the ninth and penultimate Governor of Dakota Territory serving from 1887 to 1889 1 Louis ChurchGovernor of the Dakota TerritoryIn office February 21 1887 March 9 1889Preceded byGilbert A PierceSucceeded byArthur C MellettePersonal detailsBornLouis Kossuth Church 1846 12 11 December 11 1846Brooklyn New York U S now New York City DiedNovember 23 1897 1897 11 23 aged 50 Juneau Alaska Territory U S Political partyDemocraticBiography EditLouis K Church was born in Brooklyn New York on December 11 1846 2 He was educated at the Hudson River Institute at Claverack New York After studying law at the office of Judge N B Moore Church was admitted to the bar He practiced law with Judge Moore until eventually practicing by himself in 1874 Church was a member of the New York State Assembly Queens Co 1st D in 1883 1884 and 1885 3 Then President Cleveland appointed Church as judge in the Third District of Dakota Territory replacing Seward Smith whose mental health had come into question Because of Church s good reputation as a judge President Cleveland appointed Louis Church as Governor of Dakota Territory A number of Democrats in Dakota Territory were disappointed in the appointment because they had expected the appointment of Dakota resident Frank M Ziebach Church became governor on February 21 1887 He scrutinized every bill and restrained excessive spending with his veto power He allowed the reform school to be established at Plankinton Church opposed the division of Dakota Territory into two separate states Governor Church and former Governors Nehemiah G Ordway and John L Pennington wanted Dakota to enter the Union as a single state In spite of his integrity Church became very unpopular as governor because of his opposition to separate statehood When Benjamin Harrison defeated Cleveland as president Church became a lame duck who was generally ignored by the territorial legislature On March 4 1889 Harrison was inaugurated as president and Church resigned as governor on March 9 1889 After leaving office Louis Church returned to practicing law first in Huron and then in Everett Washington He died after developing pneumonia during a trip to Juneau Alaska on November 23 1897 2 References Edit Louis Church a b Johnson Rossiter Brown John Howard eds 1904 The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans Vol II Boston The Biographical Society Retrieved March 1 2022 via Internet Archive The Argus Almanac A Political and Financial Annual 1880 p 100External links EditLouis K Church s biography at the Historical Society of North Dakota websitePolitical officesPreceded byGilbert A Pierce Governor of the Dakota Territory1887 1889 Succeeded byArthur C Mellette Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Louis K Church amp oldid 1125981583, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
