Luren Dudley Dickinson (April 15, 1859 – April 22, 1943) was an American politician. He served as the 37th governor of Michigan from 1939 to 1941. He holds the record of the oldest person to ever serve as Michigan governor, beginning at the age of 79 and leaving office at the age of 81.
Dickinson was born in Niagara County, New York, son of Daniel Dickinson (1828-1903) and Hannah Elisabeth Dickinson (née Leavens; 1830–1916);[1] 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 by adoption - Rilla Ethel Patterson (née Dickinson), grandson Robert Patterson, and granddaughter Della Patterson, the latter would accompany the Governor while in office.
Politicsedit
Dickinson's involvement in community schools sparked his interest in local politics. He joined the Republican Party, was elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives and served from 1897 to 1898 and from 1905 to 1908. He was then elected to the Michigan Senate and served from 1909 to 1910.
After his one term in the State Senate, Dickinson was elected the 35th lieutenant governor of Michigan in 1914 and later re-elected to this office. He would spend most of the rest of his political career as lieutenant governor, being elected to the post seven times and defeated three times (1924, 1932, and 1936). He was also an unsuccessful candidate in the Republican primary for governor in 1920 against Alex Groesbeck, who was successful in the general election. Dickinson served as Lieutenant Governor under five governors: Woodbridge N. Ferris, 1915–17; Albert Sleeper, 1917–21; Fred W. Green, 1927–29; Wilber Marion Brucker, 1929–33; and Frank Fitzgerald, 1939.
Gubernatorial successionedit
In 1939, incumbent Governor Frank Fitzgerald 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 a full term but his campaigning was hampered due to the illness and later death of his wife. He lost the election to DemocratMurray Van Wagoner.
Deathedit
Dickinson was a member of the Grange and Knights of Pythias. 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.
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Luren Dudley Dickinson April 15 1859 April 22 1943 was an American politician He served as the 37th governor of Michigan from 1939 to 1941 He holds the record of the oldest person to ever serve as Michigan governor beginning at the age of 79 and leaving office at the age of 81 Luren Dickinson37th Governor of MichiganIn office March 16 1939 January 1 1941LieutenantMatilda Dodge WilsonPreceded byFrank FitzgeraldSucceeded byMurray Van Wagoner35th 38th and 42nd Lieutenant Governor of MichiganIn office January 1 1939 March 16 1939GovernorFrank FitzgeraldPreceded byLeo J NowickiSucceeded byMatilda Dodge WilsonIn office January 1 1927 January 1 1933GovernorFred W Green Wilber M BruckerPreceded byGeorge W WelshSucceeded byAllen E StebbinsIn office January 1 1915 January 1 1921GovernorWoodbridge N Ferris Albert SleeperPreceded byJohn Q RossSucceeded byThomas ReadMember of the Michigan Senate from the 15th districtIn office 1909 1910Preceded byKarl D KeyesSucceeded byColeman C VaughnMember of theMichigan House of RepresentativesIn office 1897 1898Preceded byGiles B AllenSucceeded byLyman H McCallConstituency2nd Eaton districtIn office 1905 1908Preceded byCornelius A HallenbeckSucceeded byWill E HaleConstituencyEaton CountyPersonal detailsBorn 1859 04 15 April 15 1859Niagara County New York U S DiedApril 22 1943 1943 04 22 aged 84 Charlotte Michigan U S Political partyRepublicanSpouseZora Della Cooley Contents 1 Early life 2 Politics 3 Gubernatorial succession 4 Death 5 ReferencesEarly life editDickinson was born in Niagara County New York son of Daniel Dickinson 1828 1903 and Hannah Elisabeth Dickinson nee Leavens 1830 1916 1 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 by adoption Rilla Ethel Patterson nee Dickinson grandson Robert Patterson and granddaughter Della Patterson the latter would accompany the Governor while in office Politics editDickinson s involvement in community schools sparked his interest in local politics He joined the Republican Party was elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives and served from 1897 to 1898 and from 1905 to 1908 He was then elected to the Michigan Senate and served from 1909 to 1910 After his one term in the State Senate Dickinson was elected the 35th lieutenant governor of Michigan in 1914 and later re elected to this office He would spend most of the rest of his political career as lieutenant governor being elected to the post seven times and defeated three times 1924 1932 and 1936 He was also an unsuccessful candidate in the Republican primary for governor in 1920 against Alex Groesbeck who was successful in the general election Dickinson served as Lieutenant Governor under five governors Woodbridge N Ferris 1915 17 Albert Sleeper 1917 21 Fred W Green 1927 29 Wilber Marion Brucker 1929 33 and Frank Fitzgerald 1939 Gubernatorial succession editIn 1939 incumbent Governor Frank Fitzgerald 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 a full term but his campaigning was hampered due to the illness and later death of his wife He lost the election to Democrat Murray Van Wagoner Death editDickinson was a member of the Grange and Knights of Pythias 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 References edit Individual Page National Governors Association The Political Graveyard Former Lt Governors of Michigan Biography of DickinsonParty political officesPreceded byFrank Fitzgerald Republican nominee for Governor of Michigan1940 Succeeded byHarry KellyPolitical officesPreceded byJohn Q Ross Lieutenant Governor of Michigan1915 1921 Succeeded byThomas ReadPreceded byGeorge W Welsh Lieutenant Governor of Michigan1927 1933 Succeeded byAllen E StebbinsPreceded byLeo J Nowicki Lieutenant Governor of Michigan1939 Succeeded byMatilda Dodge WilsonPreceded byFrank Fitzgerald Governor of Michigan1939 1941 Succeeded byMurray Van Wagoner Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Luren Dickinson amp oldid 1181978954, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
