Sam V. Stewart

For the American boxer, see Samuel Stewart (disambiguation). For the New Zealand rugby league player, see Sam Stewart (rugby league).
Samuel V. Stewart
6th Governor of Montana
In office
January 6, 1913  January 2, 1921
Lieutenant W.W. McDowell
Preceded by Edwin L. Norris
Succeeded by Joseph M. Dixon[1]
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
In office
1930-1932
Personal details
Born August 2, 1872
Woodsfield, Ohio
Died September 15, 1939(1939-09-15) (aged 67)
Helena, Montana
Nationality American
Political party Democratic
Residence Helena, Montana
Alma mater University of Kansas
Occupation Lawyer
Religion Presbyterian

Samuel Vernon Stewart (August 2, 1872 – September 15, 1939) was a Democrat, an attorney, former Montana Supreme Court Justice and the sixth Governor of Montana.

Biography

Stewart was born in Monroe County, Ohio, attended Kansas State Normal School, and earned a law degree from the University of Kansas in 1898. He married Stella Baker and they had three daughters.

Career

Stewart practiced law in Virginia City, Montana, where he served as city attorney and county attorney for Madison County, Montana. He was chosen as chairman of the Montana Democratic Party in 1910, serving for two years. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1916, 1920, and 1924.[2]

Stewart was elected Governor of Montana in 1912 and was re-elected in 1916, serving two terms from 1913 to 1921. It was under his governing that Jeannette Rankin became the first female Congress member. During his tenure, a fish and game law was sanctioned, a council of defense was authorized, a state highway commission was organized, a sedition act was passed, World War I issues were dealt with, and two additional justices were added to the state supreme court.[3]

After leaving the office of Governor, Stewart returned to his law practice with the firm of John Griest Brown and served as city attorney of Helena.[4] He challenged incumbent United States Senator Burton K. Wheeler in the Democratic primary in 1928, but lost to Wheeler in a landslide. He was elected to one term in the Montana House of Representatives (1930–32). In 1932, Stewart was appointed to the Montana Supreme Court, where he served until his death in 1939. While serving on the Supreme Court, he ran for the United States Senate once again in 1936, this time challenging incumbent Senator James E. Murray in the Democratic primary. However, he trailed far behind Murray, who narrowly won renomination against Congressman Joseph P. Monaghan.

Death

Stewart died on September 15, 1939 and is interred at Forestvale Cemetery, Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Montana USA.[5]

References

  1. "Former State Governors". www.netstate.com. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  2. "Sam V. Stewart". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  3. "Sam V. Stewart". National Governors Association. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  4. "Sam V. Stewart". The Encyclopedia of Montana. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  5. "Sam V. Stewart". Find A Grave. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sam V. Stewart.


Political offices
Preceded by
Edwin L. Norris
Governor of Montana
1913-1921
Succeeded by
Joseph M. Dixon
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/19/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.