The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-01-07

n1ent made py Secretary JULIUS
A. Schmahl, secretary of state,
when appraised this morning of
the death of the governor.
c. M. Andrist, the governors
private secretary, was overcome
| with emotion and burst into tears
as he communicated the sad news
to Governor Hammond's brother
at st. James.
c.. J. Swendsen, chairman Of
the state board of control, close
friend of the governor during the
past twenty years, was so shocked
by the sad news that he at once
left his office and went to his
home In Minneapolis.
The oath of office to the new
governor, j. A. A. Burnquist, was
administered by Justice C. L.
Bum of the state supreme court.
The last official act of the gov
ernor, before leaving for the
south last Saturday, was to issue
requisition on the state of Ok
lahoma, for the return of a man
who was wanted in Minnesota,
but had fled to that state.
Winfield S. Hammond was born il
scarborough, Worcester county
Massachusetts, November II, 1868
He attended the public school of his
native town, graduating from the
Peters high school in June, 1880
That year he entered Dartmouth col
lege, and graduated therefrom in
June, 1884 Shortly after graduation
he came to Minnesota, and for one
year was employed as principal OF
the high school at Mankato, and
thereafter for five years as superin
tendent of schools in Madelia. In
1891 he was admitted to the bar, and
began the practice of his profession
in Madelia. Mr.. Hammond moved to
ST., James, May, 1895, and has since
been engaged in the practice of law
there.
Long Official Career.
He served as county attorney OF
Watonwan county during the years
1895 and 1896, and again from the
year 1900 to the end Of 1904. In
1898 he was appointed by Governor
Lind member of the board of direct
ors for state normal schools of Min
nesota and re-appointed by Governor
Van SAINT, serving as a normal school
director for eight years He was
president of the board of education
of st. James for several years, and
for number of years has been one OF
the state managers of the Sons of the
Revolution. In 1892 he was the DEM
candidates IN, IL,
second Minnesota district, and was
in 1906, again a candidate for the
same position, to which he was
elected at the general election that
year, succeeding James T. McCleary
He was reelected 1908, 1910, 1912
Mr.. Hammond was elected governor
at the general election in November
1914
Mr.. Hammond was a Mason, q
Knight Templar, and a member OF
the Elks lodge in Mankato.
Mr.. Hammond was almost as we'll
known in Mankato as he was in st.
James. his home city He was a
familiar figure at not only court trials
but partic. pated in social and lodge
affairs here. Almost a year ago he
was the guest of h~nor at a banquet
rendered by the Eiks, and at that
time he delivered an address
Stood High wish Men.
Mr.. Hammond hal distinguished
bearing. He was a cour ly gentleman
dignified and possessed qualities
which gave him a h Oh standing
among the leading men OF the UniteI
States. He was a LAWYER of great
ability and had few equals as 6
platform orator At The democratic
national convention hell in Denver in
1908 Mr.. Hammer J. who was then
congressman made Tie speech nom
mating Governor john A. Johnson
for the presidency The speech at
tracted wide attention and was pro-
nounced among the best that were
made at that gathering.
It was with much reluctance tina,
Mr.. Hammond gave up his seat in
congress to enter the campaign a.
the democratic candidate for gov
ernor. The nomination for the latter
position was not of his own seek
ing He accepted the nomination be-
lieving that it was a duty he owed
his party.
The Campaign For Governor.
1t was only two weeks before the
gubernatorial election in this state
that he left his duties as congress
man at Washington, to take up The
task of conducting the last end of his
campaign for the governorship. He
resigned his position in congress On
January l, 1915, to enter upon the
duties of governor of Minnesota.
Governor Hammond was interested
in Louisiana lands. When he left last
Saturday, taking advantage of a lul
in the business at the state capitoi
and started on his journey to the
south, he was feeling decidedly in
disposed, suffering a great deal from
, indigestion.
The two other democratic COVER
nors that the state has had were
John Lind, elected in 1898, and Johr
A. Johnson, first elected in 1904.
c. M. Andrist, the governors
private secretary, on receiving the
news of the governors death, i'm.
mediately sent notice by wire to the
governors brother, Milton H. Ham.
mond, at st. James.
Last Visit to Mankato.
Governor Hammonds last visit to
this city was June 26. On the occasion