H. C. Baldridge Explained

H. C. Baldridge
Order1:14th
Office1:Governor of Idaho
Term Start1:January 3, 1927
Term End1:January 5, 1931
Lieutenant1:O. E. Hailey
W. B. Kinne
O. E. Hailey
Predecessor1:Charles C. Moore
Successor1:C. Ben Ross
Order2:15th
Office2:Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
Term Start2:January 1, 1923
Term End2:January 3, 1927
Governor2:Charles C. Moore
Predecessor2:Charles C. Moore
Successor2:O. E. Hailey
Office3:Member of the Idaho House of Representatives
Term3:1911–1913
Office4:Member of the Idaho Senate
Term4:1913
Birth Name:Henry Clarence Baldridge
Birth Date:November 24, 1868
Birth Place:Carlock, Illinois
Death Place:Boise, Idaho[1]
Resting Place:Parma Cemetery, Parma, Idaho
Spouse:Cora A. McCreighton Baldridge
(1872 - 1941)
(m. 1893 - 1941, her death)
Children:1 son, 1 daughter
Profession:Education, Mercantile, Agribusiness, Banking
Party:Republican
Nationality:American
Alma Mater:Illinois Wesleyan University

H. Clarence Baldridge (November 24, 1868 – June 8, 1947) was an American politician. A Republican, he was the 14th governor of Idaho, serving from 1927 until 1931.[2]

Biography

Born in Carlock, Illinois, Baldridge was educated in public schools. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University and then taught school.[3] He married Cora A. McCreighton on February 1, 1893.[4] They had a son, M. Claire Baldridge, and a daughter, L. Gail Baldridge.[1]

Career

Baldridge relocated from Illinois to Southwestern Idaho in 1904 and settled in Parma, working in the mercantile trade. Later he dealt in implements and hardware and was president of the local bank.[1] Baldridge entered the Idaho Legislature in 1911 as a member of the Idaho House of Representatives. In 1913, he was elected to the Idaho Senate, where he served a single term. In 1922 he was elected the 15th lieutenant governor of Idaho. He was re-elected in 1924 and served in that capacity in the administration of Governor Charles C. Moore. Baldridge was elected governor in 1926 and re-elected in 1928. Although he warned against the expansion of public building programs, significant additions were made to the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. State highway building was financed by a state gasoline tax.

After leaving office on January 5, 1931, Baldridge returned to his various business interests. He ran for Congress in Idaho's 1st congressional district in 1942, but was defeated in the general election by five-term incumbent Compton I. White of Clark Fork. Baldridge was appointed Commissioner of Charitable Returns and served from 1943 to 1945.[3]

Death

After the death of his wife, Baldridge moved from Parma to Boise in 1942. He died in Boise on June 8, 1947, and is interred at Parma Cemetery in Parma.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: H.C. Baldridge, former Idaho governor, dead. Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. June 9, 1947. 1.
  2. News: Former Idaho governor expires . Spokane Daily Chronicle . Washington . Associated Press . June 9, 1947 . 2.
  3. Web site: H. C. Baldridge. National Governors Association. 22 September 2012.
  4. Web site: H. C. Baldridge. The Political Graveyard. 22 September 2012.