Nathan E. Kendall Explained

Nathan Edward Kendall
Order1:23rd
Office1:Governor of Iowa
Lieutenant1:John Hammill
Term Start1:January 13, 1921
Term End1:January 15, 1925
Predecessor1:William L. Harding
Successor1:John Hammill
State2:Iowa
District2:6th
Term Start2:March 4, 1909
Term End2:March 3, 1913
Predecessor2:Daniel W. Hamilton
Successor2:Sanford Kirkpatrick
Office3:Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
Term3:1899–1909
Birth Date:17 March 1868
Birth Place:Greenville, Iowa, U.S.
Death Place:Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Party:Republican

Nathan Edward Kendall (March 17, 1868 – November 5, 1936) was an American Republican politician. Kendall was a two-term U.S. Representative from Iowa's 6th congressional district and the 23rd Governor of Iowa.

Background

Born on a farm near Greenville, Iowa, Kendall attended the rural schools until the eighth grade.[1] After moving to Albia, Iowa, he began reading law at age fifteen, and was admitted to the bar in 1889.[1] He commenced practice in Albia in 1889. He was Albia city attorney from 1890 to 1892, then Monroe County Attorney from 1893 to 1897. In 1899, he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives, where he served for ten years and ultimately became Speaker of the House during his last term.

Congress

In 1908, Kendall ran as a Republican for the U.S. House seat for Iowa's 6th congressional district, then held by incumbent one-term Democrat Daniel W. Hamilton. Defeating Hamilton in a close race, Kendall served in the Sixty-first Congress, then was re-elected in 1910, serving in the Sixty-second Congress. He won the Republican primary in June 1912 over two challengers,[2] but pulled out of the race in August, citing health concerns.[3] In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1909 to March 3, 1913. After returning from Washington, he resumed the practice of law in Albia.

Governorship

In 1920, Kendall was elected Governor of Iowa, defeating Democrat and future Governor Clyde L. Herring. He served two terms, from 1921 to 1925. He resided in Des Moines, Iowa, until his death on November 5, 1936. His remains were cremated and the ashes interred on the lawn of "Kendall Place," his former home in Albia.[4]

References

Notes and References

  1. Michael Kramme, "Governors of Iowa," 63-64 (The Iowan Books: 2006)
  2. Congressmen All Are Re-nominated," Cedar Rapids Republican, June 5, 1912 at p. 3.
  3. "Kendall Decides to Quit Congress," Oelwein Daily Register, August 7, 1912 at p. 4.
  4. Web site: Noble-Kendall House. National Park Service. February 27, 2016. James E. Jacobsen.