A. W. Norblad
Encyclopedia
Albin Walter Norblad, Sr., (March 19, 1881 – April 17, 1960) was a prominent citizen of Astoria, Oregon
, United States
, and the 19th Governor
of Oregon
from 1929 to 1931.
He was the father of Representative A. Walter Norblad
(Albin Walter Norblad, Jr.), Member of the United States House of Representatives
, from the 1st Congressional District of Oregon between 1946 to 1964.
, Sweden
in 1881 to parents Peter and Bessie Youngsberg. The family's last name was changed by the Swedish Government to avoid confusion in military records. The family emigrated to the United States while Albin was very young, settling in Grand Rapids, Michigan
. At age 12, Albin decided to support himself, mostly by means of odd jobs. He would later recount that the most notable jobs held during this time were newsboy, hot dog vendor, and clairinetist for the circus.
He managed to earn enough money to return to Grand Rapids, taking night classes at the Grand Rapids Business College
. After earning enough credits there, Norblad was able enroll at the University of Chicago Law School
, supporting himself as a reporter for the Chicago American newspaper's crime beat. Graduating in 1902, he quickly passed the bar exam and moved back to Michigan. Once in Michigan, he set up a law firm, and was elected District Attorney for Delta County
.
. He accepted, and moved with his wife in 1909. He began practicing law, and became involved in the community. His first government office in Oregon was as Astoria's city attorney from 1910-1915. He would also become a member of the local school board, and President of the Astoria Chamber of Commerce. Outside of politics, Norblad was involved in many fraternal and civic organizations.
With a prominent local political profile, Norblad went on to run for a seat in the Oregon State Senate
, in 1918. Reelected in 1926, he attempted an abortive run for Oregon's At-large U.S. House seat in 1922. He was elected President of the Oregon State Senate in 1927, placing him as second in the state's then-official line of gubernatorial succession.
on December 21, 1929 came as a shock to Oregonians. The governor had looked as he'd been recovering since contracting pneumonia
late in his third year in office. Thus Senate President Albin Norblad was sworn in promptly as governor. As soon as he was inaugurated, he declared his intent to run for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Taking office during the Great Depression
, Norblad's first attempts to improve conditions in the state were largely ineffective. Lacking a political identity statewide, and considered a Progressive by conservative elements in control of the state Republican party, Norblad was defeated in his primary bid in May 1930, coming in second place. When the winner of the primary unexpectantly died a month later, Norblad took his name out of the running for the nomination, giving the Republican state central committee his blessing to choose a new candidate.
Freed from having to contest an election, Norblad began focusing his attention on the economic situation in the state. He formed the state's first labor commission, later to become the modern Employment Department. In order to put men back to work, he authorized $2 million worth of road construction, and succeeded in employing 5,000 workers. The Oregon Coast Highway was begun under his leadership. Another $3 million was spent upgrading publicly owned facilities around the state.
The Governor also took a personal role in pardons and labor disputes. A Pardons Board was established, and Norblad even interviewed pardon-seeking inmates in-person.
In matters involving the rest of the nation, Norblad accepted federal help in solving a long-simmering dispute between Eastern Oregon's cattle and sheep ranchers. The Governor indicated his support for the pending military draft legislation working its way through Congress. He also argued for the state's acquisition of federally owned forest land.
Defeated in his primary bid by George W. Joseph
, who died prior to the general election, Governor Norblad handed office to the victor of the 1930 gubernatorial election, independent
Julius L. Meier.
for use in the Astoria Sesquicentennial Celebration. Norblad continued his practice and civic activities in Astoria until his death on April 17, 1960.
Astoria, Oregon
Astoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the 19th Governor
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
from 1929 to 1931.
He was the father of Representative A. Walter Norblad
A. Walter Norblad
Albin Walter Norblad, Jr., was an American attorney and Republican politician in Oregon. He represented the U.S. state of Oregon's First District from January 18, 1946 until his death in the United States House of Representatives. His father was A. W. Norblad, Sr., a one-time Governor of...
(Albin Walter Norblad, Jr.), Member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, from the 1st Congressional District of Oregon between 1946 to 1964.
Family and early life
Norblad was born in MalmöMalmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1881 to parents Peter and Bessie Youngsberg. The family's last name was changed by the Swedish Government to avoid confusion in military records. The family emigrated to the United States while Albin was very young, settling in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. At age 12, Albin decided to support himself, mostly by means of odd jobs. He would later recount that the most notable jobs held during this time were newsboy, hot dog vendor, and clairinetist for the circus.
He managed to earn enough money to return to Grand Rapids, taking night classes at the Grand Rapids Business College
Davenport University
Davenport University is a private, non-profit, multi-location university located at 14 campuses throughout Michigan and online. It was founded in 1866 by Conrad Swensburg and currently offers Master's Degrees, Bachelor's Degrees, Associate's Degrees, diplomas, and post-grad certification programs...
. After earning enough credits there, Norblad was able enroll at the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
, supporting himself as a reporter for the Chicago American newspaper's crime beat. Graduating in 1902, he quickly passed the bar exam and moved back to Michigan. Once in Michigan, he set up a law firm, and was elected District Attorney for Delta County
Delta County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,520 people, 15,836 households, and 10,689 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 people per square mile . There were 19,223 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
.
Early political career
While visiting Oregon on business in 1908, Norblad met with an old friend who invited him to live in AstoriaAstoria, Oregon
Astoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...
. He accepted, and moved with his wife in 1909. He began practicing law, and became involved in the community. His first government office in Oregon was as Astoria's city attorney from 1910-1915. He would also become a member of the local school board, and President of the Astoria Chamber of Commerce. Outside of politics, Norblad was involved in many fraternal and civic organizations.
With a prominent local political profile, Norblad went on to run for a seat in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
, in 1918. Reelected in 1926, he attempted an abortive run for Oregon's At-large U.S. House seat in 1922. He was elected President of the Oregon State Senate in 1927, placing him as second in the state's then-official line of gubernatorial succession.
Governorship
The death of sitting Governor Isaac PattersonI. L. Patterson
Isaac Lee "Ike" Patterson, was the 18th Governor of Oregon from 1927 to 1929. An Oregon native, he served in the Oregon Legislative Assembly from 1918 to 1922, and was a farmer in the Willamette Valley.-Early life:...
on December 21, 1929 came as a shock to Oregonians. The governor had looked as he'd been recovering since contracting pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
late in his third year in office. Thus Senate President Albin Norblad was sworn in promptly as governor. As soon as he was inaugurated, he declared his intent to run for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Taking office during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Norblad's first attempts to improve conditions in the state were largely ineffective. Lacking a political identity statewide, and considered a Progressive by conservative elements in control of the state Republican party, Norblad was defeated in his primary bid in May 1930, coming in second place. When the winner of the primary unexpectantly died a month later, Norblad took his name out of the running for the nomination, giving the Republican state central committee his blessing to choose a new candidate.
Freed from having to contest an election, Norblad began focusing his attention on the economic situation in the state. He formed the state's first labor commission, later to become the modern Employment Department. In order to put men back to work, he authorized $2 million worth of road construction, and succeeded in employing 5,000 workers. The Oregon Coast Highway was begun under his leadership. Another $3 million was spent upgrading publicly owned facilities around the state.
The Governor also took a personal role in pardons and labor disputes. A Pardons Board was established, and Norblad even interviewed pardon-seeking inmates in-person.
In matters involving the rest of the nation, Norblad accepted federal help in solving a long-simmering dispute between Eastern Oregon's cattle and sheep ranchers. The Governor indicated his support for the pending military draft legislation working its way through Congress. He also argued for the state's acquisition of federally owned forest land.
Defeated in his primary bid by George W. Joseph
George W. Joseph
George W. P. Joseph was an attorney and Republican politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of California, his family relocated to Oregon when he was young. There he would practice law and serve in the Oregon State Senate....
, who died prior to the general election, Governor Norblad handed office to the victor of the 1930 gubernatorial election, independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
Julius L. Meier.
Later life
Norblad went back to practicing law in Astoria, once again becoming closely involved in the community. He founded the Lower Columbia Association of Chambers of Commerce, and gained a $10,000 grant from the descendants of John Jacob AstorJohn Jacob Astor
John Jacob Astor , born Johann Jakob Astor, was a German-American business magnate and investor who was the first prominent member of the Astor family and the first multi-millionaire in the United States...
for use in the Astoria Sesquicentennial Celebration. Norblad continued his practice and civic activities in Astoria until his death on April 17, 1960.
Other sources
- Klooster, Karl Round the Roses II: More Past Portland Perspectives (Portland: K. Klooster, 1992) ISBN 0-9619847-1-6
- Smith, William Carlson Swedes of Oregon (American Swedish Historical Museum Year Book, 1946)