Gilbert N. Haugen
Encyclopedia
Gilbert Nelson Haugen was a seventeen-term Republican U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 4th congressional district
, then located in northeastern Iowa. For nearly five years, he was the longest-serving member of the House. Born before the American Civil War
, and first elected to Congress in the 19th century, Haugen served until his defeat in the 1932 Franklin D. Roosevelt
landslide.
, Haugen attended rural schools. He moved to Decorah, Iowa
, in 1873 and engaged in agricultural pursuits.He attended Breckenridge College in Decorah, and Academic and Commercial College, in Janesville, Wisconsin
. After leaving college, Haugen engaged in various enterprises, principally real estate and banking. Moving to Northwood, Iowa
in 1886, Haugen engaged in banking. In 1890, he organized the Northwood Banking Co. and became its president. He also served as treasurer of Worth County, Iowa
from 1887 to 1893.
In 1894, Haugen was elected to his first of two terms in the Iowa House of Representatives
, where he served until 1898. That year, he was elected as a Republican to represent Iowa's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House, first serving in the Fifty-sixth
Congress. He was re-elected sixteen times. He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Interior (in the Sixtieth
Congress), and on the Committee on Agriculture
(in the Sixty-sixth
through Seventy-first
Congresses).
Haugen served as the U. S. Congressional Agriculture Committee's chairman from 1919 to 1931. Together with Senator Charles L. McNary
(R-Oregon), Haugen was the co-author of the McNary-Haugen Farm Relief Bill
, a moderate farm relief bill which was offered in three separate congresses before finally passing in 1927. The McNary-Haugen Farm Relief Act was a proposed bill to limit agricultural sales within the United States. Agricultural products would be either stored or export to protect the prices of commodities. The bill was supported by Secretary of Agriculture Henry C. Wallace, however it was vetoed by President Calvin Coolidge
, and never went into effect.
In May 1928, Haugen had served longer than any of his House colleagues, earning him the informal title of Dean of the United States House of Representatives
, a title that he would hold for five years. In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1899 to March 3, 1933. In 1932, Haugen, like many other Republican candidates, was defeated in the Roosevelt landslide, losing to Democratic publisher Fred Biermann
of Decorah. Several months after leaving Congress, Haugen died at Northwood, on July 18, 1933. He was interred in Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood.
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 Iowa's 4th congressional district
Iowa's 4th congressional district
Iowa's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers most of the north-central part of the state....
, then located in northeastern Iowa. For nearly five years, he was the longest-serving member of the House. Born before the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and first elected to Congress in the 19th century, Haugen served until his defeat in the 1932 Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
landslide.
Biography
Born near Orfordville, WisconsinOrfordville, Wisconsin
Orfordville is a village in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States, at the intersection of Highway 11, Highway 213, and the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad. The population was 1,272 at the census, with an estimated population of 1,302 in 2003.-History:...
, Haugen attended rural schools. He moved to Decorah, Iowa
Decorah, Iowa
Decorah is a city in and the county seat of Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,172 at the 2000 census. Decorah is located at the intersection of State Highway 9 and U.S...
, in 1873 and engaged in agricultural pursuits.He attended Breckenridge College in Decorah, and Academic and Commercial College, in Janesville, Wisconsin
Janesville, Wisconsin
Janesville is a city in southern Wisconsin, United States. It is the county seat of Rock County and the principal municipality of the Janesville, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 62,998.-History:...
. After leaving college, Haugen engaged in various enterprises, principally real estate and banking. Moving to Northwood, Iowa
Northwood, Iowa
Northwood is a city in Worth County, Iowa, United States, along the Shell Rock River. The population was 2,050 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Worth County.Northwood is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in 1886, Haugen engaged in banking. In 1890, he organized the Northwood Banking Co. and became its president. He also served as treasurer of Worth County, Iowa
Worth County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 7,598 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,548 housing units, of which 3,172 were occupied.-2000 census:...
from 1887 to 1893.
In 1894, Haugen was elected to his first of two terms in the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
, where he served until 1898. That year, he was elected as a Republican to represent Iowa's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House, first serving in the Fifty-sixth
56th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :* President: Garret Hobart , until November 21, 1899 , vacant thereafter.* President pro tempore: William P. Frye * Democratic Caucus Chairman: James K. Jones...
Congress. He was re-elected sixteen times. He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Interior (in the Sixtieth
60th United States Congress
The Sixtieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1907 to March 4, 1909, during the last two years of...
Congress), and on the Committee on Agriculture
United States House Committee on Agriculture
The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding...
(in the Sixty-sixth
66th United States Congress
The Sixty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, comprising the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1919 to March 4, 1921, during the last two years of...
through Seventy-first
71st United States Congress
The Seventy-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1929 to March 4, 1931, during the first two years...
Congresses).
Haugen served as the U. S. Congressional Agriculture Committee's chairman from 1919 to 1931. Together with Senator Charles L. McNary
Charles L. McNary
Charles Linza McNary was a United States Republican politician from Oregon. He served in the Senate from 1917 to 1944, and was Senate Minority Leader from 1933 to 1944. In the Senate, McNary helped to pass legislation that led to the construction of Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, and worked...
(R-Oregon), Haugen was the co-author of the McNary-Haugen Farm Relief Bill
McNary-Haugen Farm Relief Bill
The McNary-Haugen Farm Relief Act, which never became law, was a highly controversial plan in the 1920s to subsidize American agriculture by raising the domestic prices of farm products. The plan was for the government to buy the wheat, and either store it or export it at a loss. It was...
, a moderate farm relief bill which was offered in three separate congresses before finally passing in 1927. The McNary-Haugen Farm Relief Act was a proposed bill to limit agricultural sales within the United States. Agricultural products would be either stored or export to protect the prices of commodities. The bill was supported by Secretary of Agriculture Henry C. Wallace, however it was vetoed by President Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
, and never went into effect.
In May 1928, Haugen had served longer than any of his House colleagues, earning him the informal title of Dean of the United States House of Representatives
Dean of the United States House of Representatives
The Dean of the United States House of Representatives is the longest continuously serving member of the House. The present Dean is John Dingell, a Democrat of Michigan....
, a title that he would hold for five years. In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1899 to March 3, 1933. In 1932, Haugen, like many other Republican candidates, was defeated in the Roosevelt landslide, losing to Democratic publisher Fred Biermann
Fred Biermann
Frederick Elliott Biermann was a three-term Democratic U.S. Representative from Iowa's 4th congressional district...
of Decorah. Several months after leaving Congress, Haugen died at Northwood, on July 18, 1933. He was interred in Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood.
Other sources
- Harstad, Peter T., and Bonnie Lindemann. Gilbert N. Haugen: Norwegian-American Farm Politician. (Iowa City: State Historical Society of Iowa, 1992.
- Michael, Bonnie. Gilbert N. Haugen. Apprentice Congressman. (Palimpsest 59. July/August, 1978: 118-29)
- Murphy, Daniel D. Contested Election Case of D. D. Murphy v. G.N. Haugen from the Fourth Congressional District of Iowa. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1911)
- Schacht, John N. Three Progressives From Iowa: Gilbert N. Haugen, Herbert C. Hoover, Henry A. Wallace. (Iowa City: Center for the Study of the Recent History of the United States, 1980)