Herman Thorson
Encyclopedia
Herman Thorson was a North Dakota Republican Party
politician who served as the Secretary of State
of North Dakota
from 1941 to 1942. He first won election in 1940, but was defeated in 1942 by Thomas Hall
, also a Republican. Before serving as Secretary of State, he served in the North Dakota Senate
from 1929 to 1940.
. His parents were of Norwegian descent, and he was educated in the schools of Minnesota. He operated a creamery in Sheldon Township, Minnesota for three years before moving to a homestead in 1908 in Adams County, North Dakota
. He served on his township board, and was Chairman of the county board of the Farmer's Union before he began his legislative career in the North Dakota Senate
in 1928. He served in the Senate until 1940 when he was elected as the North Dakota Secretary of State
. He served in that position for just one two-year term; he was defeated in his bid for a second term. Thorson married Sophia Moen, also of Houston, and had one boy and three girls (Obert Thorson, Berget Arndorfer, Minnie Larson and Clarice Henrickson). He died in Bismarck, North Dakota
at the age of 79 in 1960.
North Dakota Republican Party
The North Dakota Republican Party is the North Dakota affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party platform is generally conservative.The North Dakota Republican Party is strongly in control of the state's politics...
politician who served as the Secretary of State
North Dakota Secretary of State
The North Dakota Secretary of State is an elected office in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The current Secretary of State is Alvin Jaeger. The general duties of the Secretary of State include being the custodian of the state's Great Seal and other official state documents, recording the official...
of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
from 1941 to 1942. He first won election in 1940, but was defeated in 1942 by Thomas Hall
Thomas Hall (North Dakota)
Thomas Hall was a United States Republican politician who served in the United States House of Representatives. He also served as the North Dakota Secretary of State for two different periods, each lasting 12 years....
, also a Republican. Before serving as Secretary of State, he served in the North Dakota Senate
North Dakota Senate
The North Dakota Senate is the upper house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, smaller than the North Dakota House of Representatives.North Dakota is divided into between 40 and 54 legislative districts apportioned by population as determined by the decennial census...
from 1929 to 1940.
Biography
Herman Thorson was born in 1880 on a farm near Houston, MinnesotaHouston, Minnesota
Houston is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 979 at the 2010 census.-History:The community was named after Sam Houston, first president of the Republic of Texas....
. His parents were of Norwegian descent, and he was educated in the schools of Minnesota. He operated a creamery in Sheldon Township, Minnesota for three years before moving to a homestead in 1908 in Adams County, North Dakota
Adams County, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,593 people, 1,121 households, and 725 families residing in the county. The population density was 2.6 people per square mile . There were 1,416 housing units at an average density of 1.4 per square mile...
. He served on his township board, and was Chairman of the county board of the Farmer's Union before he began his legislative career in the North Dakota Senate
North Dakota Senate
The North Dakota Senate is the upper house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, smaller than the North Dakota House of Representatives.North Dakota is divided into between 40 and 54 legislative districts apportioned by population as determined by the decennial census...
in 1928. He served in the Senate until 1940 when he was elected as the North Dakota Secretary of State
North Dakota Secretary of State
The North Dakota Secretary of State is an elected office in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The current Secretary of State is Alvin Jaeger. The general duties of the Secretary of State include being the custodian of the state's Great Seal and other official state documents, recording the official...
. He served in that position for just one two-year term; he was defeated in his bid for a second term. Thorson married Sophia Moen, also of Houston, and had one boy and three girls (Obert Thorson, Berget Arndorfer, Minnie Larson and Clarice Henrickson). He died in Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
at the age of 79 in 1960.