William J. Bulow
Encyclopedia
William John Bulow was an American
politician and a lawyer
. He was the first Democratic Governor
of South Dakota
, receiving the highest vote ever received by a Democratic candidate for governor up to that time,, and then went on to serve as a member of the United States Senate
.
ancestry to Joseph and Elizabeth (Ebendorf) Bulow near Moscow
in Clermont County, Ohio
, where he was raised and educated. In 1893, he graduated with a law degree from the University of Michigan
.
During 1893, Bulow moved to South Dakota
. He resided in Sioux Falls
, where he worked for the Joe Kirby
office. Then, he came by horse and carriage to Beresford
, where he set up his own law office and helped to develop the town. He was elected to the state senate of the South Dakota Legislature
in 1898. While residing in Beresford, Bulow spent twenty-five years as city attorney from 1902 to 1927, except while serving as mayor from 1912 to 1913. He also served as County Judge for Beresford in 1918. Bulow ran unsuccessfully for goveror in 1924, but won in 1926, and served as Governor of South Dakota from 1927 to 1931 and as a member of the US Senate from 1931 to 1943. During his entire life, Bulow kept a legal residence in Beresford, South Dakota and voted by absentee ballot. He was defeated for renomination for a third term in the South Dakota Democratic Primary Election by former governor, Tom Berry
, and Bulow retired and spent the rest of his life residing at 3901 Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington, DC. Bulow spent his last few years in failing health and was blind during his last four years. He was a member of the Alfalfa Club
.
Beresford, South Dakota
honored William J. Bulow during the town's seventy-five year jubilee observance in 1959. The city's park was dedicated as "Bulow Park" on June 3, 1959. Almost nine months later, Bulow died; and, his body was returned to Beresford for burial at the St. John Catholic Cemetery
, where he was interred next to his first wife, Katherine (Reedy) Bulow (January 29, 1875 September 17, 1918). Years later, Bulow's house in Beresford, South Dakota was declared a historic landmark (Governor William J. Bulow House
).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. He was the first Democratic Governor
Governor of South Dakota
The Governor of South Dakota is the head of the executive branch of the government of South Dakota. They are elected to a four year term on even years when there is no Presidential election. The current governor is Dennis Daugaard, a Republican elected in 2010....
of South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, receiving the highest vote ever received by a Democratic candidate for governor up to that time,, and then went on to serve as a member of the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Biography
Bulow was born of GermanGermans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
ancestry to Joseph and Elizabeth (Ebendorf) Bulow near Moscow
Moscow, Ohio
Moscow is a village in Clermont County, Ohio, United States. The population was 244 at the 2000 census.The William H. Zimmer Power Station, nuclear power plant converted to coal-fired generation that creates 1300-megawatts of electricity is partially located within village limits.-Geography:Moscow...
in Clermont County, Ohio
Clermont County, Ohio
Clermont County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States, just east of Cincinnati. As of 2010, the population was 197,363. Its county seat is Batavia...
, where he was raised and educated. In 1893, he graduated with a law degree from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
During 1893, Bulow moved to South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. He resided in Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
, where he worked for the Joe Kirby
Joe Kirby
Joe Kirby was a self-educated son of Irish immigrants who became an important figure in South Dakota history...
office. Then, he came by horse and carriage to Beresford
Beresford, South Dakota
Beresford is a city in Lincoln and Union counties in the U.S. state of South Dakota. The population was 2,005 as of the 2010 census. The southern two-thirds is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the northern one-third is part of the Sioux Falls...
, where he set up his own law office and helped to develop the town. He was elected to the state senate of the South Dakota Legislature
South Dakota Legislature
The South Dakota State Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of South Dakota. It is a bicameral legislative body, consisting of the South Dakota Senate, which has 35 members, and the South Dakota House of Representatives, which has 70 members...
in 1898. While residing in Beresford, Bulow spent twenty-five years as city attorney from 1902 to 1927, except while serving as mayor from 1912 to 1913. He also served as County Judge for Beresford in 1918. Bulow ran unsuccessfully for goveror in 1924, but won in 1926, and served as Governor of South Dakota from 1927 to 1931 and as a member of the US Senate from 1931 to 1943. During his entire life, Bulow kept a legal residence in Beresford, South Dakota and voted by absentee ballot. He was defeated for renomination for a third term in the South Dakota Democratic Primary Election by former governor, Tom Berry
Tom Berry
For the professional baseball player, see Tom Berry Thomas Matthew Berry was the fourteenth Governor of South Dakota. Berry, a Democrat from Belvidere, South Dakota, served from 1933 to 1937...
, and Bulow retired and spent the rest of his life residing at 3901 Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington, DC. Bulow spent his last few years in failing health and was blind during his last four years. He was a member of the Alfalfa Club
Alfalfa Club
The Alfalfa Club is a Washington, D.C. social organization that exists only to hold an annual banquet on the last Saturday of January. The club's membership, which numbers about 200, is composed primarily of American politicians and influential members of the United States business community, and...
.
Beresford, South Dakota
Beresford, South Dakota
Beresford is a city in Lincoln and Union counties in the U.S. state of South Dakota. The population was 2,005 as of the 2010 census. The southern two-thirds is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the northern one-third is part of the Sioux Falls...
honored William J. Bulow during the town's seventy-five year jubilee observance in 1959. The city's park was dedicated as "Bulow Park" on June 3, 1959. Almost nine months later, Bulow died; and, his body was returned to Beresford for burial at the St. John Catholic Cemetery
Saint John Cemetery (Union County, South Dakota)
St. John Cemetery is a Catholic cemetery located in Prairie Township, Union County, South Dakota. The cemetery is one of four adjacent cemeteries, which are a mile south and a mile east of Beresford, South Dakota. Of these four, St. John is the cemetery which is farthest west. The earliest known...
, where he was interred next to his first wife, Katherine (Reedy) Bulow (January 29, 1875 September 17, 1918). Years later, Bulow's house in Beresford, South Dakota was declared a historic landmark (Governor William J. Bulow House
Governor William J. Bulow House
The Governor William J. Bulow House, located at 207 W. Hemlock St. in Beresford, South Dakota, was built in 1898. Also known as the Doug and Carol Nygaard House, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986....
).
External links
- William J. Bulow's NNDB biography
- William J. Bulow's burial record at Findagrave.com
- Katherine (Reedy) Bulow's burial record at Findagrave.com
- Bulow Park History from the Union County Historical Society website.
- Listing for William J. Bulow's home on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...