Ragnvald A. Nestos

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Ragnvald A. Nestos

Ragnvald Anderson Nestos (April 12, 1877–July 15, 1942) was the governor of the U.S. state of North Dakota from 1921 through 1925. He was a member of the Independent Voters Association, running on the Republican ticket. He gained office when Governor Lynn Frazier was defeated in the first successful attempt to recall a governor in U.S. history.

[edit] Biography

Governor Ragnvold Anderson Nestos was a native of Norway. One of ten children, he was sixteen and spoke no English when he came to the United States to live with his aunt and uncle at Buxton, North Dakota. He entered the first grade at Buxton and attended school in between working odd jobs and working at lumber camps out of state. Four years later, in 1884, he passed the teachers' examinations and taught in a country school. He completed studies at Mayville Normal School (teachers' college) while homesteading in Pierce County. In 1904 he graduated from the University of North Dakota and moved to Minot, where he began practicing law with attorney C. A. Johnson. Nestos was elected governor in a recall election that removed Governor Lynn Frazier and the other two members of the Industrial Commission from office. It was a time of bitter political discontent and bickering between the NPL (Nonpartisan League, which supported state-owned industry) and the IVA (Independent Voters Association, which opposed state ownership of Industries). Nestos worked hard to make the new state-owned businesses (State Mill and Elevator and the Bank of North Dakota) a success. He also campaigned against illiteracy. During his administration, North Dakota came into national compliance for registering births and deaths, and North Dakota had a full-time health officer for the first time. He ran for and completed a second term of office. Governor Nestos never married. He received national recognition for his work on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America and the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.

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Preceded by Lynn Frazier	Governor of North Dakota 1921–1925	Succeeded by Arthur G. Sorlie

Governors of North Dakota
Miller • A. Burke • Shortridge • Allin • Briggs • Devine • Fancher • White • Sarles • J. Burke • Hanna • Frazier • Nestos • Sorlie • Maddock • Shafer • Langer • O. Olson • Moodie • Welford • Langer • Moses • Aandahl • Brunsdale • Davis • Guy • Link • A. Olson • Sinner • Schafer • Hoeven