Frank W. Benson (Oregon governor)
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| Frank W. Benson | |
 Benson circa 1910 |
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12th Governor of Oregon
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| In office March 1, 1909 – June 17, 1910 |
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| Preceded by | George Chamberlain |
| Succeeded by | Jay Bowerman |
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| Born | March 20, 1858 San Jose, California |
| Died | April 14, 1911 (aged 53) Redlands, California |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Harriet Ruth Benson |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Frank W. Benson (March 20, 1858 – April 14, 1911) was an American politician, a Republican, and the 12th governor of Oregon from 1909 to 1910. A native of California, Benson also served as educator, a land office clerk, and was twice eleceted as Oregon Secretary of State. From this position he became governor after sitting governor George Earle Chamberlain resigned to become a United States Senator.
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[edit] Early life
Benson was born in San Jose, California in 1858 to a minister sent west by the Methodist Episcopal Church. His father, Henry Clarke Benson, moved the family to Portland, Oregon to become editor of the Pacific Christian Accord in 1864. His mother was Matilda Williamson Benson, and his older brother Henry Landin Benson was speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives and served on the Oregon Supreme Court.[1]
Young Frank was enrolled in the Portland Academy, later continuing his education at the College of the Pacific in Stockton, California. There he earned an A.B. in 1877, followed by a A.M. degree in 1882.[1] After college, he returned to Oregon, beginning a career in education. In 1880, he took charge of the Methodist Umpqua Academy in Wilbur, Oregon. Benson assumed his first elected office as Superintendent of Douglas County Schools between 1882 and 1886. He relinquished the post after becoming president of a Normal School in Drain. In 1883, Benson married Harriet Ruth Benjamin, and they would have two sons.[1] Benson served as clerk of the U. S. Land Office in Roseburg from 1894 to 1896.[1]
Benson would return to politics in 1892, after his election as Douglas County Clerk. He was re-elected and passed the state bar exam in 1896. In 1898, Benson began practicing law in Roseburg.
[edit] Secretary of State and Governorship
In 1906, Benson would run for Secretary of State, winning both the Republican primary and the general election. The sitting governor George Earle Chamberlain won election to the United States Senate in 1909 and resigned the governor's seat. As Secretary of State, Frank Benson was next in the gubernatorial line of succession, and was sworn into office March 1, 1909.
Following Governor Stephen F. Chadwick's example, who assumed the governorship in 1877 under similar circumstances, Benson kept both the Governor's and Secretary of State's offices. Although this is normally forbidden under the Oregon State Constitution. He collected pay for both offices.
Governor Benson undertook no major changes in the state government despite holding two of the states most powerful offices. Instead, he called for a special session of the Legislative Assembly to pass a bill which had been overlooked in the last (25th Biennial) Session. This bill funded operation costs for the state's major institutions, namely the state's prison, reform school, mental hospital, school for the blind, and veteran's home. He also attempted to settle a boundary dispute with neighboring Washington.
Benson had been gravely ill even before he accepted the governorship. Although his condition had seemed to improve since taking office, he left for California in 1910 to seek further treatment. On June 15, 1910, Benson telephoned his private secretary, transferring the Governor's powers to Oregon State Senate President Jay Bowerman until he could return to Salem. Bowerman was sworn in as Acting Governor on June 16, 1910. Benson had indicated that he hoped to return by July 20, 1910. He did not seek reelection as Governor, but won reelection as Secretary of State in 1910. Although retaining one of his positions, Benson did not return as planned. His health continued to fail in Redlands, California, where he died April 14, 1911.
[edit] Sources
- Oregon State Library
- Klooster, Karl. Round the Roses II: More Past Portland Perspectives, pg. 115, 1992 ISBN 0-9619847-1-6
[edit] External links
- Oregon State Archives: Benson Administration-Photo and bio.
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