Asle Gronna

Asle Jorgenson Gronna
United States Senator
from North Dakota
In office
February 2, 1911 – March 4, 1921
Preceded by William E. Purcell
Succeeded by Edwin F. Ladd
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Dakota's at-large district
In office
March 4, 1905 – February 2, 1911
Preceded by Burleigh F. Spalding
Succeeded by Henry T. Helgesen
Personal details
Born (1858-12-10)December 10, 1858
Elkader, Iowa
Died May 4, 1922(1922-05-04) (aged 63)
Lakota, North Dakota
Political party Republican

Asle Jorgenson Gronna (December 10, 1858 – May 4, 1922) was an American Senator from North Dakota, and one of the six to vote against the United States declaration of war leading to the First World War.[1]

Biography

Gronna was born in Elkader, Clayton County, Iowa of Norwegian ancestry, but moved to Houston County, Minnesota with his family. After moving to the Dakota Territory in 1879 and several minor careers he landed himself in the field of politics. He was elected to the Dakota Territorial House of Representatives in 1889. He was elected United States Senator in the 59th United States Congress as a Republican in 1911 to replace Martin N. Johnson, who had died in office. Gronna was re-elected in 1914 and served through the 60th and 61st Congresses as well finally leaving on March 4, 1921, after an unsuccessful 1920 campaign.[2]

Gronna was a Republican who reflected the attitudes of his region - progressive and isolationist. He blamed munition makers for the preparedness movement and World War I and was part of the "little group of willful men," so labeled by President Woodrow Wilson. In 1919 he was a staunch isolationist who opposed the League of Nations treaty because it further entangled the United States in foreign relationships and limited national decisionmaking. Gronna failed to win reelection in 1920.[3]

Personal life

He and his wife Bertha were the parents of James D. Gronna who served as Secretary of State of North Dakota. Asle Gronna died on May 4, 1922, and was buried in the Lakota Cemetery. [4]

References

  1. ↑ Asle Jorgenson Gronna (Infoplase)
  2. ↑ Asle Jorgenson Gronna (State Historical Society of North Dakota)
  3. ↑ Leonard Schlup, "North Dakota Senator Asle J. Gronna and the Isolationists, 1915-1920," North Dakota History, 1993, Vol. 60 Issue 4, pp 13-21
  4. ↑ Asle Gronna (Find a Grave)

Other sources

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Burleigh F. Spalding		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Dakota's at-large congressional district
March 4, 1905 – February 2, 1911 		Succeeded by
Henry Thomas Helgesen
U.S. Senate
Preceded by
William E. Purcell		 U.S. Senator (Class 3) from North Dakota
February 2, 1911 – March 4, 1921
Served alongside: Porter J. McCumber		 Succeeded by
Edwin Ladd
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