Robert S. Vessey

Robert Scadden Vessey (May 16, 1858ndash October 18, 1929) was the seventh Governor of South Dakota. Vessey, a Republican from Wessington Springs, South Dakota, served from 1909 to 1913.

Biography

Robert Vessey was born to Charles and Jane Elizabeth Vessey. His father was a Methodist lay preacher; and, his mother was an English immigrant. Vessey was raised and educated near Oshkosh in Winnebago County, Wisconsin. For a brief time, he studied at Oshkosh Commercial College before spending the next five years as a lumberjack in northern Wisconsin. Vessey married Florence Albert on August 27, 1882; and, the couple moved to a "squatters claim" in what is now known as Pleasant Township, Jerauld County, South Dakota. Robert Vessey and his wife had four children.

Robert Vessey became a state senator in the 1905 and 1907 South Dakota State Legislatures. In January 1908, he was elected president of the senate. In spite of poor abilities as a public speaker, Vessey successfully guided Progressive measures through the state senate; and, his candidacy for governor was supported because of excellent record in the state senate. In 1910, his bid for a second term as governor was threatened by an independent candidate named George W. Egan. In spite of Egan's popularity with voters, Vessey beat both Egan and Elrod to receive the Republican nomination; and, he defeated the Democratic candidate, Chauncey L. Wood.

External links

* [http://legis.state.sd.us/historical/Index.aspx?FuseAction=Detail&MemberID=268 Robert S. Vessey's historical listing]
* [http://www.state.sd.us/STATE/CAPITOL/CAPITOL/TOUR/governors/vessey.htm Portrait of Robert S. Vessey]