Samuel M. Ralston

Infobox Politician
name =Samuel Moffett Ralston


caption =
birth_date= December 1, 1857
birth_place= New Cumberland, Ohio
death_date= October 14, 1925
death_place= Lebanon, Indiana
party = Democrat
religion = Presbyterian [ [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=e7cc224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD NGA Bio] ]
spouse = Mary Josephine Backous, Jennie Crave [ [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=e7cc224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD NGA Bio] ]
office2 =Governor of Indiana
order2 =28th
term_start2 =January 13, 1913
term_end2 =January 8, 1917
predecessor2 =Thomas R. Marshall
successor2 =James P. Goodrich
office3 =United States Senator
order3 =
term_start3 =March 4, 1923
term_end3 =October 14, 1925
predecessor3 =Harry S. New
successor3 =Arthur Raymond Robinson

Samuel Moffett Ralston (December 1, 1857 - October 14, 1925) was governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from 1913 to 1917.

Biography

Ralston was born near New Cumberland, Ohio, on December 1, 1857. As a boy he attended school in Owen County, Indiana. He later graduated from Central College in Danville, Indiana in 1884 having completed a scientific course. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1886. He married Jennie Craven on December 30, 1889.

He began his practice in Lebanon that same year. He served as president of the Lebanon School Board from 1908 to 1911.

He was elected governor of Indiana in 1907 defeating Albert Beveridge and served from January 13, 1913 to January 8, 1917. Under his administration the state's park system was created . He also created the public service commission and the Indiana Historical Commission. Also supported and passed during his adminsitration was the inheritance tax law, vocational training law, workingmen's compensation act, and the primary election law.

In 1924 he was the front runner and expected to be the Democratic presidential nominee, but for unknown reasons he dropped out of the race just before the national convention.

He was elected to the United States Senator from Indiana again defeating Albert Beveridge. He served from March 4, 1923 until his death on October 14, 1925, he had been ill for several weeks. He was buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Lebanon.

References

ee also

*List of Governors of Indiana

External links

* [http://www.in.gov/history/2575.htm Indiana Historical Bureau: Biography and portrait]
*http://www.ruralhistoryproject.com/reports.asp?F=1&ReportID=14
* [http://www.countyhistory.com/doc.gov/031.htm Indian County History - Ralston Biography]
* [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=e7cc224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRDNational Governors Association]