- Eli C. D. Shortridge
Eli C. D. Shortridge (
March 29 ,1830 –February 4 ,1908 ) was an American politician who was the IndependentGovernor ofNorth Dakota from 1893 to 1895. Eli C. D. Shortridge was the first governor to live in the executive mansion.Biography
Shortridge grew up in
Monroe County, Missouri , and completed his education at an academy located nearParis, Missouri . He moved toLarimore, North Dakota with his family in 1882, and ran for governor ten years later in 1893 on afusion ticket composed ofPopulists , Democrats, and theFarmers' Alliance , who merged into a singlepolitical party .During his administration, Shortridge approved the issuance of $50,000 in bonds to construct the south wing of the
state capitol and approved the purchase of an executive mansion for thegovernor's residence . He also supported an appropriation for a state elevator atDuluth, Minnesota . An out-of-state terminal elevator was not constructed largely due to a provision requiring North Dakota sovereignty over any elevator site. The bill passed, but the provision thatMinnesota orWisconsin would have to cede sovereignty over the site created an unacceptable situation for both states. Governor Shortridge retired from office after one term. He was appointed clerk of theGeneral Land Office atDevils Lake, North Dakota .External links
* [http://www.state.nd.us/hist/ndgov1.htm#shortridge Biography for Eli C. D. Shortridge] from the [http://www.state.nd.us/hist/ State Historical Society of North Dakota website] .
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