Herbert E. Hitchcock

Herbert Emery Hitchcock (August 22, 1867-February 17, 1958) was a United States Senator from South Dakota.

Born in Maquoketa, Iowa, he attended public schools in Iowa and San Jose, California, a business college at Davenport, Iowa, Iowa State College at Ames, and the University of Chicago Law School.

He moved to Mitchell, South Dakota in 1884, where he attended school and worked as a stenographer; he was admitted to the South Dakota bar in 1896 and commenced practice in Mitchell. He also engaged in banking, and was clerk of the South Dakota State Senate in 1896. He was elected as a State’s attorney in 1904 and 1906, and was elected to the State Senate in 1909, 1911, and 1929. Hitchcock was a trustee of Yankton College in 1936 and was president of Mitchell school board from 1924 to 1934.

On December 29 1936, he was appointed as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Peter Norbeck and served from 1936 until November 8 1938, when a successor was elected. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the nomination to fill the vacancy in 1938. He was defeated by former governor Tom Berry in the Democratic Primary Election.

He resumed the practice of law until his death in Mitchell, South Dakota. Interment was in Graceland Cemetery.

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