John H. Morehead

John Henry Morehead (December 3, 1861 – May 31, 1942) was an American politician and the 17th Governor of Nebraska.

John Henry Morehead
17th Governor of Nebraska
In office January 9, 1913 – January 4, 1917
Lieutenant	Samuel R. McKelvie (1913–1915) James Pearson (1915–1917)
Preceded by	Chester H. Aldrich
Succeeded by	Keith Neville
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nebraska's 1st congressional district
In office March 4, 1923 – January 3, 1935
Preceded by	Roy H. Thorpe
Succeeded by	Henry C. Luckey
Treasurer of Richardson County, Nebraska
In office 1896–1899
Mayor of Falls City, Nebraska
In office 1900
Member of the Nebraska State Senate
In office 1910–1912
Personal details
Born	(1861-12-03)December 3, 1861 Columbia, Iowa
Died	May 31, 1942(1942-05-31) (aged 80) St. Joseph, Missouri
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Minnie Weisenreder

Early life

Born on a farm in Lucas County, Iowa, Morehead attended business college and moved to Nebraska in 1884 settling in Richardson County, Nebraska. There he taught school, farmed and banked, and eventually opened his own mercantile business.[1] He married Minnie Weisenreder on February 14, 1885[2] and they had two children.

Career

Morehead moved to Falls City, Nebraska where he became first the treasurer of Richardson County from 1896 to 1899; and then the mayor of the city in 1900.[3] He was elected member of the Nebraska state senate in 1910 to 1912 serving as the president pro tempore. When Lieutenant Governor Hopewell died, he was elevated to the position of lieutenant governor as provided by the State constitution. He was elected governor from 1913 to 1917. During his term he was a delegate to Democratic National Convention.

Morehead ran and lost in a bid for the Nebraska senate seat in 1918 and for governor in 1920. During his tenure, the state deficit was reduced and a workman's compensation law was sanctioned.[4] He was elected to the 68th congress (1923) and reelected five more times. He chaired the Committee on Memorials in the 72nd and 73rd congresses. He didn't stand for reelection in 1934, and returned to farming and sell real estate. He was again a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1940.

Death

Morehead died in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1942. He is interred in Steele Cemetery, Falls City, Richardson County, Nebraska.

References

1. "John H. Morehead". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
2. "John H. Morehead". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
3. "John H. Morehead". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
4. "John H. Morehead". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 19, 2012.

External links

• Media related to John H. Morehead at Wikimedia Commons
• "Morehead, John Henry". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved January 4, 2006.
• "MOREHEAD, John Henry". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 4, 2006.
• National Governors Association

Party political offices
Preceded by James Dahlman	Democratic nominee for Governor of Nebraska 1912, 1914	Succeeded by Keith Neville
Preceded by Ashton C. Shallenberger	Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Nebraska (Class 2) 1918	Succeeded by J. J. Thomas
Preceded by Keith Neville	Democratic nominee for Governor of Nebraska 1920	Succeeded by Charles W. Bryan
Political offices
Preceded by Chester H. Aldrich	Governor of Nebraska 1913–1917	Succeeded by Keith Neville
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Roy H. Thorpe (R)	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nebraska's 1st congressional district March 4, 1923 – January 3, 1935	Succeeded by Henry Carl Luckey (D)