George H. Hodges

George Hartshorn Hodges (born February 6, 1866 in Orion , Wisconsin , † October 7, 1947 in Kansas City , Missouri ) was an American politician and from 1913 to 1915 the 19th governor of the state of Kansas .

Early years and political advancement

In 1869, the young George Hodges came to Olathe , Kansas, with his parents . There he attended the local schools. After leaving school, he began a successful business career. The main focus of his business activities were the timber business, trading in hardware and money lending. He was also the owner of The Johnson County Democrat newspaper. Hodges was a member of the Democratic Party . He was a member of Olathe City Council for four years and then mayor of that place for one term. Between 1905 and 1913 he was a member of the Kansas Senate . In 1906 he was chairman of the Democratic State Party Congress. In 1912 he was elected as their candidate for the new governor of Kansas.

Kansas Governor

Hodges' two-year tenure began on January 13, 1913. It was during this time that women began to vote in Kansas. The position of women within the Kansas administration was also improved. The corporate tax was reformed and the state's Board of Administration was entrusted with overseeing all government agencies. Due to an addition in the US constitution, the US senators now had to be elected directly by the people. Previously, they were appointed by the governor or elected by the majority of the legislature. At that time, a tuberculosis hospital and an institution for the mentally handicapped were opened. A burned down prison was rebuilt. In general, the governor campaigned for the improvement of the school and health system.

Further life

In 1914, Hodges ran unsuccessfully for re-election. His term of office ended on January 11, 1915. He then returned to his private interests. In the 1920s he was a member of the Textbook Commission and the State Board of Regents . George Hodges died in October 1947. He was married to Ora May Murray, with whom he had two children.

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personal data
SURNAME	Hodges, George H.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Hodges, George Hartshorn (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	February 6, 1866
PLACE OF BIRTH	Orion , Wisconsin
DATE OF DEATH	October 7, 1947
Place of death	Kansas City , Missouri