John Hammill

John Hammill

John Hammill (born October 14, 1875 in Linden , Iowa County , Wisconsin , † April 6, 1936 in Britt , Iowa ) was an American politician ( Republican Party ) and from 1925 to 1931 the 24th governor of the state of Iowa.

Early years and political advancement

John Hammill studied law at the University of Iowa . After his exams and his admission as a lawyer in 1897, he practiced his new profession in Britt, Iowa. Between 1902 and 1908 he was a district attorney. Then he was a member of the Iowa Senate until 1913 . In 1920, John Hammill was elected Lieutenant Governor of Iowa. With that he was the representative of Governor Nathan Edward Kendall . When he took a long vacation in the summer of 1923 because of heart problems, Hammill had to replace him. Due to his health problems, Kendall did not run for re-election in 1924. For this reason, Hammill has now been elected as the Republican candidate for the new governor.

Governor of Iowa

John Hammill took up his new office on January 15, 1925. After he was confirmed in his office in 1926 and 1928, he was able to officiate until January 15, 1931. As governor, he continued the transport policy of his predecessor: He promoted the expansion of the state's roads and highways. The new Highway Commission was entrusted with this task . With the help of a constitutional amendment, women could now also be elected to the legislature. The education system was also further promoted. At that time the so-called "Junior Colleges" were introduced. The position of a government representative was created specifically for child welfare.

Hammills final term was overshadowed by the impact of the global economic crisis that struck and Iowa. In connection with this, Iowa passed new banking laws and established a state banking committee. Hammill was also willing to listen to the interests of the farmers hard hit by the crisis. Even so, the crisis still widened in the early 1930s. The situation only improved in the further course of the decade, also with the help of the New Deal policy of the federal government under President Franklin D. Roosevelt .

Another résumé

In 1930, Hammill applied unsuccessfully for a seat in the US Senate . Then he withdrew from politics. John Hammill spent the last years of his life in his hometown of Britt. He died there in 1936. He was married to Fannie Richards.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 2, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• John Hammill in the National Governors Association (English)