Maurice C. Townsend

Maurice Clifford Townsend (born August 11, 1884 in Blackford County , Indiana , † November 11, 1954 in Hartford City , Indiana) was an American politician and between 1937 and 1941 the 35th governor of Indiana.

Early years

Maurice Townsend attended local schools in Blackford County, Indiana. After graduating from Marion College in 1907, he worked as both a farmer and a teacher. Between 1909 and 1919 he was school supervisor (School superindentent) in various counties. Townsend was a member of the Democratic Party and was elected to the Indiana state parliament in 1923. In 1932 he was elected his country's new lieutenant governor under Governor Paul McNutt . Four years later, he was his party's top candidate for the gubernatorial elections.

Indiana Governor

After winning the election, Townsend could begin his four-year term on January 11, 1937. In his first year in office, he had to deal with a major flood on the Ohio River . His program for coping with the flood and helping those affected found nationwide recognition. In Townsend's tenure, Indiana law made driving tests mandatory. At that time, the "State Division of Labor", a kind of labor ministry, was created. In some of the country's larger cities, firefighters were granted pensions. During a violent strike in Anderson, the governor declared martial law and dispatched the National Guard.

Another résumé

After the end of his tenure, Townsend was appointed by the federal government to head a government department (Office of Agricultural War Relations), which should combine agricultural production with the war requirements during World War II or adapt. Townsend held this office until 1942. By 1943 Townsend received two more posts from the federal government including one to monitor food production (Food Production Administration). In 1943 he resigned from his post and returned to his own agricultural interests. In 1946, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the US Senate. Then he finally withdrew from politics. Maurice Townsend died in 1954. He was married to Nora Adele Harris, with whom he had three children.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• Maurice Townsend in the National Governor Association (English)
• Indiana Historical Bureau (English)
• Maurice C. Townsend in the database of Find a Grave (English)