Moses Alexander

Moses Alexander (born November 13, 1853 in Obrigheim , Kingdom of Bavaria ; †  January 4, 1932 in Boise , Idaho ) was a German-American politician and governor of the state of Idaho from 1915 to 1919 .

Early years and advancement

Moses Alexander came to the United States in 1867. He initially settled in New York , but moved to Chillicothe in Missouri a year later at the invitation of a cousin . There he worked in a clothing store, which he would soon become a partner. Alexander became a member of the Democratic Party . In this party he belonged to the progressive wing. In 1886 he became a member of the city council of Chillicothe and from 1887 to 1890 he was mayor of that city. In 1891, Moses Alexander moved to Boise, Idaho. There he opened his own clothing store. He was so successful in this industry that he was soon able to open branches in three states.

Alexander became politically active in his new home as well. He was Mayor of Boise between 1897 and 1899 and again from 1901 to 1903. During this time, the city's volunteer fire department was converted into a professional fire department . Laws against gambling have also been passed. In 1908 he applied unsuccessfully for the office of governor: he was defeated by Republican James H. Brady with 42:50 percent of the vote.

Governor of Idaho

In 1914, by winning the election over John M. Haines, he made the leap to the highest office in his state. After a re-election in 1916, Moses Alexander was able to serve as governor of Idaho between January 4, 1915 and January 6, 1919; thus he was the first elected Jewish governor of a US state. During this time, a new highway concept was developed ( Highway System ) and a strict prohibition law was introduced. The administrative apparatus was reformed and agriculture was promoted. At that time, a law on insurance against accidents at work came into being. Eight new counties were created in Idaho during Alexander's tenure. The governor pushed through a tax cut and supported demands for women to vote at the federal level. The second part of his tenure was overshadowed by the events of World War I , to which Idaho and its governor also had to play their part. Governor Alexander supported the federal government's war effort under President Woodrow Wilson .

Another résumé

Even after his time as governor, Alexander remained politically active. In 1920, 1924 and 1928 he attended the Democratic National Conventions . In 1922 he ran unsuccessfully again for governor of Idaho. Moses Alexander died in January 1932 and was buried in Boise. He was married to Hedwig Kaestner, with whom he had four children.

Web links

• Moses Alexander in the National Governors Association (English)
• Short biography
• Moses Alexander in the database of Find a Grave (English)