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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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| Name | John H. Morehead |
| Address |
Falls City, Nebraska , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
December 03, 1861
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| Died | May 31, 1942
(80 years)
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| Contributor | Thomas Walker |
| Last Modifed | RBH
Jun 26, 2015 07:02pm |
| Tags |
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| Info | Ex-Gov. John Henry Morehead began his career in southeastern Nebraska as a country school teacher and farmhand From this humble beginning he worked his way upward and forward to a position of distinction excelled by few men in this land of opportunity. Coming to Nebraska in the early eighties, after having been seized with the "Western fever", his life has been one of ceaseless energy, finally resulting in havaing bestowed upon him the highest honor within the gift of the people of his adopted state, that of chief executive of the great state of Nebraska. While governor of the state, his conduct of sate administrative affairs was such as to reflect credit upon the people whose votes placed him in the office; and his administration goes down in history as one of the ablest and best.
The little frame schoolhouse, which the future governor attended was typical of the times, and was furnished with slab benches fitted with pegs for support, and no desks such as came at a later date. To this school he trudged daily during the cold winter months and secured such education as was obtainable in the primitive educational mill. After the district school, in keeping with the desires of his ambitious parents, he attended a select school in Knoxville, Iowa, until he attained the age of seventeen, then attended a business college at Shenandoah, Iowa. Thus equipped, and blessed with a good strong constitution and body, he set out for the west in search of fortune, and imbued with the desire to make his own way in the world. His original intention had been to make his way to Nebraska, but having friends in Nemaha County, he tarried there for a while in order to make them a visit. His visit lengthened into a protracted stay and he obtained employment teaching school in winter for a time and working as a farm hand in summer for a few years in Nemaha county, the adjoining county to the north. After his marriage in 1885, he located in the town of Barada in Richardson County. and engaged in the mercantile business with a small stock of goods, and and plenty of energy to make a success of the business. This town proved to be a splended location for the store, and during the ten years in which Mr. Morehead was engaged in conducting his general store at that place the business grew, and he managed to lay the foundation for his subsequent considerable fortune. He invested his surplus in farm land and branched out into the handling of livestock--a business in which he is still engaged, his first modest investments in land having been increased to a total of several hundred acres of land in Richardson County. His farm, just west of Barada and which has Governor Morehead's personal supervision is one of the most productive farming plants in Richardson County. The love of the soil and mother nature having been deeply imbedded in his soul when a youth, he maintains a keen and abiding interest in agricultural affairs, and devotes the greater part of his time and energy to agriculture and stock raising since retiring from the governor's chair in 1917. Governor Morehead is interested in banking having been one of the organizers of the Barada State Bank, of which concern, he is president, and he is also a director of the First National Bank of Falls City.
Governor Morehead became interested in politics not long after his advent into Richardson County and the first civic office that he held in the county was that of town clerk of Barada, which he filled, as well as serving as town treasurer. He was elected county treasurer on the democratic ticket in the fall of 1895 and was reelected to this office in 1897. In the year 1899, he became cashier of the First National Bank of Falls City, and while filling this position, he served one term as mayor of the city.His entrance into state politics was signalized by his enection in 1910 as state senator for the first district. His colleagues gave definite recognition to his ability by placing him in the position of president protem of the Senate. Upon the death of the lieutenant -governor of Nebraska in 1911 he became lieutenant-governor of the statein accordance with a provision of the state constitution. In November 1912 Mr. Morehead was the candidate of his party for the governorship and was elected to the office by a substantial majority. So popular with the people was his conduct of the affairs of this high office that he was reelected to the governorship, in 1914. Upon the near expiration of his second of office, in 1914, he was petitioned by 20,000 citiaens of the state to become a candidate for a third term, but he declined. Very few men have been twice elected governor of the state, and Governor Morehead was the first executive in many years to succeed himself, a fact that is the most substantial proof extant of his successful administration. During his administration, the board of control for state institutions was established and was placed in working operation with splendid success.
Governor Morehead's ability to judge men and their qualifications came in good stead while performing his duties as chief executive of Nebraska amd he made a record for appointing men of pronounced ability as heads of the different state institutions, which excels that of any preceding governor. The men whom he has appointed to state positions have, in practically every instance, proved their fitness and ability by zealously attending to their duties in the interests of the whole people. His record as governor of Nebraska speaks for itself and future historians will place stress up the fact that John H. Morehead gave his state an able and conscientious administration and that he proved himself worthy of the great trust placed in him by his fellow citizens.
On February l4, 1885, John H. Morehead was united in marriage to Minnie Weisenreder, and to this union have been born two children, Dorothy Lee Morehead, a graduate of the University of Nebraska and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Edwin J. Morehead, a student in the law department of the State University. Mrs. Minnie Morehead was born in Aspinwall, Nemaha county, Nebraska, and is a daughter of Edward and Minnie Weisenreder, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Missouri, a daughter of German parents. The members of the family worship at the Pressbyterian church in Falls City.
Governor Morehead is affiliated fraternally with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, being a member also of the local commandery, Knights Templar, and of the Ancient Arabid Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Governor Morehead takes a keen interest in local civic affairs, and is ever ready to lend his support to any movement having the welfare of the people and their advancement for its object.
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