Arthur Mellette | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 1st Governor of South Dakota | |
| In office November 2, 1889 – January 3, 1893 | |
| Lieutenant | James H. Fletcher George H. Hoffman |
| Preceded by | Himself (Dakota Territory) |
| Succeeded by | Charles H. Sheldon |
| 10thGovernor of the Dakota Territory | |
| In office March 22, 1889 – November 2, 1889 | |
| Preceded by | Louis K. Church |
| Succeeded by | John Miller (North Dakota) Himself (South Dakota) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Arthur Calvin Mellette (1842-06-23)June 23, 1842 Henry County, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | May 25, 1896(1896-05-25) (aged 53) Pittsburg, Kansas, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Hope Cemetery |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Margaret Wylie |
| Residence | Mellette House |
| Education | Indiana University, Bloomington (LLB) |
Arthur Calvin Mellette (June 23, 1842 – May 25, 1896)[1] was the lastGovernor of Dakota Territory, the firstGovernor of the State of South Dakota, and an American Civil War veteran.
He is the namesake ofMellette, South Dakota, andMellette County, South Dakota.[2]
Mellette was the son of Charles Mellette and was born inHenry County, Indiana. He was educated at Marion Academy inMarion, Indiana. In 1862, Mellette enteredIndiana University Bloomington as a sophomore and graduated in 1863. On October 6, 1864, he enlisted in Company H of the 9th Indiana Volunteers, serving as a conscripted soldier until mustering out on September 28, 1865. He served in the army as a substitute for his older invalid brother and experienced many humiliations as a result. In 1866, Mellette graduated from theSchool of Law at the Indiana University and went toMuncie, Indiana, where he began practicing law withThomas J. Brady. On May 26, 1866, he married Margaret Wylie.[3]
Mellette was elected as district attorney forDelaware County, Indiana. In 1870, Mellette purchased theMuncie Times, a newspaper which became influential and prosperous under his tutelage. During that same year, Mellette was elected the county superintendent of schools.
When his wife became ill, Mellette visited western states to find a climate that would be more beneficial to her. Mellette's family eventually settled inSpringfield,Dakota Territory, for two years; and, Mellette served as register of the United States Land Office in Springfield until the land office was moved toWatertown, Dakota Territory, in 1880.
In October 1885, the Republicans nominated Mellette for governor of Dakota Territory. In November 1885, Mellette ran unopposed for the office of governor; and, voters selectedHuron as the temporary capitol of Dakota Territory. In 1889, voters approved the new constitution for South Dakota and elected Arthur C. Mellette as South Dakota's first Governor. On November 2, 1889, PresidentBenjamin Harrison signed the proclamation to makeSouth Dakota the fortieth state.Mellette County, South Dakota, is named in his honor.
Mellette built a mansion on the bluffs of theBig Sioux River in Watertown, South Dakota. He was an advocate of bringing the capitol to the area. He summered onLake Kampeska.
The family made what was meant to be a temporary move from Watertown to Pittsburg, Kansas, in 1895. Mellette died May 25, 1896, while in Pittsburg.[4] His body was sent back to Watertown and interred inMount Hope Cemetery.
The Trail of Governors statue of Mellette, by sculptor John Lopez, was unveiled in 2012 and installed inPierre, South Dakota in front of theHughes County Courthouse.Mellette's former home in Watertown is maintained as a museum. In 2012, a statue of Mellette was unveiled inPierre, South Dakota and installed in front of theHughes County Courthouse; it was the first statue placed on the city'sTrail of Governors.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Governor of the Dakota Territory 1889 | Succeeded byasGovernor of North Dakota |
| Succeeded by Himself asGovernor of South Dakota | ||
| Preceded by Himself asGovernor of the Dakota Territory | Governor of South Dakota 1889–1893 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| First | Republican nominee forGovernor of South Dakota 1889,1890 | Succeeded by |
| Governors |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant governors | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
