Loren Fletcher

Loren Fletcher (April 10, 1833 – April 15, 1919) was a U.S. Representative from Minnesota.

Loren Fletcher
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 5th district
In office March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1903
Preceded by	Kittel Halvorson
Succeeded by	John Lind
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 5th district
In office March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907
Preceded by	John Lind
Succeeded by	Frank Nye
16th Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives
In office 1881–1885
Preceded by	Charles A. Gilman
Succeeded by	John L. Gibbs
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
In office 1872-1886
Personal details
Born	April 10, 1833 Mount Vernon, Maine, USA
Died	April 15, 1919 (aged 86) Atlanta, Georgia
Political party	Republican
Signature

Biography

He was born in Mount Vernon, Kennebec County, Maine and attended the public schools and Maine Wesleyan Seminary, Kents Hill, Maine.^[1] Fletcher moved to Bangor in 1853, where he was a stonecutter, clerk in a store, and an employee of a lumber company.

In 1856, he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and engaged in manufacturing and mercantile pursuits, largely in the manufacture of lumber and flour. He became a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank upon its establishment in 1864.

Fletcher was elected a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives 1872 – 1886, and served as speaker from 1880 to 1885. Beginning with the 1892 election, he was elected as a Republican to the 53rd, 54th, 55th, 56th, and 57th congresses (March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1903). Fletcher served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings (57th congress. He was defeated in the 1902 election to the 58th congress, but was elected to the 59th congress, (March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907). He declined to be a candidate for reelection and retired from active business.

Fletcher died in Atlanta, Georgia, April 15, 1919, aged 86; he is interred in Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.^[2]

Fletcher was married to Amerette J. Thomas from 1855 until she died in 1892. The couple had one child, a daughter.

References

1. The Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Representative Men of Chicago, Minnesota Cities and the World's Columbian Exposition. Vol. 2. American Biographical Publishing Company. 1892. pp. 894–895. Retrieved January 22, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
2. "Loren Fletcher Funeral Will Be Held Today". Star Tribune. April 21, 1919. p. 9. Retrieved January 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

• Minnesota Legislators Past and Present
• United States Congress. "Loren Fletcher (id: F000202)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

Sources

• Loren Fletcher Memorial. Minnesota Journal of the House, April 22, 1919, p. 1857.
• Shutter, Marion Daniel. "Loren Fletcher." Progressive Men of Minnesota, Minneapolis: The Minneapolis Journal, 1897, p. 38-39.
• "Fletcher, L." The Fifteenth Legislature of Minnesota. St. Paul: Press Printing Company, 1873, p. 27.
• "Hon. L. Fletcher." Memoirs of the State Officers; and of the Nineteenth Legislature of Minnesota, by C.L. Hall. Minneapolis: Johnson & Smith, p. 36.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Kittel Halvorson	U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 5th congressional district 1893–1903	Succeeded by John Lind
Preceded by John Lind	U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 5th congressional district 1905–1907	Succeeded by Frank Nye
Political offices
Preceded by Charles A. Gilman	Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives 1881–1885	Succeeded by John L. Gibbs