Nathan E. Kendall

Nathan Edward Kendall (March 17, 1868 – November 5, 1936) was an American Republican politician. Kendall was a two-term U.S. Representative from Iowa's 6th congressional district and the 23rd Governor of Iowa.

Nathan Edward Kendall
23rd Governor of Iowa
In office January 13, 1921 – January 15, 1925
Lieutenant	John Hammill
Preceded by	William L. Harding
Succeeded by	John Hammill
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 6th district
In office March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1913
Preceded by	Daniel W. Hamilton
Succeeded by	Sanford Kirkpatrick
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
In office 1899–1909
Personal details
Born	(1868-03-17)March 17, 1868 Greenville, Iowa, U.S.
Died	November 5, 1936(1936-11-05) (aged 68) Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Political party	Republican

Background

Born on a farm near Greenville, Iowa^[usurped], Kendall attended the rural schools until the eighth grade.^[1] After moving to Albia, Iowa, he began reading law at age fifteen, and was admitted to the bar in 1889.^[1] He commenced practice in Albia in 1889. He was Albia city attorney from 1890 to 1892, then Monroe County Attorney from 1893 to 1897. In 1899, he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives, where he served for ten years and ultimately became Speaker of the House during his last term.

Congress

In 1908, Kendall ran as a Republican for the U.S. House seat for Iowa's 6th congressional district, then held by incumbent one-term Democrat Daniel W. Hamilton. Defeating Hamilton in a close race, Kendall served in the Sixty-first Congress, then was re-elected in 1910, serving in the Sixty-second Congress. He won the Republican primary in June 1912 over two challengers,^[2] but pulled out of the race in August, citing health concerns.^[3] In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1909 to March 3, 1913. After returning from Washington, he resumed the practice of law in Albia.

Governorship

In 1920, Kendall was elected Governor of Iowa, defeating Democrat and future Governor Clyde L. Herring. He served two terms, from 1921 to 1925. He resided in Des Moines, Iowa, until his death on November 5, 1936. His remains were cremated and the ashes interred on the lawn of "Kendall Place," his former home in Albia.^[4]

References

1. Michael Kramme, "Governors of Iowa," 63-64 (The Iowan Books: 2006)
2. Congressmen All Are Re-nominated," Cedar Rapids Republican, June 5, 1912 at p. 3.
3. "Kendall Decides to Quit Congress," Oelwein Daily Register, August 7, 1912 at p. 4.
4. James E. Jacobsen. "Noble-Kendall House" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved February 27, 2016.

• United States Congress. "Nathan E. Kendall (id: K000096)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• National Governors Association profile

Party political offices
Preceded by William L. Harding	Republican nominee Governor of Iowa 1920, 1922	Succeeded by John Hammill
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Daniel W. Hamilton	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 6th congressional district 1909–1913	Succeeded by Sanford Kirkpatrick
Political offices
Preceded by William L. Harding	Governor of Iowa 1921–1925	Succeeded by John Hammill

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress