3/29/2008:
Eli C. D. Shortridge, the third governor of North Dakota, was born on this day, March 29, 1830. Raised and educated in Missouri, at the age of 52, Shortridge moved his family to Larimore in Dakota Territory. Within ten years, he had secured the Populist gubernatorial nomination and successfully won the November 1892 election through an alliance of Populist farmers and Democrats.
During his one term in office, Governor Shortridge secured funding for the south wing of the capitol building and approved the purchase of Asa Fisher’s home on Fourth Street to serve as a residence for the state executive. Shortridge moved into the house in May of 1893, becoming the first governor to occupy the Governors’ Mansion.
After retiring from office, Eli Shortridge was appointed clerk of the United States Land Office in Devils Lake, where he died in February of 1908.
Written by Christina Sunwall
Sources:
State Historical Society of North Dakota: Former Governors’ Mansion- http://www.nd.gov/hist/hp/sites/fgm/fgm.html
State Historical Society: North Dakota Governors- http://www.nd.gov/hist/ndgov.htm
National Governors Association: North Dakota- http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.8fd3d12ab65b304f8a278110501010a0?submit=Submit&State=ND