Terry E. Branstad, a Republican from Lake Mills, Iowa, was first elected as Iowa's 39th Governor and the youngest in the nation. He served from 1983-1999 the first time. He was born in Winnebago County on November 17, 1946, the son of Rita And Edward…
Ansel Briggs was the first Iowa Governor. He was born in Vermont on February 3, 1806. His education was attained in the common schools of Vermont and at the Norwich Academy in Connecticut. After moving to Ohio and then Iowa, Briggs established…
New Virginia, Iowa Republican William S. Beardsley, son of William and Carrie Shane Beardsley, was born in Beacon, Iowa on May 13, 1901. He attended public school at Birmingham, Iowa and graduated from Birmingham High School and the Bowen Institute…
Samuel Merrill, Iowa's seventh governor, was born on August 7, 1822 in Turner, Maine. He was the son of a New England farmer, Abel Merrill, and his wife, Abigail. After receiving a limited education in the local country schools, he taught briefly in…
Thomas ""Tom"" Vilsack was born in 1950 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was raised by his adoptive parents, Bud and Dolly Vilsack. He recieved a Bachelor's degree from Hamilton College in New York and a law degree from Albany Law School. Vilsack…
Leo A. Hoegh, a republican from Chariton, Iowa, was born in Audubon County, Iowa on March 30th, 1908. He received his early education in the public schools of Elkhorn, Iowa and attended the University of Iowa, receiving a B.A. degree in 1929 and a…
Robert Lucas, 1st governor of the Iowa Territory, was born April 1, 1781 in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, the son of William and Susannah (Barnes) Lucas. He was educated in mathematics and surveying by private tutor. Around 1800 Robert Lucas settled…
Daniel Webster Turner, 25th governor of Iowa and a founder of the National farmer Organization (NFO), was the fifth of nine children of Almira (Baker) Turner and Austin Bates Turner, a merchant and Civil War veteran. Daniel Turner served for 18…
John Hammill, 24th Governor of Iowa was born on October 14, 1875 in Linden, Iowa County, Wisconsin, the son of George and Mary Brewer Hammill, both of English ancestry. When he was 13, the family moved to a farm near Britt, Hancock County, Iowa. He…
Harold E. Hughes, a democrat, was born in Ida Grove, Iowa on February 10, 1922. He was the youngest son of Lewis C. and Etta E. Hughes. Lewis was an Ida Grove florist for many years. He graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1940 and was the state…