Warren Garst
American politician (1850–1924)
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Warren Garst (December 4, 1850 – October 5, 1924) was an American politician, Iowa State Senator, a member of the Republican Party, the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa, and the 19th Governor of Iowa.[2]
Warren Garst | |
|---|---|
| |
| 1st Industrial Commissioner of Iowa | |
| In office July 1913 – 1914 | |
| Appointed by | George W. Clarke |
| 19th Governor of Iowa | |
| In office November 24, 1908 – January 14, 1909 | |
| Lieutenant | Vacant |
| Preceded by | Albert B. Cummins |
| Succeeded by | Beryl F. Carroll |
| 20th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa | |
| In office January 17, 1907[1] – November 24, 1908 | |
| Governor | Albert B. Cummins |
| Preceded by | John Herriott |
| Succeeded by | George W. Clarke |
| Member of the Iowa Senate from the 48th district | |
| In office January 8, 1894 – January 13, 1907 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 4, 1850 Dayton, Ohio, US |
| Died | October 5, 1924 (aged 73) Iowa City, Iowa, US |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Johnson (died 1881) Clara H. Clark Lee (m. 1889) |
| Children | 4 |
| Profession | Politician |
Early life
Garst was born to Dr. Michael Garst and Marie Louise Morrison in Dayton, Ohio.[1][2][3][4][5] His father's side was descended from Holland and his mother's from Ireland.[1] At age 8 he and his family moved to Champaign, Illinois. At age 19 he moved to Iowa to start his business career.[1] He and his brother went to Coon Rapids, Iowa, to open a general store called The Garst Store.[1][2][4][5] He later co-founded Iowa Savings Bank in Coon Rapids.[1][2][4]
Garst and Elizabeth Johnson had one child, Ada Belle Garst. Elizabeth died in 1881. He then married to Clara H. Clark Lee, in 1889 in Boone, and had two children: Louise Garst and Warren Carroll Garst Jr.[1][4][6]
Political career
Iowa Senate
Garst started his political career when he ran for State Senate in 1893 and became a member of the Iowa Senate 1894.[1][2][4][5] He served in the 25th through 31st General Assemblies (1894-1908).[1][2][5] From 1896 to 1907, he was the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.[1][5]
Lieutenant Governor and Governor
He was nominated for lieutenant governor at the Republican Convention in 1906 and was inaugurated on January 17, 1907.[2][4][5]
When Governor Albert B. Cummins was elected into the United States Senate he was elevated to the position of Governor of Iowa.[1][2][4][5] During his short time as governor he carried out the Cummins administration's policies.[2] He was urged to run for a full term as governor, but lost the 1910 Republican primary to State Auditor Beryl F. Carroll 49% to 35%, with the votes being: Carroll receiving 88,834 votes; Garst, 63,737; and John J. Hamilton, 29,292.[1][4]
Industrial Commissioner
In July 1913, Garst was appointed by Governor George W. Clarke to be Industrial Commissioner.[1] He helped to get laws enacted to get workers compensated for industrial accidents.[1]
Later life
He died on October 5, 1924, and was buried at the Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, Iowa.[2][4]