Carl Gunderson

Carl Gunderson (June 20, 1864 ["South Dakota Manual, 1925", p. 261] – February 16 1933) ["Biographical Directory of the South Dakota Legislature, 1889-1989" (1989), p. 400] was the eleventh Governor of South Dakota. Gunderson, a Republican from Mitchell, South Dakota, served from 1925 to 1927.

Gunderson was born in a log cabin near Vermillion, South Dakota, and as a young man filed a claim on a homestead in Clay County, South Dakota, that remained dear to him all his life. He stated that his occupation was a farmer all his life. He attended the University of South Dakota and Cornell University. He went into the merchantile business in Vermillion and in 1892, married Gertrude Bertleson. They had four children.

Gunderson served five terms in the state senate of the South Dakota Legislature, being elected in 1892, 1896, 1898, 1900, and again in 1916. Gunderson served as president pro tempore of the senate in the 1899 session and served as lieutenant governor from 1921-1925. He was elected governor in 1924. ["Biographical Directory of the South Dakota Legislature, 1889-1989" (1989), p. 400]

William J. Bulow defeated Gunderson for re-election in 1926. Gunderson received 40.3 percent of the vote and Bulow received 47.4 percent. A third party candidate and an independent received the remainder of the tally ["South Dakota Manual, 1927", p.216] Gunderson had easily defeated Bulow in the election of 1924 by 70.2 percent of the vote to 29.8 percent. ["South Dakota Manual, 1927", p.196]

After his defeat he returned to his home in Mitchell until his death. He was buried on the tract of land that he had homesteaded. ["Biographical Directory of the South Dakota Legislature, 1889-1989" (1989), p. 400]

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