Frank M. Byrne
Frank Michael Byrne ( born October 23, 1858 in Volney, Allamakee County, Iowa, † December 24, 1928 in San Francisco, California ) was an American politician and from 1913 to 1917, the eighth Governor of the State of South Dakota.
Early years and political rise
Frank Byrne attended the local schools of his home in Iowa. In 1879 he moved to the Dakota Territory, where he first settled as a farmer and real estate dealer in McCook County. In 1883 he moved to the Faulk County, where he was employed as an insurance agent. Byrne was actively involved in the development of the new state of South Dakota. In 1888 he was a member of the Constituent Assembly of the future state. A year later he was sitting in the first State Senate. After that, he served for four years as treasurer in Faulk County.
Politically, Byrne member of the Republican Party, whose progressive wing he supported. Between 1907 and 1910 he was again at the Senate of South Dakota, before he was elected in 1910 as vice- governor. In this role, he was between 1911 and 1913 Deputy Governor Robert S. Vessey. In 1912 he was elected governor.
Governor of South Dakota
Byrne took up his new post on January 7, 1913. After a re-election in 1914 he was able to exercise it until 2 January 1917. In these four years, a Tax Commission was established in South Dakota. We also had supervisory bodies, which should exercise the supervision of banks, insurance companies and railroads. The governor sat in view of the emerging motorized transport for the expansion of the road network in his State. In 1916, an infantry unit from South Dakota was ordered to the Mexican border. There were boundary disputes between the U.S. and Mexico. The unit was brought back in 1917.
Further CV
After the end of his tenure, Byrne initially devoted to his private interests. In 1918, a failed attempt to be elected to the U.S. Senate, already in the primaries of his own party. Between 1922 and 1925, Byrne was Minister of Agriculture of South Dakota. A rheumatic disease forced him to use crutches. Due to his deteriorating health, he searched the better climate of Oregon and then to California alleviation of his suffering. He died on Christmas Eve of 1928 in San Francisco. He was married to Emmelie Beaver, with whom he had five children.