Silas Woodson

Silas Woodson ( born May 18, 1819 Knox County, Kentucky, † October 9, 1896 in Saint Joseph, Missouri ) was an American politician and from 1873 to 1875 the 21 governor of Missouri.

Early years and political rise

Silas Woodson attended the local schools of his home in Kentucky. After a subsequent law degree, he was admitted in 1840 as a lawyer. In the years 1842 and 1853 he was elected to the Legislature of Kentucky. In 1849 he was a delegate to a conference to revise the state constitution of Kentucky. After a verification, in 1854, moved to Missouri he became politically active in his new home. On November 5, 1872, he was elected as a candidate of the Democratic Party as the new governor of his state. With it began a 36 year long period, during which only members of the Democratic Party were elected governor of Missouri. Only managed in 1909 with Herbert Hadley again a Republican one election victory.

Governor of Missouri

Silas Woodson took up his new post on January 8, 1873. During his two years in office, taxes were lowered in Missouri and founded a school for teachers. In St. Louis Eads Bridge which was completed. At the time of the first kindergarten was also opened in St. Louis. Despite the tax cuts succeeded to the Governor to reduce the budget deficit.

More years of life

After the expiration of his term in January 1875, Woodson retired from politics. Between 1885 and 1895 he was a judge of a district court. Silas Woodson was married three times and had four children.