Ben W. Olcott
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Ben W. Olcott | |
---|---|
Frank W. Benson | |
Succeeded by | Sam A. Kozer |
Personal details | |
Born | Keithsburg, Illinois | October 15, 1872
Died | July 21, 1952 Portland, Oregon | (aged 79)
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Lena Olcott |
Profession | Banker |
Ben Wilson Olcott (October 15, 1872 – July 21, 1952) was an American politician of the Republican Party who served as the 16th Governor of Oregon.
Early life
Olcott was born in Keithsburg, Illinois. He was educated at a Keithsburg elementary school and a business school in Dixon, later becoming a clerk in Chicago. In 1891, at age 19, he moved to Salem, Oregon, and became a roommate and good friend of Oswald West. West would become a major influence in the development of Olcott's political career.
Adventurer and banker
For nearly 15 years Olcott travelled throughout the
Olcott's sense of adventure prevailed again in 1904, leading him to Alaska. His journey ended notably when he drove a dog sled team to Nome, a trip of over 1,000 miles up the Yukon and Tanana rivers in the height of winter. Settling in Fairbanks, Olcott found work as a gold dust teller, and later a bank branch manager. He managed to make a sizeable profit from gold prospecting, allowing him to move back to Oregon.
Becomes a public figure
Olcott's good friend Oswald West had entered politics, heading the State Land Office. West offered Olcott a position in the Land Office, which he accepted in 1909. He became more interested in the political process, and was appointed by
Although he was a Republican, and West was a Democrat, the two had a strong friendship which transcended politics. Olcott ran West's victorious 1910 gubernatorial campaign, and contributed $1,500 to his friend's effort. Olcott married Lena Hutton, Oswald West's sister-in law.
In 1911, during West's governorship,
Governorship
On March 3, 1919, Governor James Withycombe died after serving only two months of his second term in office due to heart complications. Ben Olcott, as Secretary of State, assumed the Governorship under the state's gubernatorial line of succession. Withycombe was so widely respected that Olcott refused to be sworn in until after the late Governor's funeral.
Once in office, Governor Olcott continued Withycombe's road-building agenda. Today's policy of leaving a protected buffer of forested land around state highways was instituted under the Olcott Administration.
Olcott built upon Withycombe's defense and state safety policies. His administration managed to obtain U.S. Army air patrols for spotting forest fires. He proposed legislation banning the Japanese from holding land in Oregon.[citation needed]
The growing power of the
Later life
After his electoral defeat, Olcott left Oregon to manage the
References
- ^ Mahoney, Barbara. Charles L. McNary (1874-1944). Oregon Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- Oregon State Library
- Klooster, Karl. Round the Roses II: More Past Portland Perspectives, pg. 119, 1992 ISBN 0-9619847-1-6