15 Facts About Len Small

Lennington "Len" Small was an American politician who served as the 26th Governor of Illinois from 1921 to 1929.

Len Small previously was a member of the Illinois state senate from the 16th District from 1901 to 1903 and was Illinois state treasurer, from 1905 to 1907, and from 1917 to 1919.

Len Small is known for accusations of embezzlement brought against him.

In 1883, Len Small married Ida Moore, and they had three children together.

Six months after the Governor's inauguration, on June 26,1922, Ida Moore Len Small died suddenly from apoplexy at the age of 60 while Len Small and his wife were being welcomed home following his acquittal on charges of embezzlement.

In 1900, Len Small was elected to the Illinois Senate from the 20th district.

Len Small served in the Illinois Senate from 1901 to 1905.

Len Small was the Illinois Treasurer from 1905 to 1907, and again from 1917 to 1919.

Len Small served as the assistant US Treasurer in charge of the sub treasury at Chicago from 1908 to 1912, and was a delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois in 1908,1912, and 1932.

Len Small was elected governor of Illinois in 1920 and was reelected in 1924.

Len Small was indicted, six months after becoming governor, for embezzling over a million dollars in a money-laundering scheme in which he placed state funds into a fake bank while he was state treasurer.

Len Small was acquitted, but eight jurors later got state jobs, raising suspicions of jury tampering.

Len Small pardoned or paroled over 1000 convicted felons, including Harry Guzik, brother of the Chicago Outfit's Jake Guzik, of Posen, Illinois, who was convicted of kidnapping young girls and forcing them into lives of prostitution.

Len Small made a failed run for governor in 1932, and another in 1936.

Len Small is buried at Mound Grove Cemetery in Kankakee, Illinois.