14 Facts About Lynn Frazier

Lynn Joseph Frazier was an American educator and politician who served as the 12th governor of North Dakota from 1917 until being recalled in 1921 and later served as a US Senator from North Dakota from 1923 to 1941.

Lynn Frazier was the first American governor ever successfully recalled from office.

Lynn Frazier's family moved to North Dakota when he was six years old.

Lynn Frazier graduated from Grafton High School in 1892, and Mayville Normal School in 1895.

Lynn Frazier completed his bachelor's degree at the University of North Dakota and graduated with honors.

Lynn Frazier intended to become a doctor, but the unexpected deaths of his father and brother forced him to take over the family farm.

Lynn Frazier was extremely popular and implemented several reforms such as the establishment of the Bank of North Dakota and the North Dakota Mill and Elevator, which have been a lasting legacy of the Nonpartisan League election success until today.

Lynn Frazier declared martial law, took over the mines with United Mine Workers of America contracts and ran them in cooperation with the union.

Lynn Frazier was re-elected twice, in 1918 and 1920, but an economic depression hit the agricultural sector during his third term and resulted in a successful private-business-led grassroots movement to press for his recall.

In 1921, Lynn Frazier was the first governor to be successfully removed from office.

Lynn Frazier served until losing a bid for re-election in 1940, when he was unseated in the Republican primary by William Langer.

Lynn Frazier died in Riverdale, Maryland, on January 11,1947, at the age of 72.

Lynn Frazier is buried in Hoople Cemetery, Hoople, North Dakota.

Governor Lynn Frazier is portrayed in the 1984 Nebraska Public TV documentary Plowing up a Storm.