Carl Gunderson

Carl Gunderson.

Carl Gunderson (June 20, 1864 – February 16, 1933) was the 11th Governor of South Dakota. Gunderson, a Republican from Mitchell, South Dakota, served from 1925 to 1927.

Background

Gunderson was born in a log cabin near Vermillion, South Dakota, and as a young man filed a claim on a homestead in Clay County, South Dakota, that remained dear to him all his life. He stated that his occupation was a farmer all his life. He attended the University of South Dakota and Cornell University. He went into the mercantile business in Vermillion.

Career

Gunderson served five terms in the state senate of the South Dakota Legislature, being elected in 1892, 1896, 1898, 1900, and again in 1916. Gunderson served as president pro tempore of the senate in the 1899 session and served as the 13th Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota from 1921 to 1925. He was elected governor in 1924.

William J. Bulow defeated Gunderson for re-election in 1926. Gunderson received 40.3 percent of the vote and Bulow received 47.4 percent. A third party candidate and an independent received the remainder of the tally Gunderson had easily defeated Bulow in the election of 1924 by 70.2 percent of the vote to 29.8 percent.

Personal life

In 1892, married Gertrude Bertleson. They had four children. After his defeat he returned to his home in Mitchell until his death. He was buried on the tract of land that he had homesteaded.

Notes

Political offices
Preceded by William H. McMaster	Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota 1921–1925	Succeeded by Alva Clark Forney
Preceded by William H. McMaster	Governor of South Dakota 1925–1927	Succeeded by William J. Bulow