George W. Gardenhire (Oct. 4, 1841 - Dec. 19, 1905)[1] was the first President of the Senate in the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature and a member of the Oklahoma's People's Party.

President
Arthur N. Daniels
Member of the Oklahoma Territorial Council representing the 7th district
In office
1890–1893
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byL. G. Pitman
Personal details
BornMarion County, Tennessee
NationalityAmerican
Political partyPeople's Party

Early life

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Born in 1841 in Marion County, Tennessee, Gardenhire moved to Lawrence County, Arkansas with his family when he was 10.[2]

Gardenhire served in the Civil War for several years and returned to Arkansas where he married Rebecca James in 1866.[2] He moved to Cowley County, Kansas in 1869. He moved to Payne County, Oklahoma in 1889.[2]

Political career

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Gardenhire is best known for pushing through a compromise bill that set up what would become Oklahoma State University - Stillwater.[3]

Gardenhire was a Populist Party legislator, the only one on the council of the first Oklahoma Territorial Legislature. However, he was elected president,[4] due to the division of the legislature among Republicans and Democrats.[2]

Gardenhire also helped organize the Farmer's Alliance in Kansas during his time there.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "George Washington Gardenhire (1841-1905) - Find A Grave Memorial".
  2. ^ a b c d e George W. Gardenhire Archived 2010-05-27 at the Wayback Machine, Oklahoma Senate Archived July 9, 2013, at the Wayback Machine (accessed April 29, 2010)
  3. ^ Rulon, Phillip Reed, "Oklahoma State University Archived 2010-05-15 at the Wayback Machine," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived May 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine (accessed April 29, 2010)
  4. ^ Miller, Worth Robert, "Populist (People's Party Archived 2010-07-18 at the Wayback Machine," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived May 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine (accessed April 29, 2010)