Ragnvald A. Nestos
Encyclopedia
Ragnvald Anderson Nestos (April 12, 1877 – July 15, 1942) was the 13th Governor
of the U.S. state
of North Dakota
from 1921 through 1925.
, Norway
. He was the son of Andres R. Nestos and Herborg (Saue) Nestos. One of ten children, he was sixteen and spoke no English when he came to the United States (passenger on board the S.S. British Prince, which sailed from Liverpool, and arrived at the Port of Philadelphia, May 31, 1893) to live with his aunt and uncle at Buxton, North Dakota
. He entered the first grade at Buxton and attended school in between working odd jobs and working at lumber
camps out of state. Four years later, in 1897, he passed the teacher
s' examinations and taught in a country school. He completed studies at Mayville Normal School
(teachers' college) while homesteading
in Pierce County. In 1904 he graduated from the University of North Dakota
and moved to Minot
, where he began practicing law
with attorney C. A. Johnson.
, running on the Republican
ticket. He was a member of North Dakota State House of Representatives, 1911–12; Ward County
State's Attorney, 1913–16; and primary candidate for U.S. Senator from North Dakota, 1916. He gained office when Governor Lynn Frazier
was defeated in the first successful attempt to recall
a governor in U.S. history. Frazier's term was plagued with controversy and a grassroots movement had begun to press for his recall. The recall election
that removed Governor Lynn Frazier
had also removed two other members of the Industrial Commission from office. It was a time of bitter political discontent and bickering between the NPL (Nonpartisan League, which supported state-owned industry) and the IVA
(Independent Voters Association, which opposed state ownership of Industries). Nestos worked hard to make the new state-owned businesses (State Mill and Elevator
and the Bank of North Dakota
) a success. He also campaigned against illiteracy. During his administration, North Dakota
came into national compliance for registering births and deaths, and North Dakota had a full-time health
officer for the first time. He ran for and completed a second term of office.
Nestos never married. He received national recognition for his work on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America
. He was a Silver Buffalo Award Winner (1942). He was also active within the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.
Governor of North Dakota
The Governor of North Dakota is the chief executive of North Dakota. The current Governor is Jack Dalrymple. The Governor has the right to sign and laws, and to call the Legislative Assembly, into emergency session. The Governor is also chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
from 1921 through 1925.
Biography
Ragnvold Anderson Nestos was a native of VossVoss
is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Voss. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Vossevangen....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. He was the son of Andres R. Nestos and Herborg (Saue) Nestos. One of ten children, he was sixteen and spoke no English when he came to the United States (passenger on board the S.S. British Prince, which sailed from Liverpool, and arrived at the Port of Philadelphia, May 31, 1893) to live with his aunt and uncle at Buxton, North Dakota
Buxton, North Dakota
As of the 2000 Census, there were 350 people, 133 households, and 96 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,735.1 people per square mile . There were 141 housing units at an average density of 699.0 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 98.00% White, 0.29% Asian,...
. He entered the first grade at Buxton and attended school in between working odd jobs and working at lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
camps out of state. Four years later, in 1897, he passed the teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s' examinations and taught in a country school. He completed studies at Mayville Normal School
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
(teachers' college) while homesteading
Homesteading
Broadly defined, homesteading is a lifestyle of simple self-sufficiency.-Current practice:The term may apply to anyone who follows the back-to-the-land movement by adopting a sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle. While land is no longer freely available in most areas of the world, homesteading...
in Pierce County. In 1904 he graduated from the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
and moved to Minot
Minot, North Dakota
Minot is a city located in north central North Dakota in the United States. It is most widely known for the Air Force base located approximately 15 miles north of the city. With a population of 40,888 at the 2010 census, Minot is the fourth largest city in the state...
, where he began practicing law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
with attorney C. A. Johnson.
Political career
Nestos was a member of the Independent Voters AssociationIndependent Voters Association
The Independent Voters Association, or IVA, was a North Dakota political organization formed on May 1, 1918, at the height of the Non Partisan League's influence on the North Dakota Republican Party. The IVA was a conservative, capitalist faction created to counter the NPL's socialist leanings. ...
, running on the Republican
North Dakota Republican Party
The North Dakota Republican Party is the North Dakota affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party platform is generally conservative.The North Dakota Republican Party is strongly in control of the state's politics...
ticket. He was a member of North Dakota State House of Representatives, 1911–12; Ward County
Ward County, North Dakota
-National protected areas:*Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge *Hiddenwood National Wildlife Refuge *Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:...
State's Attorney, 1913–16; and primary candidate for U.S. Senator from North Dakota, 1916. He gained office when Governor Lynn Frazier
Lynn Frazier
Lynn Joseph Frazier was a politician from North Dakota, serving as a U.S. Senator from 1923 to 1941 and the 12th Governor of North Dakota of that state from 1917 until being recalled in 1921. He was the first American governor ever successfully recalled from office...
was defeated in the first successful attempt to recall
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
a governor in U.S. history. Frazier's term was plagued with controversy and a grassroots movement had begun to press for his recall. The recall election
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
that removed Governor Lynn Frazier
Lynn Frazier
Lynn Joseph Frazier was a politician from North Dakota, serving as a U.S. Senator from 1923 to 1941 and the 12th Governor of North Dakota of that state from 1917 until being recalled in 1921. He was the first American governor ever successfully recalled from office...
had also removed two other members of the Industrial Commission from office. It was a time of bitter political discontent and bickering between the NPL (Nonpartisan League, which supported state-owned industry) and the IVA
Independent Voters Association
The Independent Voters Association, or IVA, was a North Dakota political organization formed on May 1, 1918, at the height of the Non Partisan League's influence on the North Dakota Republican Party. The IVA was a conservative, capitalist faction created to counter the NPL's socialist leanings. ...
(Independent Voters Association, which opposed state ownership of Industries). Nestos worked hard to make the new state-owned businesses (State Mill and Elevator
North Dakota Mill and Elevator
The North Dakota Mill and Elevator is the largest flour mill in the United States. It is located in the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. The mill is owned by the U.S. state of North Dakota and is the only state-owned milling facility in the United States....
and the Bank of North Dakota
Bank of North Dakota
The Bank of North Dakota is a state-owned and -run financial institution based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Under state law the bank is the State of North Dakota doing business as the Bank of North Dakota....
) a success. He also campaigned against illiteracy. During his administration, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
came into national compliance for registering births and deaths, and North Dakota had a full-time health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
officer for the first time. He ran for and completed a second term of office.
Nestos never married. He received national recognition for his work on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
. He was a Silver Buffalo Award Winner (1942). He was also active within the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.
Other sources
- Gunderson, Carl M. Ringen Historie om guvernør Ragnvald Nestos med hans stamtavle : Førhenverende guvernør og senator av North Dakota, U.S.A. (Los Angeles, 1964)Norwegian
External links
- Biography of Ragnvold A. Nestos from the Historical Society of North Dakota website
- Burial record for Ragnvald A. Nestos at Findagrave.com