Joseph M. Devine

Joseph McMurray Devine (March 15, 1861 – August 31, 1938) was an American politician who was the Governor of North Dakota from 1898 to 1899. He served as governor for less than one year as he finished the term after Governor Frank A. Briggs died in office.

Joseph McMurray Devine
6th Governor of North Dakota
In office August 9, 1898 – January 3, 1899
Lieutenant	Vacant
Preceded by	Frank A. Briggs
Succeeded by	Frederick B. Fancher
5th Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota
In office January 6, 1897 – August 9, 1898
Governor	Frank A. Briggs
Preceded by	John H. Worst
Succeeded by	David Bartlett
Personal details
Born	March 15, 1861 Wheeling, Virginia (now Wheeling, West Virginia)
Died	August 31, 1938 (aged 77) Mandan, North Dakota
Political party	Republican

Biography

Joseph M. Devine was born in Wheeling (in modern-day West Virginia; located in Virginia at the time of his birth). He was educated in the public schools. He received a B.A. degree from the West Virginia University in 1881.[1] He married Ida Frances Holloway in 1891 and they had one daughter. He was again married, in 1900, to Mary Bernadine Hascom; and had a son, Douglas, and two daughters, Helen and Bernadine. He moved to LaMoure County, Dakota Territory in 1884 and was superintendent of schools for ten years. In 1892 he lost an election for state superintendent of public education to Laura J. Eisenhuth, the first woman elected to state office in the United States.[2]

Career

He first entered politics as Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota in 1897. When Governor Frank A. Briggs died on August 9, 1898, Devine, assumed the duties of governorship for the remainder of the term. He won reelection as Lieutenant Governor from 1899 through 1901[3] He continued to be active in educational issues. The last position he held was as State Immigration Commissioner from 1923 to 1933.[3]

Death

Devine died of heart failure on August 31, 1938, and is interred in Mandan Union Cemetery in Mandan, North Dakota.[1]

References

1. "Joseph M. Devine". Soylent Communications. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
2. "History: ND elected first woman to be administrator of a state office". The Bismarck Tribune. April 25, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
3. "Joseph M. Devine". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 4, 2012.

External links

• Joseph M. Devine at Find a Grave
• Biography for Joseph M. Devine from the State Historical Society of North Dakota website.
• National Governors Association