William H. McMaster

William Henry McMaster
United States Senator from South Dakota
In office March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1931
Preceded by	Thomas Sterling
Succeeded by	William J. Bulow
10th Governor of South Dakota
In office January 4, 1921 – January 6, 1925
Lieutenant	Carl Gunderson
Preceded by	Peter Norbeck
Succeeded by	Carl Gunderson
12th Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
In office January 2, 1917 – January 4, 1921
Governor	Peter Norbeck
Preceded by	Peter Norbeck
Succeeded by	Carl Gunderson
Personal details
Born	(1877-05-10)May 10, 1877 Monona County, Iowa
Died	Dixon, Illinois
Political party	Republican

William Henry McMaster (May 10, 1877 – September 14, 1968) was the tenth Governor of South Dakota, serving from 1921 until 1925, and also a United States Senator from that state. He was a member of the Republican Party.

Biography

McMaster was born to Samuel and Sara (Woodsum) McMaster in Ticonic, Iowa, Monona County, Iowa. His family moved to Sioux City, Iowa after the death of his father in 1880; and while growing up, he contributed to the family income by delivering the morning edition of the "Sioux City Journal." McMaster graduated from Sioux City High School and in 1899, he received a B.A. degree from Beloit College in Wisconsin.

Career

In 1901, he moved to Yankton, South Dakota and worked as a cashier at that Security State Bank in Gayville, eventually becoming president of a banking chain in 1910. He married Harriett Louise Russell and they had two children.

McMaster served in the South Dakota State House of Representatives in 1911 and 1912 in the South Dakota State Senate from 1913 to 1916. He was Lieutenant Governor from 1917 through 1920.

Winning the nomination and the election McMasters became Governor of South Dakota from 1921 through 1924. As a friend of the farming community, he fought to revise taxes and provide state guaranteed credit as well as waging a successful battle against high gasoline prices.

United States Senator from 1925 through 1931. Defeated in his bid for re-election, he became Vice President, then President and finally Chairman of the Board of Dixon National Bank in Illinois.

Death

Aged 91 years, McMaster died in Yankton and was interred in Oakwood Cemetery, Dixon, Lee County, Illinois USA.

External links

• William H. McMaster at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• National Governors Association
• Find A Grave

Political offices
Preceded by Peter Norbeck	Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota 1917–1921	Succeeded by Carl Gunderson
Preceded by Peter Norbeck	Governor of South Dakota 1921–1925	Succeeded by Carl Gunderson
United States Senate
Preceded by Thomas Sterling	United States Senator (Class 2) from South Dakota 1925–1931	Succeeded by William J. Bulow