William H. McMaster

William Henry McMaster (May 10, 1877 – September 14, 1968) was an American politician who served as the tenth governor of South Dakota from 1921 until 1925. A member of the Republican Party, he went on to serve as a member of the United States Senate from South Dakota from 1925 to 1931.

Biography McMaster was born to Samuel and Sara (Woodsum) McMaster in Ticonic, 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. McMaster served as the head football coach at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, then known as Oshkosh Normal School in 1899.

Career McMaster moved to Gayville, South Dakota, and entered the banking industry, serving as the cashier of the Bank of Gayville. He was elected Gayville City Treasurer in 1905 and was re-elected in 1907.

He was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives from Yankton County in 1910. He was then elected to the State Senate in 1912, and was re-elected in 1914.

In 1916, McMaster ran for Lieutenant Governor. He defeated fellow State Senator E. C. Miller and former State Representative T S. Everitt in the Republican primary, and then defeated the Democratic nominee, State Senator Andrew S. Anderson, in the general election with 55% of the vote.

Death At the age of 91 years, McMaster died in Yankton and was interred in Oakwood Cemetery, Dixon, Lee County, Illinois US.

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