Oddly Named Governors - Part II

Last week, we looked at Alabama to whatever come before Montana. Now, on to Wyoming!

Montana

Green Clay Smith (1866-1869, Unionist)

Fun fact:  Graduate of Transylvania Univ.; ran for president on the Prohibition Party ticket (see Kansas for another one)

Honorable mention:  Wiley Scribner, Donald Grant Nutter

Nebraska

Ashton C Shallenberger (1909-1911, Democrat)

Fun facts:  C stood for Cokayne

Honorable mention:  Silas Garber, Albinus Nance, Ezra P Savage, Lorenzo Crounse

Nevada

Tasker Oddie (1011-1915, Republican)

Fun facts:  Made millions in silver

Honorable mention:  Steve Sisolak, Morely Griswold, Reinhold Sadler, Denver S Dickinson, Roswell K Colcord

New Hampshire

Moody Currier (1885-1887, Republican)

Fun facts:  Illegitimate, lived to age 92; see Oregon for another Moody

Honorable mention:  Meschech Weare, Hiram A Tuttle, Ezekiel A Straw, Person Colby Cheney

New Jersey

Peter Dumont Vroom (1829-1832, Democrat)

Fun fact:  “Not to be confused with the actor who plays Lance Smart [Wikipedia].”

Honorable mention:  Foster McGown Vorhees, Woodrow Wilson (yeah, I realize he was POTUS, but it’s still a funny name), Philemon Dickerson, Chris Christie (2016 & 2024 presidential candidate)

New York

Enos T Throop (1829-1832, Republican)

Fun fact:  Became governor when buddy Martin Van Buren was made Secretary of State

Honorable mention:  John Jay (yup, that John Jay), Nelson Rockefeller (ya gotta admit it, Rockefeller’s a pretty funny name), Horatio Seymour (yup, that Horatio Seymour), W Averell Harriman (yup, that Averell Harriman), Eliot Spitzer (yup, the guy who resigned after that prostitution scandal), Roswell P Flower, Hamilton Fish

North Carolina

Montfort Stokes (1830-1832, Democrat)

Fun fact: “Only soldier of the American Revolutionary War buried in Oklahoma [thanks, Wikipedia!].”

Honorable mention:  John Baptista Ashe, John Motley Morehead (“the Father of Modern North Carolina [NCpedia]”), Hutchens Gordon Burton, Clyde R Hoey, Zebulon Vance

North Dakota

Ragnvald Nestos (1921-1925, Republican)

Fun fact:  Native of Norway; became guv when the previous guy was recalled

Honorable mention:  Ole H Olsen, Walter Welford, Frederick B Fancher, George A Sinner, Eli CD Shortridge

Ohio

Return J Meigs Jr (1810-1814, Democrat)

Fun fact:  Won the 1807 gubernatorial contest, but couldn’t take office because he didn’t meet residency requirements

Honorable mention:  Rutherford B Hayes (yeah, I know, POTUS, but still pretty odd), Mordecai Bartley, Seabury Ford, Othniel Looker

Oklahoma

Frank Frantz (1906-1907, Republican)

Fun fact:  Appointed by his Rough Rider buddy, Teddy Roosevelt

Honorable mention:  Thompson Benton Ferguson (sounds like a law firm), Cassius McDonald Barnes, Dewey F Bartlett

Oregon

Zenas Ferry Moody (1882-1887, Republican)

Another Moody! (see NH for more)

Fun fact:  “Governor Moody combines with discrimination and firmness of purpose a courteous manner, that prompts him to accord a respectful bearing to all. Physically he is of a splendid type. He is of compact build, with a handsome, ruddy face that indicates sound health, a keen, sparkling eye through which is displayed a cheerful and sociable nature, determined to extract all good things from life consistent with sobriety, and an elastic step and a rapid movement that bespeak the busy man of affairs. He is one who lives well, and appears well, and in the discharge of all his duties, public and private, redeems his promise of doing well. [History of the Pacific Northwest Oregon and Washington]”

Honorable mention:  Theodore Thurston Geer, La Fayette Grover, Albin Walter Norblad Sr, Sylvester Pennoyer

Pennsylvania

Samuel W Pennypacker (1903-1907, Republican)

Fun fact:  Surname comes from the German for someone who bakes tile (for roofs)

Honorable mention:  Simon Snider, John F Hartranft, Francis R Shunk, Gifford Pinchot (yup, the forestry guy)

Rhode Island

Ambrose Burnside (1866-1869, Republican)

Fun fact:  Terrible Civil War general; namesake of sideburns

Honorable mention:  Seth Padelford, Lincoln Almond, Aram J Pothier, Royal C Taft, Emery J San Souci

South Carolina

C’mon, Arnie, give us a smile

Arnoldus Vanderhorst (1794-1796)

Fun fact:  Fought in the Revolutionary War under Francis Marion (the Swamp Fox)

Honorable mention:  Burnet R Maybank, Strom Thurmond (died at age 100), Rawlins Lowndes, Whitemarsh Benjamin Seabrook (author has visited his plantation), Cole L Blease, Barnabas Kelet Henagan

South Dakota

“Crawford, known as a spirited orator and debater, is portrayed in an aggressive pose,
ready to vigorously defend his position [trailofgovernors.com].”

Coe I Crawford (1909-1915, Republican)

Fun fact:  Married two sisters (the 1^st one having passed away)

Honorable mention:  Archie M Gubbrud, Merrell Q Sharpe, Nils Boe, Harlan J Bushfield

Tennessee

Henry Hollis Horton (1927-1933, Democrat)

Alliteration for the win!

Fun fact:  Impeached for financial scandals, though able to serve out his term

Honorable mention:  Austin Peay (pronounced “pea”), Newton Cannon, Buford Ellington, Dewitt Clinton Senter

Texas

Beauford H Jester (1947-1949, Democrat)

"Fun" fact:  Only Texas governor to have died in office

Honorable mention:  Jim Hogg, Pendleton Murrah, James W Throckmorton, Dolph Briscoe, Oscar Branch Colquitt, Elisha M Pease, Oran Milo Roberts

Utah

Heber Manning Wells (1896-1905, Republican)

Fun fact:  Utah’s first state governor, as well as its youngest (assumed office at 36)

Honorable mention:  Simon Bamberger, Norman H Bangerter, Samuel Beach Axtel, Caleb Walton West

Virginia

Goin’ motorin’ with the missus!

Elbert Lee Trinkle (1922-1926, Democrat)

Fun fact:  “Received a medal from the National Committee on Prisons and Prison Labor for supporting the exchange of prison-made goods between prisons of the various states [National Governors Association].”

Honorable mention:  Fitzhugh Lee (Confederate general), Beverley Randolph (a guy), J Lindsay Almond, Littleton Waller Tazewell

Vermont

Asahel Peck (1874-1876, Republican)

Fun fact:  Originally a Democrat; life-long bachelor

Honorable mention:  Cornelius P Van Ness, Erastus Fairbanks, Urban A Woodberry, Jonas Galusha, Carlos Coolidge (distant relation of Cal)

Washington

Monrad Wallgren (1945-1949, Democrat)

Fun fact:  “An outstanding player of carom billiards [Wikipedia]”

Honorable mention:  Watson C Squire

West Virginia

Now sure why he looks so concerned

Aretas P Fleming (1890-1893, Democratic)

Fun fact:  Big-time election dispute (so maybe that’s what he’s worried about)

Honorable mention:  Jay Rockefeller (c’mon, admit it, Rockefeller’s a pretty funny name), Homer A Holt, Jim Justice (incumbent), Okey Patteson, Gaston Caperton, Herman G Kump

Wisconsin

Cadwallader C Washburn (1972-1874, Republican)

Fun fact:  Founded company that would eventually become General Mills; left $90M at his death (adjusted for inflation)

Honorable mention:  Tommy Thompson (longest-serving WI guv; ran for prez in 2008), Gaylord Nelson, Oscar Rennebohm, Coles Bashford, Orland Steen Loomis, Arthur McArthur Sr

Wyoming

Whoa, dude, that’s one nasty cowlick

Thomas Moonlight (1887-1889, Democrat)

Fun fact:  Native of Scotland; army officer, mustered out of the service for drunkenness

Honorable mention:  David Freudenthal (“joyful valley,” auf Deutsch), Millward Simpson, Matt Mead, Bryon Butler Brooks, Fenimore Chatterton

Oddly Named Governors - Part I

There’s 50 states, right? And some of them have been around for over 200 years. So, chances are we’re going to get some crazy names in there, right? So … let’s have at 'em.

NOTE: Some of these states actually haven’t been around that long. So, I’m including territorial governors as well. Drawing the line on colonial governors though. I mean, ya gotta draw the line somewhere, right?

 

Alabama

Clement Comer Clay (1835-1837, Democrat)

Nothing like a little of the ol’ alliteration to get us started.

Fun fact:  Father of Clement Claiborne Clay, US & Confederate senator

Honorable mention:  Israel Pickens, Rufus W Cobb, Fob James (All-American running back at Auburn), Bibb Graves, Chauncey Sparks

 

Alaska

Jefferson C Davis (1867-1870)

Wait a minute. Shouldn’t this guy be a little further south than this?

Fun fact:  Civil War general (for the Union); shot & killed his commanding officer, William “Bull” Nelson, after getting sacked (& with absolutely no repercussions!)

Honorable mention:  Lyman Enos Knapp, John C Tidball, Wilford Bacon Hoggett

 

Arizona

Frederick Augustus Tritle (1882-1885, Republican)

Fun fact:  Associated with the “Thieving 13^th,” a corrupt legislature

Honorable mention:  John Philo Hoyt, Bruce Babbitt (Sec. of the Interior, 1988 presidential candidate), C Meyer Zulick, Fife Symington (convicted of extortion & bank fraud), Rawghlie Clement Stanford

 

Arkansas

Xenophon Overton Pindall (1907-1909, Democrat)

Fun fact:  Original Xenophon was a Greek historian and military strategist

Honorable mention:  Dale Bumpers, Jeff Davis (again, and not the one you're thinking of), Ozra Amander Hadley, Orval Faubus

 

California

Henry Huntly Haight (1867-1871, Democrat)

Astonishingly awesome alliteration

Fun fact:  Probable namesake for Haight-Ashbury

Honorable mention:  Friend Richardson, Arnold Schwarzenegger (3-time Mr Universe)

 

Colorado

John Hickenlooper (2011-2019. Democrat)

Fun fact:  Quaker, presidential candidate, grand-nephew of Bourke B (see Iowa)

Honorable mention: Roy Romer, Julius Caldeen Gunter, Teller Ammons, John V Vanderhoof

 

Connecticut

You can get married at his house!

Phineas C Lounsbury (1887-1889 , Republican)

Fun fact:  Shoe manufacturer

Honorable mentions:  Chauncey Fitch Cleveland, Hobart B Bigelow

 

Delaware

Simeon S Pennewill (1899-1907, Republican)

Fun fact:  Peach farmer

Honorable mention:  Sherman W Tribbitt, Cornelius P Comegys (haven’t a clue how to pronounce that last name), Gove Saulsbury, Ebe W Tunnell

 

Florida

Spessard Holland (1941-1945, Democrat)

Fun fact:  Offered a baseball contract by Connie Mack but declined

Honorable mention:  John Milton, Ossian B Hart, Reubin Askew

 

Georgia

Button Gwinett (1777)

Fun fact:  Also a signer of the Declaration of Independence; killed in a duel

Honorable mention:  Wilson Lumpkin, Herschell Vespasian Johnson, Rufus Bullock

 

Hawaii

Linda Lingle (2002-2010, Republican)

Fun fact:  First female & first Jewish governor of the Aloha State; shoulda kept that maiden name (Cutter)

Honorable mention:  Lucius E Pinkham, John D. Waiheʻe III, Ingram Stainback

 

Idaho

Thank you, Interwebs

Butch Otter (2007-2019, Republican)

Fun fact:  Real given name is Clement Leroy

Honorable mention:  Dirk Kempthorne, Barzilla W Clark

 

Illinois

"Bond ... Shadrach Bond"

Shadrach Bond (1818-1822, Democrat)

And, no, there are no Meshachs or Abednegos out there

Fun fact:  Came from a part of Illinois called the American Bottom

Honorable mention:  Ninian Edwards

 

Indiana

Ratliff Boon (1822, Democrat)

Fun fact:  Such an excellent wolf hunter that the state ended its bounty program after paying him $700 (over $18,000 today)

Honorable mention:  Ira Joy Chase, Ashbel P Willard, Noah Noble

Iowa

Not sure why this little guy’s blue, of all colors

Bourke B Hickenlooper (1943-1945, Republican)

Fun fact:  Nickname was “Hick”; is John’s great-uncle (see Colorado)

Honorable mention:  Horace Boies, Herschel C Loveless

Kansas

Extra points for the ‘stache

John St John (1879-1883, Prohibition)

Now, that’s creative …

Fun fact:  Prohibition Party’s presidential candidate in 1884 (see Montana for another one)

Honorable mention:  Harry Hines Woodring, Lyman U Humphrey, George Washington Glick, Lorenzo D Lewelling

Kentucky

Ruby Laffoon (1931-1935, Democrat)

Fun fact:  Known as "the terrible Turk from Madisonville”

Honorable mention:  Augustus Owsley Stanley, Happy Chandler (2^nd Commissioner of Baseball), Simon Bolivar Buckner (terrible Confederate general), Flem D Sampson, Beriah Magoffin (kept KY neutral in the Civil War)

Louisiana

PBS Pinchback (1872-1873, Republican)

And here I thought he was named after my favorite radio station

Fun fact:  1st African-American governor

Honorable mention:  Edwin Edwards (served 8 years in federal prison for racketeering), Oramel H Simpson, Ruffin G Pleasant

 

Maine

Sebastian Streeter Marble (1887-1889, Republican)

Fun fact:  Was president of Maine’s Senate when the previous guy passed away (Maine does not have lieutenant governors)

Honorable mention:  William D Williamson, Clinton Clauson, Hannibal Hamlin (Lincoln’s 1^st VP), Sumner Sewall

Maryland

Yup, he said it

Spiro Agnew (1967-1969, Republican)

Fun fact:  US VP, 2^nd one to resign (Calhoun was the 1^st)

Honorable mention:  Samuel Sprig, Harry Nice, Levin Winder, Oden Bowie, Lloyd Lowndes Jr (say it three times fast)

 

Massachusetts

Increase Sumner (1797-1799, Federalist)

Fun fact:  Wrote 7 books

Honorable mention:  Marcus Morton, Endicott Peabody (hard to get any more Boston Brahmin than that), John QA Brackett, Foster Furcolo, Leverett Saltonstall (I actually have this guy’s autograph)

Minnesota

Epaphroditus Ransom (1848-1850, Democrat)

Fun facts:  Original Epaphroditus was Roman emperor Nero’s secretary

Honorable mention:  Adolph Olson Eberhart, Henry H Crapo, Hazen S Pingree, Alfeus Felch

 

Mississippi

That particular type of facial hair is called an “imperial”

Adelbert Ames (1870-1874, Republican)

Fun facts:  A Union general in the Civil War (Medal of Honor winner), he was the last surviving one, passing away at age 97 in 1930

Honorable mention:  Tilghman Tucker, Alexander G McNutt, William McWillie, Theodore G Bilbo

 

Missouri

Meredith Miles Marmaduke (1844, Democrat)

How appropriate he’s from M-M-M-Missouri

“Fun” fact:  Became governor when the previous guy, Thomas Reynolds, committed suicide

Honorable mention:  Kit Bond, Trusten Polk, Daniel Dunklin, Lilburn Boggs, Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis & Clark fame, I know, but still pretty odd), Elliott Woolfolk Major

Need some more?  Click here!

Dog Breed Name Generator

You know, there are some pretty strangely named dog breeds out there. Have you, for example, ever heard of any of these:

• Azawakh
• Catahoula Leopard Dog
• Dogo Argentino
• Karelian Bear Dog
• Peruvian Inca Orchid
• Porcelaine
• Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
• Pudelpointer
• Small Munsterlander
• Xoloitzcuintli

Azawakh

Believe it or not, they are all officially recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club).

Which got me thinking ... Surely, I could come up with something even crazier on my own. 

And, indeed, I did. What might be even more fun, though, would be to create a dog breed name generator.

Dogo Argentino

So, here’s how it works:

1. Take any 4-digit number (the year you were born, the day & year you were born, the 4 digits of your phone number, the last 4 of your Social Security number …).
2. Match them up to the columns below 

Column 1

• 0 – Bulgarian
• 1 – Burmese
• 2 – Hawaiian
• 3 – Indonesian
• 4 – Lithuanian
• 5 – Mongolian
• 6 – New Jersey
• 7 – Peruvian
• 8 – Filipino
• 9 – Transylvanian

Column 2

• 0 – toy
• 1 – standard
• 2 – pigeon-toed
• 3 – miniature
• 4 – long-haired
• 5 – hairless
• 6 – giant
• 7 – curly-haired
• 8 – cross-eyed
• 9 – brindled

Column 3

• 0 – coon
• 1 – ditch
• 2 – duck
• 3 – goat
• 4 – mud
• 5 – pig
• 6 – rat
• 7 – skunk
• 8 – squirrel
• 9 – swamp

Column 4

• 0 – terrier
• 1 – spaniel
• 2 – setter
• 3 – retriever
• 4 – poodle
• 5 – pointer
• 6 – mutt
• 7 – hound
• 8 – dog
• 9 – collie

For example, I was born in 1959. That gives us the Burmese Brindled Pig Collie.  Month and day?  May 10 gives us 0510, which gives us the Bulgarian Longhaired Ditch Terrier.

Phone? Well that’s 9086 for my mobile and 4352 for our land line. And that gives us the Transylvanian Toy Squirrel Mutt and the Lithuanian Miniature Mud Setter, respectively.

Komondor

Last 4 of my SSN? That would be the Burmese Cross-Eyed Ditch Hound.

How about some famous dates? 1776?  Burmese Curly-haired Skunk Mutt. 2001?  Hawaiian Toy Coon Spaniel. Christmas day? Burmese Pigeon-Toed Duck Pointer. July the 4th? Bulgarian Curly-haired Coon Retriever.

Go ahead, try it out yourself. Just don’t expect to see any of these at Westminster.

Chinese Crested