Preceded by Charles H. Dillon Name Charles Christopherson Succeeded by Fred H. Hildebrandt Religion Congregational Party Republican Party | Profession lawyer Spouse Abbie Deyoe Political party Republican Role Lawyer Resigned March 3, 1933 | |
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Full Name Charles Andrew Christopherson Born July 23, 1871
Amherst Township, Fillmore County, Minnesota ( 1871-07-23 ) Died November 2, 1951, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | ||
Charles Andrew Christopherson (July 23, 1871 – November 2, 1951) was an American lawyer and politician in South Dakota. He was elected to the state legislature in 1912. In 1918 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he was re-elected to a total of seven terms until being defeated in 1932, during the Great Depression.
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Early life and education
Christopherson was born in Amherst Township, Fillmore County, Minnesota to Julia (Nelson) and Knute C. Christopherson. His father came to the United States from Norway at age 14. He was one of seven children and was raised in the Lutheran Church. He attended public schools. Christopherson moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he attended Sioux Falls Business College and Normal School. He graduated in 1890 and read the law with an established firm until he qualified for the bar.
Career
Christopherson was admitted to the bar in 1893, and started his practice in Sioux Falls at the Joe Kirby law office He later practiced alone until taking Fredolph H. Melquist as a partner in 1913. Christopherson became active in local issues. He was elected as a member of the Board of Education of Sioux Falls from 1908–1918, and President of it from 1911-1915 and served as president of the board of directors of the Union Savings Association (1912).
Political career
In 1912, he was elected as a Republican to the South Dakota House of Representatives, and served as Speaker of the House beginning in 1915, in his last term. In 1918, Christopherson ran for and won the state seat in the United States House of Representatives. He was re-elected every term until 1932 (for a total of seven), when he lost to a Democratic candidate, part of a sweep based on the popularity of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his programs during the Great Depression. Christopherson ran again for office in 1934, but lost. He subsequently returned to Sioux Falls full-time to pursue his legal career.
Personal life
Christopherson married Abbie M. Deyoe (1871-1952) from Cedar Falls, Iowa on November 30, 1897. Her parents were both born in New York State. . They had two children: Wanda M. and Charles A. Christopherson. He and his family belonged to the Congregational Church. He participated in the Masons, the International Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, and the Elks. He died in 1951 and was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Minnehaha County, South Dakota.