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Since Minnesota became a state, there have been more than 50 people to hold the position
of speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. The speakers have come from all corners of
the state—from rural places such as Truman and Garden City, to metro areas like Minneapolis
and Duluth. These men and women have each brought their
distinctive personalities to this powerful position.
A speaker plays a key role in shaping the outcome of the legislative session, and among
the speaker's responsibilities are assigning bills to committees and controlling the flow
of floor debate. With such significant responsibility, one
would think that only a seasoned politician could ascend to this position of power, but
as you are about to learn... that's not always the case.
In this "Legislative Fair Factor: The speakers' edition," we ask, how old was the youngest
speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives ever to be elected in the state's history?
A.) 29 B.) 30
C.) 32 D.) 25
The answer is A.
Charles D. Sherwood was the youngest speaker of the House at 29 years old.
He first became a representative at the age of 25.
Not only did Sherwood become House speaker, he went on to become the president of the
Minnesota Senate and the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota.
The ambitious legislator is credited with having worked to bring the railroad to southeastern
Minnesota.
Sherwood even made time to found a town— Sherwood, Tennessee, which is near the place
he was born.
Sherwood's life doesn't have a happy ending.
The Chicago Tribune published an article on July 4, 1895 that said the coroner's jury
was unable to determine if he jumped or fell into the lake he drowned in.
The article mentions that the night before he died he had entertained a number of his
friends and seemed cheerful, but that he had come to Chicago to have a surgical operation
performed and since he was a physician, it was believed that he may have worried about
his recovery.
The New York Times, on the same day, reported that he drowned himself in the lake.
The Times said that Sherwood had been ill for several months and that money he was expecting
never arrived.
Although there is some mystery surrounding his death, one cannot question his successful
legislative career.
You can imagine yourself as the Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives this
year at the State Fair. The House has a booth in the Education Building
complete with a speaker's desk and gavel. To get a feel for what it's like to stand
in this position of power, make sure to check us out— our booth is open every day of the
Great Minnesota Get-Together.