# Gideon S. Ives *American politician; 11th lieutenant governor of Minnesota* Gideon Sprague Ives (January 19, 1846 – December 20, 1927) was a lawyer and politician who held local office in St. Peter, Minnesota, including mayor. He also sat in the [[Minnesota Senate]] and was the state's 11th [[Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota]].[^1] A Republican, Ives won his Senate seat in 1886 and was elected lieutenant governor in 1890, serving under Governor [[William Rush Merriam]]. In 1892 he sought the Republican nomination for [[Governor of Minnesota]] and lost it to [[Knute Nelson]]. In later life he headed the [[Minnesota Historical Society]]'s effort to house its collections and library, and he was the society's president from 1918 to 1921.[^2] ## Life and career Ives was born in Dickinson, New York, in 1846. His parents were Warren Ives and Elizabeth Ives (née Ladd), and the Wikipedia account traces both of their families to settlers whose American roots dated to the 1630s. After a move to Potsdam, New York, Ives joined the 50th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment in 1864, during the American Civil War. He was transferred to the 15th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, spent most of his war service with that unit, and left the army in June 1865.[^2] When the war ended, Ives went back to Potsdam to resume his schooling. He then studied at the University of Michigan Law School, finished his degree in 1871, and settled in St. Peter, Minnesota. In St. Peter he was city attorney and mayor, and he was also [[county attorney]] for Nicollet County. In 1878 he wed Mary Elizabeth Swift, whose father was Governor Henry A. Swift.[^2] Running as a Republican, Ives won a seat in the Minnesota Senate in 1886. In 1890 he was elected lieutenant governor, serving under Merriam. Two years later he sought his party's nomination for governor, and Knute Nelson defeated him. He did not hold elected office again, but he stayed involved in state politics.[^2] Ives relocated to St. Paul in 1902 and continued practicing law there. At the Minnesota Historical Society he led the drive to construct a building for the society's collections and library. That building is now the Minnesota Judicial Center. He presided over the society from 1918 to 1921.[^2] Ives died on December 20, 1927. His grave is in Oakland Cemetery in St. Paul.[^2] ## Publications In 1919 Ives published *William Gates Le Duc* in the *Minnesota History Bulletin*, volume 3.[^3] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Gideon Sprague Ives, lawyer and Republican officeholder.[^1][^2] ### What - Mayor of St. Peter, Minnesota; member of the Minnesota Senate; 11th lieutenant governor of Minnesota.[^1] - President of the Minnesota Historical Society, 1918–1921.[^2] ### When - Born January 19, 1846; died December 20, 1927.[^1] - Elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1886. Elected lieutenant governor in 1890. Lost the Republican gubernatorial nomination to Knute Nelson in 1892.[^2] ### Where - St. Peter, Minnesota, from 1871, where he held local offices, including city attorney, mayor and Nicollet County attorney.[^2] - St. Paul, Minnesota, from 1902. He is buried in Oakland Cemetery, St. Paul.[^2] ### How many - Served in two New York volunteer infantry regiments in the Civil War: the 50th, in which he enlisted in 1864, and the 15th, to which he was transferred.[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Gideon S. Ives* (revision 1381875721, retrieved 2026-10-25) — lead: dates of birth and death; offices of Mayor of St. Peter, Minnesota State Senator, and 11th lieutenant governor of Minnesota. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon_S._Ives [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Gideon S. Ives*, "Life and career" section (revision 1381875721, retrieved 2026-10-25) — birth and parentage, Civil War service, legal education, St. Peter offices, marriage, Republican electoral history 1886–1892, move to St. Paul, Minnesota Historical Society role, death and burial. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon_S._Ives [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Gideon S. Ives*, "Publications" section (revision 1381875721, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Ives, *William Gates Le Duc*, *Minnesota History Bulletin*, vol. 3, 1919. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon_S._Ives