# J. A. O. Preus *American politician, eighth state auditor and 20th governor of Minnesota (1915–1925)* Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus (August 28, 1883 – May 24, 1961) was a Republican who held two statewide offices in Minnesota. He was the eighth [[state auditor]] from January 5, 1915, to January 5, 1921, and the 20th [[Governor of Minnesota|governor of Minnesota]] from January 5, 1921, to January 6, 1925.[^1] He won the governorship in 1920 after campaigning against the Farmer-Labor Party.[^1] As governor he backed low-interest rural-credit lending and pressed for higher taxes on mine owners on the Iron Range. The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library's biography of him records both positions.[^2][^1] ## Background Preus was born on August 28, 1883, in Columbia County, Wisconsin, and was of Norwegian descent.[^1] Generations of his family before and after him were Lutheran pastors, but he chose state service instead.[^1] He completed his studies at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, in 1903. His extended family has been involved with the college since its founding in 1862.[^1] After studying law at the [[University of Minnesota Law School]], he spent three years in Washington as executive clerk to Senator [[Knute Nelson]]. He then returned to Minnesota and advanced through Republican state offices.[^1] ## Career The 1920 race was Preus's first campaign for governor. He opposed the Farmer-Labor Party, a new organization formed by a coalition of farmers and laborers.[^1] According to the Wikipedia account, he said the party represented "socialism—a political cult that would destroy the principles of private property, our religion, and our homes."[^1] The same account states that independent voters decided the election, the first Minnesota gubernatorial contest in which they did so, and that Preus carried them.[^1] William J. Mayo, a Democrat, endorsed Preus on October 21, 1920.[^1] In office, Preus urged the [[Legislature|legislature]] to take up several of the farmers' demands. These included wider legal powers for cooperatives, low-interest loans through the Rural Credit Bureau, and a new [[Department of Agriculture]].[^2][^1] He also called for higher taxes on the owners of ore-rich mines on the Iron Range.[^2][^1] Highway construction expanded during his tenure, and the Wikipedia account credits him with improvements to equal rights and election procedures.[^1] After his second term ended, Preus worked as an insurance executive in Chicago.[^1] In 1917 he had co-founded Lutheran Brotherhood, a fraternal insurance society. He moved back to [[Minneapolis]] in 1958 and chaired its board until his death.[^1] In 2002 Lutheran Brotherhood and Aid Association for Lutherans merged to form Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.[^1] ## Personal life Preus married Idella Louise Haugen in 1909.[^1] Their son Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus II was a theologian, professor and author who became president of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.[^1] Another son, Robert Preus, was a Lutheran pastor, professor, author and theologian who became president of Concordia Theological Seminary.[^1] Preus died on May 24, 1961.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *J. A. O. Preus* (revision 1378201179, retrieved 2026-10-25) — offices and dates, birth, education, clerkship, 1920 campaign and quotation, Mayo endorsement, gubernatorial policies, insurance career, family and death. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._A._O._Preus [^2]: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, *Governor J.A.O. Preus biography* — rural-credit lending and the demand for higher Iron Range taxes. https://www.lrl.mn.gov/mngov/govbio?govid=19