# Samuel Y. Gordon *Minnesota legislator and 19th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1861–1940)* Samuel Y. Gordon (September 14, 1861 – December 10, 1940) served as the 19th [[Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota]] from 1911 to 1913. He later sat in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] from 1914 to 1916.[^1] Gordon founded a newspaper and was a postmaster in Browns Valley, [[Minnesota]]. He reached statewide office through local [[Republican Party (United States)]] politics. He was elected lieutenant governor in 1911 and served under [[Adolph Olson Eberhart]], then [[Governor of Minnesota]].[^1] ## Life and career Gordon was born in Lexington, Indiana, in 1861. Soon after his birth the family moved to Minnesota. It lived first in Meeker County, then in Traverse County, and finally made its home in Browns Valley.[^1] He took part in the farm equipment trade run by his father. In 1885 he started a newspaper, *The Inter-Lake Tribune*.[^1] He and Jennie May Plotner married in 1889 or 1890, and they had four children.[^1] In Browns Valley, Gordon served two terms as postmaster and sat on the village council and the school board. He was also a member of the local Republican party committee.[^1] He was elected lieutenant governor in 1911, serving under Eberhart, and held the office from 1911 to 1913.[^1] From 1914 to 1916 he was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He was also identified with the temperance movement.[^1] Gordon died in St. Paul in 1940. He was buried at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in [[Minneapolis]].[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Samuel Y. Gordon, Republican, of Browns Valley, Minnesota; 19th lieutenant governor of Minnesota.[^1] ### When - Born September 14, 1861; died December 10, 1940.[^1] - Lieutenant governor, 1911–1913.[^1] - Minnesota House of Representatives, 1914–1916.[^1] ### Where - Born in Lexington, Indiana; family settled in Browns Valley, Minnesota.[^1] - Died in St. Paul, Minnesota; buried at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, Minneapolis.[^1] ### How - Elected lieutenant governor in 1911, serving under Governor Adolph Olson Eberhart.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Samuel Y. Gordon* (revision 1365780477, retrieved 2026-10-25), CC BY-SA 4.0 — Gordon's birth, family, newspaper, local offices, lieutenant governorship 1911–1913 under Eberhart, House service 1914–1916, death and burial. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Y._Gordon