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Clough, David Marston (D.M.), (1846–1924)

Clough, David Marston (D.M.), (1846–1924)

Creator:
Source: Governors of Minnesota
Governor David M. Clough
Governor David M. Clough, 1895.

What David Marston (D.M.) Clough lacked in education and polish he made up for in common sense and drive, serving as Minnesota's thirteenth governor during his rise from lumberman to lumber baron.

D.M. Clough was born on December 27, 1846, in Lyme, New Hampshire. He was the fourth of fourteen children. His parents were Welsh farmers who resettled in 1857 in Spencer Brook, Minnesota, near the Rum River. Clough helped his family earn a living from the land by raising crops and cutting timber. His education was limited because he worked almost year-round from an early age.

Clough started a logging business, Clough Brothers, with his brother, Gilbert, in 1870. He married schoolteacher Adelaide (Addie) Barton in Spencer Brook in 1867, and they moved to Minneapolis in 1872 to expand the logging business. In Minneapolis, Clough built a sawmill for the logs he and his brother were harvesting.

A lifelong Republican, Clough was elected to the Minneapolis City Council in 1883 and then to the state senate in 1886. From the senate, he advanced to the office of lieutenant governor in 1892 under Republican Governor Knute Nelson. When Nelson resigned to run for a seat in the US Senate, Clough became governor of Minnesota. He held that position from January 31, 1895, to January 2, 1899.

During Clough's first administration, voters ratified significant amendments to the state constitution, including those establishing a Board of Pardons, withdrawing the right of aliens to vote, and authorizing municipalities to frame "home rule" charters. During his second term as governor, which he won narrowly in 1896, the legislature raised taxes on several private industries and enacted child labor laws.

Clough decided not to run for reelection in 1898. Instead, he supported successful candidate John Lindagainst his own party's candidate, William H. Eustis.

In 1900, railroad magnate James J. Hill urged Clough to invest in lumber in Washington state. Clough moved to Everett, Washington, and championed the interests of mill owners there until his death of heart disease on August 27, 1924, at age seventy-seven.

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Minnesota Historical Society. "Clough, David Marston (D.M.), (1846–1924)." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. https://www3.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/person/clough-david-marston-dm-1846-1924
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First Published: June 06, 2011
Last Modified: June 04, 2025

Related Resources

Primary

Records of Governor David M. Clough, 1895–1898
Minnesota State Archives, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/gov027.xml
Description: Official correspondence and other documents from David M. Clough's time as governor.

"Clough is Dead on West Coast." Minneapolis Daily Star, August 28, 1924.

"David M. Clough, Once Governor of State, is Dead." St. Paul Dispatch, August 28, 1924.

"D.M. Clough, State's 13th Governor, Dies at Everett, Wash." Minneapolis Journal, August 28, 1924.

Secondary

Clough, David M. "State Builders of the West: David Marston Clough, Thirteenth Governor of Minnesota." Western Magazine 15, no. 1 (January 1920): 42–44.

Chrislock, Carl H. "A Cycle in the History of Minnesota Republicanism." Minnesota History 39, no. 3 (Fall 1964): 93–110.
http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/39/v39i03p093-110.pdf

Web

The Minnesota Historical Society. Governors of Minnesota: David Marston Clough.
http://collections.mnhs.org/governors/index.php/10004107

Related Images

Governor David M. Clough
Governor David M. Clough, 1895.
David M. Clough
David M. Clough, c.1887. Photograph by Zimmerman and Whitstruck.
Republican State Ticket 1894
Political poster with images of men running on the Republican State Ticket in 1894, including D.M. Clough for lieutenant governor.
D.M. Clough campaign ribbon

"For Governor, D.M. Clough" campaign ribbon.

David M. Clough
Official Governor's Portrait of D.M. Clough, 1898. Painting by artist Herbert Conner.
David M. Clough
David M. Clough, c.1905.
Governor David M. Clough

Governor David M. Clough

Governor David M. Clough, 1895.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society

Articles

More Information

David M. Clough

David M. Clough

David M. Clough, c.1887. Photograph by Zimmerman and Whitstruck.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society

Articles

More Information

Republican State Ticket 1894

Republican State Ticket 1894

Political poster with images of men running on the Republican State Ticket in 1894, including D.M. Clough for lieutenant governor.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society

Articles

More Information

D.M. Clough campaign ribbon

D.M. Clough campaign ribbon

"For Governor, D.M. Clough" campaign ribbon.

© Minnesota Historical Society    

All rights reserved

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society

Articles

More Information

David M. Clough

David M. Clough

Official Governor's Portrait of D.M. Clough, 1898. Painting by artist Herbert Conner.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society

Articles

More Information

David M. Clough

David M. Clough

David M. Clough, c.1905.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society

Articles

More Information

Related Articles

Turning Point

In 1870, Clough starts his own logging business, Clough Brothers, with his brother, Gilbert, and sets himself up for financial and political success.

Chronology

1846
D.M. Clough is born on December 27 in Lyme, New Hampshire.
1857
His family resettles at Spencer Brook, Minnesota, near the Rum River.
1867
He marries schoolteacher Adelaide (Addie) Barton in Spencer Brook.
1870
Clough starts a logging business, Clough Brothers, with his brother, Gilbert.
1872
He moves to Minneapolis with Addie to expand the logging business.
1883
Clough, a Republican, is elected to the Minneapolis City Council.
1886
He is elected to the state senate.
1892
Clough advances to the office of lieutenant governor under Governor Knute Nelson.
1895
He becomes governor on January 31 and holds the office until 1899.
1898
He decides not to run for reelection and instead supports John Lind for governor.
1924
Clough dies in Everett, Washington, on August 27 at age seventy-seven.

Related Resources

Primary

Records of Governor David M. Clough, 1895–1898
Minnesota State Archives, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/gov027.xml
Description: Official correspondence and other documents from David M. Clough's time as governor.

"Clough is Dead on West Coast." Minneapolis Daily Star, August 28, 1924.

"David M. Clough, Once Governor of State, is Dead." St. Paul Dispatch, August 28, 1924.

"D.M. Clough, State's 13th Governor, Dies at Everett, Wash." Minneapolis Journal, August 28, 1924.

Secondary

Clough, David M. "State Builders of the West: David Marston Clough, Thirteenth Governor of Minnesota." Western Magazine 15, no. 1 (January 1920): 42–44.

Chrislock, Carl H. "A Cycle in the History of Minnesota Republicanism." Minnesota History 39, no. 3 (Fall 1964): 93–110.
http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/39/v39i03p093-110.pdf

Web

The Minnesota Historical Society. Governors of Minnesota: David Marston Clough.
http://collections.mnhs.org/governors/index.php/10004107