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Eberhart, Adolph Olson (1870–1944)
Seventeenth Minnesota governor Adolph Olson (A. O.) Eberhart lived the classic American story of an immigrant who achieved success through hard work and ability.
Adolph was born Olaf Adolf Olsson in Kil, Värmland, Sweden, on June 23, 1870. His parents were farmers in Sweden, but hard economic times led them to immigrate to the United States in 1881. They did not have enough money to move the entire family, so they left Adolph behind with his aunt and uncle, who wanted to adopt him. One year later, at age eleven, Adolph joined his parents in St. Peter, Minnesota, because he missed them. The next year, 1883, the family moved to Nebraska.
Adolph stayed in Nebraska for the next eight years, farming and getting an education where possible. In 1890, at age twenty, he left farming and returned to St. Peter to attend the academy at Gustavus Adolphus College.
When Adolph arrived at Gustavus, he had the equivalent of only a fourth-grade education. Four years later, having graduated from the academy and then completed the school's college program, he graduated at the top of his class. While a student, he gave himself a new last name—Eberhart, so he would not be confused with the many other Olsons on campus.
He took his new name and his college degree to Mankato, where he studied law and set up his own private practice within a few years. In 1898, he married Adele Koke, who also lived in Mankato. They eventually had five children.
Eberhart had long been determined to improve the condition of public schools, especially in rural areas, and he saw politics as the best way to do it. Shortly after starting his law practice, he decided to run for office. He won his first race, securing a state senate seat in 1902. At age thirty-two, he was the youngest state senator in the 33rd legislative session.
Eberhart, a Republican, became lieutenant governor in 1907 under legendary Democratic governor John A. Johnson. After Johnson's untimely death in 1909, Eberhart took over as governor and subsequently won the office twice on his own merits. He served as governor of Minnesota from September 21, 1909, to January 5, 1915.
Eberhart was an efficient administrator and a skilled politician, but he was unable to earn a third full term as governor. Another defeat, this time in the 1916 US Senate primary, marked the end of his political career. After working as a real estate and insurance executive in Chicago, he retired to a rest home in Savage. He died on December 6, 1944.

Related Resources
Primary
Adolph Olson Eberhart Papers, 1831–1945
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/P2205.xml
Description: Personal, published, and biographical material related to Adolph O. Eberhart and his family.
Records of Governor Adolph O. Eberhart, 1909–1915
Minnesota State Archives, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/gov031.xml
Description: Official correspondence and other documents from Adolph O. Eberhart's time as governor.
Collection of Songs and Music by Minnesota Composers, 1868–1947
Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/lb00009.xml
Description: Includes 163 scores, including " 'Tis Only You," by Governor Adolph O. Eberhart, dedicated to Mrs. Eberhart (Minneapolis: Paul A. Schmitt, 1914). Location: Folio M 1629.7 .M55 C65; http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/lb00009/tis_only_you.htm
Eberhart, Adolph Olson. Address of Governor A. O. Eberhart of Minnesota, before the second National Conservation Congress, in St. Paul, September 5, on "The economic value of conservation." Minneapolis?, 1912.
———. Final Message of Gov. Adolph O. Eberhart to the Legislature of Minnesota, 1915. [MN]: s.n., 1915.
———. "How the state of Minnesota is making strides in better farming." Banker Farmer 1, no. 8 (July 1914): 11–12.
———. Inaugural Message of Gov. Adolph O. Eberhart to the Legislature of Minnesota, 1911. Minneapolis: Syndicate Printing Company, 1911.
———. Open letter to voters of the state. Minneapolis: G. F. Authier, [1909].
———. Practical conservation and agricultural development in Minnesota. Address delivered by Adolph O. Eberhart at the opening of the Minnesota Conservation and Agricultural Development Congress in St. Paul, March 16, 17, 18, 19, 1910. St. Paul: M'Clain and Gray, [1910].
———. Second Inaugural Message of Gov. Adolph O. Eberhart to the Legislature of Minnesota, 1913. Minneapolis: Syndicate Printing Co., 1913.
———. The Upper Mississippi River Improvement Association. Address of Gov. A. O. Eberhart of Minnesota delivered at the convention at Winona, Minnesota, Oct. 6 and 7, 1909. Report of Committee on Resolutions. [Quincy, IL: McMein Printing Company, 1909].
———. "Welfare work in rural communities." Cleveland Financial Review 18, no. 1 (January 1914): 25–29.
Secondary
Wheelock, Ralph Wright. A Record of Real Achievement: Gov. Adolph O. Eberhart … renders an account of his stewardship to the people of Minnesota. St. Paul, 1912.
Web
The Minnesota Historical Society. Governors of Minnesota: Adolph Olson Eberhart.
http://collections.mnhs.org/governors/index.php/10004111
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Adolph O. Eberhart, Minnesota's Progressive Governor
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President Taft with Governor Eberhart
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Governor and Mrs. Eberhart with their children
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A. O. Eberhart for United States Senator
Political poster with slogan, "A. O. Eberhart for United States Senator," 1916.
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Governor Adolph Eberhart
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Related Articles
Turning Point
Adolph Olson (A. O.) Eberhart's choice to enter Gustavus Adolphus College in 1891 changes the course of his life from that of a farmer to that of a lawyer, politician, and governor of Minnesota.
Chronology
1870
1881
1883
1890
1892
1898
1902
1907
1909
1916
1944
Related Resources
Primary
Adolph Olson Eberhart Papers, 1831–1945
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/P2205.xml
Description: Personal, published, and biographical material related to Adolph O. Eberhart and his family.
Records of Governor Adolph O. Eberhart, 1909–1915
Minnesota State Archives, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/gov031.xml
Description: Official correspondence and other documents from Adolph O. Eberhart's time as governor.
Collection of Songs and Music by Minnesota Composers, 1868–1947
Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/lb00009.xml
Description: Includes 163 scores, including " 'Tis Only You," by Governor Adolph O. Eberhart, dedicated to Mrs. Eberhart (Minneapolis: Paul A. Schmitt, 1914). Location: Folio M 1629.7 .M55 C65; http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/lb00009/tis_only_you.htm
Eberhart, Adolph Olson. Address of Governor A. O. Eberhart of Minnesota, before the second National Conservation Congress, in St. Paul, September 5, on "The economic value of conservation." Minneapolis?, 1912.
———. Final Message of Gov. Adolph O. Eberhart to the Legislature of Minnesota, 1915. [MN]: s.n., 1915.
———. "How the state of Minnesota is making strides in better farming." Banker Farmer 1, no. 8 (July 1914): 11–12.
———. Inaugural Message of Gov. Adolph O. Eberhart to the Legislature of Minnesota, 1911. Minneapolis: Syndicate Printing Company, 1911.
———. Open letter to voters of the state. Minneapolis: G. F. Authier, [1909].
———. Practical conservation and agricultural development in Minnesota. Address delivered by Adolph O. Eberhart at the opening of the Minnesota Conservation and Agricultural Development Congress in St. Paul, March 16, 17, 18, 19, 1910. St. Paul: M'Clain and Gray, [1910].
———. Second Inaugural Message of Gov. Adolph O. Eberhart to the Legislature of Minnesota, 1913. Minneapolis: Syndicate Printing Co., 1913.
———. The Upper Mississippi River Improvement Association. Address of Gov. A. O. Eberhart of Minnesota delivered at the convention at Winona, Minnesota, Oct. 6 and 7, 1909. Report of Committee on Resolutions. [Quincy, IL: McMein Printing Company, 1909].
———. "Welfare work in rural communities." Cleveland Financial Review 18, no. 1 (January 1914): 25–29.
Secondary
Wheelock, Ralph Wright. A Record of Real Achievement: Gov. Adolph O. Eberhart … renders an account of his stewardship to the people of Minnesota. St. Paul, 1912.
Web
The Minnesota Historical Society. Governors of Minnesota: Adolph Olson Eberhart.
http://collections.mnhs.org/governors/index.php/10004111