Eberhart, Adolph Olson (1870–1944)

Adolph O. Eberhart, Minnesota's Progressive Governor
Political poster with a portrait of Adolph O. Eberhart, “Minnesota’s Progressive Governor,” c.1905.

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.

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First Published: June 06, 2011
Last Modified: September 18, 2025

Bibliography

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.

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.

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Adolph O. Eberhart, Minnesota's Progressive Governor
Political poster with a portrait of Adolph O. Eberhart, “Minnesota’s Progressive Governor,” c.1905.
Eberhart campaign button
Gubernatorial campaign button for Adolph O. Eberhart, c.1909.
President William Howard Taft in an automobile with Governor Adolph O. Eberhart
President William Howard Taft in a car with Governor Adolph O. Eberhart, St. Paul, c.1911. Photographer: St. Paul Dispatch.
Eberhart campaign button
Adolph O. Eberhart gubernatorial campaign button, 1912.
Governor and Mrs. Adolph Eberhart with their children
Governor and Mrs. Adolph Eberhart with their children, 1914.
Governor A.O. Eberhart will open his campaign for re-election
Political poster with slogan, “Governor A.O. Eberhart will open his campaign for re-election,” 1914.
A. O. Eberhart for United States Senator

Political poster with slogan, "A. O. Eberhart for United States Senator," 1916.

Governor Adolph Eberhart
Official Governor’s Portrait of Adolph Eberhart, 1917. Painted by artist Arvid Nyholm.
Adolph O. Eberhart, Minnesota's Progressive Governor

Adolph O. Eberhart, Minnesota's Progressive Governor

Political poster with a portrait of Adolph O. Eberhart, “Minnesota’s Progressive Governor,” c.1905.

Public domain

Eberhart campaign button

Eberhart campaign button

Gubernatorial campaign button for Adolph O. Eberhart, c.1909.
© Minnesota Historical Society    

All rights reserved

President William Howard Taft in an automobile with Governor Adolph O. Eberhart

President Taft with Governor Eberhart

President William Howard Taft in a car with Governor Adolph O. Eberhart, St. Paul, c.1911. Photographer: St. Paul Dispatch.

Public domain

Eberhart campaign button

Eberhart campaign button

Adolph O. Eberhart gubernatorial campaign button, 1912.
© Minnesota Historical Society    

All rights reserved

Governor and Mrs. Adolph Eberhart with their children

Governor and Mrs. Eberhart with their children

Governor and Mrs. Adolph Eberhart with their children, 1914.

Public domain

Governor A.O. Eberhart will open his campaign for re-election

Governor Eberhart will open his campaign for re-election

Political poster with slogan, “Governor A.O. Eberhart will open his campaign for re-election,” 1914.

Public domain

A. O. Eberhart for United States Senator

A. O. Eberhart for United States Senator

Political poster with slogan, "A. O. Eberhart for United States Senator," 1916.

Public domain

Governor Adolph Eberhart

Governor Adolph Eberhart

Official Governor’s Portrait of Adolph Eberhart, 1917. Painted by artist Arvid Nyholm.

Public domain

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
Adolph Olson (A. O.) Eberhart is born Olaf Adolf Olsson in Kil, Värmland, Sweden, on June 23.
1881
Eberhart's parents immigrate to the United States, leaving him with family in Sweden.
1883
After joining his parents in St. Peter, Minnesota, Eberhart moves to Nebraska with his family.
1890
He returns to St. Peter at age twenty to attend the academy at Gustavus Adolphus College.
1892
Eberhardt graduates from the academy and enrolls in Gustavus Adolphus College as a sophomore.
1898
Eberhart marries Adele Koke of Mankato, and they eventually have five children.
1902
He wins his first political contest and becomes a state senator in the 33rd legislative session.
1907
He becomes lieutenant governor under legendary Democratic governor John A. Johnson.
1909
Eberhart replaces Johnson as governor after Johnson's death and serves two more full terms.
1916
Eberhart is defeated in the US Senate primary and his political career ends.
1944
Eberhart dies on December 6.

Bibliography

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.

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.

Related Resources