C. A. Bottolfsen

Clarence Alfred Bottolfsen (October 10, 1891 – July 18, 1964) was an American publisher and politician from Idaho, a member of the Idaho Republican Party. He served as the 17th and 19th Governor of Idaho, from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1943 to 1945.[1]

C. A. Bottolfsen
Frontispiece of 1940's Les Bois, the yearbook of Boise Junior College
17th and 19th Governor of Idaho
In office January 2, 1939 – January 5, 1941
Lieutenant	Donald Whitehead
Preceded by	Barzilla Clark
Succeeded by	Chase A. Clark
In office January 4, 1943 – January 1, 1945
Lieutenant	Edwin Nelson
Preceded by	Chase A. Clark
Succeeded by	Charles Gossett
Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives
In office 1931
Preceded by	Donald S. Whitehead
Succeeded by	Robert Coulter
Member of the Idaho House of Representatives
In office 1921–1931
Personal details
Born	Clarence Alfred Bottolfsen October 10, 1891 Superior, Wisconsin
Died	July 18, 1964 (aged 72) Boise, Idaho
Resting place	Hillcrest Cemetery, Arco, Idaho
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Hanna Bottolfsen (m. 1912–1964, his death )
Profession	Publisher
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	U.S. Army
Years of service	1918–1919

Early years

Born in Superior, Wisconsin, Bottolfsen moved with his family to Fessenden, North Dakota, in 1902 where he was educated in the public schools. While in high school, he worked as a printer's devil (an apprentice or errand boy) in a local printing shop.[2] In 1910,[3] the owner of the shop moved to Arco, Idaho, purchased the Arco Advertiser, and sent for Bottolfsen, then nineteen, to manage it. He purchased the paper and continued to be the publisher in Arco until 1949. He married Elizabeth Hanna on August 27, 1912.[4]

Career

Bottolfsen entered the U.S. Army on June 27, 1918 and served until four months after the Armistice and was discharged in March 1919. After the War, he took a leading part in the organization of the American Legion and served as State Commander in 1934.[5]

Bottolfsen served in the Idaho House of Representatives beginning in 1921; he was reelected in 1922, 1926, 1928, and 1930. From 1925 to 1927 he was the House's chief clerk, and he was speaker in 1931. He was chairman of the Idaho Republican Party from 1936 to 1938. He is one of only two people in Idaho history to serve non-consecutive terms as governor (Cecil Andrus is the other).

Early in his first term in 1939, he signed the bill creating the Idaho State Police.[6][7]

Idaho Gubernatorial Elections: Results 1938–1942

Year		Democrat	Votes	Pct		Republican	Votes	Pct
1938		C. Ben Ross	77,697	41.89%		C. A. Bottolfsen	106,268	57.30%
1940		Chase Clark	120,420	50.48%		C. A. Bottolfsen (inc.)	118,117	49.52%
1942		Chase Clark (inc.)	71,826	49.85%		C. A. Bottolfsen	72,260	50.15%

Bottolfsen ran for United States Senate in 1944 but was defeated by Glen H. Taylor. In his later years he served as chief clerk of the Idaho House of Representatives and on the staff of United States Senator Herman Welker. Bottolfsen was elected to the Idaho State Senate in 1958 and 1960, but declined to seek reelection in 1962 due to poor health.

Death and legacy

Bottolfsen was an active Freemason within the Grand Lodge of Idaho, serving as master of Arco Lodge No. 48. He was also active with the El Korah Shrine in Boise, the Rotary Club and the Arco Chamber of Commerce.

Bottolfsen died at age 72 in Boise from complications from emphysema, which he suffered from in his final years. Bottolfsen Park in Arco is named after him.[8] The papers of C.A. Bottolfsen are contained within the University of Idaho Library in Moscow,[9] and he and his wife are interred at Hillcrest Cemetery in Arco.

References

1. C. A. Bottolfsen (The Political Graveyard)
2. "C. A. Bottolfsen". University of Idaho Library. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
3. "Governor C.A. Bottolfsen". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1940. p. 24.
4. "C. A. Bottolfsen". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
5. "C. A.Bottolfsen". Idaho Genealogy Trails. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
6. "Governor signs measure creating police force". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. February 21, 1939. p. 1.
7. "Idaho State Police makes wishes on 50th birthday". Idahonian. Moscow. Associated Press. February 21, 1989. p. 5A.
8. C. A. Bottolfsen Biographical Sketch (University of Idaho)
9. Clarence A. Bottolfsen, Papers (University of Idaho)

External links

• Bottolfsen Park in Arco, Idaho
• University of Idaho Library – Clarence A. Bottolfsen (1891-1964), papers, 1926-1964.
• National Governors Association
• Idaho Genealogy Trails
• Idaho State Historical Society: Clarence A. Bottolfsen
• C. A. Bottolfsen at Find a Grave