Governor of South Dakota. He moved to Sioux Falls, Dakota Territory in 1879 and in 1880 filed a land claim in McCook County, which he farmed until 1883. After selling his farm, he moved to Faulk County, and then to Fargo, in what is now North Dakota, where he farmed until 1888, when he relocated to Faulkton in Faulk County and established a real estate and insurance business. After South Dakota was admitted to the Union he was elected to the State Senate and served one term, 1889 to 1891. He served as Faulk County Treasurer from 1899 to 1903, and in 1906 he returned to the South Dakota Senate, serving two terms, 1907 to 1911. In 1910 he was the successful Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor and served one term, 1911 to 1913. In 1912 he won the governorship and served two terms, 1913 to 1917. As Governor he advocated passage of an inheritance tax, oversaw creation of the state Tax Commission, and led the fight for a law requiring railroads to pay damages if sudden schedule changes negatively impacted farmers moving their crops to market. In 1918 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican US Senate nomination, afterwards resuming his insurance and real estate business. In 1922 Byrne returned to government when he accepted appointment as state Agriculture Commissioner, a position he held until 1924, when he retired to Oregon and then California in search of a milder climate that would relieve his chronic rheumatism.
Governor of South Dakota. He moved to Sioux Falls, Dakota Territory in 1879 and in 1880 filed a land claim in McCook County, which he farmed until 1883. After selling his farm, he moved to Faulk County, and then to Fargo, in what is now North Dakota, where he farmed until 1888, when he relocated to Faulkton in Faulk County and established a real estate and insurance business. After South Dakota was admitted to the Union he was elected to the State Senate and served one term, 1889 to 1891. He served as Faulk County Treasurer from 1899 to 1903, and in 1906 he returned to the South Dakota Senate, serving two terms, 1907 to 1911. In 1910 he was the successful Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor and served one term, 1911 to 1913. In 1912 he won the governorship and served two terms, 1913 to 1917. As Governor he advocated passage of an inheritance tax, oversaw creation of the state Tax Commission, and led the fight for a law requiring railroads to pay damages if sudden schedule changes negatively impacted farmers moving their crops to market. In 1918 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican US Senate nomination, afterwards resuming his insurance and real estate business. In 1922 Byrne returned to government when he accepted appointment as state Agriculture Commissioner, a position he held until 1924, when he retired to Oregon and then California in search of a milder climate that would relieve his chronic rheumatism.
Bio by: Bill McKern
Family Members
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