YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTY MINNESOTA
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Submitted to the Minnesota Biographies Project by:
Name: LaNaye Hennen
Email: henfarms@clarkfield.ruralink.com
Date: 29 June 2000
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"A History of Yellow Medicine County" by Arthur P. Rose,published in 1914


ANDREW J. VOLSTEAD (1886)

Andrew J. Volstead, congressman from the Seventh Minnesota District, is a
resident of Granite Falls, in which city he has had his home for many years.

Mr. Volstead is a product of Minnesota, having been born in Goodhue county
in 1860.  His parents were early settlers of that county, having moved from
Wisconsin to a farm near the present location of Kenyon.  In his native
county Mr. Volstead lived until beginning the practice of law. He was
educated in the common schools, in St. Olaf's College, and in Decorah
Institute of Decorah, Iowa.  In that Iowa town he studied law with Judge E.
E. Cooley and W. E. Akers.

In December, 1883, Mr. Volstead was admitted to the bar in Iowa, and the
following spring he was admitted to practice in Minnesota and located in Lac
qui Parle county.  He moved to Grantsberg, Wisconsin, in the summer of 1885,
practiced there a short time, and located in Granite Falls in 1886.  He has
ever since been engaged in practice there.

Mr. Volstead has served as president of the Granite Falls Board of
Education, city attorney and mayor.  For fourteen years he was county
attorney of Yellow Medicine county.  He was elected to Congress on the
Republican ticket in 1902 and took office March 4, 1903.  He has been
re-elected each two year term since that time and has served his
constituents well.

Mr. Volstead's wife was formerly Nellie Gilruth.  They have one child,
Nellie.