Background
Mead was born in Kansas on December 14, 1861. There is conflicting information about his town of birth: most reliable sources say it was Manhattan, Kansas, but there is one claim he was born in Ashland, Kansas.
politician governor of Washington
Mead was born in Kansas on December 14, 1861. There is conflicting information about his town of birth: most reliable sources say it was Manhattan, Kansas, but there is one claim he was born in Ashland, Kansas.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
He received his formal education at Southern Illinois Normal University and at Northwestern University"s Union College of Law in Chicago. After graduating from law school in 1885, Mead returned to Kansas to practice law for four years. In 1889, he moved to Washington Territory.
Mead"s election to the governor"s office in 1904 over United States. Senator George Turner was considered a significant upset at the time.
During his tenure, he supported legislation establishing a Railroad Commission, and acts establishing a State Bank Examiner, a State Tax Commission, and a State Highway Commission. After his term as governor ended, Mead moved to Bellingham, Washington, where he returned to private practice as a lawyer and served as president of the Chamber of Commerce.
Mead died in Bellingham on March 19, 1913, and is interred at Bayview Cemetery, Bellingham, Washington.
Mead served as Mayor of Blaine, Washington (1892), as a member of the Washington State House of Representatives (1892), and as prosecuting attorney for Whatcom County, Washington from 1898 to 1903.