Elliott Woolfolk Major

Elliott Woolfolk Major (October 20, 1864 – July 9, 1949) was an American lawyer and progressive^[1] Democratic politician from Pike County, Missouri, who served as the 25th Attorney General of Missouri and the 33rd Governor of Missouri.^[2][3]

Elliott Woolfolk Major
33rd Governor of Missouri
In office January 13, 1913 – January 8, 1917
Lieutenant	William Rock Painter
Preceded by	Herbert S. Hadley
Succeeded by	Frederick D. Gardner
25th Attorney General of Missouri
In office 1909–1913
Preceded by	Herbert S. Hadley
Succeeded by	John T. Barker
Member of the Missouri Senate
In office 1897–1901
Personal details
Born	(1864-10-20)October 20, 1864 Lincoln County, Missouri
Died	July 9, 1949(1949-07-09) (aged 84) Eureka, Missouri

Biography

Born in 1864 in Lincoln County, Missouri, Elliott Major attended Lincoln County public schools. He then went to Watson Seminary in Pike County. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1885. Major's political rise began with a seat in the Missouri Senate, which he held between 1897 and 1901. Between 1909 and 1913 he was Attorney General of Missouri. In November 1912 he was elected the new governor of his state.^[4]

Major took up his new post on January 13, 1913. Several new agencies emerged in Missouri during his four-year tenure. These included the Highway Commission, a pardon committee, assistance to the blind, and a public services committee. In addition, the state flag of Missouri was officially presented and introduced at that time, and various labor laws were introduced,^[5] together with other reforms such as a law aimed at providing free school textbooks.^[6]

After his tenure ended in January 1917, Major retired from politics and returned to practice as a lawyer. His office was in St. Louis. He was married to Elizabeth Myers, with whom he had three children. He died on July 9, 1949, in Eureka, Missouri, and was buried in the Bowling Green City Cemetery at Bowling Green, Missouri.