Horace Austin

Horace Austin was born in Canterbury, Connecticut, in 1831. He graduated from a private academy in 1856 and began a career in education before moving to Minnesota and practicing law in St. Peter. Austin served in the local Frontier Guards during the Dakota War of 1862 and later became Captain of Company B in the 1st Minnesota Cavalry Regiment. He transitioned into public service as a judge for the Sixth Judicial District and subsequently won the gubernatorial election in 1869. Austin's tenure as governor was marked by his reputation for objectivity and a commitment to public service, as evidenced by his establishment of the Minnesota Board of Health. Post-governorship, he held various federal and state positions, including third auditor of the U.S. Treasury and railroad commissioner.

Horace Austin's political identity is marked by an intriguing blend of regulatory rigor and regional pragmatism. He fiercely advocated for strictly regulated passenger and freight rates, yet his opposition to wholesale state land allocations for railroad development hints at a nuanced stance on economic development. Austin's establishment of the Minnesota Board of Health demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to public health, yet his famous threat to "Shake the railroads over hell" reveals a combative relationship with powerful economic interests. His reputation for objectivity and disdain for partisan conflict sets him apart, suggesting a strategic, almost calculated approach to governance.