John L. Pennington, of Alabama, was next appointed governor (1874). He was bluff, strong, and practical, and made a good executive. He died in 1900 at his Alabama home.
William A. Howard, of Michigan, was the next governor (1878). Howard was a very efficient, far-sighted, and capable man. He was advanced in years and hoped to make his administration of Dakota affairs the crowning act in a long and useful life. He impressed himself for good on most of the affairs and enterprises of the territory, but at the beginning of 1880 he died and George A. Hand, secretary, became acting governor for a period of six months, until the appointment of Nehemiah G. Ordway of New Hampshire, who served for four years, with small satisfaction to the people.
President Arthur selected Gilbert A. Pierce, of Illinois, to succeed Ordway (1884). Pierce was a veteran of the Civil War and a newspaper man, having been connected editorially with the Inter-Ocean from its foundation in 1872. He was a popular and conscientious governor, who did much in the interest of safe and conservative management during the period of the great Dakota boom. He was afterward United States senator from North Dakota, and was appointed by President Harrison United States Minister to Spain. He died in Chicago in 1902.
Governor Pierce resigned as governor of Dakota territory in January, 1887, and was followed by Governor Louis K. Church, under appointment from President Cleveland. Church was the only Democrat who was
