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William John Bulow
12th Governor of South Dakota
In office 1927 – 1931
Preceded by	Carl Gunderson
Succeeded by	Warren Green
Born	January 13, 1869 Moscow, Ohio
Died	February 26, 1960 Washington, D.C.
Political party	Democratic

William John Bulow (January 13, 1869 – February 26, 1960) was an American politician and a lawyer. He was the first Democratic Governor of South Dakota, receiving the highest vote ever received by a Democratic candidate for governor up to that time, ^[1], and then went on to serve as a member of the United States Senate.

Bulow was born of German ancestry to Joseph and Elizabeth (Ebendorf) Bulow near Moscow in Clermont County, Ohio, where he was raised and educated. In 1893, he graduated with a law degree from the University of Michigan.

During 1893, Bulow moved to South Dakota. He resided in Sioux Falls, where he worked for the Joe Kirby office. Then, he came by horse and carriage to Beresford, where he set up his own law office and helped to develop the town. He was elected to the state senate of the South Dakota Legislature in 1898.^[2] While residing in Beresford, Bulow spent twenty-five years as city attorney from 1902 to 1927, except while serving as mayor from 1912 to 1913. He also served as County Judge for Beresford in 1918. Bulow ran unsuccessfully for goveror in 1924, but won in 1926^[3], and served as Governor of South Dakota from 1927 to 1931 and as a member of the US Senate from 1931 to 1943. During his entire life, Bulow kept a legal residence in Beresford, South Dakota and voted by absentee ballot. He was defeated for renomination for a third term in the South Dakota Democratic Primary Election by former governor, Tom Berry, and Bulow retired and spent the rest of his life residing at 3901 Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington, DC. Bulow spent his last few years in failing health and was blind during his last four years. He was a member of the Alfalfa Club.^[4]

Beresford, South Dakota honored William J. Bulow during the town's seventy-five year jubilee observance in 1959. The city's park was dedicated as "Bulow Park" on June 3, 1959. Almost nine months later, Bulow died; and, his body was returned to Beresford for burial at the St. John Catholic Cemetery, where he was laid to rest next to his first wife, Katherine (Reedy) Bulow (January 29, 1875 – September 17, 1918). Years later, Bulow's house in Beresford, South Dakota was declared a historic landmark.

• William J. Bulow at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

• William J. Bulow's NNDB biography
• William J. Bulows U.S. Congress biography
• William J. Bulow's burial record at Findagrave.com
• Katherine (Reedy) Bulow's burial record at Findagrave.com
• Bulow Park History from the Union County Historical Society website.
• Listing for William J. Bulow's home on the National Register of Historic Places

v • d • e United States Senators from South Dakota
Class 2: Pettigrew • Gamble • Sterling • McMaster • Bulow • H. Bushfield • V. Bushfield • Mundt • Abourezk • Pressler • T. Johnson Class 3: Moody • Kyle • Kittredge • Crawford • E. Johnson • Norbeck • Hitchcock • Pyle • Gurney • Case • Bottum • McGovern • Abdnor • Daschle • Thune