William S. Ervin

American attorney and politician
Ervin c. 1936

William S. Ervin (September 4, 1886 – April 2, 1951) was an American attorney and politician from Minnesota. A member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party, he is most notable for his service as Attorney General of Minnesota from 1936 to 1939.

Biography

William Sterling Ervin[1] was born in Birmingham, Iowa[2] on September 4, 1886.[3] He was the son of Robert Milton Ervin and Malzena (Cole) Ervin,[4] and his family moved to Minnesota when he was six months old.[3] Ervin graduated from high school in Mankato, Minnesota.[3] He then attended the University of Minnesota Law School, from which he graduated with an LL.B. degree in 1910.[3][5]

Ervin attained admission to the bar in 1910 and practiced in Sandstone, Minnesota.[2] A member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party, he served as county attorney of Pine County from 1914 to 1918.[2] In 1919, he moved to Minneapolis.[2] From 1933 to 1936, Ervin served as Assistant Attorney General of Minnesota.[2] In 1936, he was appointed Attorney General when Harry H. Peterson resigned to accept appointment to the Minnesota Supreme Court, and he served until 1939.[3][6] He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the position in 1938.[7]

After leaving the attorney general's office, Ervin resumed the practice of law.[2] During World War II, he was a United States Commissioner authorized to perform certain judicial functions of Minnesota's federal district court.[8] From 1943 to 1947 he served as assistant commissioner of the land office for Hennepin County, and he served as commissioner from 1947 to 1949.[2]

After leaving the land commissioner's office, Ervin continued to practice law and reside in Minneapolis.[2] He died in Minneapolis on April 2, 1951, after suffering a heart attack while walking on a street near his home.[2] He was buried at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.[9]

Family

In 1914, Ervin married Elsie L. Orth.[10] He was survived by his wife, daughter Betty, and son Robert.[9]

References

Sources

Newspapers

Books

  • The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota. Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Secretary of State. 1937. p. 482 – via Google Books.

Internet

  • "1900 U.S. Federal Census, Entry for Robert M. Ervin and Malzena Ervin". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. June 2, 1900. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  • "Minnesota Marriages Index, 1849-1950, Entry for Elsie L. Orth and William Sterling Ervin". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. June 24, 1914. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  • "U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, Hennepin County, Minnesota, Entry for William Sterling Ervin". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. April 27, 1942. Retrieved January 6, 2020.

Magazines

  • The Registrar (September 1911). "Degrees Granted in 1910: The College of Law; For Bachelor of Laws". Bulletin of the University of Minnesota. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota. p. 95 – via Internet Archive.
Party political offices
Preceded by Farmer-Labor nominee for Attorney General of Minnesota
1938 		Succeeded by
David J. Erickson
Legal offices
Preceded by Minnesota Attorney General
1936–1939 		Succeeded by