Flem Sampson
| Flemon Davis "Flem" Sampson | |
 | |
| In office December 13, 1927 – December 8, 1931 | |
| Preceded by | William J. Fields |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Ruby Laffoon |
Chief Justice of the
Kentucky Court of Appeals | |
| In office 1923–1924 | |
| Born | January 23, 1875 London, Laurel County, Kentucky |
| Died | May 25, 1967 (aged 92) Pewee Valley, Oldham County, Kentucky |
| Resting place | Barbourville Cemetery in Barbourville, Kentucky |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Susie Steele Sampson (married 1897-1952) |
| Children | Paula Riser
Emolyne Churchill Helen Catherine Sampson |
| Alma mater | Valparaiso University (Indiana) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Religion | Methodist (died the year before establishment of the United Methodist denomination) |
Flemon Davis Sampson, known as Flem Sampson (January 23, 1875 – May 25, 1967), was the 42nd Governor of his native Kentucky, having served a single tumultuous term from 1927 to 1931.
Political biography
In 1894, Sampson graduated from Valparaiso University, a Lutheran institution in Valparaiso, Indiana. He then opened a law practice in Barbourville in Knox County in southeastern Kentucky. A Republican, Sampson was allied with later U.S. Representatives Caleb Powers (1869-1932) and John Marshall Robsion. Sampson served as the county judge for Knox County, then as a circuit judge, and by 1916, he was seated on the state's highest court, the Kentucky Court of Appeals. In 1923, he was elevated to chief justice of the Court of Appeals. He served until 1927, when he became the Republican gubernatorial nominee.[1]
The Democrats nominated former governor and United States Senator John Crepps Wickliffe Beckham (1869-1940) to challenge Sampson. The candidates took opposite sides on the status of parimutuel betting at the state's racetracks. Sampson supported keeping the practice while and Beckham favored banning such betting. The Jockey Club, a powerful political machine, supported Sampson, and several Democrats bolted the party after Beckham's nomination. Sampson won the governorship by more than 32,000 votes, but every other Republican on the ticket lost by small majorities.[1]
Sampson faced heavily Democratic majorities in the legislature. He was indicted for accepting gifts from textbook companies, but the charges were dropped. In 1929, Sampson removed arch-Democrat Ben Johnson (1858-1950) as the state's highway commissioner. When legislators reconvened in 1930, they stripped Sampson of many of his appointment duties and returned Johnson to his post.[1]
Legislators rebuffed Sampson's proposal that industrialist Samuel Insull (1859-1938) of Chicago be retained to dam the popular Cumberland Falls to produce hydroelectric power. The General Assembly instead voted to accept an offer from Thomas Coleman du Pont (1863-1930) of Delaware to purchase the falls and turn the site into a state park. In 1930, the legislature further stripped Sampson of his gubernatorial powers. Sampson activated the National Guard to stop a violent mine strike in Harlan County called the Battle of Ewarts.[1]
Later years
Upon leaving the governorship, Sampson returned to Barbourville and was elected once again to a circuit judgeship. He was also a bank president. He died on May 25, 1967, the same week that later Republican Governor Louie B. Nunn won his party's gubernatorial nomination and went on to win a narrow margin in the general election in November over Democrat Henry Ward (1909-2002), also like Ben Johnson a former highway commissioner.
Sampson is interred at Barbourville Cemetery, along with his wife, the former Susan Steele (1875-1952) and their two younger daughters, Emolyne Churchill (1901-1998) and Helen Catherine Sampson (1905-1929). Older daughter, Paula Riser (1898-1967), died three months after her father at the age of sixty-eight and is interred beside her husband, Rollin F. Riser (1897-1974) at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.[2]
