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| Andrew John Volstead was born in Kenyon, Minnesota on Halloween in 1860. He was the great-grandson of Torbjørn Einertson of Vraalstad, Norway. Andrew was trained as a lawyer in Minnesota and Iowa and practiced for a number of years before becoming involved in politics. A teetotaler, he was elected to congress in the surge of the prohibition movement in 1902. The infamous Volstead Act, which provided for the enforcement of the prohibition amendment, was named in his honor. This turned out to be a mixed blessing though, and Andrew met defeat in the election of 1922. He then returned to his law practice in Minnesota, living until 20 January 1947. |