Samuel Elrod graduated from DePauw University and embarked on a career in public service, beginning as Clark County Attorney. He served as a state attorney and later as a clerk postmaster. Elrod spent nearly a decade managing federal Indian affairs before being elected Governor of South Dakota, where he continued the policies of his predecessor. During his tenure as governor, he chaired the building committee for the state capitol.

Samuel Elrod's political identity is marked by a strategic control over the state's political machinery, seamlessly continuing the policies of his predecessor, Charles Herreid. His tenure as governor was notable for his chairmanship of the state capitol building committee, suggesting a focus on tangible, long-term state infrastructure. Elrod's approach reveals an intriguing blend of continuity and calculated state investment, raising questions about the balance he struck between legacy and innovation.