USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 1 > Part 16
USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 1 > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
Extensive beds of peat exist in Northern Middle Iowa, which, it is estimated, contain the following areas: Cerro Gordo County, 1,500 acres ; Worth, 2,000; Winnebago, 2,- COD; Hancock, 1.500; Wright, 500; Kos- suth, 700; Dickinson, 80. Several other counties contain peat beds, but the peat is inferior to that in the northern part of the State. The beds are of an average depth of four feet. It is estimated thit cach acre of these beds will furnish 250 tons of dry fuel for each foot in depth. At present this peat is not utilize 1; lt owing to its great distance from the coal fields and the absence of timber. the time is coming when its value will be fully realized.
The only sulphate of the alk.she enths of any economic value is gyp um, and it may be found in the vicinity of Fort Dodge in Webster Compte. The deposit ourtin. : nuly central position in the county, th. DE Makes Riverrunning warty & well's
1'5
HISTORY OF IOWA1.
rock cliff and ledges, and also occurring abundantly in similar positions along both sides of the valleys of the smaller streams and of the numerous ravines coming into the river valley. The most northerly known limit of the deposit is at a point near the mouth of Lizard Creek, a tributary of the Des Moines River and almost adjoining the town of Fort Dodge. The most southerly
On either side of the crocks and ravines Moines River, the gypsum is seen jutting . out from beneath the drift in the form of ledges and bold quarry fronts, having al- most the exact appearance of ordinary lime- stone exposures, so horizontal and regular its lines of stratification, and so similar in color is it to some varieties of that rock. The principal quarries now opened are on Two Mile Creek, a couple of miles below Fort Dodge.
Epsomite, or native Epsom salts, having been discovered near Burlington, all the sulphates of alkaline carths of natural origin have been recognized in Iowa, all except the sulphate of lime being in very small quantity.
Sulphate of lime in the various forms of fibrous gypsum, selenite and small, amor- phous masses, has also been discovered in various formation in different parts of the State, including the Coal Measure cheles near Fort Dodge, where it exists in small quantities, quite independently of the great gypsumi of depo it there. The quantity of gypsum in these minor deposits is always toy small to be of any practical vi's . usually occurring in shales and tely days. it ociated with fried that couldit m .o. las sult imiut of iron. Gypun hardly
been detect. 1 in the Coat Measures. the St. Louis limestone, the Cretaceous strata, and also in the dead caves of Dubuque.
Sulphate of strontia is found at Fort Dodge.
CLIMATI ..
The greatest objection to the climate of this State is the prevalence of wind, which point at which it has been exposed is about ' is somewhat greater than in the States south six miles, by way of the river, from the i and cast, but not so great as farther west. northerly point mentioned. The width of , The air is purer than cither east or south, the area is unknown, as the gypsum be- comes lost beneath the overlying drift, as one goes up the ravines and minor valleys.
which come into the valley of the Des , and a consequent more yellowish green
as indicated by the bluer sky and conse- quent deeper green vegetation, and is therefore more bracing. By way of con- trast, Northern Illinois has a whiter sky vegetation.
The prevailing direction of the wind is from the west.
Thunder-storms are somewhat more vio- lent here than east or south, but not so furious as toward the Rocky Mount ains. The greatest rainfall is in the southeastern part of the State, and the least in the north- western portion. The increase of timber growth is increasing the amount of rain, as well as distributing it more evenly through- out the year. As elsewhere in the North- western States, casterly winds bring rain and snow, while westerly ones clear the sley. While the highest temperature occurs here in August. the mdath of July averages the hottest, and January the collest. The mean temperature of April an ! October nearly corresponds to the mean temperature of the year, as well as to theseasons of spring and fall, whil that of sto mer amy wine " is best ammen ded le Avout and Derom. ber. Indian salon. ris : ibthanks: 1 prolonge I. Untig hets sometimes .. great injury. The wheat erop tain
State Com bon singer :.
15
16:
HISTORY OF IOR .I.
CENSUS OF IOWA.
COUNTIES.
1850.
: Sto.
1870.
IS80.
CHINTIES.
1550.
1560.
ISto.
ISSO.
Mitchell
3,400
9.582
14.361
Monona.
8 32
3,654
9.055
Adams ..
1,533
4,614
II,I&S
Allonakee.
777
12,237
19 791
Appanoche
3,131.
11,931
16,456
16,636
Audubon
6.52
8,456
22,4541
24.888
Page.
551
4,419
9,975
19.607
Black Hawk.
135
8,2.11
21.7(6)
23.913
Boone.
735
4,232
1.4.554
20,535
Bremer
4,915
12,525
Buchanan
517
7,906
17.031
18,547
Polk.
4.513
11,625
27.557
42.395
Pottawattamie,
7,828
4.965
16,8931
39.46
Butler.
3,724
9,951
14,293
615
5,605
15,581
18.936
Calhoun
1.17
1,602
5.595
Carroll.
281
2,4511
12,351
Cass ..
1,612
5.464
Scott.
5,986
25,959
38.50 9
41,270
Cedar .. ..
3,941
12,949
19,731
Shelby
818
2,549
12,650.
Cerro Gordo
910
4.722
11,461
Charol.ce.
58
1.967
8,2.40
Story
4,051
11,651
Chickasaw
4,336
10,1 SO
14.534
Tama.
8
5,285
16,131
21,555
Clarke.
5,427
S,735
11,512
Clay.
52
1.5-3
4.248
Union.
. .
2,012
5.956
14,90
Clinton.
2,822
18,938
35.357
36,704
Wapello ..
5,471
14,518
22,340
25,282
Dallas.
S54
5,244
12,019
15,746
Davis.
7,264
13,704
15.505
16.468
Decatur.
965
8,677
10,018
15.336
Delaware.
1,759
11,024
17,432
17,952
Des Moines.
12,955
19,611
21,256
33.999
Dickinson.
1 So
1,359!
1.901
Dubuque ...
10,841
31,164
12,997
Emmett,
105
1,392
1.550
Faycite ..
825
12,073
15,973
22,258
Floyd.
3,74-1
10,765
14,677
Franklin
1,300
5,074!
11,174
17,653
Greene.
1,374
4.627
12,725
Grundy.
793
6,309
12.639
Guthrie ..
3,058
7,061
14,563
llamilton.
1,699
6,055
11,252
Ilancock.
179
999
3,453
Ilardin.
5,140
13,684
1 ;. SoS
Harri. on.
3.021
16610
Henry ..
8,507
18,701|
21,463
20,526
Howard.
3,ICS
10,537
Humboldt.
332
2,596
6,3.41
Ida ...
43
220
1.392
I ......
Jack. on.
7,210
IS.4931
22,649;
23.771
1 .... r.
:
3.007
13,4,1
331
6,179
-
15, 51
29,23-
39.959
1.1. 11
5,441
18,97
LO.
4.939
10, 37€
1X 110
,'1.
1,159
7,33)
13
5.111
6015.
-1752
Monroe
2 SS
8,612
12,724
13.719
Montgomery
1,256
5.931
15 895
Muscatine
5,731
16,4444
21,683
23,165
O'Brien
Osceola,
Palo Alto.
132
1,336
4,131
Plymouth.
Pocahontas
103
1,440
3-713
Buena Vista.
57
1,555
7,537
Ringgold.
2.923!
5,691
12,095
Sac ...
2.16
1,411
8,774
Sioux
IO
570
Taylor
20.1
3,590
6,999
15,35
Clayton
20,728
27,771
25,829
Van Buren
12,270
17.CS1
17,6721
17,042
Crawford
383
2,530
12,413 Warren,
961
10,281
17.050
19,578
Washington. ..
4,957
14,235
18.952
20,3:5
Wayne.
340
6,409
11,25;
16,127
Webster.
2,504|
10, 481
15.950
Winnebago.
165
1,562
4.917
Winneshiek.
5-16
13.9-12
23.570!
23.937
Woodbury.
1,119
6,172|
14,997
Worth.
75€
2,892
7,953
Wright.
653
2,392
500
Total.
192,214
674.913 1,191,792 1,6:4, 163
TERRITORIAL. OFFICERS.
Governors .- Robert Lucas, 1838-'41; John Chamber, 1841-'45 ; James Clark, 1845.
Secretaries .- Win. B. Conway, IS38, died 1839; James Clark, 1839 '41; O. H. W. Stull, 1841-'3: Samuel J. Burr, IS+3-'45 : Jesse Williams, 1845.
Auditer. .- Jesse Williams, IS40-'43: WILD- iam L. Gilbert, 1843 '45: Robert M. Sucre-t, 10.15.
9.901
11 170
4,172
17.573
Treasurers -- Thornton Baylic, 1835-49; Morgan Reno. ISpe.
Judy's .- Cher'es Mason, Chief Ju. tics. 1553: Joseph Willing, 1835; Thomas S. Wilson, 1838.
Destudents of Comedy-Jesse B. Brown.
John D. Elbert, 1812-145: Thomas Com
715
4,155
454
1,212
7.445
2,219
Benton. .
2,199,
S,507
Poweshick.
16,943
18 937
5.426
16.906
709
3,873
1
3.982
11,109
. .
16,6
22.116
25.999
10,248
Fremont
1,244
I65
HISTORY OF IOWA.
1843-'44: S. Clinton Hasting, 1845; Stephen Hempstead, 1845-'46.
Speakers of the House .- William II. Wal- lace, 1838-39; Edward Johnson, 1830-'40 ; . Thomas Cox, 1840-'31 ; Warner Lewis. 1841-'42; James M. Morgan, 1842-'43; James P. Carleton, 1843-'44; James M. Morgan, 1845 : George W. McLeary, 1845-'46.
STATE OFFICERS.
Governors. - Ansel Briggs, 1846-'50 ; Stephen Hempstead, 1850-'54: James W. Grimes, 1854-'58; Ralph P. Lowe, 1858- '60; Sammel J. Kirkwood, 1860-'64; Will- iam M. Stone, 1864-'68; Samuel Morrill, 1868-'72; Cyrus C. Carpenter, 1872-'76; Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1876-77; J. G. New- bold, 1877-78; John H. Gear, 1878-'82 : Buren R. Sherman, 1882-'86 ; William Lar- rabee, 1886.
Lieutenant-Governors .- Oran Faville, 1858- '60; Nicholas J. Rusch, 1860-'62; John R.
Needham, 1862-'64; Enoch W. Eastman, | Hart, 1855-'57 ; Theodore S. Parvin, 1857- 1864-'66; Benjamin F. Gue, 1866-'68 ; John . '59; Amos B. Miller, 1859-'62; Edwin
Scott, 1868-'70; M. M. Walden, 1870-'72 : ; H. C. Bulis, 1872-'74; Joseph Dysart, 1874-76; Joshua G. Newbold. 1876-78; Frank T. Campbell, 1878-'82; Orlando Il. Manning, 1882-'85 ; John A. T. Hull, 1886.
This office was created by the new con- stitution Sepi. 3, 1857.
Secretaries of State .- Elisha Cutter, Jr .. 18.16-'48; Joseph H. Bonney, 18.18-'50: George W. McCleary, 1850-'56: Elijah Sells, 18:6- 63; James Wright. 1863- 67 : Ed. Wright. 1867-73: Josiah T. Young, 1873-79; J .A. T. Hull. 187 , 85: Franklin D. Jackson, 1885.
Auditors of State. - Joseph T. Fales, 1846-'50 ; Willian Patter, 1850-'54: Andrew ' upon the secretary of the Board of Educa J. Stevens. 1854 -55; John Patt e. 1955 -59: Jonathan W. Cattell, 1856 6: : John A. ' Elliott, 1865-71: John Russell. 1. 71- 75: Buren R. Sherman, 18,5-'S1: Win. V. Lucas, ISPI: John L. Brown, 1832-33 : J. W. Cattell, acting, 18/5-'86.
Treasurers of State .- Morgan Reno, IS46- '50; Israel Kister, 1850-'52; Martin L. Morris, 1852-'59; John W. Jones. 1859-'63 ; William H. Holmes, 1863-67; Samuel E. Rankin, 1867-'73: William Christy, 1873- `77 : George W. Bemis, 1877-'SI: Edwin II. Conger, 1881- '85 : Voltaire Twombly, ISS5.
Attorney-Generals. - David C. Cloud, IS53-'56; Samuel A. Rice, 1856-'60 ; Charles C. Nourse, 1860-'64 ; Isaac L. Allen, 1865- '66; Frederick E. Bissell, 1866-'67 ; Henry O'Connor, 1867-'72; Marcena E. Cutts, 1872-'76; John F. McJunkin, 1877-'SI; Smith McPherson, ISSI-'85 ; A. J. Baker, ISS5.
Adjutant-Generals .- Daniel S. Lec, 1851- '55 ; George W. McCleary, 1855-'57: Eli- jah Sells, 1857; Jesse Bowen, 1857-'61 ; Na- thaniel Baker, 1861-'77; John H. Looby, 1877-'78; W. L, Alexander, 1878- 84.
Registers of the State Land-Office .- Anson
Mitchell, 1862-'63: Josiah A. Harvey, 1863-'67; Cyrus C. Carpenter, 1867- 71 : Aaron Brown, 1871- 75; David Secor, 1875-'79; J. K. Powers, 1879-'82."
Superintendents of Public Instruction, -- James Harlan, 1847-'48 ; Thos. H. Benton, Jr., IS4S-'54; James D. Eads. 1854-57, Joseph C. Stone, 1857; Maturin L. Fisher, 1857 '58: Oran Faville, 1864-'67 : D. Frank- lin Wells, 1867 'GS ; A. S. Kissell, 1868- 72 : Alonzo Abernethy. 1872-'76; Carl W. Van Coelen, 1876-82: John W. Akers, IS82-'S6
This office was created in iSar and ab ! ished in 1858, and the duties then devoly ! tion ; it was re-created March 23. 186 ;.
State Printers .--- Ga rett D. Palmer and George Paul, 1849-'51 : William H. Merdir. 1551 53: William A. Hornish. 15, : D. ... on the Sunstaly of Start
>
165
HISTORY OF HOW'.1.
nis A. Mahoney and Joseph B. Dorr, 1853 55 : Peter Moriarty, 1855-'57 : John Tees dale, 1857-'61 ; Francis W. Palmer, ISO1- '69; Frank M. Mills, 1869-'71; G. W. Ed- wards, 18;1-'73 ; Rich. P. Clarkson, 1873 `70; Frank M. MHills, 1879-81: Geo. E. Roberts, ISSI.
State Binders .- William M. Coles, 1855- . '58; Frank M. Mills, 1858-'6; ; James S. Carter, 1867 -'71 ; J. J. Smart, 1871-'75 ; H. A. Perkins, 1875-'79; Matt. Parrott, 1579- '85 ; L. S. Merchant, ISS5.
Secretaries of Board of Education .- T. HI. Benton, Jr., 1859-'63 ; Oran Faville, 1863-'64.
This office was abolished March 23, 1864. Presidents of the Senate .-- Thomas Baker, 18.16-'47; Thomas Hughes, 1847-'48; John J. Selman, 1848-'49; Enos Lowe, 1849-'51 : WVm. E. Leffingwell, 1851-'53; Maturn L. Fisher, 1853-'55 ; Wm. W. Hamilton, 1855- '57
Under the new Constitution the Lieuten- ant-Governor is President of the Senate.
Speakers of the House. - Jesse B. Brown, 1846-'48; Smiley H. Bonham, 1848-'50; George Temple, 1850-'52; James Grant, 1852 -- '54; Reuben Noble, 1854 -'56; Samuel McFarland, 1856-'57; Stephen B. Sheledy, 1857-'59; John Edwards, 1859 ''G1; Rush Clark, 1861-'63; Jacob Butler, 1863-'65; Ed. Wright, 1865-'67; John Russell, 1867-'69; Aylett R. Cotton. 1869 '71; James Wilson, 1871-'73: John H. Geer, 1873 '77: John Y. Stone, 1877 '79; Lore Afford, ISSO 'ST: G. R. Struble, 1892-'83: Wm. P. Wolf, 1851: Albert Head, 1936.
Chief Justices of the Supreme Court. Chutes Mason, 1817: Joseph Williams, 1247 No: S. Clinton Hastings IMAS '40: Jeph Williams, 1819 55: George G. Wright, 13,5 % ; Ralph P. Love, 1900 02: Caleb Balixin, 185220: George G. Wright, Hogy Ralph P. Love, NO Re: John F. Dition, 1868 50; Chester C.
Coje, 1870 71; James G. Day, 1871-'72; Joseph M. Beck, 1872-'74; W. E. Miller, 1874-76; Chester C. Cole, IS;6; Wm. 11. Seevers, 1876-77 : James G. Day, 1877-'78; James H. Rothrock, 1878 -'83 and '8.4; Joseph MI. Beck, 1879-'80 and '85; Austin Adams, Isso-'Si and 'S6: Win. H. Seevers, 1882.
Associate Justices. - Joseph Williams, held over from territorial government until a successor was appointed ; Thomas S. Wil- son, 1847; John F. Kinney, 1847-'54; George Greene, 1847-'55; Jonathan C. Hall, 1854- '55 ; William G. Woodward, 1855 : Norman W. Isbell, 1855-'56; Lacon D. Stockton, 1856-'60; Caleb Baldwin, 1860 '64; Ralph P. Lowe, 1860; George G. Wright, ISTO ; John F. Dillon, 1864-'70; Chester C. Cole, 1864-'77: Joseph M. Beck, 1868; W. E. Miller, 1870; James G. Day, 1870.
United States Senators. - Augustus C. Dodge, 1848-'55; George W. Jones, IS;S- '59; James Harlan, 1855-'65 : James W. Grimes, 1859-'69; Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1866; James Harlan, 1867-73; James B. Howch, I870; George G. Wright, 1871 '77 : William B. Allison, 1873-79; Sanluel J. Kirkwood, 1877-'81; Wm. B. Allison, 1879-'85; James W. McDill, ISSI: James F. Wilson, 1883.
Present State Oficers (1886) .- Governor, William Larrabee ; Secretary of State, Frank D. Jackson : Auditor of State, J. W. Cattell, acting : Treasurei, Vollaire Twom- bly ; Superintendent Public Instruction, John W. Akers; Printer, George E. Rot- erts; Binder, L. S. Marcoatt : A ljuga- General, W. L. Alexander . Librarian, Mrs. S. B. Maxi 1.
Supreme Court. - William H. Scere Chief Justice, ( Madora; James G. D. Siincy, Jaine H. Rochrock, Tipton. Jecompi M. Beck. Het Manicon. Austin Aide
.
Governors of lowa.
01
James Clarke
du Chambers
171
ROBERT LUCAS.
1
-
OBERT LUCAS, the first Governor of Iowa Ter- ritory, was the fourth son and ninth child of William and Susan. nah Lucas, and was born April 1, 1781, in Jefferson Valley, at Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, Virginia, a few miles from Harper's Ferry, where his ancestors settled before the Rev- olution. His father, who was descended from William Penn, was born January IS, 1743, and his mother, of Scotch extrac- tion, was born October 8, 1745. They were married about the year 1760, and reared a family of six sons and six daughters. His father, who had served as a Captain in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war, and had distinguished himself at the battle of Bloody Run, emigrated with his family to Scioto County, Ohio, early in the present century.
At the time of this removal Robert was a young man. He had obtained his educa- tion chiefly in Virginia, from an old Scotch schoolmaster named McMullen, who taught him mathematics and surveying. The litter aborded him remunerative employment im- mediately upon his entrance into Ohio.
He was married at Portsmouth, Ohio, April 3, ISTO, to Elizabeth Brown, who died October 18, 1812, leaving an infant daugh-
ter, who afterward became Mrs. Minerva E. B. Summer. March 7, 1816, he formed a second matrimonial connection ; this time with Friendly A. Sumner, who bore to him four sons and three daughters.
The first public office held by Robert Lucas was that of County Surveyor of Sci- oto County, the commission from Governor Edward Tiffin, of Ohio, appointing him such being dated December 26, 1803. Decem- ber 16, ISO5, he was commissioned by Governor Tiffin justice of the peace for three years. Ilis first military appointment was that of Lieutenant of militia, by virtue of which he was authorized to raise twenty men to assist in filling Ohio's quota of 500 volunteers called for by the President in view of possible difficulties with the Spanish. He was subsequently promoted through all the military grades to Major Gen- eral of Ohio militia, which latter rank was conferred upon him in ISIS.
He was a Brigadier-General on the breaking out of the war of IS12, and had much to do with raising troops. He was appointed a Captain in the regular army, but before his commission reached him he was already in active service, scouting. spying, carrying a musket in the ranks ar ! in other useful capacities. After Hull's surrender he was paroled and returned to Ohio. He was in the course of time m. de a Lieutenant-Colonel, and then a Colonel, from which position he resigned.
He served in numerous civil office in
.V.
GOTFRYARS OF IOWA.
Ohio, and at the time of his second marriage. in 1816, he was and had been for some time a member of the Ohio Legislature, serving successively for nineteen years in one or the other branch, and in the course of his leg- islative career presiding over first one and then the other branch. In isso and again in 1828, he was chosen one of the Presidential electors of Ohio. In May, IS32, at Baltimore, Maryland, he presided over the first Democratic National Con- vention-that which nominated Andrew Jackson for his second term as President, and Martin Van Buren for Vice Presi- dent. In 1832 he was elected Governor ; dent of a memorial, dated January 12, 1839, of Ohio, and re-elected in 1834. He declined a third nomination for the same office.
Under the act of Congress to divide the Territory of Wisconsin and to establish the territorial government of Iowa, approved June 12, 1838, the subject of this sketch was appointed Governor of the new Territory, and he immediately accepted the responsi- bility. A journey from the interior of Ohio to the banks of the Upper Mississippi was then a matter of weeks; so that, although Governor Lucas sct out from his home on the 25th of July, delaying on his route a few days at Cincinnati, to arrange for the selection of the books for a territorial library, it was not till nearly the middle of August that he reached Burlington, then the temporary seat of government.
The first official act of Lucas as Gov- ' was estimated at go.000) without a parallel ernor of Iowa was to issue a proclamation dated August 13, 1838, dividing the Tebi. tory into eight representative di tricts, ap- porationing the members of the Council and House of Representatives among the nine. teen counties then composing the Terri. tory, and appointing the second Monday in September ensuing for the election of numbers of the Legislative Assembly and a del gate to Congress. His first message to the Legislature, after its organization, was cated November 12. 1838, and related
chiefly to a code of laws for the new com- monwealth. He opposed imprisonment for debt, favored the death penalty for murder (executions to be in the presence of only the Sheriff and a suitable number of wit- nesses), and strenuously urged the organi- zation of a liberal system of common schools. The organization of the militia was also one of his pet measures. There was a broad difference between the views of a majority of this Legislative Assembly and the Governor, on many questions of public policy, as well as points of authority. This resulted in the sending to the Presi- signed by eight of the council and seven of the Representatives, praying the re- moval of Governor Lucas. In addition to this, a memorial for the Governor's re- moval was passed by both Houses, signed in due form by their presiding officers, and transmitted to the President. The charges made were met by a protest signed by eight Representatives, and as a result Gor- ernor Lucas was allowed to remain in office until the next change of administration.
In 1839 and '40 occurred the well-known boundary dispute with Missouri, which was finally settled in favor of Iowa, by the Supreme Court of the Umted States. No. vember 5, 1339, Governor Lucas announced that the Territory had advanced in improve- ment, wealth and population (which latter in history, and recommended the necessary legislation preparatory to the formation of a State government. This was overruled by the people, however. Among the htest of Governor Lucas's acts vas a product tion dated April 30, 18441, c. Hing the Ley- islature to assemble, for the first time, at lowa City, the new capitol.
March 25, 1221, he was surcechet ty John Chambers, He lived a private life hear lowa City until his death, February 7. 1853, at the age of seventy one years.
V.
2
OIIN CHAMBERS was he became deputy under Francis Taylor, Clerk of the District Court. His duties being light, he applied himself to the study of law. In the spring of isoo he assumed all the duties of the office in which he had been employed, and in November following he was licensed to practice law. the second Governor of Iowa Territory. He was born October 6, 1780, at Bromley Bridge, Somer- set County, New Jersey. His father, Rowland Cham- bers, was born in Pennsyl- In 1803 Mr. Chambers, who had now entered upon a career of uninterrupted professional prosperity, was married to Miss Margaret Taylor, of Hagerstown, Mary- land. She lived but about three years, and in 1807 he married Miss Hannah Taylor, a sister of his first wife. Not long after he engaged in the manufacture of bale rope and bagging for the Southern market. In this he incurred heavy losses. vania, of Irish parentage. According to a tradition in the family, their remote ancestors were Scotch, and belonged to the clan Cam- eron. Having refused to join in the rebellion of 1645, they migrated to Ireland, where, by an act of Parliament, on their own petition, they took the name of Cham- In the campaign of 1812 he served as aid-de-camp to General Harrison, with the : rank of Major. In isi; Mr. Chambers was ' sent to the Legislature, and in 1823 he went to Congress to fill the unexper. i term of General Thomas Metcalfe. In 1830 and IS31 he was again in the State Legislature. In 1832 he lost his wife. She was a lady . i cultivated mind and degant manners, and had made his home : happy and attractive one. The same way he was offered a seat bers. Rowland Chambers espoused with enthusiasm the cause of American inde- pendence, and was commissioned a Colonel of New Jersey militia. At the close of the war, reduced in circumstances, he immi- grated to Kentucky and settled in Wash- ington, then the seat of Mason County. Joan, the youngest of seven children, was then fourteen years old. A few days after the family settle l m their new home he fal : employment in a dry-goals sort, on the bench of the Supreme Court of and the following spring was sent to Kentucky, but this le derlingl. Thesame Trovivania Semintry. at. Lexington. He ! Where I home in less than a year. In iggy , the Good for table . his seat, he v . of land
10
!74
GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
to resign, out of consideration for his health. From 1835 to 1839 he was in Congress, making for himself a high reputation.
Between 1815 and 1828 Mr. Chambers was, for several years, the commonwealth's attorney for the judicial district in which he lived. He was during that period at the zenith of his reputation as a lawyer and ad- vocate. He met the giants of the Ken- tucky bar in important civil and criminal trials. His well-known high sense of honor, and his contempt for professional chicanery, commanded the respect of his legal com- peers. His appearance and manner were dignified, his tone calm and impressive, and his language singularly direct and vigorous.
He closed his congressional career in 1839 with the purpose of resuming the practice of law, but his old friend General Harrison was nominated for the Presi- dency and induced him to aid in the personal canvass General Harrison made through the country. He was urged by President Harrison to accept some office requiring his residence in Washington, but this he declined, though he afterward ac- cepted the appointment of Governor of Iowa. He entered upon the duties of this | office May 13, 1841. His success in his administration of the affairs of the Territory was well attested by the approbation of the people, and by the hearty commendation of those in authority at Washington, espe- cially for his man gement of Indian affairs. During his term of office he found it neces- sary on several occasions to suppress the feuds of the red inen, which he did with such frinness and decision that quiet was promptly restored where war seemed in- min nt. Governor Chambers was repeat- edly called on to treat with the Indian tribes
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.