USA > Iowa > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Iowa, and of the presidents of the United States > Part 119
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OVERDORS.
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GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
Ansel Briggs.
NSEL BRIGGS, the first gentleman chosen to fill the · gubernatorial chair of Iowa after its organization as a, State, was a native of Ver- mont, and was born Feb. 3, 1806. His parents, who likewise were New Englanders, were Beil- jamin and Electa Briggs. The boyhood of our subject was passed in his native State, and in at- tendanee upon the common schools he received a fair education which was subsequently improved by a terin at Norwich Academy. When a young man he removed with his parents to Cambridge, Guernsey Co., Ohio, where young Briggs engaged in the work of establishing stage lines. He also here embarked in politieal affairs and as a Whig run for the office of County Auditor but was defeated by John Ferguson, a Jackson Democrat.
After remaining in Ohio for six years, the glow- ing accounts of the fair fields and the fertile prairies of the Territory of Iowa, led him westward across the Father of Waters. He had previously united his fortunes in life with Naney M. Dunlap, daugh- ter of Major Dunlap, an offieer in the War of 1812. Even prior to this marriage he had chosen a wife, a lady who was born on the same day and year as himself, but of whom he was soon bereft. He brought with him to Iowa his little family and lo- tated at Andrew, in Jackson County. Seoing the
opportunity here for resuming his former business. he began opening up stage lines, frequently driving the old stage coach himself. He made several con- traets with the Postoffice Department for carrying the United States mails weekly between Dubuque and Davenport, Dubuque and Iowa City and other routes, thus opening up and carrying on a very im. portant enterprise. Politically, Gov. Briggs was a Democrat, and on coming to Iowa identified him- self with that party. In 1842 he was chosen a member of the Territorial House of Representatives from Jackson County, and subsequently was elected Sheriff of the same eounty. He had taken a lead- ing part in public affairs, and upon the formation of the State Government in 1846, he became a prom- inent eandidate for Governor, and though his com- petitors in his own party were distinguished and well-known citizens, Mr. Briggs received the nom- ination. The convention was held in Iowa City, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 1846, and assembled to nominate State officers and two Congressmen. It was called to order by F. D. Mills, of Des Moines County. William Thompson, of Henry County. presided, and. J. T. Fales, of Dubuque, was Seere- tary. Tho vote for Governor in the convention stood: Briggs, sixty-two; Jesse Williams, thirty- two, and William Thompson, thirty-one. The two latter withdrew, and Briggs was then chosen by ac- clamation. Elisha Cutler, Jr., of Van Buren Coun- ty, was nominated for Secretary of State; Joseph T. Fales, of Linn, for Auditor, and Morgan Reno. of Johnson, for Treasurer. S. C. Hastings and Sheperd Leffler were nominated for Congress. The
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ANSEL BRIGGS.
tection was held Oct. 28, 1846, the entire Demo- cratic ticket being successful. Briggs received 7,626 votes and his competitor, Thomas McKnight, the Whig candidate. 7,379, giving Briggs a major- ity of 247.
The principal question between the two leading parties, the Democratic and the Whig, at this period, was that of the banking system. It is related that at short time prior to the meeting of the conven- tion which nominated Mr. Briggs, that in offering toast at a banquet, he struck the key-note which made him the popular man of the hour. He said, "No banks but earth and they well tilled." This was at once caught up by his party and it did more to secure him the nomination than anything else. His administration was one void of any special in- terest. He labored in harmonious accord with his party, yet frequently exhibited an independence of principle, characteristic of his nature. The Mis- souri boundary question which caused a great deal of excited controversy at this period, and even a determination to resort to arms, was handled by him with great ability.
On his election as Executive of the State, Gov. Briggs sold out his mail contract, but after the ex- piration of his term of service he continued his residence in Jackson County. In 1870 he removed to Council Bluffs. He had visited the western part of the State before the day of railroads in that section, making the trip by carriage. On the occa- sion he enrolled himself as one of the founders of the town of Florence on the Nebraska side of the river and six miles above Council Bluffs, and which for a time was a vigorous rival of Omaha. Dur- ing the mining excitement, in 1860, he made a trip to Colorado, and three years later, in company with his son John and a large party, went to Montana, where he remained until the year
1865, when he returned to his home in Iowa.
As above stated, Gov. Briggs was twice married. his first wife being his companion for : brief time only. His second wife bore him eight children, all of whom died in infancy save two, and of these lat- ter, Ansel, Jr., died May 15, 1867, aged twenty- five years. John S. Briggs, the only survivor of the family. is editor of the Idaho Herald, published at Blackfoot, Idaho Territory. Mrs. Briggs died Dec. 30, 1847, while her husband was Governor of the State. She was a devoted Christian lady, a strict member of the Presbyterian Church, and a woman of strong domestic tastes. She was highly educated, and endowed by nature with that womanly tact and grace which enabled her to adorn the high position her husband had attained. She dispensed a bounteous hospitality, though her home was in a log house, and was highly esteemed and admired by all who met her.
Gov. Briggs went in and out among his people for many years after his retirement from the execu- tive office, and even after his return from the Mon tana expedition. He was admired for his able services rendered so unselfishly during the pioneer period of the now great and populous State. His last illness, ulceration of the stomach, was of brief duration, lasting only five weeks, indeed only three days before his death he was able to be out. His demise occurred at the residence of his son, John S. Briggs, in Omaha, Neb., at half-past three of the morning of May 5, 1881. His death was greatly mourned all over the State. Upon the following day, Gov. Gear issued a proclamation reciting his services to the State, ordering half-hour guns to be fired and the national flag on the State capitol to be put at haif-mast during the day upon which the funeral was held, which was the following Sun- day succeeding his death,
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8. Hempastor
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GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
Stephen
Hempstead.
TEPHEN HEMPSTEAD, sec .. ond Governor of Iowa, is a native of Connecticut, where, at New London, he was born Oct. 1, 1812. He resided in that State with his parents until 1828, when the family came West, locating upon a farm near Saint Louis. This was the home of young Stephen until 1830, when he went to Galena, Ill., where he served in the capacity of a clerk in a commission house for a time. He was there during the exciting period of the Black Hawk troubles, and was an officer in an artillery company which had been organized for the protec- tion of Galena. After the defeat of Black Hawk and the consequent termination of Indian troubles, he entered the Illinois College at Jacksonville, where he remained for about two years. On ac- count of difficulties which he got into about sectarianism and abolitionism, he left the college and returned to Missouri. He shortly afterward entered the office of Charles S. Hempstead, a prom- inent lawyer of Galena, and began the study of the profession in which he afterward became quite pro-
ficient. In 1836 he was admitted to practice in all the courts of the Territory of Wisconsin, which at the time embraced the Territory of Iowa, and the same year located at Dubuque, being the first law- yer who began the practice of his profession at that place.
As might be expected in a territory but thinly populated, but one which was rapidly settling up, the services of an able attorney would be in de- mand in order to draft the laws. Upon the organ- ization of the Territorial Government of Iowa in 1838, he was, with Gen. Warner Lewis, elected to represent the northern portion of the Territory in the Legislative Council, which assembled in Bur- lington that year. He was Chairman of the Com- mittee Judiciary, and at the second session of that body was elected its President. He was again elected a member of the Council, in 1845, over which he also presided. In 1844 he was elected one of the delegates of Dubuque County, for the first convention to frame a constitution for the State. In 1848, in company with Judge Charles Mason and W. G. Woodward, he was appointed by the Legislature Commissioner to revise the laws of the State, which revision, with a few amend- ments, was adopted as the code of Iowa in 1851.
In 1850 Mr. Hempstead was elected Governor of
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STEPHEN HEMPSTEAD.
the State, and served with ability for four years, that being the full term under the Constitution at the time. He received 13,486 votes against 11,- 403 cast for his opponent, James L. Thompson. After the vote had been canvassed a committee was appointed to inform the Governor-elect that the two IIonses of the Legislature were ready to re- ceive him in joint convention, in order that he might receive the oath prescribed by the Constitu- tion. Gov. Hempstead, accompanied by the retir- ing Executive, Gov. Briggs, the Judges of the Su- preme Court and the officers of State, entered the hall of the House where the Governor-elect deliv- ered his inaugural message, after which the oath was administered by the Chief Justice of the Su- preme Court. This was an important period in the history of the State, being at a time when the pub- lic affairs were assuming definite shape, and indecd it was what might be termed the formative period. The session of the Legislature passed many import- ant acts which were approved by the Governor, and during his term there were fifty-two new counties ormed. Gov. Hempstead in his message to the Fourth General Assembly in December, 1852, stated that among other things, the population of the State according to the Federal census was 192,- 214, and that the State census showed an increase for one year of 37,786. He also stated that the re- sources of the State for the coming two years would be sufficient to cancel all that part of funded debt which was payable at its option.
Among the numerous counties organized was one named Buncombe, which received its name in the following way : The Legislature was composed of a . arge majority favoring stringent corporation laws and the liability of individual stockholders for cor- parate debts. This sentiment, on account of the agitation of railroad enterprises then being inaugu- rated, brought a large number of prominent men io the capital. To have an effect upon the Legis- laturc, they organized a "lobby Legislature" and Elected as Governor, Verplank Van Antwerp, who delivered to the self-constituted body a lengthy message in which he sharply criticized the regular General Assembly. Some of the members of the latter were in the habit of making long and useful speeches much to the hindrance of business. To
these he especially referred, charging them with speaking for " Buncombe," and recommended that as a lasting memorial a county should be called by that name. This suggestion was readily seized on by the Legislature, and the county of Buncombe was created with few dissenting voices. However, the General Assembly, in 1862, changed the name to Lyon, in honor of Gen. Nathaniel Lyon who was killed in the early part of the Civil War.
The season of 1851 was one of great disappoint- ment to the pioneers of Iowa, and much suffering was the result of the bad season of that year. By the year 1854, the State had fully recovered from the depression thus produced, and that year as well as the following, the cmigration from the East was unprecedented. The prairies of Illinois were lined day after day with a continuous caravan of emi- grants pushing on toward Iowa. During a single month 1743 wagons bound for Iowa passed through Peoria. So remarkable had been the influx of peo- ple into the State, that in an issue of the Burling- ton Telegraph appeared the following statement: " Twenty thousand emigrants have passed through the city within the last thirty days, and they are still crossing the Mississippi at the rate of 600 a day."
At the expiration of his term of service, which occurred in the latter part of the year 1854, Gov. Hempstead returned to his old home at Dubuque. In 1855 he was elected County Judge of Dubuque County, and so acceptably did he serve the people that for twelve years he was chosen to fill that posi- tion. Under his administration the principal county building, including the jail, poorhouse, as well as some valuable bridges, were erected. Owing to ill-health he was compelled to retire front public life, passing the remainder of his days in quietude and repose at Dubuque. There he lived until Feb. 16, 1883, when, at his home, the light of his long and eventful life went out. The record he has made, which was an honorable and distin- guished one, was closed, and Iowa was called azon to mourn the loss of one of her most distinguished pioncer citizens. He had been an unusually useful man of the State and his services, which were able and wise, were rendered in that unselfish spirit which distinguished so many of the early residents of this now prosperous State.
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GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
...
Games
bo.
rimes.
45544
AMES W. GRIMES, the third gentleman to fill the Executive Chair of the State of Iowa, was born in the town of Deering, Hillsbor- ough Co., N. H., Oct. 20, 1816. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Wilson) Grimes, were also natives of the same town. The former was born on the 11th of August, 1772, and the mother March 19, 1773. They became the parents of eight children, of whom James was the youngest and be- came one of the most distinguished citizens of Iowa. He attended the district schools, and in early childhood evinced an unusual taste for learning. Besides attending the district schools, the village pastor instructed him in Greek and Latin. After completing his prepar- ations for college, which he did at Hampton Acad- emy, he entered Dartmouth College, in August, 1832, which was in the sixteenth year of his age. He was a hard student, advanced rapidly, and in February, 1835, bid adieu to the college halls, and with James Walker, of Peterborough, N. H., he be- gan the study of his chosen profession.
Feeling that his native State afforded too hmited advantages, and, in fact, being of a rather advent- urous disposition, as well as ambitious, he desired broader fields in which to carve for himself a fort- une. He accordingly left the home that had sheltered him during his boyhood days, and turn- ing his face Westward proceeded until he had crossed the great Father of Waters. It was m 1836, and young Grimes was indeed young to thus take upon himself such responsibilities; but pos- sessing business tact, determination and tenacity, as well as an excellent professional training. he de- termined to open an office in the then new town of Burlington, Iowa. Here he hung out his shingle, and ere long had established a reputation which extended far beyond the confines of the little city.
In April. 1837, he was appointed City Solicitor. and entering upon the duties of that office he assisted in drawing up the first police laws of that town. In 1838 he was appointed Justice of the Peace, and became a law partner of William W. Chapman, United States District Attorney for Wisconsin Territory. In the early part of the year 1841 he formed a partnership with Henry W. Starr. Esq .. which continued twelve years. This firn: stood at the head of the legal profession in Iowa. Mr. Grimes was widely known as a counselor with
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JAMES W. GRIMES.
superior knowledge of the law, and with a clear sense of truth and justice. He was chosen one of the Representatives of Des Moines County in the first Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Iowa. which convened at Burlington, Nov. 12, 1838; in the sixth, at Iowa City, Dec. 4, 1843; and in the fourth General Assembly of the State, at Iowa City, Dee. 6, 1852. He early took front rank among the public men of Iowa. He was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee in the House of Representa- tives of the first Legislative Assembly of the Ter- ritory. and all laws for the new Territory passed through his hands.
Mr. Grimes had become prominently identified with the Whig party, and being distinguished as an able lawyer, as well as a fair-minded, conscientious man, he was a prominent candidate for Governor before the convention which met in February, 1854. It was the largest convention of that party ever held in Iowa and the last. He was chosen as a nom- inee for Governor, was duly elected, and in Decem- ber, 1854, assumed the duties of the office. Shortly after his election it was proposed that he should go to the United States Senate, but he gave his ad- mirers to understand that he was determined to fill the term of office for which he had been chosen. This he did, serving the full term to the entire sat- isfaction of all parties. He was a faithful party leader, and so able were his services that, while at the time of his election as Governor Democracy reigned supreme in the State and its representatives in Congress were allied to the slave power, he turned the State over to the Republican party.
His term of office expired Jan. 14, 1858, when he retired from the Executive Chair, only, how- ever, to assume the responsibilities of a United States Senator. Upon the 4th of March of the fol- lowing year he took his seat in the Senate and was placed upon the Committee on Naval Affairs, upon which he remained during his Senatorial career, serving as Chairman of that important committee from December, 1864. Jan. 16, 1864, Mr. Grimes was again chosen to represent Iowa in the Senate of the United States, receiving all but six of the votes of the General Assembly in joint convention.
His counsel was often sought in matters of great moment, and in cases of peculiar difficulty. _ 11-
ways ready to promote the welfare of the State, he gave, unsolicited, land worth $6,000 to the Congre- gational College, at Grinnell. It constitutes the " Grimes foundation," and " is to be applied to the establishment and maintenance in Iowa College. forever, of four scholarships, to be awarded by the Trustees, on the recommendation of the faculty. to the best scholars, and the most promising, in any department, who may need and seek such aid, and without any regard to the religious tenets or opin- ions entertained by any person seeking either of said scholarships." These terms were imposed by Mr. Grimes, and assumed July 20, 1865, by the Trustees. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1865 from Dartmouth College, and also from Iowa College. He also aided in founding a publie library in Burlington, donating $5,000, which was expended in the purchase of costly books, and subsequently sent from Europe 256 volumes in the German language, and also contributed 600 vol- umes of public documents.
In January, 1869, he made a donation of $5,000 to Dartmouth College, and $1,000 to the "Social Friend," a literary society of which he was a mem- ber when in college.
His health failing, Mr. Grimes sailed for Europe, April 14, 1869, remaining abroad two years, reaching home Sept. 22, 1871, apparently in im- proved health and spirits. In November lie cele- brated his silver wedding, and spent the closing months of his life with his family. He voted at the city election, Feb. 5, 1872, and was suddenly attacked with severe pains in the region of the heart, and died after a few short hours of intense suffering.
Senator Grimes was united in marriage at Bur- lington, Ia., Nov. 9, 1846, with Miss Sarah Elizabeth Neally. Mr. Grimes stood in the foremost ranks among the men of his time, not only in the State but of the nation. The young attorney who left the granite hills of New Hampshire for the fertile prairies of the West, distinguished himself both as an attorney and a statesman. His personal history is so inscparably interwoven in that of the history of the State that a sketch of his life is indeed but a record of the history of liis adopted State during the years of his manhood and vigor.
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R. J.Lome
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GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
Ralph 3. Lowe.
ALPH P. LOWE, the fourth Governor of the State of Iowa, was born in Ohio in the year 1808, and like many others of the distinguished men of Iowa, came within her borders in early pioneer times. He was a young man but a little over thirty years of age when he crossed the great Father of Waters, settling upon its western bank at the then small vill- age of Muscatine. He at once identified himself with the interests of the growing city, and ere long became quite prominent in local affairs and of recognized ability in questions of public policy. He was shortly after- ward chosen as a representative from Muscatine County to the Constitutional Convention of 1844, which framed the Constitution which was rejected by the people.
After this constitutional convention, Mr. Lowe took no further part in public matters for a num- ber of years. He removed to Lee County about 1849 or '50, where he became District Judge as a successor to George H. Williams, who was after- ward famous as President Grant's Attorney Gen- eral. He was District Judge five years, from 1852 to 1857, being succeeded by Judge Claggett. In thic summer of 1857 he was nominated by the Re- publicans for Governor of Iowa, with Oran Faville for Lieutenant-Governor. The Democracy put in
the field Benjamin M. Samuels for Governor and George Gillaspy for Licutenant-Governor. There was a third ticket in the field, supported by the American or "Know-Nothing " party, and bearing the names of T. F. Henry and Easton Morris. The election was held in October, 1857, and gave Mr. Lowe 38,498 votes, against 36,088 for Mr Samuels, and 1,006 for Mr. Henry.
Hitherto the term of office had been four years but by an amendment to the Constitution this was now reduced to two. Gov. Lowe was inaug- urated Jan. 14, 1358, and at once sent his first message to the Legislature. Among the measures passed by this Legislature were bills to incorporate the State Bank of Iowa; to provide for an agricult- ural college; to authorize the business of banking ; disposing of the land grant made by Congress to the Des Moines Valley Railroad; to provide for the erection of an institution for the education of the blind, and to provide for taking a State census.
No events of importance occurred during the administration of Gov. Lowe, but it was not a period of uninterrupted prosperity. The Governor said in his biennial message of Jan. 10, 1860, reviewing the preceeding two years: "The period that has elapsed since the last biennial session has been one of great disturbing causes, and of anxious solicitude to all classes of our fellow-citizens. The first year of this period was visited with heavy and continuous rains, which reduced the measure of our field crops below one-half of the usual product, whilst the financial revulsion which commenced upon the Atlantic coast in the autumn of 1857, did
RALPHI P. LOWE.
not reach its climax for evil in our borders until the year just past."
He referred at length to the claim of the State against the Federal Government, and said that he nad appealed in vain to the Secretary of the Inte- "ior for the payment of the 5 per cent upon the military land warrants that the State is justly en- titled to, which then approximated to a million of dollars. The payment of this fund, he said, "is not a merc favor which is asked of the General Government, but a subsisting right which could be enforced in a court of justice, were there a tribunal of this kind clothed with the requisite jurisdiction."
The subject of the Des Moines River grant re- ceived from the Governor special attention, and he gave a history of the operations of the State author- ities in reference to obtaining the residue of the lands to which the State was entitled, and other in- formation as to the progress of the work. He also remarked " that under the act authorizing the Gov- ernor to raise a company of mounted men for de- fense and protection of our frontier, approved Feb. 9, 1858, a company of thirty such men, known as the Frontier Guards, armed and equipped as re- quired, were organized and mustered into service under the command of Capt. Henry B. Martin, of Webster City, about the 1st of March then follow- ing, and were divided into two companies, one stationed on the Little Sioux River, the other at Spirit Lake. Their presence afforded security and gave quiet to the settlements in that region, and after a service of four months they were disbanded. " Late in the fall of the year, however, great
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