USA > Iowa > Monona County > History of Monona County, Iowa; containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 10
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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- marate debts. This sentiment, on account of the agitation of railroad enterprises then being inaugu- rated, brought a large number of prominent men :o the capital. To have an effect upon the Legis- lature, they organized a "lobby Legislature" and Eectel 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 emigration 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 lowa passed through Peoria. So remarkable had been the influx of peo- ple into the State, that in an issue of the Builing- 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 18544, 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 from 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 o" 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 a, on to mourn the loss of one of her most distinguished pioneer 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.
F - - ITM .URK
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GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
119
0
James
rimes.
code to ta atentostesto te atrato ito torales
AMES W. GRIMES, the third gentleman to fill the Executive Chair of the State of lowa, was born in the town of Deering. Ilillsbor- ough Co., N. II., Oct. 20, 1816. Ilis parents, Jolm 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 1 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. Ile was a hard student, advaneed rapidly, and in February, 1835, bid adieu to the college halls, and with James Walker, of Peterborough, N. II., he be- gan the study of his chosen profession.
Feeling that his native State afforded too limited 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. Hle accordingly left the home that had sheltered him during his boyhood days, and turn- ing his face Westward proceeded untit he had crossed the great Father of Waters. It was in 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 firm 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 fos:th General Assembly of the State, at Iowa City, Dec. 6, 1852. Hle carly took front rank among the publie 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.
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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, 185-4. It was the largest convention of that party ever hell in Iowa and the last. He was chosen asa nom- ince for Governor, was duly elected, and in Decem- ber, 1851, 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. lle 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.
llis term of office expired Jan. 11, 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- towing year he took his seat in the Senate and was placed upon the Committee on Naval Affairs, upon which he remained dming hi- Senatorial career, serving as Chairman of that important committee from December, 1864, Jun, 16, 1861, Mr. Grimes was again chosen to represent lowa 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. Al-
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 religions 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. Hle received the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1865 from Dartmouth College, and also from Iowa College. Healso aided in founding a public 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 publie documents.
In January, 1869, he made a donation of 85,000 to Dartmouth College, and $1,000 to the "Social Friend." a literary society of which he was a mem- ber when in college.
llis 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 he cele- brated his silver wedding, and spent the closing months of his life with his family. lle 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, la., Nov. 9. 1816, 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 inseparably interwoven in that of the history of the State that a sketch of his life is indeed but a record of the history of his adopted State during the years of his manhood and vigor.
THE NEW YORK ABLIC LID. A .
STOR LENS 1 TILDEN FOU . L'
R. T. Love
123
GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
Ralph
0
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. Ile 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. IIe 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. Ile 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 Il. 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 the summer of 1857 he was nominated by the Re- publieans for Governor of lowa, with Oran Faville for Lieutenant-Governor. The Democracy put in
the lield Benjamin M. Samuels for Governor and George Gillaspy for Lieutenant-Governor. There was a third ticket in the field, supported by the American or " Know-Nothing " party, and I caring 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. Ilenry.
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, 1858, 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 edneation of the blind, and to provide for taking a State eensns.
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 eanses, and of anxions solicitude to all classes of our fellow-citizens. The first year of this period was visited with heavy and continnous rains, which reduced the measure of our field erops below one-half of the usual product, whilst the financial revulsion which commenced upon the Atlantic coast in the autumn of 1857, did
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RALPHI P. LOWE.
not reach its climax for evil in our borders until the year just past."
Ile referred at length to the claim of the State against the Federal Government, and said that he had appealed in vain to the Secretary of the Inte- rior 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 mere 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
alarm and consternation was again felt in the region of Spirit Lake and Sioux River settlements. produced by the appearance of large numbers of Indians on the border, whose bearing was insolent and menacing, and who were charged with clan- destinely running off the stock of the settlers. The most urgent appeals came from these settlers, invoking again the protection of the State. From representations made of the imminence of their danger and the losses already sustained, the Gov- ernor summoned into the field once more the frontier guards. After a service of four or five months they were again discharged, and paid in the manner prescribed in the act under which they were called out."
Gov. Lowe was beaten for the renomination by Ilon. S. J. Kirkwood, who was considered much the stronger man. To compensate him for his defeat for the second term, Gov. Lowe was appointed one of the three Judges under the new Constitution. He drew the short term, which expired in 1861, but was returned and served, al. tokl, eight years. Ile then returned to the prac- tice of law, gradually working into a claim busi- ness at Washington, to which city he remove ?? about 1874. In that city he died, on Saturday. Dec. 22, 1883. Ile had a large family. Carleton, one of his sons, was an officer in the Third Fowa Cavalry during the war.
Gov. Lowe was a man of detail, accurate and industrious. In private and public life he was pure, upright and honest. In religious faith he was inclined to be a Spiritualist.
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127
GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
amuel J. Kirkwood.
HE fifth Governor of Iowa was Samuel J. Kirkwood. Ile was born in Hartford County, Md .. on his father's farm, Dec. 20, 1813. Ilis father was twice married, first to a lady named Coulson, who became the mother of two sons. After the death of this companion, the elder Kirkwood was united in marriage with Mary Alexander, who bore him three children, all of whom were sons. Of this little family Samuel was the youngest, and when ten years of age was sent to Washington City to at- tend a school taught by John McLeod, a relative of the family. Here he remained for four years, giv- ing diligent attention to his studies, at the close of which time he entered a drug store at Washington as elerk. In this capacity he continued with the exception of eighteen months, until he reached his majority. During the interval referred to, young Kirkwood was living the life of a pedagogue in York County, Pa.
In the year 1835, Samnel quit Washington and came westward to Richland County, Ohio. His father and brother had preceded him from Mary- land. locating upon a timbered farm in the Buckeye State. Here Samuel lent them valuable assistance in elearing the farm. He was ambitions to enter the legal profession, and in the year 1841, an oppor-
tunity was afforded him to enter the office of Thomas W. Bartley, afterward Governor of Ohio. The following two years he gave diligent applica- tion to his books, and in 1843, was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Ohio. He was then fortunate enough to form an association in the practice of his profession with his former pre- ceptor, which relations continued for eight years.
From 1815 to 1849 he served as Prosecuting Attorney of his county. In 1819 he was elected as a Democrat to represent his county and district in the Constitutional Convention. In 1851 Mir. Bartley, his partner, having been elected to the Supreme Judiciary of the State, Kirkwood formed a partnership with Barnabas Barns, with whom he continued to practice until the spring of 1855, when he removed to the West.
Up to 1851 Mr. Kirkwood had acted with the Democratic party. But the measures proposed and sustained that year by the Demoeraey in Congress, concentrated in what was known as the Kansas- Nebraska Act, drove him with hosts of anti-slavery Democrats out of the party. lle was besought by the opposition in the " Richland District" to be- come their candidate for Congress, but declined In 1855 he came to Iowa and settled two miles northwest of Iowa City, entering into a partnership with his brother-in-law, Ezekiel Clark, in the mill- ing business, and kept aloof from public affairs. Ile could not long conceal his record and abilities from his neighbors, however, and in 1856 he was elected to the State Senate from the district com-
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SAMUEL 1. KIRKWOOD,
posed of the counties of Iowa and Johnson, and served in the last session of the Legislature held at Iowa City and the first one held at Des Moines,
In 1859 Mr. Kirkwood was made the standard- bearer of the Republicans of lowa, and though he had as able and popular a competitor as Gen. A. (. Dodge, he was elected Governor of Iowa by a majority of over 3,000. He was inaugurated Jan. 11, 1860. Before the expiration of his first term came the great Civil War. As Governor, during the darkest days of the Rebellion, he performed an exceedingly important duty. He secured a prompt response by volunteers to all requisitions by the Federal Government on the State for troops, so that during his Governorship no "draft" took place in Iowa, and no regiment, except the first, enlisted for less than three years. At the same time he maintained the State's financial credit. The Legislature, at its extra session in 1861, authorized the sale of $800,000 in bonds, to assist in arming and equipping troops. So frugally was this work done, that but $300,000 of the bonds were sold, and the remaining $500,000 not having been required, the bond; representing this amount were destroyed by order of the succeeding Legis- iature.
In October, 1861, Gov. Kirkwood was, with com- peratively little opposition, re-elected-an honor recorded for the first time in the history of the State. Ilis majority was about 18,000. During his second term he was appointed by President Lincoln to be Minister to Denmark, but he declined to enter upon his diplomatie duties until the expir- ation of his term as Governor. The position was kept open for him until that time, but, when it same, pressing private business compelled a declin- tion of the office altogether.
In January, 1866, he was a prominent candidate before the Legislature for United States Senator. Senator Harlan had resigned the Senatorship upon
his appointment to the office of Secretary of the Interior by President Lincoln, just before his death, but had withdrawn from the cabinet soon after the accession of Mr. Johnson to the Presi- deney. In this way it happened that the Legisla- ture had two terms of United States Senator to fill, a short term of two years, to fill Harlan's unexpired term, and a long term of six years to immediately succeed this; and Harlan had now become a candi- date for his own successorship, to which Kirkwood also aspired. Ultimately, Kirkwood was elected for the first and Harlan for the second term. Dur- ing his brief Senatorial service, Kirkwood did not hesitate to measure swords with Senator Sumner, whose natural egotism had begotten in him an ar- rogant and dictatorial manner, borne with humbly until then by his colleagues, in deference to his long experience and eminent ability, but unpalata- ble to an independent Western Senator like Kirk- wood.
At the close of his Senatorial term, March 4, 1867, he resumed the practice of law, which a few years later he relinquished to accept the Presidency of the Iowa City Savings Bank. In 1875 he was again elected Governor, and was inaugurated Jan. 13, 1876. lle served but little over a year, as early in 1877 he was chosen United States Senator. Ile filled this position four years, resigning to be- come Secretary of the Interior in President Gar- field's Cabinet. In this office he was succeeded, April 17, 1882, by Henry M. Teller, of Colorado.
Gov. Kirkwood returned to Iowa City, his home, where he still resides, being now advanced in years. Ile was married in 1848, to Miss Jane Clark, a na- tive of Ohio.
In 1886 Mr. Kirkwood was nominated for Con- gress by the Republicans of his district. Consider- able interest was manifested in the contest, as both the Labor and Democratic parties had popular can- didates in the field.
THE NEW YORK PARTIC LIBRARY
ASTON ! ENOX A'D TI CLN FOU .D
A. r. Stone
GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
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William M. Stone.
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W
ILLIAM M. STONE, the sixth Governor of Iowa, was w. born Oct. 14, 1827. ITis parents, Truman and La- vina (North) Stone, who were of English ancestry, moved to Lewis County, N. Y., when William was but a year old. William's grandfather, Aaron Stone, was in the second war with En- gland. When our subject was six years of age his parents moved into Ohio, lo- eating in Coshocton County. Like many other self-made men. William M. had few advantages. Hle never attended a school of any kind more than twelve months.
In boyhood he was for two seasons a team-driver on the Ohio Canal. At seventeen he was appren- tieed to the chairmaker's trade, and he followed that business until he was twenty-three years of age, reading law meantime during his spare hours, wherever he happened to be. He commenced at Coshocton, with James Mathews, who afterward became his father-in-law; continued his reading with Gen. Lucius V. Pierce, of Akron, and finished with Ezra B. Taylor, of Ravenna. He was admitted to the bar in August, 1851, by Peter Hitchcock and Rufus P. Ranney, Supreme Judges, holding a. term of court at Ravenna.
After practicing three years at Coshoeton with his old preceptor, James Mathews, he, in November, 1854, settled in Knoxville, which has remained his home since. ' The year after locating here Mr. Stone purchased the Knoxville Journal, and was one of the prime movers in forming the Republican party in Iowa, being the first editor to suggest a State Convention, which met Feb. 22, 1856, and completed the organization. In the autumn of the same year he was a Presidential elector on the Re- publican ticket.
In April, 1857, Mr. Stone was chosen JJudge of the Eleventh Judicial District. He was elected .ludge of the Sixth JJudicial District when the new Constitution went into operation in 1858, and was serving on the bench when the American flag was stricken down at Fort Sumter. At that time, April, 1861, he was holling court in Fairfield, Jefferson County, and when the news came of the insult to the old flag he immediately adjourned court and prepared for what he believed to be more important duties-duties to his country.
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