USA > Iowa > Henry County > Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 9
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TID N FOUNDATIONS.
1. A empate.
115
GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
Stephen Hempstead.
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TEPHEN HEMPSTEAD, see- ond Governor of Iowa, is a native of Connecticut, where, at New London, he was born Oct. 1, 1812. Hle 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 protee- 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 seetarianism 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-
fieient. 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 Houses 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 indeed 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 formed. 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,- 211, 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 large 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 to the capital. To have an effect upon the Legis- Jature, 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 wore 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 lowa, 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 lowa. During a single month 1713 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 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 from publie 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 lowa was called upon to mourn the loss of one of her most distinguished pioneer citizens. He had been an untisually nseful 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.
THE MENT YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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119
GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
...
James
rimes.
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...
AMES W. GRIMES, the third gentleman to fill the Executive Chair of the State of Iowa, was born in the town of Deering, Ilillsbor- ough Co., N. H., Oct. 20, 0 1816. Ilis 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- eame 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 distriet 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 limited advantages, and, in fact, being of a rather advent- urous disposition, as well as ambitious, he desired broader fields in which to earve 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 until 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
120
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, Dec. 6, 1852. He early 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.
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 Deeem- 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. Ile 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. 14, 1858, when he retired from the Executive Chair, only, how- ever, to assume the responsibilities of a United States Senator. Upon the 1th 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, 1861. Jan. 16, 1864, 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.
llis counsel was often sought in matters of great moment, and in cases of peculiar difficulty. Al-
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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 Towa 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 lowa College. He also 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 $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.
.. Ilis 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, 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. la .. 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. llis 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 PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
0
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R. T. Lowe
123
GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
Ralph D. Lowe
ALPH P. LOWE, the fourth Governor of the State of lowa, 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. Ile 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 publie poliey. 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 suecessor to George Il. Williams, who was after- ward famous as President Grant's Attorney Gen- eral. Ile 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 Iowa, with Oran Faville for Lieutenant-Governor. The Democracy put in
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the field Benjamin M. Samuels for Governor and George Gillaspy for Lieutenant-Governor. There was a third tieket 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 redneed to two. Gov. Lowe was inang- 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 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 produet, whilst the financial revulsion which commenced upon the Atlantic coast in the autumn of 1857, did
12.
RALPH 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 enforeed 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 residne of the lands to which the State was entitled, and other in- formation as to the progress of the work. Ile 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 Ist 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 elan- 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 preseribed in the aet under which they were called out."
Gov. Lowe was beaten for the renomination by Hon. 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, all told, eight years. lle then returned to the prac- tice of law, gradually working into a claim busi- ness at Washington, to which city he removed about 1874. In that eity he died, on Saturday, Dee. 22, 1883. Ile had a large family. Carleton, one of his sons, was an officer in the Third lowa 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.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX AND TILDEN FOUALAT ONS.
4
Samme & hel ming
127
GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
Samuel
J. Kirkwood.
HE fifth Governor of Iowa was Samuel J. Kirkwood. He 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 MeLeod, a relative of the family. Here he remained for four years, giv- ing diligent attention to his studies, at the elose of which time he entered a drug store at Washington as clerk. 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, Samuel quit Washington and came westward to Richland County, Ohio. Ilis 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 clearing the farm. He was ambitious 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 continned for eight years.
From 1845 to 1849 he served as Prosecuting Attorney of his county. In 1849 he was elected as a Democrat to represent his county and distriet in the Constitutional Convention. In 1851 Mr. 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 1854 Mr. Kirkwood had acted with the Democratic party. But the measures proposed and sustained that year by the Democracy in Congress, concentrated in what was known as the Kansas- Nebraska Act, drove him with hosts of anti-slavery Democrats out of the party. He 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. HIe 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 J. KIRKWOOD.
posed of the counties of towa 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. C. Dodge, he was elected Governor of lowa 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 bonds representing this amount were destroyed by order of the succeeding Legis- lature.
In October, 1861, Gov. Kirkwood was, with com- paratively little opposition, re-elected-an honor accorded for the first time in the history of the State. His 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 diplomatic duties until the expir- ation of his teri as Governor. The position was kept open for him until that time, but, when it came, pressing private business compelled a declin- ation 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
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