US Congressman and Presidential Cabinet Secretary. A member of the Republican Party, he served in the US House of Representatives for Iowa's 1st congressional district from March 1869 until March 1877. Following his local education, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1856 and established a law practice in Keokuk, Iowa. The following year, he entered politics when he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives, serving only one year. H was then elected to the Iowa Senate, serving from 1861 until 1865. In 1868 he was elected to Congress, succeeding James F. Wilson, and served four consecutive terms. During his tenure, se served as the Chairman of the Committee on Elections and a member of the House Committee on the Judiciary. Additionally, he helped create the Electoral Commission to resolve the outcome of the highly contested 1876 Presidential Election, and served on the committee that investigated the Crédit Mobilier scandal. He was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1876 and after leaving office, he was chosen by President Rutherford B. Hayes as the 33rd US Secretary of War. In December 1879 he reigned when he accepted an appointment as judge of the US Circuit Court for the 8th Circuit, serving until March 1884, when he resigned and returned to his Iowa law practice. He died from stomach cancer at the age of 54.
US Congressman and Presidential Cabinet Secretary. A member of the Republican Party, he served in the US House of Representatives for Iowa's 1st congressional district from March 1869 until March 1877. Following his local education, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1856 and established a law practice in Keokuk, Iowa. The following year, he entered politics when he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives, serving only one year. H was then elected to the Iowa Senate, serving from 1861 until 1865. In 1868 he was elected to Congress, succeeding James F. Wilson, and served four consecutive terms. During his tenure, se served as the Chairman of the Committee on Elections and a member of the House Committee on the Judiciary. Additionally, he helped create the Electoral Commission to resolve the outcome of the highly contested 1876 Presidential Election, and served on the committee that investigated the Crédit Mobilier scandal. He was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1876 and after leaving office, he was chosen by President Rutherford B. Hayes as the 33rd US Secretary of War. In December 1879 he reigned when he accepted an appointment as judge of the US Circuit Court for the 8th Circuit, serving until March 1884, when he resigned and returned to his Iowa law practice. He died from stomach cancer at the age of 54.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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"Death is but a kind and gentle servant who doth with noiseless hand unlock life's flower-encircled door to show us those we love."
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