Skiff, H. J. (died 1904)

SKIFF

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/7/2012 at 11:33:37

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Nov. 15, 1904

--H.J. Skiff, an old settler at Newton and the father of Earl H. Skiff, I.C. '99 died Saturday morning at his home in Newton of paralysis. He was a graduate of Amherst in the class of 1846 and came to Iowa in 1849. From 1851 to 1861 he was a banker and lawyer in Newton. He served through the war, being captain of Co. B. of the Thirteenth Iowa. He was the sole surviving signer of the constitution of Iowa and was the leader of the opposition to keep the word "slave" out of that document at the time when southern influence in Iowa politics would have put it in save for the determined opposition of a few such men as Mr. Skiff.

Transcriber note: From Newton (IOWA) Union Cemetery Records: 2nd husband of Lavinia Skiff - Civil War veteran Capt. Co. B 13th IA infantry