O’Connor, Henry 1820 – 1900

O’CONNOR

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 6/22/2020 at 10:30:10

Source: Decorah Republican Nov. 15, 1900 P 1 C 5, 6

There died at the Soldiers’ Home at Marshalltown, on the 7th inst., one of the brightest lights Iowa possessed, a quarter of a century or more ago. Henry O’Connor was born in Dublin in 1820 and came to America in 1840. He was ambitious, and while working as a tailor, studied law. In 1849 he was admitted to the bar; came west and settled In Iowa. Of course, he jumped right into polities and soon made a career for himself. In 1856 he represented his district in the Whig national convention that nominated Gen. Scott. In 1856 he was in the first Republican national convention. In 1858 he was made district attorney for the second judicial district. In 1861 he enlisted as a private, served through the civil war and was mustered out as a major. In 1866 he was elected attorney general of the state and served four years; after which he was called to Washington to act as solicitor for the state department. Those of us who remember him in his prime will cheerfully bear testimony that as a stump orator and campaigner, Iowa has had few superiors to Harry O’Connor. Two sons survive him.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Muscatine, IA and that he was born July 26, 1820 and died Nov. 6, 1900.