SAMUEL JORDAN KIRKWOOD, the fifth Governor of the State of Iowa, was born December 20, 1813, in Harford County, Maryland, on his father’s farm. His father was twice married, first to a lady named Coulson, by whom he had two sons, and, after her death, to Mary Alexander, by whom he had three children, all sons, the youngest of whom is the subject of these notes. The father of Governor Kirkwood was a native of Maryland, his ancestor having settled there previous to the Revolution; his mother was born in Scotland, and both parents were strict members of the Presbyterian church.

     When ten years old young Kirkwood was sent to Washington City to attend a school taught by a relative named John McLeod. He remained at school four years, when he entered a drug store at Washington as clerk, in which occupation he continued till after attaining his majority, with the exception of about eighteen months spent in teaching in York County, Pennsylvania. In 1836 Samuel left Washington and settled in Richland County, Ohio, where he assisted his father and brother (who had removed from Maryland there) in clearing a farm. In 1841 he entered, as a student, the law office of Thomas W. Bartley, afterward Governor of Ohio, and in 1843 was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio. He then engaged in the practice of law with his former preceptor, Mr. Bartley, forming an association which continued 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 district 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 measure 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 become 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 milling business, and kept aloof from public affairs. He 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 composed of the counties of Iowa and Johnson, and served through 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 Iowa, and though he had as able and popular a competitor as General A. C. Dodge, he was elected Governor of Iowa by a majority of over 3,000. He was inaugurated January 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. As 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 Legislature.

     In October, 1861, Governor Kirkwood was, with comparatively 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 expiration of his term as Governor. The position was kept open for him until that time, but, when it came, pressing private business compelled a declination 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 Presidency. In this way it happened that the Legislature 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 candidate for his own successorship, to which Kirkwood also aspired. Ultimately, Kirkwood was elected for the first and Harlan for the second term. During his brief senatorial service, Kirkwood did not hesitate to measure swords with Senator Sumner, whose natural egotism had begotten in him an arrogant and dictatorial manner, borne with humbly until then by his colleagues, in deference to his long experience and eminent ability, but unpalatable to an independent Western Senator like Kirkwood.

     At the close of his senatorial term, Mach 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 January 13, 1876. He served but little over a year, as early in 1877 he was chosen United States Senator. He filled this position four years, resigning to become Secretary of the Interior in President Garfield’s cabinet. In this office he was succeeded, April 17, 1882, by Henry M. Teller, of Colorado.

     Governor Kirkwood returned to Iowa City, his home, where he still resides, being now advanced in years. He was married in 1843 to Miss Jane Clark, a native of Ohio.

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