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Biographies Beginning with the Letter R
Last updated: 20 November 2007ms

NORTHWESTERN IOWA
ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION
VOLUME II
1804-1926

E. S. RANDALL

Edgar S. Randall, a loyal Iowan, is known publisher of Spencer and for more than twenty years his name has figured prominently in business circles of this locality. He was born July 29, 1870, in Washington county, Iowa, and is of Irish lineage. His parents, William S. and Mary C. (Boden) Randall, were both natives of Ohio. The latter was born March 28, 1845, in Morgan county, and the father's birth occurred in Trumbull county on September 4, 1840. He was an adherent of the republican party and loyally defended the Stars and Stripes during the Civil war, serving for four and a half years as a member of Company C. Eighth Iowa Infantry. Mr. Randall was educated in Fairfield, Nebraska, to which the family moved when he was a child of three, and in 1896, when twenty-six years of age, he arrived in Sidney, Iowa. He located at Spencer in 1904 and is now at the head of a prosperous publishing business. He has a comprehensive understanding of everything pertaining to this line of activity and his well equipped plant enables him to turn out high-grade work. On October 19, 1904, Mr. Randall was married in Sidney, Iowa, to Miss Daisy Wilson, a daughter of N. C. and Elizabeth (Sproul) Wilson, the former a native of Ireland, while the latter was born in the state of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Randall have a son, Kenneth R., who is a student at the Nebraska State University, situated in Lincoln. Mrs. Randall was born July 7, 1873, in Scott county, Iowa, and is connected with the P. E. O. Mr. Randall is a Knight Templar Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Spencer Commercial Club and is also identified with the Clay County Fair Association. He is allied with the republican party and his life is governed by the teachings of the Methodist church. He has ever been actuated by a strong desire to serve his community and is highly esteemed by the citizens of Spencer.

JOHN W. RANKIN was born on the 11th of June, 1823, and was a native of the State of Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of Washington College and after teaching a few years, studied law, was admitted to the bar and began practice in Wooster in partnership with Judge Sloan. He came to Iowa in 1848, locating at Keokuk, where he practiced his profession. In April, 1857, he was appointed judge of the First Judicial District to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge Ralph P. Lowe. In October of the same year he was elected to the State Senate on the Republican ticket for a term of four years. At the beginning of the War of the Rebellion he was appointed Quartermaster of United Stares Volunteers. In the winter of 1861-2 he was authorized to raise a regiment of volunteers and in a little more than a month had enlisted a regiment, which was mustered into the service as the Seventeenth Iowa Infantry. Rankin was commissioned by Governor Kirkwood of the regiment and it at once entered the service. Colonel Rankin was wounded at the Battle of Iuka and resigned in September, 1862.

LEVI B. RAYMOND, soldier, journalist and politician, was born in Allegany County, New York, on the 3d of July, 1836. His parents removed to Wisconsin where he spent his boyhood years acquiring an education at Beloit College. He learned the printer's trade and came to Iowa in 1864, locating at Hampton. Mr. Raymond became editor and publisher of the Hampton Recorder in 1867 and, with the exception of four years, from 1872 to 1876, has continued to publish that paper up to the close of the Nineteenth Century. During this period of four years Mr. Raymond was instrumental in establishing weekly papers in the northwest portion of the State. The new towns desiring newspapers, Mr. Raymond, pioneerlike, undertook to supply the demand. The papers established by Mr. Raymond from 1872 to 1875 were the Sheldon Mail, Cherokee Leader, Sioux County Herald, O'Brien Pioneer, Newell Mirror and Doon Republican. Colonel Raymond has been superintendent of schools, a trustee of the Clsrinda Insane Asylum, also of the Soldiers' Home at Marshalltown, where he was instrumental in establishing the cottage system whereby the wives and widows might receive the benefits of that institution as well as the disabled and infirm Union soldiers. He has been an active Republican during his entire residence in Iowa, having served as a delegate in thirty-three Stare Conventions and was chairman of the Republican committee of Franklin County for thirteen years. From 1883 to 1886 he was Special Examiner of the United States Pension Department and postmaster of Hampton from 1889 to 1894. He served two years on the Republican State Central Committee. Before coming to Iowa and when a young man, Mr. Raymond was in the Union army, serving as sergeant in the Sixth Wisconsin Infantry. He was for fifteen years a member of the Iowa National Guard, serving in all grades up to and including the rank of Lieutenant-colonel.

DAVID W. REED                                    (from the book, University Recruits, by D W Reed)
third Captain of Company C, was born in Cortland, N. Y., April 2, 1841, removed to Iowa in 1855, enlisted in University Recruits September 15, 1861, was wounded and left on the field at Shiloh.  Elected 2d Lieutenant April 1, 1863; 1st Lieutenant December 14, 1863; Captain January 25, 1865; Major by brevet April 9, 1865, and Major of Regiment November 21, 1865.  He served as Acting Adjutant of the Regiment during the year 1864 including the battles of Tupelo and Nashville, and as Acting Major at Spanish Fort.  Served on Court Martial at Selma, Ala., from May 29, 1865, to July 6, 1865, when he was appointed on General L. F. Hubbard's staff as Inspecter of 2d Brigade McArthur's Division, and served as such until the muster out of Hubbard's Brigade September 7, 1865.  He commanded Garrison at Center, Ala., and Post of Blue Mountain, until December 24, 1865, and was mustered out ith his regiment January 20, 1866.

JOSEPH R. REED was born in Ashland County, Ohio, March 12, 1835. He was educated at Hayesville Academy, studied law and was admitted to the bar and, in 1857, came to Iowa, locating at Adel where he practiced his profession. When the Civil War began he helped to organize the second Battery of Light Artillery in which he served to the close of the war. In 1865 he was elected to the Senate from the Twenty-first District composed of the counties of Madison, Adair, Guthrie and Dallas. He served four years and in 1872 was chosen judge of the District Court where he served twelve years until he was elected on the Republican ticket Judge of the Supreme Court. He was Chief Justice in 1889 and resigned that place to accept a nomination for Congress in the Ninth District. Judge Reed was elected, serving one term. In 1891, upon the establishment of the Count of Private Land Claims, Judge Reed was appointed by President Harrison Chief Justice of the Court.

HUGH T. REID was born in Union County, Indiana, on the 8th of October, 1811. He received a liberal education, graduating from Indiana College in 1837. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and removed to Keokuk in 1843, where he began practice. Soon after the beginning of the Civil War he began to enlist volunteers for a new regiment. In February, 1863, the Fifteenth Regiment was organized and Reid was appointed colonel. His regiment arrived on the field of Shiloh after the battle had begun and was at once hurried into the thickest of the fight. It made a gallant struggle but was overborne by numbers and finally forced to retreat, losing nearly two hundred men. Upon the recommendation of General Grant, Colonel Reid was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General soon after the battle. He served until the spring of 1864, when he resigned. He was for many years engaged in building the Des Moines Valley Railroad from Keokuk to Fort Dodge.

IOWA ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION VOLUME III 1804-1926

E. P. REILLY One of the most prominent figures in the live stock business in Sioux City is Edward P. Reilly, of the firm of Reilly & Sullivan, live stock dealers, and president of the Traders Live Stock Exchange. He is a native son of Iowa, born in Harrison county, on the 2d of July, 1866, his parents being Joseph W. and Margaret (Long) Reilly, the former born at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, while the latter was a native of County Kilkenny, Ireland. In boyhood the father ran away from home with a companion to enlist in the Mexican war. His chum succeeded in enlisting but he was not accepted because of his age. After the war he came up the Missouri river to Kanesville, where he arrived in 1849 and early in the '50s he continued his journey to Sioux City. On the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted and was still in the army at the time of his marriage, in 1864. After his discharge from the army he and his wife came to the Missouri valley, settling on a farm in Harrison county, where he resided to the time of his death. Edward P. Reilly attended the public schools, though the greater part of his education has been secured in the hard school of experience. He remained on the home farm until nineteen years of age, when in 1885 he rented a farm in Woodbury county, which he operated on his own account for fourteen years. In 1899 he came to Sioux City and began trading in live stock, in which he was so successful that in 1906 he formed a partnership with William Sullivan, under the firm name of Reilly & Sullivan, and they have continued in business to the present time, dealing mainly in "stockers" and "feeders." They have prospered to a very gratifying degree and are regarded as one of the leading livestock trading firms in this city. Mr. Reilly was honored by election to the presidency of the Traders Live Stock Exchange, which position he is now holding for his twelfth year, and he has served twenty-two years as a member of the board of directors of the Sioux City Live Stock Exchange. He is also one of five members of the National Live Stock Exchange practice commission, appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Wallace, the other members of the commission being, Howard Gore, then assistant secretary of agriculture, and now governor of the West Virginia; Everett Brown, of Chicago; Thomas Cross, of Chicago; and William O. Tagg, of Omaha. Mr. Reilly is a member of Sioux City Lodge, No. 112, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and Epiphany Council, No. 743, Knights of Columbus. He is a communicant of Epiphany Cathedral Roman Catholic church, to which he gives liberal support. He takes an interest in public affairs and has served two years as a member of the city council. No worthy cause ever appeals to him in vain, for he is essentially public spirited, lending his influence to any measure which promises to be of material benefit to the community. For these reasons, as well as for his friendly manner, he is well deserving of the esteem which is accorded him throughout the city in which he lives.

 

ROBERT C. REINIGER is a native of Seneca County, Ohio, where he was born April 12, 1835. He was reared on his father's farm and attended district school. At the age of seventeen he began the study of law at Tiffin, at the same time taking a college course. He was admitted to the bar in 1856 and the following year came west and located at Charles City in Floyd County, Iowa, where he formed a partnership with his brother in the practice of law. In 1861 Mr. Reiniger enlisted in Company B, Seventh Iowa Volunteers and became first lieutenant. He participated in the battles of Belmont, Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka and was in the campaign against Atlanta. He was promoted to captain in 1862. He was appointed by Governor Merrill in 1870 judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit and served by reelections until 1884. In 1885 he was elected to the State Senate for the district composed of the counties of Floyd and Chickasaw, serving in the Twenty-first, Twenty-second and by reelection in the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth General Assemblies where he was one of the most influential members. Mr. Reiniger was one of the few public officials who refused to compromise himself by the acceptance of railroad passes during his continuance in the public service.

ELLIOTT W. RICE, a brother of General Samuel A. Rice, was born on the 16th of November, 1835, at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of Franklin College, Ohio, and took the law course at the Albany Law School. In 1855 he came to Iowa and entered into partnership with his brother in the practice of law at Oskaloosa. At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted as a private in the Seventh Iowa Volunteers and rose rapidly through successive promotions to the rank of colonel and upon the promotion of Lauman to Brigadier-General, Rice succeeded him in command of the Seventh Regiment. At the Battle of Belmont the command of the regiment devolved upon Rice at the most critical period of the conflict and his superb gallantry won him his promotion. He was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Iuka and Corinth. Colonel Rice commanded a brigade in Sherman's march to the sea and on the 29th of June, 1864, he was promoted to Brigadier-General.

SAMUEL A. RICE was born in Cattaraugus County, New York, on the 27th of January, 1828. His boyhood was spent in Pennsylvania and Ohio. He graduated at the seminary at Wheeling, Virginia, and the State University of Ohio. He took two years' instruction in a law school and in 1850 located at Fairfield, Iowa, where he opened a law office. In 1852 he removed to Okaloosa and entered into partnership with E. W. Eastman, where a large practice was built up. In 1856 Mr. Rice was a delegate to the famous convention at Iowa City which organized the Republican party to Iowa and was the Republican candidate for Attorney-General. He was elected and reelected for a second term in 1858, serving four years. In August, 1862, Mr. Rice was appointed colonel of the Thirty-third Iowa Infantry and soon after entered upon active military duties in the War of the Rebellion. He commanded a brigade in the Battle of Helena and was promoted to Brigadier-General. His command was in General Steele's expedition through Arkansas and Louisiana in 1864 and during the retreat did excellent service at the Battle of Jenkins Ferry, where General Rice was mortally wounded. He was taken home where he died on the 6th of July, 1864, greatly lamented by the people of Iowa.

BENJAMIN S. ROBERTS was born in Manchester, Vermont, on the 18th of November, 1810. He graduated at the Military Academy at West Point in 1835, and was commissioned a second lieutenant. In 1839 he resigned and became chief engineer of a railroad company and later was Assistant State Geologist for New York. He finally studied law and in 1844 located at Fort Madison, Iowa, where he practiced law. When the Mexican War began in 1846 he returned to the service and was appointed first lieutenant in a regiment of mounted riflemen. Mr. Roberts greatly distinguished himself in the campaign of General Scott against the City of Mexico. He led the advance into the city and with his own hands raised the American flag over the ancient palace of the Montezumas. At the close of the war he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the regular army. In 1849 the Iowa Legislature bestowed upon him a sword of honor for his gallant services during the war. When the Civil War began Colonel Roberts was in command of the southern district of New Mexico, where he routed the Confederate army and saved the Territory to the Union. In 1862 he was promoted to Brigadier-General and became Inspector-General of General Pop's army in Virginia. In June, 1863, he was assigned to the command of the Department of Iowa with headquarters at Davenport. He served with distinguished ability to the close of the war

GIFFORD S. ROBINSON was born on the 28th of May, 1843, in Tazewell County, Illinois. He spent two years in the State Normal University, then took a two-year course in the Law Department of Washington University at St. Louis. He taught three years, a portion of the time in the Preparatory Department of the University. In August, 1862, he enlisted a a private in the One Hundred Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served in several of the great battles of the war, among which were Franklin and Chickamauga, where he was severely wounded and discharged from the service in consequence. He came to Iowa in 1870, locating at Storm Lake in Buena Vista County where he entered upon the practice of law. Mr. Robinson was soon after chosen mayor of the town and in 1875 was elected to the House of the Sixteenth General Assembly to represent the seventy-first District, consisting of the counties of Buena Vista, Pocahontas, Palo Alto and Emmet. Becoming widely known as a legislator of unusual ability in the fall of 1881 he was nominated by the Republican Convention of the district composed of the counties of Woodbury, Plymouth, Sioux, Lyon, Cherokee and Buena Vista for State Senator. He was elected, serving six years with marked ability. In the spring of 1887 he was appointed Railroad Commissioner by Governor Larrabee, but declined. At the Republican State Convention in the summer of 1887, he was nominated for Judge of the Supreme Court and elected in October. He became Chief Justice in 1892 and at the close of his term was reelected. he retired in January, 1900, removed to Sioux City and resumed the practice of law. But he was not long left in private life, for in February of the same year he was appointed by Governor Shaw member of the State Board of Control for six years. Judge Robinson was a lecturer before the Law Department of the State University, from 1890 to 1900. In June, 1895, the State University conferred upon him the degree of LL.D.

JOHN N. W. RUMPLE was born near Fostoria, Ohio, March 4, 1841. In 1853 he came to Iowa in an emigrant wagon, taking up his residence on a farm near Geneva Bluffs, Iowa County. He attended the district school and in 1857 entered Ashland Academy in Wapello County. Later he continued his studies in Western College and the Normal Department of the State University, teaching meanwhile to defray his expenses in college. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, Second Iowa Cavalry as a private, remaining in the service until 1865 when he was mustered out a captain. He participated in the battles of Island Number Ten, New Madrid, Corinth, Iuka, Grierson's Raid, Tupelo, Nashville and many minor engagements. Returning from the army Captain Rumple entered the law office of Hon. H. M. Martin of Marengo and was admitted to the bar in 1867. He was elected to the State Senate of the adjourned session of 1873, and served by reelections in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth General Assemblies. For six years he was a member of the Board of Regents of the State University and was also one of the curators of the State Historical Society. In 1900 he was elected Representative in Congress from the Second District and declined reelection on account of failing health. He died in Chicago in January, 1903.

NICHOLAS J. RUSCH was born in Holstein, Germany, in 1822. He received a liberal education and taught school several years. In 1847 he emigrated to America and located on a farm near Davenport, Iowa. He was a young man of fine ability and studious habits and soon acquired a knowledge of the language, laws and institutions of his adopted country. A Republican in politics he was an influential leader among the German Americans. In 1857 he was nominated by the Republicans of Scott County for State Senator and was elected by a large majority. He attained prominence in the session of 1858 as a Senator and in 1859 was nominated by the Republican State Convention for Lieutenant-Governor on the ticket with Samuel J. Kirkwood. After a campaign of unusual vigor they were elected. Lieutenant-Governor Rusch presided with dignity and ability over the Senate during the regular session of 1860 and the war session of 1861 but was not a candidate for reelection. In May, 1860, he was appointed by Governor Kirkwood Commissioner of Immigration and served two years with great efficiency. In 1862 Governor Rusch was appointed to a position in the Commissary Department of the military service in the Civil War, with the rank of captain. In 1864 he died in the service of Vicksburg, Mississippi, at the age of forty-two.

DAVID RYAN is a native of Hebron, New York, where he was born on March 15, 1840. His parents removed to Jasper County, Iowa, in 1857, and there the son received his education. In 1859 he entered Central University which he left to enlist in the Eighth Iowa Infantry. He was commissioned first lieutenant and served with his command in every engagement until 1865. His regiment participated in the desperate conflict at the "Hornet's Nest" in the Battle of Shiloh, where Lieutenant Ryan was taken prisoner. He experienced the horrors of Libby prison as well as Montgomery and Macon. After being exchanged he was promoted to captain of Company E, and participated in the siege and battles of Vicksburg. In 1864 he was appointed colonel of the Second Regiment of Enrolled Militia of Tennessee. In 1865 Colonel Ryan was elected Representative of the House of the Eleventh General Assembly. He had graduated at the Iowa Law School after leaving the army, and entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1886 he was elected judge of the Sixth Judicial District, serving in that position for three terms.