anamosa

Extracted from the History of Harrison County Iowa
Chicago
National Publishing Company
1891

Ansel Briggs, the first gentleman chosen to fill the gubernatorial chair of Iowa after its organization as a State, was a native of Vermont, and was born Feb. 3, 1806. His parents, who likewise were New Englanders, were Benjamin and Electa Briggs. The boyhood of our subject was passed in his native State, and in attendance upon the common schools he received a fair education which was subsequently improved by a term at Norwich Academy. When a young man he removed with his parents to Cambridge, Guernsey, Co., Ohio, where young Briggs engaged in the work of establishing stage lines. He also here embarked in political affairs and as a Whig run for the office of County Auditor but was defeated by John Ferguson, a Jackson Democrat.

After remaining in Ohio for six years, the glowing accounts of the far fields and the fertile prairies of the Territory of Iowa, led him westward across the Father of Waters. He had previously united his fortunes in life with Nancy M. Dunlap, daughter of Major Dunlap, an officer in the War of 1812. Even prior to this marriage he had chosen a wife, a lady who was born on the same day and year as himself, but of whom he was soon bereft. He brought with him to Iowa his little family and located at Andrew, in Jackson County. Seeing the opportunity here for resuming his former business, he began opening up stage lines, frequently driving the old stage coach himself. He made several contracts with the Postoffice Department for carrying the United States mails weekly between Dubuque and Davenport, Dubuque and Iowa City and other routes, thus opening up and carrying on a very important enterprise. Politically, Gov. Briggs was a Democrat, and in coming to Iowa identified himself with that party. In 1842 he was chosen a member of the Territorial House of Representatives from Jackson County, and subsequently was elected Sheriff of the same county. He had taken a leading part in public affairs, and upon the formation of the State Government in 1846, he became a prominent candidate for Governor, and though his competitors in his own party were distinguished and well-known citizens, Mr. Briggs received the nomination. The convention was held in Iowa City, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 1846, and assembled to nominate State officers and two Congressmen. It was called to order by F. D. Mills, of Des Moines County. William Thompson, of Henry County, presided, and J. T. Fales, of Dubuque, was Secretary. The vote for Governor in the convention stood: Briggs, sixty-two; Jesse Williams, thirty-two, and William Thompson, thirty-one. The two latter withdrew, and Briggs was then chosen by acclamation. Elisha Cutler, Jr., of Van Buren County, was nominated for Secretary of State; Joseph T. Fales, of Linn, for Auditor, and Morgan Reno, of Johnson, for Treasurer. S. C. Hastings and Sheperd Leffler were nominated for Congress. The election was held Oct. 28, 1846, the entire Democrat ticket being successful. Briggs received 7,626 voted and competitor, Thomas McKnight, the Whig candidate, 7,379, giving Briggs a majority of 247.

The principal question between the two leading parties, The Democratic and Whig, at this period, was that of the banking system. It is related that a short time prior to the meeting of the convention which nominated Mr. Briggs, that in offering a toast at a banquet, he struck the key-note which made him the popular man of the hour. He said, “No banks but earth and they well tilled.” This was at once caught up by his party and it did move to secure him the nomination than anything else. His administration was one void of any special interest. He labored in harmonious accord with his party, yet frequently exhibited an independence of principle, characteristic of his nature. The Missouri boundary question which caused a great deal of excited controversy at this period, and even a determination to resort to arms, was handled by him with great ability.

On his election as Executive of the State, Gov. Briggs sold out his mail contract, but after the expiration of his term of service he continued his residence in Jackson County. In 1870, removed to Council Bluffs. He had visited the western part of the State before the day the railroads in that section, making the trip by carriage. On the occasion he enrolled himself as one of the founders of the town of Florence on the Nebraska side of the river and six miles above Council Bluffs, and which for a time was a vigorous rival of Omaha. During the mining excitement, in 1860, he made a trip to Colorado, and three years later, in company with his son John and a large party, went to Montana, where he remained until the year 1865, when he returned to his home in Iowa.

As above stated, Gov. Briggs was twice married, his first wife being his companion for a brief time only. His second wife bore him eight children, all of whom died in infancy, save two, and these latter, Ansel, Jr., died May 15, 1867, aged twenty five years. John S. Briggs, the only survivor of the family, is editor of the Idaho Herald, published at Blackfoot, Idaho Territory. Mrs. Briggs died Dec. 30, 1847, while her husband was Governor of the State. She was a devoted Christian lady, a strict member of the Presbyterian Church, and a woman of strong domestic tastes. She was highly educated, and endowed by nature with that womanly tact and grace which enabled her to adorn the high position her husband had attained. She dispense a bounteous hospitality, though her home was a log house, and was highly esteemed and admired by all who met her.

Gov. Briggs went in and out among his people for many years after his retirement from the executive office, and even after his return from the Montana expedition. He was admired for his able services rendered so selfishly during the pioneer period of the now great and populous State. His last illness, ulceration of the stomach, was of brief duration, lasting only five weeks, indeed only three days before his death he was able to be out. His demise occurred at the residence of his son, John S. Briggs, in Omaha, Neb., at half past three of the morning of May, 5, 1881. His death was greatly mourned all over the State. Upon the following day, Gov. Gear issued a proclamation reciting his services to the State, ordering half-hour guns to be fired and the national flag on the State capitol to be put at half-mast during the day upon which the funeral was held, which was the following Sunday succeeding his death.

Stephen Hempstead, second Governor of Iowa, a native of Connecticut, where, at New London, he was born Oct. 1, 1812. He resided in that State with his parents until 1828, when the family case West, locating upon a farm near Saint Louis. This was the home of young Stephen until 1830, when he went to Galena, Ill., where he served in the capacity of a clerk in a commission house for a time. He was there during the exciting period of the Black Hawk troubles, and was an officer in an artillery company which had been organized for the protection of Galena. After the defeat of Black Hawk and the consequent termination of Indian troubles, he entered the Illinois College at Jacksonville, where he remained for about two years. On account of difficulties which he got into about sectarianism and abolitionism, he left the college and returned to Missouri. He shortly afterward entered the office of Charles
S. Hempstead, a prominent lawyer of Galena, and began the study of the profession in which afterward became quite proficient. In 1836 he was admitted to practice in all courts of the Territory of Wisconsin, which at the time embraced the Territory of Iowa, and the same year located at Dubuque, being the first lawyer who began the practice of his profession at last place.

As might be expected in a territory but thinly populated, but one which was rapidly settling up, the services of an able attorney would be in demand in order to draft the laws. Upon the organization of the Territorial Government of Iowa in 1838, he was, with Gen. Warner Lewis, elected to represent the northern portion of the Territory in the Legislative Council, which assembled in Burlington that year. He was a Chairman of the Committee Judiciary, and at the second session of that body was elected its President. He was again elected a member of the Council, in 1845, over which he also presided. In 1844 he was elected one of the delegates of Dubuque County, for the first convention to frame a constitution for the State. In 1848, in company with Judge Charles Mason and W. G. Woodward, he was appointed by the Legislature Commissioner to revise the laws of the State, which revision, with a few amendments, was adopted as the code of Iowa in 1851.

In 1850 Mr. Hempstead was elected Governor of the State, and served with ability for four years, that being the full term under the Constitution at the time. He received 13,486 votes against, 11403 cast for his opponent, James L. Thompson. After the vote had been canvassed a committee was appointed to inform the Governor-elect that the two Houses of the Legislature were ready to receive him in joining convention, in order that he might receive the oath prescribed by the Constitution. Gov. Hempstead, accompanied by the retiring Executive, Gov. Briggs, the Judges of the Supreme Court, and the officers of State, entered the hall of the House where the Governor-elect delivered his inaugural message, after which the oath was administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. This was an important period in the history of the State, being at a time when the public affairs were assuming definite shape, and indeed it was what it might be termed the formative period. The session of the Legislature passed many important acts which were approved by the Governor, and during his term there were fifty-two new counties formed. Gov. Hempstead in this message to the Fourth General Assembly in December, 1852, stated that among other things, the population of the State according to the Federal census was 192,214, and that the State census showed an increase for one year of 37,786. He also stated that the resources of the state for the coming two years would be sufficient to cancel all that part of funded debt which was payable at its option.

Among the numerous counties organized was one named Buncombe, which received its name the following way; The Legislature was composed of a large majority favoring stringent corporation laws and the liability of individual stockholders for corporate debts. This sentiment, on account of the agitation of railroad enterprises then being inaugurated, brought a large number of prominent men to the capital. To have an effect upon the Legislature, they organized a “lobby Legislature” and Elected as Governor, Verplank Van Antwerp, who delivered to the self-constituted body a lengthy message in which he sharply criticized the regular General Assembly. Some of the members of the latter were in habit of making long and useful speeches much to the hindrance of business. To these he especially referred, charging them with speaking for “Buncombe,” and recommended that as a lasting memorial a county should be called by that name. This suggestion was readily seized on by the Legislature, and the county of Buncombe was created with few dissenting voices. However, the General Assembly, in 1862, changed the name to Lyon, in honor of Gen. Nathaniel Lyon who was killed in the early part of the Civil War.

The season of 1851 was one of great disappointment to the pioneers of Iowa, and much suffering was the result of the bad season of that year. By the year 1854, the State had fully recovered from the depression thus produced, and that year as well as the following, the emigration from the East was unprecedented. The prairies of Illinois were lined day after day with a continuous caravan of emigrants pushing on toward Iowa. During a single month 1743 wagons bound for Iowa passed through Peoria. So remarkable had been the influx of people into the State, that in an issue of the Burlington Telegraph appeared the following statement: “Twenty thousand emigrants have passed through the city within the last thirty days, and they are still crossing the Mississippi at the rate of 600 a day.”

At the expiration of his term of service, which occurred in the latter part of the year 1854, Gov. Hempstead returned to his old home at Dubuque County, and so acceptably did he serve the people that for twelve years he was chosen to fill that position. Under his administration the principal county building, including the jail, poorhouse, as well as some valuable bridges, were erected. Owing to ill-health he was compelled to retire from public health, passing the remainder of his days in quietude and repose at Dubuque. There he lived until Feb. 16, 1883, when, at his home, the light of his long and eventful life went out. The record he has made, which was an honorable and distinguished one, was closed, and Iowa was called upon to mourn the loss of one of her most distinguished pioneer citizens. He had been an unusually useful man of the State and his services, which were able and wise, were rendered in that unselfish spirit which distinguished so many of the early residents of this now prosperous State.

James W. Grimes, the third gentleman to fill the Executive Chair of the State of Iowa, was born in the town of Deering, Hillsborough Co., N. H., Oct. 20, 1816. His parents John and Elizabeth (Wilson) Grimes, were also natives of the same town. The former was born on the 11^th of August, 1772, and the mother March 19, 1773. They became the parents of eight children, of whom James was the youngest and became one of the most distinguished citizens of Iowa. He attended the district schools, and in early childhood evinced an annual taste for learning. Besides attending the district schools, the village pastor instructed him in Greek and Latin. After completing his preparations for college, which he did at Hampton Academy, he entered Dartmouth College, in August, 1832, which was I the sixteenth year of his age. He was a hard student, advance rapidly, and in February, 1835, bid adieu to the college halls, and with James Walker, of Peterborough, N. H., he began the study of his chosen profession.

Feeling that his native State afforded too limiting advantages, and, in fact, being of a rather adventurous disposition, as well as ambitious, he desired broader fields in which to carve for himself a fortune. He accordingly left the home that had sheltered him during his boyhood days, and turning his face westward proceeded until he had crossed the great Father of Waters. It was in 1836, and young Grimes was indeed young to thus take upon himself such responsibilities; but possessing business tact, determination, and tenacity, as well as an excellent professional training, he determined to open an office in the then new town of Burlington, Iowa. Here he hung out his shingle, and ere long had established a reputation which extended far beyond the confines of the little city.

In April, 1837, he was appointed City Solicitor, and entering upon the duties of that office he assisted in drawing up the first police laws of that town. In 1838 he was appointed Justice of the Peace, and became a law partner of William W. Chapman, United States District Attorney for Wisconsin Territory. In the early part of that year 1841 he formed a partnership with Henry W. Starr, Esq., which continued twelve years. This form stood at the head of the legal profession in Iowa. Mr. Grimes was widely known as a counselor with superior knowledge of the law, and with a clear sense of truth and justice. He was chosen one of the Representatives of Des Moines County in the first Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Iowa, which convened at Burlington, Nov. 12, 1838; in the sixth, at Iowa City, Dec. 4, 1843; and in the fourth General Assembly of the State, at Iowa City, Dec. 6, 1852. He early took front rank among the public men of Iowa. He was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives of the first Legislative Assembly of the Territory, and all laws for the new Territory passed through his hands.

Mr. Grimes had become prominently identified with the Whig party, and being distinguished as an able lawyer, as well as a fair-minded, conscientious man, he was a prominent candidate for Governor before the convention which met in February, 1854. It was the largest convention of that party ever held in Iowa and the last. He was chosen as a nominee for Governor, was duly elected, and in December, 1854, assumed the duties of the office. Shortly after his election it was proposed that he should go to the United States Senate, but he gave his admirers to understand that he was determined to fill the term of office for which he had been chosen. This he did, serving the full term to the entire satisfaction of all parties. He was a faithful party leader, and so able were his services that, while at the time of his election as Governor Democracy reigned supreme in the State and its representatives in Congress were allied to the slave power, he turned the State over to the Republican party.

His term of office expired Jan. 14, 1858, when he retired from the Executive Chair, only, however, to assume the responsibilities of a United States Senator. Upon the 4^th of March of the following year he took his seat in the Senate and was placed upon the Committee on Naval Affairs, upon which he remained during his Senatorial career, serving as Chairman of that important committee from December, 1864. Jan 16, 1864, Mr. Grimes was again chosen to represent Iowa in the Senate of the United States, receiving all but six of the votes of the General Assembly in joint convention,

His counsel was often sought in matters of great moment, and in cases of peculiar difficulty. Always ready to promote the welfare of the State, he gave, unsolicited, land worth $6,000 to the Congregational College, at Grinnell. It constitutes the “Grimes foundation,” and “is to be applied to the establishment and maintenance in Iowa College, forever, of four scholarships, to be awarded by the Trustees, on the recommendation of the faculty, to the best scholars, and the most promising, in any department, who may need and seek such aid, and without regard to the religious tenets or opinions entertained by any person seeking either of said scholarships.” These terms were imposed by Mr. Grimes, and assumed July 20, 1865, by the Trustees. He received the honorary degree of L.L. D. in 1865 from Dartmouth College, and also from Iowa College. He also aided in founding a public library in Burlington, donating $5,000, which was expended in the purchase of costly books, and subsequently sent from Europe 256 volumes in the German language, and also contributed 600 volumes of public documents.

In January, 1869, he made a donation of $5,000 to Dartmouth College, and $1000 to the “Social Friend,” a literary society of which he was a member when in college.

His health failing, Mr. Grimes sailed for Europe, April 14, 1869, remaining abroad two years, reaching home Sept. 22, 1871, apparently in improved health and spirits. In November he celebrated his silver wedding, and spent the closing months of his life with his family. He voted at the city election, Feb. 5, 1872, and was suddenly attacked with severe pains in the region of the heart, and died after a few short hours of intense suffering.

Senator Grimes was united in marriage at Burlington, Ia., Nov. 9, 1846, with Miss Sarah Elizabeth Neally. Mr Grimes stood in the foremost ranks among the men of his time, not only in the State but of the nation. The young attorney, who left the granite hills of New Hampshire for the fertile prairies of the West, distinguished himself both as an attorney and a statesman. His personal history is so inseparably interwoven in that of the history of the State that a sketch of his life is indeed but a record of the history of his adopted State during the years of his manhood and vigor.

Buren R. Sherman, one of the most distinguished gentlemen who was ever honored with the position of Chief Executive of the State is Buren R. Sherman, the eleventh Governor of Iowa, who is a native of New York. It was the town of Phelps, in Ontario County, that he was born to his parents, Phineas L. and Eveline (Robinson) Sherman, on the 28^th of May 1836, and was the third son of a distinguished family of children. His parents were likewise natives of the Empire State. Buren R. attended the public schools of hi neighborhood, but was subsequently given advantages of the schools at Almira, N. Y., where he acquired a very thorough knowledge of the English branches. His father, who was a mechanic, advised him at the close of his studies to apprentice himself to learn some trade. He accordingly made such arrangements with S. Ayers, of Almira, to learn the trade of a watchmaker. In 1855, however, he left the position and joined his family on their removal to the new State of Iowa. They settled upon a piece of unbroken prairie land on what is now Genesco Township, Tama County, his father having previously purchased land from the Government. Here Buren R. labored diligently in developing his father’s fields, devoting however, leisure hours which he was granted, to the study of law. Before leaving his Eastern home he had decided upon that profession and began its study while yet in Almira. He soon secured a position as a book-keeper in a neighboring town, and with the wages earned there, materially assisted his father in the development of their home farm. In the meantime he had applied himself diligently to the study of is books, and so studious had he been that in the summer of 18598, he was enabled to pass a creditable examination and to be admitted to the bar. The following spring the young attorney moved to Vinton, hung out his shingle and began the practice of his profession. He was associated with Hon. William Smyth, formerly District Judge., and J. C. Tracer, under the firm name of Smyth: Tracer & Sherman. The new firm rapidly grew into prominence, building u a prosperous practice, when Mr. Sherman withdrew to tender his services to the Government in defense of her integrity and honor.

It was early in 1861, directly after the enemy had assaulted the American flag on Sumter that the young attorney enlisted in the Co. G. 13^th Iowa Vol. Inf., and immediately went to the front. He entered the service as Second Sergeant, and in February, 1862, was made Second Lieutenant of Company E. On the 6^th of April following he was very severely wounded at the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, and while in the hospital was promoted to the rank of Captain. He returned to his company while yet obliged to his crutches, and remained on duty till the summer of 1863, when, by reason of his wound, he was compelled to resign and return home. Soon after returning from the army he was elected County Judge of Benton County, and re-elected without opposition in 1865. In the autumn of 1866 he resigned his judgeship and accepted the office of the Clerk of the District Court, to which he was re-elected in 1868, 1879 and 1872, and in December, 1874 resigned in order to accept the office of Auditor of State, to which office he had been elected by a majority of 28,425 over J. M. King, the “anti-monopoly” candidate. In 1876 he was re-nominated and received 50, 272 more votes than W. Growneweg (Democrat) and Leonard Browne (Greenback) together. In 1878 he was again chosen to represent the Republican party in that office, and this time received a majority of 7,164 over the combined votes of Col. Eboeck (Democrat) and G. V. Swearenger (Greenback). In the six years that he held this office, he was untiring in is faithful application to routine work and devotion to his special share of the State’s business. He retired with such an enviable record that it was with no surprise the people learned, June 27, 1881, that he was the nominee of the Republican party for Governor.

The Campaign was an exciting one. The General Assembly had submitted to the people the prohibitory amendment to the Constitution. This, while not a partisan question, became uppermost in the mind of the public. Mr. Sherman received 133,330 votes, against 83, 244 for Kinne and 28,112 for D. M. Clark, or a plurity of 50,086 and a majority of 21,974. In 1883 he was re-nominated by the Republicans as well as L. G. Kinne by the Democrats. The national party offered J. B. Weaver. During the campaign these candidates held a number of joint discussions at different points in the State. At the election the vote was: Sherman, 164,182; Kinne, 139,093; Weaver, 23,089; Sherman’s plurarity, 25,089; majority, 2000. In his second inaugural Gov. Sherman said: “In assuming for the second time, the office of Chief Magistrate for the State. I fully realize my grateful obligations to the people of Iowa, through whose generous confidence I am here. I am aware of the duties and grave responsibilities of this ex-alted position, and as well what is expected of me therein. As in the past I have given my undivided time and serious attention thereto, so in the future I promise the most earnest devotion and untiring effort in the faithful performance of my official requirements. I have seen the State grow from infancy to mature manhood, and each year one of substantial betterment of its previous position. “With more railroads than any other state, save two; with a school interest the grandest and strongest, which commands the support and confidence of all the people, and a population, which in its entirety is superior to any other in the sisterhood, it is not strange the pride which attaches to our people. When we remember that the results of our efforts in the direction of good government have been crowned with such magnificent success, and today we have a State in most perfect physical and financial condition, no wonder hearts swell in honest pride as we contemplate the past and so confidently hope for the future. What we may become depends on our own efforts, and to that future I look with earnest and abiding confidence.”

Gov. Sherman’s term of office continued until Jan. 14, 1886, when he was succeeded by William Larrabee, and he is now, temporarily, perhaps, enjoying a well-earned rest. He has been a Republican since the organization of that party, and his services as a campaign speaker have for many years been in great demand. As an officer he has been able to make an enviable record. Himself honorable and thorough, his management of public business has been of the same character, and such as has commended him to the approval of his fellow-citizens. He was married, Aug. 20, 1862, to Miss Lena Kendall, of Vinton, Iowa, a young lady of rare accomplishments and strength of character. Their union has been happy in every respect. They have two children—Lena Kendall and Oscar Eugene.

Page 151-152, Transcribed by Alvin Poole, July 10, 2019

William Larrabee, the present able Governor of Iowa, and the twelfth gentleman selected by the people as the Chief Magistrate of the great Commonwealth, is a native of Connecticut. His ancestors were among the French Huguenots who came to America early in the seventeenth century and located in Connecticut. At that time they bore the name of d’Larrabee. Adam Larrabee, the father of William, was born March 14, 1787, and was one of the early graduates of the West Point Academy. He served his country during the War of 1812, with distinction, holding the position of Second Lieutenant, to which he was commissioned March 1, 1811. He was promoted to the Captaincy of his company Feb. 1, 1814, and on the 30^th of the following March , at the battle of Lacole Mills, during Gen. Wilkinson’s campaign on the Saint Lawrence River, he was severely wounded in the lung. He eventually recovered from the injury and was united in marriage to Hannah G. Lester. This much esteemed lady was born in June 3, 1798, and died on the 15^th of March, 1837. Capt. Larrabee lived to an advanced age, dying in 1869, at the age of eighty-two years.

As above mentioned, William, our subject, was born in Connecticut, the town of Ledyard, being the place of his birth and Jan 20, 1832, the date. He was the seventh child in a family of nine children, and passed the early years of his life upon a rugged New England farm enjoying very meager educational advantages. He attended, during the winter seasons, the neighboring district schools until he reached the age of nineteen years, when, during the following two winters, he filled the position of schoolmaster. He was ambitious to do something in life for himself that would bring fortune and distinction, but in making his plans for the future he was embarrassed by a misfortune which he befell him when fourteen years of age. In being trained to the use of firearms under his father’s direction, an accidental discharge resulted in the loss of the sight in the right eye. His consequently unfitted him for many employments usually sought by ambitious young men. The family lived near the seashore, only two miles away, and in that neighborhood it was the custom for at least one son in each family to o upon the sea as a sailor. The two eldest brothers of our subject had chosen this occupation while the third remained in charge of the home farm. William was thus left free to chose for himself and, like many youths of that day, he wisely turned his face Westward. The year 1853 found him on the journey toward the setting sun, stopping only when he came to the broad and fertile prairies of the new State of Iowa. He first joined his older sister, Mrs. E. H. Williams, who was at that time living at Garnavillo, Clayton County. It was the circumstance which led the young boy from Connecticut to select his future home in the northeastern portion of Iowa. He resumed his occupation as a pedagogue, teaching, however, but one winter, which was passed at Hardin.

In 1857 he bought a one-third interest in the Clermont Mills, and located at Clermont, Fayette County. He soon was able to buy the other two-thirds, and within a year found himself sole owner. He operated the mill until 1874 when he sold to S. M. Leach. On the breaking out of the war he offered to enlist, but was rejected on account of the loss of his right eye. Being informed he might possibly be admitted as a commissioned officer, he raised a company and received a commission as First Lieutenant, but was again rejected for the same disability.

After selling the mill Mr. Larrabee devoted himself to farming, and started a private bank at Clermont. He also, experimentally, started a large nursery, but this resulted only in confirming the belief that Northern Iowa has too rigorous a climate for fruit-raising.

Mr. Larrabee did not begin his political career until 1867. He was reared as a Wig and became a Republican on the organization of that party. While interested in politics he generally refused local offices, serving only as Treasurer of the School Board prior to 1867. In the autumn of that year, on the Republican ticket, he was elected to represent his county in the State Senate. To this high position he was re-elected from time to time, so that he served as Senator continuously for eighteen years before being promoted to the highest office of the State. He was so popular at home that he generally re-nominated by acclamation, and for some years the Democrats did not even make nomination. During the whole eighteen years Senator Larrabee was a member of the principal committee, that on Ways and Means, of which he was generally Chairman, and was also a member of other committees. In the pursuit of the duties thus devolving upon him, he was indefatigable. It is said that he never missed a committee meeting. Not alone in this, but in private and public business of all kinds, his uniform habit it that of close application of work. Many of the important measures passed by the Legislature owe their existence or present form to him.

He was a candidate for the gubernatorial nomination in 1881, but entered the contest too late, as Gov. Sherman’s following had been successfully organized. In 1885, it was generally conceded before the meeting of the convention that he would be nominated, which he was, and his election followed as a matter of course. He was inaugurated Jan. 14, 1886, and so far has made an excellent Governor. His position in regard to the liquor question, that on which political fortunes are made and lost in Iowa, is that the majority should rule. He was personally in favor of high license, but having been elected Governor, and sworn to uphold the Constitution and execute the laws, he proposes to do so.

A senator who sat beside him in Senate declares him to be “a man of the broadest comprehensions and information, an extraordinarily clear reasoner, fair and conscientious in his conclusions, and of Spartan firmness in this matured judgement,” and says that “he brings the practical facts and philosophy of human nature, the science and history of law, to aid in his decisions, and adheres with the earnestness of Jefferson and Sumner to the fundamental principles of the people’s rights.”

Gov. Larrabee was married Sept. 12, 1861, at Clermont, to Anna M. Appleman, daughter of Capt. G. A. Appleman. Gov. Larrabee has seven children—Charles, Augusta, Julia, Anna, William, Frederic and Helen.