Biography of SAMUEL AMBROSE CONVERSE

Descended from a long line of English Pilgrims, Samuel Ambrose Converse was born January 3, 1843 at Marlborough, New Hampshire. When five years of age he moved with his family to Rock Prairie (near Beloit), Wisconsin where his mother died. When he was 13, the family again moved in a covered wagon, this time to Sumner Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa, where his father took up government land. Samuel taught school in his youth, later became a successful farmer, and as a student of public affairs, was instrumental organizing the Grange to reform legislation so that the power of the railroads did not infringe upon the rights of the farmers.

He established a herd of Red Polled cattle which became the largest herd in America of that breed. His show herd was exhibited at various state fairs in the Middle West and several times at the fat stock show in Chicago, always winning prizes. He served as treasurer of the Red Polled Cattle Club of America.

In 1883, he was elected to the house of the general assembly of Iowa from Howard County and served on the committee of ways and means. In 1887, he was elected to the state senate to represent the Howard-Winneshiek district.

In 1893, the First National Bank of Cresco was established. He was its first president and served in that position till his death. He helped organize the Alliance Mercantile Association of Cresco in 1891, and served on the board of directors continuously during his life, often as president of the board. At the time of the First World War, he was chairman of the Liberty Loan Committee for Howard County and directed the campaign for the five loans. He was a charter member of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Association of Cresco and served on the board of directors, and was also a director of the Iowa Mutual Tornado Insurance Association of Des Moines. During the last 50 years of his life, there was scarcely a time when he did not have one or more estates to administer.

The many pages of biographical Memorial Resolutions which the Iowa State Senate Chamber compiled for the Journal of the Senate after his death in May 1919, include the comments that "His keen foresight, sound judgment and strict integrity made him a wise and safe counselor, and his advice was sought frequently by friends and business associates always ready to render assistance to the needy and to comfort those in distress, his infinite patience, kindly manner and even temper endeared him to his family and friends."

Samuel died May 29, 1919, at age 76, and was buried at Cresco in the New Oregon Cemetery.

Melchior and Martha Munson Family History 1812 -1989,
Complied by Paul L. Munson
Abstracted from Memorial Resolutions of Iowa state Senate Chamber, April 1921