Jefferson County Online A part of the IAGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects The State of Iowa Political Record

Governors -- Robert Lucas, 1838-41; John Chambers, 1841-45; James Clarke, 1845.

Secretaries -- William B. Conway, 1838, died 1839; James Clarke, 1839; O. H. W. Stull, 1841; Samuel L. Burr, 1843; Jesse Williams, 1845.

Auditors -- Jesse Williams, 1840; Wm. L. Gilbert, 1843; Robert M. Secrest, 1845.

Treasurers -- Thornton Bayliss, 1839; Morgan Reno, 1840.

Judges -- Charles Mason, Chief Justice, 1838; Joseph Williams, 1838; Thomas S. Wilson, 1838.

Presidents of Council -- Jesse B. Browne, 1838-9; Stephen Hempstead, 1839-40; M. Bainridge, 1840-1; Jonathan W. Parker, 1841-2; John D. Elbert, 1842-3; Thomas Cox, 1843-4; S. Clinton Hastings, 1845; Stephen Hempstead, 1845-6.

Speakers of the House -- William H. Wallace, 1838-9; Edward Johnston, 1839-40; Thomas Cox, 1840-1; Warner Lewis, 1841-2; James M. Morgan, 1842-3; James P. Carleton, 1843-4; James M. Morgan, 1845; George W. McCleary, 1845-6.

First Constitutional Convention, 1844 -- Shepherd Leffler, President; Geo. S. Hampton, Secretary.

Second Constitutional Convention, 1846 -- Enos Lowe, President; William Thompson, Secretary.

Governors -- Ansel Briggs, 1846 to 1850; Stephen Hempstead, 1850 to 1854; James W. Grimes, 1854 to 1858; Ralph P. Lowe, 1858 to 1860; Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1860 to 1864; William M. Stone, 1864 to 1868; Samuel Morrill, 1868 to 1872; Cyrus C. Carpenter, 1872 to 1876; Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1876 to 1877; Joshua G. Newbold, Acting, 1877 to 1878; John H. Gear, 1878 to ----.

Lieutenant Governor -- Office created by the new Constitution September 3, 1857--Oran Faville, 1858-9; Nicholas J. Rusch, 1860-1; John R. Needham, 1862-3; Enoch W. Eastman, 1864-5; Benjamin F. Gue, 1866-7; John Scott, 1868-9; M. M. Walden, 1870-1; H. C. Bulis, 1872-3; Joseph Dysart, 1874-5; Joshua G. Newbold, 1876-7; Frank T. Campbell, 1878-9.

Secretaries of State -- Elisha Cutler, Jr., Dec. 5, 1846, to Dec. 4, 1848; Josiah H. Bonney, Dec. 4, 1848, to Dec. 2, 1850; George W. McCleary, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 1, 1856; Elijah Sells, Dec. 1, 1856, to Jan. 5, 1863; James Wright, Jan. 5, 1863, to Jan. 7, 1867; Ed. Wright, Jan. 7, 1867, to Jan. 6, 1873; Josiah T. Young, Jan. 6, 1873, to ------.

Auditors of State -- Joseph T. Fales, Dec. 5, 1846, to Dec. 2, 1850; William Pattee, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 4, 1854; Andrew J. Stevens, Dec. 4, 1854, resigned in 1855; John Pattee, Sept. 22, 1855, to Jan. 3, 1859; Jonathan W. Cattell, 1859 to 1865; John A. Elliot, 1865 to 1871; John Russell, 1871 to 1875; Buren R. Sherman, 1875 to ------.

Treasurers of State -- Morgan Reno, Dec. 18, 1846, to Dec. 2, 1850; Israel Kister, dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 4, 1852; Martin L. Morris, Dec. 4, 1852, to Jan. 2, 1859; John W. Jones, 1859 to 1863; William H. Holmes, 1863 to 1867; Samuel E. Rankin, 1867 to 1873; William Christy, 1873 to 1877; George W. Bemis, 1877 to ------.

Superintendents of Public Instruction -- Office created in 1847 -- James Jarlan, June 5, 1845 (Supreme Court decided election void); Thomas H. Benton, Jr., May 23, 1844, to June 7, 1854; James D. Eads, 1854-7; Joseph C. Stone, March to June, 1857; Maturin L. Fisher, 1857 to Dec., 1858, when the office was abolished and the duties of the office devolved upon the Secretary of the Board of Education.

Secretaries of Board of Education -- Thomas H. Benton, Jr., 1859-1863; Oran Faville, Jan. 1, 1864. Board abolished March 23, 1864.

Superintendents of Public Instruction -- Office re-created March 23, 1864 -- Oran Faville, March 28, 1864, resigned March 1, 1867; D. Franklin Wells, March 4, 1867, to Jan., 1870; A. S. Kissell, 1870 to 1872; Alonzo Abernethy, 1872 to 1877; Carl W. Von Coelln, 1877 to ------.

State Binders -- Office created February 21, 1855 -- William M. Coles, May 1, 1855, to May 1, 1859; Frank M. Mills, 1859 to 1867; James S. carter, 1867 to 1870; J. J. Smart, 1870 to 1874; H. A. Perkins, 1874 to 1875; James J. Smart, 1875 to 1876; H. A. Perkins, 1876 to ------.

Registers of the State Land Office -- Anson Hart, May 5, 1855, to May 13, 1857; Theodore S. Parvin, May 13, 1857, to Jan. 3, 1859; Amos B. Miller, Jan. 3, 1859, to October, 1862; Edwin Mitchell, Oct. 31, 1862, to Jan 5, 1863; Josiah A. Harvey, Jan. 5, 1863, to Jan. 7, 1867; Cyros C. Carpenter, Jan. 7, 1867, to January, 1871; Aaron Brown, January, 1871, to to (sic) January, 1875; David Secor, January, 1875, to ------.

State Printers -- Office created Jan. 3, 1840 -- Garrett D. Palmer and George Paul, 1849; William H. Merritt, 1851 to 1853; William A. Hornish, 1853 (resigned May 16, 1853); Mahoney & Dorr, 1853 to 1855; Peter Moriarty, 1855 to 1857; John Teesdale, 1857 to 1861; Francis W. Palmer, 1861 to 1869; Frank M. Mills, 1860 to 1870; G. W. Edwards, 1870 to 1872; R. P. Clarkson, 1872 to ------.

Adjutants General -- Daniel S. Lee, 1851-5; Geo. W. McCleary, 1855-7; Elijah Sells, 1857; Jesse Bowen, 1857-61; Nathaniel Baker, 1861 to 1877; John H. Looby, 1877 to ------.

Attorneys General -- David C. Cloud, 1853-56; Samuel A. Rice, 1856-60; Charles C. Nourse, 1861-4; Isaac L. Allen, 1865 (resigned January, 1866); Frederick E. Bissell, 1866 (died June 12, 1867); Henry O'Connor, 1867-72; Marsena E. Cutts, 1872-6; John F. McJunkin, 1877.

Presidents of the Senate -- Thomas Baker, 1846-7; Thomas Hughes, 1848; John J. Selman, 1848-9; Enos Lowe, 1850-1; William E. Leffingwell, 1852-3; Maturin L. Fisher, 1854-5; William W. Hamilton, 1856-7; Under the new Constitution, the Lieutenant Governor is President of the Senate.

Speakers of the House -- Jesse B. Brown, 1847-8; Smiley H. Bonhan, 1849-50; George Temple, 1851-2; James Grant, 1853-4; Reuben Noble, 1855-6; Samuel McFarland, 1856-7; Stephen B. Sheledy, 1858-9; John Edwards, 1860-1; Rush Clark, 1862-3; Jacob Butler, 1864-5; Ed. Wright, 1866-7; John Russell, 1868-9; Aylett R. Cotton, 1870-1; James Wilson, 1872-3; John H. Gear, 1874-7; John Y. Stone, 1878.

New Constitutional Convention, 1859 -- Francis Springer, President; Thos. J. Saunders, Secretary.

John H. Gear, Governor; Frank T. Campbell, Lieutenant Governor; Josiah T. Young, Secretary of State; Buren R. Sherman, Auditor of State; George W. Bemis, Treasurer of State; David Secor, Register of State Land Office; John H. Looby, Adjutant General; John F. McJunken, Attorney General; Mrs. Ada North, State Librarian; Edward J. Holmes, Clerk Supreme Court; John S. Runnells, Reporter Supreme Court; Carl W. Von Coelln, Superintendent Public Instruction; Richard P. Clarkson, State Printer; Henry A. Perkins, State Binder; Prof. Nathan R. Leonard, Superintendent of Weights and Measures; William H. Fleming, Governor's Private Secretary; Fletcher W. Young, Deputy Secretary of State; John C. Parish, Deputy Auditor of State; Erastus G. Morgan, Deputy Treasurer of State; John M. Davis, Deputy Register Land Office; Ira C. Kling, Deputy Superintendent Public Instruction.

Chief Justices. -- Charles Mason, resigned in June, 1847; Joseph Williams, Jan., 1847, to Jan., 1848; S. Clinton Hastings, Jan., 1848, to Jan., 1849; Joseph Williams, Jan., 1849, to Jan. 11, 1855; Geo. G. Wright, Jan. 11, 1855, to Jan., 1860; Ralph P. Lowe, Jan., 1860, to Jan. 1, 1862; Caleb Baldwin, Jan., 1862, to Jan., 1864; Geo. G. Wright, Jan., 1864, to Jan., 1866; Ralph P. Lowe, Jan., 1866, to Jan., 1868; John F. Dillon, Jan., 1868, to Jan., 1870; Chester C. Cole, Jan. 1, 1870, to Jan. 1, 1871; James G. Day, Jan. 1, 1871, to Jan. 1, 1872; Joseph M. Beck, Jan. 1, 1872, to Jan. 1, 1874; W. E. Miller, Jan. 1, 1874, to Jan. 1, 1876; Chester C. Cole, Jan. 1, 1876, to Jan. 1, 1877; James G. Day, Jan. 1, 1877, to Jan. 1, 1878; James H. Rothrock, Jan. 1, 1878.

Associate Judges. -- Joseph Williams; Thomas S. Wilson, resigned Oct., 1847; John F. Kinney, June 12, 1847, resigned Feb. 15, 1854; George Greene, Nov. 1, 1847, to Jan. 9, 1855; Jonathan C. Hall, Feb. 15, 1854, to succeed Kinney, resigned, to Jan., 1855; William G. Woodward, Jan. 9, 1855; Norman W. Isbell, Jan. 16, 1855, resigned 1856; Lacen D. Stockton, June 3, 1856, to succeed Isbell, resigned, died June 9, 1860; Caleb Baldwin, Jan. 11, 1860, to 1864; Ralph P. Lowe, Jan. 12, 1860; George C. Wright, June 26, 1860, to succeed Stockton, deceased; elected U. S. Senator, 1870; John F. Dillon, Jan. 1, 1864, to succeed Baldwin, resigned, 1870; Chester C. Cole, March 1, 1864, to 1877; Joseph M. Beck, Jan. 1, 1868; W. E. Miller, October 11, 1864, to succeed Dillon, resigned; James G. Day, Jan. 1, 1871, to succeed Wright.

James H. Rothrock, Cedar County, Chief Justice; Joseph M. Beck, Lee County, Associate Justice; Austin Adams, Dubuque County, Associate Justice; William H. Seevers, Oskaloosa County, Associate Justice; James G. Day, Fremont County, Associate Justice.

(The first General Assembly failed to elect Senators.)
George W. Jones, Dubuque, Dec. 7, 1848-58; Augustus C. Dodge, Burlington, Dec. 7, 1848-55; James Harlan, Mt. Pleasant, Jan. 6, 1855-65; James W. Grimes, Burlington, Jan. 26, 1858 - died 1870; Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa City, elected Jan. 13, 1866, to fill vacancy caused by resignation of James Harlan; James Harlan, Mt. Pleasant, March 4, 1866-1872; James B. Howell, Keokuk, elected Jan. 20, 1870, to fill vacancy caused by the death of J. W. Grimes -- term expired March 3d; George G. Wright, Des Moines, March 4, 1871-77; William B. Allison, Dubuque, March 4, 1872; Samuel J. Kirkwood, March 4, 1877.

Twenty-ninth Congress -- 1846 to 1847. -- S. Clinton Hastings; Shepherd Leffler.

Thirtieth Congress --- 1847 to 1849. -- First District, William Thompson; Second District, Shepherd Leffler.

Thirty-first Congress -- 1849 to 1851. -- First District, First Session, Wm. Thompson; unseated by the House of Representatives on a contest, and election remanded to the people. First District, Second Session, Daniel F. Miller. Second District, Shepherd Leffler.

Thirty-second Congress -- 1851 to 1853. -- First District, Bernhart Henn. Second District, Lincoln Clark.

Thirty-third Congress -- 1853 to 1855. -- First District, Bernhart Henn. Second District, John P. Cook.

Thirty-fourth Congress -- 1855 to 1857. -- First District, Augustus Hall. Second District, James Thorington.

Thirty-fifth Congress -- 1857 to 1859. -- First District, Samuel R. Curtis. Second District, Timothy Davis.

Thirty-sixth Congress -- 1859 to 1861. -- First District, Samuel R. Curtis. Seocnd District, William Vandever.

Thirty-seventh Congress -- 1861 to 1863. -- First District, First Session, Samuel R. Curtis.* First District, Second and Third Sessions, James F. Wilson. Second District, William Vandever.
* Vacated seat by acceptance of commission as Brigadier General, and J. F. Wilson chosen his successor.

Thirty-eighth Congress -- 1863 to 1865. -- First District, James F. Wilson. Second District, Hiram Price. Third District, William B. Allison. Fourth District, Josiah B. Grinnell. Fifth District, John A. Kasson. Sixth District, Asahel W. Hubbard.

Thirty-ninth Congress -- 1865 to 1867. -- First District, James F. Wilson. Second District, Hiram Price. Third District, William B. Allison. Fourth District, Josiah B. Grinnell. Fifth District, John A. Kasson. Sixth District, Asahel W. Hubbard.

Fortieth Congress -- 1867 to 1869. -- First District, James F. Wilson; Second District, Hiram Price; Third District, William B. Allison, Fourth District, William Loughridge; Fifth District, Grenville M. Dodge; Sixth District, Asahel W. Hubbard.

Forty-first Congress -- 1869 to 1871. -- First District, George W. McCrary; Second District, William Smyth; Third District, William B. Allison; Fourth District, William Loughridge; Fifth District, Frank W. Palmer; Sixth District, Charles Pomeroy.

Forty-second Congress -- 1871 to 1873. -- First District, George W. McCrary; Second District, Aylett R. Cotton; Third District, W. G. Donnan; Fourth District, Madison M. Waldon; Fifth District, Frank W. Palmer; Sixth District, Jackson Orr.

Forty-third Congress -- 1873 to 1875. -- First District, George W. McCrary; Second Distrect, Aylett R. Cotton; Third District, William Y. Donnan; Fourth District, Henry O. Pratt; Fifth District, James Wilson, Sixth District, William Loughridge; Seventh District, John A. Kasson; Eighth District, James W. McDill; Ninth District, Jackson Orr.

Forty-fourth Congress -- 1875 to 1877. -- First District, George W. McCrary; Second District, John Q. Tufts; Third District, L. L. Ainsworth; Fourth District, Henry O. Pratt; Fifth District, James Wilson; Sixth District, Ezekiel S. Sampson; Seventh District, John A. Kasson; Eighth District, James W. McDill; Fifth (sic - Ninth?) District, Addison Oliver.

Forty-fifth Congress -- 1877 to 1879. -- First District, J. C. Stone; Second District, Hiram Price; Third District, T. W. Burdick; Fourth District, H. C. Deering; Fifth District, Rush Clark; Sixth District, E. S. Sampson; Seventh District, H. J. B. Cummings; Eighth District, W. F. Sapp; Ninth District, Addison Oliver.