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State of Iowa Official Register
Thirty-Ninth Number,
1941-1942
~ transcribed by S. Ferrall for the IAGenWeb Special Project - Iowa History
Other Iowa People of Note
by Ora Williams, Curator, Iowa
Historical Department
Samual Freeman Miller, 1868-1890, came to Iowa
from Kentucky where he had practiced medicine, rose to
eminence in the law and was appointed by President Lincoln to
United States Supreme Court where he became one of its
greatest members. He had freed his own slaves in Kentucky and
was an ardent advocate of freedom for all.
John Adam Kasson, 1822-1910, First Assistant Postmaster
General under Lincoln; member Congress several terms;
represented the United States at international postal
conference 1863; US Minister to Austria-Hungry 1877-81, and to
Germany 1884; member of various international commissions;
lecture on American diplomacy; one of the early leaders of the
Republican party. A magnificent full-length oil portrait of
Mr. Kasson is in this state gallery of prominent men in the
State Historical department.
Grenville Mellon Dodge, Major General and chief of engineers
for Union Army in operations at Vicksburg and elsewhere; close
friend of General Grant; engineer who directed the
construction of the Union Pacific railroad; member of Congress
1867-69 from southwestern Iowa. Portrait in oil on horseback
adorns the State Historical Library, and there is a special
room filled with his personal and public records and papers.
Frederick W. Lehmann, long one of the leaders of the Iowa bar,
and president of the American Bar Association 1908-09. Leader
of the Democratic Party in Iowa. Removed to St. Louis, and
later was appointed by President Taft to be solicitor general
in the legal department in the United States. Left a rare
collection of Dickens manuscripts.
George H. Yewell, famous as portrait painter, lived in Iowa
City, but in 1878 opened a studio in New York City. Several of
the finest portraits in the famous Iowa collection are from
his hand.
Augustus Caesar Dodge, 1812-1883, son of Henry Dodge, governor
of Wisconsin. Became first United States Senator from Iowa in
1848; ambassador to Spain 1855-1859; long remained the
recognized leader of the Democratic Party in Iowa.
John F. Dillon, turned from practice of medicine to the law
and went on the Iowa supreme bench 1863-1869; appointed judge
in the United States Circuit Court, Eighth Circuit, and served
from 1869 to 1879; entered private practice in New York and
became a leading authority on corporation law and the author
of several books.
James Baird Weaver, 1883-1912, distinguished Civil War record;
member of Congress from Iowa; candidate of the greenback party
for president and received over a million votes. Editor and
publisher, and one of the greatest Iowa orators. Became mayor
of Colfax in his later years.
S.H.M. Byers, 1838-1928, soldier, poet, author. Consul General
in Italy and Switzerland. Author of Song of Iowa and of many
fine poems.
James S. Clarkson, editor of Iowa State Register many years
prior to 1891; First Assistant Postmaster General under
President Harrison 1889-1890; collector of the Port of New
York; Chairman of the executive committee of the Republican
national committee 1888.
William I. Buchanan, director of Corn Palaces at Sioux City;
had charge of the agricultural Department of the Columbian
exposition; director and agent for the Pan American exposition
at Buffalo; envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
to the Argentine Republic 1894-1900.
George Evans Robert, longtime editor of the Fort Dodge
Messenger; owned and consolidated Iowa State Register and Iowa
State Leader; wrote a famous reply to "Coin" Harvey on
finances; was state printer 1883-1889; director of the United
States mint 1898-1907 and 1910-1914; Vice President City
National bank, New York.
Handford MacNider, national commander of the American Legion
1921-22; Assistant Secretary of War 1925-1928; United States
Minister to Canada 1930-1932.
Edwin H. Conger, farmer in Madison County, County Treasurer
Dallas County, State Treasurer, member of Congress 1885-1890,
United States Minister to Brazil 1890-1893; United States
Minister to China 1898-1905; ambassador to Mexico 1905 and
resigned the same year.
James Cox Davis, general counsel to United States Railroad
administration 1920-1921; director general of railroads and
presidential agent for liquidation of railroads under
government control 1921-1926.
William D. Leahy, Rear Admiral in the United States Navy and
Commander-in-Chief of Navy 1936-1937; sent as US ambassador to
France 1940.
George Collier Remey, first Rear Admiral of the United States
Navy born west of the Mississippi River; served with
distinction in the Asiatic Fleet.
Harry E. Yarnell, rear Admiral United States Navy, with much
experience in many places; latest service before retirement in
charge of the Asiatic Fleet during first years of the Sino
Japanese war 1937.
William Larrabee, governor, member Board of control, State
Senator; author of "The Railroad Question;" chairman of the
interstate commerce congress and prominent in later movements
to secure rail rates just to Western interests.
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, a schoolteacher and Superintendent
of schools in Cerro Gordo County; devoted her life to the
securing of equality for women and has long been at the head
of the national organization.
Stephen B. Packard, a Maine soldier who had become governor of
Louisiana and was United States marshal there in
reconstruction days; was sent by President Grant to be Consul
at Mexico City; later became a farmer and stock breeder in
Iowa and was for many years on the State fair board.
George Washington Carver, born of slave parents and once was
traded for a horse; worked his way through school in Kansas,
then through Iowa State College and received degrees from
Simpson College; member of the faculty of Iowa State College;
went to Tuskegee in 1896; became director of agricultural
research, and is eminent in science.
Frank S. Merriam was a member of the Iowa Legislature from
Delaware County, state auditor of Iowa, and governor of
California for two terms.
Frank O. Lowden was a schoolteacher in Hardin County and in
Burlington, later lawyer in Chicago and general consul for the
Pullman Company; governor of Illinois and prominent as a
candidate for the presidency.
Luella M. Wilson attained national fame when she became in
1884 the Superintendent of the Des Moines public schools, a
position of responsibility not before attained by any woman.
She had been a teacher 25 years.
Lillian Russell was born in Clinton, Iowa, in 1861 and early
in life became famous as a singer and actor, holding high
position on the stage until 1900.
George F. Parker was educated in country schools in Warren
County and at the state university. Establish the Indianola
Tribune. Later became very close to President Cleveland and
was his secretary, then United States consul in Birmingham,
England. Wrote a book on Grover Cleveland and others.
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