A native of Vermont, he came early to Iowa, bringing with him those sterling qualities of mind and heart which have been proverbial to the denizen of the Green Mountain State, and locating himself in this city of Burlington in the practice of his profession, at once became an acknowledged leader both in public and social sense, and regarded as a man of unusual ability. His elevation to the Governorship in 1854 was but an acknowledgment of the general public confidence in his ability and statesmanlike methods. Nor were the people any wise disappointed, for he continued to grow in general public esteem, which manifested itself when near the close of his three years' gubernatorial service, by his election as a member of the United States Senate, there to continue his labors in behalf of a people who had so signally honored him, and in the general service of a great nation of freemen, whose highest ambition was the accomplishment of the hopes and efforts of the founders of the Republic, that it should become the region of prosperity and contentment, and a beacon light to the world in every good endeavor. Senator Grimes continued in this work both to the satisfaction of his State and the Nation until ill health compelled his resignation in January, 1870, and consequent retirement from public gaze, when the angel of death o'ertook him on February 7, 1872, much to the sincere sorrow of the entire country; and one of the very greatest of Iowans passed on to his eternal reward.

Ralph P. Lowe, of Keokuk, was inaugurated Governor of Iowa on January 14, 1858, in which position he served for two years, fully sustaining the high standard of his predecessor both in industry and probity, and to the universal commendations of the people, whose general interest was to him always paramount to every other consideration, and in whose service he was successful as indefatigable. On his voluntary retirement he was immediately elected one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of Iowa, in which exalted position he was continued many years, and only retired because of ill health, and calmly awaited the death summons which finally came on

December 22, 1883, and the State mourned the loss of one of its distinguished sons, a man of pure character and exemplary life, who had been an honor to his State, and a joy to his legion of friends everywhere. It was during his service in the court, and with the companionship of such associates as Chief Justice Wright and Judges Dillon and Baldwin, that the bench was raised to its highest standard of ability, ranking with the ablest in the nation, its every member eminent in legal lore and enjoying the unbounded confidence of both bar and people. This was manifest in the long service there of most of the judges of that tribunal, some of whom were transferred to other fields of labor and honor, but always to general public satisfaction. This was conspicuously true of that eminent jurist, Geo. G. Wright, who was first elected to that court in 1855, and continued there, as Chief Justice, and Judge, until his resignation in 1870, because of his election as United States Senator. He remained in that body until 1878, having declined reëlection and retired to his home in Des Moines, there to enjoy the fruits of a well spent life, and receive, as he ever was entitled, the love and unwavering confidence of all the people. He, too, was one of the very early pioneers of the State, having first made his home in Keosauqua, and one of whom because of his upright and honorable life, it is a joy to speak. The record of his life is an inspiration to every citizen, and he was borne to his tomb on January 13, 1896, full in years and ripe in honors, and blessed in memory and followed by the sincere lamentations of all the people. Requiescat in pace!

The beginning of the year 1860, witnessed the inauguration as Governor of Iowa, of that grand and heroic citizen, Samuel J. Kirkwood, of whom it is but justice to say he was equaled by few, and excelled by none, who immediately took up the responsible work assigned him, and fully demonstrated his peculiar fitness thereto, and as we look back upon those days of anxiety, and scan his administration, realizing the exceeding grave responsibilities which rested upon him as the Governor

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of a sovereign State, in the most perilous times the Nation ever saw, and the strange and treasonable developments even then discernible in a large portion of the country, and remember the traitorous and bold utterances of very many of the theretofore prominent men of the Nation, and which were seemingly avowed by a correspondingly large proportion of the population, at least of one-half the States, we can not resist the belief that the same was true of the Chief Executive of the Nation, if ever man was destined by the Creator, to special and important duty, it was exemplified in the election of Kirkwood as Iowa's Governor, therein to become the strong right hand of the President, and together with the loyal sons of the Hawkeye State, give strongest support to the Nation's cause, and eventually prevent the destruction then imminent.

Scarcely had the noise of the rebellious guns been heard in the dastardly midnight attack upon Fort Sumter, when Kirkwood issued his famous proclamation-one of the first of the loyal utterances-calling upon Iowa's sons to rally in support of the national government, and immediately, as if by magic, the very flower of the State's manhood came forward, and in really wonderful number, and with one accord, made proffer their services and fortunes, and their very lives, if necessary, in defense of the national cause. In these herculean labors, which resulted to the eternal credit of the State, he was very ably assisted by that grand man, immigrant from the granite hills of New Hampshire-ex-Governor N. B. Baker, of glorious record-who, as the Adjutant-General of Iowa, performed really heroic service in the enlistment and equipment of the real army of Iowa troops, and that, too, with a promptness unequaled in any of the States. The fact was, the work was expedited through the confidence of the people in the ability and sterling integrity of the Governor, and in whom they were in no wise deceived. In his appointments to command them, personal favoritism cut no figure, but most careful scrutiny was manifest in their selection; and hence was secured the services of such heroes as Curtis, Crocker, Tuttle,

Reid, Elliott, Belknap, Chambers and a score of others, equally meritorious, and both to whose invincible courage and genuine manhood, were the Iowa soldiers largely indebted for the splendid record made, which has never brought blushes of shame to an Iowa cheek. Suffice to say, the Iowa column, amounting to 76,242 men, bravely maintained the credit of the State, and wrote its name in imperishable letters in the great World's Temple of Fame.

Although Kirkwood withdrew from official prominence in January, 1864, declining further position, the people would not permit his retirement, and afterwards in 1875, he was again elected to the Governorship, but only served for one year, having meantime been elected United States Senator to commence on March, 4, 1877, but in which capacity he served but for four years, resigning to accept the position of Secretary of the Interior of the United States. At the conclusion of that service he returned to his home in Iowa City, where he remained in enjoyed retirement until his departure for the spirit world, which occurred on September 1, 1894, at the ripe age of eighty-one years, much to the very sincere and general regret of every citizen of the State, and of him it may truly be said: "He lives in perpetual memory.”

Another of the early pioneers also made a name for himself and the State, which will endure in history, and creditably also, and of whom it is a pleasure here and now to speak, as he is the only one remaining of our ante-war prominent men. And yet I confess to not a little embarrassment, for the reason the gentleman has honored us with his presence on this occasion, thereby demonstrating his continued and strong interest in every and all things pertaining to the State of his adoption, now over fifty years' experience therein. He was the first person elected to the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in Iowa, it having been in the month of April, 1847, and less than four months after the admission of Iowa into the Union. Afterwards, on January 6, 1855, and again on January 17, 1857, he was elected United States

Senator from Iowa, being the third in line to be advanced to so prominent position from this State. He was continued in this office for nearly three full terms, or until March 4, 1873, except for a short time he served as Secretary of the Interior, and always to the credit of both State and Nation, and ever to his own honor as an upright and competent member of that distinguished body. This can be said of him, that he always remembered he was a citizen of Iowa, and was ever faithful in its real interests; and in the prominent position he held in the national councils, was able to accomplish much in behalf of her citizens, for which he will ever be held in most grateful remembrance. Nor will the Iowa soldiers, both in camp and hospital, ever forget his welcome presence, and kindly words, as he visited us during our sojourn in "Dixie." And so of all his life, ever faithful to his work, he has made a record for himself, enduring as brass or marble; and enwrapped in the very hearts of all his countrymen, he has no fear for his good name or record, which will be revived and perpetuated to latest generations. My hearers already divine to whom this reference is made, and I crown him with this chaplet, indicative of the real and strong affection of Iowa for James Harlan.

It was during the war period, 1861-65, the State reached the maximum of its strength and influence, both in the Federal councils and in home control; for with Kirkwood in the Executive Chair, and Grimes and Harlan in the National Senate, and James F. Wilson, Price, Allison, Grinnell, Kasson and A. W. Hubbard, in the House of Representatives, and Wright Lowe, Dillon and Baldwin as Judges of our Court of last resort, it made up an aggregate in ability and real worth, not excelled in any other of the States, nor since even in our own history, and supplemented by the valor and service of the devoted Iowa volunteers on the battle grounds of the South, combined to the proud record of the State, and which will continue to the permanent satisfaction of all the people.

Another of the early pioneers and of the territorial era, was