History of Keokuk, (Lee County) Iowa United States of America

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Biographies:

James B. Howell, senator, was born near Morristown, N.J., July 4, 1816; son of Elias Howell, who removed with his family to Newark, Ohio, in 1819, became state senator from Licking county and a representative in the 24th congress, 1835-37. James B.was graduated at Miami university, A.B., 1839, A.M., 1840; was admitted to the bar in 1840 and began practice in Newark, Ohio. Herald?moved to Kosaque, Iowa, in 1842, where he practised law and edited the Des Moines Valley Whig, 1842-49. He removed his paper to Keokuk in 1849, changing its name to the Daily Gale City, and giving up his law practice devoted himself to journalism and politics. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention of 1856, and canvassed Iowa for Fr?mont, and in 1860 for Lincoln. In 1869 he was elected to a seat in the U.S. senate to fill the unexpired term of James W. Grimes, who resigned his seat, Dec. 6, 1808, and he served to the end of the term, March 8, 1871. He was appointed by President Grant in 1871 one of three commissioners to examine and report on claims for stores and supplies taken or furnished for the use of the Federal army in the seceded states. The commission finished its work, March 10, 1880. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Iowa college in 1871. He died in Keokuk, Iowa, June 17, 1880.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

James Madison Love, jurist, was born at Fairfax Court House, Va., March 4, 1820; son of John T. and Mary (Vermillion) Love. His father died while he was a mere lad and his mother removed to Zanesville, Ohio, in 1832, where he attended the academy three years and then engaged in civil engineering with Samuel Ryan Curtis in charge of government works on the Muskingum river, 1837-39. He studied law with his older brother, Thomas R. Love, at Fairfax, Va., one year, and after completing his course with Judge Stillwell at Zanesville he began practice. He raised a company for service in the war with Mexico, and served as its captain, 1846-47. He removed to Keokuk, Iowa, in 1850, and served in the state senate as chairman of the judiciary committee, 1852-54. He was appointed judge of the U.S. district court of Iowa by President Pierce, and served, 1855-91. In his thirty-five years on the bench but two of his decisions were reversed by the U.S. supreme court. He was married, first to M. P. Thomasson, of Louisville, Ky., and secondly in January, 1864, to Mary Milburn, of St. Louis, Mo., who survived him. He was professor of commercial law and the law of persons and personal rights in the State University of Iowa, 1878-91, and was chancellor of the law department for three years. He contributed to the magazines, and his lectures, A Review from a Lawyer's Standpoint of the Case of Shylock against Antonio and Portia as a Lawyer, were published in the American Law Review. He died in Keokuk, Iowa, July 2, 1891.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Samuel Mercer Clark, representative, was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, Oct. 11, 1842; son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Reynolds) Clarke; grandson of George Henry and Jane (Mercer) Clarke of Clarke county, Virginia, and of John and Mary (Wolf) Reynolds of Hagerstown, Maryland. His paternal grandfather was a private soldier in the Revolutionary war and was in the siege of Yorktown. His maternal grandfather was major of a Maryland regiment in the war of 1812. His maternal great-grandfather, John Reynolds of York, Pa., was a captain in the Revolutionary army. He attended Des Moines Valley college for one year and enlisted in the 19th Iowa Infantry, but was not mustered in on account of ill health. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1864, and in 1864 became editor of the Keokuk Gate City. He was a delegate to the Republican National conventions of 1872, 1876 and 1880 and a representative in the 54th and 55th congresses from the first Iowa district, 1895-99. He died in Keokuk, Iowa, Aug. 11, 1900.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor