The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-07-24
Elijah Sells.

| Inc hcpuDilCaIl chuuiuiIc LOT tHc once OF
Secretary of State, is native of Ohio. He
emigrated in 1888 to Winchester, Morgan
Co., now in Scott Co., Illinois. In 1871
he removed to Davenport, Iowa, where he
engaged in the manufacture of stoneware,
from which place he removed to Fairport,
Muscatinc Co., where he followed the same
occupation, and thence in 1853 to Muscatine.
| He was member of the first Constitu-
! tional Convention, in 1914, and then advo-
Gated the adoption Of banking system,
similar to the one now adopted. Enfortu-
natelv, his counsels were rejected. and the
State was left exposed to the inroads of that
worthless wild currency which has since
cursed it.
lie was member Of the first State I.osis-
laturc, and was chairman CT several of the
most important committees. He was ulsu Il
! member of the extra session of the General
Assembly of 1877, and in that body advoca-
ted the diversion of the land donated to the
Territory Of Iowa ard known as the 'Dcs
Moines River Grant, to the construction of
Railroad up the Des Mones valley.
Mr.. Sells was again member Of the Leg
slature in 1852, and was there presented = =
his party as speaker. During that session
he advocated most ably and efficiently the
passage of the memorials asking grants of
lands for the construction Of the four great
railroads Of Iowa, running from the Nissis-
sippi to the Missouri.
To his services, with those of other dis
tinguished men, Iowa owes, in a great meas
ure, the increased emigration and travel
which has flowed into it during the last six
years. In 1854 the nomination for Senator
was protiercd to him and declined, as was
also the nomination for Secretary of State.
In 1886 the first Republican Convention of
Iowa also offered him the nomination for
Secretary of State. Believing that in the
principles of that party lay the only safety
of the country against the extravaganza, the
corruption and utter prohigacy of the dom
inant party, he fearlessly cast i'll his for
tunes with those of the growing party, tho
inevitable defeat seemed all that could be
expected for its nominees, in view of the
long reign of the Democratic party, its hold
upon public Offices, and it's possession of the
whole Federal power. But contrary to hui
man probability, the banners of the young
Republican party were victorious, and Mr..
Sells was elevated by the voice of the people
to the post which he now holds.
Not even the blistered tongue of malice
andparty rancor can whisper word against
tue private or pune character or Mr. Sells.
So impartially and faithfully has he dis
charged the arduous duties of his Office that
the same universal popularity which sur
rounded him in his own county in former
days, now extends to the whole State. He
was the enthusiastic choice of four ffths of
the Republican, of the State for re- election
to the office Of Secretary, and doubtless will
be elected by an overwhelming majority.
Eli ah Sells is self made man, a me-
chanic, and a practical man in everything.
1t is his lot to belong to that class of men,
SO large in numbers here in the north, whom
the arstocratic Democratic Senator's have
reproached and stigmatized as laborers and
mud-sills. He is emphatically man of the
people, and as such, sympathises with all the
interests and wants of the people.-Musca-
tine Journal.