Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1858-08-19
Hon. William T.. Lefiinx " ell.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR COHGREss I.
THE SECOND DIsrlcT, IOWA.

The Democracy Of the Second Congress
ional District having put forth Is the stan.
dard bearer Of the Democratic party, VIM.
K. Leflingwell, brief sketch Of that gen.
tleman's lite will not be considered out Of
place. Although he is well and fa,orably
known to large portion Of the people Of
the District and throughout the State, yet
10 those who have not had that knowledge
of him, especially among his political
friends, it will be gratifying that man
who has raised himself from such humble
beginnings is presented by representatives
Of great party as the champion to fight
their battles and receive the honor OF a
seat in Congress.
MIR. Letfingwell was born in New Lon
don, Connecticut, in 1922, and is now SO
Year, OF age. In 1880 his parents removed
to Sag Hsrbor, on Long Island, where he
attended public school for four years.
With this preparation, he commenced the
conflict Of life by becoming clerk in q
store where be remained eighteen months.
Becoming dissatisfied with this situation,
he went to work with his father at the car.
| penter and joiner business, until 1888,
| when his parents left for the "Far West
Their first resting place was OF Cairo, H.
inois, where they, with the subject OF this
sketch remained till June, 1889, when they
left for Iowa Terrnory-then sparsely set.
tied region, but affordng wide field for
talent and enterprise. The pioneers Sc
lected Muscatine county as their place OF
abode. Here, between farming and wor-
king at the carpenter business be spe:t his
hours OF labor, while his leisure houIs
were devoted TO reading such books as his
scanty means could procure. A lyceum
which was established by the young men
of bis neighborhood, both afforded him an
opportunity Of improving his mind and OF
practiciug the art of speaking in public.
/ To this circumstance is he probably in.
deb,ed for the choice he made Of the pro
fession in law.
In 1874 he entered the Office of Hon. s.
c. Hastings as a student at law. His pre-.
ceptor was subsequently Chief Justice OF
Iowa, and more recently if we mistake not,
Attorney General of California. In the
following year, Mr.. Lefiingwell was admit
ted to the bar, and soon after, he removed
to Clinton county, where he commenced
the practice Of law, stranger among
strangers, and as may be supposed from
his condition of life, without means other
than such as he could acquire by his la.
bors and talents. These, however, did not
fail him. He took high position at the
bar, and from that time his career has been
upward and onward. Whether as plea.
der at the bar, wrestling with the ablest
advocates in the profession, as a Judge mp
on the bench, admin STEERING even handed
justice, or as u legislator, guarding the
rights and Prom5ting the interests of the
people OF Iowa. In all these different
spheres be acquired an envable reputation
Of which the Democratic party, and we
trust the people at large, will appreciate at
the next general election.
Mr.. Leiiingwell has filed successfully
and successfully the offices Of Prosecuting
Attorney OF Clinton Co., Representative
and Senator in the General Assembly from
the same county, Clerk of the House of
Representatives, and Judge of the District
Court, which latter Office he resigned for
the more lucrative practice which his tal>
ents had ACQUIRED tor him at the bar
Mr.. Lefingwell is no stray sheep in the
fold. He has been always a Democrat,
not only in name but in actions, never hes.
itating or shaping his course TO catch the
breeze Of favor, but steering his course by
the cardinal principles Of the party, re-
gardless OF personal considerations. Had
he done otherwise, he might have enjoyed
a species Of favor which mere politicians
too frequ emily coyet, but he has chosen the
nobler and the better part. and the masses
Of the people who never fail to respect an
honest man, should, now that an opportu-
nifty is afforded them, honor the man to
whom honor is due, by electing him AS
their representative in Congress.