The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-08-15

From the Aansheld (O.) Herald
Hen. samuel J. Ktrkwood.
IL it true that Kirkwood Was q good Ne
braska Democrat in Ohio ?-lDes Moines
Journal.
We don't care copper whether Sam Kirk,
wood smells rank and strong OF sweat sno
| dirt, 30 long as he remains at home among
his hops--or in Iowa City among his assocl-
| ate money shavers State Dem.
| The time has gone by when the contempt
| Bile trick OF wearing coat out ct the elbows
can produce the least effect upon the votes
| OF this State.-lIbid.
We trust Kirkwood will canvass the State;
he will do us good wherever ignorance, vul-'
garty and dirt are hated.-[Ibid.
By the foregoing extracts, our readers can
form some idea Of the means relied upon BY
the immaculate Democracy Of the State OF
Iowa to secure the defeat Of the Hon. Sam
uel Kirkwood, the Republican candidate for
Governor.
To the old friends and former fellow-citi-
xens of Kirkwood in this county, who have
known him for twenty years or more, the
dedly entertaining.
The Iowa Democracy appear to be in a
very disconsolate state Of mind in regard to
Git seems to be undetermined which, a. yet
and az thew seem to be anxioust to know some
thing Of his Ohio anteoedents, it may not be
amiss to enlighten them. We therefore
append the following biographical sketch:
Samuel j. Kirkwood came to the county Of
Richland about the year 1888. During the
first two or three years he resided with his
brother in Hanover township, (now in Ash
land county, working on the farm in the
summer, and teaching school in the winter
| In l84l he came toMansfeld and commenced
the study of the law. In the spring OF l843
he was admitted to the bar, and shortly at
forwards entered into partnership with the
Hon. 7. w. BARLEY. In l845 he was elected
to the office of Prosecuting Attorney, the du-
ties Of which he discharged with distinguished
| ability for four years. In 1910 he was elect
ed, by an immense majority, a delegate to
the Constitutional Convention. Among the
members Of that body, comprising as it did
many of the best minds in Ohio, no one 90.
cupied more eminent or influential position.
Attentive, logical, ready in debate, compre-
hensive and statesmaniike in all his views,
be was at once recognized as one OF the mas
ter spirits of the Convention; and during all
its deliberations he did as much as any other
man to mould and control its action.
As a lawyer, Mr.. Kirkwood stood among
the first in Ohio. The Mansfield Bar during
the timesSf his most active practice, mum
bered such men as the Hon. James Stewart,
Hon. Jacob Parker, Hon. JACOB Brinkerhoff,
(now Of the Supreme Court,) Hon. T. w.
BARLEY, (recently Chief Justice Hon. John
Sherman, and Gov. I. II. Ford, mono of whom
would be willing to accord to Mr.. Kirkwood
any secondary position. His mind, in fact,
was eminently legal one, and bis statement
of case was equal to an ordinary mans ar
gument. With the Jury he had unbounded
infueDce--they believed in what he said. In
fact, he was generally known throughout the
county by the sppellation Of "HoNEsT SAN"
Among his associates at the Bar, no one
was more universally popular. Courteous
to his opponents, fair in argument, genial
and kindly in his social relations, the soul
Of honor in all his dealings, he was beloved
by every one, and upon leaving received
higher testimonials OF regard than has been
extended to any other lawyer who has gone
from among US. Said gentleman to US,
who has been pitted against MIR. Kirkwood in
hundred forensic oouficts: she Uas the
most honorable man erer kneu. His Uord
was az good as any mans bond and In all
my intercourse Nth him in private and in
public, / nepev knep him to vdry a hair
from a promise he had made, or from the
spirit in sohich it ,cas giUen."