Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-07-30
E. s. Sampson.

aHio pupci, HS, !" HoSc Hailc 10 Nv tie
head hereof, is the Republican NOM
inee for Congress in this district. He
is now II years Of age. He has been
resident Of this county since 1913,
when his father came here with his
family from Illinois and settled on
what afterward became a farm in
Washington township. His boy
hood was passed on the farm, receiv-
ing such advantages as the winter
schools of that early day afforded;
unsatistied with which, on arriving
at manhood he obtained for himself
a fair education at Mt. Pleasant, in
this State, and at Galesburg, Ill.
Having been admitted to the bar in
1856 he settled in Sigourney where
he practiced with remarkable sue
cess until 1861, when he entered the
army as Captain in the 9TH regiment
of Iowa Infantry. In this capacity
his peculiar characteristic as stu
dent at once evinced itself. In lieu
Of working for promotion he set
about qualifying himself for his new
position. But "the Office sought the
man" and he was commissioned 1t.
Colonel Of the regiment before he euer
thought of having his name presented
for the place. In this capacity he
served until October, 1861, when he
resumed the practice of the law at
this place. In 1865 he was nomina-
ted lcithoW opposition and elected to
the Senate, served one term, and in
1866 was elected Judge of the District
Court, and reelected agithout OppoSi
ton in 1870. Although he has been
found competent for every position
| in which he has ever been placed,
yet his laurels have principally been
won in the Judgeship. From the
time he first took his seat, he has not
had Il superior on the District bench
Of the State and now there is no
Judge, either, District or Circuit,
who approaches him in ability or
popularity. He is emphatically u
student. During the last eight years
! there has probably not been Il law
student in the District who has stu
died as many hours per day as the
Judge. With splendid legal mind,
with untiring industry, and rs i'm,
partial as the law Itself, he has built
up for hinselfa reputation in this Dis
trict which will never be surpassed
Whoever may be his successor vii!
find it difficult to fill the mantle
I Had he desired a second reelection
we believe he would have had nC
pposition-certainly none for the
nomination. But he soon let it be
known that he preferred to return to
the practice and remain within his
family. He was impOrtuned to ell
ter the list for the nomination as Il
candidate for Congress, but refused,
NOT desiring the Office and having a
supreme adherence Of seeking the
place. In the convention, the dele
gates from his own cOunty-every
one of whom preferred him above
all Othcrs-voted for another at his
his solicitation until the nomination
was literally thrust upon him. He
does not feel ut liberty to decline.
We now present him as a candi'
date, knowing full well that his elec-
ton i5 sure, and having an abiding
faith that he will be equal to the
place. In every position where he
has heretofore been tried, Lawyer,
Soldier, Legislator and Judge, we
defy tho world to point to "A single
instance in which l.. S. Sampson has
been Intentionally derelict. II is
enlinentiy fit that We should have
such q man in Congress. .-Sigoarney
NemS.