The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1876-03-16
GEN. HELKNAP'S PERSONAL
HISTORY.
Ii is Told by kcOkuk Paper.
From the Keokuk Gate City.


A little over twenty years ago w.
w. Belknap came to keokuk as
young attorney. He was Democrat
in politics. He became somewhat
active as local politician and, in
1858 we believe, was elected by the
Democracy to the Lower House of
the State Legislature. About the
time he came Keokuk was in fer
ment Of speculation. 1t was a sea of
great expectations, gilt-edged proper
erty was selling at fabulous prices.
Mr.. Belknap caught the speculative
spirit, and operated to a considerable
extent in real estate. Then came the
crash Of 1913, and Belknap, like
most keokukians, found him
self in great financial difficulty. Now
followed transaction which put him
under unfavorablc opinion for time.
Letters from Eastern correspondents
and clients came to his partner that
money which his firm had long before
acknowledged the receipt Of had not
been applied as directed. Inquiry
disclosed that Mr.. Belknap had re
ceived the money, acknowledged the
receipt of it for the firm, and in his
financial extremity had used it him
self. His partner was poor man,
but he raised the money and paid off
the debt. The sum SO paid, Gen b.
paid back with principal and interest
as soon as he could raise the money,
and to this use he applied the salary
of his military service. When the
war broke out Mr.. Belknap went into
local company to which he belong
ed and came back at the end of the
war a Major General; and with re.
cord as soldier honorable to himself.
the State and the country. He had
scarcely determined what to do as to
his business future, when Andrew
johnson began his raid upon the Re-
publicans, and Dr. J. G. Walker, Rev
enue Collector for this district, was
to go out by decapitation. At the
instance Of both Democratic and Re-
pulican friends Gen. b., who was a
War Democrat, and then an inde-
pendent politically, divided his vote
between both parties, applied for the
place and got it. The agencies that
compassed this result were both Re-
publican and Democratic. When Mr..
McCrary succeeded to Congress, Gen.
Belknap was an Independent, was re-
appointed by President Grant, and
this appointment was generally salts
factory to all parties. Throughout
his administration of the Collector
ship, rumors were rife in some quar-
ters of Whisky Ring, and Tobacco
Ring, and those rumors continue. As
to the foundation of them we know
nothing, and have heard no specific
instance of alleged corruption at any
time given. While he was filling the
office, Gen. B. was suddenly, to the
surprise of himself and everybody,
made Secretary of War. The choice
was made by the President from the
standpoint of that peculiar policy
which has controlled him in many oI
his appointments. Had he asked any
part Of Iowa Republicans or Iowa
| Democrats whom he should choose
as Republican cabinet minister from
Iowa none Of either party would have
thought Of suggesting Gen. Belknap
No political questions were asked o
answered as the conditions of hi
going into cabinet where he nov
falls into a national disgrace whicl
the Republican party has to share
He was probably chosen into the cab