Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-09-06
GOVERNOR HARDWOOD DEAD.

Saturday evening dispatches an.
nouncing the death of ex-governor
Kirkwood, at his home in Iowa City,
filled many an Iowa heart with grief.
Samuel j. Kirkwood was prominent
figure in state and national politics
since 1886, and his death removes an
other of thos men of 81 whose deeds
are high on their country S roll of fame.
The death Of Iowa's grand old war
governor, Samuel j. Kirkwood, occur
red at his late residence, on Kirkwood
avenue, this afternoon at lis. He was
afflicted with no acute ailment, but for
the past eight or ten months had been
slowly sinking. Up to ten days ago he
was able TO go up stairs to retire and
not until last Monday was he compelled
to take his bed never to rise again.
That evening he said to son of Hon.
Ezekiel Clark: II am an old man now:
my race is almost run"
AT his death bed were gathered the
members of his family and relatives
only. Tie was conscious almost to the
last, recognizing those about him, and
but short while before the end came
he spoke with her who had been his
faithful companion for half century.
While not exactly unconscious short
ly previous to his death, he did not OBJ
serve much that was going on about
him. He would not, however, allow
his glasses to be removed, for he said
III low tone that he was reading. He
breathed very loud and hard. He did
not move much in bed, and looked
quite thin and emaciated. He used
his thumb and fingers a great deal of
the time, as though he was turning
leaves and pages of books in reading
Wetting his thumb and forefnger from
his lips He did not seem to be in any
pain-only as to hard breathing.
He had known for a long time that
his life was drawing to close, and
calmly and contentedly at peace with
the world, for "none knew him but to
love him, none named but to praise"
he awaited the coming of the angel of
death.
The funeral services are appointed
for Tuesday Sept. 4, at Up. m.
Samuel Jordan Kirkwood was born
in Hartford county, Maryland, on De-
cember goth, 1913. His parents were
OF Scotch Irish descent, and settled in
this country previous to the war of the
Revolution. When ten years old he
went to Washington, d. g., to attend
school, where he remained four years.
He then entered a drug store as clerk,
continuing after his majority, except
ing eighteen months spent in teaching
school in York county, Pennsylvania.
In 1885 he left Washington, and moving
west, settled in Richland county, Ohio,
and assisted his father and brother in
clearing up a farm. In 1841 he began
the study of law in the office of Judge
Thomas w. BARLEY, in Mansfield, Ohio,
and in 1843 was admitted to the bar.
From 1915 to 1849 he served as prose
cutting attorney for his county. In
1850 he was member of the constitu-
tional convention of Ohio, which held
session of nine months, and framed
the present constitution of the Buck
eye state. In 1856 he removed to Iowa
and settled on farm near Iowa City.
Here he engaged in milling and farm
ing until the beginning of the war in
1861. In 1856 he was elected state SEN
ator and served through the last ses-
sion at Iowa City, and in the first in Des
Moines. In 1859 he was elected COVER
nor over the Democratic candidate
Hon. A. G. Dodge, by over 1900 major.
ity. In 1861 he was reelected COVER
nor by over $4,000. During his guber-
material term he was nominated bv
President Lincoln as minister to Den
mark, and was unanimously confirmed
by the senate, but declined to accept.
When his term as governor expired he
returned to his farm and in January.
1866, he was appointed United States
senator to succeed James Harlan, re-
signed. In 1875 he was elected COVER
nor, by a larger majority than ever, and
i'll 1876 hs was chosen Uuited States
senator. In 1881 he was appointed sec
rotary of the interior by President
Garfield, and resigned his seat in the
senate to accept. Soon after the death
of President Garfield, Governor Kirk
wood retired from the cabinet and
again returned to his farm in the sub
urbs of Iowa City. Coy. Kirkwood
was married in June, 1843, to Miss
Jane Clark, a native of Ohio, and a
sister to Hon. Ezekiel Clark, of Iowa
City. They have no children.