Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-12

the pioneers of Iowa. The governors IA
ther, William LIE yelling. was a minister of
the Society Of Friends In a settlement near
Salem. but when the son was but one year
old the father died. and, his mother marry
ing again, the lad came under the control
OF a stepfather.
When he was but nine years old his
mother burned to death. and the boy was
turned adrift upon the world. Then. until
he was sixtenn. he worked for the neigh
boring farmers. and attended the district
school during the winters. In the deba ting
society and in the literary exercises con-
nected with this country school he developed
a remarkable oratorical talent which fore
told his subsequent brilliant success as a
platform speaker.
Abandoning farm work at the age of six
teen, he went TO Burlington and took en-
ployment as a common laborer on the Bur-
lington and Missouri railroad. From this
ne went to ST. Louis, where he became one
or company OF men organized to drive
cattle for the quartermaster's department of
the Union army In Tennessee. He soon
tired Of this life and Joined a bridge build
ing corps at Chattanooga. At the close of
the war he secured a discharge. and anx-
ious for a better education than the district
schools OF Iowa had afforded him. he went
first to Knox College at Galesbury Ill and
afterward to Eastman's Business College N
Poughkeepsie. n. Y, where he spent what
little money he had saved
When his money was gone he worked
during vacations on the farms in the vicin-
ity. Then for time he drove a team on the
Erie canal and worked as a carpenter in
Toledo. Times were hard with him In the
summer or 1855. aid he resolved to work
his way back to Iowa. Too proud TO ask
aid of any one he found himself penniless
when he landed in Chicago. There he Sc
cured employment as a section hand. and
saved money enough to take him to his ola
home. He was then for a time employed in
bridge building on the Burlington and Mis-
souri, railroad near Ottumwa. Rut hts ca rly
ambition for an education coming back to
him. he, at the end of the year entered
Whittier College. a Quaker institution at
Salem. having earned enough money during
the summer to carry him through the wear
he was hard student and mastered every
study. and during his last two years at the
college he taught classes in the prepare tory
department, thereby supporting himself ana
graduating free from debt. Thus II was
that he reached manhood an educate., man
but after severe struggle with life from
his very infancy
HIS first employment after leaving the
Quaker COLLEGE was as tearher at the state
reform school for BOYS. He was soon pro-
NOTED to be assistant superintendent but
In April. 1870 he resigned the positioo 10
marry Miss Augre Cook. a teacher I'm the
Red Oak schools He then for a while en-
ploved himself at farming: then editorial
ambition seized him, and he started the
salem Register. a weekly republican four
nal In his ma tive town
was opened In 1872 he and his wife were
placed In charee. and for fifteen years ne
remained In this position. with the excep-
ton OF two years. when he was editing a
newspaper at Des Moines. During all these
years he was closely connected with the
educational and charitable institutions of
the state.
He took an active interest in political ar
fairs. and the cause Of the people appealed
to him strongly. In his view. the republican
party OF Iowa was dominated by corpora
ton interests and he championed the cause
OF the anti-ring and anti-railroad element
In 1854 he was defeated Cor the republican
nomination for secretary Of state In ISIS;
he removed to Wichita end engaged I'm the
commission business and In 1892 he received
the populist and democratic nomination for
governor and was elected by : 49, majority