Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-09

very Door, Mr.. BOleS determined 10
move farther west in the hope of finding
a climate better suited to her. The
place he selected was Waterloo, Ia,
whittier his wife's parents had already
preceded her. Here he at once resumed
the practice Of law, and as his fame had
gone ahead Of him he found a crafty
ing demand for his services. Further
more, he found in the virgin soil of the
western prairies an excellent Opportun-
ity TO invest his savings, which were
considerable. In anticipation of the
future development OF the agricultural
resources Of the State, he bought, first
and last, nearly 1000 acres of land,
most OF which he still owns.
HIS FIRST GREAT GRIEF.
But sorrow came 10 him here. The
wife he wOrshipped from the very
depths Of his strong nature gradually
faded out OF existence, leaving TO the
care of her husband their only child,
daughter. Ii was sad to have been
a great blow to this strong, successful
man, but he stood it with fortitude and
went on bravey with the battle OF
life.
Some years after however. he found
a single life too lonely and married
Miss Versalia Barber. popular young
lady of Wa erloo. His life with her
was very happy. Two sons and
daughter were born to her, and then
she too, passed away, leaving him
WidOwer once more.
During these years Mr.. Boies was
Nn1friR9l nrpSflOR
which he is to-day. Up 10 the year
1882 be was an ardent and consistent
Republican. In that year he renounced
his party and Joined the opposition,
because. as he said, he believed the
Democracy more truly represented his
position on the vital issues Of the time.
He believed in a tariff for revenue only,
and that is a cardinel priciple of the
Democra ic party. He was opposed TO
sumptuary legislation. and in that re-
Spect he was in accord with the Democ-
racy Of Iowa in its fight against pro-
hibitory statutes. Indeed, it was the
con est over prohibition that took him
from one party to the other, and that
issue has continued ever since TO veX
Iowa politicians. He voted for Grover
Cleveland in 1884, and he sealed the
pledge of his conversion by stumping
Iowa for the Democratic candidates
and urging tariff reform"
The new champion won him such re-
gard hat in 1889 he was asked TO per-
nit the use of his name for the Demo-
cratic nomination for Governor. Mr..
BOies had no political ambition. He
had refused a Republican nomination
for Congress when it was equivalent TO
an election. His petitioners urged
his prominence as an advocate of the
party principles and his duty to sacri-
flee persinal inclinations for the COM
mon good. They were able also to
I promise nomination without an I'M
, seemly struggle. The State had been
in the grasp OF the Republicans for
generation, and candid Democrats adj
mi.ted there was no alluring prospects
of an immediate victory for their party.
Under these conditions the lawyer
farmer was persuaded to accept the
leadership. and he astonished the coun-
try by carrying Iowa by plurality OF
6.523 in a vote of 10000 larger than
that of the preceding Gubernatorial
election
In 1891 he was renominated. and the
political fight that ensued was one OF
the hottest ever waged in Iowa. His
plurality was SPA.
When his second term expired, he
wanted to retire and declared he would
not again become candidate. but at
last he yielded to Jhe opportunities of
his friends and was defeated.
Since his retirement from office eX-
Governor Boies has lived quietly, di-
viding his time between Waterloo,
where he carries on his extensive law
practice. and his big farm of $500 acres
in Grundy county, so miles from Wa
terloO.
The personal appearance of the Iowa
stateman is hard TO describe-hard be-
cause Of its simplicity. Neither disease
nor dissipation nor undue exposure TO
the elements nor nocturnal overstudy
has marked mis- face with the Lines"
.hat newspaper delineators harp on.
There is one stock phrase. however, that
fits him like q glove. He is well pre-
served" He is 3 feet 10 inches high
and has a fine physique, in keeping With
these proportions. His well made frame
is strong and muscular, and his step
is elastic. The only signs Of age about
him aDpear in his hair, which is OF
frosted silver: in the wrinkles which
stand ike crows feet at the corners of
his expressive gray eyes and in the lines
Of strong resolution which you note
about his mouth.
He is fine looking man. His fore
,~,I five. Of infGllCN-
tual streng H. His nose is large and
straight. His eyes are blue and deep
set. The face is honest and stamped
with character.
HIS PERSONAL TRAITS.
He never uses tobacco in any form
and is a total abstainer. He chooses his
food with regard to its wholesomeness,
insists on regular hours of sleep, and he
takes long walks for fresh air and eXer-
else. As a result he is a sound, vigorous
man and hardly looks mis- years by a
decade or more. He is not partial to
dress suits He enjoys good story, but
is not an adept at telling one. He smiles
more often than he laughs. He doesn't
play cards, and probably cannot make
two consecutive counts at billiards. He
cares nothing for base ball, and football
is a mystery 10 him. He doesn't swear.
While he uses neither tobaccon nor alco-
hcIic liquors. he believes in allowing
others the largest liberty in determining
their personal habits, so long as they do
net interfere with other persons. He
likes TO ride a horse, but isn't much of
a sportsman.
Mr.. Boies is not an eloquent orator.
and We. at the bar he has long been rec
ognized as a power. 1t is perhaps his