Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-07-14
is '.old business, il qualities than to ans

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other traitsof character.
Senator .Aear way New York born. He
belonged to, the generation OF young
men who abandoned farm life and small I
commercial pursuits In the early years
of the nineteenth century and came
west to find rodm for their ambitions
and energysin which to work. Born in |
ithaca, he was 18swhen he made his
way to Burlington, this state, taking all
the chances of travel OF that time and |
facing poverty for the reward which
labor might bring In years to come. He
was merchant in Burlington when
Chicago was struggling village, before
the Union Pacific was constructed,
when st. Louis was the commercial
mart OF the west, when the Missouri
was to be the great navigable stream Of
the middle country, when there was not
an operated railroad west OF Ohio not
mile Of telegraph line, nor any means |
OF transportation but steamboat, stages
or ones feet.
Burlington was a town of considera-
bile Importance at that time, having a
wide trade and a class of merchants
noted for their progressive ideas. Sem
ator Gear, beginning with small capital,
increased HIS field of operations until he
was one OF the best known merchants
In the state. He wasH shrewd in driving
a bargain, paid great attention to de-
tails, worked incessantly, paid his bills
promptly and laid the foundation for
4 the honorable nick which he now
bears. He did not show angaptitude then
for political life. nor did he make any
effort to enter 1t. He was a republican
as soon as the new party was organized
and uncompromising in his attitude on
the questions raised during the civil
war, but until 1863 he did not solicit the
votes of the people, and then only to be-.
lccme the mayor OF Burlington, posi-
tion which he filed with credit.
Il When his term expired he retired
4 again to private life, from which he did
mot emerge until 1872 when party exig-
Y encies demanded his election to the leg-
islature, and he was sent 10 the house.
a He displayed there the same love for
|close attention to business AFFAIRS that
he had in his private life. He was cau-
tious, slow to accept innovations until
Il common sense was behind them. and
\ eager to know how and why public
!. money was expended. Men came to
know that his advice was given only
4 after long thought and that 1t was val-
liable.
In 1874 he was elected speaker Of the
house, and again in 1876 the game Office
was given him. His first term as speak
ss er came at the end OF the famous dead
. lock in the grange legislature Of 1874
From the legislature he passed to the
governors chair. where he served foul
} years and did much to strengthen the
) power of his party in the state. He wal
not given to making long enmities. ant
Y he had the zknack of conserving populal
interests at the right time. Retiring
from the governors chair, he became {
: private citizen again until 1886. when h
!. Twas elected to congress and re-electct
q lin 1888, practically without Opposition
Il The landslide against the republtcai
party in 1880 defeated him for re-elec
ton to congress with four other con
gressmen OF the state. but he served a
assistant secretary of the treasury 70
g some time. In 1892 his party again re
: turned him to congress, and in Januar,
eel 1884. he was elected to the United State
is senate as the junior senator from lowe
4 His term would end March 8, 1901. H
was conspicuous in congress for hi
:. work on the committee on ways an
means, where he had charge of the sug
y ar schedule. He was chairman of tn
It senate committee on Pacific railway.
lr5 and 1t was thru his efforts that tn
IS government was successful in realizin
It Sill. 100000 from them instead Of tn
10 $50, 100000 offered.
- He was always doing something fc
!. Iowa. His energy, skill and perslstene
= have often accomplished things 3
s. Washington that other men failed
or bring about. He bore the reputation &
= the capitalsof securing more for his PEI
10 tpte than any other senator now in ofiic