The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-07-11
JOHN II NEEDHAM
Founder, and owner of the Herald
For Fifteen years

Founder, and owner of the Herald
For Fifteen years
When he established the HERALD fifty
years ago it can hardly be said of John R.
Needham that he "builded better than he
knew" He had an abiding faith in the
growth and development of 0skaloosa
and Mahaska county, and for nearly TWEEN
ty years lived to see it keep pace with the
advancement of the community. He was
always an optimist and was one Of those
who believed in securing the realization
of his hopes by working for them. The
HERALD of today is glad also that in adj
dition to having an able man for it's fouu-
der, it had good man, one who mapped
ont policy that has brought prosperity
to the paper and has won the highest es-
TEEN of its readers. As an early chroni-
cler of the county has said:
This gentleman was representative
Mahaska citizen. Not brilliant and scin-
tillating, seldom or never surprising his
friends by any pyrotechnic display. he
was one of those men who, like the silent
forces of nature, did his life work without
the sound of trumpets, holding ever the
calm and even tenor of his wey. continu-
ally bringing to mind the truthful saying
"still water runs Deep" Mr.. Needham
lived life among the early generation of
Mahaska county such as only true men
can live, that of an mistaken friend, an
Incorporating enemy of evil, an enter
prising citizen and Christian gentle
man"
BE was born in Gurnsey county, Ohio,
December IS, 1924. He entered public
service quite young. His father being
sheriff of the county while he was yet a
minor, his son John was appointed dep
uty. While serving in this capacity he
entered a law office as student in Cam
bridge, Ohio, where he was admitted to
practice. Emigrating to Mahas ka coun-
ty in 1849 he located in 0skaloosa and
soon afterwards taught three months
term of school in the old Cumberland
church building. He then commenced
the practice of his profession, but early
manifested desire to establish newspa-
per in oskaloosa. Accordingly in July,
1880, after much agitation and untiring
solicitation he issued the first number OF
the HERAED, the first newspaper publish
ed in this sectier and one af the very
first in the then territory of Iowa.
Mr.. Needham was an original Wing and
was the first Wing senator ever elected
from Mahaska county. His election CO.
Cured in 1852. In October, 1861, he was
elected Lieutenant Governor of Iowa and
took his seat in January, 1862, discharg-
ing the duties of his Office with credit TO
himself and honor to the state.
/ He was elected senator second time in
October, 1867, which Office he held until
his death. He was universally respected
and lamented by his fellow senators and
the eulogles pronounced upon the occas-
ion of his death are testimonials which
few men earn. We will allow one of his
fellow Legislators and business associates
who knew him well to speak through
these columns Of his virtue of mind and
heart. Senator Charles Beardsley, then OF
Burlington, said;
sit was my fortune-my good fortune
Ito be associated in business for six or
seven years with Senator Needham and ]
can sincerely and heartily endorse all that
has been said in his praise today. l sum-
mered and wintered with HIM, met him
daily, and knew him as thoroughly pes.
haps as il is permitted for one man to
know another, and think it may be
said of him, as truthfully as of any other
man i ever knew. that he was without
guile. He was honest, trustworthy and
true under all circumss&le y Mr.. Need
ham possessed talepts ssgA apq hirements
in such degree th&l hight have rea-
sonably aspired to, p1Ikb within the