Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17
Venerable Iowa Senator Dies
Saturday in Wash
ington.
HIS DEATH WAS SUDDEN.
John HI. Gear Had Been Highly Haon-
ored by Fellow Citizens = Was a
Pioneer of the State and Twice Its


of Iowa, died at his apartments in the
Portland at 4:2S o'clock this morning
of heart failure. He was in his usual
health up to 2:30 o'clock when he was
attacked. Doctors were Immediately
summoned but could do nothing for
him. Senator Gear was Is years old.
John Henry Gear was born in Itha-
ca, New York, April Z, 1925; received
. a common school education; removed
ITO Galena, ILL.,, in 1886; to Ft., Smelling
Iowa territory, in 1888, and to Bur-
lington in 1913. where he engaged in
merchandising. He was elected may
or of the city of Burlington in 1868,
and was a member of the Iowa house
of representatives of the fourteenth,
fifteenth and sixteenth general as
semblies, serving as speaker for
the last two terms. Senator
Gear was elected governor of
{ Iowa in 1878, 1879 and again in 1881
He was elected to the fiftieth and fiji
ty-first congresses and was beaten for
the fifty-second. He was assistant
secretary of the treasury under Pres
ident Harrison and was elected to the
fifty-third congress. He was elected
January %, 1894, a senator from Iowa
for six years beginning March 4, 1895.
At the last session of the legislature
he was unanimously reelected for an
other term of six years beginning
March a. 1901.
In all these positions Senator Gear
acquitted himself with credit to him
self and honor to his constituency. AS
speaker OF the state house of repre-
sentatives he was watchful and vigi-
liant, and any attempted vicious legis-
lation had little chance of success. AS
governor he was always an the alert
in looking after all the affairs of the
state, and SO faithful and efficient was
his administration that he won the
suubriquet of "Old Business" unique
title, but one full of honor and which
he fairly won by actual and meritori-
GUS service.
AS a senator Governor Gear ranked
among the most influential members
of that august body. In the fifty-fourth
congress he was chairman of the COM
mittee on Pacific railroads and mem
her of the committee on agriculture
and forestry, improvement of the Mis-
sissippi river and its tributaries, inter-
state commerce, and public buildings
and grounds. and he held the same po-
sition on the committees In the fifty
fifth congress, with the addition of
member of the committee on educa-
ton and labor.
While Senator Gear had been in ill
health for year or more, his death
was entirely unexpected. He was in
excellent spirits last night, and made
an engagement with some political
friends for today, retiring about IL
o'clock in his usual good health.
summoned his confidential secretary,
Colonel Root. and informed him that
he was troubled with congestion of
the chest. Simple remedies were ap-
piled by Mrs. Gear and Root and they
seemed to relieve the senator's suf-
fering for time. Shortly afterwards
his condition became critical and the
{ family physician was summoned
About A o'clock the senator seemed
easier but within fifteen minutes he
was dead.
The remains of the senator will be
taken to Burlington on special car
tomorrow afternoon. President Pro
Tenn Frye and Speaker Henderson
will both designate committees to at
tend the funeral. Secretary of Agri-
culture Wilson will accompany Mrs.
n Gear west. The funeral services will
be held in Burlington some time on
Wednesday.
: DEATH is A SURPRISE.