The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-05-14
coNGER AND THE GovERNoRsH1P.

rendered me. And this IS all the statement he
thinks necessary. We believe the Minister would
like to be the governor of Iowa and would gladly
accept the nomination from the hands of the peo-
pie. The Rnggold Record saws:
s'The honor can and should be freely conferred
upon him and without question or a contest
While holding the distinguished and honorable
position of United States minister to China it
would be unseemly and undignihed to enter into a
general scramble for the office. 1t should not be
thought needfu in any case and much lessso in the
case OF such distinguished statesman There need
not be single doubt but that Mr.. Conger is Glad
to return to civilization and to remain as governor
OF Iowa, He passed through long and severe
nervous official strain in China That he is alive
is wonder. For many days he despaired of his
own life and the lives of his wife and friends They
escaped s'and yet so as by fire. His escape and
his presence in Iowa seems something like a mira
Gle. 1t has been most wonderful interpositon Of
Providence 1t would seem that he had been pre-
served and brought home for the self same purpose
that he might be made governor of the state. That
he is not a mental and physical wreck is a still
greater wonder. And considering the invaluable
services which he has rendered to his country and
the trials which he has endured in her service the
him. 1t is deserving and he would deem it the
greatest honor and qualification. The soldiers of
Iowa now have the chance to make one of their
number their governor. Will they embrace the
opportunity? In the minds of the masses also he
is model and the man for the place He has
also been man among and man of the PEG.
pie. He belongs to no faction and represents none.
He is tainted with no political heresy and no sus
and requirements. His past career as congress-
man, as President Harrison's minister to Brazil and
President McKinleys minister to China gives us
every assurance of his ability and fitness for the
most efficient state service. Let him be crowned
with the state laures"
MINISTER coNGER's HISTORY
Edwin H. Conger was born in Knox county. TN
in 1S43 and he is therefore about s. years of age
He attended the public schools at Galesburg and
afterwards entered Lombard university of that city.
graduating therefrom in 1862, He had intended
to Immediately enter law school, but volunteers
being needed just then he volunteered instead, en-
listing as private, and he did not resume his
studies until the war had closed At the time
President Lincoln issued his call for 60, 900 more
men, Conger working on farm in Knox coun-
on Sept. ?, 1861. By the time the regiment was
ready to be mustered into service COL VIM. Nc
Murty, its commander, recognized young Conger's
ability and military enthusiasm and had him com
missoned as first lieutenant of Company l. His
entire war record is of pride to his friends
year after his enlistment he was promoted to the
captalncy OF his company. Among the battles par
ticipated in by Conger were the battles of Resaca
Burnt Hickory, New Hope, Cassville, kenesaw
Mountain Peach Tree Creek and others of minor
Importance. He also participated in the siege of
Atlanta and was with Sherman on his march to the
sea. He was mustered out of service major by
brevet Jnne 70, 1865.
Returning home he took up his law studies and
graduated in 1866. The same year he was married
to Miss Sarah |. Pike, whom he had known since
childhood and who has shared his trials and tri-
umphs since, having been with him through
the siege of Pekin less than year ago. Two years
later they removed to Iowa. settling on farm near
Dexter. Conger broke the prairie land himself
and developed the farm. His first political lob
was that of supervisor of Madison county, to which
he elected the spring after his arrival. In
1873 his father, who conducted a bank at Dexter,
died, and Edwin moved in from the farm and sue
ceeded to the business. In addition he went into
the mercantile business and for three years the firm
of Downey & Conger general store. In 1878
he was elected county treasurer of Dallas county
against strong nti-monopoly green-back cand-
date. Two years later he was reelected. While
serving his second term he was nominated for state
treasurer in 1850 and elected and reelected in
1882. In 1884 he was elected to Congress from
the Seventh district and served three terms. Dur