The sun., 1903-06-21
THE "KEOsAUQUA COLONY"
A Little Iowa Towns Big Record or Sons
VINO Have Become Conspicuous.


Sioux CITY, Ia, June 20.-The retirement
OF Judge H. c. Caldwell from the bench of
the United States Circuit Court marks
the withdrawal from public life Of one of
the last OF the "Keosauqua Colony" famous
at least in the West.
The little wayback town OF Keosauqua
Ia, which had at its last census scarcely
1 300 people, has furnished to the United
States two United States District Judges
one United States Circuit Judge, one United
States Supreme Court Justice, three United
States Senators, two members OF Congress
one nominee for Governor, three Million
aires, two Of them having colossal fortunes
one Attorney-General of Iowa, one Secre-
tary OF State for Iowa, and one member
OF the Presidential Cabinet.
Among these men are Senator W. A.
Clark OF Montana, the late A. G. Davis
Of Montana, Judge Caldwell, United States
Senator George c. Wright, United States
Senator j. B. Howell. Judge George W.
McCrary, Secretary Of War under Hayes.
and John F. Dillon, the New York lawyer.
counsel for Gould interests.
There is no other town in Iowa. what
ever its size. that has produced half as
many prominent men as Keosauqua and
it is certain that no town 80 small any
where in the United States can approach
Keosauqua's record.
How did it happen?" repeated C, l..
Wright OF this city, son a Senator Wright.
Il don't know and have never found
any one who could explain it. One of the
came from all parts Of the East. They
lon
1t is certain that Keosauqua possessed
no special attractions. The men who be-
came famous trudged overland to it or
rode horseback that they might find the
place. Later the line of travel passed up
and down the Des Moines River. and as
Keosauqua was but short distance above
Keokuk it was natural that settlers should
make their way there.
George Wright at an early day left his
Indiana brother Joseph, who later became
Governor of Indiana and Minister to Ber-
lin under Lincoln, and went to ST. Louis,
At st. Louis he bought horse and rode
up the Mississippi till he came to the Dies
Moines, when ne turned to the northwest
and followed its shores.
He came to a settlement OF a hundred
struggling houses, clinging to high bank
and skirted by graceful bend Of the river.
II was a likely spot and he stayed there. >
Here he found Joseph G. Knapp, just be.
ginning as lawyer, and they concluded
well came to Iowa when about IS. He went
to Keosauqua with his parents. He had
! ambitions to be q lawyer and Wright Il
Knapp gave. him the chance.
Caldwell became Ma jor of the Fourth
Iowa Cavalry. and when he came back
Ark. There he was appointed United
| States District Judge and was promoted
later to the Circuit bench. In the mean
| time. Wright had been elected to the State
when he was sent to the United States
| Senate for two terms, declining reelection,
| Knapp was twice nominated for Governor
and once for Supreme Court Judge. but
| majoritiee were against him, and he prac-
tised in Keosauqua till his death. twelve
| years ago.
In the meantime. a red-headed boy was
| playing in the streets Of Bent tonsport, n
tiny town a few miles below keosauqua.
Occasionally his father would take him to
Keosaua,ia to see the sights. That lad
was William A. Clark, now of Montana.
A. G. Davis. the Montana millionaire,
| whose name became famous by the contest
| over his estate, was a Keosauauan in early
| days, as was Edwin Manning. who became
| a millionaire and the richest man in Iowa
buying land
A boy who was born and grew to early
! manhood without attracting especial at
| tention in Keosauqua was George W.
| McCrary. He later became Congressman
United States District Judge. and, finally,
Secretary Of War under Hayes. He was
associated in the practice Of Law with Judge
| Samuel +. Miller Of keokuk. who transacted
so much business and lad such intimate
relations in Keosauqua that the town looks
upon him as one Of its sons, Justice Miller
| died while on the United States Supreme
Court bench.