The Goodland republic., 1907-04-05
He FOUGHT FOR FREE HOMES
FATHER OF HOMESTEAD ACT
PASSES AWAY.
Galusha a Grow, Great Legislator
and Congressman, Fought for
Rights Of the People

Binghamton, N Y, March 31.-FOr-
mer Congressman Galusha A Grow
died at his home in GIenwOOd, Pa,
this afternoon as a result Of general
breakdown attributed TO old age.
Mr Grow was born in EastfOrds
Conn, In 1923, and entered early on
his heritage Of poverty, for his father
died when GaIusha was three years
old, leaving his widow with six chill
dren.
His education was received at the
winter session Of the district school
and after a course at the Franklin in
stitute he entered Amherst, from
which he graduated in 1914. In 1S47
he was admitted to the bar, but his
health demanding outdoor exercise,
he spent some time in working on
farm, surveying and peeling hemlOck
bark in the woods. Three years later
he unexpectedly found himself a can
didate for congress, which at the age
of p he entered in December, 1851
He soon began to make himself
felt, and was reelected six times, once
carrying the unanimous vote Of his
district He entered congress at a cr1-
teal time in the nations history He
vas a free-soiI democrat, and during
the LEyluS nOuIS hfAACA- AAO AC--6-A~ ~
terly with others against the repeal OF
the Kansas-Nebraska bill he showed
his mettIe. When their efforts failed.
he left the democrats and cast his vote
with the newly formed republican par
ty.
In July, 1861, he was elected speak
er Of the house, and on his retirement
in 1854 received the unusual honor OF
a unanimous vote Of thanks. HIS
great work was against slav'-y, and
for the free disc-Ih .t'ul Of govern
mens lands
He was the father Of the home
stead biIT''-One OF the greatest fac
tors in the upbuiIding Of the west
Land for the IandIess'' was the cry
that summed up his energies, his elO-
ouence and his entire ambition His
first public speech was on the land
question. and for five successive ses-
sions he introduced the bill that at
last, to his joy, ne himself signed as
speaker.
He showed wOndrOus persistence,
fertility Of resource and mastery OF
parliamentary tactics, and in 1869 Ie-
tired from politics 70 private life, ana
became interested in railways
Thirty-One years later he returned
to congress with a tremendous ma
IOLlLEs LNO EcLA1 AeAN~A 60 -
with the largest plurality ever given
To a candidate for any Office in any
state in the union
When he retired four years ago his
public service in the house extended
over the longest period, although not
continuous service, Of any man who
ever sat in that body
During the ante-bellum days he was
one of the best known men in tie
United States and in 1854 he came
within one vote Of being nominated
for vice president in place Of Andrew
Johnson, who became president on the
death Of Abraham Lincoln
The First Homestead
The first homestead taken under the
Grow act was in Nebraska, and the
man who received it is still living on
the land. The old settlers name is
Daniel Freeman.
Congressman Grows maiden speech
in the house, delivered in 1852, was
on Mans Right to the Soil" and for
ten years at the beginning of every
congress he introduced his bill to Sc
cure free homes to the pioneers who
had settled in the west. A homestead
bill was finally passed by the Thirty
sixth congress, but President Buchan-
an vetoed it, thus clearing the way foT
the complete measure WITH Wnlcn MI
Grows name was identified His per
sistence. eIOluence and logic finally
won the day.
In December, 1852, DAME; Free
man, a young soldier, who had beer
detailed on secret service, was il
Brownsville, Neb. the seat of a gov-
ernment land Office. Many pTUsucc-
tive settlers were awaiting for the
first Of the new yss-r, when the EC me
stead law was 10 90 into effect, and
this turned Freeman attention to thc
pan,
In the course Of his travels he had
been attracted to land in what is nov
Gage county, Nebraska, and here h'
staked his claim and waited for th'
time when he could make his fling a
the government Office.
The fates, however, appeared to b
against the young soldier, for order
came to report at St Louis for a fur
ther assignment to duty. To add L
his troubles the land offic officials has
decided that January 1 being a lega
holiday the Office would not be open
ed for business.
Freeman was not the kind Of a maj
to give up a project, neither was h