Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-06-12
A CIVIL WAR SPEAKER
Remarkable Career Of the Late
Galusha A. Grow in Ameri-
can Politics
FATHER OF HOMESTEAD LAW
Missed Presidency Of United Statea by
Ono Vote In Convention-Famous
Fiaht on Floor Of Houss-Consress,
man In Youth and Ago.


man In Youth and Ago.
As the father Of the national home
stead law, whereby thousands of Amer.
lean citizens have been enabled to own
homes and thus have developed new
states and built UP the great west, the
late Galusha A. Grow, who died on
Easter day, will be remembered long.
Mr.. Grow for more than forty years
had been famous as the speaker OF the
national house OF representatives dur
ing the first two years OF the civil war.
His life was exceptional In many re-
spects. He began his political career
as the youngest member Of congress
and closed it as the oldest member,
with an interval OF more than thirty
years Of private life. When reelected
to congress after this long retirement
he received the largest majority ever
given up to that time for any candidate
In any state This was when he was
elected congressman Mt large from
Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Grow was born in Connecticut IN
1924. When first elected to congress
he was only twenty-seven, and he be-
came speaker at thirty-six. He was
the youngest speaker In the history OF
congress
Mr.. Grow was elected speaker OF the
house on July 4, 1881, and 30 ably and
acceptably did he discharge the duties
OF that Office that at the close OF his
term a unanimous vote of thanks was
given him-the first unanimous vote
given to speaker in many years. Pre-
vious to his election to the speakership
he had been chairman Of the commit
tees on Indian affairs and on terri
tories, being at the head Of the latter
during all the Kansas troubles.
/. One OF the st important and dis.
tinguished services which he rendered
to the country during this period was
that {. securing the passage Of the free
homestead law. 1t took him nearly ten
years to carry 1t through, and during
much Of the time 1t was regarded as
the project Of crank. He introduced
the bill in the first congress In which
he served and, In fact, made his first
speech in congress in support of the
bill. He believed that the government
should not make the public lands a
source Of revenue, but that 1t should
bestow them in small homesteads upon
those without land for actual settle
ment and cultivation. The proslavery
leaders opposed the bill because they
knew that the territories would be set.
tied by small farmers from the free
states A modified bill was passed In
Buchanan's administration, but 1t was
vetoed by him. After the breaking out
Of the war it was passed, and Mr..
Grow had the pleasure as speaker Of
signing his pet measure.
In the period just before the out
break of the civil war the assault In
the senate Of Brooks on Charles Sum-
ner was not unique. Mr.. Grow had q
passage with Elitt of South Carolina,
but in the general fight which ensued
Barksdale Of Mississippi lost his wig,
which ludicrous sequel restored the
good humor Of the body But Mr..
Grow was little later challenged to
duel by Branch Of North Carolina, to
which Mr.. Grow replied that he re-
garded dueling as at variance with
the precepts of the Christian religion
and the sentiments Of Christian people;
but" he added, my personal rights
and the freedom Of debate guaranteed
by the constitution shall defend
whenever and wherever they are as
sailed"
In 1864 Mr.. Grow came within one
vote Of being nominated for vice presi-
dent instead of Andrew Johnson, who
became president after Lincoln's as
sassination.
He spent the summer Of 1870 In Call
fornia, Oregon and British Columbia,
and in 1871 he took up his residence in
Houston, Tex, as president of the In
ternational and Great Northern rail-
road of Texas. In 1875 he returned to
his home in Glenwood, Pa, and took
an active part in the state election OF
that year and in the presidential cleo
ton Of 1875.
Although it was we'll known that Mr..