The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-04-05
DIEDOFOLDAGE


suit Of general breakdown attri-
buted to old age.
Mr.. Crow was born in Eastford. /.
Conn, in 1922, and entered early
on his herltags of poverty, for his
father died when Galusha was 5
year. Oh leaving his widow With
six children.
H education was received at the
winter session cf the district school,
and after Course at the Franklin
institute he entered Amherst, from
which he graduated 10 1874. In
IS47 he was admitted to the bar, but
his heslth demanding outdoor ex-
ercise, he spent some time in work
ing on farm, surveying and peel
ing hemlock bark in the woods.
Three years later he Unexpectedly
found himself candidate for con
gress, which at the age of ~ he en-
tered ia December, 1851.
lie soon began to make himself
felt, ard was reelected six times,
once cauying the unanimous vote
of his district. He entered congress
at critical time IN the nations his
tory. He was a Free-soil Demo-
Graf, and during the trying hours
when he fought bitterly with others
against the repeal of the Kansas
Nebraska bill he showed his met,Ie.
When their efforts failed, he left the
Democrats and cast his vote with
the newly formed Republican party.
In July, 1867, he was elect d
speaker of the house, and on his re
tire mentin 1864 received the un
IL ual honor of Unanimous vote of
thinks. His great work was against
slavery and for the free distribu--
ton of government lands.
He GaS the ''fa.her of the homo
stead bill"-one of the greatest
factors in lhe upGuilding of the
West. "Land for the landless"
was The cry that summed up his en-
ero les, his eIcqueuce and his entire
His first public speech
was en- the land question, and for
five success sve sessions he intro
dlced the bill that at last, TO his
~, he himself signed as speaker.
He showed wonderous persistence
fertility Of resource and mastery OF
tactics, and in 1863
-eiired from politics to private life,
aud became interested in railways
Tniry-one years later he returned
o congress with tremendous n.e
,ril, two yeaIs later was re-elec
ed with the largest plurality ever
gwen to a candidate for any Office
i ally safe in The Union.
When he retired four years ago
lis public service in the house ex
euded over the longest period, al.
+ o1gh not continuous service, OF
my man who ever sat in that
, iy.
During ante bellum days he was
ne of the best Known men in Uhiteo
Sta 'es and in 1864 he came within
me vo,e of being nominated for
ice president IN place of Andrew
'ohnsoa, who became president on
he dealh of Abrah am Lincoln.
THE FIRST HOMESTEAD
The fi,st homestead taken unde,
hs Grow act was in Nebraska, and
he man who received it is still liv
bg "a the tsud. The old settlers
isme is Daniel Freeman.
Congressman Crows maiden
peech ia the houses delivered in
S5a, was on MANS Right te the
'oil," and for Ten years at the be-
tinnihg of every congress he intro
Iuced his bill to secure-free homes
o the pioneers who had settled in
lac West. A homestead bill WIS
inally passed by the Tbirty-sixth
:,ngress, but President Buchansn n
'etoed il, thus clearing the way for
he complete measure with which
dr. Grows name was identified.
lis persistence, eloquence and logic |