Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-05
ManyIowansin THO
Houses of Congress

Washington Bureau Of
The Ottumwa Courier.

Washington, D. c., Feb. 4.
While 1t is true that Iowa has never
had a native son in the United States
senate, it is also true that a great many
Of senators and representatives from
other states at various times have been
native sons Of Iowa or have received
their early training in the Hawkeye
state.
In the next congress both of Nebras-
ka's senators will be Iowans, and while
Senator Willard was not born in Iowa.
his youth was spent in that state. He
came to Iowa when only boy, and UNI
til the reached the age Of 10 lived with
county, later going to Dubuque to ac-
cept a position as a clerk. Senator
Norris Brown, the newly elected MEM
Der, was born in Iowa, as was Sem
ator Burkett.
Congressman Burton of Ohio is a ma
tive Of that state, but he received the
greater part Of his college education at
Iowa college, at Grinnell, Iowa, while
Senator Charles w. Fulton. of Oregon
spent sixteen years Of his life at Mag
nolia, Iowa.
Only four Of Iowa's present congress-
men are natives Of that state-Cousins,
Hedge, Dawson and Smith OF the
present members Of congress who were
either born in Iowa or have made her
their home, three have been identified
with Jackson county Congressman
Dawson of the Second Iowa district and
Congressman Eben Martin of South
Dakota were born in Jackson county,
the former at the town of Spragueville
and Mr.. Martin at the county seat, Ma
| quolleta.
Congressman Martin thinks he has
especial reason to remember Iowa with
| feelings Of gratitude. He feels that
while it is an honor to any man to
matter Of still greater congratulation
TO have HAD his life saved there, and
this is what happened to Mr.. Martin.
| The genial South Dakotan spent his
boyhood days in the neighborhood
through which flows the Maquoketa
river. swift running and rather
treacherous stream whose chief claims
to distinction consist of a recognized
ability to get out Of its banks on the
slightest provocation, and a river bed
| that is eternally changing and digging
out deep holes that are at the same
time the delight Of the small boy and
! his chief danger.
i Into one Of these deep holes Con-
I gresham Martin found himself one af-
4 ternoon, while enjoying the daily swim
with which the small boys of the neigh
Il borhood were wont to regale them
II selves whenever parental diligence ir
this matter happened to be for any rea-
son relaxed. The future congressman
suddenly found that a pair Of wildly
!; waving legs of the diminutive size o.
his own lacked several feet Of being
long enough to touch bottom, and
sinking once, he shouted strenuousl.
for help. 1t came just in the nick o
time, when Harvey Prime blacksmith
;, heard his cries and hurryino down tt
the river, plunged in and dragged tn
, boy out onto the bank. considerabl.
more dead than alive. Needless to say
Congressman Martins recollections o
the old home neighborhood are still
! vivid.
Congressman Sylvester Smith, Of tn
Eighth California district, was born Oh
, farm near Mount Pleasant, Iowa, an,
:, received his early education there, re
, moving to his adopted state Of Califor
, MIA in 1879.
-:o:-
3 Representative Don c. Edwards o
2 Kentucky, is also native son of lowe
9 having been born in Appanoose count
4 and getting his first schooling there.
8 Congressman AISLE ]. Gronna, Q
G North Dakota. was born at Elkadel
e Clayton county, but the family move
to Minnesota when he was very small
e Representative Cushman of Washing
n ton gives as his birth place the town c
Brighton. In Washington county, an