Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-11-20
IOwa's Grand Old Man Passed to Re.
ward Saturday Morning.
sIOURNED BY STATE AND NATION
Distinguished Pioneer of Iowa and
One of Its Wealthiest Men, Dies
at Ripe Old Age.

oO'' w iiiioui i-dTIdDee QleQ at MS
home. near Clermont, at 1O:35 Sat-
Vrday morning. All his immediate
g. 'atives were with him in his last
q. of life. For nearly three days
ne e nained in somewhat inter-
mitt n unconscious condition. His
rugge. z Institution and his persist
ent with yer kept him alive. He
was In his hty-first year, of which
nearly sixty .ars had been spent in
Iowa, and practically all of those
years in the vicinity of the home in
which he died. One of his last pub
lie services was the casting of his
ballot in the presidential election.
Nothing would satisfy him except to
render that last service to his state
and nation, for voting, to him, was
service. He knew that it would be
his last service, for he knew that he
was one who was about to die.
William Larrabee, twelfth COVER
nor of Iowa, was born in Ledyard,
Conn.,. January 20, 1882. His faith
er. Adam Larrabee, was a graduate
of West Point Military Academy and
an officer in the war of 1912. The
boyhood years of the son were passed
upon his fathers farm His educa-
ton was acquired in the common
schools and at the age of nineteen he
became teacher. In 1853 he start
er west, stopping first in Clayton
county, Ia, where he resumed teach
ing. For three years he was employ
ed as foreman on a large farm be-
longing to Judge Williams In 1857
he purchased an interest in the Cler-
mont Mills, Fayette county and even
tually became the sole owner of the
property. Later he became extens-
lively engaged in farming and bank
ing. In 1867 he was nominated by
the republicans of Fayette county for
state senator and elected. He re-
mained in the senate for eighteen
years by successive reflections, serv-
ing the longest continuously of any
member of the Iowa legislature since
the admission of the state. He was
an able, practical legislator and ac-
quired by long service intimate
knowledge of public affairs, giving
him great influence in shaping the
laws and general state policy. Dur
ing most of this period he was chair
man of the committees of ways and
means.
In 1881 he was a candidate before
the republican state convention for
governor, but was defeated. In 1885
he received the nomination and was
elected. His administration was pot-
ed for the firm stand he took in Sc
curing legislation to regulate the
rates of railroad transportation and
his rigid adherence to the principles
of prohibition of the liquor traffic.
At the close of his second term there
was a formidable movement on the
part of the people to elect him to the
United States senate. In 1888 he
published book on the railroad
question which was an able historical
and practical treatise on railroads
and remedies for their abuses. 1t is
an exceedingly valuable work on a
subject that has long engaged the at
tention of congress and state legis-
latures. Upon the creation of the
state board of control of state insti-
tutions he was made member and
was the first chairman. Later he
was Iowa commissioner to the st.
Louis exposition and has held many
posts of honor.
On the 18th of September, 1861,
William Larrabee and Anna Nj. Ap-
pelman were married. The bride was
the daughter of Gustavus A. and An
ma Prudence Appelman, who had
came to Iowa in 1854, and were
among the highly esteemed pioneers
of northeastern Iowa. OF this mar
riage seven children were born, all
living except one, Augusta, who was
the wife of the late Victor Dolliyer,
and who died many years ago, short
ly after her marriage. The living
children are three sons, Charles Lar
rabee of Fort Dodge; William Lar
rabee, Jr., of Clermont and Freder-
lex Larrabee of Fort Dodge, and
three daughters, Julia, wife OF Mr..
Don Love of Lincoln, Nebraska; Hell
en-, wife of Judge C. B. Robbins OF
Cedar Rapids and Anna Larrabee,
who has made her home with her
Continued on last page.)