Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-08
Former Congressman From
Sixth District and Presi-
Dental Candidate Sue
cumbs at Advanced Age.
LONG PROMINENT
IN POLITICAL LIFE
After Winning Distinction
in Civil War, Gen. Weaver
Won National Recognition
by Political Battles.

Des Moines, Feb. 7.-(Special)--
General James B. Weaver, formerly
representative in congress from the
sixth district and twice populist can
didate for president Of the United
States, on greenback and populist par
ty tickets, died late yesterday at the
home of his daughter, Mrs. H. c.
Evans, He had been i'll but a few
days and his death was entirely I'M
expected. Just recently in news
paper article General Weaver intimat-
ed that he might again be a demo
cratic candidate for congress from the
sixth district. His most recent not
able public appearance was at the
democratic state convention in Ottum-
wa two years ago when he conducted
q hard fight on the liquor plank in
the platform. For years General
Weaver made his home in Bloomfield.
Sketch of Gen. Viewers Life.
Gen. Weaver was born in Dayton,
Ohio, June r., 1888. son Of Abram
and Susan Imley Weaver, descend
ant Of colonial revolutionary stock
Weaver spent the first eight years of
his life in the Buckeye state and in
Michigan, and then he came with his
parents to Iowa, where he had since
made mis- home. He was reared on a
farm and began his education in log
school house. After two years priv
ate study Gen. Weaver entered the law
department of Cincinnati college, and
graduated in the spring of 1855. He
then returned home, entered upon the
practice of his chosen profession and
ton of the republican party in his
section Of the state.
The home life of Gen. Weaver had
been pleasant. He was married July
H. 1855, to Miss Clara Vinson. Eight
children were born to Gen. and Mrs.
Weaver, three sons and five daugh-
tiers. He was connected with the
knights of Labor, the Farmers ALI
ance and the Industrial Union. His
political connection had been with
two parties. His father was Jack
son democrat, but the son joined the
republican party, which he supported
until 1877. In that year he was con-
nected with the Peter Cooper or the
Greenback movement. For ten years
he edited the Iowa Tribune. He en-
listed in April, 1861, Company G, Sec
ond Iowa infantry. He was elected
first lieutenant by his company and at
once entered upon active service.
The evening before the battle of Cor
NTH. he was commissioned major of his
1t
mortally wounded, leaving Major
Weaver second in command. BY the
first volley. Lieut.. Col. Mills was also
mortally wounded. This left Weaver in
command and he was recommended for
colonel and at once commissioned. He
was breVetted brighter general for con-
spicuous service and gallantry on the
tield,> and at the close of the war was
hOnorably discharged.
In 1866 he was elected district attor-
ney for the second judicial district and
declined a second term. For six years
he was internal revenue assessor for
the first district Of Iowa. In 1878 he ran
as greenback candidate for congress in
the sixth district against the repub-
lican nominee, Judge Sampson, and
with a normal republican majority of
1000 to overcome he beat his opponent
2,100. In the forty-siXth congress he
became national by his famous debate
with Garfield and his thirteen weeks
struggle with Speaker Randall for rec
ognition in which Weaver was sue
cessfu. and as result he was nomin-
ated by the national party in 1880 for
the presidency. In 1884 he was elected
to congress and in 1885 he defeated
Hon John Donnell for congress. John
f. Lacey beat him in 1888 in heated
contest. In 1892 he was again nominat-
ed for the presidency at Omaha by the
peoples party. In 1894 he was again
nominated for congress by the popu-
lists and endorsed by the democrats in
the ninth district. but was defeated.
For several years past he had led the
life of a retired philosopher at Colfax,
himself largely to study and
occasionally writing for the magazines
and the newspapers He published a
book in 1892 entitled "A Call to Action
which attracted great deal of atten-
ton. General Weaver was again a NOM
inec for congress in the sixth district
in 1898 giving John F. Lacey a hard
run.