Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-12-23

Congressman Irwin S. Pepper was
/, born June 1, 1875 on the old John
Pepper homestead, four miles north
west of Drakesville in Davis county,
Iowa, on Soap creek" The youngest
of family of nine children he worked
on his fathers farm in the summer
and went to country school in the win
ter until he was II years of age, when
he entered the Southern Iowa Normal
school at Bloomfield In 1896 his par
ents moved, to Bloomfield The follow
ing year Mr.. Pepper graduated from
school south of Pulaski, also in Davis
county. '.%
In the fall of 1898 he took a step,
which, though he did not know it, then
was fraught with momentous import.
He went to Muscatine county, accept
ing a position as principal Of the At
alissa schools. Muscatine county liked
him from the start. He remained at
Atalissa for three years.
In Muscatine county he early enter
ed the political game. One year after
his arrival there he was nominated by
| the democrats for county superintend-
ent of public schools, running against
the then incumbent, J. A. ToWnsly.
Mr.. Pepper was prevented by his
! school duties from making an active
campaign. 1t will be remembered that
the elections of 1899 differing from
| similar events of recent memory were
| not marked by any especial democratic
| triumphs. 1t was his first venture in
! rolitices. However, despite all these
handicaps he came within 291 votes Of
| being elected, which was for a young
ster, fair mark. and gave promise
Of better performances to come when
the greenoss was gone and he had be-
come track wise,
He Moves TO Muscatine.
In the fall Of 1901 Mr.. Pepper moved
one sten nearer his election to con-
gress which many people believe he
long 60 decided to obtain--he moved
to MUscatine. He came there as the
principal Of the WASHINGTON school in
which position he served for two years.
In the fall of 1903 the second district
of Iowa elected Judge Martin T. Wade.
Of Iowa Citv. to congress-. He took
Pepper TO washington Mr.. Pepplr in
the summer of 1902 took his first
courae in law at the summer school Of
+ha Drake university at Des Moinns.
When he won't to WASHINGTON as Con
gressman Wade's secretary he took
the work of both the first and second
wears courses and comnleted both in
his first year in the national capitol.
The following year he took the senior
year. course and graduated in 1905.
IN the fa1l Of 1904 when Mr.. Pen
per returned to WASHINGTON after the
camr aier. the senior class at the
George Washington university was in
the midst Of great contest over the
election of q class president. The hon
or was being eagerly sought by i've
candidates no one of whom had ma
iorjtv. When Pepper arrived on the
soenc the big class Of $50 was divided.
into warrine factions and had had a
meetine without making q selection.
Perner never thorght of being candi-
date but after reneated efforts to elect
the class turned to Penner. the Big
Havkeve." as they called him. and
elected him president Of the class No
ono uos moro surprised than Pepper
himself. >. -s
Enters Prominent Law Firm.
After his graduation in 1905. Peprer
road law in the Office Of ATTORNEY. j..
smith, of Ottumwa. Then he re-
turned to Muscatine and Went INTO
~, cHoa If Carskaddan and Burke IN