Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-10-27

say that this was an interesting ex-
perience to pioneer editor as far
from shore as Webster City was at
that time.
The old capitol-now such an in
, teresting ruin-had not long been
built and stood in the midst of thick
woods. James w. Grimes, the ex-
governor, had been elected United
States senator but a few days be-
fore. Elijah Sells, one of the ablest
men who ever filled that office, was
; secretary of state. Oran Faybille, of
Mitchell county, most courtly and
dignified gentleman, was lieutenant
governor. Stephen B. Shelledy of
Jasper county, was speaker of the
house. OF a few of the members of
the house, l have always retained a
very distinct impression. Our men,
Der was Cyrus c. Carpenter, a gen.
tleman who was heard from in other
useful capacities in subsequent
years. He was young man of ap-
parently not more than twenty-five.
Geo. w. McCrary, of Lee, had ap-
peared in public life for the first
time. He was young man of about
twenty-five. He was smooth faced
and almost boyish in appearance,
but wearing an air of seriousness
and dignity that would have been
most becoming in a gray-haired
Judge. | heard him speak briefly on
some pending bill and | recall the
fact that he commanded the atten-
ton of the house.
remember Dennis Mahoney of
Dubuque, quite an old man, afflicted
with some nervous disorder which
caused his head to shake, giving his
eyes very curious and unsteady ap-
pearance. But when he spoke de-
precatingly of certain trivial and
undignified proceedings then on
foot, everybody listened attentively
and the house accepted his advice.
Old Zimri Streeter of Black Hawk,
was one of the characters of that
house, as he was of the next one.
He was a wit and a wag, with all
his rude speech and lack of culture.
Mahony besought member to with
draw a resolution which had been
introduced in mere spirit OF
bandinage. "Old Black Hawk" rose
and said: "Let it be withdrawal, it
has served it's purpus." The house
INDUCED in a hearty laugh and the
resolution was speedily laid aside,
the house coming down to the SER
ious work in hand.
Belknap of Lee was also mem
Der, not older, perhaps, than Car
penter. Something above the med
ium height, red checked, fairhaired,
with flowing beard, he was one OF
those men who would attract at
! tention in any assemblage-one you
probably would turn to look back at,
if you passed him on the street. How
he and McCreary climbed the ladder
of fame in after years are matters
of history. M. M. Trumbull, later
"the hero of the Hatchie," where
he won his brigadier's star, was an
other member who made his mark
that winter, though he, too, was one
of the youngest members. Another
well-remembered representative was
James F. Wilson. l interviewed him
in the hope Of securing his support
of a bill which I had brought along
in my pocket, providing for the pub
LEGATION of the laws in two neWspa-
pers in each county. He was a slen-
der, smoothly shaven, neatly dress
ed young man, with not much color
in his face, having a half-clerical
sort of look. He had won fore
most place in the Iowa constitution
al convention of the year before, as
heard frequently mentioned. l
found him somewhat conservative In
expression, though inclined to know
all the why's and wherefores relat-
ing to the measure.
B. F. Cue, one of the members
from Scott, full bearded, red cheek
ed, fine looking, on the hither side
of 80, was a man of mark in that
body.
ED Wright of CEDAR was as
noted then for the thoroughness
with which he transacted business,
as at any subsequent period OF his
life. He was the best informed man
in the house on parliamentary law,
and whenever that body got into
tangle, he had the address, GOODNESS
and knowledge, SO necessary to
straighten out the kinks