Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-01-14
INAUGURAL HISTORY
IOWA WAS ADMITTED TO UNION
sixTY-EIGHT YEARS AGo--lN.
n AuGURAL CEREMONY PER.
rua FORMED 81 TIMES.
THREE ONE.TERM GOVERNORS
Governor Geo. w. Clarke Is the Third
Oldest Man Who Has Filled the
Chief Executives Chair Since Iowa
Was Organized az a State. W.

% Des Moines.--when George w.
Clarke was inaugurated governor OF
Iowa for his second term Il marked
the 37th time that the inaugural cere-
mony has been performed since the
state was admitted to the Union 6s
years ago. Governor Clarke is 2lst In
line in the executive office and the
18th elevated to the honor by the vote
Of the people.
Two lieutenant governors have sue.
ceeded to the executive chair follow
ing the resignation of the occupant.
In both instances to take up the dut.
les OF United States senator. No gov
ernor has died in Office, been i'm
peached or removed for any other
cause. Two have been indicted In
the state courts and tried on charges
OF criminal libel. but were exonerat.
ed in each instance. FIJI
All but three of those who have
held the office have been elected
twice. with the exception OF the two
who served unexpired terms, and two
men have enjoyed the distinction OF
being elected three times. Samuel J.
Kirkwood, war governor. was the first
three termer. Kirkwood served from
1860 to 1864 and then after an interim
OF IL years was elected again In 1876.
He resigned in 1877, however. I'd take
a seat in the United States senate A
B. Cummins was governor for almost
seven years, holding the record for
service. He was elected three times
and was given an additional year by
the change in the election laws. Cum
Minis resigned six weeks before his
third term expired to go to the SEN
ate.
1t is rather a remarkable fact that
but one native born Iowan has held
the office Of governor of the state. B.
F. Carroll, who was born In Davis
county. is the only native son in the
list. New York has contributed a
larger share Of gubernatorial timber
for Iowa than any other state. Five
men who claim the Empire state as
their birthplace have held the Office
OF governor Of Iowa, representing IS
years d the states history.
This list includes VIM. M. Stone.
governor from 1864 to 1868; John II.
Gear. governor from 1878 to 1882:
Buren, R. Sherman, governor from
1882 to 1886; Horace Boies. governor
from 1890 to 1894 and Frank d. Jack
son, governor from 1894 to 1896. Penn
sylvania stands second with three
sons Of the keystone state in the list.
These include Cyrus G. Carpenter,
governor from 1872, to 1875: Joshua
G. Newbold. governor in 1s77-7s fol-
lowing the resignation OF Samuel ].
Kirkwood, and A. B. Cummins, gov
ernor from 1902 to 1908. a tF
Vermont, Connecticut and Ohio fur
nish two each. From Vermont came
Ansel Briggs, the first governor Of the
state, who occupied the chair from
1S46 to 1850 and Leslie NJ. Shaw, gov
ernor from 1898 to 1902. Connecticut
provided one Of the most illustrious
figures In the states history in VIII
liam Larrabee, governor from 1886 to
1890. Stephen Hemstead, second
governor OF the state, also hailed from
the Nutmeg state. Ralph P. Lowe,
governor from 1858 to 1850, and War
rem Garst, governor in 10000 follow
ing the resignation OF A. B. Cummins,
were from Ohio.
New Hampshire, Maryland, Maine,
Illinois and Indiana have contributed
one each. James w. Grimes, govern
or from 1854 to 1853 was the lone
representative Of New Hampshire:
Samuel J. Kirkwood, governor from
1850 to 1864 and 1917, from Maryland;
Samuel Merrill. governor from 1858
to 1872, from Maine: Francis M.
Drake. governor from 1895 to 1898,
from Illinois and George w. Clarke,
governor since 1913, from Indiana.
Most OF the men who have held
the Office were in the prime OF life
when elected. The average age Of all
the governors at the time Of Inaugural
ton gives figure Just fraction I'M
der 50 years. But three men have
been over so years old and Governor
Clarke, at the age Of So years. will
be the third Oldest man who has oc-
cupied the chair In the history OF the
state. 1J,a @
Francis M. Drake holds the age
record, having been Sc years old
when indicted into Office In 1896.
Horace Boies ranks second with SO
birthdays at the time Of his Inaugural
ton in 1890 and George w. Clarke.
third, having been exactly 80 years
old when he took the oath two years
age. These are the only instances OF
men past the 60 mark being elected
with the exception OF Samuel w.
Kirkwood, who was elected for the
third time, IL years after bis second
term had expired, when So years old.
Five men in the list OF governors
were under 40 years old when inaug-
urated, six In the 40s and six in the
SOS. The pioneers OF the state ap-
parently were partial to young men,
for the first three elevated to the gov
ernorship all were under the 40 mark.
Ansel Briggs, the first governor. was
sworn IN few weeks before his 4Oth
birthday and stephen Hampstead. who
succeeded him In office. was 3s years
old. James w. Grimes, who followed
Hampstead, was also 3S.
Six former governors Of the state
are still alive. The list includes Hor-
ace Boies. Frank D. Jackson. Leslie
NJ. Shaw. A. B. Cummins, Warren
Garst and B. F. Carroll. Boies is liv-