The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-02-10
COLONEL HEPBURN
CALLED BY DEATH
Famous Iowa Legislator Dies
at Home In CIarinda-=Au-
thor of Noted LeqiS-
lation.

Clarinda. Ia, Feb. 7.-Col. William p.
Hepburn, former member ofEcougEess
from this district, died here today. after
long illness.
Death resulted from kidney and
heart trouble. Colonel Hepburn was
a time rallied and a few weeks ago
was so IA improved, that he&thought
seriously OF returning 70 Washing
ton to look after an extensive law
practice which he acquired after IeaV-
ing congress.
About a week ago his condition took
a turn for the worse and since that
time he lost ground steadily.
Besides the widow. a SON and daugh-
ter survive him.
Colonel Hepburn, although 20 years
in congress, became best known
throughout the country during the
Roosevelt administration. 1t was ne
who framed what later was called the
Hepburn law, prohibiting rebates and
discrimination by railroads. AS chair
man of the House committee on inter
state and foreign commerce In the first
| session of the 59th congress, he was
| the author Of three acts out of five that
| the then President Roosevelt afterward
declared would cause that congress 10
be memorable in history because of its
constructive legislation. OF the five
acts, four came from Colonel Hepburns
committee and three OF them-the Hep
burn law, the pure food act and the
public health act-were framed by
Colonel Hepburn himself.
Soldier and Lawyer
MIR. Hepburn represented the Eighth
Iowa district. He also was an efficient
| soldier and lawyer OF high reputa-
ton. He was a product OF the early
pioneer days in Iowa and got what lit
| tie schooling he had in three winters
| at an academy near Iowa City. He was
born In Columbiana county. Ohio, No
! yember 4. 1888, removing to Iowa. City.
where his mother and his stepfather
. took up their residence on a farm, when
he was years of age. After a brief
| experience in the schools the comnnun
/ ity afforded, he got employment in a
printing office, where he worked for
| four years. Later, he read law at, Iowa
| City and Chicago, being admitted to the
| Illinois bar in 1854. He returned TO
| Iowa in 1855, married Miss MelyfIEa A.
Morseman, of Iowa City, and settled at
| Marshalltown.
| When the civil war broke out, Col
! onel Hepburn organized a company
| and became it's captain. This COMPANY
went to the front in February, 1890 as
| a part Of the Second Iowa cavalry He
| was soon advanced to the rank OF ma
| jor and in that position earned dis
| tinction at the battle OF Corinth. Not
| long afterwards he was placed on the
staff Of General Sheridan, and In De
cember of the same year became a
lieutenant colonel and was put in Som-
mand of the Second brigade caVairy
division, Sixteenth army corps. He was
| later transferred to other commands
and served until the close of the war.
! In 1876, Colonel Hepburn moved 10
Clarinda, Ia, which had since been his
home. except for a part Of the time
| when he had resided in Washington, d.
G. He was elected TO congress in 1850
and twice successfully thereafter Dur
| ing the Harrison administration he
was solicitor of the treasury depaTt-
ment, which position he resigped
March 4, 1898, to again enter conGess
for his old district. He was an pc
cessful candidate for United suites
senator in 1888.
Nominated 13 Times.
Colonel Hepburn was Is times the
nominee OF his party in the Eighth
Iowa district. his first contest in 1880
being the most remarka BILE. The epn-
vention was held at Council Bluffs and
Congressman Sapp had received 81
votes-three less than a majority
without diminutiOn 3S4 times. After q
three days session the convention took
a recess OF four days It's second SEES
sion covered two days and Coon 81
Hepburn was nominated on the $50
ballot, receiving SO votes. His ~ sub
sequent nominations were practically
clamation. During his career in cong
ress which ended March 4, 1909, Colonel
Hepburn supported every measure That
became law looking to the control of
common carriers. Many of these bills
were introduced by him.