The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-02-10
COLONEL HEPBURN
CALLED BY DEATH
Famous Iowa Legislator Dies
at Home In CIarinda-Au-
Thor of Noted Legis-
IatiOn.

C%larinda. Ia, Feb. 7.-Col. William p.
Hepburn, former member of congress
from this district, died here today, after
a long illness.
Death resulted from kidney and
heart rouble. Colonel Hepburn was
near death last November, but after
a time rallied and a few weeks ago
/ was SO far improved that he thought
seriously of returning to Washing
ton to look after al extensive law
| practice which he acquired after leaV-
ing congress.
About a week g his condition took
a turn for the worse and since that
time he lost ground steadily.
Besides the wido.y, 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 he
who framed what later was called the
Hepburn law, prohibiting rebates and
discrimination by railroads. AS chair
man of the House committed on inter
state and foreign 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 to
be memorable in history because of its
constructive legislation. OF the five
acts, four came from Colonel Hepburn's
committee and three of them-the Hep
/ ~ uIn law, IIle pule iOOU ACT ana 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 q 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, Mo-
vember 4, 1883, removing to Iowa City.
where his mother and his stepfather
took up their residence on a farm. when
he was 8 years of age. After a I ,4.f
experience in the schools the
, lty 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 Melvina A.
Morseman, of Iowa City, and settled q.
MarShalltoWn.
When the civil war broke out. Col
onel Hepburn organized a company
and became its captain. This company
went to the front in February. 1862, as
o a part of the Second Iowa cavalry. He
was soon advanced to the rank Of ma
a jor and in that position earned dis
: t'nction at the battle of Corinth. Not
S long afterwards he was placed on the
staff of General Sheridan. and in De
cember OF the same year became a
o lieutenant colonel and was put in COM
mand of The Second brigade, cavalry
division, Sixteenth army corps. He was
q later transferred to other commands
and served until the close of the war.
In 1876, Colonel Hepburn moved tc
Clarinda, Ia, which had since been his
home, except for q part of the time
when he had resided in Washington. n
G.. He was elected to congress in 1886
"a and twice successfully thereafter. Dur
ing the Harrison administration h
was solicitor of the treasury depart.
n. ment, which position he resigned
lie March 4. 1893. to again enter g
for his old district. He was an unsuc
Ia cessful candidate for United States
to senator in 1888.
~ Nominated 10 Times.
"a Colonel Hepburn was IS times TIL,
~ nominee of his party in the Eight
Iowa district, his first contest in 1873
being the most remarkable. The con
~ vention was held at Council Bluffs an,
CONGRESSMAN Sapp had received )
votes-three less than a majority :
without ~dinlinution 3S4 times. After
three days session the convention tooI
II a recess of four days. It's second SEES
= sion covered two days and Colone
Hepburn was nominated on the IS
b. ballot, receiving 50 votes. His 10 sub
Sequent nominations were practicali
unanimous. Two of them were by az
he clamation. During his career in cong
al ress which ended March 4, 1909. Colont
ST Hepburn supported every measure thu
wv became law looking to the control! G
SIS commo carriers. Many of these bin
ge were introduced by him.