Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1919-06-06
OBITUARY.
Converse.

II Converse. ~
Samuel Ambrose, second son of Will
lard and Hannah White Converse, was
born in Mar Dorough, New Hampshire
Jan. 8, 1S43. When five years of age
he moved with the family to Rock
Prairie, Wis, and at 10 to Sumner
twp, Winneshiek county, Iowa, where
his father took up government land
and the family experienced the varied
adventures of pioneer life. In his
youth he taught school in the district
where the family lived
In 1867 Mr. Conversa vas united in
marriage with Ellen Munson, who
survives him. To this union nine
children were born, two of them dy-
ing in infancy. Those living are: Abb
bic Jane, who remains at home, Judge
Willard L. of South St. Paul, Myron
of Minneapolis, Charles c. of Willis
ton, N. D., Mrs. c. E. Blackberry of
Hansboro, N. D., Arthur B. of Cresco
and Mrs. C. r. Coon of Monticello,
Iowa. There are IA grandchildren
and one great grandchild Also two
sisters survive him-Mrs. Lucretia
Bachelor of Worcester, Mass and
Mrs. Cynthia Blackburn of Cresco.
In 1880 Mr.. Converse moved from
his fathers homestead in Winneshiek
county, building a home two miles far
Their west in New Oregon twp, How
ard county,. Nine years later he
bought and moved to the farm one
mile south of Cresco which was the
family home for about IL years, when
he built the present home in Cresco,
where after a brief illness of three
days he passed away May 20, 1919,
aged, 76 years and nearly five months.
Nh Converse was a close student
of public affairs and in an early day
took deep interest in the welfare of
the agriculturist. In the early 70's
when the farmers were struggling
under the excessive burdens imposed
by the railroads and other large cor
porations he was instrumental in or
ganizing the Patrons of Husbandry,
popularity known as the Grange, an
organization which was largely re-
sponsible for the reform legislation
of that period designed to curb the
power Of the railroads and consign
them to their proper place as SER
wants Of the people One of the not
able accomplishments Of the Grange
was the fight waged against the barb
wire trust which brought suit against
formers all over the state of Iowa
for alleged infringement of patents,
the damages claimed amounting to
thousands of dollars. The Grange
employed Albert B. Crmmins, then a
young lawyer of Des Moines, who won
a complete victory in the courts for
the farmers. .-.f H
In 1883 Mr.. Converse vas elected
to the house of the genera assembly
of Iowa to represent Howard county
after campaign marked by intense
bitterness, the issue being prohibition
and Mr.. Converse was an ardent ad-
vocate Of this reform. In the follow
ing session of the legislature he was
one of the leaders in the enactment
of the prohibitory law He was re-
elected in 1885 and during the follow
ing session served as chairman of the
important committee of ways and
means. In 1887 he was elected to
the state senate to represent the How
ard Winneshiek district During his
term in the senate the railroad ques-
ton was forced to the front by Gov
ernor Larrabee and Mr.. Converse was
the Governors champion for reform
legislation
In about the year 1891 he helped or
ganize the Alliance Mercantile asso-
citation of Cresco and has been on the
board of directors continuously ever
since, large part Of the time being
president of the board.
In 1893 the First National Bank was
established. He was elected it's first
president and served continuously in
that position till his death.
He was a charter member of the
Farmers Mutual Insurance Assn. OF
Cresco and served on the board of d.
rectors. He also was a director of the
Iowa Mutual Tornado Insurance Assn
of Des Moines.
Immediately following the wheat
failures in the late 7O's Mr.. Converse
perceived the necessity for a change
of farming methods and he began to
work into the live stock industry. In
1883 he shipped from New York state
a couple of Red Polled calves and this
was the foundation Of his great herd
which became the largest in America
of that breed. In 1887 he made trip
to England to make purchase of Red
Polled stock which he brought to his