The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-10-29


of Burlington, republican candi-
date for the nomination for con-
gress from the first district of
Iowa, to succeed Hon. c.. A. Ken
nedy, is well known in Des
MONIES county, as we'll as having
host of frieds in the several
counties comprising the district,
large majority of the people do
not know him personally, and the
following brief sketch of his life,
prepared by friend who has
known him from boyhood, will
serve as an Introduction to the
people of the first congressional
district:
Mr.. Holsteen was born on July
5, 1873, on Sunnyside avenue, in
Burlington, and is one of four
teen children, eleven boys and
three girls. When seven years
old he moved with his parents to
farm in Benton township. Des
Moines county, where eight boys
and two girls grew to maturity
and are still living. The other
four children died in infancy.
His early education was In the
district school of Benton town
ship. At the age OF seventeen
years he left the farm and secur-
ed work at Nauyoo under an ar
rangement whereby he attended
high school and got his board.
lodging, mending and laundry
for the work he could do morn
ings and evenings during the
school days, all day on Saturday
and some on Sundays. The
necessary books and clothes
were furnished by his parents.
Each summer he returned to his
home in Benton township and
worked for his father Oh the
farm. On account of the farm
work, he never put in the full
period in high school until his
senior year.
He was graduated from the Maui
VOC high school in May, 1893, at
the end of the third year. After
graduation he returned to the
farm and worked for his father
until the following winter when
he took the required examination
and secured county certificate
to teach school, but instead OF
taking a school he began to read
law in the office of Power &
GHuston at Burlington. Mean
while provisions We're furnished
him from home and he did his own
cooking. In March of 1894 he
again returned home to help on
the farm until he reached his
majority in July, and continued
working on the farm until Sep
TENDER, when he left for Iowa
City, with $50 to his credit as the
result of his childhood savings,
and an ambition to get univer-
sity education, where he entered
the State University of Iowa.
Due to a sick spell in January Of
his freshman year, apparently
due to overwork, he discontin-
ued his studies at the University
of Iowa, and took six weeks
rest at the farm, after which he
took up some special work at the
Burlington Institute college, in
Burlington, from which inStitu-
ton he was graduated in June,
1895.
He worked as farm hand
that summer for his brother Joe,
and in the fall returned to Iowa
City and re-entered the universe
ty, from which he secured the de-
gree of Phi: B., in 1898, and L.
LIB, in 1900.
Meanwhile he depended upon
his own financial aid for support,
i ~ - L.
washing dishes and waiting on ia
bles in restaurant; also acting
as steward of student boarding
school, cutting wood and other
work for his room rent during
the earlier part of his course;
later handling the financial
management Of the S. U. l. Quill,
Ca college weekly and teaching
in the Iowa City academy during
his senior collegiate and junior
law years. During his senior
law years he was instructor in
military science and tactics, also
cammandant OF the university
cadet battalion, a position ordi-
narily held by detail from the
regular army.
After finishing his university
work at Iowa City in June, 1900,
he again worked on farm by
the month until after harvest,
and in September Of that year
entered the law office of Senator
w. w. Dodge, where he remain
ed until the following spring;
meanwhile he continued his law
studies and acquiring some ex-
perience in practice.
In June he took a trip to
the Pacific coast, returning to
Iowa the latter part OF August,
and concluded to spend some
time in the east AFTER visiting
eastern cities he entered Yale
university law school, from
which he received the degree of
LII. B., in June, 1902. Follow
ing his graduation at Yale he
again returned to Iowa, and
worked on a farm until after har-
vest.
In August. 1902 he opened a
law office in Burlington. During
his first year in practice he was
associated very largely with Hon.
w. w. Dodge, who was then
county attorney, in addition to