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Politician members in Iowa, R-Z

  John Frederick Raper Jr. (1913-1993) — also known as John F. Raper, Jr. — of Sheridan, Sheridan County, Wyo.; Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyo. Born in Mapleton, Monona County, Iowa, June 13, 1913. Republican. Lawyer; served in the U.S. Army during World War II; served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict; U.S. Attorney for Wyoming, 1953-61; Wyoming state attorney general, 1963-66; district judge in Wyoming, 1966-67. Presbyterian. Member, Sigma Nu; American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Rotary; Freemasons; Scottish Rite Masons; Order of the Eastern Star; Shriners. Died in Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyo., June 10, 1993 (age 79 years, 362 days). Interment at Sheridan Municipal Cemetery, Sheridan, Wyo.
  Relatives: Son of John Frederick Raper and Anna Selma (Peterson) Raper; married, August 4, 1939, to Nell Marie Chesler.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  John Washington Rath (1872-1951) — also known as John W. Rath — of Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa. Born in Ackley, Hardin County, Iowa, February 26, 1872. Republican. Meatpacking executive; president, First National Bank of Waterloo; director, Illinois Central Railroad; delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1944. Presbyterian. German ancestry. Member, Rotary; Newcomen Society; Union League; Elks; Freemasons; Knights Templar. Died, from cerebral thrombosis, in Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa, December 22, 1951 (age 79 years, 299 days). Interment at Fairview Cemetery, Waterloo, Iowa.
  Relatives: Son of John Rath and Elizabeth (Moser) Rath; brother of William Tecumseh Sherman Rath; married, August 21, 1895, to Maud Harbin.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Carl B. Reed (b. 1873) — of Cresco, Howard County, Iowa. Born in Cresco, Howard County, Iowa, May 6, 1873. Republican. Lawyer; Howard County Attorney; member of Iowa state senate, 1919-26; district judge in Iowa, 1926-33; member of Iowa commerce commission, 1941-. Member, Freemasons; Knights Templar; Odd Fellows. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Henry T. Reed.
  Warren J. Rees (b. 1908) — of Jones County, Iowa. Born in Anamosa, Jones County, Iowa, August 2, 1908. Republican. Delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1948; district judge in Iowa 18th District, 1963-69; justice of Iowa state supreme court, 1969-80. Member, American Bar Association; American Judicature Society; Lions; Freemasons; Shriners; Knights of Pythias; Odd Fellows. Burial location unknown.
  Manoah Bostic Reese (1839-1917) — also known as Manoah B. Reese — of Wahoo, Saunders County, Neb.; Lincoln, Lancaster County, Neb. Born in Macoupin County, Ill., September 5, 1839. Republican. Lawyer; delegate to Nebraska state constitutional convention, 1875; District Attorney, 4th District, 1876-83; justice of Nebraska state supreme court, 1884-90, 1908-15; chief justice of Nebraska state supreme court, 1888-90. Methodist. Member, Freemasons. Died in Sedan, Chautauqua County, Kan., 1917 (age about 77 years). Interment at Maple Hill Cemetery, Osceola, Iowa.
  Relatives: Son of Simon Reese and Mary Ann (Steidly) Reese; married, January 1, 1862, to Carrie Burrows.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Ephraim M. Reynolds (1843-1902) — of Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa. Born in Wayne County, Ind., July 22, 1843. Republican. Served in the Union Army during the Civil War; physician; member of Iowa state house of representatives, 1881, 1886; member of Iowa state senate, 1892-94. Member, American Medical Association; Freemasons. Died in Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa, January 8, 1902 (age 58 years, 170 days). Interment at Oakland Cemetery, Centerville, Iowa.
  David Fulton Rice (1889-1929) — of Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa. Born near Exline, Appanoose County, Iowa, September 13, 1889. Democrat. Lawyer; served in the U.S. Army during World War I; member of Iowa state house of representatives, 1925. Methodist. Member, Knights of Pythias; Freemasons; American Legion. Shot and killed by a disgruntled law client, George Domyancich, as he was leaving the Appanoose County Courthouse, Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa, February 28, 1929 (age 39 years, 168 days). Interment at Oakland Cemetery, Centerville, Iowa.
  George Rice (1854-1952) — of Flandreau, Moody County, S.Dak. Born in Butler County, Iowa, November 16, 1854. Republican. Lawyer; member of Dakota territorial House of Representatives, 1883-86; Speaker of the Dakota Territory House of Representatives, 1885; Dakota territory attorney general, 1885-86; delegate to Republican National Convention from South Dakota, 1900; member of South Dakota state senate 15th District, 1905-06; South Dakota railroad commissioner, 1907-13; member of South Dakota state house of representatives 21st District, 1931-34. Member, Freemasons; Knights Templar; Modern Woodmen of America. Died October 14, 1952 (age 97 years, 333 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Orson Rice and Anna Lee (Hawker) Rice; married to Ida Smith.
  B. M. Richardson (b. 1896) — of Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa. Born in Brighton, Washington County, Iowa, February 19, 1896. Republican. Member of Iowa railroad commission, 1925-32; member of Iowa commerce commission, 1939-. Member, American Legion; Freemasons; Knights Templar. Burial location unknown.
  Hilliard Samuel Ridgely (1874-1937) — also known as Hilliard S. Ridgely — of North Platte, Lincoln County, Neb.; Cody, Park County, Wyo. Born in Siam, Taylor County, Iowa, October 16, 1874. Republican. Lawyer; Lincoln County Attorney, 1899-1902; U.S. Attorney for Wyoming, 1911-14; candidate for Governor of Wyoming, 1914. Presbyterian. Member, Freemasons. Died in Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyo., April 8, 1937 (age 62 years, 174 days). Interment at Lakeview Cemetery, Cheyenne, Wyo.
  Relatives: Son of Eli Ridgely and Olive Marie (Allen) Ridgely; married, June 21, 1899, to Eva Jane Fenwick; third cousin twice removed of Redick McKee Ridgely; fourth cousin once removed of Edwin Reed Ridgely and William Barret Ridgely.
  Political family: Kellogg-Adams-Seymour-Chapin family of Connecticut and New York (subset of the Four Thousand Related Politicians).
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Harold Riegelman (1892-1982) — of Manhattan, New York County, N.Y. Born in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, August 19, 1892. Republican. Lawyer; served in the U.S. Army during World War I; candidate for New York state senate 15th District, 1922; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1936, 1952, 1956; delegate to New York state constitutional convention 17th District, 1938; acting postmaster at New York City, N.Y., 1953; candidate for mayor of New York City, N.Y., 1953. Jewish. Member, American Bar Association; Zeta Beta Tau; Freemasons; American Legion; Military Order of the World Wars. Died in 1982 (age about 89 years). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Isaac Riegelman and Bertha (Meyer) Riegelman; married, November 1, 1919, to Gladys B. Liebman.
  F. M. Roberts (b. 1869) — of Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa. Born in Mahaska County, Iowa, 1869. Democrat. Physician; member of Iowa state senate 15th District; elected 1948. Christian. Member, Freemasons; Rotary. Burial location unknown.
Charles A. Robins Charles Armington Robins (1884-1970) — also known as Charles A. Robins — of Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho. Born in Defiance, Shelby County, Iowa, December 8, 1884. Republican. Physician; member of Idaho state senate, 1938-44; Governor of Idaho, 1947-51; delegate to Republican National Convention from Idaho, 1948. Episcopalian. Member, American Legion; American Medical Association; Phi Gamma Delta; Freemasons; Order of the Eastern Star; Elks; Eagles; Kiwanis. Died in Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho, September 20, 1970 (age 85 years, 286 days). Interment at Lewis and Clark Memorial Gardens, Lewiston, Idaho.
  Relatives: Son of Charles M. Robins and Rebecca J. Robins; married 1919 to Marguerite Granberry; married 1939 to Olive Patricia Simpson.
  See also National Governors Association biography — Wikipedia article — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Image source: Who's Who in United States Politics (1950)
  Thomas John Bright Robinson (1868-1958) — also known as Thomas J. B. Robinson — of Hampton, Franklin County, Iowa. Born in Lafayette County, Wis., August 12, 1868. Republican. Banker; real estate business; member of Iowa state senate 43rd District, 1913-16; U.S. Representative from Iowa 3rd District, 1923-33; defeated, 1932. Methodist. Member, Freemasons. Died in 1958 (age about 89 years). Interment at Hampton Cemetery, Hampton, Iowa.
  Relatives: Son of Isaac Robinson and Eliza (Graham) Robinson; married, June 15, 1888, to Belle H. Clinton.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page
  Benjamin I. Salinger (1861-1931) — of Iowa. Born in Wronke, Germany, May 14, 1861. Justice of Iowa state supreme court, 1915-20. Member, Freemasons. Died July 10, 1931 (age 70 years, 57 days). Burial location unknown.
  Frederick Delbert Schwengel (1906-1993) — also known as Fred Schwengel — of Davenport, Scott County, Iowa. Born in Franklin County, Iowa, May 28, 1906. Republican. Member of Iowa state house of representatives from Scott County, 1944-54; U.S. Representative from Iowa 1st District, 1955-65, 1967-73; defeated, 1964, 1972. Baptist. Member, Knights of Pythias; Shriners; Freemasons. Died in 1993 (age about 87 years). Burial location unknown.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page
  Milo J. Sedlacek (1898-1955) — of Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa. Born in 1898. Mayor of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1953-54. Member, Freemasons. Died in 1955 (age about 57 years). Interment at Cedar Memorial Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
Ernest J. Seemann Ernest John Seemann (1906-1967) — also known as Ernest J. Seemann — of Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa. Born near Readlyn, Bremer County, Iowa, February 5, 1906. Lathe operator; garbage disposal business; debt collector; candidate for U.S. Representative from Iowa, 1934 (Democratic primary), 1940 (Democratic), 1946 (Democratic primary), 1954 (Republican primary), 1964 (Republican primary); candidate for U.S. Senator from Iowa, 1942 (Democratic primary), 1942 (Progressive New Dealer), 1944 (Democratic primary), 1950 (States Rights Democratic), 1954 (Republicsons); candidate for mayor of Waterloo, Iowa, 1959, 1961, 1963. Member, Freemasons. Died in Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa, 1967 (age about 61 years). Interment at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Readlyn, Iowa.
  Relatives: Son of Wilhelmina Sophia (Schroeder) Seemann and William Carl Seemann; married 1928 to Agatha Elizabeth Cook; married 1935 to Doris Mildred Satterlee; married 1939 to Esther Virginia Vice.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Image source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, May 24, 1948
  Buren Robinson Sherman (1836-1904) — of Iowa. Born in Phelps, Ontario County, N.Y., May 28, 1836. Served in the Union Army during the Civil War; Iowa state auditor, 1875-81; Governor of Iowa, 1882-86. Member, Freemasons. Died November 4, 1904 (age 68 years, 160 days). Interment at Evergreen Cemetery, Vinton, Iowa.
  See also National Governors Association biography
  Agustas B. Shoemaker (1861-1936) — also known as Gus Shoemaker — of Kansas. Born in Plano, Appanoose County, Iowa, March 7, 1861. Republican. Member of Kansas state house of representatives, 1899, 1909. Methodist. Member, Freemasons. Died in Lenora, Norton County, Kan., January 1, 1936 (age 74 years, 300 days). Interment at Lucerne Cemetery, Lucerne, Kan.
  Samuel Morgan Shortridge (1861-1952) — also known as Samuel M. Shortridge — of Menlo Park, San Mateo County, Calif. Born in Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, Iowa, August 3, 1861. Republican. Lawyer; candidate for Presidential Elector for California; U.S. Senator from California, 1921-33. Member, Freemasons; Elks; Redmen. Died January 17, 1952 (age 90 years, 167 days). Interment at Oak Hill Memorial Park, San Jose, Calif.
  Relatives: Son of Rev. Elias W. Shortridge and Tabitha C. Shortridge; married, August 3, 1899, to Laura Gashweiler.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Wikipedia article
  Arthur M. Smith (1890-1969) — of Wausau, Marathon County, Wis. Born in Iowa, February 12, 1890. Mayor of Wausau, Wis., 1954-58. Methodist. Member, Rotary; Freemasons; Shriners. Died November 12, 1969 (age 79 years, 273 days). Interment at Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak, Iowa.
  Relatives: Son of Andrew Smith; married, June 16, 1957, to Ida Rahn.
  Neal Edward Smith (b. 1920) — also known as Neal Smith — of Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa; Altoona, Polk County, Iowa. Born in Hedrick, Keokuk County, Iowa, March 23, 1920. Democrat. Served in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II; candidate for Iowa state house of representatives from Polk County, 1950; U.S. Representative from Iowa, 1959-95 (5th District 1959-73, 4th District 1973-95); defeated, 1956, 1994. Methodist. Member, Disabled American Veterans; Freemasons. Still living as of 2014.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — NNDB dossier
  Bruce M. Snell (1895-1976) — of Ida Grove, Ida County, Iowa. Born in Ida Grove, Ida County, Iowa, March 4, 1895. Served in the U.S. Army during World War I; lawyer; district judge in Iowa, 1941-60; justice of Iowa state supreme court, 1961-70. Methodist. Member, American Legion; Freemasons; Knights Templar. Died in September, 1976 (age 81 years, 0 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Father of Bruce M. Snell Jr..
  Bruce M. Snell Jr. (b. 1929) — of Ida Grove, Ida County, Iowa. Born in Ida Grove, Ida County, Iowa, August 18, 1929. Lawyer; Judge, Iowa Court of Appeals, 1976-87; justice of Iowa state supreme court, 1987-. Methodist. Member, Order of the Coif; Kiwanis; Freemasons; Shriners; American Bar Association. Still living as of 1995.
  Relatives: Son of Bruce M. Snell.
  Thad S. Snell Jr. (1884-1941) — of Ida Grove, Ida County, Iowa. Born in Ida Grove, Ida County, Iowa, December 12, 1884. Republican. Lawyer; delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1916 (alternate), 1928 (member, Committee on Rules and Order of Business). Methodist. Member, Freemasons. Suffered a fatal heart attack, while driving his car, in Ida Grove, Ida County, Iowa, April 14, 1941 (age 56 years, 123 days). Interment at Ida Grove Cemetery, Ida Grove, Iowa.
  Relatives: Son of Thaddeus Stevens Snell, Sr. and Dora Belle (Morey) Snell; married, June 27, 1917, to Catherine Noble.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Harrison Earl Spangler (b. 1879) — also known as Harrison E. Spangler — of Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa. Born in Guthrie County, Iowa, June 10, 1879. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War; lawyer; delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1924 (member, Credentials Committee), 1932 (alternate), 1936, 1940 (member, Arrangements Committee), 1944 (speaker), 1948, 1952; member of Iowa Republican State Central Committee, 1930-32; Iowa Republican state chair, 1930-32; member of Republican National Committee from Iowa, 1931-49; Chairman of Republican National Committee, 1942-44. Member, American Bar Association; Sigma Nu; Freemasons; Elks. Burial location unknown.
Clyde Spry Clyde Spry (1889-1961) — of Woodbury County, Iowa. Born near Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, Iowa, March 26, 1889. Republican. Farmer; Iowa secretary of agriculture, 1950-61; appointed 1950; died in office 1961. Presbyterian. Member, Farm Bureau; Izaak Walton League; Moose; Freemasons. Died June 14, 1961 (age 72 years, 80 days). Interment at Masonic Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa.
  Relatives: Married 1911 to Fern Barney.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Image source: Iowa Official Register 1951-52
  Thomas Jefferson Steele (1853-1920) — also known as Thomas J. Steele — of Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa. Born in Rush County, Ind., March 19, 1853. Democrat. Cattle commission business; U.S. Representative from Iowa 11th District, 1915-17; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1920. Congregationalist. Member, Freemasons. Died in 1920 (age about 67 years). Interment at Graceland Park Cemetery, Sioux City, Iowa.
  Presumably named for: Thomas Jefferson
  Relatives: Son of Ira C. Steele; married to Ella McCullough.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page
  Almor Stern (1854-1935) — of Logan, Harrison County, Iowa. Born in Chester County, Pa., April 21, 1854. Republican. Harrison County Auditor, 1878-83; banker; abstract and title business; delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1920. Member, Freemasons; Odd Fellows. Died, from heart disease, in Logan, Harrison County, Iowa, November 1, 1935 (age 81 years, 194 days). Interment at Logan Cemetery, Logan, Iowa.
  Relatives: Son of Jacob Taggart Stern and Millicent Beet (Fletcher) Stern; married, December 15, 1880, to Laura A. Mann.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
John L. Stevens John Loomis Stevens (1850-1933) — also known as John L. Stevens — of Ames, Story County, Iowa; Boone, Boone County, Iowa. Born in Northfield, Washington County, Vt., May 29, 1850. Lawyer; district attorney 11th District, 1879-86; promoter of early telephone companies; organizer, Boone Brick and Tile Paving Company; district judge in Iowa 11th District, 1887-92; delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1900, 1912; delegate to Progressive National Convention from Iowa, 1912; Progressive candidate for Governor of Iowa, 1912. Member, Freemasons; Knights Templar. Died in Iowa, October 23, 1933 (age 83 years, 147 days). Interment at Ames Municipal Cemetery, Ames, Iowa.
  Relatives: Son of Isaac Loomis Stevens and Harriet E. (Tucker) Stevens; married, August 10, 1876, to Rowena Estelle Edson.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Image source: Library of Congress
  William Corwin Stuart (1920-2010) — also known as William C. Stuart — of Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa. Born in Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa, April 28, 1920. Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; lawyer; member of Iowa state senate, 1953-61; justice of Iowa state supreme court, 1962-71; U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Iowa, 1971-86; took senior status 1986. Presbyterian. Member, American Bar Association; Phi Kappa Psi; Phi Delta Phi; Omicron Delta Kappa; Order of the Coif; Freemasons; Shriners; American Legion; Lions. Died in Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa, August 12, 2010 (age 90 years, 106 days). Burial location unknown.
  See also federal judicial profile — Biographical Directory of Federal Judges
  Albert Winfield Swalm (1845-1922) — also known as Albert W. Swalm — of Grand Junction, Greene County, Iowa; Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa; Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. Born in Womelsdorf, Berks County, Pa., November 30, 1845. Republican. Served in the Union Army during the Civil War; newspaper editor and publisher; postmaster; U.S. Consul in Montevideo, 1897-1903; Southampton, 1903-19; Hamilton, 1919-22, died in office 1922. Member, Freemasons. Died in Hamilton, Bermuda, August 24, 1922 (age 76 years, 267 days). Interment at Woodland Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa.
  Relatives: Son of John E. Swalm and Elizabeth (Christ) Swalm; married, October 1, 1872, to Pauline Given.
  Fletcher B. Swank (1875-1950) — of Norman, Cleveland County, Okla. Born near Bloomfield, Davis County, Iowa, April 24, 1875. Democrat. School teacher; superintendent of schools; private secretary to U.S. Rep Scott Ferris, 1907-08; lawyer; Cleveland County Judge, 1911-14; district judge in Oklahoma 14th District, 1915-20; U.S. Representative from Oklahoma 5th District, 1921-29, 1931-35. Methodist. Member, Freemasons; Knights Templar; Order of the Eastern Star; Odd Fellows; Elks; Woodmen of the World; Woodmen Circle. Died in Norman, Cleveland County, Okla., March 16, 1950 (age 74 years, 326 days). Interment at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Norman, Okla.
  Relatives: Son of Wallace Swank and Melinda (Wells) Swank; married, December 30, 1914, to Ada Blake.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page
  Burton Erwin Sweet (1867-1957) — also known as Burton E. Sweet — of Waverly, Bremer County, Iowa. Born in Bremer County, Iowa, December 10, 1867. Republican. Lawyer; member of Iowa state house of representatives, 1900-04; member of Iowa Republican State Central Committee, 1902-06; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1904; U.S. Representative from Iowa 3rd District, 1915-23; candidate for U.S. Senator from Iowa, 1922, 1924. Member, Freemasons. Died January 3, 1957 (age 89 years, 24 days). Interment at Harlington Cemetery, Waverly, Iowa.
  Relatives: Son of Alpheus E. Sweet and Isabelle (Lyon) Sweet.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Wikipedia article — Find-A-Grave memorial
Melvin D. Synhorst Melvin D. Synhorst (b. 1914) — of Orange City, Sioux County, Iowa. Born in Orange City, Sioux County, Iowa, January 21, 1914. Republican. Lawyer; served in the U.S. Army during World War II; secretary of state of Iowa, 1949-65, 1967-80; resigned 1980. American Reformed Church. Member, American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Amvets; Freemasons; Alpha Tau Omega; Gamma Eta Gamma. Presumed deceased. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Hugo Synhorst and Ethel Synhorst; married 1941 to Alice Rossing.
  Image source: Iowa Official Register 1951-52
  Orville Taylor (1885-1969) — of Chicago, Cook County, Ill. Born in Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa, September 8, 1885. Republican. Lawyer; major in the U.S. Army during World War I; candidate for U.S. Senator from Illinois, 1936; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1956. Episcopalian. Member, American Bar Association; American Judicature Society; American Legion; Beta Theta Pi; Freemasons. Died in 1969 (age about 83 years). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Orville J. Taylor and Eleanor Sarah (Harris) Taylor; married, January 19, 1924, to Catherine E. Apperson.
  George King Thompson (b. 1887) — also known as G. King Thompson — of Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa. Born near Jamaica, Guthrie County, Iowa, November 24, 1887. Lawyer; Linn County Attorney, 1933-40; district judge in Iowa, 1941-50; justice of Iowa state supreme court, 1951-65. Presbyterian. Member, Freemasons; Shriners; Woodmen; Odd Fellows; Elks; Maccabees; Sigma Alpha Epsilon; Phi Delta Phi; Order of the Coif. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of William Jenkins Thompson and Ida America (King) Thompson; married, September 1, 1915, to Margaret Kane; married, December 17, 1921, to Grace Byfield.
  James Thorington (1816-1887) — of Davenport, Scott County, Iowa. Born in Wilmington, New Hanover County, N.C., May 7, 1816. Republican. Lawyer; mayor of Davenport, Iowa, 1843-47; U.S. Representative from Iowa 2nd District, 1855-57; delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1856; Scott County Sheriff, 1861-65; U.S. Commercial Agent (Consul) in Aspinwall, 1872-82. Member, Odd Fellows; Ancient Order of United Workmen; Freemasons; Royal Arch Masons. Died in Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, N.M., June 12, 1887 (age 71 years, 36 days). Interment at Oakdale Memorial Gardens, Davenport, Iowa.
  Relatives: Son of John H. Thorington; married to Mary Parker.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page
  Harry G. Thorley (b. 1897) — also known as H. G. Thorley — of Springview, Keya Paha County, Neb. Born in Atlantic, Cass County, Iowa, May 12, 1897. Republican. Banker; rancher; chair of Keya Paha County Republican Party, 1940. Congregationalist. Member, Freemasons. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of G. H. Thorley and Elmina (Marshall) Thorley; married, November 11, 1918, to Phyllis Carr.
  Mark G. Thornburg (1882-1962) — of Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County, Iowa. Born in Linden, Dallas County, Iowa, June 8, 1882. Republican. Iowa secretary of agriculture, 1924-33, 1939-43. Methodist. Member, Freemasons; Phi Kappa Psi; Alpha Zeta. Died December 15, 1962 (age 80 years, 190 days). Interment at Glendale Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa.
  Relatives: Son of Thomas A. Thornburg and Jennie (Vestal) Thornburg; married to Blanche Scholes.
  Lawrence A. Trumbo (b. 1882) — of Holdrege, Phelps County, Neb. Born in New Virginia, Warren County, Iowa, July 13, 1882. Republican. Carpenter; contractor and builder; chair of Phelps County Republican Party, 1933-40. Methodist. Member, Freemasons; Order of the Eastern Star. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of W. Judson Trumbo and Mary L. (Spencer) Trumbo; married, April 12, 1905, to Nora E. Loving.
  Daniel Webster Turner (1877-1969) — also known as Dan W. Turner — of Corning, Adams County, Iowa. Born in Corning, Adams County, Iowa, March 17, 1877. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War; merchant; farmer; member of Iowa state senate, 1904; delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1916 (alternate), 1928 (speaker), 1932, 1936; Governor of Iowa, 1931-33. Presbyterian. Member, United Spanish War Veterans; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Freemasons. Died April 15, 1969 (age 92 years, 29 days). Interment somewhere in Corning, Iowa.
  Presumably named for: Daniel Webster
  Relatives: Son of Austin B. Turner and Almira (Baker) Turner; married, September 27, 1900, to Alice Sample.
  See also National Governors Association biography
  Nathan Udell (1817-1903) — of Unionville, Appanoose County, Iowa; Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa. Born in Susquehanna County, Pa., February 18, 1817. Democrat. Physician; member of Iowa state senate, 1854, 1860-66. Member, Freemasons. Died in Denver, Colo., March 6, 1903 (age 86 years, 16 days). Interment at Oakland Cemetery, Centerville, Iowa.
  The city of Udell, Iowa, is named for him.
  Hosford Edwin Valentine (1865-1937) — also known as Hosford E. Valentine — of Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa. Born in Edinburg, Johnson County, Ind., November 26, 1865. Lawyer; mayor of Centerville, Iowa, 1897-98; served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War. Methodist. Member, Sigma Chi; Freemasons. Died in Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa, April 2, 1937 (age 71 years, 127 days). Interment at Oakland Cemetery, Centerville, Iowa.
  Relatives: Father of John Kalbach Valentine.
  Edward E. Wagner (b. 1874) — of Alexandria, Hanson County, S.Dak.; Mitchell, Davison County, S.Dak.; Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, S.Dak. Born in Lyon County, Iowa, October 22, 1874. Republican. Lawyer; Hanson County State's Attorney, 1901-02; member of South Dakota state senate 11th District, 1905-06; U.S. Attorney for South Dakota, 1907-13. Presbyterian. German ancestry. Member, Elks; Knights of Pythias; Freemasons. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of James H. Wagner and Louisa E. (Conklin) Wagner; married, July 10, 1894, to Alice Tresslar.
  Madison Miner Walden (1836-1891) — also known as Madison M. Walden — of Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa. Born in Adams County, Ohio, October 6, 1836. Republican. Served in the Union Army during the Civil War; school teacher; newspaper editor and publisher; member of Iowa state house of representatives 4th District, 1866-67, 1890; member of Iowa state senate 4th District, 1868-69; Lieutenant Governor of Iowa, 1870-71; U.S. Representative from Iowa 4th District, 1871-73. Member, Grand Army of the Republic; Freemasons. Died, of Bright's disease, in Washington, D.C., July 24, 1891 (age 54 years, 291 days). Interment at Oakland Cemetery, Centerville, Iowa.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Henry Agard Wallace (1888-1965) — also known as Henry A. Wallace — of Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa; South Salem, Westchester County, N.Y. Born near Orient, Adair County, Iowa, October 7, 1888. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, 1933-40; Vice President of the United States, 1941-45; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1940, 1944 (speaker); candidate for Democratic nomination for Vice President, 1944; U.S. Secretary of Commerce, 1945-46; Progressive candidate for President of the United States, 1948. Presbyterian. Member, Freemasons. Died in Danbury, Fairfield County, Conn., November 18, 1965 (age 77 years, 42 days). Interment at Glendale Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa.
  Relatives: Son of May (Brodhead) Wallace and Henry Cantwell Wallace; married, May 20, 1914, to Ilo Browne.
  Political family: Wallace family.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier — Find-A-Grave memorial — OurCampaigns candidate detail
  Books about Henry A. Wallace: John C. Culver & John Hyde, American Dreamer : The Life and Times of Henry A. Wallace — Graham White & John Maze, Henry A. Wallace : His Search for a New World Order — Dwight Macdonald, Henry Wallace : The Man and the Myth
Henry Cantwell Wallace Henry Cantwell Wallace (1866-1924) — of Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. Born in Rock Island, Rock Island County, Ill., May 11, 1866. Farmer; college professor; magazine editor; U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, 1921-24; died in office 1924. Presbyterian. Member, Delta Tau Delta; Phi Kappa Phi; Freemasons. Died in Washington, D.C., October 25, 1924 (age 58 years, 167 days). Interment at Woodland Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa.
  Relatives: Son of Henry Wallace and Nannie (Cantwell) Wallace; married, November 24, 1887, to Carrie May Brodhead; father of Henry Agard Wallace (who married Ilo Browne).
  The World War II Liberty ship SS Henry C. Wallace (built 1943 at Terminal Island, California; sold and renamed SS California Sun; after explosion and fire, sank in Indian Ocean, 1967) was originally named for him.
  See also Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier — OurCampaigns candidate detail
  Image source: American Review of Reviews, February 1922
  Thomas Ross Wallace (1848-1929) — also known as Thomas R. Wallace — of Atlantic, Cass County, Iowa. Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pa., October 20, 1848. Republican. School teacher; lawyer; U.S. Consul in Crefeld, 1901-07; Jerusalem, 1907-10; Martinique, 1910-24. Member, Freemasons; Knights Templar; Odd Fellows; Elks. Died in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, La., December 8, 1929 (age 81 years, 49 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of William Wallace and Jane (Ross) Wallace; married, October 6, 1874, to Margaret Gill.
  William Henson Wallace (1811-1879) — Born in Troy, Miami County, Ohio, July 19, 1811. Lawyer; member of Iowa territorial House of Representatives, 1838; member Iowa territorial council, 1842-43; candidate for Delegate to U.S. Congress from Iowa Territory, 1843; candidate for U.S. Senator from Iowa, 1848; member of Washington territorial legislature, 1853; Delegate to U.S. Congress from Washington Territory, 1861; defeated, 1854; Governor of Washington Territory, 1861; Governor of Idaho Territory, 1863-64; appointed 1863; Delegate to U.S. Congress from Idaho Territory, 1864; probate judge in Washington, 1870. Member, Freemasons. Died in Steilacoom, Pierce County, Wash., February 7, 1879 (age 67 years, 203 days). Interment at Western State Hospital Memorial Cemetery, Steilacoom, Wash.
  Relatives: Brother of David Wallace; uncle of Lewis Wallace.
  Political family: Wallace family of Indiana.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Monrad Charles Wallgren (1891-1961) — also known as Monrad C. Wallgren; Mon C. Wallgren — of Everett, Snohomish County, Wash. Born in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, April 17, 1891. Democrat. Served in the U.S. Army during World War I; jeweler; optician; U.S. Representative from Washington 2nd District, 1933-40; U.S. Senator from Washington, 1940-45; Governor of Washington, 1945-49; chair, Federal Power Commission, 1950-51. Member, American Legion; Forty and Eight; Freemasons; Knights Templar; Elks; Eagles; Rotary. Died, from injuries suffered in an automobile accident, in Olympia, Thurston County, Wash., September 18, 1961 (age 70 years, 154 days). Interment at Evergreen Cemetery, Everett, Wash.
  Relatives: Married, September 8, 1914, to Mabel C. Liberty.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — National Governors Association biography — NNDB dossier — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Chesley Mathew Walter (b. 1889) — also known as Chesley M. Walter — of Savanna, Carroll County, Ill.; Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa; Oakland, Alameda County, Calif. Born in Savanna, Carroll County, Ill., November 19, 1889. Republican. Lawyer; served in the U.S. Army during World War I; candidate for U.S. Representative from California 7th District, 1944. Member, Kiwanis; Order of the Coif; Phi Alpha Delta; American Legion; Freemasons. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of John Walter and Catherine (Duffy) Walter; married 1912 to Fannie Machen; married, May 24, 1941, to Dorothy Mills Smith.
  Paul M. Walter (b. 1904) — of Union, Hardin County, Iowa. Born in Marshall County, Iowa, December 14, 1904. Republican. Farmer; member of Iowa state house of representatives from Hardin County, 1949-51; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1960. Quaker. Member, Freemasons; Farm Bureau. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Warren Walter and Iva Walter; married 1927 to Mary Brindle.
  Charles F. Wennerstrum (1889-1986) — of Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa. Born in Cambridge, Henry County, Ill., October 11, 1889. Republican. Lawyer; served in the U.S. Army during World War I; district judge in Iowa 2nd District, 1930-40; justice of Iowa state supreme court, 1941-58. Presbyterian. Member, American Bar Association; American Legion; Rotary; Freemasons; Knights of Pythias; Sigma Alpha Epsilon; Delta Theta Phi; Order of the Coif. Died in June, 1986 (age 96 years, 0 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Charles F. Wennerstrum and Anna Mathilda (Vinstrand) Wennerstrum; married, February 14, 1925, to Helen F. Rogers.
  G. E. Whitehead (b. 1892) — of Perry, Dallas County, Iowa. Born in Marshall County, Iowa, August 11, 1892. Republican. Served in the U.S. Navy during World War I; newspaper publisher; delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1932; member of Iowa state house of representatives, 1943-45; member of Iowa state senate 17th District; elected 1948. Member, American Legion; Freemasons. Burial location unknown.
  Albert Clinton Willford (1877-1937) — also known as Albert C. Willford — of Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa. Born in Vinton, Benton County, Iowa, 1877. Democrat. Merchant; U.S. Representative from Iowa 3rd District, 1933-35; defeated, 1934, 1936. Member, Freemasons. Died in 1937 (age about 60 years). Interment at Memorial Park Cemetery, Waterloo, Iowa.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page
  William Williamson Jr. (1875-1972) — of Oacoma, Lyman County, S.Dak.; Custer, Custer County, S.Dak.; Rapid City, Pennington County, S.Dak. Born near New Sharon, Mahaska County, Iowa, October 7, 1875. Republican. Lawyer; Lyman County State's Attorney, 1905-08, 1910-11; circuit judge in South Dakota, 1911-21; delegate to Republican National Convention from South Dakota, 1912; U.S. Representative from South Dakota 3rd District, 1921-33; defeated, 1932. Congregationalist. Member, Odd Fellows; Freemasons. Died in Custer, Custer County, S.Dak., July 15, 1972 (age 96 years, 282 days). Interment at Pine Lawn Memorial Park, Rapid City, S.Dak.
  Relatives: Son of William Williamson and Mary (Erland) Williamson; married to Victoria Dice.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Find-A-Grave memorial
  James M. Wilson (1866-1924) — of Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa. Born near Monmouth, Warren County, Ill., September 8, 1866. Republican. Lawyer; member of Iowa state senate 3rd District, 1913-19. Methodist. Member, Freemasons; Shriners; Knights of Pythias; Elks; Kiwanis. Died, of septicemia resulting from pulled teeth, in Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa, May 2, 1924 (age 57 years, 237 days). Interment at Oakland Cemetery, Centerville, Iowa.
"Enjoy the hospitable entertainment of a political graveyard."
Henry L. Clinton, Apollo Hall, New York City, February 3, 1872
The Political Graveyard

The Political Graveyard is a web site about U.S. political history and cemeteries. Founded in 1996, it is the Internet's most comprehensive free source for American political biography, listing 320,919 politicians, living and dead.
 
  The coverage of this site includes (1) the President, Vice President, members of Congress, elected state and territorial officeholders in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories; and the chief elected official, typically the mayor, of qualifying municipalities; (2) candidates at election, including primaries, for any of the above; (3) all federal judges and all state appellate judges; (4) certain federal officials, including the federal cabinet, diplomatic chiefs of mission, consuls, U.S. district attorneys, collectors of customs and internal revenue, members of major federal commissions; and political appointee (pre-1969) postmasters of qualifying communities; (5) state and national political party officials, including delegates, alternate delegates, and other participants in national party nominating conventions; (6) Americans who served as "honorary" consuls for other nations before 1950. Note: municipalities or communities "qualify", for Political Graveyard purposes, if they have at least half a million person-years of history, inclusive of predecessor, successor, and merged entities.  
  The listings are incomplete; development of the database is a continually ongoing project.  
  Information on this page — and on all other pages of this site — is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed. Users are advised to check with other sources before relying on any information here.  
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  Links to this or any other Political Graveyard page are welcome, but specific page addresses may sometimes change as the site develops.  
  If you are searching for a specific named individual, try the alphabetical index of politicians.  
Copyright notices: (1) Facts are not subject to copyright; see Feist v. Rural Telephone. (2) Politician portraits displayed on this site are 70-pixel-wide monochrome thumbnail images, which I believe to constitute fair use under applicable copyright law. Where possible, each image is linked to its online source. However, requests from owners of copyrighted images to delete them from this site are honored. (3) Original material, programming, selection and arrangement are © 1996-2023 Lawrence Kestenbaum. (4) This work is also licensed for free non-commercial re-use, with attribution, under a Creative Commons License.
Site information: The Political Graveyard is created and maintained by Lawrence Kestenbaum, who is solely responsible for its structure and content. — The mailing address is The Political Graveyard, P.O. Box 2563, Ann Arbor MI 48106. — This site is hosted by HDL. — The Political Graveyard opened on July 1, 1996; the last full revision was done on March 8, 2023.

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