Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 July 1900 — IOWA SENATOR DIES. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IOWA SENATOR DIES.

John H. Gear la Suddenly Stricken at Washington, D. C. Senator John H. Gear of lowa died at Washington, D. C., Saturday, of Bright’s disease. Funeral services were held Wednesday at his home in Burlington, lowa. The death of Senator Gear removes a

characteristic and typical figure from public life. Senator Gear was *born in Ithaca, N. Y.. April 7, 1825, and while a boy went to Fort Snell in g, Minn., the extreme frontier post in our military establishment at that timo. A few years later, at the age of 18, he

6et out in business for himself as a trader and flathoatpmn along the Mississippi, dealing chiefly with the Indians, but having a large number of patrons at widely separated points among the white settlers. He finally settled at Burlington, lowa, and was very successful as a general merchant. Somewhat, agaiust his wishes, he was drawn into politics. During the war of the rebellion Mr. Gear an ardent supporter of Lincoln, and was elected Mayor of Burlington. Then he was sent to the lowa Legislature term after term, being elected Speaker in the last two terms which he served. Ite was twice elected Governor of lowa, and had a seat in the FifUffth and Fifty-first Congresses. He was defeated for re-election to the Fifty-second Congress by a narrow majority and was appointed assistant Secretary of the Interior.by President Harrison. He was elected to the Fifty-third Congress, and soon afterward was chosen United States Senator. He was re-elect-ed Inst winter for nuother term of six years in the Senate, beginning March 4 1901.

SENATOR J. H. GEAR