Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 4.djvu/139

 Mr. Cummins had acquired State wide reputation as one of its ablest lawyers. In 1887 he was an independent candidate for Representative in the Twenty-second General Assembly and was elected over the Republican candidate. In 1892 he presided over the Republican State Convention and was chosen as one of the Presidential Electors on the Republican ticket. He was twice a candidate for United States Senator against Ex-Governor John H. Gear but was not successful. In 1896 he was President of the Republican State Convention and one of the Delegates to the National Convention. He served in the Presidential campaign as a member of the National Republican Committee. In 1901 he was nominated, after a notable contest, as the Republican candidate for Governor of the State and elected by a large majority. CHARLES F. CURTISS was born near Galena, Illinois, December 12, 1863. About a year later the family removed to Story County, Iowa, and the son received his education in the public schools and at the State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, graduating as president of the class. For three years Mr. Curtiss managed the home farm of a thousand acres and was engaged in importing and breeding fine stock. During President Harrison's administration he was appointed State Statistical Agent, and in 1891 became assistant director of the Experimental Station of the Iowa State College. Professor Curtiss succeeded Secretary James Wilson as Director of the Experimental Station and Professor of Agriculture in 1897. He has a wide acquaintance among the agriculturists of the country and is a member of numerous organizations in which he has held the following positions: President of the Stock Breeders' Association, member of the executive committee of the International Live Stock Exposition, member of the executive committee of the American Association of Agricultural Colleges and Experimental Stations. He has served as judge of stock at a large number of State Fairs, the Pan-American, Trans-Mississippi and International Expositions. He is a frequent contributor to American and foreign agricultural publications, and the results of his investigations have been translated and republished in foreign countries.  GEORGE M. CURTIS was born in Oxford, Chenango County, New York, April 1, 1844. He was reared on a farm and in 1856 came with his parents to Ogle County, Illinois, and completed his education at Rock River Seminary, Mount Morris. He located at Clinton, Iowa, in 1867 and engaged in the lumber business. In the fall of 1887 he was nominated by the Republicans of Clinton County for Representative in the Twenty-second General Assembly. He was a delegate to the National Republican Convention of 1892 and in 1894 was nominated for Representative in Congress for the Second District. It had long been represented by a Democrat but Mr. Curtis overcame the Democratic majority and was elected by a 