Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 4.djvu/182

 provide a park for Augustana College at Rock Island, Illinois. In 1867-8 he built five school houses in the county; and in 1900 he built and presented to the city of Boone a building for a public library at a cost of $10,000, which has been named the “Ericson Memorial Library.” SAMUEL B. EVANS was born in Jefferson County, Tennessee, July 31, 1837. In boyhood he attended the public schools of that section and later entered the State University. His parents removed to Davis County, Iowa, in 1841, which was then a part of Van Buren. He learned the printer's trade and when a young man founded the Sigourney Democrat, in Keokuk County. Some years later he established the Ottumwa Democrat which he published for many years. He was also the founder of the Ottumwa Mercury and later the publisher of the Ottumwa Independent. In August, 1802, he enlisted in the Union army and was in the battles of Helena, Little Rock and Jenkin's Ferry. He was promoted to first lieutenant for gallantry in service. He has long been one of the prominent leaders of the Democratic party. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Baltimore in 1872, at St. Louis in 1876, at Cincinnati in 1880 and chairman of the Iowa delegation at Chicago in 1890. As an editor and writer he has few equals in Iowa journalism, it having been his life work. He was postmaster of Ottumwa from 1885 to 1890. He was an enthusiastic advocate of fish culture for many years and when the act passed providing for the promotion of this industry in Iowa, Governor Carpenter in recognition of his valuable services in this line appointed Mr. Evans Fish Commissioner. He has long been a contributor to the publications of the Department of American Archæology. SAMUEL H. FAIRALL was born at Little Meadows, Allegheny County, Maryland, on the 21st of June, 1835. He was educated in the public schools and at an academy of Fayette County, studied law, located at Iowa City in 1855, and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court in 1856. He has been an active politician in the Democratic party, serving as a delegate to the Philadelphia and New York National Conventions for the nomination of candidates for President. In 1861 he was elected a Representative in the Ninth General Assembly, serving one term. In 1807 he was elected to the State Senate, serving eight years by reëlection, being a member of the Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth General Assemblies. In 1888 he was elected judge of the District Court, and was reëlected in 1890. From 1868 to 1873 he was a member of the Board of Legal Inquiry with W. H. Seevers and J. O. Crosby. While a member of the General Assembly Judge Fairall was the author of several important acts. He is the author of a Reference Digest of Iowa Reports, and a work on Township Laws of Iowa.