Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 4.djvu/211

 was elected to the National House of Representatives and in two years was reëlected, serving on the committee on ways and means. He was defeated at the next election but was appointed by President Harrison Assistant Secretary of the Treasury and resigned to take his seat in the Fifty-third Congress to which he was elected. Governor Gear was a delegate in the Republican National Convention of 1892 which renominated Harrison and in 1896, which nominated McKinley. In the summer of 1893, he became a candidate for a seat in the United States Senate. Among his competitors were W. P. Hepburn, John F. Lacey, George D. Perkins, then members of Congress, A. B. Cummins and John Y. Stone, prominent lawyers and L. S. Coffin, a well-known farmer. The contest was animated but Governor Gear was nominated by the Republican caucus of the General Assembly and elected for six years from the 4th of March, 1895. He was a prominent member of the Senate committee on Pacific Railroads, where he was largely influential in securing to the Government the payment of the bonds issued in 1802-3 to aid in the construction of the subsidized roads. In the winter of 1900, a powerful effort was made to nominate A. B. Cummins of Des Moines, to succeed Governor Gear in the Senate. The contest was waged with great vigor and determination but the host of old friends of the popular Senator, who was serving his first term, rallied to his support and secured his reëlection. While in Washington serving out his first term Senator Gear died suddenly, on the 14th of July, 1901. His death was sincerely mourned by the people of the entire State, regardless of party. JAMES L. GEDDES was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on the 19th of March, 1827. He graduated at the British Military Academy at Calcutta, India, and served in the British army for seven years. He was awarded a medal for gallant service. In 1857 he settled on a farm in Benton County, Iowa. In August, 1861, he raised a company of volunteers for the Eighth Iowa Infantry of which he was chosen captain. When the regiment was organized he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel and in February, 1862 was promoted to colonel. At the Battle of Shiloh Colonel Geddes greatly distinguished himself and his regiment was handled with skill that won the admiration and warm commendation of the commanding General. In the Mobile campaign Colonel Geddes commanded a brigade and won additional honors in the battle which resulted in the capture of the Spanish Fort. He was promoted to Brigadier-General. In 1870 General Geddes was chosen cashier and steward of the State Agricultural College and in 1871 he was appointed professor of Military Tactics and Engineering and a few years later became vice-president of the college and treasurer of the institution. He was an exceedingly valuable officer of the college but was removed by a majority of a board of the trustees unfriendly to him, from the positions he had long filled with marked ability. His removal aroused a storm of indignation among the students, his