Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 4.djvu/287

 salutary change in the law destroyed the partisan character of school boards. The reform was commended by the National Commissioner of Education and is referred to at length by Professor Parker in his “History of the Public School System of Iowa.” While a member of the Legislature Mr. Irish secured an addition to the endowment fund of the State University and having been elected one of the regents of that institution, was largely instrumental in securing the establishment of the Law and Medical Departments. In 1868 Mr. Irish was the Democratic candidate for Congress in the Fourth District but the Republican majority was too large to be overcome. In 1877 he was nominated by the Democratic State Convention for Governor and made a vigorous campaign but was defeated by Governor Gear. Mr. Irish was long one of the trustees of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home. He removed to California, where he was for many years president of the board of directors of the State Home of the Adult Blind of which institution he was one of the founders. In 1896 Mr. Irish was one of the National leaders in organizing the political movement which resulted in the formation of the “Gold Standard” Democracy, which separated from the regular, or Bryan Democratic party, and supported another candidate for President. He was actively engaged in the campaign as a public speaker in several States and was a member of the executive committee of the Monetary Congress organized in 1897 to promote the permanent establishment of the gold standard. In 1894 Mr. Irish was appointed Naval Officer of Customs at San Francisco, which position he held at the close of the Nineteenth Century. JOHN N. IRWIN was born in Ohio, in 1847. His early education was secured in the public schools of that State, and later he attended the Miami University. After the close of the Civil War he went to Dartmouth College where he graduated in the class of 1867. He came with his father's family to Iowa, making his home in Keokuk where they engaged in mercantile business. At seventeen years of age he enlisted in the Union army. In 1875 he was elected Representative in the House of the Sixteenth General Assembly, serving one term. In 1883 Mr. Irwin was appointed by President Arthur, Governor of Idaho Territory. After returning to Keokuk he was elected mayor. In 1890 he was appointed by President Harrison Governor of the Territory of Arizona. In 1899 President McKinley tendered him the position of American minister to Portugal which he accepted, resigning after about a year's service, returning to his home in Keokuk. NORMAN W. ISBELL, lawyer and jurist, was a native of Ohio, born in about the year 1818. He received but a common school education, before entering upon the study of law. He came to Iowa in 1842 when it was a Territory, locating at Marion, in Linn County, where he opened