Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 4.djvu/297

 and became sole editor and proprietor. He was a Whig and then a Republican. Few men have worked more intelligently for the development of a town and State that this pioneer journalist. Mr. Junkin held many local offices but never sought higher positions, preferring to give his best energies to his chosen profession. During General Harrison's administration he served as United States Indian Inspector. Mr. Junkin died at his home in Fairfield on the 21st of February, 1903, at the age of seventy-three, after service as a journalist continuously for more than half a century on the Fairfield Ledger. JOHN L. KAMRER has long been one of the prominent lawyers and Republicans of north central Iowa. He was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, October 12, 1842, secured a liberal education and was at one time principal of the public schools of Savannah, Illinois. He was a lieutenant in the One Hundred Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteers in 1864. In 1869 Mr. Kamrer removed to Iowa, locating in Webster City, where he soon after began the practice of law and has attained high rank in the profession. In 1881 he was elected to the State Senate from the district composed of the counties of Hamilton and Hardin, serving in the Nineteenth and Twentieth General Assemblies. He was the author of a number of important laws which remain on the statute books. At the Republican State Convention of 1895 Mr. Kamrer was one of the prominent candidates for nomination for Governor. JOHN A. KASSON was born at Charlotte, Vermont, January 11, 1822. His father died when he was but six years old and his boyhood days were a struggle to support himself and secure an education. He finally graduated at the State University in 1842, taught school and studied law. In 1851 he went to St. Louis and practiced his profession for six years. Tn 1857 he removed to Des Moines and in 1858 was appointed by Governor Lowe to examine and report upon the condition of the State offices. The same year he was chosen chairman of the Republican State Committee and effected a strong organization of the new party. He was a delegate from Iowa to the famous National Republican Convention held at Chicago in May, 1860, which nominated Abraham Lincoln for President and was selected by the Iowa delegation to act on the committee on resolutions which at that critical time was to frame a platform for the party in the campaign. The committee was made up with great care in view of the momentous issues involved and among its members were some of the most eminent men of the Nation. It consisted of one from each State and upon its organization and comparison of views it was evident that the drafting of a platform must be delegated to a few men to expedite the work. On motion of Mr. Kasson a subcommittee of five was chosen for this purpose. It consisted of Horace Greeley, Carl Schurz, John A. Kasson, Austin