Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 4.djvu/422

  at Dubuque. From there he went to Plattsville, Wisconsin, where he was principal of an academy for many years. In 1859 he was elected Superintendent of Public Instruction for Wisconsin, serving six years. In 1864 he was chosen superintendent of schools in Chicago where he remained thirteen years, accomplishing much in the organization and unification of the system. In 1878 he was elected President of the Iowa State University, serving until 1887.

“In his educational work Dr. Pickard emphasized the acquisition of knowledge, not for its own sake, but for the sake of life and character. He led the young to seize upon ideals and to hold and cherish them.”

In 1894 Bowdoin College conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. Dr. Pickard was for some time president of the State Historical Society and contributed many valuable papers for the Historical Record and the Annals of Iowa, in addition to those for educational works. In 1900 he removed to Portland, Maine. CHARLES POMEROY was born in Meriden, Connecticut, September 3, 1825. He received a good education, studied law and began practice in his native town. In 1855 he came to Iowa and located at Boonesboro, in Boone County. The people of that frontier settlement were poor and peaceable and there was little business for lawyers. Mr. Pomeroy was an active Republican and being an eloquent public speaker soon became well known. In 1860 he was one of the presidential electors and when Lincoln became President, Mr. Pomeroy was appointed Receiver of the United States Land Office at Fort Dodge. In 1868 he was the Republican candidate for Congress in the old Sixth District and was elected. He served but one term, being defeated for renomination. He remained in Washington, becoming a claim agent and died there February 11, 1890. ASBURY B. PORTER was born in the State of Kentucky, in the year 1808. He removed to Iowa, making his home at Mount Pleasant where he was engaged in the mercantile business when the Civil War began. He first entered the service as major of the First Iowa Infantry, serving with distinguished ability at the Battle of Wilson's Creek. In October. 1861, he was appointed colonel of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry and served until the 8th of March when he was dismissed from the service by order of the President. The cause of his dismissal is not given in the published reports of the Adjutant General's Office. JOSEPH B. POWERS was born in Worcester, New York, in 1837. He was educated in the common schools and at Mexico Seminary. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and in 1860 came to Iowa. He was city attorney for Cedar Falls, and in 1865 was elected to the State Senate on the Republican ticket, serving in the Eleventh and Twelfth General