Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 4.djvu/54

 George G. Wright, who was a member of the Senate from Iowa, pronounced his acquittal just and his opinion was heartily indorsed by the people of Iowa who never lost confidence in the gallant officer. General Belknap died at Washington, October 13, 1890, and was buried in the National Cemetery at Arlington. Hugh J., a son of General Belknap, became a member of Congress from Chicago.  GEORGE W. BEMIS was born in Spencer, Massachusetts, on the 13th of October 1826. His father removed with his family to Genesee County, New York, in 1837, where George, who was the only son, remained on his father's farm until the age of twenty-one. He received a good education and taught school for several years. In 1854 he came to Iowa, taking up his residence at Independence, Buchanan County, which became his permanent home. Mr. Bemis served several years as county surveyor. In 1859 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the House of the Eighth General Assembly, serving through the regular and extra sessions. He was for seven years in the postal service. In 1871 he was elected to the State Senate, serving four years. He was for many years Commissioner of the Hospital for the Insane at Independence of which he was treasurer. In 1876 he was elected State Treasurer on the Republican ticket and at the expiration of the term was reëlected, serving four years. The State has never had a more competent and faithful public official than George W. Bemis.  NARCISSA T. BEMIS was born in Alabama, Genesee County, New York, May 8, 1829. She came to Iowa and on the 11th of April, 1865, married George W. Bemis, who became a prominent public official of the State. Their home was at Independence, in Buchanan County. During the Civil War Mrs. Bemis was one of the most efficient and devoted workers on the Sanitary Commission and untiring in her labor to aid the soldiers in camp, hospital and field. She was an active worker in the Children's Aid Society, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and many other good works. Mrs. Bemis was especially interested in the Political Equality Club and was a life-long worker for the enfranchisement of women, giving her time, work and means liberally for the advancement of this cause before the State Legislatures. She was a valued worker in the Iowa Unitarian Association. She died on the 9th of August, 1899. THOMAS H. BENTON, JR., was a nephew of the great Missouri statesman whose name he bore. He was born in Williamson County, Tennessee, on the 5th of September, 1816. His education was acquired at Huntington Academy and he graduated from Marion College, Missouri. In 1839 he located at Dubuque, Iowa, where he taught school and afterwards became a merchant. In 1846 he was elected to the Senate of the