Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 4.djvu/65

 was the author of the resolutions passed by the latter providing for an investigation of the affairs and management of the Fort Madison Penitentiary and was made a member of the commission. In 1891 he was nominated by the Democratic State Convention for Lieutenant-Governor on the ticket with Governor Boies and was elected over George Van Houten, the Republican candidate, by a plurality of 3,098, being the only Democrat ever elected to that office in Iowa. BENJAMIN P. BIRDSALL was born at Weyamwega, Wisconsin, October 26, 1858. Coming to Iowa in 1870, he located at Alden, in Hardin County. He was educated in the public schools of Wisconsin and Iowa and the State University. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1878 and was a successful practitioner until 1893 when he was elected judge of the Eleventh Judicial District, serving five years. In 1898 he was reëlected, but resigned after two years, returning to the practice of law. In 1902 he was elected Representative in Congress for the Third District to succeed Hon. David B. Henderson. CHARLES A. BISHOP was born at Eagle, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, May 22, 1854. He was educated in the district schools, applying himself to the more advanced studies at home. He read law while working on the farm and teaching school winters; was admitted to the bar in 1875. The following year he removed to La Port City, Iowa, where he began the practice of law. Removing to Des Moines, he entered the office of Baker and Kavanaugh; he served as assistant Attorney-General for several years. In 1889 he was appointed judge of the District Court, and in 1897 was again appointed to the same position. In the following year he was elected to a full term. In 1902 Judge Bishop was appointed by Governor Cummins Judge of the Supreme Court to fill a vacancy, and at the following election was chosen for a full term. FREDERICK E. BISSELL, a pioneer teacher and lawyer of Iowa, was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, December 8, 1819. He was educated in the common schools and at Potsdam Academy. Coming to Iowa in 1845, while it was a Territory, he located at Dubuque, then a frontier town. He there taught school two years and then studied law with James Crawford, afterwards becoming his partner. During his practice he was the partner of Timothy Davis and Lincoln Clark, both of whom represented the Second District in Congress. He was later a law partner of Judge Shiras, Judge of the United States District Court of Northern Iowa. He was for many years a member of the Dubuque Board of Education and also of the city council. He was at one time president of the Dubuque, St. Paul and St. Peter Railway Company, and was later a member of the Dubuque Improvement Company. In January, 1866, he was appointed by