Page:Men of Mark in America vol 2.djvu/132

 JOHN FLETCHER LACEY ACEY, JOHN FLETCHER, lawyer, legislator, member of the United States house of representatives, was born at New Martinsville, West Virginia, May 30, 1841, son of John M. and Eleanor (Patten) Lacey. His grandfather was also named John M., and was descended from Spencer Lacey, who served as a soldier in the war of the Revolution. The parents of John F. removed to Iowa in 1855, where they located on a farm near Oskaloosa. His early education was limited to the country schools of that day, but was afterward improved by study in private schools. He was compelled by lack of means, to forego the advantages of a higher education, and he learned the trade of bricklaying.

When the Civil war began, he enlisted in Company H, 3rd Iowa infantry, and immediately went into active service. At the battle of Blue Mills he suffered capture, but subsequently obtained his release on parole and returned home to begin the study of law with Honorable Samuel A. Rice, then attorney-general of Iowa. After being exchanged in 1862, he reenlisted in Company D, 33rd Iowa volunteers, of which his preceptor was appointed colonel. He was soon promoted to first lieutenant of Company C, and afterward was appointed assistant adjutant-general on the staff of Brigadier-General, Samuel A. Rice serving in that position until the death of his chief. He was later assigned to duty on the staff of Major-General Frederick Steele until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Helena, Little Rock, Tenenoir, Poison Creek, Elkins Ford, Prairie d'Ann, Camden, Jenkins Ferry, and Blakely.

Shortly after his return to civil life, Mr. Lacey finished his law studies and was admitted to practice in the courts of the state in 1865. Four years later he was elected upon the Republican ticket to the thirteenth general assembly of the state of Iowa, serving one term, and subsequently he filled the office of city solicitor for Oskaloosa. He soon took high rank at the bar and in public affairs, and in 1888 he was elected to the fifty-first Congress from the sixth Iowa district. He has since served as a member of the fifty-third, fifty-fourth, fifty-