History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Henry H. Trimble

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HENRY H. TRIMBLE was born in Rush County, Indiana, May 7, 1827. He was reared on a farm and for several years taught school winters. He graduated at Asbury University in 1847 and went directly from college to the Mexican War, serving under Colonel James H. Lane of the Fifth Indiana Volunteers. He read law with Thomas A. Hendricks and came to Iowa in November, 1849, where he pursued his studies with Judge J. F. Kinney of the Supreme Court, at Keosauqua. He was elected county attorney, serving four years, at Bloomfleld where he had located. In 1855 he was elected to the State Senate for four years. In 1858 he was nominated for Representative in Congress by the Democrats of the First District but was defeated by Samuel R. Curtis the Republican candidate. At the beginning of the Civil War Mr. Trimble helped to raise the Third Iowa Cavalry of which he was appointed lieutenant-colonel. In 1862 while leading a charge at the Battle of Pea Ridge, he was severely wounded and in October was discharged for disability. Upon his return home he was elected judge of the Second District, serving four years. In 1865 he was the Democratic candidate for Judge of the Supreme Court but was not elected. In the Eleventh General Assembly Colonel Trimble received the votes of the Democrats for United States Senator. In 1868 Judge Trimble became president of the St. Louis & Cedar Rapids Railroad Company. In 1872 he was the Democratic candidate for Congress in the Sixth District and was defeated. In 1876 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention which nominated Tilden for President. In 1878 he was elected President of the State Bar Association. He has long ranked among the most eminent lawyers of the State and, had his party been in the majority, would have been elevated to the highest official positions.