History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Jonathan W. Cattell
JONATHAN W. CATTELL was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, June 25, 1820. He acquired a liberal education and came to Iowa in 1846, locating on a farm near Springdale in Cedar County. In 1852 he was elected Clerk of the District Court, serving four years. In 1856 he was a delegate to the Convention which founded the Republican party of Iowa. The same year he was elected to the State Senate, serving four years. In 1858 he was elected Auditor of State and at the close of his term was reflected. He instituted many reforms in the management of the business of that important office and served three terms. Becoming a citizen of Polk County, he was, in 1865, again elected to the Senate for four years. In 1885 Mr. Cattell was appointed by Governor Sherman to fill a vacancy in the office of Auditor of State. He was for several years President of the State Insurance Company. During his twenty years of public life Mr. Cattell rendered valuable service to the State, originating many excellent laws and improved methods of transacting public business. In religion he was a Quaker and in the years of slavery a radical Abolitionist. He died on the 25th of September, 1887.