SAMUEL McNUTT was born near Londonderry, Ireland, November 21, 1825. His father emigrated to America when the son was a child and located on a farm in Delaware. Samuel was educated in Delaware College, taught school and studied law. He removed to Milwaukee where he was admitted to the bar in 1851. He came to Iowa in 1854, and engaged in teaching at Muscatine. He joined D. F. Wells in the publication of the Voice of Iowa, the first educational periodical in the State. In 1856 Mr. McNutt purchased an interest in the Muscatine Enquirer, assuming the editorial management. A few years later he became associate editor of the Dubuque Herald with J. B. Dorr. Up to this time Mr. McNutt had been a “Douglas Democrat” but when the Civil War began he became a warm supporter of Lincoln's administration as a Union Democrat. The “War Democrats” were displeased with the position of the Herald and united in establishing The Evening Union with Mr. McNutt as editor. It was a strong supporter of the war measures of Congress and the President. After the Union was discontinued he became one of the editors of the Dubuque Times, afterwards returning to Muscatine. Having united with the Republican party he was elected in the fall of 1863 Representative in the Legislature where he served by reëlection for six years and at the close of his third term was elected to the Senate for four years. He was one of the early and able advocates of legislative control of railroads and in all matters before the Legislature was an earnest champion of the interests of the industrial classes and the author of many excellent laws. In 1872 he was a prominent candidate for State Treasurer before the Republican Convention but was defeated by the railroad influence which was united against him. In August, 1890, he was appointed by President Harrison United States Consul at Maracaibo, in Venezuela.
SMITH McPHERSON was born in Morgan County, Indiana, February 14, 1848. He was reared on a farm, received a liberal education and removing to Iowa entered the State University, graduating in the Law Department in 1870. He located at Red Oak in Montgomery County and entered upon the practice of law. In 1874 he was elected on the Republican ticket District Attorney for the Third District, serving six years. In 1880 he was elected Attorney-General of the State, serving four years. In 1898 he was elected to Congress for the Ninth District. In 1900 he was appointed by the President United States judge for the Southern District of Iowa.
ALFRED H. McVEY was born in Fayette County, Ohio, and his education was obtained in the schools of that State. When the Civil War came he enlisted in the Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served until mustered out. He then entered the Ohio Wesleyan University and was graduated in 1868. Later he graduated from the Law Department
