Frederick Edward White
Encyclopedia
Frederick Edward White was a one-term Democratic
U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 6th congressional district
.
Born in Prussia
, White immigrated to the United States in 1857 with his mother, who settled on a farm in Keokuk County, Iowa
.
When the American Civil War
began in 1861, he joined the 8th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
, but as a seventeen-year-old, he was rejected on account of age. In February 1962, after his eighteenth birthday, he enlisted in the 13th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
. He was mustered out in August 1865, after the war's end, and returned to Keokuk County and engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock raising.
In 1890, White received the Democratic nomination to run against incumbent Republican Congressman John F. Lacey
for the U.S. House seat in Iowa's 6th congressional district. A protectionist measure known as the McKinley tariff
had been approved by a Republican-controlled Congress and signed by a Republican president, but was extremely unpopular, especially in rural areas such as the 6th district, where it was blamed for making the agricultural economy worse. White took advantage of that backlash, and unseated Lacey, serving in the Fifty-second
Congress. However, in the next election, many Iowa voters returned to historic voting patterns, and White (and the other new Iowa Democratic congressmen) were not re-elected. Instead, Lacey reclaimed his seat, and would hold it until 1907. In all, White served in Congress from March 4, 1891 to March 3, 1893.
After his defeat, White retired from public life and resumed agricultural pursuits.
He died in Sigourney, Iowa
, on January 14, 1920. He was interred in Sigourney Cemetery.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 6th congressional district
Iowa's 6th congressional district
Iowa's 6th congressional district is a former congressional district in Iowa. It existed from 1862 to 1992, when it was lost due to Iowa's declining population....
.
Born in Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, White immigrated to the United States in 1857 with his mother, who settled on a farm in Keokuk County, Iowa
Keokuk County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,511 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,931 housing units, of which 4,408 were occupied.-2000 census:...
.
When the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
began in 1861, he joined the 8th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
8th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 8th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 8th Iowa Infantry was organized at Davenport, Iowa and mustered into Federal service between August 31 and September 4, 1861.The regiment was mustered out on...
, but as a seventeen-year-old, he was rejected on account of age. In February 1962, after his eighteenth birthday, he enlisted in the 13th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
13th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 13th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 13th Iowa Infantry was organized at Davenport, Iowa and mustered in for three years of Federal service between October 18 and November 2, 1861.The regiment...
. He was mustered out in August 1865, after the war's end, and returned to Keokuk County and engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock raising.
In 1890, White received the Democratic nomination to run against incumbent Republican Congressman John F. Lacey
John F. Lacey
John Fletcher Lacey was an eight-term Republican United States congressman from Iowa's 6th congressional district. He was also the author of the Lacey Act of 1900, which made it a crime to ship illegal game across state lines, and the Lacey Act of 1907, which further regulated the handling of...
for the U.S. House seat in Iowa's 6th congressional district. A protectionist measure known as the McKinley tariff
McKinley Tariff
The Tariff Act of 1890, commonly called the McKinley Tariff, was an act framed by Representative William McKinley that became law on October 1, 1890. The tariff raised the average duty on imports to almost fifty percent, an act designed to protect domestic industries from foreign competition...
had been approved by a Republican-controlled Congress and signed by a Republican president, but was extremely unpopular, especially in rural areas such as the 6th district, where it was blamed for making the agricultural economy worse. White took advantage of that backlash, and unseated Lacey, serving in the Fifty-second
52nd United States Congress
The Fifty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
Congress. However, in the next election, many Iowa voters returned to historic voting patterns, and White (and the other new Iowa Democratic congressmen) were not re-elected. Instead, Lacey reclaimed his seat, and would hold it until 1907. In all, White served in Congress from March 4, 1891 to March 3, 1893.
After his defeat, White retired from public life and resumed agricultural pursuits.
He died in Sigourney, Iowa
Sigourney, Iowa
Sigourney is a city in Keokuk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,059 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Keokuk County.-History:...
, on January 14, 1920. He was interred in Sigourney Cemetery.