Nathaniel Cobb Deering
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Cobb Deering was a three-term Republican
U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 4th congressional district
, then in northeastern Iowa.
Born in Denmark, Maine
to James and Elizabeth Prentiss Deering, Nathanial Deering attended the common schools and was graduated from North Bridgeton Academy. After teaching school and working as a store clerk, he left to participate in the California Gold Rush
in 1850, returning after two years with a "considerable fortune." He used his newfound wealth to enter the paper manufacturing business but that business was destroyed by fire in 1856.
Meanwhile, he served as member of the Maine House of Representatives
from Penobscot County
in 1855 and 1856.
He moved to Iowa
, and settled in Osage
, in Mitchell County
, in 1857.
He engaged in the lumber business and built and operated a sawmill.
For several years he served as a clerk in the United States Senate
as a result of his connection to then-Vice President Hannibal Hamlin
, but resigned in 1865.
He served as special agent of the Post Office Department for the districts of Minnesota
, Iowa, and Nebraska
from 1865 to 1869, when he resigned.
From 1872 to 1877, he served as a national-bank examiner for the State of Iowa.
In 1876, Deering was elected as a Republican to represent Iowa's 4th congressional district in the 45th United States Congress
. He was re-elected twice, serving in the Forty-sixth
. and Forty-seventh
Congresses. He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of State (in the Forty-seventh Congress).
In 1881, the congressional districts in Iowa were reapportioned to accommodate the addition of two new districts. In northeastern Iowa, Deering's home county and the home county of third district representative Thomas Updegraff
were included in the reconfigured fourth district. Updegraff ran for the Republican nomination for the seat, but in May 1882, Deering announced that he would not be a candidate. In all, Deering served in Congress from March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1883.
Returning to Iowa, Deering engaged in agricultural pursuits.
He was also interested in cattle raising in Montana
, and at the time of his death served as president of a large cattle company in that territory.
He died in Osage on December 11, 1887, while suffering from malaria. He was interred in Osage Cemetery.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
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 4th congressional district
Iowa's 4th congressional district
Iowa's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers most of the north-central part of the state....
, then in northeastern Iowa.
Born in Denmark, Maine
Denmark, Maine
Denmark is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,004 at the 2000 census. A number of recreationally-used ponds and lakes are located within the town.-History:...
to James and Elizabeth Prentiss Deering, Nathanial Deering attended the common schools and was graduated from North Bridgeton Academy. After teaching school and working as a store clerk, he left to participate in the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
in 1850, returning after two years with a "considerable fortune." He used his newfound wealth to enter the paper manufacturing business but that business was destroyed by fire in 1856.
Meanwhile, he served as member of the Maine House of Representatives
Maine House of Representatives
The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
from Penobscot County
Penobscot County, Maine
Penobscot County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. For U.S. Census statistical purposes, it is part of the Bangor, Maine, New England County Metropolitan Area . As of 2010, the population was 153,923...
in 1855 and 1856.
He moved to Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, and settled in Osage
Osage, Iowa
Osage is a city in Mitchell County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,451 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mitchell County.-Geography:Osage is located at ....
, in Mitchell County
Mitchell County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,776 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,850 housing units, of which 4,395 were occupied.-2000 census:According to the U.S...
, in 1857.
He engaged in the lumber business and built and operated a sawmill.
For several years he served as a clerk in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
as a result of his connection to then-Vice President Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin was the 15th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War...
, but resigned in 1865.
He served as special agent of the Post Office Department for the districts of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, Iowa, and Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
from 1865 to 1869, when he resigned.
From 1872 to 1877, he served as a national-bank examiner for the State of Iowa.
In 1876, Deering was elected as a Republican to represent Iowa's 4th congressional district in the 45th United States Congress
45th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:-Senate:*President: William A. Wheeler *President pro tempore: Thomas W. Ferry -House of Representatives:*Speaker: Samuel J. Randall -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
. He was re-elected twice, serving in the Forty-sixth
46th United States Congress
The Forty-sixth 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. from March 4, 1879 to March 4, 1881, during the last two years of...
. and Forty-seventh
47th United States Congress
The Forty-seventh 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. from March 4, 1881 to March 4, 1883, during the administration...
Congresses. He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of State (in the Forty-seventh Congress).
In 1881, the congressional districts in Iowa were reapportioned to accommodate the addition of two new districts. In northeastern Iowa, Deering's home county and the home county of third district representative Thomas Updegraff
Thomas Updegraff
Thomas Updegraff was an attorney and five-term Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from northeastern Iowa. His two periods of service were separated by ten years out of Congress....
were included in the reconfigured fourth district. Updegraff ran for the Republican nomination for the seat, but in May 1882, Deering announced that he would not be a candidate. In all, Deering served in Congress from March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1883.
Returning to Iowa, Deering engaged in agricultural pursuits.
He was also interested in cattle raising in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, and at the time of his death served as president of a large cattle company in that territory.
He died in Osage on December 11, 1887, while suffering from malaria. He was interred in Osage Cemetery.