Samuel M. Clark
Encyclopedia
Samuel Mercer Clark was a two-term Republican
U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 1st congressional district
at the end of the 19th century. He was the first Iowa-born member of Congress.
in the portion of Iowa Territory
that would later become the State of Iowa, Clark attended the public schools and the Des Moines Valley College, in West Point, Iowa
. He went on to study law in the office of Judge (and future U.S. Senator) George G. Wright
and was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1864. However, he did not practice extensively.
, for 31 years. He served as delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1872, 1876, and 1880.
He was appointed commissioner of education to the Paris Exposition in 1889
. He served as Keokuk's Postmaster from 1879-1885. He was a member of the Keokuk Board of Education from 1879–1894, and served as the Board's president from 1882 until 1894.
In 1894, Clark was elected as a Republican to represent Iowa's 1st congressional district (in southeastern Iowa) in the Fifty-fourth
Congress. He replaced John H. Gear
, whom the Iowa General Assembly had chosen to serve as a U.S. Senator. Two years later Clark won re-election, and served in the Fifty-fifth
Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1898. In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1895 to March 3, 1899. After returning to Iowa, he resumed his editorial duties in Keokuk.
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 1st congressional district
Iowa's 1st congressional district
Iowa's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers the northeastern part of the state. The district includes Dubuque, Clinton, Davenport and Waterloo....
at the end of the 19th century. He was the first Iowa-born member of Congress.
Early years
Born near KeosauquaKeosauqua, Iowa
Keosauqua is a city in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,066 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Van Buren County.-History:...
in the portion of Iowa Territory
Iowa Territory
The Territory of Iowa was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1838, until December 28, 1846, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Iowa.-History:...
that would later become the State of Iowa, Clark attended the public schools and the Des Moines Valley College, in West Point, Iowa
West Point, Iowa
West Point is a city in Lee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 980 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Fort Madison–Keokuk, IA-MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. He went on to study law in the office of Judge (and future U.S. Senator) George G. Wright
George G. Wright
George Grover Wright was a pioneer lawyer, Iowa Supreme Court justice, law professor, and Republican United States Senator from Iowa....
and was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1864. However, he did not practice extensively.
Career
He was editor of the Keokuk Daily Gate City in Keokuk, IowaKeokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...
, for 31 years. He served as delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1872, 1876, and 1880.
He was appointed commissioner of education to the Paris Exposition in 1889
Exposition Universelle (1889)
The Exposition Universelle of 1889 was a World's Fair held in Paris, France from 6 May to 31 October 1889.It was held during the year of the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, an event traditionally considered as the symbol for the beginning of the French Revolution...
. He served as Keokuk's Postmaster from 1879-1885. He was a member of the Keokuk Board of Education from 1879–1894, and served as the Board's president from 1882 until 1894.
In 1894, Clark was elected as a Republican to represent Iowa's 1st congressional district (in southeastern Iowa) in the Fifty-fourth
54th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Adlai E. Stevenson * President pro tempore: William P. Frye - Majority leadership :* Republican Conference Chairman: John Sherman- Minority leadership :...
Congress. He replaced John H. Gear
John H. Gear
John Henry Gear was the 11th Governor of Iowa, United States Representative, and Senator.-Biography:Born in Ithaca, New York, he attended the common schools and moved to Galena, Illinois in 1836, to Fort Snelling, Iowa, in 1838, and to Burlington in 1843, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits...
, whom the Iowa General Assembly had chosen to serve as a U.S. Senator. Two years later Clark won re-election, and served in the Fifty-fifth
55th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:* Republican: 206 * Democratic: 124* Populist: 22* Silver Republican: 3* Silver: 1* Independent Republican: 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Garret Hobart * President pro tempore: William P...
Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1898. In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1895 to March 3, 1899. After returning to Iowa, he resumed his editorial duties in Keokuk.