Sanford Kirkpatrick
Encyclopedia
Sanford "Sant" Kirkpatrick (February 11, 1842 - February 13, 1932) was a revenue agent and a one-term Democratic U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 6th congressional district
. He was the last Civil War
veteran elected to represent Iowa in Congress. Elected in 1912 to an historically Republican district in a year in which Bull Moose Party and Republican Party supporters split the Republican vote, Kirkpatrick failed to win renomination two years later.
Born near London, Ohio
, at age seven Kirkpatrick moved to Iowa in 1849 with his parents, who settled on a farm in Highland Township, Wapello County
. He attended the common schools until 1858.
During the Civil War
, Kirkpatrick entered the Union Army
as a private in the Second Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was promoted to first lieutenant. He served four years and four months, and fought at the Battle of Fort Donelson
, Battle of Shiloh
and Second Battle of Corinth
. Following the war, he returned to Wapello County to farm.
Kirkpatrick moved to Ottumwa, Iowa
, in 1876 and engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1887.
He also served as deputy recorder of Wapello County between 1876 and 1880, and as a member of the Ottumwa City Council from 1884 to 1887.
Kirkpatrick was the Greenback Party's
nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Iowa in 1883. He finished a distant third, behind Republican and Democratic candidates.
From 1887 to 1913, he served as an agent of the Internal Revenue Service, primarily in North Carolina and adjoining states. In his first few years as a revenue agent, he "rendered blind" by a gunshot, as stated in a special bill passed by the U.S. Congress in 1890 to increase his Civil War pension. Newspaper reports from 1912 stated that carried in his body more than twenty bullets and parts of bullets from the guns of moonshiners. His last four years with the agency were spent auditing banks and other corporations.
In 1912, the congressman for Iowa's 6th congressional district, Republican Nathan E. Kendall
, declined to run for re-election. Kirkpatrick was nominated by the Democratic Party to run for the vacancy. Republicans complained that Kirkpatrick was a resident of North Carolina, rather than Iowa. His supporters responded that while he worked in the South as a revenue agent he had returned to Iowa every year to vote, and emphasized his service in the Iowa Infantry in the Civil War. In a three-way race, Kirkpatrick was elected, winning by 1,138 votes out of over 30,000 cast.
When running for renomination in the Democratic primary two years later, Kirkpatrick was defeated by W.H. Hamilton. Kirkpatrick ran again for his former seat in 1916. This time he won the Democratic nomination, but lost in the general election to incumbent Republican C. William Ramseyer
. In all, Kirkpatrick served in Congress from March 4, 1913 to March 3, 1915.
He moved to Greensboro, North Carolina
, in 1916 and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died in Greensboro on February 13, 1932, two days after his 90th birthday.
He was interred in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Greensboro.
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....
. He was the last 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...
veteran elected to represent Iowa in Congress. Elected in 1912 to an historically Republican district in a year in which Bull Moose Party and Republican Party supporters split the Republican vote, Kirkpatrick failed to win renomination two years later.
Born near London, Ohio
London, Ohio
London is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Ohio, United States. Located about southwest of the Ohio capital of Columbus, London was established in 1811 to serve as the county seat. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,771, an increase from 7,807 in 1990. It is the...
, at age seven Kirkpatrick moved to Iowa in 1849 with his parents, who settled on a farm in Highland Township, Wapello County
Wapello County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 35,625 in the county, with a population density of . There were 16,098 housing units, of which 14,552 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. He attended the common schools until 1858.
During the 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...
, Kirkpatrick entered the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
as a private in the Second Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was promoted to first lieutenant. He served four years and four months, and fought at the Battle of Fort Donelson
Battle of Fort Donelson
The Battle of Fort Donelson was fought from February 11 to February 16, 1862, in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. The capture of the fort by Union forces opened the Cumberland River as an avenue for the invasion of the South. The success elevated Brig. Gen. Ulysses S...
, Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
and Second Battle of Corinth
Second Battle of Corinth
The Second Battle of Corinth was fought October 3–4, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. For the second time in the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S...
. Following the war, he returned to Wapello County to farm.
Kirkpatrick moved to Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa is a city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census. It is located in the southeastern part of Iowa, and the city is split into northern and southern halves by the Des Moines River....
, in 1876 and engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1887.
He also served as deputy recorder of Wapello County between 1876 and 1880, and as a member of the Ottumwa City Council from 1884 to 1887.
Kirkpatrick was the Greenback Party's
United States Greenback Party
The Greenback Party was an American political party with an anti-monopoly ideology that was active between 1874 and 1884. Its name referred to paper money, or "greenbacks," that had been issued during the American Civil War and afterward...
nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Iowa in 1883. He finished a distant third, behind Republican and Democratic candidates.
From 1887 to 1913, he served as an agent of the Internal Revenue Service, primarily in North Carolina and adjoining states. In his first few years as a revenue agent, he "rendered blind" by a gunshot, as stated in a special bill passed by the U.S. Congress in 1890 to increase his Civil War pension. Newspaper reports from 1912 stated that carried in his body more than twenty bullets and parts of bullets from the guns of moonshiners. His last four years with the agency were spent auditing banks and other corporations.
In 1912, the congressman for Iowa's 6th congressional district, Republican Nathan E. Kendall
Nathan E. Kendall
Nathan Edward Kendall , a Republican politician, was a two-term U.S. Representative from Iowa's 6th congressional district and the 23rd Governor of Iowa.-Background:...
, declined to run for re-election. Kirkpatrick was nominated by the Democratic Party to run for the vacancy. Republicans complained that Kirkpatrick was a resident of North Carolina, rather than Iowa. His supporters responded that while he worked in the South as a revenue agent he had returned to Iowa every year to vote, and emphasized his service in the Iowa Infantry in the Civil War. In a three-way race, Kirkpatrick was elected, winning by 1,138 votes out of over 30,000 cast.
When running for renomination in the Democratic primary two years later, Kirkpatrick was defeated by W.H. Hamilton. Kirkpatrick ran again for his former seat in 1916. This time he won the Democratic nomination, but lost in the general election to incumbent Republican C. William Ramseyer
C. William Ramseyer
Christian William Ramseyer was a nine-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 6th congressional district....
. In all, Kirkpatrick served in Congress from March 4, 1913 to March 3, 1915.
He moved to Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
, in 1916 and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died in Greensboro on February 13, 1932, two days after his 90th birthday.
He was interred in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Greensboro.