William Henry Mills Pusey
Encyclopedia
William Henry Mills Pusey (July 29, 1826 - November 15, 1900), a banker, was a one-term Democratic
U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 9th congressional district
in southwestern Iowa from 1883 to 1885.
Born in Washington County, Pennsylvania
, Pusey attended the Washington and Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, and was graduated in 1847.
He studied law and was admitted to the bar
but did not engage in extensive practice.
Moving to Iowa, he entered into the banking business in Council Bluffs
in 1856.
He served as member of the Iowa Senate
from 1858 to 1862, representing a 22-county district in sparsely-populated western Iowa.
In 1882, Pusey became the first Democrat elected to Congress from southwestern Iowa since the outbreak of the Civil War
, defeating Republican nominee (and future Congressman) Albert R. Anderson
. While serving in the Forty-eighth
Congress, he ran for re-election in 1884. He retained the Democratic nomination but was defeated by Republican Joseph Lyman
. In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1885.
Returning to Iowa, he resumed banking activities. He died in Council Bluffs, Iowa
, on November 15, 1900. He was interred in Walnut Hill 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 9th congressional district
Iowa's 9th congressional district
Iowa’s 9th congressional district existed from 1873 to 1943. The district was configured four times, first as part of a nine-district plan, then twice in eleven-district plans, then again in a nine-district plan...
in southwestern Iowa from 1883 to 1885.
Born in Washington County, Pennsylvania
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
, Pusey attended the Washington and Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, and was graduated in 1847.
He studied law and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
but did not engage in extensive practice.
Moving to Iowa, he entered into the banking business in Council Bluffs
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
in 1856.
He served as member of the Iowa Senate
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
from 1858 to 1862, representing a 22-county district in sparsely-populated western Iowa.
In 1882, Pusey became the first Democrat elected to Congress from southwestern Iowa since the outbreak of 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...
, defeating Republican nominee (and future Congressman) Albert R. Anderson
Albert R. Anderson
Albert Raney Anderson was a one-term U.S. Representative from Iowa's 8th congressional district in southwestern Iowa...
. While serving in the Forty-eighth
48th United States Congress
The Forty-eighth 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, 1883 to March 4, 1885, during the last two years...
Congress, he ran for re-election in 1884. He retained the Democratic nomination but was defeated by Republican Joseph Lyman
Joseph Lyman
Joseph Lyman was a Civil War soldier, lawyer, and judge. In the 1880s, he was a two-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 9th congressional district in southwestern Iowa.-Biography:...
. In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1885.
Returning to Iowa, he resumed banking activities. He died in Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
, on November 15, 1900. He was interred in Walnut Hill Cemetery.