Bio

• Born in Perry, Ohio. Graduate of Western Reserve College, Hudson, Ohio, in 1849. Admitted to the bar in 1852 and practiced in Ashland, Ohio. Married Anna Carter in 1854; she died in 1860. Married Mary Neally in 1873. Moved to Dubuque, Iowa in 1857 and practiced law. He served as a lieutenant colonel in the Union Army during the Civil War.

  Elected to Congress and served March 4, 1863, to March 3, 1871. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Senate in 1870. Elected to the Senate in 1872 and served March 4, 1873 until his death. In 1908 he was the oldest member of the Senate. He died in Dubuque, Iowa.

  He was Senate sponsor of the Bland-Allison Act. It resulted in the issue of the "Bland" or "Morgan" dollar in 1878.

  bio: ApCAB; BDC; DAB; NCAB 1; TCBDA; WAB; WWWA-H

Date of birth

• 1829-03-02

Place of birth

• Perry, Ohio

Date of death

• 1908-08-04

Relationships