1850-1854, Stephen Hempstead

1850-1854, Stephen Hempstead

Stephen Hempstead, Iowa's second governor, was born in New London, Connecticut. on October 1, 1812, the eighth son of Joseph and Celinda (Hutchinson) Hempstead. When he was 13, his father, who was in the boot and shoe business, was for some months imprisoned for debt, as a result of the machinations of a crooked partner. During that period, Hempstead worked in a woolen mill. On his father's release, the family settled on a farm near St. Louis. Hempstead disliked farm life, so in 1830 he went to work in a store in Galena, Illinois. In 1832, during the Black Hawk War, he enlisted in an artillery company. After the war, he studied law at Illinois College, Jacksonville; then in St. Louis; and finally with an uncle who was a lawyer in Galena. Admitted to the bar in 1836, he became the first lawyer to practice in Dubuque. In 1837 he married Lavinia Moore Lackland of Baltimore. They had three sons and three daughters. In 1838 Hempstead was elected to the Legislative Council (the upper house) of the First Legislative Assembly of Territorial Iowa. He held this position until 1848 and served as president for many years. He also served on the commission that revised Iowa's state laws, which were enacted after minor changes in 1851. In 1850, Hempstead won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and on December 4, 1850 he was sworn into office. During his tenure, fifty-two new counties were created, fiscal conservation was practiced, the Iowa Constitution of 1846 was endorsed, and the influx of new settlers to the state was encouraged. His recommendation to establish the Office of Attorney General was adopted by the legislature. Temperance was a major issue while Hempstead was governor. The only restriction on the sale of liquor was that it could not be consumed on the premises where it was sold. In 1852-1853 advocates of prohibition flooded the General Assembly with petitions favoring prohibition. But the governor apparently neutralized them by advocating ""a judicious license system placed under the control of local authorities, "" and the legislature took no action. Hempstead hated banks because he thought that they swindled people. The Iowa Constitution of 1846 prohibited banking, and twice the governor vetoed bills to summon a convention to amend the state constitution so as to permit banking. He was more farsighted when he advocated ""an asylum for lunatics.""During his governorship, the Sioux Indians in 1851 signed a treaty giving up the last of their land in Iowa. In 1854 Hempstead ran for the U.S. Congress but lostaccording to editorial opinion, his opponent's support of prohibition decided the election. Back in Dubuque from 1855 on, Hempstead was repeatedly elected county judge until that office was abolished in 1869. Under his administration, the jail, poorhouse, and important bridges were built. Then he was county auditor from 1869-1873 until retiring due to ill health in 1873. In 1882 Hempsteadthe grand old man of Dubuquewas honored by being elected justice of the peace on both party tickets. The following year he died at his daughter's home on February 16th. Five years earlier, he had fallen on an icy sidewalk, which resulted in the amputation of his right leg. His wife died in 1871, and his daughter Olivia Richmond became his mainstay. He was never separated from her in his last years and often referred to her as his ""aide-de-camp. Stephen Hempstead, Iowa's second governor, was born in New London, Connecticut. on October 1, 1812, the eighth son of Joseph and Celinda (Hutchinson) Hempstead. When he was 13, his father, who was in the boot and shoe business, was for some months imprisoned for debt, as a result of the machinations of a crooked partner. During that period, Hempstead worked in a woolen mill. On his father's release, the family settled on a farm near St. Louis. Hempstead disliked farm life, so in 1830 he went to work in a store in Galena, Illinois. In 1832, during the Black Hawk War, he enlisted in an artillery company. After the war, he studied law at Illinois College, Jacksonville; then in St. Louis; and finally with an uncle who was a lawyer in Galena. Admitted to the bar in 1836, he became the first lawyer to practice in Dubuque. In 1837 he married Lavinia Moore Lackland of Baltimore. They had three sons and three daughters. In 1838 Hempstead was elected to the Legislative Council (the upper house) of the First Legislative Assembly of Territorial Iowa. He held this position until 1848 and served as president for many years. He also served on the commission that revised Iowa's state laws, which were enacted after minor changes in 1851. In 1850, Hempstead won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and on December 4, 1850 he was sworn into office. During his tenure, fifty-two new counties were created, fiscal conservation was practiced, the Iowa Constitution of 1846 was endorsed, and the influx of new settlers to the state was encouraged. His recommendation to establish the Office of Attorney General was adopted by the legislature. Temperance was a major issue while Hempstead was governor. The only restriction on the sale of liquor was that it could not be consumed on the premises where it was sold. In 1852-1853 advocates of prohibition flooded the General Assembly with petitions favoring prohibition. But the governor apparently neutralized them by advocating ""a judicious license system placed under the control of local authorities, "" and the legislature took no action. Hempstead hated banks because he thought that they swindled people. The Iowa Constitution of 1846 prohibited banking, and twice the governor vetoed bills to summon a convention to amend the state constitution so as to permit banking. He was more farsighted when he advocated ""an asylum for lunatics.""During his governorship, the Sioux Indians in 1851 signed a treaty giving up the last of their land in Iowa. In 1854 Hempstead ran for the U.S. Congress but lostaccording to editorial opinion, his opponent's support of prohibition decided the election. Back in Dubuque from 1855 on, Hempstead was repeatedly elected county judge until that office was abolished in 1869. Under his administration, the jail, poorhouse, and important bridges were built. Then he was county auditor from 1869-1873 until retiring due to ill health in 1873. In 1882 Hempsteadthe grand old man of Dubuquewas honored by being elected justice of the peace on both party tickets. The following year he died at his daughter's home on February 16th. Five years earlier, he had fallen on an icy sidewalk, which resulted in the amputation of his right leg. His wife died in 1871, and his daughter Olivia Richmond became his mainstay. He was never separated from her in his last years and often referred to her as his ""aide-de-camp. Stephen Hempstead, Iowa's second governor, was born in New London, Connecticut. on October 1, 1812, the eighth son of Joseph and Celinda (Hutchinson) Hempstead. When he was 13, his father, who was in the boot and shoe business, was for some months imprisoned for debt, as a result of the machinations of a crooked partner. During that period, Hempstead worked in a woolen mill. On his father's release, the family settled on a farm near St. Louis. Hempstead disliked farm life, so in 1830 he went to work in a store in Galena, Illinois. In 1832, during the Black Hawk War, he enlisted in an artillery company. After the war, he studied law at Illinois College, Jacksonville; then in St. Louis; and finally with an uncle who was a lawyer in Galena. Admitted to the bar in 1836, he became the first lawyer to practice in Dubuque. In 1837 he married Lavinia Moore Lackland of Baltimore. They had three sons and three daughters. In 1838 Hempstead was elected to the Legislative Council (the upper house) of the First Legislative Assembly of Territorial Iowa. He held this position until 1848 and served as president for many years. He also served on the commission that revised Iowa's state laws, which were enacted after minor changes in 1851. In 1850, Hempstead won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and on December 4, 1850 he was sworn into office. During his tenure, fifty-two new counties were created, fiscal conservation was practiced, the Iowa Constitution of 1846 was endorsed, and the influx of new settlers to the state was encouraged. His recommendation to establish the Office of Attorney General was adopted by the legislature. Temperance was a major issue while Hempstead was governor. The only restriction on the sale of liquor was that it could not be consumed on the premises where it was sold. In 1852-1853 advocates of prohibition flooded the General Assembly with petitions favoring prohibition. But the governor apparently neutralized them by advocating ""a judicious license system placed under the control of local authorities, "" and the legislature took no action. Hempstead hated banks because he thought that they swindled people. The Iowa Constitution of 1846 prohibited banking, and twice the governor vetoed bills to summon a convention to amend the state constitution so as to permit banking. He was more farsighted when he advocated ""an asylum for lunatics.""During his governorship, the Sioux Indians in 1851 signed a treaty giving up the last of their land in Iowa. In 1854 Hempstead ran for the U.S. Congress but lostaccording to editorial opinion, his opponent's support of prohibition decided the election. Back in Dubuque from 1855 on, Hempstead was repeatedly elected county judge until that office was abolished in 1869. Under his administration, the jail, poorhouse, and important bridges were built. Then he was county auditor from 1869-1873 until retiring due to ill health in 1873. In 1882 Hempsteadthe grand old man of Dubuquewas honored by being elected justice of the peace on both party tickets. The following year he died at his daughter's home on February 16th. Five years earlier, he had fallen on an icy sidewalk, which resulted in the amputation of his right leg. His wife died in 1871, and his daughter Olivia Richmond became his mainstay. He was never separated from her in his last years and often referred to her as his ""aide-de-camp. Stephen Hempstead, Iowa's second governor, was born in New London, Connecticut. on October 1, 1812, the eighth son of Joseph and Celinda (Hutchinson) Hempstead. When he was 13, his father, who was in the boot and shoe business, was for some months imprisoned for debt, as a result of the machinations of a crooked partner. During that period, Hempstead worked in a woolen mill. On his father's release, the family settled on a farm near St. Louis. Hempstead disliked farm life, so in 1830 he went to work in a store in Galena, Illinois. In 1832, during the Black Hawk War, he enlisted in an artillery company. After the war, he studied law at Illinois College, Jacksonville; then in St. Louis; and finally with an uncle who was a lawyer in Galena. Admitted to the bar in 1836, he became the first lawyer to practice in Dubuque. In 1837 he married Lavinia Moore Lackland of Baltimore. They had three sons and three daughters. In 1838 Hempstead was elected to the Legislative Council (the upper house) of the First Legislative Assembly of Territorial Iowa. He held this position until 1848 and served as president for many years. He also served on the commission that revised Iowa's state laws, which were enacted after minor changes in 1851. In 1850, Hempstead won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and on December 4, 1850 he was sworn into office. During his tenure, fifty-two new counties were created, fiscal conservation was practiced, the Iowa Constitution of 1846 was endorsed, and the influx of new settlers to the state was encouraged. His recommendation to establish the Office of Attorney General was adopted by the legislature. Temperance was a major issue while Hempstead was governor. The only restriction on the sale of liquor was that it could not be consumed on the premises where it was sold. In 1852-1853 advocates of prohibition flooded the General Assembly with petitions favoring prohibition. But the governor apparently neutralized them by advocating ""a judicious license system placed under the control of local authorities, "" and the legislature took no action. Hempstead hated banks because he thought that they swindled people. The Iowa Constitution of 1846 prohibited banking, and twice the governor vetoed bills to summon a convention to amend the state constitution so as to permit banking. He was more farsighted when he advocated ""an asylum for lunatics.""During his governorship, the Sioux Indians in 1851 signed a treaty giving up the last of their land in Iowa. In 1854 Hempstead ran for the U.S. Congress but lostaccording to editorial opinion, his opponent's support of prohibition decided the election. Back in Dubuque from 1855 on, Hempstead was repeatedly elected county judge until that office was abolished in 1869. Under his administration, the jail, poorhouse, and important bridges were built. Then he was county auditor from 1869-1873 until retiring due to ill health in 1873. In 1882 Hempsteadthe grand old man of Dubuquewas honored by being elected justice of the peace on both party tickets. The following year he died at his daughter's home on February 16th. Five years earlier, he had fallen on an icy sidewalk, which resulted in the amputation of his right leg. His wife died in 1871, and his daughter Olivia Richmond became his mainstay. He was never separated from her in his last years and often referred to her as his ""aide-de-camp. Stephen Hempstead, Iowa's second governor, was born in New London, Connecticut. on October 1, 1812, the eighth son of Joseph and Celinda (Hutchinson) Hempstead. When he was 13, his father, who was in the boot and shoe business, was for some months imprisoned for debt, as a result of the machinations of a crooked partner. During that period, Hempstead worked in a woolen mill. On his father's release, the family settled on a farm near St. Louis. Hempstead disliked farm life, so in 1830 he went to work in a store in Galena, Illinois. In 1832, during the Black Hawk War, he enlisted in an artillery company. After the war, he studied law at Illinois College, Jacksonville; then in St. Louis; and finally with an uncle who was a lawyer in Galena. Admitted to the bar in 1836, he became the first lawyer to practice in Dubuque. In 1837 he married Lavinia Moore Lackland of Baltimore. They had three sons and three daughters. In 1838 Hempstead was elected to the Legislative Council (the upper house) of the First Legislative Assembly of Territorial Iowa. He held this position until 1848 and served as president for many years. He also served on the commission that revised Iowa's state laws, which were enacted after minor changes in 1851. In 1850, Hempstead won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and on December 4, 1850 he was sworn into office. During his tenure, fifty-two new counties were created, fiscal conservation was practiced, the Iowa Constitution of 1846 was endorsed, and the influx of new settlers to the state was encouraged. His recommendation to establish the Office of Attorney General was adopted by the legislature. Temperance was a major issue while Hempstead was governor. The only restriction on the sale of liquor was that it could not be consumed on the premises where it was sold. In 1852-1853 advocates of prohibition flooded the General Assembly with petitions favoring prohibition. But the governor apparently neutralized them by advocating ""a judicious license system placed under the control of local authorities, "" and the legislature took no action. Hempstead hated banks because he thought that they swindled people. The Iowa Constitution of 1846 prohibited banking, and twice the governor vetoed bills to summon a convention to amend the state constitution so as to permit banking. He was more farsighted when he advocated ""an asylum for lunatics.""During his governorship, the Sioux Indians in 1851 signed a treaty giving up the last of their land in Iowa. In 1854 Hempstead ran for the U.S. Congress but lostaccording to editorial opinion, his opponent's support of prohibition decided the election. Back in Dubuque from 1855 on, Hempstead was repeatedly elected county judge until that office was abolished in 1869. Under his administration, the jail, poorhouse, and important bridges were built. Then he was county auditor from 1869-1873 until retiring due to ill health in 1873. In 1882 Hempsteadthe grand old man of Dubuquewas honored by being elected justice of the peace on both party tickets. The following year he died at his daughter's home on February 16th. Five years earlier, he had fallen on an icy sidewalk, which resulted in the amputation of his right leg. His wife died in 1871, and his daughter Olivia Richmond became his mainstay. He was never separated from her in his last years and often referred to her as his ""aide-de-camp.

State Library of Iowa and State Historical Society of Iowa

1850; 1851; 1852; 1853; 1854;

Biographical Dictionary of Iowa

This digital image may be used for educational purposes, as long as it is not altered in any way. No commercial reproduction or distribution of this file is permitted without written permission of the State Historical Society of Iowa. www.iowahistory.org/libraries/services-and-fees/copyright-notice.html

Still Image