Senator from the Thirteenth District, comprising Wapello county, was born on a farm near Ferris, Hancock county, Illinois, September 16, 1874, of German and English parentage. He was raised on a farm and did farm work in the summer season and attended country school in winter until he was nineteen years of age. His country school education was supplemented by three months spent in high school and one year in the academic department of Carthage College at Carthage, Illinois. He afterwards studied law in the office of Schofield, O'Hara & Schofield, at Carthage, Illinois, for a short time and entered the law department of the State University of Iowa in September, 1897, where he graduated and was admitted to the bar in June, 1899. He did farm work during vacations, while in college and law school, also spent the summer and fall after graduation on the home farm in Illinois. He opened a law office in Oskaloosa in November, 1899. He had the usual experience of many young lawyers who start the practice of law without money and influential friends. In order to make a livelihood he closed his office in January, 1900, and accepted a position as a traveling representative in the farm implement line, with headquarters at Ottumwa. In September, 1902, he resigned his position on the road and opened a law office in Ottumwa, where he has since been engaged in the general practice. He also handles farm mortgages in connection with his law business. He is married and has two children, John Francis, Jr., age seven years, and Bailey Cromwell, age three years. He has never before held a political office. Elected senator in 1910. A democrat in politics.

Senator from the Thirteenth District, comprising Wapello county, was born on a farm near Ferris, Hancock county, Illinois, September 16, 1874, of German and English parentage. He was raised on a farm and did farm work in the summer season and attended country school in winter until he was nineteen years of age. His country school education was supplemented by three months spent in high school and one year in the academic department of Carthage College at Carthage, Illinois. He afterwards studied law in the office of Schofield, O'Hara & Schofield, at Carthage, Illinois, for a short time and entered the law department of the State University of Iowa in September, 1897, where he graduated and was admitted to the bar in June, 1899. He did farm work during vacations, while in college and law school, also spent the summer and fall after graduation on the home farm in Illinois. He opened a law office in Oskaloosa in November, 1899. He had the usual experience of many young lawyers who start the practice of law without money and influential friends. In order to make a livelihood he closed his office in January, 1900, and accepted a position as a traveling representative in the farm implement line, with headquarters at Ottumwa. In September, 1902 he resigned his position on the road and opened a law office in Ottumwa where he has since been engaged in the general practice. He also handles farm mortgages in connection with his law business. He is married and has two children, John Francis, Jr., age five years, and Bailey Cromwell, age one year. He has never before held a political office. Elected Senator in 1910. A Democrat in politics.