The representative from Emmet county is a native of Ireland, born in that country in 1856. The Hon. M. K. Whelan promises to be one of the leaders in the lower house this winter. He has been a resident of this country and Iowa since the early seventies. After residing a short time in Davis county, he removed to Emmet county, where he has since remained. In 1895 he was unanimously nominated by the republicans, and the democrats refused to put a man against him, and he was elected to the house without opposition. Last fall he was re-elected. He has been quite prominent in the republican politics of his district, having served seven years as county chairman, and four years as member of the state central committee from the Tenth Congressional district. He was one of the most painstaking and faithful members of the last session, never missing a roll call at either the regular or extra session. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, in which he has been honored with the highest offices of his local organization. His wife was Miss Mary E. Tilton. Last term he served on the committees on code, appropriations, railroads and commerce, constitutional amendments, State university, normal schools, fish and game, and representative districts.

It is not often that a candidate for office has no opposition either for the nomination or election. Such was the case with the Hon. M. K. Whelan, of Estherville, member of the House from the district composed of Emmet, Dickinson, and Osceola counties. At the county convention of Emmet county, in which he resides, a resolution was unanimously adopted instructing him to select his own delegates to the district convention. When that body met at Sibley there was no opposition to him and he was nominated by a unanimous vote. The parties in opposition to the Republicans made no nomination for the office of Representative, so he was elected without any effort. Mr. Whelan was born in Ireland in 1856. His boyhood was spent in his native country, and his education was gained there. On coming to Iowa he settled for a short time in Davis county, then moved to Emmet county, where he has lived for the last nineteen years. During that time he has been engaged in a variety of pursuits, teaching school, clerking, proprietor of a hardware store, and for eleven years sheriff of Emmet county. Since quitting that office he has been in the real estate business. In politics he has always been an active Republican, serving as county chairman seven years and as a member of the state central committee from the Tenth Congressional district four years. He is pretty well up in Masonic circles, being a charter member of North Star lodge, No. 447, A. F. and A. M., and a charter member of Esdraelon commandery. No. 52, Knights Templar. In the latter he has held the positions of senior warden, captain general, generalissimo and eminent commander. Mr. Whelan was married a number of years ago to Miss Mary E. Tilton.