The senior member of the House from Polk county is the Hon. O. E. Doubleday, of Elkhart. He was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, February 22, 1831. His parents lived on a farm and his boyhood was passed amid rustic surroundings. The schools of his county were open to him, and after learning all they had to teach he went to Wabash College for one year, after which he returned to the farm. Many years ago he came to Iowa and settled on the prairie in Douglas township, Polk county, where he has since resided. He was selected by the Republicans of Elkhart township as a candidate for nomination for the office of Representative, subject to the decision of the county convention in 1893. He was elected and this fall placed in the same position again. Mr. Doubleday has been a Republican from the days of the earliest history of the party. As senior member from Polk county it is his duty to call the House to order on the morning of the first day, and he will perform the duty for the second time at the opening of the Twenty-sixth General Assembly.

In accordance with law and custom the senior member of the House calls that part of the legislature to order and starts business to going. This time it is the Hon. O. E. Doubleday of Elkhart who has that honor. When the hour rolls around he will mount to the speaker's desk, let the. gavel fall and after a prayer will announce that the House will proceed to organize. Mr. Doubleday was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, February 22, 1831. His parents lived on a farm, and his early days were spent amid rustic surroundings. The schools of his county were open to him, and after learning all they had to teach he went to Wabash College for a year. He came to Iowa many years ago and settled on the farm where he now resides in Polk county. All the old settlers know him as one of the sturdy men who have done much to build up the State. In his own township he has held about all the offices at various times. Last fall he was selected by the Republicans to represent the interests of the county outside of Des Moines in the legislature. No one is better qualified for that duty. Having lived here for years he is familiar both with the county and people. He knows what is needed and will go about securing it in a practical way.