Born in Rush County, Indiana, May 3, 1827. He was reared on a farm and for several years taught school winters. He graduated at Asbury University in 1847 and went directly from college to the Mexican War, serving under Colonel James H. Lane of the Fifth Indiana Volunteers. He read law with Thomas A. Hendricks and came to Iowa in November, 1849, where he pursued his studies with Judge J. F. Kinney of the Supreme Court, at Keosauqua. He was elected county attorney, serving four years, at Bloomfield where he had located. In 1855 he was elected to the State Senate for four years. In 1858 he was nominated for Representative in Congress by the Democrats of the First District but was defeated by Samuel R. Curtis the Republican candidate. At the beginning of the Civil War Mr. Trimble helped to raise the Third Iowa Cavalry of which he was appointed lieutenant-colonel. In 1862 while leading a charge at the Battle of Pea Ridge, he was severely wounded and in October was discharged for disability. Upon his return home he was elected judge of the Second District, serving four years. In 1865 he was the Democratic candidate for Judge of the Supreme Court but was not elected. In the Eleventh General Assembly Colonel Trimble received the votes of the Democrats for United States Senator. In 1868 Judge Trimble became president of the St. Louis & Cedar Rapids Railroad Company. In 1872 he was the Democratic candidate for Congress in the Sixth District and was defeated. In 1876 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention which nominated Tilden for President. In 1878 he was elected President of the State Bar Association. He has long ranked among the most eminent lawyers of the State and, had his party been in the majority, would have been elevated to the highest official positions. Col. Henry Hoffman Trimble, who died at Keokuk, January 9, 1910. was born in the county of Rush, Indiana, May 7, 1827. He attended school at Woodsfield, Ohio; Franklin, Indiana; Indiana State University; and Asbury (now DePeaw) University, of which last institution he was a graduate in 1847. He was a member of the Fifth Indiana regiment, and served in the war with Mexico. Later he taught school and read law with Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks, afterwards vice president of the United States. He removed to Iowa in 1850, and was that year chosen prosecuting attorney of Davis county, at whose county seat was his home. He served in that capacity four years. In 1856, he was elected senator from his district, and was a member of the senate for three years, sitting in the last general assembly at Iowa City and the first at Des Moines. In the legislature he gave considerable attention to the criminal law, introducing some bills looking to changes therein not improbably suggested by his experience as a prosecuting officer. In 1861, he was made lieutenant colonel of the Third Iowa cavalry. Wounded at the battle of Pea Ridge, he resigned from the army. He was then made judge of the second judicial district, serving In that capacity one term. He was a leading Democrat, and as such had his party's nomination twice for congress, once for judge of the supreme court, and once for governor. He was a delegate to the conventions of his party in 1876, 1880, and 1884. Turning his attention to railroading, he promoted the construction of the Wabash road from Bloomfield to Ottumwa. Removing to Keokuk, he made that city his home during the remainder of his long life, during many years of which he was the general attorney for the Wabash company. He had won notable judgments in criminal cases, and a high reputation as a criminal lawyer, and had especial success in connection with the famous Andrew J. Davis will case in Montana. He was a large land owner, was president of banking institutions, and a promoter of fine stock-breeding. It is believed that he prolonged his life by vigorous outdoor exercise, giving much attention to health promoting means.

Born in Rush County, Indiana, May 3, 1827. He was reared on a farm and for several years taught school winters. He graduated at Asbury University in 1847 and went directly from college to the Mexican War, serving under Colonel James H. Lane of the Fifth Indiana Volunteers. He read law with Thomas A. Hendricks and came to Iowa in November, 1849, where he pursued his studies with Judge J. F. Kinney of the Supreme Court, at Keosauqua. He was elected county attorney, serving four years, at Bloomfield where he had located. In 1855 he was elected to the State Senate for four years. In 1858 he was nominated for Representative in Congress by the Democrats of the First District but was defeated by Samuel R. Curtis the Republican candidate. At the beginning of the Civil War Mr. Trimble helped to raise the Third Iowa Cavalry of which he was appointed lieutenant-colonel. In 1862 while leading a charge at the Battle of Pea Ridge, he was severely wounded and in October was discharged for disability. Upon his return home he was elected judge of the Second District, serving four years. In 1865 he was the Democratic candidate for Judge of the Supreme Court but was not elected. In the Eleventh General Assembly Colonel Trimble received the votes of the Democrats for United States Senator. In 1868 Judge Trimble became president of the St. Louis & Cedar Rapids Railroad Company. In 1872 he was the Democratic candidate for Congress in the Sixth District and was defeated. In 1876 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention which nominated Tilden for President. In 1878 he was elected President of the State Bar Association. He has long ranked among the most eminent lawyers of the State and, had his party been in the majority, would have been elevated to the highest official positions.