Senator Henry Hoffman Trimble View All Years

Senator McManus, from a special committee, submitted the following report and moved its adoption:

Your committee appointed to draft suitable resolutions on the life, character and public service of the late Judge Henry H. Trimble of Keokuk, Iowa, would respectfully submit the following report and resolutions:

Judge Trimble was born in Dearborn County, State of Indiana, February 10, 1824, his parents removing to Rush County, and later to Shelby County, then an unsettled County in Indiana. Here they cleared a farm in the big woods, where the boy lived until he was fourteen years of age. He had a very limited opportunity for attending school, but was determined to secure an education. The boy of fourteen sold his cherished horse, given him by his grandfather, and used the money to go to school six months at Shelbyville, a small town, but a metropolis of the frontier. He later attended school at Woodfield, Ohio. Then at the age of sixteen he taught school in Bartholomew County, Indiana; and, with the savings, bought a term or two of instruction at a little pioneer college at Franklin, Indiana. He attended for two years the University of Indiana. From this university he went to Asbury University, now De Pauw, which graduated him in 1847. After receiving his diploma, he enlisted in the Fifth Indiana Volunteers and served in that regiment until the close of the war with Mexico. Returning from Mexico, he taught school in Shelbyville, Ind., in the meantime studying law with Thomas A. Hendricks and Eden H. Davis. After completing his law studies Mr. Trimble came to Iowa in 1850, arriving at Bloomfield in February, and being admitted to the Iowa bar in April of that year. Six months after arriving in Iowa he was elected County Attorney, and re-elected in 1852. He took an active interest in politics, and while a leader of his party, was never a place-seeker. In 1856 Mr. Trimble was elected State Senator, sitting in the last legislature to meet in Iowa City, and the first to meet in Des Moines. In 1861 he had a leading part in organizing the Third Iowa Cavalry, of which he was made Lieutenant Colonel. He was an efficient and courageous officer. At the battle of Pea Ridge he was severly wounded, and was obliged to leave the service. Returning from the civil war, he was elected District Judge, and was selected by his party for various honorable and important positions, but as he belonged to the minority party, seldom reached the goal for which he was so admirably fitted. His life was filled with activity, and he left a record that cannot be forgotten by the people of his adopted state.

His successors in the body of which he was an honored member, desiring to place on record their esteem and appreciation of his honored career, hereby

Resolve, That in the death of Henry Hoffman Trimble, the state has lost one of her honored and useful citizens, who rendered great and lasting service to his state. That he was a valuable legislator in the early history of the state, in its formative period, and was distinguished by his ability, eloquence, and integrity in public duty.

Resolved, That the Senate of the State of Iowa joins with his neighbors and friends in sorrow and regret at his loss, and hereby tenders to the family its sincere sympathy in this time of bereavement.

Be It Further Resolved, That these resolutions be printed in the Journal of the Senate, and that an engrossed copy, authenticated by the President and Secretary, be furnished the family.

Respectfully submitted,

E. P. MCMANUS,

C. G. SAUNDERS,

J. F. WEBBER,

Committee.

The resolutions were adopted unanimously by a rising vote.