Representative Salue G. Van Anda View All Years
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Salue G. Van Anda
Delaware County
Born April 20,1835 on the banks of the beautiful Susquehanna, Sanberry, Northumberland County, Pa, the son of James W. and Catherine Van Anda, and where his ancestors had resided for several generations, having emigrated from Germany. At an early age he removed with his parents to Knox County, Ohio, where his childhood was passed like that of many others who have arisen to distinction in after life, in attending common school and assisting his father to till a small farm. In the Fall of 1851 he entered the Ohio Western University at Delaware, Ohio and he pursued his studies for four years graduating with honor, just after entering his twenty-first year, as a member of the class of ’55. During his junior and senior years, he read law with Honorable Charles Smithson and Honorable W. P. Reed, and soon after completing his academic course was admitted, by examination, to the bar of the Supreme Court of Ohio by Honorable Ranney, Chief Justice of the state. The same year he removed to Delhi, Delaware County, Iowa where he began the practice of his profession, and soon took a position at the bar far in advance of his age and experience, securing a large business and receiving the confidence of all, made himself respected by his associates in the profession. In the Summer of 1861, without any solicitation on his part, he received the Republican nomination, and in the following Fall was elected by a majority vote of over eight hundred to the lower House of the Iowa Legislature, where he served his constituency and the state during the ninth session of the General Assembly with credit and distinction, making many friends, and becoming well and favorably known among the leading men of the state. He was a member of the committee on the Judiciary and chairman of the Committee on Incorporations, and was largely instrumental in securing the passage of the “House bill” dividing the state into Congressional districts, which, in opposition to the “Senate bill” finally became a law. He rendered valuable service in the advancement of several important measures, is said to be the father of the “Dog Law” and proved himself in every respect to be a good and successful legislator, being ever earnest and constant in the import of whatever he believed to be right and just. On returning home in the Spring of 1862 he received the appointment and was commissioned by Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood, Major, 21st Regiment Iowa Infantry Volunteers, was promoted to the lieutenant colonelcy of the same regiment May 22, 1863, and had command of the regiment during their entire term of service. His regiment was mustered out of the United States service at the close of the war at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, having made a proud record, and seen as much hard fighting and performed as meritorious service as any regiment in the Western army. On returning home he received the nomination of the Soldiers Convention, held at Des Moines in the Summer or Fall of 1865, for lieutenant governor, on the ticket with Colonel Thomas Benton, who was nominated for governor. Feeling as he emphatically expressed it, that "the Republican party could yet be saved" he declined to run in opposition to it. The following year he was nominated by the Liberal party for secretary of state, which at the solicitation of his friends he reluctantly accepted, and made a strong canvass against his popular Republican opponent Colonel Ed Wright, running more than three thousand ahead of his ticket. It is asserted by his friends that he was authoritatively tendered the nomination of governor if he would renounce the opposition and use his powerful influence and ability in carrying the state for the Republican ticket. But having left it from principle when it was in power, and joined his fortunes to one hopelessly in the minority, he chose defeat in a just cause rather than success as a candidate of a party he had become convinced was corrupt and wrong. He has since been a candidate for re-election to the General Assembly, and for district attorney in his district, in both of which he was defeated, though making a strong canvass and drawing may votes from his Republican opponent. In his later years he entirely eschewed politics, and devoted his entire energy to the practice of his profession, securing a large and lucrative business on his own and adjoining counties. Had he not positively refused to allow his name to be presented at the last Democratic Congressional Convention, he would most probably have received the nomination. Colonel Van Anda was married in March,1859, to Miss Lydia B. Weatherby, of Morrow County, Ohio.
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