Irvin S. Pepper
Encyclopedia
Irvin St. Clair Pepper was a Democratic U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 2nd congressional district
. Pepper died at age 37, in the middle of his second term in Congress.
Pepper was born on a farm in Davis County, Iowa
. Pepper attended the public schools. He was graduated from Southern Iowa Normal School at Bloomfield
in 1897.
He served as principal of the Atalissa, Iowa
High School and of the Washington School at Muscatine, Iowa
.
He relocated to Washington, D.C. to serve as secretary for Democratic Congressman Martin J. Wade of Iowa's 2nd congressional district from 1903 to 1905. He graduated from the George Washington University Law School, in Washington, in 1905.
He was admitted to the bar
the same year and returned to Muscatine to commenced practice.
He served as prosecuting attorney of Muscatine County
from 1906 to 1910.
In 1910, Pepper ran as a Democrat
for an open seat in the U.S. House to represent Iowa's 2nd congressional district. He won the Democratic nomination, then defeated Republican Charles Grilk in the general election. He was then re-elected two years later with "little opposition."
On December 22, 1913, part way through his second term, Pepper died following an operation for infection of the gall bladder. He was recovering in Clinton County, Iowa
, from typhoid fever, which had left him in a weakened state.
In the Sixty-third
Congresses, he served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Department. He also served as a member of the House Committee on Military Affairs
. At the time of his death, he served as secretary of the Democratic National Congressional Committee. In all, he served from March 4, 1911,to December 22, 1913.
At the time of his death, Pepper had planned to enter the contest in Iowa for the U.S. Senate seat held by Albert B. Cummins
, in what would be Iowa's first direct election of a U.S. Senator.
He was interred in Shaul Cemetery, near Ottumwa, Iowa
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
. Pepper died at age 37, in the middle of his second term in Congress.
Pepper was born on a farm in Davis County, Iowa
Davis County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,753 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,600 housing units, of which 3,201 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. Pepper attended the public schools. He was graduated from Southern Iowa Normal School at Bloomfield
Bloomfield, Iowa
Bloomfield is a city in Davis County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,601 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Davis County.-Geography:Bloomfield is located in the southeastern part of Iowa near the Missouri border....
in 1897.
He served as principal of the Atalissa, Iowa
Atalissa, Iowa
Atalissa is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 283 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Atalissa is located at ....
High School and of the Washington School at Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 22,886 in the 2010 census, an increase from 22,697 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muscatine County...
.
He relocated to Washington, D.C. to serve as secretary for Democratic Congressman Martin J. Wade of Iowa's 2nd congressional district from 1903 to 1905. He graduated from the George Washington University Law School, in Washington, in 1905.
He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
the same year and returned to Muscatine to commenced practice.
He served as prosecuting attorney of Muscatine County
Muscatine County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 42,745 in the county, with a population density of . There were 17,910 housing units, of which 16,412 were occupied.-2000 census:...
from 1906 to 1910.
In 1910, Pepper ran as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
for an open seat in the U.S. House to represent Iowa's 2nd congressional district. He won the Democratic nomination, then defeated Republican Charles Grilk in the general election. He was then re-elected two years later with "little opposition."
On December 22, 1913, part way through his second term, Pepper died following an operation for infection of the gall bladder. He was recovering in Clinton County, Iowa
Clinton County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 49,116 in the county, with a population density of . There were 21,733 housing units, of which 20,223 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, from typhoid fever, which had left him in a weakened state.
In the Sixty-third
63rd United States Congress
- House of Representatives:*Democratic : 291 *Republican : 134*Progressive : 9*Independent : 1TOTAL members: 435-Senate:*President of the Senate: Thomas R. Marshall*President pro tempore: James P. Clarke-Senate:...
Congresses, he served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Department. He also served as a member of the House Committee on Military Affairs
United States House Committee on Armed Services
thumb|United States House Committee on Armed Services emblemThe U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives...
. At the time of his death, he served as secretary of the Democratic National Congressional Committee. In all, he served from March 4, 1911,to December 22, 1913.
At the time of his death, Pepper had planned to enter the contest in Iowa for the U.S. Senate seat held by Albert B. Cummins
Albert B. Cummins
Albert Baird Cummins was the 18th Governor of Iowa, U.S. Senator and two-time presidential candidate. Cummins was perhaps the most influential leader in Iowa politics in the first quarter of the 20th century...
, in what would be Iowa's first direct election of a U.S. Senator.
He was interred in Shaul Cemetery, near Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa is a city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census. It is located in the southeastern part of Iowa, and the city is split into northern and southern halves by the Des Moines River....
.