Luman Hamlin Weller
Encyclopedia
Luman Hamlin Weller was a United States Greenback Party
member. In the 1880s, he served a single term in the United States House of Representatives
as a representative of Iowa's 4th congressional district
, then in rural northeastern Iowa. Once elected, he became nationally known as "Calamity" Weller, and did not survive his next election.
Weller was born in Bridgewater, Connecticut
. He attended the public school in New Britain, Connecticut
and attended the Suffield Literary Institute, Connecticut. He worked as a farmer
, justice of the peace
, and a private practice lawyer
.
In 1882, Weller upset sitting Republican congressman Thomas Updegraff
in the race to represent Iowa's 4th congressional district in Congress. Weller's win was assisted by several unusual events. Redistricting in 1881 had required Updegraff to run in a district that included only four counties from his former district. The Democratic candidate had dropped out of the race and thrown his support to Weller. Weller benefitted from a nationwide wave of anti-Republican sentiment that would cost the party control of the U.S. House and one-fifth of its seats in that chamber. However, no other Greenback candidate won a seat in the Forty-eighth Congress, so Weller vied for influence with the Democratic leadership by voting for their candidate for Speaker of the House. He developed the uncomplementary nickname "Calamity" Weller, which was reportedly based on his allusion to the Civil War as "the great calamity." He sought re-election in 1884, but was defeated by Republican nominee William E. Fuller
. In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1885.
After leaving Congress, he was the proprietor and editor of the Farmers’ Advocate, a weekly paper in Independence, Iowa
.
Weller served as a delegate to the People’s Party national committee from 1890 to 1914, and served as president of the Chosen Farmers of America. He was twice an unsuccessful candidate for justice of the Supreme Court of Iowa. He was also an unsuccessful candidate of the People’s Party for Governor of Iowa in 1901.
He died on March 2, 1914 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, near Nashua
in Chickasaw County, Iowa
.
United States Greenback Party
The Greenback Party was an American political party with an anti-monopoly ideology that was active between 1874 and 1884. Its name referred to paper money, or "greenbacks," that had been issued during the American Civil War and afterward...
member. In the 1880s, he served a single term in the United States House of Representatives
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...
as a representative of Iowa's 4th congressional district
Iowa's 4th congressional district
Iowa's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers most of the north-central part of the state....
, then in rural northeastern Iowa. Once elected, he became nationally known as "Calamity" Weller, and did not survive his next election.
Weller was born in Bridgewater, Connecticut
Bridgewater, Connecticut
Bridgewater is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,824 at the 2000 census. It is the only remaining dry town in Connecticut.-Geography:...
. He attended the public school in New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....
and attended the Suffield Literary Institute, Connecticut. He worked as a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, and a private practice lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
.
In 1882, Weller upset sitting Republican congressman Thomas Updegraff
Thomas Updegraff
Thomas Updegraff was an attorney and five-term Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from northeastern Iowa. His two periods of service were separated by ten years out of Congress....
in the race to represent Iowa's 4th congressional district in Congress. Weller's win was assisted by several unusual events. Redistricting in 1881 had required Updegraff to run in a district that included only four counties from his former district. The Democratic candidate had dropped out of the race and thrown his support to Weller. Weller benefitted from a nationwide wave of anti-Republican sentiment that would cost the party control of the U.S. House and one-fifth of its seats in that chamber. However, no other Greenback candidate won a seat in the Forty-eighth Congress, so Weller vied for influence with the Democratic leadership by voting for their candidate for Speaker of the House. He developed the uncomplementary nickname "Calamity" Weller, which was reportedly based on his allusion to the Civil War as "the great calamity." He sought re-election in 1884, but was defeated by Republican nominee William E. Fuller
William E. Fuller
William Elijah Fuller , was an attorney, and a two-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 4th congressional district in northeastern Iowa during the 1880s....
. In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1885.
After leaving Congress, he was the proprietor and editor of the Farmers’ Advocate, a weekly paper in Independence, Iowa
Independence, Iowa
Independence is a city in and the county seat of Buchanan County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,966 in the 2010 census, a decline from 6,014 in the 2000 census...
.
Weller served as a delegate to the People’s Party national committee from 1890 to 1914, and served as president of the Chosen Farmers of America. He was twice an unsuccessful candidate for justice of the Supreme Court of Iowa. He was also an unsuccessful candidate of the People’s Party for Governor of Iowa in 1901.
He died on March 2, 1914 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, near Nashua
Nashua, Iowa
Nashua is a city in Chickasaw and Floyd counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 1,663 an increase of 45, or 2.8%, from 1,618 reported at the 2000 census...
in Chickasaw County, Iowa
Chickasaw County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,439 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,679 housing units, of which 5,204 were occupied.-2000 census:...
.