Solomon F. Prouty
Encyclopedia
Solomon Francis Prouty was a one-term state legislator, Iowa trial court judge and a two-term Republican
U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 7th congressional district
.
Born in Delaware, Ohio
, Prouty moved with his father to Marion County, Iowa
, in 1855.
He attended the public schools, Central College (then known as the Central University of Iowa) in Pella, Iowa
from 1870 to 1873, Simpson College
in Indianola, Iowa
from 1873 to 1875, and was graduated from Central College in 1877.
He taught for several years and served as a professor of Latin at Central from 1878 to 1882.
In 1879, he was elected to one two-year term in the Iowa House of Representatives
, serving in 1880 and 1881.
He later studied law, was admitted to the bar
in 1882, and commenced practice in Pella.
He moved to Des Moines, Iowa
, in 1891 and practiced law there. He served as judge of the district court in 1899.
Prouty was an unsuccessful candidate for election to Congress in 1902, 1904, and 1908. However, in 1910, Prouty won the Republican nomination for the U.S. House for Iowa's 7th congressional district, and defeated his opponents in the November general election. He was then re-elected two years later to his second (and last) term. In all, he served in the Sixty-second
and Sixty-third
Congresses, from March 4, 1911 to March 3, 1915.
Prouty was not a candidate for renomination in 1914, although his initial hesitancy about running for a third time prompted Des Moines Register and Leader cartoonist "Ding" Darling to caricature him in several front-page cartoons.
He resumed the practice of his law, and served as trustee of the Central College.
He died in Des Moines, Iowa
on July 16, 1927. He was interred in Glendale Cemetery.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
U.S. Representative
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 7th congressional district
Iowa's 7th congressional district
Iowa's 7th congressional district is a former congressional district in Iowa. It was eliminated after the 1970 election, leaving Iowa with six congressional districts. The state has since been reduced to five congressional districts.-Redistricting:...
.
Born in Delaware, Ohio
Delaware, Ohio
The City of Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County in the United States state of Ohio. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area...
, Prouty moved with his father to Marion County, Iowa
Marion County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 33,309 in the county, with a population density of . There were 13,914 housing units, of which 12,723 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, in 1855.
He attended the public schools, Central College (then known as the Central University of Iowa) in Pella, Iowa
Pella, Iowa
Pella is a city in Marion County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,832 at the 2000 census. Pella is the home of Central College as well as several manufacturing companies, including Pella Corporation and Vermeer Manufacturing Company.- History :...
from 1870 to 1873, Simpson College
Simpson College
Simpson College is a four-year, coeducational liberal arts institution situated in Indianola, Iowa, USA, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Simpson, which has been fully accredited by North Central Association since 1913, is a small school with approximately 1,400 full-time students...
in Indianola, Iowa
Indianola, Iowa
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,998 people, 4,748 households, and 3,261 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,414.7 people per square mile . There were 4,981 housing units at an average density of 542.1 per square mile...
from 1873 to 1875, and was graduated from Central College in 1877.
He taught for several years and served as a professor of Latin at Central from 1878 to 1882.
In 1879, he was elected to one two-year term in the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
, serving in 1880 and 1881.
He later studied law, 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...
in 1882, and commenced practice in Pella.
He moved to Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, in 1891 and practiced law there. He served as judge of the district court in 1899.
Prouty was an unsuccessful candidate for election to Congress in 1902, 1904, and 1908. However, in 1910, Prouty won the Republican nomination for the U.S. House for Iowa's 7th congressional district, and defeated his opponents in the November general election. He was then re-elected two years later to his second (and last) term. In all, he served in the Sixty-second
62nd United States Congress
- House of Representatives :* Democratic : 230 * Republican : 162* Socialist : 1* Independent : 1TOTAL members: 394-Senate:* President: James S...
and 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, from March 4, 1911 to March 3, 1915.
Prouty was not a candidate for renomination in 1914, although his initial hesitancy about running for a third time prompted Des Moines Register and Leader cartoonist "Ding" Darling to caricature him in several front-page cartoons.
He resumed the practice of his law, and served as trustee of the Central College.
He died in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
on July 16, 1927. He was interred in Glendale Cemetery.