William D. Boies
Encyclopedia
William Dayton Boies was a lawyer, trial-court judge, and five-term Republican U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 11th congressional district
in northwestern Iowa.
Born on a farm in Boone County, Illinois, Boies attended country schools and the public schools of Belvidere, Illinois
. He moved with his parents to Buchanan County, Iowa
, in 1873 and settled near the town of Quasqueton
. He was graduated in law from the University of Iowa College of Law
at Iowa City
in 1880. He was admitted to the bar
in 1881 and commenced practice in Sanborn
, in O'Brien County, Iowa
.
He moved to nearby Sheldon, Iowa
, in 1887, where he continued the practice of law.
Boies was an unsuccessful candidate for election as judge of the district court in 1890. He served as member of the school board of the independent school district of Sheldon from 1900 to 1912. He was appointed judge of the district court of the fourth judicial district of Iowa on January 1, 1913.
On a division of this district, he became judge of the twenty-first judicial district, and in 1914 was elected for a term of four years.
On March 31, 1918, Boies resigned as judge to become a candidate for the Republican nomination to represent Iowa's 11th congressional district in the U.S. House. The incumbent, George Cromwell Scott
, had chosen not to seek re-election. Boies won the Republican nomination (defeating two opponents), and then the seat (defeating former Congressman Thomas J. Steele
), becoming a member of the Sixty-sixth
Congress.
Boies was re-elected to Congress four times, and never defeated. He was one of the managers appointed by the House in 1926 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against George W. English
, judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois
.
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1928. In all, he served from March 4, 1919 to March 3, 1929.
He died in Sheldon, Iowa
on May 31, 1932. He was interred in Eastlawn Cemetery.
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 11th congressional district
Iowa's 11th congressional district
Iowa's 11th congressional district existed from 1883 to 1933, when Iowa sent eleven congressmen to the United States House of Representatives. The district covered northwestern Iowa.-Makeup:...
in northwestern Iowa.
Born on a farm in Boone County, Illinois, Boies attended country schools and the public schools of Belvidere, Illinois
Belvidere, Illinois
Belvidere is a city in Boone County, Illinois, United States. The population was 25,585 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Boone County. Belvidere is part of the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. He moved with his parents to Buchanan County, Iowa
Buchanan County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,958 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,968 housing units, of which 8,161 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, in 1873 and settled near the town of Quasqueton
Quasqueton, Iowa
Quasqueton is a city in Buchanan County, Iowa, United States. The population was 574 at the 2000 census. Just northwest of the town is Cedar Rock, a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, which is maintained by the state as a museum.-Geography:...
. He was graduated in law from the University of Iowa College of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
The University of Iowa College of Law is one of the eleven professional graduate schools at the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The law school was ranked as the 27th best law school...
at Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
in 1880. 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...
in 1881 and commenced practice in Sanborn
Sanborn, Iowa
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,353 people, 558 households, and 372 families residing in the city. The population density was 747.1 people per square mile . There were 593 housing units at an average density of 327.5 per square mile...
, in O'Brien County, Iowa
O'Brien County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 14,398 in the county, with a population density of . There were 6,649 housing units, of which 6,069 were occupied.-2000 census:...
.
He moved to nearby Sheldon, Iowa
Sheldon, Iowa
Sheldon is a city in O'Brien and Sioux Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa, along the Floyd River. The population was 4,914 at the 2000 census; it is the largest city in O'Brien County.- History and culture :...
, in 1887, where he continued the practice of law.
Boies was an unsuccessful candidate for election as judge of the district court in 1890. He served as member of the school board of the independent school district of Sheldon from 1900 to 1912. He was appointed judge of the district court of the fourth judicial district of Iowa on January 1, 1913.
On a division of this district, he became judge of the twenty-first judicial district, and in 1914 was elected for a term of four years.
On March 31, 1918, Boies resigned as judge to become a candidate for the Republican nomination to represent Iowa's 11th congressional district in the U.S. House. The incumbent, George Cromwell Scott
George Cromwell Scott
George Cromwell Scott was a Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 11th congressional district for just over four years, and was a federal district court judge for over twenty-one years....
, had chosen not to seek re-election. Boies won the Republican nomination (defeating two opponents), and then the seat (defeating former Congressman Thomas J. Steele
Thomas J. Steele
Thomas Jefferson Steele was a one-term Democratic U.S. Representative from Iowa's 11th congressional district in northwestern Iowa...
), becoming a member of the Sixty-sixth
66th United States Congress
The Sixty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, comprising the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1919 to March 4, 1921, during the last two years of...
Congress.
Boies was re-elected to Congress four times, and never defeated. He was one of the managers appointed by the House in 1926 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against George W. English
George W. English
George Washington English, Sr. was a United States federal judge.Born near Vienna, Illinois, English received an LL.B. from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1891. He was chief deputy sheriff of Johnson County, Illinois from 1891 to 1892. He engaged in the private practice of law in Vienna, Illinois...
, judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois is a former federal district court for the state of Illinois. The court was established March 3, 1905, by 33 Stat. 992. The Northern and Southern Districts had been established February 13, 1855...
.
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1928. In all, he served from March 4, 1919 to March 3, 1929.
He died in Sheldon, Iowa
Sheldon, Iowa
Sheldon is a city in O'Brien and Sioux Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa, along the Floyd River. The population was 4,914 at the 2000 census; it is the largest city in O'Brien County.- History and culture :...
on May 31, 1932. He was interred in Eastlawn Cemetery.