Ezekiel S. Sampson
Encyclopedia
Ezekiel Silas Sampson was a lawyer, prosecutor, Civil War
officer, judge, and two-term Republican
Congressman from Iowa's 6th congressional district
.
Born in Huron County, Ohio
, Sampson moved to Keokuk County, Iowa
in 1843 where he attended public schools as a child. He later attended Howe’s Academy and Knox College, studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1856, commencing practice in Sigourney, Iowa
. He was prosecuting attorney
of Keokuk County from 1856 to 1858.
At the outbreak of the Civil War
, Sampson enlisted in the Union Army
as a captain in the 5th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
in 1861 and was later promoted to lieutenant colonel
of the same regiment, serving as so until he was mustered out of service in 1864.
Afterward the war, he resumed practicing law in Sigourney. He was a member of the Iowa Senate
in 1866 and was judge of the sixth district of Iowa from 1867 to 1875.
In 1874, Sampson was elected a Republican to represent Iowa's 6th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives
. Near the end of his service in the 44th United States Congress
, he was re-elected in 1876 to a second term, and served in the 45th United States Congress
. However, when running for a third term in 1878, he was defeated in the general election by Greenback Party candidate (and future presidential candidate) James B. Weaver. In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1879.
He resumed practicing law until his death in Sigourney on October 7, 1892. He was interred in West Cemetery in Sigourney.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
officer, judge, and two-term Republican
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...
Congressman from Iowa's 6th congressional district
Iowa's 6th congressional district
Iowa's 6th congressional district is a former congressional district in Iowa. It existed from 1862 to 1992, when it was lost due to Iowa's declining population....
.
Born in Huron County, Ohio
Huron County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 59,487 people, 22,307 households, and 16,217 families residing in the county. The population density was 121 people per square mile . There were 23,594 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile...
, Sampson moved to Keokuk County, Iowa
Keokuk County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,511 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,931 housing units, of which 4,408 were occupied.-2000 census:...
in 1843 where he attended public schools as a child. He later attended Howe’s Academy and Knox College, studied law and 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 1856, commencing practice in Sigourney, Iowa
Sigourney, Iowa
Sigourney is a city in Keokuk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,059 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Keokuk County.-History:...
. He was prosecuting attorney
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
of Keokuk County from 1856 to 1858.
At the outbreak of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Sampson enlisted in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
as a captain in the 5th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
5th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 5th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 5th Iowa Infantry was organized at Burlington, Iowa and mustered into Federal forces on July 15, 1861....
in 1861 and was later promoted to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of the same regiment, serving as so until he was mustered out of service in 1864.
Afterward the war, he resumed practicing law in Sigourney. He was a member of the Iowa Senate
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
in 1866 and was judge of the sixth district of Iowa from 1867 to 1875.
In 1874, Sampson was elected a Republican to represent Iowa's 6th congressional district 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...
. Near the end of his service in the 44th United States Congress
44th United States Congress
The Forty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1875 to March 4, 1877, during the seventh and...
, he was re-elected in 1876 to a second term, and served in the 45th United States Congress
45th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:-Senate:*President: William A. Wheeler *President pro tempore: Thomas W. Ferry -House of Representatives:*Speaker: Samuel J. Randall -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
. However, when running for a third term in 1878, he was defeated in the general election by Greenback Party candidate (and future presidential candidate) James B. Weaver. In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1879.
He resumed practicing law until his death in Sigourney on October 7, 1892. He was interred in West Cemetery in Sigourney.