William Fletcher Sapp
Encyclopedia
William Fletcher Sapp was a United States Attorney
and later a Republican U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 8th congressional district
. He was a nephew of William R. Sapp
, who represented a U.S. House district in Ohio between 1853 and 1857.
Born in Danville, Ohio
, Sapp attended the public schools and Martinsburg Academy.
After studying law, he was admitted to the bar
in 1850 and commenced practice in Mount Vernon, Ohio
.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for prosecuting attorney of Knox County, Ohio
in 1850, but was elected four years later (in 1854) and re-elected in 1856.
Sapp moved to Omaha, Nebraska
, in 1860.
He was appointed adjutant general of Nebraska Territory
in 1861 and also served as member of the Territorial legislative council.
He entered the Union Army
in 1862 as lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Nebraska Cavalry
and served until mustered out.
He then moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa
, and resumed the practice of law.
He began serving as member of the Iowa House of Representatives
in 1865. Following the conclusion of his legislative service, he was the United States Attorney for the District of Iowa from 1869 to 1873.
In 1876, Sapp was elected as a Republican
to the U.S. House seat for Iowa's 8th congressional district. After serving in the 45th United States Congress
, he was re-elected and then served in the 46th United States Congress
.
He was a candidate for renomination in 1880 but was defeated by another former lieutenant colonel of a cavalry during the Civil War, William Peters Hepburn
, after 346 ballots. In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1881.
After leaving Congress, Sapp resumed the practice of law in Iowa. He died in Council Bluffs, on November 22, 1890.
He was interred in Mound View Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Ohio
.
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
and later a Republican 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 8th congressional district
Iowa's 8th congressional district
Iowa's 8th congressional district existed from 1873 to 1963. The district was configured five times. Although the district encompassed four different areas of Iowa in its ninety-year existence, it was always predominantly rural, and elected a Republican lawyer to the United States House of...
. He was a nephew of William R. Sapp
William R. Sapp
William Robinson Sapp was a U.S. Representative from Ohio, and uncle of U.S. Representative William F. Sapp of Iowa.Born at Cadiz, Ohio, Sapp moved to Knox County, Ohio, where he attended the public schools....
, who represented a U.S. House district in Ohio between 1853 and 1857.
Born in Danville, Ohio
Danville, Ohio
Danville is a village in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,104 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, Sapp attended the public schools and Martinsburg Academy.
After studying law, 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 1850 and commenced practice in Mount Vernon, Ohio
Mount Vernon, Ohio
Mount Vernon is a city in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 16,990 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is named after Mount Vernon, the plantation owned by George Washington.-History:...
.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for prosecuting attorney of Knox County, Ohio
Knox County, Ohio
Knox County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 60,921. Its county seat is Mount Vernon and is named for Henry Knox, an officer in the American Revolutionary War who was later the first Secretary of War....
in 1850, but was elected four years later (in 1854) and re-elected in 1856.
Sapp moved to Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, in 1860.
He was appointed adjutant general of Nebraska Territory
Nebraska Territory
The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska Territory was created by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854...
in 1861 and also served as member of the Territorial legislative council.
He entered 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...
in 1862 as lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Nebraska Cavalry
2nd Nebraska Cavalry
The 2nd Regiment Nebraska Volunteer Cavalry was a Cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The unit was initially organized at Omaha, Nebraska on October 23, 1862 as a nine-month regiment, and served for over one year...
and served until mustered out.
He then moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
, and resumed the practice of law.
He began serving as member of 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...
in 1865. Following the conclusion of his legislative service, he was the United States Attorney for the District of Iowa from 1869 to 1873.
In 1876, Sapp was elected as a 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...
to the U.S. House seat for Iowa's 8th congressional district. After serving 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...
, he was re-elected and then served in the 46th United States Congress
46th United States Congress
The Forty-sixth 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, 1879 to March 4, 1881, during the last two years of...
.
He was a candidate for renomination in 1880 but was defeated by another former lieutenant colonel of a cavalry during the Civil War, William Peters Hepburn
William Peters Hepburn
William Peters Hepburn was an American Civil War officer and an eleven-term Republican congressman from Iowa's now-obsolete 8th congressional district, serving from 1881 to 1887, and from 1893 to 1909...
, after 346 ballots. In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1881.
After leaving Congress, Sapp resumed the practice of law in Iowa. He died in Council Bluffs, on November 22, 1890.
He was interred in Mound View Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Ohio
Mount Vernon, Ohio
Mount Vernon is a city in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 16,990 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is named after Mount Vernon, the plantation owned by George Washington.-History:...
.