Kirkwood, Samuel Jordan, 1813–94, American politician, b. Harford co., Md. Moving to Ohio in 1835, he served (1845–49) as prosecuting attorney for Richland co. and was a member (1850–51) of the Ohio constitutional convention. After settling in Iowa in 1855, he was elected (1856) to the state legislature and then to the governorship (1860–64). A thoroughgoing radical Republican, he successfully quelled internal dissension and supplied the Union Army with over 50 regiments of infantry and cavalry, partly fitted out with his own money. In 1866–67, Kirkwood filled out a term in the U.S. Senate. He was again governor (1876–77), U.S. Senator (1877–81), and Secretary of the Interior (1881–82).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. History: Biographies
