HON. GEORGE W. McCRARY

MCCRARY, GELOTT

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/14/2020 at 15:30:00

HON. GEORGE W. McCRARY, was born near Evansville, Indiana, August 29, 1835. When he was but a few months old his parents removed to Illinois, where they remained one year, and then went to that portion of Wisconsin Territory which now constitutes the State of Iowa, settling in Van Buren County. Here the subject of this sketch spent his earlier years on a farm. Being thus upon the extreme borders of civilization where schools were few and poor, and his parents being unable to educate him abroad, he obtained his education under many difficulties, generally working on the farm in summer and going to school in winter. At about eighteen years of age, having acquired sufficient education for that purpose, he engaged in school teaching, and for several years employed himself alternately in teaching and studying at an academical institution.

In 1855, Mr. McCrary went to Keokuk and entered the office of Rankin & Miller as a student-at-law. In due course he was admitted to the bar, and commenced the practice of his profession in that city. Of industrious habits, resolute and ambitious in spirit, he was successful from the start, and soon built up a good practice. He was noted for his assiduous attention to business and the thorough preparation of his cases. Taking a lively interest in politics, his character, the universal esteem with which he was regarded, his talent and sagacity, at once marked him out to his political associates as a man both available as a candidate and valuable in the conduct of public affairs. Consequently, in 1857, when only twenty-two years of age, he was elected by the Republican party a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from Lee County. He was the youngest member of that body, and his extremely youthful appearance excited much comment among strangers. He proved, however, an active and efficient member.

In 1861, he was chosen to represent his county in the State Senate. Lee County was largely democratic, but the rebellion having just broken out, Mr. McCrary made a successful appeal to the people to forget all else and unite in the support of the government and the Union. His speeches in that campaign, and at various other times during the war, in favor of fidelity to the country, a patriotic support of the war measures of the government, and in denunciation of treason and rebellion, are spoken of as exceedingly forcible and eloquent.

During the first two years of his senatorial term he was chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, at that time the most important committee in that body, and he labored unceasingly and effectually in behalf of the Iowa contingent to the Union army. During the last two years of his term he was chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, and discharged the duties of the position with marked ability.

In 1862 Hon. Samuel F. Miller who had been one of his legal preceptors, having been appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States, selected Mr. McCrary as his successor in the firm of Rankin & Miller. Ever since his connection with that firm his legal practice has perhaps not been inferior in extent or importance to that of any member of the bar in Iowa, and his success has amply justified the expectation of his friends and the judgment of his preceptor.

In 1868, Hon. James Wilson, who had for many years represented that district in Congress, declined a re-nomination. From the moment of this announcement the general expectation and desire indicated that Mr. McCrary would succeed him. This was indeed a compliment to the young but experienced politician of Keokuk, for the constituents of Mr. Wilson were much attached to him, and had a high opinion of his talents and public influence, and were consequently more than ordinarily considerate in the choice of his successor. He canvassed his district with great ability and thoroughness, and was elected by a large majority.

During his membership of the Forty-First Congress he served on the Committees on Revision of the Laws of the United States, on Naval Affairs, and on Elections. He was put on the Committee on Elections during the last term, as an additional member, in order to dispose of a large amount of business which the Committee had on hand. As a member of that Committee he made a report on the contested election case of Barnes against Adams, from the State of Kentucky, in which he attacked and overturned several previous decisions of the House in similar cases, which he held to have been wrong and succeeded by the adoption of the report, in establishing a new precedent, founded upon more just and equitable principles. Several of the leading members of the House opposed Mr. McCrary’s position, but he was nevertheless successful in carrying his point. The report was adopted by a large majority.

In 1870, he was re-elected, and at the opening of the Forty-Second Congress was made chairman of the committee on Elections, in consideration of his valuable services rendered on that Committee the previous year. The Committee on Elections under his chairmanship gained the reputation of being a fair and judicial committee, deciding questions on their merits without party favoritism or partiality. During this Congress he also served on the special committee appointed to investigate the political troubles in Louisiana, and the special committee on the Credit Mobilier frauds, and took an active part in the discussion of the reports of these committees before the House.

Mr. McCrary was re-elected in 1872, and is at present a member of Congress from this district. During the intervals of his congressional duties he has continued the practice of law, and has tried several important cases both in the Supreme Court of Iowa and that of the United States. He has taken an active part each year in the political campaigns, and is well known as a popular and effective canvasser. Midst the almost universal dereliction of politicians it can be said of Mr. McCrary that he is honest and incorrupt, and no higher award than this can be bestowed upon any public man by his constituents. He has never been mixed up with any of the plundering schemes of dishonest officials, but his record stands clear and his character above reproach.

As a speaker, he is argumentative and persuasive, often eloquent, having an easy flow of words and an agreeable voice and manner. Candor and courtesy are his marked traits towards his opponents, while he is able and thorough in shifting and refuting their arguments.

Mr. McCrary was married at Bentonsport, Iowa, on the 11th of March, 1857, to Miss Helen A. Gelott, daughter of the late Richard Gelott of that place, and has five children, three sons and two daughters.

Source:
Illustrated Historical ATLAS of Lee County, IOWA
A. T. Andreas
Chicago, ILL.
1874

Transcription by Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer