Cyrus C. Carpenter

Cyrus Clay Carpenter (* November 24, 1829 in Harford, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, † May 29, 1898 in Fort Dodge, Iowa ) was an American politician ( Republican) and 1872-1876 of the 8th Governor of the State of Iowa and from 1879 to 1883 deputy in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Early years and political rise

Cyrus Carpenter attended the local schools of his home and the Harford Academy. In 1854 he moved to Iowa, where he then worked as a teacher and as a surveyor in Webster County. In addition, he was still studying law. But he has never worked as a lawyer.

Between 1858 and 1860 he was a delegate in the House of Representatives from Iowa. During the Civil War he entered the Union army up to the Colonel. Between 1866 to 1868 he was registrar at the Land Authority of the State of Iowa. In 1871 he was elected governor of his state.

Governor and congressman

Cyrus Carpenter took up his new post on January 11, 1872. After a re-election in 1873, he could serve until 13 January 1876. During his tenure, new laws to regulate railway freight charges were issued. In this field he had come to problems between the farmers and the railroad. Otherwise Carpenters tenure was uneventful.

After the end of his term Carpenter remained politically active. Between 1876 and 1877 he was employed in a leading position ( Second Comptroller ) from the U.S. Treasury. In 1878 he became railway agent of the government of Iowa. Between 1879 and 1883 he represented his state in the House of Representatives in Washington; between 1884 and 1886 he was again a deputy in the House of Representatives from Iowa. He then spent 1889-1893 the post office in Fort Dodge. He also managed a farm and was in the real estate business. Cyrus Carpenter died in May 1898 and was buried in the cemetery of Fort Dodge. He was married to Susan Kate Burkholder.