Politician in the Pepper Family

The background...my gggrandmother was Martha Pepper Daugherty, married to William Henry Daugherty. She was born in 1831 in Chillocothe, Ohio and died in 1924 in Wessington, SD. There's much to be said of Martha at another time.

At this time of political behavior and escapades it's interesting to hear about Martha's brother, John's (her father was also named John), son Irvin St. Clair Pepper. I'm wondering how the "St. Clair" came into being. He was born in Iowa in 1876 ( Gemini!). and graduated from Southern Iowa Normal School. He became principle of Atalissa High School and of the Washington School in Muscatine. Next Irvin was secretary for Congressman Martin J. Wade of Iowa from 1903-05. He graduated from the law department of George Washington University, Washington, D.C. in 1905 and was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Muscatine, Iowa, serving as prosecuting attorney of Muscatine County from 1906 - 1910. Then Irvin was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-second and Sixty-third congresses and served from March 4, 1911 until his death in Clinton County, Iowa, 1913. At that time period he was the chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Department. Irvin was buried in Shaul Cemetery, near Ottumwas, Wapello County, Iowa.

I searched the Internet and came upon the book, "Memorial Addresses on the life and character of Irvin St. Clair Pepper." The book is 117 pages long and generally deals with the death of Irvin at 37 years old. Irvin was a very popular and respected politician, whom if he had lived would no doubt have become a Congressman. There were 2,000 people attending Irvin's memorial. Iowa City Press says: "One of the brightest of the rising young Democrats in this state." Woodrow Wilson wrote to Irvin's doctor brother, John..."I was greatly shocked to hear of your brother's death. Acecept my deepest sympathy for family and friends."

Irvin had a prolonged seige of typhoid fever. He died of peritonitis. One of his sisters was the Hattie Minthorne that I mentioned in the blog concerning the Children's Blizzard. I have no doubt that Grandpa Fred Irvin Daugherty was named after him. He died a bachelor. It's well worth the time searching the Web for this first cousin 3 times removed. Nothing but the best of comments can be found concerning this legislator. I wished I could have found a picture of him, but so far, no luck.