"(December 20, 1813 -- September 1, 1894) Samuel Jordan Kirkwood was a clerk, teacher, lawyer, businessman, governor, president of a railroad company, president of a bank, and an American politician. Kirkwood was born in Harford County, Maryland and moved to Coralville, Johnson County, Iowa in 1855. Samuel studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1843. He was the prosecuting attorney for Richland County (1845-1849) and was a member of the State constitutional convention in 1850 and 1851. He was a member of the State senate from 1856-1859. He also served as Governor of Iowa (1860 - 1864 and 1876-1877) when he resigned. Appointed by Abraham Lincoln as Minister to Denmark in 1863, but declined. He served as the president of the Iowa & Southwestern Railroad Company. He accepted a Cabinet Portfolio and served as the Secretary of the Interior of President James Garfield from 1881 to 1882 and resigned after the death of President Garfield. He was also a president of the Iowa National Bank. Kirkwood was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill a vacancy caused by the Resignation of James Harlan from January 13, 1866 to March 3, 1867. He was elected as a Republican from March 4, 1877 to March 7, 1881 when he resigned to accept a Cabinet portfolio. [Source: 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774 - Present', available at https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=K000242]"