HEMPSTEAD, Stephen

Governor Stephen Hempstead

Gravestone in Linwood Cemetery

HEMPSTEAD, Stephen. (New London, CT, Oct. 1, 1812-Dubuque, IA, Feb. 16, 1883). Hempstead, Dubuque's first attorney, was elected with General Warner LEWIS to represent the northern portion of Iowa Territory in the Legislative Council which met in Burlington in 1838. (1) He chaired the Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Incorporations. Re-elected in 1839, he became president of the Legislative Council.

In 1844 he was elected one of the delegates of Dubuque County to the first convention to frame a constitution for the State. Hempstead was responsible for a minority report forbidding banks which he claimed," no principle ever devised by mortal man was so successful to swindle the people." He lost that battle. (2) In 1848, in company with Judge Charles Mason and W. G. Woodward, he was appointed by the Legislature to revise the laws of the State, which revision, with a few amendments, was adopted as the code of Iowa 1851. (3)

Hempstead ran as the Democratic candidate for governor in 1850 and was elected governor. His term of office occurred at a time of rapidly increasing population with fifty-two new counties being created. (4) He worked to increase the population by suggesting to create the position of "Commissioner of Emigration in New York to encourage more migration to Iowa." (5) The Iowa House of Representatives, however, rejected the idea. He tried again in 1854 with no success. The Iowa Legislature, however, did approve of his idea of establishing the Office of Attorney General.

The issue of temperance also arose. At the time, the only restriction on liquor sales was that it could not be consumed on the premises where it was sold. In 1852-1853 supporters pushed prohibition in the state. Hempstead suggested "a judicious license system under the control of local authorities." The legislature took no action.

Other issues confronted the governor. The Iowa Constitution of 1846 prohibited banks and twice the governor vetoed legislation to call a convention to amend the constitution to permit them. He did support "an asylum for lunatics." Sioux Indians signed a treaty in 1851 giving up the rest of their land claims in Iowa and 46 new counties were formed. (6)

Hempstead ran for the United States Congress in 1854 but lost. Editorial opinion suggested that his loss was due to his opponent's support of PROHIBITION. (7) In 1855 he was elected a Dubuque County judge, a position he held twelve years until the office was abolished. He then served as a county auditor until retiring in 1873 due to ill health. Hempstead is remembered in Dubuque with the naming of STEPHEN HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL. (8)

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Source:

1. Coover, D. J. Books of Historical Interest. Online--http://freepages.books.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cooverfamily/album_4.html, p. 115

2. Hudson, David; Bergman, Marvin; Horton, Loren. The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2008, p. 226

3. Coover, D. J., p. 115

4. "Iowa Governor Stephen Hempstead." National Governors' Association, Online--http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_iowa/col2-content/main-content-list/title_hempstead_stephen.html

5. Hudson, David, p. 226

6. Hudson, David et.al. p. 227

7. Hudson, David et. al. p. 227

8. Wikipedia. "Stephen Hempstead."