History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Conduce H. Gatch
CONDUCE H. GATCH was born near Milford, Ohio, July 25, 1825. He grew to manhood on his father's farm attending the common schools during winters and laboring on the farm through the working season. After becoming of age he took a regular course in Augusta College, Kentucky, and then studied law at Xenia, Ohio, where he was admitted to the bar. He settled at Kenton where he was chosen prosecuting attorney and later member of the State Senate. Mr. Gatch was a delegate to the first National Republican Convention which nominated General John C. Fremont for President. At the beginning of the Rebellion Mr. Gatch raised a company for the Thirty-third Ohio Infantry of which he was commissioned captain. He participated in several battles and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the regiment. He removed to Iowa in 1866, entering upon the practice of law. In 1885 he was elected to the Iowa Senate, where he served eight years. He was the author of many important laws among which was the one founding the Historical Department of Iowa and a general law promoting the organization of public libraries in towns and cities. He was the author of a history of the Des Moines River Land Grant and the legislation and litigation following, published in the Annals of Iowa. He died at his home on the 1st of July, 1897.