History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Edward H. Gillette
EDWARD H. GILLETTE was the son of Francis Gillette, United States Senator from Connecticut and Free Soil candidate for Governor in antislavery times. Edward H. was born October 1, 1840, in Bloomfield, Connecticut, and received his education at Hartford High School and at the New York Agricultural College. After coming to Iowa he engaged in stock farming near Des Moines and became a leader in the Greenback party and in 1878 was nominated for Representative in Congress by that party in the Seventh District. He was elected, serving one term. For several years he was associated with General James B. Weaver in the publication of the Farmers' Tribune at Des Moines, the central organ of the Populist party of Iowa. He was one of the earnest advocates of the principles of that party and one of its eloquent public speakers. In 1879 he was chairman of the State Central Committee of the Union Labor party and in 1893 was the candidate of the People's party for Secretary of State.