Gear, John Henry

Gear, John Henry

(1825–1900) governor, U.S. representative/senator; born in Ithaca, N.Y. A home-schooled, self-made groceryman, he became a leading Republican in Iowa, serving as governor (1877–79), congressman (1887–95), and senator (1895–1900). An advocate of fiscal responsibility in government, he supported protective tariffs.