Lewis Fields Linn
Missouri experienced the loss of one of its senators, Alexander Buckner, during a cholera epidemic in 1833. This meant that the governor, Daniel Dunklin, would have to appoint a replacement. Dunklin chose Lewis F. Linn, a Ste. Genevieve doctor to finish Buckner’s term. Linn was a strong Jacksonian Democrat and would work closely with Thomas Hart Benton during his time in the Senate.
Lewis Linn was born near Louisville, Kentucky in November of 1796. His mother was originally married to a man by the name of Israel Dodge. Together they had a son named Henry Dodge. Henry was an Indian fighter, army officer, and one of the framers of Missouri’s Constitution in 1820. Henry Dodge later would become the Governor of Wisconsin and then a United States Senator for Wisconsin. This would mean that there were two sons of this woman who would become United States Senators.
Lewis Linn served as a surgeon to Missouri troops under the command of Dodge during the War of 1812. After completing his medical studies in Philadelphia in 1816, Linn set up his medical practice in Ste. Genevieve, the home of his half-brother and guardian, Henry Dodge. Ironically, Linn would work to combat two separate cholera epidemics while a physician in Missouri, the same illness that caused the death of his predecessor. Linn even fell ill in the epidemic while caring for others.
Members of both political parties, Democrat and Whig, encouraged the governor to appoint Linn as Buckner’s replacement. Linn, himself had never made an interest in politics known before that event. It was while Linn was recuperating from the cholera that he learned he had been appointed to the senatorial seat. According to Shoemaker, Linn was “the first and only man Missouri has sent to the United States Senate who had never been a politician, lawyer, or a soldier.” Even Harry Truman, a common man with no college education, had served in the military and was a county judge before being elected to the Senate.
Lewis Linn was born near Louisville, Kentucky in November of 1796. His mother was originally married to a man by the name of Israel Dodge. Together they had a son named Henry Dodge. Henry was an Indian fighter, army officer, and one of the framers of Missouri’s Constitution in 1820. Henry Dodge later would become the Governor of Wisconsin and then a United States Senator for Wisconsin. This would mean that there were two sons of this woman who would become United States Senators.
Lewis Linn served as a surgeon to Missouri troops under the command of Dodge during the War of 1812. After completing his medical studies in Philadelphia in 1816, Linn set up his medical practice in Ste. Genevieve, the home of his half-brother and guardian, Henry Dodge. Ironically, Linn would work to combat two separate cholera epidemics while a physician in Missouri, the same illness that caused the death of his predecessor. Linn even fell ill in the epidemic while caring for others.
Members of both political parties, Democrat and Whig, encouraged the governor to appoint Linn as Buckner’s replacement. Linn, himself had never made an interest in politics known before that event. It was while Linn was recuperating from the cholera that he learned he had been appointed to the senatorial seat. According to Shoemaker, Linn was “the first and only man Missouri has sent to the United States Senate who had never been a politician, lawyer, or a soldier.” Even Harry Truman, a common man with no college education, had served in the military and was a county judge before being elected to the Senate.
The first sixteen years of Missouri’s statehood presented a western boundary that was entirely straight from north to south. The land to the west of this boundary, north of Kansas City and bordered by the Missouri River to the west, was land possessed by Native Americans. The Sac, Fox, and Pottawatomie tribes lived in this three thousand square mile region. Although the law forbade white settlers from living in this area, some would try. This brought about conflict and frequent squabbles with the Native Americans. It was apparent that white Missourians wanted this land.
Lewis Linn got involved in the efforts of whites to possess this land while he was finishing out Dunklin’s term in the Senate. Linn authored a bill providing for the acquisition of this land, called the Platte Country. The bill was presented in the Senate by Linn’s fellow senator, Thomas Hart Benton in 1836. The passage of this bill gave Missouri its present boundaries and the counties of Platte, Buchanan, Andrew, Holt, Atchison, and Nodaway. Benton claimed that the bill, known as the Platte Purchase, would never have passed had it not been for Lewis Linn.
Lewis Linn got involved in the efforts of whites to possess this land while he was finishing out Dunklin’s term in the Senate. Linn authored a bill providing for the acquisition of this land, called the Platte Country. The bill was presented in the Senate by Linn’s fellow senator, Thomas Hart Benton in 1836. The passage of this bill gave Missouri its present boundaries and the counties of Platte, Buchanan, Andrew, Holt, Atchison, and Nodaway. Benton claimed that the bill, known as the Platte Purchase, would never have passed had it not been for Lewis Linn.
Linn didn’t keep the focus of his attention solely within the borders of Missouri. Americans were smitten with the concept of “Manifest Destiny” and the Oregon Country appealed to settlers. Linn created a bill for the settlement and occupation of Oregon Territory. Once again Benton gave claim to its success through Linn. Without the passage of this bill the United States would probably never have acquired what is now Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Because of Linn’s efforts to make this area a part of the nation he has been called the “Father of Oregon.”
Lewis Linn also was instrumental in the development of military posts on the frontier to protect against Indian attacks, the establishment of postal roads, the drainage of swamps, and more. He did so much for the development of Iowa that they even claimed him as “their” senator.
During his second term of which he was elected for in the Senate Lewis Linn was struck ill. He would die at his home in Ste. Genevieve on October 3, 1843. Many would mourn the tragic loss of this compassionate man from Missouri. The legislature would place on his tombstone the phrase “Missouri’s Model Senator” to signify the example he presented to all others. Iowa, Kansas, Oregon, and, of course, Missouri all named a county in his honor. The communities of West Linn, Oregon, Linnton Oregon, and Linneus, Missouri were all named in his honor also.
Lewis Linn also was instrumental in the development of military posts on the frontier to protect against Indian attacks, the establishment of postal roads, the drainage of swamps, and more. He did so much for the development of Iowa that they even claimed him as “their” senator.
During his second term of which he was elected for in the Senate Lewis Linn was struck ill. He would die at his home in Ste. Genevieve on October 3, 1843. Many would mourn the tragic loss of this compassionate man from Missouri. The legislature would place on his tombstone the phrase “Missouri’s Model Senator” to signify the example he presented to all others. Iowa, Kansas, Oregon, and, of course, Missouri all named a county in his honor. The communities of West Linn, Oregon, Linnton Oregon, and Linneus, Missouri were all named in his honor also.