author
Cyrenus Cole
1863–1939
A longtime Iowa newspaperman who turned his sharp eye for public life into both history writing and service in Congress, he wrote with the curiosity of a reporter and the memory of a local historian. His work offers a window into the people and politics of the Midwest in a changing America.
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About the author
Born near Pella, Iowa, in 1863, he graduated from Central College in 1887 and began his career in journalism. He worked for the Des Moines Register and Leader before becoming editor and part owner of the Cedar Rapids Republican, building a reputation as a newspaper editor, columnist, and observer of Iowa public life.
He later moved from covering politics to taking part in it, serving as a Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa from 1921 to 1933. Alongside his political career, he was also known as a historian and author, especially for writing about Iowa and the American Midwest.
His books and articles reflect a strong interest in regional history and in the personalities who shaped public affairs. He died in Washington, D.C., in 1939, but his writing still carries the voice of someone who knew Iowa's civic life from both the newsroom and the halls of government.