William Larrabee

Born in Connecticut on January 20, 1832, he moved west to Iowa in the 1850s and first worked as a teacher. Over time he became a successful businessman in Clermont, where he was involved in milling and banking as well as local community life.

He built a long career in Republican politics, serving in the Iowa Senate before becoming Iowa’s 13th governor, in office from 1886 to 1890. He was known as a serious, practical public figure who took a strong interest in state government, economic issues, and reform.

Larrabee remained influential in Iowa public life after leaving the governor’s office, and his family home in Clermont became one of the best-known historic sites connected with the state’s political history. He died on November 16, 1912.