William Loughridge

Who was William Loughridge?

William Loughridge was a pioneer attorney, judge, and three-term United States Congressman from Iowa.

He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, where he attended the common schools. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1849 and commenced practice in Mansfield, Ohio. He moved to Iowa in 1852 and settled in Oskaloosa, in Mahaska County.

He served as a member of the Iowa Senate from 1857 to 1860. In 1861 he became a judge of the sixth judicial circuit of Iowa, serving until 1867.

In the 1866 Republican district convention for Iowa's 4th congressional district, Loughridge upset incumbent Congressman Josiah B. Grinnell, winning the nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives seat then held by Grinnell. After winning the general election and serving in the Fortieth United States Congress, Loughridge was re-elected in 1868 and served in the Forty-first United States Congress. In the 1870 Republican district convention, Loughridge was upset by Madison Miner Walden. Walden won the general election. However, when Walden ran for renomination in 1872, Loughridge turned the tables on Walden, ousting Walden.