Asahel W. Hubbard

Who was Asahel W. Hubbard?

Asahel Wheeler Hubbard was an attorney, judge, Indiana legislator, and three-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 6th congressional district during the Civil War and the first stage of the Reconstruction era. He was the father of Iowa Congressman Elbert H. Hubbard.

Born in Haddam, Connecticut, Hubbard attended the public schools. He worked as a stonecutter. He subsequently pursued his studies at a select school in Middletown, Connecticut. He moved to Rushville, Indiana, in 1838, where he was employed as a book agent and taught school. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1841 and commenced practice in Rushville. He served as member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1847 to 1849.

In 1857, he moved to Sioux City, Iowa, and engaged in the real estate business. He served as judge of the fourth judicial district from 1859 to 1862.

In 1862, after the 1860 United States Census caused Iowa's seats in the U.S. House to increase from two to six, Hubbard became the first Congressman to represent Iowa's 6th congressional district. Re-elected twice, he served in the Thirty-eighth, Thirty-ninth, and Fortieth Congresses. He was influential in securing legislation which hastened the building of several lines of railroad through his district, besides securing to Sioux City a branch of the Union Pacific Railroad. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1868. In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1863 to March 3, 1869.