State Web Site

Military Service: National Guard

War(s) Served:  Civil War

JOSHUA G. NEWBOLD, Iowa's tenth governor, was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania on May 12, 1830. His education was attained in the common schools of Pennsylvania and at an academy where Dr. John Lewis taught. In 1854, he moved to Iowa and established himself in the mercantile business and in the farming community. During the Civil War, he was commissioned a captain of Company C, 25th Regiment of the Iowa Infantry, he fought in several battles and took part in the siege of Vicksburg. After his military service, he entered into politics. He served as a representative in the 13th, 14th and 15th Iowa General Assemblies, and was the lieutenant governor of Iowa from 1876 to 1877. On February 1, 1877 Governor Samuel Kirkwood resigned from office, and Newbold, who was lieutenant governor at the time, assumed the duties of the governorship. During his tenure, he dealt with reducing the state's deficit, and he advocated amending the tax structure. Newbold held one office after leaving the governorship on January 17, 1878. He was elected and served as mayor of Mt. Pleasant from 1899 to 1903. Governor Joshua G. Newbold died on June 10, 1903, and was buried at the Forest Home Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

Sources:

Iowa Biographies Project

The Political Graveyard

Portrait and Biographical Album: Washington County, Iowa

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 2, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.