BIOGRAPHY: Stephen Hempstead
From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875

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Honorable STEPHEN HEMPSTEAD, Ex-Governor of the State of Iowa; 
was born at New London, Connecticut, on the first day of October 1812, 
and lived in that state until the spring of 1828 with his parents and three 
brothers; removed to St. Louis, Mo., and settled upon a farm near 
Belfountain, a few miles from the St. Louis; remained there until the 
Spring of 1830 and went to Galena, Illinois, and acted as clerk in a 
commission house; was there during the Sac and Fox war, and was an 
officer in an artillery company, which had been organized for the 
protection of the place.  
 
After the defeat of Black Hawk and the close of the war, entered as a 
student of Illinois College at Jacksonville, remaining there about two 
years; got into trouble about sectarianism and abolitionism; left the 
college and returned to Missouri; commenced the study of law and 
finished the regular course under Mr. Charles S. Hempstead, then a 
prominent lawyer of Galena. 
 
In 1836, was admitted to practice as an attorney and counsellor at law in 
all the courts of the Territory of Wisconsin, then embracing the Territory 
of Iowa, and the same year located at the town of Dubuque, being the 
first lawyer who commenced the practice of his profession in the place. 
 
Upon the organization of the Territorial government of Iowa in 1838, he 
was with General Warner Lewis; elected to represent the northern 
portion of the Territory in the Legislative Council, which assembled at 
Burlington in the year 1838; was Chairman of the Committee on the 
Judiciary, one of the most important committees in the Council. At the 
second session of that body, was elected President thereof. 
 
Was again elected a member of the Council in 1845, which was held at 
Iowa City, and was President of the same. 
 
In 1844 he was elected one of the delegates of Dubuque County to the 
first convention to frame a constitution for the State of Iowa, and was 
Chairman of the Committee on Incorporations. 
 
In 1848 was, with Judge Charles Mason and W. G. Woodward 
appointed commissioners by the Legislature to revise the laws of the 
State of Iowa, and which revision, with a few amendments, was adopted 
as the code of Iowa of 1851. 
 
In 1850 was elected Governor of the State of Iowa and served in that 
capacity for four years, being the full term under the then 
Constitution.Was the second Governor of the state. 
 
In 1855 was elected County Judge of Dubuque County, and held that 
office for about twelve years. Under his administration was erected the 
principal county buildings, the jail, poor house and some valuable 
bridges. His health being very much impaired, he has retired from public 
life to enjoy quietude and repose.