Gideon F. Rothwell

Gideon F. Rothwell
Rothwell, c. 1890
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 10th district
In office
March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881
Preceded byHenry M. Pollard
Succeeded byJoseph H. Burrows
Personal details
BornGideon Frank Rothwell
(1836-04-24)April 24, 1836
near Fulton, Missouri, US
DiedJanuary 18, 1894(1894-01-18) (aged 57)
Moberly, Missouri, US
PartyDemocratic
University of Missouri
OccupationPolitician, lawyer

Gideon Frank Rothwell (April 24, 1836 – January 18, 1894) was an American politician and lawyer. A Democrat, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri.

Biography

Rothwell was born on April 24, 1836, near Fulton, Missouri,[1] the youngest son[2] of John Rothwell. He attended common schools, and in 1857, graduated from the University of Missouri at the top of his class.[3] He was admitted to the bar in 1864, after which he commenced practice in Huntsville.[1] For a time, he taught at Mount Pleasant College in Huntsville.[4] In 1873, he moved to Moberly.[5]

Rothwell was a Democrat.[6] For a time, he was Mayor of Hunsville.[4] He served in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1879, to March 3, 1881, representing Missouri's 10th district. He lost the following primaries.[1] He was nicknamed "the Garden Sass statesman" and was reportedly elected to Congress by accident.[7] In 1888, he was a presidential elector, as which he voted for Grover Cleveland.[4]

After serving in Congress, Rothwell returned to practicing law in Moberly.[1] He served one term as superintendent of Randolph County and established the county's first public school during his tenure.[4] In January 1889, he was appointed a member of the University of Missouri's board of curators.[5] From 1890 until his death, he served as president of the board.[4] During his tenure, he had ordered the demolition of The Columns following a fire in 1892 and had ordered a group of mules to pull them down. However, local citizens protested their demolition, with a reported fistfight between Rothwell and one Jerry S. Dorsey occurring. He later changed his mind and let the columns stand.[8]

In 1893, Rothwell received an honorary Bachelor of Arts from William Jewell College.[9] He was married and had four children: three sons and a daughter.[2] He died on January 18, 1894, aged 57, in Moberly,[1] from Bright's disease.[3] He was buried at Oakland Cemetery, in Moberly.[6] The Rothwell Gymnasium, an athletic facility at the University of Missouri, is named after him.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Rothwell, Gideon Frank". bioguideretro.congress.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  2. ^ a b "Funeral of G. F. Rothwell". Columbia Missouri Herald. 26 January 1894. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  3. ^ a b "President G. F. Rothwell Dead". Columbia Missouri Herald. 19 January 1894. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Death of Hon. G. F. Rothwell". The Bullein. 24 January 1894. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  5. ^ a b "Hon. G. F. Rothwell Dead". Fayette Advertiser. 25 January 1894. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  6. ^ a b "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Rothacker to Rowden". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
  7. ^ "Republican Ticket". Brookfield Gazette. 12 August 1880. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  8. ^ Corkery, Mary; LeBeau, Maggie (2025-09-26). "Mizzou Columns celebrated for history, student life and traditions". The Maneater. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
  9. ^ "To Preach and Teach". The Kansas City Times. 15 June 1883. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  10. ^ "MU in Brick and Mortar - Rothwell Gymnasium". muarchives.missouri.edu. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
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