Coolbaugh was active in early Iowa politics as a Democrat . The First General Assembly named him the state 's first Loan Agent in 1847 . He was a delegate to the 1852 Democratic National Convention and voted for Stephen A. Douglas in all 49 ballots . In 1854 , Coolbaugh was elected to the Iowa Senate , serving until 1862 . Coolbaugh was the Democratic candidate for United States Senate in 1855 , but was narrowly defeated by James Harlan . He chaired the Iowa delegation to the 1856 Democratic National Convention . Coolbaugh sided with the War Democrats upon the outbreak of the Civil War , supporting the Union
1852 Democratic National Convention
1852 Democratic National Convention
William F. Coolbaugh