Born in Perry , Ohio , Allison established a legal practice in Dubuque , Iowa and became a prominent member of the nascent Iowa Republican Party . He was a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention and won election to the House of Representatives in 1862 . He served four terms in the House and won election to the Senate in 1872 . He became chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee , serving for all but two years between 1881 and 1908 . Three different Republican presidents asked Allison to join their Cabinet , but Allison declined each offer . A significant number of delegates supported his presidential nomination at the 1888 and 1896 Republican National Conventions
1860 Republican National Convention
1860 Republican National Convention
William B. Allison