Gilbert N. Haugen

Biography

Gilbert N. Haugen, born in 1859 and raised in Northwood, Iowa, spent his youth among the farms and small-town neighborhoods that shaped his lifelong commitment to service. His early days in the community taught him the value of hard work, neighborly kindness, and the importance of steady local leadership.

Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1898, he devoted more than three decades to advocating for Midwestern farmers, chairing the Agriculture Committee and co-authoring the McNary–Haugen Farm Relief Bill as he worked to stabilize markets and provide fair treatment for family farms. He returned home with the appreciation of those he represented, leaving behind a legacy of measured governance and deep respect for rural America.