FELLOWS, Liberty Eaton 1834 - 1912

FELLOWS, REED, CROWDER, BEEMAN, PRESCOTT, SAAM

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 4/3/2013 at 23:05:02

Postville Review, Fri., 26 July 1912. From the Lansing Mirror.

Lansing Mirror.- It is a sad duty to record the death of our beloved and distinguished citizen, Judge L. E. Fellows, which occurred at his home in Lansing on Wednesday, July 17, 1912, at two p.m. In February last he was taken sick with pneumonia. After a protracted and serious illness he seemed to be recovering, but a complication of other ailments following wore out the body which heretofore had been strong and vigorous. A quiet funeral was held at the home at five o'clock on Friday afternoon, his pastor, Rev. J. C. Wharton, of the Methodist church officiating. The pall bearers were his sons.

Liberty Eaton Fellows was born at Corinth, Vermont, August 22, 1834. He acquired a good education in the public schools and acadamies of his native state. In 1857 he came to Iowa, locating near Lansing, where for several years he engaged in farming and school teaching and studying law.

He was married in 1861 to Miss Mary S. Reed, who survives him. She is the daughter of John Reed, who is well remembered as a pioneer resident of Allamakee county. Eleven children were born to them, eight of whom are living and were at the bedside of their father when he passed away, viz: Wilson R. of Stillwater, Oklahoma; Albert M. of Lansing; Lura F., wife of the Rev. W. G. Crowder of Cedar Rapids; Mamie F., wife of Mr. C. A. Beeman of Waukon; Dr. Roger L. of LaGrange, Ill.; Jennie, wife of Mr. Ralph Prescott of LeRoy, Minn.; Liberty E. of Miles City, Montana; and Grace C., wife of Dr. John Saam of Eveleth, Minn. There are twenty-one grandchildren, twelve of whom were in Lansing when their grandfather died.

Judge and Mrs. Fellows celebrated their golden wedding on the Fourth of July, 1911, by the home-coming of all their children and grandchildren.

Mr. Fellows was admitted to the bar in 1862 and entered upon the practice of his profession in Lansing, which was then the county seat. In 1865 he was elected to the House of the General Assembly. At the close of his term he was elected to the Senate serving two terms with distinction.

In 1889 he was appointed Judge of the 13th Judicial District of Iowa to fill a vacancy. He has been five times elected for full terms in the same position, the district comprising the counties of Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek. Had he lived two years more, which would have brought him to the end of his present term, his judicial career would have covered twenty-one years.

Judge Fellows was for twelve years a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hospital for the Insane at Mt. Pleasant and for many years a Trustee of the Upper Iowa University at Fayette. he was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Lansing, holding the position of W.M. a number of years, and was two years Grand Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Iowa. He was a member and officer of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his early life he affiliated with the Democratic party, but in his later years he identified himself with the Republican party.

Judge Fellows was a type of the best citizenship - a clean, useful, able, honorable man. His residence of fifty-one years in Lansing endeared him to all the people. He was genial and courteous, observing scrupulously and tactfully the social amenities that make life better and pleasanter. He loved to mingle with the people, rejoicing with them in their pleasures and sympathizing with them in their sorrows. The qualities that gave him the respect of his own townspeople extended his reputation and influence throughout the whole county and district and made him one of Iowa's honored and influentual leaders.

His home life was ideal. He was a most affectionate, helpful and wise husband and father, and his beautiful home was permeated with the spirit of love and hospitality.

His standing as a lawyer was high. He handled many of the most important cases. He was always loyal to his clients, helping them through their troubles, striving to secure for them the fairest degree of justice, and giving wholesome advice to mend the ways of offenders.

As a jurist he ranked among the best, ablest and wisest in the state. He was learned in the law and endowed with the judicial temperment and poise and discernment of mind that gave him an almost intuitive perception and understanding of the most intricate cases. He was respected by the lawyers and all the officers of the court for his dignity, courtesy and kindly concideration and for the fairness of his decisions. He tempered justice with mercy, hoping to destroy the wrong but to reform the wrongdoer.

Judge Fellows was a fine public speaker and was in demand for addresses on many occasions.

The Judge was always interested in political matters. He had the positive views of a strong man, but he was not a narrow partisan, nor would he ever countenance questionable methods to advance the intrests of his party or to secure a personal advantage. He recognized the good that could always be found in other parties and respected the honest differences of opinion that exist among fellow citizens, believing that all have the welfare of thier country at heart. He was of the Abraham Lincoln type - he believed in the people.

Judge Fellows was a christian gentleman and loved his church. But he was above the spirit of sectarianism. His love included other denominations and his creed was as comprehensive and beautiful as the Golden Rule.

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Note: See the History of Allamakee County, 1913, biography of Fellows, L. E., this website.

Submitter is not related.

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Added by Joy Moore 2/19/2020:

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer July 19, 1912, P-LP, C-4

Judge Fellows Dead

Our citizens were quite surprised yesterday to learn of the death of Judge L. E. Fellows at his home at Lansing, Iowa.

From a letter to county clerk Blandin from court reporter E. F. Daugherty, we learn that the judge passed away Wednesday afternoon, having been steadily failing for a week previous, never having entirely recovered from an attack of pneumonia last winter. The funeral will take place at Lansing at 4 o'clock this afternoon.

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer July 23, 1912, P-LP, C-3

Death of Judge Fellows.

Word was received Wednesday afternoon that Judge Fellows had passed away at two o'clock at his home at Lansing. The news was not unexpected as it was known that his illness had assumed a critical stage again and that there was little hope for his recovery.

He had spent Chautauqua week here in Waukon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C. A. Beeman, and though he had not fully recovered from his severe attack of pneumonia last spring, he appeared to be gaining slowly, and was in good spirits. He confidently believed he would be able to resume his duties on the bench this fall.

On Wednesday, however, he was overcome with a chill, and his strength waned from that time. Sunday he was taken to his home at Lansing in an auto, and though standing the trip very well, his condition became such that his children were summoned and all had reached his bedside Tuesday before he passed away.

L. E. Fellows was a native of Vermont, and was born August 22, 1834, his parents being Hubbard and Mary Ann Fellows. He lived with his parents on a farm, received an academic education, and in 1857 came to Allamakee county. Here he served as clerk in county offices, at the same time studying law. He was admitted to the bar May 29, 1862, and had since given his entire attention to the profession. Mr. Fellows when a democrat in politics was elected to the lower house of the state legislature, serving two years, and subsequently to the senate, serving four years. In later years he became a republican.

Judge Fellows was first appointed to the bench in 1889 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Noble. He was defeated for re-election that year by Judge Hoyt; but in 1893 was elected and at every succeeding four years since, his services on the bench having covered a period of close to twenty years.

He was married in 1861 to Miss Mary S. Reed, of Waukon, and their children are Wilson R., residing in Oklahoma; Albert M., Lansing; Mrs. Rev. Crowder, Cedar Rapids; Mrs. C. A. Beeman, Waukon; Mrs. John Saam, Lansing; Roger L., Illinois; Mrs. Ralph Prescott, LeRoy, Minn., and Liberty E., of Miles City, Montana. One daughter Ella passed away some years ago. — Waukon Democrat.