Case, Louis

ALEXANDER, MORSE, TUFTS, LITTLEFIELD

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 12/19/2009 at 10:11:42

Louis Case, who ably served his district as state representative for two terms, is a valued resident of Waverly, living retired after many years of close connection with banking interests and public life in the community. He was born in Harmony, Chautauqua county, New York, July 6, 1834, a son of George L. and Sarah (Alexander) Case, the former a native of New Jersey, born in 1792, and the latter of New York. The family is of old Colonial stock, coming originally from England, both the grandfather and the great-grandfather being residents of New Jersey. In 1795, Ephraim Case, grandfather of the subject of this review, moved with his family to Tompkins county, New York, where his son, George L. Case, grew to manhood. The father of the subject of this review served in the War of 1812 and in 1816 moved to Chautauqua county, New York, where he remained until 1854. In that year he came to Iowa, making the journey by rail to Galena, Illinois, and thence by stage to Iowa. He located in Waverly, this county, and there made his home until his death, which occurred in January, 1867. His wife survived him for a number of years, dying in 1877. In their family were fourteen children, twelve of whom came west.

Louis Case was reared in Chautauqua county, New York, and acquired his education in the public schools and Jamestown Academy. He was twenty years of age when he came to Iowa with his father locating in Waverly, where he has since made his home. Soon after his arrival he became active in public affairs and he held various county offices, among them that of county clerk, to which he was elected in 1860. He was for many years a prominent figure in financial circles, assisting in the organization of the State Bank of Waverly, of which he served for twemty years thereafter as cashier. He discharged the duties of this position with credit and ability until 1909 and then retired from active life, still retaining, however, his connection with the bank as a member of the directorate. For eighteen years he was a member of the school board, thus manifesting his interest in education. He was for two terms a member of the state legislature, forwarding all measures which he deemed for the benefit of the people. He also held the responsible position of national bank inspector for ten years.

Mr. Case has been twice married. On July 4, 1854, he wedded Miss Emma R. Morse, a sister of Stephen H. Morse, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. To this marriage was born a daughter, Harriet A., a teacher of music in the Normal College at Cedar Falls. She is an accomplished musician, having studied at home and in Chicago, where she was a member of the Cycle Quartet, in the Metropolitan School of Music. Mr. Case's first wife passed away in February, 1889, and on the 10th of June, 1891, he was again married, his second union being with Miss Minnie N. Tufts, a native of Athens, Maine, and a daughter of Zachariah and Carolline (Littlefield) Tufts, also natives of the Pine Tree state. The great-grandfather, John Tufts, was born in New Hampshire and his son, of the same name, was a native of Maine. The family line has been traced back to Revolutionary times, the paternal great-grandmother, whose maiden name was Sally Hight, having been a daughter of Hanson Hight, a soldier of the Continental army. The maternal grandfather, Daniel Ham, was also in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Case is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and is also identified with the P.E.O., organized by several members of a class in a young ladies' college in Mount Pleasant, Iowa in the early '80s. The society has spread over several of the western states, its objects being social, literary and charitable work. Mrs. Case takes an active part in the work of the various women's organizations in the city and she is a devout member of the Congregational church. The family is well and favorably known in Waverly and has an extensive acquaintance within the border of Bremer county.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914