Lavender, James F. (1851-1926)

LAVENDER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/28/2019 at 19:15:44

James F. Lavender
(1851-1926)

James F. Lavender was born March 24, 1851 in Rochester, New Hampshire. In 1863 his parents settled in Scott County, Iowa on a farm where our subject remained until 1867. From 1867 to 1870 he worked on a farm in Poweshiek County, Iowa. He then removed to Davenport, attending school there, and later at the Iowa Agricultural College at Ames. He read law in the office of Cook, Richman & Bruning, then with Brown & Campbell, Davenport, and later with Wilson & Lawrence, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was admitted before the supreme court of Minnesota, October 5, 1880; circuit court, of Scott County, Iowa, December 13, 1880; United States district court of Iowa same time. He began to practice in April 1881 at Rockwell City, and was a member of the firm of Stevenson & Lavender from January 1890 to January 1900. He was elected by the Republicans as representative from Calhoun County to the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh general assemblies.
Source – Courts & Legal Profession of Iowa, vol.1, p.521, by Chester C. Cole, Chicago, 1907.

JAMES F. LAVENDER.

Mr. Lavender was born amid the hills of New Hampshire, his birth occurring in Rochester, on the 24th of March, 1851, his parents being Robert and Ann (McIlwrath) Lavender. The Lavender family is of Huguenot origin, and from Ireland came to the new world. On the maternal side the subject of this review is of Scotch lineage and the ancestry can be traced back to the
days of King William. For many years members of the Lavender family were well
known in connection with the manufacture of linen and as linen merchants, while the McIlwrath family was identified with agricultural pursuits. The father of our subject was born on the Emerald isle and on crossing the Atlantic to the new world settled in Massachusetts, whence he afterward removed to New Hampshire and later became a resident of Iowa. He was a miller, designer and boss weaver in woolen manufacture, and was employed in the mills in the east until 1863, when he came to the Hawkeye state. Taking up his abode in Scott County, he there engaged in fitting up a woolen mill at Davenport, and later turned his attention to farming, devoting his later years to agricultural pursuits. Removing to Poweshiek County, he there spent his remaining days, passing away at the age of seventy-two years. His wife died at the age
of seventy-three. In their family were five sons and three daughters, all of whom are yet living: William J., who is a resident of Davenport, Iowa; Robert L.. who makes his home in Newton; Mrs. Elizabeth Booth, of Storm Lake, Iowa; James F., of this review; Mrs. Hannah J. Parker, who lives in Gilman ; Mrs. Martha A. Sowerwine, of Brooklyn, lowa; Alexander F., who is a resident of Hamburg, California ; and Thomas H., of Gilman, Iowa.
James F. Lavender spent the first twelve years of his life in New Hampshire and then accompanied his parents to Iowa, where he continued his education in the Agricultural College at Ames. Desiring to enter professional life he took up the study of law in Davenport, in 1873, pursuing his reading during the months of vacation while teaching school. It was through his work as a teacher that he acquired the means that enabled him to pursue his college course. The elemental strength of his character was thus early shown forth and indicated the qualities which would mark his later career. Admitted to the bar in September, 1880, he entered upon active connection with the profession in Davenport, as a clerk in the law office of the firm of Brown & Campbell, well known attorneys of that city. Subsequently he came to Rockwell City in 1881, and now for twenty-one years has been a practitioner at the bar of Calhoun County, being the oldest lawyer in years of continuous service here, with one exception. He has given his entire attention to his legal work and
his preparation of cases is most thorough and exhaustive.
On the 20th of December, 1876, Mr. Lavender was united in marriage to Miss
Mary L. Davison, who was born in Le Claire, Iowa, a daughter of Alfred N.
Davison. She is a lady of superior culture and intelligence, and for several years successfully engaged in teaching. Six children have been born unto them ; Fannie S., Fabius C, Robert A., James B., Mary F. and Alice E.
In public affairs Mr. Lavender has been prominent. He served from 1886 until 1890 as county superintendent of schools and from 1895 until 1899 he had the honor of representing his district in the state legislature. He is a Republican in his political views and has a broad and comprehensive knowledge of the political issues of the day. He ably and creditably served in the house,
taking an active part in the business that was transacted in the council chambers of the commonwealth. His course has ever been above suspicion. The good of the state he places before partisanship and the welfare of his constituents before personal aggrandizement. He commanded the respect of the members of the house, but at home in the county of his adoption — where he is best known, he inspires personal friendship of unusual strength, and all who know him have the highest admiration for his good qualities if heart and mind. [Source - Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.231]