F. W. Myatt(1867-1917)

MYATT, HEIDE, BAUMAN, COOPER, BOWEN

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 11/5/2008 at 00:18:55

Jackson Sentinel
November 13, 1917

Ex-Mayor F. W. Myatt Passes Away at His Home on Wednesday Morning
For Four Consecutive Terms Served Maquoketa People as Their Chief Executive.
Funeral Will Be Held Friday Afternoon.

Although not unexpected, the death of our beloved townsman, Fred W. Myatt, came as a shock to the entire community, Wednesday morning, after a lingering illness of several months. The end came shortly before seven o’clock and as the day was breaking, the soul of one of our city’s grandest men took its flight to another world. It is almost needless for us to dwell lengthily upon the life of Mr. Myatt, for our tribute would fall short of that written by himself in his daily walks among us. Respected and honored by all, he enjoyed to live, and he enjoyed no greater pleasure than to see others live and live well. As evidence of the confidence which our city placed in him, he was for four consecutive terms elected as our chief executive, ably filling the position of honor until last spring, at which time he declined the re-nomination for the office. A staunch Republican in politics, his party tendered him the nomination last year for state senator, and while he was defeated by a small margin, it was not because of his personal enemies or lack of sterling character, but merely because he belonged to the minority party in the county. As an attorney, Mr. Myatt enjoyed a large practice, and as a counselor attained a wide reputation sustained with his keen sense of honesty as well as ability.

Maquoketa will miss Fred Myatt, for he was a good man a credit to any town that could call him its own, and in his passing there come back lessons to us all that a life worth while calls forth at its close the esteem, the admiration, of a commonwealth more enduring then any monument of marble or bronze.

Fred W. Myatt was born in Clinton county, July 24, 1867, and spent his youth on the home farm, and supplemented his early education by study in the Maquoketa high school and in the Northern college at Fulton, Illinois. Later he was matriculated in the Iowa State University and was graduated from the law department in 1896. Following his admission to the bar, he opened an office in Maquoketa and practiced independently until 1905, when he entered into partnership with S. D. Heide under the firm name of Myatt & Heide. A short time ago Mr. Heide removed to Dakota, withdrawing from the firms and was succeeded by D. T. Bauman, the firm name changing to Myatt & Bauman.

In his field of high endeavor there was demanded a most careful preparation, together with thorough appreciation of the absolute ethics of life and of the underlying principles which form the basis of all human rights and privileges. He was a thorough student of law and a close examiner. His activities along all lines have been worthy of the success which he attained.

In 1899 Mr. Myatt was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Cooper of this city, to which union one son was born, Frederick Paul, who mourns the loss of a kind, indulgent father, his mother passing away in 1903. In June, 1913, Mr. Myatt was united in marriage to Frances Bowen, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. A. B. Bowen, and she, with the son, mourns her irreparable loss.

He was an honored member of Hellion Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and also of the Knights of Pythias, in which fraternal circles he will be sadly missed. The funeral will be held from the Congregational church this Friday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock, Rev. J. G. Morgan officiating, the Masons and Knights of Pythias conducting the committal services in Mt. Hope cemetery.