Judge John S. Woolson

WOOLSON

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 8/24/2008 at 23:55:51

Daily Dubuque Herald
December 5, 1899

Judge Woolson Dead.
Judge Shiras Notified of the Death of His Colleague on Federal Bench.

Judge O. P. Shiras received a telegram announcing the death in Des Moines, Monday afternoon, at 2 o’clock of his collegiate, Judge Woolson, of the Southern district of Iowa.

John S. Woolson, who died Monday, had been judge of the United States court for the southern district of Iowa since the death of Judge J. M. Love of Keokuk. He was appointed in 1891 or 1892, and has been on the bench for something more than seven years. He was a man of superior character and ability, a tireless worker, a just judge, made is that he was inclined to be rather severe in his rulings and sentences.

Judge Woolson was born in Tonawanda, New York, but moved with his father to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, when a boy. His father was a leading man, and a state senator for several years after the war. In the middle ‘70’s the son was elected to the state senate in the father’s place, and he held the place for several terms until shortly before he was appointed judge, where for most of the time he was chairman of the important committee on the judiciary. When he was made judge by leading men of both parties, and he was appointed virtually without opposition. He had been in poor health for some time, and Judge Shiras just returned on Sunday, from holding a term of court for him at Des Moines. There will be a scramble for the position, in which Senator Gear will have judicial district is in the southern part of the state. If Senator Gear has his way about it, it is probably that A. B. Cummins of Des Moines will get the appointment if he will take it.