House, A. J.

HOUSE

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 3/24/2007 at 06:44:23

Biography of Judge A. J. House from the Maquoketa Excelsior, February 3, 1893:
Judge A. J. House was born near Brantford, Upper Canada, January 12, 1847, and is now in his 47th year. He emigrated to Iowa and to Jackson County in December, 1863, and spent the first two years on the farm with his uncle D. T. Farr. In the winter of 1865-6 he taught school near Bridgeport. In the summer of 1866 he had the misfortune to fall from his seat on a mower while the machine was in motion and was so badly injured that surgeons amputated his right arm and part of his left hand, leaving him but two fingers and a thumb. This completely unfitted him for anything other than a professional calling. He sought to prepare himself for such a calling by a course at the State University at Iowa City. About a year after this he returned to Canada and for the first time did his aged mother and relatives learn of the serious mishap that had befallen him. He returned to Jackson County and taught school in 1867-8, and in the spring of the latter year began the study of law with C. M. Dunbar. In the fall of 1871, Mr. House formed a law partnership with Frank Amos, and the same fall was nominated and elected county superintendent. He served one term in this office and was then elected auditor of Jackson County in 1873 and re-nominated and elected in 1875. As soon as his school term expired(January 1, 1877) he became a partner of Levi Keck in the law and abstract business, in which he secured a large law practice and commanded the respect and confidence of the people. He also held the office of city solicitor of Maquoketa for ten consecutive years ending in 1889. He was always counted a trusty officer, a thorough student of law; not a great pleader at the bar, but a careful and succesful counselor in intricate cases, a man of systematic habits and perfect integrity. Judge House was the choice of his county for circuit judge when A.J Leffingwell, of Clinton, was first nominated to that position. He was appointed to his present office in May last by Gov. Boies, in accordance with the law passed by the last general assembly providing for an additional judge in the district. Judge House will probably be in Muscatine for a week or two, assisting Judge Brannan to clear off the big docket now pending in the District Court.