STOUGHTON, H. L. [1918]
STOUGHTON, HITCHCOCK, HIGGINS
Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 6/1/2010 at 16:18:48
The life history of H. L. Stoughton stands in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, for in the city of his birth Mr. Stoughton has won a prominent place as an able lawyer and is accorded a most liberal clientage.
He is also well known as the vice president of the Mitchell County Savings Bank, and over public affairs he exerts a widely felt and beneficial influence. He was born in Osage, December 31, 1874, a son of Mr. and Mrs. George M. Stoughton, the latter a daughter of Hon. Arad Hitchcock, one of the early county judges of Mitchell county and a very prominent man in his day.
H. L. Stoughton began his education in the schools of Osage, in which he spent two years, and afterward attended district schools. Later the family returned to Osage and he became a student in the Cedar Valley Seminary, pursuing the complete course in each branch, as offered by the school, Greek being the only subject which he did not take. He was graduated from that institution on the completion of both the classical and scientific courses in 1895 and he completed the business course in 1896. He then gave his attention tostenography and typewriting for four years, and in January, 1900, he entered Lombard College at Galesburg, Illinois, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1902, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts and lacking only two credits of securing the Master's degree.
Returning to Osage, he remained for but a short period and then went to Los Angeles, California, where he pursued his first year's studies in law at the Southern California University, and upon the strength of that course and the training received in law offices was enabled to enter the law department of Minnesota University, from which he was graduated in 1905. He then went immediately to Des Moines, where he successfully passed the required examination that secured his admission to the Iowa bar, and returning to Osage, he opened an office and has since engaged in practice in his native city, covering a period of twelve years.
During the years 1911 to 1913 he was associated with A. E. Brown, but this was the only time in which he followed his profession in a partnership relation. Few lawyers have made a more lasting impression upon the bar of the state, both for legal ability of a high order and for the individuality of a personal character which impresses itself upon a community. Of a family conspicuous for strong intellect, indomitable courage and energy, he entered upon his career as a lawyer, and such is the force of his character and natural qualifications that he has overcome all obstacles and written his name high on the legal arch. No one better knows the necessity for thorough preparation, and he most industriously prepares his cases. His course in the courtroom is characterized by a calmness and dignity that indicate reserve strength. Aside from his law practice, Mr. Stoughton is the vice president of the Mitchell County Savings Bank and a member of its examining committee.
In the year in which he was admitted to the bar, Mr. Stoughton was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Higgins, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a daughter of Charles H. and Sarah J. Higgins. To this marriage have been born two children: Margaret C., whose birth occurred in 1908, and George Herbert, born in 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Stoughton occupy a prominent social position and take an active interest in all those forces and movements which work for individual uplift and community betterment.
Mr. Stoughton has been secretary of the Cedar Valley Seminary of Osage for the past four years, and for a long period prior to his election to his present position had been a member of the board. He is also secretary of the board of trustees of the Osage Hospital, having succeeded his father in that place, and is the secretary of the Spring Park Association of Osage, to which office he was called in 1910. He has been secretary of the Osage Bar Association since its organization on the i6th of January, 1906, and he is chairman of the Mitchell county chapter of the Iowa Red Cross. He was one of the directors of Lombard College at Galesburg, but resigned because of his inability to attend the meetings of the board.
Mr. Stoughton is now serving as a member of the city council of Osage. He is conspicuous for his efforts in establishing the sewer system of Osage, which was his reason for accepting a position on the council. He has been justice of the peace since 1906, having accepted the office so as to see the proceedings of the court and become better informed as to the work of the law. He has passed all of the chairs in Osage Lodge, No. 159, K. P., is clerk of the Osage Universalist parish and secretary of the Iowa Universalist convention. He is superintendent of the Sunday school of his church, a position which he has occupied for ten or twelve years, and his wife and children are also members of the same church. There is no feature of the public life of the community in which he is not deeply interested, and he stands loyally for whatever he believes to be for the benefit and upbuilding of city and state. Moreover, he keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought and opinion and is well informed concerning the vital public questions of the age.
[Source History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, Vol. II, 1918, pages 216 & 220]
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