FOREMAN, Cyrus ca.1824-1887

FOREMAN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/13/2010 at 14:23:35

#1:

The Honorable Cyrus Foreman, one of the leading citizens of northern Iowa, died at his home in Osage, Iowa, yesterday, aged 63. In 1878 he was appointed one of the commissioners in charge of the construction of the new state bouse and he served until the work was completed.

[Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, Thursday, September 29, 1887]

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#2:

Cyrus Foreman, an old resident of Osage, is dead. He was a leading lawyer, a Democratic politician, and had become a wealthy citizen. He had been a widower eleven years.

[Iowa Postal Card, October 10, 1887]

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#3:

The first law office opened in Osage was that of O.P. Harwood in 1855. In 1858 Cyrus Foreman entered partnership with him. This partnership lasted until 1865 when Mr. Harwood moved away from Osage.

In 1876 Mr. Foreman, a democrat, was a candidate for Congress from the fourth district. Although he was defeated by N. C. Deering in the election his race was considered quite remarkable in a strong Republican district. He was appointed by the governor to the board of commissioners for the erection of the new capitol building in Des Moines in 1878.

[Osage 1956 Centennial Book]

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#4:

Hon. Cyrus Foreman

The Hon. Cyrus Foreman was one of the most influential of the early citizens of Osage. As will be noted in the following history of his life, taken from the Mitchell County Press files of Sept. 29, 1887, he settled here when Osage was just a village. By professon he was an attorney.

Mr. Foreman died when he was about 50 years of age. His daughter, Miss Elizabeth Foreman, still resides in the family home on north Seventh street.

"Again are the old settlers andpioneers reminded that their ranks are fast being disseminated by the hand of time. This fact is brought strikingly to mind in the announcement that at 3 o'clock Tuesday morning, the Hon. Cyrus Foreman died at his residence in this city after a linering illness of that dread disease, consumption.

"Mr. Foreman was one of the pioneers who settled here in the early spring of 1857, and has continuously resided here since then, and in the early days was an active worker in helping develop not only this city, but the county as well. As a citizen he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his fellows.

"In his calling as a lawyer . . . he won the reputation of being one of the safest and shrewdest counselors in the line of his profession.

"During his 30 years residence here, no man ever enjoyed to a greater extent the confidence of the people of this county.

"As a politician he was frank and outspoken, and held with tenacity to his political sentiments; yet always accorded to his political opponents honest motives when defending his own political sentiments. Had his political views been in accord with those of the Democratic party in the state there would have been no office within the gift of the people to which he could not have aspired with success, yet he tenaciously held to the honest convictions of his judgement, rather than win preferment and polical honors.

"The history of Osage and Mitchell county cannot be written without the name of Cyrus Foreman being engraved on its every plate and not man within history has done more to advance its material interest and develop its resources than has he.

"He leaves two daughters to mourn his loss and hosts of mourning friends and sympathizing neighbors join with them in the loss that has befallen them.

"The funeral services were held at the family residence and were conducted by Rev. Duboe, pastor of the Baptist society in this city. The multitude was so great that a large number were unable to gain entrance, but were crowded about the doors and windows and seated upon the lawn, not half of those present being able to hear the discourse.

"After the services at the residence the friends and neighbors were admitted to view the remains, ere being borne to their final resting place. . .

"The funeral procession was headed by the Masonic order, of which he was a member, followed by the hearse, the daughters of the deceased, the city council and citizens in carriages and on foot.

"At the grave the solemn and impressive rites of the Masonic fraternity were conducted by the chaplain, W. L. Eaton, concluding by each member of the order casting within the narrow confines of his last earthly abode, a sprig of evergreen, a token of fraternity and beautiful emblem of immortality, after which the assemblage was dismissed with a benediction by Rev. Duboe. . . .
--T.M.A.

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#5:

The listing for the Osage Cemetery shows:

FOREMAN, CYRUS (loc) 0160 8 (death/burial) 27 SEP 1887

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#6:

Photo of Cyrus Foreman from HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, 1883.

Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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