ROCKAFELLOW, James B. 1851-1928

ROCKAFELLOW, MCCABE

Posted By: Errin Wilker (email)
Date: 7/27/2014 at 13:29:36

James B. Rockafellow was born on a farm in Fulton County, Illinois, January 29, 1851, and died at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. R.W. McCabe, in Davenport, Iowa, May 3, 1928. Burial was at Atlantic, Iowa. His parents removed to Galva, Illinois, in 1857. James B. attended public school and was graduated from the Galva High School. After working on a farm two years, he matriculated in Union College of Law, Chicago, and was graduated in 1875. He then removed to Atlantic, Iowa, and began practice. In 1878, he was elected city solicitor of Atlantic. In 1881, he discontinued practice, removed to Harlan and conducted a drug store, but in 1885 returned to Atlantic and resumed the practice of law. From 1898 to 1906, he was referee in bankruptcy for Cass, Audubon, and Shelby counties. On April 25, 1913, he was appointed by Governor Clarke one of the judges of the Fifteenth Judicial District, the General Assembly having provided for another judge. He was elected in 1914, and continued in the position until 1922. The last few years of his life he was in retirement because of failing eyesight and he finally became totally blind.

Source: Annals of Iowa, Third Series, Vol. XVI, No. 7, January 1929, Pg. 556.