Todhunter, Lewis (1817-1902)

TODHUNTER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 12/9/2016 at 00:39:47

Lewis Todhunter
(April 6, 1817 – January 29, 1902)

History of Warren County, Iowa; Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns & Etc., by Union Historical Company, 1879, p.605
TODHUNTER, LEWIS, Indianola, attorney; was born in Fayette county, Ohio, on the 6th of April, 1817; in youth he had limited means for school education, but he made the best use possible of his opportunities, but was in fact mainly self-taught; in early life he learned the carpenter's trade, and worked at it a few years; subsequently sold goods four or five years, then read law, and was admitted to the bar in Highland county, Ohio, in 1848; in 1850 he came to Iowa, and settled on the Des Moines river, in Polk county, and engaged in farming and selling goods; in 1854 he removed to Indianola, and since that time has devoted himself to the legal practice and real estate, in which he has been very successful; soon after locating in Indianola he was elected prosecuting attorney, and served two years; he was county recorder and treasurer one term, and a member of the constitutional convention, which met at Iowa City, in January, 1857, he representing Warren, Madison, Adair and Cass counties in that body, and has the honor of assisting in making the laws under which the people of Iowa live; in 1863 he volunteered as a private, but was immediately appointed assistant quartermaster, with the rank of captain; after Lee's surrender he was post quartermaster, at Richmond, Virginia, serving in that capacity until September, 1865; he has been closely allied in every interest pertaining to the growth and interest of the city, and for two terms served as mayor, as well as an official in other capacities, and is one of its most useful, as well as most respected, citizens; he is widest known, however, as a temperance man, and earnest worker; he joined in the Washingtonian movement in 1840, and has been active since that time in the temperance reformation; he is a man of strong convictions, and bold and fearless in advocating them; he married Miss Elizabeth Hull, May 10, 1842; she is a native of Highland county, Ohio; their family consists of six children: Ann, now Mrs. D. Johnson, Amy J., now Mrs. S. Barnes, John J., deputy auditor of Warren county, Hattie, and Mary E., now Mrs. Ritchey, and Charles D.; they have lost two.

The Advocate-Tribune newspaper, Indianola, Iowa, Thursday, December 30, 1886, p.6
A GATHERING OF THE PATRIARCHS
Mine host, A. P. Keeney, of the Madison House, the oldest landlord in Indianola, had a remarkable gathering at this popular hostelry on Christmas day. He invited all the prominent old widowers of this vicinity to eat a Christmas dinner with him. The patriarchal flock that answered the summons were a most interesting group of time-worn veterans.
LEWIS TODHUNTER was, of course, a member of the party. He was born in Fayette county, Ohio, April 6, 1817. At thirty years of age he commenced the practice of law. In 1850 he took Horace Greely’s advice and went west, and has been a resident of Warren county more than half of his long life. His history is a part of the history of Iowa. He was one of the framers of our State constitution; has been in public life many years; has more than a State reputation as an advocate of the cause of temperance. Indeed he has held such ultra grounds and maintained them with such vigorous persistence as to be commonly called a fanatic. In the practice of law he had had a large experience and has won a wide reputation. In his chosen profession he attained an enviable degree of success, often wining his case even more by the determined vigor with which he fought then by the legal acumen that he marshaled to his assistance. He was always a hard fighter in everything that he undertook, and hence had many warm friends and bitter enemies. He enlisted in the war and was said to be a faithful soldier in the commissary department. With him life has been a success, as the expression is usually used, and he has accumulated considerable property. He is a man of splendid physique and used to be regarded as the strongest man in Warren county. We have heard some almost incredible stories of some of his feats of strength and remarkably long speeches. His figure is still erect and his bearing portly. He has in a large measure retired from active life, but though his bodily powers are slowly yielding to the ravages of time, his mind is clear and vigorous as ever, and no doubt he could now talk for seventeen consecutive hours on politics, law or temperance, without stopping for wood or water.

The Courts and Legal Profession of Iowa, vol.2, by Chester C. Cole, 1907, p.1073-1074
Lewis Todhunter was born in Ohio, April 6, 1817, and died January 29, 1902 at Indianola, Iowa. He was educated in the public schools of his native state and of Indiana. He studied law and was admitted to the Ohio bar late in life. He came to Indianola in 1850, where he resided fifty-two years and practiced law. He was auditor, treasurer and prosecuting attorney for Warren County. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1857, and framed the present constitution of the state. He was also one of the founders of the Republican Party of Iowa. After he retired from the practice of law in 1890, he wrote a history of the Iowa temperance legislation.