Jewell, Philo Milton -- 1848 - 1914

JEWELL

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 6/15/2009 at 16:32:24

PHILO MILTON JEWELL was born in Mt . Vernon, Knox county, Ohio, January 1, 1848; he died at his home in Decorah, Iowa, January 8, 1914. He removed with his parents to a farm in Carroll county, Illinois, in 1856. Here he grew to manhood, obtaining his education at the Mt. Carroll seminary and the Mt. Carroll high school. He taught school for a year and then began the study of medicine in the medical department of the University of Michigan, graduating therefrom in March, 1873. He engaged in the practice of his profession at Lyndon, Illinois, for six years. He removed to Winneshiek county in 1880 and continued there in the practice of medicine and surgery, associating in later years with his son, Dr. M. D. Jewell. He served as coroner of Winneshiek county from 1899 to 1903 and was a member of the United States pension board from 1897 until his death. He was elected representative to the Thirty-second General Assembly in 1906 and served through the Thirty-second, Thirty-second Extra and Thirty-third General Assemblies. In 1910 he was chosen state senator and represented the Winneshiek-Howard district in the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth General Assemblies.
- "Notable Deaths" Annals of Iowa. Vol. XI, No. 1, 3rd Series. Pp. 631-32. Historical Society of Iowa. Des Moines. April, 1913.
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Update as of September 7, 2024 by Joy Moore

Source: Decorah Republican Jan 15, 1914, P3 C2

DR. PHILO M. JEWELL AT REST

PASSED AWAY EARLY LAST THURSDAY MORNING AFTER YEAR’S ILLNESS.

Was the Leading Local Practitioner and Senator from Winneshiek-Howard District.

On Thursday morning, Jan. 8th, at three o’clock, after a year of suffering, Dr. P. M. Jewell passed away at his home on East Main street, death being due to intestinal cancer. Dr. Jewell became ill in the fall of 1912 and while engaged in his duties as a member of the Iowa legislature grew worse and was compelled to go to Rochester for an operation. He recovered sufficiently to return to Des Moines during the last of the session but soon after had to go to Rochester again. The operation proved of no avail however and he returned home only to await the end.

Dr. Jewell was born on January 1st 1848, at Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio. In 1856 the family moved to Carroll county, Ill., where the doctor grew to manhood upon a farm. His education was acquired in the Seminary and the high school at Mt. Carroll. In 1870 he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan, graduating in 1873. For six years thereafter he was engaged in practice in Whiteside county, Ill., but in 1880 he removed to Ossian, in this county, where he remined until 1899, when he came to Decorah, and here he has since resided. His labors at Ossian were awarded by a practice that called him on long drives in all directions and the success that attended him there followed him to Decorah. In 1897 he was appointed as a member of the pension board for Winneshiek county and in 1899 was elected county coroner, being returned twice thereafter to the same office. In 1906 he aspired to the office of representative in the Iowa legislature was elected, re-elected in 1908, and in 1910 was chosen senator from the Winneshiek-Howard district, serving with efficiency in both branches. In 1875, while residing in Illinois he was married to Nama Livingston, who survives him. To the, seven children were born. One died in infancy in Illinois and two sons and a daughter died at Ossian. The surviving children are Dr. M. D. Jewell, who was his father’s partner, and the Misses Effie and Gladys Jewell.

During the years that Dr. Jewell resided in this county he endeared himself to a host of patients and acquaintances. It was his manner to be rather brusque in speech, but that was only a cloak behind which was a heart of gold that beat in tenderest sympathy for suffering humanity and was as true as steel in its loyalty and friendship, and devotion to his family. He was particularly fond of children, and many were the times that his eyes were dimmed with tears as he spoke of some little patient for whose welfare he sustained a particular anxiety. And there as well as the older people seemed to know intuitively the worth of the man.

Dr. Jewell’s relations with the medical profession elicited thorough respect and confidence in his skill and judgment, and where a counsel was desired it was seldom that his opinions were not sought. He was a student of the affairs of the day as well as those of his business and while he did not assert himself in local matters that pertained to the best interests of the community.

The funeral was held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the house, Rev. M. Willett officiating, and the remains were placed in the fault at Phelps cemetery. The Knights of Pythias, of which Dr. Jewell was a member, escorted the remains to the cemetery, and Senator Quigley of Clayton county and Senator Fellows of Allamakee county were present by direction of Gov. Clarke as representatives of the legislature. There were also present a number of physicians from surrounding towns, among them Drs. Kessel and Daly of Cresco and Lewis and Swebakken of Waulon. Among the relatives from a distance who were present were Dr. H. E. Jewell of Coon Rapids, Dr. T. M. Jewell of Mindora, Wis., Mr. and Mrs. Earle Jewell of Magnolia, Ill., Mrs. Mabel Custer and Mrs. Roy Tolcott of Chariton, Mr. and Mrs. W. L Livingston of Corydon, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Livingston of Chicago and Prof. and Mrs. Lathe of Ridgeway.