FRANK JAMES CASTERLINE

Frank James Casterline, a member of the Tipton bar, was born in Carroll county, Illinois, January 10, 1866. His parents were Thomas E. and Martha J. (Miller) Casterline, both of whom were natives of New York, the former of French lineage and the latter of English descent. The mother, who was born January 6, 1838, died in Lincoln county, Nebraska, in November, 1893. The father now resides at Edgar, Nebraska, at the age of seventy-six years. He was in the army hospital during the war and since the close of hostilities between the north and south has engaged in the practice of medicine. In the family were two sons, Floyd Walter and Frank James, both residents of Tipton.

The latter spent the first eight years of his life in the place of his nativity upon the old home farm and then was brought to Cedar county, Iowa, locating about ten miles north of Tipton, in Dayton township. There Frank J. Casterline remained until seventeen years of age, when he removed to Edgar, Nebraska. In the latter place and in Omaha, Nebraska, he was a pupil in the high school and business college. He afterward pursued a course in stenography at Omaha and secured a position as court reporter in the thirty-fourth district of Kansas. While reporting he took up the study of law and in 1895, in Kansas, was admitted to the bar. He resigned his position as court reporter after about seven years service, and removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where he became associated with the law firm of Gatch, Connor & Weaver, with whom he remained for a year and a half. He then passed an examination before the supreme court of Iowa and was admitted to practice in the Iowa courts in May, 1898.

The same year he opened an office in Tipton, where he has since engaged in general practice. He served as city attorney of Tipton for two terms and was the republican candidate for county attorney in the fall of 1909. He has served as a commissioner on the board of insanity of the county for twelve years. His defeat for county attorney is attributable to the fact that he stood for the enforcement of the liquor law. He has also been superintendent of the city water-works for the past five years and in every public office has proven himself loyal to duty and to the trust reposed in him. He has continued for twelve years an active member of the Tipton bar and in the practice of his profession has proven his worth in the courts. He prepares his cases with great thoroughness, qualifying for defense as well as attack, and his arguments are strong and forceful, his deductions clear and logical.

On the 24th of June, 1888, Mr. Casterline was married to Miss Linnie Almeda Gano, who was born in Cedar county, Iowa, March 26, 1868, and is a daughter of James W. and Leah (Ayres) Gano, who are now residing in Cedar county, near Wilton Junction. Mr. and Mrs. Casterline have one child, Lloyd Eugene, who was born July 23, 1889, and is now in his fourth year in the State University at Iowa City.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Casterline is an Odd Fellow and in his religious belief a Presbyterian, holding membership in the church at Tipton and serving as church treasurer and as one of the board of trustees. He is well known as a man fearless in his defense of his honest convictions and his influence is always on the side of right, progress and improvement. He has made many friends during his residence in Tipton, for he has those qualities which win popularity and high regard.