Lawyer Bios 1907 | Cerro Gordo County, IAGenWeb

Biographical Sketches of Many of the Lawyers
Formerly and Now Practicing Therein
Excerpted from The Courts and Legal Profession of Iowa

John Porter was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, April 14, 1828. He received most of his education in Ohio, His boyhood life was spent in milling and farming during the summer seasons, and in attending the common schools in the winter. At the age of eighteen, he commenced teaching "district school," and for three years his time was passed alternately in teaching and attending school to perfect himself in the higher branches. He then entered the office of Todd, Hoffman & Hutchins, Warren, Ohio, where he read law some years. He was admitted to the bar in 1854. He came to Iowa and settled first at Plymouth, Indiana, where he practiced law, and later, in 1856, he removed to Mason City and continued his law practice there until 1858.

He soon took high rank as a lawyer and obtained a good practice for that day. In 1858, he was elected judge of the Eleventh district, a newly organized district which covered a large territory -- eleven counties -- and wherein the business was so extended as to require almost constant attention. In 1859 he removed to Eldora, Hardin county, Iowa, and upon the expiration of his service upon the district bench, which was in 1866, he resumed the practice of the law there. He was a partner in the law firm of Porter & Moir. In 1882 he formed a partnership with Hon. Charles E. Albrook, creating the law firm of Porter & Albrook. As a judge, Mr. Porter was the most faithful, considerate and painstaking, and his administration of the bench during his term was marked with these characteristics. While he was engaged in the practice and after the closing of his term on the bench, he found the time to aid very much in the construction of railroads, contributing to the growth and development of his county and vicinity. Judge Porter is entitled to very much of the credit for the railroads through his county. The energy displayed, with quick and good judgment, earned him the good will of both the Bar and people of the district. Judge Porter was united in marriage with Marium Stevens. They have one child. As a lawyer, he is recognized as one of the best in the State, and is an honor to the Hardin county Bar.

Transcriber's Note: Judge John Porter served as mayor of Eldora. He died September 25, 1913, Boise, Idaho. Judge Porter and his wife, Marium (Stevens) Porter (1835 - 1904) were interred at Eldora City Cemetery, Eldora, Iowa.

John Stanley Stanbery has been in the practice of law at Mason City, Iowa, for thirty-seven years, and is a member of the firm of Stanbery, Hill & Eulette. He was born in Mercer county, Ohio, September 28, 1846. He came to Iowa with his parents when he was five years of age, settling first in Benton county, and a few years later moved into Cerro Gordo county. The family removed to Clear Lake, where they resided until 1860, when a permanent location was made in Mason City.

He was afforded the advantages of the pubic teaching in the district school in Cerro Gordo and Hancock counties. In the meanwhile he began reading law under effective preceptorship and finally he entered the law department of the University of Iowa, in which he completed the prescribed course. He was a member of the first class at the State University, graduating from the law department in 1870, and was simultaneously admitted to the bar of the state and he began the practice of his profession in Mason City, where he was associated in D[wight]. T. Gibson until 1873, when the partnership was dissolved. In 1874 Mr. Stanbery entered into partnership alliance with Hon. Joseph J. Clark now district judge, and they continued to be co-adjutors for thirty years, within which they built up and controlled a large and representative professional business. After the dissolution of this firm [1903] Mr. Stanbery was a member of the firm of Stanbery, Hill & Eulette for a period of two years, at the expiration of which in 1906, he admitted his son Ralph, to partnership under the present firm name of Stanbery & Stanbery. He has been attorney and counsel for various important corporations and representative business men of Cerro Gordo county and is an able trial lawyer who has appeared in connection with a large amount of important litigation in the various courts. He was justice of the peace ten years, a member of the Thirtieth and Thirty-first general assemblies and has served eight years as a member of the board of education. Politically Mr. Stanbery is and has always been a republican.

Transcriber's Note: John Stanley Stanbery died March 24, 1911, Mason City. John and his two wives Laura Janette (Ives) (1841 - 1875) and Martha A. (Waldo) (1843 - 1906), were interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City. Photograph courtesy of Globe Gazette.

John D. Glass was born in Ohio, November 1847, but removed, when a boy nine years of age, with his father's family, to Clayton county, Iowa. He obtained his education in Iowa, and it is enough to vindicate the thoroughness and excellency of it to state that he is a graduate of the Iowa State University, as well as of the law department thereof. He was admitted to the bar directly after his graduation in 1870, has been continually engaged in the law business here since that time, and commenced practice at West Union, where he became a partner with W.E. Fuller.

This partnership was dissolved when, a year later, Mr. Glass removed to Mason City, where he continued the practice of the law with most decided success. Mr. Glass had such literary and legal education as qualified him for early attaining the position to which he did attain, that of leader of the bar in his county and district. He is not only industrious, but he is persistent and possessed of such capacity as enables him to maintain his enviable reputation. He was elected to the state senate in 1883, and served a full term of four years from 1884 to 1888. His learning and ability enabled him to accomplish much during that one term of service. As a lawyer and legislator, Mr. Glass stands in the front rank. A man of most excellent character and a large and beneficent influence. In politics he is a republican. He has been quite successful in his law practice, having been engaged in a number of important cases. He is at present time, member of the firm of Glass, McConlogue & Witwer.
~ Supplemental Information p. 308 . Photograph courtesy of Iowa Legislators website.

James H. McConlogue was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but removed with his parents [Charles and Ann (Harrity) McConlogue], when a mere child in 1858, to Beloit, Wisconsin. In 1862 his father moved on a farm in Ogle county, Illinois. In 1868 the family moved to Iowa, settling on a farm in Cerro Gordo county. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools winters, and worked on the farm and on railroads in the summer. He had the rare advantage of a taking a course at Notre Dame University, Indiana where he completed his education. He taught school in Rockwell one year, after completing his law course at law department of Iowa State University, were he graduated in 1881.

[His biography states that he "graduated with honors in the class of 1882".] In June of that year he was admitted to practice. In September, 1883, he began to practice his profession at Mason City [His practice was remunerative from the first. He has practiced law alone and with different partners.], and in the spring of 1885 the firm of McConlogue & Miller was formed. This partnership continued two years. In 1890 the firm of Glass & McConlogue was formed [one of the strong firms of his county and district for several years]. In 1901 R.M. Witwer joined the firm as Glass, McConlogue & Witwer.

Transcriber's Note: James served as a member of the library board, mayor of Mason City member of the State Tax Commission, member of Board of Control which brought about more humane methods in prison reform. He was a member of the state militia. ~ Supplemental Information Pp. 337-8; James H. McConlogue biography and obituary. James H. McConlogue was born December 5, 1856, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and died February 26, 1917, Des Moines, Iowa. His wife, Mary C. "Mae" Barragy, was born January 16, 1863, the daughter of John (1835-1890) and Ann Jane (Brady) Barragy (1837-1910). She died September 28, 1896. They were interred in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.

James E. Blythe was born in Cranberry, New Jersey, January 20, 1856, and is a son of Rev. J. W. [Joseph William] and Elizabeth (Moore) Blythe. He acquired his education in the public schools and supplemented such education by following the profession of teaching for several years thereafter, and then took a regular course in Hanover College, Indiana. In 1877 he graduated from the Presbyterian College at that place. He then located in Mason City in 1877, and read law until 1878 when he was admitted to the bar in and began to practice at once.

Mr. Blythe is a man of thorough culture, extended knowledge of the law, and possessing an influence over men which brought to him from the beginning, a remunerative and growing practice which he has pursued with success and profit down to date. He was a member of the Twenty-second and Twenty-third general assemblies of Iowa, wherein he served with decided efficiency and with such acceptability to his constituents. Mr. Blythe is a man of marked ability and of decided success in life. He was a member of republican state central committee from 1890 to 1895, and chairman thereof in 1892, 1893 and 1894. He is a member of the firm of Blythe, Markley, Rule & Smith.

Transcriber's Note: James E. Blythe and his wife, Grace (Smith) (1858 - 1896) were interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa. Supplemental Information: Pp. 381-3. Photograph courtesy of Iowa Legislators Website.

James E.E. Markley was born in Knox county, Ohio, April 12, 1857. At the age of nine years he came to Cedar Falls, Iowa, with his parents, and in 1881 he moved to Mason City where he has been in practice ever since.

He was educated at the public and high schools. He took a three years course at Cornell College, and graduated from the law department of the State University in 1878. Having been admitted, he began to practice at Marshalltown, Iowa, with Brown & Binford, where he was for three years. He is a member of the firm of Blythe, Markley, Rule & Smith. In politics he is a democrat.

Transcriber's Note: James E.E. Markley died in 1939 and was interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.

Duncan Rule was born February 19, 1856, at Fox Lake, Wisconsin, and is a son of James and Mary (Cameron) Rule. He came to Iowa with his parents in 1865, and located in Cerro Gordo county. He was educated at the State University. He read law with Miller & Cliggitt at Mason City, and was admitted to practice his profession May, 1889. He then formed a partnership with Cliggitt, as Cliggitt & Rule.

Since 1901 the firm has been Cliggitt, Rule & Keeler, and they are engaged in general practice. Mr. Rule was clerk of the district court from January, 1881, to January, 1889; mayor of Mason City, 1891 and 1892. In 1892 he was chairman of the republican county central committee.

Transcriber's Note: Duncan died in 1924, and was interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.

John Cliggitt was born in Montgomery county, New York, August 25, 1840. When he was very young, his parents moved to Vermont, then in 1850 his settled in Kendall county, Illinois, coming from Burlington, Vermont, when he was ten years of age. He was educated in the common and high schools, taught school in Illinois, and a part of one winter at Mason City, Iowa. He studied law by himself, while on the farm, and graduated from the Chicago Law School in the spring of 1869 he was admitted to the bar there and engaged in the practice in Kendall county, Illinois. Two years later in June, 1871, he removed to Mason City, Iowa, and was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1871. He has since been engaged in a large and lucrative practice in Mason City, forming a law partnership with Mr. Husted, which continued until 1875, as Husted & Cliggitt.

Mason City has been his home since his arrival in 1871. From the spring of 1875 until the fall of 1886 the firm name was Miller & Cliggitt, and after that he was alone in practice about three years, and in 1889 the firm was Cliggitt & Rule until 1901, when it became Cliggitt, Rule & Keeler. He was mayor from 1880 to 1884. Mr. Cliggitt has established for himself a most enviable reputation as a lawyer of great ability, fidelity and success. He holds a high place in the estimation of the people in his county and district.
~ Supplement Information p. 304. Transcriber's Note: John Cliggitt and his wife, Ella C. (Brightman) (1855 - 1939), were interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.

Joseph J. Clark was born in Richmond, Madison county, Kentucky, October 30, 1851, the son of James W. and Martha (Embry) Clark. He was educated at the common and high schools of Clarinda, Iowa. He taught school in Page county, Iowa, and clerked in the postoffice at Lexington, Missouri. He took a Chautauqua course four years, and taught the same course the same number of years. He read law at the State University, and was graduated and admitted to practice in 1873. He began to practice in February, 1874, at Mason City, with Stanbery, Clark & Stanbery.

The Senior member of the firm died within the year, and the firm became Stanbery & Clark, which continued until 1902, and since that time Mr. Clark has practiced his profession alone. He was county attorney from 1886 to 1892, and has served as city attorney and city clerk. Mr. Clark has been associated with a number of important cases.

Transcriber's Note: Joseph J. Clark died January 15, 1937. His wife, Ida Belle (Chambers) Clark, was born July 7, 1857, and died May 30, 1947. They were interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City.

Wm. Hoy was born in Canada, August 26, 1840, of Scotch and Irish parents. When he was eight years old he moved with his parents to the state of Wisconsin, and worked on the farm until he was eighteen years old. Then he gave up the farm and entered Hamilton University, a Methodist school. Then he located at Red Wing, Minnesota, and remained a student there for four years. He then received a call to take charge of the public schools of Newton, Iowa, where he remained six years, and immediately after six years he studied law in the office of Judge Cook, who is now attorney for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, and is located at Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

At the close of the two years in Judge Cook's office he was admitted to the bar at Newton, Iowa, in 1876, and moved at once to Hampton, Iowa, and a few years later to Mason City, where he now resides. His practice has taken a wide range, including court work, collections, real estate and farming. He is now sixty-six years old. In 1863, in Washara county, Wisconsin, he was married to Mary C. Ferguson, who passed from this world in April, 1902.

Daniel W. Telford was born in Illinois November 17, 1851. He was educated in the district school, East Paw (Illinois) Seminary, Sandwich public school, and Madison University, Wisconsin. He read law at Sycamore, Illinois, and was admitted at Ottawa, Illinois, June, 1879. He was for four years city solicitor of Mason City and for six years attorney for Cerro Gordo county. In politics he is a republican.

Transcriber's Note: Daniel W. Telford served on the board of directors for The Iowa State of Mason City. He died June 3, 1927.

Clifford Pabody Smith is the youngest district judge in the state of Iowa. He was born [near Geneva], Indiana on a farm, March 4, 1869. His parents were Joseph B. and Amelia (Pabody) Smith. He came to Mason City in 1889 to study in the law offices of James E. Blythe and J. E. E. Markley. Mrs. Blythe is his sister and it was through this connection that he came to the Blythe and Markley office. Studying here for a year, he then went to the University of Iowa to complete his legal training. This he did in another year, winning an LL.B. degree for outstanding work, graduating from the law department of the State University in 1891, and was admitted [to the state bar] that year.

For a short time following he practiced in Kalispell, Mont., and at Sioux City before returning to Mason City to become a member of the firm of Blythe, Markley and Smith in 1893. Quickly showing the keen mind and almost unlimited capabilities that have marked his career from the start, the young attorney soon became a leader in legal circles and earned the respect of all those who knew him. Always serious minded, he was deeply interested in the law, in philosophy and kindred matters, including, of course, religion. In 1900 Judge John C. Sherwin, district court judge here, was named to the Iowa supreme court and Gov. Leslie M. Shaw appointed the then 31 year old Clifford Smith to Sherwin's place on the bench on December 12, 1899. Judge Smith was the second youngest man ever to serve in this capacity in this judicial district. It was also in 1900 that Judge Smith was married to Miss Myrtle Holm of Fort Dodge. He remained on the bench, re-elected in 1902 and 1906 until 1908, proving himself an extremely able judge. Few of his decisions were ever reversed in the state's highest tribunal and he soon came to be regarded as having a very promising future in the field of law. His is a record of which Mason City and North Iowa can be proud. But the judge's inclinations and interests were still strongly influenced by his work in Christian Science and in 1908 he was offered an opportunity to become first reader in The First Church of Christ, Scientists - the Mother church - at Boston. He served the church in many capacities during the ensuring years and often took upon himself the task of representing the church in legal matters, which brought him into contact in the courts with many of the outstanding attorneys of the nation, including Charles Evans Hughes, present chief justice of the United States supreme court. When Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian Science, died in 1910, it was Clifford P. Smith who conducted the funeral services.

Transcriber's Note: Clifford Pabody Smith died August 18, 1945, and was interred at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Hugh H. Shepard is a native of Iowa, having been born in Mason City March 9, 1876. His father was Henry H. Shepard, and his mother before her marriage was Anna Hurst. He graduated from the Mason City high school in 1892. He then took a collegiate course at the State University, and graduated in 1897. He read law at the State University, and was admitted to practice in 1900. He began to practice his profession at once at Mason City.

He also does an abstract and loan business and makes a specialty of probate law and titles. In politics he is a republican. He was the president of Shepard Abstract Company, a charter member of the Iowa and American Land Title Association and developer of Grant of Possession, a legal procedure used in connection with farm mortgages. At one time he was international president [1925 - 1928] of the Jefferson Highway Association and a leader in bringing highways to northern Iowa. He was a member of the Mason City Rotary Club.

Transcriber's Note: Hugh H. Shepard died in 1970. Hugh and his two wives, Gladys Shepard (1894 - 1980) and Nadine (Woodruff) Shepard (1879 - 1966), were interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.

Ira W. Jones, Clear Lake, was born February 28, 1877. He was educated at the Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa, and was graduated in 1903. He read law a year and a half at the Drake University and graduated from Yale in June, 1905, and was admitted to the Iowa bar in October, 1905. He began to practice at once at Clear Lake. In politics he is a republican.

Transcriber's Note: Ira W. Jones died in 1949. Ira and his wife, Bertha (Montgomery) Jones (1877 - 1968), were interred at Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake, Iowa.

A. B. Tuttle was the first lawyer to locate in Clear Lake. After two years' practice, he moved to Mason City [his biography states he came to Mason City in 1864] and engaged in the mercantile business. He held the office of mayor, and was a member of the board of education for a number of years. He died in Mason City [September 20] 1897.

Transcriber's Note: Alvah B. Tuttle was born in Herkimer County, New York January 24, 1825, the son of Ira and Lucy (Brockett) Tuttle. He was a student at Fairfield Academy and finished his education at Clinton Seminary and Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, graduating in 1848. He taught school while pursuing his studies under Professor Dwight, and finished legal studies in 1851, the same year he was admitted to the New York bar. He married Harriet M. Wightman in 1849. He came to Muscatine, Iowa, in 1854 and was admitted to the Iowa bar. He was the second mayor of Mason City, served several years as councilman, and was a member of the school board. Alvah and his wife, Harriet M. (Wrightman) Tuttle (1823 - 1899), were interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.

E. S. Wheeler located in Mason City in 1880, practiced law for two years, moving from here to Nora Springs, Iowa, thence to Chicago, where he has since resided.

M. P. Rosecrans commenced the practice of law at Clear Lake in 1886. He not only practiced law but was editor of the Clear Lake Observer. He was a member of the firm of Rosecrans & Campbell. He died at Clear Lake in 1894.

Transcriber Notes: Marmaduke Pierce Rosecrans was born March 28, 1822, Delaware County, Ohio. He attended Kenyon College where he was a schoolmate of future president Rutherford B. Hayes. M.P. came to Burlington, Iowa, in 1841. He returned to Ohio, married there in 1844 to Lucy A. Green, but came back to Iowa in 1849, locating in Sigourney, then to Alden, Iowa, in 1855, where he entered into the practice of law and became their first attorney. Two years later he went to Eldora, Iowa, and was admitted to the Iowa bar there on September 28, 1857. He was elected Hancock county judge in June, 1858, a position he resigned from when he moved to Clear Lake. Here, he purchased in the spring of 1872 and the proprietor of the Clear Lake Observer newspaper (forerunner of the present-day Clear Lake Mirror Reporter) for a few years and made it entirely independent in tone and sentiment, whereas it had been a strong republican paper. M.P. died September 16, 1894. M.P. and his wife, Lucy A. (Green) Rosecrans (1825 - 1889), were interred at Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake, Iowa.

Dwight T. Gibson, now of Waverly, Iowa, located at Mason City in 1870, where he practiced law for two years in the firm of Stanbery, Gibson & Stanbery. In 1872 he located at Waverly, where he has continued in practice ever since. He formed a partnership with Mr. Burke, under the firm name of Burke & Gibson. This partnership lasted one year, and at the end of this time the firm was Gray, Dougherty & Gibson for eight years. He then formed a partnership with E.A. Dawson, under the name of Gibson & Dawson, and in 1904 Frank E. Fortner was taken into the firm.

It may be said that this firm has the most extended law practice of any firm in the county. Both men are of great popularity, having hosts of friends. Mr. Gibson was born in South New Berlin, New York, in May, 1843; the son of S.C. [Stanford Chandler] and Martha (Hall) Gibson. His father was a leading physician of Chautauqua county, New York for over forty years; his mother died when he was quite young. He was educated at Oxford Academy, New York, and for some time taught by a private tutor. When about eighteen years of age, having developed a taste for the legal profession, he read law in the office of Henry Bennett and Henry R. Mygatt, Chenango county, New York, and finished with Judge C.C. Remington at Baraboo, Wisconsin, and was admitted to the bar in 1868. He followed his profession in Madison, Wisconsin, until he came to Iowa in the spring of 1870. He enlisted in Company B, Ninetieth New York Infantry, in September, 1863, and was discharged in May, 1865. In politics he is a republican, but has never held an office of any kind, having given all of his attention to the practice of law. On October 28, 1873, Waverly, Iowa, he was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Hazelton, a native of the State of New York.

Transcriber's Note: Dwight T. Gibson died June 19, 1912, Waverly, Iowa. Elizabeth A. "Libbie" (Hazelton) Gibson was born in 1851 and died in 1931. They were interred at Harlington Cemetery, Waverly, Iowa.

J. K. Boyd located here in 1857. He was a very successful practitioner for three years, when he left Mason City for other fields.

Irving W. Card, born [May 19, 1834, Lima] Ohio, where he received a good common school and academic education. He removed with his parents in 1854, to Vinton, Benton county, Iowa, coming to Mason City in 1856. He studied law with Reiniger & Reiniger, of Charles City, where he was admitted to the bar and became a member of the firm under the name of Reiniger, Card & Reiniger. He moved from Charles City to Mason City, where he formed a partnership with Mr. Stanbery [1860] and later with Mr. Miller.

The firms of Card & Stanbery and of Card & Miller had each a very extensive practice, being among the very leading firms in that portion of the state. In 1868 he was elected district attorney for the Twelfth judicial district, the duties of which office he discharged with decided ability and success. During the war he was provost marshal of this district. Immediately after the war he formed a partnership with W. C. Stanbery, and after two years' practice he formed another partnership with Geo. R. Miller, the firm name being Card & Miller. He was considered a very successful lawyer and regarded as one of the best in Northern Iowa. [Irving W. Card surveyed the original plat for Mason City and also for the railroad addition to Mason City in 1856. ~ "Mason City." History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo Counties, Iowa. Chapt. XXV. p. 957. Union Pub. Co. Springfield IL. 1883.] He died [June 7, 1887, Mason City, Iowa. Interment at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa]. Mr. Card was a man of excellent character and of large influence, not only in the legal avenues, but also in the business circles and public matters. p. 286
! Supplemental Information, p. 286. Transcriber's Note: Irving's father was Dr. Silas Card (1810 - 1874), the first practicing physician in Cerro Gordo County. His mother was Mary "Betty" (Gibbs) Card (1809 - 1887). Dr. and Mrs. Card were interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.

Richard Wilbur practiced law in Mason City for many years. At one time he was a member of the firm of Goodykoontz & Wilbur, and later a partner of our present judge of the supreme court, John C. Sherwin. He came to Mason City in 1873 and died in 1903.

John Collins. Sherwin located in Mason City, Iowa, in 1875, coming from Black River Falls, Wis. He held the office of mayor, justice of peace, district attorney, was judge of the district court of this district for a number of years, and is at present one of the judges of the supreme court of Iowa.

Chas. H. Hughes came to Mason City in 1875 and formed a partnership for the practice of law with John D. Glass, under the firm name of Glass & Hughes. He left here in 1890, going to Superior, Wis., where he practiced his profession for two years and then retired. He is now living on a farm in Minnesota.

H. B. Gray opened a law office in Mason City in 1861; was clerk of the district court for one term; then moved to his former home in New York.

James Crow located in Clear Lake in 1857, coming from Benton county, Iowa. He practised (sic) law with fair success until the beginning of the war, when he moved [ca. 1862] on a farm in Hancock county.

Transcriber's Note: ~ From "History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa", 1917, p. 958, "James Crow was a native of Licking County, Ohio [born there March 14, 1819, the son of James and Anna (Atkinson) Crow, both natives of Virginia], and one of the early pioneers of Hancock County. Although admitted to the bar, he was a man of very limited education, and never became counsel in notable cases, contenting himself with small work before the justice's court. He afterwards removed to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and engaged in the real estate and land business." James Crow arrived in Iowa ca. 1853. He died in December of 1898. James Crow was buried with his wife, Margaret (Bonifield) Crow (1831 - 1913) at Minden Township Cemetery, Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

A. H. Cummings came here from Vermont in 1871. He studied law in the office of Stanbery, Gibson & Stanbery, and was admitted to practice in 1873. He held the office of justice of peace for 24 years, was mayor of Mason City for eight years, and a member of the board of education for twelve years. He retired from active practice in 1903 and now holds the office of receiver in bankruptcy.

Transcriber's Note: Albert H. Cummings was born February 17 [1849 per his gravestone, 1850 per his biography], Newport, Vermont, the son of Lorenzo and Sylos Cummings. He was educated one year at Dartmouth College, then entered a law office (Newport, VT) where he spent one year prior to coming to Mason City. He was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1872. Albert died in 1936, and he and his wife, Idella C. Cummings (1851 - 1931), were interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.

D. W. Hurn located at Clear Lake in 1885, becoming a member of the firm of Bush, Hurn & Kelly. Bush and Kelly moved from Clear Lake in about a year, and Mr. Hurn continued the practice alone. He served as county attorney for two terms, was associated with the Cerro Gordo County Bank of Clear Lake as one of its officers, and was a member of the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth general assemblies.

Transcriber's Note: David W. Hurn was born December 29, 1855. He was a Superior Court Judge in Spokane, Washington. He died July 5, 1924. He and his 1st wife, Grace "Harriet" (Butts) Hurn (1859 - 1916), were interred at Greenwood Memorial Terrace, Spokane, Washington. Their daughter, Rebecca Jane "Reba" Hurn, was born in Clear Lake, Iowa, August 21, 1881, and died in 1967. She too was interred at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. Reba was the first woman to be admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in 1913, practiced law with her father, and became the first woman elected to the Washington State Senate in 1922 until her defeat in 1930, serving two terms. David's 2nd wife, Harriett J. (Smith) (1859 - 1938) was interred in Edgerton, Wisconsin. Photograph courtesy of Iowa Legislators Website.

W. C. Stanbery was born in [Waynesburg] Pennsylvania [June 29] 1824, moved to Ohio when quite young, and studied medicine and practiced in Ohio and Indiana for a short time. In1854 he moved to Vinton, Iowa, and in 1857 received a degree from the Keokuk Medical College. In 1858 he located at Clear Lake, Iowa, where he was admitted to the bar and became a successful practitioner.

He served during the war as first lieutenant of Co. B, 32d Iowa Vol. Inf. He was provost marshal at Fulton and New Madrid, Mo. He retired from service in 1864, and resumed the practice of law at Mason City. He was the first mayor of Mason City. In politics, a Democrat.

Transcriber's Note: William Crawford Stanberry, M.D. graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1842. He was engaged as a medical doctor in Mercer county, Ohio where he was married to Elizabeth Stettler in January of 1846. They soon after moved to La Porte, Indiana, and, in 1851, moved to Vinton, Iowa. They moved to Clear Lake in May of 1858 where he took up the study of law and was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1859. In 1860, he became circuit court judge for Cerro Gordo County. Also he formed a law partnership with Irving W. Card, which lasted until 1861, shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War. William served as a 1st Lieutanent with Company B, 32nd Iowa Volunteer Infantry until 1863. He returned to Mason City and resumed his law practice until his death, June 21, 1874. William and his wife, Elizabeth J. "Eliza" (Stettler) Stanbery (1829 - 1910), were interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.

Edwin Flint came here from La Crosse, Wis., in 1869, becoming associated in the practice of law with B. F. Hartshorn. He served six years as circuit judge of the Sixth judicial district of Wisconsin. He retired from active practice in 1876, and died in 1879.

Transcriber's Note: Edwin was born in Braintree, Vermont, May 25, 1814, the son of Phineas Flint. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1836, taught school in Virginia for one year and went to Norwalk, Ohio, where he read law. He was the tutor for the family of Isaac Shelby, the Governor of Kentucky. In 1840, he was admitted to the Indiana bar. He moved to Jackson, Michigan in 1841, then moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1848. Continuing his law practice, he moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin, the following year. There he became the district attorney and served in the 1862 Wisconsin State Senate. In 1862, he was elected Wisconsin circuit judge. Upon arriving in Mason City, Iowa, Edwin practiced law until 1870. He died in Mason City, October 15, 1891 and was interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery.

George and B. F. Hartshorn, father and son, came here in 1868. After practicing law together for a few years, the father retired. In 1888 B. F. Hartshorn moved to Motley, Minn. He was mayor of Mason City for two terms, and served two terms in the Iowa legislature.

Transcriber's Note: George Hartshorn was born June 3, 1811, New York, and died July 8, 1870, Princeton, Kansas. He was interred at Hope Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas but has a gravestone with his wife, Betsey (Spear) Hartshorn (1809 - 1899), at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa. Benjamin Franklin Hartshorn was born August 18, 18345, Seville, Ohio. He attended the state university at Madison, Wisconsin, and was admitted to the Wisconsin State Bar. After practicing law a few years, B.F. moved to Mason City in 1864. He died May 8, 1916, Wadena, Minnesota. B. F. and his wife, Nancy M. (Fretwell) Hartshorn (1836 - 1920), were interred at Motley Public Cemetery, Motley, Minnesota.

Alexander Campbell located at Clear Lake in 1869 and practiced law until 1876, when he moved to Tacoma, Wash, where he has since practiced law with marked success.

Chas. MacKenzie became a member of the Cerro Gordo county bar in 1870, as a member of the firm of Husted & MacKenzie. He is now engaged in the practice of his profession in Des Moines.

Transcriber's Note: Charles was born in St. Louis, Missouri, September 6, 1842, and died March 14, 1908, Mercy Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated from Beloit College, Wisconsin in 1861, and was a Civil War Veteran, serving as a Major with the 9th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Charles was interred at Dubuque.

L. A. Hill located in Mason City in 1901, forming a partnership in 1902 with C. D. Eulette, under the firm name of Hill & Eulette. In October this firm became Stanbery, Hill & Eulette. Mr. Hill was admitted to the bar in 1893, first practicing law in Fremont county, Iowa, where he served as county attorney.

Chas. Husted practiced law in Mason City in partnership with John Cliggitt from 1869 to 1873.

Transcriber's Notes: According to John Cliggitt's biography, the partnership of Husted & Cliggitt was established in September of 1871 and lasted until it dissolved in the spring of 1875 when Charles Husted moved from Mason City.

A.L. Kimball commenced the practice of law in Mason City in 1898, at the same time engaging in the abstract business. In 1904 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he now holds.

T.G. McDermott located here in 1896, coming from Algona, Iowa. He is a graduate of the State University of Iowa.

Earl Smith, our present county attorney, commenced the practice of law in Mason City in 1904. He is a graduate of the law department of Drake University.

A.A. Adams graduated from the law department of the State University and began the practice of law in Mason City in 1899.

Transcriber's Note: Asa Allen Adams was born August 27, 1869, Floyd County, Iowa, near Nora Springs, the son of John R. and Ellen (Miksch) Adams. He graduated at the age of 16 from Nora Springs High School. Mr. Adams opened a lumber yard in Mason City at the corner of Second St and Federal Ave. southeast. He entered Martyn College of Washington D.C. in 1896, and the Columbus Law School at Washington. He was awarded a bachelor of law degree at the University of Iowa the following year. Since that time, he practiced law in Mason City and handled transactions in business and farm properties. He died in Mason City August 20, 1942. He as buried along with his first wife, Mable Marion (Stevens) (1875 - 1900), and his second wife, Nellie Mildred (Weir) (1882 - 1970), at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa. Photograph courtesy of Iowa Legislators Website.

Frank W Chambers studied law [two years] in the office of Stanbery & Clark, and was admitted to practice in 1898, at which time he was elected justice of peace, and he has held that office ever since [1896 - 1906.

Transcriber's Note: Frank W. Chambers was born December 12, 1866, Osage, Iowa, the son of Rev. W. A. and Sarah W. (Wright) Chambers. The family came to Mason City ca. 1875. Frank received his education at Simpson and Cornell Colleges and became deputy clerk of court at Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was admitted to the Iowa State Bar in 1897. and died in 1940. He was interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa, as was his wife, Grace E. (Edson) Chambers (1880 - 1930).

Percy C. Church located here in 1901. He is a graduated of the State University and a son of Judge Church, of Fresno, California.

Charles H. Allen commenced the practice of law at Clear Lake in 1899, having graduated the same year from the law department of the State University.

Wiley S. Rankin graduated from the law department of the State University and hung his shingle in Mason City in 1901. He is still in practice here. Transcriber's Note: Wiley S. Rankin was born October 6, 1874, and died April 11, 1916. He was interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.

F.A. Kirschman, city solicitor for two terms, located in Mason City in 1885. He is the senior member of the firm of Kirschman & Robinson. Transcriber's Note: Frederick Andrew Kirschman, the son of Andrew and Regina Christina (Markle) Kirschman, was born in Little Turkey, Chickasaw County, Iowa, September 21, 1863. He served as mayor of Mason City. Hon. Kirschman died November 6, 1949, New Hampton, Iowa, and was interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.

Samuel A. Koch located here in 1902. He is a graduate of the law department of Drake University. After two year's practice in the firm of Robinson & Koch, Mr. Koch retired from the firm, and has since continued the practice of his profession alone.

Burr C. Keeler, the junior member of the firm Cliggit, Rule & Keeler, graduated from the law department of the State University and commenced the practice of his profession in Mason City in 1900.
Transcriber's Note: Burr Curtis Keeler was born in Worth County, Iowa, October 10, 1873. He died March 14, 1926, Mason City, and was interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.

L.C. Rinard came to Mason City in 1897. He filled the office of county attorney until his removal from the city in 1905.

Transcriber's Note: Leonard Cook Rinard was born January 28, 1872, Cambria, Wayne County, Iowa, and died December 25, 1946, Clear Lake, Iowa. He was interred at Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake, Iowa.

J.C. Robinson, our present city attorney (which office he has held since 1904), started in the practice of his profession in Mason City in 1902. He is a graduate of the law department of Drake University. He is associated with F.A. Kirschman, under the firm of Kirschman & Robinson.

Transcriber's Note: John C. Robinson was born in 1875, and died in 1949. He was interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.

A.L. Rule commenced the practice of law here in 1904, moving here from Cedar Rapids, where he had practices a few years. He is a graduate of the law department of the State University. At present he is a member of the firm of Blythe, Markley, Rule & Smith.

Transcriber's Note: Arthur Lynnwood Rule was born January 4, 1876, the son of James and Jennie A. (Gale) Rule. He married Edith Brady (1902 - 1966) and served as an Iowa State Senator. Hon. Rule died November 4, 1940, and was interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa. Photograph courtesy of Iowa Legislators Website.

Claire Smith, a Mason City boy, studied law in the office of Blythe & Markley, was admitted to the bar in 1905 and is now a member of the firm of Blythe, Marley, Rule & Smith.

Robert Witwer located here in 1900. After a year's practice alone he became a member of the firm of Glass, McConlogue & Witwer. He is a graduate of the law department of Drake University.

Transcriber's Note: Robert M. Witwer was born April 4, 1879, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Early in his career he served as county attorney. Hon. Witwer died July 25, 1934, Mason City, Iowa, and was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Clayton D. Eulette graduated from the law department of Lake Forest University and was admitted to the practice of law in Illinois in 1896. After practicing in the City of Chicago for 5 years, he came to Mason City, and in 1902 became a member of the firm of Stanbery, Hill & Eulette.

Transcriber's Note: Clayton D. Eulette was born November 6, 1874, Postville, Wisconsin. He was also a realtor. He died January 3, 1944, Chicago, Illinois, and was interred at Mount Hope Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois.