Iowa
Old Press
The Sioux City Journal, July 2, 1913
(Includes a Picture)
CAPT. J. S. LOTHROP IS DEAD
OLD SOLDIER AND LAWYER SUCCUMBS AT HIS HOME.
CAMPAIGNED FOR REPUBLICANS
Exhaustion from Attack of Singles Hastens Death of Member of Bar
Widely Known for His Professional Activities.
Capt. J. S. Lothrop died at 6:10 o’clock yesterday evening at his home, 817 Ninth street, of exhaustion and senility. He was 76 years old.
He is survived by his widow; two daughters, Mrs. Gertrude Howe, of San Antonio, Tex., and Miss Hattie Lothrop, of Sioux City; and two sons, Ralph Lothrop of Sioux City, and Merton Lothrop, of Kansas City, Mo. The body was taken to Westcott’s undertaking establishment.
Four weeks ago Capt. Lothrop suffered a severe attack of shingles. Exhaustion from the illness forced him to return to his bed two weeks later and there remained bedfast until his death. He was unable to take nourishment and gradually grew weaker. Physicians gave up hopes for his recovery over a week ago. Members of the family were at the bedside when he expired.
Capt. Lothrop was prominent in G. A. R. circles in Iowa, having been one of the most active members of General Hancock post, No. 22. In 1912 he was elected Commander of the Loyal Legion of Honor of Iowa, an organization of commissioned officers of the Civil War.
He Was Born in Maine.
He was born in Dover, Me., October 9, 1836, and obtained his education in that state. He removed to Illinois in 1852 with his father’s family, living on a farm until September, 1859, when he entered the Chicago law school. He received his legal education from Prof. Henry Booth.
When the Civil War broke out Mr. Lothrop enlisted as private in Company I, Eleventh Illinois infantry. He enlistment called for three months service. When his time expired, he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-sixth Illinois infantry. He was elected orderly sergeant. He later was promoted to the second lieutenancy; in September, 1862, was made first lieutenant, and in December of the same year was promoted to the captaincy of his company.
Served Under General Sherman.
Capt. Lothrop saw most of his war service under Gen. W. T. Sherman. He participated in the Battles of Ft. Henry, Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth, and was engaged around Vicksburg, but did not participate in the famous siege of that city.
After the war, Capt. Lothrop returned to Ottawa, Ill., where he practiced law. In July 1866, he moved to Champaign, Ill., where he remained until 1884, when he moved to Sioux City, Iowa. He formed a partnership with R. M. Dott, the law firm being known as Lothrop & Dott. Later the firm was dissolved. During the last few years he practiced alone, maintaining offices in the Iowa Building.
Capt. Lothrop was very successful in drainage cases, in which line he specialized. He was a Republican and was active in state politics. President Benjamin Harrison appointed him Collector of United States Internal Revenue for the Third Iowa district, which comprised nineteen counties in the northern part of the state, with headquarters at Dubuque. He held the office one term.
Served in Iowa Senate.
Capt. Lothrop represented Woodbury county in the State Senate. He was elected to the office in 1896 and served one term.
Because of his oratorical abilities, he was much in demand as a political speaker and campaigned over the state under the direction of the Republican state central committee during the campaign of William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt and the first campaign of William H. Taft.
He was commander of Gen. B. F. Smith post, No. 22, G. A. R., which was merged with Gen. Hancock post in December, 1892. Capt. Lothrop held no office in the combined post, but was one of its most active members.
[transcribed by LZ, Oct 2020]
The Sioux City Journal, July 3, 1913
DEATH OF CAPT. J. S. LOTHROP
Many old friends and comrades will mourn the death of Capt. J. S. Lothrop, a well known lawyer, resident of Sioux City since 1884. He was a splendid soldier during the Civil War, and he never faltered in his loyalty to the cause the old soldier represented. In all that concerned the welfare of his comrades, he took the deepest interest. He was a conspicuous member of General Hancock post, and its foremost orator. He was to have been the Memorial Day speaker at Anthon, Ia, but he was unable to keep the engagement because of the illness that terminated in his death.
Capt. Lothrop took large interest in politics—and “large” is the proper word. During his time in Sioux City he held two offices. He was state senator for one term and he was internal revenue collector for the Dubuque district during one administration. His interest in politics was of the continuous kind, and had its seat in love of country. He was a close student of public affairs, and therefore it was, quite to the surprise of some people, that he was always prepared to make a speech. In this respect no Sioux City lawyer had better equipment; but he was withal a modest man, not wont to push himself into recognition and never in mood to demand consideration of himself.
Capt. Lothrop was thorough in his legal work. He was well adapted to the task of solving legal problems requiring investigation through many channels, and demanding perseverance and the quality of patience. The war claims he prosecuted for the state against the general government, and the Hornick claims for the destruction of property in the early Black Hills expeditions, well served to illustrate his strength as a lawyer. He was not what has come to be known in the profession as “a business getter.” He was painstaking, conscientious, well stocked with professional pride, old fashioned—and remained steadfast.
The late John Hornick was closely associated with Capt. Lothrop in the army; and perhaps this what brought the captain to Sioux City. He was the attorney for the company of which Mr. Hornick was the president and still held that relation at the time of his death.
Capt. Lothrop was free of cant and hypocrisy. What he was he appeared to be. He was a faithful friend. He never measured his relations with other men with one or another mercenary device, too contracted to be honest. He was of broad and catholic spirit, and those who were true found him true.
It was worth while, in the hurry and bustle of our day, to know Capt. Lothrop and to feel the impulse of his soldierly life. It is worth while now, when he holds his discharge from all the conflicts of life, to remember him for his service, and best of all to remember him as friend.
AN APPRECIATION OF CAPT. LOTHROP.
Written by E. E. Lewis
In, April 1861, W. L. Gibson, of Ottawa, Ill., immediately upon the call for troops, organized a company, which was speedily mustered into service as Company E., Eleventh Illinois volunteers. Capt. Lothrop and myself and eleven other young lawyers enlisted. Six of the eight in our mess were sprigs of the law. A carpenter named Lamblin was the oldest, Lothrop the next. One died early of fever, one was killed at Pine Ridge, one became colonel of a colored regiment and died bravely leading his regiment.
Capt. Lothrop was one of the coolest men I ever knew in times of stress and danger. Our regiment was stationed for some time at Bird’s Point, Mo. When we landed we went up a sloping bank to high ground. In less than six weeks the treacherous river had washed out 100 acres. About midnight we were awakened by a sharp jolt or quake, our tent being the nearest to the river bank. Rushing out we found the earth cracked all around our tent. The wind was blowing a gale and everything—eyes, nose and mouth, were filled with sand. And then the “long roll” began to beat furiously.
Hastily dragging away the tent and trying to cover our belongings with it, we seized our guns, some of us forgetting our cartridge boxes, and hurried to the front—wherever that was.
We stood under arms for the rest of the night and returned in the gray of the morning in the rain and so covered with sand, mud and dirt that we could not distinguish each other.
We were all green boys, but Lothrop never lost his head, was as collected as if walking the streets of old Ottawa [Illinois]. As daylight opened up we found our tent and stuff, a mound of sand, and we stood looking down some sixty feet into the swirling waters still eating up the Missouri land.
All the years of army life failed to demoralize Capt. Lothrop. He remained clean and high toned through all of it.
Sioux City, Ia., July 2, 1913
[transcribed by L.Z. Oct 2020]