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Wherever laws are enacted, there will always be need for capable and honorable lawyers to interpret and help put into execution the enforcement of legal enactments. The day has long since passed when the honorable attorney at law is looked upon as any but a member of one of earth's most useful professions, one needed in every intelligent community. He it is who helps us apply law to daily life. Changes comes in law, and hence the more need of a lawyer to point out such changes to his client, that he may not err in transacting his business. The discoveries of the arts and sciences, the inventions of new contrivances for labor, and the increase of development in commerce are all new unexplored fields into which law must delve and it must needs be handled by competent lawyers who have been schooled in the science of their own peculiar profession. Hence the lawyer is a man of the day, a needful factor in advanced civilization.
It is to be regretted that no more complete record has been kept of the Jasper County Bar than has been made, for it would be read with no little interest today, to note the many trials, and who were the combating attorneys who took part in the same, during all the years of the county's history. All that can be learned for the reader of this chapter of the county's history is found in the following, a carefully compiled statement of facts as they have been picked up, here and there, from memory and record, bringing the list of attorneys down to the present, and trying to give a fairly comprehensive glimpse into the earlier lawyers and judges of this county and district. The publishers are indebted to Hon. W. G. Clements, who has compiled the following excellent account of the bench and bar.
There is no record of any court having been held in Jasper County prior to November 23, 1848. However, according to tradition and information gained from the old settlers, the first term of court was held in the spring of 1846, at the house of Matthew D. Springer, in what is now Buena Vista Township, and was presided over by Judge Williams, of Muscatine.
Judge Williams was elected supreme judge in 1846 or 1847, and was succeeded on the bench by Judge William McKay. The court record indicates that Judge McKay held a term of court in Newton in June 1849, at which term Hon. William H. Seevers was appointed prosecuting attorney. Judge McKay lived at Des Moines and continued to preside as judge of the district court of Jasper County until about July 1854, when he was succeeded by Judge C. J. McFarland, who resided at Boonesboro.
Judge McFarland held the different terms of the district court of Jasper County until 1857. Judge McFarland was quite austere and abrupt in his manners, and if any person incurred his displeasure, such person was very sure to be reminded of the same in a very severe manner. At the first term of court held by Judge McFarland in Newton in 1854, the Hon. H. J. Skiff incurred the displeasure of the Judge, for the reason that Skiff opposed the election of McFarland (both being Democrats), Skiff claiming that McFarland was not a proper person to be judge on account of his inebriacy. Therefore, McFarland sought to get revenge by ordering Skiff to sit down when he arose to address the court in reference to some case. Skiff refused to comply with the order of the Judge, and told the Judge that he had a right to talk in that court. Thereupon, the Judge fined him ten dollars for contempt. Skiff told him to "pile it on." and the Judge doubled the fine. The quarrel continued until Skiff stood indebted to the school fund in the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars. The Judge ordered the clerk to make out a commitment, who suggested to his honor that he could not get it served. The commitment was delivered to the sheriff, but it was not served. In the evening, the attorneys all met for consultation at Skiff's residence. The next morning when court opened, the attorneys by agreement continued all their cases, whereupon the Judge ordered the sheriff to adjourn the court. The contempt cases against Skiff were appealed by him to the Supreme Court, and McFarland's judgments were set aside. (See State vs. Skiff, 2nd Iowa Supreme Court Report, page 550.) Judge McFarland died in Boonesboro when only about forty years of age.
Judge McFarland was succeeded as district judge by Hon. William M. Stone, of Knoxville. Judge Stone resigned in March 1861, and enlisted in the Union Army. He afterwards became colonel of the Twenty-second Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and in the fall of 1863 was elected governor of the State of Iowa, which position he held for a term of four years, and as one of the war governors of Iowa during the Rebellion. Judge Stone was afterwards commissioner of the general land office at Washington, D. C., having been appointed by President Harrison. Afterwards he remove to the Territory of Oklahoma, where he died July 18, 1893, and his body was brought to Knoxville for burial. Upon the resignation of Judge Stone in March 1861, William Loughridge of Oskaloosa, was appointed district judge, and continued to hold court in the sixth judicial district and in Jasper County until January 1, 1867. Afterwards Judge Loughridge became a member of Congress from the sixth Congressional District of Iowa, serving in that capacity several terms. Judge Loughridge died several years ago, and is buried at Oskaloosa, Iowa.
On January 1, 1867, Judge Loughridge was succeeded by Hon. E. S. Sampson. Judge Sampson was an ideal judge, very reserved in his manner, cool and deliberate, and was highly respected by all who knew him. During the Civil War he was lieutenant colonel of the Fifth Iowa Regiment of Volunteer Infantry. After his retirement from the bench, he was elected to Congress and served one term. Afterwards he engaged in the practice of law at Sigourney, Iowa, where he died October 7, 1892.
Judge Sampson was succeeded on the district bench by Hon. H. S. Winslow, of Newton, January 1, 1875, and served until January 1, 1879. Judge Winslow was a good lawyer and a competent, painstaking judge.
On January 1, 1870, he was succeeded by Hon. J. C. Cook, of Newton, now residing at Cedar Rapids. Judge Cook continued to occupy the district bench until January 1, 1883, at which time Judge J. K. Johnson of Oskaloosa, was elected district judge, and held the different terms of district court in Newton, until January 1, 1887.
Under the law enacted in 1868, from 1868 to 1887, in addition to the district court, there was what was denominated the circuit court, having jurisdiction of all civil cases and probate matters. When the circuit court was instituted in 1868, Hon. H. S. Winslow of Newton, was elected judge of the second circuit of the sixth judicial district, and entered upon his duties January 1, 1869, and held the office of circuit judge for one year, resigning to engage in the practice of law. He was succeeded by Hon. S. N. Lindley, of Newton, to that position and Judge Lindley continued to serve in that capacity as circuit judge until January 1. 1873, after which Hon. L. C. Blanchard, of Oskaloosa, served as circuit judge until 1880, and was succeeded by Hon. W. R. Lewis, of Montezuma, who served until the circuit court was abolished, January 1, 1887, at which time it was provided by law that the sixth judicial district would be entitled to three district judges, and in the fall of 1886 Hon. David Ryan, of Newton, was elected as one of the judges of the district, together with Hon. J. K. Johnson, of Oskaloosa, and Hon. W. R. Lewis, of Montezuma. Judge Lewis served until January 1, 1891, and was succeeded by Hon. A. B. Dewey, of Washington, who served until January 1, 1903. Judge Johnson served until he died in 1894, and was succeeded by Hon. Ben McCoy, of Oskaloosa, who was appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy and serve the balance of Judge Johnson's term; he was elected in the fall of 1894 to the office of judge for the term commencing January 1, 1895, and served until January 1, 1899. Judge Ryan served as district judge until January 1, 1899, and was succeeded by W. G. Clements, of Newton, who served until January 1, 1911, Judge McCoy was succeeded by Hon. John T. Scott, of Brooklyn, who served two terms until January 1, 1908, and was then succeeded by Hon. K. E. Willcockson, of Sigourney, who is now one of the judges, serving his second term. On January 1, 1903, Judge Dewey was succeeded by B. W. Preston, of Oskaloosa, who is now one of the judges, and serving his third term. Judge Clements served three terms and was succeeded by Hon. John F. Talbot, of Brooklyn, who is now one of the judges of the district. Four terms of court are held during the year in Jasper County, and each of the district judges have alternately held the terms of court in the county as provided by law.
JASPER COUNTY ATTORNEYS
From the time of the institution of the district court in Jasper County, many noted cases were tried. From 1868 to 1884 there were two terms of the district court and four terms of the circuit court held in Jasper County each year, and from 1870 to 1880 the dockets of the different courts were crowded with cases and kept the court busy each term for four weeks, but of late years, litigation has ceased at least one half as compared with the period above mentioned.
The names of some of the pioneer lawyers who took an active part in the court proceedings are as follows: H. J. Skiff, Thomas H. Miller, S. G. Smith, O. C. Howe, H. S. Winslow, S. N. Lindley, G. R. Shays, J. W. Wilson. J. W. Sennett, D. L. Clark, David Ryan, Robert Ryan J. C. Cook, Hugh Newell, George E. Spencer, J. G. Meek, H. W. Gleason, J. W. Deweese, D. O. Stuart, R. A. Sankey, A. K. Campbell, S. J. Moyer, S. S. Patterson, Sidney Williams, William Howard, Don Carlos, Jonathan N. Edgar, of whom mention will be made.
Hon. H. J. Skiff
Hon. H. J. Skiff came to Newton from New York in 1850, and actively engaged in the practice of law. Mr. Skiff was a graduate of Amherst College and was a leading member of the bar shortly after coming to Newton. He was a member of the third constitutional convention of Iowa, which was held at Iowa City in 1857, representing the counties of Poweshiek, Marshall, Tama and Jasper. He took an active part in the convention, and was greatly instrumental in formulating the present constitution of Iowa. Afterwards he retired from the practice and engaged in the banking business in Newton, until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted in Company B, Thirteenth Iowa Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, and served as captain of the company from 1862 to 1864. After the war he engaged in commercial pursuits, and died in Newton in November 1904.
Thomas H. Miller
Thomas H. Miller came to Newton from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in December 1856, and immediately formed a partnership with H. S. Winslow, under the style and firm name of Miller & Winslow. This firm continued in the practice of law until July 1861, at which time Mr. Miller enlisted in Company B of the Thirteenth Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry and was captain of the company, serving with distinction and bravery in the Battle of Shiloh, and while leading his company into the battle he fell, mortally wounded, on April 6, 1862, and died of his wounds on May 13, 1862. His body was brought to Newton for burial. Mr. Miller was a good lawyer and a thorough gentleman.
Hon. S. G. Smith
Hon. S. G. Smith was born in Greene County, New York, May 22, 1831. He attended college at Oberlin, Ohio. Was admitted to the bar in March 1857, at Columbus, Ohio. In November of that year he removed to Newton, Iowa, and commenced the practice of law. In August 1862, he was commissioned major of the Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and held this position until 1864, when he resigned. He then returned to Newton and resumed the practice of law. Was mayor of Newton, state senator in the ninth General Assembly and the extra session of the Ninth General Assembly, and was district attorney of the sixth judicial district for four years. Was president of the board of directors of the State Normal School. At one time he was a member of the firm of Smith & Wilson, Attorneys. He continued the practice of his profession until about four years before his death, and on account of failing health retired from the practice. He died in Newton November 5, 1890.
Hon. O. C. Howe
Hon. O. C. Howe was born December 19,1824, at Williamstown, Vermont. He finished his education at Aurora Academy, studied law at Buffalo, New York. In the fall of 1855 he came to Jasper County where he engaged in the practice of law for a short time. In the summer of 1856 he went to Spirit Lake, Iowa, and organized Dickerson County and located the county seat. Afterward he returned to Newton preparatory to moving his goods and chattels to Spirit Lake. On his return to Spirit Lake, he found the Indians had massacred all of the white people in and around that section. He was elected county judge of Dickinson County. In 1858 he was elected district attorney for that district. At that time the district embraced nearly one-fourth of the area of the entire state. In 1862 he returned to Newton, and soon thereafter he enlisted and was made captain of Company L, Ninth Iowa Cavalry, and remained with the organization until the time of his discharge, in November 1864, after which he returned to Newton and formed a partnership for the practice of law with A. K. Campbell, until 1875, when he was appointed resident professor in the law department of the State University at Iowa City, and remained at Iowa City until 1881, when he removed to Anthony, Kansas, going into partnership there with James McPhee, where he remained in the practice until his death, which occurred in August 1899.
Hon. H. S. Winslow
Hon. H. S. Winslow was born at Pittsford, Vermont, July 18, 1837, and came to Jasper County with his parents in 1856. He formed a partnership in December 1856, with Thomas H. Miller, said firm practicing under the style and firm name of Miller & Winslow, until Mr. Miller enlisted in the Thirteenth Regiment of Iowa Volunteers. In 1862 Mr. Winslow was elected district attorney of the sixth judicial district of Iowa, and served in that capacity for four years. In 1868 he was elected judge of the second circuit of the sixth judicial district for a term of four years. At the end of one year he resigned this office and resumed the practice of his profession until 1874, when he was elected judge of the sixth judicial district, and continued to hold that position until January 1, 1879. Afterward he resumed the practice of law and continued in the practice until his death, which occurred December 11, 1899. In 1894 the supreme court of the state appointed Judge Winslow one of the commissioners to revise and codify the laws of Iowa. To this work he brought not only his rare and ripe experience and knowledge of the laws, but the same indefatigable energy that characterized his whole life. Few men were more diligent, industrious or faithfully devoted to the profession than Judge Winslow. By his death there went down one of the strongest towers of the profession, one distinguished in the state, both as an advocate at the bar and a jurist on the bench.
G. R. Shays
G. R. Shays came to Newton from the state of New York about the year 1858, and commenced the practice of law, and devoted himself actively to the practice until 1868, when he formed a partnership with Robert Ryan, under the firm name and style of Shays & Ryan. The firm continued in the practice until the death of Mr. Shays, which occurred May 18, 1870. Little is known of the previous history of Mr. Shays, but he was a tower of strength in the trial of a case. He was over six feet in height and a great athlete. The writer remembers of his delivering an address at the courthouse to the first company of volunteers that left Jasper County in the Civil War and his speech was an eloquent effort and inspired enthusiasm and patriotism.
Hon. J. W. Wilson
Hon. J. W. Wilson was born August 8, 1837, in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. He received his education at Mt. Union College, in the same state. Was admitted to the practice of law at Medina, Ohio, September 21, 1855. The following year he removed to Newton, Iowa. In October 1861, he was elected county judge, which office he held until the following August, when he resigned to enter the United States military service, which he did as a private in Company K, Twenty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. In 1864 he was promoted to be adjutant of his regiment, which position he held until the close of the war. He then returned to Newton and resumed the practice of his profession. He formed a partnership with Hon. H. S. Winslow, which partnership continued until Mr. Winslow was elected to the district bench. Mr. Wilson then formed a partnership with Hon. S. G. Smith, which continued until about 1879, then again formed a partnership with Mr. Winslow and remained a member of said firm and engaged actively in the practice until a short time before his death, which occurred May 6, 1887. During his lifetime he took a great interest in Masonry. Was a Knight Templar, and was elected grand master of the grand lodge of Iowa Masons and continued to hold that exalted position for two terms. He was a true friend, and many a young member of the profession recollects him with gratitude for his kindly advice.
J. W. Sennett
J. W. Sennett was one of the pioneer members of the profession, and engaged in the practice of law in Newton, commencing about the year 1854 or 1855, until November 15, 1862, when he enlisted in the military service of the United States, and was captain of Company E. Fortieth Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry, serving in that capacity with distinction until August 1864, after which he resumed the practice of law in Newton for a time, and then removed to Jasper County, Missouri, and engaged in the practice of law until about the year of 1907, at which time his death occurred.
D. L. Clark
D. L. Clark came to 'Newton about the year 1854 or 1855 and engaged in the practice of law successfully until he entered the banking business in Newton and continued in that business until his death, which occurred September 20, 1904. He was a successful lawyer and a man of excellent judgment and a good financier. For a short time he was in the practice of law he was in partnership with Robert Ryan.
Hon. David Ryan
Hon. David Ryan was born in Washington County, New York, March 15, 1840, and came to Jasper County with his parents in 1857, settling on a farm about two miles south of Prairie City. He was educated in the common schools of New York and Iowa, and at Central University at Pella. He left college in 1861 and enlisted as a private in Company E, Eighth Iowa Infantry. He finally became captain of his company. He participated in the Battle of Shiloh where he was captured and spent six months in Rebel prisons When the Civil War ended he had attained the rank of colonel. Returning to college, he graduated in 1867, and in the fall of that year he began the practice, which he continued a part of the time alone and a part of the time in partnership, first with Judge Lindley and then with his brother, Robert Ryan, and later with W. O. McElroy. He was elected to the Legislature of the State, and was an efficient member of the Eleventh General Assembly. In 1886 he was elected to the district bench, which position he filled with credit for twelve years. At the expiration of his third term on the bench, he removed to Des Moines where, with William Phillips and his two sons, J. W. Ryan and W. L. Ryan, he formed the firm of Phillips, Ryan & Ryan, and on the subsequent death of Mr. Phillips, continued as Ryan, Ryan & Ryan up to the death of Judge Ryan, which occurred June 19, 1905. He was successful at every point of his useful career and, personally, was an excellent gentleman. He had many friends wherever he was known. At the time of his death he was president of the Des Moines Bar Association, and his funeral was largely attended by many friends and members of the bar, coming from distant parts of the state.
Hugh Newell
Hugh Newell was one of the pioneer members of the bar of Jasper County, having emigrated to Newton in 1855, and a short time thereafter was admitted to the bar on September 12, 1855. He engaged actively in the practice of law for several years, after which he retired and engaged in other pursuits in Jasper County, where he died February 26, 1895.
Hon. J. C. Cook
Hon. J. C. Cook was born at Tiffin, Ohio, December 26, 1846, and received his education at Heidelberg College. He was admitted to the bar in 1867 and the same year came to Newton and actively engaged in the practice of the law. At one time he was in partnership with R. C. Clark, who emigrated to Kansas. In 1876, he was nominated for attorney general by the Democratic Party of Iowa. In 1878 he was elected district judge of the sixth judicial district of Iowa, and served a term of four years. Afterwards he was elected to Congress from the sixth congressional district. Thereafter he became attorney for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company, with headquarters at Eagle Grove, Iowa. He is now attorney for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company for Iowa, and is located at Cedar Rapids. Judge Cook was a successful practitioner, seldom losing a case in which he was engaged.
S. S. Patterson
S. S. Patterson was horn near Rochester, New York, April 17, 1835, and read law in Cincinnati, Ohio, for one year. At the first call for troops in 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Twelfth Ohio Infantry, as a private and after five months service returned to Ohio, resumed the study of law at Tiffin, Ohio, and in June 1862, was admitted to the bar. Afterwards, in the early part of 1863, Mr. Patterson once more entered the army, being appointed as captain of the company. He was present at the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox. After his service in the army, which closed in the fall of 1865, he received a governmental appointment in southwestern Virginia as inspector of internal revenue. In 1868 he came to Iowa and located in Kellogg. After practicing his profession at that place for eight years, he came to Newton and engaged in active practice of the law, with the exception of the time of President Cleveland's first administration, when he held a position under the general government of Indian Agent in New Mexico. After occupying that position for four years, he returned to Newton and engaged in the practice of his profession until his death, which occurred in February 1899. Major Patterson was a man of high honor and integrity and commanded the respect of all who knew him.
Hon. J. W. Deweese
Hon. J. W. Deweese commenced the practice of law at Prairie City in 1869 and remained at that place for ten years, during which time he was elected to represent Jasper County in the sixteenth and seventeenth General Assemblies, which he did with credit to himself and to his constituency, being elected speaker pro tem of the House of Representatives at its seventeenth session. In 1862 Mr. Deweese answered the call of his country and enlisted in Company G, Twenty-third Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, after which he attended the Central University at Pella, Iowa, and then law school, previous to locating in Prairie City. In 1879 Mr. Deweese removed to Lincoln, Nebraska, and became
attorney for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway in Nebraska, which position he occupied until his death, which occurred September 3, 19°7. Mr. Deweese was an able lawyer.
Hon. E. C. Roach
Hon. E. C. Roach engaged in the practice of law at Prairie City, commencing about the year 1875 or 1876, and remained at that place actively engaged in his profession until about 1883, at which time he removed to Rock Rapids, Lyon County, Iowa, where he is still engaged in the practice of law with success. He has represented Lyon County twice in the Legislature, the twenty-first and twenty-second sessions of the General Assembly of Iowa.
L. A. Williams
L. A. Williams came to Prairie City from the State of Kentucky in about the year 1874 and continued the practice of law at that place until about the year 1903, when he returned to the state of Kentucky, his old home, and a short time thereafter died.
Sidney Williams
Sidney Williams commenced the practice of law in Prairie City about the year 1868 and remained at Prairie City until 1873 and then removed to Colfax, Iowa. In 1874 he, with John Dixon, discovered the noted mineral waters at Colfax. About the year 1885 he removed to Colorado, where he is now engaged in mining enterprises.
Hon. B. C. Ward
Hon. B. C. Ward, a native of Vermont, came to Prairie City in 1869 and was principal of the schools at that place for a number of years. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1876, and formed a partnership with W. G. Clements, under the firm name of Clements & Ward, which partnership continued for the practice of law until 1893. The firm maintained offices at Prairie City and Newton, Mr. Clements having removed to Newton in October 1887. The partnership was dissolved in 1893. Mr. Ward moved to Des Moines, where he has been engaged in philanthropic interests, being president of the Young Men's Christian Association in Des Moines for a number of years. While at Prairie City, Mr. Ward represented Jasper County in the Iowa Legislature, the twentieth session of the same, and served with credit to himself and to his constituency. Mr. Ward, during the Civil War, enlisted in the Second Vermont Infantry and served his country faithfully and was in many battles, including Gettysburg, the Wilderness and other hard-fought engagements. Mr. Ward still lives in Des Moines and is now senior vice-commander of the Grand Army of the Republic of Iowa.
William Howard
William Howard came to Monroe in the year 1856. Was justice of the peace at that place for a number of years. Afterwards was admitted to the bar about the year 1860, and engaged in the practice of law until his death, which occurred about 1875.
Jacob Kipp
Jacob Kipp was a pioneer lawyer of Monroe, coming to that town in the year of 1854. Was elected justice of the peace for a number of years and was admitted to the bar and engaged in the general practice of law until 1899, when he retired from the practice and engaged in other pursuits. He is still living in Monroe and is over eighty-five years of age.
Sloan Koder
Sloan Koder practiced law in Monroe for a number of years with success. In 1895 he removed to Siloam Springs, Arkansas, where he resumed the law business and is still living at that place.
R. A. McKee
R. A. McKee commenced the practice of law in Monroe about the year 1870, and remained in the practice at that place for a number of years, and removed to the state of Nebraska. During the Civil War Mr. McKee was captain of Company I, Fifth Veteran Cavalry, and served with credit to himself and his country.
A. Q. Hayes
A. Q. Hayes, once a member of the bar of Jasper County, and engaged in the law business in Monroe for a number of years, removed to the State of Kansas about the year 1880. At last accounts, he was still living in the state of Kansas.
Hon. H. IN. Gleason
Hon. H. IN. Gleason, a native of New Hampshire, came to Monroe about January 1, 1869, and remained there two years and engaged in the practice of law successfully, afterwards removed to Oskaloosa, Iowa, and formed a partnership with Judge Crookham. Mr. Gleason represented Mahaska County in the seventeenth General Assembly of Iowa. After dissolving partnership with Judge Crookham, he removed to the State of Kansas and there engaged in the practice of law for some time, and then returned to Oskaloosa where he continued the practice of law until his death, which occurred May 1, 1911.
Alanson Clark
Alanson Clark, son of D. L. Clark, a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Iowa Law School, was admitted to the bar in 1875, and in 1876 commenced the practice of law at Newton with success and remained in the practice until his death, which occurred March 28, 1894. Mr. Clark was very energetic in the cause of his numerous clients, and won distinction at the bar by his prosecution of rebate cases against the different railway companies. At the time of his death, he was County Attorney of Jasper County.
S. J. Moyer
S. J. Moyer came to Jasper County in the year 1864 and was engaged in teaching school until about the year 1872, when he was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Newton for a period of about twelve years, then removed to Chamberlain, South Dakota, and engaged in the same business at that place until his death, which occurred about the year 1896.
A. S. Stuver
A. S. Stuver was justice of peace for a number of years in Newton, and a member of the bar and practiced law until he removed to Kimball, South Dakota, in 1882. He engaged in the practice of law in that state until his death, which occurred in 1904.
H. K. Stahl and C. W. Stahl
H. K. Stahl and C. W. Stahl commenced the practice of law in Newton in the year 1874, under the firm name and style of Stahl Bros. They engaged in the practice in Newton for a period of about twelve years, and then removed to the state of California, where they each now reside.
R. B. Kiddoo
R. B. Kiddoo came to Jasper County in the year 1869 and engaged in the practice of law in Newton for about ten years. He then removed to the State of Nebraska, where he resumed the same business until his death, which occurred in the year 1894.
J. G. Meek
J. G. Meek, one of the pioneer lawyers, came to Newton in the year 1854 and was admitted to the bar during that year. He practiced law in Newton for about ten years and then removed to Ottumwa, Iowa, where he still lives.
J. M. Clements
J. M. Clements came to Jasper county with his parents in 1855 and engaged in work on the farm for his father near Newton until about the year 1868, when he attended college at Wittemberg and Hazel Dell Academy in Newton, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1873. On January 1, 1879, he was appointed official shorthand reporter for the sixth judicial district by Judge Cook and served in that capacity for four years, after which he resumed the practice of law in Newton. In a short time he formed a partnership with S. C. Cook, under the firm name of Cook & Clements, the partnership being dissolved in 1886, at which time Mr. Clements went to Helena, Montana, where he was elected county judge of the county for a term of two years. Afterwards he commenced the practice of law at that place with success. In 1903 he was elected judge of the district court at Helena, Montana. In 1907 he was re-elected, and now holds that position.
S. C. Cook
S. C. Cook was raised on a farm near Newton, studied law and was admitted to the bar in Jasper County about the year 1874 and entered into partnership with R. A. Sankey, which partnership existed for about four years, after which he formed a partnership with J. M. Clements. Mr. Cook was president of the railroad company, which constructed what is now the Iowa Central Railway from Newton to Keithsburg, Iowa. Mr. Cook was a successful financier, very energetic and painstaking in whatever he undertook. He continued in the practice of law until September 1887, when he met his death on a railway crossing between Mitchellville and Colfax by being struck by a railway train while driving in his buggy. His tragic death was mourned by all his friends and acquaintances.
Hon. Stephen N. Lindley
Hon. Stephen N. Lindley was born in Merrittstown, Pennsylvania, May 17, 1817. He removed to Athens County, Ohio, in 1835, and there studied law in the office of A. J. Brown and was admitted to the bar. In April 1848, he came to Iowa, and in 1861 came to Newton, where he resided nineteen years, following his profession, and served two terms as circuit judge. He then moved to Fairbury, Nebraska, in 1880, and was elected and served several terms as probate judge. In 1894 his health failed and he gave up his practice and moved to Blanchester, Ohio, where he died January 22, 1896. Judge Lindley, prior to the Civil War, was an ardent abolitionist. While he resided in Monroe, he and John R. Clements (the father of the writer) conducted an "underground railroad" and helped many a poor black person to regain his liberty.
A. K. Campbell
A. K. Campbell emigrated from the state of Ohio to Newton about the year 1855. Previous to coming to Iowa he studied law with his father in the State of Ohio. He was admitted to the bar in Jasper County in 1868, and formed a partnership with Judge O. C. Howe; the partnership continued until Judge Howe was appointed one of the resident law professors in the State University, which occurred in 1876. Mr. Campbell continued the practice of his profession until he removed from Newton to Des Moines, in 1887, where he now resides.
W. E. Evans
W. E. Evans studied law in the office of Hon. J. C. Cook in Newton, and was admitted to the bar about the year 1876. He engaged in the practice in Newton for three or four years, and then removed to the State of Kansas, where he now resides and is still engaged in the practice of law.
Clark Varnum
Clark Varnum was admitted to the bar in Poweshiek County about 1873, and engaged in the practice of law at Malcom, Iowa, until 1885, when he removed to Newton and formed a partnership with Hon. H. S. Winslow, which partnership continued until Mr. Varnum removed to Chicago, which occurred about the year 1893. Mr. Varnum still resides in Chicago and is engaged in the practice of his profession.
A. F. Brown
A. F. Brown was raised on a farm in Jasper County, studied law and was admitted to the bar in June 1882, and immediately thereafter formed a partnership with J. H. Fugard, which partnership was dissolved in September 1901. Afterward Mr. Brown continued the practice of his profession as a lawyer in Newton until September 1907, when he removed to the City of Des Moines where he is now general attorney for the Corn Belt Land & Loan Company.
R. F. Graham
R. F. Graham engaged in the practice of law in Newton for a number of years, being admitted to the bar about the year 1898, and followed the practice of law in Newton until about 1903. He then removed to Whittier, California, where he is now engaged in the law businesss.
D. O. Stuart
D. O. Stuart practiced law in Monroe, Iowa, for about six years, then, in 1878, removed to Harlan, Iowa, where he is still engaged in the practice of his profession.
A. J. Craven
A. J. Craven was admitted to the bar in 1882, and practiced law in Newton for about four years, and then removed to Helena, Montana. While there he became a member of the Legislature, and also a member of the Constitutional Convention, which framed the constitution of the state. He is now located in Bellingham, Washington, and is there engaged in the practice of law.
James A. Kerr
James A. Kerr was admitted to the bar in about the year 1882 and immediately commenced the practice of his profession in Newton. He continued in the practice with success until 1890, when he removed to Seattle, Washington, where he is now engaged in the practice of law. Previous to his leaving Newton he was in partnership with W. O. McElroy for about four years. Mr. Kerr was a forceful speaker and advocate, and has achieved great success in his new field where he now resides.
A. M. Harrah
A. M. Harrah came to Jasper County with his parents about the year 1855, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1875, and commenced the practice of his profession in Newton which he continued with success until 1907, when he removed to Pasadena, California, where he is still engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1886, Mr. Harrah was elected county attorney and served in that capacity for a period of two years. Mr. Harrah was an able lawyer.
John G. Harrah
John G. Harrah, son of A. M. Harrah, was admitted to the bar in 19°5, and commenced the practice of law in Newton and continued until 1911, when he removed to Pasadena, California, where he now resides.
Preston Chambers
Preston Chambers was born in the State of Indiana and emigrated to Iowa in 1855, settling near Galesburg, Iowa. He was admitted to the bar in 1877, and practiced law until June 19, 1907, when he died near Galesburg, at the age of eighty-three years.
Hon. W. H. Redman
Hon. W. H. Redman was born in Geneseo, Illinois, March 15, 1840. He lived and worked on a farm during the early years of his life. He served as private in Company C, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, during the Civil War, and was advanced to the position of captain of his company. He was in several battles during the war. After the war, he came to Poweshiek County and located on a farm. He entered the Law Department of the State University from which he graduated in December 1869. The following year he commenced the practice of law in Montezuma. Mr. Redman served in the twenty-first and twenty-second General Assemblies of Iowa, being made Speaker of the House in the last named session. In 1898 he was appointed assistant attorney general, which office he held until April 1, 1899. In 1900 he located in Newton, Iowa, and continued the practice of law until his death, which occurred about December 1901.
H. L. Stem
H. L. Stem came to Jasper County with his parents in 1855 and settled on a farm near Monroe. Mr. Stem worked on the farm until he was admitted to the bar in 1871 and engaged in the practice of law in Monroe, Iowa, for a period of six years, after which he removed to the state of Nebraska.
E. M. Ives
E. M. Ives practiced law at Lynnville for a number of years. From thence he removed to Kellogg, Iowa, and resumed the practice of his profession at that place until 1907, when he removed to the state of Indiana.
L. J. Labour
L. J. Labour practiced law in Colfax for a number of years, and about the year 1880 removed to the city of Des Moines.
J. A. Metcalf
J. A. Metcalf came to Newton about the year 1888 and practiced law in Newton until 1895, when he removed to Sac City, Sac County, Iowa, where he is now engaged in his chosen profession.
Fred Gilman
Fred Gilman came to Newton from the northeastern part of Iowa about the year 1882, and practiced law in Newton until about the year 1887. When he was appointed professor in the Law Department of the State University of Iowa, he removed to Iowa City.
S. I. Miskimmons
S. I. Miskimmons commenced the practice of law at Baxter, in Jasper County, in 1899 and continued in the practice at that place until the time of his death, April 15, 1904.
S. Kent
S. Kent commenced the practice of law in Newton about the year 1873, and remained in Newton until about 1878, when he removed to the State of Nebraska, where he now lives.
Bryant E. Corwin
Bryant E. Corwin was born in Morrow County, Ohio, October 21, 1850, attended the common schools of that county until 1872, when he came to Monroe, Iowa. He had previously studied law in the office of Judge Dickey at Mt. Gilead. He was admitted to the bar in Jasper County November 10, 1876. Previous to that time he had been principal for four years of the Monroe schools. He practiced law in Monroe with success until the time of his death, which occurred October 30, 1893.
W. H. Williams
W. H. Williams practiced law in the town of Monroe from 1877 to 1879. He then moved to the State of Kansas where he now resides.
Joseph Arnold
Joseph Arnold was born at Richmond, Indiana, April 1, 1832. In 1843 he came with his parents to Lynnville, Iowa, and aided his parents in operating a gristmill at said place, and also in conducting a farm. In 1864 Mr. Arnold was ordained a minister of the gospel in the Friends Church and preached more or less. About the year 1875 he commenced the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in Jasper County in 1877 and continued the practice of law in Lynnville with success until the time of his death, which occurred September 7, 1904, in the seventy-third year of his age.
John C. Meredith
John C. Meredith was reared on a farm near Lynnville and about the year 1880 was admitted to the bar and entered in the practice of law at Lynnville, which he carried on with success until about the year 1883, when he removed to Angus, Iowa.
James B. Naylor
James B. Naylor, a resident of Lynnville, was admitted to the bar in 1874, and continued the practice of law at that place until about 1880, when he removed to Simeron, Kansas, where he is still engaged in the law business.
C. A. Tracy
C. A. Tracy practiced law in Monroe for about two years, commencing in 1890. He then removed to the State of Nebraska.
R. A. Sankey
R. A. Sankey, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Newton in 1866 and commenced the practice of law with success. He afterwards formed a partnership with M. Howard, which continued for about two or three years. Afterwards he formed a partnership with S. C. Cook, which was dissolved in about two years thereafter. In 1882 Mr. Sankey went to Wichita, Kansas, where he engaged in the practice of his profession until the time of his death, which occurred in March 1909. He was about sixty-two years of age at the time of his death.
M. Howard
M. Howard came to Newton about the year 1870 and commenced the practice of law in partnership with R. A. Sankey, and after the dissolution of the partnership, which continued about three years. Mr. Howard removed to the City of Chicago where he now resides.
Hon. Robert Ryan
Hon. Robert Ryan was born in Washington County, New York, and emigrated to Jasper County with his parents in 1857, and settled on a farm two miles south of Prairie City. He was educated in the common schools of New York and Iowa, and at the Central University at Pella. During the war he served as a member of the Eighth Iowa Infantry and upon his return home finished his education and studied law, attending the law department of the Iowa State University. In about the year 1868 he commenced the practice of law in Newton, forming a partnership with G. R. Shays, which continued until the death of Mr. Shays. He then formed a partnership with his brother, David Ryan, which continued until his removal to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he resumed the practice of law. In a short time after removing to Lincoln, he was elected a member of the Supreme Court of that state, on which he served with ability for a term of six years. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law, and in about the year 1900 he came to Des Moines, Iowa, and formed a partnership with his brother, David Ryan, and J. B. Ryan and W. L. Ryan, sons of David Ryan. Hon, Robert Ryan is now actively engaged in the practice of law in Des Moines.
Evert M. Allen
Evert M. Allen was born in Jasper County, and lived with his parents on a farm near Colfax. He attended the State University at Iowa City, and graduated from the law department thereof in 1897, after which he engaged in the practice of law in Colfax until about 1906, when he removed to Spokane, State of Washington, where he is still engaged in the practice of his profession.
E. H. Hurd
E. H. Hurd came to Newton about the year 1900 and engaged in the practice of law until about 1906, when he removed to the State of Nebraska.
Clifford V. Cox
Clifford V. Cox was born in Jasper County, February 14, 1880. He received his education in the common schools of the county and then entered the State University in 1897, from which he graduated from the law department in June 1903, and was admitted to the bar. He commenced the practice of his profession in Newton, forming a partnership with W. O. McElroy, under the firm name and style of McElroy & Cox, which partnership continued until 1909, when Mr. Cox removed to the city of Des Moines and formed a partnership with Mr. Bannister, where he is actively engaged in the practice.
J. A. Mattern
J. A. Mattern came to Colfax about the year 1878. He was admitted to the bar about that time and commenced the practice of law, which he continued until about 1898, when he was elected clerk of the district court of Jasper County, which position he occupied until 1906. He then removed from Jasper County to Creston, Iowa, where he now resides.
George F. Rinehart
George F. Rinehart practiced law in Newton for about two years, then engaged in publishing a newspaper in Des Moines. From there he removed to the State of Oklahoma, where he is now successfully engaged in editing a newspaper.
Jonathan N. Edgar
Jonathan N. Edgar was admitted to the bar at Newton in 1855. A short time thereafter he was elected county attorney and served in that for about two years, when he removed to Oskaloosa, Iowa.
William B. Sloan
William B. Sloan was admitted to the bar at Newton, September 8, 1854, and practiced law in Newton for about four years. He then removed to the State of Ohio and resumed the practice of his profession.
B. F. Parmenter
B. F. Parmenter came to Newton in the fall of 1855 and commenced the practice of law. In the summer of 1856 he, in company with Judge O. C. Howe, went to Spirit Lake, where Mr. Parmenter remained until the time of his death.
Charles Smentzer
Charles Smentzer came to Newton in 1855 and commenced the practice of law. In 1857 he removed to Ft. Dodge, Iowa, where he resumed the practice of his profession and occupied many positions of trust at his new home.
Hon. John C. Pollock
Hon. John C. Pollock, a native of Belmont County, Ohio, came to Newton after the Civil War and studied law in the office of Hon. H. S. Winslow. He was admitted to the bar in Jasper County, and from there he moved to Montezuma, Poweshiek County, and remained there in the practice of his profession for about three years. He then removed to the State of Missouri and still continued the practice of law. From Missouri he went to Kansas where he gained distinction as a trial lawyer and was elected as district judge of that state, and while serving in that capacity was appointed judge of the United States District Court for the State of Kansas, which position he now occupies.
Hon. George E. Spencer
Hon. George E. Spencer was admitted to the bar in Newton April 16, 1856, and thereafter engaged in the practice of law in Newton with success. In 1858 he served as secretary of the state Senate of Iowa. Thereafter, in 1859, he removed to the northwestern part of the state in Clay County and took up a government claim and thereon laid out a town, giving it his own name, which is now the county seat of Clay County. He was the first settler in Clay County. During the Civil War he was colonel of a regiment of loyal Alabamians and served with distinction until the close of the war. Afterwards, he settled in the state of Alabama, and was elected from that state to the United States Senate for a term of six years.
Hon. James B. Weaver
Hon. James B. Weaver was born in Dayton, Ohio, June 12, 1833. He was educated in the common schools of Iowa. He commenced the study of law in the office of S. G. McAchran, at Bloomfield, Iowa, in 1854. Afterwards he attended the law school of Cincinnati College and graduated in 1855. Rutherford B. Hayes, afterwards President of the United States, was one of the board of examiners of said school. Afterwards General Weaver came to Bloomfield and engaged in the practice of his profession until the spring of 1861, when he entered the Union Army as a private soldier and was elected first lieutenant of Company G, Second Iowa, Infantry. Afterwards was promoted to the rank of major of his regiment and then to colonel and afterwards was brevetted brigadier-general by President Lincoln. General Weaver was engaged in many hard-fought battles along with his regiment. At the close of the war he returned to Bloomfield and again entered upon the practice of law and in 1866 was elected district attorney of the second judicial district, which was composed of seven counties, in which capacity he served for a term of four years. He was afterwards appointed United States assessor of internal revenue. Afterwards he entered the general practice and took an active part in politics. In 1878 he was elected to Congress from the sixth Iowa district and in 1886 was again elected to Congress. In 1880 he was nominated by the national Greenback Party for President of the United States and polled over three hundred thousand votes. In 1892 he was nominated for President of the United States by the Populist Party and polled over one million votes, and received twenty-two electoral votes. General Weaver was a resident of Colfax, in Jasper County, for the past fifteen years and, while not in the active practice of the law, was engaged in literary work. General Weaver had a keen sense of justice and right and espoused the cause of the weak and oppressed and therefore was highly respected and esteemed by every person with whom he came in contact. He died on February 6, 1912.
THE PRESENT BAR
The following are the present members of the Jasper County Bar: A. A. Arnold, George T. Anderson, A. H. Brous, J. W. Burke, M. J. Carey, W. G. Clements, F. H. Clements, W. R. Cooper, P. H. Cragan, C. E. Cragan, J. E. Cross, Tim J. Campbell, C. O. Edge, J. H. Fugard, A. R. Gorrell, A. C. Gates, M. R. Hammer, Jr., J. C. Hawkins, P. H. Healy, P. E. Johannsen,
F. L. Kennedy, L. S. Kennington, H. C. Korf, Jacob Kipp, George C. Kipp, J. Koder, L. E. Hall, A. K. Lufkin, E. P. Malmberg, W. O. McElroy, C. O. McLain, E. M. S. McLaughlin,
O. C. Meredith, Ross R. Mowry, V. H. Morgan, H. L. Morgan, G. L. Morgan, O. P. Myers,
E. C. Ogg, M. E. Penquite, J. B. Ryan, E. J. Salmon, Henry Silwold, F. W. Swearingen, G. M. Tripp, D. M. Tripp, L. A. Wells.
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