First Negro Jury
One
odd record of the Iowa City courts dates back to the first lustrum,
following the Civil war, when the colored people of the United States
were rejoicing in technical freedom, as a consequence of “honest Abe’s”
proclamation, and the Titanic struggle of the ‘60’s. Recognizing their
rights, Justice of the Peace George W. Dodder impaneled the first jury
of colored men ever called to that service in the United States –
probably, the world. Thus, to Iowa City was accorded the record of
being the first city, anywhere, to see negroes sitting in judgment on
the fate of their fellow-citizens, or as interpreters of their rights.
In
the after years, “Squire” Dodder who was then still holding court in
Iowa City, once declared to a pioneer reporter: “These American
citizens of African descent did equal and exact justice to the
plaintiff and defendant.” The case in question was a suit to recover
$10, instituted by Agnes Hascet against Josephine Bell. It was tried
May 24, 1869. The jurors were subpoenaed by Hiram Toms, a veteran of
the Civil War. His son, Charles Toms, still resides here, being the
builder and occupant, of the Toms block, on Iowa avenue, Cornell and
Brother and L. P. Frost were the attorneys. The witnesses were the
litigants, themselves and Norris Powell, Susan Newser, Lizzie Bell and
Fred Brown. The jurors were Lemuel Boon, James Howard, Nelson Hill,
Charles Morgan, Larry Stephens, and Cyrus Winston. The plaintiff was
awarded $2 .50.
Justice Dodder filled his post from 1861 to his
last days, about 40 years. He was born in New Jersey, 115 years ago;
came to Iowa City in 1855, after leaving Lafayette College, Easton,
Penna., and after clerking and operating the Park house, at Port
Jervis, N. Y. He was the son of Jacob Dodder, a native of Germany, but
a soldier of the Revolutionary war.
Justice Dodder was credited
with uniting in marriage more people than any other justice in Iowa –
as many as 10 to 14 a day. He himself was married in New Jersey. His
bride was Effie Predmore. They celebrated their 56th wedding
anniversary in Iowa City, March 18, 1893 and their five daughters
attended.
(Source: A Fact a Day About Iowa City, Iowa City Press Citizen, Saturday, May 16, 1931, Sat., pg. 6)
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First African-American Church
The cornerstone for the Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church was
laid at 411 S. Governor Street, Iowa City, IA on April 1, 1868.
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First Big Ten African-American V.P.
Dr.
Philip Gamaliel Hubbard (March 4, 1921 – January 10, 2002) was a
university professor and administrator who was the first
African-American faculty member at the University of Iowa, the first
African-American administrator at any of Iowa's state universities and
the first African-American vice president at a Big 10 university. In
August 2012 Hubbard was inducted into the Iowa African American Hall of
Fame.
(Source: Wikipedia)
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Iowa City Best Citizen of the Year
Helen Lemme was the first black woman in Iowa City to be awarded the Iowa City Woman of the Year in 1955.
A few years later, she was also the first black woman named as Iowa City's Best Citizen award.
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