Mr. John G. M'Leod.
The name of John G. McLeod is
remembered by the early settlers, as one of our most prominent men,
and a very useful citizen.
His claim included the big spring which has always borne his name, and
which is located two and a half miles north of this city. It is one of
the finest springs I have ever seen, and I am not aware of anything in
Iowa that surpasses or even equals it, in the amount and clearness of
the waters it discharges. There may be others just as fine, but
although I have traveled over the state quite extensively, I have not
yet seen them. The water power of one of the first saw-mills in this
county was furnished by that spring.
I am not sure but that this mill was the first in the county. Certain
it is that no one antedated it very many months.
To Mr. McLeod belongs the honor of erecting that mill. It was an event
of the greatest importance to the pioneers of this section of the
country. Few can understand at this distance of time the absorbing
interest with which the people watched the progress of this new
enterprise.
It was in 1841, two years after our arrival, that this mill was built.
I remember well when Mr. McLeod came to invite our family to the
raising. After extending the invitation to father and the older boys,
he turned to mother and said: "You must come, too, and bring all your
dishes with you." The thought never seemed to enter his mind to ask if
it would be convenient for her to go; but he used the imperative mood
with an emphasis that seemed to admit of no excuse or failure. Of
course, mother was only too happy to go with her dishes and cooking
utensils, together with what provisions she could supply, and do all
she could towards providing a good dinner for the busy workmen who
were assisting in this new and welcome enterprise. She had a hearty
laugh, however, afterwards over the earnest and summary way in which
Mr. McLeod commanded her presence on that important occasion.
Sometime after the saw-mill had been put in operation, Mr. McLeod
decided to put in a small run of stone, which he did. The stones were
only eighteen or twenty inches in diameter perhaps, but they served a
very good purpose for "cracking corn" as they called it. This mill
afforded us our first corn meal manufactured in this region, and it
was a matter of no small interest to the surrounding inhabitants, when
it was set in operation. The meal was probably not of the finest
grade, but it was fresh and sweet, and the people were too glad to get
it to be critical in regard to its coarseness. A few years later, Mr.
McLeod erected a larger and better mill that was capable of
manufacturing both meal and flour of very good grades. This mill did a
very large business and proved a great blessing to the people all
through this region, and for many miles around. This property in after
years passed into the hands of Mr. N. B. Brown, who converted it into
a distillery, to afford drink to those who were not satisfied with the
cool, limpid waters of the spring. A few years later this famous mill
afforded food for the flames, and so passing out of existence, many
more hearts rejoiced than when it was first erected.
Mr. McLeod in after years moved into the northern part of the state,
where he continued in the milling business up to the time of his
death, which occurred many years ago.
C. C. Cook.
Captain Charles C. Cook, being one of
the earliest settlers of the country, deserves honorable mention in
these reminiscences of primitive times in Linn county.
He was a half brother of the writer, and came to the country at the
same time.
Personally, Mr. Cook was a man of fine physique, six feet and one inch
in height, and in his earlier years, of a ruddy countenance, his hair
of such as made him remarkable for his strength and power of
endurance. In his later years, however, his health gave way under the
pressure of the extreme hardships through which he had passed, and for
years before his death he suffered a great deal from his bodily
infirmities.
He was a man of unbounded ambition and unconquerable energy. He never
favored himself in the least, and he never shrank from any
undertaking, no matter how arduous, if he saw that the interests of
the town and the general public good could be advanced by it. He
performed an immense amount of hard work for which he received no
remuneration, except the consciousness that he had acted honestly and
earnestly for the best good of the community in which his lot was
cast.
His education was limited, but he had a bright intellect, and he had
learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience, of which he
made good use in his busy, restless life. He was naturally very
diffident, but his intense interest in his public affairs overcame
this natural bent of his character to some extent, and not
infrequently his voice was heard in public assemblies advocating those
measures and principles which he deemed were for the interests of the
people.
The railroads, the public highways, the manufacturing interests, the
schools and the churches always found in him a warm advocate and a
ready helper.
In the opening up of the boulevard from Cedar Rapids to Marion, he
took a very active part, laboring incessantly from the time of its
inception, till it became an accomplished fact.
In the time of the war he raised a company and entered with enthusiasm
into the service of his country. Here, as he was wont to do, he forgot
himself in his anxiety for the welfare of his men, and in a few months
after he entered the service he was stricken down with a disease that
came very near terminating his life.
His wife, however, going to his relief was able finally to get him
home, but with a constitution shattered beyond recovery.
But his unconquerable will kept him moving about until a few days
before his death. His busy life and his well fought battle, came to an
end March 5, 1880.
His wife Emily, daughter of Hon. L.M. Strong, Marion's first settler,
survived her husband only a few years longer. She died August 8, 1889,
honored and loved by all who knew her. She and her husband were
members of the First Presbyterian church.
Mr. Cook was a native of Niagra county, New York, his birth occurring
May 2, 1822, and his wife was born in Ohio.
They were the parents of four children, George F. and Henry A., who
were twins; Kittie and Charles. George having enlisted in the regular
army, died a number of years ago in Dakota, and Kittie died several
years later in this place. The whereabouts of Charles is unknown, but
he is supposed to have died on his way to California several years
since. Henry A. is the editor and publisher of the Denison Bulletin.
Hon. George Greene.
On coming to this county, Mr. Greene
first located at Ivanhoe, where he taught school one winter. In 1840
he was admitted to the bar and soon after located in Marion.
In 1841 he bought an interest in the lands upon which the city of
Cedar Rapids now stands. It was somewhere about 1842 or '43 that he
purchased the mound claim of Mr. Joel Leverich.
He afterwards went to Dubuque and practiced law in partnership with
Judge Dyer, his brother-in-law, Mr. Edward Merritt, I believe, being
also associated with them in business.
It was not until 1851 that Judge Greene came to Cedar Rapids to take
up his permanent residence.
He was of English birth, his place of nativity being Staffordshire,
England, where he was born April 15, 1817.
Coming to this country with his parents when but a child, he was
reared and educated in western New York.
While in Dubuque he edited and published the Miner's Express, in
company with his brother-in-law, W.H. Merritt.
For eight years he served as Judge of the Supreme Court of Iowa.
He was the editor and publisher of Greene's Reports, a work which
contains several volumes and which is regarded as of permanent value.
Judge Greene was a man of massive brain and commanding presence. He
possessed a mind that was keen to observe and far-reaching in its
sweep of events. He was characterized by his broad views and wonderful
faith in the possibilities of this town and country for the future. He
even went further than this. He not only believed in the possibility,
but in the probability of a growth and prosperity for this city that
far transcended the faith and foresight of our most sanguine citizens.
He was thought sometimes to be almost chimerical and visionary in his
plans and predictions with regard to the future of our city. And yet
now we can see that he planned wisely and well, and that his views
were none too broad and that his anticipations were none too high.
It was indeed a good day for Cedar Rapids when Judge Greene decided to
make it his home. His coming gave a new and decided impetus to our
business interests that was felt all over this pare of the country. No
man that has ever lived here has taken a deeper interest in public
affairs, nor done more towards developing our resources nor towards
the building up of all those institutions that tend to make a city
truly great, than he.
He had a large interest for many years in one of our most noted
mercantile houses, in company with his brothers; he was an extensive
operator in banking and real estate; he was a heavy contractor in the
building of railroads; and, in short, there was scarcely any great
enterprise, or any important institution that tended towards the
development of our resources and the promotion of our best interests
as a city and State, that did not feel the impress of his powerful
hand.
He was always identified with the Episcopal church as one of its most
benevolent and active members. His benevolence, however, was not
restricted to his own church, but every religious, charitable or
educational institution, enlisted his sympathies and shared in his
liberal benefactions.
Judge Greene departed this life June 23, 1880, leaving behind him the
record of a busy and useful life, and a name that the people of Cedar
Rapids will always love to honor.
He was twice married, first to Miss Harriet Merritt, by whom four
children were born, only two of whom still survive, Edward M. and Mrs.
Susan H. Belt, (widow of the late A. Sidney Belt, attorney at law),
the former living in Chicago, and the latter residing in this place,
in the midst of a host of friends, many of whom have known and loved
her from the days of her childhood. Mrs. Greene died at Dubuque April
25, 1850.
In 1855 Judge Greene was married to Miss Frances R. Graves, of
Cooperstown, N.Y. Of the eight children born of this marriage, six
still survive, Calvin G., George, William J., Elizabeth, (Mrs.
McIvor), now in Japan, Frances and Woodward K.; the other two, Fannie
and Robert C., died some years ago.
Mr. Calvin G. Greene is a well-known and highly-honored business man
of our city, and the next younger brother was the popular
Adjutant-General during the two terms of Governor Boies'
administration.
Mrs. Greene is still a resident of our city, honored and loved by
hosts of friends who have been attracted to her by many womanly
virtues.
Henry Weare.
In 1844 Mr. Weare came to Cedar
Rapids with the intention of making it his home. He boarded with his
sister, Mrs. Shearer, while they were still living in the log house on
the bank of the river below Fourth avenue. He came here directly from
Allegan, Mich., although his native state was Vermont.
He was a man of medium height and of rather slender build. He
possessed a clear, keen intellect and was very fond of reading. He was
an easy and pleasant conversationalist, and could talk intelligently
on any subject, although he seemed especially at home in the realm of
politics. He was always gentlemanly in his manners and kindly disposed
towards those with whom he mingled. He was a man of good judgment, and
had a clear insight into business affairs, and had he lived, I have no
doubt, would have occupied a prominent place in the business circles
of our city.
He was a frequent visitor at our house and we were always glad to
welcome him to a seat around our ample fireside.
During the first year that he was here my father had a business
transaction with him which was to us of great importance, and which
left an impression on my mind that has never been effaced.
The land had recently come into market, but as yet we had been unable
to get money enough with which to pay for ours.
In the meantime our neighbor, Mr. John Stambaugh, who then owned the
Bever place, secretly entered that part of our claim on which the
house stood. It was a most villainous act and our neighbors were up in
arms about it, and they made it so uncomfortable for Mr. Stambaugh
that he was glad to give it up upon my father's paying the entrance
money, which was fifty dollars for the forty acres upon which our
improvements had been made. But the question was how could we raise
even that small amount of money? It was no easy matter in those days
to raise even one dollar, much less the amount necessary to pay for
forty acres of land.
We brought with us from Canada, a very valuable black mare which we
considered one of the finest in the territory. She seemed to be the
only available piece of property that we could spare at that time, and
so she was offered for sale, although it seemed almost like putting
upon the market a member of the family.
Mr. Weare decided to buy her, but as money was so scarce, and horses
so low in value, she brought only fifty dollars.
It was sufficient, however, to pay for the land, and so we readily
gave her up that we might relieve ourselves from the pressing
embarrassment that had been thrust upon us by a man who was devoid of
any sense of true manhood.
About a year later we sold to Mr. Weare the eighty acres lying on the
west part of our claim for seventy-five dollars in gold. The sale of a
yoke of steers which we had raised, for twenty-five dollars, made out
the one hundred dollars with which we paid for the eighty acres
adjoining the forty acres we had already purchased. The one hundred
and twenty acres of land, paid for in this way, were all that we were
able to secure out of the three hundred and twenty acres that composed
our original claim.
This detailed account of our business transactions, in those early
years, is here recorded in order to give the reader a little glimpse
of what the pioneers of this now rich commonwealth had to endure, in
laying the foundations for its future prosperity.
Mr. Weare died very suddenly at the house of Mr. Ramsey, near Polo, in
Illinois, June 2d, 1846, at the age of 29 years.
He was on a business trip when the fatal disease overtook him that
terminated his life. His death was so sudden that we were greatly
shocked by the sad news, and our house became one of true mourning for
one who had become to us more than a neighbor, or any ordinary friend.
John Weare, Jr.
It was in January, 1845, when Mr.
John Weare, Jr., came to Cedar Rapids seeking a new home. His brother
Henry had returned to Allegan, Michigan, in the fall of 1844, and at
the date above mentioned the two brothers came on to Cedar Rapids
together.
He was born in Stanstead, Lower Canada, Oct. 5, 1815. On coming to
this place he also boarded with his sister, Mrs. Shearer, until his
family came in the spring. We soon became acquainted with Mr. Weare,
and he often visited our home.
The family consisted, when all had arrived, of Mr. and Mrs. Weare,
Portus, Laura and Alexander, the last named being a baby of only a few
months old.
At one time the whole family boarded at our house for two or three
months together. At that time we had built on a little addition to our
house, otherwise we could hardly have taken in so large an accession
to our family.
From the very first Mr. Weare showed himself to be a man of unusual
pluck and energy, and he soon found ample scope for the exercise of
his large business capacity. At that time there were no very easy
places to step into, whereby a man could make money rapidly with but
little labor. The men who came in those days did not expect to find
easy and lucrative positions prepared to their hands, but they came to
make places for themselves and to open up lines of business that would
eventually afford them permanent employment and secure a comfortable
competency for their declining years.
Mr. Weare was a man of this kind. He could turn his hand to almost
anything that would afford employment and secure even a small return
for his labor. He could drive oxen, chop down trees, draw wood, run a
threshing machine, make long journeys with a team of horses to carry
away the products of the country, and bring back the necessary
supplies; in fact, he could do anything to keep business moving, and
to lay foundations for the future progress and a fuller development of
our country.
With such a spirit of industry and enterprise, Mr. Weare worked his
way onward and upward till almost before he was himself aware of it,
he stood in the front rank of the business men of the new State of his
adoption.
After opening his farm on the west side of the river, to which he had
only given a portion of his time, he finally established an office in
town, where, about the year 1851, he commenced operations in banking
and real estate. Continuing the business alone a few months, he
finally took in as his first partner Daniel O. Finch, Esq., a young
attorney, who had come to the place, and who published our first
newspaper, under the name of The Progressive Era.
Later Mr. Weare entered into partnership with George Greene and Thomas
H. Benton. They had branch houses in Des Moines, Fort Dodge and Omaha,
and they did a very extensive business.
When the First National Bank of Cedar Rapids was organized, Mr. Weare
held the position of cashier, Mr. W. W. Walker being president. Later,
and for many hears, Mr. Weare himself held the office if president of
that widely known institution.
He was possessed of broad views, and he took a great interest in
public affairs.
He felt proud of the State of his adoption and never tired of
expatiating upon its boundless resources, and more especially upon the
productiveness of its fertile soil.
He was deeply interested in all public improvements, and gave his aid
and influence in the building of railroads, the establishment of
factories, and whatever contributed to the growth and prosperity of
the city and the country at large.
His failing health compelled him in his later years to lay aside his
active business cares and to confine himself more closely to the rest
and quiet of his own comfortable home.
He had been accustomed for some time past, owing to the state of his
health, to spend his winters in a milder climate, and it was during
one of those temporary sojourns at Hot Springs, Arkansas, that the
stern messenger came that summoned him away from earth. He peacefully
passed away March 10, 1891.
His remains were brought home a day or two later, and the funeral
services were held in the First Presbyterian church, where he had been
in the habit of attending, and a large concourse of sorrowing friends
and neighbors followed him to his last resting place in Oak Hill
cemetery.
His first wife, Mrs. Martha (Parkhurst) Weare, was a woman of rare
excellence of character, and was highly respected by all who knew her.
Having lived so long in our family, we all learned to love her, and
the intimacy then begun continued to the end of her life.
She died August 11, 1858, sadly lamented by a large circle of friends
and neighbors, whose respect and love she had won during her stay with
us.
The children of this marriage now living are, Portus Baxter, Laura,
wife of the late lamented W. W. Walker; Ely E., Charles A., and
Martha, wife of Mr. Mark Morton, all of whom reside at present in
Chicago.
Mr. Weare was married a second time to Miss Martha Rogers, of Clinton,
in 1862. She still survives, and until recently, during the summer
months, has occupied her commodious residence, around whose
hearthstone gather so many pleasant memories of days gone by.
Mrs. Weare has two daughters, Mrs. William H. Hubbard, and Ms. Eli
Gage, of Chicago, who make frequent visits to the old homestead.
Mr. Ely E. Weare, her step-son, continued up to a few months ago to
make his home with his mother, his time being mainly occupied in
settling up his father's estate.
Mrs. Weare is a woman of marked intelligence and decision of
character, and she has always moved in the highest circles of society.
She is a member of the First Presbyterian church of this city.
The Weare home on the hill, has always been the scene of many pleasant
gatherings, an the centre from whence many streams of benevolence have
gone forth to bless the needy.
The Sons of Mr.
John Weare, Jr.
Pr. Portus B. Weare, the eldest son,
has for many years been a well known business man in Chicago. It may
be safely said, I think, that no man that has ever gone to Chicago
from this region has become more widely known in the commercial world,
nor made a more honorable record than he. Being a lose and accurate
judge of human nature, and possessing a breadth of intellect that
enables him to grapple with the great financial problems of the
country, his business career has been one of constant activity; and in
planning and carrying on of the great commercial enterprises to which
he has given his attention, the degree of success that has attended
him, notwithstanding the recent great financial reverses of the
country, has been truly remarkable.
Portus Baxter Weare was born in Otsego, Allegan county, Mich., January
1, 1842. He came to Cedar Rapids with his father in 1845, where he
grew up and received most of his education. He attended the common
schools of this place and Sioux City, and spent one year at Western
College, then located ten miles south of Cedar Rapids.
In 1858 he went to Sioux City and was employed in the bank of Weare &
Allison, where he remained for four years. During that time he made
frequent trips into what was then the Sioux country, on the upper
Missouri river, spending some time at Fort Rankin, the Yankton Agency,
and other points above Sioux City.
In 1862 he went to Chicago and engaged in the general produce and
commission business in connection with Henry W. Rogers, Jr. After
three years he severed his connection with this firm and commenced
business under the name of P. B. Weare & Co., at first doing a large
business in the way of exporting prairie chickens, mostly from Iowa
and Nebraska, to England, France and Germany, the shipments amounting
to ten thousand barrels per year. After the country became more
settled and this business was done away with, they engaged on a large
scale in the buffalo robe trade, handling yearly from twenty-five to
fifty thousand robes. This trade involved a great deal of travel in
the far west. But, before the advancing population in these new
regions, the buffalo also disappeared and put an end to this trade.
But another branch of business was soon commenced to take its place.
The Weare Land and Live Stock Company was formed, and at one time they
had as high as fifty thousand head of cattle.
These herds were located at different points in northern Wyoming,
eastern Montana, on the Belle Fourche, Powder, Tongue, and Big Horn
rivers.
I find in a recent number of the Chicago Evening Post, this brief but
significant statement concerning the present business operations of
Mr. P. B. Weare: "Mr. Weare's grain interests are extensive, the
company maintaining sixty-five stations in the states of Illinois,
Iowa and Nebraska. He owns a storage capacity of over 5,000,000
bushels along the Northwestern system, and is prepresented in
Minneapolis, Duluth and Omaha. The Chicago Railway Terminal Company,
of which he is manger, embraces eight of the largest local elevators,
having an aggregate storage room for over 10,000,000 bushels. He is
also director of the Globe Elevator Company at West Superior with
5,000,000 bushels capacity. He has been a member of the Chicago Board
of Trade since 1862."
In the Chicago Tribune of May 5, 1895, I find this record concerning
the sons of Mr. John Weare, which it seems to me not inappropriate to
transcribe to these pages. It has reference to their operations in
Alaska, in which Mr. P. B. Weare has been a prime mover.
"In 1891 P.B. Weare, E.E.Weare, and C.A. Weare, of the Weare
commission company, had their attention called to the Yukon country by
Capt. J. J. Healy, and old Montana miner, who had spent ten years in
Alaska, and knew its resources and needs. The Weares have had an
extensive traiding and mining experience in Montana, being traders at
old Fort Benton on the Missouri as early as 1859, and had long known
Capt. Healy.
Together with John Cudahy, the packer, and a number of other Chicago
capitalists, they formed the North American Trading and Transportation
Company, and in the summer of 1892 Mr. Weare took from Puget Sound the
timbers, materials and machinery for the five hundred tons burden
river steamer, P. B. Weare, to St. Michael's Island, at the mouth of
the Yukon. Here it was built and launched in time to take a cargo from
an ocean steamer and ascend the Yukon that fall. *** The company have
now invested three hundred thousand dollars in steamer, buildings and
merchandise, the demand for which is out-growing the supply. This made
more extensive prospecting possible.
The result of this enterprise is to open up to the world rich and
extensive gold placer mines, as well as quartz, to the citizens of the
United States, and making it possible for men to spend their summers
and winters prospecting and developing mines hitherto shut out by the
high cost of living and want of transportation to that far away Arctic
land.
Mr. Weare was married January 2, 1865, to Miss Susan Wheelock Risley,
daughter of Levi and Sophia Risley, of Shady Brook Farm, Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, the ceremony being performed in Grace church by the Rev. C. S.
Percival.
Two children were born of this union, William W. and Nellie Darling
Weare.
The latter died January 1, 1892. The former is now living in Chicago,
being president of the Humboldt Land and Cattle Company.
This will show what some of the pioneer children of Cedar Rapids are
doing at the present time.
Mr. Alexander L.
Ely.
The coming of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander
L. Ely, through the influence of Judge Greene, to our community in
1842, was an important event in our history.
Many long years have gone by since Mr. Ely passed from us, but I must
be permitted to lay one little wreath upon the green turf that has so
long covered his mortal remains. A kinder heart never beat in any
man's breast than in his. A more generous, purer or nobler spirit than
his never animated any man's body. He was always and everywhere the
polished, courtly, Christian gentleman, and yet so modest and so
gentle and kind in his bearing, that even the most timid child in his
rustic, pioneer garb, felt at ease in his presence, and proud at his
polite recognition.
From the time of his coming, a new moral and religious impetus was
given to the community, which has been felt from that day to this, and
which will continue to be felt, I doubt not, to the end of time.
Of his decided Christian character and his scrupulous regard for the
Sabbath, the late Rev. Glen Wood wrote some years ago:
"Brother A. L. Ely was a man of God, who did not leave his religion
behind him when he came west, but came forward a pioneer of the Hosts
of the Lord, to plant the standard of the cross, and take possession
of the land in the name of the Lord Jehovah. When he had built his
mill, which was a great event in those days, the tidings had spread
far and wide; and the farmers came rushing in with their grists. Many
of them thought to 'take time by the forelock,' and so made their
calculations to arrive Saturday night or Sunday morning, that they
might have their grinding done on the Lord's day.
"What was their surprise when their sleep was broken at midnight by
the ceasing of the music at the mill. Ah! There was a man of God
running that mill; and when the Sabbath day had come, all work must
cease there. No considerations could induce him to start up again
until the whole of that day had passed. Here is one of the secrets of
the success of Cedar Rapids."
Added to the social and moral influence which he exerted was the new
impetus which he gave to the business and commercial interest of the
place.
Mr. N. B. Brown had built the temporary dam across the river and had
erected a small saw-mill and grist-mill; but his means were at that
time quite limited, and his mills were inadequate to meet the growing
demands of the country.
The erection of a more permanent dam and of the larger, more
substantial and stately mills by Mr. Ely, with a capacity of the more
extensive manufacture of lumber and flour, and of a finer grade, gave
such an impulse to our business interests as we had not hitherto
enjoyed, and the influence of which has ever since been felt in a
marked degree. Mr. Ely's mill, when completed, was the largest and
best in the State.
If the erection of a common dwelling, such as the early pioneers
inhabited, was very difficult to accomplish, how much more so was the
erection of this splendid mill? True, they began to have saw-mills and
lumber at that time, but there were so many other disadvantages to
labor under in the erection of such a building, that it seemed, as it
truly was, a gigantic undertaking.
In the prosecution of this great enterprise, there were obstacles to
be encountered of such a magnitude as few at this day can have any
just conception. To meet and overcome them required courage and
determination such as few men possess. And yet Mr. Ely never faltered
in his course till the work was accomplished and the victory fairly
won.
There were times, not a few, during the four years in which this work
was going on, when the entire force of mechanics were disabled by
sickness and the work had to stop short. On account of this, months of
precious time were lost each year, causing great discouragement and
expense.
There was no railroad then nearer than Jackson the old capital of
Michigan, and all of the heavy machinery for the mill had to be
shipped from New York by water via New Orleans, and was landed at
Bloomington, now Muscatine, from whence it was transported over land
to this place.
Such were some of the hardships and sacrifices and heroic efforts that
it cost to lay the foundations of our present prosperous city and
community.
It was the saddest day that this community had ever experienced, when
this good man, this justly distinguished citizen, honored and loved by
all, on the ninth day of July 1848 passed away from us to his home in
a brighter and better world than this.
Hon. Isaac Cook.
The first lawyer to locate
permanently in this place was Mr. Isaac Cook. He was a native of
Chester Co., Pa. His first move to the West was to Palmyra, Mo., in
1844, where he completed his legal studies and was admitted to the
bar.
In 1846 he went to Dubuque, and from that place came to Cedar Rapids
in 1848.
His ability as a lawyer was of the first order, and in 1857 he wa
elected judge of the district court, over which he presided with
characteristic dignity and fidelity. Finding the salary inadequate and
caring but little for its honors he resigned after about one year's
service. He was remarkably modest and retiring in his disposition, and
he had no taste for the complications and conflicts into which his
profession naturally let him. He was a man of the purest motives and
the highest aspirations and conscientious and strictly honest in all
his business transactions. He could be trusted in any position and to
any extent without the slightest concern that he would in any way
betray the trust committed to his care.
In the singular integrity and unswerving uprightness of his character,
he had but few equals and no superiors.
He was a member and office bearer in the First Presbyterian church of
this place for some years, but subsequently removed his church
relationship to Marion, that being more convenient to his farm home,
where he spent the latter part of this life. His death occurred August
8, 1878.
In 1851 he was married to Miss Luceba Brooks, several children being
the issue of that union. Mrs. Cook who is a woman of most amiable
character still survives and resides with her children in Dakota.
The old homestead of Judge Cook is now owned by his brother, Mr.
William Cook, who came to the place in 1853, and who is one of our
best known and highly respected citizens of Linn County.
Col. I. M. Preston
One of the most distinguished members
of the Linn County Bar, Col. I. M. Preston. Coming to Linn County, and
locating in Marion in the fall of 1842, he spent most of his busy life
in that place. In December, 1878, however, he came to Cedar Rapids,
where he continued to reside up to the time of his death, which
occurred March 6, 1880. He was one of the most widely known and
successful lawyers that has ever lived within the limits of our
country. His popularity is shown in the various offices of trust which
he held at different periods of his life. He held the office, at one
time, of Judge of Probate for this county; he was also appointed
prosecuting attorney for the 18th Judicial district, comprising Linn,
Benton and Tama counties; he was commissioned Colonel of the Third
Regiment, Second Brigade, Second Division of the Militia of the
Territory of Iowa, was appointed United States District Attorney by
President Polk, and in 1848 was elected to the Iowa State Legislature,
and in 1850 was elected to the State Senate.
His estimable wife is a resident of our city; her elegant home being
situated on Second Avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets. The two
sons, Judge Joseph H. and Edmund C. are also residents of this place,
pursuing the same honorable profession as their father. |
