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         FRED COURTS, Jr., attorney-at-law, of Morning Sun, Iowa, was born in Des Moines County, Feb. 2, 1858, and is a son of Fred Courts, who was born in Prussia, Germany, May 24, 1827, and who there grew to manhood, but in 1848 crossed the Atlantic Ocean, and after landing in America went directly to Des Moines County, locating in Benton Township. In 1853 he was married to Mrs. Sarah Miller, a daughter of Joseph Mitchell, and a native of Indiana, born in 1826. She came to Des Moines County, Iowa, in an early day, and three children blessed this union: Minnie, wife of M. C. Van Hall, now a resident of Quincy, Ill.; Fred, our subject; and Sarah, who wedded William J. Cox, of Northfield, Iowa.

Mr. Courts, Sr., had received a liberal education . . .

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. . . in his native country, and was a man of more than ordinary ability. Politically, he was first a Democrat, but soon joined the Republican party, and ever since has affiliated with that organization. Mrs. Courts was called to her final home in 1872; she and her husband were both members of the Methodist Church, and lived consistent Christian lives.

Our subject received no advantages for acquiring an education, except such as were afforded by the public schools of our day, but is an entirely self-educated man. While working on his father’s farm, after the day’s labor was finished, he would get books and study at night, and having a retentive memory, soon mastered Blackstone. In 1876 and 1877 he attended Bryant & Stratton’s Business College, of Burlington, Iowa, where his parents had previously removed in 1870, and from that institution he was graduated. On the 30th of January, 1883, he was admitted to the bar at Wapello, since which time he has been in active practice. He located in Morning Sun in January, 1882.

Mr. Courts was joined in wedlock, Nov. 16, 1878, with Miss Salinda Stewart, a daughter of William Stewart, of Des Moines County, where she was born Oct. 29, 1855. One child graces this union—Norma. Mr. Courts is one of the ardent supporters of the Republican party. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of Louisa County’s best citizens, and is fast gaining a reputation at the bar which many an older lawyer might well envy.