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         ERASMUS W. TATLOCK, a prominent attorney-at-law of Wapello, was born in the town of Troy, Davis Co., Iowa, March 25, 1843, and is a son of Miles and Margaret C. (Cameron) Tatlock. His father was born in North Carolina in 1806, and was an early settler of Davis County, Iowa. He was a man of superior intellectual force, and was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. During the latter years of his life he was chosen Judge of the Probate court of Davis County, and served in that capacity several years. His death occurred in the year 1855. The mother of our subject was born in Washington County, Ind., in 1820, and was of Scotch parentage.

Erasmus W. Tatlock was a student of Troy Academy, where he was fitting himself for college when the breaking out of the late war interrupted his plans. He quitted the schoolroom for the saddle, and enlisted July 31, 1861, being assigned to Company A, 3d Iowa Cavalry. His regiment was assigned to the Western Army, serving in the 15th . . .

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. . . and 16th Army Corps, and Mr. Tatlock was with it through the battle of Pea Ridge, and all its active service, including the last battle of the war, which they fought at Columbus, Ga., April 16, 1865, after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in December, 1864, which rank he held when mustered out, Aug. 9, 1865. During his four-years service Lieut. Tatlock never once failed to report ready for duty, except about three weeks.

On his return from the war our subject began the study of law at Bloomfield under Gen. J. B. Weaver, a prominent jurist of Iowa, now a Member of Congress from this State. In 1866 he was elected Clerk of the District Court of Davis County, and served two years in that capacity, and in 1869 was admitted to the bar. He came to Wapello in 1870, and engaged in the practice of his profession. On the 6th of October of that year Mr. Tatlock was united in marriage with Miss Alzina Kremer, daughter of Ziba Kremer, a prominent citizen of Louisa County, now residing near Columbus City. Mrs. Tatlock was born in Luzerne County, Pa., and was reared and educated there. Her religious instruction was received through the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which denomination she is a consistent member. Mr. and Mrs. Tatlock are the parents of five children, only two of whom are now living: a daughter, Ruth, is the eldest; Elmer and Elsie, twins, died in infancy; Prudie died at the age of five years; Susie is the youngest of the family.

Soon after coming to Wapello Mr. Tatlock became associated with Col. John Bird in a law partnership, under the firm name of Bird & Tatlock. They built up an extensive practice, and became one of the leading law firms of Louisa County. That connection continued several years, when it was dissolved, and a similar partnership was formed with J. B. Wilson, and continued until 1881, since which time Mr. Tatlock has been alone in practice. His business extends to the higher courts of the country, and his reputation as a lawyer is second to none in the county. In March, 1887, Mr. Tatlock purchased the Record, of Wapello, with the intention of making that journal a reliable Republican paper. In August of the same year he sold a half-interest in it, and in January, 1888, closed out the business to the present proprietor, George E. E. Townsend. In August, 1887, he purchased the old brick school-house near the southwest corner of Main and Van Buren streets, and the half block of land on which it stands. He has refitted the building for business purposes, leasing the lower floor to Mr. Townsend. He occupies the entire upper floor for office purposes, and now has the largest and best appointed law office in the county, together with the most extensive and complete library in Eastern Iowa.

Politically, Mr. Tatlock is an earnest Republican, and while not an aspirant for the honors of office, takes a warm interest in political campaigns and the success of his party. He has now been in practice at Wapello for eighteen years, during which time he has secured a fair share of the legal business of the county, and is highly esteemed by all with whom he has had business or social relations. He has taken an active interest in rifle practice, and is President of the Western Rifle Association, an organization that embraces clubs from Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Kansas. See sketch of the same elsewhere in this work.