O. I. JAMISON.

Pg 371

         O. I. Jamison, for many years editor and proprietor of the Columbus Gazette, was one of the most prominent and dearly loved men of Louisa county. He died April 18, 1908, at the age of sixty-three years, three months and six days, and it may truly be said that few citizens of Iowa have attempted more sincerely to perform their duty to their fellowmen and few have been more profoundly respected. As an educator, before assuming the responsibility of editorship, he gave evidence of rare talents, and in all the relations of life he was controlled by the highest sense of personal responsibility and an unselfish desire to promote the general welfare. For more than fifty years he was a resident of Louisa county, and during a large part of that time he was prominently before the public, his principal work being as editor.

         Born in Pickaway county, Ohio, January 12, 1845, Mr. Jamison was the son of William D. and Isabella (Seeds) Jamison. He came with his parents to Wapello township, Louisa county, Iowa, when he was nine years of age, the family locating on a farm, where his youth was passed. He attended the district schools and later pursued a course in the Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, displaying an ability as a student that gave bright promise as to his future.

         In 1868 he secured a position as teacher in the schools of Wapello, where he continued for two years. He afterwards spent two years in the live stock business in Texas. In 1878 he again became principal of the Wapello public schools and served in that capacity for five years. However, he was attracted to the newspaper business, and in 1883 he purchased the Wapello Times, a weekly . . .

Pg 372

. . . democratic paper, which he conducted at Wapello until 1884, when he moved the office to Columbus Junction and changed the name of the paper to the Louisa County Times. In January, 1886, he sold the paper to George P. Neal, who changed the name to the Columbus Gazette. In September, 1887, however, Mr. Jamison again bought the paper, which he edited up to the time of his death, with the exception of several years prior to 1901 which he spent in Arkansas in search of health.

         In spite of every effort and the advice of the best physicians his health showed evidences of a steady decline and for about three months before his demise he was confined to his room. He made a trip to the tuberculosis sanatorium at Iowa City, but received no encouragement and returned home bravely to face the inevitable. Patient and resigned he bore his burden of pain, gratefully receiving the kindly ministrations of loving friends. He had not long to wait, for soon the angle of death kissed down his weary eyelids and he found rest. For more than a year prior to his death Mr. Jamison had been engaged in writing a history of Louisa county and it was one of the regrets of his last days that he could not complete this work. He was not identified with any religious organization but was warmly inclined toward the Methodist church.

         In politics he was intensely democratic. He was a fluent and pleasant writer and in the conduct of his paper was loath to admit even as news any item calculated to breed scandal or that dealt in unpleasant details. Toward his employes and those connected with him as correspondents he was cordial always and between them there existed a bond of mutual love and esteem. Taken all in all his place will be hard to fill in the community with which he was connected so long and so intimately. One who knew him well said:

          “He was a kindly, genial man, quiet of speech, soft of voice, considerate of manner; yet he could be caustic with his pen and was free in his expression of opinion regarding persons and policies, political and otherwise. He was an independent thinker and writer, in politics as in the consideration of other problems of life. And all in all, he was a fair-minded and frank-spoken man, a friend of the people and an advocate of the principles that seemed to him to conserve their rights and privileges and their prosperity. For a man who was given to speaking his own mind openly and frankly he was remarkably free from malice and cherished no bitterness. He was sweetened in spirit and softened in manner with the slow, yet certain approach of the silent messenger. Though not professedly religious there was something in his manner, in his tenderness and trustfulness and gentleness and patience during his lingering sickness that was very beautiful. His passing brings a pang of pain, yet leaves a tender memory of a gentle, a generous, a gracious, and as we believe a good man. It is in my heart to say that he ripened for heaven rapidly the last months of his earthly stay. And that he died bravely with his face to the future, fair with promise and holy with hope, with his heart open unto God, fearless and unafraid, which marks the fitting end of a busy career.”

         Another who was well acquainted with Mr. Jamison has written: “He was possessed of a keen intelligence and a broad knowledge of human . . .

Pg 373

. . . nature. Strong in his political and moral convictions, yet fair in spirit, normal in thought and action, he was tolerant of the opinion as well as the weakness or frailty of others. His charity was deep and broad; he chided the erring gently. No calumny or slander of friend or stranger ever escaped his lips or pen. His domestic life was serene and ideal and his relations to the public candid, sincere and well balanced. True to his friends, steadfast and constant in his principles, he asked no more than to be one of and to live with and for his people. No one had ever need to ask how O. I. Jamison stood nor what side his paper would take on public or moral questions. He was always on the right side. It can be said of him, He did his duty by his community in fullest measure. He loved them all and they loved him, and if the people of his county that he served so efficiently and faithfully could speak in unison at his bier they would say: ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’”

         On the 12th of January, 1872, Mr. Jamison was married to Miss Mary J. Gillis and they became the parents of one child, William D., who was born November 9, 1873. He was educated in the common schools and the State University at Iowa City, and became editor and proprietor of the Shenandoah World. In 1906 he was elected state senator from the seventh senatorial district and served one term in congress from the eighth Iowa district, succeeding Colonel Hepburn. Politically he gives his support to the democratic party but recently retired from political life on account of ill health. He has served as president of the Commercial Club of Shenandoah and is prominent in educational interests.

         Mrs. Mary J. Jamison was born in Pennsylvania, October 25, 1844, a daughter of Ridgway and Margaret (McBain) Gillis. Her father was a native of New York state and was born February 15, 1818. The paternal grandfather, James L. Gillis, was a soldier in the war of 1812, taking part in the battle of Lundy’s Lane, where he was wounded and carried a bullet in his leg for a number of years. He was a judge and a member of congress from the twenty-fourth district of Pennsylvania during Buchanan’s administration. At the time of the agitation about the disappearance of Morgan, Judge Gillis was living in western New York and was charged with being one of the men who had taken the life of Morgan for revealing the secrets of Masonry. He was arrested and brought to New York for trial, but the case fell through, as no evidence of any kind could be found against him. He came to Iowa in 1862 and spent the remainder of his life at Mount Pleasant. He was born in 1792 and died in 1880.

         Mrs. Jamison’s father, Ridgway Gillis, came to Iowa in 1847 and settled in Henry county where he engaged as a farmer and merchant. At the time of the California gold excitement he went to the Pacific coast but soon returned to his home in Iowa. The mother of Mrs. Jamison, Margaret (McBain) Gillis, was born in Peebles, Scotland, June 4, 1820, the daughter of an officer in the British army. She accompanied her father and mother to India when she was a small child and passed a number of years in that country. Her father fought at the battle of Waterloo under Wellington. She came to America to become educated and attended school in Pennsylvania, being married to Ridgway Gillis, . . .

Pg 374

. . . April 14, 1840. Eight children were born to this union, four of whom are now living.

         Mrs. Jamison taught school previous to her marriage. She was her husband’s counselor, assistant and companion in all his undertakings, keeping even pace with him in the progress of his work, yet ever remaining an unobtrusive, silent force in his accomplishments. After his death she turned to face the battle of life alone, broken in spirit, sorely wounded in heart, yet with a courage undaunted. She assumed the management of the paper which she conducted for one year, at the expiration of which time she sold the plant to B. H. Shearer. The loss of her husband deranged the established system of her life and she has as yet been unable to settle in any vocation which she may truly regard as her own. As she is of a vigorous and active mind and remarkably energetic, it is scarcely probable that she will content herself by continuing long in idleness or lack of purpose.