For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 554
ROBERT S. McNUTT, D. D. S. As the population and wealth of Muscatine have increased the political and professional interests of the city have been rapidly growing in importance and the men at the helm are those of tried and true ability. Among this class is Dr. Robert S. McNutt, a leading dentist and also postmaster of Muscatine. He was born in Lake township, Muscatine county, February 24, 1864, and is a son of Samuel and Anna E. (Lucas) McNutt, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter in Ohio. Samuel McNutt came to America with his mother at nine years of age and was reared in the state of Delaware. He was educated in the common schools and became a teacher, later studying law and engaging in practice. However, he found that profession not to his taste and became an editor, publishing a newspaper in Muscatine and afterward in Dubuque. About twenty years ago he located permanently at Muscatine and became identified with farming interests. He has been quite prominent in political circles and served for six years in the Iowa house of representatives and for four years in the state senate, evincing an ability which met the hearty approval of his consituents. His wife departed this life at the age of fifty-six years, in 1889. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, as is Mr. McNutt. Of the children born to them three grew to maturity: William L., a resident of Ord, Nebraska; Robert S., of this review; and Samuel B., a dentist of East Des Moines, Iowa.Robert S. McNutt was reared on his father's farm and received his preliminary education in the district schools. He later attended the high school at Des Moines and on February 28, 1878, graduated from the dental department of the State University of Iowa with the tile of D. D. S. After leaving the university he was associated for one year with Dr. Sterneman, of Muscatine, and then opened an office of his own, which he has since conducted with marked success, building up a large business among the best class of patrons in this region.
Politically Dr. McNutt is an ardent adherent of the republican party and is a prominent advisor in its councils. In 1902 he was elected mayor of the city and on the expiration of his term was reelected, serving for four years and securing the passage in the city council of a number of ordinances that have proven of great benefit to the people. In 1907 he was appointed postmaster of Muscatine and has since filled that office with a fidelity that has met the indorsement not only of the people of the city but of the officials at Washington, being reappointed January 21, 1911.
On the 8th of November, 1892, Dr. McNutt was united in marriage to Miss Mary Adel Richards, of Muscatine, a daughter of William C. and Mary (Becke) Richards, the former of whom is a native of Germany and the latter of this city. Mr. Richards was a soldier in the Civil war and served four years, participating with Sherman in his march to the sea and afterward in the grand review at Washington, D. C. He and his wife are now living in Muscatine and are the parents of six children: Minnie, Mary Adel, Lee, Nellie, Ida and Clarence. One daughter, Gertrude, has come to brighten the home of Dr. and Mrs. McNutt.
Dr. McNutt is not a member of any religious denomination but his wife is an adherent of the Catholic church. He is connected with a number of fraternal orders, among which are Iowa Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M.; Wyoming Lodge, No. 76, K. P.; Muscatine Lodge, No. 304, B. P. O. E.; Eagle Lodge, No. 10, A. O. U. W.; the Improved Order of Red Men; and the Modern Woodmen of America. Being a man of attractive social talents, his circle of friends and acquaintances includes a host of the best people in the city and county, who greatly admire him for his worthy qualities. He has been found thoroughly competent and efficient in all he has undertaken and thus deserves the esteem in which he is held by his fellowmen.
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