MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS BOOK ONE

Source: REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS , BOOK One, page 226 & 229
submitted by Jo Ann Carlson, Sept. 8, 2007

The Old Settlers.
Memorial Proceedings on the Deaths of G.W. Corriell and Dr. Robertson.

The Old Settlers met at the City Hall Jan. 21, 1887, on occasion of the deaths of Dr. William S. Robertson and George W. Corriell.

The president of the society presented a memorial on George W. Corriell, who died Jan. 13, 1887, aged 57 years, as follows:

Believing it to be the desire of every Old Settler that the death of one who has resided in our city thirty-seven years should be noticed. In the summer of 1850 Mr. Corriell and myself worked on the store building of Gen. J.G. Gordon. We were beginners in learning our trade. It was Mr. Corriell’s first brick work in the State. Since then he has had charge of the brick-work of more buildings than any other man in our city. Commencing, as he did, at the brick age of our town and following his trade with untiring energy until the time of his death, it can well be said that he has done his share of building our now substantial city. Mr. Corriell would be called one of our useful men-a practical, hard-working man-who gave employment to a large number of others, and who was always respected and esteemed. In his religious and social standing there were few, if any, held a more prominent place; on moral and educational questions he could be found on the side calculated to better the condition of his fellow man. In his death his family, the city and the Old Settlers have sustained a loss that cannot easily be replaced; therefore be it


Resolved, That we tender our sympathy and condolence to his family and relatives.

Mr. Walton also presented the following historical statement in reference to Dr. Robertson, to go upon the records:

In June, 1838, the steamboat Brazil brought to this territory, now the State of Iowa, eight person, who settled in this county as follows: Alonzo Brockway, James Brockway, Asa Walton, Mrs. Amos Walton and her two sons, Josiah P. Walton and John W. Walton, Mrs. James Robertson, her son, the late Dr. William S. Robertson, on whose death we have met here to take action (his father, Dr. James Robertson, having preceded them). Of these eight person there are but survivors: Alonzo Brockway and myself.

*** continued on page 229 ***

The late Dr. William S. Robertson and his mother landed at Burlington, on the night of June 10, 1833. He spent his boyhood days there until 1844, when the Robertson family moved to Columbus City. Here he commenced the practice of medicine with his father. During the following fifteen years, there were few houses in the southwestern portion of the county, that is to say west of Cedar river and south of Nichols, that had not been physicians had a better or more honorable name, or were better respected.

Mr. Bridgman remarked that it was his privilege to know Dr. Robertson since he was a little boy in Burlington, playing in front of his father’s drugstore, and paid a very high tribute to his qualities as a physician, citizen and Christian-a most prominent and useful citizen in all the walks of life.

A. Jackson bore testimony to the very able abilities of both Mr. Corriell and Dr. Robertson; both in their line excelled, and leaving lasting evidences of their usefulness among us.

John Mahin, mentioning instances of Dr. Robertson’s ability and kindness of heart, bore testimony to his superior abilities in his profession.

R.B. Huff said he had known Dr. Robertson all his life and said he was boy and man, the freest from anything wrong as any man he ever knew. He was eminent in his profession and sought after for his abilities as a physician and friend, and had a State reputation as an able physician and loyal to all that is best in human nature.

A committee having been appointed or resolutions, the following, introduced by Mr. Mahin, were adopted:

On the Death of Dr. Robertson.


Dr. Wm. S. Robertson died, at his home, in this city, Jan. 20th, 1887. The Old Settlers of Muscatine are profoundly sensible of the calamity which has bereft their city of one of the first, if not the foremost, of its citizens. In some important respects Dr. Robertson had not a peer among us. In the breadth and advancement of his professional education; his long-continued and masterful contributions to medical science, as one of its most honored professors at the State University; his benevolent activity in the same cause, as projector of the institution at Glenwood for feeble-minded children and presidency of its board of trustees; his intelligent and zealous presidency of the State Board of Health and labors in securing the best sanitary conditions for society and the State, and in his earnest and efficient service for promoting the worth and dignity of his profession, he had few peers in Iowa. In other fields of usefulness he has shown an equal nobility of character. Though wedded by long study and successful practice to his calling, on the first appeal of an imperiled Union, he abandoned the lancet for the sword, and gave proof, in every emergency of camp and field, of possessing the fortitude, the bravery and self-sacrifice which distinguish the true hero and patriot. His active and liberal church membership witnessed to his being a devout and generous believer in the grand things which make for peace and good will to men. He bore the same lofty standard of chivalry and brotherly sentiment in Masonic circles and his successive and unbroken election as Grand Commander of DeMolay Commandery No. 1 attest the noble esteem felt for him in this ancient and honorable Order. In civic life he was the generous, public-spirited citizen; in the home and private circle, the loving and faithful husband, the devoted father, and the noble friend. The death of such a man is an irremediable loss, which cannot be measured or expressed; it can only be mourned.


But what shall we say to the sorely afflicted family, widowed and orphaned, deprived of the protecting care and council of husband and father? We can only leave them to that Higher Power and ask for them His tender care.


“And when on bended knee, with willing lips they kiss the chastening rod, and thus learn the way through the golden gate to the great white throne of God.”


To the widow and children whose home and life have been desolated by this providence, the Old Settlers of Muscatine respectfully tender the fellowship of their sorrow and sympathy, and the Secretary of this society is instructed to enter this memorial upon the records of the society.

A reunion meeting of the Old Settlers was thought desirable and time and place left to the discretion of President Walton.

On motion adjourned.

J.P. Walton, Pres.

P.Jackson, Sec.

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