the 26th of November, 1896. His widow still survives and is now a resident of Ames. They were the parents of seven sons and four daughters. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ruth have been born two sons: Chelsea I., who manages the farm; and Clifton L., at home. The elder son is married and has one child, Constance Alene, who was born March 7, 1910.
Mr. Ruth is entitled to membership with the Sons of the American Revolution, for one of his great-grandfathers in the maternal line was John Clontz, a native of Germany, who was with Washington's army at Valley Forge. In his political views Mr. Ruth was formerly a republican but in later years has supported the prohibition party. He has served as township clerk and for sixteen years has been secretary of the school board of Franklin township. He holds membership in the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Gilbert and also belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge there. In these associations are found the principles and rules which govern his conduct and which have made him an upright, honorable man, respected by all who know him. In business, too, he has displayed such sterling qualities as have gained for him warm regard and the confidence of all with whom he has had dealings.
EDWARD M. McCALL.
With the exception of six years spent away at school, Edward M. McCall has resided continuously in Story county from the time of his birth, which occurred in Nevada, on the 30th of August, 1873, and in a profession where advancement depends entirely upon broad learning and merit he has worked his way steadily upward, being recognized as one of the strong members of the Story county bar. His parents were the Hon. T. C. and Mary A. (Boynton) McCall, who to prepare their son for the practical and responsible duties of life gave him excellent educational advantages.
He pursued his studies through consecutive grades in the public schools of Nevada but left the high school before his graduation and went to Cornell College at Mount Vernon, where he spent a year in special work in the preparatory department. He afterward entered the Ames Agricultural College in the fall of 1891 and for three years was a student there, completing one-half of the work of the junior year. He next took up the study of law, entering the law school at Iowa City, from which he was graduated in 1896. He at once located for practice in Nevada, where he has since followed his profession, and in 1900 he formed a partnership with J. A. Fitchpatrick under the firm style of Fitchpatrick & McCall. He has never specialized in any particular branch of the profession but has continued in the general practice of law and a large and distinctively representative clientage has been accorded him. For two years, from 1900 until 1902, he was city attorney and for four years, from 1905 until 1909, he was county attorney. His ability is manifest in his strong and logical argu-