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County's Outstanding Landmark
Perhaps the
most outstanding landmark in the county today is our
county court house. The corner stone of this
building was laid July 4, 1890. This being such an
important event in , it drew people
from all directions, making a crowd of over 10,000. This
is a commodious building which is fireproof, thus making
a safe and permanent depository for county property and
records. It was built of Missouri limestone, red pressed
brick and terra cotta, with a slate roof. All frame work
and supporting beams are made of steel.
The original
contract was for $69,000.00 which was less money by far
than the actual cost of the work.
Of particular
interest is the red stone tower with four clocks looking
down on Red Oak while everyone looks up at them. The
principal on which they run is the same as a grandfather
clock.
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Supreme Court
Two lawyers have been extended the
high honor of serving on the Supreme Court of Iowa.
Horace
Deemer was elected as a District Judge in 1886 and 1890.
In 1894 Governor Jackson appointed him as a judge of the
Supreme Court where he served for 28 years. As a
citizen, the Judge always took a deep interest in things
that pertain to the well being of the community, whether
of a business, social or educational nature. He was
anxious that school children remember the history of our
county so he, himself, for the first three years did the
research, wrote the script, directed and narrated the
pageant which was produced during the Monte-Festo. He
may also be credited
with writing Mr. Carnegie
and interesting him in supplying the money to start the
Red Oak Public Library.
Paul
Richards, a native of Red Oak, was admitted to the Iowa
bar in 1896. He was appointed county attorney in
1919. By 1923 his reputation for fairness had
become known throughout the state and he was appointed
Referee in Bankruptcy of the Western Division of
southern district of Iowa. In 1935, he became a Justice
of the Supreme Court of Iowa where he served for six
years. In 1937 the law school at Iowa City honored his
ability by making him an Honorary Sergeant of Coil. The
Richards law office begun by his father in 1867 has
served the county for 86 years continuously and is one
of the oldest in the area.
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County Officials 1926 |
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Front row: S.
Rea, janitor; F. Y. Barnes, clerk; J. A. Baker,
sheriff; Carl Nimrod, auditor; Philip Ostrom,
deputy auditor; H. P. Mayhew, treasure.
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Second row:
F. E. Billings, attorney; Luella Swiger Mains,
deputy clerk; Edna Rea, deputy superintendent;
Ethel Swiger Richards, deputy recorder; Guy Hobbs,
deputy sheriff. |
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Back row:
Hazel Langston, engineer's office; Margaret
Devine, deputy treasure; Alice Denten, overseer of
the peer; Hattie Hough, superintendent of schools;
Eva Tyler, recorder. |
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County
Officers of 1937-38 |
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Front row:
C. E. Longstreet, clerk of district court;
John Conkel, sheriff; Evan J. Evans, George
Stinemates and David Morgan, board of
supervisors; W. S. Reiley, coroner; F. Y.
Barnes, justice of the peace.
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Back row:
Ruth Peterson, overseer of the poor; P. L.
Hayslett, justice of peace; Floyd M. Pratt,
treasurer; Harold Bickford, attorney; A. G.
Illingworth, recorder; Grant Falk, auditor;
P. A. Michael, engineer; Lula B. Reed, sup't
of schools. |
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