USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 42
USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 42
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697
PROFESSION.IL.
PROFESSIONAL.
THE LEGAL PROFESSION
SIIE bar of Uniou County includes a number of men of marked ability and integrity, and they are justly looked upon as leaders in the busi- ness and social world. Most of them are given biog- raphies in the preceding de- partment of this volume. In this place it is bnt just to make some mention of differ- ent members of the legal pro- fession who have belonged to Union County, and particu- larly of those who have either removed to other localities or closed their earthly accounts.
AFTON ATTORNEYS.
James A. Forgey was the first resident attorney of Union County. Ho located first. in 1854 at West. Union (a village, now non- existent, in Jones Township), and later at Petersville, where he lived until 1876. He then removed with his family to Jewell County, Kansas, where he died, in 18-3. Ile practiced law more or less up to the time of his removal, and, earlier in life, was to some extent a farmer. He was originally from Indiana, and was in politics a Democrat. His large family all reside in Kansas except a daughter. who is Mrs. Allison, of Afton.
Reuben Riggs, a Kentuckian by birth, set- tled first in Davis County, Iowa, and in 1855, came to Afton. flere he was a part of the time in partnership with James W. MeDill, under the firm name of Riggs & MeDill, in the practice of law. He was the last school- fund commissioner of Union County, holding the office during the year 1857. IIe was called " Judge " Riggs, but it is not remem- bered whether he held any judicial position before he came to this place, or whether the . title was one merely of courtesy. Politically he was a Democrat. Ile was generous and open-handed, consequently poor; and stood very high in the estimation of the commun- ity. Hle removed with his family to Kansas, in 1861, and afterward, about 1869 or '70, while on an exploring expedition in what is now Barber County, Kansas, a northern bliz- zard came on suddenly, and Reuben Riggs was frozen to death.
James G. Day's early life was passed in Steubenville, Ohio. Ile studied law at Cin- cinnati and there received a certificate on which he was admitted to the bar in Jowa in 1857. He located at Afton and practiced law with N. W. Rowell, under the name of Day & Rowell, until 1860, when he removed to Sidney, Fremont County. Ile practiced law there one year, entered the army, was wounded at Shiloh and discharged in consequence thereof. He returned to Fremont County, and the same antmun was chosen judge of a district em-
60S
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
bracing nine counties. Union was at the eastern end of his district. Soon after the expiration of his term as district judge he was appointed a supreme judge of Iowa. lle was on the Supreme Bench until 1883, since when he has been a member of the law firm of Phillips & Day, at Des Moines. While at Afton he was a young man, but was even then recognized as of superior ability.
James W. MeDill canie to Afton in the spring of 1857, and has practiced law in Un- ion County when not holding some office of trust, which, indeed, has been most of the time. He is the most conspicuous citizen of Union County, past or present, having been & member of the United States Senate. His sketch appears elsewhere in this work.
N. W. Rowell came to Afton in July, 1858, and has practiced law continuonsly for twenty- eight years.
E. F .. Sullivan came but a year or two iater, and has been in continnous practice since.
George S. Smith came here in 1866 and re- mained two years, then removing to Platts- month, Nebraska. He remained there till 1884, and since that date has resided and practiced at Omaha.
M. S. Robinson came from Illinois to this place in 1869, and two years later fixed his residence in Chicago, where he is now in practice.
W. S. Strawn passed his boyhood at Mit. Pleasant, was admitted to the bar there, came to Afton in 1869, and two years later removed to Red Oak, where he is row in the regular practice.
F. J. Nye came here in 1872, and one year later removed to Ackley, Iowa.
N. R. Cook came here in 1871, taught school most of the time, but occasionally had a case in court, nntil 1853, when he removed to Atchison, Kansas.
Others have been here a short time and re- moved without contributing much to the his- tory of Union County.
Besides those of the above who are yet in practice, the following reside at Afton: J. M. Milligan, A. W. Enoch, D. Davenport, S. W. MeElderry and P. C. Winters.
CRESTON ATTORNEYS.
The first attorney to locate at Creston was A. H. Sluss, who came in 1869, and remained till 1875, the last year of the time as editor of the Union County Independent. He died in the latter year mentioned.
A. L. Gutheridge came in 1871, practiced four or five years, and is now farming.
J. F. McCormick came in 1871, and has been in practice ever since.
J. C. Naylor came here from Adair County, remained a short time, and then removed to the northern part of the State.
George P. Wilson came here from Afton, and is the oldest attorney in continuous prac- tice at Creston. He is now judge of Superior Court.
D. H. Ettien was in practice from 1872 to 1884, a portion of the time as a partner of George P. Wilson. He is now connected with the Lombard Investment Company, and still belongs to the Union County Bar.
L. Dyo Chambers was here for some time, and acquired the reputation of being an ex- cellent pleader. He is now connected with a Baptist publishing house.
C. D. H. Parker died here after about a year's residence.
W. E. Wilkinson was in partnership with the two preceding, under the firm name of Chambers, Parker & Wilkinson, and is now editor of the Grond Army Advocate, published at Des Moines.
J. B. Harsh was admitted to the bar soon after coming to Creston, in which place he located with an intention to devote himself to the law, but he has been chiefly interested in real estate, banking and journalism.
T. J. Stafford resided and practiced here from 1875 to 1885.
693
PROFESSIONAL.
A. M. Childs practiced here about the same period, and is now at Des Moines.
John A. Patterson came here from Mon- mouth, Illinois, and has found it a good place to stay.
John Gibson practiced two or three years, and then retired from the law. IJe is still a resident of Creston.
John W. Gish practiced a short time, and and is now in the employ of the Lombard In- vestment Company. The three just named were in partnership under the firm name of Patterson, Gibson & Gish.
A. D. McCandless was here from 1874 to 1880, holding the office of justice of the peace a portion of the time. He is now at Beatrice, Nebraska.
D. W. Higbee has been a resident for some ten years, and has practiced since 1878.
J. M. Locke was admitted in 1877, and has been in practice ever since. Has lived in the connty "always." being one of the first white children born in Union County.
The firm of MeDill & Sullivans, of Afton, have had an office at Creston since 1884.
R. H. Hanna, of Columbus Junction, Iowa, has been here three years.
John M. Hays has been here an equal pe- riod of time, and has an excellent practice.
James G. Bull, from Columbus, Ohio, has been a resident some four years.
M. B. Bailey, a partner of George P. Wilson from 1877 to ISSO, is now in the northern part of this State.
T. S. Maxwell came here from Adams County in ISS4.
W. A. Spurrier, formerly partner of T. S. Maxwell, came at the same time, from the same locality.
C. J. Laybourne came in 1882, held the office of justice of the peace, and removed to Minneapolis in 1884.
L. J. Goodwin came at the same time with Mr. Laybourne, was his partner for a time, and is now traveling for a Chicago cigar fac- tory.
S. S. Denning eame in 1877, and when he left, in 1Ss3, he was ahead of his clients to the amount of $850.
Judson L. Wieks came here from Iowa City in 1853.
C. R. Leonard came at the same time, from the same place, and was for a time a partner of Wicks. He is now with T. S. Maxwell.
W. J. Locke was admitted in 1883.
J. II. Copenhuffer came in 1876, and is yet here.
N. B. Robertson has been admitted to the har this current year-1885.
PRESENT BAR.
The roll of present practitioners belonging to the Union County bar includes J. P. Flick, McDill & Sullivan, James G. Bull, J. A. Patterson, D. A. Porter, D. D. Gregory, F. A. Shute, J. F. MeCormick, J. M. Hays, J. MI. MINiga, Stuart Bios., D. Davenport, Higbee & Hanna, A. W. Enoch, J. B. Harsh, D. II. Ettien, J. II. Copenhuffer, W. A. Spurrier, N. W. Rowell, Wickham & Wick- ham, Maxwell & Leonard, J. L. Wicks, J. M. Locke, W. J. Loeke, P. C. Winters and B. N. Robertson.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
The life of a medical practitioner in a newly- settled country is generally one of toil and hardship. Compensation is usually meager, and however extensive may be the physician's practiec, much of it imust be rendered gratni- tously on account of the poverty of his patients. A strong constitution and abundant patience are requisite to success, and success frequently means on the part of the physician merely the consciousness that he has performed his duty well. Many of those who first minis- tered to the sick in Union County were not grad- mates of any medieal institution, and wonkl not to-day be recognized as competent phy- sieians; but they exercised what knowledge they had in the interests of suffering hu- manity, and deserve credit for what they did.
700
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
As the county grew in population, the num. ber of physiciis increased, and in a few years all the settlers had reliable medieal ad- visers within a short distance from their homes.
Fever and ague were the chief complaints in most of the new States, bat Union County has been singularly exempt from these, and few portions of the country can boast of a healthier climate and population than Union County. No great epidemies have ever visited the people. There is nothing in the condition of air or climate to cause disease; and the present generation is free from in- herited tainte, and blest with good habits and vigorous health.
The physicians of Union County have gen- erally been men of more than average ability in their profession. Not a few have been men of culture and extensive scholarship. The present practitioners are almost without exception reckoned among the most honor- able citizens, and in their professional char- acter are possessed of judgment, faithfulness, knowledge and skill such as entitled them to rank among the most useful members of so- ciety.
AFTON PHYSICIANS.
James Lewis, the first physician here, as the first in the county, arrived July 12, 1855, and resided here until his death, during the "seventies." Ile practiced here over twenty years. During the last year of his life he was quite feeble, and resided with his chil- dren. He has several daughters at Afton and in the vicinity, and one or two in Mont- gomery County. One son, Robert, is in Chi- cago. The others are dead. Dr. Lewis was a zealous Republican, and a strong Union man. llis sons were mostly in the service of their country during the war.
J. F. Roberts, the second physician at Af. ton, was possessed of unusual ability, and was a skillful surgeon-the only one, in his day, in the county. JIe entered the drug
business as a partner of Dr. Beebe, and in 1866 or '67 removed to Brookfield, Missouri. Thence he removed to Sonthern Illinois, where he was living when last heard from, and still dealing in drugs.
L. S. Groves came in 1862, from Mus- kingum County, Ohio, and has practiced here ever since, with the exception of one year in the service of the United States, as Surgeon of the Twenty-eighth Iowa.
J. T. Beebe, physician and druggist, came here in 1864, and has resided at Afton since, except one year at Brookfield, Missouri.
Thomas Hays located at Afton in the au- tumn of 1869, and practiced until his death, in 1877.
J. A. Lander, his son-in-law, has now been in practice at Afton nine years. W. D. Christy completes the list of those now resid- ing and practicing at the county scat.
CRESION PHYSICIANS.
The first physician to make Creston his home was named Stetson, and was a graduate of Rush Medical College. He came here from Bureau County, Illinois, and finding little to do here, he became discouraged, al- though a talented young man, and returned to his former location, where he is still in practice.
One Graves, an eclectic, came here and pur- chased a drug store. He ran this and prac- ticed a little for some time, and then sold ont. Ile was next known as a Methodist preacher, and is now in Arkansas.
A physician named Lewis, a graduate of a medical college at Albany, New York, prac- tieed at Creston two years, and then removed to Atchison, Kansas, where he subsequently died.
Next came Dr. Powers. He was not a graduate, but had attended a course of lec- , tures in New York. After remaining here a year or more, he returned to the Empire State, where he is now in practice.
A doctor by the name of Black came here
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701
PROFESSIONAL.
from Washington, Iowa, where he had been in the grocery business. He remained at Creston two years, and then removed to Kansas.
J. B. Wilson located here in 1872, coming from six miles further south, and has prac- tired continually since. He is the oldest practitioner of Creston.
Dr. St. John. here 1874-'75, removed to Ringgold County.
HI. A. Given, a graduate of Rush. came to Creston from Abingdon, Illinois. He was a partner of Dr. Wilson for two years, and then practiced alone until 1881, when he removed to Nebraska. He is now practicing in that State. He made a good reputation while here.
W. H. Christie came next, and is the sec- ond oldest physician in Creston.
In subsequent years came II. I. Nance, B. N. Torrey, G. W. Fellows, J. D. Reynolds, J. A. Rawls, Edwin Schifferle and Dr. White, all of whom are here now.
II. Bonner came about 1880, and after a year or two returned to Ohio.
The first Homeopathic physician here was named Andrews. He is now at Wichita. Kansas. Next came Dr. Kirkpatrick, who has also left. Dr. A. J. Myers now represents the school here.
CROMWELL PHYSICIANS.
The first physician at Cromwell was J. B. Wilson, now of Creston. He came in 1869, and remained two years.
R. H. Johnson came here from Decatur County in 1869, and has been in practice ever since. He is now postmaster of Cromwell.
E. Ilenderson came in 1879, from Jefferson County, and has remained ever since.
A. S. Bailey has practiced medicine four or five years, but has kept a drug store much longer.
SOCIETY OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS.
There has been no county medical society, but the Society of Physicians and Surgeons of Santhwestern Jowa was organized at Cres- ton, June 1, 1876, with members from Union, Clarke, Ringgold and Adair counties. About thirty-five physicians joined this organization, among those from Union County being J. W. Lauder and L. S. Groves, of Afton, and B. N. Torrey, J. B. Wilson, W. HI. Christie, J. D. Reynolds. II. I. Nance, H. Bonner, J. A. Rawls and Edwin Schifferle, of Creston. Meetings were held semi-annually until 188.4, for discussion and reading of papers, informa tion of members, etc.
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Y
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
709
MISCELLANEOUSY
EDUCATIONALK=
HERE is no subject con- lected with our progress and civilization, in which our people have taken a deeper interest than in that of ednes- tion. While our public schools, which eoustitute the basis of our progress and in- telligence, have especially en- gaged the attention of our most enterprising citizens and legislators, they have also lib- crally encouraged the higher institutions of learning, as is shown by our numerous semi- naries, colleges and univer- sities. Iowa has education for her cornerstone, upon which she has reared an enduring super- structure. Education is the secret of the great prosperity of our State, and the safe- guard of our institutions. There is no excuse whatever for a person being uneducated in Iowa, for her counties are dotted over with unmerous and excellent school-houses, while the school buildings in the cities are models of elegance and convenience; and these pub- lic schools are free to all, rich and poor, irre- spective of race, eolor or religion. There has been manifested a constant and very general determination to bring the schools of the
State to the highest degree of excellence con- sonant with sound policy and the develop- ment of its material resources.
The findings of the last eensns in educa- tional matters, although hardly a revelation to our people, are vet not a little gratifying, as they enable people elsewhere to realize something of the work being done in Iowa in educational matters. In respect to the num- ber of school-houses, Iowa is seen to be fifth, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois only having more. The same States have each more teachers than Iowa. Six States only surpass Iowa in respect of sittings in schools, of value of school property, of outlay for school purposes, and of number of pupils attending school. In respect of the extent of illiteracy, no less than twenty-five States have more persons over ten years of age un- able to read and write.
The first schools tanght in Union County were private or subscription schools. Their accommodations, as may be readily supposed, were not good. Sometimes they were taught in small log honses erected for the purpose. Stoves and such heating apparatus as are in use now were unknown. A mud and stick chimney in one end of the building, with earthen hearth, with a fire-place wide enough and deep enough to take in a four-foot bar !: Vlog, and smaller wood to match, served for
703
MISCELLANEOUS.
warming purposes in winter and a kind of 57; average compensation, $29.27: females employed. 207; average compensation. $25.90: n.ales of school age, 2.889; females of school conservatory in summer. For windows, part of a log was cut out in either side, and maybe a few panes of Sx 10 glass set in; or, . age. 2.625; enrollment in public schools. just as likely as not, the aperture would be covered over with greased paper. Writing benches were made of white planks, or, may- be, puncheons resting on pins or arms driven into two inch auger holes bored into the logs beneath the windows. Seats were made ont of thick planks or puncheons; flooring was made of the same kind of stuff. Everything was rude and plain, but many of America's greatest men have gone out from just such school-houses to grapple with the world and make a name for themselves, and names that come to be an honor to their country. In other cases, private rooms and parts of pri- ate houses were utilized as school-houses, but the furniture was just as plain. 1
But all these things are changed now. A log school-house in Jowa is a rarity. Their places are filled with handsome frame or brick structures. The rude furniture has also given way, and the old school books, the " Popular Reader," the " English Reader" (the finest literary compilation ever known in American schools), and "Webster's Element- ary Spelling Book," are superseded by others of greater pretensions. The old spelling classes and spelling matches are out of fash- ion. Discipline is now made one of the chief aims. Though modifications are yet to be made, the present schools are a credit to the community.
0,450; average attendance, 3,099: average cost of tuition per month, per pupil, $2.23: frame school-houses, 114; briek school-houses, 5; valne of all, $129,175; value of apparatus, §3.933; volumes in libraries, 450 ; receipts of school-house funds, 828,102.24 ; paid for school-honses and sites, $15,781.80; paid for library and apparatus, $2,784.75; paid on bonds and interest, $3,228.80; paid for other purposes. $4,429.49: receipts of contingent funds, $21,683.07; paid for rent and repaire $3.994.21; paid for fuel, $3,200.04; paid sec- retaries and treasurers, $1,249.46; paid for records, dictionaries and apparatus, $2,241.05; paid for insurance and janitors, $2,183.70; paid for supplies, $1,188.48; paid for other purposes, 82,062.08; receipts of teachers' funds, $52,247.85; paid teachers, $37,686.10; paid for other purposes, $520.27; schools visited, 140; visits made during the year, 160; educational meetings leld, 4.
AGRICULTURAL.
The best prosperity a county can have is 1 agricultural. Manufactures and mineral re- sources are desirable, but where they are the main dependence there will invariably be a poor, ignorant, unenterprising class of citi- zens controlled by a few capitalists. Here in Union County property is quite evenly dis- tributed, all are comfortably situated, and all enjoy educational and social advantages. Union is destined to remain an agricultural , county, and it is best so. As a farming re-
Of the common schools of the county no further history is necessary than to imagine a steady growth from zero, in 1850, to the ex- cellent schools in 1886. The last public ! gion it ranks among the best in the State. report of the superintendent of public in- , Possessing the advantages of a good climate, struction contains the following facts with ; a soil of inexhaustible fertility, and excellent reference to school matters in Union County: railroad facilities, the county has already attained such a degree of agricultural develop- ment as is seldom found in a country com- paratively new. Its wealth and prosperity are steadily and rapidly increasing. When District townships, 10; independent districts, 21; sub-districts, 109; ungraded schools, 125; rooms in graded schools, 40; average dura- tion, months, 7.2; male teachers employed,
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701
HISTORY OF UNION COUNT ?.
we consider that but one generation ago the red men were the owners of these prairies which now support one of the most flourish- ing communities in the United States, we may well be astonished at the wonderful re- enlts which time and an intelligent industry have wrought. In many sections of our country, lands which have been ocenpied by white inhabitants twice and thrice as long ex- hibit not one-half of the improvements and substantial evidences of real prosperity that Union County can show. Nature did much for this region, and a thrifty and progressive people have admirably co-operated with her efforts. Farms, buildings and improvements of every kind are of unusual excellence in Union County. Numerous towns and villages scattered over the county furnish abundant and convenient trading points and home markets, while unexcelled educational and re- licious privileges combine to render the Int of the Union County farmer a most fortunate one.
The first settlers generally made their homes in the more protected localities, adja- cent to a grove or stream, and many of them still continue to reside on the spot where they first located. More recently, the prairie lands have been in demand, and, now com- mand higher prices than the broken land near the rivers.
The soil is principally a black, sandy loam, from two to six feet deep, and, for farming purposes, inexhaustible. Being devoid of rocks, stones or stumps, it is easy of cultiva- tion, and produces large crops of grain and grass. Unlike the elayey lands in the eastern portion of the State, the land in Union County ean be worked readily, after even severe rain storms, the sandy nature of the soil, coupled with the natural drainage, rendering this pos- sible without inconvenience or detriment to the growing crops. Another important feat- ure is its capability to resist severe dronths, which will sometimes occur in any country, a failure of erops from this cause being com- paratively unknown.
Among the first settlers it was generally supposed that any attempts at fruit-growing would at best meet with but indifferent sue- cess, and they were, accordingly rather slow to improve in that direction. A few of the more enterprising, however, planted orchards, which are to-day in full bearing, a credit alike to their owners and to the county. So soon as it became evident that fruit could be suc- cessfully grown, trees were very generally planted out, and are now just commeneing to bear fruit, thus yielding quick and profitable returns.
As an agricultural and stock-growing county, Union, thong !: new and but partially developed, will compare favorably with any other in the State, her high, rolling prairies and alluvial bottom lands forming a basis of wealth and prosperity which cannot be over- estimated; also, her numerous water courses, constituting a perfect natural system of drain- age, and at the same time furnishing an inex- haustible supply of water for stock and mechanical purposes, are a source of profit as well as convenience to the neighboring set- tlers.
Of the productions of the county we may say that corn is the staple, the reliable crop of all our farmers; wheat, oats, barley and rye are also extensively cultivated-ordinarily with profitable results. Flax has of late years met with much favor, and yields quick and satisfactory returns. The soil is peenliarly adapted to the raising of root crops, which often astonish the most experienced by their wonderful growth.
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