History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 16

Author: Williams bros., Cleveland, pub. [from old catalog]; Riddle, A. G. (Albert Gallatin), 1816-1902
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 574

USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 16

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Like so many others, in the vast army of self-made men, he gained discipline and money by teaching district school winters. His summers were devoted to study. In 1850 he entered Alleghany college, at Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he remained for two years, working his way. He then commenced the study of law with the Hon. David Derickson at Meadville, and was admit- ted to the bar, Aug'ist 18, 1853. He immediately took his diploma and started for the west. With no particu- lar point in view, he threw himself into the great wave sweeping toward the west, trusting more to chance than to design, as to where he should land.

Independence was the place, and without hesitation, but with an assurance that success awaited him, he at once opened an office. His first law case was tried for Orrin Lewis, October 18, 1853, for which he received a fee of three dollars. His business for the first month amounted to five dollars and seventy-five cents.

A more uncouth, awkward, unpromising young man, in personal appearance, than Jamison was at that time, never threw his shingle to the public. Tall and angular, with light hair, a face not molden for beauty, awkward in every move, a gesticulation that defied all rules, a hesi- tancy of speech that was painful, he was at once, by su- perficial observers, set down as a failure. To the young men he was a subject of ridicule ; to the young ladies a curiosity.

The public soon began to observe that, from early morning until late at night, he never left his office except for meals. People soon learned that if they ever should want anything of Jamison, they would always know where to find him. The value of the adage, "Keep your office and your office will keep you," was well known and appreciated by him. Clients began to drop in. Their business was dispatched with wonderful

promptness and accuracy. His knowledge of the law, his sound judgment, and his keen insight into the affairs of men, amazed the people. Beneath that ugly exterior, a broad, comprehensive mind was discovered. Clients thickened around him; business accumulated, and he was soon in the midst of an extensive and lucrative prac- tice. Fortune and fame increased. But few cases were tried in our county in which he was not interested. He was largely engaged in the real estate transactions of the county. As a counselor he had but few equals in the State. The quaint and witty sayings of Jamison would fill a volume. One must be preserved. One of his ob- jections was overruled by the court in a trial of a case. Jamison very drily remarked "your honor is right and I am wrong, as your honor most always is."

As a citizen he was just and honest. He set a noble example of filial attachment. His widowed mother presided over his home (for he never married), and her life was made happy by his constant love and devotion. But for one enemy Jamison would have been living to- day; have been in the front ranks of his profession, and a highly honored and wealthy citizen. Having no family to call forth and cultivate his domestic nature, his social qualities gradually found relaxation in the society of those whose tendencies were downward. The sequel need not be told. It is useless to follow him down the road we have all seen so many travel. It is the same old path ; once entered it is seldom forsaken. It leads all classes to the same goal. The talented, noble James Jamison, died a victim to intemperance the second day of August, 1878.

CAPTAIN D. S. LEE was born in Genessee county, New York, October 16, 1817. When he was sixteen years old his mother died. The family was scattered, and young Daniel was left to shift for himself. He was employed as a farm hand summers, and attended school winters, until he was twenty-one, when he entered Leroy academy, where he remained for two years. The follow- ing winter he taught school and, with his earnings, started, in the spring of 1842, for the west. He made his way to Akron, Ohio, where he studied law in the office of the Hon. William C. Dodge, at the same time teaching, until the fall of 1846, when he was admitted to the bar. He practiced his profession at that place until the summer of 1851, when he came to Dubuque, Iowa, and in the winter taught Dubuque's first free school. March 3, 1852, he was admitted to the bar of the Iowa supreme court. In the same spring he com- menced the practice of law in connection with the real estate business at Independence. In 1855, in connection with P. A. and E. B. Older, he established the first bank in Independence. The latter business was very success- ful until the year 1857, when the firm went down with so many others in the general crash. All of Mr. Lee's ample fortune was swept away, and financially he never recovered. Lee attested his patriotism and fidelity to the Government by being the first man to volunteer from this county in the late war. On the organization of company E, of the Fifth regiment Iowa infantry, he was unanimously elected captain, which position he held for

HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

three years. He was alinost constantly engaged in active campaigns, and participated in many hard fought battles. On the field he was brave as a knight, in camp tender and kind, beloved by all his men. In the fall of 1864, immediately after his term of office expired, he was elected the first mayor of the city of Independence, and was reelected the year following. In the year 1869 he was chosen a member of the Iowa legislature, and per- formed the duties of that office with much ability. At the close of the session he resumed the practice of law, and continued in the same until he was prostrated by disease in 1875. After a lingering illness he died, May 25, 1878. Captain Lee was married to Miss Fannie L. Brooks, who is still living. In physique, the captain was of medium height, straight as an arrow, with a well developed head, and was a strikingly handsome man, easy and graceful in every movement, affable and kind; he was, in every sense, a gentleman. As a speaker he was easy, fluent, and forcible. Had he confined himself strictly to the profession of law, and applied himself more closely to its study, he would have had but few equals in the State.

O. H. P. ROSZELL .- One of the most conspicuous and remarkable characters identified with the history of our county was the Hon. O. H. P. Roszell. With his com- manding presence, superior ability and strict integrity, he would have been a marked character anywhere. He was born December 21, 1827, in Canandaigua, New York. His father died when he was nine years of age. His education was completed at the Cary Collegiate semin- ary, where he attended for several years. When he was twenty-one years of age he determined to find himself a home in the great west. His first summer was spent with a Government surveying party in Wisconsin. De- eember, 1849, found him in Independence, where he remained until his death. The first few years of his western life were spent in various pursuits, principally in teaching and surveying. In 1851 he was admitted to the bar. In 1854 he was elected the first county judge of Buchanan county, which position he occupied for six years. The county judge at that time was a very impor- tant functionary. His powers, in reference to all business pertaining to county matters, were almost exclusive and unlimited. In 1858 Judge Roszell was elected county superintendent of public schools, holding the position for two years. He was, also, in the same year, elected a member of the State school board of education, and was a member of that body when the present free school system was adopted, and one of the committee who drafted the original bill. He was elected mayor of the city of Independence on three different occasions. He was married in Independence, in 1852, to Miss Mary E. Whait, by whom he had nine children. Judge Ros- zell was of extraordinary personal appearanec, tall, dig- nified and commanding. The expression of his face was always grave and thoughtful, but good humored. His fine presence and brilliant talents at once commanded respeet, even among strangers. In his speeches he was clear, logical and forcible, rather than abounding in rhetorical embellishment. He was a strong partisan,

always taking great interest in political affairs, and always an ardent Democrat, of the old school. Yet such was the esteem in which he was held by his fellow-citizens, that he was rarely beaten in a political race, although his party was in a hopeless minority. As a lawyer, he did not meet with brilliant success. His life was so much taken up with other matters that others, with less ability, outstripped him at the bar. Probably no man in Bu- ehanan county did so much for popular education as he. He was always an enthusiast in advancing the efficiency of our public schools. He died the fifth day of October, 1877. A vast concourse of people, from all parts of the county, gathered at the funeral to shed a tear over the remains of one of Buchanan county's greatest and best men. He is one of the few, comparatively, who have left their impress for good in the community in which he lived.

ALBERT CLARKE was born in Conway, Massachusetts in 1810. He was brought up in the old-fashioned New England style, on his father's farm, with fair school ad- vantages, until the age of eighteen, when, exhibiting more than ordinary aptitude for an education, he com- menced the study of the languages, preparatory to en- tering college, which he did in 1830, when he entered Amherst college, and was in the same class with Henry Ward Beecher and Fowler, the phrenologist. His stand- ing as a scholar was good, being most distinguished in those branches that require close thinking and deep re- search. He graduated in 1834. He was then principal of the academy in Oswego, New York, one year, and af- terwards filled a similar place in 'Dunkirk, where he also gave considerable attention to the law, and filled for some time the office of justice in that young and grow- ing village. He then moved to Virginia, where he taught in several institutions of learning, principally in Smithfield, for about ten years. He then returned to Massachusetts and completed his law studies in West- field, with William G. Bates, and practiced several years in his native town. He then for several years owned a drug store in Worcester, Massachusetts, and from thence moved to Dubnque, Iowa, where he went into the land business, (emigration then being nearly at its height), en- gaging at the same time, more or less, in the law. Hav- ing been interested, to a considerable extent, in lands in Buchanan county, in 1854 he moved to Independence, and gave his attention to its interests, and also to agen- cies of land belonging to eastern men. and attending to various public interests with which he was intrusted. He accumulated a fair property, and was considered as possessing good financial abilities. Being possessed of stern integrity and good judgment, he was often called upon to give counsel and aid to those who had come to this land of promise with little means, and were strug- gling to obtain a foothold; and he is still held in grateful remembrance by many who have risen to prosperous cir- eumstanees. He took great interest in the growth and development of the county, especially in its educational and religious interests, and was one of the principal founders and supporters of the First Presbyterian church of Independence. He was married in 1847 to Miss

HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

Elizabeth Adams, and left one son, who lives in Inde- pendence. He died in the year 1868, aged fifty-eight years.

JAMES W. WEART was born in Hopewell, Mercer county, New Jersey, in a house occupied by General Washington as his headquarters during a period of the Revolutionary war. He was lieutenant in the Twenty-first regiment New Jersey volunteers. He came to Independence De- cember 25, 1863, and at once commenced the practice of law. He was city clerk for a number of years; also clerk of the Iowa senate for three terms. He came to his death by the accidental discharge of a gun while hunting, on Thanksgiving day, which badly mutilated both of his hands. He survived the accident about one week, dying in December, 1874. He was married to Jennie E. Taylor, of Philadelphia, in 1866, by whom he had five children. We are very sorry that we are not able to give a more complete history of this interesting- young man, but the data are not at hand. He was ex- ceedingly popular with all classes, especially the young, and is held in grateful remembrance by the citizens of Independence.

S. S. ALLEN, one of the oldest and most respected citi- zens of Buchanan county, was born May 1, 1828, in Franklin county, Massachusetts. He resided there until he was about nineteen years of age, when he came west, stopping in Waukegan, Wisconsin, and engaging in teach- ing. In 1851 he entered the law office of Bennett & Hudson, Janesville, Wisconsinsin, where he studied two years. He was admitted to the bar in 1853. and imme- diately came to this county and settled at Independence, where he practiced law three years, exclusively, though he was engaged in law and real estate business until 1875, when he left Independence and moved to Homer town- ship, upon the farm where he is at present. He has the largest farm in the township, consisting of six hundred acres of excellent land. He is principally engaged in stock raising, keeping from one hundred to two hundred head of cattle, and about the same number of hogs. He has a pleasant and beautiful home surrounded by a "Cen- tennial grove," set out by himself in 1876. Mr. Allen was an early proprietor of the first newspaper in Inde- pendence, the Civilian, with which he was connected from 1855 to 1859. He built the first three-story brick block west of Dubuque, also established the first broker's office west of that place. Mr. Allen was in business as a merchant from 1856 to 1859. He had a drug store, hardware store, dry goods store, and a book store, the latter the first in Independence. He dealt quite exten- sively in real estate for many years, and many acres of land passed through his hands.

Mr. Allen married Miss Martha Smiley, of Rock county, February 21, 1854. They have had seven chil- dren, six of whom are living: Emery S. S., born July 5, 1858; Charles, born February 2, 1860, died when about four years old; John B., born February 15, 1865; Willie H., born December 15, 1866; Andrew J., born August 27, 1868; Mattie, born January 10, 1874; Augusta M. W., born April 2, 1877. Mr. Allen is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a firm Demo-

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crat, and has held several local offices, though he never sought them.

J. S. WOODWARD, esq., was born in Middleburgh, Schoharie county, New York, in 1830. He lived until he attained the age of seven years at Hanover, New Hampshire, the home of his father, Stephen Woodward. He then went to Tunbridge, Vermont, where he lived until he came west. His father died in 1865 ; his mother is still living at Albany, New York. She is at present over eighty years of age, and is healthy and active. Mr. Woodward was educated at Kimball Union Aca- demy, Meriden, New Hampshire, one of New England's first-class schools. He fitted for Dartmouth college, but he did not pursue the course, as he had made up his mind to follow Horace Greeley's advice to young men. When about twenty years old he went to Wisconsin, where he read law in the office of George B. Ely, of Janesville; and in August, 1853, was admitted to the bar in that place. He came to Buchanan county the same fall, and located at Independence, then a place of perhaps twenty or thirty inhabitants. At the time of his arrival his entire capital consisted of a yankee ninepence and six law books. Of course his business was very small at first, but by diligently attending to it, Mr. Wood- ward gained the confidence of the people, and rose rapidly as the county became more thickly settled. In 1854 he was elected prosecuting attorney, and from that time onward his business steadily increased. In 1857 he was elected a member of the State legislature, and represented his district with much credit. In 1864 he was a delegate to the Baltimore convention. He has twice been mayor of the city of Independence. Mr. Woodward has done a large business for many years. He has practised law six years longer than any other lawyer in the city. Many of the prominent lawyers of this vicinity have been students in his office, as well as several who are now practising in other States. Mr. Woodward has always been a constant worker, and is at present doing as large business as any lawyer in the county. It is unnecessary to add that he stands high in the community, and possesses the highest esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens. In physique Woodward is a little below the medium height ; sparely but well built ; coal black eyes and hair to match. He has untiring energy, is ever active, never caught napping, always on the alert and diligent. His char- acteristics as a lawyer may be gathered from the above. He is untiring and ceaseless in the cause of his clients, and never forsakes them until he is victorious or hopelessly defeated. In speaking, his whole body is in motion. There is no circumlocution, no hitching and hesitating, to pick out smooth and elegant expressions: the only object is to hit the mark. If he sometimes scatters, his shots are so rapid that some are sure to hit. When Jamison was living, there was rarely a case in which both were not engaged, and generally on opposite sides. A detailed history of the legal contests between these two men would fill a volume with rich and rare reading. Woodward is the prince of good fellows, social, genial and generous. His humor is proverbial. His organ of mirth Is developed to such a degree that it has been said of him

HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

that he would smile the longest and loudest of any man in Iowa. Woodward's high standing at the bar, his integrty as a citizen, his sparkling wit and social qualities would have commanded for him almost any official position. He has never asked, but steadily refused political prefer· ment. Last year Mr. Woodward commenced building a splendid residence, which, when completed, will be the finest house in this county. It is very tastefully planned, and is both beautiful and convenient. Mr. Woodward was married, in 1855, to Miss Caroline Morse, who was born at Rochester, New York, in 1835. They have three children living and two deceased. Anna died when nine months old; Jerome when nineteen months old. Agnes was born March 26, 1861. Will M. was born June 29, 1865; Katie, born March 21, 1872. All are at home with their parents. Mr. Woodward is a member of the Odd fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He has been a staunch Republican since the organization of the party.

HON. W. G. DONNAN is one of the small number of men whose names are not only woven into the history of their own county, but of the State and Nation also. He was born at West Charlton, Saratoga county, New York, June 30, 1834. His parents were Scotch, and he inher- ited all the strong, sturdy qualities of that people. At seventeen years of age he entered Cambridge academy. Two years later he commenced his collegiate course at Union college, New York, and graduated in 1856, the fourth in his class. He immediately started for the west, and selected Independence for his future home. Here he studied law with J. S. Woodward, and was admitted to the bar in 1857. He has practiced law in this city ever since, except when occupied with official duties. In the fall of 1857 he was elected treasurer and recorder of Buchanan county, was reelected and continued in that office until 1862. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in the Twenty-seventh regiment, Iowa infantry volunteers, was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, and was brevetted captain and major, and served until the close of the war. His meritorious conduct while in the army received special mention on several occasions from his superior officers. In 1867 he was elected to the State senate for the term of four years. He was a very popular and influential member of that body. It was through his efforts, while senator, that Independence se- cured the location of the State hospital for the insane at this place. He originated and drafted the bill which se- cured us that great institution. A man of much ability, who was in a position to know, thus writes of Mr. Don- nan :

His services in the legislature were exceptionally noteworthy and creditable. His practical good sense, fine social qualities, and thor- ough knowledge of human nature, rendered him alike popular and in- fluential with both houses. In council and debate his opinions were sought after and respected. During his first session he originated and was largely instrumental in securing the passage of an act locating a State hospital for the insane at Independence. His peculiar fitness for legislative work, developed during his career in the State senate, so recommended him to the favor of the Republicans of his district that in the fall of 1870 they made him their candidate and elected him to the Forty-second Congress by a majority of about five thousand votes over the Democratic candidate.

Mr. Donnan's services in the Forty-second Congress were so eminently satisfactory to his constituents that he was renominated for the second term without opposition, and was elected by a large majority. He could undoubt- edly have been nominated for the third term, but he pos- itively refused to become a candidate. At the end of his second term he was offered a foreign mission to South America, but declined. Mr. Donnan was a member of the National convention at Cincinnati in 1876. He has been treasurer of the Iowa hospital for the insane at In- dependence, Iowa, since January, 1877. Mr. Donnan has performed the duties of all the high positions in which he has been called to act, with eminent ability and satis- faction to his constituents. He has developed an aptness for legislative work rarely excelled. Physically he could vie with the old Scotch Bruces and Wallaces, being six feet in height, broad-shouldered, erect, strong, and healthy. As an orator Mr. Donnan ranks high, being always clear, logical, and forcible. Intellectually he is strong and vigorous, grasping at once the main points and the details of the question involved. Socially he has no superiors. He ardently loves his home and fam- ily, as well he may. He was married October 1, 1857, to Miss Mary E. Williamson, who was born in Kentucky. His family consists of two boys-William W., born Au- gust 20, 1859, and Donald D., born August 7, 1862.

COL. JED LAKE was born in Virgil, Courtland county, New York, November, 18, 1830. His father, Jedediah Lake, was the son of Henry Lake, of Montgomery county, New York, who.served under General Washing- ton in the Revolutionary war. He enlisted when seven- teen years of age, and served four years. Jedediah Lake settled in Virgil in 1822, at the age of twenty-four, and was married to Patience Church, of the adjoining town of Marathon. They had two sons and two daughters. Our Jed Lake was the second son. His father died when he was three years old, leaving his widowed mother with four children, the oldest seven, and the youngest less than one year old. The mother kept the family together, and carried on the farm until the oldest son was of age, when he took charge of it. This threw Jed on his own resources. He had received, at this time, no education except from common schools. He hired out to a neighboring farmer for the summer, but after working a month a disagreement arose, and Jed left. While on his way to find employment he met a man going to Ithaca to start for New York, with a canal- boat. To him Jed hired out to drive a team on the Erie canal at thirteen dollars per month. The Colonel says he has always felt a little diffidence about telling this part of his history, but since the election of Garfield he speaks of it with pride. He laid up some money that season, and the next spring went to the New York Central college. By teaching and working on farms he supported himself for two years at this institution. At this time he would have been ready to enter college, had he been prepared in Latin and Greek, but in his youth he had been taught to despise these studies, and it took him these two years to get over the prejudice. At this time the Courtland academy was in the full tide of its

HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

prestige. Here Jed took Mathematics under Pro- fessor Lawrence, the author of Mathematical works, and English Grammar under S. W. Clark (also author of a text book), and German under Professor Maasburgh, and Latin under Professor Sanford. In May, 1855, he was taken with billious fever and paralysis of the right side, and by the advice of physicians quit school. In the fall of that year he engaged to travel with William Swift, a cousin of the noted Professor Swift, of Rochester ob- servatory. This Swift was giving lectures on electricity, electro-magnetism, and an expose of spirit rappings, which had just then come into notoriety. In this capacity he traveled until 1855, visiting New York, Penn- sylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio. At this time, desiring to settle into permanent business, he packed his satchel and started for Des Moines, Iowa, but landed in Independence, in October, 1855, where he has since resided. His health would not permit his engag- ing in a profession, so he spent two years on a farm. At the end of that time his cousin persuaded him to pur- chase a half interest in a saw-mill, and then lit out between two days, leaving Jed the sole proprietor. Jed has not seen his cousin since. After a little he blew up the boiler, sold the remnants, sold all he had and paid his debts, as far as he could, came to town and com- menced the study of law. He sometimes tells that -it looked awful dark to him, after he blew up his mill, but he is now satisfied that it was the best thing that ever happened to him. He was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1859. He was examined by Honorable F. E. Bissell, and D. S. Wilson, of Dubuque, and John H. Pierce, of Anamosa, and they gave him a flattering recommend to the court. Honorable George W. Bemis tells that one day, meeting Jed, he said to him: "Jed, I understand you are admitted to the bar. Now my ad- vice to you is to go west and grow up with the country. You can make something out there." Said Jed with clinched fist, "I brought one thousand dollars in gold to this place, and I'm not going to leave here until I can take away as much as I brought." Mr. Lake then set- tled down to the practice of the law. In the fall of 1861 he was elected to the State legislature. The following summer he enlisted in a company then being raised by Captain Noble, and was elected first lieutenant. He was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the Twenty-seventh regiment, Iowa volunteer infantry, by Governor Kirk- wood. He served with his regiment during the war. Several of Mr. Lake's interesting war letters will be found in another chapter of this work. His regiment was in very many battles, and lost a large number of men. At the close of the war he was colonel of his regiment. He then returned to Independence and resumed the practice of law. He has been urged by his friends to accept many official positions, such as representative, senator, and judge of district court, but he has positively refused to accept any office that would take him away from his business. He served as alderman for six years, as a member of the school board for seven years, and was a member of the board of supervisors two years. He per- formed the duties of the above offices with admirable

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History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 16

Author: Williams bros., Cleveland, pub. [from old catalog]; Riddle, A. G. (Albert Gallatin), 1816-1902 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Cleveland, Williams brothers Number of Pages: 574

Author: Williams bros., Cleveland, pub. [from old catalog]; Riddle, A. G. (Albert Gallatin), 1816-1902
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 574