History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 43

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1316

USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 43
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 43

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Soesbe Brothers, attorneys, have been in practice at Greene since 1877. This is a well-known firm. They came here when Greene was in its earliest infancy, and are the oldest practicing lawyers in the town. S. W. Socsbe was born near Mechanics- ville, Jones county, Iowa, September 24, 1844. His father, William Soesbe, settled in Burlington, from Indiana, in 1840, but soon after located in Jones county. He died in Anamosa in 1880. Previons to en- gaging in the practice of law, S. W. Soesbe, Esq., was for a time engaged in bridge building with A. Spaulding & Co., who were afterward known as the "Dubuque Bridge Company." He came to Greene in 1871 and engaged in the real estate busi- ness. In the meantime lie turned his atten- tion to the study of the law, and was ad-

W. a. Lattrop

דין

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

mitted in Judge D. S. Wilson's court, at Waterloo, January 5, 1877, and at once en- tered into the practice of his profession here. His wife was Ella L. Newell, daugh- ter of Lorenzo Newell, an early settler of Benton county.

E. W. Soesbe, Esq., was born near Ana- mosa, November 11, 1851. He read law with his brother at Waverly; was ad- mitted in that city in March, 1877; mar- ried Miss Carrie Cross, whose father, J. J. Cross, was an early settler of Freemont township.

The Soesbe Brothers are good lawyers, intelligent and popular gentlemen. They have a large, increasing business, both in legal practice and real estate business.

W. A. Lathrop, of the firm of Lathrop & Davis; also of the abstract firm of Lath- rop, Hyde & Levis, is one of the old- est practitioners in Butler county; in fact, with but one exception-that of Captain Roszell, of Clarksville, who came to the county about the same time-has been longer in practice in this county than any other attorney. Mr. Lathrop is a native of New London county, Connecticut, where he was born in 1826. He is of the old Puritan stock, tracing his lineage back to the Rev. John Lathrop, who came over from England, and settled at Scituate, Massachusetts, September 28, 1634. From this Rev. John Lathrop descended all the Lathrops of this country. One. branch of the family settled in Bozrah, New London county, Connecticut, and from this branch of the family the subject of our sketch sprung. He acquired in the common schools of his native State such education as they afforded, after which he took a thorough academical course at Leicester

Academy, Worcester county, Massachu- setts. He studied law with Judge Dwight Loomis, of the Supreme Court of Con- necticut, and was admitted to the bar in 1854. He went to Illinois the same year and engaged in the practice of law in Elmwood, Peoria county, where he rc- mained two years, when he returned to his native State and engaged in teaching. He came to Butler county in 1860, settled at Butler Center, and resided there in the practice of his profession until the removal of the county seat to Allison, when he took up his residence there. Mr. Lathrop is a well-educated gentleman and a successful lawyer. His twenty-two years' practice at the county seat has given him a large ex- perience and a thorough knowledge of the various branches of his profession. He was county superintendent of the public schools of Butler county for four years, two years by appointment of county board and two years by election. He was also a member of the Tenth General As- sembly of Iowa, representing the coun- ties of Butler, Franklin and Grundy. Mrs. Lathrop was formerly Miss Ade- laide Hyde, a native of Connecticut. They have one daughter, Ethel, wifc of Mr. Charles W. Levis, the junior mem- ber of the firm.

In 1858 a number of accessions were made to the bar. Among them were J. W. Davis, Z. Graves, L. A. Orvis, and Alonzo Converse.

James W. Davis is a native of Oneida county, New York, where he was born Oc- tober 28, 1826. He went to Lake county, Illinois, in 1853, where he engaged in teaching until 1856, when he removed to Clarksville, Iowa, and worked at carpen-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

tering and teaching until July, 1858, when he was appointed deputy clerk. Was elected clerk of the district court of Butler county, Iowa, in 1858, and was elected for seven successive terms. Studied law under Gen. M. M. Trumbull, then of Clarksville, now of Chicago, Illinois. Was admitted to the bar in 1858, at Clarksville, but did not enter into practice until 1873. He, in the mean time, occupying the position of clerk of the courts of said county.

Mr. Davis, by virtue of his office, was clerk of the board of supervisors of said county, from January, 1861, to January, 1869, and during such time acted as au- ditor of said county, and in such period an old debt of over $16,000, a bridge bonded debt of $40,000, a bounty to sol- diers of over $40,000, and soldiers' relief of some $12,000, was fully paid off and canceled.

Mr. Davis' ancestors settled in Connec- ticut, his grandfather Davis settled in Washington county, New York. At the commencement of the war of the Revolu- tion he entered the Continental army and was in the army under Gen. Gates, when Burgoyne surrendered. His grandfather Benoni Patten, entered the Continental army at the very commencement of the Revolutionary war and was with it during the terrible winter at Valley Forge, at Trenton, and saw its final success by the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. He was taken prisoner at the battle of New York, and confined six or seven months in a British prison-ship in New York har- bor. He used to relate the hardships those prisoners had to undergo while thus confined, half fed, poorly clad, and abused by those in charge.

One incident took place during his im- prisonment, that shows the hardships and inconveniences they had to endure at that time. One day, after suffering from hunger for a long time, a large iron kettle, with peas boiled into a soup, was brought to the prisoners, with nothing to eat it with-without spoons, ladels or other utensils, and each had to help himself with such as he could find in that loathsome prison-ship. He, in his hunger after food, took from his foot an old shoe and dipped it into the kettle of pea soup, and drank out of the heel of the shoe.

Mr. Davis has three sons and five daugh- ters living. His wife is a native of Con- necticut, a sister of W. A. Lathrop, his law partner.

Zur Graves was a native of New York, and came to Butler county in 1855, settling in Jefferson township, where he remained until 1862, when he went to the war, enlist- ing in an Illinois regiment. Graves was well educated, and had read considerable law, but he was stuffed with egotism, and had a good deal of nonsense in his compo- sition. It is now said that his admission to the bar was more through sport than any- thing else. He never had a case.

L. A. Orvis was admitted to the bar also in 1858, and he still lives in Butler county. L. A. Orvis was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, December 1z, 1815, and is a son of Joseph and Nancy (Atwater) Orvis. His mother is a native of New Haven, Connecticut, and his father of Litchfield county, Connecticut. Five years after his birth,the family moved to Steuben county, New York, where the son received his education, which was acquired in the com-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

mon schools of the county, and by an attendance of several terms at an academy.

Upon quitting school, he learned the blacksmith's trade, which occupation he afterwards followed for a number of years. During the summer of 1841 he came west and settled in Trumbull county, Ohio, where he followed his trade and farming. In 1852 he moved to Boone county, Illinois, and three years later, came to Butler county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm on sec- tion 15, of Shell Rock township, upon which he now resides. During his leisure hours, for many years, he read law, receiv- ing instruction at different times, as he required it, from prominent attorneys where he lived, and in 1857, was admitted to the bar of Butler county, by Judge Murdock. Since 1844, Mr. Orvis has belonged to the republican party-previous to that time he was a democrat. He served for thirteen years as justice of the peace in his county, and has also held several other of the town offices. In 1840 he was married to Miss Fanny L. Hills, who is a native of Steuben county, New York. Eleven children have been born to them, six of whom are now living- Laura L., Frank E., Fletcher L., Samantha. M., who is now the wife of N. E. Drury, of Kansas; William H., and Ella A., who is now the wife of Edward C. Downs, Jr., of Dakota. Mr. Orvis was a member of the first grand jury of Butler county, and they were com- pelled to hold their first meetings in the fence corners and in the woods. His father died in 1823, and his mother, in 1862, at thic age of seventy-five years.

Alonzo Converse was admitted to the bar in 1858. He was clected county judge in 1857, and re-elected in 1859, serv-

ing with credit to himself. A sketch of him is found in the chapter on judicial matters under the sub-head of county and circuit courts.

Frank D. Jackson, attorney at law, estab- lished practice at Greene, July, 1880. Mr. Jackson is also the present secretary of the Senate, having been appointed to that position in January, 1882. He was born in Wyoming county, New York, in 1854. He was for some time a student at the Arcade Academy; came to Iowa in 1867, and was for three years a student at the Iowa State Agricultural College. He graduated at the law department of the State University in 1875; began practice at Independence, where he continued for five years, locating here, as above stated, in 1880, succeeding J. W. Gilger, Esq. Mr. Jackson is a young man of culture, of much native ability, and bids fair to attain prominence in his profession. His wife was Miss Anna F. Brock. They have two children. Mr. Jackson occupies the posi- tion of assistant adjutant general of the National Guard, State of Iowa.

C. M. Greene, attorney and counselor at law, has been in practice here since Sep- tember, 1881. He was born in Oswego county, New York, in 1845. He was for some time a student of Hamilton College, and graduated at the State Normal School, at Oswego, in 1869. He was for many years engaged in teaching; came to Iowa in 1870, and for a time was principal of the Central School, at Keokuk. In 1871 he purchased the "Iowa State Educational Journal," which he published for five years. He came to Greene in 1877; was principal of the school here for four years; while teaching, studied law in the office

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

of Gilmore & Anderson, at Keokuk; was admitted to the bar in 1876 at Ottumwa. His wife was Mary B. Swiggett. They have had four children, two of whom are now living.

During the seventies R. D. Prescott commenced the practice -of law, at Shell Rock, remaining for several years, but now of Mitchell, D. T. He was a native of New Hampshire, a good business man, well educated, and made a first rate lawyer.

Col. Woods practiced law at one time before the courts of Butler county, and resided at Butler Center; but has long since left.

Attorney Burnell practiced for a time in Shell Rock. He is now in Palo Alto county.

J. H. Boomer was another of Shell Rock's attorneys, having a lucrative practice for several years. He had lived in Iowa for some years prior to his commencing practice, and still lives in Iowa, at Lansing, Alamakee county. He was active, peppery, well-read, and a good lawyer.

D. W. Mason also practiced law in Butler county for some time, and was also one of the first superintendents of schools of Butler county.

W. S. Montgomery is a young attorney who came to Butler county in March, 1880, and locating at Clarksville, has since been engaged in the practice of his profession.

Mr. Montgomery is the third of a family of seven children of James and Sarah (Glew) Montgomery, and was born on February 16, 1853. His parents are both natives of Pennsylvania, and are yet liv- ing upon the farm in Dubuque county, Iowa, on which they settled in 1836. The subject of our sketch received a common

school education, and in 1874 entered the Law Department of the Iowa State Uni- versity, from which he graduated in 1875, and was admitted to the bar. From this time until 1879 he engaged in teaching school, and then entered the law office of J. C. Longueville. Thus when he came to Clarksville he was well prepared for his profession. He was for a time associated with Capt. C. A. L. Roszell, which undoubt- edly proved greatly to his advantage. Mr. Montgomery at once became a highly esteemed citizen, so much so, that in 1882 the republican party nominated him as their candidate for County Clerk, and he was elected by a good majority, and entered upon his official duties in January, 1883.

J. F. Ellsworth, a lawyer who located at Bristow about 1875, was from Hardin county. He was well fitted for the profes- sion, and made a good lawyer. About two years since he went to Elizabetlı, D. T., where he yet remains.

George A. McIntyre, attorney and coun- selor at law, has resided at Allison since January, 1881. He is a native of Pawpaw, Lee county, Illinois, where he was born in 1855, removing to Marshall county, Iowa, with his father, when eight years of age. He was educated at the seminary in the village of Albion, engaged in teaching two years. He entered the Law Department of the State University of Iowa, September, 1875, where he graduated the following year. He afterward took a special law course in the same institution, completing the course in June, 1877, 'He began prac- tice at Marshalltown, where he continued until locating here. Mr. McIntyre was married on the 9th of November, 1882, to

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Miss 'Mary M., a daughter of Captain J. R. Jones.

A. J. Smith, attorney at law, of Allison, is a native of Rensselaer county, New York, where he was born in 1848, but brought up at Monroe, Greene county, Wisconsin. He began the study of law at Hampton, Franklin county, Iowa, with the firm of King & Henry, being admitted to the bar in 1878, at Marshalltown. He formed a law partnership with L. F. Butler, Esq., at Northwood, Worth county, Iowa, with whom he remained about two years. He came to Allison in May 1881. The law firm of Craig & Smith have a large and increasing practice. They also transact a general real estate and abstract business. Mrs. Smith was formerly Miss Marietta Weeks, a native of Massachusetts. Her father, Mr. W. Weeks, is a prominent merchant of Hampton.

George M. Craig, attorney at law-firm of Craig & Smith, of Allison --- has been a resident of Butler county since October 11, 1864. He was born in Waukegan, Lake county, Illinois, in 1844. He en- listed as a private August 12, 1862, in the 88th regiment Illinois Infantry, and served for two years. He participated in several engagements, was severely wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, and left on the field in the hands of the enemy, where he lay for several days, when he was paroled and sent through the lines to the Union army for disability, July 30, 1864, and came to Butler county in October of the same year. He was appointed county re- corder in June, 1868, and elected to that position in the fall of 1869. In the mean- time he attended to the study of law, and was admitted to the bar at Grundy Center,

Iowa, in January, 1873, He formed a law partnership with Lora Alford, Esq., for several years. The firm of Craig & Smith was formed July 1, 1882. Mr. Craig has been twice married, his first wife was a native of Illinois; his present wife was Mary E. Chapline, born in Dubuque, Iowa.

Oscar H. Scott, attorney and counselor, came to Allison in May, 1882. The sub- ject of our sketch was born in Greene county, Wisconsin, in 1855, and removed with his parents to Hampton, Iowa, in 1866. He attended for a number of years the public schools of Hampton, and was for one year a student of Battle Creek College, Michigan; also took a course at Baylies Commercial School, Dubuque. He was engaged in teaching a number of years; was principal of the school at Bris- tow for three years. He began the study of law at Hampton, in the summer of 1880, with the firm of Dow & Gilger; was ad- mitted to the bar in February, 1882, loca- ting here the following May. Mr. Scott is also engaged in the insurance business, representing several fire insurance compa- nies, including the Home, of New York, and the Farmers' Insurance Company of Cedar Rapids. His wife was Miss Maria Thorpe, a daughter of Jefferson Thorpe, formerly of Clayton county, Iowa, who died in the hospital at Vicksburg, during the rebellion. They have one child, Earnest C.

As to the legal profession in Parkers- burgh, it has been represented by various gentlemen. The first attorney here was John Bremer, Esq., who came here in 1868, and continued to practice up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1878.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

The present attorneys are Messrs. N. T. Johnson and O. B. Conrtright.

N. T. Johnson, Esq., attorney and coun- selor at law, also notary public and collec- tion agent, dates his coming to Parkers- burgh Angust 17, 1871. He was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1846. His father, David B. Johnson, was a native of Pennsylvania, and removed with his family to Washington county, Iowa, October 27, 1860, where they lived until their death. Mr. Johnson began the study of law at Cedar Falls, with Powers & Hemminway, October 27, 1869. He is the oldest attorney now here. The late John Bremer, Esq., was here when Mr. Johnson came. Mr. Johnson is a success- ful lawyer and is having a good practice. His wife was Anna R. Wolf, born in Pennsylvania and brought up in Illinois. They have one son, William F. Johnson.

O. B. Courtwright began the practice of law at Parkersburgh in 1878. Mr. Court- wright was born in DeKalb county, Illi- nois, in 1849; he removed to Rockford, in his native State, and thence to Grundy county, Iowa, with his parents, in 1859. His father, .C. G. Courtwright, came to Parkersburgh in 1876, and removed to Kansas in November, 1879, and now lives in Clay county of this State. O. B. re- turned to Rockford, where he attended school for a time, then entered upon the classical course at Beloit College, Wis- consin, where he remained for three years, pursuing his legal studies at the same time. After the completion of his college course he went to Nebraska, where he re- mained about two years, and then returned to Iowa and purchased what was then known as the Ackley Independent, and

changed the name of the paper to the Ack- ley Enterprise, by which name it is still known. He conducted the paper for a year and a half. He was admitted to the practice of his profession at Judge Rud- dick's court, in Butler county, in 1877. He located in Parkersburgh and engaged in practice, but on account of ill health dis- continued in January, 1881, and removed to Nebraska, but returned in August, 1882, and resumed his practice. His wife was Clara D., daughter of Edwin Whitney, who is a brother of Senator Whitney, of Illinois. Mrs. Courtwright was born in the latter State. They have one son, named Dale.

Judge John Palmer was here for a short time in the early history of Parkersburgh.

W. P. Robertson was also an attorney, who continued practice for a short time.

Sawyer Haswell, Esq., came here from Dubuque in the spring of 1870, and left some years ago for Cherokee.

W. H. Burdick, Esq., established a law office in Parkersburgh in the spring of 1871, but in 1874 was elected county clerk, and served for six years. In January, 1879, Burdick & Savage opened an office again in Parkersburgh; but are now in Dakota.

In 1876, M. J. Downey commenced the practice of law in Parkersburgh and re mained for several years, when he removed to Dakota, where he died in December, 1882.

B. L. Richards, a lawyer from Dubuque, came here in 1877, but, however, engaged in banking and practiced but little.

In May, 1882, the subject of organizing a bar association was agitated. A number of Butler county attorneys met at the

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

345

office of Craig & Smith, in Allison, to dis- cus the matter. C. M. Greene was chosen chairman; and George A. McIntyre secre- tary. A committee consisting of Mr. Mc-

Intyre and W. S. Montgomery was appoin- ted to prepare articles of organization. Nothing further appears to have been done in regard to the matter.

CHAPTER XII.

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

It is the general impression that no com- munity could well get along without physicians ,and the impression is well founded, although in one sense a little exaggerated. Yet it would be trying and sorry work for any community to attempt to get along entirely without the aid of those who have made the work of healing, curing and administering comfort to the afflicted and allaying their suffering, a life study and a life object. Their worth, when they are needed, is not measured by dollars. Their long years of study, pre- paring for emergencies where life and death are struggling for supremecy at such times, are above value.

The physician, associated as he is, with life and death, is a subject for study. He is present when members of the human race are ushered into existence, allaying pain's; lessening danger; is also there at the bed of the child as it grows upward, and expands toward manhood or woman- hood; warding off disease; sustaining the health, and conquering deformities; at

middle age he is present; for, along life's pathway are strewn for all, a large share of the ills that flesh is heir to; and while old age has set in, and the once .. rosy youth or maiden passes rapidly down the plane of declining life, as grandma's and grandpa's; the physician is still at his post; and again, as the steady tread of ap- proaching death is heard, while the eyes dim, and the clammy mantle of that awful messenger covers its victim, carrying the humble life into the great blaze of eternity, the physician is still there, exerting his utmost knowledge to prolong the spark or to ease the suffering. God bless the phy- sician-if honest and sincere he is a bless- ing to the world.

As to progress, the medical world has made wonderful strides, and, in the future, will undoubtedly keep up its onward marclı. In this respect, that able man Prof. I. H. Stearns, Health Officer of Milwaukee, and for many years Surgeon of the Soldiers' Home, at that place, once said: "It is doubtful whether it is wonderful that medi-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

cal doctrine has advanced the way it has, in the past fifty years, or stupidity that tlie advancement was not made years ago. *

* For instance, years ago-but while the practice of medicine was as old as Rome-the discovery was made that boiled oil was not good for gun and pistol shot wounds. What a discovery! It is handed down to us that on a certain battle- field the surgeon ran out of boiled oil, and so as to not discourage his patients he used cold water, pretending it was oil. It is not strange to us that the water patients speedily recoved with little pain, while the oil patients, if they recovered at all, did so in spite of the oil. * * " Prof. Stearns continued at length, relating the present mode of treating fever, the giving of plenty of water, which, but a few years ago was absolutely forbidden, and many others which would be of interest, but space forbids.

The first physician to locate in Butler county was James E. Walker, who hung out his shingle at Clarksville, in 1854. He was clerk of courts for one term, and is noticed at length in the chapter on county officers. He Jeft a number of years ago and returned to his native New England home.

REMINISCENCES OF PRACTICE IN EARLY DAYS.

By John Scobey, M. D.

By the solicitation of friends and former acquaintances, I visited Shell Rock in the spring of 1856. The village then num- bered from fifteen to twenty families. There were two clergymen and a justice of the peace, There, was one small dry goods store, one saw-mill, and a flouring mill being erected. I viewed the Shell

Rock river at this place, and thought then, as I do now, that it was the finest stream of pure water I had ever seen. Its hy- draulic power at this point was sufficient to drive a great amount of machinery. Its waters were stored with vast numbers of fine fish; its banks crowned with fine timber, and frequently skirted with waving groves of small timber. After viewing the local advantages here, I harnessed my -trusty mare, Fanny, and started southwest to take a view of the prairie. Fanny fer- ried me over the Shell Rock, there being no bridge. It was the last of May; the undulating plains were dressed in nature's gay attire of living green. There were but few, if any, laid-out or worked reads or bridges in this county. I traveled on, as best I could, avoiding the sloughs, which were very miry. Log cabins were ocea- sionally to be seen, generally near to the groves or timber land, where a few acres were plowed, and a few domestic animals were to be seen; but the most of those rich alluvial prairies were then performing their diurnal and revolutionary movements without a human inhabitant.

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 43

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1316

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1316