USA > Iowa > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 19
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H. C. Van Werden, of Dutch parentage, and a native of Keokuk County, Ia., located at High Point in 1878 where he practiced for
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
two years, then moved to Garden Grove, staying there two years also. Then he located at Leon and formed a partnership with J. P. F'eenly, which continued a year, then practiced alone until entering partnership with his brother William. H. C. Van Werden is now deceased, but his brother William is yet living and engaged in prac- tice.
A Doctor Macey practiced medicine for a number of years in the early times. After the Civil war he removed to Missouri and there died. He had a son to practice in Pleasanton later.
Another early physician of Pleasanton was Doctor Burns, who died there after a few years. Elijah Glendenning, a prominent phy- sician of Pleasanton and afterwards of Wayne County, studied with Burns. He is now dead. Doctor Mullinnix, a brother of C. P. Mul- linnix of Leon, was killed at Pleasanton during the war by shooting.
The first physician at Garden Grove was a Doctor Smith. He settled there in the early day, but did not remain long. In saying that he was the first physician on the spot where is now located Gar- den Grove may give rise to some doubt. When the Mormon in- vasion came there were in all probability several doctors accompany- ing them. The names of these men have been lost.
Doctor Johnson came to Garden Grove about 1857 and after several years work here went to Corning where he died. He had one son, Richard, who continued the practice at Pleasanton until his death.
John Sigler came to the Grove shortly before the outbreak of hostilites in 1861. He practiced a few years and then retired. His death occurred in 1883.
W. A. Todd came to Garden Grove in 1866, after completing a very excellent course in medicine at the University of Michigan and the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis. He practiced in this vicinity for fifteen years, then moved to Chariton. He is now deceased.
John Carder practiced in partnership with Todd for some time. and then practiced alone. He then removed to Central Iowa, where he died.
V. L. Chester began the practice of medicine at Garden Grove in 1875, but later moved away.
E. W. Doolittle graduated at the University of Iowa and came to Decatur County in 1879 and was in partnership with Doctor Todd until the latter removed to Chariton. He remained in the practice alone until his death at Cainesville, Mo.
Vol : 1-18
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
W. D. Duff came to Garden Grove in the spring of the year 1866. He has been dead for several years.
At Decatur City W. J. Laney is credited as having been the first physician.
O. A. Day practiced there for several years, or from 1856 to 1865. He then moved to Kansas, where he died.
Samuel Day, a brother of the above, was here from 1865 to 1868 and then moved to Tennessee. Doctor Stringer was in Decatur City from 1868 to 1870. H. C. Bone came here in 1875 and practiced here one year and is now still in the practice at Grand River. E. Meacham was here from 1868 to 1882, and then moved to Kansas, where he died in 1885. Joseph Puckett practiced from 1856 to 1879, when he died. J. R. Teller was here in 1876-77 and then moved away. H. Parrish came to the town in 1877 and practiced continually until his death. David R. Springsteen began medical work here in 1883 and continued all of his life.
At Van Wert there was a Doctor Darmeille in 1855 and 1856 and a Doctor Powell after him for a short time. Both of these early doctors are, of course, deceased. B. R. Walker practiced at this point for over thirty-five years. Doctor Pugh came here from Green Bay Township, Clarke County, remained a short time and left in the autumn of 1882. N. J. Hyatt came in 1882, also W. H. Todd.
At Weldon T. M. Wall was among the first. He did not stay long, nor did he stay long in any place. David R. Springsteen was at Weldon during 1884 and then went to Decatur City. George A. Stuart was here from 1880 to 1883 and then went to Greene County, Ia., where he practiced until his death. O. W. Foxworthy came in 1884. Enos Mitchell came to Weldon in 1880, but has now departed from the county. L. P. Greenlee, from Promise City, Wayne County, located here in 1882 and practiced, also sold drugs.
The first physician at Davis City was I. O. Day, and he remained for about two years. His son-in-law, Murphy, practiced here one year. N. M. Smith was here for two or three years, then went to Kansas. J. B. Horner came here in 1873 and is now practicing at Lamoni. J. H. Barber was also here many years ago, then went to Kansas. In the fall of 1885 he returned to Davis City and re- sumed his practice, which he continued until his death several years ago. W. C. Wheeler, from Pleasanton, practiced in Davis City for several years.
At Lamoni the first physician was Doctor Bissell. J. W. De- Noon came there in 1880; J. J. Stafford in 1882; J. H. Hansen in
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
1884 and D. D. Steiner in 1886. All of these men are either dead or removed to some other locality.
DECATUR COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
This society was organized June 8, 1875, for the first time. The men present at that time who became members were: Doctors Chester, Stuart and Todd of Garden Grove; Sanford, Finley, Mc- Clelland, and Layton of Leon. Doctor Todd was chosen temporary president and Doctor Finley the first permanent president. Doctor McClelland was vice president and Doctor Layton secretary. Doctors Laney and Bone of Decatur City became members at the second meeting, when a constitution and by-laws were adopted and a fee bill selected.
Regular meetings of this society have been held ever since the day of organization and a great amount of interest has been taken in the work of the society. The society is automatically affiliated with the Iowa State Medical Association and occupies a high rank among the societies of the different counties in the state.
THE PHYSICIANS' REGISTER
In the physicians' register at the county courthouse there are the following doctors registered, which undoubtedly comprise about all who ever practiced in this county.
A. J. Ayres, 1888; H. C. Bone, 1880; M. L. Boyer, 1880; Thomas Brenizer, 1880; G. W. Baker, 1880; I. N. Barber, 1880; T. B. Bul- lock, A. Brown, C. S. Bishop; Fred A. Bowen, 1898; William Oliver Bye, 1899; T. L. Chester, 1880; A. B. Hornell; J. W. Crofford, 1885; Benjamin D. DeKalb, 1880: Emmett W. Doolittle, 1880; J. W. DeNoon, 1880; A. S. Davison: W. D. Duff : W. P. Emerick; Thomas Emley; J. P. Finley; O. W. Foxworthy; R. F. Fellows; R. D. Gardner; Calvin Grim; L. T. Greenlee; T. W. Grace, 1891; J. W. Greenman, 1898; J. B. Horner, 1880; I. F. Hildreth, 1880; H. Higgins, 1881; A. Hamilton; N. J. Hyatt; John H. Hansell, 1884; L. R. Hinsdell, 1897; J. W. Helton, 1907; G. C. Jewett. 1888; W. G. Jeffries, 1906; William T. Kelley, 1881; W. J. Laney, 1880; Q. M. Lindsey, 1880; H. R. Layton, 1880; C. W. Lillie, 1881; L. J. Landes, 1892; C. T. Mullinnix, 1880, J. N. McClelland, 1880; E. C. Macey, 1880; R. Miller, 1880: Enos Mitchell, 1880: W. L. Minton, 1880; J. E. Minton, 1880; J. Maxwell, 1881; N. MeNieho-
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
las, 1883; E. N. Mullinnix, 1884; R. M. Miller, 1886; John O. Mote, 1896; B. R. McAllaster, 1896; Otto E. Macy, 1899; H. Parrish, 1880; William Plested; John W. Pugh; A. C. Reynolds, 1885; James J. Stafford, 1880; John W. Shell, 1880; George A. Stuart, 1881; D. R. Springsteen, 1883; A. Scott, 1890; A. W. Sherman, 1892; William A. Todd, 1880; O. G. Tremaine, 1881; W. H. Todd; H. C. Van Werden, 1880; W. Van Werden, 1880; B. R. Walker, 1880; A. Wilson, 1880; W. C. Wheeler; T. M. Wall; S. J. Wright; W. H. Wilson; J. W. Wailes, 1891; R. A. Wilson, 1892; W. F. Wright, 1896; T. J. Wilkins, 1906; G. W. Youdin, 1915; W. H. Zieber, 1890.
CHAPTER XVII
HISTORY OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION
The Decatur County bar has ever been a reputable one. Law- vers who have practiced their calling in this county, have, with pos- sibly a few exceptions, been of a high class and of recognized ability and integrity. There has not been so many of the practitioners here as in larger counties, but there has been a sufficient number to keep the legal wheels of the county running smoothly.
In the early '40s there settled in the southeastern part of the county a man by the name of Henry Berge. He was an active man and was known to be very eccentric. He styled himself an attorney, but it is said that his business was confined to a justice's court. Grant- ing that he was a lawyer, even after a fashion, he will have to be given the honor of having been the first in Decatur County. His death occurred before the opening of the Civil war.
Another man, by the name of Tucker, settled in the county some time between 1840 and 1850. He lived in a log cabin two miles southwest of the later site of Leon. He possessed some ability in the legal trade, but was considered as much or more eccentric than Berge, and his legal practice was as much limited. He left the county very soon and moved to Trinidad, Colorado, where he lived until quite old.
Gideon P. Walker came to Decatur County in the late '40s and lived alone on the southern border of the county. He was excellently educated for the day and was noted as a fine penman. He, too, is said to have been very eccentric and odd in his habits. His practice of law was probably confined to the four walls of his cabin, but never- theless he was known as an attorney and a good one.
The first lawyer to practice at Leon was George A. Hawley, who located here in 1854 and practiced for a period of eight years. He had quite an amount of ability and was well liked on account of his affable disposition. He was active in the politics of the county. Dur- ing the early years of the war he moved to Chillicothe, Mo., after- ward to Atchison, Kan., and then Hamilton, Ill. He is now deceased.
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Andrew J. Baker came to the county early and practiced a short time in partnership with Hawley. During the Civil war he served as lieutenant and when hostilities ceased he located in Putnam County, Mo. He took a prominent part in the Liberal movement which carried that state in 1870 and became attorney-general, which posi- tion he held for four years. He afterwards removed to Centerville,. Ia., and formed a partnership with General Drake and in 1884 was elected attorney-general of Iowa.
The three Warner brothers came to Leon from Ohio about 1856, together with several other lawyers. John W. Warner was perhaps the leader of the party. Soon after coming here he erected a cheap structure for the care of travelers and for several years he alter- nated the practice of law with the duties of a host. He was an excel- lent speaker and very popular, but his success in dollars and cents was not very great. He moved to Colorado finally and engaged in mining.
Joseph S. Warner was at first simply known as a carpenter. While working with his brother, John W., on the building afterwards called the Sales House he accidentally fell from the top to a scaffold- ing below. He was not hurt as much as he was disgusted and he immediately declared that he would never do another day's work as long as he lived. He studied law, entered the practice and was very successful. At the height of his career he was stricken by death at his home in Leon. Politically, he was a democrat.
A. J. Warner started to practice law as his life's work, but soon grew tired of it. He became of a peculiar turn of mind and soon became an agnostic, which made him very unpopular. Soon after the war he started farming in Knox County, Ill. He is now deceased as are all the Warner brothers.
George S. Adams was an attorney for a short time in Decatur County, then became a Presbyterian preacher and then went to Colo- rado. He is now deceased.
P. H. Binckley came to Leon with the purpose of starting the Leon Pioneer, the first newspaper in the county, in partnership with his brother, George. He also practiced law. He was a well edu- cated man and equally well versed in the law, but he was not success- ful. However, as a man he was popular and took a very active part in politics. During the administration of President Johnson he was appointed to a clerkship in Washington, D. C. and afterward moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he died.
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Samuel Forrey, one of the best known of the men of Decatur County in the early days, came to Leon in 1855. He immediately began to practice law and continued until his death. Eight years of this time he was on the bench as district judge and for several years served as justice of the peace. He was at first a republican, but finally changed to the democratic party while led by Cleveland.
Fred Teale was at one time a lawyer, but soon retired from that profession, and now is in the banking business.
Vincent Wainright began practice in Leon about 1856 or 1857. He was considered a splendid lawyer. He held the office of county superintendent for one term, having been elected on the democratic ticket. At the beginning of the Civil war a company was formed in Leon under the captaincy of George Burton. This company soon became enlisted to full strength and consequently there were many men left. These were kept at regular drill. Wainright was captain of this body of men until he removed to Winterset. He is now de- ceased.
W. S. Warnock settled in Leon about the same time as Wain- right and practiced for about fifteen years, earning a reputation for ability. He subsequently went into business at Davis City and then into the pursuit of farming. He served one term in the Iowa General Assembly. During his life he was affiliated with both the democratic and the republican parties.
James S. Alfrey came also about the same date and practiced irregularly for ten years. He served one term as county superin- tendent. He was enlisted in the army for a short time during the war and after the war taught school. He was murdered by a man named Williams on May 20, 1866.
Jesse W. Penny came to Leon during the early years of the Civil war and practiced for five or six years, or until his death. He was an excellent scholar and was successful during the short time he was permitted to work. He was democratic in politics and served one term as county superintendent.
About 1850 A. J. Evans settled in the southeastern part of the county, near Lineville, on a farm. In 1854 or 1855 he was elected prosecuting attorney, when the district including Decatur County extended to the Missouri River, and took in about one-fifth of the State of Iowa. Mr. Evans assisted in holding court in Decatur County before the erection of the first courthouse, but did not remove his residence to the county seat until 1865, when he devoted himself entirely to the legal practice, gaining a good reputation in the same.
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He removed to Alabama in 1871 and afterwards decided to go to Kansas. While en route to the latter state he was seized with small- pox and died.
John W. Harvey came to Leon from Jasper County, Ia., in 1868 and was in partnership with Major Young until 1882, when he was elected judge of the District Court. He was a republican. He is now deceased.
R. L. Parrish was a school teacher before he was admitted to the bar. He graduated at Iowa City and was admitted to the bar at Leon. He was first in partnership with C. W. Hoffman, then with E. W. Haskett and in 1883 with Major Young. He is still living, and is practicing in Des Moines, Ia.
E. W. Haskett began the practice of law in Leon in 1874. Dur- ing the administration of President Arthur in 1883 he was appointed United States district attorney to Alaska. He held this position for two years, until relieved by Cleveland's administration, and on his way home was accidentally killed at Needles, Cal.
C. W. Hoffman was born and raised in Decatur County and was admitted to the practice here in 1876. He is very prominent in democratic politics. He is still living, and practicing his profes- sion in Leon.
N. P. Bullock located here in 1867 and was in partnership at dif- ferent times with John W. Warner, Joseph S. Warner and C. W. Hoffman. He belonged to the republican party.
W. H. Albaugh read law with Harvey & Young and was after- ward admitted to the bar. He was mayor for two terms and justice of the peace several years. Mr. Albaugh is still living.
Marion F. Stookey and his cousin, Millard F. Stookey, came, at the same time from Marion, Ia. The former was in partnership with E. W. Haskett for a time. He was chairman of the Republican Central Committee for several years and was one of the proprietors of the Decatur County Journal for many years. He is now practic- ing law in Leon. Millard F. Stookey was in partnership for a time with W. H. Robb, but separated when elected clerk of the courts. He held this office two terms and then was a deputy in the same office. Mr. Stookey has been postmaster at Leon for the last nine years.
W. H. Robb was reared in this county and was admitted to the practice in 1868. He engaged also in the abstract business with his son-in-law, Charles Jordan, until 1874, when the books and busi- ness were sold to the Leon Loan and Abstract Company. Mr. Robb
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was for several years postmaster at Leon, and was succeeded by W. J. Sullivan. He was then given an appointment by the Interior Depart- ment of the United States and given duties in the West with the Indian bureau. He held this office until Cleveland's administration. He then removed to Kansas. Mr. Robb is now deceased.
In the '70s a man named Black settled in the western part of the county and practiced law with good success. He died just a few years after coming here.
M. A. Mills came to Leon about 1868 from Indiana. He grad- uated at the Iowa Law School and practiced successfully for several years. In 1878 he removed to Nebraska and afterwards served a term in the Senate of that state. Politically he was a democrat.
Albert Hale, a young attorney, practiced at Leon for several years, then moved away. He is now dead.
Another prominent lawyer of Decatur County was E. W. Curry, who practiced for many years.
J. B. Morrison came about 1868 from Indiana, resided and prac- ticed law in Leon for about ten years, was mayor two terms and then moved to a farm west of Grand River. He is now deceased.
S. A. Gates and John N. Gates were among the early lawyers of Leon. S. A. Gates began the study of law in 1872 with J. W. Penny, of Leon, who died in the spring of 1874. He then continued his studies with A. M. Post, who was sent as consul to the Cape Verde Islands. He completed his studies with N. P. Bullock. After being admitted to the bar Mr. Gates opened an office, and in June, 1884. was joined by his brother, John N. John N. Gates is not in active practice at present, but S. A. Gates still retains an office in Leon and is continuing a lucrative practice in the county, also is engaged in the real estate business to some extent.
Maj. John L. Young settled in the county in the fall of 1859. In the previous year he had been admitted to the bar in the Supreme Court at Des Moines. He practiced at Bloomfield until he came to Leon. After coming here he immediately began the practice of his profession with Victor Wainright. This partnership was formed in February, 1860. During the Civil war he won a great deal of promi- nence and for gallantry reached the rank of major. He then returned to Leon and resumed the practice of his profession, and later formed a partnership with John W. Harvey, which continued until 1869. Through his efforts at this time a national bank was secured and he was made cashier. He retained this position until 1871. He then organized the Peoples Bank at Leon, which was not
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
successful. He was then engaged for a time as traveling attorney for Dood, Brown & Co., of St. Louis. In 1877 he came back and reformed a partnership with Judge Harvey, which continued until the latter was nominated for judge in 1882, when Stephen Varga became associated with him. Mr. Young is now deceased.
W. S. Shepherd located at Garden Grove during the '50s and lived there for several years. He went to California to settle up the estate of his father-in-law and there died in 1871.
W. W. Miller located at Garden Grove in 1880 and practiced two years, when he was appointed a pension clerk in Washington.
S. II. Amos came to Garden Grove in 1877 from Wayne County, where he had been teaching school. He taught a term in Decatur County and kept a hotel for a time. In the meantime he was study- ing law and completed his course under Judge John W. Harvey, of Leon. In 1878 he was admitted to the bar and located at the Grove.
Marion Woodard began the practice of the profession in 1883 at Decatur City. He is now engaged in the practice at Leon. C. W. Bridges also practiced here for a time.
R. J. Critchfield began the practice at Weldon in 1883.
W. W. Peasley, from Eagleville, Mo., practiced in Davis City from 1875 to 1885 and later became a banker at Kellerton, Ring- gold County. He is now deceased. J. H. Kling was in practice at Davis City for three years. W. A. Williams also practiced at Weldon for a time.
THE PRESENT BAR
The following is the present bar in Decatur County: S. H. Amos, Garden Grove; R. B. Hawkins, Van Wert; B. M. Russell, Lamoni; George W. Baker, S. A. Gates, J. F. Harvey, C. W. Hoff- man, V. R. McGinnis, A. P. Olsen, J. S. Parrish, Marion F. Stookey, E. H. Sharp, W. J. Springer, Stephen Varga, Francis Varga and Marion Woodard, all of Leon. The total is sixteen members.
THE FIRST COURT
The first District Court in the county convened at the house of Daniel Moad, as ordered by the Board of County Commissioners, on May 19, 1851. This home was about six miles southeast of the pres- ent location of Leon. William McKay presided as judge, and
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
Daniel Moad served in the capacity of clerk. John J. Stanley was the sheriff. The following were the first grand jurors: Mordecai Smith, Anthony Vanderpool, Elijah B. Hole, Oliver Hoskins, Alfred Stanley, Hiram J. Stanley, John Priec, William Oney, John Jordan, Charles Jordan, Simon H. Harmon, John Vanderpool, Stanley Hat- field, Isaae Craig, Andrew Hatfield, Andrew J. Randolph. Mor- decai Smith was foreman; Thomas Kilgore was bailiff. William H. Bramfield was appointed as prosecuting attorney for the term.
The first case to come up before this court was a suit for divorce, entitled John Blades vs. Maria Blades. The case was continued until the next term and the plaintiff was finally successful. Perhaps the second case to come before the court was also a divorce proceeding, Ann Knapp vs. Zelatus W. Knapp. Ann won, according to record.
The first marriage license was issued on May 18, 1850, to Henry Hall and Eliza Ann Ewing. On the same day also a license was given to Thomas Ewing and Mary Ann Carson. No return of the marriage certificate was made in either case. The first marriage certificate on record is that of John Zimmerman and Harriet L. Lamb, married by William Cutchlow, justice of the peace, on Sep- tember 22, 1850.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE NAMES OF DECATUR COUNTY STREAMS By J. E. Vail
This, which I opine may consistently be called our county, is very near the great Mississippi-Missouri water shed, and according to the best geological evidence, has its formation both from glacial drift and from the wind-blown soils. The former with the tendency to level off, the latter to irregularly deposit immense strata of variable fine dust like silt, this as time passed on, became subject to great erosions and has left our section of the state generally rough and broken in topography, and crossed by numerous streams, sloughs and branches.
These prevailing conditions are the more apparent when a care- fully drawn map of Decatur County is compared with that of Poco- hontas, or any of the counties which lie in the later Wisconsin glacial formation, and which were not subject to the wind-blown, or Loess drifts and the subsequent great erosions. These conditions therefore, being the geologically attributed cause of the numerous streams which traverse our county, the origin of the names of these may worthily be the subject of a sketch.
It is a matter of regret that the wandering folk who possessed the land while the aborigines remained, left so little upon which to build. The very name of a stream or settlement-and all is said. The stream name continues long after advancing civilization has swept away the rude huts called "settlement." To preserve the vestiges which remain, to compare with others the available data that at this late day must be sought in the memories of men, is the excuse offered for this writing.
Decatur County's principal system of water courses comprise, Thompson's Fork of Grand River, Weldon Creek, Little Creek, Elk Creek and Steel's Creek, all of which are constantly augmented at nearly every mile of their meandering course by some branch feeder, and as most of these have at some time received a name to designate
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