USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 43
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Judge Robbins at once returned home and pursued a post-graduate course in the State University of Nebraska. In April, 1900, he started for Europe on a trip around the world, during which time he again visited the Philippines and
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C. B. ROBBINS
PUBLIER
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rode all over the islands on horseback. After making a cirenit of the globe and gaining thereby the knowledge and culture which only travel ean bring he returned home in April, 1901, after spending almost a year in visiting foreign lands. In the following September he entered the Columbia School of Law in New York city and received the Master's degree from the Columbia University in June, 1903, but did not at that time finish his law course.
On the 9th of September, 1903, Judge Robbins was united in marriage to Miss Helen Larrabee, the youngest daughter of ex-Governor William Larrabee, of Iowa, residing at Clermont, Iowa. Coming to Cedar Rapids Judge Robbins entered the law office of Grimm, Trewin & Moffit and continuing his law studies was ad- mitted to the bar in October. 1904. For about cighteen months thereafter he was a member of the law firm of Grimm, Trewin & Robbins, after which he prae- tieed independently for about a year, when, on the 16th of July, 1909, he was appointed to the superior court beneh by Governor Carroll for the unexpired term caused by the resignation of Judge J. H. Rothrock. He is now presiding over this court and his record on the bench is in harmony with his record as a man and lawyer, characterized by all that is honorable and distinguished by a masterly grasp of every problem presented for solution. Morcover, he is identified with various business interests, particularly along financial lines. He is a director of the Commercial National Bank and the Commercial Savings Bank, and is ehair- man of the executive committee of the board of directors of the Cedar Rapids Life Insurance Company. He is also financially interested in several other business corporations of Cedar Rapids, which profit by his sound judgment and keen dis- cernment, while in return he benefits by well condueted interests resulting in success.
Judge and Mrs. Robbins are the parents of two daughters, Anna Marcella and Julia Larrabee. The Robbins' household is a most hospitable one and not only do the Judge and his wife occupy a most enviable position in the social circles of Cedar Rapids but are also widely known throughout the state. Judge Robbins belongs to Crescent Lodge, No. 25, A. F. & A. M .; Trowel Chapter, No. 49, R. A. M .; and Apollo Commandery, No. 26, K. T. He is also exalted ruler of Cedar Rapids Lodge, No. 251, B. P. O. E., and is a member of the Cedar Rapids Com- mercial Club and the Cedar Rapids Country Club. His interests are varied. indicating a well balanced charaeter, and he is known as a progressive citizen. whose active cooperation has resulted most beneficially for the community. His standing at the bar is indicated by the high consideration which his fellow mem- bers entertain of the integrity, dignity, impartiality, love of justice and strong common sense which mark him both as a judge and as a man.
GIB ROOT
Gib Root has since January, 1895, efficiently served as constable of Cedar Rapids township, with headquarters in the Wheeler block at Cedar Rapids. He was born in Madison, Wisconsin, November 9, 1849, a son of William H. and Nancy L. Root. The father, who was born in the state of New York, removed to Madison, Wisconsin, in the early '40s and was there engaged in farming until the outbreak of the Civil war in 1861, when he offered his services to the government, becoming a member of the Seventh Wisconsin Infantry. He was wounded in the battle of South Mountain on the 14th of September, 1862, and died shortly after reaching his home in Madison.
Gib Root attended the public schools until the age of fourteen years and was only about fifteen years of age when he enlisted for service in the Civil war, be- coming a member of Company H, Forty-third Wisconsin Infantry. He served
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from October, 1864, until discharged in July, 1865. Following this he went to Reedsburg, Wisconsin, and engaged in farming until 1866, when he removed to Minnesota and entered the employ of the Southern Minnesota Railroad Company, now the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, as brakeman. Later he was promoted to the position of conductor, in which capacity he served until 1874. He then engaged with the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern as brakeman, his headquarters being at Austin, Minnesota. Later he became conductor, serving in the latter capacity until 1894. It was in that year that he came to Cedar Rapids, having been elected constable of Cedar Rapids township, which position he has filled to the present time. He is fearless in the discharge of his duties, carefully guarding the interests of the public and doing all in his power to establish peace and order in the territory over which he has jurisdiction.
On the 25th of August, 1873, in Austin, Minnesota, occurred the marriage of Mr. Root and Miss Melvina Strever, and they have one daughter, Mrs. Georgia Pollins, a resident of Cedar Rapids.
Mr. Root is a republican in his political views, while his religions faith is indi- eated by his membership in the Baptist church. IIe has served as treasurer of the Sunday school, and at the present writing is acting as assistant superintendent. His fraternal relations are with the Grand Army of the Republic, and while in the employ of railway companies he served as secretary and treasurer of the local division No. 58, Railroad Conductors Union, for twelve years. His entire political service has been in the interest of the people and his loyalty to his country is mani- fest in times of peace as well as when he enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil war at the age of fifteen years. There is no blot or stain of dishonor upon his name and this can be said after a long business and public life.
MILO P. SMITH
Judge Milo P. Smith, the subject of this sketch, is one of the judges of the eighteenth judicial district of Iowa and has been for more than thirty years one of the best known lawyers in the eastern part of this state. IIe is the son of Samnel W. and Elizabeth (Bair) Smith, being the sixth child in a family of eleven children. He was born in Ohio, and spent his boyhood and youth in Washington county, that state, moving to lowa with the family in the spring of 1855. It is a matter of considerable pride with him that he drove one of his father's teams from their Ohio home to Linn county, and that the family spent their first night in this county in a tent pitched where the village of Viola now stands.
During the two years following their arrival in Linn county he aided his brothers in breaking and stocking the land which his father had purchased, and by teaching in the winter months he was able to contribute toward paying for the land purchased. His father being a farmer, Milo P. lived the life of a country boy, going to school during the winter months and working on the farm the balance of the year. The instinet for a good edneation with him was always strong, and before he came to Iowa he had spent two terms in an academy. Two years after he came to Iowa he found that his services could be spared at home, and he therefore entered an academy at Fairview, where he remained about one year, going in the fall of 1858 to Cornell College at Mount Vernon. By teaching and working during vacations he paid his way and was graduated from that col- lege in 1861.
Upon graduating from Cornell College he went into the office of Judge Wil- liam Smyth of Marion and later taught in the high school at Tipton. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted several times, and within a year, for his excellence in maintaining discipline and
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bravery upon the field, he was commissioned captain of his company, serving under General Sherman in all of the latter's campaigns after the battle of Shiloh, and led his company in every battle in which it was engaged, including Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Atlanta and others. Seeing that the war was about ended he resigned his commission and within a week thereafter we find him in the law de- partment of the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1866.
Mr. Smith entered the general law practice at Marengo, moving to Cedar Rapids in 1882, after he had served for eight years as district attorney in the eighth judicial district composed of Cedar, Jones, Johnson, Linn, Iowa, Benton and Tama counties, comprising the largest district in the state. Mr. Smith's reputation as a prosecutor during his eight years as district attorney extended throughout the state. In a large territory, then in the process of rapid develop- ment and with the population rapidly increasing, he found an abundance of erim- inal cases in every county, and so careful was his preparation of cases and so vigorous his prosecution of the trials that his name became a terror to the criminal class. When he entered again into the civil practice, he became attorney for many of the old residents of Cedar Rapids, whose faithful counsellor he re- mained until his election as judge in 1906.
On November 22d, 1866, Judge Sinith was united in marriage to Miss Mildred E. Hall of Tipton, Iowa, and to them have been born three children. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, he has been a stalwart republican, and his opinions carried weight in the councils of his party ; and up to the time he was elected judge he took a very active and prominent part in political affairs. He holds membership in the First Presbyterian church and is also identified with the Masonic fraternity, the Grand Army of the Republic and the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. Public-spirited and progressive, his opinions and views upon any momentous question are pronounced fearlessly and are supported courage- ously. While quick in his judgment of men and affairs, he is usually accurate in his conclusions, and his opinions are worth considering.
He is a most congenial man and devoted friend. He attaches his friends to him through the manifestation of his own friendly nature. He has a cultured mind. With a retentive memory and a keen relish for general reading, he has not allowed the exacting duties of a large practice in his profession to prevent an acquaintance with the eurrent literary and historical works, in which he takes a deep interest; and this renders him especially attractive as a friend and compan- ion. He has been characterized as a strong and dependable sort of a man, imbued with that quality, which for want of a better term, has been called personal mag- netism. It is definitely known that what he undertakes, he accomplishes, and that his influence is always on the side of progress, truth, justice, right and advance- ment, whether in relation to individual or public affairs.
As a judge he has shown that well grounded knowledge of the law that only comes by long and varied experience at the trial table, for as a trial lawyer Judge Smith will always be known, honored and crowned by his brother lawyers. With implicit faith in his client's cause, with almost perfect mastery of the art of cross- examination, with the true eloquence of sincerity, and with a keen sense and use of wit and repartee when most effective, it is believed he has waged more successful court-room battles than any other lawyer in Linn county.
Notwithstanding the ereditable manner in which he discharged his duties as a student, citizen, soldier and practitioner at the bar, it remained for him after he had passed the meridian of life to crown his achievements by his record as judge of the district court of the eighteenth judicial district of Iowa.
Arduous work on the farm in his younger days so strengthened a naturally good constitution, that he still possesses a large, strong and rugged physique, capable of much physical and mental endurance. He was always fond of work in the court room and prefers holding court to loafing. Thus he holds court
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practically the year round, transaeting an enormous amount of business each year. If he is not engaged in presiding over the district court, he is generally found presiding over the juvenile court. A lover of work, with nearly half a century of experience at the bar, he came to the bench with his physical and mental powers unimpaired to serve the people. He absorbs a ease very quickly, getting to the very heart of it by asking questions of counsel. He governs his own court, but at the same time is fair minded, patient and so guides the judicial machinery as to ascertain the very truth of the question at issue. He has inaugurated many val- mahle improvements in the method of dispatching court business that are highly appreciated by the bar. He is absolutely fearless and never has his judicial ear to the ground listening to popular elamor in a case that is on trial before him. That the people of this district appreciate his services on the bench is best shown by the fact that they keep him there. To this may be added that those services are appreciated throughout the state which he has graeed by the efforts of a life time.
JOHN W. BARRY
John W. Barry, for many years prominently known as a representative of journalistie interests, especially widely known among the lumbermen of the country, is now connected with commercial affairs in Cedar Rapids as a member of the Hawkeye Lumber & Coal Company. Whatever success he has attained, whatever progress he has reached is due to his own efforts and ability -- ability that has been wrought out of experience and the improvement of opportunity.
He was born in Belvidere, Illinois, October 2, 1857, and his youthful exper- iences were those that usually fall to the lot of the farm lad. There stands out in memory with elcar distinetness, however, one event, his earliest recollection heing the picture of a dark, rainy day when his mother, with the tears rolling down her cheeks, drove a team of mules into the town. In the distance was a crowd of men - a regiment of soldiers going to the front - and among the number was his father. After attending the country schools for several winters Mr. Barry had the benefit of further instruction in the Peoria County Normal School at Peoria, Illinois. But the failure of crops forced him to abandon the course at the Christ- mas holidays, as he had not money sufficient to meet further school expenses. S. H. White, who had charge of the school, wrote to learn the reason of his not returning, and when told advanced the money and kept him supplied until he felt that he owed more than he could repay, and in spite of the protests of Mr. White left school before the time of graduation and took up teaching on his own account. In that profession he made steady progress, becoming principal and later superin- tendent of city schools.
In 1884, however, Mr. Barry turned his attention to commercial interests, be- coming connected with the lumber trade, with which he has since been continuously associated, although other interests have also claimed a portion of his time and energies. In 1895 lie established and condueted in Chicago a credit agency for lumbermen and issued a referenec book known as the Lumberman's Roster, giving the financial standing of retail lumbermen throughout the country. At length he disposed of this business to the Lumberman's Credit Association, now of Chicago. In 1896 he became an equal partner in the ownership of the Northwestern Lumber- man and was associated with B. W. Judson in editing and publishing that paper. Mr. Barry sold his interest at a later day to the American Lumberman but continued on the editorial staff of that publication until August, 1900 - the date of his arrival in Cedar Rapids, at which time he joined W. H. McClintoek in form- ing the Hawkeye Lumber & Coal Company. From the beginning the enterprise
JOHN W. BARRY
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at this point has received a substantial support and its trade has constantly in- creased in volume and importance as the years have gone by, the business being now of very gratifying and substantial proportions. He also established and brought out what is known as The Lumberman's Teleeode, which is a cipher code for use in telegraphing and was prepared and published by Mr. Barry during the first two years of his residence in Cedar Rapids. He has performed much other valuable service of benefit to the coal and lumber industry of the country, perhaps the most widely known being The Lumberman's Actuary, a volume, of which he is the author, published in 1893, its sales reaching about twenty-five thousand copies. Ilis prominence among lumbermen is indicated in the fact that in 1903 he was elected president of the Northern Lumbermen's Association, his term of office being characterized by substantial work for the benefit of the lumbermen of the country. That his fellow members endorsed his administration was indicated by his reelection in 1904. He is now president and a director of the North Empire Timber Company and also a member of the board of directors of the Glenn Voting Machine Company.
On the 28th of January, 1886, Mr. Barry was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Anna Shearon, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Thompson) Shearon, of Rich- mond, Indiana, and six children have been born to them, namely: Owen T., who was graduated from the Iowa State University with the degree of M. E .; Russell J., who will graduate in 1911 with the degree of Electrical Engineer; Donald S .. who was a member of the Cedar Rapids high school graduating class of 1910 and in the fall of the same year entered the Iowa State University; Halford Barry, who is now a senior in the high school ; Catherine, attending grammar school ; and John W., Jr. The family have a pleasant home at No. 1818 B Avenue. Mrs. Barry takes special charge of the publication and sale of The Lumberman's Actuary, of which her husband is the author. She is quite prominent in church and club work, being a member of the Central Park Presbyterian church and actively interested in its charities. She belongs to the Women's Club and the Eastern Star and is a member of the Cedar Rapids Art Association.
In his political affiliations Mr. Barry is a republican and was aetive in securing commission government for Cedar Rapids. Ile takes a commendable interest in national politics but has never cared for official honors, although he served for a number of years as a member of the library board. He is a prominent member and one of the directors of the Commercial Club and finds his chief pleasure in outdoor life and camping. He is well known in Masonic cireles, having become a member of the craft at Fairbury, Nebraska, July 6, 1891, and in 1900 he became a member of Crescent Lodge, No. 25, F. & A. M., of Cedar Rapids. He has been honored with the position of master in this lodge and has the highest regard of his brethren of the fraternity. He has also done special work in and for the grand lodge, being past deputy grand master of the grand lodge of Iowa, the worth of which has been recognized by the members of the mystic tie. In matters of eit- izenship he stands for all that is progressive and is eminently practical in all that he does for the benefit and improvement of the city of his residence.
MRS. FERDINAND SALLACH
Mrs. Ferdinand Sallach has for a number of years resided in Cedar Rapids with her family, her husband, however, passing away before she came to this city. He was born in Prussia, Germany, and was a son of Ferdinand and Caroline (Sleiter) Sallach. His youthful days were spent in his parents' home and when a young man he made his way to Chicago, his father accompanying him to that city. The father was a very fine mechanic, recognized as an expert workman and
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continually employed on inside work. Subsequently he returned to Germany, where his remaining days were passed.
Ferdinand Sallach learned the carpenter's trade in Germany and he, too, be- came an expert in that line. He thoroughly mastered the business, and his skill and ability were manifest in all that he did. Ile continued to follow his trade up to the time of his death, which occurred in Illinois near Chicago, on the 30th of January, 1892.
Mrs. Sallach afterward removed to Cedar Rapids, owing to the fact that her people were residing here. She bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Keiper, and on the 22d of December, 1865, gave her hand in marriage to Ferdinand Sallach. Her parents were Fred and Catharine (Maura) Keiper and her mother is still living at the venerable age of eighty years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sallach were born seven children : Minnie, who lives with her mother; Elizabeth, the wife of Frank Loese; Emma, the wife of Tom Newcombe, by whom she has six children - Flor- ence, Jennie, Charles, Viola, Paul and Clementine; Mary, who is the wife of George Carson and has two children - Arthur and Virginia; Fred, who was six- teen years of age at the time of his death and yet a school boy; and John and Arthur, both at home. Mrs. Sallaeh and her family attend the Lutheran church, of which she is a member. Since her husband's death she has devoted her atten- tion to her family, carefully rearing her sons and daughters and giving them every possible advantage. She has won many friends during the period of her residence in Cedar Rapids, where she is now well known.
GEORGE E. WALN
George E. Waln is a worthy representative of the agricultural interests of Bertram township, where he owns a tract of land of two hundred and thirteen acres, located on sections 23, 24 and 25. He is one of Linn county's native sons, born at Mount Vernon, November 19, 1853. the eighth in order of birth in a family of ten children, whose parents were E. D. and Mary J. (Adams) Waln. The father was born in Virginia, December 29, 1814, and there lived until 1830, when he made his way to Ohio and in that state he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Adams, who was born in Highland county. Their marriage was celebrated in the year 1837, after which they began their domestic life in the Buckeye state, but four years later they made a permanent location in Linn county, the year of their arrival here being 1841. The family home was es- tablished on a tract of land situated near Mount Vernon and there the father became identified with the farming life of the community. He became quite a prominent citizen, and giving his political support to the republican party was its first representative from Linn county sent to the legislature. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mount Vernon and became the first teacher in the Sunday school.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Waln were born ten children, the family record being as follows: A. T., living in Hawkeye, Iowa; Malissa, the wife of George W. Hazlett, a resident of Laporte, this state; Anna E., the wife of Henry Fuller- ton, of Clarion, Iowa; Cinderella, the wife of R. L. Wilson, a resident of South Dakota; Josie R., the wife of A. C. Powers, their home being in Peoria, Illinois; Sadie, the wife of W. T. Wright, of Sylvia, Kansas; Minnie, the wife of Thomas Foley, a resident of Crosby, Texas; George E., of this review; Charles, de- ceased; and Edith, the wife of Miles Cumming, of Mount Vernon, Iowa. Both the parents are deceased. the father passing away July 14, 1896, when he had reached the venerable age of eighty-two years. The mother survived little more than three years, being called to the home beyond on the 20th of October, 1899.
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George E. Waln was reared in Linn county, remaining under the parental roof until he attained his majority. In the meantime he acquired his education, receiving the advantages of a college eourse. He chose as his life work the oceu- pation to which he had been reared and when starting out for himself he pur- chased a traet of land in Wright county, Iowa, whereon he made his home for twenty years. In 1908 he purchased his present home farm of two hundred and thirteen aeres, situated on seetions 23, 24 and 25, Bertram township. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock and in his work is meeting with unbounded success. Mr. Waln has made some improvements on his place sinee taking possession and his is one of the valuable properties of this section of Linn county.
Mr. Waln was married in 1891 to Miss Katherine Haak, who was born in Pennsylvania, November 19, 1870, a daughter of Simon B. and Katherine (Sherk) Haak, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state, and whose fam- ily numbered seven children. In 1879 the parents came with their family to Linn county and the father purchased land near Lisbon, cultivating the same for a long period. He and his wife are now living in Lisbon.
Mr. and Mrs. Waln have a family of six children, four sons and two daugh- ters, namely : Ralph A., who was born June 16, 1892; Wanda, deceased; Clara, born April 1, 1896; Earl D., whose birth occurred March 11, 1899; Minard H., born November 20, 1901; and George E., Jr., whose birth occurred January 4, 1904. All are still with their parents.
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