USA > Iowa > Tama County > History of Tama County, Iowa, together with sketches of their towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 42
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in June, 1864. They have two children -Alice, born May 8, 1869 ; and Charles, August 4, 1871. In 1868, MI. Bradshaw was admitted to practice before the Su- preme Court of the State, at Dubuque, Iowa, before Judges Dillon, Cole, Beck and Wright. During his service in the Union Army, he was promoted to second Lieutenant then to first Lieutenant and dur- ing the last year of the war, he held the position of Captain. Mr. Bradshaw was formerly a Republican, but at the close of the war, joined the Democratic party.
Hon. L. G. Kinne, L. L. B., is one of the leading members of the bar of Tama county, and a member of the law firm of Struble & Kinne, of Toledo. He was born November 5, 1846, in Syracuse, New York ; a son of Esop and Lydia Kinne. Ilis father was a farmer living at the old homestead until his death in 1871; his mother died in 1865. Of the family, there are still living four boys and two girls. The subject of this sketch left home in 1865 and went to Mendota, Illinois, hav- ing in the meantime completed the course of the Syracuse High School. Remaining at Mendota during the summer of 1865, he kept books for his brother-in-law, and studied law with Ilon L. B. Crooker, since member of the Illinois legislature and present Collector of Internal Revenue with headquarters at Aurora, Illinois. In the fall he entered the Law Department of the University of Michigan, from which he graduated in 1868, receiving the degree of L. L. B. In the meantime, in 1867, was admitted to the Bar by the Supreme Court of Illinois. After graduating he return- ed to Mendota, Illinois, and opening an of- fice, practiced there until 1869, when he came
west and settled in Toledo, Tama county, where he still resides. Immediately after his arrival he formed a partnership with Charles H. Crawford, who came to the State with him, and continued in this con- neetion for about six months when this re- lation was dissolved, and he formed a partnership with David D. Appelgate. In 1876 this partnership was dissolved, and after continuing alone until Novem- ber, 1877, Mr. Kinne became a partner with Judge George R. Struble, under the firm name of Struble & Kinne, which bus- iness relation is still maintained. Mr. Kinne was married in 1869 to Miss Mary E. Abrams, of Peru, Ill. They have two children Lillian and Hettie.
Politically Mr. Kinne is a Democrat, and one of the leading men of that party in Iowa. He has been mayor of the city of Toledo, for three terms, and city at- torney one term. IIe has been the candi- date of his party for various high offices, among which are District Attorney, Circuit Judge, and in 1881 was the unanimous choice of his party for Governor of the State and ran considerably ahead of his ticket. He was also the unanimous choice of the Democratic party for the office of United States Senator and received a larger number of votes than any Demo- eratie candidate since the State became Republican in politics. For the past ten years he has served upon the Democratic State central committee, either as Secre- tary or Chairman, almost constantly. During the political campaign of 1882 he was chairman of the Democratie Central Committee and managed in a manner which excited surprise and consternation in
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L. G. Kine.
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY. 333
the ranks of the opposing parties. That his labor was efficient is shown by the official vote as compared with that of former years. In 1876 he was a delegate from Iowa to the National convention for the nomination of President. During his ean- didacy for Governor he made political speeches in fifty of Iowa's leading cities. In 1880, by invitation of the Democratic National Campaign Committee he spent three weeks in politieal speaking in the State of Indiana. In June, 1883, Mr. Kinne was again honored with the nomi- nation for Governor, and entered upon the campaign with strong hopes of an election. It will thus be seen that Mr. Kinne is con- sidered a leading member of the party with which he affiliates and in faet, has been honored by the party more than any other one man in the State. The fact that the Democratie party in Iowa is in the minority does not detract an atom from the flattering testimonial paid Mr. Kinne. He was unanimously chosen to represent and lead a party controlling over 100,000 votes, and it is a distinction of which any man may well be proud. Mr. Kinne in per- sonal appearance, is fine looking, being a little above the average height of men. He has at various times edited a paper in Toledo and is at present editor and part owner of the Tama county Democrat. As a writer, he is forcible, elear,
and pithy and uses excellent guage. His articles are sometimes severe but only when occasion requires it, and there is no affeetion or straining as is so
commonly found in newspaper editorials.
George L. Bailey, one of the prominent attorneys of Toledo, was born in ('amden,
Lorain county, Ohio, on May 26, 1837. He is a son of Johiel and Ilannah (Bates) Bailey, natives of Lewis county, New York, where they settled in an early day. In 1855, George's father emigrated to Tama county, loeating on seetion 14, To- ledo township, where he purchased land, opened a farm, and remained for a num- ber of years. In 1864, he returned to Ohio, and located near Oberlin for the purpose of edueating his family. The father died in 1864, leaving a widow and a large family to mourn his loss. Mrs. Bailey is still living at Toledo at the ad- vaneed age of 79. George L., the subject of this sketeh, was reared on a farm, and received a liberal education. In 1861 he was appointed deputy district elerk, which position he held until 1869. In the mean time he devoted all his spare time to the study of law. In 1869 he engaged in the land and loan business, and in January, 1871, was admitted to the bar, at a term of the circuit court, with Judge Struble pre- siding. IIe was married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 18th day of May, 1864, to Miss Hattie E. Horton, daughter of Dennis Ilorton, a resident of Lorain county, Ohio. Two children have been born to them- Mabel H., who died in infancy, and Rollin H., born on the 27th of February, 1868. Mr. Bailey, in politics, is a Republican, and has given his support to that party since its organization. In 1869 he was elected justice of the peace, and held that office for two years. In 1873 he was elected clerk of Toledo township, and also city recorder of Toledo, holding the latter office for two years and the former for seven. Mr. Bailey is the present clerk of
12
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
the school board of Toledo, having been first elected to that position in 1874. On the 9th of October, 1876, he was admitted to practice before all the circuit courts of the United States, by Judge Dillon, at Des Moines. The career of George L. Bailey has been both honorable and sue- cessful. Ile has always enjoyed the con- fidence and respect of the community in which he has lived. Since he came to To- ledo he has taken a deep interest in every- thing that pertained to the growth and prosperity of the town. His social quali- ties are of the highest order; genial, affa- ble, and a gentleman in every sense of the word. He is an upright citizen, a straight- forward business man, an ardent worker in the temperance cause, and would be an honor to any community in which his lot might be cast. Ile is a prominent mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, holding the senior wardenship of Toledo Lodge No. 118, and has been an officer of that frater- nity ever since joining it, in 1866, with the exception of one year.
E. C. Ebersole, Reporter of the Su- preme Court of Iowa, and senior member of the law-firm of Ebersole & Willett, is, from his official position and private character, worthy of prominent mention among the leading citizens of Tama coun- ty. His earlier career was one continuous struggle to overcome obstacles, which seemed almost insurmountable, but devel- oped in him an energy which was a guar- entee that he would not fail to reach a position of honor and influence. Mr. Eber- sole embodies the best traits of his ances- try. Of German parentage, he is, in its broadest and finest significance, a typical American. lle was born October 18, 1840,
at Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania. His father, Jacob Ebersole, was a carpenter hy trade, whose industry and thrift kept him in com- fortable circumstances. He was radical in all his proelivities, especially in his op- position to the abominations of slavery and intemperance, and instilled into his children principles of integrity, self-re- spect, and duty to mankind. He felt his own lack of education, and therefore made provision for his children to receive such aid in procuring an education, as they might desire. He died in 1856. His wife, Catharine ( Keister ) Ebersole, is living at Lecompton, Kansas, with her only daught- er, Mrs. Flora Stauffer. She has two sur- viving sons-Solomon K., a merchant at Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, and E. C., the subject of this sketch. E. (. Ebersole passed his youth in the publie schools of his native place. The terms of his fath- er's will gave him an opportunity to secure a liberal education, and he entered Mt. Pleasant College. At the end of a year he found himself in health so impaired as to necessitate rest from mental application, and, when sufficiently recovered to resume his studies, the College had passed under the control of Otterhein University, of Ohio, and he followed it thither. January 1, 1861, he had nearly reached the close of the junior year in the classical course, when he was again compelled to suspend mental work. His ambition to proceed in his course of study led him in a few months to seek some institution of learn- ing that offered a wider range of meta- physical studies, and, in April, 1861, he entered Amherst College, Massachusetts. Professor Seeley, now President of the College, occupied the chair of metaphys-
*
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
ics. Manual exercise was a feature of the curriculum, and Mr. Ebersole found it beneficial to his health. He graduated in 1862, in a class of 53. He engaged for a few months as teacher in the celebrated Traey Institute at Tarrytown on the Hud- son, and then returned home. He enlisted in the spring of 1863 in Diek's ( detach- ed ) Pennsylvania Cavalry, but was dis- charged in October following. During his last year in College, he was elected tutor at Otterbein, but did not accept. In July, 1863, he was elected Professor of Mathe- maties in Western College, Iowa, holding the chair two years. In the spring of 1864, he enlisted in the "Student's Com- pany, " ( Company D., 44th Iowa Infant- ry, Col. Stephen H. Henderson command- ing ) to serve 100 days. On the expira- tion of that period, he resumed his duties in the College. IIe was married Septem- ber 25, 1865, to Francis E. Spencer, a teacher in the same College. Resigning their situations, they entered into an en- gagement to teach in the Fort Madison Academy, but Mr. Ebersole's health again failing, they abandoned teaching and moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In the fall of 1866, Mr. Ebersole went to Chicago to pursue the study of law, and was engaged as tutor in a private family. - Again illness interfered with his studies and he went to Pennsylvania to aid in the final settle- ment of his father's estate. This duty discharged, he returned to lowa and pur- chased a tract of land near Jefferson, Green county, with the intention of com- bining out-door interests with mental study, but a disastrous fire put an end to this scheme. Returning to Cedar Rapids, he was tendered the management of
"Western College " and accepted. The students, by petition to the Trustees, pro- enred his election as President in June, 1868, but on the same day he was elected Principal of the Preparatory Department, and assistant Professor of Ancient Lan- guages in the Iowa State University. Ile accepted the latter position, which he held for two years. Ad interim, he had continued his course of preparation for the legal profession, and, resigning his appointment in the University, in June, 1870, he was admitted to the bar at the Circuit Court of Johnston county, Judge W. E. Miller pre- siding. Mr. Ebersole began practice at Iowa City, where he was associated with J. II. Coon, and later with .Indge Z. C. Inse. In the spring of 1871, he went to Adel, Dallas county, Iowa, where he pur- sued his profession, and after a few months formed a partnership with S. A. Calvert, now Judge of one of the circuits of the Fifth Judicial District, under the the firm name of Ebersole & Calvert. He sold his business interests to his partner and went to Arkansas, prospecting. On his return, he was appointed Principal of the High School at Cedar Rapids, which he taught one year, his wife assisting. In 1873, he formed his present business rela- tion with .1. W. Willett, ( see sketch ) and located at Toledo, Iowa. This is now the oldest and one of the most prosperous of the law-firms in Tama county. Mr. Eb- ersole served as Mayor of Toledo in 1876 and 1877, and again in 1881, and has acted in other municipal positions. In 1882 he was elected Reporter of the Supreme Court of lowa, for four years. Mr. Eber- sole is a man of keen observation, dis- criminating judgment, ripe scholarship,
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
possessing a mind of wonderful balance and discipline. Ilis peculiar gifts render him one of the safest lawyers and ablest counsellors in the State. Mrs. Ebersole's parents were Daniel and Elizabeth ( Hor- ton ) Spencer, natives of New York, Her father died in 1882 , her mother resides at Cedar Rapids. Mr. and Mrs. Ebersole are members of the Congregational church. They have an adopted daughter-Maud. Mr. Ebersole is a Republican by heritage and choice. The political impressions re- ceived from his father, at a time when to be a " free-soiler" was to be a hero, were sanctioned and confirmed by his mature judgment in after life. He believes in a very broad sense, that " all men are creat- ed equal, " and rejoices to see those in the lower ranks going up higher, and to help them when he can. Ile refers with par- donable pride and enthusiasm to the fact that his relatives, both on his father's and mother's side, are all, so far as he knows, sober, honest, industrious and thrifty peo- ple, contented with such gains and honors as they have justly earned, and simple hearted enough to believe in the general goodness of their fellow-men, and in the existence and benevolence of an overrul- ing Providence. In all matters of true re- form, Mr. Ebersole belongs to the " Right Wing. " In these matters he is not vis- ionary, but practical, thinking it wiser to. seek only so much as is fairly attainable than, by demanding all that is desirable, to fail in realizing anything.
James W. Willett, of the law firm of Ebersole & Willett, is a native of Mercer county, Illinois, where his parents belong- ed to the pioneer element which formed the world wide repute of the Sucker State,
and developed her matchless record as a commonwealth. He passed his youth among the influences of the early period in the history of Illinois, and from them he received the qualities which have thus far characterized his career in public life. Ambitious energy, unfaltering conrage, and a total want of self-consciousness are among his many marked traits. Ile early learned that a career worthy of his man- hood would involve much of the stuff that baffles and overwhelms weak men, and, believing in all sincerity, that all he could be, depended on his inflexible faithfulness to the promptings of his inner nature, he took his resolves, and has never flinched his self-imposed obligations. In the work of the world, he de- cided to perform his part according to his own understanding, and subject to no vacillations from the predjudices and mis- conceptions of other men. His commerce with daily events and exegencies of the times has no feeble or uncertain ring. If he is misjudged by his generation, the ul- timatum of his record will justly fix the responsibility. He regards his life and abilities as trusts of a character that ad- mits of no dallying or deferring, and, in any emergency, or on any occasion, he acts with decision and directness of pur- pose. He is a candid and impassioned speaker, ranks fairly as an advocate among the legal fraternity of Iowa, and stands to the front in the interests of the political element to which he belongs. On coming to Iowa he at once threw himself into the arena of politics, and has ever since done valiant service in the Republican ranks of
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
his adopted State. General oratory, such as the period demands is his forte, and whatever the issue which enlists the strength of his eloquence, the element he represents suffers no disappointment. In forensic debate he is well-nigh peerless, and the judicial records of the courts where he has acted as advocate in some of the most important cases that have been argued before those august tribunals, pre- sent an enviable exhibit of his success in his chosen profession. Mr. Willett was born March 8, 1846. HIe is a son of Wil- liam and Nancy .I. (Dennison) Willett, residents of Mercer county, Illinois. Ilis father was born in Mead county, Kentucky, and after his removal to Illinois engaged in mercantile business. Ilis mother was a native of Wayne county, Indiana. Mr. Willett obtained a common school educa- tion, and in the spring of 1863, left the paternal roof to make his single handed contest with the world, and during the following summer, was a sailor on the great lakes, preparatory to a more impor- tant step. Ile enlisted in the United States navy, October 1, 1863, and was enrolled at Cleveland, Ohio. He was assigned to the United States steamer "Springfield," under Commodore Foote, in the Mississippi Squadron of Admiral Porter. lle was ranked as "Boatswain's Mate," and after a year's service on the steamer he was trans- ferred to the Naval Hospital Service on the Mississippi. He followed sea-faring and river service occupation during sev- eral years, gathering material and knowl- edge of men and matters, which he has made subservient to his after career. Id- interim, he pursued a course of study at Eastman's Commercial College at Pough-
keepsie, New York, and was graduated with the class of 1867. In the spring of 1870 he made a flying visit to Tama coun- ty on business, and again in December of that year. February 1, 1871, he entered the law office of Stivers & Safely at Toledo to prosecute the studies of the profes- sion. lle was admitted to the bar, Feb- ruary 26, 1872, and remained with Messrs. Stivers & Safely until .July, 1873. He had subsequently been admitted to practice in all the Federal and State Courts of lowa. In August, 1873, he formed a co-partner- ship with the Hon. E. C. Ebersole, of Tole- do under the firm name and style of Eber- sole & Willett. Until the summer of 1879 their business was conducted at Toledo ; since that date Mr. Ebersole represents the firm at that place and Mr. Willett manages the office of the firm at Tama City ; the co-partnership remaining intact. Mr. Willett was married December 24, 1874, to Miss A. R. Stoner, daughter of Isaac and Catherine Stoner, long-time residents of Toledo. Mrs. Willett was born in Seneca county, Ohio. Their three children - William S., Maggie M. and James H., are aged seven, five and three years, respectively.
S. C. Leland commenced the practice of law in Tama county in 1875, locating at Toledo, and continued in practice until elected clerk of courts of Tama county, in 1880. In 1882 he was re-elected to the office by a larger majority than any candi- date upon the same ticket, and is now serving his second term. He was born in Quincy, Branch county, Mich., December 23, 1844. His parents were Elijah Leland and Julia Sherwood, who emigrated to
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
Branch county, Michigan, in 1832, where the father took up land, opened a farm, and remained until his death, which oc- curred in June, 1863. S. C. Leland was reared and educ :ted in his native State. In December, 1861, he enlisted in B .ttery G, First Michigan Light Artillery. In their first engagement at Cumberland Gap, he was taken prisoner and was held for two months, when he was paroled and returned to Michigan, where he. remained until he was exchanged. Ile again joined his battery at Milliken's Bend and partic- ipated in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hills. Black River Bridge, siege and capture of Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., and others. He was mustered ont at Jackson, Michigan, in January 1865. After he left the army he attended school at Hinsdale for three years, and in 1871 he went to Charles City, Floyd county, Iowa, where he entered the law office of S. P. Leland. In 1873 he was admitted to the bar, and in 1875 came to Tama county, where he followed the practice of law un- til he was elected clerk of courts of Tama county. Mr. Leland has many of those characteristics which make a man popular. Ile is kind and considerate, and in his official capacity is always courteous, ren- dering all assistance necessary to those with whom he has business to transact. Mr. Leland is the present mayor of the city of Toledo. He was married in Branch county, Michigan, to Miss Harriet Porter. By this union there have been four chil- dren, three of whom are living-Fred, Jennie and Lillie. Mr. Leland is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias, Royal Arch Masons, and Grand Army of the Republic.
In politics he is a republican, and east his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.
Jacob W. Lamb, attorney-at-law, of To- ledo, is one among the successful young men of Tama county. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1849. His parents, D. C. and Rebecca (Waters) Lamb, came from Ohio to Tama county in the spring of 1856, when there were but few inhabitants and little expectation that Tama county would ever be what it is now. Jacob's early life was spent on a farm, and he was enabled to acquire a good common school education. In 1869 he entered the Iowa State I'niversity, and remained there six years, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy at his graduation, on the 30th of June, 1875. After receiving his diplo- ma, he determined to make law his profes- sion, and to this end, commenced his studies in the law department at Iowa City, remaining one year. June 20, 1876, he received his degree of Bachelor of Laws, and was admitted to practice in all the courts of the State, at the State House in Des Moines. From that date Mr. Lamb has been in the active law practice at Toledo, Tama county. Ile has built up a fine and Incrative practice. He is known as a man of untiring industry, sterling integrity, decided character and has every promise of a prosperous and honorable career. Ile is a hard student, thoroughly in love with his chosen profes- sion, and a never tiring worker. Sincehe has been a member of the bar of Tama county he has been very close and atten- tive to business, and it is already having its effect in a business way. In 1881 he worked hard and gave liberally to secure
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the location of the western college at To- ledo; having himself had the advantages of a higher education, he felt keenly the importance and benefit of having a thor- ough educational institution in their midst, and therefore gave financially more than any other business man in Toledo of his years.
James A. Merritt, of Toledo, is a son of James B. and Laura C. ( Wing) Merritt. and was born in Lunda, Livingston coun- ty, N. Y. October 10, 1853. His father, also born in N. Y., was a mason by trade, which business he followed in his native State. In March, 1856, the family moved to Tama county, and pre-empted land on section 16, Highland township. Ilere James was reared, receiving his education in the district schools, and at seventeen, attended four terms at Iowa College, Grin- nell. In March, 1873, he went to the State Agricultural College, remaining until part way through the junior year, then attended the State University at Iowa City for about one year, and in July, 1877, came to Toledo, and entered the law office of Struble & Goodrich, to pursue the study of that profession. When this partner- ship was dissolved, he entered the office of Struble & Kinne, studying at night and writing for the firm during the day, re- ceiving $14.00 per mouth for his services. In November, 1878, Mr. Merritt was ad. mitted to practice in the circuit and dis- trict courts of lowa, by Judge MeKean, his examination being conducted by C. B. bradshaw. J. W. Willett, and M. Austin. Ile at once opened an office at Tama City, continuing there until the following June, then came to Toledo, where he is at pres-
ent. On the 1st of June, 1881, he formed a partnership with W. G. Sears, a former classmate, and now does a general business under the firm name of Merritt & Sears. Mr. Merritt was married August 9, 1882, to Miss Ida L. McClain, a native of Illi- nois, born January 3, 1857. Iler parents were James and Elizabeth R. ( Heflin ) McClain, natives of Flemingsburg, Ky. Mr. Merritt, in politics, is a Republican.
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