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CHAPTER XI
THE NEWSPAPERS
Decorah, as the county seat, naturally attracted the early-day disciples of Guttenburg and Faust. Here in 1855 a man named Tracy established the Chronicle. The story of this publication and its successor is briefly told in the following item taken from the Decorah Republican of Oct. 26, 1905: "In looking over some of his father's papers recently, H. P. Nicholson, Jr., of Military township, came across some papers that bore light upon the early day newspapers of Decorah and their efforts at existence. They also indicate that Mr. Nicholson was then, as he has always been since, a believer in publicity and an interested follower of the news of the pay. The papers above referred to are--all but one--receipts for subscriptions. The first is dated November 23, 1855, and calls for a year's subscription to the Decorah Chronicle beginning with Vol. I, No.4, and running to Vol. 2, No.3. Tracy & Co. were its owners and this was probably the first paper of Decorah. A little over a year later--December 6, 1856--another receipt calls for a year's reading of the Republican, of which B. F. Jones was then editor, from Vol. I, No. 35, to Vol. 2, No. 34. This indicates that Tracy & Co. didn't any more than last the year out. June 15, 1858, is the date of the third receipt which was issued by F. Belfoy for one year of the Decorah Gazette, beginning with Vol. I, No. 1." The Gazette was the immediate predecessor of the Decorah Republic. In the fall of 1859, Wesley Bailey, of Utica, New York, grandfather of this historian, came to Decorah and purchased the plant of the Gazette, engaging Mr. Belfoy to remain and hold the field until spring, when, in company with his son Ansel K. Bailey and their families, he returned to Decorah and assumed control of the paper, the firm being Wesley Bailey & Son. Its name was changed 143 PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 144 to the Republic and the first number under the new management was issued on April 13, 1860. In March, 1866, the name was changed to the Republican and it has so remained during the intervening years. Because of failing health, Wesley Bailey disposed of his interest in the paper to his sons Ansel and Alvin Stewart Bailey in 1869, the firm name being changed to A. K. Bailey & Brother and remaining so until 1885. In that year Charles T. Bailey purchased the interest of A. S. Bailey, and the firm became A. K. Bailey & Son. Two years later E. C. Bailey purchased the interest of his brother, and in 1906 the business was incorporated, the name remaining A. K. Bailey & Son. On the death of A. K. Bailey in September, 1909, E. C. Bailey assumed the complete management of the business in both business and editorial departments. The Decorah Joumal is the second oldest newspaper in Winneshiek
county. Its history begins back in 1866 with the establishment
of The Winneshiek Register by George W. Haislet. Alexander's History
says the office was destroyed by fire in November of that year.
A new office was purchased, but in the spring of 1869 the paper
was compelled to suspend. "August 25, 1869, he (Mr. Haislet)
re-issued his paper under the name of Register & Ventilator,
afterwards dropping the first half of the name. Several years
later W. N. Burdick became a partner with Haislet, and soon bought
him out entirely, and in 1874 was sole proprietor, and changed
the name Ventilator to Winneshiek Register. In November, 1874,
Mr. Burdick sold out to A. A. Aiken and Henry Woodruff. Early
in February, 1875, the Saturday Bee was issued as an extra from
the office of the Register. In the latter part of 1875 the Register
establishment absorbed the Independent (which was started by Ed.
Wood and S. S. Haislet in the summer of 1874), the combined paper
taking the name Independent-Register. In January, 1876, Mr. Aiken
sold out his interest, Henry Woodruff becoming editor and manager
of the Bee, which continued without change till January, 1879,
Ed. Wood taking the Independent-Register, and soon dropping the
word Register from the name. About the first of June, 1876, Mr.
Wood sold out and gave place to J. F. Meagher, who, in the latter
part of July, stepped down and out, Mr. Woodruff of the Decorah
Journal becoming its purchaser, and its subscription list was
united with that of the Bee. In January, lR79, the regular publication
of the weekly Decorah Journal commenced, it being virtually the
successor of the old Register and Independent, and the Bee office
soon dropped its separate character and became part of the Journal
establishment." Mr. Haislet spent several. years in Cresco,
after leaving the Register, but in August, 1875, returned to Decorah
and started the publication of the Ventilator, but it suspended
in a short time, its editor going to Dubuque, where he remained
until the fall of 1876, when he once more engaged in business
here, starting the Decorah Radical. Mr. Haislet died March 6,
1881, but his widow continued the paper until May 1, 1882, when
Charles H. Craig purchased the plant and changed the paper's name
to the Decorah Pantagraph. On November IS, 1884, W. E. Alexander
bought out Mr. Craig and the paper's name was changed to the Press,
but after a few months he sold out to Mr. Woodruff of the Journal.
In 1891 C. C. Coutant, who had been located at Calmar for several
years, bought an interest in the Journal and two years later acquired
his partner's interest also. He continued in ownership until about
six years ago, when he sold out to Charles Meyer of Leaf River,
Illinois, and thereafter followed three partnerships-Meyer &
Mead, PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 145 Meyer & Holmes (the latter, W. H. Holmes, who had been foreman of the Journal for some time), and Holmes & Biermann, F. E. Biermann being the purchaser of Meyer's interest. Mr. Biermann purchased Mr. Holmes' interest in 1911 and has since been sale owner. The third paper in age in Winneshiek county is the Decorah-Posten, the leading semi-weekly Norwegian newspaper in America. B. Anundsen, its founder, came to Decorah in 1867 and opened an office for the purpose of printing the various publications of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod. In September, 1874, he began the publication of Posten and gradually it grew both in size and popularity. In 1882 he was sending out 7,000 copies weekly, and in the years immediately succeeding the subscription list grew rapidly, passing successively in short periods the 10,000 mark, 15,000, 20,000 and on up until in the '90's the paper was going to more than 30,000 subscribers in all parts of the world. When it was changed from a weekly to a semi-weekly its popularity was still further increased and it has continued to grow steadily and substantially. At the present time 40,000 copies are issued twice each week. The equipment for printing this large number of papers is of the modern type employed by the city dailies and is complete in all departments. As is well known to the people of the county, Mr. Anundsen died in March, 1913, after an illness of about three years. His business had previously been incorporated under the title of The B. Anundsen Publishing Company and is ably conducted, the business management having fallen upon Robert B. Bergerson, who was a protege of Mr. Anundsen. In the biographical volume of this work will be found a sketch of Mr. Amundsen's life. The Decorah Public Opinion, of which Harry J. Green is owner and editor, was first issued at Cresco by Fred L. Akers. In 1895 it was moved to Decorah and the year following Mr. Green acquired an interest in the business. In 1900 he purchased Mr. Akers' share, thus becoming sole owner. The paper has enjoyed a steady growth and is recognized as one of the prominent republican newspapers of Northeastern Iowa. Like all of the newspaper plants of Decorah its equipment is adequate and modern and its pages are always newsy. While not strictly a newspaper concern, the Lutheran Publishing House is entitled to its share of credit in the development of the printing industry in Winneshiek country. As its name implies, its principal business is one of publishing books--prayer books, hymnals, Bibles, text and reference books--and religious publications, largely in the Norwegian language. It is the printing office of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod of America and here some seven or eight church and Sunday school papers are published. It has complete printing and binding departments; and while it does not seek outside work, still a large amount of such work comes to it unsought. For many years its place of business was on Main street, at the east edge of what is now the Government postoffice site, but in the '80s the former Arlington hotel building at the west end of Water street was purchased and remodeled. Last year it was again remodeled and a large addition built, and as a result the business is now housed in the most modern printing office structure in Northeastern Iowa. Its affairs are under the direction of a board of trustees, but L. S. Dale is the manager. Calmar first acquired a newspaper in 1870 when T. B. Wood started
the Winneshiek Representative, but after about a year the paper
was moved to Ossian PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 146 and soon after it was discontinued. Samuel S. Haislet, brother of George W. Haislet, issued the Calmar Guardian for about two years from April 19, 1876. An interim of four years followed when there was no paper published there but in June, 1882, the Critic came into existence, piloted by W. C. Eaton. It could not have lived more than a year, for in the files of the Decorah Republican for 1883 we find mention of the starting of the Calmar Clarion by A. E. Winrott during the latter part of July. Mr. Winrott was a railway mail clerk and spent his time while not engaged on the road in the management of his printing establishment. He also developed a nice business in practice cards and cases for use by mail clerks in perfecting themselves in their work of sorting mail for the various routes. This department proved so satisfactory that he finally discontinued his newspaper and moved to Chicago, where he subsequently became prosperous through the sale of specialties pertaining to railway mail service. Soon after he left, C. C. Coutant, who had previously resided at New Hampton, located at Calmar and started the publication of the Herald, which he discontinued in 189I. S. R. Yager started the Courier in 1893 and remains at the helm. Ridgeway is the last town in the. county that has secured newspaper representation. In the '90's Herman W. Haislet, younger son of George W. Haislet, who founded the Winneshiek Register in Decorah in 1866, established the Ridgeway Record. It had an existance of about a year. In 1902 E. W. Booton established the Review, which he sold to M. Lee Hathaway in 19°4. Under!\Ir. Hathaway's management the paper has steadily improved, and the office equipment is as complete as any small town can boast of. Fort Atkinson, for some years, had a worthy representative in The Times, which was established by A. R. Dodd. C. V. Summers later purchased an interest and subsequently became sole owner. Seeing what he considered a better opening, Mr. Summers moved his plant to Lime Springs, and since that time Fort Atkinson has been without a paper. Prior to this two other newspapers had existed. In 1875 Frank L. Bradley published the Fort Atkinson News, and about 1889 Henry Hess published "Life Bote," a German paper. As stated in the history of the Calmar newspaper, Ossian's first publication was the Winneshiek Representative. Among its successors was the Herald, which had an existence of some time, but it was not until 1885 that a permanent newspaper was acquired. Early in that year Henry Woodruff of Decorah started the Ossian Bee, and in May, M. J. Carter became associate editor. In 1887 Mr. Carter bought the business and for a number of years thereafter was its publisher. A. C. Heck was its next editor. For several years he was sale proprietor and enjoyed a good patronage. In 1905, T. F. Schmitz purchased a half interest, the partnership continuing until 1910 when Mr. Heck sold his ho1dings to Mr. Schmitz, who has since been in sale control. In 1906 Alexander K. Kaupel began the publication of the Ossian Enterprise. The town was scarcely large enough for two papers and after an existence of nearly four years the paper was discontinued on August 1, 1910. _____________ THE MEDICAL PROFESSION The record of the medical profession in Winneshiek county, for the earlier years, has proven difficult to trace. No history that has been compiled seemed to consider these most necessary citizens worthy of separate consideration. Here and there may be found mention of them separately, but quite generally such mention is made in connection with some activity foreign to their profession. This in itself is indicative that the pioneer physicians were men of more than ordinary character, whose ability was not confined to the treatment of the ills of mankind. Possibly one of the first of the medical profession to locate in the county was Doctor Andros who spent some years in Fort Atkinson and Decorah. The record clearly indicates that Dr. J. M. Greene and his brother-in-law, Dr. Thomas J. Hazlett, were among the early day practitioners in Decorah, and it is well known that Dr. Henry C. Bullis came to Decorah in 1852, making his home here until claimed by death. He was one of "the busy, successful physicians,' and a man who did much in shaping the welfare of the county and state. Beside his home activities he served as trustee and regent of Iowa State University, was examining surgeon on the pension board from 1865 to 1876, and was also president of the State Medical Society. Mention is found of him in the chapter on schools and railroad construction. Dr. George Bolles, was also one of the pioneers here, later moving to South Dakota where he repeated his experience of the early '50's in this county. In 1857 Dr. W. F. Coleman joined the ranks of physicians. He became the first mayor of Decorah after its incorporation, served on the pension board and as a member of the commission of insanity. He also served for two years as assistant surgeon of the 17th Iowa Infantry. Memory must serve partially in referring to some of the men who followed the foregoing, nor are we writing to declare that these were the only ones who were then practicing here. It is the impression of this writer that Dr. J. Wilber Curtis was here before 1860. He was a man of many eccentricities, but nevertheless a most capable physician, and with his interest aroused he has been known to lead many a forlorn hope to victory. As an obstetrician he had few equals. 147 PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 148 Dr. Fordyce Worth, the last of the early day physicians, came to Hesper in 1856, where he engaged first in merchandising. He had previously pursued the study of medicine, but it was not until 1870 that he acquired his sheepskin and began devoting himself more exclusively to practice. He still resides at Hesper, a well preserved man of more than eighty-two years. In the year 1866 Dr. J. S. Roome established himself at Calmar, and for many years he was practically alone in that field. So successful was he that the residents of a wide territory would think of having no other. He became one of Calmar's most substantial and widely known business men and retired only three years ago, moving to California to spend the balance of his days. He represented Winneshiek county during two sessions of the Iowa Legislature. Dr. C. D. Roome, a brother of Dr. J. S. Roome, was located for a time at Ridgeway where he established himself in 1874. He later moved to Cresco. Dr. W. M. Fallows located at Fort Atkinson in 1872; Dr. C. W. Cady, now of Mabel, Minnesota, was for many years following 1877 the resident physician at 'Burr Oak; Dr. R. Small came to Decorah from Fayette county in the early '70's and died some years ago; Dr. Austin Pegg was a successful practitioner at Ossian at about the same time; Dr. J. Billington was for many years located in Decorah. At the time he was the only Norwegian physician here. The men that have been referred to were all allopaths--followers of the old school. Practically alone in his field was Dr. Edmund Cartwright, homoeopath of Decorah. Previous to coming here he had spent some time at Lansing. His son Richard Cartwright chose to follow his father's profession and was associated with him for a time but for many years has been one of the leading physicians at Salem, Oregon. Dr. C. H. Strong, now of Toledo, Ohio, was also engaged here for a short time. Among all the physicians that have been mentioned herein none was a specialist--there was little opportunity for such practice--but in the realms of every day service where all-round experience was demanded, they asked no odds of any set of men. If memory serves aright, Dr. A. C. Smith was the first specialist to locate here and remain for a sufficient time to be considered permanent. Although he would occasionally take a case in general practice he preferred to devote himself to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, and for many years maintained his office in Decorah where he enjoyed a lucrative practice. It is only within a few years that he has retired. His son, Dr. Carsten C. Smith, has entered the ranks of general practice and is now located in Minnesota. The present day finds the local ranks well filled. In Decorah
are P. M. and M. D. Jewell, A. F. Barfoot, A. J. Swezy, Harriett
B. Amy, A. C. Hoeg, T. Stabo, and H. H. Thomas, allopaths; A.
C. Woodward, homoeopath, and Doctors Urban & Urban, osteopaths.
At Calmar are located E. M. Heflen; T. C. Hennessy and E. H. Ellingson.
Ossian is served by J. A. Juen and J. W. Lynch. At Frankville
Doctor Kiesaw is alone. He was preceded there by Dr. E. T. Wilcox,
one of the most successful men that part of the country ever knew.
Preceding Doctor Wilcox was Dr. F. W. Daubney, who died in November,
1912, after a residence in Decorah of about twenty-five years,
during which he enjoyed a very lucrative practice. At Highlandville
Dr. J. D. Hexom has won a worthy success. Dr. W. H. Emmons stepped
into Doctor Cady's place at Burr Oak and has an exten- PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 149 sive practice. Dr. Gertrude G. Wellington is practicing in Hesper. The most recent addition to the profession is Dr. Byron Lewis, who in August, 1913, purchased the practice of Dr. L. J. Kaasa at Ridgeway. Doctor Kaasa was the successor two years ago of Dr. J. c. Lewis, who was for many years the main dependence of the citizens in the western part of the county. THE DENTISTS While not, strictly speaking, members of the medical profession, the dentists are eligible to enrollment in this chapter. In Decorah are F. W. Conover, C. L. Topliff, T. C. Hutchinson, O. Boe and W. R. Toye. At Calmar, J. F. Conover, and at Ossian, J. P. Schneeberger. THE DECORAH HOSPITAL During the past summer (1913) interest has centered in the prospective
establishment of a hospital in Decorah. William H. Smith, a wealthy
retired farmer, made a proposal to contribute $10,000 on condition
that the Commercial Club raised $15,000 more. This was accomplished
and the organization of a hospital company is now under way. Probably
before this book leaves the printer's hands the choice of a location
will have been made and announced. Dr. J. R. Guthrie of Dubuque,
a man of high rank in the Middle West, has been engaged as chief
surgeon, and all physicians of the county will be on the hospital
staff. The people of Decorah and the county generally regard this
accomplishment as one of the most worthy ever undertaken locally. _________ THE LEGAL PROFESSION "The First Things of Decorah" was the title of a discourse delivered by Rev. Ephraim Adams on Thanksgiving day (November 28), 1867. Among other things he said: "In the same year, July 3, 1851, the first lawyer made his appearance. Undertaking to walk out from Lansing, he got lost by the way and stopped the first night at a Norwegian's house six or eight miles east of this. Starting on the next morning he came along about noon to the log tavern, and inquired the way to Decorah, rejoicing; no doubt, to be at his journey's end ere he had found it. His name was John B. Onstine. The second of his profession was Dryden Smith; the third, A. B. Webber; the fourth, John L. Burton; and the fifth, L. Bullis; the sixth, E. E. Cooley, who came in October, 1854,--and so on." The record made by former historians discloses the name of James D. McKay as the successful candidate for Prosecuting Attorney in the election of 1852. Mr. McKay resided on Washington Prairie. In 1855 the name of William Bailey appears as an unsuccessful candidate for the same office. In 1856 L. W. Griswold had entered upon the scene. In 1857 G. R. Willett joined the local bar. Thus is established the basis of the legal profession in Winneshiek county. Justice may have been crude in those days, but from the above list there developed men of more than passing attainment in our local courts, and at least one gained a reputation before the higher tribunals that marked him as the possessor of an unusually keen, analytical mind. We refer to the late Judge G. R. Willett. Canadian born, of American parentage. He acquired his early education in the Dominion. This was followed by a law course at the Albany Law School, and in 1857, a year after his graduation, he came to Decorah where his ability soon gained recognition. He was a man of deep feeling for any cause that enlisted his sympathy. When the call came for volunteers in 1861 he was the first man to enlist in Decorah, and raised Company D, Third Iowa Infantry, of which he served as captain until a bullet wound in his knee incapacitated him for further duty. He was elected County Judge in 1864, served in three sessions of the Iowa Legislature, was president pro tem of the Senate and chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments in 1874, and chairman of the Judiciary Committee in 1875, beside serving on other important committees. From his 151 152 first days in the county Judge Willett was prominent in the activities of the people, but it was in his profession that he won his greatest distinction. He delighted in cases that presented the toughest legal knots. With such it was his practice, as he put it, to "hold it up by the four corners," and if he was satisfied that the equities were on his side he felt no misgivings of the outcome. Sometimes he was compelled to go to the highest tribunals to win his verdict, but in a long and rather intimate acquaintance with him the writer cannot recall a case he lost in the Supreme Court. He was a man of jolly disposition, quite given to reminiscent story telling, and he had a fund of them at his command. Reference to Judge Cooley and Levi Bullis will be found under the head of "Politics and the Politicians." They, too, were men of force and influence. Mr. Bullis was particularly popular among young men. It was his pleasure to have them about him. Although a man of positive likes and dislikes and very outspoken in is opinions of men and' events, he had a following whose loyalty could not be shaken. Judge M. V. Burdick, elected as the first Circuit Judge in 1869, was another of the early and prominent attorneys. Prior to going on the bench he was a partner of Judge Willett and possessed to a degree the same analytical quality that won success for his partner. He moved to Lansing after retiring from the bench, and died May 8, 1886. One of the men who is scarcely ever referred to now, but a pioneer lawyer of much ability, was Seneca A. Tupper. He and his son Charles Tupper practiced in the local courts, the latter for a comparatively short time. He entered the army and was among those who gave up their lives in the struggle of 1861-65. The senior Tupper died some years later, generally respected as a lawyer and citizen. Advancing a few years we find the names of John T. Clark, Cyrus Wellington, Charles P. Brown and Orlando J. Clark prominently mentioned. Of this quartette John T. Clark was probably most prominent for a number of years. It was said of him that, prior to revision of the Code of Iowa in 1873, a young attorney had little show against him. He was thoroughly versed in the Code of 1858, and could carry a less informed opponent off his feet, particularly if the case happened to be tried before a jury. In 1876 Brown & Wellington, then partners, won considerable distinction as criminal lawyers in their defence of Helen D. Stickles, charged with the murder of her husband, John P. Stickles. Pitted against them were O. ]. Clark, as prosecuting attorney, and John T. Clark. Stickles died under circumstances indicating strychnine poisoning. A post mortem examination strengthened this opinion and resulted in the stomach being sent to Dr. P. M. Hatfield of Chicago for chemical examination. His examination confirmed the suspicion and Mrs. Stickles was brought to trial, but while the general belief of her guilt was entertained, on the trial the jury disagreed, and on a change of venue to Fayette county she was acquitted at the second trial. This trial brought Cyrus Wellington particularly before the public.
He subsequently was chosen district attorney and was holding office
when a change in the court system caused the discontinuance of
the attorneyship. Some years later he moved to St. Paul where
he attracted the attention of James J. Hill and became the attorney
of the Great Northern road. He was compelled by PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 153 approaching blindness to give up his duties and died several years ago at a lake resort in Wisconsin where he lived in retirement. Mr. Brown also moved to St. Paul where he died. John T. Clark died at Postville January 17, 1885. The record as to the attorneys is more or less fragmentary at best, and a searcher after historical data is compelled to take much upon faith or only glance over all but a few of the more prominent personages. Among the attorneys who were practicing in Winneshiek in the '70's were Martin M. and Lewis Johnson. They moved to North Dakota where the former became the first Congressman after that state was admitted to the Union. At the time of his death he was serving as one of the two United States Senators. Previous to going to North Dakota he enjoyed experience in Iowa as Representative and Senator from Winneshiek in the Legislature. Others who joined the ranks of the attorneys about that time were John B. Kaye, who located at Calmar in 1872, and M. J. Carter at Ossian, who was admitted to the bar in 1877, and R. F. B. Portman of Decorah, in 1878. Mr. Kaye was an Englishman by birth, coming to America with his parents in 1842. The family settled near Geneva, Wisconsin, in 1848, and in 1863 Mr. Kaye went to Nevada where he spent four years in gold camps. The next four years were a time of roving with him, but after a year at his old home he came to Iowa. He was a student, not only of law, but of the Bible and all other good literature, and possessed a poetic nature that first found expression in numerous bits of miscellaneous verse. In his later years he produced three books of his writings, the most worthy of these bearing the title of "Vashti." In his legal practice his literary tendency was apt to be shown in his ready application of quotations from various writers. He won distinction in his defence of John Cater of Burr Oak, charged with the killing of his wife, and in his assistance on the side of the state in the Gifford-Bigelow murder trial. Although in each instance he was on the losing side, his handling of the cases clearly demonstrated an unusual ability. Mr. Carter began life in this county as a boy on a Bloomfield township farm in 1856. In 1874 he engaged in clerking, subsequently studying law in the office of G. L. Faust in Ossian. After being admitted to the bar he opened an office in Ossian where he has since remained, enjoying a lucrative practice. Of Mr. Faust, little is recalled today. He was prominent politically during his residence in the county, but did not remain here for many years. Mr. Portman, like Mr. Kaye, was a native of England. He came to Decorah in 1872, having previously seen service in the British navy. He was a member of the firm of Horn, Portman, Clive & Company in the old Eagle foundry for about three years, but in 1876 entered C. P. Brown's office to study law and, on being admitted to practice in 1878, became Mr. Brown's partner. Mr. Portman never aspired to be a trial lawyer, but confined himself largely to practice in probate court and as an office attorney. In this he was successful, and is today one of the three men in Decorah who link the past with the present. Another is Norman Willett, second son of Judge Willett, who sustains in a large measure the same relationship to his clients and the bar as did his worthy father. For a time in the early '80's, Mr. Willett was in his father's office. A position was offered him with one of the prominent farm implement houses PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 154 as traveling collector, and his acceptance was followed by several years of service in this capacity. When he returned to Decorah it was to become a partner in the practice that had come to Judge Willett. It is not strange that he inherited many of the characteristics that made his father an able lawyer, or that, working on similar lines, he has built for success in his profession. He has been accorded political preferment at the hands of the voters, serving as county attorney with distinction, and has been frequently mentioned as possessing excellent qualifications for the judgeship, but he entertains no aspirations in that direction, being content with his personal business and the pleasant associations that it permits. George W. Adams is the third of the trio above referred to. Mr. Adams began practicing law some years before either Mr. Willett or Mr. Portman, ante-dating Mr. Carter of Ossian, if we are not mistaken. Among the younger attorneys whose names were associated with the pioneers were Walter E. Akers, Charles M. Cooley and William H. Fannon. Mr. Akers and Mr. Cooley were students in the office of E. E. Cooley while Mr. Fannon was a law school graduate. The firm of Fannon & Akers was in existence at the time that Judge Cooley was appointed to the bench. C. M. Cooley, who had been in his father's office, joined Fannon & Akers and the firm became Cooley, Fannon &: Akers, remaining so until 1882 when Mr. Fannon was compelled to retire on account of ill health. Mr. Cooley also withdrew and went to South Dakota. When Judge Cooley left the bench the firm of Cooley & Akers was formed. They subsequently moved to Minneapolis where Roger W. Cooley, the younger son of Judge Cooley, joined them, and the firm of Cooley, Akers & Cooley maintained offices in Minneapolis and Luverne, Minnesota. Mr. Fannon sought to recuperate his health on a farm near N e1eigh, Nebraska, but in this he was unsuccessful. C. M. Cooley later moved to Minneapolis, but many years ago established a residence at Grand Forks, North Dakota, where now he is judge of one of the higher tribunals. Judge E. E. Cooley returned to Decorah where the remaining years of his life were spent. Mr. Akers met a tragic death while still in his prime. In attempting to go from one coach to another on a fast moving train, while returning from Chicago, he was thrown from the car and killed. Roger W. Cooley for many years preferred to follow newspaper work. In later years he was associated with the West Publishing Company, of St. Paul, in an editorial capacity in connection with their law book publications. He became an authority on insurance law, and at the present time is Dean of the Law School at Grand Forks, North Dakota. In the more recent years the name of Dan Shea appears. Mr. Shea had served as Superintendent of Schools for several terms and on leaving office took up the law. At a time when he had just entered on what promised to be a period of great success his career was closed by death. M. A. Harmon, who is still a member of the bar, likewise followed service as a county official by engaging in the legal profession. For a number of years he was city attorney of Decorah. Arthur F. Anundsen, oldest son of the late B. Anundsen, founder
of Decorah-Posten, was a member of the local bar for a period
in the '90's and the years immediately following. He was a man
of recognized ability, but abandoned his PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 155 practice to go into the banking business at Detroit, Minnesota, where he died three years ago. The bar as it is composed today claims as its members Messrs. Willett, Portman, Harmon, Carter, and Adams, heretofore mentioned; Charles N. Houck, County Attorney; E. R. Acres, Frank Sayre, E. W. Cutting, C. S. Boice, E. J. Hook, H. F. Earthen, J. A. Nelson, W. M. Strand, and E. P. Shea, all of Decorah; W. M. Allen of Ossian, and T. H. Goheen of Calmar. The foregoing record takes no account of a number of the profession who either remained here only a short time, or failed to leave an impress upon the public mind. Nor does it take into account the career of E. P. Johnson, whose disbarment was the sensation of the February term of court in 1910. Possibly what has been written may inspire some one to complete the record. It would prove an interesting document for the files of the Winneshiek County Bar Association when the organization of that body, which was commenced some years ago, is completed. |
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