Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-09-20
The Late Jas. JamisOn.


mittee appointed by the Bar Associa-
ton, called the attention Of the Court
to the death of Mr. Jamison, and the
Court signifed it's readiness to hear
what might be said on that subject.
Mr.. Jed Lake, chairman Of the commit
tee, presented the resolutions, and read
them to the Court as follows:
WHEREAS, it has pleased the great
Ruler OF the Universe to remove from
our midst one Of our members; and
WHEREAS, 1t is becoming on all such
occasions that those who are associated
with the deceased in fraternal relations
should express their sentiments to the
world; therefore
ResolUed, That in the death of Mr..
Jamison the bar of Buchanan county
lost one of it's brightest and best mem
bers; that the county has lost an infu-
entail citizen; that his mother has lost
a generous and affectiOnate son; that
the members of the bar have lost a
pleasant and agreeable companion-o ne
who as colleague never failed to do
his duty to his clients and associates,
and as an opponent was always courte-
Gus and honorable, though never yield
ing to what he deemed his client S legal
rights
That in this affection we sympathize
with the community, and mourn with
his relatives for this great loss.
Resolved, That as token of honor,
we will attend his funeral in body;
that a copy of these resolutions be pre-
sented to each of the papers of this
county for publication, and that the
same be presented at the next terms of
the District and Circuit Courts, with
request that the Judges will order them
spread upon the respective records
Mr.. Lake then spoke as follows:
In presenting these resolutions it is proper
that something should be said in regard to the
life and character of the deceased:
something more than twenty years have
passed since was admitted to this bar. At
that time there were then here, in the full
flush of successful practice, Messrs. Lee. Ros-
zell, Webster, Lsavitt, Moore, Hart, Woodward,
Jamlson, and others. OF all these the one
who devoted his time more closely to the pro-
fession, the one who has been here all the
time, the one with whom all have come in con-
tact more than with any other member of this
par, is James JamiSOn. In all this time, Mr..
Jamison was never absent from a term of
court. He was here always. 1t was to him
that we all went when we wanted help, and no
young member of the bar ever asked him to
assist him, without securing the aid and assist
ance desired.
l well remember that for the first five years
OF my own practice, frequently asked his
assistance. and it always given. To him
more than to any other owe a great deal of
gratitude, for the knowledge he has impaired
to me. OF those who were here twenty years
ago, MesSrs. Woodward DOnnan and myself
are all that now remain. We have laid to rest
in their long bones, Roszell, Lee and Jamison
Others have gone to other parts of the world.
or into other business. Mr.. Jamison remained
here to the last. We met him most. He con-
tributed largely to the entertainment of all of
u.s. ne gave us many sallics of wit and hum
or. Yet there was nothing in all his wit that
was sarcastic. 1t left no sore spots on those it
was aimed at.
For instance, when a dispute arose as to GER
tain evidence in case, and it was proposed to
have the reporter read it. Mr. Jamison said,
Yes, let him read it. l have confidence in the
reporter" to which the reporter, turning to
Mr. Jamison, said THANK you for the express
sion" Mr.. Jamison drily replied, Not i'm
plicit though. Not implicit" 1t was done so
drily that the reporter was the first to smile
audibly. And again, when Mr.. Woodward was
trying to extend some concession that JamisOn
had made in Il case, beyond what Jamison
thought right he protested saying. g have
always noticed that when you give Woodward
an ell he will take an inch every time" Mr..
Woodward laughed the loudest and longest
In fact, his jokes had no malice in them. No
one ever felt hurt by them, nor did they think
the Court had some question to a decision
on point of law, and it was finally settled
that the Court was right in its view OF the
case, and Mr.. JamisOn said, as only he could
say, ~ see, your Honor is right and | am
wrong, as your Honor usually is the Court
could not feel hurt at the remark. We have
Others can ever try Il case as Jamison and
Woodward did Their loss takes away from
our terms of court one of its most attractive
features.
Mr.. Jamison never married. His home was
presided over by his mother. His affection
for her, and his protection of her showed his
great generous nature in its true light. He
was generous to a fault. He was honest, and
Industrious in his business. l would that |
could pass over his one fault But it is not
right that such lesson should go unnoticed
1t is of itself one of the best temperance lee
lures that could be given. That II man of Mr..
Jamisons mind. industry, honesty and gcncr-
osity should be taken away in the prime of
his life, by that demon, intemperance, should
make every young man Shun the demon as he
would pestilcnce. We all mourn his loss
We shall miss him from among us more than
any other.
i therefore ask your Honor to have these
resolutions spread upon the records OF the
Court.
Judge d. S. Wilson then made the
following remarks:
GENTLEMEN desire to add my expression
of sorrow at the death of our lamented broth
or Jamison. 1t was my pleasure to know him
well and intimately, dating back almost to his
settlement in this county and State.
James Jamison had naturally fine legal
mind, appreciated the keen and discriminating
distinctions of the law, and i'll his investiga-
lions he arrived at most correct conclusions
He was well grounded in the rudimentS of his
profession, and upon the statement of the
facts of II case could almost invariably give
the correct principles and rule of law which
would decide the case. He attempted to have
his causes tried upon their merits, avoiding
all technlcalities. and coming at once to the
broad plane of right and wrong. He was a
good T.
tachmcnts. Beneath his rough exterior there
nestled the most sympathizing nature and gen
erous feelings. He was Il good friend to the
needy, and many, many are the cases that en-
gagged his attention, and occupied his time,
without the hope of reward
Settling here about 1858, he soon stood forth
as prominent advocate, and early identified
himself with the hardships and sufferings Incl
dent to the settlement and development of Il
upon the regard of his fellow-men, and he was
trusted by them as few will ever be again, and
none now can rise up and claim that he delib-
erately wronged them 1t is not strange that
have hosts of friends who will cherish and re-
we're his memory.
But no man is perfect, and in all human
characters there are foibles and faults. To
create being pure and faultlesS, would be to
create a spirit, not a man. Our departed
friend had one great overshadowlng defect;
one, alas! too common with noble natures.
Let us draw a veil over that which blemished
SO pure nature. Yet, it would not be either
true to history not to mention it, or fair to the
profession, that the young men of the bar
should not be warned to shun the course that
marred, despoiled and cut short Il life which,
while it had reached its meridian of useful
ness, but for this unfortunate defect would
have shed halo of honor over him. and rem
dered him still capable of further goodness,
both to himself and his fellow beings, in the
autumn of his life. Young men of the bar,
initiate the many good qualities of our lament
ed brother Jamison, but shun, as you would
the pestilencc, the fascinating syrcn of the
maddening bowl. No one is strong enough to
daily with it and be secure, to tamper with it
is to take the first steps to that broad lane
which leads to death.
Our lamented brother Jamison was true to
his clients as the magnetic needle is to the pole.
Thousands of dollars passed through his hands
to his clients. In the trial Of his cases he new
err sought to take advantage of his brethren,
and for years his sayings and doings will be
| treasured up as his bOyhood tricks will be by
his aged mother.
The order asking that the resolutions should
be spread on record, is hereby granted, and in
respect of that event, the Court will now ad-
journ until Monday next.
Mr.. Foster Responds.