Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-07-14
TOWNSHEND.
William Leonard JOY.
Death of a Distinguished Iowa Lawyer
VINO Was a Native OF TOvnshsnd.

Death of n Distinguished Iowa Lawyer
VINO Was a Native OF Townshsnd.
News has been received of the death of
| William L. JOY. Mr.. joys father built
aud occupied the pleasant house where E.
/ L. Hastings now lives. The following no
tice Of his death is copied from the Sioux
/ City, Iowa, Journal Of July ?:
William Leonard Joy was born at Towns
bend, Vt, August, II, 1929, of pure Amer
lean ancestry, his paternal grandfather
having been a revolutionary soldier. He
had such common school education as the
times and surroundings afforded, aud
while helping his father in his business ac-
quired academical training aud prepared
tor Amherst, from which college he grad
uated in duelcourse, having taught school
three terms in the meantime.
During and after his college course he
studied law and was admitted to the bar
He came to Sioux City in 1851, and imme-
diately formed law partnership with his
brother-in law, n. c.. Hudson, a business
relationship which continued for some
years.
In 1868 Craig L. Wright became asso-
ciated with him in practice, and for 20
years the firm of Joy < Wright was among
the most prominent Of the profession in
the state Of Iowa. It was succeeded by
JOY, Hudson, Call & JOY then by Joy,
Call & JOY, and of late years the firm has
been made up of Mr.. Joy and his son, G.
L. Joy.
When he came to Sioux City pioneer,
William l. Joy was a beginner, if not act
ually a poor man, although he soon assumed
an influential position in his profession and
in the affairs of the Northwest. IL is said
that in the early days his indomitable will
and his natural thrift scorned nothing in
the way of honorable work. When law
cases were few and litigation was dull, he
literally sawed wood when wood was to
saw, and studied when the physical work
of the day was over.
He was big, strong man, mentally and
physically-frank, open, honest and inspir
ing. Everybody respected him. There
never was hint Of stain against his repu-
tation. he easily aud assuredly was one
Of the first men in the community and a
prominent figure in the state.
As lawyer William l. Joy had a repu-
tation which extended beyond the limits of
Iowa. His forte was not before jury,
but his knowledge Of the statutes was the
wonder and admiration Of his fellows and
made him one Of the foremost court attor-
I utNs IN the W est III IallN n.y. Ghi p1I a
ton, municipal and real estate law he was
especially strong, and a veritable giant in
consultation.
For many years be was a member of the
board Of education of Sioux City, and the
magnificent school system which has here
been built up is Que Of the monuments TO
his devotion, skill and experience. With
out other reward than the gratitude of his
fellow citizens and the deep respect Of the
growing generation, he labored unceasing
/ " for the schools. only reliuquishing that
burden when they were placed at the fore
| trout among the public systems of the West.
His services to the state of Iowa were
| equally valuable. He was a member Of
/ the legislature during the early years of
railway development, and had especial in
terest and official supervision of that branch
of expansion before railway or interstate
commerce commissioners were conceived.
| Having achieved success in these lSbors. be
afterward steadily refused public Office,
although repeatedly urged to accept dis
triet judgeship or position on the supreme
bench