Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-04-04
Hon. Lore Afford of Waterloo Takes
His Own Life While Temporal
-. rilx1 narannad

f0rnl8 most OF the time, and IN addition
to the usual work of the Office, Mr.. AL
ford had the burdens connected with
the trial of an important case of his
own in the Supreme court. 1t sthought
that this extra strain upon his nervous
system, which had been impaired by
disease, proved more than it was able to
stand. At any event, his family and
intimate friends knew for several days
prior to his rash act that he was
in trouble. He complained about
being unable to sleep, and about an
oppressive feeling that some terrible
calamity was about to happen. In this
condition of mind he went, at about
seven o'clock in the morning, to the
room where he usually shaved himself,
and the sight of the razor probably sug-
gested means of escape, and the I'M
comfortable impulse of unreason seized
him and took him on to the bathroom,
where he cut great cash in his throat,
severing the carotid artery and causing
death in few moments.
The following biographical sketch we
copy from the Waterloo Courier:
Mr.. Afford was more than 62 years Of
age. He was born March 8, 1888, at the
town of Hope, in the state of Maine.
His early life was spent in his native
town with his parents, and when quite
q young man he decided to adopt the
law as 9 profession.
Mr.. Afford was at Union college,
Schenectady, N. Y, when the war of
1861-'65 commenced. He went to Al
bany, N. Y, and enlisted as private in
Company A., Sixteenth regiment, New
York Volunteers, in May 1861. About
two weeks afterward, while in camp
near Albany he was taken sick with
measles, but went with his regiment to
Washington, ID. G., few days after
wards, though hardly able to do so at
the time. He was in the army of the
Potomac in 1861 and was in the first
battle of Bull Run, July 81, 1861, and
also in a few small skirmishes in the
summer and fall of that year. About j an
uary /, 1852, he was detailed for the signal
corps service and went into camp OF
instruction at Georgetown, ID. g., where
heremained during that winter. In April
1862, he was sent with detachment OF
the signal corps to join General Butler
at Ship Island to organize a branch OF
the corps in that department. He was
at New Orleans, and staid there until
June, 1862, when he received commits.
sion from the governor of Maine as first
lieutenant of Company Fl, Eighth regi-
ment of Maine volunteers, then at
Beaufort, S. @. He joined that regi
ment in July and was mustered in as
| first lieutenant of the regiment on July
%, 1862.
He was in the expedition to and the
capture of Jacksonville, Fla, in Febru-
ary, 1868. About the time of leaving
there, in March 1868, he was taken sick
with pleuro pneumonia and was in the
hospital until June, 1863, when he re.
Joined his regiment. In August, 1869, he
was sent in command Of company Of
eighty men to hold Jenkins Island S. c.,
and was there for month, losing over
half his men from active service and
fever.
Mr.. Afford was Judge advocate at
Beaufort and Hilton Head, S. c., the
m0st70f the time during the fall and
winter Of 1868 and 1854. IuMarch, 1854
he was appointedupon the staff of Gen
eral Vogdes, commanding division in
the Tenth army corps. A short time
afterwards he joined the army of the
James in Virginia, with the division
He was present at the battle of Drury's
Bluff, and was severely injured by fall
and the kick of a horse. He was IN
Hampton hospital, near Fortress Mon.
roe, about two months subsequently
when he rejoined his company and regi
ment, then in the Eighteenth army
corps. He was present at the battle and
subsequent siege of Petersburgh, Vir-
ginis; was in the attack upon and the
capture of Fort Harrison, north Of the
James river, in Virginia, September %
1864, and in the subsequent fighting al
Chapin's farm. The term of the regi
ment expired in September, 1864, and
Mr.. Afford was mustered out of the ser
vice on October IA, 1864, by reason OF
the expiration of the term Of service OF
the regiment.
at the close of this honorable and
notable military career, Mr.. Afford de-
cided to come to the west for the prac.
tice of his profession. He located in
Waterloo in the spring of 1866, and be-
gan his active work at the bar here. In
a short time he formed a partnership
with j. G. Elwell, and the firm was
known as Afford & Elwell and did a
large business. The partnership con
tinued until 1880; then Mr.. Afford prac.
ticed by himself for some time, but in
1881 he entered into partnership with j
Q. Gates, and the firm has had a law of
flee over the First National bank for
several years.
As an attorney Mr.. Afford stood at
head of the profession. He was great
worker, q man who put his whole soul
into any undertaking, and from the
time q case was intrusted to his care
until it was finally disposed of it had
the best efforts he could possibly bestow
on 1t. He made his clients cause his
own and fought for the triumph of the
cause he was engaged in with unrelent.
ing vigor. He was always fair and just
In his dealings with the opposing coun-
sci and never sought to take undue ad-
vantage In the course of the preparation
or prosecution of cause.
In 1878 Mr.. Afford was elected q
member of the Iowa Legislature from
Blackhawk county and he served the
people of this district 30 faithfully and
well that he was renominated by the
republicans and reelected in 1880. AT
the session of the legislative body fol
lowing this last election he became q
candidate for speaker of the house and
was elected. He made good record as
presiding officer. at the close of the
legislative session he returned to Water
loo and re entered the practice of law
With the exception of severe sickness
which took him to Battle Creek, Mich,
about four years ago, when he had be.
come almost mere skeleton, and after
9 previous attempt on his life, caused by
his physical condition on May 4, 1896,
he has been constantly at the practice
of his profession in this city, and before
the higher courts. 1t is said by those
who knew him best that the last two
years of his life have been the browning
years of his strong work at the bar.
The treatment he received at Battle
Creek seemed to be of great benefit to
him and his friends had hoped that his