The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-05-09
JUDGE CROOKHAH.

ham marks the passing of an epoch
and period in the formative history
of Mahaska county and the city of
Oskaloosa that calls for more than
casual review in the procession of
local events.
The Judge was one of the last of a
remarkable generation who were
active and prominent in the making
OF the history and county. There
are some living who partook of the
labors and who witnessed the fruits
OF the efforts of those early days but
those who were intimately associated
with Judge Crookham at the bar and
in the "borning days" of the COM
munity have preceded him in the
claiming of their reward.
In thinking of those times that
have gone toward the making of
county and state history the recol-
lections are coupled with central
figures. The name of Judge Crook
ham is always recalled with those of
Micajah T. Williams, Judge w. H.
Sewers, A. G.. and "Garl' Phillips,
John r. Needham. John w. and
George w. Jones, Judge and Squire
Loughridge, Doctor Nelson, Judge
Rhinehart and SON Doctor Rhinehart
who is survived by his widow, Mrs.
Maria Rhinehart, John Montgomery
who staked the claim that was after
wards taken by the government as
the site of the county seat, Mr.. and
Mrs. John White, James Sewers
and VIM. Edmundson. In recalling
the names of those who were prom
inent figures Of those times the truth
forces its self upon us In the realiza-
ton of the fact there is now remain
ing among US but very few Of the
older citizens and the passing months
are taking them from us with q
rapidity that is hardly to be credited.
Acting along with the persons above
named and who were part and parcel
of the times, we have still among US
Mrs. w. Fl. Sewers, widow Of the
late Judge Sewers, and Mrs. semira
Phillips, widow of Carl Phillips, Mrs.
Evaline Needham, widow of John R
Needham, Isaac Kalbach, William T.
Smith, M. L. Jackson, Mrs. Mary
Baldwin, Mrs. Sarah McWilliams, !,
William Campbell, Poultney Lough-
ridge, Mrs. II. p. Martin, mother of
Jonn N. Martin, Mr.. and Mrs. Eli
Ketner, Major McMullin, Robert
Sewers, Nose Davis and othors.
The burdens have been shifted
from the shoulders of these and the
younger generations are in the har-
ness and are making the individual
ity of the city. The time will be but
brief until those who have had per-
sonal knowledge of the events of the
days before the war have all departed
and their words and work will be-
come as 'folk lore"
The death of Judge Crookham
places the seniority of the Mahaska
county bar upon Honorable John F.
Lacey who was admitted to the bar at
Fairfield in August $50. George w.
Sewers was admitted in October of
the same year. Judge l. @. Blanch-
ard, George w. Lafferty, J. B.
Bolton and w. w. Haskell follow in
rank of continuous service.
The deceased was representative
of bar that has been without q
parallel in the history of the state
and the names of those former pract-
itioners will be recalled by those who
were fortunate enough to be asso-
ciated with them In the latter part of
their careers. Those who have passed
before the judge and with whom he
was in constant touch were Milton
T. Peters, John d. Pollock, Samuel
A. Rice, Philip Myers, E. w, Rice,
William Loughridge, John r. Need
ham, James Rhinehart, George w.
Yecum, M. E. Quits, w. H. Sewers,
NJ. t. Williams, John r. Bancroft,
James A. Sewers, E. w. Eastman,
z. t. Fisher, Win Sheppard, w. t.
Smith and A. N. Cassidy. Those
names of the old school win ever be
cherished with the memory of all
that was accomplished by the
membership of the old bar.
There are still active in the field of
ripper experience of to-day number
of the bar who were associated with
the deceased Judge ir he latter part
of his practice, u Until the time
when he retired from labor and
closed his ONCE. With them there is
present q recollection rich In the
reminescence Of the personality aud
the characteristics of the departed
Iustist. TheFe ara IN this class, y.
n. Lacey Il. e.. Blanchard. RI ~