Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-26
q. W. Vermilion Takes Hor
T. M. Fees Place on the
Bench. s.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER
Governor Shaw EIevates Appanoose-
/ County Man to the Judiciary in This
/! District-WiIl Begin His Duties
January I. 4--... =. S....si,41s.- Z ii,l1s

Des Moines, Dec 26.-Goyernor
Shaw has appointed c. w. Vermiliop,
of Centerville, to the position of judge
in the second judicial district, to sue
I ceed Hon. T. NJ Fee, of the same
place, resigned Judge Fees resigna-
ton takes effect January 1. Mr.. Yer
m lion is one of Centerville's most
able atorney's.
Sketch of the New Judge.
Centervilie, Dec. 26-(Special) &c.
W. Vermillon. who has been honored
with the appointment by Governor
Shaw to the judgeship to succeed
Judge 7. NJ. Fee, of this city, was born
and raised in Centerville. He is the
son OF the late Captain w. F. Vermi-
lion, who until his death several years
ago, stood as one of the most promi-
nent members of the Appanoose coun-
passed his boyhood attending school
and developing the character that now
fits him to sit in the Judgment over
his fellow men, spent three years at
DePaw University and afterwards
graduated with honors from the law
school at Ann Arbor, which he attend.
ed two years with one year interven-
ing. Shortly after receiving his di-
ploma and gaining admission to the
Iowa bar he began the practice Of law
in his fathers Office in this city. At
once he showed remarkable insight in
to the principles of law and began to
. display good results from his careful
,training. Twice in succession he was
selected to the office of county attor.
ney, in which capacity he served the
people well and won honors for him
self. Since retiring from that Office
he has steadily pursued the practice of
his profession, turning deaf ear to
all tempting offers of political prefer
ment, desiring that the Office should
seek him rather than that he should
seek the office. His partner has been
Attorney H. e. Valentine The firm
has enjoyed lucrative practice which
increases as time passes. With Mr..
Vermilion's promotion to the bench
this partnership will, of course, cease
and Mr.. Valentine will enter into CO.
partnership with Judge Fee and the
latter's son, Attorney T. G. Fee.
Mr.. Vermilion was married on June
2, 1897, to Miss Clara Eloise Biddle,
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. w. M. Bid
die, of this city. who have relatives
and friends in Ottumwa. Miss Biddle
was a beautiful young woman, accom-
plished and general favorite in So
ciety and she has been charming
mistress in the elegant home her hus-
band has bullt in the northeast part
of this city. One child, little two
year old daughter, completes the hap
piness OF that home.
At thirty-five Mr.. Vermilion will be
one of the youngest judges on the
bench but Centerville people who have
known him since -boyhood, believe that
he is fully capable of occupying that
high position and performing the du-
ties connected Herewith. There is
nothing pretentious about him and he
is more likely to disclaim credit due
than to accept it. OF himself he
would rather say nothing and he shuns
publicity. 1t is only when occasions
arise that his attainments are dis.
played and then he wins admiration
for his deep thought his clear, logical
mind, his polished rhetoric and his
eloquent and convincing oratory. He
has the dignity of nobility, the stern
ness of uprightness, the suavity of
the gentleman and the kindness and
sympathy that are based on justice.
In politics he is and always has been
stalwart republican. He communes
uyifh ht,f nh,
Mrs. Vermilion is sister of Mrs
E. i. Ulrich, of 1909 North Court
street.-Ed.l