The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-07-02
Letter From Major Young.

Recently Judge j. w. Harvey wrote
to Major j. L. Young, who is employed
in the treasury department at Washing
ton, asking in regard to some data as to
the early judges in Decatur county,
Major Young having been one of the
pioneer lawyers OF Decatur county, and
the Major wrote the following letter
which we are sure all our readers will
peruse with interest:
WASHINGTON, June rs, 1908.
Hon. JOHN W. HARVEY, Leon, la.
My Dear Judge:-I do not believe
there is man in Decatur county who
feels greater interest of the county
and the building up of the material in
terest of the county seat and the other
towns in the county than l do. This
expression must not be taken as in the
least, any disparagement of the farmer
and stock raiser of the county, for l
realize and conscientiously state that
no better class of farmers and stock
raisers, no better workmen in the sew
eral departments of industry and wage
earners, can be found than in old, proud
Decatur.
settled in Leon in November 1850
and opened an office with Vincent
Wainwright under the firm name of
Young & Wainwright, in a little frame
building, twelve by fourteen, that stood
on the ground where the electric light
plant now stands. The old frame build
ing, first built as court house, was
still standing where Stephen Vargas
fine residence now stands, but had not
been used as court house, as do not
believe the building was ever used for
judicial or any other purpose, in fact,
| ha hni xroc
never completed by the contractor;
the "new court house, was then situa-
| ted on the corner where the Varga
building now stands. While it was a
sorry excuse for court house, it was
as much of court house compared with
the status of the county then as the
new and splendid edifice of justice you
people will all join in dedicating on our
national holiday.
A residence of forty-nine years in the
county, except a few years in Colorado,
has enabled me to see the gradual, but
steady and permanent growth of the
county, and when | look back over the
half century, l could not if would, keep
down the inspiring feeling of pride
when | remember her slow steady
growth in material wealth and pros
perity. God bless and continue to pros
per the dear old county and her people.
AS you request, Judge enclose a list
of the district, circuit and county
judges, with list of all those who have
practiced law in the county for the
last fifty years. There is one other
lawyer whose name fail to recall. He
was a relative of John Warner and came
out to Leon in 1860 or 81 from Ohio but
only remained few months, but he
was nice gentleman and good law
yer. Judge Forty or Mrs. Bashaw can,
no doubt, give you his name.
And now, Judge, will close with the
assurance that no event has transpired
in Decatur county, or any where else
for that matter, that has caused SO
much regret on my part that / can not
be personally present, but want to as
sure the people that while must be
absent personally, my whole heart and
soul responds to every sentiment ex-
pressed by the people in dedicating a
court house that surely is an ornament
to the county and credit to those en-
gagged SO earnestly and energetically
in it's establishment, erection and dedi-
cation. Truly your friend,
Winder Bldg. ]. L. YOUNG.
II u, - -.