Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-05-19
FEW CHAPTERS
IN MEM0R|UM
Some Notable Deaths in Hamilton
County-The Passing of Men
Who Helped Make
Iowa.
DEMISE OF JUDGE MAXWELL
The Passing of Jackson Groves and
A. NJ. Potter, Well Known
Pioneers.

County by F. @. and J. w. Lee
Whether death is the friend or en-
envy of mankind, we leave to tn
contemplation of philosophers. W.
know it is always near us and wheI
it comes into a community, it brings
with it wave of sadness. We stol
| for a moment the usual activities Of
life to drop tear Of sympathy q
give word of comfort to the be-
reaved, and then, "the world moves
on" There are among the silent
ranks of Hamilton county many
characters whose daily life endeared
them to their fellow men, and whose
death was, in way, public be-
reavement, and we stop for a mo-
ment, therefore, to make passing
mention of some of these:
Jackson Groves, died March, 1881.
He was born in West Virginia in
1S1S,came to Iowa in 1854 and To-
Gated in Hamilton county in 1855.
He was a successful farmer and a
leader in the affairs of Hamilton
township.
Judge J. D. Maxwell, died Novem-
Der 4, 1882. The following is trib-
ute to his memory written by Charles
Aldrich:
JUDGE MAXWELL IS DEAD!
Though we had seen him fading
slowly into the silent land, from the
effects of age and toll and wasting
disease, and knew that his time at
farthest could be but short, these
words fell upon the ear like a stun
ming blow. For many years he had
lived the quietest of home lives, yet
his was one of the familiar forms on
our streets, and his name was prom
inently identified with the early his
tory of our town and county. A man
of most decided opinions,to which he
gave expression with the greatest
freedom, he was an agreeable person
to meet, for he was a fine talker,
possessing large fund of anecdote
and information, and genial, kindly,
friendly and pleasant, in his ways.
His acquaintance was quite large,
and while our local politics in early
n ic
somewhat Of bone of contention,
his private life was not only
most exemplary and commedable. 1t
may in all truth and sincerity be
said that he lived and died without
an enemy-respected and esteemed
by the entire community.
''In the early history of our coun-
ty he was leading and important
character. He was our first county
judge, elected at the old-time April
election of 1857, and reelected at
the October election of the same
year. This office was the most i'm
portant one, under the old order of
things, as brief explanation will
show. Previous to 1860 the county
judge not only welded all the pow
er now possessed by our board of
county supervisors, but vastly more.
His powers were larger in the way
of mourning Indebtedness, and the
probate business was all transacted
in his court. The county Judge was
an autocrat, If he felt disposed to
make himself such, and it is la
mentable fact that too many of
them abused their privileges and
powers, and ran their counties so
deeply into debt that they have been
unable to meet their obligations ev-
en- yet. Upon Judge Maxwell most
delicate and important duties de-
volved. He had not only to settle all
matters of joint interest with Web
ster county, of which this county
originally formed part, and until
the legislative session of 1856, but
it become his duty. to organize our
own county and set all of its ma
chinery in motion. The TRANSCRIPT
ing of the records was one of these
most important labors, which was
performed under his direction and
Here, as in all new
counties, vexatious questions arose
about the building of courthouse,
the removal of the county seat, the
construction Of bridges, the location
of roads, ETC., ETC., upon which men
took sides as their interests were af-
fected, and acrimonious discussions
and contentious arose. During the
two years and half in which he