The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-01-21
lOWANS CLAIMED BY DEATH
Judge Mcpherson of BED oak, "Fath-
err" l. S. Coffin and N. S. ketehum
Are Summoned.


Red Oak, Jan. 1S-Judge Smith Nc
Pherson, United States judge for the
southern district of Iowa, former at
torney general of the state and former
congressman from the Ninth district,
died at his home in Red Oak at six
O'Clock, last night. He was 67 years
old. Death is attributed to stomach
and heart trouble. His last illness
was of six months duration.
Judge Mcpherson had been suffer
ing from indigestion for several years.
His last illness, however, began in
July, shortly after he had completed
the holding of strenuous term of
court in Des Moines.
For six months he remained in.
doors, being confined portion of the
time to his bed. AT intervals he was
able to receive guests and give at,
tention to some cases he had under
consideration.
I Smith Mcpherson was born in Nor,
gan county, Indiana, Feb. IA, 184S, a
son Of Oliver and Polly Mcpherson,
His father was a farmer by occupa
ton. He lived at home until he at
tanned his majority, doing all kinds OF
farm work and enjoying such school
privileges as the district schools af
forded. Later he attended the acad
envy at Mooresville, his native town
In 1859 he entered the law depart
ment of the Iowa State university and
in June of the following year he was
graduated and received his license to
practice.
He began the practice of law al
Red Oak. He continued his practice
from 1877 to 1899 alone and uninter
ruptedly except when fulfilling the
duties of public Offices to which he
was elected.
His legal practice, general in ma
ture, brought him into many import
ant cases.
Judge Mcpherson, as a republican
always was active in the affairs o.
his party and filled many Offices Of
trust and confidence,
From 1874 to 1880 he was district
attorney of the Third Iowa judicia
district From 1880 to 1885 he served
as attorney general of the state. He
was elected representative to the
lFifty-siXth congress in 1899 from the
Ninth Iowa district.
Resigning this office in June, 1900
he accepted the United States Judge
ship for the southern district of Iowa
which position, he has held since.
., Judge Mcpherson was married OF
Oct. 2, 1879, to Miss Frances H
Boyer of Oskaloosa, who survives
him. He also is survived by tive
brothers, Orrin of Indianola, ant
Carey, of Illinois, and one sister
Judge and Mrs, Mcpherson had N
children.
The funeral Of Judge Smith Nc
Pherson will be held Wednesday a
Red Oak. 49,. 49,.
| Father Coffin Passes.
Fort Dodge, Jan. 81. S. CofiI
iIfamiliarly known among the railroa
men of the country as Father" CoftlT
whose activity procured the adoption
the United States, died at his hom
on Willowedge farm, near this city
at $50 Sunday morning. He was 8
years old. Bladder trouble and
general breakdown caused his death
The funeral will be held Tuesda
at 2 o'clock at Willowedge farm ant
burial will be in the family buria
place on the farm where Mr.. Coffin
wife is buried.
| Mr.. Coffin came. here in 1856 from
Ohio. His home originally was Il
I New Hampshire. The only relativ
lin this part of the country is hi
daughter, Mrs. John Rutledge, VIII
was at his bedside, when the en-
came.
During his residence in Iowa MI
Coffin accumulated a comfortable fol
tune, much of which he donated t
small colleges. He was prominen
in temperance work.
N. S. ketchum Succumbs.
Marshalltown, Jan.18.-N. S. Ketcf
UNI, member of the railroad commits
sion for three terms, died at his HON
in this city Saturday evening. Nj
Ketchlun had been In. poor health TO
a number Of months and during tn
last few weeks his illness had bee
critical.
| Nathaniel S. Ketchum was born |
tHacketstown, N, j., July rs, 1889. H
attended school at Hopewell, Hobo
ken, and later took course in ms
chanical and civil engineering a
Princeton university. He left tn
university in 1857 and came to Iowa
engaging with a corps Of engineer
in the construction of the Chicago
Iowa & Nebraska railroad betwee
Clinton and Marshalltown, which
now the Chicago and Northwestern
In 1862 he retired from railroadin
: land entered commercial and manufat
} turing pursuits in Marshalltown,
! (which he was engaged until the tim
Iof his death.
Mr.. Ketchum was elected to his frs
political position in 1904, when h
was chosen railroad commissioner {
Iowa. in November, 1908, he was n
elected to succeed himself for th
term ending in 1913. On Nov.
1919, he was again reelected. M
Ketchum was a republican,
Creston's 1914 improvements.