Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-18
JUDGE M'PAERsoN,s CAREER.
Federal Judge, Former Attorney Cen
eral and Member of Congress.


Red Oak, jan IS-Judge Smith Me-
PherSon, United States judge for the
southern district OF Iowa, former at
torney general Of the state and former
con gresham from the Ninth district.
died at his home in Red Oak al 5
O'Clock sunday night He was 81 years
old Death is attributed to stomach
and heart trouble. His last illness was
OF six months duration.
According 10 advices from Red Oak
Judge Mcpherson suffered a relapse
AT noon yesterday. when he became
unconscious. Gradually he grew weak
er until death came as q relief. He
did not regain consciousness.
First news of the death OF the dis
tinguished jurist was received by
i William c. Macarthur. clerk of the fed
eral court in Des Moines, early last
evening. The deepest regret was ex-
pressed by lawyers and others OF his
f, intimate acquaintance
! Suffered From Indigestion.
! Judge Mcpherson had been suffer-
s! ing from indigestion for several years.
His last Illness. however. began in
July, shortly after he had completed
THE holding of strenuous term OF
I
He had gone TO Kansas where he
was interested in land deal. Ac
cornpanied BY friends, he was riding
in an automobile five miles in the
country when the machine broke down.
Not desiring TO wait until another con
veyance could be secured. he returned
10 town on foot, Notwithstanding the
roads we're extremely dusty and the
! he
gree mark.
Returning to his home in Red Oak
where he has lived for more than
forty years he was forced TO remain
indoors After two weeks he became
strong enough to make a trip to Kan
sa4s City, where he was called upon
to attend to some matters pertaining
to an estate of which he was admins
traitor. There Judge Mcpherson suf-
fered a second attack OF indigestion
Physicians advised him to return hom.
; at once.
indoors Six Months.
For six months he remained in
doors, being confined a portion of tn
: time to his bed At intervals he wa
able TO receive guests and give atten
ton 10 some cases he had under con
federation.
Early last week. Judge Mcpherson
= condition took a turn for the worse
I He became unconscious at times AM
: then rallied. Each succeeding attacl
/. lowered his vitality Unit, he passe
: away
2 Smith Mcpherson was born in Nor
e gan county, Indiana Feb. Il. 1S4S,
r son of Oliver and Polly Mcpherson
$ His father was a farmer by occupa
: ton. He lived at home until he at
;. tanned mis- majority. doing all kinds Q
( farm work and enjoying such schoc
+ privileges as the district schools at
forded. Later he attended the acad
emy at MooresvilIe his native town.
Entered Iowa University.
= | In 1869 he entered the law de
!. partment of the Iowa State Universit
: and in June of the following year h
:, was graduated and received his licens
. TO practice.
de continued his practice from 1si
: to 1899 alone and uninterruptedly ez
: cept when fulfilling the duties of put
lie offices to which he was elected
His legal practice, general in M
ture brought him into many in
portant cases.
Judge Mcpherson, as a republica
always was active in the affairs
his party and filed many offices
4 trust and confidence.
\ From 1874 to 1880 he was distri
attorney of the Third Iowa judici
district From 1880 to 1885 he serve
s as attorney general of the state. +
was elected representative to Il
Fifty-sixth congress in 1899 from Il
Ninth Iowa district
Resigned to Accept Judseship.
,e Resigning this office in June, 19t
ID he accepted the United States judg
g. ship for the southern district OF 10y
l. which position he has held since.
re Judge MCPHERSON was one OF t
h most active and resourceful political,
,r of the state. He was thoroughly cor
it. mitted to the old line or standpat ia
In ltion of the republican party as it W
a called in the days when that align1ne
8, was prominent. He always could
counted on to stand by his friends
I'd politics. Probably the last seve
II. lstruggle In which he participated "
I'd that in the primaries OF 1906.
m
ed
v Kind and osneroua