Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-18
Giule5-Repub6t,s:
Published Daily BY The
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THREE NOTABLE DEATHS.

Whiting a few hours Iowa has suf-
fered notable loss in the passing o,
three noted and notable men, Smith Nc
PherSon. y S. ketchum and L. 5.
Coffin. each of whom represented
type and who were all we'll known to
the people OF Iowa
Mr. ketchum had been railway COM
missioner OF Iowa over long period
OF years and died in office. Judge
Mcpherson WAS among the most
prominent federal Judges in the United
States and Father" Coffin had earned
deserved repute as philanthropist and
advocate o: temperance legislation.
Judge Mcpherson was among the
most notable figures Of his profession
and o. his time. His capacity and
strong purpose seem TO have thrown
him almost Immediately into politics.
Graduated from the law school of the
state university in 1872 he was dis
trict attorney in 1874. an office he left
TO become attorney general in 1850.
district one year resigning in 1909 10
become judge Of the [. :. district court
for southern Iowa. holding that posi-
ton until his death. \ man OF emf
nent capacity, great lawyer and
peculiarly endowed with judicial ability
here has never been question Of the
.;-. .~o,1.. o,a abiii-feS Of
the man. Whatever question has been
made Of his course upon the bench
the fact that he was Of the highest
force and capacity always remained
unquestioned. The bar and he judi
ciary lost one of its keenest minds and
hardest workers when Mcpherson died.
Father" Coffin won his paternal
appeliation fairly by sincere work of a
philanthropic character. lie, perhaps
more than any other individual de-
serves credit for the adoption Of safety
devices by the railroads of this coun-
try. He also was railroad commits
sioner by appointment of Governor
Sherman and drafted the measure by
which railroads were given FIVE years
10 provide themselves with safety
couplings and procured the passage OF
me hill thru the Iowa legislature. II
was the frs, law of its kind in this
country Coffin pressed The question
on the federal congress and on fedora
executives. He was close 10 Presiden,
Harrison and during Harrison's al
minis,ration the Law providing for
safety appliances on al railways OF
the United States was signed oE mat
president and Coffin had accomplished
| great reform. His work among con-
victs and the underdogs OF society IS
TOO we'll known TO need recapitulation-
His later wears were marked with
| domestic troubles unnecessary TO re-
i,ate But these may be attributed 70
sen;lity and failing mentality Alto
gether the state owes much TO Fa'he'
Coffin. He fought good fight
Commissioner Ketchum was one Of
the pioneer manufacturers and ousi-
ness men of the state. He viii oe
much missed in his home city where ne
has lived most of his life and enjoyed
wide liking and respect. He was
kindly neighbor, a friendly man in ms
community, and MS friendly and klnd-3
character made Itself evident IN M
lofficiaI relations with other men IL
was the kind of man who VIII d
greatly missed oy those who kne" Mn
best and were most closely ASSOCIATED
with him in business, official life anf
neighbors, hard worker all his lie
actire, painetaking. simple in MS tastes
and uappiest at home and among on
friends and fellow townsrnen.
The death roll OF last week simpi!
marks the end OF service Of those wn'
were pioneers, the earlier type OF mel
! who have done their part toward tn
making Of Iowa, have served heir tim
! and depart.