Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-26
IOWA SUPREME COURT LOSES
ONE OF ITS ABLE AND
POPULAR MEMBERS.
NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
SEVERAL WEEKS AGO
Judge Deen1er Considered by Attor-
neys as Most Efficient Member Of
Judicial Body-Served on District
Bench at Red Oak Prior to Being
Elevated to Supreme Court.

Special to Times Republican.
Red Oak, Feb. 26.-Horace E. Deem
er, justice of the Iowa supreme court,
died at his home here today at 2 a.
m, after an illness of several weeks.
Physicians said the cause of death
was general nervous breakdown"
All members OF the family were at the
bedside.
Judge Deemer broke down about a
month ago, and for the past three
weeks has been in a serious condi-
ton. Until about week ago he was
not expected to live out the days. Spe-
cialists from Omaha were summoned
last Monday, and said that five days
would see the crisis. The judge at
that time was able to take a little
food, during his brief times of con-
seriousness.
Best Known Jurist in State.
Horace e. Deemer probably was the
best known jurist in the state, having
in addition to being o member and
three times chief justice Of the Iowa
supreme court been largely interested
in social, civic and charitable institu-
tons.
He was born in Marshall county, In
diana, Sept. "a, 1858. When years
of age he came to Cedar county, Iowa,
and attended the public schools at West
Liberty, and later entered the collegiate
department of the state university at
Iowa City. Upon graduation he re-
turned to the university and took up
the study of law, graduating In 1879,
and receiving the degree OF LII. B. in
$780, s
He was for some time a member of
law firm IN Lincoln Neb, but aban-
doned practice there and moved to Red
Oak, Iowa, where he remained until his
death,
Becomes District Judge.
He was elected district Judge in 1886
and re- elected in 1890. When, in 1894,
the legislature increased the number
of Judges of the supreme court to six
Mr.. Deemer< was appointed to the SUI
preme bench by Frank d. Jackson, the
then governor Of iowa. On 1898 he was
by order Of rotation chief justice and
again in 1904 and in 1910.
Attic Justice Deemer was well
known among lawyers and judges thru
out this part Of the country for the
brevity and clarity Of his opinions as
a justice of the supreme court, he was
popularity known as a participant in
social, scientific and civic activities
covering q wide range and Of consider
able scope. He was largely respon-
sible for the creation OF the state his
torical department and thruout the ex-
istence of that department. as a mem
Der Of the board of trustees, played al:
important part both as an executive
officer. and by reason Of private, in
dividual cooperation, particularly in
the field OF historical research. He was
virtually alone in the selection of the
volumes which make up the present
state law library, admittedly most
complete compilation Of legal opinions
in the United States with the excep-
ton Of the congressional law library
at Washington.
Activities Many.
Aside from these activities he took
active part in the affairs Of the Iowa
Society for the Prevention of Tuber-
culosis. American Forestry association,
State Association Of Charities and Cor
rections, state and American bar as
sociations, American Free Art league,
American Association for the Advance
ment Of Science, American Political
and Social Science association, Nation
al Association for the Promotion Of In
dustrial Education and the Art Insti-
tute Of Des Moines.
i AS a member OF the American For
IL ~
ISOLATED with Clifford Pinchot. former
chief forester of the United States, and
former President Theodore Roosevelt
in assisting to outline the conservation
policy Of the second Roosevelt admin
which attracted nation wide
attention thru the prominence given by
the press Of the country to the Bal
linger- Pinchot controversy. Z
Among his classmates at the state
university Justice Deemer enjoys the
distinction Of having been the first
pitcher in-college baseball to use the
curve ball. AT the time Judge Deemer
was star pitcher and captain Of the
college baseball team and it was just at
the time the baseball rules were
changed toSallow pitchers to use the
thrown Uell lHSIeau PlCCnlHS the DdIl,
not allowing the hand to- rise higher
than the pitchers waistline. Deemer
developed his curve after reading ac-
counts of curve balls thrown by big
league pitchers Of that time.
On July IL. 1882, Justice Deemer
married Jeanette Gibson, of Red Oak:
He was the author Of numerous
books on legal subjects, including a
number Of law monographs and syllagi
for law lactlIreS