66 Siouw City Academy of Science and Letters. 



ten compositions. He aimed to state any proposition 

 clearly with all the fine shades and distinctions of mean- 

 ing, and was equally successful in scientific and humor- 

 ous writings. 



In equity cases, both as a lawyer and judge, he was 

 at his best. He was clear and logical, and in all matters 

 pertaining to real estate and corporation law was espe- 

 cially strong; and while not aggressive in his nature, he 

 was stubborn and tenacious in holding to his views, and 

 his wide knowledge of other subjects aided him in his 

 judicial work. In the preparation of his instruction to 

 juries he was careful and availed himself of his past 

 experience until he had collected a private book of in- 

 structions upon all classes of cases and phases of differ- 

 ent subjects that had stood the test of the higher courts, 

 which are and will be models for his associates and 

 successors. 



He was uniformly courteous, patient and kindly to 

 all and freely gave his time and advice to any who 

 sought him. He took pride in helping the young man 

 to make his start in life, and the young lawyer especially 

 found in him a friend and a judge who would grant him 

 a patient and attentive hearing. His anxiety was not 

 so much concerning the law as that justice should be 

 done. 



He was an earl^^ member of the original Scientific 

 Association and was president of this Academy at the 

 time of his death. He contributed many papers upon a 

 wide range of subjects, scientific, historical, religious and 

 literary. He was always interested in geology and bot- 

 any, and every rock, tree, hill or valley attracted his at- 

 tention and was absorbed, as it were, into his storehouse 

 of knowledge. 



He had quite a gift in poetry and composed some 

 very choice poems. He published, in pamphlet form, 

 some of his literary productions. He prepared papers 

 which he read before the State Bar Association. One of 

 these has been regarded as a masterpiece of pure elegant 

 English writing. 



In social life he was a most genial companion, quiet, 

 unobtrusive, yet glittering with quick suggestion and apt 



