Senator Philo Milton Jewell View All Years

MR. PRESIDENT—Your committee appointed to draft resolutions commemorating the life work and public service of the Honorable Philo Milton Jewell, begs leave to report the following:

PHILO MILTON JEWELL.

Senator Philo Milton Jewell was born at Mount Vernon, Knox county, Ohio. His parents were Mr. Holly Jewell and Mrs. Margaret Jewell. At the age of eight he came with his parents to Illinois, where they settled on a farm near Mount Carroll, in Carroll county. Here the subject of this sketch grew up to manhood.

He was educated in the public schools and at Mount Carroll Seminary. Having chosen medicine as his life profession he studied medicine and surgery in the State University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, took post­graduate work at the Chicago Polyclinic Institute, and also in after years during practice took post-graduate work from time to time at the leading medical schools of his time in this country.

He began the practice of medicine at his home town, Mount Carroll, Illinois. A few years later he moved to Orleans, Nebraska, and later to Lyndon, where he stayed until 1880, when he moved to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he first located at Ossian and nine years later settled in the city of Decorah.

In 1875 he was united in marriage to Miss Nama Livingston, who with one son and two daughters survive him.

Senator Jewell was a man of integrity, a man of truth and honesty in speech and actions. His straightforwardness in speech would at times carry to a point where it would provoke enmity in persons who were unable to appreciate the sterling qualities of a thoroughly righteous and steadfast citizen. But beneath a firm and stern personality there beat a warm charitable heart. He truly loved his fellowmen. His profession brought him face to face with humanity under all conditions, from the most luxurious home to the humblest cabin where misery and want is in evidence on every side. And he must go when called, to the most humble, often neglecting himself, his comfort, and his health, to carry to the suffering relief from the pain and to extend help to the afflicted when often fully aware that personal gain would not result.

As a friend and neighbor he was kind, considerate, and true. In politics he was originally a democrat, although taking an independent view on political questions. During the prohibition movements in the ‘80’s he joined the republicans, with whom, thereafter, he actively affiliated.

In 1897 he was appointed a member of the United States Pension Board for Winneshiek county, which position he held to his death. In 1899 he was elected County Coroner. In 1906 he was elected Representative from Winneshiek county, re-elected in 1908, and in 1910 was elected Senator from the Howard and Winneshiek district.

During his second term as senator, while attending the Thirty-fifth General Assembly, the disease which was destined to end this noble life made itself manifest. After struggling to be at his post in the Senate day after day, he at last was compelled to go to the hospital and undergo an operation, from which he rallied enough to be in attendance during the closing days of the Thirty-fifth General Assembly and take part in its deliberations. But soon after its close, the disease again renewed its battle against the weakened body and exhausted vitality. He lingered until the following winter, the 8th day of January, 1914, when he died at his home in Decorah, Iowa.

In his political career he showed the same noble qualities as in private life. The conscientious, fearless stand he took on all public questions is well known to all of his colleagues. He took the most diligent care to inform himself on all measures before him, and gained the full respect and esteem of all his co-workers.

It is fitting that public recognition of his life and services be made. Therefore be it

Resolved, That in the death of Senator Philo Milton Jewell the state of Iowa has lost a faithful public servant and an able statesman whose services promoted the public welfare and whose fidelity to public duty furnishes an example worthy of emulation;

Resolved, That the district of Howard-Winneshiek has lost a most useful and loyal citizen; his home community, an able physician, a wiling co-worker and neighbor, and his family, a kind and loving husband and father; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions he spread on the Journal of the Senate, and an engrossed copy of the same be sent to the bereaved family.

L. M. ENGER,

A. M. FELLOWS,

ROBERT QUIGLEY,

Committee.

The resolutions were adopted unanimously by a rising vote.