Representative Constant Roberts Marks View All Years

CONSTANT ROBERT MARKS was born in Durham, Greene County, New York, April 11, 1841, and died in Sioux City, Iowa, December 17, 1932. His parents were Almeron and Mary Phelps Marks. He attended the Connecticut Literary Institute at Suffield, Connecticut, until the breaking out of the Civil War when he enlisted in Company K, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry. While he was stationed at Fort McHenry he was taken so seriously ill that he was sent home. He later resumed his studies in Hudson River Institute at Caverack, New York, and in 1863 entered Yale College, but ill health prevented him from completing his course. In 1866 he commenced reading law with E. M. Wood at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and was graduated from the Albany Law School, Albany, New York, in 1868. In April of 1868 he removed to Sioux City, Iowa, and began practice there in partnership with W. L. Joy, as Marks & Joy. He continued in active practice for sixty-four years, or until shortly before his death at the age of ninety-one years, and at that time was thought to be the dean of Iowa lawyers. In 1869, the year of his arrival in Sioux City, he was elected representative and served in the Thirteenth General Assembly. This was the assembly that made the appropriation for the erection of the present Capitol. So far as can be learned there is but one member of that noted assembly surviving, G. S. Tolliver of Jefferson, Greene County. Mr. Marks, besides being in active practice as a lawyer, rendered much service to his city and state. He was a member of the Sioux City School Board for nine years, the last three being president. He was one of the original incorporators of the city water works, was one of the founders of the Sioux City Public Library, helped found the Sioux City Academy of Science and Letters, was secretary and one of the most active members of the Floyd Memorial Association which erected the Floyd monument, and frequently made valuable contributions as a local historian. Lawyer, scholar, civic worker, legislator, patriot, citizen, he was held in honor by his community.