Representative Charles McGhee Waterman View All Years

CHARLES MCGHEE WATERMAN

Charles McGhee Waterman was born at Frankfort, Kentucky, on January 5, 1847, the son of Rev. Joseph A. Waterman and Sarah Ann McGhee Waterman. Rev. Waterman, an able Methodist minister, was one of the noted preachers of his day and held charges in the larger cities of Kentucky and Ohio, including Cincinnati, Dayton, Frankfort and Wheeling, West Virginia. In those days the Methodist Church did not permit a minister to remain longer than two years in any one place, and the Waterman family was periodically on the move. At the age of seven years Judge Waterman first came to Davenport, later going to Dayton, Ohio, where for several years he made his home with an aunt. He lived at Dayton part of the time during his boyhood and part of the time was spent in Davenport. Later he returned to Frankfort, Kentucky, where he attended a private academy.

It was in 1871 that Judge Waterman was admitted to the Iowa bar and began to practice law in Davenport. In 1877 he was elected representative to the Seventeenth General Assembly and served for one term.

In May, 1887, Judge Waterman was appointed by Governor Larrabee to the District bench to succeed Judge Rogers, whose death had created a vacancy. Judge Waterman served in the capacity of Judge of the District Court for a period of ten years, when he was elected to the Iowa Supreme Court bench, succeeding Judge L. G. Kinney. For four and one-half years, until July 1, 1902, Judge Waterman served as a Justice of the Supreme Court, and then again took up the practice of law in Davenport, forming a partnership with the Honorable Joe R. Lane.

Judge Waterman was a true citizen and thoroughly imbued with the American spirit, and always believed in a broad interpretation of the laws and was always opposed to all sumptuary legislation, and believed in personal liberties.

In the loyalty and service he gave his clients he was an example of the perfect lawyer. To the community at large he was best known for his kindly human qualities.

Judge Waterman was married to Miss Annie Lowry at Davenport on October 24, 1877, and four children were born to them: William T., Fred, Dana C., and Miss Helen.

Judge Waterman died in Davenport, Iowa, January 28, 1924. He is survived by his wife, their three sons and their daughter.

JOHN T. HANSEN,

JOHN EDEN,

RAY YENTER,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted March 30, 1925.