Representative Willard Chauncey Earle View All Years

HON. WILLARD CHAUNCEY EARLE

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorative of the life, character and public service of the Hon. Willard C. Earle, late of Allamakee county, beg leave to report the following memorial:

Hon. Willard Chauncey Earle was born in Honesdale, Pa., Oct. 7, 1833.

His family is of old English origin and the line can be traced back directly to a Saxon ancestor who lived in Great Britain before the Norman conquest. It is also of old American establishment, its first representative in this country having settled in Newport, R. I., as early as 1634.

In the requirement of an education, Mr. Earle attended public school in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, and later, under a private tutor, prepared to enter Brown university. Because of his health he was obliged to abandon this intention and joined his elder brother, going west to Tiffin, Ohio, where both engaged in railroad work.

In 1854 he came from Ohio to Iowa, locating in Waukon in June of that year, where for more than 65 years he maintained his residence.

Had he no other claim to the respect of his fellow citizens, his long and loyal service in the Civil War would constitute a valid and a lasting one. Among the first to respond to President Lincoln’s call for volunteers for service in the Civil War, he joined Company B, 12th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, being elected captain.

He participated in numerous important engagements, among which were the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Jackson, Black River Bridge, Champions Hill and Vicksburg. After the latter engagement, Captain Earle was ordered to raise a regiment of colored troops. He carried this work to successful completion, and, much to his surprise, received the commission of colonel of the regiment, which was entirely unsolicited on his part. The regiment participated in the battle of Natchez and in the campaigns along the Mississippi River, and remained in active service till the close of the war. He was one of the few soldiers of the Civil War who never applied for, and would never accept, a pension.

With a creditable military record of brave, able and loyal service, Col. Earle received his honorable discharge and returned to Waukon, whence he went to Chicago to enter Rush Medical College, where he took a course of lectures in 1865-1866.

He attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, where he completed his studies, graduating with the class of 1867. He then returned to Waukon, entered into partnership with Dr. I. H. Hedge and began the practice of his profession. Later, the parties established a drug store. In 1870 Dr. Earle purchased his partner’s interest and added to his stock a fine line of general merchandise. In partnership with his brother he also was engaged in the buying and shipping of stock and grain. Upon the death of his brother in 1885, Dr. Earle took over that business and continued it actively for many years. He gave largely of his time and means in successfully promoting the Waukon & Mississippi Railroad. He built substantial business blocks, had valuable Allamakee county farming land, and was president of the Citizens State bank of Waukon.

After the close of the Civil War, Dr. Earle identified himself with the republican party. In 1884, however, he joined the democratic party and was elected to the lower House of the 19th General Assembly, and as the democratic nominee in 1906, he was again elected to the lower House and served as the representative of Allamakee county in the 32nd and 32nd Special General Assemblies in a constructive and progressive way.

During his 65 years of residence in Allamakee county, his activities influenced in an important way practically every phase of county and municipal advancement, and his great success was a reward of an upright life, high in its purposes and constructive in its effect.

On January 1, 1860, Mr. Earle was united in marriage with Miss Ellen A. Hedge of Waukon, to which union three children were born, two of which, Mrs. Minnie C. Hemenway and Carleton H. Earle, with Mrs. Earle, survive him.

Dr. Earle died at St. Petersburg, Fla., February 10, 1920, and interment was at Waukon, Iowa, April 16, 1920.

Now Therefore, Be It Resolved, By the House of Representatives of the Thirty-ninth General Assembly, that in the death of Dr. W. C. Earle the state and community where he lived have suffered the loss of an influential, upright and valiant citizen; and

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the journal of the House and that the chief clerk be directed to send an engrossed copy thereof to the widow of the deceased.

I. E. BEEMAN,

WM. BECKER

J. R. BLAKE,

Committee.

Adopted March 23, 1921.