Representative James H. Rothrock View All Years

JAMES H. ROTHROCK as born at Milroy, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1829; he died at his home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, January 14, 1899. The family moved to Ohio in 1838, and settled upon a farm which, in reality was but a small clearing in the woods. The country had been but newly opened up to settlement, and the boy was only able to attend the common school during the three winter months. When he had reached the age of eighteen he attended an Academy at New Richmond a short time, where he prepared to enter the Franklin University at New Athens. As he was working his own way in securing an education, he taught school during the vacations. But he left the University during his Junior year, in 1852, and entered upon the study of the law at West Union, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of the State, at Columbus, in 1854. He was chosen prosecuting attorney for Highland county, and served one term. Coming to Iowa in 1860 he settled at Tipton, Cedar county, where he was elected to the lower house of the 1egislature in the autumn of 1861. The session opened in the Old Capitol in the following January. His service was such as to give him a State reputation long before the session was over. Hon. Rush Clark, the Speaker, was compelled by ill health to retire some weeks previous to the end of the session, and Mr. Rothrock was chosen Speaker pro tem. His prompt and correct decisions, his judicial impartiality, and his courtesy and inborn kindness, made every acquaintance his personal friend. He served in the extra session of that year, after which Gov. Kirkwood tendered him the Colonelcy of the 35th Infantry, which, because of his inexperience in military affairs, he declined, like Theodore Roosevelt, to take the next lower place. His regiment went to Vicksburg, where Col. Rothrock led it in the historic but most disastrous charge of May 22, winning high credit for his skill and dashing bravery. An attack of typhoid fever incapacitated him for further service, and he came home to resume his law practice in Tipton, as the partner of the late Judge W. P. Wolf. He was chosen to the District Judgeship in 1866, where he served nine years, and was then appointed to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Bench of the State, from which he retired—declining another nomination—in 1896. He therefore served continuously as a Judge for thirty years. He won a reputation as a soldier, statesman and jurist, second to no Iowa man of his time. As one of the trustees of the State Historical Department, he took a deep and abiding interest in its work, especially favoring the publication of this Magazine. He was married in 1855 to Miss A. L. Foote of Hillsborough, Ohio, who died in Cedar Rapids, April 7, 1893. At this writing (March 9) it is understood that his decease will be duly noticed by the Supreme Court, and we hope hereafter to be able to present a more extended notice of his life and public services.