TORBERT, WILLARD H., the well-known wholesale druggist, of Dubuque , is a native of the state of New York , and his ancestors on both sides have been distinguished practitioners of both medicine and pharmacy.

His grandfather, Samuel Torbert, M. D., was health officer of the port of New York under Gov. Daniel Tompkins. His father, the late Dr. H. G. Torbert, of Camden, was one of New York's most distinguished practitioners. His mother was the daughter of Joshua Ransom, M. D., an illustrious member of the medical fraternity, and her grandfathers on each side, Capt. Elihu Warner, and Lieut. Joshua Ransom, were both distinguished soldiers of the American revolution. Besides those who won distinction in the practice of medicine and with whom the name of Torbert is entwined in honorable kinship, are others prominent in the history of the country. among them may be named the McCreas, McNairs, and Lieutenant Burrows of revolutionary fame. In the same direct line descended General Torbert, who distinguished himself in brave and gallant service through many engagements of the civil war. And so on through years, early and late, the family history records traditions of an esteemed and honored race who have figured among stirring scenes and notable events, with which the people of the country are familiar.

Willard H. was born in Camden, Oneida county, N,. Y. In preparing for college he attended Falley seminary, at Fulton, N. Y., and later completed his education at Princeton college. His earliest experience as a druggist was in Syracuse, N. Y., after which he engaged in the drug business at Adams, Jefferson county, N. Y. Mr. Torbert made his first acquaintance with Dubuque in 1864, and in 1868 became a resident of that city. In 1868 he purchased an interest in the drug store which had been established by Dr. Timothy Mason in 1836, being the oldest establishment of the kind in Dubuque or in Iowa. Later he became its sole proprietor and soon broadened its trade into one of the largest among western drug houses, while its wholesale business extends over several western states and territories. In 1880 Mr. Torbert was largely instrumental in securing a modification of the state laws regulating the sale of liquor by pharmacists and in securing the repeal of the obnoxious features. This section was so repealed or reconstructed that no further protest or complaint was heard from the pharmacists of the state, who had hitherto been sorely inconvenienced and embarrassed in this branch of their business.

In 1888 Mr. Torbert was elected president of the State Jobbers and Manufacturers' association, and again found an active field for the exercise of his diplomatic acumen. He was a potent factor in securing the enactment of a law regulating rates between railroads and shippers of the state. This measure placed Chicago and Iowa jobbing points on a parity and resulted in untold benefits to the jobbers and manufacturers of Iowa in all branches of their business and trade, and has proven of great value to the railroads themselves. In 1888 Mr. Torbert was elected president of the Iowa State Pharmaceutical association, and in 1889 was unanimously re-elected to a second term, an honor never before extended to any member in the history of the association. At a meeting of the pharmaceutical association at New Orleans and at Louisville , Mr. Torbert was a recognized leader and champion of the interests of the retail druggists of the country. The Pharmaceutical Era says: "In selecting him as chairman of the committee to represent the retailers in the tripartite conference in the further and final execution of the Apha plan, it may be confidently stated that the retail druggists have a wise, true and faithful friend at court, as Mr. Torbert never spares time nor effort when the interests of the retail druggists are at stake. If the plan adopted by the tripartite fails of ultimate success, it will not be the failure of his untiring efforts to secure the desired result as chairman of the commercial section of that body." Mr. Torbert is a prominent member in the National Wholesale Druggists' association, also a member of the Iowa Society of Sons of the Revolution. His ability and influence as a member of the Interstate Retail Druggists' league and as the Iowa representative of the state executive committee, has met with deserved and flattering recognition. In all his dealings with his fellow-men in public and private association, his abilities and integrity have been unquestioned. He also possesses many qualities that would eminently fit him for a political career, had he chosen to take advantage of opportunities that from time to time have offered their allurements in that direction. Mr. Torbert is thoroughly familiar with political methods, is an earnest and eloquent public speaker and as engaging conversationalist. He has been mentioned in connection with many distinguished public positions which he would have filled with ability and honor. He has been frequently sought by the republican party, with which he is prominently identified, as a candidate for the highest office within its gift in the state. But he is too thoroughly devoted to his important business interests to forsake them for a political career. He was president of the Dubuque Commercial club and is now president of the Dubuque Jobbers and Manufacturers' union. He was vice-president of the American Pharmaceutical association, the largest society of pharmacists in the world.

He is an earnest worker in whatever direction his sympathies and convictions are enlisted, a genial companion in the social walks of life, upright in his dealings with men and a useful member of the community with which he has been so long and honorably identified. Mr. Torbert was married January 2, 1868 , to Mary E. Kirk, a daughter of Rev. R. R. Kirk and Mary Doxtater Kirk. They have one daughter, Mary T., now the wife of Maj. Glen Brown, of Dubuque .