Theodore D. Lampman

This well known farmer residing on Section 10, Washington township, Linn county, Iowa, within a mile of Center Point, was born on the 5th of March, 1849, in Wayne county, New York, a son of Henry and Catherine (Wolcott) Lampman. The father was a native of New York, and followed farming in the latter state until 1853, when he removed to Branch county, Michigan, making his home there for six years. He was next a resident of Bureau county, Illinois, and from there removed to Stark county, that state, locating near Wyoming. Subsequently he returned to Michigan, where he spent four years, then resided for some years in Mrshall county, Illinois, after which he came to Iowa. Four years later he returned to Marshall County, Illinois where his wife died. He spent the last years of his life with his daughter, Mrs. Ryanary in Bowlder township, Linn county, Iowa.

During early life the subject of this sketch accompanied his parents on their various removals, and obtained his education in the public schools of Michigan and Illinois. In August, 1870, he came to Linn county, Iowa, and purchasing a team, he engaged in breaking prairie here for two or three years, having previously followed the same pursuit in Illinois. He then purchased eighty acres of wild land in Grant township, which he sold after breaking it, and for several years engaged in farming upon rented property. On the 4th of March, 1890, he located upon his present farm on section 10, Washington township, and after renting it for one year purchased the place. He has since remodeled the house, built a good barn and other outbuildings, has set out fruit and shade trees, and made many other improvements upon the place which add to its value and beauty.

Mr. Lampman was married in this county, November 6, 1873, to Miss Adelia Miller, who was born in Indiana and when a child came to Iowa, being reared in Linn county. She is the daughter of Milo Miller, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Lampman have seven children, namely: Nora, wife of Chalmer Graham, of Cedar Rapids; Theodore L., a farmer of Washington township; Alfred M., also a farmer of this county; Edith L., wife of Jesse Goins, a farmer of this county; and Cynthia, Daisy and James, all at home.

In his political views Mr. Lampman is a staunch Republican, having supported that party since he cast his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant in 1872. He takes quite an active part in local politics, and is now serving his third term as township trustee. Although the township is Democratic, he was elected by a good majority, a fact which plainly indicates his personal popularity and the confidence and trust, reposed in him by his fellow citizens. He has also served two terms as road supervisor, and was a member of the school board for three years. Fraternally he is a member of the Iowa Legion of Honor, and religiously his wife is a member of the Church of Christ at Center Point. She has spent almost her entire life in this county, and Mr. Lampman has resided within its borders for over thirty years, and they have witnessed much of its growth and development. Both are widely and favorably known and are held in high regard in the community.

Charles A. Laurence

The art of publication has revolutionozed the world--has brought civilization to the dark corners of the globe, banished ignorance and practically annihilated barbarism. Knowledge is power, says the old proverb and knowledge has been brought to humanity mostly through publication. The business of printing and publishing has become one of the leading industries of the world and with it Charles A. Laurance is prominently connected as president of the Laurance Press Company of Cedar Rapids.

He was born near Rochester, New York, October 28, 1855, and is a son of Alexander and Eliza (Skinner) Laurance. The former, who was familiarly known as Father Laurance to the majority of the people of this county, was born in New Deer Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the 30th of September, 1811. It was the desire of his father to educate him for the ministry, but owing to the death of the former the son was obliged to leave school at the age of thirteen years and was apprenticed to John Bruce, a wagonmaker at Strichan, his earnings going to the support of the family. After learning the trade Mr. Laurance continued to work for Mr. Bruce, and his successor and at Bruckley Castle, until August 17, 1833, when he emigrated to America. He arrived in Quebec, Canada, on the 1st of October, and remained there until 1838, when he went to St. Johnsbury, Vermont. After spending a short time there he removed to Geneseo, Livingston county, New York, and a year later took up his residence in York, the same county, where he worked at his trade until failing health compelled his retirement from that occupation in 1846. From that time until 1860 he was identified with public affairs as a county official, serving as sheriff, constable, collector of taxes, and then being appointed to the position of deputy United States marshal. In October, 1860, Mr. Laurance came to Cedar Rapids, and from 1862 until 1897 was almost continuously in public office here. In 1862 he was elected city marshal, which position he held until 1871; was county coroner from 1868 to 1890; and for twenty years was township trustee, assessor four years; and deputy United States marshal two years. He retired from public life in 1897, when his sight failed him.

On the 3d of May 1838, at Argyle, Washington county, New York, was celebrated the marriage of Alexander Laurance and Eliza Skinner, a native of that state, who died in 1867. Unto them were born eight children, of whom four are still living, namely: George A., Archibald S., Charles A. and Anna J., all well-known citizens of Cedar Rapids. During his last years the daughter devoted her life to the care of her father, showing a devotion tht is rarely seen. Before leaving his native land Mr. Laurance was inducted into the mysteries of the Masonic order, August 14, 1832, as a member of Fraser Lodge, Strichan, Scotland, which was organized as an operative body, but later speculative Masons were admitted as members. It was one of the few operative bodies then in existence. When Mr. Laurance came to America opposition to the order had become a political issue, and in some sections of the country ignorance and prejudice had made known membership in the Masonic order a source of danger, but the storm soon subsided, however, and Masonry, stronger than ever, was again triumphant. Mr. Laurance did not avail himself of the privileges of the order until he settled in Cedar Rapids, where, under the mastership of the late A. R. West, he was admitted as a member of Crescent Lodge, No. 25, of which body he was ever afterward an honored member. In fact few members of any society have been honored as he was recognized by Crescent Lodge, which on the 14th of August each year for several years appropriately celebrated the anniversary of his initiation into the order. He died at his residence, 818 Seventh avenue, February 9, 1901, and was laid to rest with Masonic honors in Oak Hill cemetery. In daily life and action he was ever genial and affable. He enjoyed the popularity which comes to those generous spirits who have a hearty shake of the hand for all of those with whom they come in contact from day to day, and who seem to throw around them in consequence so much of the sunshine of life.

Charles A. Laurance was only five years old when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Cedar Rapids, and in the public schools of this city he acquired his education. After leaving the high school he served an apprenticeship to the printer's trade in the office of the old Weekly Times, where he remained eighteen years, being superintendent of the office the last six years. In 1888 he embarked in the printing business on his own account as a member of the firm of Laurance & Carr, which was changed to a stock company in 1896, known as the Laurance Press Company, and he has since been president of the same. They do all kinds of job printing and book-binding, confining their operations mainly to Iowa, though they publish the Russell Railroad Guide, which is universally used all over the western states. Under the able management of our subject the business has steadily prospered and now ranks among the leading enterprises of the city.

Dr. Richard Lord

Dr. Richard Lord, one of Cedar Rapids' most progressive physicians and surgeons, was born in Mantorville, Dodge county, Minnesota, on the 28th of October, 1868, his parents being Samuel and Louisa (Compton) Lord. The father was a native of Meadville, Pennsylvania, and there grew to manhood and was married. He acquired his literary education at Allegheny College of that place, and later took up the study of law and was admitted to practice in Pennsylvania. About 1860 he removed to Minnesota, where he followed his chosen profession. He was one of the most active and prominent representatives of the Republican party in his locality, and was elected to both the lower house and the senate of the state legislature, where he served for some time. Later he was elected judge of the fifth judicial district, and was holding that office at the time of his death, which occurred in 1880. His wife had died the year previous. Both were members of the Episcopal church and were people of prominence. In their family were eight children, of whom four are still living, viz: Samuel is a leading lawyer in Kasson, Dodge county, Minnesota, and is now a member of the state senate. He, too, takes an active interest in political affairs, and was chairman of the Minnesota delegation at the national convention held in Philadelphia in 1900. Hugh C., is a leading attorney of Erie, Pennsylvania, and is prominent in Republican politics. Myrtle A., is an artist of ability, who has devoted several years to study in Europe, but on account of ill health is not actively engaged in her art work at present. She resides with her brother in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Doctor completes the family. During his boyhood and youth Dr. Lord attended school in Mantorville, Kasson and Faribault, Minnesota, where the family resided at different times, and later was a student in the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis. Subsequently he took a four years' course at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and was graduated in 1893. He first located at Louisville, Nebraska, where he was engaged in practice for three years and in the fall of 1896 came to Cedar Rapids, where he has succeeded in building up a fine and lucrative practice. He is a member of the staff of St. Luke's hospital, and is also supreme medical examiner for the Fraternal Bankers Reserve Society. Fraternally he belongs to the Union Medical Society and the State Medical Society of Iowa, and is a charter member of Maine Lodge, I.O.O.F., of which he is now a past grand.

In 1894 Dr. Lord married Miss Jessie A. Leedy, and they now have one child, Josephine C., who was born September 28, 1899. Mrs. Lord was born in New Providence, Hardin county, Iowa, the daughter of Henry M. and Mary Elizabeth (Johnston) Leedy, but at the time of her marriage was living with her foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Lang, as Wasioja, Dodge county, Minnesota. She was educated in the seminary at that place and at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, taking a course in vocal music at the Conservatory of Music there. Religiously she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.