"William Allen Hoyt was born in
the little town of Cleveland, Oswego county, New York, on the 16th day of
April, 1844, and was the son of Charles and Mary (ALLEN)
HOYT. He received his preliminary education in the public
schools of Oswego county and early decided to make the profession of law his
life work. To this end he read law for some time in Oswego, and then entered
the law department of the Columbia University, New York City, where he was
graduated in 1866 with special honors. Much of his youth, and especially
during the period of his preparation for his life work, was spent in the home
and office of his uncle, Judge William
Allen, a distinguished lawyer and eminent jurist of New York
and the author of "Allens New York Reports." After graduating from
law school, Mr. Hoyt became connected with the law firm of Scudder
&
Carter, of New York City, with whom he remained until 1871,
when failing health compelled him to seek a more congenial and favorable
climate. He located in Fayette, Iowa, and at once entered upon the active
practice of his profession, which was continued without interruption, other than
his official services on the bench, until his death.
. . . . In 1878
Mr. Hoyt formed a professional partnership with H. P. HANCOCK,
of West Union, the firm maintaining offices at West Union and Fayette. His
abilities were quickly recognized and he was twice chosen attorney for Fayette
county. . . . In 1889 he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for the position
of judge of the thirteenth judicial circuit and, although the district was
normally Republican, he was elected . . . In 1887 Judge Hoyt became connected
with the Bank of Fayette, of which he was chosen president, and also became a
stockholder in the bank at West Union. . . In 1875 Judge Hoyt became a member of
the board of trustees of Upper Iowa University . . .
His death
occurred on May 28, 1903, following an operation for cancer of the stomach.. .
On October 23, 1872, during the second year of his residence at
Fayette, Judge Hoyt married Elma L. MARVIN, a native of
McHenry county, Illinois, and the daughter of Asahel E. and Phoebe (KNOWLES)
MARVIN. These parents were originally from Livingston county,
New York, near Rochester, and in 1865 they moved to Fayette County, Iowa, where
the father became a well-known and successful carpenter and contractor. He
died in 1892. His widow now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Hoyt, and
is in her eighty-ninth year. To Judge and Mrs. Hoyt were born four children,
namely: Allen Fitch died at the age of one year; Blanche died at the age of six
years; Katherine, who became the wife of John BUDD, of
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, is the mother of two daughters, Elizabeth and Willa
Hoyt; Elizabeth M. is the wife of L. J. AYER, of Chicago, and
they have one daughter, Katherine.
Politically, Judge Hoyt was
closely identified with the Democratic party, and he never swerved in his
allegiance, though he was not at any time offensively partisan. Religiously he
was a member of the Congregational church at Fayette since 1871. . . .
Fraternally he was a member of the time-honored order of Freemasonry, in which
he was identified with Pleiades Lodge, Ansel Humphries Chapter, Royal Arch
Masons, and the commandery of Knights Templar at West Union. . . ."
(A photograph is included in the source book.)