Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

Jones County Judges
compiled by Josephine Russell
The Anamosa individuals who have attained the
honor of serving the people of Jones County and the
State of Iowa within the judicial branch of the
govemment have been noted as men of high legal
ability, integrity and personal character. Their
Frederick Oscar Ellison was born in New York City,
July 4. 1853, the son of Thomas B. and Ann Ruxton
Ellison, and came to Iowa in 1870. After studying law in
the office of Hunter and Williamson in Lyons, he was
admitted to the bar in 1874. A year after beginning his
practice in Clinton, he moved to Wyoming, Iowa, where
he served as mayor and councilman.
In 1889 he moved to Anamosa, where he made his
home until his death. He was first associated with Ezra
Keeler, and was the senior member of the firm of
Ellison, Ercanbrack and Lawrence, and of Ellison and
Gorman. His association with Gorman continued until
he was elected district judge in 1906.
Active in public oilice. he was never defeated in 15
bids. He was mayor of Anamosa. elected to the newly
created office of the county attorney in 1886, state
representative from 1894 to 1896, and state senator
from the Jones-Cedar district from 1896 to 1900.
During his term in the Senate, he spent three winters
with other legislators in framing the Iowa Code which is
Howard Marshall Remley was born Jan. 17, 1843, at
Lewisburg, Virginia (now West Virginia).
His parents were the Rev. James and Jane C.
Alderson Remley. James, born January 15, 1812, was
educated at William 8: Mary's college in Virginia, and
was united in marriage to Miss Jane Alderson. Her
father, Colonel George Alderson. was an officer in the
War of 1812. George Alderson's brother, father,
grandfather and great-grandfather were ministers of
the gospel and were pioneers in the religious
advancement of the state of Virginia.
James and Jane came to Iowa in October 1855.
settling at Oxford, Johnson County. They were the
parents of Howard Marshall Remley; Milton Remley (at
one time Attorney General of the State of Iowa): Mrs.
J.D. Glass and Miss Clara Remley.
Howard Marshall Remley was 12 years of age when
he came to Iowa and his youth and early manhood was
spent on the farm in Johnson county. He pursued his
education in Iowa City, and later graduated from the
University of Iowa in 1869 with a degree of Bachelor of
Arts. In 187 2 he earned his LL.B degree and in 1874 his
Master of Arts degree.
Hon. F.0. Ellison
reaching this high office is indicative of the regard with
which the public held them. The following named
judges are those who have served and includes Judge
Larry J . Conmey, presently serving in the Iowa district
court.
still in use.
Beginning his tenure on the bench in the old
courthouse, Judge Ellison was the first to sit in the new
Jones county courthouse. His period of service in the
Eighteenth Judicial District is one of the longest among
Iowa jurists. He served for 32 years before his
retirement in 1938.
On November 3. 1875, he was united in marriage
with Elida McCutchen of Indianola. She died in 1927.
They were the parents of live children including:
Rolland R.. Cliiford, and a daughter, Mildred, who
married Dr. John Dale Paul, Anamosa physician.
Mrs. Paul, resides in Anamosa. She celebrated her
98th birthday May l. 1987.
He was a past grand commander of the Knights
Tempier of Iowa and was a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
In 1930, Judge Ellison was married to Dorinda
Abbott of London, Canada. He died at age 91, in 1944.
Hon. Howard M. Remley Sr.
Hon. B.H. Miller
Benjamin Huber Miller was born in Rome Township,
Jones county, Iowa, on April 10, 1845.
His father. Jacob Miller, was descended from German
ancestry. In the year 1803. they moved to Ohio, being
among the pioneers who aided in reclaiming that state
for the purposes of civilization.
Jacob Miller was married to Miss Mary Keller, a
native of Pennsylvania, August 12, 1802. Her father
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Howard. Remley located his law practice in Anamosa
in July I872, and remained an active member of the
bar in this city, except for the period of seven years
when he was elected to serve as a Judge of the
Eighteenth Judicial District of Iowa. Following his
tenure on the Bench, he practiced in partnership with
his son, James E. Remley, under the firm name of
Remley 8: Remley.
In 1873, Judge Remley was united in marriage with
Miss Mary E. Underwood of Muscatine. Iowa. who was
also a graduate of the State University. They became
the parents of ten children: Bertha, James E.. Arthur
L.. Alfred G., Robert G.. Agnes, Elsie, Mary. Clara,
I-loward M. II, all of whom attended the University of
owa.
Judge H.M. Remley, Sr.. was a member of the Baptist
church and a teacher in its Sunday School. and was the
president of the Alumni Association of the University of
Iowa. He was a trustee of Des Moines College. His wife
was a leading member of one of the chapters of the
Daughters of the American Revolution and. for years.
was a trustee of the Anamosa Public Library.
was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mary and Jacob
were the parents of seven sons and three daughters.
Benjamin Huber was the youngest.
Benjamin attended high school in Lisbon, Iowa, and
following his graduation, he was a teacher in the
country schools.
Later, he served as a justice of the peace in Cedar and
Jones counties, and was also mayor of the towns of Olin