James E. Bromwell

As printed in 1901

JAMES E. BROMWELL.

Holding a prominent position among the attorneys of Marion is this gentleman, who is distinctively a man of affairs and who fields a wide influence. He is also one of Linn county's native sons, born in 1838, and is one of the two children of his father's second marriage, his parents being James E. and Mary E. (Bunnell) linimwell. natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was one of the pioneer settlers of this county, having located here in 1839. at which time he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild prairie land in Marion township, which he placed under cultivation and improved with good buildings, making farming his life work. He took (quite an active and prominent part in local aft'airs, and filled various minor offices in a most commendable and satisfactory manner. He assisted in laying out Marion proper, and always gave his support to those enterprises which he believed would prove of public benefit. He died in May, 1900, at the age of eighty-two years, honored and respected by all who knew him.

His wife is still living and makes her home with our subject in Marion. A more extended sketch of Mr. Bromwel Iwill be found on another page of this volume.

The early boyhood days of our subject were spent on the home farm, and he attended the country schools and the schools of Marion. At the age of fourteen he entered Cornell College at Mt. Vernon, where he pursued his studies for about seven years, taking two courses and graduating in 1881. He then read law in the office of J. B. Young, of Marion, for two years, and for four years served as deputy auditor. In 1887 he was elected auditor, having always taken an active part in politics as a supporter of the Republican party. As early as 1884 he commenced making stump speeches, and has since devoted considerable attention to political matters. In 1894 he commenced the practice of law in Marion, and now enjoys quite a liberal patronage.

In 1892 Mr. Bromwell married Miss Theodora Stearns, a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and a daughter of George L. Stearns, who was prominently identified with the official life of Linn county, serving as clerk of the courts for eight years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stearns are still living, as are also their four children.

Mr. Bromwell takes an active interest in ci\ic societies, and is a prominent member of the Masf)nic fraternity, prelate of the Commandery of Knights Templar and senior warden of the blue lodge.. He is also past chief patriarch of the Encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, and captain of the Uniform Rank of that order. For fourteen years he has been captain of the Mentzer Drill Corjis, and since holding that office the company has won more prizes and medals than an_\' other company in the state, securing one every year for twelve years. The company is composed of forty-eight men. Mr. and Mrs. Bromwell attend the Methodist church and are quite prominent socially. He has won an enviable reputation as an orator, and is called upon to speak on many special occasions. He represented Marion at the reception given the Forty-ninth Iowa Regiment at the opera house in Cedar Rapids in 1899, in company with men of prominence, and his speech with others was favorably comiuented upon by the various newspapers.

As printed in Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.