History of Marion, (Linn County) Iowa United States of America

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Biographies:

Angus Caldwell, proprietor of the Park Place Hotel and Livery Stable, Marion; born in Greensburg, Decatur Co., Ind., April 17, 1827; came to Jefferson Co., Iowa, in 1840; lived there five years, then returned to Indiana; came to Springfield, Illinois, in 1846; went to California in 1852; engaged in freighting, &c., there for six years in the employ of the Union Pacific Ry. Co., a portion of 1868-9; came to Marion, Iowa, in 1869. He has been engaged in the livery business here since 1870; proprietor of the Park Place Hotel since October, 1877. Mr. Caldwell is a member of the City Council. He married Mrs. Barbara J. Van Dyke, May 19, 1870; she was born near Indianapolis, Ind. They have one child--Sadie, born June 5, 1873. Mrs. Caldwell's father, John Miller, is an early settler of Linn Co. Mrs. Caldwell is a member of the Christian Church.

Hon. William Smyth (deceased); the subject of this sketch was born Jan. 24, 1824, in County Tyrone, Ireland; when 14 years old, his parents emigrated to Bradford Co., Penn., and for the next six years they lived here and in Huntingdon Co.; in 1845, William settled in Franklin Twp., but soon after went to Iowa City, where he studied law under Judge James P. Carleton for two years; June 1, 1847, William was admitted to the bar at the first term of court ever held in Benton Co., the committee and candidate sitting on a log near Thomas Ways' cabin, two miles from Vinton, while they examined him; he began practice at Marion, where he resided till his death. Mr. Smyth was married to Mary Brier at La Fayette, Ind., Nov. 12, 1850, by whom he had six children--William, Jay J., Robert, David B., John, Stephen and Louisa, the latter deceased. In 1848, Mr. Smyth became Prosecuting Attorney of Linn Co., which he held till 1853, when he became Judge of the Fourth District; he resigned in 1857, and resumed the practice of law; in 1858, he was made one of the commission that prepared the code of 1860; in 1861, he was chosen as one of four to assist the Governor in the management and direction of the war and defense bonds of the State. He entered the army in the Fall of 1862, as Colonel of the 31st Infantry, and served with distinction and honor till Dec. 15, 1864, when he resigned and resumed his law practice till he was elected to Congress in the Fall of 1868. He died at his home in Marion, Sept. 30, 1870. Of his services in Congress, when the motion was made by Mr. Allison that the House adopt the usual badge of mourning, Mr. Julian, of Indiana, said: "Mr. Speaker, I only desire to add a word to what has been so well said by the colleagues of the deceased. I know little personally of the facts which make up his biography, and which are so honorable to his career as a man and a public character, but it affords me a real pleasure to be able to bear witness to his uncommon personal worth and integrity. From the beginning of the present Congress to the close of the last session, my relations with him were most intimate and friendly. He served with me on the same committee, and during his brief service here was called upon to face some of the chief temptations which make public life a constant moral danger. His integrity was never found wanting, and he discharged all his duties with a fidelity and conscientiousness which did him the highest honor. He proved by acts, speaking louder than any words, how possible it is for an honest man to be a politician, and thus to rebuke the too prevalent popular skepticism in the virtue of public men. The example of Mr. Smyth is worthy of all honor, and does more than all else to reconcile his family and friends to his untimely death in the midst of a most honorable and useful career." The death of Mrs. Smyth occurred Jan. 29, 1861.