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From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: Bio of Edgar A Morling
Date: Sun, 30 May 2004 10:07:03 -0500

Harlan, Edgar Rubey. A Narrative History of the People of Iowa. Vol IV. Chicago:
American Historical Society, 1931

p. 360
HON. EDGAR A. MORLING is Emmetsburg's most distinguished citizen. He began
the practice of law there more than forty years ago, accumulating honors and
substantial increments of success through the years until he was called to the
larger service of the state as one of the justices of the Supreme Court and at
the present time he is chief justice of that tribunal.
Judge Morling is of English parentage. He was born at Boonville, New York,
April 21, 1864. His parents Alfred and Eliza (Hines) Morling, were natives of
Cambridgeshire, England, and after their marriage they came to the United States
in 1857, their first home being at Gloversville, New York, and later they
settled in Boonville. Alfred Morling was a carpenter and builder. He served as a
non-commissioned office in the Union army during the Civil war and for many
years held the office of justice of the peace at Boonville. He died February 4,
1903. He was born August 11, 1833. Mrs. Alfred Morling after the death of her
husband came out to Emmetsburg, Iowa, where she passed away in 1911 in her
eighty-fourth year.
Judge Morling attended public school at Boonville and was graduated LL. B.
from the Albany Law School in 1886. After a brief experience in law work at
Boonville he went to Saint Paul Minnesota in 1887, and for two years labored as
a member of the editorial staff of the West Publishing Company, assisting in the
compilation of some of the first law books of that famous firm whose
publications are known to every practicing attorney in America.
Leaving the West Publishing Company in 1889, Judge Morling located at
Emmetsburg. While he served as a member of the town council and as county
attorney he devoted his time and abilities with singular zeal and energy to the
routine of a growing general law practice. It was his reputation as a lawyer of
mature experience and ability that brought him, on October 1, 1925, appointment
to the Iowa Supreme bench, for the term ending December 31, 1930. He has written
some of the important opinions of the court during these five years and his work
has been in accord with the finest traditions of the bench.
Outside of his profession the cause of religion has probably been Judge
Morling's chief interest. He has attended four general conferences of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, has served on the board of trustees and board of
education of the Northwest Iowa Conference, for many years was a member of the
official board of the church at Emmetsburg. He is one of the trustees of
Morningside College and a member of the Wesley Foundation of Iowa. Fraternally
Judge Morling is a member of Earnest Lodge No. 399, A.F. and A.M., Earnest
Chapter No. 108, Royal Arch Masons, Holy Grail Commandery, Knights Templar, the
Eastern Star, and Medium Lodge and McPherson Canton, Independent Order of Odd
Fellows.
He married, April 25, 1888, Miss Flora B. Tripp, of Cherokee, Iowa. She
passed away October 6, 1920, leaving four children: William E., who died at
Emmetsburg October 29, 1926; Ruth M., wife of R.A. Shover, in the real estate
business at Emmetsburg; Max M., also in the real estate and loan business at
Emmetsburg, and Maynard A.
Among other interesting and gratifying honors Judge Morling has received in
his long experience as a lawyer and jurist one was the conferring upon him of
honorary membership in the legal fraternity Order of the Coif at the University
of Iowa in April, 1930.

Cathy Joynt Labath
Palo Alto Co, IA USGenWeb Project
http://www.celticcousins.net/paloalto/index.htm

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