I shall now mention as the last, the two greatest lawyers of the early days of Marion, judging from their practice, marked success, and general recognition, viz: Isaac M. Preston, and William G. Thompson.
Isaac M. Preston came to Marion in 1842. He was elected probate judge of Linn county in 1842, appointed district attorney for the eighteenth judicial district of Iowa in 1845, again elected probate judge in 1847, the same year was appointed United States district attorney for Iowa by President Polk, was elected to the state legislature in 1848, and elected the first state senator in 1852 for Linn, Benton, and Tama counties. He moved to Cedar Rapids in 1878, where he died in 1880. He was possessed of a strong mind, his reasoning was logical, and his analysis keen. He aspired to greatness in his profession above all else. He was pronounced by competent judges the greatest criminal lawyer of Iowa in his day. Rugged, determined, persistent, tireless, profound, thoroughly versed in the common law, of broad conception, a close student and able judge of human nature, deliberate, careful, prudent; in speech plain, masterful, convincing; he having reached a conclusion in law or taken a position legally or morally, was seldom if ever compelled to compromise or retreat.
T. M. SINCLAIR
J. O. STEWART
William G. Thompson came to Marion in 1853 and first began the practice of law with I. M. Preston. He was prosecuting attorney in 1854, editor of the Marion Register (which he bought to insure a republican paper for Linn county) in 1855 and 1856, state senator in 1856 and 1858, major of the Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, serving until 1864, elector-at-large on the republican ticket in 1864, district attorney of the eighth judicial district from 1867 to 1874, chief justice of Idaho in 1878, elected to congress in 1879, and refused to accept a renomination. In 1884, to save the republican legislative ticket, he was nominated for the state legislature and elected. He was appointed judge of the eighteenth district in 1894, and was elected in the fall of the same year, re-elected in 1898 and 1902. He is now living in retirement with his son. J. M. Thompson, at his beautiful home, "The Elms," on the boulevard between Marion and Cedar Rapids. Major Thompson was naturally possessed of the elements of true greatness, viz: simplicity, sympathy, generosity, and charity. While he was in truth the "poor man's friend," he was more truly everybody's friend. His was a brilliant mind, a tender heart, an eloquent yet poignant tongue. Of quick intuition, forceful expression, and impassioned oratory, he carried juries with the force of the mountain torrent. His great tender heart was the repository of anybody's troubles or sorrows or legal difficulties "without money and without price," if needs be. As a lawyer he was comprehensive, ingenious, and aggressive. As a judge, merciful, conscientious, and just. The equitable appealed to him in every branch of the law. No truer friend, no more loyal partisan, no more zealous advocate, ever stood rock bound, unchangeable, and immovable as William G. Thompson always stood without malice or offense. Devoted to his home, his wife, and only son, cheerful, sunny, optimistic, unerring in his measurement of men and motives, charitable and forgiving beyond belief, honored and honorable, commonplace and companionable, always kind and considerate and helpful, great hearted, of noble soul, and of almost divine compassion, Judge William G. Thompson has already erected his monument of Christlike deeds, and his sepulchre will be the inner shrines of the hearts of all who knew him.