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Thomas McCulla, Pioneer Attorney
- Thomas
McCulla was not only a pioneer attorney of Cherokee but was also a man
who had played a prominent part in development of the community over a
period of more than half a century.
Mr. McCulla, following
graduation from Iowa State university, came to Cherokee in 1879 to
engage in the practice of law and continued actively in that profession
until the early 1930's. He became one of the most active boosters the
city has ever known. It was largely through his effort that this
city was selected as site for the Cherokee State hospital. He occupied
many positions of honor and trust, served as county attorney for three
terms, was city attorney and filled the position of mayor for three
successive terms, during which period the water works and electric
light systems were installed.
In addition to the law practice he
was engaged in the newspaper business for a number of years, editing
The Times from 1884 to 1890 and from 1908 to 1912. He was also a
moving factor in the organization of the movement that resulted
in erection of the opera house, later known as the Rialto, which at the
time of its erection was one of the finest to be found in a city of
similar size in Iowa. Mr. McCulla continued supervision of the property
throughout the years.
Mr. McCulla was the oldest living past
master of Speculative Lodge No. 307, A.F. & M., serving during the
years of 1887-1888. In 1934 he was honored by the members of that lodge
with the presentation of a medal commemorating his fifty years of
service as a Master Mason.
Mr. McCulla and his wife, Carrie
Ellen (Cleaves) had two sons, Lawrence C. and Royal Thomas McCulla.
He passed away at the age of 80 years old, at his residence, on
Friday, January 3, 1936.
- Source: Edited version of Cherokee Daily Times article, Cherokee, Iowa 3 Jan 1936, pg. 1
- L. McCulla Began Law Practice Here In 1928
Mr. Laurence C. McCulla, lawyer, was born in Cherokee county and graduated from Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn. He
first began the practice of law in 1928 when he joined the firm of
McCulla and McCulla which had been established by his father, Thomas
McCulla. Laurence and Walter McCulla maintained the firm as partner
attorneys for nearly twenty years.
L. C. McCulla left the law
firm in 1949 in order to enter private practice and he set up his first
offices over the Woolworth building.
Mr. McCulla served in the
Rainbow Division during World War 1 and also was attached with
Cherokee’s own Company “M” at the Mexican Border in 1916. He is a
past-post commander of the L.A.Wescott Post No. 2253, local branch of
the Veterans of Foreign Wars and has held the office of service officer
in this organization for over twenty years.
- Source: Cherokee Daily Times, Cherokee, Iowa 30 May 1956, pg 67
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