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The Blue Book of Iowa Women A History of Contemporary Women

Compiled by Winona Evans Reeves, 1914.

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Mrs. Charles W. Mullan

Prominent among the women of Waterloo and one whose history has been closely allied with the city and whose father-in-law surveyed, platted and named that city, is Mrs. Charles W. Mullan.  Emma Lucy Hammond Mullan was born Dec. 15, 1851, in Paris, Oneida county, N. Y.  She is the daughter of William Hammond, who came to Waterloo in 1855, and established the first bank and real estate office in that city, and the second bank of the state.  Her mother waas Frances Chesebro Babcock, a woman of rare beauty and grace of character.  She was a gentle woman of the old type, who painted in water colors, did exquisite needle work and read carefully selected literature.  She was descended from the historic Perry family.  Matthew Calbraith Perry, the American naval officer, who opened commerce with Japan, was her grandfather's brother, as was also Commodore Oliver H. Perry, who defeated the British in the battle of Lake Erie.  The late Rev. Maltby Babcock, who was pastor of the Brick Presbyterian church of New York, and Edward Noyes Westcott, author of Havid Harum, were cousins.  Kendrie C. Babcock, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences of the University of Illinois, is a cousin.  Mrs. Mullen was educated in a seminary conducted by Miss Anna Field, of Mt. Holyoke, and a pupil of Mary Lyon.  She was married Nov. 6, 1872, to Charles W. Mullen and has four children.  Chas. W. Mullen was born Dec. 31, 1845, son of Charles Mullen, one of the first settlers of Black Hawk county, going there in 1846.  He surveyed, platted and named the city of Waterloo.  He and his wife, a woman of great strength of character, endured many hardships of pioneer life.  Their son was educated in the Upper Iowa University, read law with a private tutor and was admitted to the bar in 1870.  He served as city solicitor, as county attorney and in 1897 was elected state senator, serving in the 27th and 28th general assemblies.  He resigned in 1900 to accept the office of Attorney General, which office he held until 1913, when he was appointed Judge of the Tenth Judicial District, the position he now holds.

Mrs. Mullen is a member of the Congregational church, in which she has been an active member since she was thirteen years of age.  She is a member of the Waterloo Woman's Club, the second oldest woman's club in Iowa.  She is a charter member of the Fortnightly Club, a member of the P. E. O. sisterhood and of the Ladies of the G. A. R.  Her life work has been to rear her family, and right well has she accomplished that task.  Her oldest son, Charles Hammond, is a graduate of Iowa College, and resides in St. Paul, being department manager of the Minneapolis Dry Goods Co.  Her daughter, Frances Gertrude Blair, is a graduate of Iowa College and resides in Des Moines, the wife of Mr. John Blair, First Vice President of the Des Moines National Bank.  The third child, Alice May Walker, was also a student at Iowa College, ist the wife of Carl R. Walker of St. Cair, Mich., manager of the Diamond Chrystal Salt Co.  The younger son, Alfred William, is a graduate of Iowa College and of the law department of the State University of Iowa.  He very successfully practices his profession in Waterloo for several years when because of ill health he temporarily gave up the law and is now in the U. S. forestry service in New Mexico.

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