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Kinyon Digital Library

History of Madison
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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Vincent Wainwright.

Vincent Wainwright

Vincent Wainwright, who was a successful lawyer of Winterset, was born in the state of New York on the 19th of May, 1835, a son of John and Catherine (Andrews) Wainwright.  He received his education in his native state and in 1858, when twenty-three years of age, migrated westward, locating at Leon, Decatur county, Iowa.  He was there admitted to the bar and practiced there until 1864, which year witnessed his arrival in Winterset.  He at once opened an office here and followed his profession successfully until his death, which occurred about twenty-six years later, on the 14th of January, 1890.  He was connected with many important cases and proved a formidable opponent, as his incisive logical mind seized upon the essential points in a controversy and as his power of direct, forcible speech impressed is arguments upon judge and jury.

Mr. Wainwright married Miss Letitia Ellis, who was born in East Tennessee, a daughter of William W. and Lucinda (Hunt) Ellis, natives of the same locality, who removed to Iowa when their daughter was a child.  The family home was established in Decatur county and there the father farmed for some time.  He held a number of county offices and for many years was county judge.  Both he and his wife have passed on to their reward.  Mr. and Mrs. Wainwright had six children, only two of whom grew to to maturity, namely:  Bertha, who is the widow of S. W. Foster and resides with her mother;  and Edith, the wife of W. S. Cooper, an attorney of Winterset, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

Mr. Wainwright was a member of the Presbyterian church and his political belief was that of the democratic party, which he stanchly supported.  He was made a Mason in New York state at the age of twenty-one years and joined the lodge here after coming to Winterset.  He was also a member of the Eastern Star, to which Mrs. Wainwright belongs.  She is still living on South Second avenue, where she has resided for the last forty-nine years.  She has made many friends in Winterset and all esteem her highly for her many excellent traits of character.  She too is a member of the Presbyterian church and in her life embodies the teachings of Christianity.

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