The late John Mowry left a legacy of public service
Shown is a photo of the late Nellie Lounsberry of the prominent local family of the same name. She and husband Harold Lounsberry once owned the Mowry-Irvine Mansion in Marshalltown. John Mowry, wife Irene and daughter Madelyn resided in the home for a number of years. In 2017, Madelyn (Mowry) Irvine donated the home to the Historical Society of Marshall County.
The Mowry-Irvine Mansion is located at 503 W. Main St. in Marshalltown and serves as the headquarters of the Historical Society of Marshall County.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS A portrait of the late John Mowry of Marshalltown (1905-96) on display at the HIstorical Society of Marshall County. He was a former F.B.I. agent, two-term Marshalltown mayor and prominent local attorney and legislator.
Shown is a photo of the late Nellie Lounsberry of the prominent local family of the same name. She and husband Harold Lounsberry once owned the Mowry-Irvine Mansion in Marshalltown. John Mowry, wife Irene and daughter Madelyn resided in the home for a number of years. In 2017, Madelyn (Mowry) Irvine donated the home to the Historical Society of Marshall County.
The Mowry-Irvine Mansion is located at 503 W. Main St. in Marshalltown and serves as the headquarters of the Historical Society of Marshall County.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS A portrait of the late John Mowry of Marshalltown (1905-96) on display at the HIstorical Society of Marshall County. He was a former F.B.I. agent, two-term Marshalltown mayor and prominent local attorney and legislator.
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The late Dale Paullin (also known as Paul Dale), Mary Beth Hurt, and Jean Seberg are not the only prominent Marshalltonians with links to Broadway and Hollywood.
The late attorney, mayor and legislator John Mowry deserves mention too. It is alleged that he arrested the late actress, comedian and singer Mae West for indecency in New York City, N.Y., according to Historical Society of Marshall County (HSMC) archives.
The handcuffs used in West's alleged arrest were once on display at the Mowry-Irvine Mansion at 503 W. Main St. in Marshalltown.
Mowry's former home serves as offices for HSMC and displays a number of historical artifacts.
While his work with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement entities earned him notoriety, it was Mowry's legacy as an attorney for 65-years and public servant.
They were followed by his significant contributions to the Marshalltown area and central Iowa's betterment. All earned him a place as a notable historical figure.
Sadly, it was 31-years ago this month Mowry died. Mowry, 89, died Nov. 1, 1995, at the former Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center according to HSMC archives.
He was born in Baxter in 1905 and graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1924.
Mowry was a businessman and elected to the office of Marshall County attorney – 1938-41 – Marshalltown mayor – 1951-55 – and member of the Iowa General Assembly for 18 years. Mowry was also a member of the Marshalltown Chamber of Commerce.
After graduating from the University of Iowa Law School in 1930, he was admitted to the Iowa State bar in that same year and the New York State bar in 1945. Initially, Mowry and his uncle Ross Mowry practiced law in Newton.
In December of 1930, John Mowry joined the FBI. In 1934 he returned to Marshalltown briefly.
However, he was recruited to join the staff of Thomas Dewey, newly appointed special prosecutor from New York City, N.Y. His service to Dewey was interrupted by World War II.
During the war, he was assigned to the Intelligence Unit of the Material Command of the Army Air Force (predecessor of the U.S. Air Force) in Philadelphia.
Mowry married Irene Lounsberry June 7, 1941 in Marshalltown. In 1945, he returned to Marshalltown permanently.
Mowry, a Republican, served as a state legislator and state senator. He was twice elected as a delegate to Republican national conventions.
Mowry served as majority floor leader and as chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee and State Department and Judiciary Committee in the House and Commerce Committee in the Senate.
"I worked as hard as anything I had ever done in my lifetime, correcting bills, filling amendments, etc.," he said as quoted in The Continuing History of Marshall County, 1997. "It took me 18-years to get wise to myself."
For more than 30 years, he was a trustee of the Susie Sower Trust, which manages the historic Susie Sower home at 201 E. State St.
The home is on the National Register of Historic Places and is available for tours by appointment by contacting HSMC at 641-752-6664.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and local Elks and Masonic Lodge. Mowry purchased the Evans Abstract Co. in 1957, and in 1963 he moved his law firm to the 10 block of N. Center St.
His practice primarily consisted of the examination of title and probate matters. Stephen Irvine became his partner in 1972.
In 1989, Randal Giannetto joined the firm which became Mowry, Irvine and Giannetto. Mowry was also a member of the Legion of Guardsman and Society of Former Agents of the FBI, according to the History of Marshall County, Iowa by Gerard Schultz and published in 1955.