  The Robert Healy home The house at 1126 5th Ave. N. was the home of the Robert Healy family for many years. Healy and his brothers, Michael F. and Thomas D., were widely-known attorneys here. The home, which has been remodeled and modernized in past years, is now owned and occupied by J. A. Leary. Robert Healy was born in Lansing, Iowa, in 1872 and came to Fort Dodge with his parents when eight years old. After his schooling here he attended Notre Dame University and then completed law studies at the University of Michigan. Two Healy sisters—Kate and Lizzie—also attended Michigan University. While at the university Robert Healy met Iva Bruce, a student from Birmingham, Mich., and they were married in 1900. After graduating from law school in 1898 Robert Healy practiced law in Rockwell City for two years. Upon the retirement of A. N. Botsford, he then became associated with his brothers Thomas and Michael and B. B. Burnquist in the practice of law in Fort Dodge. Later Robert Healy practiced law alone here for a time and then he and Maurice Breen were partners for a number of years until Healy’s death in 1929 at age 57. The home at 1126 5th Ave. N. was built in 1900 and purchased by the Healys in 1902. It was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Healy and their children, Louise, Iva and Bruce until 1917 when they moved to a residence a block east. Later another of the Healy brothers—William—resided there. Peter Russell, well-known to several generations of Fort Dodgers, was employed by the Healys for many years while they lived in the 1126 5th Ave. N. house. He worked as a groomsman in charge of the family’s driving horses and a pony and also did yard work. He continued with the family until resigning to take over as parlor car porter with the Fort Dodge Des Moines & Southern electric line. Mrs. Robert Healy, now 97, lives in Chicago with her daughter, Louise. Another daughter, Iva, now Sister Jean Gabriel, taught in Rock Island, Ill., and St. Louis, Mo., and is now with Cathedral High School in Chicago. The son, Bruce, resided in Chicago for many years until his recent death. |
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