John Halley McLeod, D.V.S. From "IOWA, Its History and Its Foremost Citizens" Illustrated, Volume II. The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago 1915. Page 511-512 - Transcribed by Robin Mosier
Dr. John Halley McLeod is filling the office of mayor of Charles City and is also a successful veterinary surgeon. He was born July 13, 1869, at Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland, a son of Daniel and Anna (Charles) McLeod. The father's birth occurred in the same place about 1840. He became an inn keeper, was very successful in business and was much respected in his hometown. In addition to conducting the inn he also engaged in breeding high grade horses for exportation to South America and in that undertaking he likewise met with a gratifying measure of prosperity. His fraternal relations were the Masons and he attained high rank in the order. He belonged to the Campbellite church, or Church of Scotland, and lived an earnest, consistent Christian life. His wife, who was born about the same time his birth occured, died in 1876, while Mr. McLeod survived until 1899.
John H. McLeod acquired a common-school education and afterward attended Pert Seminary, from which he was graduated with the class of 1884. He inherited his father's love of horses and because of this took up the study of veterinary surgery under the direction of Dr. Ferguson, of Perthshire, while yet attending school. In 1888 he crossed the Atlantic to Montreal, Canada, where he studied in a preparatory school until 1891 and then entered McGill University, from which he was graduated on the 30th of March, 1894, having completed his professional course, whereby he won his degree of D. V. S. He then returned to Scotland to visit his parents and in 1895 came to the United Sates, making his way to Rockford, Iowa, where he practiced for a year. He then removed to Charles City, where he has since been actively engaged along professional lines. He now has a modern veterinary hospital, eighty by forty feet, built of stone and two stories in height. It is thoroughly equipped for the conduct of successful practice and his work has been highly satisfactory to his many patrons. For three years he served as secretary of the state board of veterinary examiners and he has been assistant state veterinarian under five governors. He is well read in the profession and ranks high among its followers.
In 1899 Mr. McLeod was married to Miss Kate Cullen, who was born near Northwood, Iowa in 1864. In politics he is a republican and is a reconized leader in local ranks of the party. He has served as chairman of the county central committee for a number of years, represented the fourth and first wards in the city council and in 1913 was elected to the office of mayor, in which capacity he has made an excellent record by his businesslike and public-spirited administration of the duties of the office. Fraternally he is connected with the elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Loyal Order of Moose, and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congregational church.
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