[Illustration: The Robert Healy home
1126 5th Avenue North]
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.