USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume I > Part 61
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
ticed by himself until 1874, when he formed a partnership with A. W. Metcalfe. This firm was one of the strongest in the county and continued for several years. Mr. Bradshaw in later years was a partner for a time of Hon. J. E. Hillskotter, at present county judge of this county. He died several years ago. His great strength lay in his ability to read human character and to win over a jury to his side by his peculiar and inimitable style of wit and convincing oratory. He was a power for years in the councils of the Republi- can party in the congressional district and county.
Clay H. Lynch was born in Madison county and received his common school education in the schools of his native county. He com- menced the study of law at the age of twenty- one in the office of Hon: David Gillespie. He read law for two years in this manner and then entered the law department of the Uni- versity of Michigan, from which institution he graduated in 1871. He practiced for sev- eral years and then engaged in the grain and wool business. He resumed his practice a few years ago but of recent years has retired. He was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion and is noted for his generosity and jovial dis- position, and is a friend of all. In the prac- tice he preferred the criminal branch.
John W. Coppinger was born in Alton in 1852. He received his elementary education in the Cathedral school of Alton. He was a student in St. Mary's college at Perryville, Mo., from 1864 to 1866. He then attended the University of Notre Dame at Notre Dame, Ind. He read law from 1870 to 1872 in the office of John H. Yager at Alton. He was admitted to the bar in 1872. He was mayor of Alton in 1885-7, and later served in both houses of the legislature.
Thomas E. Fruit was born in Madison county. He entered Lincoln university at Lincoln, Ill., took his scientific course and
graduated in June, 1877. He entered the office of Irwin & Springer the same year. He passed the bar examination in 1880 and was admitted. He held the office of city attorney of Edwardsville and was an able advocate and a good lawyer. He was stricken with a fatal malady several years ago and died in the very prime of life.
Herman Ritter received his education in the University of St. Louis; read law under Gillespie & Happy, and attended the law school at Ann Arbor, Mich. He was admitted to practice in 1878. He left the legal profession and was engaged for years in Edwardsville in the undertaking business. He died several years ago at San Antonio, Texas, whither he had gone for his health.
George F. McNulta was born in Alton, Ill., in 1859. He attended the schools of Alton until he was 14 years old, when he went to Notre Dame, where he took the scientfic course. He read law in the office of C. P. Wise from 1876 to 1879 and then attended the St. Louis law school, graduating there- from in 1880. He was elected state's attorney of Madison county and gained a great reputa- tion as a prosecutor. He formed a partner- ship later with C. P. Wise and later was a member of the firm of Wise, McNulta & Keefe. Their office was situated in East St. Louis. Mr. McNulta died in 1909, of appendi- citis. He was in the prime of his life and was considered by all as one of the leading law- yers practicing at the bar, and it was with general regret that the legal fraternity saw him laid away when at the very height of his fame. His great forte in the practice lay in his ability to cross examine witnesses. He was never harsh but always on the alert and after the truth. He was always courteous in his bearing to opposite counsel and to the court.
C. N. Travous lived on a farm near Shiloh, St. Clair county, and received his elementary
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
education in the schools of the district there. He taught school for four years in Madison county and then in 1879 he entered the law office of Gillespie & Happy and devoted the next two years to the study of law. He was admitted to practice in 1881. He formed a partnership with Cyrus Happy, which con- tinued for years. He was associated for a time with Judge J. G. Irwin and later with W. M. Warnock. It was in the latter part- nership that he attained his great prominence. For years this firm was the leading firm in Madison county. Mr. Travous was noted for his untiring efforts to acquaint himself with every fact which could possibly have a bear- ing on the case at hand. He burned the "midnight oil." It was impossible to deter- mine when he was defeated in a case, as he would go to the last ditch to win. The later years of his life he practiced little in this county, his time being taken up as general counsel for the Wabash railroad, their offices being situated at St. Louis. He died in 1907 at the age of fifty years. He was only in the prime of life but he had crowded into that fifty years more than the greater majority of attorneys would succeed in doing in a hundred years. He was one of the assignees of the J. A. Prickett bank when it became insolvent. He was quite a power for years in the coun- cils of the Republican party.
Wilbur M. Warnock was born at Columbia, Ill., April 23, 1862. He received his early education in the district schools there and the high school of his native town. He attended the academy at Butler, Mo., from 1878 to 1880 and soon afterward came to Edwardsville and began the study of law in the office of Judge Burroughs. In 1881 he went to Chicago and was graduated the following year from the Union College of Law. He entered into part- nership Aug. 1, 1882, with Judge Burroughs, which continued until Judge Burroughs was elevated to the circuit bench, when he entered
into partnership for a year with R. P. Owen. Later he was a partner of C. N. Travous. Since 1905 the firm of Warnock, Williamson & Burroughs has been in existence. He was appointed master in chancery in 1889 and held this position for several terms. He was a very able attorney and stood at the head of the bar at the time of his death in the very prime of life. He died December 7, 19II.
PRESENT PRACTITIONERS
Levi Davis, Jr., is a native of Illinois, and was born at Springfield Nov. 2, 1842. He re- ceived a thorough common school education in the public school of Alton and afterward pursued a course of collegiate study at the University of St. Louis, Mo. He began to read law in the office of his father at Alton, in 1865, and after studying there one year entered the Albany law school at Albany, N. Y. He was admitted to the practice in Illinois in 1867 and continued there until 1871 when he went to St. Louis, but returned to Al- ton in 1879 and formed a partnership with Charles P. Wise. That partnership continued for several years. Mr. Davis has been twice elected city attorney at Alton. He was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion and is highly esteemed by his fellow members of the bar and is an able and successful practitioner.
Cyrus W. Leverett was born at Upper Al- ton, Illinois, in 1841. He received his literary education at Shurtleff college. He studied law under Levi Davis, Sr., of Alton and in the law department of the University of Mich- igan. He has been engaged in the practice since 1867.
He has devoted himself mainly to office prac- tice and is distinguished mainly for his skill in drawing up legal instruments.
Hon. William H. Krome, was born July, 1842 at Louisville, Ky. He left that city with his parents and came to St. Louis in 1848. Two years later his parents moved to Madi-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
son county, Illinois. Mr. Krome received his elementary education in the public schools of the county and in the fall of 1858 entered Mc- Kendree college. He took the classical course and graduated from that institution in June 1863. He commenced the study of law in 1865 in the office of Judge Dale of Edwards- ville and remained a student there until 1866 when he entered the law department of the University of Michigan and graduated there in 1868. He was admitted to practice and opened an office as a partner of John G. Ir- win, which continued until 1874 when he be- came a partner of W. F. L. Hadley. Mr. Krome was a member of the state senate from 1874 to 1878, and served as mayor of the city of Edwardsville from 1873 to 1875. He was county judge of this county and was an able and honest judge. He is president of the bank of Edwardsville and of recent years has followed banking and retired from the active practice of the law.
John J. Brenholt is a native of Missouri, born in St. Louis, in 1843. He acquired his education at Illinois college, Jacksonville, Illinois, graduating in 1856 and then entered Albany law school in New York, and grad- uated therefrom in 1867. He began the prac- tice of law in Chicago in 1873 but removed two years later to Alton. From 1879 to 1881 he was corporation counsellor of Alton. In 1881 he formed a partnership with H. S.
Baker which continued for several years. Of recent years he has been practicing alone. He was appointed in 1878 by Gov. Cullom a mem- ber of his staff with the rank of colonel. He was a member of the state senate from this senatorial district. He is a very forceful speaker and very effective before a jury. He enjoys at this date a large and lucrative prac- tice. He is at present city counsellor of Alton.
Alexander W. Hope was born at Alton, Ill., July 10, 1848. He graduated from the Uni-
versity of Virginia in 1868 having taken the classical course. He then attended the law department of the same institution and grad- uated therefrom two years later with the de- gree of bachelor of laws. He began the practice in Alton in the year 1870. He was elected for three terms city attorney of Alton and mayor twice. He served for twelve years also as the judge of the city court. He is considered a very able lawyer and a good practitioner. His great forte lies in his ability to pick out of a case the controlling facts.
John F. McGinnis was born in Ireland, Sept. 15, 1849. His father emigrated to America, when John was two years old and settled at Alton. He was sent to the Cathedral schools of that city until he began the study of law when he entered the office of N. A. Mortell, Esq., St. Louis. He was admitted to practice in Illinois in 1874. He has served Alton as city attorney and as corporation coun- sel and is a very able attorney, having ap- peared in many important cases.
James E. Dunnegan was born in 1853 at Al- ton. He acquired his early education at the Cathedral schools of Alton. He later began reading law with John Orr Lee in St. Louis and was admitted to the bar in St. Louis in 1873. He came to Alton two years later. He has served his city as city attorney and has for several terms been the judge of the city court there and at present writing holds that position. He is a courteous gentleman, a lover of a good story, and generous and a man of few faults.
Edward C. Springer was born in Edwards- ville May 7, 1854. He received his prelimi- nary education in the public schools of that city. He commenced to read law in the year 1874 under Irwin & Krome. He atended the Michigan University law school for one year and was admitted to the bar of Illinois in 1876. He commenced the practice immedi- ately as a partner of Judge J. G. Irwin. This
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
continued for a time when he and his brother W. F. formed a partnership. This was later dissolved and L. H. Buckley became a part- ner and this firm still continues. Mr. Springer is a painstaking lawyer and enjoys a very lu- crative practice.
Judge John E. Hillskotter was born in Wisconsin in 1870. He attended the public schools at Bethalto, Illinois, whither he came when a boy. He entered McKendree college and took up the law course there. He then came to Edwardsville and entered the firm of Dale and Bradshaw to further his studies. He practiced alone until the death of Judge Dale when he became a partner of W. P. Bradshaw. This continued for several years when Judge Hillskotter was elevated to the county bench. He is now serving his third term as county judge. He made a race for the nomination on the Republican ticket for circuit judge of the third judicial circuit, but was unsuccessful. He was elected chair- man of the County and Probate Judge's Asso- ciation of Illinois in 1909 and held that posi- tion for two years.
Elliot Breese Glass was born at Millstadt, St. Clair county, Illinois, on April 16, 1845. He acquired his common school education in St. Clair county. He attended Shurtleff Col- lege from 1864 to 1868 where he took the sci- entific course. He studied law for a year with Sears & Taylor at Leavenworth, Kas. He re- turned to Alton and read law with Levi Davis, Sr. He was admitted to the bar in 1870. He opened an office in 1871 at Upper Alton, Ill., in partnership with C. W. Leverett. He was appointed the following year as state's at- torney to fill a vacancy. He was elected state's attorney in the Greeley campaign in 1872. His opponent was Hon. W. F. L. Hadley. He held this office for four years. He was ap- pointed master in chancery in 1879 of Madison county and held this position for ten years. He received the Democratic nomination for secretary of the state senate in 1883, but was
not elected. He was elected president of the board of education of Edwardsville in 1888 and elected mayor of the city of Edwardsville in 1889, which position he held for one term. He acquired his common school education in St. Clair county. He attended Shurtleff college from 1864 to 1868. He took the scientific course there. He was again elected state's at- torney in 1892, defeating Hon. R. J. Brown. He was the nominee of the Democratic party in 1909 as one of the three candidates for judges of the circuit court in this district, but with his colleagues failed of election. He was selected by the Democratic state convention this year (1912) as one of the two delegates from his congressional district to the national Democratic convention at Baltimore, Md.
J. A. Lynn was born Oct. 30, 1864, in St. Clair county. He acquired his common school education at Lebanon, Ill. He studied three years at McKendree college. One year under Prof. H. H. Horner who was dean of the Mc- Kendree law school. He served in the mail service during Cleveland's first term. He was admitted to the bar in 1891 and began the practice of law at Lebanon and remained there until 1897 when he came to Alton. He has been city attorney of Alton two terms and assistant supervisor of Alton township, mas- ter in chancery of the Alton city court under Judge A. W. Hope. He is now serving as chief-of-police of Alton having been ap- pointed to that position this year (1912).
Daniel G. Williamson was born in St. Louis, Mo., April 5, 1860. He was educated in the district schools of Macoupin county. He at- tended Geneva academy and Geneva college, Beaver Falls, Pa., from which institution he graduated in 1883 with the degree of bachelor . of arts. He took both the scientific and classi- cal courses. He taught school for six years, one year in the district school and two years as assistant principal and three years as principal of Staunton high school. He then began the
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
study of law under R. E. Dorsey at Staunton. He studied there for one year and then en- tered the St. Louis law school. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1893. He practiced at Staunton for several years and took into part- nership with him in 1904 Hon. Truman A. Snell who is now county judge of Macoupin county. He moved from Staunton to Ed- wardsville in 1908 and became a partner of Hon. W. P. Early, the firm name being Early & Williamson. He enjoys a large practice and is a fine gentleman.
Edward G. Hill was born in Ft. Russell township. He attended the country school there and later went to Shurtleff college, from which institution he graduated in 1890. He graduated with the degree of bachelor of sciences. He taught school the following year and then entered Washington University law school and graduated therefrom in 1892, with the degree of bachelor of laws, and was the same year admitted to the bar in Missouri and Illinois. He was in partnership with R. P. Owen and Allen Metcalfe for some time, but of recent years has been alone.
Morgan LeMasters was born on a farm near Morgantown, W. Va., on Jan. 8, 1864. He was educated in the common schools there. He attended the state normal school at Ed- inburgh, Pa., and later the State University of W. Va. He took the degree of bachelor of laws from the latter institution in 1892. He then went to Nebraska where he spent several years teaching in the high school at Elmwood, Neb., serving there as superintendent. He came to Cass county, Illinois, in 1896 where he taught in the high school as superintendent for three years. He formed a partnership in 1898 for the practice of law with R. W. Mills of Virginia, Ill. He practiced there until 1901, when he came to Granite City where he has since been located. He was in partnership with Thomas Stallings for several years, but re- cently has been alone. He was elected mayor
of Granite City in 1905 and held the position for two terms. He has also been corporation counsel of that city for two terms.
R. Guy Kneedler was born in Collinsville May 1I, 1873. He received his elementary education in the public schools there. He graduated from the high school and grad- uated from the Valparaiso, Indiana, law school in 1901 and admitted the same year to practice in Illinois. He was appointed mas- ter in chancery by Judge B. R. Burroughs and served from 1908 to 1909. He was city at- torney for six years of Collinsville. He was elected mayor of that city in April, 1911, and is at present holding that position.
Joseph V. E. Marsh was born April 6, 1868, at Upper Alton. He attended the public school there and took the high school course and also pursued a course at Shurtleff col- lege. He entered Washington university law school and graduated from that institution with the degree of bachelor of laws in 1897. He practiced in St. Louis for about eight months when the Spanish-American war broke out. He enlisted in the 2nd regiment Rough Riders under Col. Torrey. He was mustered out at Jacksonville, Fla. He enlisted as a pri- vate and came out as regimental sergeant major. His colonel, Mr. Torrey, was a lawyer in St. Louis and the author of the national bankruptcy law. Mr. Marsh went to Cheyenne, Wyo., with the colonel and remained there through the winter straightening up their mili- tary affairs and returned the following spring to Alton. He was admitted in 1899 to the practice in Illinois. He was mayor of Upper Alton for one term. He has also been village attorney for that village a number of times. He was appointed master in chancery by Judge W. E. Hadley and held that position from 1909 to 1911. He is at present the at- torney for the receiver of the Alton, Jackson- ville and Peoria Railroad.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
William Wilson was born in St. Clair county March 28, 1866. He acquired his pub- lic school education at Brighton, Ill. He grad- uated from the Brighton high school in May, 1888. He then took up the study of law at the McKendree college law school and grad- uated therefrom with the degree of bachelor of laws in June, 1891. He commenced the practice of law in Alton in 1899. He was elected city attorney of Alton in 1899 and served the city in that capacity for three terms. He was a member of the school board at Alton for five years. He has been also assistant state's attorney at Alton for the past eight years.
B. G. Waggoner was born October 4, 1872, on a farm in Godfrey township. He got his common school education in that township, be- ing for a time under the rod of the present governor of Illinois, Charles S. Deneen. He took the scientific and business course at Mc- Kendree college. He entered the law de- partment of Washington university and was admitted to practice in Illinois in 1896.
Charles H. Burton was born in Southern Illinois. He acquired his elementary educa- tion in the schools of his district and later pur- sued a course at the Southern Illinois State Normal, at Carbondale, and graduated there- from in 1881 having taken the regular classi- cal course. He began the study of law that fall in the office of Judge Andrew D. Duff of Carbondale, Illinois. He was admitted to the bar in 1884. He practiced alone at Mt. Ver- non from 1885 until 1891 and was then for a few months a member of the law firm of Con- ger & Burton Brothers, the partners being Judge C. S. Conger, Mr. C. H. Burton and his brother John W. Burton. In June, 1892, Mr. Burton moved to Edwardsville and formed a partnership with W. F. L. Hadley, the firm name being Hadley & Burton. This association continued until Mr. Hadley's death when Mr. Burton and his brother-in-law Wil-
liam E. Wheeler formed a partnership which continued until Mr. Wheeler was appointed ยท private secretary to Judge Ricks.
William P. Early was born in New Doug- las township on July 12, 1860. He acquired his elementary education in the common schools of the district there. He taught school for some time and then began the study of law in the office of Judge J. G. Irwin and com- pleted his studies in the office of Hon. C. N. Travous in 1887. He passed the bar exami- nation in 1889, in which year he opened an office in Edwardsville and began the practice. He was elected city attorney of Edwardsville in 1891 and reelected in 1893. He was nomi- nated the following year by the Republican party for county judge and ran against Hon. W. H. Krome and was elected. He was re- elected in 1898. He was not a candidate for the position in 1902. He was appointed in 1903 as circuit judge by Governor Richard Yates to fill the vacancy caused by the resig- nation of Hon. M. W. Schaefer. He was nominated by his party to succeed himself, but with the balance of his colleagues on the ticket was defeated. In 1908 he formed a partner- ship with D. G. Williamson which still con- tinues. Judge Early enjoys a fine practice and is admired by all his colleagues in the profes- sion. He has been highly honored by his friends in his home town, having been succes- sively chosen president of the school board for a number of years.
J. F. Gillham was born March 4, 1870, on a farm near Wanda, Ill. He acquired his pub- lic school education at Wanda. He entered Shurtleff college and graduated therefrom in 1892 with the degree of bachelor of sciences. He was the salutatorian of his class. In the fall of 1892 he entered the law department of Washington University where he graduated in 1894 with the degree of bachelor of law. He was admitted the same year and began prac- tice at Edwardsville in 1895. He was elected
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state's attorney of Madison county in 1904 and is now serving his second term therein. He has been an able prosecutor. Scarcely a crimi- nal during his term as prosecuting attorney has been acquitted when the evidence war- ranted his conviction. His last appeal to the jury was always effective and turned many a seemingly doubtful case in his favor.
Judge Joseph P. Streuber was born in Old Ripley, Bond county, Illinois, August 10, 1871. He acquired his preliminary education in the public schools there. At the age of 16 he quit school to assist his father in the milling busi- ness. At 17 years of age he took up the study of law with Northcott & Fritz and was ad- mitted to the bar in May, 1894. He located at Highland and began the practice of law. He served the city of Highland as their city attorney for four years. The probate court of Madison county was established in 1910 and he became upon his election in November of that year the first probate judge of Madi- son county. He is making a fine record in the systematic way he is handling the estates and matters which come before him. His in- dustry and energy bespeak for him a rapid rise to fame as a jurist.
Samuel W. McKittrick was born May 27, 1875, in Pin Oak township on a farm. He attended the public school there and then en- tered the Edwardsville high school graduat- ing therefrom in 1897. He then studied law under the tutelage of E. C. Springer for one year when he entered the Washington Uni- versity law department and graduated there- from with the degree of bachelor of law in 1900 and was admitted to practice in the same year. He was a partner for two years with D. H. Mudge, but has of recent years been alone.
Chas. E. Gueltig was born in Moeckmuhl, Wurtemberg, Germany, May II, 1875. He at- tended the German schools for two years. His father died when he was six years old and
in 1882 his mother and the family came to the United States, and resided at New Albany, Ind. Here he attended school until he was 14 years of age. He came to St. Louis and finally to Edwardsville where he has since re- sided. He entered the law department of Washington university in 1896 and graduated therefrom in 1898 with the degree of bachelor of laws. He practiced in St. Louis until 1900 when he was admitted to the bar in Illinois and began practice at Edwardsville. He was elected city attorney of Edwardsville in 1901, 1903 and 1905. He was appointed corporation counsel- lor of Edwardsville in 1906 and has held that position ever since. He entered into partner- ship with C. W. Terry in 1905 and this firm still continues, under the firm name of Terry & Gueltig.
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