USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume I > Part 62
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M. R. Sullivan was born April 23, 1875, in Carrollton, Green county, Illinois, on a farm. He graduated from the Carrollton high school in 1892. He then taught in the country schools of that county. He studied law under his brother, D. J. Sullivan, and was admitted to the bar in 1899. He practiced law for two years in Greenfield, Ill., when he came to Gran- ite City, and he and Judge J. M. Bandy of that city formed a partnership which continued for several years. He was city attorney for six years of Granite City.
William P. Boynton was born August 31, 1878, at Jerseyville. He attended the public and high school there, graduating from the latter in June, 1898. He then attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated from the law department there in 1901. He came to Alton in 1902 and opened an office. He was appointed city comptroller in 1905 by Mayor Beall. He held that office for six years. He is attorney for the Woodriver Drainage and Levee District, counsellor for the village of East Alton and secretary of the Home Building & Loan Association. He is an
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active, aggressive, industrious attorney and is making a high mark for himself.
D. H. Mudge was born July 9, 1879, in Saline township, this county. He acquired his education in the public and high school of Edwardsville, graduating from the latter in 1898. He studied law for one year with Krome & Terry. He was official court re- porter for two years. He entered the North- western law school completing his course there in 1902. He was in partnership with S. W. McKittrick for one year, since then he has been alone.
John B. Harris was born November 22, 1880, at Dorsey, Illinois. He acquired his common school education there and attended the Bunker Hill high school, where he grad- uated in 1898. He then took up the study of law under his uncle, Judge D. E. Keefe, at East St. Louis. He was admitted to the bar in 1907 and began the practice at Granite City where he is still located. He is secretary of the Madison county Democratic central com- mittee.
W. P. Sebastian was born June 17, 1883, in Edwardsville township on a farm. He ac- quired his literary education in the public and high school of that township, graduating from Edwardsville high school in 1903. He entered Washington University law school and later attended Northwestern law school where he graduated with the degree of bachelor of laws in 1907. He practiced a short time by himself and was then appointed assistant state's attor- ney by Hon. J. F. Gillham, which position he now holds. He has charge of the drawing of the indictments which are found by the grand juries and has had but two quashed during the period he has held the position.
George W. Crossman was born in Edwards- ville Feb. 12, 1883. His education was re- ceived in the public and high school in Ed- wardsville. He graduated from the latter in 1901. He was assistant postmaster at Ed-
wardsville for three years when he entered the Northwestern law school, graduating there- from in 1907. He was admitted to the bar the same year. He has been for one term city attorney of Edwardsville. He is a pol- ished gentleman and is a favorite of all the members of the bar.
J. F. Eeck was born Nov. 6, 1876, on a farm in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. When a child his parents moved to Fayette county, Illinois. He acquired his elementary educa- tion in the public schools of that county and then attended the University of Valparaiso, Indiana, from which institution he graduated in 1904 with the degree of bachelor of science. He taught school a number of years in Piatt and Fayette counties, this state. He worked his way from a teacher in the country schools to high school principal. In 1905 he began the study of law at Vandalia under Welker & Matheny. He attended the Bloomington law school, at Bloomington, Illinois, finishing the course there in 1908. He was admitted to the bar in June of that year and in the fall of the same year formed a partnership with the writer of this chapter, H. B. Eaton, and opened an office at Edwardsville. Mr. Eeck was the nominee of the Democratic party in 1910 for county judge, but with the balance of the ticket, save sheriff, was defeated.
Maury D. Powell was born March 30, 1885, at Collinsville. He was educated in the pub- lic schools there. He then attended McKend- ree College for a year; taking work in both classical and scientific courses. He then at- tended the Bloomington law school for three years and graduated there with the degree of bachelor of laws, in 1908. He was admitted the same year to practice and opened an office at Collinsville. He was city attorney for two years. He was appointed master in chancery in 1911 to serve for a term of two years.
W. M. P. Smith was born in St. Louis, Missouri, .Dec. 2, 1887. He attended public
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school in St. Louis, and later attended Ed- wardsville high school, from which institu- tion he graduated in 1906. He studied law for a year under Judge R. R. Burroughs. He entered Washington University law school, graduating in 1909. He was elected city at- torney of Edwardsville in April, 1911, which position he now holds.
Nelson L. Ryder, born July 22, 1877, in Alhambra township. He acquired his educa- tion in the district school there and also took two years at the Illinois State Normal. He then farmed until 1907 when he moved to Ed- wardsville and entered the office of Warnock, Williamson & Burroughs. He was admitted to the bar in 1909. He formed a partnership with W. G. Burroughs under the firm name of Burroughs & Ryder, which still continues.
Jesse L. Simpson was born Jan. 13, 1884, at Troy, Illinois. He attended public school there and the Collinsville high school. He practiced telegraphy for several years. He entered the Bloomington law school and grad- uated there with the degree of bachelor of laws in 1909. He came to Edwardsville and he and Mr. Perry Hiles, a classmate, began the practice that year under the firm name of Hiles & Simpson. They are attorneys for the Vandalia Railroad.
Perry H. Hiles was born Nov. 29, 1877, on a farm near Hunt City, Jasper county, Illi- nois. He attended Valparaiso University and the Illinois State Normal University, graduat- ing from the latter in 1904. He taught for some years in the country schools of various counties. He studied law at both the North- western law school and Bloomington law school. He graduated from the latter insti- tution in 1909 and was the same year ad- mitted to the bar and began the practice at Edwardsville as a member of the firm of Hiles & Simpson.
M. Lester Geers was born on a farm in Pin Oak township, July 28, 1880. The family Vol. I-28
moved to Edwardsville in 1882 where Mr. Geers has since resided. He received his edu- cation in the public schools of Edwardsville and LeClaire Academy. He took shorthand in the latter institution and upon leaving the academy he entered the office of the state's attorney of Madison county, and remained in that position until 1901, when he was appointed official court reporter for the third judicial cir- cuit of Illinois, which position he held for four years. During that period he read law under the tutelage of the late R. J. Brown. He was admitted to the bar in 1905 and resigned his position as court reporter and formed a part- nership with R. J. Brown for the practice of law. In 1906 Cyrus A. Geers was admitted as a member of the firm, and this firm con- tinued until the ill health of Mr. Brown caused his retirement since which time the firm name has been Geers & Geers.
Cyrus A. Geers, a brother of the above, was born March 16, 1878. He acquired his education in the public schools of Edwards- ville and LeClaire Academy. He studied law under the late W. P. Bradshaw and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1906 and became a mem- ber of the firm of Brown & Geers. Upon the retirement of Mr. Brown the firm name was changed to Geers & Geers, which still con- tinues.
Thomas Williamson was born on a farm in Staunton township, Macoupin county, Illinois, May 19, 1867. He moved to Madison county in 1876 and worked on the farm until 1891. He taught school four terms. He acquired his education in the district schools of Madi- son and Macoupin counties. He took a gen- eral course at Valparaiso, Ind., and his law course was taken at Washington University law school. He was admitted to practice in 1891. He located in Mt. Olive, but in 1899 moved to Edwardsville and formed a partner- ship with C. W. Terry the style of the firm being Terry & Williamson. He remained as
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a member of this firm for a time and then be- came a member of the firm of Warnock, Wil- liamson & Burroughs with which he is still associated.
Harry Faulkner was born in England, in 1885. He came to this country when a child. He acquired his common school education in the state of Missouri and took his law course at Washington University law school. He was a member of Phi Delta Phi. He located at Granite City in 1909 and began the practice of law. He was appointed master in chanc- ery in the city court of Granite City. He was elected city attorney of Granite City in April, 19II. He was nominated for state's attorney of Madison county on the Republican ticket in the April primaries of this year and is at this writing making a canvass for the office, his opponent being Judge J. M. Bandy of Granite City. Mr. Faulkner has made good as an attor- ney and risen amid difficulties which others of less tenacity would not have surmounted.
Judge J. M. Bandy, judge of the city court of Granite City, was born in Greene county, Illinois. He acquired his preliminary educa- tion there and studied law and practiced for a time in his native county. He came to Gran- ite City and for a time was a partner of M. R. Sullivan. He was elected judge of the city court of Granite City in 1909, the year the court was established. He is thus the first city judge of that enterprising city. He was the nominee of the Democratic party for state's attorney of this county in 1908, but was de- feated with the balance of his ticket. He is now a candidate of the same party for the same position.
George D. Burroughs was born April 12, 1873, at Tompkinsville, Charles county, Mary- land. He acquired his elementary education in the district schools there. He then entered Charlotte Hall Military Academy and grad- uated therefrom in 1891. He then entered the University of Maryland law department
and graduated in May, 1894, with the degree of bachelor of laws. He came to Edwardsville and began the practice with his brother, W. G. Burroughs. This partnership continued until 1899. He then entered into partnership with Travous & Warnock. This continued until 1905, when Mr. Travous retired and Mr. Thos. Williamson entered the firm, the style being changed to Warnock, Williamson & Bur- roughs.
William G. Burroughs, a brother of the above, was born April 29, 1872. He entered the same schools and the same periods of time and graduated with his brother, George D. Upon the dissolution of the firm of Burroughs & Brother he practiced alone at Collinsville until 1909 when he and Nelson Ryder formed a partnership, the firm name being Burroughs & Ryder. He has been city attorney of Col- linsville for several terms, and is at present corporation counsellor of that city. He has also been president of the school board for several years and vice-president of the First National bank of Collinsville.
Mallory L. Burroughs was born March 26, 1884, at Tompkinsville, Charles county, Mary- land. He acquired his elementary education in the district schools there. He then entered St. John's college, Annapolis, Maryland. He graduated there in 1904 with the degree of bachelor of arts. He came to Illinois in the- summer of 1904. In the fall of 1905 he en- tered the law department of the University of Michigan, where he graduated with the de- gree of bachelor of laws, in 1908. He began the practice of law at Edwardsville in the office of Warnock, Williamson & Burroughs in September, 1908. He became a member of the firm in 1909.
Charles W. Terry was born in Edwards- ville, Madison county. He received his early education in the public school at that place and completed those preliminary studies at the age of 12. He later attended the Mis-
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souri State University and took both a literary and an engineering course. After finishing there he taught school for a year, during which time at odd moments he studied Black- stone. After completing the year of teaching he began the study of law in earnest in the office of Dale & Bradshaw. He took the State Bar Examination before the Appellate Court in 1892. In 1892 he became a member of the firm of Bradshaw & Terry. In 1895 he associated himself with Hon. W. H. Krome the firm name being Krome & Terry. This partnership continued until 1898. In 1897 he was appointed private secretary to Justice Phillips of the Supreme Court and this place he held until Justice Phillips' death. In 1899 he formed a partnership with Thomas Wil- liamson and this continued until 1904 when Mr. Williamson became a member of the firm of Warnock, Williamson & Burroughs. Mr. Terry then entered into a partnership with Mr. Charles E. Gueltig, the firm name being Terry & Gueltig which firm still continues. Mr. Terry was the nominee of the Democra- tic party in 1910 for State Senator from this senatorial district but was defeated with the balance of his ticket save sheriff. In 1896 he was appointed a member of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Illinois Normal Uni- versity.
Leland Hamilton Buckley was born in the city of Edwardsville, September 13, 1879. His parents moved from there to the farm in Pin Oak township when he was about one year old. He resided there until he was twenty- one years old. He acquired his elementary education in the district schools of Pin Oak township and at the age of twelve entered the public school of Edwardsville and grad- uated from the high school there in January, 1898. He then read law for one year with E. C. Springer and the next two years at- tended the Law Department of the University of Michigan and graduated therefrom in
June, 1901. He was admitted to the bar of Illinois in October of the same year. He formed a partnership for the practice with Mr. E. C. Springer which partnership still continues.
Henry S. Baker comes of a family distin- guished in the legal and judicial annals of the state for three generations. Both his pater- nal and maternal grandfathers were lawyers, as was, also, his father, Henry S. Baker, Sr. His grandfather, Judge David J. Baker, was U. S. Senator from Illinois in 1830, and his uncle, David J. Baker, Jr., was a Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois. His father was for sixteen years judge of the city court of Alton. Thus the Henry S. Baker of whom we write, is a lawyer both by heredity and education. He is a native of Alton, born June 7, 1859. He was educated at the Alton high school, graduating in 1876, and at Shurt- leff College where he graduated in 1881. He was admitted to the bar at Mr. Vernon in 1883; was city attorney of Alton for six years, from 1885; corporation counsel of Al- ton from 1895 to 1899. He practiced law with his father, Judge Henry S. Baker, from 1884 to 1888, then formed partnership with the late George F. McNulty which firm con- tinued until 1892. He is now general attor- ney for the Illinois Terminal railroad. He has also been master in chancery of the city court of Alton for the past six years. Mr. Baker has been deservedly successful in his profession and has added new honors to the legal reputation of the eminent family he rep- resents. He is an eloquent speaker but de- votes much time to office practice. He stands in the very front rank of the legal fraternity of Madison county, and is greatly esteemed both for his professional attainments and his genial personality.
Robert Breckinridge English of Alton was born in Jersey county, Illinois, December 30, 1853, of an old Kentucky family. After com-
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pleting his primary studies in the public schools he read law for two years in the of- fice of Hon. George W. Herdmann, at Jer- seyville, and was admitted to the bar at Mt. Vernon. The following winter he entered the Louisville Law School and graduated from that famous institution. Returning from Louisville he opened an office at Jerseyville and was elected city attorney of that muni- cipality. He subsequently removed to Har- din, in Calhoun county, and practiced his pro- fession there for some fifteen years. He was elected to the Fortieth General Assembly on the Democratic ticket in 1896, from the dis- trict composed of Madison, Jersey and Cal- houn counties, but his seat was contested by his opponent, J. A. Kirby, and the assembly, which was Republican, decided the case against him, after he had served thirty days. In 1905 he removed to Alton with his family and continued the practice of his profession. He was elected city attorney of Alton in 1909 and filled the position with ability. Mr. Eng- lish is a polished gentleman of the old school whom it is a pleasure to meet.
James P. Thornton was born in Alton Sep- tember 19, 1859, and was educated in the schools of that city. In early manhood he was in the grocery business with his father for ten years. In 1883 he was elected alder- man and served in the city council for six years. He then began the study of law and attended the St. Louis law school for a term being admitted to the Missouri bar in April, 1889, and later to the Bar of Illinois. He was elected city attorney of Alton in 1891 and held the office for eight consecutive years. He was also a member of the board of supervis- ors of Madison county and was appointed city comptroller of Alton under the admin - istration of Mayor Henry Brueggeman in 1903. For the past twelve years he has been filling the office of a justice of the peace for Alton township. In addition to his legal at- tainments Mr. Thornton is a writer of fine
abilities and has furnished the press of Alton with many notable articles.
Emil C. Haagen, of Alton, known by cour- tesy and good will, as "Judge Haagen," was born in Alton in 1876. He is the son of the late Louis Haagen, a prominent merchant and honored citizen. The subject of this sketch was educated in the Alton schools and at Washington University, St. Louis. He grad- uated from the law department of that in- stitution in 1896 with the degree of LL. B., and was admitted to the bar the same year. He has since practiced his profession in this county. He is well-read in the law, an eloquent speaker and a convincing advocate before a jury. Mr. Haagen is a Democrat in politics and a popular orator in political campaigns. He was a candidate for the Leg- islature in 1906 and, it is claimed, was legally elected but the certificate was issued to his opponent.
B. J. O'Neil of Alton, who occupies an en- viable position at the Madison county bar, was born at Irishtown, Clinton county, August 12, 1866. He received his higher education at the Southern Illinois Normal school at Car- bondale. He then took a three years' law course in the office of M. P. Murray of Car- lyle. He was admitted to the bar in 1897 and in October of the same year located in his profession at Alton. He occupied an office with Judge A. W. Hope until that gentleman's removal to St. Louis. Mr. O'Neil came to Alton a stranger but by careful attention to the interests of his clients and broad knowl- edge of the law soon gained a foothold in his profession and has steadily advanced therein year by year and built up a lucrative prac- tice. He practices in both the state and fed- eral courts. By his integrity and upright- ness he has won the esteem and confidence of the community. His career has been a suc- cessful one and forecasts still higher honors as his due in his profession. He gives care- ful study to his cases and presents them to the
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court and jury with convincing logic. He is a pleasing public speaker. Mr. O'Neil is of a genial disposition and has the happy faculty of making friends of all he meets.
Levi D. Yager was born at Alton, Decem- ber 29, 1863, which city has always been his home. He is the oldest son of the late Hon. J. H. Yager, who was, at his death the Nes- tor of the Madison county bar. He gradu- ated from the Alton high school in 1882. Choosing the law for a profession he entered the St. Louis law school in 1885. He passed the bar examination at Mt. Vernon, in August, 1886, in the appellate court, and was licensed to practice law by the supreme court in No- vember of the same year. He was elected city attorney of Alton in April, 1887, and served four years. He served as corporation counsel under Mayors Young and Bruegge- mann. President of the Illinois state asso- ciation of corporation counsels and city at- torneys from 1897.
Mr. Yager is a great lover of flowers and his favorite diversion is found in the raising and propagating of choice specimens of the floral kingdom. Owing to his taste in flori- culture he was appointed a member of the Al- ton Park Commission under Mayor Faulstich and is rendering good service in beautifying the city.
In politics Mr. Yager has always acted with the Republican party. He is a successful lawyer and a man of fine attainments in his profession.
Edward E. Campbell of Alton, was born August 2, 1873, on a farm in Lincoln county, Missouri. He received his early education in the public schools and himself taught school for five terms prior to attaining his majority. He subsequently entered the law department of the University of Missouri and graduated from that institution in 1896 with the degree of LL. B. He settled in his pro- fession at Louisiana, Missouri, and practiced in that city until August, 1909, when he re-
moved to Alton. He had a taste for journal- ism and edited The Times at Louisiana in ad- dition to his legal business. On arriving in Alton he, in connection with W. H. Murphy, established the Alton Daily Times, with Mr. Campbell as editor, the first number was is- sued September 4, 1909. He also became a member of the bar of Madison county. Mr. Campbell is a man of varied talents being not only a fluent and elegant writer, but an el- oquent orator. He is accounted one of the best impromptu speaker in the state. He is a man of fine attainments and broad views, and is especially well read in the political his- tory of the country. He is a Democrat in politics and was the manager of Champ Clark's campaign in Illinois in 1912 and a delegate from the state at large to the Balti- more convention. His success as a political manager is reflected in Clark's large majority in the Illinois primary and in the solid vote from Illinois for Clark in the National con- vention.
Roe Duke Watson, one of the younger members of the Madison county bar, was born in Marianna, Arkansas, September 20, 1886. He has resided in Alton since 1893. He attended Shurtleff College and later the University of Michigan. He graduated from the literary department of this institution in 1908 with the degree of A. B., and from the law department in 1910 with the degree of J. D. (Juris Doctor). He was admitted to practice by the supreme court of Michigan in June 1910 and by the supreme court of Illi- nois in October of the same year. He at once began the practice of law in Alton. He was elected to the office of city attorney of Alton in April, 1911, less than a year after he opened an office.
Mr. Watson is a man of fine abilities and thorough education, a polished gentleman and has a brilliant future before him.
Riley P. Owen, of East Alton, is a native of Fort Russell township, and a descendant of
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one of the oldest pioneer families in the county. He was educated at Shurtleff college and took his professional course at the St. Louis Law School. His student career indi- cated him to be a man of brilliant intellect which subsequent events verified. He began practice in Edwardsville in partnership with the late W. M. Warnock. Later he opened an office in Jerseyville. From there he removed to East Alton where he is engaged in practice.
The writer of this chapter, Henry B. Eaton, was born on a farm in Hamel township, this county, August 22, 1883. He acquired his elementary education in the public school of that township and attended the Edwardsville high school, from which institution he grad- uated in 1902. He then spent a year on the farm and the following fall entered McKen- dree college where he took up the scientific and classical courses there. He began the study of law in the office of Judge W. P. Early in the fall of 1905 and remained with him one year. He then entered the Bloom- ington law school at Bloomington, Illinois, and graduated therefrom in 1908 with the degree of bachelor of law. He formed a partnership with J. F. Eeck and they opened an office in Edwardsville that fall. He is a grandson of the late Judge H. K. Eaton, one time judge of the Madison county court.
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