USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Combined history of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 21
USA > Illinois > Moultrie County > Combined history of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 21
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WM C. KELLEY, a native of Shelby county, Illinois, received a common school education in the public schools near Shelbyville. He was afterward a student in the Shelbyville Seminary, and Ken- tucky University, where he completed a full course in the classics and mathematics. He studied law with Thornton and Wendling, from 1874 to 1876, when he was examined before the supreme court at Ottawa, and was admitted to the bar.
In 1377 he commenced the practice of law at Shelbyville, and November 2, 1880, was elected State's attorney.
FRANK LINDLEY is a native of Indiana, and received his literary education at Hopewell Academy in that state. He commenced the study of law with Thornton & Hamlin in 1878, was examined at Springfield, June 15, 1880, and admitted to practice.
GEORGE D. CHAFEE was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in the year 1839. He received his literary education at the Lodi Aea- demy and the State Normal School of Michigan. He entered the Michigan Law-school in the fall of 1859, graduating in law in the spring of 1861. In the same year he removed to Shelbyville, and at once eommeneed the practice of law. In 1865 he formed a part- nership with Judge Moulton, of which firm he has since remained a member. He is recognized as a lawyer of ability.
WALTER C. HEADEN was born, 1851, in Shelbyville, Ill. His early education he received in the Shelbyville public schools, and after- wards for two years attended the State Normal High School. In 1872 he commenced the study of law in the office of Moulton & Chafee, where he remained until 1875, when he was examined and admitted to the bar. In the same year he became a member of the law firm of Moulton & Chafee, with whom he is still associated in the general practice of his profession.
THEODORE F. DOVE was born in Lancaster, Fairfield county, O, and received a thorough classical education at the Ohio Wesleyan University, from which he graduated in 1871. In 1874 he came to Shelbyville, Ill., and was two years superintendent of the Shelby- "ville schools. Prior to his location in Shelbyville he had read law in an office at Columbus, Ohio, and had been admitted to the bar in that State July 5, 1875. He was admitted to practice in Illinois in 1877, and during the same year opened a law office in Shelbyville, where he is still engaged in a general practice.
EDWARD A. COOK was born at Loudonville, Ohio, in 1850. He was educated in the seminary and public schools of Shelbyville and the district schools of Iowa. He commenced reading law in the office of Judge Henry in the year 1877, where he remained until 1879, when he was examined before the Appellate Court at Spring- field, and admitted to practice. In the same year he became a partner of Judge Henry in the practice.
HENRY T. REYNOLDS was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in which state he received a general education. In 1870 he removed to Illinois, and in 1872 commenced the study of law in the office of Hess & Stephenson. In 1874 he was licensed to practice in the United States Circuit Court, and in 1880 was admitted to general practice by the Supreme Court. In 1875 he opened a law office in Shelbyville, where he has since been engaged in the prosecution of pension and bounty claims against the United States Government.
F. M. HARBAUGH was educated in the schools of Moultrie and Shelby counties. He rcad law in the office of S. M. Smyser, of Sullivan, Ill., and then became a student in the law department of the University of Michigan, graduated in 1880, and soon after 'began practice at Windsor.
THOMAS T. HOLLAWAY is a Missourian by birth, though princi- pally raised in Shelby county. He received his literary education at the Virgina Military Institute, Lexington, and subsequently entered the law department of the University of Virginia, and gra- duated froni that institution in July, 1880. In November follow- ing he was admitted to practice in this state, and soon after began the practice in Shelbyville. He has been liberally educated, and is a young man of promise.
One of the young and rising members of the bar of this county is WM. B. TOWNSEND, located at Stewardson, in the southern part of the county. Mr. Townsend is a native of Canada, and eame to Illinois when quite young. He was admitted to the bar about, four years ago, when shortly afterward he located at Stewardson. He has made many warm friends among the people and the bar since he commeneed the practice of law. He is logical in his thoughts, quiek at repartee, and a close student. Time will place him in the first ranks of the profession.
R. C. TORRENCE, now practicing law in Cowden, in the south-west part of Shelby county, is a native of Pickaway county, Ohio. He received his education in the common schools and at the Ohio Wes- leyan University. He read law with McGrew & Mouser, of Shel- byville, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1879. He is a young man of studious habits, and bids fair to become a good lawyer. He is doing a good general practice.
If there are any attorneys whose names are not mentioned in this
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HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
chapter, it is because they have failed to furnish the publishers the required data, having been solicited to do so.
THE BENCH AND BAR.
MOULTRIE COUNTY. The Bench.
When Moultrie county was first organized, it formed part of the eighth circuit, which extended from the east line of the state to the Illinois river, embracing sixteen of the central connties of the state. It afterwards formed part of the seventeenth circuit, wherein it re- mained until the division of the state under the present Constitu- tion, when it was, with Champaign, Piatt and Macon, erected into the sixteenth circnit. In 1877 it was changed to the fourth circuit, as at present, which includes also the counties of Vermillion, Ed- gar, Douglas, Clark, Coles, Piatt, Champaign and Macon.
The first circuit judge holding court in this county was Samuel H. Treat, of the eighth circuit, and resident of Springfield, now one of the judges of the U. S. district court. David Davis of Bloom- ington (now United States Senator of Illinois) succeeded him. He was followed by Charles Emerson of Decatur, circuit judge of the seventeenth circuit. Then succeeded A. J. Gallagher of Decatur as judge of the sixteenth circnit. C. B. Smith of the sixteenth cir- cuit was the next circuit judge.
In 1877 the legislature passed a law establishing an appellate court, enlarging the circuit, and providing for the election of three judges for each circnit. The judges thus elected were C. B. Smith, William E. Nelson and O. L. Davis. At the election of 1879 C. B. Sinith and O. L. Davis were re-elected, while W. E. Nelson was succeeded by J. W. Wilkin.
County and Probate Courts .- The court having jurisdiction of probate matters and wills was originally known as the Probate Court, and presided over by a justice of the peace. Under the con- stitution of 1848 this was superseded by the county court, presided over by a county judge having a clerk and seal, and being a court of record. The following gentlemen have held this office in the respective order named : David Patterson, James Elder, Joseph E. Eden, Arnold Thomason and J. Meeker, the last named being the present county judge.
STATE AND PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
DAVID B. CAMPBELL, of Springfield, was the first public prose- cutor in Monltrie country. He was an able criminal lawyer, a powerful advocate, and one of the most efficient state's attorneys the county ever had. He served from 1839 until 1852. He was snc- ceeded by Elam Rust, who was elected in 1853, and served nntil 1856. John R. Eden, from 1857 to 1860; James P. Boyd, from 1861 to 1864; D. L. Bunn, from 1865 to 1868; M. B. Thompson, from 1869 to 1872; C. C. Clark, from 1873 to 1880. W. H. Shinn was elected in 1880, and is the present incumbent.
Owing to the small amount of litigation in each county in earlier times, it was both necessary and profitable for the lawyers to follow the judge around the circuit from one county scat to another. For a number of years after Moultrie county was organized, the leading talent of the neighboring counties practiced at this court. Fore- most among thiese were Abraham Lincoln, U. F. Linder, R. J. Oglesby, Judge Gallagher, David Davis, J. M. Davis, O. B. Fick- lin, Charles Emerson, Samnel W. Moulton, Judge Henry, Anthony Thornton, late judge of the supreme court, and others.
FORMER RESIDENT-MEMBERS OF TIIIS BAR.
R. J. OGLESBY, who has since become major-general in the army, governor of the state of Illinois, and U. S. Senator, resided liere,
and practiced law for a period prior to the Mexican war. He is a man of fine abilities, and distinguished as an able orator.
How. S. W. MOULTON, the present congressiuan from this dis- trict, practiced law in Moultrie county for several years before liis removal to Shelbyville. (A sketch of this gentleman may be seen in the article on the Bar of Shelby county.)
J. WILSON Ross practiced law here from 1846 to 1853 or 1854, when he died. He was a good lawyer, and did a fair business.
JAMES E. TANDY was practicing law here in 1853, but having the misfortune to kill a man, retired suddenly from the county about that time.
J. W. WHEAT left before the Mexican war. He was a lawyer of more than ordinary talent.
THOMAS M. BARBER came here from Pennsylvania in 1852, re- moved back to his native state in 1854, where he died.
MAJOR ROBERT MCWILLIAMS practiced law in Sullivan during a part of 1855 and '56-removed to Litchfield, Ill., where lie now enjoys a lucrative practice. He is a man of finc culture, pleasing address, and sound knowledge of the law.
J. B. TITus practiced law here from 1862 to 1868, and is still a resident of Sullivan, but no longer in practice.
I. J. MOUSER came to this county in 1871, and practiced in part- nership with his brother, A. C. Mouser. He left for Dakota terri- tory in 1880. Mr. Mouser was a man of good legal attainments.
M. R. DAVIDSON was admitted to the bar in 1877, and located at Lovington the same ycar, but removed to Monticello in 1879.
PRESENT MEMBERS OF THE MOULTRIE COUNTY BAR.
It is neither necessary nor advisable to bestow fulsome praise upon those gentlemen who at the present time are practicing the profession of the law in this county. We therefore give a brief sketch of each member of the bar, specifying as far as is practicable their respective qualifications. The practice is not sufficiently ex- tensive to permit any individual making a specialty of any parti- cular branch of the profession. It comprises, however, men of experience and ability, men who have associated professionally with the brightest legal talent the state of Illinois has produced, while some of the younger members have the ambition and promise which bespeak for them success in the near future in the profession they have chosen.
JOHN R. EDEN, of Sullivan, the oldest practitioner here, was born in Kentucky, but at an early age removed to Rush county, Indiana, and received his education in the common schools of that place ; he afterwards read law iu the office of Bigger and Logan. He was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1852, at which time he came to Illinois and settled temporarily in Shelby county. On his removal to Sullivan in 1853, began the practice of his pro- fession, was elected states attorney for the seventeenth judicial district, which position he filled most efficiently from 1857 to 1860, and which at first comprised nine counties, but was reduced to six before the expiration of his term of office. In 1862 he was elected to congress from the seventh district, serving one term ; in 1868 was the Democratic nominee for Governor of the state but was defeated; in 1872 was elected to congress from the fifteenth district, which position he retained for three successive terms. Mr Eden excels as an advocate, and is an able and successful lawyer.
A. B. LEE is a native of Tennessee, and was born in Stewart county of that state, came to this connty at an early date, and assisted in the organization of Moultrie County. Mr. Lee obtained a fair education in the schools here and for ten years, viz. from 1844 to 1854, taught school and studied law, at which time he was also justice of the peace and constable. During the late civil war
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HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Mr. Lee was in the army for four years, and was successful in raising two companies, and assisted in raising a third in this county, for which services he held three commissions as captain, and was also a veterau in the war with Mexico. He was admitted to the bar in 1854, and has continued the practice since that time, with the exception of the period above mentioned. Mr. Lce has become, by diligent study, well versed iu the intricacies of his profession, and has considerable practice in the criminal and chaucery branches of the business. He is a social gentleman, and replete witlı anecdote concerning some of the earlier members of the bar.
J. M. MEEKER, the present efficient county judge, is a native of Delaware county, Ohio, and in the common schools of that state acquired the, rudiments of an education, which was continued in Moultrie county after his arrival here in 1847. He at first followed the business of a blacksmith, and during his leisure hours perused Blackstone, and by diligent study and hard work qualified himself to practice law ; was made justice of the peace in 1857 and admitted to the bar in 1858 ; held the office of deputy circuit clerk from 1862 to 1874; in 1864 was candidate for states attorney but was defcated by L. Bunn. In 1870 was elected to the legislature, and was elected to his present position of county judge in 1877. Mr. Meeker is a good and prosperous lawyer.
W. G. PATTERSON, born in Ircland in 1829, removed to Canada when ten years of age and went through a collegiate course at Toronto, afterwards a course of civil engineering at the polytechnic institute, Troy, N. Y. In 1847 and 1848 was engaged as draughts- man by the II. R. R. R., subsequently assisted in the surveys of Missouri, Pacific, O. and M., and North Missouri Railroads. Edited the Charleston Courier, Coles county, this state, in 1856, and studied law with U. F. Linder ; afterwards engaged in the study and prac- ticc of law in the office of S. W. Moulton, Shelbyville, from 1857 to 1861, having been admitted to the bar in 1857. Mr. Patterson commenced the practice of law in Sullivan, this county, in 1861, which practice he still continues. He is a lawyer of good scholarly attainments.
A. P. GREENE, a native of Carrol county, Ohio, attended school at the Manual Labor University, Athens, Ohio, in 1853, and in 1857 the Damascus Academy, Columbiana, Ohio, working his way through both of these institutions by the proceeds of his own industry. After completing his studies at the last named institu- tion, he returned home and undertook the management of his father's farm, joined the war in 1862 and participated in many of the battles of the Potomac after that date; remained in the war until its closc, and was breveted captain. He graduated in the law department of the Michigan University in 1867, and was admitted to the bar in Chicago the same year ; came to Sullivan in 1867, and succeeded W. M. Stanley as editor of the Moultrie Banner, (afterwards Okaw Republican) in partnership with J. F. Hughes, carrying ou the practice of law in the meantime ; was appointed United States assistant assessor from 1868 to 1870, until the special license tax was abolished. Appointed Master in Chancery in 1874, which position he yet holds. Was one of the delegates (kuown as the 306) to State and National Convention, licld at Chicago, June, 1880. Mr. Greene is a pleasant, social gentleman, a good judge of the law, an accurate and successful lawyer.
.
C. C. CLARKE is a native of Huntsburg, Ohio. Receiving the rudiments of an education in the public schools, he afterwards attended the Ohio Union and State Law College, at Cleveland, where he was graduated. Was admitted to the bar in September, 1869, and settled the following year in Sullivan, where he has since carried on most successfully the practice of his profession. In 1872 was elected prosecuting attorney, which office he retained for eight
ycars, the term expiring December, 1880. In 1872 he formed a partnership with John R. Eden, which partnership still continues. Mr. Clarke is a good lawyer, and enjoys with his associate an excellent practicc.
A. C. MOUSER, front Marion county, Ohio, attended first the common schools of that place; afterwards the Ohio Wesleyan University, entering the latter in 1861 and graduating in 1866 as A. B. and M. A. in 1869, afterwards studied law with O. Bone and H. T. Vanfleet, of Marion county ; was admitted to the bar in 1871 and came to Shelbyville, this state, the same ycar. Removed to Sullivan in the fall of 1871, where he engaged in the practice of the law and real estate business, in partnership with his brother, J. J. Mouser, the latter in 1880 leaving to practice the profession in Dakota Territory. Mr. Mouser is an intelligent gentleman ar.d a good lawyer.
T. B. STRINGFIELD, born in Farmington, Mo., but removing shortly afterwards to Knoxville, Tennessee, obtained his education at the Strawberry Plains College, (near that place,) under the auspices of the Methodist Denomination. He came to Illinois and was engaged in stock raising, near Bloomington, from 1865 to 1872 ; from 1872 to 1874 read law in the office of Lodge and Huston, at Monticello, Ill., and was admitted to the bar in September, 1874. In January, 1875, he came to Moultrie county and began the prac- tice of law with his former preceptor, Lodge, having considerable railroad business to attend to. In 1877, he was elected police magis- trate, which position he yet holds-prefers the preparation of cases (for which he is better adapted) to pleading ; and has a fair share of thic collecting, real estate and chancery practice to attend to. Mr. Stringfield is a close student, and an unassuming business man.
S. M. SMYSER is a native of this county, and received his educa- tion in the common schools here ; began reading law in the office of J. Meeker in 1875, and was admitted to the bar in 1877. Formed a partnership the same year with W. H. Shinn, which, however, was dissolved the year following. Mr. Sinyser now continues the practice on his own account, and occupies the same office with his former preceptor, J. M. Meeker. In 1877 he was elected city attor- ney, to fill the vacancy made by the resiguation of J. C. Stanley, which position he yet fills. Mr. Smyser has considerable ability in the preparation of cases, which branch of thic profession he, in con- sequeuce, naturally prefers. He is social in disposition, aud devotes his best energies and attention to business.
JOHN H. BAKER was born in this county, and attended the com- mon schools here ; in the fall of 1875 attended the law school at Ann Arbor, Michigan, remaining there two years, and, graduating, was admitted to the bar in 1877, and for a short period afterwards, was in the law office of Hamilton and Rice, of Springfield, iu which city he contemplates, at no distaut date, coutiuuing the practice. On December 25th, 1878, he entered into partnership with J. M. Meeker, with whom he continued to practice until August, 1880, Mr. B. at that time disposing of his interest therein, and is now practicing upon his own account. He is upright, studious aud bright, and has acquired a good knowledge of the law. He is quite a young man yet, and has a good prospect before him.
W. H. SHINN is a native of Pike county, Ill. He attended the common schools of that county, uutil sixteen years of age. After- wards went through a course of study at McKendree College during 1867 and 1863. Hc afterwards attended sehool at Mattoon, reading law in the meantime with James W. Craig, of that place, was ad- mitted to the bar January 1st, 1877, at which time he began the practice of law in Sullivan. Was appointed prosecuting attorney for Moultrie county in 1880. Mr. Shinn bids fair to become a promi- nent man iu his profession.
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HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
F. M. McGRUDER was born in Ohio, and received his education in Illinois. Read law for a short period with A. P. Greene in Sulli- van, also with W. H. Shinn. Completed his studies in Chicago. and was admitted to the bar in 1880. Mr. McGruder is now in practice in Sullivan.
HENRY M. MINOR, of Lovington, was born in Moultrie county, five miles north-west of Sullivan. In 1844 attended the district schools here ; afterwards in Oldham county, Ky. During the years 1866 and 1867 attended college at Eureka, Ill., but did not gradu- ate. Removed to La Beth county, Kansas, in 1867, and in 1868 was there elected county judge; returning again to Moultrie county in 1870. He read law with Robert T. Cassell, of Eureka, during 1874-5-6, and was admitted by the Supreme Court at Mt. Vernon, Ill., June 8th, 1876, and began the practice in partnership with Walter Bennett, at Eureka. In 1876 he removed to Lov- ington, and was in partnership there with M. R. Davidson from 1877 to 1878. He prefers criminal practice, and is successful before a jury.
W. G. COCHRAN, of Lovington, whose native state is Ohio, came to Moultrie county in 1849, and received his education in the schools of this county. Read law with H. M. Minor, of Lovington, and was admitted to the bar in June 1879, after which time he was in partnership with Mr. Minor for one year. Mr. Cochran is yet a young man in his profession, but has the energy and ambition ne- cessary to success.
CAPTAIN B. F. LOVING, of Dalton City, was born in Tennessee. Read law in the office of Wm. G. Patterson, of Sullivan, and began the practice of his profession here in 1872. He served three and a-half years in the late civil war, and was commissioned captain of company G of the 8th Tennessee Infantry-Union army. Mr. Loving was admitted to the bar of Tennessee in 1880.
CHAPTER XI.
THE PRESS OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES.
BY D. MACKENZIE.
THE PRAIRIE FLOWER-THIE OKAW BANNER-OKAW PATRIOT-BANNER-SHELBY COUNTY LEADER-SHELBY FREEMAN-SHELBY COUNTY UNION-SHELBYVILLE UNION-COMMERCIAL-WINDSOR HERALD-MOAWEQUA REGISTER-DEMOCRAT -ILLUSTRATED BAPTIST-INDEPENDENT-WINDSOR SENTINEL-DOLLAR SEN- TINEL-WINDSOR GAZETTE-STEWARDSON ENTERPRISE-GREENBACK HERALD -OUR APIARY-SULLIVAN EXPRESS-SULLIVAN PROGRESS-MOULTRIE COUNTY UNION BANNER-OKAW REPUBLICAN-SULLIVAN PLAINDEALER-MOULTRIE COUNTY CHRONICLE-SULLIVAN JOURNAL-SULLIVAN DEMOCRAT-LOVINGTON INDEX-LOVINGTON FREE PRESS-LOVINGTON ENTERPRISE.
HE Press, the great luminary of liberty, is the handmaid of progress. It heralds its doings and makes known its discoveries. It is its advance-courier, whose coming is eagerly looked for, and whose arrival is hailed with joy as it brings tidings of its latest achievement. The press prepares the way, and calls mankind to witness the approach and procession of the tri- umphal car of progress as it passes on down through the vale of the future. When the car of progress stops, the press will cease, and the intellectual and mental world will go down in darkness. The press is progress, and progress the press.
So intimately are they related and their interests interwoven that one cannot exist without the other. Progress made no advancement against the strong tides of ignorance and vice in the barbaric past until it called to its aid the press. In it, is found its greatest dis- covery, its most valuable aid, and the true philosopher's stone. The history of this great industry dates back to the fifteenth cell- tury. Its discovery and subsequent utility resulted from the fol- lowing causes and in the following manner : Laurentius Coster, a native of Haerlem, Holland, while rambling through the forest contiguous to his native city, carved some letters on the bark of a birch tree. Drowsy from the relaxation of a holiday, he wrapped his carvings in a piece of paper and lay down to sleep. While men sleep progress moves, and Coster awoke to discover a phenomenon, to him simple, strange and suggestive. Damped by the atmospheric moisture, the paper wrapped about his handiwork had taken an impression from them, and the surprised burgher saw on the paper an inverted image of what he had engraved on the bark. The phenomenon was suggestive, because it led to experiments that re- sulted in establishing a printing office, the first of its kind, in the old Dutch town. In this office John Gutenberg served a faithful and appreciative apprenticeship, and from it, at the death of his master, absconded during a Christmas festival, taking with him a considerable portion of type and apparatus. Gutenberg settled in Mentz, where he won the friendship and partnership of John Faust, a man of sufficient means to place the enterprise on a secure finan- cial basis. Several years later the partnership was dissolved be- cause of a misunderstanding. Gutenberg then formed a partnership with a younger brother who had set up an office at Strasburg, but had not been successful, and becoming involved in law-suits had fled from that city to join his brother at Mentz. These brothers were the first to use metal types. Faust, after his dissolution witlı Guten- berg, took into partnership Peter Schoeffer, his servant and a most ingenious printer. Schoeffer privately cut matrices for the whole alphabet, and when he showed his master the types from these matrices, Faust was so much pleased that he gave Schoeffer his only daughter in marriage.
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