USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Historical review of Chicago and Cook county and selected biography, Volume II > Part 9
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Under the administration of Mayor Roche, Judge Horton had acted about a year as corporation counsel, although the appointment was made in the face of his declination and absence from the city. But it was unanimously confirmed by the city council and, under pres- sure, he assumed the duties of the office. It was while in the per- formances of these responsibilities, in 1887, that he was elected to the circuit bench. Conscientiously believing in the non-partisanship of the judiciary, his acceptance of the nomination had been obtained only upon the condition that his name should appear upon the tickets of both of the leading parties. It was upon this basis of non-partisan support that he ascended the bench as the result of three elections, serving until 1903 and during that period ( 1898-1901) presiding over the appellate court of the first district. A man of unimpeachable character, of unusual intellectual endowments, with a thorough knowl- edge of the law, and possessing patience, industry and urbanity in its application, Judge Horton took to the bench the necessary quali- fications for a discharge of its functions which brought him honor and well merited popularity. Of the many important cases which came before him for adjudication was the Garfield Park Race Track matter, and by dissolving the injunction which prevented the city authorities from interfering with book-making he dealt a hard blow
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to gambling. He was associated with Judges Tuley, Tuthill and Burroughs in rendering the decision which made possible the location of the Fine Arts Institute on the lake front.
Judge Horton's opinions have ever been regarded by the pro- fession as models of judicial soundness, and at the same time he evinced the keenest consideration for the equity of the case and even extended to the guilty every encouragement and aid not in violation of the principles of justice. His experience in the trial of divorce suits led him to take an advanced stand in favor of a complete remodel- ing of the law as it relates to the marital relations. Looking to this end he introduced a bill into the state legislature in 1889 giving the court power to fix periods within which the parties to the divorce shall not marry, a violation of its decree subjecting either to the penalties of bigamy.
Judge Horton has ever been a patron and supporter of education and esthetic culture. For over a quarter of a century he has been a member of the Chicago Literary Club; is one of the five members composing the board of trustees of Lewis Institute; is president of the board of trustees of Garrett Biblical Institute and first vice-president of the board of trustees of Northwestern University; is an honorary life member of the Union College of Law (having served as its presi- dent ) and is a trustee of Wesley Hospital. From a mere perusal of the above list it would be inferred that Judge Horton is prominent in the educational and charitable affairs of the Methodist church; he is, in fact, one of its most distinguished laymen. In 1880 and 1890 he served as a delegate to its general conference, was a lay delegate to the Ecumenical Methodist Conference at London in 1881, and has served as president of the Laymen's Association of Rock River Con- ference. For nearly twenty years he was a member of Grace Episcopal church, in which he held every position to which a layman is eligible. For twelve years he was superintendent of its Sunday-school, during which period it had a larger membership than any other home school west of the Alleghanies. The great fire of 1871 left all but sixteen of the twelve hundred scholars homeless, and all the members of the congregation except two. Notwithstanding this dispersal of members young and old, Judge Horton labored hard to reunite them and soon had the satisfaction of seeing the Sunday-school in as flourishing a
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condition as ever. The Judge is now a faithful attendant upon the services of the Trinity Methodist church.
Judge Horton's connection with the fraternal and co-operative organizations of his profession embraces membership in the Chicago Bar Association and the Medico-Legal Society, of which he is a char- ter member and served as president in 1892; his influential identifica- tion with the Chicago Law Institute and the Union College of Law has already been mentioned. He is also a member of the Glen View Golf Club, Quebec Golf Club, Forty Club, Hamilton Club and Mid- Day Club, while he has been a factor in the activities of the Union League since its organization. It should also be stated that for many years he was actively connected with the Young Men's Christian As- sociation as a director, held the office of vice-president for some time and was chairman of the lecture committee.
Judge Horton's wife was formerly Miss Frances B. Gould, who came from New York to Chicago in early childhood and has ever since resided here. They were married in this city on the 27th of December, 1857, the great grief of nearly half a century of their harmonious married life being the death of their two children. In private life, as in public office, Judge Horton is always the same reliable, honor- able man-affable, yet firm in maintaining what he regards as right. His pledge is never secured except upon the most carefully examined grounds, but once obtained is immovable. His charity is broad and warm, and it is the universal verdict that he never weighed an act of his life in the scale of sinister policy.
Jesse Holdom, one of the judges of the appellate court of the first Illinois district, is a worthy representative of the dignity and great- ness of the state in the domain of the law which JESSE HOLDOM. he has honored for thirty-five years. He possesses the substantial traits of his race who furnished America with the basis of her legal procedures, whether of the bench or bar, being born in London, England, on the-23d of August, 1851, a son of William and Eliza Holdom. His European ancestors were refugees from the massacre of St. Bartholomew, and in 1572 they settled in that part of the world's metropolis known as Spitalfields. From that time until the birth of Jesse, a period of nearly three hun- dred years, the Holdoms were all born in the same parish and within half a mile of the place where their ancestors originally settled.
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In the city of his nativity Judge Holdom acquired an academic education and in 1868, when seventeen years of age, came to the United States, making Chicago his home in July of that year. He soon began the study of law, and after two years entered the office of Joshua C. Knickerbocker, with whom he continued until 1876, when he accepted the position of chief clerk with Tenneys, Flower and Abercrombie. On September 13, 1873, he had been admitted to the Illinois bar, and in 1878 became associated with the brother of Judge Knickerbocker under the firm name of Knickerbocker and Holdom, a relationship which was maintained until 1889. He then practiced alone until his elevation to the superior bench of Cook county in 1898, continuing thus until his election to the appellate court of the state.
At the bar and as a trial lawyer Judge Holdom was always courte- ous, but forceful, logical, convincing and never a quibbler over non- essential points. He prepared his cases with patience, faithfulness and ability, and seldom was involved by his opponents in a phase of the litigation which he had not carefully considered. As counselor he was astute but conservative. Perhaps his greatest reputation at the bar has been achieved in chancery and probate cases, and in liti- gated questions involving contests of wills and titles to real estate. Upon the death of Judge Knickerbocker he was publicly mentioned for the vacant probate judgeship, and without personal solicitation was afterward appointed by Governor Fifer as public guardian, be- ing elected judge of the superior court in November, 1898. In his court decisions, both as a superior and appellate judge, he has ex- hibited the same traits as marked his career at the bar, always thor- oughly examining the pending matter and basing his clearly expressed conclusions on the fundamental principles of the law. Those who know Judge Holdom personally, or have had professional dealings with him in his judicial capacity, need not be told that his decisions from the bench are quite devoid of political -considerations or indi- vidual leanings. He still retains an active membership in the Amer- ican, Illinois and Chicago Bar associations, Chicago Law Club and the Chicago Law Institute. He served as a delegate to the national convention at Saratoga in 1896; was president of the Illinois State Bar Association 1901-2.
That Judge Holdom is a literary and cultured gentleman is evident not only from his conversation and bearing but by his large library
THERON YORK
CHOP, I NOX AND NULOCH FOUNDATIONS
Andwich Komisch
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of rare and old books, in the midst of which he finds rest, recreation and mental strength. His law library is also extensive and well se- lected, as would be naturally expected. In his political relations the Judge is a Republican, and is a member of such social, literary and political organizations as the Union League, Hamilton (president in 1897), Midlothian, Homewood and Quadrangle clubs. He is also a member of the Bibliophile Society of Boston and the Caxton Club of Chicago. In the Union League he was a member of the committee on political action for the years 1898, 1899 and 1900 and is first vice president at the present time and his official connection with the Ham- ilton Club as its president 1897-8 has had a strong influence on its developments into a strong factor in the public and civic movements of the city. The metropolitan character of his activities is further indicated by his identification with the Art Institute and the Field Co- lumbian Museum. He is also a member of the National Geographical Society and the American Forestry Association. In his religious views, the Judge is an Episcopalian, and has held official rank both in the Trinity Episcopal and St. Paul's Episcopal churches, at the present time serving as senior warden of the latter. Judge Holdom has been twice married, his first wife being Edith I. Foster, to whom he was united in 1877 and who died in 1891. His second marriage was with Mabel Brady in 1893. There have been four children in the family- Edith I .; Jesse; Martha, the wife of Roy McMillan Wheeler, and Courtland Holdom. The Judge is one of those whole-souled men, never too busy to forget his courtesy, and with all his notable suc- cesses as lawyer and judge is always ready to receive well meant counsel from the humblest of his associates. It is this genial spirit of absorption from whatever source which brings such men as he both popularity and strength.
Hon. Frederick A. Smith, elected to the circuit bench of Cook county for the term ending June, 1909, is an able and virile product
FREDERICK A.
of the state and county which he has so honored as
SMITH. lawyer, jurist and progressive citizen. When but a youth he cheerfully offered himself in defense of his country's integrity, and during the forty years that he has been identi- fied with the legal profession he has evinced an earnest devotion to the cause of good and patriotic citizenship. He has trusted nothing to chance and owes nothing to fortuitous circumstances, but ceaseless
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toil and endeavor, based upon a splendid endowment of mental and physical strength, have brought to him an honorable leadership in the fields of law, jurisprudence, education and civics.
Frederick Augustus Smith was born in Norwood Park, Cook county, Illinois, on the IIth of February, 1844, and is a son of Israel G. and Susan P. (Pennoyer) Smith, both of whom were born in 1816, the former in the Empire state and the latter in Connecticut. In 1835 the father came from New York to Cook county and pre-empted from the government a tract of land which he transformed into a family homestead, upon which Frederick A. was born, and which proved the residence of the parents for the remainder of their lives. Israel G. Smith died on the old Norwood Park homestead, his wife having passed away in 1894.
Judge Smith obtained his early education in the public schools of Chicago, and in 1860 entered the preparatory department of the old Chicago University. In 1862 he became a regular student in the col- legiate department, but at the close of his freshman year left his studies to enlist in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Infantry, participating in the campaigns of Kentucky and Missouri until the regiment was mustered out in 1864. He then resumed his studies in the university, from which he was graduated in 1866 with the degree of A. M. He at once became a student in the Union College of Law, now the law department of the Northwestern University, and after his graduation therefrom in 1867 was admitted to the bar, having since been a leading figure both of the bench and bar.
During the first six years of his professional life Judge Smith was senior member of the firm of Smith and Kohlsaat, after which he practiced alone until 1885, in which year he associated himself with S. M. Millard under the firm name of Millard and Smith. The part- nership continued until 1889, and the following year he became the senior in the firm of Smith, Helmer and Moulton. In 1895 H. W. Price was admitted to the firm, which remained intact until 1902.
In the meantime Judge Smith had come into prominence as a Re- publican, being the nominee of that party for superior court judge in 1898, his candidacy upon this occasion being unsuccessful. The strong, balanced and substantial traits which he exhibited as a lawyer. however, finally convinced the profession that he was admirably adapted to assume judicial functions, and in June, 1903, as stated, he
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was elected for the six years' term to the circuit bench. In December. 1904, the supreme court assigned him to the appellate bench, and at the June term of 1906 he was re-assigned to that division for three years. Judge Smith's previous high standing at the bar is indicated by such facts as that in 1887 he was chosen president of the Chicago Law Club and in 1890 president of the Chicago Bar Association. His fine reputation as a lawyer has been fully sustained by his honorable and substantial record as a judge.
Successful as have been the professional labors of Judge Smith, they have not absorbed his energies to the exclusion of the general interests of the community. Being a man of scholarly attainments and broad culture, he has been especially interested in higher educa- tion. He has been a member of the board of trustees of the new Uni- versity of Chicago since its organization, and holds the same position in the management of Rush Medical College. He is also a valued member of the three leading political organizations of Chicago, the Union League, Hamilton and Marquette clubs.
In 1871 Judge Smith was united in marriage to Miss Frances B. Morey, daughter of Rev. Reuben and Abby (Clemons) Morey, of Merton, Wisconsin. In the cultured home thus founded he evinces those pleasing personal traits which add a rare attraction to his sterling character as a man.
David Quigg, who, by a legal career extending over half a cen- tury, is one of the oldest lawyers of Chicago and the state of Illinois. was born in Litchfield, New Hampshire, December DAVID QUIGG. 17, 1834. a son of Abel G. and Lydia (Bixby) Quigg. He attended public schools, the Gilmantown (New Hampshire) Academy, and entering Dartmouth College in 1851 was graduated in 1855. From his native state he moved west to Bloomington, Illinois. He was a student in the office of the law firm of Swett and Orme, well known lawyers of that city, and in 1857 was admitted to the bar.
It is fifty years since Mr. Quigg became a licensed member of the profession, but his early practice was interrupted by nearly four years' service in the Civil war. After serving as second lieutenant of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry until the summer of 1862. in February, 1863. he was mustered in as major of the Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry, be- ing promoted lieutenant colonel of the same regiment in May. 1865.
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Most of his service was in the Mississippi valley, with the Army of the Tennessee. In the Stoneman raid of August, 1864, he was cap- tured and was confined in the prisons at Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina, until exchanged in March, 1865.
Immediately after his discharge from the army in July, 1865, he returned to the north, and after a year with the firm of Higgins and Swett, of Chicago, he became third member of the firm. On the with- drawal of Judge Higgins and the dissolution of the partnership in 1873, Mr. Quigg became a partner of Cyrus Bentley, Sr. In 1879 he formed a partnership with Judge Richard S. Tuthill, with whom he remained until 1887, and from that date until May, 1898, was associated with the junior Cyrus Bentley, since which time Mr. Quigg has practiced alone.
He is a Republican, but has never taken part in practical politics. He is a member of George H. Thomas Post No. 5, G. A. R. He mar- ried at Bloomington, Illinois, April 7, 1865, Francena Pike, who died in 1894, leaving a daughter Ethel, now Mrs. John L. Porter.
Judge Thomas Guilford Windes has been a member of the Chi- cago bar for more than thirty years and an honored occupant of the circuit bench of Cook county for nearly half of that
THOMAS G. WINDES. period. Whatever he has found to do he has done to the limit of his strength and abilities, both of which have been of the highest order, whether serving as a cavalry- man under the intrepid Forrest of the Confederacy, or serving the people of Chicago on one of the most trying benches of the higher courts. No one has ever had cause to doubt Judge Windes' mental strength, or straight-forward manliness, in whatever field of activity he has elected to enter. As a judge his decisions have ever indicated a strong mentality, careful analysis, a thorough knowledge of the law, and although as an individual a man of positive views, the discovery is yet to be made that, as a judge, he has ever been swayed by his per- sonal leanings. When he ascends the bench he has that self-control, so requisite to the true judicial temperament, of putting aside all per- sonal feelings and prejudices in order that he may righteously dis- pense justice.
Thomas G. Windes is a native of Alabama, born in Morgan county, on the 19th of January, 1848. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, the original American ancestors of the family having come to the
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new world prior to the outbreak of the Revolutionary war. His father, Rev. Enoch Windes, was a minister of the Baptist church and wedded Miss Ann Ryan, a lady of Irish lineage, whose people were among the pioneers of Kentucky.
Judge Windes was placed in school at the age of five years and during the succeeding decade patronized the Morgan county institu- tions. About the middle of the Civil war period when the Confed- eracy was calling into its military service the mere boys of the land. if they were made of the right material, Thomas joined the cavalry service under General Forrest, and remained at the front until the close of hostilities. Returning to Huntsville, he soon afterward re- sumed his interrupted studies at the academy located at that point, and continued there for about two years. About this time he also commenced to read law under the direction of the firm of Beirne and Gordon, in 1867-8 was a law student in the University of Virginia. and then engaged in teaching school until his admission to the bar at Jasper, Tennessee, in 1870. Through the succeeding two years he was occupied in mercantile and agricultural pursuits, but meeting with an accident, he resolved to come to Chicago, and has since been identified with the interests of this city.
After engaging in various employments, Judge Windes secured a situation as a law clerk in September, 1873, and in the summer of 1875 was admitted to practice before the Illinois bar. For some years he was associated in practice with Alexander Sullivan, and the firm conducted much important litigation. In November, 1880. the Judge began his connection with the circuit bench by accepting his appointment as master in chancery of that court, serving in that capacity for twelve years with such satisfactory results to both practi- tioners and litigants that he was elected to the judiciary itself. In 1892 he commenced his first term as judge of the circuit court, and in June, 1897, was appointed to the appellate bench, and has long since demon- strated his right to be classed among the ablest jurists of the state. His last re-election was in June. 1903, when he was returned for the term ending June, 1909.
On the 3d of December, 1868, Judge Windes was united in mar- riage to Miss Sallie C. Humphrey, daughter of Boyle P. Humphrey, a prominent planter of Madison county, Alabama. They have four children-Frank A., Zel F., Susan A. and Thomas Guy. The pleasant
-
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family home is at Winnetka. The Judge was a Baptist in his religious views for forty years, but is now a member of the Christian Science Church, and a Democrat in politics. Naturally he is a member of the Iroquois Club.
Among the men elected to the new municipal court bench in November, 1906, one whose previous record, general qualifications
WILLIAM N. for ability and character give every ground for his
GEMMILL. successful career in this new court was William N.
Gemmill, for fifteen years a lawyer with a large practice in Chicago, and a member of the well known firm of Gemmill and Foell. While engaged as an advocate he directed several impor- tant cases to successful issue, and established points that have since been referred to as authorities. Judge Gemmill has the reputation of being an indefatigable worker, combining scholarship with an active energy and forceful personality. These qualities have been much esteemed in his new position, where, at the outset, the citizens of Chicago hoped to place men who would lend thorough integrity and practical efficiency to the administration, that hitherto had been remarkably tardy.
Judge Gemmill had such a training for his career as is familiar in the case of many successful self-made men. Born on a farm at Shan- non, Illinois, December 29, 1860, a son of William and Susan (Bren- ner) Gemmill, Pennsylvanians who came out to Illinois some years before the war, he spent his early school days in a district school and the Shannon high school, and later graduated from Cornell College (Iowa) in 1886 and took up the pursuit of teaching. He was super- intendent of the city schools of Rockford, Iowa, and later in Marion, Iowa. After five years in this work he came to Chicago and began the study of law at Northwestern University. He was graduated and admitted to the bar in 1892. Judge Gemmill has had practice in all of the courts and experience in divers and many important cases. His familiarity with contract and commercial law and damage suits gives him especial advantage in the municipal court, these branches of civil procedure being particularly defined in the jurisdiction and pow- ers of the court. The popularity of Judge Gemmill among his asso- ciates upon the municipal bench was demonstrated when he was unanimously elected chief justice of the municipal court by the other
ASTER, LENOX, NO TILCEN FOUNDATIONS
. TENERTERA FORLIG LISKA RY
Having
Nuthe Rope hills.
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judges of the court in July, 1907, to act during the absence of Chief Justice Olson.
Judge Gemmill is a resident of the Seventh ward, and has taken an active part in the political affairs of the city and state. He served as the Republican central committeeman of his ward from 1902 to 1907. He is a strong campaign speaker, and began political speaking a number of years ago, stumping the states of Illinois and Iowa during the campaign of 1896, and since then has always taken a most active part in every campaign.
Judge Gemmill married, in 1892, Miss Edna Billings, of Rock- ford, Iowa, and has two children, Jennette and William B. He is a popular member of the Hamilton Club and the Law Institute. In 1907 he was elected and became a life member of the Chicago Press Club.
"A gentleman of the old school, and most emphatically of the new," might designate the polished and eloquent Luther Laflin Mills,
LUTHER L. lawyer, orator, reformer and Christian citizen. He
MILLS. has all the suavity, dignity and fire of the fathers of
the republic, with the broad and practical wisdom of the twentieth century attorney and patriot. His fame as an orator does not belong to Chicago or to Illinois, but is national in its scope. while as a criminal lawyer he stands in the front rank of practitioners in the United States.
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