USA > Illinois > Christian County > Past and present of Christian County, Illinois > Part 7
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As has before been said, at the organiza- tion of this county Samuel H. Treat was the first Circuit Judge and presided over the term of court held at Dane county on Mon- day, November 4. 1839.
He was at one time Judge of the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, and in the lat- ter years of his life filled the position of Judge of the Federal Court for the South- ern District of Illinois, which position he occupied until his death, and was always regarded as an able, honorable and upright Judge, and fair to litigants. He was more closely associated with the people of Sanga- mon County than with this people. At the first term of court there were present Hora- tio M. Vandeveer, Clerk; Wm. S. Ricks, Sheriff ; David B. Campbell, State's Attor- ney; James C. Conkling, an attorney at law of Springfield, was also present. At that time the counties of Sangamon, Tazewell, Woodford, McLean, Livingston, De Witt,
Piatt, Champaign, Vermilion, Edgar, Moul- trie, Christian, Logan and Menard composed the Eighth Judicial District.
Judge David Davis, of Bloomington, suc- ceeded Judge Treat and presided over the courts at Taylorville from 1849 to 1853, after which time the home of Judge Davis, McLean county, was eliminated from this circuit. He was succeeded as Circuit Judge by Judge Emerson; Judge Emerson was succeeded by Judge F. Y. Rice. He in turn was succeeded by Judge H. M. Vandeveer. In 1877 the Legislature passed a law es- tablishing Appellate Courts in each circuit and providing for the election of three Judges for each circuit, and out of the Judges of the several circuits in this state, four Appellate Courts, consisting of three Judges each were selected by the Supreme Court. At the election in June, 1879, Judge W. R. Welch of Carlinville, Judge Chas. S. Zane of Springfield, Judge J. J. Phillips of Hillsboro was elected for the circuit of which Christian county composed a part, Judge Zane was afterward appointed to a Federal Judgeship in Utah, and his decisions upon the Mormon question, while presiding there, brought him into much prominence throughout the United States; Judge Wm. L. Gross of Springfield was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Judge Zane, and he filled the position of Circuit Judge about one year ; he was succeeded by Judge James A. Creighton, who presided over the courts -of Christian county for many years, and since that time the county has been thrown into different circuits, and its Circuit Courts have been presided over by Judge Robert Shirley, of Carlinville, Judge Jacob Fouke of Vandalia, Judge Wm. Farmer of Van- dalia, Judge S. L. Wright of Centralia and Judge T. E. Ames of Shelbyville, of whom the last three are now presiding Judges in
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the circuit ; of the Judges mentioned above, Judge J. J. Phillips, Judge W. R. Welch, Judge Creighton and Judge Farmer were from time to time selected as Judges of some of the Appellate Courts of the state, and Judge J. J. Phillips was elected one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the state, which position he held until his death. He was succeeded in the Supreme Court by the Hon. James B. Ricks, of Christian county, who is at present one of the Justices of said court.
Many of the Judges above mentioned have died and passed to a jurisdiction where no errors can be assigned or judgments re- versed, and where each of them will receive the reward they merit.
We have spoken of Judge Treat and his work upon the bench of the State and Fed- eral Court; his name is familiar with the bar of the state, and many of the decisions rendered by him have been recorded upon the records of the state; he enjoyed the reputation of being an honorable. upright Judge.
David Davis enjoyed an enviable reputa- tion both as a Judge of the State Courts and of the Federal Courts. He was ele- vated to the position of Justice of the Su- preme Courts of the U. S. by his personal friend and former associate. Abraham Lin- coln. He afterwards resigned and was elected as U. S. Senator from the state of Illinois. He was a man of marked ability, and filled several positions to which he had been elevated with dignity and honor.
It is said of Judge Chas. Emerson by those who knew him that he was a plain, unassuming man, a matter of fact lawyer. He had but little sentiment, and dealt very largely in facts; yet withal was kind and accommodating on the bench, and particu- larly to the younger and inexperienced mem-
bers of the bar. Very few of Judge Em- erson's decisions were reversed by the higher courts.
Judge E. Y. Rice was of Montgomery county, and prominently connected in that county; he presided as Judge in this cir- cuit for several years, which position hc resigned in 1870, and was elected to Con- gress.
Judge H. M. Vandeveer was elected in 1870 to fill the unexpired term of Judge Rice and was re-elected in 1873, and con- tinued in the position as Judge until the year 1875, at which time he refused to be a candidate for re-election.
Judge Vandeveer was a good lawyer, an excellent judge of human nature and was able under almost all circumstances to as- certain the true facts in the case that was being heard before him, and was not easily deceived. He was an able. upright Judge and while upon the bench by his kindness to the younger members of the bar and his appreciation of their inexperience drew them very closely to him.
The writer remembers that while linger- ing in his last sickness, and his death was daily expected, a young man of Macoupin county, who began his practice before Judge Vandeveer, requested the writer to notify him of the Judge's decease as he desired to attend his funeral and said that no man was ever kinder to the young men upon the bench than Judge Vandeveer. At the close of his career as Judge, he resumed the practice of law; it was a recognized fact with the members of the bar that the Judge could draw the best series of instructions, connect them closer and get nearer to the lines of dispute with them than any mem- ber at the bar, and he was frequently called upon to perform that duty.
In the latter years of his life he was
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badly afflicted with rheumatism, died at Tay- lorville at a ripe old age, and was buried by the legal profession.
Judge Phillips presided over the Circuit Court of Christian county a great number of years, and until he was elected to the position of Justice of the Supreme Court.
He was a brilliant man, an excellent law- ver and a great reader ; he kept in touch with all of the literature and legal learning of the age; while on the bench he was a rapid worker and enjoyed the reputation of being a man of integrity.
Judge W. R. Welch of Carlinville was an excellent lawyer, a man well read in the law, thoroughly conversant with the recent holdings of the courts and was a man of in- tegrity, an able, conscientious and painstak- ing Judge.
His was the life of a lawyer; he lived in the law, and had rather converse about legal propositions than any other subject. His mind seemed to feed upon the law. He was loved and admired by all the members of the bar.
We could say good words for the many of the Judges that are now living, and have presided over our courts, but it is not the purpose of this work to record the events of the living.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
David B. Campbell was the first public prosecutor of Christian county, and is said to have been an able lawyer. He served from 1839 to 1852: after him came Elam Rust, who was elected in 1853, and served until 1856. J. B. White served as prose- cuting attorney in the District from 1857 until 1864; he afterwards moved on to a farm near Morrisonville in Christian coun- ty, and there lived for a great number of years until his death, which occurred about
a year ago. He is said to have been an able prosecutor and a man of good ability.
C. M. Morrison served as prosecuting at- torney from 1865 to 1868.
Horace Gwin was elected in 1868 and served until 1871. Horace Gwin was a very able lawyer and enjoyed the reputation of being more thoroughly acquainted with the elementary books of Blackstone and Chitty than any lawyer of his day.
In 1872 the old plan of electing Dis- trict Attorneys for the several counties was abandoned, and the Legislature passed an act providing for the election of a State's Attorney in each county, and under this act Alexander McCaskill was elect- ed prosecuting attorney for Christian coun- ty in 1872, and served until 1876. He was afterward elected County Judge. Judge McCaskill was one of the noble men of our county, and was loved and ad- mired by all who knew him, and he loved the people and constantly drew from na- ture and the everyday practices of the people lessons which he at times used with great effect in his advocacy at the bar. Judge McCaskill's speeches were not at all times masterpieces, but when he became thoroughly aroused in a case and fully im- bued with the guilt or innocence of his cli- ent, he at times made most excellent speeches to the jury. The writer has heard Judge McCaskill make speeches that were not easily surpassed. Notably his speech in the prose- cution of Newton Crafton at Decatur, which gave him more than a local reputation as an advocate. He died as he lived, loved by all who knew him and was indeed a good man and honest in all his purposes in life.
V. E. Foy was elected State's Attorney in 1876, and served until 1880; was after- wards twice elected County Judge of the county. Judge Foy was a whole-souled,
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good-hearted man; was honest and consci- entious in his work and was loved by the people, and in his palmy days no one had a better or stronger holl upon the people po- litically than did Judge Foy. In fact. he came nearer knowing how to reach the peo- ple and control them than any man that has ever been in the county since the writer has lived there. Judge Foy died April 27. 1900, and was buried by the profession. His death was regretted by many of his excel- lent friends.
Judge Foy was succeeded as State's At- torney by the Hon. John G. Drennan, who was elected in 1880 and served two terms. He was an able lawyer and vigorous prose- cutor and is now connected as associate counsel with the Illinois Central Railroad.
Joseph C. Creighton was elected State's Attorney in 1888. and served until 1895, when he was compelled to seek another cli- mate on account of his health. Joe. as he was familiarly called by all who knew him. was a good lawyer, and had his health per- mitted. would doubtless have won distinc- tion at the bar.
While acting as prosecutor he served the public well. Few attorneys had a much more difficult time in getting a start in his pro- fession than did Joe Creighton, but he had the tenacity to hold on until he acquired a foothold: he died in Utah a few years ago. respected by all who knew him.
Mr. Creighton left here in June, 1895. and the Hon. James B. Ricks filled his place as public prosecutor until December, 1896.
The Hon. E. A. Humphreys, of Pana, was elected State's AAttorney in 1896, and has served from thence up to the present time. He is now living and engaged in the prac- tice of law at Pana, and in the courts of Christian county.
RESIDENT LAWYERS.
John W. Wheat came to Taylorville in 1840 where he engaged in teaching school and the practice of law, but sought a more lucrative practice in other parts at an early clay.
Benjamin Mason of Greene county. Il !. , came to Taylorville in 1852: was elected Justice of the Peace soon after he came here. It is said that he was a brilliant young man with a fine legal mind and soon obtained considerable practice, and would have succeeded well in the law. but unfor- tunately for him. fell into bad habits and soon lost his practice. He remained here until 1858: left this county at the time of the gold excitement in Pike's Peak and re- turned to his home in Greene county in 1862 and died there in 1870.
Thomas Shumaker was the fifth resident lawyer : he came to Taylorville in 1852 : was somewhat "irregular" in his practice and re- mained here until 18544 when he removed to Kansas, and while there achieved some noto- riety and wealth.
"Was one of those restless, energetic men and was peculiarly adapted for the stirring times incident to the history of Kansas while yet under territorial government. His prom- inency, however, proved his death: he was shot and killed in one of the riots that dis- graced the early history of that state."
J. H. Dawdy located in Pana in 1856; was a native of Illinois and became a lawyer from force of circumstances ; there being no attorney at Pana. when he first located there. and a lawyer being. very much in demand. he concluded to study for the profession ; was admitted to the bar in 1856. Soon after he was elected Associate Justice for the county, and thereafter Justice of the Peace. which office of Justice of the Peace he held
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
for a great many years : he died at Pana a few years ago.
George Pease was the second lawyer in Pana : was a native of Massachusetts and a graduate of Yale college. Came to Pana in 1857, and continued there in practice until 1861 : enlisted in the army and elected cap- tain of his company, and after serving his country for two years returned to this coun- ty and resumed his practice. After leaving Pana he removed to Taylorville, and from thence to Colorado, where he now resides, unless he has died recently.
James O. Connor was also a resident law- yer of Pana. He was a native of New York : located at Pana in 1858 and continued in the practice until 1861 when he entered the army and was elected as Lieutenant of a company in the 3rd Illinois Cavalry ; was subsequently promoted to the rank of Major and continued in the service until the close of the war and when last known was resid- ing at Helena. Ark.
Harrison Havens read law while a clerk in the office of W. S. Moore, Circuit Clerk; was admitted to the bar, but practiced very little. He went to Iowa and then to Spring- field. Mo., where he permanently located and continued in the practice. Since becoming a resident of the latter place he has twice rep- resented his district in Congress.
D. K. Hall came to Taylorville in 1859. Upon the breaking out of the war he en- tered the service as First Lieutenant; was promoted during the war to the rank of Major. At the close of the war he settled in the State of Missouri where he still lives so far as known.
Hon. D. D. Shumway was a native of Massachusetts. Came to Christian county in 1843; he studied law and was admitted to practice in 1860. Then formed a law partnership with the Hon. H. M. Vande-
veer, and was for many years a prominent man in the county and this section of the state, and held many offices of honor and trust; he died in 1870. His history and character are given fully in other chapters of this work.
D. T. Moore was another member of the bar. Was admitted to practice and remained here until 1864 when he removed to Wash- ington, Iowa, but now resides in York, Neb- raska.
David McWilliams came to Taylorville in 1863. He remained here until 1866 when he removed and located at Monticello, Piatt county, Ill.
S. P. Davis was a member of the Chris- tian county bar, and was also a journalist and is better known as the latter than the former. In 1868 he removed to Belleville, then to Denver, Colo., where he died.
J. G. Murdock, an attorney, also came to this county and made an effort to obtain a practice, but for some reason was not able to do so, and left the place. It is said he moved to Texas.
Dan'l McFarland, an attorney from O'Fal- lon, in St. Clair county, came to Taylor- ville in 1871 and opened a law office; he left here soon afterward.
A. D. Rich. located in Pana in 1870. Is said to have established the Pana Palladium, a newspaper that still exists. He practiced law to some extent, and remained in Pana until 1872 when he removed to Iowa, thence to Missouri.
J. A. Tyler, formerly a resident of Macon county, was admitted to the bar in Decatur ; came to Taylorville in 1872 and remained for several years. While here he contracted a fatal disease and died soon thereafter. The writer was personally acquainted with Mr. Taylor, and knew him to be a brilliant young man, a ready speaker and if his
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health had permitted he no doubt would have made a bright advocate at the bar.
S. S. Hibbard came to Taylorville in about 1874, but did not remain a great length of time; he afterwards abandoned the practice of law and engaged in the min- istry: was a quiet unobtrusive gentleman and a good lawyer.
H. M. Vandeveer must be regarded as the "Nestor" of the Taylorville bar. He began the practice of law here at an early day, and soon became the leading lawyer at the bar, and continued such until his election as Judge. Special mention has been made of the history of Judge Vandeveer in connection with him as Judge of the Circuit Court, and in other parts of this history which will not be repeated.
A. B. Hammer located at Assumption in about the year 1868; shortly thereafter moved to Taylorville where he formed a partnership with J. M. Simpson, and was engaged in the practice of law here for some time, but left in about the year 1874. Hammer now resides in Oklahoma, and Simpson at McPherson, Kansas.
In about the year 1873. Messrs. Hayes & Zollars located at Taylorville, but were 111 .- able to secure the practice anticipated, ana soon left.
Chas. A. Shirley commenced the practice of law in Taylorville in 1877, but remained here but a short time.
G. W. Hinman came to Pana in 1877; re- mained one year and removed to his former home, Pike county, Ill.
J. W. Stanley practiced law in Pana ; was elected City Attorney at that place and after- wards removed to Lawrence county, Ill.
Daniel Miller was Clerk of the Court of Christian county, and studied law during his term of office. He is said to have been a good lawyer and quite popular; died in .
Taylorville; was a brother of E. A. Miller J. M. Penwell located in Pana in 1867; had a limited practice and died in 1878.
Wm. H. Dawdy was a resident of Illi- nois ; was admitted to the bar in 1866. Read law with Judge Henry of Vandalia; was elected city attorney of Pana, and at the ex- piration of his term of office located in Greenville, Illinois, where he has since re- sided. Has been State's Attorney of that county, and has filled other positions of prominence.
A. C. McMillen practiced law in Pana ; came there in 1866. Was a bright, ener- getic fellow, and met with some success in the practice of law; he died at Pana in 1875.
Andrew Simpson was one of the older members of the bar; was a native of Ken- tucky and came to Illinois in 1835. Was admitted to the bar in 1857, and continued in the practice of law until his death. He was honored with offices of trust in the county ; was elected to the office of County Judge prior to township organization ; as a lawyer he ranked high at the bar. His superior knowledge of human nature, the motive and springs of human action made him a dangerous antagonist to cope with before a jury. As a man, he was plain and unassuming ; had a way that was peculiarly his own, and was quite humorous at times. He was an excellent advocate; was a man of integrity, and was especially strong be- fore a jury.
Wm. S. Randle was a native of North Carolina : studied law in the office of A. W. Metcalf of Edwardsville; was admitted to the bar in 1858. Came to this county in . 1869, and engaged in farming as well as the practice of law.
S. G. Lewis was a native of Delaware: emigrated to Greene county, Ill., in 1844:
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was admitted to the bar in Carrollton in a gentleman, honest, conscientious in his 1860, and began the practice of law in Tay- lorville in 1878.
J. M. Birce was a graduate of the Univer- sity of Michigan at Ann Arbor; was admit- ted to the practice of law in 1861; in 1865 he came to Assumption, and was admitted to the bar in 1866. He engaged in the gen- eral practice of law ; was a painstaking, ear- nest lawyer : always resided at Assumption after coming to this county, and was re- garded as an honorable, upright lawyer. He died at his home in Assumption a few years ago.
Hon. Wm. Edgar Morrison was admitted to the bar in 1867; began the practice of law at Springfield, Ill., shortly thereafter. After engaging in business for four years at Springfield, he then moved to Morrison- ville in this county where he has since re- sided. He was a good speaker, and in trials before a jury they were well entertained by the speeches of Mr. Morrison.
Hon. John B. Jones was a native of Ohio; he came to Christian county in 1864. Read law here and was admitted to the bar in 1868 and began the practice of law at No- komis, Ill. Shortly thereafter he returned to Taylorville, where he opened an office and continued in the practice of law at Taylor- ville until about 1882, at which time he re- moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he now resides. Mr. Jones while in Taylor- ville enjoyed a very lucrative practice; he was an earnest, painstaking lawyer.
Mr. D. F. Murray studied law with Mr. J. B. Jones; was admitted to the bar in 1871 and began the practice of law at Mor- risonville where he continued in the prac- tice for several years. He then moved to Washington, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred about two years ago. Mr. Murray was at all times
work, and ever diligent in protecting the in- terests of his clients, and was a good lawyer and safe counsellor.
Mr. Geo. B. Crooker was a native of Illi- nois; was admitted to the bar in 1874, formed a partnership with J. C. McBride and continued in the practice with him un- til Mr. Crooker's removal to Kansas in about the year 1884, at which time he re- moved to Anthony, Kansas, and there con- tinued in the practice of law, where he is now living.
V. E. Foy read law in the office of J. B. Jones ; was admitted to the practice of law in 1874, and was shortly thereafter elected State's Attorney for this county. His char- acter as a lawyer and man have been treat- ed in this chapter in his connection with the office of State's Attorney.
Daniel McCaskell came to Christian county in 1865 ; read law with his brother, A. McCaskell; was admitted to the bar in 1870 and commenced the practice of law in 1872 at Taylorville. In 1874 he formed a partnership with his brother, which con- tinued until about the year 1876, when he was compelled on account of ill health to abandon the practice and move to Colorado. He regained his health, and since then has moved to Chicago, and now enjoys a lucra- tive practice in the city of Chicago.
James B. Ricks was educated at Wesleyan University, Bloomington, Ill .; studied law in the office of Andrew Simpson; was ad- mitted to the bar in 1874. He was a good lawyer, a nice, smooth talker, and enjoyed a lucrative practice up to the time of his election as one of the Justices of the Su- preme Court.
John G. Drennan studied law in the of- fice of John B. Jones; was admitted to the bar in 1878. Formed a partnership with
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Mr. Jones which continued for several years and until the election of Mr. Drennan as State's .Attorney. A more complete history of Mr. Drennan as a lawyer was given in this chapter in connection with his office as State's Attorney ; he now resides in Chica- go, and is assistant counsel for the Illinois Central Railroad.
J. C. Essick became a member of the bar in 1870; practiced law at Pana, Ill., for many years. Was a good lawyer and fluent talker; he afterwards moved to Chicago, where he now lives and enjoys a lucrative law practice.
Wm. Kelligor was admitted to the bar in 1878, and after practicing law at Pana for. a short time removed to Nebraska where he now resides and is said to have become a good lawyer, and to enjoy a lucrative prac- tice.
S. R. Tippey was admitted to the bar in 1877, and resided in Pana for some time.
E. Copperthwaite was admitted to the bar in 1879, and formed a partnership with J. M. Birce at Assumption, where he continued in the practice of law for several years. He was a bright. fluent talker; was elected to the Legislature where he earned for him- self quite a reputation as a public speaker.
B. F. Burnett was admitted to the bar in the state of Michigan, in the year 1836; practiced law in that state for over 20 years. He afterwards moved to Litchfield, Ill., where he engaged in the publishing of a newspaper, and moved to Taylorville in the year 1880, where he lived until his death. Mr. Burnett was a well read lawyer and great student, and had the faculty of saying
pleasant things, but when the occasion re- quired he could use as poisonous terms as any one, but he did not engage in the prac- tice of law many years before his death ; he died at Taylorville many years ago.
W. S. Moore was a native of Ohio; came to Taylorville in 1848; read law with H. M. Vandeveer and was admitted to the bar in 1852, and continued in the practice of law and filling the office of County Judge and Circuit Clerk until his retirement from the profession in 1878. After that he en- gaged in the mercantile business until the latter years of his life, when he removed to Morrisonville, where he was engaged in keeping hotel until his death.
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