USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 61
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Judge McCulloch was reared a democrat and cast his first presidential vote for James Buchanan, who had been president of the board of trustees of Marshall College, which was Judge McCulloch's alma mater. In 1860 he voted for Steven A. Douglas.
Judge McCulloch ranked high with his brethren of the bar, both as a lawyer and a jurist. This was indicated by the fact that at the first meeting of the Bar Association he was one of a committee composed of Judges Sabin D. Puterbaugh, Anthony Thornton and himself, which devised the plan and drafted the bills which, with some modifications, became laws, whereby the judicial system was
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reconstructed and the appellate courts brought into existence. He was the second president of the association, and often addressed it upon important topics and acted upon its most important committees.
He was a Presbyterian in his religious faith and for many years acted as one of the ruling elders of the Second Presbyterian church of Peoria. He served for several years as one of the directors of the McCormick Theological Seminary at Chicago. On the 2d of September, 1858, Judge McCulloch was married to Miss Mary Fulton Hemphill, of Shippenburg, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and to them were born three children, now living : Edward Dickinson McCulloch, William Herron and Mary Hemphill McCulloch, now the wife of Edward D. McDougal.
PEORIA BAR ASSOCIATIONS
The secretary of the Peoria Bar Association has a minute book, which con- tains the complete records of two preceding associations. From such records the writer is able to give a short history of the three bar associations which have been organized in Peoria county.
The first association organized was called the "Peoria Bar Association." On November 10, 1870, a large number of lawyers met in the Law Library rooms. The late Col. James M. Rice presided at the meeting and he, together with four other lawyers, were selected to report a plan of organization. On November 18 following, at a meeting called for that purpose, the report of the committee was read and adopted. A constitution and by-laws were then adopted. Officers were elected and committee appointments made as follows :
David McCulloch, president ; J. K. Cooper, first vice-president ; S. D. Puter- baugh, second vice-president ; H. C. Fuller, secretary ; Thomas Cratty, treasurer. Committee on grievances: Rice, Nye, Alva Loucks; committee on law reform : Wells, Jack and Stevens ; committee on legal biography : Sloan, Wilson and Wead.
The members of the executive committee were the president, vice-president. secretary and treasurer. The members of the committee were the trustees of the association and had power to appoint all standing committees. Meetings were provided for each month of the year. The meetings in the months of March, June, September and December were to be held to transact the business of the association. The other monthly meetings were held for the purpose of moot courts, moot legislative assemblies, discussions and addresses on legal, political. philosophical and historical subjects and an occasional supper.
The only meetings of this association as shown by the records were held December 10, 1879. January 13, 1880, February 10, 1880, March 9, 1880, April 13. 1880, May 11, 1880 and June 8, 1880.
At the meetings addresses were made on a number of subjects. Judge David McCulloch delivered his inaugural address at the meeting of January 13, 1880, the subject being "The Objects and Benefits of a Bar Association." At this meeting remarks were made by Messrs. Starr, Hopkins, Cratty, Karr, Puterbaugh and Worthington. On the night of February 10, 1880, a paper was read by N. G. Moors on "The Anglo-Saxons and their Speech." Jonathan K. Cooper spoke on March o, his subject being "Life and Services of Daniel Webster." The meeting of April 13 was of special interest to lawyers of today, as the principal dis- cussion was over the question of amending the Practice Act, a subject just now of much interest to attorneys and to laymen as well. At this meeting E. G. Johnson delivered an address on "The Personal Recollections of Daniel Webster" and Colonel James M. Rice read a paper on "The Pedigree of Our Laws." Judge N. E. Worthington spoke at the May with meeting, his subject being "The Historical Significance of the Fourth Year of James ist." The June meeting was addressed by Josiah Fulton, who spoke upon "The Early Times in Peoria." At this meeting the by-laws were disregarded. An adjournment was taken over the summer months and into history went the Peoria Bar Association of 1879, never to meet again.
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The signers of the constitution of this association were: S. D. Puterbaugh, D. McCulloch, Thomas Cratty, Alva Loucks, Henry C. Fuller, J. K. Cooper, M. N. Gish, H. B. Hopkins, John W. Karr, F. W. Voight, J. M. Tennery, N. E. Worthington, Chas. A. Cornwell, Samuel E. Clark, Wellington Loucks, G. M. Johnston, Nicholas Ulrich, John B. Cones, B. Todd, James MI. Rice, David E. Powell.
Of the above list only four now live in Peoria, Judge N. E. Worthington still on the circuit bench, Nicholas Ulrich and D. E. Powell, not active in prac- tice, and H. C. Fuller, still practicing law.
July 20, 1888, finds the lawyers of this county again in a meeting for the purpose of organizing a bar association. At this meeting James H. Sedgwick presided. Judge David McCulloch, Judge H. B. Hopkins and James H. Sedg- wick were named as a committee to report a constitution and by-laws. . On July 25, 1888, another meeting was held and a constitution and by-laws were adopted. J. H. Sedgwick, David McCulloch and J. S. Lee were appointed delegates to the National Bar Association Convention.
But two more meetings of this association were held, one on July 28, 1888, and one on August 14, 1888. At the last meeting the members were called to order and an immediate adjournment taken till September. The adjournment proved to be final as no further meetings were ever convened.
Officers were elected at the July meeting as follows: President, James H. Sedgwick ; first vice-president, George T. Page ; second vice-president, J. MI. Nie- haus ; secretary, Arthur Keithley; treasurer, David McCulloch. Judge David McCulloch was selected chairman of the executive committee and Arthur Keith- ley, W. I. Slemmons and J. M. Niehaus were named as the committee on ad- missions. The following signed the constitution: James H. Sedgwick, Arthur Keithley, W. V. Tefft, David McCulloch, J. M. Niehaus, S. D. Wead, George T. Page, W. I. Slemmons, L. W. James.
The following paragraphs taken from the records of the present bar asso- ciation briefly show the steps taken for organization :
"The Peoria Bar Association, as a temporary organization, held its first meet- ing with seven members of the bar at the Creve Coeur Club on November 20, 1905. On November 27. 1905, a second meeting was held at the same place, at which meeting the law firms of Peoria were generally represented. Committees were appointed looking to the formation of a permanent organization; and a third meeting was called and held at the same place on January 8, 1906, at which time the several committees made their reports and the permanent organization wes perfected. The officers for the first year were selected as follows : President, W'm. L. Ellwood ; first vice-president. S. D. Wead ; second vice-president, George B. Sucher ; secretary, Frank T. Miller ; treasurer, E. D. McCulloch.
The association was organized by the younger members of the bar but in this they received the encouragement and active support of the older lawyers of Peoria, without whom no successful organization is possible. Among these older lawyers most active were John S. Stevens and George T. Page, who, in their practice and as members of the State Bar Association, have been for years active in maintaining the dignity and ethics of the bar, and who have been honored with the highest office in the latter organization.
The seven lawyers mentioned in the above paragraphs, who met for the pur- pose of organization were W. L. Ellwood, George Sucher, Walter S. Horton, Hiram E. Todd. Clyde E. Stone, George Jochem and Frank T. Miller.
The Bar Association, as it now exists, was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois on April 20, 1906, the incorporators being John M. Niehaus, James M, Rice, Hiram E. Todd, Edward D. McCabe, Israel C. Pinkney, John S. Stevens, Walter H. Kirk, Wm. L. Ellwood, Frank T. Miller and Edward D. McCulloch.
In looking over the minutes of this association, we find that there have been many interesting meetings held during the past seven years. The association has
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taken an active part in all of the measures carried out or proposed by the State Bar Association and the various committees appointed by the governor of this state for the purpose of revising the "Practice Act" and reforming procedure and practice in the courts of this state.
A number of times the association has been called together in special meet- ings for the purpose of opposing certain acts introduced in the legislature, which were thought to be prejudicial to the best interests of litigants, as well as to at- torneys. Some of the most important actions taken by this association were resolutions favoring the passage of an act requiring the publication and selling of the Illinois Supreme & Appellate Court Reports at a figure much lower than the publishers were selling the same; a resolution favoring a smaller judicial circuit and seeking to have Peoria county placed in a circuit with only one addi- tional county attached; resolutions opposing the passage of the so-called "Gil- bert bill."
In February, 1911, Judge Samuel D. Wead was appointed by the Peoria Bar Association as a member of the committee to draft a bill for the reform of procedure and practice. He took an active part in the work of this committee and at the last meeting of the State Bar Association the committee's report was acted upon favorably. The various bar associations of the state, as well as the State Bar Association, are now trying to get the judges of the circuit, as well as the supreme court, to adopt rules suggested by this committee's report. It was hoped by this means to simplify modes of procedure and to do away with any cause there might be now for complaint because of uncertain delay and ex- pense in litigation.
The association has entertained many prominent jurists and laymen, among whom have been Judge J. Otis Humphrey, of the United States district court, who addressed the association on the "United States Supreme Court ;" Judge Frank K. Dunn, of the supreme court of this state, who spoke on "Due Process of Law," and Judge John P. Hand, also of the Illinois supreme court, who ad- dressed the association on "Procedure in the Illinois Supreme Court ;" Judge William R. Curran spoke on the "Illinois Bar Association;" Judge N. E. Wor- thington on "Practice in the Circuit Courts;" Judge L. D. Puterbaugh on "Prac- tice and Procedure in Higher Courts ;" William G. McRoberts on "State By- Laws;" J. R. Boulware on the "New Practice Act:" John Dailey spoke on "Legislation and how it is Procured or not Procured at Springfield. Illinois." Judge David McCulloch addressed the association on "Members of the Early Bar of Peoria county."
It might be mentioned to the credit of the members of the Peoria Bar Associa- tion that with the exception of two of its members no action has been taken for the purpose of condemning their methods of practice in our courts.
Perhaps the most interesting event of the association was the annual meeting held at the Jefferson hotel April 9, 1912. At that time the Peoria Bar Association had the pleasure of entertaining all of the members of the supreme court of the state of Illinois as well as Samuel P. Irwin, the official reporter of the supreme court. The reception was held for the court on the mezzanine floor of the hotel prior to the banquet which was given in the main dining room. Over one hun- dred members and their guests were present. Chief Justice Orrin N. Carter and Justice James H. Cartwright addressed the banqueters.
Under the rules of the association the retiring president is obliged to de- liver an annual address, discussing the laws passed and decisions rendered during the year of his incumbency, and the members have had the privilege of listening to splendid addresses from the retiring presidents, all worthy of being spread at length on the records of the association.
During the seven years the association has been in existence special meetings have been held and resolutions passed upon the death of the following members : Judge David McCulloch, Henry W. Wells, Joseph Wilhelm, John Culbertson, John S. Stevens, Col. James M. Rice and J. M. David. The association has also
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passed resolutions upon the death of Henry M. Sedgwick, a member of the Peoria Bar Association, as well as Thaddeus S. Simpson, who for many years was affiliated with the bar in his official capacity of clerk of the circuit court.
The presidents of the association: William L. Ellwood, 1906; Samuel D. Wead. 1907: John M. Niehaus, 1908; Winslow Evans, 1909: John S. Stevens, 1910; William Jack, 1911 ; Hiram E. Todd. 1912.
The following members of the Peoria bar are at present members of the association : E. J. Abersol. S. F. Atwood. Oliver J. Bailey, Hundley B. Baker, C. N. Barnes, Chester F. Barnett, Joseph Bartley. George K. Beasley, Clyde Birkett, George W. Black. Leaton C. Boggess. J. R. Boulware, A. H. Burke, George W. Burton, G. W. Campbell, Clyde Capron, Delbert A. Covey, Ira J. Covey, David E. Conigisky, David J. Cowan, J. J. Crowder, John Dailey, Charles C. Dutch, L. O. Eagleton, John M. Elliott, William L. Ellwood, Winslow Evans, George B. Foster, C. W. Frazier. H. C. Fuller, Joseph V. Graff. A. J. Grimes, W. W. Hammond, Edward U. Henry, Clarence W. Heyl. Isaac M. Hornbacker. WV. S. Horton. Jay T. Hunter. Clifford Ireland, W. T. Irwin. Robert P. Jack, Wil- liam Jack. A. Jacobson. George Jochem, William S. Kellogg, Charles A. Kimmel, John B. King, Walter H. Kirk, Herbert T. Landauer, Isaac J. Levinson, Thomas B. Lewis, Robert H. Lovett, Henry Mansfield, Joseph W. Maple, Emmet C. May. E. D. MeCabe, Robert N. McCormick, Edward D. McCulloch, Shelton F. Mc- Grath. C. E. McNemar. W. G. McRoberts, L. F. Meek. C. N. Mihigan, Frank T. Miller, Ilarry S. Miller, Charles V. Miles. H. D. Morgan, W. H. Moore, John Mosley, Clarence D. Murphy, John M. Niehaus, F. J. O'Brien. Arthur M. Otman, George Page, 11. C. Pettit, Chilli., III .. I. C. Pinkney, Leslie D. Puter- baugh. Frank J. Quinn. A. V. D. Rousseau, Scholes Robert. John C. Scully, Dan R. Sheen. W. 1. Stemmons, Judge Starr, Clyde C. Stone, Joseph Storey, Charles S. Stubbles, George B. Sucher, George A. Shurtleff, W. V. Tefft, Hiram E. Todd. Charles E. Ulrich, Nicholas Ulrich, S. D. Wead, Joseph A. Weil. Nathan Weiss, W. T. Whiting, Hugh E. Wilson, J. B. Wolfenbarger, N. E. . Worthington.
Robert G. Ingersoll was the most noted man, both for his ability and person- ality, claimed by Peoria as one of her citizens, and his fame as an orator became world-wide. He gained distinction as a lawyer, soklier, poet, lecturer and hu- manitarian, and as a citizen, husband and father, he was characterized by both friends and enemies as a model. When at the prime of life, Ingersoll embodied all that goes to make the perfect man physically.
Robert Green Ingersoll was born at Dresden, Oneida county, New York. August 11. 1833. His father, who was a Presbyterian minister, removed to the west when Robert was ten years of age and the lad "grew up" in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois. At Shawneetown he and his brother Ebon C. read law and were admitted to the bar. In 1857 they took up their residence in Peoria and soon made their presence felt.
In 1860 he was the democratic candidate for congress, but was defeated by his republican antagonist. Judge William P. Kellogg.
On the 22d day of April. 1861, Ingersoll sent the following despatch to Governor Richard Yates:
"With your permission I will raise a regiment of one thousand men to be ready on call. Will you accept ?"
ROBERT G. INGERSOLL
At this time Ingersoll was twenty-eight years of age and a member of the democratic party. His patriotic offer could not then be accepted, but it led to the formation of the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, which was mustered into the United States service on the 20th of December of the same year, and shortly thereafter Robert G. Ingersoll received his commission as its colonel and served his country with distinction. In 1864. during the second Lincoln campaign, he
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INGERSOLL MONUMENT
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became identified with the republican party, to which his allegiance never swerved throughout the remainder of his life. In 1867 he was appointed the first attorney general of the state by Governor Richard Oglesby. In the '7os he joined his brother, Ebon C. Ingersoll, in the practice of the law, at Washington city.
Ingersoll's greatest distinction and fame arose from his great oratorical attainments. It is probably not going too far to say that he was the greatest orator of his day in this country. His services in political campaigns were eagerly sought by the leaders of his party and his great reputation as an orator was at once made by his nominating speech at the Cincinnati convention of 1876, in which he placed before the convention the name of James G. Blaine for the presidency. He was supremely eloquent and his fund of beautiful thoughts, characteristically expressed, attracted all lovers of word pictures. Among the many of his great orations, which add to his fame, may be mentioned "The Dream of the Union Soldier," delivered at a soldiers' reunion at Indianapolis, his eulogy at the grave of his brother Ebon, and his memorial address on the occasion of the death of Roscoe Conkling. He was designated as the great agnostic, and among his publications best known are the "Mistakes of Moses," "The Brain and the Bible," "The Gods," "Ghosts," "Prose Poems and Selec- tions."
During the last twenty years of his life Colonel Ingersoll made his home at New York city. His death occurred from heart disease at his summer home, Dobb's Ferry, Long Island, July 21, 1899.
THE INGERSOLL MONUMENT
On Saturday, October 28, 1911, a beautiful bronze statue was unveiled to the admiring eyes of a vast concourse of people, at Glen Oak Park, many of whom were from various parts of the country, and among them being the widow of Colonel Ingersoll, and her daughters. On that occasion addresses were delivered by men of national prominence and letters were read from some of the most eminent personages in the country, all admirers of Colonel Ingersoll. The pro- ceedings of the unveiling are best told in the words of the Peoria Evening Star, whose editor, E. F. Baldwin, was one of Colonel Ingersoll's warmest personal friends and admirers. The Star's account follows :
In the presence of a splendid gathering of many thousands of people, with a series of addresses whose brilliancy, eloquence and feeling have never been equalled in Peoria, and amid evidences of such sympathy, enthusiasm and deep feeling as gave rich token of the love in which his memory is held in this city, the statue of Robert G. Ingersoll was unveiled at Glen Oak Park.
The day was one of unexampled splendor. Skies as clear and blue and ra- diantly tender as the eyes with which the great philosopher had looked out upon the world he did so much to free from fear and sadness-sunshine as gloriously rich and golden as the smile with which he was wont to greet the friends he loved, lent their enchantment to the brilliant scene. And as if even Nature herself had wished to do honor to one who had worshipped so ardently at her shrine, autumn had touched every bush and shrub and tree with magic fire.
The whole hillside which rose like the setting of a stage back of the great bronze figure on its granite pedestal, was aflame with gold and crimson, and the trees which bordered the driveways on either side of the statue lifted their shimmering heads, torchlike, to the sky.
The great moment when the cord pulled by Robert G. Ingersoll Brown, In- gersoll's grandson, the flag which had concealed it slowly fluttered earthward and the splendid, virile figure stood revealed, sharply outlined against the glory of the hills, proved poignantly dramatic.
As if impelled by a single impulse, the great concourse arose to its feet. Every head was bared and for a brief instant every one stood silent and spell- bound. touched to the heart by the sudden apparition. It was as if Ingersoll him- Vol. 1-25
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self all at once stood forth before them, fearless and splendid as he had always stood in life. Then, suddenly as it had come, the spell passed, and with its passing came the realization of the art which had caused the illusion, and the as- semblage broke into applause and cheers.
The figure of Ingersoll is of heroic size, seven and a half feet in height, and stands in an easeful and characteristic pose-the broad shoulders swung back and one hand thrust into the pocket, holding back the familiar frock coat which for many years was as much a part of Ingersoll's personality as his hearty hand grip and his frank, unaffected, boyish charm of manner. If the artist has per- haps failed in a measure to perfectly reproduce the fine head with its splendid forehead on which heaven had set the unmistakable seal of great genius he has succeeded admirably in depicting the full sensitive mouth with its half womanish charm, the delicate nose, tilting slightly upwards at the tip, and the eyes which look out over the beautiful prospect stretching before, with all the splendid. fear- less frankness those who knew him best remember so well.
The figure on the whole is a striking one, full of vitality and force-a work of which any artist might well feel proud.
Best of it all, it represents the deep and abiding affection of those with whom Ingersoll spent the richest and fullest years of his life, and crowns the efforts of a little band of his closest friends who have labored long that Peoria might do honor to herself in honoring the name of the greatest of her children.
The crowds which attended the dedication began to gather early, and when the hour set for beginning had arrived every chair of those set in front of the statue and platform was filled, and hundreds stood throughout the ceremonies forgetful of fatigue, unheeding the chill which began to delicately ice the air as the sun sank westward, hanging eagerly on every word of the speakers and never too distant or distracted to give spontaneous response in applause or laughter to each golden thought or flashing play of wit. For the wit was as plenty as the eloquence and jests crowded the flights of poesy for first honors in the discourses. Not once was the funeral note struck during the afternoon. That joy whose gospel Ingersoll had so eloquently preached and gloriously lived reigned throughout the exercises, and the tears that stung the eyes at some loving word or tender allusion were soon dried in heart-whole laughter.
Eugene F. Baldwin, as president of the Ingersoll monument Association, opened the exercises with an address. He told of the Robert Ingersoll of long ago, the dear, ardent, impassioned youth, his heart warm with love for humanity, his brain aflame with genius, his spirits always poised for flights.
With swift, sure strikes he pictured the gradual development of this great personality-the sure triumph of the ever ripening genius, and his story of a great success which only enriched instead of weakening the nature of him of whom it had been granted, was sweet indeed to hear. After the dramatic interval which marked the unveiling of the statue and the incidents following it, Mr. Baldwin then introduced Charles Frederick Adams, of New York, the great grandson of John Juincy Adams, and one of the advanced thinkers of our times.
As soon as the formal part of the program was over, a large part of the audience crowded up on the platform to shake hands with Mrs. Ingersoll and her daughters, who had been deeply moved spectators of the proceedings. Many were the warm words of affection for the dead man spoken by those who grasped the hands of his dearly loved wife and daughters, and the impromptu reception added the finishing touch to the tender sentiment pervading the occasion.
It was not until nearly an hour later that the crowds at last dispersed, the ranks of carriages and motor cars thinned, broke and disappeared. Then the statue was left alone, standing where it will stand forever, with flowers heaped about its feet and the setting sun resting like a benison upon its head, and Peoria's great day was over-a day planned and striven for and achieved in love-that love which is the greatest thing on earth and which Robert Ingersoll knew and understood as it is given to few to know and understand.
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