USA > Illinois > Williamson County > Williamson County, Illinois, in the World War : containing a brief review of the World War-complete history of Williamson County's activities-photographs and service records of Williamson County's soldiers, sailors and marines > Part 32
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In practical politics and every day life, Judge Hartwell lives closer to the antique law "Stick to your friends" than most men found today in public life. Unlike many men with such a motto in life, who have a few bosom friends and evidently follow the rule set by the be- loved Robert Louis Stevenson, "To keep a few friends, but these without capitulation," he numbers his friends by legions. He holds them because he serves them.
But his multitude of friends have not contributed wholly as a cause of the great success Judge Hartwell has achieved. He is counted everywhere as the most successful young lawyer that his profession knows in
this portion of the state. He has always been a shrewd student of men and affairs. And while he has held safe and close to an- other one of the adages of that careful liver, Stevenson, who pled with us "To be honest, to be kind, to earn a little and spend a little less, to make upon the whole a family hap- pier for his presence, to renounce when that shall be necessary and not to be embittered," he has also travelled the road of hard knocks in achieving a college education and working his way through a law school, earning his own bread as he prepared himself for his chosen profession.
Judge Hartwell is the son of L. D., a veteran of the Civil War, and Sicily H. Hartwell, born in Marion, July 8, 1879. After graduating from high school, he attended Northern Indiana Nor- mal College for a year for a preparatory course, and then entered Columbia Law Col- lege at Washington, D. C., graduating in 1902, and for two years with Attorney George R. Stone read law in the law office of Judge Hartwell's father. He began to practice law in Marion, was later elected city attorney and afterwards state's attorney, both offices he served with marked distinction. In 1915 he was elected as circuit judge for this judicial district and is serving in that position now. Judge Hartwell was married to Miss Frances Freeman of Danville, Ill., November 4, 1914.
Judge Hartwell was very active in all war activities, his natural ability always being in demand.
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Fowler and Reid, Attorneys
R. R. FOWLER-Born November 28, 1862, six miles northwest of Marion, Illinois. After going through the country schools, at- tended Ewing College two years. Taught school one term, was then appointed Deputy Circuit Clerk for Williamson County; later served as Dep- uty Sheriff. Finished read- inglaw and took Bar exam- ination in 1892, after which practiced la w at Williamson County Bar, until elected States Attorney in 1896 for a period of four years. Elected States Attorney again in 1904. Became City Attorney in 1912, serving two years. En- gaged at pres- ent time in law practice in firm of Fowler & Reid, also States Attorney of Williamson County, hav- ing been again elected to that office in 1916.
J OHN M. REID-Born October 7, 1877, two miles north of Marion, Illinois. At- tended country school, and graduated from Marion High School, Class of 1898. Taught school, attended College and University six years. A graduate of Denver University, tak- ing the B. A. degree in 1904, L.L.B. in 1906. Attended Columbia Uni- versity, New York City, 1906-07, taking the M. A. De- gree in the spring of 1907. Practiced law in Denver, Colo- rado, a little more than six years; prac- ticed law in An- chorage, Alaska, three years. Now en- gaged in the practice of law with R. R. Fow- ler in the law firm of Fowler & Reid. Assist- ant States Attorney for Williamson County at the present time.
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Sheriff's Ofice
MELVIN THAXTON, Sheriff, was born in this county, Grassy township, son of William H. and Millie Thaxton. Son of a farmer, he has always made farming his vocation except when busy on the public work to which the people have elected him. Mr. Thaxton was tax collector for three successive terms, and township supervisor until elected sheriff in 1918. He was married to Miss Janie Phemister, daughter of Andy and Sophronia Phemister, near Carterville. Mr. and Mrs. Thaxton are the parents of three children - Hazel, born April 14, 1907; Ralph, born January 28, 1910; and Paul, October 1, 1914.
Always an active Re- publican, he has won the confidence and re- spect of represent- ative people of both parties, and retains his popularity even in his present trying position. He gives his lodge preference to the Odd Fellows and Elks.
JOHN S. LAYMAN, deputy sheriff, was born 1881, in Jackson county, near Murphys- boro, son of James M. and Mary E. Layman. He lived on a farm until 16 years of age and then enlisted in the U. S. Navy for four years, and after his discharge played professional baseball for two seasons. Mr. Layman later worked in the mines and served the local union as president for three years. During 1914, he was Assistant Chief of Police of Herrin, and in 1916 was appointed Chief of Police; during the interval he was special agent for the Illinois Central. He left the Herrin police department to accept the present position, in December, 1918.
Mr. Layman married Miss Gertrude Henninger in 1906. He is a member of the Elks, Knights of Pythiias, and Moose.
J. A. SCHAFER, deputy sheriff, was born near Creal Springs, 1872, son of William and Caroline Schafer. He began his public life as constable at Creal Springs, and upon moving to Marion served
for several years as justice of the peace, and deputy sheriff. He was appointed to the present position in December, 1918. His record in public life has been clean cut. He is an active Republican and a real organizer for his party. Mr. Schafer married Miss Ida F. Harris, daughter of 1. P. and Rachael Harris. Mr. and Mrs. Schafer are the pa- rents of eight children, seven of which are liv- ing: Sherman, Joe,
Ruth, Ruby, John, Har- ris, and Lawrence. Mr. Schafer is a member of the Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen, and the Moose.
S. E. STORME, deputy sheriff; born 1882, in Kentucky; father later settled in Williamson County, and our sub- ject was employed in the mines, but also served as town clerk and supervisor of Blairsville township. He served his local union as financial secretary for 15 years, and has held all offices besides attending several state and national conven- tions. He was very active in all war work, serving as Chairman of the Liberty Loan or. ganization, and can- vassing the mines for all charities. Mr. Storme was married in 1905 to Miss Lona Reeves. They are the parents of four children, Glenn, Retha, Juanita, and Torence.
He gives his fraternal preference to the Odd Fel- lows, Masons, and Knights of Pythias.
Because of its cosmopolitan and transient popu- lation, Williamson county is a difficult community to police. There are many outlying points to be covered by these officers, but Sheriff Thaxton and his efficient staff have made a record for preserving the peace of the community and have run down many well organized bands of criminals and law violators since they have been in office, Automobile thieves especially have found it hard going in this county which seemed picked early in the game as a rendezvous for assembling stolen cars and dis- posing of them in the prosperous mining camps.
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Ed. M. Heaton, County Treasurer
W ILLIAMSON COUNTY had never been credited with being so strongly Repub- lican in politics as it proved itself in the general election in the fall of 1918, when Ed. M. Heaton was elected county treasurer by a majority of over 2,000, the largest ma- jority ever before given a candi- date of this party in the county.
County Treasurer Ed. Heaton was born in this county, near Creal Springs on a farm, May 16, 1876, the son of C. W. Heaton, member of a prominent pioneer family of this section. He spent his early life on the farm and managed to secure an education that prepared him as a school teacher, which noble profession he followed for eight years after leaving the farm. He
attended college at Creal Springs and the Southern Illinois Normal at Carbondale.
He was elected and served a term as town- ship collector for East Marion. For a time he engaged in the retail coal business in Marion and also did general road and bridge contracting.
Mr. Heaton married Gertrude Simmons, for a number of years superintendent of the primary department of the Herrin schools, daughter of Ephriam and Susan Simmons.
Fraternally, Mr. Heaton is an enthusiastic member of the Ma- rion camp of the Modern Wood- men lodge.
Sandy Miller is the efficient and accommodating deputy in the treasurer's office.
L. O. Caplinger, County Clerk
FOR seven consecutive years now almost two terms, Leslie O. Caplinger of Marion, has served the people of Williamson county as an efficient and careful circuit clerk, and ex-officio county recorder. It would be a task to find a more orderly circuit clerks' office in all Illinois than Mr. Caplinger's, for he is a man of method with a place for everything and insists always on everything being kept in its place. Abstractors and others who have frequent need to look over country records comment often on his excellent system maintained. He had excellent training for the position he now holds, for he served for six years, previous to being elected circuit clerk, in the office as a deputy. He was elected first in 1912, and again succeeded hinself in the fall of 1916. His deputies are J. E. Mayer and Forrest McDonald.
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Mr. Capliner is a native of this county. He was born in the country sonie seven miles southeast of Marion, Ill., February 2, 1879, and after going through the rural schools, entered Crab Orchard Academy in this county, from which he was grad- uated in the Teachers' Scientific course and bookkeeping in 1898. For seven years he followed the profession of teacher in the country schools until he was given the appointment as deputy circuit clerk.
Politically, Mr. Caplinger is a Republi- can, and untiring in his activities for the success of the party when election rolls around. His church affiliations are with the Christian church.
Always a booster for his town and county, Mr. Caplinger is progressive and ready to do his "bit" in all public af- fairs.
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Ed. Scobey, County Recorder
TWENTY-FIVE years spent as teacher in the public schools of Williamson county, training its young men and women for the duties of citizenship, ought to qualify a per- son to handle the business of the people as county clerk quite efficiently, and this is exactly what it did for E. H. Scobey, the present county clerk of Williamson county.
Mr. Scobey was born in this county October 7, 1869, and was educated for his chosen profes- sion as teacher in the Crab Or- chard Academy in this county. He spent a quarter of a century as teacher. He became one of the most prominent educators in Williamson county.
In 1914, he entered the race for county clerk on the Republi-
can ticket and was elected by a big majority. His term of office was to the general satisfac- tion of the people and he had no trouble in again being nominated and elected in the fall of 1918 to succeed himself with a satisfactory majority. Mr. Scobey looks upon public office as a trust held for the peo- ple and he regards himself as a public servant and right well he serves the people in this connec- tion, too.
In the office, Mr. Scobey is ably assisted by his deputies, Frank Jenkins and A. B. Burleson.
There is no busier county clerk's office in southern Illinois than that of Williamson county, and few offices of such enormous business operated so economic- ally and efficiently.
Elijah Lewis, Mayor of Marion
F ARM boy in his youth, country school teacher during his early manhood to a position of assistant superintendent of a rail- road and now prominent business man of Marion of which city he has only recently been honored by being chosen as its mayor, is the steps by which Mayor Elijah Lewis has scaled the ladder of success.
He was born on a farm near Creal Springs February 27, 1878, son of John P. Lewis. Leaving the farm upon attaining his sixteenth year, he prepared himself for a school teacher by attending Crab Orchard Academy and later Southern Illinois Normal at Car- bondale. After leaving college, he taught school for three years and gave up the pro- fession to take work more profitable, con- nected with the construction of the electric line then building from Marion to Herrin
and Carterville, now known as The Coal Belt Railroad. His faithful services with this road led to his promotion and in 1904, he became assistant superintendent. He severed his connections a few years ago and entered the coal business, developing a mine which was operated under the name of the Herrin & Big Muddy Coal Co. He is now also in- terested in the Dimond Motor Sales Com- pany, holding the position of manager. Mr. Lewis first entered politics in the spring of 1919, when he was nominated as the Repub- lican candidate for mayor of Marion, and elected by a safe majority in a heated contest.
In 1905 he was married to Miss Lucy Allen, daughter of E. L. Allen of Marion. They have two children, Evelyn, born in 1907, and Theron, in 1914.
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Geo. R. Stone, Attorney
"AMERICA means opportunity," said Emerson. An example of this truth is very fittingly proved in the career of Attorney Geo. R. Stone, practicing lawyer of Marion. Born on a farm near Thompsonville, Franklin County, Illinois, in 1878, the son of Nathan L. Stone and Minnie H. (Weir) Stone, he passed through the district schools at the age of sixteen, sharing the common hardships inci- dent to a country boy's life in that community in those days. Determined to possess a good education, he spent a year at the State Normal at Car- bondale and later attended High School at Marion, graduating in the class of '98. He and Judge D. T. Hartwell began reading law in the office of the latter's father, Judge L. D. Hartwell, in 1898, and later in the office of W. F. Slater and Duncan & Rea. In 1900 he was selected Police Magistrate of the City of Marion and served for four years. He was admit- ted to the bar in October, 1907, and formed a partnership with Geo. W. Pillow and J. C. B. Smith, under the firm name of Pillow, Smith & Stone. This part- nership continued until 1910 when Attorney Smith retired from that firm, and the new firm of Pillow & Stone continued until January 1, 1917, since which
time Attorney Stone has maintained an office alone, enjoying a very lucrative practice.
In politics he has always been an active Republi- can. In 1900 he lost the nomination for County Judge to W. F. Slater by a margin of eighteen votes. Beginning in 1912 he served three years as Assistant States Attorney of Williamson County under Judge D. T. Hartwell. the then States Attorney. In 1915 he made the race for nomination for States Attorney for the unexpired term of Judge Hartwell and lost the nomination to Mr. Delos L. Duty, in quite a memorable campaign.
He is at present representing the United Mine Workers of America in Sub-District 10, and a portion of Sub- District 9, as General Attorney, and is also District Attorney for the Cen- tral Illinois Public Service Company, besides doing a general practice.
In 1904 Attorney Stone was married to Miss Mae Smith,, daughter of J. C. Smith, and who was also a member of the Marion High School graduat- ing class of '98. They had one child, Helen May, who died in 1916 at the age of one year.
Fraternally, Attorney Stone is an Elk, Mason, Modern Woodman and Woodman of the World.
Judge W. O. Potter
TF the young men of southern Illinois, struggling today to secure an education or fighting to pre- pare themselves for the work in life they think they are cut out for, could study in detail the hard struggles Judge W. O. Potter underwent some thirty years ago, they might derive wonderful en- couragement therefrom. He was born February 17, 1871, in a log cabin in the southern part of Rock Creek precinct, near Crab Orchard in this county. While in his infancy, his father fell ill of a mental disorder and had to be taken to a sanitarium, never being restored to good health again and passing away in 1904. The duties of supporting the mother and a family fell upon this young man. These bur- dens did not cloud his ideals or his ambition to obtain an education and prepare for his chosen pro- fession-that of law. He went from the country schools into Crab Orchard Academy, later gradu- ating, and then entered life as a teacher. He held the principalship of the Harrisburg and later the Johnston City public schools. During this time he began to read law and was admitted to practice, taking up his residence in Marion, but not until he
had served as clerk, city attorney and finally as mayor of Johnston City. Upon removing to Marion, where he now resides, he was appointed master-in- chancery. In 1907 he formed a law firm with Judge Neely, which took in other members later and was styled Neely, Gallimore, Cook & Potter. The firm was dissolved a few years ago, and Judge Potter now has a lucrative law business of his own.
In 1906 Judge Potter was sent to the General Assembly as senator for this district by the Republi- cans and succeeded himself for a term of four years in 1908. He was author of several popular measures and was given important committee appointments. In 1914 he was elected judge of the city court of Marion and re-elected to succeed himself in July, 1919.
Few men of the 59th Senatorial district are better known than Judge W. O. Potter. He has been a foremost Republican for a number of years and his council is frequently sought by those who want to know what is going on in politics of Illinois and especially its relations to this section.
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Leon A. Colp, Attorney
W ILLIAMSON COUNTY and southern Illinois have today many examples of well educated young men who have passed from college into the world and succeeded from the first in their 'chosen profession of law. Prominent among them in the county is Attorney Leon A. Colp, master-in-chancery at Carterville, now re- tired. Educated in the country schools and Carterville grade schools, he passed into the Northern Indiana Normal University at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he prepared himself for the Uni- versity of Illinois, of the circuit court, who resides in Marion and maintains offices on the third floor of the State & Savings Bank building.
Mr. Colp was born on a farm near Car- terville, on January 18, 1881, the son of John Colp, farmer, later prominent miller which institution he entered later and was graduated from in 1904 with the degree of LL.B.
Upon finishing his legal education at this university, he came to Marion and located with Attorney Hosea V. Ferrell, who was just out of a law school, and for five years they practiced their profession under the firm of Colp & Ferrell.
In 1915, Attorney Colp was appointed master-in-chancery for Williamson County. He has made a most excellent officer, being exceptionally fitted to the position by virtue of his legal training and most fortunately,
too, for this county, whose master's work is heavier than in any other county in this end of the state.
During the Illinois state centennial year, 1918, Attorney Colp was appointed by the governor as member of the state centennial commission and served throughout the period with much credit.
In the war period, he was head of the Y. M. C. A. drive and through his direction this county made a mark unequalled in proportion to the quota allotted it by any other county in this part of the state. He was equally prom- inent in other war work activities. Nat- urally enough, he very willingly pledged his support to give every assistance possible to the organization of the Williamson County War History Society early this year and while against his wishes, he was persuaded to accept the chair- manship of the society.
In 1909, Attorney Colp was married to Miss Ethel Burkhart, daughter of J. M. Burkhart, one of the county's pioneer mer- chants. They have one daughter, Katherine, born July 30, 1910.
The Elks, of which he was exalted ruler for three years, K. of P., Shriner and Masons claim Attorney Colp's preference in fraternal circles.
Attorney Colp was one of the first to sug- gest a county war history.
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Coroner William McCowan
FTAPPY, congenial and accommodating "Bill" McCown is the way everyone thinks of Coroner McCown of Marion.
Coroner Mccown had been active in Republican politics in his home township for years before his friends induced him to come out for a county office. He had always been a winner in elec- tions, for as a campaigner, his bitter- est opponents agree that he has no equal. Following the advice of friends, he entered the primary for nomination for coroner, and it proved one of the hottest primary contests of that election. In the general election, no man on the entire ticket put up a stronger campaign. His majority in the final election was very large.
During his term of office, he has proved a prompt and efficient officer. Many times in the last three years, he has received calls to be at two different place at practically the same hour and held inquests, and the promptness with which he attended
to these calls surprised the people. Two things Coroner Mccown is proud of above all others. One is that he was born and brought up here in Williamson county. The second thing is that he is a Republican, for he has unshaken faith in its principles and practices.
He was born on the west side of the county in February, 1864. While still in his teens, he removed to Marion, which city he trustfully served in 1913 as tax assessor and two years later as tax collector. He at one time worked as a coal miner, later became a dealer in coal and in a small way engaged in the opera- tion of a coal mine.
Fraternal orders receive much of his attention and time. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Order of Meosc. He still retains luis membership in the U. M. W. of A.
He is one of the busiest coroners in Southern Illinois.
Hosea V. Ferrell, Attorney
H TOSEA V. FERRELL, regarded in south- ern Illinois as an authority on corpora- tion and municipal law, who maintains a law office in Marion in the First National Bank building, was born October 6, 1880, in Car- terville. His education was obtained at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1902. The next year he spent at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., and was graduated from the law department in 1903. He then entered the law office of Attorney W. A. Schwartz at Carbondale, and remained with this prominent Jackson county attorney for three years, and then went to Marion, where he entered the law partnership with Attorney Leon A. Colp, the firm being styled Colp & Ferrell. This partnership con- tinued for five years, when it was dissolved by mutual agreement, Attorney Ferrell estab- lished a law office of his own.
S. E. Quindry, Attorney
S. E. QUINDRY, who has recently entered the practice of law in Marion, with offices on the second floor of the Marion State and Savings Bank building, brings into his practice a rare experience. For several years editor of two staunch Republican papers, the Carmi Times and Albion Journal, he served his city as City Attorney, and his county as State's Attorney. He came to Marion from Edwards county in 1915 to accept an appoint- ment as Secretary to Supreme Judge Warren W. Duncan. He has been in active practice since 1907 and has handled many important cases requiring skill both as a court and jury lawyer. He is in the prime of life, 39 years old, has a family of a wife and three chil- dren.
His experience and mature judgment has qualified him excellently as a safe counselor and a careful lawyer, has appeared in many important cases and is especially gifted before a jury.
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Walter W. Skaggs, Attorney
SINCE January 1, 1908, Walter W. Skaggs has been a member of the legal fraternity of William- son county. By hard work and persevering tactics he has forged to the front as one of the leading commercial lawyers in the state, and is now one of the prominent members of the Commercial Law League of America and of the Illinois State Bar Association, with offices on the third floor of the Marion State and Savings Bank Building.
Mr. Skaggs has never been an office holder and politics has never interfered with his attention to pro- fessional affairs. . He has held only one office, that of City Attorney of Marion, during the years 1912 and 1913.
Born May 23, 1879, of humble parentage, on a farm four miles southwest of Marion, in a log house in the midst of the virgin forest, Mr. Skaggs assisted in the clearing and breaking of the new ground and the development of the farm. Until he was seventeen years of age he at- tended the country school regularly,
after which he attended Southern Illinois Normal at Carbondale, from which he graduated in 1901. In the Normal University he was an active member of the Socratic Literary Society. After graduation he taught in the Marion high school one year and then went to Mattoon, where he taught in the high school for a period of three years. While in Mattoon he registered in the office of Andrews & Vanse, a leading law firm of Central Illinois, and after three years of hard study in that office was admitted to the bar in 1906.
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