USA > Indiana > Courts and lawyers of Indiana, Volume III > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
7 ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02408 8004
.
,
Courts and Lawyers
of Indiana
1 .-
LEANDER J. MONKS, LL. D. Editor-in-Chief
LOGAN ESAREY, Ph. D. ERNEST V. SHOCKLEY, Ph. D. Editors
DC 977.2 m2740 V. 3
1
VOLUME III
ILLUSTRATED
1916 FEDERAL PUBLISHING CO., Inc. Indianapolis
Copyright, 1916, By Federal Publishing Co., Inc.
1
1679965
CONTENTS-VOLUME III.
Chapter
XXII, Con .- County Courts of Indiana
917
Chapter XXIII-Deceased Members of the State Bar Association and
Some Lawyers of a Past Generation
1133
Biographical Sketches 1153
CHAPTER XXII-CON.
-
OHIO COUNTY.
Ohio county owes its existence to a county seat fight, which had been waged in Dearborn county for many years prior to 1844, when Ohio county was formally organized by an act of the Legislature. There can be no question but that Ohio county was the direct result of the three-cornered struggle between Lawrenceburg, Wilmington and Rising Sun for the honor of being the county seat of Dearborn county. The final outcome of the struggle resulted in an act of the Legislature, passed January 15, 1844, establishing Ohio county, with Ris- ing Sun as its county seat.
The first term of court in Ohio county convened on the second Monday of December, 1844, at which time Asaph Buck was the only resident member of the Ohio county bar. At this first court Miles C. Eggleston was the President Judge, and Samuel Fulton and Thomas H. Gilmore were the Asso- ciate Judges.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
Samuel Fulton May 11, 1844, to serve seven years from date.
Thomas H. Gilmore May 11, 1844, to serve seven years from date.
John Hall August 18, 1847. to serve seven years from May 11, 1844.
William Patterson August 21, 1850, to serve seven years from May 11, 1851.
Martin Stewart August 21, 1850, to serve seven years from May 11, 1851.
PROBATE JUDGES.
Samuel Jelley May 11, 1844, to serve seven years from date.
Thomas W. Pate August 26, 1850, to serve seven years from May 11, 1851.
COMMON PLEAS JUDGES.
Robert Drummond
1852-58, died in office.
Scott Carter Appointed August 18, 185S-November 2, 185S.
918
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
John Z. Hayden. 1858-60.
Francis Adkinson 1860-61.
Robert N. Lamb 1864-68.
Scott Carter
1868-73.
DISTRICT PROSECUTING. ATTORNEYS.
Carter Gazlay 1852-53, resigned.
Henry A. Downey
Appointed October 20, 1853-54.
James A. Works 1854-58.
Richard Gregg
1858-59.
William S. Schroyer 1859-60.
John Barber
1860-62.
Solon Russell
1862-64.
William D. Wilson 1864-66.
Albert B. Goden 1866-67.
William P. Adkinson. -Appointed December 7, 1867-68.
Hugh D. McMullen. 1868-70.
Isaac M. Dunn 1870-73.
PRESIDENT JUDGES.
At the time of its organization, March 1, 1844, Ohio county was placed in the Third circuit, on which Miles C. Eggleston was then serving as Judge. He remained in office until December 18, 1844, when he was succeeded by Courtland Cushing, who resigned August 9, 1850. Alexander C. Downey was appointed August 9, 1850, as successor of Cushing and he filled the office until the adoption of the new Constitution in 1852.
CIRCUIT JUDGES.
Alexander C. Downey __ October 12, 1852; resigned, August 1, 1858. First circuit.
John W. Spencer. Appointed August 9, 1858-October 26, 1858.
Joseph W. Chapman __ October 26, 1858-October 29, 1864.
John G. Berkshire. October 29, 1864-April 22, 1869. The act of April 22, 1869, put Ohio in the Twenty-sixth.
Robert N. Lamb Appointed April 28, 1869-October 24, 1870.
Henry C. Hanna October 24, 1870-March 6, 1873. The act of March 6, 1873, put Ohio in the Seventh.
Omar F. Roberts. Appointed March 29, 1873-October 21, 1879.
Noah S. Givan October 21, 1879-October 21, 1885.
William H. Bainbridge_ October 21, 1885-October 21, 1891.
Alexander C. Downey __ October 21, 1891-October 21, 1897. The act of Feb- ruary 24, 1897, constituted Ohio and Dearborn the Seventh, where they have since remained.
Noah S. Givan October 21, 1897-October 21, 1903.
George E. Downey_ October 21, 1903; resigned in May, 1913.
Warren N. Hauck Appointed May 10, 1913; term expires November 17, 1920.
919
THE COUNTY COURTS
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
John Dumont
March 1, 1844-December 15, 184S. Third circuit.
James Y. Allison
August 16, 1851-October 12, 1852.
Robert P. Moore
October 12, 1852-November 7, 1854. First circuit.
Daniel Kelso November 7, 1854-November 7, 1856.
Francis Adkinson November 7, 1856-November 7, 1858.
George W. Richardsou_ November 7. 1858-November 7, 1862.
James M. Myers.
November 7, 1862; resigned, June 16, 1864.
Benjamin F. Lewis
Appointed June 16, 1864-November 1, 1865.
John A. Miller Appointed November 1, 1865-November 3, 186S.
John Denton November 3, 1868-April 22, 1869. The act of April 22, 1869, put Ohio in the Twenty-sixth.
William Wirt Kelley __ Appointed April 2S, 1869-October 24, 1870.
Addison Williams
October 26, 1878; died December 21. 1878.
Rodman L. Davis.
Appointed December 31, 1878-November 17, 1SS2.
Robert E. Stahr.
November 17, 1SS2-November 17, 18S6.
Edward H. McGrew
November 17, 1SS6-November 17, 1888.
Rodman L. Davis November 17, 1SSS-November 17, 1896.
Harry R. McMullen November 17, 1898-January 1, 1903. The act of February 24, 1897, constituted Ohio and Dearborn the Seventh, where they have since remained.
Theodore J. Wulber January 1, 1903-January 1, 1905.
Frank B. Johnson
January 1, 1905-January 1, 1907.
John H. Russe
January 1, 1907-January 1, 1915.
Willard MI. Dean
January 1, 1915; term expires January 1, 1917.
ORANGE COUNTY.
Orange county was organized by the Legislature, Decem- ber 26, 1815, and the county entered upon its independent career as a political entity, February 1, 1816. Paoli has been the county seat of Orange county since its organization and no other town has contended for the honor of being the seat of justice. The first Circuit court in Orange county met at the home of William Lindley, two miles north of Paoli on the old Scott farm, on February 17, 1816. This was before the state was admitted to the Union. Thomas Fulton and Joel Holbert had been issued commissions as Judges of the court on February 1, 1816, by the Governor and such justice as was administered in the county prior to the organization of the state was in the hands of these two Associate Judges and the local Justices of the Peace. Upon the organization of the state courts after the state was admitted to the Union, Or- ange county was attached to the Second circuit, which, at
920
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
that time, included Clark, Jackson, Washington, Harrison and Orange counties, and was presided over by Judge Jesse L. Holman.
Owing to the fact that several pages of the first county commissioners' records are missing, it is not possible to give the first action of the board concerning a court house. How- ever, it is known that a temporary court house was erected in 1816 by one John Pickard, for which the board allowed him twenty-five dollars on May 12, 1818. Prior to this time the commissioners had made preparations for the erection of a very pretentious building, and the twenty-five dollar log struc- ture was intended to serve only until the proposed stone court house was ready for occupancy. On January 8, 1817, the commissioners entered on their records complete specifica- tions for a stone court house, two stories in height, with out- side dimensions of fifty by thirty-three feet. The contract for the building was let to Jonathan Lindley on February 1, 1817, for four thousand dollars, and was to be completed within twelve months from the time the contract was ac- cepted. Before the building was finally completed, several changes were made in the interior arrangement, but the fin- ished structure conformed in the main to the original plans and specifications. The building was evidently not ready for occupancy at the appointed time and it is certain that Lindley did not finish the building to the entire satisfaction of the com- missioners. An attempt was made to settle with Lindley on November 11, 1818, but it was not until March 4, 1819, that final settlement was made with the contractor. The building cost the county three thousand eight hundred and fifty dollars. It served the county until the latter part of the forties, when an agitation was started to provide a new court house. From time to time changes had been made in the building, but it remained substantially as it was built in 1817-18, until it was torn down in 1847 to make way for the present building.
On March 2, 1847, the commissioners decided to build a new court house and to that end appointed John Baker, Thomas U. Thornton and Arthur I. Simpson to let the con- tract and provide the plans, etc. On June 11, 1847, the com- missioners added John H. Campbell and John A. Ritter to the
921;
THE COUNTY COURTS
building committee and ordered the committee to proceed to the letting of the contract. The contract was let to Andrew .. L. Burke at an estimated cost of seven thousand one hundred eighty-two dollars. The contract was sublet by Burke to va- rious others, with the result that considerable difficulty was experienced by the building committee in getting the work properly done. Much of the stone in the old court house found its way into the new building and the remainder came from Lick creek, which runs through the town of Paoli. Many changes were made in the original plans and specifications and because of several additions the final cost of the building was about fourteen thousand dollars. This building was ac- cepted in the fall of 1849 and, with some interior changes, has continued in use down to the present day.
The first Circuit court in Orange county after the state was admitted to the Union was held at Paoli "on Monday, the 14th day of July, 1817, for the purpose of settling with execu- tors, administrators and guardians." The Associate Judges,. Thomas Vandever and John Pinnick, presided over this first session, the President Judge not being present. The first. term of Probate court was held at Paoli on Monday, Novem- ber 10, 1817, with Associate Judges Thomas Vandever and John Pinnick on the bench.
S Rourke
TERRITORIAL JUDICIARY.
February 1, 1816 Associate Judges of the Circuit court : Thomas
Fulton and Joel Halbert.
February 1, 1816 Justices of the peace : Edward Miller, Samuel
Chambers and Jesse Hollowell.
March 2. 1816. March 7, 1816 Justices of the peace: John Pinnick. James Rol- lins. James Cobb, Thomas Lynch, Joseph Glover. Hugh Holmes, Henry Hollowell, Jacob Molder, William Carr and James Maxwell.
Justice of the peace: Moses Lee.
April 24, 1816
Justice of the peace: Jesse Roberts.
April 13, 1816
Associate Judge of the Circuit court : Samuel
Chambers, vice Joel Halbert, resigned.
May 24, 1816 Justices of the peace : John Glenn, John G. Clen- denin, Abraham Bosley, Jesse Roberts and James Gregory.
922
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
Thomas Vandever March 28, 1817.
Samuel Chambers April 16, 1817.
Samuel Cobb
August 18, 1818.
Thomas Vandever
August 19, 1823, filed resignation August 6, 1829.
Thomas Lynch August 19, 1823; resigned, June 15, 1824.
John H. Campbell August 18, 1824 (special election), vice Thomas Lynch, resigned.
Joseph Hosteller October 26, 1829 (special election), to serve seven years from August 19, 1823, vice Thomas Vandever, resigned.
Joseph Hosteller September 8, 1830, to serve seven years from March 28, 1831. Hosteller resigned, March, 1832.
Jacob Moulder September 8, 1830, to serve seven years from March 28, 1831; resigned, May, 1836.
James Clark August 24, 1832 (special election), vice Joseph Hosteller (resigned), to serve seven years from March 28, 1831.
William Case August 14, 1836 (special election), vice Jacob Moulder (resigned), to serve seven years from March 28, 1831.
William Case August 12, 1837, to serve seven years from March 28, 1838.
Michael Mavity August 12, 1837, to serve seven years from March 28, 1838.
William Case August 27, 1844, to serve seven years from March 28, 1845; died, June, 1847.
Henry Hollowell August 27, 1844, to serve seven years from March 28, 1845.
John Hungate August 21, 1847, to serve seven years from March 28, 1845, vice William Case, deceased.
John Moore August 22, 1851, to serve seven years from Feb- ruary 24, 1852.
Philip Shively
August 22, 1851, to serve seven years from Feb-
ruary 24, 1852.
PROBATE JUDGES.
Thomas Vandever August 18. 1829; resigned, June, 1835.
William Smith
July 11, 1835 (special election), to serve until
August, 1835.
Burton Southern August 20, 1835.
Samuel Wible
August 17, 1840.
William Cathcart
August 21, 1847.
COMMON PLEAS JUDGES.
William Morrow
1852-56.
Frederick T. Mathis
1856-60.
John J. Key
1860-61, resigned.
923
THE COUNTY COURTS
Charles J. Mason Appointed November 15, 1861-62.
David T. Laird
Appointed November 1, 1862-70, resigned.
Charles J. Mason Appointed September 5, 1870-October 24, 1870.
Milton S. Mavity 1870-73.
DISTRICT PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
David W. Lafollette. 1852-54.
Zachariah L. Garriot __ 1854-56.
Joel Vandever 1856-57, resigned.
Zachariah L. Garriot __ Appointed November 9, 1857-58.
Hamilton A. McRae _. 1858-59.
Benjamin L. Smith
1859-60.
Wiley Adams
1860-62.
William C. Adams. 1862-64.
J. J. McAllister 1864-66, resigned.
Milton S. Mavity
Appointed January 29, 1866.
Sidney B. Hatfield 1866-68.
John W. Buskirk 1868-69, resigned.
William Farrell
Appointed June 14, 1869-70.
John C. Schafer 1870-73.
PRESIDENT JUDGES.
Benjamin Parke December 21, 1816-February S. 1817, resigned. First circuit.
William Prince Appointed February S, 1817-May 16, 1818.
Thomas Blake
Appointed May 16, 1818-December 31, 1818 .;
General W. Johnston December 31, 1818-April 10, 1819, resigned.
Jonathan Doty Appointed April 10, 1819-March 7, 1822.
Jacob Call
March 7, 1822-July 28, 1824, resigned.
John R. Porter
Appointed July 28, 1824-January 20, 1830. act of January 20, 1830, put Orange in the Second.
The
John F. Ross
January 20, 1830; died in office in 1834.
John H. Thompson
Appointed July 5. 1834-December 30, 1844, resigned.
William T. Otto Appointed December 30, 1844-October 12, 1852.
CIRCUIT JUDGES.
George A. Bicknell. October 12, 1852-March 6, 1873. The act of March 6, 1873, took Orange out of the Second and put it in the Tenth.
Ambrose B. Carlton. __ Appointed March 12, 1873; resigned. August 6, 1873.
Francis Wilson Appointed August 20, 1873-October 22, 1873.
Eliphalet D. Pearson October 22, 1873-October 22. 1879.
Francis Wilson October 22, 1879; died in office April 26. 1SS5.
Robert W. Miers. Appointed April 30. 1885-October 23. 1885.
Eliphalet D. Pearson __ October 23, 1885-March 6, 1SS9. The act of March 6, 1889, put Orange in the newly created Forty- second.
924
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
Thomas L. Collins March 6, 1889; died in office in June, 1890.
William Farrell Appointed June 8, 1890-November 10, 1890. .
Samuel B. Voyles November 10, 1890; died in office November 21, 189S.
David M. Alspaugh Appointed November 25, 189S-November 16, 1900.
Thomas B. Buskirk November 16, 1900-November 16, 1912. The act of February 13, 1907, constituted Washington and Orange the Forty-second, where they have since remained.
William H. Paynter ___ November 16, 1912; term expires November 16, 1918.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
John Law August 9, 1824-January 20, 1830. First circuit. The act of January 20, 1830, put Orange in the Second.
John H. Thompson January 20. 1830-December 30, 1832.
Isaac Howk December 30, 1832-June 5, 1833 ; died.
Charles Dewey Appointed June 5, 1833-June 4, 1836, transferred to Supreme court.
John W. Payne. Appointed June 4, 1836-December 12, 1840.
Theodore I. Barnett December 12, 1840-July 13, 1842, resigned.
William A. Porter Appointed July 13, 1842-December 14, 1844.
Cyrus A. Dunham December 14. 1844-December 14, 1816.
George A. Bicknell August 15, 1851-October 12, 1852.
Samuel W. Short. October 12, 1852-March S, 1854, resigned. Second circuit.
Patrick H. Jewett. Appointed March S, 1854-November 19, 1856.
Thomas M. Browne. November 19, 1856-November 7, 1858.
Robert M. Weir. November 7, 1858-November 7, 1860.
Ambrose B. Carlton November 7, 1860-November 7, 1862.
Thomas M. Browne. November 7, 1862-November 7, 1866.
Robert M. Weir November 7, 1866-November 24, 1870.
Robert J. Shaw November 24, 1870-March 6, 1873. The act of March 6, 1873, took Orange out of the Second and put it in the Tenth.
Jeremiah F. Pittman _Appointed March 12. 1873-October 22, 1873.
J. W. Tucker
October 22. 1873-October 22, 1875.
Robert W. Miers October 22, 1875-October 23. 1878, resigned.
John R. East Appointed October 25. 1878-October 22, 1879.
Milton S. Mavity October 22, 1879-October 22, 1881.
Henry C. Duncan
October 22, 1881-October 22, 1883.
Joseph E. Henley
October 22, 1883-October 22, 1885.
Abram Noblett
October 22, 1SS5-March 28, 1887.
Milton S. Mavity Appointed March 28, 1887-October 22, 1887.
Simpson Lowe October 22, 1SS7-March 6, 1889. The act of March 6, 1889, put Orange in the newly created Forty- second.
925
THE COUNTY COURTS
Daniel HI. Long March 6, 1SS9-October 22, 1SS ?.
William T. Branaman __ October 22, 1SS9-October 22, 1895.
Thomas M. Honan. October 22, 1895-January 1, 1902.
Simeon M. Hudson
January 1, 1902-February 23. 1904, resigned.
John M. Lewis. Appointed February 23, 1904-January 1, 1905.
William H. Voyles.
January 1, 1905-January 1, 1907.
Arthur E. McCarty
January 1, 1907-January 1, 1909. The act of Feb-
ruary 13, 1907, constituted Washington and Orange the Forty-second, where they have since remained.
Frank S. Huston January 1, 1909-January 1, 1913.
Thomas P. Masterson __ January 1, 1913; term expires January 1, 1917.
OWEN COUNTY.
Owen county was organized by the legislative act of De- cember 21, 1818, the act going into effect on the first day of the following year. The commissioners appointed in the or- ganization act to select the county seat chose a site about half a mile up White river from the present town of Spen- cer on one hundred and fifty acres donated by John Dunn. The seat of justice was given the name of Lancaster, but, owing to the fact that the county commissioners could not get a clear title to the site, the Legislature was asked to pass an act providing for a new set of commissioners to relocate the site. The act of December 19, 1819, designated five men from contiguous counties to choose a new site, and three of them-John Tipton, James Ward and Patrick Callan-met at the appointed time and subsequently made their report to the county commissioners on February 12, 1820. They se- lected the present site of Spencer, the land being donated by Richard Bee (701/2 acres), Isaiah Cooper (211/2 acres), Philip Hart (10 acres) and John Bartholomew (30 acres).
The first court was held in the county March 1, 1819, at the house of John Dunn, with Amory Kinney acting as Presi- dent Judge, and Hugh Barnes and Joseph Freeland as Asso- ciate Judges. John F. Ross was state prosecutor. The board of county commissioners, at its September term, 1819, made an order for the erection of a temple of justice and the speci- fications as they appear on the ancient records of these worthy officials are as follows: "A double log house, one room to be 20 feet square, the other 16x20, with a passageway between
926
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
12 feet wide, all to be covered under one roof, the logs to face 8x12 inches, the story 10 feet high, foundation to be raised six inches above the ground on rock, to be covered with a good clapboard roof, a puncheon floor to be laid in each, each room to be chinked and daubed on the outside, one door and one window in each room, the shutters to be made of plank and hung on iron hinges." The court house was to be com- pleted in May, 1820. It was the first house built where the town of Spencer now stands. That unique and primitive structure stood where it was built on the southeast corner of the public square for many years. The logs were weather- boarded on the outside and the building used as a residence for many years. The second court house was erected in 1825.
The first trial in Owen county was held under the trees on the southeast corner of the public square. Thomas Adams, the first resident lawyer in Spencer and famous in his time, and a lawyer named Elkins, of Greene county, were the op- posing counsel. Most of the settlers gathered to witness the proceedings. The trial opened with a dispute between the attorneys over some legal question and Adams, becoming somewhat enthusiastic, knocked Elkins down with a law book. The constable interfered and restored the dignity of the court.
Basil Champer was among the early attorneys in Spencer. He was a partner of Governor Whitcomb, who attended the Spencer bar for years. Champer was aspiring and talented and soon entered the political arena. He was twice elected to the Legislature as a Whig, though the county was decided- ly Democratic, and served during the twenty-second, twenty- third and twenty-fifth sessions. His competitor in the Legis- lature the previous year had failed in an attempt to make Spencer a point on the proposed macadam road from New Al- bany to Crawfordsville. Through Champer's influence Spen- cer was named as a point on the road and, on receipt of the news, all of the people became very enthusiastic and held a mass meeting in honor of their representative.
Delana R. Eckels, who addressed the mass meeting, de- clared that Spencer would become the "Grand Emporium of the West." Eckels was among the first attorneys to locate in Spencer. He became Judge of the Circuit court and, as a
927
THE COUNTY COURTS
lawyer and Judge, achieved an enviable reputation. Subse- quently, he moved to Greencastle and there practiced law dur- ing the declining years of his life. Henry Secrest was also in practice of law at Spencer about the same time as Eckels . and he was a very able lawyer. W. M. Franklin, F. T. Brown, A. T. Rose, W. E. Dittemore, I. E. Johnson, Harlan Richards and others also commenced the practice many years ago at Spencer. Besides these attorneys, James Whitcomb, after- ward Governor of Indiana, Tilghman A. Howard, Craven P. Hester, Samuel P. Judah, Elisha Huntington, Thomas Blake and Paris C. Dunning were frequently in attendance at the Spencer bar. William D. Farley was another of the early lawyers of Owen county.
General W. Johnston presided over the Circuit court until April 10, 1819. Jonathan Doty occupied the bench from 1819 to 1822. William W. Wick, of Indianapolis, became the President Judge of the Owen Circuit court in February, 1822 .. Wick was followed by Jacob Call in 1824 and he by John R. Porter in July, 1824. Porter was follower by John Law in 1830. During 1831 General W. Johnston presided over the Owen Circuit court for a short time. Judge Kinney went on the bench in 1831 and served until 1837. He was succeeded by E. M. Huntington in 1837, and Huntington by David Mc- Donald in 1839. Judge McDonald served until the new Con- stitution went into operation on October 12, 1852.
James Hughes was the first Judge under the new Constitu- tion and served until 1856, when he was elected to Congress. Ambrose B. Carlton served by appointment from July 2, 1856, to October 30, 1856. James M. Hanna, of Sullivan county, was elected in 1856 to fill the judgeship made vacant by the resignation of Judge Hughes. Judge Hanna occupied the circuit bench until 1858, when he was appointed by Governor Willard to fill a vacancy on the Supreme bench caused by the resignation of Judge Samuel B. Gookins, of Terre Haute. The Governor then appointed Solomon Claypool, of Terre Haute, Judge to fill the vacancy caused by the transfer of Judge Hanna. Judge Claypool served under his appointment until the election of 1858, when he was elected. He served until 1864, at which time Delana R. Eckels, of Putnam county, was
928
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
elected. He served until 1870 when William M. Franklin, of Owen county, was elected. He served until 1876 and was succeeded by John C. Robinson, who served until 1882. Am- brose M. Cunning, of Morgan county, was elected Judge in 1882 and he served until 1888. George W. Grubbs was then elected and served until 1900, at which time Milton H. Parks, of Morgan county, was elected. He served about four years (1900-1904), or until his death, when Governor Durbin ap- pointed Joseph W. Williams, of Owen county, to fill the va- cancy. He held court under his appointment from February, 1904, until the election of 1906, when he was elected to suc- ceed himself.
The old Fifteenth district, organized on March 6, 1873, had been divided and subdivided until it included only Mor- gan and Owen. In 1911 the General Assembly created the Tenth judicial circuit out of Monroe and Owen. Judge James B. Wilson was the Judge in Monroe when it was united with Owen and he assumed jurisdiction in Owen county on Sep- tember 4, 1911. He presided until November, 1914, when Robert W. Miers was elected Judge of the circuit. Many of the Judges of this circuit have been and still are among the most prominent men of the state. Judge Hanna made a splen- did reputation as a jurist and particularly on the Supreme bench. Judge Claypool was one of the able attorneys of the Indianapolis bar and Judge Eckels distinguished himself as Chief Justice of the territory of Utah. Judge Franklin served on the Supreme Court Commission and proved himself an emi- nent jurist. Judge John C. Robinson was one of the brightest lawyers in the state and his reputation as a jurist was state- wide. All of the Judges named were Democrats with the ex- ception of Judge Grubbs and Judge Williams. Judge James B. Wilson was a Republican, but was elected for the circuit consisting of Lawrence and Monroe. Wilson is the present can- didate for United States Senator on the Progressive ticket. He was candidate for Congress in his district on the Pro- gressive ticket in 1914. Among the residents of Owen county who have practiced law in this section of the state at various times, there may be mentioned John Cowgill, George E. Tingle William D. Farley, Thomas F. G. Adams, Delana R. Eckels,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.