USA > Indiana > Courts and lawyers of Indiana, Volume II > Part 19
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
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
John McCarty
1870-72.
Charles L. Jewett 1872-73.
PRESIDENT JUDGES.
David Raymond December 21, 1816-October 13, 1817, resigned. Sec-
ond circuit.
Davis Floyd Appointed October 13, 1817-December 18, 1823.
John F. Ross December 18, 1823; died in office in 1834.
John H. Thompson Appointed December 26. 1834-December 30, 1844.
William T. Otto December 20, 1844-October 12, 1852.
601
THE COUNTY COURTS
CIRCUIT JUDGES.
George A. Bicknell October 12, 1852-October 25, 1876. The act of March 6, 1873, took Clark out of the Second and put it in the Fourth and Bicknell was transferred from the Second to the Fourth.
John S. Davis October 25, IS76; died in office July 6, 1SS0.
Simeon W. Wolfe Appointed July 20, 1880-November 10, 1SS0.
Charles P. Ferguson November 10, 1880-November 15, 1892.
George H. D. Gibson November 15, 1892-November 15, 1898.
James K. Marsh November 15, ISOS-November 15, 1904.
Harry C. Montgomery. November 15, 1904: died in office January, 1914.
James W. Fortune Appointed January 23, 1914; term expires Novem- ber 15, 1920.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
John Kingsbury August 9, 1824-Angust 14, 1826. Second circuit.
Milton Stapp. August 14, 1826-December 30, 1826.
John Kingsbury December 30, 1826-December 30, 1828.
John H. Thompson
December 30, 1828-December 30, 1832.
Isaac V. Howk
December 30, 1832-June 5, 1833, died.
Charles Dewey Appointed June 5, 1833-June 4, 1836; transferred
to Supreme court.
John W. Payne June 4, 1836-December 12. 1840.
Theodore I. Barnett. December 12, 1840-July 13, 1842, resigned.
William A. Porter July 13, 1842-December 14, 1844.
Cyrus A. Dunham December 14, 1844-December 14, 1846.
George A. Bicknell August 15. 1851-October 12, 1852.
Samuel W. Short October 12, 1852; resigned February 11. 1854.
Patrick H. Jewett
Appointed March 8, 854-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, 1864.
Robert M. Weir
November 7. 1864-November 24, 1870.
Robert J. Shaw November 24, 1870-March 6, 1873. The act of March 6, 1873, put Clark in the Fourth.
Elias R. Montford March 6, 1873-October 26, 1874.
James K. Marsh October 26, 1874-October 26, 1876.
Mathew Clegg
October 26, 1876-October 26, ISTS.
Thomas L. Smith October 26, 1878-October 26, 1880.
Frank B. Burke October 26. ISSO-November 17, 1886.
George H. Voigt November 17. 1886-November 17. 1890.
George E. Coll November 17. 1890-November 17, 1892.
Edgar A. Howard. November 17, 1892-November 17, 1896.
Ilarry C. Montgomery_November 17. 1896-January 1. 1901.
Frank M. Mayfield January 1, 1901-January 1, 1905.
602
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
Charles K. Zollman January 1, 1905-January 1, 1909.
George C. Kopp. January 1, 1909-January 1, 1913.
Warren B. Allison January 1, 1913-January 1, 1917.
FLOYD-CLARK CRIMINAL COURT.
A Criminal court for the counties of Floyd and Clark was created as the Twenty-seventh circuit by the legislative enact- ment of April 23, 1869, and abolished on February 8, 1877. During the period of its existence it was served by the fol- lowing Judges: John H. Butler, the first Judge of the newly organized circuit, was appointed on April 28, 1869, by Gover- nor Baker; Judge Butler was succeeded by Melville C. Hester, who served from April 29, 1870, to October 26, 1870, at which time Cyrus L. Dunham ascended the bench for a four-year term ending October 26,1874. Thomas L. Smith, Jr., followed Judge Dunham and continued in office until the court was abolished on February 8, 1877.
CLAY COUNTY.
Clay county was the only one organized in 1825, beginning its formal career on April 1 of that year. Few counties in the state have had more exciting times in getting their coun- ty seat located than Clay county, and, although it has only had two county seats, it has had half a dozen other towns laid out with the intention of making them the county seat. When the county was organized, Bowling Green was selected by the locating commissioners as the seat of justice and here it remained for half a century. During this fifty years sev- eral other towns made ineffectual efforts to secure the county seat, but it was not until Brazil came to the front in the early part of the seventies that Bowling Green lost the county seat. As early as 1838, two towns were aspiring for county seat honors, Aquilla and Jonesboro. Bellaire (in 1852) and Ash- boro (in 1858) were two other towns which had visions of the court house standing in their public squares. Two efforts by legislative acts were made to secure a relocation of the county seat before the seventies. The act of February 13, 1843, provided for an election on the first Monday of August, 1843, to vote on the question of relocation and, although the
603
THE COUNTY COURTS
vote has not been obtained, it is known that Bowling Green did not lose the county seat. On November 30, 1851, the court house with all the county records were burned and a fight was at once launched to choose a new county seat, Bel- laire being the chief contender. On February 23, 1853, the advocates of relocation got an act through the Legislature providing for relocating commissioners to choose a new seat of justice, but for a second time Bowling Green came out ahead and at once put up a "fine, substantial court house," which cost the county ten thousand dollars. Nearly twenty years were to elapse before another effort was made to move the county seat. In 1871 the advocates of relocation circu- lated petitions asking that the seat of justice be located at Brazil. Sufficient signers were secured to bring about the removal and in 1872 the county seat was ordered removed to its present location. It was several years before suitable buildings were erected and it was not until January 26, 1877, that the records were transferred from the old court house at Bowling Green to the new one at Brazil.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
William Maxwell June 6, 1825.
Daniel Walker June 6, 1825.
Philip IJedges. September S. 1826.
David Christy
August 27, 1827; resigned December 30.
Samuel Risley August 27, 1827.
Daniel Wools. March 4, 1831 (special election), to fill vacancy of David Christy (resigned), to serve seven years from January 6, 1825.
Samuel Risley September 22, 1831, to serve seven years from June 10, 1832; resigned.
Daniel Wools September 22, 1831, to serve seven years from June 10, 1832; resigned.
Nicholas G. Cromwell __ August 29, 1833, vice Samuel Risley (resigned), to serve seven years from June 6, 1832.
Nicholas G. Cromwell __ August 19, 1839.
William Yocom
August 19, 1839; died May, 1841.
John T. Alexander August 16, 1841, to serve seven years from June 6, 1839. vice William Yocom, deceased.
Fergus Suoddy August 21, 1845, to serve seven years from June 6, 1846.
Owen Tharpe August 21, 1845, to serve seven years from June 6, 1846.
604
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
PROBATE JUDGES.
Daniel Chase September 22, 1831, resigned.
Jesse S. Burton April 23, 1832, appointed.
Jesse S. Burton August 24, 1832, resigned.
Robert W. Crooke August 29, 1833, to serve seven years from date, vice Jesse S. Burton, resigned.
Jared Payton December 12, 1834, appointed vice Robert W. Crooke (resigned), to serve until the first Mon- day in August, 1835.
Jared Payton August 14, 1835; resigned May, 1838.
Samuel Miles May 28, 1838, appointed, vice Jared Payton, re- signed.
William D. Farley March 16, 1842, appointed, vice Samuel Miles (re- signed), to serve until the first Monday in August, 1842.
Daniel Harris. August 16, 1842, to serve seven years from date.
Jesse McIntire. August 20, 1849, to serve seven years from date; died prior to November 7, 1850.
John Lewis November 11, 1850, appointed, vice Jesse MeIntire, deceased.
Athel Staggs August 18, 1851, to serve seven years from date.
COMMON PLEAS JUDGES.
William M. Franklin 1852-56.
Frederick T. Brown 1856-64.
William M. Franklin 1864-68.
Harry Burns 1868-73.
DISTRICT PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
Fred T. Brown 1852-54.
Oliver H. P. Ash. 1854-56.
Michael Malott 1856-58.
George W. Throop. 1858-60.
Harry Burns 1860-62.
Samuel W. Curtis. 1862-64.
Patrick Harvey 1864-66.
John C. Robinson 1866-68.
Courtland C. Matson 1868-72.
Samuel M. McGregor 1872-73.
PRESIDENT JUDGES.
John R. Porter. April 1, 1825-January 20, 1830. The act of Janu- ary 20, 1830, took Clay out of the First and put it in the Seventh.
John Law Appointed January 25, 1830-August 10, 1831, re- signed.
General W. Johnston. Appointed August 10, 1831-January 21, 1832. Amory Kinney. January 21, 1832-January 25, 1837.
605
THE COUNTY COURTS
Elisha M. Huntington. January 25, 1837; resigned July 12, 1841.
William P. Bryant. Appointed July 12, 1841-January 25, 1844. Johu Law January 25, 1844; resigned August 31, 1850.
Samuel B. Gookins Appointed August 31, 1850-January 30, 1851.
Delana R. Eckles January 30, 1851-October 12, 1852.
CIRCUIT JUDGES.
James TTughes October 12. 1852; resigned June 20, 1856. to take effect July 2, 1856. Sixth circuit.
Ambrose B. Carlton
Appointed July 2, 1856-October 30, 1856.
James M. Hanna
October 30, 1856; resigned December 1S, 1857.
Solomon Claypool
Appointed December 21, 1857-November 6, 1864.
Delana R. Eckles
November 6, 1864-November 6, 1870.
William 3. Franklin November 6, 1870-March 6, 1873. The act of
March 6, 1873, put Clay in the Thirteenth.
Solou Turman Appointed March 12, 1873: resigned March 25, 1881.
Silas D. Coffey Appointed March 25, 1881-November 16, 1SSS.
Samuel M. McGregor November 16, 1888-November 16, 1900.
Pressly O. Colliver November 16, 1900-November 16, 1906.
John M. Rawley November 16, 1906: term expires November 16, 1918. The act of February 27, 1911, made Clay the sole county in the Thirteenth, where it has since remained.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
Johu Law April 1, 1825-January 20, 1830. The act of Janu- ary 20, 1830, took Clay out of the First and put it in the Seventh.
E. M. Huntington January 25, 1830-January 25, 1832.
John H. Dowden January 25, 1832-April 9, 1833, died.
Erasmus HI. McJunkin_ Appointed April 9, 1833-August 14, 1834, died.
John Cowgill Appointed August 14, 1834-December 4, 1834.
David McDonald December 4, 1834-August 17. 1837. resigned.
John Cowgill Appointed August 17, 1837-February 13. 1838.
Delana R. Eckles February 13, 1838; resigned February 15, 18+1. Edward W. MeGaughey_Appointed February 15, 1841-August 19, 1842. re- signed.
George F. Waterman August 10, 1842-December 15, 1842. John I. Usher December 15, 1842-December 15, 1844.
James M. Hanna December 15, 1844-December 15, 1846.
James C. Allen December 5, 1846-December 15, 1848.
Harvey D. Scott August 19, 1851-October 12, 1852.
William E. McLean October 12, 1852-November 7, 1854. Sixth circuit.
Ambrose B. Carlton November 7. 1854; resigned March 29, 1855.
Theodore Read. Appointed April 3, 1855; resigned August 2, 1855.
Francis L. Neff Appointed August 6, 1855-November 2, 1856. Milton S. Osborn November 2, 1856-November 6, 1858.
606
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
Isaac N. Pierce November 6, 1858-November 6, 1860.
Willis G. Neff. November 6, 1860-November 6, 1864.
Michael Malott November 6, 1864-November G, 1866.
Jacob S. Broadwell November 6, 1866-November 6, 1868.
John C. Robinson November 6, 1868-November 1, 1872.
Courtland C. Matson November 1, 1872-March 6, 1873. March 6. 1873, put Clay in the Thirteenth.
Tbe act of
Daniel W. Comstock March 6, 1873-November 6, 1874.
W. R. Guthrie
November 6, 1874-November 26, 1876.
Tarvin C. Groombs
November 26. 1876-October 24, 1878.
Charles E. Matson
October 24. 1STS-November 17, 1882.
Samuel M. McGregor
November 17, 1882-November 17, 1886.
Pressley O. Colliver
November 17, 1886-November 17, 1890.
Frank A. Horner
November 17, 1890-November 17, 1894.
I. C. Lewis
November 17, 1894-November 17, 1896.
John M. Rawley November 17. 1896-January 1, 1901.
Smith C. Matson January 1, 1901-January 1, 1905.
Curtis G. Scofield
January 1, 1905-January 1, 1907.
James P. Hughes. January 1, 1907-January 1, 1911.
S. Walter Lee
January 1. 1911-January 1, 1913.
Bernard Robinson
January 1. 1913-January 1, 1915.
John W. Baumunk
January 1, 1915; term expires January 1, 1917.
CLINTON COUNTY.
Clinton county was organized by the Legislature with the act of January 21, 1830, the act becoming effective on the first of the following March. The village of Jefferson, four miles west of the present city of Frankfort, was the tem- porary county seat until the proper buildings were erected at Frankfort. The latter was chosen as the seat of justice by the locating commissioners, and the county agent was or- dered on May 19, 1830, to have the townsite surveyed and laid off into lots ready for sale. A log court house was built at once and court convened for the first time in it in April, 1831. It was attached to the First judicial circuit, of which Carroll, Cass, Vermillion, Clarke, Montgomery, Fountain, Warren, Tippecanoe and St. Joseph counties were made a part.
The first court in Clinton county convened October 18, 1830, at the house of John Ross in Jefferson, there being no court house erected at that time. Thomas R. Evans was ap-
607
THE COUNTY COURTS
pointed Prosecuting Attorney pro tem and the grand jury returned one indictment.
John R. Porter, the first Judge of the Clinton circuit (1830-38) came from an old English family. He was born at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, February 22, 1796. He was a graduate of Union College, at Schenectady, New York, and there received the degree of Master of Arts. In 1820 he immi- grated to Paoli, Orange county, Indiana, and, after his mar- riage, was elected county clerk and postmaster and finally President Judge of the first circuit. Thereupon, he moved to Eugene township, Vermillion county. He was a scientific farmer and raised fine wooled sheep, cultivated sugar beets, Baden corn and hemp. He was a fluent writer and conver- sationalist. His district as Judge extended from the Ohio river to Lake Michigan.
Isaac Naylor, of Crawfordsville, was the second Judge of the Clinton Circuit court, succeeding Judge Porter in 1838. He was a native of Rockingham county, Virginia, and had immigrated with his parents to Kentucky in 1793 and to In- diana in 1805. He settled near Charleston, where he studied law and where later he engaged in the practice. He was mar- ried in 1826, and in 1833 settled in Crawfordsville, where he resided until his death in 1873. Judge Naylor was at the battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. He served as Circuit Judge from 1837 to 1852.
William Perkins Bryant, of Rockville, the third Circuit Judge of Clinton county, served as Circuit Judge in the Rock- ville circuit from 1842 to 1844, with R. H. Wedding and W. C. Donaldson as Associate Judges. After that, he immigrated to Oregon, where, in 1848, he was made Chief Justice of Ore- gon territory. He returned to Indiana in 1852 and, at the first election under the new Constitution, defeated Judge Nay- lor for Circuit Judge. He held the office for six years and died at Rockville, October 9, 1860.
John M. Cowan, of Frankfort, the fourth Circuit Judge, was elected from Clinton county. When the state capitol was located at Indianapolis in 1820, the Cowans and Maxwells, Judge Cowan's mother being a Maxwell, moved to Indianap- olis. They were among the earliest settlers. Judge John M.
608
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
Cowan was born in Indianapolis, December 6, 1821, and moved with his father in 1822 to a farm near Crawfordsville. Judge Cowan graduated from Wabash College in 1842 and shortly afterwards was appointed deputy clerk of Clinton county. He studied law during his spare moments and graduated from the law school of the State University in 1845, after a course of one year. He then opened an office in Franklin, and after his marriage formed a partnership with James F. Suit. In 1858 Cowan defeated William P. Bryant and in 1864 was re- elected without opposition. In 1870, at the close of his term, Judge Cowan located at Crawfordsville and practiced law for a time with Thomas M. Patterson, later United States Sen- ator from Colorado. Two years later he entered a new firm with M. D. White and James E. Cowan, his second son. This partnership arrangement continued for three years. He then retired from the general practice and became assistant cash- ier and attorney for the First National Bank of Crawfords- ville, where he continued until 1881, when he moved to Spring- field, Missouri. Judge Cowan lived to be the oldest living graduate of Wabash College.
Thomas F. Davidson, of Covington, the fifth Judge of the Clinton Circuit court, was a native of Covington, born there February 17, 1839. Having studied law under the direction of Gen. Lew Wallace, he opened a law office in Covington in 1861. In 1870 he was elected Judge of the Circuit court, de- feating Joseph H. Brown, of Williamsport. In 1873 the cir- cuit was changed, Clinton county being placed in the Twen- tieth circuit with Boone. Judge Davidson was transferred to the Twenty-first circuit (Fountain, Warren and Vermillion) by this act. At the end of his first term he was re-elected and, at the close of his term in 1882, re-engaged in the prac- tice of law. In 1886 Judge Davidson moved to Crawfords- ville and formed a partnership with Francis M. Dice, later reporter of the Supreme Court of Indiana. Several years later he was in partnership with Judge Jere West. Judge Davidson died on May 19, 1892.
Truman H. Palmer, the sixth Circuit Judge, was born near Henry county, Kentucky, November 28, 1827. He worked on a farm until twenty years old and then taught school and read
609
THE COUNTY COURTS
law. He began the practice of law at Frankfort in 1858 and from 1862 to 1866, served as County Surveyor. He repre- sented Clinton county in the Legislature in 1869. In 1870 he was elected Judge of the Common Pleas court, serving until the court was abolished in 1873. On March 12, 1873, Palmer was appointed by Governor Hendricks as Judge of the new Twentieth circuit, including Clinton and Boone counties. In 1873 he was elected and served until 1879. After leaving the bench, Judge Palmer practiced at Frankfort until his death, November 18, 1903.
Thomas J. Terhune, the seventh Judge of the Clinton Cir- cuit court (1879-83) was a native of Greene county, Indiana, and was graduated from Indiana University in 1873 and from the law school in 1874. After locating at Lebanon, he engag- ed in the active practice of his profession. In 1883 the Leg- islature made Clinton county a separate circuit, Judge Ter- hune being left on the Boone circuit bench, where he contin- ued to serve until 1888. He then resigned the judgeship and formed a partnership with Barton S. Higgins, of Lebanon.
Joseph C. Suit, of Frankfort, the eighth judge of the Clin- ton Circuit court, was the first who was born in Clinton coun- ty. When Clinton county became a separate circuit-the for- ty-fifth-in 1883, Governor Albert G. Porter appointed Suit to serve until the next election and he filled the office satisfactorily from March 2, 1883, to November, 1884, after which he resumed the practice. He served as County Attor- ney from 1889 until his death, October 27, 1897. Judge Suit was an adjutant in the Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.
Allen E. Paige, the ninth Circuit Judge, a native of Rhode Island, was born March 15, 1840. He graduated from the Albany Law School at Albany, New York, in 1865. After reading law for a brief period in the office of Judge J. M. Larue, at Lafayette, he moved to Frankfort and for a time taught school. From 1867 to 1870 he edited the Frankfort Crescent and afterward engaged in the practice of law with Judge Joseph Claybaugh. Later he practiced with other per- sons and, in 1876, was elected to the State Legislature as a
(39)
610
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
Democrat, serving during the session of 1877. Judge Paige was elected Circuit Judge in 1884 and held the office until November, 1890. Judge Paige died in Indianapolis, February 26, 1896.
Samuel H. Doyal, the tenth Circuit Judge, was a native of Kentucky, but grew up in Boone county, Indiana. He taught school and read law and, after attending the law school of the University of Michigan, located at Frankfort in 1865. Judge Doyal was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of the Com- mon Pleas court by Governor Conrad Baker in 1867 and a little later was elected to the office, serving until 1870. After- ward he practiced law with Perry W. Gard until his election to the bench in 1890. Judge Doyal died in Frankfort, January 18, 1897.
James V. Kent, who was elected Judge of the Clinton Circuit court in 1896, served until 1902, when he was defeat- ed by Judge Joseph Claybaugh. Judge Claybaugh served until 1908, when Joseph Combs, the present incumbent, suc- ceeded to the office. Combs was re-elected for a second term of six years in November, 1914.
Before his elevation to the bench, Judge Kent served as Prosecuting Attorney and as a member of the state Senate. After retiring from the bench, he formed a partnership with Thomas M. Ryan. Judge Claybaugh was educated at Miami University and came to Frankfort in 1857, reading law in the office of R. P. Davidson. Judge Combs, the present incum- bent, the thirteenth Circuit Judge, is the third native of Clin- ton county to hold the office. He read law in the office of Judge Joseph C. Suit, and was admitted to the bar in 1886.
Among the early lawyers of Clinton county was Addison L. Roache, who came to Frankfort from Rockville in 1839. He practiced in Frankfort for more than a year and then re- turned to Rockville. Subsequently he was elected a member of the Indiana General Assembly and later served as a Judge of the Supreme court from 1853 to 1854. After his term as Judge expired, he located in Indianapolis, and was a partner in the practice of law with Senator Joseph E. McDonald. Judge Taylor came to Frankfort from Goshen, Indiana, and practiced at Frankfort for four years, when he moved to
611
THE COUNTY COURTS
Alabama and later to Brooklyn, New York, from which place he was elected to Congress. Still later he moved to Washing- ton, D. C. Samuel D. Maxwell, the first clerk of Clinton county, who held the office for fourteen years and who began the practice of law in 1843, moved to Indianapolis in 1854 and served as Mayor of Indianapolis from 1858 to 1863. Leander McClurg, a native of Dresden, Ohio, came to Frankfort in 1850, and read law with Judge Cowan and later with Judge Blake. He practiced law for a time, but later purchased the Frankfort Crescent in partnership with Joseph T. Pressly, another lawyer, and edited the paper until the close of Sep- tember, 1856, at which time he was elected Prosecuting At- torney of the Carroll and Clinton Circuit court. In 1860 he was elected a representative from Clinton county in the State Legislature. In 1862 he was a Senator from Clinton and Carroll, making a record in the Legislature as a "War Democrat," and gaining the lifelong friendship of Governor Morton. He was a delegate to the Baltimore convention in 1872, a candidate for Congress in 1874 and was his party's nominee for Circuit Judge at the time of his death, June 24, 1884.
Henry Y. Morrison, who did not begin the practice of law until he was thirty-eight years old, became very successful. His sons, J. W. Morrison and Martin A. Morrison, the present Congressman of the Ninth district, maintain the tradi- tions of the Morrison family. Robert P. Davidson, a native of Kentucky and a graduate of Miami University, who was admitted to the Clinton county bar and who practiced in Clinton county for a number of years later, moved to Lafay- ete and became a prominent attorney there. He died there April 14, 1909. Perry W. Gard, John Q. Bayless, O. E. Brum- baugh not only were successful lawyers of the Clinton county bar, but were also mayors of Frankfort.
Capt. James N. Sims, who for many years was the nestor of the Clinton county bar, was born at Connersville, January 5, 1817, and was the son of Stephen Sims, who came to Brook- ville, Indiana, from Tennessee in 1811. After residing in Fayette and Rush counties, the family settled in Boone coun- ty in 1834 and this became their permanent residence. Steph-
612
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
en Sims filled several public positions and was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850. James N. Sims worked on his father's farm and attended Asbury (now DePauw) University for one year. He taught school for ten years and during the time studied law. He was admitted to the Clinton county bar in April, 1844, and four years later opened an office in Frankfort, continuing in the practice at Frankfort for more than a half century, a part of the time being in part- nership with his brother, Cicero Sims, who was noted as a "mighty hunter" in the early days. Capt. James N. Sims was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1860 and supported Abraham Lincoln for the presidency. During the Civil War he and five of his brothers served in the Union army. Capt. James N. Sims enlisted September 16, 1862, in Company I, One Hundredth Indiana Infantry, and was com- missioned captain of the company. His health having failed, he was discharged August 11, 1863, and then returned to Frankfort and resumed his professional work. Frederick Sims, his son, has served as Mayor of Frankfort, as Secre- tary of State and as a member of the Indiana State Board Tax Commissioners.
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.