USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 35
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F. A. Bettis came to Oswego in August, 1869, and soon went into partnership with Mr. McCue. Some months thereafter the firm be- came McCue, Bettis & Kelso. When Mr. Mc- Cue removed to Independence the firm of Bet- tis & Kelso became, perhaps, the leading firm of lawyers in the county. During his stay here, Mr. Bettis had two or three other partners for
a time. As an all around lawyer, adapted to all kinds of business, we have had few, if any, lawyers who excelled Mr. Bettis. Perhaps his greatest strength lay in his ability to at once meet an unexpected thrust from an adversary; it was difficult to surprise him. He was quick to take advantage of a weak point in an op- ponent's case. If people could have had as much confidence in Mr. Bettis' integrity as they had in his legal ability he would have a higher rank at the bar than he secured.
M. V. B. Bennett came from Iowa to Os- wego in the spring of 1870. He was an intense partisan, had been an opponent of the adminis- tration in the Civil war, and brought with him to Oswego material for starting a newspaper. For several months he united editorial work on the Oswego Democrat with the practice of the law. In the fall of that year he removed, with his paper, to Independence. He subsequently became a noted temperance lecturer, but at the time he resided in Oswego he had no reputa- tion in that direction. At the bar he was much stronger as an advocate than as a counsellor and he never took high rank as a lawyer, al- though he commanded a very fair practice.
J. D. Gamble came to Oswego with Mr. Bennett and became his partner. He was the office man of the firm of Bennett & Gamble and had fair ability in that line of work. He went to Independence with Mr. Bennett.
J. D. Conderman has never secured the business that his merits have entitled him to. He located in Chetopa in June, 1870, where he has since resided. He served one term very acceptably as county attorney. He lacks the aggressiveness of disposition to gain what prop_ erly belongs to him. Had he asserted himself more he might have attained a much better practice than he has enjoyed. He has the con- fidence and respect of all who know him.
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J. B. Zeigler came to Oswego in the sum- mer of 1870. He was a fine appearing young man and did some clerical work in some of the offices but did not secure any legal practice. The next year he went to Independence where he has built up a fine practice.
J. J. Long was admitted to the bar of this county in November, 1870. He had the mis- fortune of being associated with W. P. Lamb and had no success while he remained here.
E. D. Graybill had been a school teacher in Osage township. About the close of 1870 he commenced to get connected with cases com- menced in justice court and sometimes induced the litigants to appeal them, and thus had a little practice in the district court. In three or four years from that time he left the county.
W. H. Carpenter of Osage township was a justice of the peace and sometimes represented his neighbors as their attorney before other justices. He had been admitted to the bar in ' Ohio, but had never practiced law. He was formally admitted to the bar of this county early in 1871, but never had any practice and soon removed from the county.
David Kelso came to this county in the summer of 1870. He first located at Chetopa, but soon removed to Oswego and became a partner of McCue & Bettis. He was one of the few men of the bar who always ranked much higher than his merits as a lawyer entitled him. He 'had social qualities which made him quite popular, and he was able to secure good positions. He held a fine position in the legal department of two or three railroad companies for several years. He acquired a love for liquor which very much interfered with his successful conduct of business.
T. L. Darlow was another lawyer who lo- cated in Oswego in the summer of 1870. He had not had much practice when he came here,
was more earnest and persistent than careful and studious in his habits, and did not make that growth as a lawyer which he, perhaps, might have done. He was a member of two or three firms while here and did a fairly good practice.
J. G. Parkhurst was the first attorney to settle in Parsons. He came there at the close of 1870 before the town was fairly laid out, and at once secured a fairly good business. He was a lawyer with some merits who also lacked some qualifications for becoming a first class practitioner. In a few years he returned to Michigan.
T. W. Thornton came to Parsons about the same time as Mr. Parkhurst, but did not stay long enough to attain any standing at the bar.
E. E. Hastings first came to Oswego, but after a short stay here located in Parsons near the close of 1870, where he remained but a few months. His practice while here was not suffi- cient to exhibit any legal ability although he was a young man of good appearance and seemingly fair ability.
George W. Fox settled in Chetopa in De- cember, 1870, where he made his home for more than ten years. He went to the Pacific slope in the "eighties." While here he stud- ied politics and did something at practicing law; but being a member of the minority party his political leadership did not prove very re- munerative. In his professional practice he de- pended more on his ability to know and make use of men's religious, political and social opinions and prejudices as they appeared in court as jurors, witnesses or litigants than he did on knowing what the law was and being able to apply it.
Alexander H. Ayres prided 'himself on be- ing a successful practitioner in the great state of New York. He came to Chetopa in Febru-
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ary, 1871, and became the senior member of the firm of Ayres & Fox. Judge Ayres was a cultured gentleman, of very extended reading and with a memory that enabled him to recall, whenever wanted, anything he had ever read. He was perfectly familiar with the reports of his native state, and there was no question of law ever arose in his practice on which he could not cite a New York decision which, to his mind, was decisive. He was stricken down with a stroke of apoplexy while arguing a case in court.
William Davis came to Parsons in the early spring of 1871 as the general attorney of the M. K. & T. Ry. Co. He was a Kentucky Re- publican and was possessed of many of the graces for which the Blue Grass gentlemen are noted. As a lawyer his chief defect was a lack of discrimination. After reading a case he had no more conception of what it decided than would have been gathered by any school boy who should give it a like reading. He always came into court fortified with a large number of authorities, but they were as like to be de- cisions in his adversary's favor as his own. It was his misfortune to be unable to see a point. But the people liked Col. Davis, partly because when a case was decided against him he never knew that he was beaten, and for this reason, it may be presumed, they elected him county attorney, and then attorney general.
G. C. West located in Parsons in 1871 and became associated with Col. Davis in business. He never extensively engaged in the practice of the law in this county. When Col. Davis be- came attorney general Mr. West went with him to Topeka and did not return to this county.
R. M. Donelly came from Kentucky and was admitted to the bar of this county in June, 1871. His home was in Parsons. He was too much of a southern gentleman to be a very
good practitioner in the west. He had but moderate success here and after a time went to Texas.
E. C. Ward came from Chicago to Par- sons in April, 1871. For several years he had a good deal of prominence and quite a practice, and secured for himself the nomination and election as county attorney. But he lost all standing when he was convicted of hiring a witness to tell the truth in a suit in which he was employed ; for this he was disbarred. While he was thereafter readmitted to the bar, it gave him no standing. His admiration of himself was without limit.
Thomas C. Cory was the first county at- torney in Neosho county. He removed from there to Parsons in 1871 and became an active and successful practitioner at our bar. The firms of Cory & Kimball and later Cory & Simons each had a fine business and managed it successfully. Mr. Cory was elected county attorney and died while filling that office.
Walter L. Simons came from Neosho coun- ty to Parsons in 1879 and entered into partner- ship with Mr. Cory. Whether with a partner or alone Mr. Simons always had a good busi- ness, and was prominent both as a lawyer and politician. He stood among the first at our bar and commanded the confidence and respect of all who knew him. From here he went to Fort Scott where he is now serving liis second term as district judge.
WV. P. Atkinson came to Chetopa in the lat- ter part of 1871 and early in 1872 was admit- ted to our bar. He became a partner of Mr. Crichton. He had a good deal of physical strength and endurance but a very limited edu- cation and scarcely any knowledge of the law. In a year or two he returned to his former fields of labor.
Charles H. Kimball had been admitted to
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the bar in the state of New York before coming west. He settled in Parsons the latter part of 1872 and a few months thereafter became a partner of Mr. Cory. Later the firm of Kim- ball & Ayres was formed; and in 1879 the firm of Kimball & Osgood was started and still con- tinues. Mr. Kimball came to Parsons without means and has acquired quite a large amount of property. He has always been recognized as a fine trial lawyer and able attorney, and his services have been in demand in many import- ant cases. He has served two terms in the State Senate.
L. C. True was one of the early settlers of the county but was not admitted to the bar until 1872. He was one of the promoters of the town of Jacksonville, and after losing confi- dence in the future greatness of that place he removed to Chetopa. On being elected county attorney he moved to Oswego. At present he is in Kansas City, Kansas. Col. True was a man of a large amount of native ability and made of himself a fairly good lawyer. He was a forcible speaker and liad good success in jury trials.
H. W. Barnes had been prominent at the bar and in politics before leaving Wisconsin. He came to this county for the health of his family. He located in Oswego early in 1872 and soon obtained a fair practice. He was freer than some in expressing his convictions about the defects in our laws and thereby awakened some antagonism. He was at one time an independent candidate for district judge. He abandoned the practice before leaving here. He was a high minded, able lawyer. For several years before his death he made his home in Joplin, Missouri.
F. M. Smith was a contestant for legal business at Chetopa for several years. He was persistent in striving to secure the end sought.
For several years past he has been located at Vinita.
S. J. Stewart was not a resident of this county for a great length of time. He prac- ticed some in justice court at Chetopa and was able to get into one or two difficulties with Che- topa people.
N. M. Purviance came to Oswego in 1872. He had the most peculiar makeup of any mem- ber of the bar. At times it would seem as though he had no ability and no business; at other times he seemed to be one of the leading members of the bar. Whether his failure at the bar finally was owing to his peculiar re- ligious belief, and his adhesion to the teaching that spirits indulged in overturning tables and engaged in silly talk through the medium of silly girls, I do not know; but both while he. resided here and after he left us he had a check- ered career.
WV. P. Talbot became a resident of Parsons in 1873 and at times was quite active in the practice ; but for several years past he has prac- tically retired from active practice. At one time he was a partner of Col. Davis. When Col. True was county attorney, Mr. Talbot did good service as his assistant.
H. G. Webb again entered active practice after resigning from the bench in 1873. He has been a part of the time out of the county, but most of the time located first at Oswego and then at Parsons. Although somewhat ad- vanced in years he remains one of the leading lawyers of the county.
Of a number of parties much might be said in many respects, but as members of the bar their history need not be extended. H. M. Debolt was admitted to our bar in 1874, hav-' ing theretofore been admitted in Missouri. William A. Medaris read law with Col. True and was admitted to the bar here in 1874 and
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in a year or two thereafter removed from the county. I understand he has since attained a good standing at the bar. John Hamblin read law with Nelson Case and was admitted to the bar in 1875. He soon thereafter went to California. W. R. Moore was a valuable citi- zen of Montana for many years. He read law with Mr. Waters and Col. Davis, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1876. He afterwards moved to McCune. William Horsfall came from North Carolina, where he had been ad- mitted to the bar and was admitted to practice here in 1877. Soon after this he entered the Episcopal ministry. A. B. Hammer had prac- ticed law in Illinois. He was admitted to our bar in 1873 but never entered upon active prac- tice here. I have heard he has been a practi- tioner in the territory of Oklahoma for several years. A. B. Hacker was admitted to the bar of the county in 1879 but he never had any practice. Thomas H. Bruner was admitted in 1880 on certificate of admission from Indiana. He never had any business in our courts. Jo- seph A. Gates was admitted in 1873. He had some practice for several years but was better known as a justice of the peace than as a prac- ticing attorney. He was not without ability, but he did not seem to be able to make a lawyer. Samuel C. Elliott read law and was admitted to the bar in this county, but he at once went to Independence and engaged in practice ; there he made a fine record until in- sanity compelled his confinement in the asylum. A. G. Drake has been an honored citizen of Chetopa for many years. He was admitted to our bar in 1876, but never engaged in ac- tive practice. He is an efficient office man. L. F. Fisher came to Chetopa in the spring of 1869, but did not remain long enough to develop the ability he had nor to make any reputation as a lawyer. George W. Hendricks 18
came from Illinois and settled at Labette and afterwards removed to Oswego. He has done some practice, but has given most of his at- tention to the duties of justice of the peace; he has served several terms in that position and has become an adept. Ira F. Adams, of Parsons, has not entered the general practice, but has done legal and clerical work in a loan office for a number of years. S. E. Ball, of Howard township, was admitted to the bar in 1878, but never did any legal business in this county. Alvah Shick, of Mound Valley, was getting quite a nice local business when he died. C. A. Wilkin came here when a boy, read law with Mr. Kelso, and was admitted. to the bar in 1875. Abandoning the active. practice of the law, he has for many years. been engaged in the more lucrative business of abstracting and he is considered an authority on matters in that line. Ira C. Mitchell re- sided in Oswego but a few months, but was here long enough to convince the profession that his abilities were sufficient, were he to use them, to make him an ornament to the bar. But he was so addicted to drink that no one was sure that he would be in condition to at- tend to business when needed, and all confi- (lence in his professional success soon vanished. He was admitted to our bar in 1876, and was for some time a partner of Col. Davis.
J. E. Bryan had a varied experience in Kansas. He preached at Chetopa before the Civil war, was pastor of the Methodist church in Oswego in 1871, afterwards read law and was admitted to the bar in Allen county, was a county officer there, returned to Labette county and was admitted to the bar in 1878, settling first at Chetopa and afterwards at Os- wego, and went from here to Arkansas in 1885. While here, in addition to practicing law he edited the Oswego Independent. Mr.
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Bryan was a man of a great deal of ability and succeeded fairly well in whatever he under- took; had he confined his energies to a nar- rower field he would have attained a higher standing in either calling chosen.
Jesse Brockway read law with Mr. Bettis and was admitted to our bar in 1875. His home was in Oswego from the time he came here in 1874 till he left the county in 1889. There have been very few members of this bar who had better natural abilities or whose pros- pect of success in the profession was better than that of Mr. Brockway when he started in business. Naturally he was a lawyer. But drink and other bad habits undermined his character and blighted a career which might have been brilliant.
A. A. Osgood settled in Parsons and was admitted to the bar in 1877. Since 1879 he has been a member of the firm of Kimball & Osgood, and has been, to a large extent, the office member of the firm. He has had fine success as a collector and is well adapted to looking after the details of legal work. Mr. Osgood has always maintained a good stand- ing at the bar and has the confidence of a large circle of acquaintances. On Mr. Cory's death, Mr. Osgood was appointed to fill out his term as county attorney.
J. W. Marley was admitted to our bar in 1878, but he never entered on the active prac- tice of law. Upon settling in Oswego he com- menced loaning money and soon thereafter, in connection with others, opened a bank, since which time he has been in the banking busi- ness.
George S. King was a fine type of the old- fashioned southern gentleman. He was orig- inally from Maryland and never lost the char- acteristics which he inherited or acquired in his early years. He came to this county in
1877, but did not become a member of our bar until 1879. At first he lived on a farm a few miles from Chetopa, but when he determined to practice his profession he moved to Oswego. He was an editor as well as a lawyer and, perhaps, he was even better suited to writing than to practicing law. He enjoyed the re- spect and confidence of all who knew him. He served one term as county attorney and a part of a term as county auditor.
George F. King was a son of George S. King. He was much more brilliant than his father, but lacked the latter's fine moral sensi- bilities and recognition of the requirements of a successful practitioner. He was admitted to the bar a few years after the family came to this county. He contracted the habit of drink and this, together with the use of mor- phine, soon ended a career that his friends had fondly hoped and expected would be useful and brilliant.
W. F. Schoch taught school several years before his admission to the bar. He started in the practice at Mound Valley but soon set- tled in Oswego, where he built up an excellent practice. He was also an active politician and did a great deal of campaign work. A few years ago he moved to Topeka and has got a good start in business in that city.
F. H. Foster has lived in Parsons a num- ber of years and has done a good deal of prac- tice, although he lias always been engaged in loaning money or attending to some other busi- ness in addition to the practice of law. He is now cashier of the State Bank. He is very careful as a lawyer and usually is found to be in the right in his judgment.
J. W. Iden was a successful school teacher before commencing the practice of law. Hav- ing resided in Parsons for so many years, the people know him and entrust to his care many
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matters requiring attention. As an active practitioner he has been for some time a mem- ber of the firm of Webb & Iden.
A. R. Bell has lived in Chetopa during the time he has been practicing law. He has been attentive to business, studious, obliging and has built up a nice practice.
F. H. Atchinson read law with Nelson Case and lived in Oswego most of the time while engaged in the practice. He left Oswego and went to Galveston, Texas, where he spent a few weeks, but not finding the prospect for practice all he could desire he returned to Kansas and went into the mercantile business in Colum- bus. As a lawyer he was a fighter from the start; his plan was to contest every inch of ground from the time the first pleading was filed. On the death of J. R. Hill, Mr. Atchin- son was appointed to fill out his term as county attorney.
Joseph R. Hill when a boy came with his father to this county and grew up on a farm between Oswego and Chetopa. He read law with Case & Glasse and after his admission to the bar went into partnership with F. H. Atchinson. He was soon elected county at- torney and died before the expiration of his teri11.
M. E. Williams has lived near and in Os- wego from the time when he was a small boy. He has been engaged in farming and stock rais- ing a good portion of the time since attaining manhood. He read law with Mr. Brockway and for some ten years past has been actively engaged in its practice. He is known as a careful practitioner and earnestly contends for every point he thinks can be raised in his cli- ent's interest.
Stanton J. Mattox acquired a large part of his education on a farm in Fairview town- ship. Since his admission to the bar he has
resided in Oswego and has vigorously prose- cuted or defended the suits that have been en- trusted to him.
Arthur F. Cranston, of Parsons, is care- fully looking after business and is building up a nice practice.
E. O. Ellis has resided in Parsons several years and every one has confidence in him. He ought to command an extensive business in the near future.
T. J. Flannelly was connected with a law firm in Kansas City before entering on the practice in this county. He has been located at Chetopa for three or four years. On Jan- uary 1, 1901, he went in partnership with Nel- son Case, at Oswego, but the firm of Case & Flannelly was soon dissolved by the appoint- ment of the latter to the bench.
F. F. Lamb has gained a good start for a large practice. He is vigilant in pushing mat- ters entrusted to his care. Having resided in Parsons from the time the town was started, he is acquainted with every one and as a con- sequence has an advantage over a new comer.
George Campbell has had many years of experience more or less connected with legal matters, although he has been a member of the bar but a few years. He formerly resided at Mound Valley, but for several years past has lived in Oswego. He has been a constant mixer in politics and has served a term in the State Senate.
O. M. McPherson was admitted to the bar, settled in Oswego and commenced the prac- tice of the law after a successful experience as superintendent of city schools in Parsons. He soon obtained a government appointment and for a number of years has resided in Wash- ington, where he is said to be commanding a very desirable position.
A. H. Tyler spent many years in the prac-
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tice at Parsons. He was always actively en- gaged in politics and held many local official positions. Two or three years ago he left our county and settled in Wichita.
I. D. Highleyman has been an active pol- itician and business man of Chetopa, and as a pastime he has occasionally indulged in the practice of the law.
Henry L. McCune came to Oswego in 1886, just after the completion of his law studies. He became a partner of J. H. Mor- rison. After practicing here a few years he removed to Kansas City.
A. B. Switzer served a term as county at- torney, but no one was able to discover why he was elected or what qualifications he pos- sessed to practice law. His home was in Par- sons and when his term as county attorney ex- pired he left the county.
T. C. Sears came to Parsons as the general attorney for the M. K. & T. Ry. Co., and rep- resented the road for several years. He never engaged in general practice in this county. He had good ability, but as a practitioner was 10 better than the average lawyer.
John Thompson was a young attorney who came to Chetopa in 1886 and died within a year thereafter. He was a promising young man, who might have made a good record had his life been spared.
Arthur Crunforth spent a few months in Chetopa in 1887. He was a partner of A. G. Drake. In the short time he was here he made 110 lasting impression.
J. J. McFeely graduated from the position of justice of the peace of the city of Parsons into a member of the bar of this county. His idea seemed to be that he was cut out for a public officer, and, I have heard, was success-
ful in securing an official position after going to Colorado.
Leroy Neale came to Chetopa in 1870. Perhaps he had the largest collection business of any one in the county. He had a very good business along several lines, including commer- cial and corporation law. He seldom appeared in court, but one could scarcely travel any- where on the cars without somewhere running across him looking after some feature of his business.
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