USA > Kansas > Leavenworth County > History of Leavenworth County Kansas > Part 18
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E. M. Mackemer was another practicing attorney.
David M. Smith did but little in the way of practicing law.
Lewis Ramage was a practicing attorney of Weston, Missouri.
H. B. Branch was a St. Joseph, Missouri, attorney.
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
William McKay resided here for a number of years.
O. B. Holman came from Wisconsin and was very successful.
William M. McMeath was the next attorney to register.
Ferdinand J. McCann is the next member enrolled.
Henry J. Adams came to this city from New York in 1857. At the outbreak of the war he joined the Union forces and was appointed pay- master by President Lincoln.
Henry W. Ide came to this city in 1857 from Wisconsin. He was a very able attorney and was elected judge of the district court here and held this position for four successive terms.
Albert Perry was the next attorney.
John W. Henry came from Weston, Missouri, in 1857.
E. Magruder Lowe was from Virginia.
Clifton Hellen came from Washington, District of Columbia.
Samuel A. Young was a prominent Missouri attorney.
J. W. Whitfield was the first delegate to Congress to be elected from the Territory of Kansas. He was a Georgian and pro-slavery in politics. A. E. Mayhew was never a resident lawyer.
James H. Lane was never a resident of the county. His home was in Lawrence. At the time of his suicide on the military reservation north of the city he was United States Senator.
Albert Weed was but little known.
John C. Douglas came to Leavenworth County in the early '50s, and was one of the early attorneys who began practicing in this city and re- mained here engaged in the practice during his lifetime.
William Scott Brown enrolled April 29, 1857.
Guernsey Sackett enrolled April 30, 1857.
Van B. Young enrolled May 10, 1857.
Willard P. Gamble came to this county during the middle fifties from Michigan. He was early associated with M. S. Adams, the partnership being one of the strongest in the city. He served as a member of the Leg- islature from the city in 1868.
David W. Guensey never engaged actively in practice.
John L. Pendery came in 1857 from Cincinnati, Ohio.
S. W. Johnstone came to Kansas in 1854 from Ohio. He had been appointed as a territorial judge by President Pierce and assigned to the western district. After serving for a period of three years he resigned the judgeship and took up a residence in Leavenworth and became asso-
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
ciated with the law firm of Johnstone, Stinson and Havens. Later he removed to Washington, D. C.
John E. Pitt was a practicing lawyer of Platte City, Missouri.
O. Diefendorf came here from Illinois. He was at one time associ- ated in practice of law with Stephen A. Douglas and later with H. Miles Moore.
J. B. Chapman was never a resident of this city or county.
James McCahan was one of the most successful attorneys in Leaven- worth in the early days.
Col. John P. Slough came to this city from Ohio in 1857. He returned to Ohio and joined the Union army. He was appointed governor of the territory of New Mexico by President Lincoln.
William Franklin was never a resident of this city or county.
William Stanley came to this city in 1857 from Kentucky. Shortly after arriving here he entered into a partnership with John A. Halderson in the practice of law. When the Civil War began he enlisted together with the greater majority of a company of men which he had organized in this city known as the "Shields Guards", in the Union Army. After the war he studied for the ministry and in due time became a Christian minister.
William H. Cole practiced but little here, if any.
Jerome B. Conklin practiced but little.
M. S. Adams came to Leavenworth in 1857 from Connecticut. Mr. Adams was a very able attorney and practiced successfully for a number of years.
William Kemp, Jr., was at one time associated in the publishing of the "Leavenworth Times" in early days.
Jackson Smith registered September 19, 1857.
Claudius McGiven, registered September 22, 1857, Robert H. Shan- non, registered September 25, 1857, and William C. Prest registered the same date.
Franklin G. Adams was a brother of Henry J. Adams.
George S. Withers enrolled October 7, 1857.
J. A. Burton was next to enroll.
A. W. McCauslen enrolled November 7, 1857.
Warren Woodson enrolled February 2, 1858.
Alex. Paddock signed the attorney roll April 13, 1858.
Henry Tinsmede signed April 14, 1858.
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Joseph E. Merryman, of Platte City, Missouri, was very widely known. James Taylor came to Leavenworth in 1857 from New York.
Walter N. Allen was admitted to the bar after coming here from Ken- tucky in 1858.
A. M. Sawyer enjoyed a large practice here for a number of years.
J. S. Kalloch enrolled April 17, 1858. For a time here he was minister to the Baptist Church, and later moved to Ottawa, Kansas, where he became interested in the publication of a newspaper there.
S. A. Stinson came to Leavenworth in 1858 from Maine. He was one of the most brilliant young attorneys the city ever had.
John Gill Spivey practiced successfully here for a number of years.
Fox Diefendorf came here comfortably fixed in the way of the world's goods and devoted but little time to the practice of his profession.
C. B. Trowbridge was devoted to real estate speculating.
E. N. O. Clough, the next name to appear on the attorney roll, came here from Parkville, Missouri, in 1858. With the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the Union Army where he was later elected to several positions of honor and trust by his many friends.
E. Joyce Smithers and L. B. Hamilton practiced for only a limited time.
R. Crozier came to this county in 1857 and was interested in the pub- lication of the "Leavenworth Times". He was appointed United States District Attorney for the district of Kansas by President Lincoln. He also served three terms as Judge of the District Court of the First Judi- cial District of Kansas.
William Simpson, J. K. S. Burbridge, William D. Wood, J. H. Bennett, D. C. Allen, F. T. Goodrich, F. T. Logan did not reside here.
Frederick Swoyer, Benjamin Wigley and Alfred Gray were never residents of the city or county.
E. F. Havens practiced successfully here for a number of years, yet died young.
Alonzo F. Callahan came to Leavenworth County from Ohio, in 1858.
J. C. Hemingway came from Kentucky.
J. F. Broadhead, George W. Still and Barzills Gray next appear.
The next five attorneys to appear on the roll are: P. Sidney Post, Charles H. Bargh, D. H. Hailey, William S. White, and W. R. Kickpatrick. John C. Tarr came here from Virginia.
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
D. S. Johns, S. H. Glenn, Ira P. Ballen, Edwin S. Grant, Othello I. Flagg, L. S. Mager and William H. Ruell were registered attorneys.
The names of the attorneys as heretofore set out were all subscribed to the attorney's roll previous to the admission of Kansas as a state. After the admission of Kansas as a state the first name to appear on the roll is that of Samuel D. Lecompte. Lecompte, after leaving the bench as judge of the First Judicial District of the territory of Kansas, opened an office here. He associated with him in the practice William G. Mathias and Lewis Burns. He practiced here for several years and then returned to the East where he spent the latter part of his days.
D. J. Brewer whose name follows that of Judge Lecompte's on the attorney roll came to this city from New York. His first legal association here was with the law firm of Johnstone, Stinson & Havens. Later he formed a partnership with P. B. Hathaway under the firm name of Brewer & Hathaway. Shortly afterward he was appointed United States Commis- sioner. Later he was elected county attorney, then probate judge, and still later judge of the district court. He also held the office of county superintendent of schools here at one time.
Judge Brewer's rise was rather rapid from the very inception. From the district bench he was elected one of the judges of the supreme court of the state of Kansas. Later when there was a vancancy on the bench of the United States Circuit Courts he was appointed by the President. From this position he advanced in a few years to a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, being appointed December 18, 1889. He died in Washington, D. C., March 28, 1910.
R. H. Housley, for a time identified with the law office of Clough & Wheat, devoted more of his attention to farming than to his practice.
Thomas P. Fenlon came to this county in 1859 from Pennsylvania, and took a high rank as a criminal lawyer: He served several terms in the State Legislature. He was a Democrat and was one of the leaders of his party.
Samuel S. Ludlam came to this county in 1859 from Michigan. He early deserted the practice of law and entered into newspaper work.
F. P. Fitzwilliam was one of the foremost attorneys in the city for a number of years.
Lysander B. Wheat was another attorney who early forced his way to the very pinnacle of his profession in this city and went to make up that legal coterie which gave to Leavenworth County one of the most for-
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
midable of bars. He came to this county in 1859 and for a time was asso- ciated in the practice with William McNeil Clough.
Owen A. Bassett lived at Lawrence, Kansas, where he was district judge.
John M. Case came to this county in 1859 from Wisconsin. He prac- ticed here until about the time of the Civil War when he returned to Wisconsin.
R. P. C. Wilson, before coming here, resided in Platte City, Missouri. He early associated himself with A. J. Jacobs.
George W. DeCosta practiced here but a very short time and then moved to the West.
T. A. Hurd shed light and brilliancy upon the Leavenworth Bar. He came here in 1859 from New York. He was associated with H. Miles Moore. During Governor Glick's administration he was appointed to the Supreme Court of the State of Kansas. Judge Hurd enjoyed a large and successful practice here during his lifetime as an attorney.
N. H. Wood was also from Wisconsin.
John P. Mitchell was a resident of the city for a number of years.
W. W. Gallagher was for a time associated with the firm of Delahay, Dugger & Gallagher.
P. P. Hathaway practiced quite extensively here for several years. He was identified with David J. Brewer for some time.
W. S. Carroll came to this county in 1859, and eventually moved to Wyandotte County.
E. Stillings, another of the more noted of early day lawyers, came from Ohio at an early date and formed a law partnership with Thomas Fenlon, and later with Judge Hurd.
Hiram Griswold came from Ohio. For a time he was associated in the practice of law with Z. E. Britton.
William McNeil Clough came here from Platte County, Missouri.
Charles W. Lowrie never practiced.
George H. Hoyt, Z. E. Britton and D. B. Halderman registered but never practiced.
William C. McDowell, from Ohio, enjoyed a large and successful prac- tice here for a number of years and was eventually elected judge of the District court of this county. He met death through an accident in St. Louis, Missouri.
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Lewis Burns was a resident of Weston, Missouri, before coming here. When Kansas was admitted as a territory Burns came here from Weston and proceeded to take up a large tract of land in Salt Creek Val- ley. At one time he was a member of the law partnership known as Lecompte, Mathias & Burns. He later moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, and entered the newspaper business.
L. M. Goddard took a leading part in the affairs of the city and was elected county attorney for several years. Mr. Goddard removed from here to Colorado and was elected one of the judges of the Supreme Court of that state.
Hector D. Mackey devoted his time to the insurance and real estate business.
James S. Jelly came from Indiana and practiced very successfully until about the time of the outbreak of the Civil War when he returned to his home in Indiana.
George H. English was a very clever attorney and gentleman and practiced here for a number of years but when Kansas City gave evi- dence of developing into a city he moved there.
Charles W. Helm came from Virginia. He was a very successful practitioner while here. He remained in this city until about the time of the Civil War when he moved to Texas.
Henry M. Burligh was a resident of the city here but did not practice on an extensive scale or for long.
Joseph W. Taylor occupied a very prominent place among the early day attorneys, and his active interest in politics secured his election to the State Legislature several terms as well as county attorney. He removed to Colorado.
Byron Sherry served one term as judge of the Leavenworth County Criminal Court and later went to Kansas City.
James Ketner occupied a very high position in the legal profession here for a number of years and served two terms as probate judge. He later removed to Junction City, Kansas.
Nicholas Smith came from Kentucky at an early date. After the death of his wife he removed to New York where he became associated with Horace Greeley in the publication of the New York Tribune.
Isaac E. Eaton was another Ohio attorney to come to this state. He was an active Democrat and quite a leader.
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Newton Mann came to this state shortly after its organization. He was elected twice as probate judge of the county and together with his brother Nathan Mann who was associated with him in the practice of law.
Among the most famous of early day attorneys to practice law in this city was William T. Sherman of Civil War fame. Sherman came to this city in 1858 and soon engaged in the practice of law, associating him- self in partnership with Hugh Ewings and Dan McCook. Sherman, while associated with a formidable firm of attorneys here, never gave a great deal of his time to the practice of law. Shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War Sherman removed to Louisiana. It was from that place that he entered the army upon the outbreak of the war.
Thomas Ewings, Jr., another famous early day lawyer, was associ- ated with William Sherman in the practice here. He was elected as the first chief justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Kansas. When the war broke out he was commissioned a colonel of a company which he had raised. He rose from this rank to that of Brigadier-General. It was he that during the war issued the famous "Order No. 11" which was aimed at the destruction of Missouri Guerillas. After the war Ewings returned to his home in Ohio and still later went to New York where he engaged in the practice of law.
Hugh Ewings was another member of the famous early day legal firm of Sherman, Ewings & McCook. Most of Mr. Ewings' time was taken up in real estate business rather than the practice of law. He like other members of this famous legal firm proceeded to get connected quite early with military affairs upon the outbreak of the war, he returned to Ohio and raised a regiment of volunteers for the Union Army. He was appointed colonel of this regiment and from this rank rose during the war to that of Major General. He held the position of United States Minister to The Hague.
Dan McCook, the other member of the firm of Sherman, Ewings & McCook, came here originally from Ohio during territorial days. He was a very brilliant young attorney and the partnership was a noted one of those days. McCook was a member of the famous "Shields Guards" of this city in those days and at the time of the outbreak of the war this famous partnership dissolved and McCook returned to his home in Ohio where he assisted in raising a regiment for the Union Army and received a commission of colonel. From this he rose, like his three associates, to the rank of General during the war. He was wounded in battle during the war from which he eventually died.
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
James F. Legate, whose name appears next on the attorney roll, came to Kansas in the early fifties from the State of Massachusetts. He was a very active Free State man and took an unusual amount of interest in early day politics. Insofar as the practice of law is concerned, Legate devoted but little of his time to it before the local courts. He liver, upon first coming to the state, at Lawrence, Kansas. Mr. Legate held numerous positions of honor and trust during his lifetime which were given him by his numerous friends and constituents.
L. G. Hopkins came here in 1868 from New York State where he had been engaged for several years in the practice of law. He practiced here until he died. During his latter years, especially, he devoted most of his time to abstract work. His son, Edgar Hopkins, at present carries on the abstract business.
J. D. Shafer was another attorney of the late sixties and early seven- ties who practiced here. He came from Pennsylvania and arrived here April 2, 1867. He practiced here successfully for a number of years.
H. N. Pendery, the next attorney, was a son of John L. Pendery, also an early day attorney. He was born in Cincinnati and was a graduate of Harvard University. He practiced here for a number of years.
William Green came to Leavenworth with his parents in 1854. His father, Henry T. Green, was also an early day attorney who early gave up the practice of law and retired to his farm in the vicinity of Delaware City. William studied law and practiced here for some time.
E. L. Carney was the son of Governor Carney, second governor of the State of Kansas. Ed. Carney, as he was known, was born in Kenton County, Ohio, and came here at an early date. He practiced here for some time after his admission to the bar.
Vinton Stillings came to Kansas in 1863 with his parents in 1863. His father, E. Stillings, was one of the early attorneys of the county. Vinton Stillings practiced here for several years.
W. C. Hook was born in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, September 24, 1857. He practiced in this city from 1878 until 1899. In 1899 he was chosen United States District Judge for the District of Kansas and held this position until 1903 when he was appointed judge of the United States Circuit Court for the 8th judicial circuit, which position he still holds.
Henry Woolman was a son of Jonas Woolman, a prominent early day citizen of this city. He practiced here for a number of years.
Laurens Hawn was born at Weston, Missouri, and came to this city with his parents in 1860. He later graduated from Cornell University
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
and began the practice of law here in the year 1878. For a number of years he held the office of Probate Judge in this county. His practice at the present time is confined exclusively to his office.
M. L. Hacker came here from Kentucky in 1871. He practiced here for some time. He held, during his lifetime, numerous positions of trust, being at one time mayor of the city.
J. P. Stinson came from Maine. He was a graduate of Yale Univer- sity and practiced here during the eighties and early nineties. He finally removed to Boston, Massachusetts, where he died.
C. P. Rutherford was born in Meigs County, Ohio, November 13, 1847. He was a graduate of Atwood College, Albany, New York, and came to Kansas in 1881, locating at Leavenworth. His first office in the city was with Lucien Baker. He has served as county attorney and as city attorney of the city of Leavenworth. He is still active.
Henry F. Misselwitz practiced here during the eighties for awhile.
Lysander B. Wheat was the son of Lysander B. Wheat, a prominent early day citizen of this city. For years he took an active interest in the welfare of the city. He held numerous positions of trust during his life- time here and was for years the city's foremost criminal attorney.
John H. Atwood's name is next to appear on the attorney roll. He was born in Phillipston, Massachusetts, and was a son of Andrew and Mary E. Atwood. His legal education was obtained at Harvard Univer- sity where he graduated in 1884. He then came to Leavenworth where he engaged in the practice of law from 1884 until 1908 when he removed to Kansas City, Missouri, to engage in the practice there, being at the pres- ent time connected with the law firm of Atwood, Wickersham, Hall & Popham.
During his practice here, Mr. Atwood ranked as one of the city's most brilliant attorneys. He took an active interest in Democratic poli- tics. He served as County Attorney of Leavenworth County from 1886 to 1892. During the World War he was sent to France on a special mis- sion and while there traversed the entire Western battle front.
Samuel C. Wheat, the next attorney to register for practice in this city and county, was the son of Samuel Wheat. He was at one time rated as Leavenworth's most brilliant attorney. He was associated for years here in the practice of law with his father.
J. H. Wendorff, for several years before taking up the practice of law in this county, taught in the county schools. He served four years as
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county attorney of Leavenworth County and for the past twelve or four- teen years has been judge of the first judicial district of the State of Kansas which is composed of Leavenworth County.
T. W. Bell registered December 7, 1886. He has for years been one of the leading colored attorneys of this city.
Joseph Combs registered for practice before the local court Septem- ber 19, 1887. He never practiced here to any extent.
William E. Goss, the next attorney on the roll, registered October 15, 1887. He practiced here but very little.
C. S. Kinney, whose name appears next on the attorney roll, regis- tered for practice before the local courts. He practiced in this city but a short time.
W. W. Hooper subscribed his name to the roll September 26, 1888. Mr. Hooper came here from Nebraska and his legal education was obtained in the office of Vinton Stillings and at Ann Arbor, Michigan. For a num- ber of years before taking up the study of law, Mr. Hooper was employed in the city here as a telegraph operator and station agent. While he has always taken an active interest in public affairs, Mr. Hooper has never held a public office with the exception of being a member of the local school board.
Wilson G. Lowe was born and raised in the city of Leavenworth and organized the first company of high school cadets here. He never practiced very extensively here.
Thomas P. Fenlon, Jr., a son of T. P. Fenlon, one of Leavenworth's leading early day lawyers, was the next attorney to subscribe his name.
W. B. Latta registered June 19, 1889. He did not practice here but a short time when he removed to New York. He died several years ago.
J. D. Wendorff, a brother of J. H. Wendorff, at present time judge of the first judicial district, was born in Jefferson. He registered as an attor- ney here June 29, 1889. At the present time he is a practicing attorney in Kansas City, Missouri.
N. E. VanTuyl registered September 16, 1889. For a number of years he was a member of the law firm of Kelso, Van Tuyl & O'Keefe. He prac- ticed in this city about fifteen years and is at the present time connected with the Prairie Oil & Gas Company at Independence, Kansas.
H. M. Minor was the next attorney to subscribe his name.
W. L. McClinton came here from Pennsylvania. He registered for practice February 28, 1891. He served as assistant county attorney under
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
John H. Atwood and served during the Spanish-American War in the United States army. At present he is a lieutenant colonel in the United States army.
William C. McDonald, next on the attorney roll, came to Leavenworth in 1888 and studied law in the office of William Dill. He served as deputy clerk of the district court under Con Curtin, and later removed to the Pacific Coast where he died of consumption in 1905.
J. C. Petherbridge was a Leavenworth County man, being born near Boling. He practiced here for a number of years. About 1904 he removed to Kansas City, Missouri, where he is at the present time engaged in the practice.
B. R. Brewer is never known to have resided here.
John T. O'Keefe, whose name appears next on the attorney roll was born in Leavenworth County, January 19, 1871. His legal education was obtained at Yale University where he graduated with the degree of L.L.B. in 1893. He opened an office here after his being admitted to the bar and has remained in the practice here since that time. While he has always taken an active interest in public affairs he has never held but one office, that of city attorney for several years.
Eli Nirdlinger registered September 20, 1892. He has served as judge of the city court of Leavenworth since 1917.
John R. Judge never practiced here to any extent.
James C. Stone never engaged in active practice here, though he registered for such May 5, 1893.
A. E. Dempsey, next on the attorney roll for this county, was born in High Prairie Township, Leavenworth County, in April, 1866. After being admitted to the bar he became associated with the late Judge Gil- patrick in the practice of law here. At the present time he is located in the Times Building.
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