USA > Missouri > Mercer County > History of Harrison and Mercer Counties, Missouri : from the earliest times to the present : together with sundry personal, business, and professional sketches and family records : besides a condensed history of the State of Missouri, etc > Part 25
USA > Missouri > Harrison County > History of Harrison and Mercer Counties, Missouri : from the earliest times to the present : together with sundry personal, business, and professional sketches and family records : besides a condensed history of the State of Missouri, etc > Part 25
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James McCollum, a native of Harrison County, and son of one of its oldest and most reliable citizens, read law in the office of Judge John C. Howell, and was licensed to practice about the year 1868 or 1869. He was a young man of studious habits, possessed good legal ability, and for a period of five or six years did a general practice in the courts of Harrison and other counties. He went to Joplin, Mo., several years ago, and subsequently located in Kansas City, where he now resides in the practice of his profession.
Andrew Fawcett read law in his native State (New York), and in 1870 came to Bethany and effected a partnership in the practice with D. S. Alvord. Mr. Fawcett had a profound knowledge of legal science, and in all matters pertaining to real estate and land litigation was consulted as an authority. He was an excellent office lawyer, careful and methodical in the preparation of all legal papers, and the confidence reposed in his judgment was never misplaced. His supe- rior qualifications to become distinguished in professional life were
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impaired somewhat by his modesty, which rendered him averse to anything like demonstration in his profession. He led a singularly pure and honorable life, and died unusually esteemed and beloved by all who knew him in September, 1879.
J. Frank Ward was a native of Ohio, but came to Harrison County in 1877 from Kansas, in which State he had formerly figured as a local politician. His legal attainments were average, but not being aggressive he failed to secure a remunerative practice, his business having been confined principally to justice courts. He pub- lished a small local paper at Eagleville for some time, and in 1885 returned to Kansas, where he now resides.
Oscar Butler, son of Judge Asaph M. Butler, was born and raised . in Harrison County. He commenced the study of law with Thomas D. Neal, was admitted to the bar in 1878, and after practicing two years entered into partnership with D. J. Heaston, under the firm name of Heaston & Butler. He was elected prosecuting attorney in 1884, and discharged the duties of that office in a manner that elicited praise from the older and more experienced members of the bar. Mr. Butler was a young man of most excellent moral character, and by his diligent application to his profession gave promise of a bright and useful future. His career was cut short, however, death having claimed him for a victim in 1886.
S. W. Leslie came to Bethany in 1880 from Maryville, Mo., in which city he had formerly been engaged in the practice. He was well posted in the underlying principles of the profession, earned the reputation of a good advocate, and for a period of about four years did a fairly remunerative business in the courts of Harrison County. He later went to Kingman, Kas., in which city he was recently ap- pointed judge.
G. W. Cooper began practicing law in Bethany about the year 1880. He came to Harrison County from the city of Kirksville, and was for some time engaged in the practice, in partnership with Gen. B. M. Prentiss. He earned the reputation of a fair criminal lawyer, but, resorting to practices not considered as reputable, soon became unpopular with his professional associates of the Bethany bar. He was thoroughly aggressive, would fight hard for a client, and acquired considerable notoriety as what one is pleased to term "a police law- yer." He left Bethany in 1883, and located in Sioux City, Iowa.
C. A. Winslow was born in Virginia, but raised in Harrison County, Mo. He read law in the office of D. S. Alvord, was admit- ted to the bar in 1880, and practiced in Bethany for a period of about
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six years, in connection with the real estate and loan business. He was aggressive in the profession, a good student, and stood well in the confidence and esteem of the people. He moved to Marion, Kas., in 1886.
J. W. Vandivert was born in Ohio, and came to Harrison County, in early youth. He entered upon the study of the legal profession with D. S. Alvord in 1874, and in 1875 was formally admitted to practice at the Bethany bar. He was a young man of excellent character, and possessed a mental organization of fine texture, which eminently fitted him for a high rank in the legal profession. He became well versed in the law, and but for his early death would have made his mark in his chosen calling. He died in the year 1879.
Samuel W. Vandivert, brother of the preceding, read law in Bethany, graduated from the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, and began the practice in 1877. As a lawyer Mr. Vandivert is positive in his position, when taken, and excels, perhaps, in the criminal practice. He is a good advocate and his addresses before a jury are always clear, logical, and frequently eloquent. He located in Kinsley, Kas., in 1885, where he now enjoys a large and lucrative business.
W. S. McCray became a resident of Bethany in 1880, and pre- pared for the legal profession by a course of reading in the office of D. S. Alvord. He possesses average legal ability, and practiced at the Harrison County bar for about two or three years. He is at this time a resident of Kansas.
A. R. Brown, of Harrison County, read law at the town of Eagle- ville, and was licensed to practice about the year 1877. He was only moderately successful in the profession, his legal business having been confined principally to matters adjudicated in the justice courts. In 1882 he moved to Dakota, where he was subsequently elected prose- cuting attorney.
J. W. Boyle came to Harrison County from Iowa about the year 1880. He had previously practiced the legal profession in that State and Dakota. He had a good knowledge of the law, but did not suc- ceed in securing a very lucrative practice while a resident of Harrison County. He moved to Texas in 1884.
Among the prominent non-resident lawyers who have practiced in the circuit court of Harrison County from time to time is John H. Shanklin, of Trenton, Mo., a man of high legal distinction in North- west Missouri. Mr. Shanklin's reputation as a successful criminal lawyer is second to that of no other attorney in the northern part of the State, and he is frequently retained as counsel in important cases in
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distant counties. He is a master spirit before a jury, and seldom fails by clear reasoning, strong argument, and fervid eloquence, to make a favorable impression in favor of his client. He is essentially a law- yer and thoroughly familiar with all branches of the profession. He was a member of the constitutional conventions of 1861 and 1875.
. Jacob T. Tindall, of Gentry County, Mo., practiced in the courts of Harrison County from time to time before the war. He was a pro- found lawyer, a popular advocate, and stood in the front among the legal men of Northwest Missouri. He entered the Federal service in 1861 as colonel of the Twenty-third Missouri Infantry, and was killed at the head of his regiment at the battle of Shiloh.
George W. Lewis, of Albany, has practiced on this circuit ever since about the year 1847, and is now one of the oldest attorneys in the northern part of the State. He has been a practitioner of prominence among his professional associates for many years, and as a lawyer en- joys a reputation much more than local. He still resides at Albany, but has retired from the active duties of his profession.
William M. Rush, formerly of Daviess County, now of St. Joseph, is well known in the circuit court of Harrison County, having been retained from time to time as counsel in well-known criminal cases. He is a successful practitioner, and is well known in legal circles throughout the State.
Hon. Mordecai Oliver, ex-secretary of State and member of Congress, practiced in the courts of Harrison County a number of years ago, and is well remembered by the older members of the bar. He ranked among Missouri's leading lawyers and statesmen during the war, and for several years thereafter, and is still a man of prominence where he resides.
Hon. Silas Woodson, ex-governor, is not unknown in Harrison County, having been called to practice in the courts of the circuit from time to time. Judge Woodson being a man of State reputation needs no especial mention in the history of the bar of Harrison County.
A. H. Conroe, an early circuit attorney, practiced law in the courts of Harrison County a number of years before the war, and enjoyed the reputation of an able and painstaking counselor. He espoused the cause of Maximilian, late Emperor of Mexico, and shared the fate of that unfortunate monarch, having been shot by order of the Mexi- can authorities at the downfall of the empire.
Hon. J. W. Alexander, present speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, practiced for a number of years in the courts of Har- rison County, and is still retained in important cases. He is a suc-
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cessful practitioner, a firm lawyer, and one of the representative men of the State.
Present Bar .- The present bar of Harrison has lost nothing of the high character that distinguished it in the early history of the county. Sketches of its present members will be found in the biographical department, and anything beyond a mere mention of the dates of their admission to the practice here would be but repetition.
D. J. Heaston, the oldest resident attorney at this time, read law at Winchester, Ind., with Judge Smith, and was licensed to practice in that State in 1858. He came to Harrison County the following year, since which time he has been engaged in the active practice of his profession at Bethany.
D. S. Alvord adopted the legal profession at the age of twenty, and prepared for the same by a course of reading in the office of Messrs. Schofield, Ferris & Manier, at Carthage, Ill. He was admitted to the bar in 1858, came to Harrison County in 1865, and, with the exception of Col. Heaston, is the oldest practitioner at the Bethany bar.
William C. Heaston read law with his brother, D. J. Heaston, and was admitted to practice in the courts of Harrison County, about the year 1868.
F. H. Ramer came to Bethany in 1857, read law in 1870-71 with Thomas D. Neal, and was licensed to practice in 1872.
Joseph F. Bryant read law in Bethany while serving as county clerk, and became a practitioner in 1862.
John M. Sallee began the study of law in Iowa in 1876, came to Bethany in 1883, and was admitted to the Harrison County bar the same year.
William H. Skinner, present prosecuting attorney, read law at Clinton, Ill., began the practice in Emporia, Kas., in 1866, and for some years has practiced in Harrison and adjoining counties.
George W. Wanamaker read law in Canada, graduated from the University of Michigan, and began the practice of his profession in 1876, at Kirksville, Mo. He came to Bethany in 1878, and for some time has been senior member of the law firm of Wanamaker & Barlow.
A. F. Woodruff studied law in Ohio in 1874, admitted to the bar in Mercer County, Mo., in 1877, and in 1879 came to Bethany, where he has since practiced. He is at this time junior member of the law firm of Alvord & Woodruff.
James C. Wilson came to Missouri in 1877, read law at Maryville, Nodaway County, with Dawson & Roseberry, and was licensed to
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practice in 1880, at Grant City. He came to Bethany the latter year, and has been an active member of the Harrison bar ever since.
George W. Barlow, of the firm of Wanamaker & Barlow, is a graduate of the law department of the State University at Columbia. He began the practice of his profession at Bethany in 1879.
Ezra H. Frisby graduated from the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, in March, 1883, and began to practice in Bethany in partner- ship with S. W. Vandivert, Esq., of Kinsley, Kas.
Gen. B. M. Prentiss practiced law for some years in Quincy, Ill., and became a member of the Bethany bar in 1880. For the last few years he has devoted but little attention to the profession.
Prof. J. R. Kirk, superintendent of the city schools of Bethany, studied law at Moulton, Iowa, in the office of J. C. Coad, and received license to practice at Centreville, this State, in 1883. He was admitted to the Harrison County bar in 1885.
James C. Anderson practices law at the town of Ridgeway, and H. W. Gilbert has an office at Martinsville.
THE PRESS, ELECTIONS AND RAILROADS.
The Press .- The record of the newspaper press of a county, if it has happened to fall into the hands of men competent to make it fully discharge its duty, ought to be one of the most important pages of a county's history. One of the greatest things that can always be said of our country is, it has a free press. No man has to be licensed by the Government to print a book or publish a paper. It has been circumscribed by no law except that of natural selection; any one who wishes can start a paper at any time and say anything he desires to say. If he chooses not to be suppressed there is no power to suppress him, except a military necessity, and once in a great while, mob violence. If he is persecuted or punished by some irate citizen it is not certain but that he always gets the best of the difficulty, especially when he begins to prate about "the freedom of the press and the liberty of thought." The wisest act of our Government in all its history was the unbridling of the press. It was the seed planted in good soil for its own perpetuity and the happiness and welfare of the people. To make the press absolutely free, especially after the centuries of vile censorship over it, was an act of wisdom equal in importance to the original invention of movable type. A free press makes free speech, free schools, free intelligence and freedom, and when political storms arise, and the turbid waves of popular ignorance and passion beat upon the ship of
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State, then indeed is a free press the beacon shining out upon the troubled waters.
The honor of establishing the first newspaper in Harrison County belongs to Edwin R. Martin and Samuel Allen, who, in the summer .of 1859, came from Memphis, Mo., and started what was known as the Bethany Star, an independent local sheet, the first number of which made its appearance on the 4th of August, of the above year. Messrs. Martin & Allen were practical printers, and men of more than average literary abilities, and under their management the Star early became an important factor among the business interests of Bethany. While started ostensibly as a neutral paper, the Star soon took advanced grounds upon the great political questions of the day, and being considerably Southern in its tendencies made many enemies throughout the county. The paper was a six-column folio, and in mechanical make-up and general appearance compared favorably with any of its numerous successors.
Martin & Allen continued its publication until 1861, when the Star was purchased by William A. Templeman, who changed the name to the Weekly Union, by which the paper was known until it again changed hands in 1863. The office of the Union was in the third story of the building now occupied by the Dunn Bros., on South Street, and the paper was printed upon an old fashioned Franklin hand press, which under the management of E. R. Martin turned out work that would not suffer in comparison with the pro- duction of offices more recently established. The political complexion of the paper, as indicated by the name, was strongly in favor of the national union, and the able editorials of Col. Heaston and others did much toward counteracting the influence of the disloyal element in Harrison County at the breaking out of the war. It was ably edited, presented a fine appearance, and before changing hands had reached a circulation considerably in excess of 600.
In 1863 Henry Howe purchased the office, and, changing the name of the paper to the Weekly Union of States, secured the services of Howard T. Combs, son of Gen. Leslie Combs, of Kentucky, a writer of fair ability, as editor. Mr. Combs was popular with the people, and during the year he exercised editorial control the paper increased in circulation and became one of the most vigorous ultra Republican sheets in Northern Missouri. At the end of one year Mr. Howe took charge of the editorial department, but after a short time spent in that capacity he went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, leaving the office in charge of his sons, Ed. and James Howe, who continued the
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publication until 1865, at which time Thomas D. Neal purchased the office, and established the North Missouri Tribune. Mr. Neal was a man of great energy and determination, and as a political writer soon took rank among the most aggressive Republican editors in this part of the State. He made his paper the Republican organ of Harrison County, and continued its publication very successfully until 1872, at which time it was purchased by William T. Foster, who subsequently changed the political complexion by his fearless advocacy of the Grange movement, the effect of which was a division in the Repub- lican ranks of Harrison. Under the editorial management of Mr. Fos- ter, who was a practical printer and trenchant writer, the Tribune grew in popular favor among the farmers, and was regularly issued as a Grange journal, until its purchase by John H. Phillibaum in 1875. After disposing of the office Mr. Foster went to Iowa, where he afterward achieved considerable notoriety as the "weather prophet" of Burlington, and as a contributor to the Hawkeye, published in that city. Upon taking possession of the Tribune, Mr. Phillibaum con- verted it into a Democratic sheet, and, changing the name to the Harrison County Herald, published it until 1876, when the office was purchased by Al. S. Hickman and James P. Berry. Both Hickman and Berry were experienced printers, and spared no efforts to give the people a well edited and spicy local paper, but, the Democratic party being a small minority in Harrison County, the publication soon sus- pended for want of proper financial support. The Herald was a neat folio, eight columns to the page, and in point of editorial ability and mechanical make-up, has been surpassed by no other newspaper in Harrison County.
In 1868 The Harrison County Press, a weekly Independent sheet, was established by a stock company, with Col. William P. Robinson as editor. The columns of this paper were made a medium for the discussion of all the leading questions of the day, and through them the political opinions of a number of local writers were given pub- licity. From its independent course the Press gradually merged into a conservative Republican sheet, but as such it antagonized certain elements of the party upon the great question of negro suffrage, which Mr. Robinson strenuously opposed upon grounds of moral as well as public policy. After the nomination of Grant and Seymour for the presidency, Col. Robinson severed his connection with the Press, and was succeeded by Paul Conner, of Illinois, who effected a complete revolution in the political feature of the paper, making it the local Democratic organ of Harrison County. Like some of his
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predecessors, however, Mr. Conner failed to make the paper finan- cially remunerative, and after continuing the publication about one year sold out to D. J. Heaston, who in 1870 changed the name to the Bethany Watchman, by which it was known as long as the office remained in Bethany. Having had considerable experience in the field of journalism, Mr. Heaston soon succeeded in working up an interest in behalf of the Watchman, and within a short time gained a good circulation and fair advertising patronage. It made its periodical visits until 1873, in which year the office was purchased by a stock company and moved to Grant City, where it was subsequently pub- lished under the name of the Worth County Times.
The Bethany Republican was established by Thomas D. Neal, and made its first appearance on the 22d of May, 1873. It was started as an uncompromising political paper, devoted to the interests of the Republican party, as witness the following from its first state- ment to the public: "This paper shall be strictly Republican. None need look for anything else. It will do all in its power to secure economy in our county affairs, low taxes and to induce immigration to our borders. It will be the friend of the farmer,
* the laborer, and the interests of our county generally. * It will be the organ of no man or ring, and will not be used as a means to place any man in office except the regular nominees of our party, the assertions of demagogues to the contrary notwithstanding. Its columns will be open to communications from all parts of the county on all questions." The presses and material of the Republican were purchased entirely new, and for the first two years the paper appeared as a six-column quarto, but was subsequently changed to an eight- column folio. As already stated, Mr. Neal was an able writer, and a politician of the most aggressive school. He continued as editor until the winter of 1875, when he sold out to Walter J. Wightman, who changed the name of the paper to the Harrison County Repub- lican, the first number of which was given to the public on the 6th of January, 1876. Mr. Wightman had previously published a paper at Eagleville, moving an office to that town in 1874, from Garden Grove, Iowa. He proved a fit successor to the former editor,' and by his unflinching adherence to his party did much toward unifying its interests in Harrison County. After continuing the paper a short time alone he effected a co-partnership with Mr. Neal, who subse- quently purchased the entire interest and ran the paper until 1881, when F. H. Ramer became sole proprietor and editor. The Repub- lican enjoyed a prosperous career under the editorial management of
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Mr. Ramer, who as a politician and writer wielded a strong influence in behalf of the Republican party of Harrison and neighboring coun- ties. In the fall of 1887 the paper again changed hands, Mr. Ramer disposing of the office to a stock company, with Hon. Nelson Church as editor.
With no previous experience in the field of journalism, Mr. Church has already gained widespread distinction as a clear and forcible writer, and as a local party organ the Republican under his manage- ment will compare favorably with any county paper in Missouri. It is essentially Republican in politics and fearless in the discussion of the leading questions of the day, upon all of which the editor has very pronounced and aggressive views. In mechanical make-up it is a model of neatness, and with a good advertising patronage and a con- stantly increasing circulation, now considerably in excess of 800, we bespeak for the paper a brilliant and prosperous future.
Bethany Broad Ax .- In March, 1877, D. J. Heaston and B. F. Meyer purchased the office of the Harrison County Herald, and on the 8th of the month issued the first number of the Bethany Broad Ax, a neat, seven-column folio, which ever since has been the recognized Democratic organ of Harrison County. Mr. Heaston took charge of the editorial department, and ran the paper in partnership with Mr. Meyer until 1881, at which time he purchased the latter's interest, and continued the publication alone about one year. He then sold a half interest in the office to W. L. Robertson, a partnership which lasted until January, 1884, when J. H. Cover, who had previously published a paper in Albany, Mo., purchased the entire interest and became editor. From the first number until the present time the Broad Ax has never wavered in its allegiance to the principles of the Democratic party, and, although fearless in the discussion of political questions, the ยท vituperation and personal abuse which frequently form the chief stock- in-trade of local partisan sheets find no place in its columns. It is now a five-column quarto, neat in its mechanical appearance, and has a bona fide circulation of 800.
The Harrison County Eagle was established at the town of Eagle- ville in July, 1874, by Walter J. Wightman, who, as already stated, moved the office and material from Garden Grove, Iowa. The Eagle was a seven-column folio, Republican in politics, and during the sev- enteen months of its publication at Eagleville gained the reputation of. being one of the spiciest and best edited papers ever published in Har- rison County. In December, 1875, Mr. Wightman moved his office to Bethany, and purchased the Republican, his connection with which
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has already been alluded to. In the spring of 1876 Frank Knapp, of Leon, Iowa, moved to Eagleville, and established the Eagleville News, a small independent sheet devoted to the interests of the town and county. The News was well printed, the editor being an experienced typo, but for want of proper financial support it ran its course in about six months, and was never revived.
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