USA > Missouri > Cole County > Jefferson City > The Bench and bar of St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City, and other Missouri cities : biographical sketches > Part 16
USA > Missouri > St Louis County > St Louis City > The Bench and bar of St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City, and other Missouri cities : biographical sketches > Part 16
USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > The Bench and bar of St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City, and other Missouri cities : biographical sketches > Part 16
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Mr. Clay began practice at Monticello in June, 1877, and was not long in building up a good business, for he had many friends who had witnessed his struggles In 1882 he was elected to the county office already mentioned, and is making an efficient prosecutor His industry is scarcely matched among the fra- ternity of the county He is a man of excellent judgement, a good counselor, a high-toned man of fine literary accomplishments, and popular in the county. This may be seen from the fact that there were two candidates against him for prosecuting attorney, and he had twice as many votes as both of them
Mr Clay has uniformly voted the democratic ticket; is an Odd Fellow, and holds the office of grand conductor of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, and has represented his district in the Grand Lodge at three sessions; is a member of the Christian Church, and a trustee of Christian University, and is a man of solid moral as well as legal character
He was married June 25. 1877, to Mass Charlotte Biggs, daughter of James Biggs, of Lewis county, and they have buried one daughter, and have two sons and one daughter living. Mrs Clay is a graduate of the classical department of the Christian University, and a refined and accomplished haly.
In January, 1883, Mr. Clay took into partnership James T. Lloyd, who had been a law student of his, and at an earlier day one of his brightest pupils in the Christian University.
A gentleman who has known Mr. Clay from boyhood, and who witnessed his struggles in obtaining a classical education, thus writes: "As prosecuting attor- ney Mr. Clay is giving. I think, very good satisfaction. Securing an abstract of the title of the lands in the county on an improved plan, he is well acquainted with our landed interests, and has inspired our people with perfect confidence He does a good deal in the real estate business, buying and selling for other par- ties, borrowing money and investing it for others, etc. He is regarded as a
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Christian gentleman; has never betrayed the confidence of his political party, and huis influence is always on the side of virtue and good order. It is almost needless to say that he has strong convictions in favor of right, honor and justice. As a well furnished lawyer, faithful to every trust, industrious and painstaking, he has the bright promise of a successful career
JOSEPH T. SANFORD.
PARIS
JOSEPH THOMAS SANFORD, public administrator for the county of Mon- roe, is a native of Henry county, Kentucky, a son of Pryor M. and Sarah Aun (Dawson) Sanford, and was born September 1, 1849; both parents were also born in that state. In 1859 the family came to this state, and the next year settled in Monroe county, on a farm near Paris, where the father is still living; the mother died in 1881.
Joseph Sanford worked on the farm and attended school until eighteen or nineteen years old; teaching two terms. He read law with Hon. A. M. Alexander, now member of congress for the second district; attended one course of lectures at the Saint Louis Law School; was licensed to practice in 1876, and the next year commenced practice in Paris, the shire town of Monroe county. He is dili- gent in his studies and in his business, sacredly regards the interests of his clients, and has the confidence of the community in his honesty as well as ability.
Mr. Sanford was elected public administrator by his democratic constituents in 1876; was reflected in 1886, and is now serving his second term. He is faith- ful in the discharge of any trusts confided to him.
Mr. Sanford is an Odd-Fellow, and has taken all the degrees in the subordi- nate lodge. He is a young man of good character, and of ambition enough to stimulate him to close application to his legal and social duties.
ORLANDO HITT.
T HE gentleman whose name heads this sketch is a son of Abram C. and Amanda (Netherton) Hitt, and was born in Oldham county, Kentucky, June 23, 1853. His parents were also born in that county, and belong to the agricultural community. In a850 the family moved to Audrain county, Missouri, and have lived here since that time, except during a portion of the period of the civil war, when they were with their friends in Kentucky.
Orlando Hitt received most of his literary education at the Missouri State University, at Columbia, where he spent four years. He gave one year to study in the law department of the same institution, and was one year in the State
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University of Kentucky, at Lexington, where he was graduated in 1877. Since that date he has been in practice at Mexico, and has built up a good business in the several courts of the state. He is a young man of good common sense, energetic and industrious, and has acquired an accurate, practical knowledge of the law. He has considerable of that lact necessary to a successful trial lawyer, and while he has not a vivid imagination, he has a strong, logical mind, and states and argues a case with clearness and precision. He has a high sense of honor, and is prompt in all his business transactions. He has never applied for an office, either elective or appointive, which he has not obtained.
Mr. Hitt was elected justice of the peace in the autumn of 1878, and resigned that office in the early part of 1881, in the spring of which year he was elected city attorney. He was reelected in 1882, and held the office two years, perform- ing its duties faithfully, and to the general satisfaction of his constituents. He has been United States commissioner for the last three or four years
Mr. Hitt belongs to the democratic school of politics, but is not, we under- stand, particularly active. He is not only a close student at law, but has con- siderable literary taste, and a choice collection of miscellaneous books, the works of none but standard authors. He is a studious, well informed man, of courteous and gentle manly demeanor, an attendant of the Christian or Disciple Church, and a man of excellent standing in the community.
ALPHONSO C. STEWART.
SAINT LOUIS.
LPHONSO C. STEWART is a rising lawyer of fine abilities. He was born
A at Lebanon, Tennessee, August 27, 1848, and is the son of General Alex- ander P. Stewart, a graduate of West Point, and first entered the confederate army as major of artillery. He was promoted successively to brigadier general, major general and lieutenant general; took part in all of the battles under Gen- erals Bragg and Joseph E. Johnston in Mahama and Tennessee, and the principal battles in the Mississippi Valley and in Kentucky, doing gallant and effective service, as the history of the war in those states more fully shows. The mother of our subject before marriage was Miss Harriet Chase, a relative of Hon. Salmon P. Chase, late chief justice of the supreme court of the United States.
Alphonse was educated at Cumberland University, at Lebanon, Tennessee, graduating in 1868, and receiving the degree of bachelor of laws. Being under twenty-one years of age, and consequently too young to be admitted to the bar, he remained as a post graduate at the law school a year, and presided as judge of the moot court. He was then admitted to the bar, and commenced practice at Winchester, Tennessee, with good success, remaining there one year, when he received a proposition from Judge Sylvanus Evans to go to Mississippi. Judge Evans had an office at Meridian and another at Enterprise. Mr. Stewart was
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placed in charge of the office at Enterprise, but not as an equal partner. At the end of the first year be accepted an offer to become a partner on equal terms for a term of five years The business of this firm was very extensive. They were the attorneys of the Mobile and Olo Railroad Company for that division and other corporations This partnership was dissolved by mutual consent. Mr. Stewart then removed to Saint Louis, and practiced alone a little over a year, and was then associated in partnership with Judge Andrew King and Judge J. W. Phillips, which lasted six months, and was dissolved at the request of Mr. Stewart. The partnership of Phillips and Stewart was then formed, and still continues. They are doing a large business, devoting their attention principally to corporation and commercial law; are attorneys for the Saint Louis Cotton Compress Company, general solicitors for the Texas and Saint Louis Railway Company, and have a large collection department in their office, managed chiefly by two clerks, J. S. Jones and G HL Ten Brock.
Mr. Stewart is active, energetic and a good trial lawyer and excellent coun- sel, a fluent speaker, good advocate and excellent citizen. He married Miss Eliza- beth Smith, the only scion of the Smith family in Franklin county, Tennessee, an estimable and refined lady. Her people were the most prominent of any in that county. They have two children, one son and one daughter.
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HON. GEORGE DENISON.
G BORGE DENISON was born in Windsor county, Vermont, November 24, 1831; the son of Daniel and Pamelia (Head) Denison. His grandfather, Colonel George Denison, was a prominent man, who emigrated from Connecti- cut and settled in Vermont, where he owned a large estate, about one hundred years ago. His father was educated to the profession of the law, and was sev- eral times a member of the state legislature. The progenitor of this large and favorably known family in the United States was William Denison, who landed in Massachusetts in rogi, in whose family the celebrated Indian missionary, John Eliot, was employed as a tutor at the time of his immigration to this country. The founder of the branch of the family from which our subject is a descendant was Captain George Denison, a soldier and the most successful Indian fighter of his time. Himself and wife were both celebrated for their elegant personal appearance. Captain Denison died in Hartford, Connecticut, October 23, 1694. George was graduated from Amherst College in 1855. He afterward attended the law university at Albany, graduating from that institution in 1857, and was admitted to the New York bar. He came to Saint Louis in 1858, and his prac- tice extended into all of the courts, both state and federal, and the supreme court at Washington, District of Columbia. In 1876 he was republican candidate for judge of the probate court of Saint Louis county, and in 1883 he was republican
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candidate for judge of the court of criminal correction of the city of Saint Louis. In 1877 he was appointed judge of the Saint Louis police court, which position he hold six years, giving the utmost satisfaction, and in 188; he was again appointed to the same position, which he now holds He is a sound lawyer in all of the departments of the profession
Judge Denison was married, in 1864, to Miss Emma Abbott Webster, a lady of rare accomplishments and highly educated.
JOHN A. HARRISON. SAINT LOUIS.
JOHN A. HARRISON was born at Lexington, Missouri, November 0, 1850 J He is the son of Rev. John A. Harrison, an eminent clergyman, a native of Lynchburgh, Virginia. His mother was Miss Emma Mauro, daughter of Phillip Mauro, an old resident of Saint Louis, and principal of the female seminary, about the year 1840. Our subject was educated at West Tennessee College, at Jackson, Tennessee, receiving his degree in 1869 The following year he com- menced the study of the law, with the late Charles G. Mauro, of Saint Louis; was admitted to the bar in November, 1871, and has practiced with excellent success since that time. In February, 1882, he formed a partnership with Mason G. Smith. They are doing a flourishing civil practice. Mr. Harrison is well posted in the statute law, and in the decisions of the courts; has a sound practical judg- ment and a copious flow of language. He stands high as a citizen; is a diligent student, and there are very few men at the Saint Louis bar who spend as much time at close work in the law library as Mr. Harrison. He has a remarkably good clientage.
He was married April 26, 1881, to Miss Marietta G Hall, a highly accom- plished and estimable lady.
THOMAS W. COLLINS. SUNT JOSEPH.
T HOMAS W. COLLINS was born November 1, 1825, in Scioto county, Ohio; the son of Thomas and Susannah (Carey) Collins. His parents were both Virginiaus, and removed to Ohio at an early day. Young Collins commenced his education in the common schools, and finished it in the seminary at Muncie, Indiana. He read law with James Craig and James Foster, of Holt county, Mis- souri; was admitted to the bar at Oregon, Holt county, by Judge Almond, in 1852; went to California in that year, where he followed teaching until 1855, when he returned to Missouri, settled in the practice of the law in Oregon, and was favored with a liberal share of patronage He was appointed county attorney of Holt
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county in 1973. He was the democratic candidate for circuit judge in 1872, and was defeated by Judge Kelley by only a few votes, although the district was largely republican. In 1875 be removed to Saint Joseph, where he has been in the prac- tive of the law ever since. Mr. Collins is an able lawyer, having a comprehensive mind, and is a logical reasoner. He is a gentleman highly respected for his in- tegrity and uprightness.
Mr. Collins was married May 11, 1855, at Oregon, to Miss Sarah Burnett, daughter of Roland and Nancy Burnett. They have had two children, one of whom, John B. Collins, is still living. He is a graduate of Yale College, class of ISST. He was captain of the Yale boating crew that won the prize in 1881. After graduating he went to Europe, and traveled one year, returning home; he then journeyed to California and returned; he is now reading law in his father's office, and is a promising young man.
SAMUEL A. DYSART.
LANCASTER.
AMUEL ANDREW DYSART is a native of Tennessee, and was born in S Marshall county, October 13, 1843, his parents being Milton Hall Dysart and Harriet C. (Neill) Ewing Dysart. They were both natives of Tennessee. The father was a Presbyterian minister. In 1854 the family went to Davis county, Iowa. The son attended the Troy, Davis county, Academy, and Knox College, Galesburgh, Ilinois, leaving in the sophomore year. He taught school a short time afterward; read law with Palmer and Weaver, of Bloomfield, lowa; was admitted to the bar at Bloomfield in 1867, and commenced practice that year at Lancaster.
In 1871, in company with Henry A. Miller, he bought the "Lancaster Excel- sior," and made it a democratic newspaper, and two years or more afterward dis- posed of his interest to Mr. Miller, having previously founded the " Scotland County News" at Memphis, another democratic organ. In 1875 he sold out, returned to Lancaster, and, his health being poor, went into the mercantile busi-
In 1879 Mr. Dysart returned to the practice of the law, forming a partnership with N. M. Shelton, and the firm of Shelton and Dysart still continues.
Mr. Dysart is a painstaking and accurate lawyer; never gives an opinion or undertakes a cause without mature deliberation and careful, conscientious inves- tigation; is thoroughly informed, and yet is an industrious student; is a man of deep convictions, and cherishes his opinions as he would a nursling; is a fluent speaker, a close, logical reasoner, and tries a cause with equal success either before the jury or the court; an under current of native humor in his make up frequently manifests itself when before the jury, that goes far toward rendering his speeches effective
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Mr. Dysart has held different offices of trust and responsibility, and discharged their duties with fidelity to the public While in lowa he was for three years superintendent of the publicschools of Davis county; he was treasurer of Schuyler county in 1876-78, and since January 1, 1883, has been prosecuting attorney of the county.
He is a somewhat active democratic politician, and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
The wife of Mr. Dysart was Eliza Higher, daughter of Elder Jesse Highce, of the Christian Church, married at Drakesville, Davis county, lowa, June 2, 1868, and they have buried one daughter, and have five children living.
LOUIS R. OUIN. KINSES CITY.
THE subject of this sketch is a native of Pike county, Mississippi, and was born in October, 1853 He is the son of the late Hon. James B. Quin, once probate judge of Pike county, and a member of the constitutional convention held in Mississippi after the war. Judge Quin was a gentleman highly respected for his intellectual attaiments, and principles of honor and uprightness. His mother, before marriage, was Miss Narcissa E. Smith. Louis was educated at the University of Mississippi, at Oxford, graduating from the law department in ISSo. He commenced the practice of his profession, with excellent success, in Summer and Le Flore counties. He came to Kansas City in December, 1882, and formed a partnership with his brother. IL S. Oum, under the firm name of Quin and Quin, where they have made a good beginning in the practice of law. Mr. Quin is well read in his profession, tries his cases well, and is a painstaking, conscientious lawyer, and a gentleman highly respected wherever he is known
HUGH S. OUIN. A LASIN CLEY.
H UGH S. QUIN is a member of the firm of Quin and Quin, and to the sketch of his elder brother reference is made as to his parentage. He is a brilliant young lawyer, having a legal mind of high order. He is a fluent, easy speaker, and will undoubtedly become one of the finest orators at the bar of his district. His mind is subtle, clear and comprehensive. His success thus far at the bar has been very marked, and some of his forensic efforts have been pro- nounced superb. He is the master of elegant expression, and his style is remark- able for pure' English. He was born in Pike county, Mississippi, in July, 1856, and was educated at the University of Mississippi, at Oxford, in that state, and graduated from the literary department in 1870, and received the degree of bach-
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elor of arts from the law department of that institution in June, 1880. Ile commenced practice at Winona, Mississippi, July, 1880. About six months later he became the senior member of the firm of Quin and Adair, at Johnsonville. He then formed a partnership with William Wilson, of Carrollton, under the firm name of Quin and Wilson He also had a partner at Winona by the name of Robert Bunton. Mr. Quin was the advocate for the three firms. When the overflow came, in 1882, he left Mississippi, and came to Kansas City, Missouri, and formed a partnership with his brother, Louis R. Quin
In September, 1882, he was married to Miss Lulu Lee, a highly accomplished lady, formerly of Jacksonville, Ilinois
THOMAS J. POWELL NAH FLORENCE.
T THOMAS JEFFERSON POWELL was born where Danville, Montgomery county, Missouri, now stands, September 15, 1827, being a son of James and Nancy (Shelor) Powell. His father was a soldier in the second war with Eng- land. Both parents were natives of Orange, now Green county, Virginia, mem- bers of old families in that commonwealth. James Powell came from Virginia to Montgomery county in 1820, while Missouri was a territory, and died on his farm in 1828. His widow lived till a few years ago. Thomas was reared on the farm, and received, meanwhile, the mental drill of the common school of the place. In 1847 he went to lowa ; remained there nearly one year, returned to Missouri, and has ever since resided in Missouri. He taught school in Montgomery county one year, then went on the old homestead tarm at Danville, and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits in connection with real estate, official duties and, since 1805, the law, with his other pursuits. He seems to have made a success in almost everything to which he has put his hands. He retains the old homestead at Danville ; has a finely improved farm of five hundred acres half a mile from New Florence; other lands in this vicinity, and most of the vacant lots in the village just named. He is one of the largest real-estate dealers in Montgomery county. Most of his accumulations are the result of industry, shrewd management and wise foresight.
In 1852 Mr. Powell was elected sheriff of the county, and held that office and that of collector four years. In 1856 he was the democratic candidate for the legislature, and was defeated by the American or know-nothing party. In August, 1800, he was again elected sheriff, and in 1861 was deposed from office on account of his political affiliations, which were with the confederates, Dur- ing the civil war he managed the large farm on which he now lives, and was a merchant at New Florence in the firm of Powell, Hunter and Company. While holding the county offices already mentioned, Mr. Powell was accustomed to read law more or less, and became very familiar with the statutes of the state,
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etc., and in 1865 he was admitted to the bar. Since that date he has practiced in connection with farming, and has a decidedly creditable standing among the legal fraternity. It is a noteworthy fact that since 1852, when he first took the shrievalty, he has never missed attending a session of the circuit court, regular or adjourned, held in Montgomery county He was appointed notary public by Governor Fletcher in 1865, and still holds that office. Mr. Powell was public administrator for the county in 1858-59, and is holding that office at the present time. Immense sums of money have passed through his hands, and every dollar has been faithfully accounted for, Mr. Powell being eminently trustworthy as well as capable. He is local attorney for the Wabash, Saint Louis and Pacific Railroad Company, and politically a democrat.
The subject of these brief notes was married, in May, 1852, to Miss Mary M. Davault, of Montgomery county, and they have had fifteen children, thirteen of whom are yet living. Mr Powell is a plain-appearing man, guiltless of anything like overdone primness, kind to his neighbors, courteous to strangers, obliging to everybody, and thoroughly respected by everybody who knows him.
HON. ELIAS V. WILSON. EDIN.I.
E LIAS VICKERS WILSON, formerly judge of the fourth judicial circuit, was born in Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, February 17, 1824. His father was John K. Wilson, a native of Kentucky, a lawyer by profession, a prominent politician, and for two terms sheriff of Butter county; and his mother was Mary James, a native of New Jersey He was educated at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, taking an irregular course, including Latin, and omitting Greek, and taught a year or more. He read law at Hamilton, in the office of Weller and Ryan; was admitted to the bar at Columbus before the supreme bench in bank, and was in practice at Hamilton from 1847 to 1849, in which latter year he set- tled in Edina, his present home In a few years Mr. Wilson rose to prominence at the bar of his judicial circuit, and ere long it became manifest that he had peculiar fitness for the bench. In 1865 he was appointed by Governor Fletcher, judge of the fourth judicial circuit, to fill out the unexpired term of Judge Wag- ner, who had been appointed to the supreme bench. He was reflected, and served in all nearly ten years, leaving the bench with a spotless record, at the close of 1874. He donned the judicial ermine with that candor and firmness of nature that had always characterized his conduct with the people. His thorough knowledge of the law, acquired by long study and extensive practice, with firm convictions of the right, tempered by moderation, well qualified him for the bench, which he occupied with honor to himself, and credit to the state. With the members of the bar and the litigants in his forum, he was the just judge, mediator and friend of all. His rulings and decisions were so strongly imbedded
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in law and justice that very few of them failed to stand the test of the higher courts, and when he had ended his official career, and mingled again with the people, he was hailed with the plaudit. "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Judge Wilson has always shown himself a public-spirited citizen, ready to serve in any capacity in which he could be useful. At the organization of the public schools, he was appointed the school commissioner, and did a very valua- ble work in organizing the entire county.
In 1856 he was a candidate for the legislature against the democratic nominee, in a strong democratic county, and won the race, refusing to serve longer than one term. In 1864 he was elected to the state senate for the term of four years, but resigned to take his place on the beach, as already intimated. Prior to this time, in 1861. he organized the first military company for federal service in the county, and held the rank, first of captain and then of mayor.
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