USA > Missouri > Cole County > Jefferson City > The Bench and bar of St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City, and other Missouri cities : biographical sketches > Part 20
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 20
USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > The Bench and bar of St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City, and other Missouri cities : biographical sketches > Part 20
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FRANK D. TURNER. SAINT LOUIS.
RANK D. TURNER is a man of comprehensive mind. He is an excellent trial lawyer, and can with great readiness state a principle, and refer to the authorities that illustrate. He is eloquent and logical, and no man in Saint Louis more appreciates or better improves the technical opportunities offered him than Mr. Turner. He is Huent and witty, and during his active career as a lawyer has measured lances with some of the ablest lawyers in the West, and the succession of victories that has crowned his efforts gives evidence to the marked ability accredited to him. Considering his age, he has attained high rank as a lawyer, built up a large and lucrative practice, by which he has accumulated a hand- some fortune.
Mr. Turner was born in Quincy, Illinois, and is the son of Napoleon B. Tur- ner, a brother of Hon. John Turner, a circuit judge in Kentucky. Ilis mother, before marriage, was Miss Margaret A. Hoard, daughter of Judge Hoard, of Ken- tucky. Frank removed, with his parents, from Quincy to Saint Louis in infancy. He traveled all over the United States, leaving home in 1860, and, returning in 1870 to Saint Louis, settled here
Ile was educated in the public schools in Saint Louis, and Wyman Univer-
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sity: studied law with great assiduity in the offices of W. H. H. Russell and Rob- ert S. MeDonald, and was admitted to the bar by the supreme court in 1875. Ile commenced business by himself, and so continued until July, 1882, when he was associated with Thomas Morris, his present partner, making a specialty of crimi- nal law. He was attorney for George Gassert, alias Mitchell, who killed Officer Cummings in 1876. Gassert was found guilty, and sentenced to the penitentiary for thirty years, and served out two years of his sentence, when the case was appealed to the Saint Louis court of appeals, and from that court to the supreme court, where the doctrine was established that in order to constitute murder in the second degree, there must be proof of an intention to kill, which was contrary to the rulings of the supreme court up to that time. In consequence of this rul- ing, Gassert was cleared and released from prison. Mr. Turner was also one of the counsel in the celebrated case of Charles F. Kring, charged with murder. The case was appealed three times to the supreme court of the state, and after- ward to the supreme court of the United States. Kring was in jail, and died within three weeks after having secured his liberation on bail. Our subject was counsel in the gambling cases in which the Johnson gambling law was tested. where upwards of eight hundred indictments were found against various persons, R. C. Pate, the noted horseman, being one of the principals. He was also in the case of the State as. David Rugan, where the question arose involving the right of the respondent in criminal causes to testify in his own behalf. He was also counsel for the respondent in State as. Patrick Devlin, indicted for the murder of two women. He was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to twenty years in the penitentiary, and after three trials, the prisoner was found not guilty and released. Mr. Turner was also counsel for the respondent in the case of the State ps. Valen- time Burke, charged with burglary and larceny Burke was one of the most notori. outs thieves in the United States. . He told Mr Turner that if he would get him clear, he would never commit another crime Mr. Turner successfully defeuded him, and, true to his word, Burke has ever since been an honest man. The asso- ciate of Burke in crime, on the same state of facts, was found guilty and sentenced to fifteen years in the penitentiary, and is now serving out his sentence. At the last session of the legislature of Missouri, at law was passed prohibiting the sale of liquor on Sunday. The enforcement of this law by the state authorities meant a loss of hundreds and thousands of dollars to the brewers and saloon keepers of the city of Saint Louis. In their dilemma they employed Mr. Turner to extricate them, and he, in investigating the question, found a law upon the statute books, passed in 1857, which granted a special privilege to saloon keepers for the sale of beer, wine, etc., on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, in the county of Saint Louis. The state attempted to prove the invalidity and repeal of this statute, but Mr. Turner successfully controverted their position, and proved the validity of the statute. Hence in Saint Louis liquor is sold on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, according to law, while through- out the state, outside of Saint Louis, it is on that day prohibited. Several other
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cases arose under the enforcement of the prohibitory Sunday law, notably the street railway cases and cigar cases, all of which were decided in favor of the defendants, Mi. Turner being the senior counsel in all those cases. The foregoing are a portion of the cases successfully managed by Mr. Turner. He has been engaged in seventeen murder cases during his career as a lawyer, and has lost but one.
Mr. Turner is a gentleman of fine personal appearance; below the average height, well proportioned, active in his motions, with regular features, full hazel eyes, and dark hair. He is courteous in his intercourse with mankind, and enjoy's a luxurious home.
Ile was married February 28, 1879, to Miss E. Bell Hawley, daughter of the late Rev. Doctor Hawley, a Methodist clergyman of considerable ability ; a brother of Doctor T. S. Hawley, of Saint Louis. They have two children, Frank D., Jr., and Mand.
HON. CHARLES W. MERYHEW.
C HARLES WESLEY MERYHEW, of the firm of Givens and Meryhew, dates his birth December 7, 1830, in Richland county, Ohio. His parents were John and Elizabeth E. (Bias) Meryhew, both natives of New York. His father was a millwright and carpenter, and built several mills, still standing on different. streams in Ohio. He was also a soldier in the second war with England. Charles received the mental discipline of a common school, and fitted himself in part for an educator, while feeding cattle for his father, who was a stock breeder as well as millwright. He taught school several winters, and by his studious habits dur- ing that period acquired a fair English education.
In 1856 Mr. Meryhew came to Missouri, continuing to teach during the win- ters. The summer of 1858 he spent in Kansas, and the following autumn and winter taught in Richland county, Illinois. The next spring he commenced reading low at Olney, in that county, with Preston and Livingston; in February, IS01, was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of the southern district of Illinois, and was in practice at Olney when the American flag was insulted at the South. The autumn before he had commanded a company of Wideawakes, who escorted Governor Yates through Egypt, Illinois, and when President Lincoln made his first call for troops Mr. Meryhew joined the 8th Illinois infantry, a three months' regiment. At the expiration of that time he tried to get into General Fremont's escort, but was half an inch too short.
In August, 1801, he joined the Black Hawk cavalry, which in March, 1862, was consolidated with Missouri companies, and formed the 7th Missouri regiment of volunteer cavalry, in which, as lieutenant, he commanded company K, between one and two years, and company G, nine months. He was then detailed as assistant commissary of musters of the seventh army corps, and shortly afterward
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was detailed as aide de camp to General Carr, and was on his staff, until July 13, 1864, when he resigned on account of ill health.
Mr. Meryhew came to Clark county, his present home, in the autumn of 1864, was appointed general agent of the Missouri, lowa and Nebraska Railroad Com- pany, and in January, 1865, he was married to Miss Harmenia A. Heil, a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and settled at Waterloo, then the seat of justice of Clark county. They have three children. In the autumn of 1866 he was elected judge of the probate court; was reflected in 1868, and served two terms, making an efficient and faithful county official.
In 1870 he followed the county seat to Kahoka, where he has since resided, with the exception of two years, 1874-76, which he gave largely to the improve- ment of his farm, attending to such suits as he had on his hands. He was elected prosecuting attorney of the county in ISSo, and after serving six months was counted out. He is a man of fine common sense, and is a very able advo- cate. Before a jury he is candid and logical, sometimes witty, and easily places himself on good terms with a jury.
Mr. Meryhew was president of the Clark County Agricultural Society three years, while at Waterloo, and has held the same office during the last two years. He is one of the most public-spirited men of the county, and has done a great deal to build up agricultural and other interests. He has been an Odd-Fellow for a quarter of a century, and has passed all the chairs in the subordinate lodge. Latterly he has made a specialty of insurance, fire, lightning and tornado, and is doing a heavy business in that line; is eminently reliable and trustworthy, as well as energetic, and has the fullest confidence of the people.
HENRY H. DENISON.
SAINT LOUIS.
T' HE subject of this sketch is a native of the Empire State. He was born at Lockport, October 28, 1837, and is the son of Rev. George Denison, an Epis- copal clergyman, who lived the Jitter part of his life in Keokuk, Iowa, where he died. His mother was, before marriage, Miss Janette B. Ralston. Mr. Deni- son was graduated from Kenyon College, Ohio, in 1857. He came to Missouri, and was employed in 1858-9 as professor of ancient languages in Saint Paul's College. He was admitted to the bar in 1861. He entered the 8th Vermont infantry, and served in various states in the South during the war, always on detached service. He was mustered out in 1865, and resumed the practice of the law. He was married at Royalton, Vermont, October 16, 1865, to Miss Lucia Skinner, who died May 5, 1876. Two children survive her, Dudley Chase and Grace Maria. He was elected to the Vermont legislature in 1867. From 1865 to 1800 he acted as assistant United States attorney for the district of Vermont.
In the spring of 1870, Mr. Denison removed to Saint Louis, where he has since
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been in the practice of the law, doing a general business with a preponderance of real estate and equity cases, to which branches of practice he has given special attention. He is a well read lawyer, and is thoroughly posted in the statutes and the decisions of the courts. He is accurate, careful and painstaking, with indus- try that deserves success. He tries his cases well, and is a good logician. He is a refined, scholarly gentleman, who has gained the confidence of all who know him, for his honesty and intellectual attainments
JOSEPH M. LOWE. KANSAS CITY.
T HE subject of this sketch was born December 13, 1844, in Pendleton county, Kentucky. He is the son of Moses Lowe, a farmer and a citizen of high standing, who has been honored with offices of trust and responsibility. His mother's maiden name was Nancy W. Porter. In his boyhood, Mr. Lowe lived on the farm, and attended the public schools, taking a classical course. He read law in Greenfield, Indiana, with Hon. James L. Mason, and was admitted to the bar at Plattsburgh, Missouri, in 1870.
Ile was successful almost from the start. In 1872 he was elected prosecuting attorney, and reflected in 1876, 1878, 188o and 1882. This office he still holds, performing its duties to the utmost satisfaction. Mr. Lowe is well read in every department of his profession; has an analytic mind; is energetic and industrious, has a strong memory, and is a fluent advocate.
Hle married Miss Mary E. MeWilliams, daughter of Doctor J. O. A. MeWill- iams, late of Plattsburgh. They have two children. In the autumn of 1883, Mr. Lowe removed to Kansas City, and settled in the practice of his profession.
WALTER B. DOUGLAS.
SAINT LOUIS.
TALTER BOND DOUGLAS, an industrious and reliable young member of the Saint Louis bar, is a native of this state, being born in Chariton county, December 20, 1851. His parents, James Marsh and Caroline (Bond) Douglas, were born in Vermont, his father being a distant relative of Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, and of the same profession. J. M. Douglas died in 1881; the widow is still living, her home being in Saint Louis.
Mr. Douglas received his literary education at Westminster College, Fulton, Cal- laway county, and his legal at the Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, obtaining the degree of bachelor of laws in June, 1877. In February of the next year he was admitted to the bar, and in the following May commenced practice in Saint Louis, confining himself exclusively to the civil branch. His business is
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not limited to the state courts, and considering the length of time that he has been at the bar, his success is greatly encouraging. He is very attentive to the interests of his clients, and perfectly trustworthy. The judges and ex-judges before whom he has practiced give him an excellent name. He has a well disci- plined mind, well established habits and manly purposes, and is a young man of decided promise.
In January, 1883, Mr. Douglas formed a partnership with William H. Scudder, Jr., and they are doing business under the firm name of Douglas and Scudder. Both are very much devoted to their profession. 1
We do not learn that Mr. Douglas has much, if anything, to do with politics, more than to vote the democratic ticket. He is an Odd-Fellow, and has passed the several chairs in the subordinate lodge.
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WILLIAM HINDE SCUDDER, JR. .
T HIS promising young lawyer is a native of this state, and was born in Mar- ion county, August 1, 1859. His father, whose full name he takes, and his mother, whose maiden name was Catharine Hinde, were born in Kentucky. A great uncle of his mother was a surgeon in General Wolfe's army, and was with that brave and heroic British officer when he fell on the Plains of Abraham, in the autumn of 1759
Mr. Scudder finished his classical studies in Washington University, Saint Louis, leaving in the sophomore year, and his legal drill he had at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, receiving his degree in 1881. Afterward he was with Hon. Chester HI. Kram, Saint Louis, nearly two years. In January, IS83, he formed a partnership with Walter B. Douglas, and the firm of Douglas and Seud- der is rapidly working' into a good business. Mr. Scudder, like his partner, has the elements of true manhood . a proper sense of the dignity of his profession, high aims in that profession, and correct principles for his guide.
HON. ARTHUR M. ALLEN. KANSAS CITY.
A RTHUR M. ALLEN was born January 14, 1836, at Fairfax county, Virginia,
son of William T. Allen, a man of considerable prominence as a citizen and politician, His mother, before marriage, was Miss Susan M. Pritchett. Both parents are of excellent old Virginia families. Arthur was educated at a pri- vate school, taught by Patrick Rancy, taking a thorough classical and scientific course, also studying French and Spanish. He read law with William H. De- laney, of Fairfax county, and was admitted to the Virginia bar before Judges
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John W. Tyler, Richard H. Field and Richard H. Parker, He came west in 1855, and was in the employment of the United States as deputy surveyor for Kansas and Nebraska, and was engaged for several years surveying public lands. He was appointed deputy sheriff for Jackson county, and rode from 1859 to 1865. In 1800 he commenced the practice of the law, and has continued in it up to the present time. He was presiding justice of the Jackson county court from 1875 Lo 1877.
Judge Allen is a sound lawyer, eminently practical in all of his business, and prompt and energetic. He is a worthy citizen, and one in whom all have the utmost confidence. In religion he is a Baptist. He was a member of the thirty- first general assembly, from Jackson county; Was chairman of the congressional reapportionment committee, and made a good record as a legislator.
In political sentiments Judge Allen is a democrat, and is chairman of the Jackson county democratic central committee. He was married to Miss Mary E. McGee, daughter of Allen B. H. McGee, of Westport, Missouri, in 1857.
HON. WILLIAM H. HORNER. SAINT LOUIS.
W TILLIAM HENRY HORNER, of the circuit bench of Saint Louis, is a son of Hon. John Scott Horner, a native of Virginia, and in his day an emi- nent lawyer, who went to what is now the state of Wisconsin, long before it took the name of Wisconsin Territory, where he was territorial governor under Presi- dent Jackson, and afterward on the beach in that state. Judge j. S. Horner married Harriet I. Watson, a native of Virginia, and her brothers were promi- nent army and navy officers fifty years ago.
William Henry was the fourth child in a family of six children, and was born at Green Bay, Wisconsin, March 23, 1845. He was educated at Ripon College, that state, and the law department of the University of Michigan, and was grad- nated from the latter institution in 1865. At twenty-one years of age (1806) Mr. Horner settled in Saint Louis, and was not long in building up a good practice in the several courts, state and federal, of this city. He is an able lawyer, and while in practice had a large business in civil law generally, and especially in commercial, probate and real-estate. He is regarded as a first-class counselor, and was engaged in many important cases. His readings are extensive; he has a wide knowledge of the principles of law, and is happily possessed of a tenacious memory, and can often cite books, pages, etc., with astonishing accuracy.
In the autumn of 1886 the subject of this sketch was elected one of the judges of the eighth judicial circuit, and took his seat on the bench January i, following. He was the only prominent democrat on the ticket who was successful, he run- ning far ahead of his party's candidates, being quite popular. Prior to going on the bench, he was a very active and influential partisan, but since donning the
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ermine, he has shown his excellent good sense by keeping quiet, and preserving the dignity of his office. On the bench he is very much liked, especially by the younger class of lawyers, to whom he is very kind. He is courteous to all the bar, and is a considerate, impartial judge.
Judge Horner began some years ago to invest in real estate, and being suc- cessful there as well as in the practice of law, he placed himself in a financial condition independent of his profession.
Judge Horner is a member of the Legion of Honor, and an adherent of the Episcopal Church.
In October, 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Sophie St. John Field, daughter of Matthew C. Field, in his day a noted journalist and litterateur of Saint Louis; and she died in March, 1882, leaving two sons. Mrs. Horner was a lady of fine accomplishments, and the attraction of a large social circle.
The judge has gray eyes and a clear complexion, is tall and firmly and sym- metrically built, has unusual physical as well as mental strength, and has great endurance, never getting tired in performing the onerous labors of his profession.
HON. JOHN MEGOWN. VEW LONDON.
T CHE late judge of the probate court of Rafts county, whose name appears above, is an early settler in this county, coming hither with his parents trom Pennsylvania when only three years old. He was born near Pittsburgh, February 18, 1834, being a son of Samuel and Julia Ann ( MeKready) Megown, both natives of the Keystone State. His grandfather, John Megown, came to this country from Ireland in 1784, the year after peace was declared. When the family came to Rails county in 1837, they settled in the woods on preempted lands. Samuel Megown was a brick maker, and brick mason and builder, and while getting a common-school education, and teaching winters, John commenced aiding his father at manufacturing brick, and in building, acquiring a fair knowledge of the carpenter's trade. He continued to teach winter schools almost constantly until nearly thirty years of age, reading law at the same time, and marrying Miss Mary E. Coun, of Ralls county, in April, 1856. She is a native of the adjoining county of Marion.
Not long after being licensed to practice law, Mr. Megown moved to Pike county, and opened an office, but his wife's health failed ere long, and he returned to Ralls county, practicing and teaching until 1860. In that year he was ap- pointed United States marshal, and took the census of the county. While the civil war was in progress, 1861-05, he was engaged in farming. In 1866 he was appointed the assessor of the county; in 1868 moved into the village of New Lon- don, and in 1870 was elected probate judge, which office he held for twelve con- secutive years. From 1878 to 1881 he was also county judge. He is one of the
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best known and most highly esteemed citizens of Rally county, and very faithful to every trust confided to him. He is a notary public, and chairman of the board of school directors, having served in the latter office with punctilious regard to duty, for several years, He has ten living children, five sons and five daughters, and has buried one child. He takes good care that his children are well educated, and reared to habits of industry.
Judge Megown picked up much of his literary as well as his legal knowledge by private study, and is very much of a self-educated, self-made man; is well informed on other subjects than law and politics; he is a democrat, and is a pleas- ant man with whom to converse. Ilis farm near town absorbs a portion of his time, but he does more or less law business, and is constantly adding to his law library, where he may usually be found when not in the court room or on his farm. If laziness ever stole into the Megown lumnily, he does not seem to have inherited any of it.
ASA PARKER MCCANNE. MONTGOMERY CITY.
A SA P. MeCANNE is a native of Missouri, a son of Thomas and Polly Ann (Jones) MeCanne, and was born in Randolph county, October 31, 1844. His parents came from Lincoln county, Kentucky, where they were born, to this state in 1830. His father was a teacher in early and middle life, and later a farmer, moving to Louisiana in the boyhood of Asa P. MeCanne, and afterward to Texas. Both parents are dead.
The subject of this sketch received an ordinary English education in public schools and seminaries in Missouri, and in his youth devoted his time, when not studying, to farm pursuits. His tastes early inclined to the legal profession, and after mature consideration and advice of friends, he commenced the study of law in New York city in 1866, and was graduated at Columbia College, that city, in 1868.
Instead of then entering upon the practice of his profession, Mr. McCanne went to Lincoln county, Kentucky, the birth place of his parents, and there taught school from 1808 to 1870, when he became president of Home College, in Marion county, a position which he filled for four successive terms. He then declined to serve further, wishing to locate somewhere in his chosen profession. During this period Mr. McCanne had his mind on the law as his life pursuit, and in 1873 he returned to his native state, and practiced law two years in Martinsburgh, Audrain county, and then settled in Montgomery city, Montgomery county, where he is having fine success in his profession. He makes a specialty of no one branch of the law, yet he seems to have had, from the very start at Montgomery city, a liberal share of criminal cases, having been retained in a majority of such cases that have been tried in his county since locating there, and it is a note- worthy fact that he has never lost a criminal case. No lawyer in Montgomery
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county is truer to the interests of his clients than Mr. McCanne. From his suc- cess in this class of cases, he is known as the " jury" lawyer of his county, where in civil practice he has but few equals.
His political affiliations have always been with the democracy, but we cannot learn that he covets office. He was elected mayor of the city in 1881, but would not consent to serve a second term. He has good social qualities, commands the respect of all parties, and is truly a useful citizen.
Mr. McCanne being a modest and an unassuming man, refusing to give the particulars of his life, we have obtained our material for this sketch mainly from his neighbors, and from a state volume of the prominent and self-made men of Missouri, published in 1878.
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