USA > Missouri > Cole County > Jefferson City > The Bench and bar of St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City, and other Missouri cities : biographical sketches > Part 22
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 22
USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > The Bench and bar of St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City, and other Missouri cities : biographical sketches > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
187
THE BENCH AND BAR OF MISSOURI CITIES.
Provenchere married Mrs. Mary J. Saugrain, widow of Alfred Saugrain. She was a native of Virginia, but while she was still young, her father, John Linton, moved with his family to Little Rock, Arkansas. He afterward became a prom- inent lawyer in that state.
P. William Provenchere was born in Saint Louis, July 23, 1852; received his classical education at the Saint Louis University, finishing in 1871. He attended the law department of Washington University, Saint Louis, one term, and then went to the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, receiving the degree of bach- elor of law from the latter institution in 1873.
In the autumn of that year Mr. Provenchere opened an office in Saint Louis, and for ten years has been in the steady practice of his profession in the civil courts only. His business has been fair, and is growing. He is a diligent stu- dent, a cautious adviser, true to his clients, painstaking and strictly upright in all his business transactions. As a lawyer he is esteemed by his associates at the bar, and as a citizen he is respected by his large circle of acquaintances.
Mr. Provenchere was elected to the legislature on the democratic ticket in 1386, and served one term, being on the committees on ways and means, internal improvement, and one or two others. This, we believe, is the only office he has ever held. It is evidently his intention to be known as a lawyer rather than as a politician. He is a member of the Catholic Church.
NATHANIEL M. SHELTON. LANCASTER.
N TATHANIEL MEACON SHELTON, of the firm of Shelton and Dysart, is a son of Meacon A. and Anna ( Berger) Shelton, and was born at Troy, Lin- coln county, Missouri, March 17, 1851. Both parents were born in Virginia. The paternal grandfather of four subject fought for freedom from the British yoke. His maternal grandfather was from Switzerland.
Nat, as he is universally called, and as he always writes his name, was reared to farm labor, and finished his scientific and classical studies at William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri, leaving before completing the full course. ; He taught school two terms in Lincoln county; went to Danville, the shire town of Mont- gomery county; held the post of deputy circuit clerk, and read flaw at the same time; finished his legal studies at the state university, Columbia; was admitted to the bar under Judge Porter, at Danville, in April, 1875, and commenced prac- tice at Lancaster in June of that year.
He combines the qualities of a good counselor with those of a successful advocate; is a forcible and logical speaker, and peculiarly strong and clear in the discussion of legal questions, and is careful in forming opinions, and tenacious in maintaining them. His books are his constant companions, so that he can always refer to authorities to sustain his opinions on legal propositions.
ISS
THE BENCH AND BAR OF MISSOURI CITIES.
Mr. Shelton was the democratic candidate for prosecuting attorney of Schuy ler county in 1886, and was defeated by five or six votes, the cause of his defet being very much to his credit. He is master of Lancaster Lodge, No. 236, of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and a member of the Baptist Church. He is a stockholder and director of the Schuyler County Bank, and the firm of Shel- ton and Dysart are the attorneys for that institution.
Mr Shelton was married, November 21, 1878, to Miss Belle T. Garges, of Lan- caster, and they have two children, a daughter and son
THOMAS S. RUDD.
1
" THE gentleman whose name we have placed at the head of this sketch, is a native of Louisville, Kentucky, being a son of James and Ann (Phillips) Kudd. His father was born in Maryland, moved to Louisville in 1866, and was one of the prominent men of that state, a personal friend of Henry Clay, and a man of great wealth and influence, dying in 1808. The paternal grandmother of James Kudd was a sister of Charles. Carroll, of Carrollton. Ann Phillips was a native of Kentucky. Thomas was educated at the Jesuit college, Georgetown, District of Columbia, being graduated in 180g, receiving also the diploma of the Greek Academy. He is a graduate of the Louisville Law School, class of 1800, at the same time receiving the degree of master of arts, and in that year com- meneed practice in his native city. In 1875 he came to Saint Louis, and was admitted to the bar of this state Mr. Rudd does a general business in the civil courts, and has a fair and growing practice, the law being his leading, but not his sole pursuit. Whatever he engages to do is done promptly and faithfully.
Mr. Rudd has considerable literary taste and talent, and often writes for the newspapers and literary magazines, some of his articles attracting no inconsid- trable attraction. He is a democrat, but has nothing to do with politics except to vote. He was reared in the Catholic faith and sacredly adheres to that church His character is irreproachable.
WILLIAM M. ECCLES.
W ILLIAM MARTIN ECCLES IS a Son of Jacob and Minerva (Overtunt) Eccles, and was born in Morrow county, Ohio, May 25, 1841. 115 father, who was a teacher by profession, was also a native of Ohio, and a son of a North of heland emigrant, of the Presbyterian faith. His mother was of Ger- man parentage, and a Buckeye by birth. William entered Oberlin College in iSor, the next year went into the army in company K, 43d Ohio infantry, which
180
THE BENCH AND BAR OF MISSOURI CITIES.
was in the Army of the Tennessee. He was in the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, at the siege of Vicksburg, etc., and at the end of eighteen months was discharged on account of disability. While in the army, he kept up with his college class, taught school two or three winters during the four college years, and was gradu- ted in course in 1865, being in the classical department. He supported him- selt while pursuing his studies, and on leaving college he taught the high school one year, at Bryan, Williams county, Ohio
Mr Eccles read law during his senior year, and while teaching, and was admitted to the bar in Sandusky county, Ohio, in the spring of 1800. The next autumn he opened a law office in Saint Louis, and during the first two years his practice was almost wholly in the criminal courts. Since that time it has been mainly civil, with a specialty, latterly, of patent law. His business is growing from year to year, and is quite satisfactory
In politics Mr. Eccles is a decided republican, but he is not an office seeker, and thus far, be believe, has kept entirely out.
He was married in 1873, to Miss Mary Concannon, of Saint Louis, If we mistake not, they have no children.
ANDREW M. ELLINGTON.
HUNTSVILLE.
A NDREW MONROE ELLINGTON, postmaster at Huntsville, is a son of Rev. William T. Ellington, a native of Boone county, Missouri, and Mary Aun Monroe, also a native of this state, and he was born at Fayette, Howard county, February 2, 1852 His father has been a preacher of the Methodist Epis- copal Church South, for thirty vears, and is still an active member of the North Missouri conference. The maternal grandfather of Andrew, Rev. Andrew Mon- roc, was a pioneer in this state, and a member of the conference halt a century, holding repeatedly the office of presiding older He died at Mexico, Audiin county, where a suitable monument has been created to his memory by the denomination of which he was an ornament
Andrew is a graduate of the State University, Columbia, class of 1872, and a member of the Phi Kappa Ist Society. He taught in Boone county from the time of his graduating until 1877, reading law at the same time. At the date last mentioned, he was licensed at Columbia by Judge Burkhartt, of the second judicial circuit; went to Colorado, located in Saguache county, and was in prac- tice there nearly four years, serving also as county superintendent of schools during the last two years.
In December, 1886, Mr. Ellington returned to Missouri, locating at Huntsville, and in July of the next year, he was appointed postmaster of Huntsville. His younger brother, Harry Ellington, is his deputy, and has charge of the office, our subject giving his entire time to the practice of his profession, to which he
100
THE BENCH AND BAR OF MISSOURI CITIES.
has become very much attached. He has ambition enough to prompt him to be studious and painstaking, and that is the class likely to rise in the profession. lle is a growing man. In politics he is a republican.
Mr. Ellington was married, July 27, 1882, to Miss Josie Hammett, daughter of Frank Hammett, of Huntsville, and their first-born and only child, a son, died in July, 1883.
JEPTHA WELLS.
PROF.
T HIE prosecuting attorney of Lincoln county, with whose name we head this notice, is a son of the late Doctor John C. Wells, a native of Kentucky, and a graduate of the medical department of the Louisville University. He came to this state when a young man; married Kitty Custer, a cousin of the late General Custer, of the United States army, and was in practice at Troy at the time of his death, in 1857. The widow is still living in Troy, where Jeptha was born, Sep- tember 18, 1852. Hle was educated at the Christian Institute, Troy, taking the full course, and is a graduate of the Saint Louis Law School, class of 1874. Since that time he has been in practice in this place. He was public administra- tor four years, being elected by his democratic constituents in 1876, and was elected to his present office in 1882. As a prosecutor he is alert and efficient, and happily realizing the hopes of his best friends. He is a sprightly young man, with an excellent mind, and with constant and close application to his law books will progress.
He is a member of the Triple Alliance, and is allied, we believe, with no other secret order, being thoroughly wedded to his profession, and bound to make a success in it. He is a nephew of the late Judge Carty Wells and of Joseph B. Wells, elsewhere mentioned, and who were both shining members of the Lincoln county bar. Jeptha Wells has the example of two brilliant uncles once at the bar to spur him on.
JOE H. CUPP. CENTRALLA.
JOE HENRY CUPP, attorney at law and notary public, Centralia, Boone county, is a young member of the bar, but studious and ambitious, and likely to advance. He was reared on a farm, and early inured to hard work, which was no detriment to his muscles and health; but his mind was on books, and at twenty years of age he commenced going to school half the year or more, teaching the rest of the time, and thus he in a measure gratified his longing for knowledge. He was born in Chariton county, Missouri, January 1, 1853, being a son of George W. and Catherine (Wilson) Cupp, both natives of Tennessee. His paternal grandfather came from Germany, and was a soldier in the war of 1812-14. His
THE BENCH AND BAR OF MISSOURI CITIES.
father died in 1854: his mother is still living, her home being in Kirksville. At that place for Cupp finished his education at the state normal school, having meanwhile taught more or less, being thrown entirely upon his own resources. After leaving school he taught steadily for three years, making a success in that profession.
Mr. Cupp read law at Kirksville with Harrington and Musick; was admitted to the bar in November, 1880, and a few months afterward opened an office at Centralia, where he already has a fair business, which is gradually increasing. His character stands well; he has the confidence of the people in his integrity, and will be likely to succeed. He belongs to the Methodist Church South, and votes the democratic ticket.
May 11, 1881, Mr. Cupp was joined in wedlock with Miss Edmonia Sneed, daughter of Thomas S. Sneed, one of the first settlers in Centralia. They have one daughter.
HON. WILLIAM HEREN.
W ILLIAM HEREN was born November 15, 1825, near Zanesville, in Mus- kingum county, Ohio. His ancestors were from Virginia and Mary- land. They were prominent business men and were members of the learned professions. His father, Robert Heren, was a farmer, and his mother, before marriage, was Miss Henrietta Denney. He attended the public schools, and commenced teaching and studying law when he was about twenty-one years of age. He is self-taught in the rudiments of his profession. When he was about eighteen years old his parents moved to Andrew county, Missouri. He was ad- mitted to the bar by Hon. Solomon Leonard, judge of the twelfth judicial circuit. Being out of health, he went on a farm, where he remained six years. After recruiting his health, he commenced practice at Savannah, where he has done a large business. He was elected to the state senate in 1802. 1le resigned, and was elected judge of the circuit court in 1863, holding that position six years, faithfully performing its duties. At the end of his term of office he resumed practice, which he has continued up to the present time.
Judge Heren is an able lawyer, profound in the principles of the law, and is thoroughly posted in the subtleties of legal science. His mind is analytic, and he is a clear and able logician and an able advocate. He is a citizen to whom all refer with pride, and is an honor to the state and the profession.
Judge Heren has been twice married: first, to Miss Miriam Small, who died in 1800; and in 1874 to Mrs. Louisa Smither. By his first wife he has had six children, three sons and three daughters.
His second son, Cyrus Heren, born in 1855, was thoroughly educated in the public schools; read law with his father, and was licensed to practice in March, 1575, and formed a partnership with his father in 1877. He is a promising young
2
102
THE BENCH UND BAR OF MISSOURI CITIES.
man, well posted in the law. He makes admirable briefs, and is a logical and fluent advocate before a jury. He was married in November, 1877, to Miss Mary I. Davis. They have two children.
JAMES T. LLOYD. MONTICELLO.
JAMES T. LLOYD, one of the youngest members of the Lewis county bar, and a self-made man, was born at Canton, that county, August 28, 1857, his parents being Jeremiah and Fannie (Jones) Lloyd. His father was born in Delaware; his mother in Kentucky. He was educated at the Christian Uni- versity, Canton, and received the degree of bachelor of science in 1878, being one of the best students of his class; taught country schools four terms, having at one time charge of a high school there, and was subsequently principal of the Canton public schools. As a teacher he was quite popular, and proved himself very pro ficient and well fitted. He read law with Oliver C. Clay, of Monticello, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1882. He held the post of deputy circuit clerk from the carly part of 1881 to the close of the next year, in which position he gained many friends, because of his faithfulness in the performance of his official duties; and in January, 1883, he became the partner of his preceptor.
Mr Lloyd is attorney for the county collector, and has a large number of suits in the circuit court. He is a polished young man in manners as well as mind, very attentive to business, and is likely to gain distinction because of his studious habits, attention to business, and ability in the expression of thought.
He is a member of the Methodist Church South; is noble grand in the local lodge of Odd-Fellows, and a young man calculated to shine in social circles He was married March 1, 1881, to Miss Mollie Graves, of Lewis county, and they have one son.
HON. CHARLES P. JOHNSON. SAINT LOUIS.
LFRESH interest attaches to the name and career of Hon. Charles Philip Johnson on account of his recent triumph in the trial and acquittal of Frank James. The case is familiar to all our readers, and Mr. Johnson's success in that instance is in accord with his whole history as a criminal lawyer. His reputation as an advocate extended years ago far beyond the limits of this state. He is known all over the West as a brilliant and very successful lawyer. For the last dozen years or more he has been retained on one side of the other of nearly every important criminal case that has come before the courts of this city, and the case of Frank James was not the first, or second, or third that has called him to other parts of Missouri. His practice has brought him much gain, as well as great honor.
11202022
193
THE BENCH AND BAR OF MISSOURI CITIES.
Charles P. Johnson is of Virginia and Pennsylvania ancestors, and was born at Lebanon, Saint Clair county, Illinois, January 18, 1836. His parents were Henry and Elvira (Fouke) Johnson. His mother was a native of Kaskaskia, the oldest town in Illinois, and had her full share of frontier life. We have some- where seen it stated that the son, our subject, inherited her strong characteristics.
Ile was reared in Belleville, adjoining Lebanon, and finished his school drill at MeKendree College, Lebanon, where he spent one year. The best part of his education was, no doubt, obtained at the printer's case, where Horace Greeley and hundreds of other eminent men obtained nearly all their education. Mr. Johnson edited a weekly paper at Sparta, Randolph county, Illinois, before he was eighteen years old. In 1855 he settled in Saint Louis, read law with ex-Attorney General R. F. Wingle and Judge William C. Jones, and was admitted to the bar in 1857. It was at a period in our history when party spirit ran high, and Mr. Johnson soon identified himself with what was then known as the free-soil party. He worked hard for the election of Mr. Lincoln in 18oo, being at the same time city attorney, holding that office from 1859 to 1861.
At the first call for troops, he enlisted for three months in the 3d Missouri regiment, and was meanwhile actively engaged with others in raising the 8th Missouri regiment, which he tendered in person to the president.
The civil history of Mr. Johnson at this trying period and later is somewhat fully detailed in an article written for the "American Railroad Journal" of New York city, in September, 1882, and we take the liberty of reproducing it: .
"In 1862 a division occurred in the ranks of the republican party in Saint Louis, growing out of an attempt to conserve slave property in opposition to the declared policy of General Fremont, then in command of the western department. The congressional nominating convention divided, one wing nominating Frank P. Blair as a candidate for congress, the other nominating Charles P. Johnson. Mr. Johnson declined the nomination in a speech before the convention, in which he contended that an older and more experienced standard bearer should be chosen (he was then barely eligible), and presented the name of Samuel Knox. Mr. Knox was elected over Mr. Blair. At the same time he accepted the candidacy to and headed the legislative ticket. In the legislature he was assigned to what at that time was the most important position in the body - the chairmanship of the committee on emancipation. His zeal, energy, and powers as a debater soon gave him the leadership of the house. Failing in his efforts to get the pro-slavery party to accept the reasonable proposition of Mr. Lincoln, to pay the loyal slave- owners for their property, he took the advanced stand for immediate emancipa- tion without compensation, and presented a bill for the calling of a state convention. In the senatorial fight of this session he was the determined supporter of B. Gratz Brown, and rather than yield his position joined forces with the supporters of John S. Phelps and precipitated an adjourment, which prevented an election. At the adjourned session, 1863-64, the convention bill became a law. In the fall of 1864 Mr. Johnson was nominated for congress, but Mr. Samuel Knox running
25
194
THE BENCH AND BAR OF MISSOURI CITIES.
as an independent candidate, he was defeated by Hon John Hogan. In the early part of January, 1865, the state convention assembled at Saint Louis. Their first act was the passage of an ordinance freeing the slives. After this they proceeded to frame a constitution, which was submitted to the people for ratification or rejection in May, 1865.
This was the celebrated . Drake Constitution.' As the slavery question was already settled by independent ordinance, Mr. Johnson took his stand in opposi- tion to the new constitution, because of its harsh and intolerant provisions. IIe canvassed the state on that issue, and ran for the legislature again from Saint Louis county at large. He was elected by an overwhelming majority, but the constitution was carried by a small majority. He served one winter in the legis- lature, and in the fall of 1866 accepted the appointment of circuit of state's attor- ney for the city and county of Saint Louis. For six years he filled this position in a manner that gained for him universal approbation. During this time he laid the foundation for his since brilliant career at the bar. Two years preceding the expiration of his circuit attorneyship, the liberal republican movement was in- augurated in Missouri, and Mr. Johnson entered into it with his usual zeal and determination.
He was a delegate to the first convention convened in Missouri to elect dele- gates to the Cincinnati convention, and was a stanch advocate for the nomina- tion of Greeley and Brown. In the selection of the joint democratic and liberal republican ticket of 1872 he was presented as a candidate for lieutenant governor. He was elected, and during the two years he served became noted for his marked ability as a parliamentarian and presiding officer. It was during this session that he made a reformatory fight which attracted wide attention. An unsuspecting legislature had given Saint Louis a charter in which a power was granted to regu- late houses of ill repute. Under this grant was passed the celebrated social evil ordinance, which was simply a copy of the former European system of licensing prostitution. Its establishment and the perceptible evil consequences flowing from it soon aroused the determined antagonism of the moral element of the community, and a movement was made to repeal the obnoxious law. The sub- ject was introduced before the legislature, and its abrogation advocated by Mr. Johnson, the then lieutenant governor, with marked success. On the expiration of his teri of office Mr. Johnson returned to his law business, and devoting his entire attention to it, soon reached the first rank in his profession."
Three or four years ago Mr. Johnson became greatly aroused in opposition to gambling in Saint Louis, and the corrupting interference in the politics of the city and state, and secured his election to the legislature (1880) partly that he might do something to check evil consequences. To this end he introduced the bill, which thereafter became the celebrated " Johnson law," making the keeping of a gambling house a felony. Its enforcement has been instrumental in break- ing up the corrupt rings controlling municipal politics, and greatly decreasing other evils growing out of the pernicious vice.
195
THE BEACH AND BIR OF MISSOURI CITIES.
As a legislator Mr Johnson always has his eyes open to the wants of the state, and does all he can to secure the passage of wholesome law, tending to develop the resources, of every kind, of this great commonwealth.
Ile was one of the foremost men in Saint Louis in getting up the immigrant convention held here in April, 1886, on which occasion he delivered the opening address. He took strong ground in favor of governmental appropriations, claim- ing "that the expenditure on our river of the money and labor that constructed those great highways leading from the most distant parts of the Roman empire to its capital, or upon those huge aqueducts of the same period, or upon the gar- dens and palaces of Nineveh, or on the grand wall of China, or the pyramids of Egypt, or the expenditure of a tithe as much as that wasted on the modern forti- fications of Europe, would jewel our stream with magnificent ports, dot it with costly arsenals of trade, control it with extended levees, and channel it to bear upon its bosom the outgoing and incoming commerce of the world."
Mr. Johnson has a wife and five children, and a domestic turn of mind, and is never happier anywhere than in the attractive circle of his own home.
MELVIN L. GRAY.
SAINT LOUIS.
AT Bridport, in the state of Vermont, on the shore of Lake Champlain, on the classic ground near ports Crown Point and Ticonderoga, the birth of Melvin L. Gray occurred, in the year 1815. He is the son of Daniel and Amy Emma (Bosworth) Gray. His father was a graduate of Middlebury College, and was present and took part in the battle of Plattsburgh, in the war of 1812. The paternal ancestors of our subject were originally Scotch. Several of the original progenitors of the Gray family were officers and soldiers in the revolu- tionary war. Captain Isaac Gray commanded & company from Pelham, Massa- chusetts, at the battle of Bunker Hill.
In his youth Melvin worked on the farm, and attended public schools. He mastered the studies required in the first year's college course in about five months, and entered Middlebury College in September, 1830, one year in advance. He was graduated in the same class with the poet John G. Saxe and William A. Howard, of Michigan ( 1839). The late Hon. C. B. Lawrence, of the Illinois supreme court, was in the same college, but entered a class about two years later than Mr. Gray. On receiving his diploma he went to Alabama, and taught school two and one-half years. He came to Saint Louis in 18 12; studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1843. He then formed a partnership with Hon. C. B. Lawrence, which con- tinued about two years. He then formed a partnership with Franklin Fisher, who died of cholera in 1849.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.