USA > Missouri > Cole County > Jefferson City > The Bench and bar of St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City, and other Missouri cities : biographical sketches > Part 24
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 24
USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > The Bench and bar of St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City, and other Missouri cities : biographical sketches > Part 24
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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
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labors of his profession. Endowed by nature with a strong, analytical mind, he has supplemented this by such a constant and intelligent application to study that he is now recognized as one of the learned men of the Saint Louis bar. He is a clear, logical, forceful speaker, a chaste and elegant writer, and is possessed of such clearness of perception, tenacity of purpose, and vigor of action, as render him a most formidable opponent. Mr. Richey is an energetic, conscien- tious lawyer, a warm -hearted friend, and generous, chivalrous for.
Mr. Richey is a member of the Legion of Honor and of the Royal Arcanum. He was married December 25, 1879, to Miss Fannie I. Lippman, daughter of Morris J. Lippman, of Saint Louis, and they have one daughter.
WILLIAM CHRISTIAN.
NEW LONDON.
W ILLIAM CHRISTIAN, for several years one of the leading lawyers in Ralls county, and now cashier of the Ralls County Bank, was born in the adjoining county of Pike, June 29, 1837. His father, Drury Christian, was born in Amberst county, Virginia, and came to Missouri in 1825. He married Nancy Tillitt, a native of Kentucky, and they had live children, William being the sec- and child. He was educated at the Watson Seminary, Ashley, Pike county, tak- ing the full course, and being graduated in 1865. He taught classes in the seminary while a student, and from 1865 to 1871 devoted his whole time to teach- ing, being president, the last five years, of the Troy Christian Institute. He was a successful educator, and is no doubt one of the best scholars in this county.
Mr. Christian read law at New London, with the late Oliver H. P. Ledford, and was admitted to the bar in 1873, practicing here for ten years, and making an exceptionally fine record at the bar of this county. For learning in the law, for safety in conducting a case, and for extent of practice, he had no superior in the county. Nor did any lawyer at this bar, probably, have an equal amount of money pass through his hands in that period, for every dollar of which he ren- dered an exact account.
He was public administrator of the county two terms; county school commis- sioner two terms, and prosecuting attorney two terms, filling every office with the utmost faithfulness and efficiency. He does not excel as an advocate, but is an excellent counselor, and undertakes no legal work that he does not do well.
His political affiliations have always been with the democratic party. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and of the Christian or Dis- ciple Church. The sincerity of his faith, and the purity of his life are unques- tioned by anybody who knows him. He is an elder in the church, and an efficient Sunday-school worker. Ile is a modest, unassuming, polished gentleman, public- spirited, and foremost in forwarding educational, benevolent and public enter- prises generally.
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April 1, 1883, Mr. Christian became the cashier of the Balls County Bank, of which he is a large stockholder, and since that date he has paid scarcely any attention to the law. He turned that business over to Reuben F. Roy, who had been his partner for three years, and whom we elsewhere mention.
Mr. Christian was united in marriage, in October, 1867, with Miss Ruth A. Brown, daughter of the late Colonel Hanceford Brown, of New London. We believe they have no issue.
JOSIAH CREECH.
TROY.
A MONG the successful attorneys at the Lincoln county bar, we place the subject of this sketch, who is a native of this county, and dates his birth December 26, 1844. His parents were George W. and Parthena (Pollard) Creech, the former born near Nashville, Tennessee, and the latter near Lynch- burgh, Virginia. His paternal great-grandfather was in the struggle for the inde- pendence of the colonies. His parents both died in this county. Josiah received an academic education, including the languages partially, and was on his father's farm until past his majority. He read law with Quigley and Zanfils, of Troy; was admitted to the bar in 1871, and has since been in both civil and criminal practice at Troy, making a commendable record as a lawyer. He is what one would call a clever man, a man of good parts, social, good-natured, liked by everybody, and everybody's friend. At the bar he is a good talker, and in private he never urges any one to go to law who has no case.
Mr. Creech has held various county and city offices, and has been true and faithful to every trust. He was public administrator of the county four years, prosecuting attorney two terms, and held, some time ago, the offices of alderman and mayor, and is again holding the former office. His politics are democratic. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a third-degree Odd-Fellow.
Mr. Creech was married in June, 1875, to Miss Marie Brevator, of Saint L.Buis, and they have three children, two sons and one daughter.
WILLIAM F. WERNSE. SAINT LOUIS.
W ILLIAM F. WERNSE is a brother of II. H. Wernse, a banker of Saint Louis, who has been engaged in the banking business many years. William first came to Saint Louis in 1855, but removed to Illinois the same year, Ile attended the public schools in Illinois, where he lived till 1861, when he entered the United States service, serving with honor until 1864, and was in many of the battles of the Army of the Cumberland, and the Tennessee. In 1864 he engaged
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in the banking business, and continued until 1874, working in various capacities, commencing as messenger, and by industry, energy and by his superior business capacity, by gradual promotion obtained the position of cashier. In 1875 he entered the law department of Washington University, at Saint Louis, and is a graduate of the class of 1877. He was admitted to the Saint Louis bar and to the bar of the United States courts, and practiced law successfully until 1879. He is now editor of the " American Law Digest and Legal Directory " and the " Ameri- can Banker's Manual," on which he has bestowed years of unremitting labor, and distinguished capacity, and enjoys a large patronage for these publications in all parts of the country. As a writer he is careful, accurate and discriminating, and has as aides in his work much of the best legal talent of the United States. Personally, Mr. Wernse is exceptionally courteous, kindly and gentlemanly in all his business and personal relations.
WILLIAM T. KAYS.
MEALPILLS.
ILLIAM TUTTLE KAYS hails from Sussex county, New Jersey, dating
W T his birth at Monroe, March 31, 1833. His father, Samuel Kays, was a farmer in early life, and later an iron founder, being a son of John Kays, who served through the long war of independence, and was with General Montgom- cry in Quebec when he fell mortally wounded. The maiden name of the mother of William was Elizabeth Tuttle, a native of New Jersey, and a granddaughter of Uriah Terry, the poet and revolutionary patriot.
Mr. Kays received some mental drill in the common schools of New Jersey, but is largely self-educated, fitting himself for an educator, and teaching six or seven terms. He studied medicine, taking a full course, and receiving a diploma at the Hygienic Medical College, New York city, but never practiced.
In the spring of 1858 Mr. Kays went to lowa, and was engaged in farming in Van Buren county when the rebellion broke out. In 18oz he was appointed by Major General Curtiss provost marshal of Scotland county, Missouri, and served in that capacity and in the Missouri militia until August, 1864, when he assisted in raising a company, which became company I of the 39th Missouri infantry, being its first lieutenant, and remaining in the field when well until the rebels sur- rendered. Ile was laid up with sickness in the hospital at Georgetown, District of Columbia, and there commenced the study of law, finishing in Scotland county. Hle was admitted to practice under Judge E. V. Wilson, in October, 1866, and has since had an office at the county seat, and done a well paying business.
Mr. Kays is one of the leading lawyers in Scotland county, standing high, espe- cially in real-estate law. He makes a good jury as well as office lawyer, studies deeply, prepares his briefs carefully, and reasons with candor and force, and easily secures the attention and consideration of a thoughtful jury.
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Mr. Rays was county superintendent of schools in 1866-08, and county attor- ney two terms, being an eficient worker in either position It is evidently his opinion that anything worth doing at all is worth doing well.
His political affiliations are with the republican party. He is a deacon of the Congregational Church, a Sunday-schoot upbuilder, and one of that class of men who are missed when they take their departure to " that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns."
Mr. Kays was married, December 3, 1863, to Miss Oria .. Henry, of Vernon, V'an Buren county, lowa, and they have six children, four daughters and two sons
JAMES M. LEWIS.
SAINT LOUIS.
JAMES MC KAMY LEWIS was born in Polk county, Tennessee, May 3, 1857, his parents being John Q. A. and Susan J. ( McKamy) Lewis, both natives of cast Tennessee. James had an academic education, including the classics; came to Saint Louis and commenced the study of law in March, 1877, in the office of Hon. J. B. Henderson, and was here admitted to the bar in May, 1878. He prac- lived between one and two years in Louisiana, Pike county, and in 1879 returned to Saint Louis, and is in partnership with his preceptor, their business being largely in the United States courts, and extending to Kansas City, Jefferson. Springfield, Illinois, etc. Mr. Lewis is an industrious, high-minded young man, eschewing politics and other side issues, and bending all his energies to become a good lawyer If he lives, it requires but little of the gift of prophecy to pre- diet that he will succeed. He has excellent success for a young man.
HON. GARRET S. VAN WAGONER. SAINT LOUIS
I'll judge of the Saint Louis criminal court, whose name appears at the F
head of this sketch, belongs to an old New Jersey family, his parents, Con- nelius S. and Jane (Mercelis) Van Wagoner, being born near Paterson. He him- selt was also born there July 1, 1822. His father was a prominent man in that state, being at one period a judge of the court of common pleas, and at another a member of the legislature. Garret is a brother of Hon. Isaac Van Wagoner, ex-surrogate of Passaic county, New Jersey
He prepared for college in his native state, and was matriculated at Yale Col- lege, but sickness compelled him to leave without being graduated, and he continued to suffer from ill health for some years. He read law at Paterson, New Jersey, with Hon, Aaron S Pennington, ex-Governor of that state, and was admitted to the bar in 1844 He opened an office in Paterson, and was in
27
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practice there about eight years, holding, part of that time, the office of master and examiner in chancery.
In 1852 Mr. Van Wagoner immigrated to Saint Louis, and soon reached a good position at the bar of this city, then represented by an unusual number of very prominent men. Among them were Benton, Bates, Guyer, Gamble, Blan- nerhasset, Shreve, Leslie, Shepley, Blackburn, etc In 1866 Mr. Van Wagoner was elected to the legislature and served our term; subsequently he was attorney and counselor for the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company two years, and still later was attorney for the National Bank of the State of Missouri, at Saint Louis, at that time the largest institution of the kind in the West. He was holding the office of county counselor at the time of the dissolution of the city and county of Saint Louis.
In the autumn of 1882 he was elected to the bench, and took his seat in December following. " Mr. Van Wagoner," says an old associate of his, in con- nection with the Missouri Pacific railroad, " is a sound lawyer and a good man, and has filled all offices which he has held, with the highest credit to himself, and with satisfaction to the public. Thus far he has made an excellent record as a judge.
Judge Van Wagoner is a democrat, of whig antecedents; a member of the Empire Council of the Legion of Honor, and of the De Soto Council of the American Legion of Honor. He is likewise a member of the Presbyterian Church.
The judge was married. July 3, 1850, to Mrs. Adaline H. (Cohen) Thompson, a native of Virginia and descendant of an old family in that state. Her grand father was in the first war with the mother country, under La Fayette; her father was in the second, and some of her brothers and her only son were in the civil war, on the federal side
GIDEON D. BANTZ. SAINT LOUIS.
G IDEON D. BANTZ is a native of Saint Louis, and was born September 19. J 1855 He is the son of Algernon and Isabella ( Potter) Bantz, both natives of Maryland, moving to Saint Louis in 185 }, where they have since resided. The ancestors of Mr. Banta on the paternal side were Germans, who settled in Mary land.
Our subject commenced his education in the public schools of Saint Louis, and took a scientific and classical course in Frederick Academy, Maryland. He began the study of the law in the office of Hon. John M. Krum, at Saint Louis, where he assiduously pursued his studies for a period of four years. He entered the Saint Louis law school ; was graduated in 1877, then admitted to the Saint Louis bar, and has been in successful practice since that time.
Mr. Bants has a partiality for real-estate law, and he has had a preponder-
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ance of that class of cases since commencing practice. He does a general law business, however, and lus eforts have been crowned with a reasonable share of stlecess He is well posted in the law and is a gentleman of fine personal appear- unce, of medium size and height. He has a high forehead, bluish-gray eyes and blonde hair ; is a man of integrity, social and friendly in his intercourse with mankind, and has a large circle of admiring friends.
GEORGE D. REYNOLDS. SAINT LOUIS.
EORGE DELASHMUTTE REYNOLDS, son of Rev. William M. Rey- nolds, D.D., and Anna (Swan) Reynolds was born in Gettysburgh. Adams county, Pennsylvania, December 10, 1841 His paternal grandfather, George Reynolds, was a captain in the revolutionary war, and married Marie De Lash- mutte, who was of Huguenot stock, her ancestors settling in South Carolina. Ilis maternal grandparents were residents of Baltimore, Maryland, the grand- father being an officer in the second war with the mother country.
Doctor Reynolds was one of the first professors of Pennsylvania College, afterward entered the ministry of the Episcopal Church, and died at Harlem, near Chicago, September 27, 1876. His widow is still living, her home being in Spring- field, Illinois. The family immigrated to Springfield about 1856, where our subject was educated in the Illinois University, of which he is a graduate. When the civil war began he enlisted in the ad Illinois artillery, served through the war, and at its close returned to Illinois.
He finished his legal studies at Quincy, Illinois, under Hon. Nehemiah Bush- nell, of Browning and Bushnell, and having made up his mind to locate in Mis- souri, he was admitted to the bar at Hannibal, by Hon. W. P. Harrison, in October, 1867, and settled immediately in Potosi, Washington county. formed a partnership with Moses Conger, and subsequently with William S. Relfe, whose sketch we also publish.
While in Washington county Mr. Reynolds held the office of circuit attorney of the old fifteenth judicial cirenit, and resigned that office when he removed to Saint Louis in 1871. He remained here until 1875, when he went to Boulder, Colorado, where he practiced his profession for two years, in company with Hon. W. E. Beck, now chief justice ot that state.
In August, 1877, Mr. Reynolds returned to Saint Louis, and he has since been in very active and successful practice in the state and federal courts, being enrolled in the supreme court of Missouri in October, 1870, and in the supreme court of the United States in October, 18So. In 1877 he formed a law partner- ship with Hon. R. Graham Frost, which lasted until 1879, and in the summer of that year Mr. Reynolds entered into partnership with Mr. James Carr, which con- tinued until February, 1852 Mr. Reynolds is well read up in the principles of
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law; has a clear, analytical mind; is a good speaker, making his points plain, being devoid of metaphor; is very industrious, and conscientiously regards the interests of his clients.
Mr. Reynolds is a republican in polities, a member and vestryman of Saint John's Episcopal Church, and a high-minded Christian gentleman.
His wife is Julia, oldest daughter of Major Augustus S. Vogdes, of Louisiana, Missouri, married October to, 1876. They have two children.
Mr. Reynolds was one of the principal attorneys of the insurance department of this state from 1877 to 1880, and while in that position took a leading part in framing the revisions of the general insurance statutes of 1879, and afterward edited a compilation of all the insurance statutes of the state, which was pub lished in the latter year.
HON. SQUIRE TURNER. COLUMBIA.
OUIRE TURNER is a native of the county (Boone) in which he now lives, S though he has not been a continuous resident of it. He was born near Co- lumbia, the county seat, December 16, 1836. His father, Archibald W. Turner, was born in Madison county, Kentucky, moving to this state in 1826, and was a practicing lawyer and farmer in Boone county until his death in March, 1874. He was a prominent man in his county, and served in both branches of the legis- lature. His father, Thomas Turner, was a soldier in the ranks during the string- gle for the independence of the colonies, and was wounded in the battle of King's Mountain.
Archibald W. Turner married Matilda R Stone, of Richmond, Kentucky, and Squire was the third and youngest child. His mother died in January, 1837, before the subject of this sketch was a month old. He received his literary edu- vation at the State University, Columbia, and was graduated July 4, 1855. HIe commenced the reading of law with his uncle, Squire Turner, of Richmond, in 1856, and was admitted to the bar of Kentucky at Frankfort, in February, 1858, his certificate being signed by Chief Justice James Simpson, of the court of appeals. It is a noteworthy fact that this undle was the preceptor of Hon. Samuel F. Miller, now a justice of the supreme court of the United States from łowa; of Hon. William H. Hatch, now a member of congress from the Hannibal district, and of Hon. Thomas Turner, the eminent attorney at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, and for three terms representative in congress from that district.
Mr. Turner practiced in partnership with his uncle until the autumn of 1861, when the war troubles were such that he went to Vincennes, Indiana, and was there in practice as a partner of Hon. William E. Niblack, now chief justice of that state. In 180g Mr. Turner returned to Columbia, and has here been in suc- cessful practice for nearly a score of years A jurist of cool judgment, who has
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long known Mr. Turner, places him " among the leading members of the bar in his district. He stands high as a criminal as well as civil lawyer, and in criminal cases is almost always employed on the defense He has great success before a jury, being clear, strong and persuasive in argument. He has a fine imagination as well as good reasoning powers; uses chaste and elegant language; has a hand- some delivery, and can be and is eloquent when the occasion justifies it. Mr. Turner," continues this jurist, " is a scholarly man, well read in history and gen- eral literature as well as the law, and as gentlemanly as scholarly. He is a man of strong character and strong prejudices, and can use rough language if it is called for, but it is his nature to treat everybody kindly. A gentleman he can treat in no other way. His friends are all warm friends, and he has, as he de- serves to have, a good many of them."
In 1872 to 1874 Mr. Turner was a member of the legislature, and was chairman of the committee on criminal jurisprudence, and also a member of the judiciary committee. He was likewise a member of the sub-committee which drew the bill calling for a constitutional convention, which, in 1875, gave to Missouri its present constitution. It is no secret, we believe, that Mr. Turner is the author of that bill. His politics are democratic, and always have been. From 1874 to 1876 he was one of the curators of the state-at-large for the state university.
The wife of Mr. Turner was Sarah Stone, of Kentucky, their marriage taking place in Madison county, that state, in October, 180] They have three children.
HON. HENRY D. LAUGHLIN. SAINT LOUIS.
ENRY DAVID LAUGHLIN, late judge of the criminal court of Saint Louis, hails from Bath county, Kentucky, where he was born January 21, 1848. His parents, Carlton C. and Anna (Hopkins) Laughlin, were also born in that state. Henry is a descendant of old Virginia, Pennsylvania and Massachu- setts families. His father was killed in a storm when the son was about ten years old, and the widow moved with her family of four children to the adjoin- ing county of Montgomery
Henry had somewhat limited opportunities for mental discipline in his youth, the public schools being broken up in his vicinity during the civil war. After its close he took a partial course at the Kentucky University, Lexington, and then stydied law in the law department of that institution.
Coming to Saint Louis, he was here admitted to the bar in the spring of 1869, and was in steady and successful practice until December, 1878, when he went on the bench of the criminal court of this city, and served the term of four years, being just thirty years of age when he took his seat. Candid judges accord to our subject a good legal mind, with no lack of nerve or grit, and guiltless of fear. As a lawyer he seems not to care who is against him or what the result
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may be. He will stick to his client, it he believes him to be in the right, until the heavens fall, which they have not done yet He is a man of strong convic tions, with his idiosyncrasies like most other mortals, and was an able and impar. tial judge, expounding the law, as he understood it, with no friend to reward or loe to punish under the sanction of the ermine.
Judge Laughlin has usually trained with the democracy. What his views are at this time we are unable to state. He is a member of the Legion of Honor, and belongs, we believe, to no other order of the kind.
The judge was married, in March, 1873, to Miss Ella Haynes, daughter of Josiah E. Haynes, of Saint Louis, and they have three children
HON. JAMES J. LINDLEY.
JAMES JOHNSON LINDLEY, late judge of the circuit court for the eighth district, was born in Mansfield, Ohio, January 1, 1822, his parents being Jacob and Margaret (Chambers) Lindley. In his boyhood the family moved to Cynthi- ana, Kentucky. He received much of his education at Woodward College, Ohio. In 1837, when he was fifteen years of age, he went to Ottawa, Illinois, and spent some time with friends.
Mr. Lindley read law at Palmyra, Missouri, finishing in the office of Anderson and Dryden, and being admitted to the bar in 1845; located carly in the following year at Monticello, the seat of justice of Lewis county He soon began to shine in his profession, and in two years ( 1848) was elected circuit attorney for a district comprising eight counties, a position which he held, by reelection, for a period of eight years.
A gentleman who knew Mr. Lindley as a law student, and intimately during the early years of his practice, states that he was decidedly able and successful as a jury advocate, he being a Ruent and forcible as well as logical speaker ; and that he rose rapidly in favor with the public. As circuit attorney he showed great shrewdness and ability in managing criminal cases. One of them was that of the state against John S. Wise, for the murder of Hart, both of Saint Louis, which case he prosecuted with so much skill as to draw forth the warmest en comiums of his many friends and admirers. His general disposition and fine social qualities cropped out early, and he was one of the most popular men at the bar in northeastern Missouri.
Before his last term as circuit attorney had expired, in 1853, he was elected to congress as the whig candidate, beating Claiborn F. Jackson, in a strong demo cratie district, and the next year was reflected, beating Mr. Flourney. Two years afterward he ran against James S. Green, subsequently United States Senator, and was beaten, the whig party having meanwhile reached the " woodbine."
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