USA > Missouri > Cole County > Jefferson City > The Bench and bar of St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City, and other Missouri cities : biographical sketches > Part 38
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 38
USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > The Bench and bar of St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City, and other Missouri cities : biographical sketches > Part 38
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named places. He taught about two years; read law with Hon. E. V. Wilson, of Edina; was admitted to the bar in 1877, and subsequently attended the National University, at Washington, District of Columbia, commencing practice at Edina in 1878.
In December of that year Mr. Ringer was married to Miss Annie R. Frost, daughter of Griffin Frost, editor and proprietor of the Edina " Democrat," and they have one son. In political sentiment Mr. Ringer is a democrat. He took a good deal of pains to educate himself, both in the sciences and the law, and slighted nothing. His preceptor, Judge Wilson, is the best expounder of law in Knox county, and nobody slips through his hands and gets a license to practice without having gone through rigid discipline. Mr. Ringer is studious in his habits, has a good moral character, and the confidence of the community, and to all appearance has a bright prospect before him.
NATHANIEL F. GIVENS.
KAHOKA.
N ATHANIEL FRANKLIN GIVENS, the oldest lawyer in Clarke county, is a native of Kentucky, as were also both his parents, Samuel and Ann (Harris) Givens. His grandfather, George Givens, was from Ireland, and the Harrises were of Welsh descent. Nathaniel was born in Union county, October 10, 18to, and received a common and high-school education, including the Latin language, working, meantime, more or less on his father's farm until of age. Ile read law with Samuel Casey at Morganfield, in his native county; was admitted to the bar in 1832, and practiced in Kentucky until 1838, when he came to Saint Louis, was examined by the supreme court, and has practiced in Clarke county for forty five years, at first at Waterloo, and latterły at Kahoka.
Mr. Givens has excellent natural tale which he has never ceased to improve, being still very studious and keeping thoroughly posted on late decisions. He is an excellent judge of law, and happily combines the able advocate and the good counselor. His industrious habits, etc., the younger members of the bar can copy with safety. Mr. Givens was elected to the legislature in 1852, as a whig, and served one term. He was a member of the first convention held in the state after the civil war began, and was a strong Union man.
He was again elected to the legislature in 1875 and reflected in 1877, and was chairman of the committee in both sessions. He has voted the democratic ticket
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since the war closed. The patriarch of the legal family of Clarke county, he is respected by all parties. Mr. Givens was married, in 1915, to Miss Harriet C. Scott, a native of Kentucky, and she died m 18og, leaving three children, one daughter and two sons. Aun is the wife of Edwin R. M. Kee, attorney at law, Memphis, Missouri; Frank is a physician, same place, and Samuel is mining in Colorado.
HON. JOHN M. KRUM. SUNT LOUIS.
JOHN MARSHALL KRUM, a prominent lawyer and jurist, and a resident of J Saint Louis for more than forty years, was born near Hudson, New York, March 10, 1810. His father came from Germany to this country with his father, Henry Krum, a ship owner, about 1760. His mother was Sarah Trowbridge.
He received his academic education at Albany and Fairfield, New York, act- ing as tutor one school year; entered Union College, Schenectady, in 1829, and left at the end of the freshman your on account of an affection of the eyes; studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1833, and located in November of that year in Saint Louis, being admitted to the bar of Missouri in January, 1834. Having some real-estate interests in Illinois, and some suits pending in that state, he moved to Alton in January, 1835, retaining meanwhile an office in this city.
In December, 1835, Mr. Krum was appointed judge of probate for Madison county. In March, 1837, Alton was incorporated as a city, and Mr. Krum was elected in August, 1837, the first mayor, holding that office when, in November, 1837, Elijah P. Lovejoy was shot by a pro-slavery mob.
He was elected state senator in 1838 while absent from the city, but disap- pointed his democratic constituents by declining to serve. The next year, Octo- I.1. 1830, he was married to Mary Ophelia Harding, a daughter of Chester Houding, the distinguished artist in the city of Boston, and in 1840 brought his young bride to this city, which has since been his home, and where he soon gained a very respectable clientage. The records show that he has been engaged in as many suits as any lawyer who has ever lived in this city.
In 1843 he was appointed judge of the Saint Louis circuit court, and resigned at the end of about five years; was elected mayo in 1848, the first democrat who had held that office in Saint Louis, and during his administration many very important improvements were made.
He had always been greatly interested in the cause of education, and served
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as a member of the school board for ten years in succession, doing much to che. Vale the standard of the public schools in this city.
Judge Krum was a member of the national democratic conventions which nominated James K. Polk (184), Franklin Pierce (1852), James Buchanan (1850) and Stephen A. Douglas (1800) and when civil war broke out he followed the course of Judge Douglas, championed the Union cause, and in 1862 became col- onel of the oth Missouri militia, which did guard duty while the city was under martial law, including the various camps and prisoners, for about two years.
Since Sumter fell Judge Krum has been in perfect accord with the principles of the republican party, and has acted accordingly.
In his profession he is an indefatigable worker, and while on the bench he was equally as industrious, one of the fruits of his industry while wearing the ermine being a work called " Missouri Justice," which good crities pronounce both able and valuable.
The judge has always taken good care of himself, and is a remarkably well preserved man, strong in body, elastic in mind, and capable of unraveling the most intricate points of the law
HENRY F. MILLAN. KIRKSVILLE ..
ENRY FRANCIS MILLAN, of the Adait county bar, was born in l'al. myra, this state, November To, 1812. His father, Henry S. Millan, was born in Fantas county, Virginia, and his mother, Caroline (Farr) Millan, in Cul. pepper county, same state The father is still living, his home being in Chariton, Lucas county, lowa.
Henry received most of his education at the Canton Seminary, a Methodist institution; read law with T. M. Sunt, at Chariton, where he lived between three and four years; was admitted to the bar in May, 18og; in November of that year settled in Kirksville, and has since made a successful and highly commendable record at the county and district bar. His practice extends into the United States, as well as state courts. In preparing pleadings, he has few equals in the state.
Mr. Millan has an excellent law library, of which he makes liberal use, he being quite studious, and a growing man. He lys no claims to forensic powers, but is an easy talker, without being florid; has the points of law very clear in his
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mind, and his candor, as well as logic, have a good effect upon a jury, hence his Success. He is a prudent counselor, and the people have unlimited confidence in his integrity.
Mr. Millan has a judicial cast of mind, as well as fine legal attainments, and in iSo his republican friends nominated him tor circuit judge, but the district is strongly democratic, and he was defeated. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and has been master of the Blue Lodge, and held various offices higher up in the order. His religious connection is with the Methodist Church, and evidently he finds nothing in his legal profession to conflict with his religious.
Mr. Millan was married, November 17, 1809, to Miss Lizzie Brewington, daughter of Benjamin Brewington, of Kirksville, and they have buried one child in infancy, and have three children, all daughters, living.
MATTHEW G. REYNOLDS.
M ATTHEW GIVENS REYNOLDS, of the firm of Biggs and Reynolds, was born at Bowling Green, Pike county, November 19, 1854. His father, Doctor Stephen J. Reynolds, is a native of Kentucky, and son of Doctor Michael Reynolds, of the British navy, who came to this country with the British troops and marines in 1812, and after the war was over concluded to remain, settling at first in Kentucky, and moving theme to this state with his family. Doctor Stephen J. Reynolds married Sophronia Givens, a native of Missouri, and daugh. ter of Matthew Givens, a farmer, who was a member of the Missouri legislature, sheriff and collector of Pike county at one period, and for many years a promi- nent democrat.
Matthew was educated in the common schools of Pike county until fifteen years old; then went to the United States naval academy at Annapolis, Maryland, where he was graduated in 1874, and he afterward spent three years in the navy. He read law with Robinson and Smith, of Bowling Green; attended one course ot lectures at the Saint Louis law school; was licensed by Judge Gilchrist Porter in 1878, and after practicing one year in Bowling Green he settled in Louisiana. He was of the firm of Fagg, Reynolds and Fagg until Judge Fagy removed to Saint Louis in 1882; then of Reynolds and Fagg, and since April, 1883, he has been of the firm of Biggs and Reynolds, his partner being William H. Biggs, one of the leading lawyers in the county. This firm is in general practice, civil and criminal, and does a large and highly remunerative business.
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Mr. Reynolds was a member of the thirty first general assembly, he being the first republican that has been elected from Pike county since 1804. He had between two hundred and fifty and three hundred democratic majority to over- come, an indication of his great popularity where he is best known. In the legis- lature he served on the committee on the judiciary
Mr. Reynolds is a Master Mason, a Knight of Honor, a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and a director of the Exchange Bank of Louisiana.
November 11, 1880, Mr. Reynolds was married to Maime K. Fagg, daughter of Judge Thomas J. C. Fagg, already mentioned, and they have one son and one daughter.
WILLIAM P. BENTLEY. SUNT LOUIS
W WILLIAM PETERS BENTLEY is a native of Otsego county, New York, a son of William C. and Caroline (Peters) Bentley, and was born in the town of Gilbertsville, August 18, 1842. His father, who was born and reared in Albany, was a prominent lawyer and politician in the valley of the Susquehanna, and at one period a member of the New York legislature.
Amos Peters, the maternal grandfather of William, was an early settler in Otsego county. Our subject is a graduate of Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, class of 1857. He read law with his father at Gilbertsville, was admitted to the bar in 1860, and commenced practice in the autumn of that year, at Lans- ing, Allamakee county, Iowa, where the writer of this sketch first knew him, and where he made a good beginning in his practice.
In 1865 Mr. Bentley moved to Des Moines, in the same state, where he had a large criminal as well as civil practice. He gained considerable distinction at the capital of lowa, in detending the Menthews for grand farcency, against whom there were thirteen indictments. After a long trial, in which he showed a good deal of legal ability, be cleared the accused. He was regarded as one of the best criminal lawyers at Des Moines, second only to Hon. D. O. Finch and Hon. C. C. Nourse.
In 1875 Mr. Bentley settled in this city, where his practice is mostly civil. He is a sound lawyer, a man of fine physique and good address, a natural orator, all effective speaker before a jury, and commands the attention of everybody in the court room.
Mr. Bentley was a member of the legislature in 1882, and was chairman of the
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committee on elections, and did good work on several other committees. He in- traduced a bill for establishing a state reform school, but for want of time it failed of getting through. Mr. Bentley was at one time secretary of the demo- cratic central committee of lowa, at another, chairman of that committee; was a presidential elector on the Hancock and English ticket in 1880, and appointed to carry the vote of the state to Washington. During that memorable canvass he took the stump, and made more than fifty speeches in Missouri, Illinois and In- diana, doing valuable service for his party. His oratorical powers are shown to good advantage on such exciting occasions
Mr. Bentley is a Blue Lodge Mason, a past grand in the Knights of Pythias, and a member of the Episcopal Church. His wife was Helen M. Martin, of Fort Madison, Iowa, They were married July 31, 1866, and have lost their only child, William Peters, Jr., who died in September, 1881
ALBERT TODD.
SAINT LOUIS.
T THE gentleman with whose name we have headed this sketch was born near Cooperstown, Otsego county, New York, March 4, 1813. His father, fra Todd, was a miller and manufacturer of mill machinery, born in Wallingford, Connecticut. His grandfather was, with Judge Cooper, father of the novelist, one of the first settlers of that part of Otsego county, and the grandfather of the pioneer in that county was one of the first settlers in New Haven, Connecticut. The mother of Albert Todd was Sally Inman, a native of western New York. He is a graduate of Vale College, class of 1830, teaching school during the senior year to pay his expenses, keeping up with his class, and standing an examination at the end of each term.
Mr. Todd read law at Little Falls, Herkimer county, New York; came to Saint Louis, reaching here November 9, 1839; was admitted to the bar in March following, and since that date has been in practice in this city, doing business in the civil courts altogether. For the last twenty years his practice has been solely office. During the last years that he went into the courts, it was almost entirely in real-estate law.
Mr. Todd was a member of the legislature in 1854-55, being elected on the last whig ticket over run in this state, and in that body he was chairman of the committee on corporations and banks, and was on the judiciary committee. He
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was a member of the constitutional convention in 1875, and did valuable work in that body. He was a candidate for congress on the Bell and Everett ticket in ISto, and since then he has acted with the democratic party. He was a member of the board of thirteen which framed the present city charter of Saint Louis, and his excellent legal mind and talents were of especial service on that occasion.
HON. HOWARD S. PARKER.
TROY.
OWARD STAMPS PARKER, member of the legislature from Lincoln county, is a native of Fayette county, Kentucky, and was born September 7, 1853. His parents, Warren O, and Rebecca E. (McConnell) Parker, were also born in that state. His mother was a sister of Hon. J. R. McConnell, an early attorney general of California, and a democratic candidate for governor of that state. Both parents are living in Audrain county, Missouri.
Howard was educated in the arts department of the Kentucky University, Lexington, and is a graduate of the law department, class of 1874, receiving his diploma in February of that year. He practiced a few months in his native state; then came to Saint Louis; and after practicing there two years, in July, 1876, settled in Troy, the seat of justice of Lincoln county. His business takes him into the several courts of the state, also into the federal courts, and is increas- ing. He is regarded by his friends as an able advocate, and especially adapted to criminal practice.
Mr. Parker represented his county in the thirty-first and thirty-second general assemblies, and he was chairman of the committee on constitutional amendments in the thirty-first, and of the judiciary committee and also temporary speaker of the thirty second. He held, as it is seen, in the latter general assembly, one of the highest positions in a legislative body, and as chairman of the judiciary com- mittee his legal talents and attainments were seen to good advantage. He was the youngest man ever chairman of that committee in Missouri, and the youngest speaker.
In March, 1883, the governor saw fit to veto a bill concerning offenses against the lives and persons of individuals, and Mr. Parker advocated the passage of the bill over the governor's veto, in a speech so sharp and able that the Saint Louis "Republican " of the next morning ( March 30) published it in full, and it was copied into other papers. It ended as follows:
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"Mr. Speaker, I protest against this veto, because by this false doctrine of our courts, and sustained by his excellency, a robber can meet you upon the highway, demand your property, and if, in a moment of nervousness, the weapon is dis- charged and death ensues to his victim, it is not murder in the first degree, as the intention was to commit robbery, and not murder. If a fiend meets the wife or daughter of a citizen of this state, and attempts to commit the blackest of all human crimes, and if he strangles his victim, to prevent noise or detention, until death comes, our court, by its subtle distinction, declares it not murder in the first degree, if tried on an indictment for that offense, as there was only an inten- tion to commit rape, and not murder; because a burglar may enter your residence at night, and if you awake and attempt to protect your property, and receive death as your portion, it is not murder, as there was only an intention to commit burglary. Common sense dictates that this revolting sentimentality on the part of our court is unexcusable. I hope that this bill will pass the governor's veto notwithstanding."
Mr. Parker is a democrat, firm and influential, and many of his political con- freres would like to see him in a higher position, and have suggested him as a suitable man to occupy a seat in the national house of representatives. It is not impossible that at no remote day he may be there.
WILLIAM H. MORROW.
W ILLIAM HAMILTON MORROW, one of the oldest and best lawyers in practice at Louisiana, Pike county, is a native of Jefferson county, Vir- ginia, dating his birth November 1, 1537. His parents, Joseph and Ellen ( Lock) Morrow, were also born in Virginia. William received an academic education in his native state; came to Missouri in 1850; read law at Palmyra, Marion county, with Hon. John D. S. Dryden; was admitted to the bar in 1860, and was in practice at Palmyra when Virginia seceded from the Union. He returned thither; enlisted as a private in Ashby's cavalry, which eventually became the 12th Virginia cavalry; was promoted to sergeant, lieutenant and finally captain, and left the army when General Lee surrendered.
Mr. Morrow taught school in Virginia until 1868, when he returned to Mis- souri, and has since been practicing law in Pike county. He is keen in examin- ing a witness; a good logician; has much influence with a jury, and is quite
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successful in his profession. Perhaps his forte as a lawyer lies in his quickness to see a point, his perceptions being very acute If anybody in Pike county is a born lawyer, it is William H. Morrow.
In politics he is a democrat, but he is not hungry for office, and holds none. He is a Blue Lodge Mason, and a member of the Methodist Church South. His wife was Miss Julia Wilson, of Jefferson county, Virginia, married in February, 1864. They have a daughter and a son.
HON. ANDREW ELLISON.
KIRKSVILLE.
NDREW ELLISON, judge of the twenty-seventh judicial circuit, was born A at Monticello, Lewis county, November 6, 1846. He is a son of Hon. James Ellison, of Canton, Lewis county, to whose sketch we refer for a history of the family. His parents are among the most respected people in that county. Andrew was educated at the Christian University, Canton, and the Christian Brothers, Saint Louis; read law with his father; was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice April 24, 1867, at Kirksville, where he was not long in secur- ing a fair clientage.
In December, 1876, Mr. Ellison was appointed judge of the twenty-seventh judicial circuit, to fill out Judge Henry's unexpired term; was elected to the same office in 1878, and reflected in 1886, each time by a sweeping majority. The judge is devoting his time to his official duties, his family, and his farm, and is in a situation to enjoy the comforts of life, which he is doing.
MORTIMER F. TAYLOR. SAINT LOUIS
M ORTIMER FREDERIC TAYLOR hails from Alabama, being born at Huntsville, Madison county, February 22, 1849. His father, Morris K. Taylor, a planter, was born in Centre county, Pennsylvania, a grand uncle of his, George Taylor, being one of the signers of the declaration of independence. Morris K. Taylor was married to Harriet K. Gulledge, a native of Cheraw, South Carolina, and Mortimer was the third child in a family of four children. He lost an older brother in the confederate service. His parents are both dead.
The subject of this sketch obtained most of his literary, and all his legal edu-
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cation at the Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee, receiving the degree of bachelor of laws in June, 1876. He practiced at Huntsville until the close of 1871, and on the first of January following opened an office in Saint Louis. He lives in Saint Louis county, outside the city limits, and his practice in the country is general, while in the city it is exclusively civil.
Mr. Taylor had a hard struggle, like many other young men, in getting a start, but he has a good stock of pluck and perseverance, and has finally built up a handsome business He likes his profession, and being very studious and painstaking, he is bound to push forward and upward His excellent address, his cordial disposition and gentlemanly traits will be no detriment to his success.
Mr. Taylor was elected to the legislature on the democratic ticket in 1878, and in the session of 1879 led oft in the fight for the investigation of the state treas. ury, being chairman of a special committee appointed for that purpose.
He was married in December, 1875, to Miss Mary L. Taylor, daughter of Will- iam C. Taylor, of Saint Louis, and they have one daughter living, and have buried one SON.
JOHN W. BUCHANAN. BOWLING GREEN.
J JOHN WALKER BUCHANAN is a son of William and Mary Ann (Brent) Buchanan, and was born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, November 15, 1839. He is of Scotch-Irish descent on his father's side, and Irish on his mother's. His grandfather, George Buchanan, was an officer among the Virginia troops in the first war with England, and his father was in the second war; also in the Black Hawk war, the Florida war, the Mexican war, and the civil war, on the confederate side. Our subject belongs most emphatically to a fighting family. William Buchanan was born in 1791, and is still living (September, 1883), and a well-to-do farmer. The mother of John died when he was only a year or two old.
The subject of these notes was educated at Fredericksburgh University, the Baptist College, Richmond, the preparatory school of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, and the Virginia Military Institute. He came to Missouri, read law at Clarksville, Pike county; was admitted to the bar at Bowling Green in 1800, but did not practice until the test oath was removed in 1866, when he opened an office in Clarksville. While a resident of that place he held the office of city attorney for three years.
In 1871 Mr. Buchanan moved to Bowling Green, in the same county, it being
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the seat of justice, He is the local attorney for the Saint Louis, Hannibal and Keokuk Railroad Company. He was mayor of Bowling Green in 1881-82, and made a good executive officer of the city. Ilis affiliations have always been with the democratic party. He holds a membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Knights of Honor, and the Christian (sometimes called the Camp- bellite) Church.
Mr. Buchanan has been married since October 27, 1800, his wife being, before their union, Miss Sue A. Myers, of Saint Louis county. They have a son and a daughter.
JONATHAN P. ORR. HOIDEA.
T HIE leading lawyer in Holden, Johnson county, is Jonathan Patterson Orr, a native of Ohio. He was born in Guernsey county, August 24, 1832, being a son of Thomas and Jane (Sears) Orr, who belonged to the farming community. His father was born in Guernsey county, and his mother in the state of Pennsyl- vania. Her father was Judge Sears, of that state.
The subject of this notice was reared on the farm until about twenty years of age, attending school, meanwhile, off and on, and finishing his literary studies in an academy at Washington, Ohio. He read Jaw at Cambridge, Guernsey county; was admitted to the bar in 1865, and spent part of that year in traveling through Illinois. In 1866 he went to Kansas City, and with headquarters there did busi- ness in the state of Kansas, settling at his present home in July, 1868. Here he has made a truly commendable record as a lawyer and a citizen, being a very careful, correct and reliable business man. He does a general practice, with a partiality for civil litigation, seeking no other. He is a fair speaker, and a wise, conscientious counselor, advising no one to commence a suit unless he has a clear case. There is no truer man of any calling in Holden, and he has made a suc- cess financially, as well as professionally.
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