USA > Missouri > The history of the bench and bar of Missouri : With reminiscences of the prominent lawyers of the past, and a record of the law's leaders of the present > Part 31
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 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
The Humphrey family always felt deeply grateful to the young hero who so bravely died in the place of another, though that aet was not of his own volition, and thus it was that the son of the man in whose place Hiram Smith died, always eherished the resolution to some day properly set forth to the world the heroism of this victim of war hatred. It was not until he had entered on a career for himself that he was able to ereet the beautiful granite shaft that now stands above the young martyr's grave. On the stone is this inserip- tion :
THIS MONUMENT IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF HIRAM SMITH, THE HERO THAT SLEEPS BENEATH THE SOD HERE, WHO WAS SHOT AT PALMYRA, OCTOBER 17, 1862, AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR WILLIAM T. HUMPHREY, MY FATHER. GEORGE W. HUMPHREY.
As noted above, George W. Humphrey was born after the tragedy from the results of which his father so narrowly escaped. After these stirring events at Palmyra, the latter moved to a place near Springfield, Illinois, where his son was born. After the declaration of peace the father returned to Missouri, locating in Lewis County, in which he had forin- erly lived, and at whose county seat he so nearly lost his life. There the son was educated in the distriet sehools, passing from them to the high school at Lewiston. His edueation was completed at La Grange College, in the same county, where he graduated in the elass of 1890. Like many other lawyers he began his career as a school teacher. He taught one term of distriet school in Shelby County, and then rose to the position of principal of the schools of Shelbyville, the county seat. At the end of the latter terin, in 1892, he entered the office at Shelbina, of Hon. Richard P. Giles, at the time of his death in 1897 the
Armas F. Mond
219
THE HISTORY OF THE BENCH AND BAR OF MISSOURI.
Representative in Congress from the First District. He was admitted to the bar at Shelby- ville in April, 1893, by Judge Andrew Ellison, located at Shelbina, and has progressed most satisfactorily. At present he is the partner of Samuel E. Ellison, son of Hon. Andrew Elli- son, Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit, under the firm name of Humphrey & Ellison. At this date Mr. Humphrey is City Attorney of Shelbina, is attorney for the Bank of Shel- bina and already has a most satisfactory practice. He is a brother in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is also a Knight of Pythias, and the fraternal esteein in which he is held is shown by the fact that lie has held all the chairs in the lodge of the last named organization. He is a Democrat in politics, and his political principles are founded on con- viction.
Mr. Humphrey is young, but he has already given indications of a fitness for liis pro- fession, which is an assurance of future success. There is no higher compliment to tlie character and fidelity of any man than the fact that his neighbors select liim to act as the trustee of various funds. It is notable that Mr. Humphrey lias a large volume of this kind of business, and that he is nearly always the administrator or trustee of several large estates. His practice is largely civil and commercial. He has given little attention to criminal law, though at the present time he is the attorney for the defense in the case of State vs. Smock-a case that involves many difficult propositions.
Mr. Humphrey was married October 25, 1893, shortly after beginning law practice, to Miss Gertrude (List) Warren. She was a popular young lady of Shelbina at that time, and is the adopted daughter of William H. Warren, President of the Bank of Shelbina. The union has proved a most felicitous one, and has been blessed by one child, William War- ren Humphrey, aged three years.
THOMAS FRANKLIN HURD, PARIS.
SOMETHING more than eleven years ago a young lawyer was admitted to the bar of Missouri, at Paris, by Judge Theodore Brace, and he has since proven that the pro- fession of his choice is one eminently suited to his character and talents. This was Thomas Franklin Hurd, who was born January 15, 1863, on a farm near Florida Post- office, in Monroe County, Missouri. He is the son of Thomas W. Hurd, a native of Har- rison County, Kentucky, who emigrated from that State to Missouri about the middle of the century. The Hurds were originally English, Thomas Hurd, the grandfather of the present Mr. Hurd, being by birtli a Virginian, and serving with distinction in the war of 1812. The father of Thomas Franklin Hurd married Miss Margaret I. Kerr, who was also a native of Virginia, being a daughter of John Kerr, who came from Augusta County, Virginia, and was of Scotch-Irish extraction. The parents of Judge Thomas Franklin Hurd were married in Monroe County, Missouri, in 1844, and had seven children, four boys and three girls, the Judge being the youngest. All of the family are yet alive, with the exception of the mother, who died in August, 1896.
After several terms in the common schools of Monroe County, Judge Hurd pursued his studies in Monroe Institute, at Monroe City, Missouri, until 1882, after which he entered the Missouri University, graduating there in the law class of 1886. In the same year he was admitted to practice at the Missouri bar by Judge Brace, and has practiced
.
220
THE HISTORY OF THE BENCH AND BAR OF MISSOURI.
continuously since, confining the field of his operations to the highly developed and civil- ized section around Paris.
During his career as a lawyer, Judge Hurd has gained not only name and fame among his numerous clients, but by his unvarying professional courtesy, hic has earned the respect and admiration of his brother lawyers regardless of the competitive spirit which is natural to tlicm; and in this perhaps may be found the chief reason of his popularity among his brethren. His section of the State is thick with friends who heartily speak in his praise as a lawyer and a gentleman, he having that stalwart integrity and high degree of profes- sional etiquette which can be attained only by those wlio are sincerely enthused with the work of their profession.
'The responsible office of Judge of the Probate Court of Monroe County was conferred upon him in 1890, and the honor was repeated in 1894, both of which terms he filled with exceptional efficiency and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.
It might safely be said that the fundamental trait in his character as a lawyer is an ardent love for his profession, and it is in this perhaps that one can find the secret of his success in life. Being a inan with the highest sense of honor, it is 110 cause for wonder that he enjoys widespread popularity as a lawyar and a public official in Monroe County. Judge Hurd is the most approachable of inen and as modest as his warmest friend could wish. His open and cheery countenance indicates the honesty of mind and serenity of soul which distinguishes him. He is endowed with a public spirit and progressiveness which have proven beneficial to his fellow-citizens. He has always had the welfare of the com- munity at heart, and has ever been in the van of the enterprising citizens of Monroc County. He is a member of the Masonic order, being a Royal Arch Mason, and one of the most active in the fraternity in liis part of the State. In politics he is a Democrat, and the party lias for several years felt the influence of his endeavors in its behalf.
Judge Hurd was married September 22, 1887, at Florida, Monroe County, Missouri, to Miss Maggie McCreery, the beautiful daughter of Robert McCreery, one of the mnost prom- inent merchants in the county.
GEORGE PARK B. JACKSON, SAINT LOUIS.
THOSE who read thicse memoirs attentively will be struck by the fact that many of those T lawyers of Missouri who have distinctively legal reputations of high degree are those practitioners who have refused political office and preferred their legal practice as a means of making namc and fame. Such a man is George Park B. Jackson, of St. Louis, who, while a typical Missourian to-day, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, November 28, 1846, while his mother was visiting her mother. The father of Mr. Jackson was George Jackson, an Englishman born and bred, who established himself in the South at an early day, and engaged in sugar planting and other enterprises. The mother was Anna A. Gillis, a native of Philadelphia. The father of Miss Gillis (thc maternal grandfather of Mr. George P. B. Jackson) cmigrated to these shores from the North of Ireland at an early year in the century, his departure from his native land being enforced by the holding of political opin- ions objectionable to the English crown. The move was most fortunate, however, as lias been proven in the case of himself and his descendants.
GEO. O. B. Jackson
221
THE HISTORY OF THE BENCH AND BAR OF MISSOURI.
The youth of George P. B. Jackson was to a degree unusual and changeable. After obtaining a practical education in the schools of Dayton, Ohio, he prepared to attend the famous University of Virginia, which was prevented by the Civil War. His father being in Louisiana and his family unable to return to him, they, on account of their Southern sym- pathies, were forced to seek a refuge in Canada, where until the close of the great struggle they formed part of the colony of Americans in that country. In 1863 and 1864 Mr. Jack- son pursued his law studies in the University of Michigan. While in Canada he had the great good fortune to fall in with Judge William Pryor, afterwards Supreme Judge of Ken- tucky. Chief Justice Joshua Bullett was another of the valuable friends he made, as was also Frank Rodman, who subsequently was made Attorney General of Kentucky. With these able inen he studied law for one year, commingling his legal studies with the study of Latin, Greek and French, in which languages he proved himself most proficient.
After the war, in 1865, the father, who had then joined his family in Canada, returned to Louisiana and sought to rebuild his fortunes which had been shattered by the war; but the son continued the study of law, and was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Louisiana in the autumn of 1866. Thibodeaux, Louisiana, was the scene of his legal labors for two years, and during the year 1868, while he was seeking a new location in the North- west, he was nominated for District Attorney by the Democrats at his old home. He deter- mined to settle in Missouri, and on account of his health he at first located on a farm in Pettis County, with headquarters at Sedalia. His farm life lasted until 1873, when he began the practice of law in Sedalia.
The only office he has ever cared to hold has been tliat of Prosecuting Attorney of Pettis County. Being elected both in 1876 and 1878, in this capacity he acquitted himself with so much ability as to win the encomiums of his confreres and the public. While in this office he secured the first conviction in a capital case and the first enforcement of the death sentence that ever occurred in that section. In 1879 he became a partner of Judge John F. Philips, and when the latter went to Congress in December of that year, lie left the entire business of the firm in the hands of Mr. Jackson, which action betokened the appreciation the eminent jurist had of his colleague's talents. Judge Philips was appointed State Supreme Court Commissioner in 1882, which dissolved the partnership, and Mr. Jackson practiced alone for three years, when he entered into partnership with John Mont- goinery, under the firm name of Jackson & Montgomery. This professional association continued until Mr. Jackson left Sedalia for St. Louis. This was in May, 1895. The Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad went into the hands of a receiver in 1888, and Jackson & Montgomery were employed as attorneys. After the receivership Mr. Jackson becaine General Attorney for the company, and in 1895 his office was removed to St. Louis.
It is a matter for small wonder that with the excellent opportunities which have been granted him, and which he has improved so thoroughly, he has achieved his present high standing in the profession. He is so exclusively and completely a lawyer as to exclude everything that would lessen his effectiveness in that field. Although frequently offered the nomination for Congress from his old district (which is the equivalent of an election) , he has always declined to accept, preferring to stick to his legal practice and gain the commendation that worth and excellence therein inspire. Every one of his later years has enhanced his standing and reputation, while experience has increased his proficiency and skill. Yet, with all his years of experience he is optimistic and sanguine in tell- perament, and it may be that these qualities have much to do with his success in life.
222
THE HISTORY OF THE BENCH AND BAR OF MISSOURI.
Mr. Jackson married Miss Mollie Vest, of Sedalia, in September, 1877. She is the daugliter of Senator George G. Vest, and by her le has three children, George Vest Jack- son, Margaret Sneed Jackson and Sallie Vest Jackson, a bright and beautiful trio, wlio inherit the intelligence of their father and grandfather and the grace and beauty of their inother.
JOHN MARTIN JAYNE,
MEMPHIS.
IT was on a farin in Scotland County, Missouri, that John Martin Jayne first saw the light of day, the date of his birth being November 27, 1858. Samuel Eggleson Jayne was his father, and his mother's maiden name was Fannie Elizabeth Crowley. The father of Mr. Jayne was a native of Pendleton County, Kentucky, where he was born November 23, 1816. There is German and English blood in the family, coming through the father. Mr. Jayne's mother was of English descent and was born in Clay County, Missouri, April 15, 1835, and her marriage occurred in Scotland County in 1852. The mother died in 1888, but the father still lives. Samuel Eggleson Jayne will always be kindly remembered as the friend of public schools and as a farmer of the progressive class.
The common country district schools of Scotland County laid the foundation of Mr. Jayne's knowledge and success. Then he attended La Grange College, at La Grange, Missouri, and leaving there in 1877, he read law in the office of Judge E. R. McKee, who is now Judge of the First Judicial Circuit of Missouri. He was admitted to the bar in May, 1879. His first partnership was with Louis Meyers, but in 1883 hc formed a partner- ship with Judge McKee under the name of McKee & Jayne, tlc partnership ending in 1896, when McKee was elected to the bench. Mr. Jayne now works alone. He is licensed to practice in the United States Courts, as well as Missouri Courts, and is an envied ine111- ber of the bar in his community.
He was City Attorney of Memphis for four years, then Prosecuting Attorney of Scot- land County from1 1892 to 1896 (inclusive). This meant two terms. Judge E. B. Adams appointed hint United States Commissioner for the Eastern District of Missouri for a term of four years from July 12, 1897. As director of the Scotland County National Bank lie has proven himself as wise in finance as in law. He is attorney for the Keokuk & West- eri Railway and his many responsibilities have been ably and conscientiously discharged by him.
His Masonic record is worthy of mention here. He is a member of Memphis Lodge, No. 16, A. F. and A. M., Royal Arch Chapter, Eastern Star of Memphis, and Memphis Commandery of the Knights Templar. He is also a member of Moila Temple of the Mys- tic Shrine, of St. Joseph, Missouri. As a Democrat of the active and useful kind, his eloquence and advisory services have been of vast benefit to the party. Organization and convention work have been his main successes. Still he would prefer to be known as a lawyer and not as a politician, because all his greatest victories have been in the courts. He has been Chairman of several Distriet Conventions, with profit to the Democratic party.
The wife of Mr. Jayne was Miss Minnic P. Redd. The marriage occurred at Palmyra, Missouri, November 27, 1884. Her father was Judge Jolin T. Redd, the well-known Cir-
J. M. Jaque 1
223
THE HISTORY OF THE BENCH AND BAR OF MISSOURI.
cuit Judge, who for twenty-five years was known as one of Missouri's most eminent jurists. The aged and talented James O. Broadhead, of St. Louis, is an old friend of Judge Redd, and is fond of telling of the ability of the talented barrister in court cases in which both have been interested.
SAMUEL BROADDUS JEFFRIES, CANTON.
AMUEL BROADDUS JEFFRIES, of Canton, Assistant Attorney-General of Missouri, S is descended from noble English stock by both sides of his family, but all his ancestors have been residents of America long enough to have won Revolutionary records and to establish reputations by the standard of merit rather than birth. The Jeffries family settled in Virginia on coming to America, and in Fauquier County, of that State, Jeremiah Jeffries, the grandfather of our subject, was born. It seems that he removed to Culpepper County, for there his son, William M., the father of Samuel, was born. William M., when he reached the estate of manliood, came West, and here in Missouri met and married at Canton, in Lewis County, in 1865, Elizabeth Smallwood, who became the mother of Samuel B. Elizabeth was a daughter of Elijah Smallwood, and a native of Pennsylvania, where the family settled on coming from England in early days. Several members of both branches of Mr. Jeffries' ancestral tree won distinction in the American war of eman- cipation from British rule. The Jeffries from time immemorial have been Baptists, a number of the family having become conspicuous in the history of that sect in the Old Dominion. Mr. Jeffries, following the ancestral religious tendency, is a conscientious and active member of that church in Canton. Both his parents are alive, residing in that town.
Samuel Broaddus Jeffries was born on a farm near Canton, Missouri, February 3, 1869. The rudiments of his education were acquired in the public schools near his home, from which he passed to La Grange College, located in his home county, and which is one of the chief educational institutions of Northeast Missouri. He graduated in the class of 1889, and prior to this, having made up his mind to adopt the law, he at the open- ing of the next term, went to St. Louis and entered the St. Louis Law School. When proficient, he returned to Lewis County and was duly licensed to practice in 1890 by the Circuit Court sitting at Monticello. In the same year he located at La Grange, Lewis County, and began practice as a partner of Hon. Horace P. Tate. This association lasted two years, and then on its dissolution, Mr. Jeffries formed a partnership with the venerable Judge John C. Anderson, of Canton, and removed to that place, where he has since resided.
In 1894 Mr. Jeffries was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Lewis County, on the Dem- ocratic ticket. He gave the people such efficient service that they willingly accorded him a second nomination and a re-election in November, 1896. He served only eleven days of his second term, however, and resigned January 11, 1897, to accept the position of Assist- ant Attorney General of Missouri, under Attorney General E. C. Crow. He still holds this position and is notable as one of the youngest men who ever occupied the place.
For the past ten years Mr. Jeffries has devoted himself to study in a way that clearly demonstrates his recognition of the fact that "knowledge is power." He is a close and careful student and is inspired by the ambition to become thoroughly learned in the ethics
224
THE HISTORY OF THE BENCH AND BAR OF MISSOURI.
of his profession. He has a high conception of the honor and dignity that pertains thereto, and his constant effort is to merit the honors and rewards it has to bestow on the adept. He is a quick and ready public speaker and a bright and fluent conversationalist. In Lewis County, where he was born, reared and is best known as "Sam" Jeffries, as they all know him, he has the confidence of everybody and everybody is proud of the rapid way in which he has risen.
It will have been noted, perhaps, that Mr. Jeffries has held offices almost from the time he was admitted to the bar, and such is his popularity in Northeast Missouri that he could doubtless obtain any honor to which he in future might aspire; but his friends know that lie is already weary of public service, and has announced that when his present term is ended he will eschew politics wholly in as far as future acceptance of office goes. The demands of official position take him away from his law business, and as he desires above all else the rewards that come to the highly successful lawyer, he will return to his office practice as soon as he again becomes a private citizen.
In fraternal circles Mr. Jeffries is known as an active Odd Fellow, he having occupied all the official chairs in liis local lodge. He is interested in every matter of material benefit to his native town and for the past four years has been a director and the attorney of the Citi- zen's Bank of Canton.
On the 8th day of December, 1897, he married Miss L. Frances Ball, daughter of Wil- lis T. Ball, a merchant at Canton, Missouri. She graduated with honors from the Chris- tian University, Canton, Missouri, in 1895.
FRANK RUSSELL JESSE, MEXICO.
THE subject of this sketch comes from two of the oldest pioneer families of Central T Missouri-the Jesses and Boswells. The paternal branch of his house is of Scotch- Irish origin and is known to have been among the residents of Virginia while it was yet a Colony. The father of our subject, Royal Anderson Jesse, was born in Cumberland County, Virginia, April 6, 1831, and was the son of William Morgan Jesse and Polly Ann Parker, his wife. The family moved to Missouri in 1831, when Frank R. Jesse's fatlier was a child of two years, and settlement was made in what is now Audrian County. On the inaternal side, the great grandfather of Mr. Jesse came from Ireland, and his son settled in Audrian County in 1842. The latter's daughter, Mary Ellen Boswell, married Royal Anderson Jesse, and to this union was born the subject of this biography, in Audrain County, May 19, 1862. Mr. Jesse's father was a pioneer minister of the Baptist Church, as were also three of his uncles and his grandfather. They were also farmers, for in that day men recognized the nobility of a calling which gave them close relationship to nature, and were tillers of the soil, whatever other profession they might adopt.
Frank R. Jesse received his education in the common schools of Audrain County, and at the high school of Mexico. He next entered William Jewell College, at Liberty, Mis- souri, where lic distinguished himself for his forensic ability by winning the Debaters' Medal. After graduation hic entered the law class of Missouri University, where he received his degree as a member of the class of 1886. In June of that year lie was admitted to the bar at Mexico by Judge Elijah Robinson, at once opened an office and has been practicing in Mexico ever since.
Samo Jofficer .
225
THE HISTORY OF THE BENCH AND BAR OF MISSOURI.
In 1888 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Audrian County, and was re-elected in 1890 without opposition, serving altogether four years. He gave splendid satisfaction as an officer of the State, and entered into his work with such enthusiasm that he made a rep- utation as one of the most unrelenting prosecutors the county ever had. Indeed, he dis- charged the duty of his office with such vigor and ability that he convicted more culprits than any of his predecessors.
Mr. Jesse is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is a staunch Democrat. He has contributed his fullest support to every measure through which advantage was expected to accrue to his town and is especially a firm friend of the cause of education. In all political affairs lie manifests an ardent interest in all the movements of his party, in which he is rapidly gaining strength as a leader.
Mr. Jesse is a man of fine personal appearance, tall and stately in his bearing. His demeanor is earnest and he impresses one as a man of great sincerity and tenacity of pur- pose. He is very thorough in all his methods and is convinced that what is worth doing at all is worth doing well, and from this arose the zeal he displayed as Prosecuting Attorney. He is very popular in Audrian County, and this popularity is destined to grow and widen as time passes. He is already enjoying a good practice, which is in a healthy condition of growth. As a lawyer, he is exceptionally strong as a pleader, although he prepares his cases with great care. He is of shrewd and active mind and keen perception, and is therefore quick to see and take advantage of any lack of alertness on the part of opposing attorneys, which makes hiin a practitioner with whoin it is not easy to reckon.
Mr. Jesse was married October 11, 1893, to Miss Mildred Beulah, daughter of John Virgil Williams, who was at the time of the marriage, County Clerk of Audrain County. She is a lady of high culture, and although born in Ralls County, was reared in Audrain County. Without doubt she is the finest musician in that section of the State, and as an evidence of her musical talent slie liolds the $1,000 prize piano awarded by Hardin College in 1891, of which she was then a student, and at which date she graduated there in inusic. There were six competitors for the prize, but it went to Miss Williams without question. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse have one child, a daughter, named Mary Ruth.
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.