Hancock County, Illinois - Chapter 11: The Judiciary, 1880

Among the Judicially of the Circuits to which Hancock has belonged, have been a number of ablemen, - quite as able, perhaps, as have fallen to the lot of other Circuits in the State.

Richard M. Young - Was the first Judge who occupied the Bench (the splint-bottomed chair, we should say) in the county of Hancock, as well as in perhaps a dozen other counties in the northwestern part of the State. It was he who first put the wheels of justice in motion where now nearh' a million of people reside. For a more extended notice of this distinguished man, see page 216.

James H. Ralston. - This gentleman succeeded Judge Young on the Circuit by Legislative election in 1837, but resigned the ensuing August and removed to Texas. He soon, however, returned to Quincy. In 1840 he was elected to the State Senate. In 1846 he joined the army to Mexico as Assistant Quartermaster, by appointment from President Polk. After the war he settled in California, where he died, having been lost in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Eet&i' Lott. - This gentleman was from New Jersey, was elected by the Legislature to succeed Judge Ralston, and held the position till 1841. He resided for a short time at Carthage, but removed to Quincy. After his judgeship he served as Circuit Clerk in Adams county for several years. Later he removed to California, where he was appointed Superintendent of the U. S. Mint at San Francisco. From this position he was removed in 1856 by President Buchanan. He had served as Captain in the Mexican war, aiid it is stated that lie died at Tehuantepec, Mexico, where he was holding the position of tJ. S. Consul.

Judge Lott was a well educated man, had been a class-mate at Princeton with Hon. Samuel L. Southard, the eminent New Jersey Senator, and studied law in his oflice. He is remembered as jovial, witty, companionable and fond of fun, not fond of study, and yet a good lawyer.

Stephen A. Douglas. - The career of this eminent man is so well known as to require a mere mention. He was elected Judge iu 1841, and held the oflice till Aug., 1843, when he resigned to take a seat in Congress. Some of his acts while on the Bench here gave great oflense to the people of this county during the troublous days of the Mormon period. He found tlie docket loaded with unfinished cases; but his dispatch and ability were such that he (410) soon cleared it. Of Judge Douglas' career as a statesman, in the House of Representatives, in the Senate, as a candidate for the Presidency, it is unnecessary to speak. This is all well known to the reader. ^ Senator Douglas was a man of the people, over whom he possessed an unusual magnetic influence. He became the recognized leader of a great party; and when the great Rebellion came, he at once took strong Union ground, and prepared to stand by the Government as administered by his great compeer. His influence and force of character greatly strengthened the hands of President Lincoln. His death occurred June 3, 1861.

Jesse B. Thomas. - -Judge T. was a conspicuous man in the history of Illinois. He was delegate in Congress as early as 1808, while Illinois and Indiana were together as one Territory. From Washington he came home with a commission as Federal Judge for the new Territory of Illinois, which position he held till it was admitted into the Union as a State in 1818. Thomas, with Gov. Ninian Edwards was then elected to the U. S. Senate, the first Senators from the State. It was while in this position that the memorable contest came up in Congress on the admission of Missouri; and Senator Thomas stands in history as the reputed author of the measure known as the Missouri Compromise, though it was taken up and strenuously advocated by Henry Clay. He was again elected to the Senate by the Legislature, which passed the Convention measure for making Illinois a slave State.

This first Judge Thomas removed to and settled in Ohio, and was still living in that State, when his namesake and nephew was on the Bench in this Circuit. Judge T., junior, succeeded Douglas in 1843 and resigned in 184.5. His death occurred not long afterward while Judge in another Circuit.

Norman H. Purple - Occupied the Bench on this Circuit from 1845 for about four years, when he resigned for the alleged reason that the salary was insufficient. He was a resident of Peoria. Judge P. was regarded as a man of high legal abilities and good executive talents.

Wdliain A. Minshall - Resided at Rushville. and was elected to the Circuit in 1849, and held the position till his death, which took place Oct., 1861. He was an emigrant from Tennessee in an early day; attained to distinction and a good practice as a lawyer, and had been a member of the Legislative, and also of the Constitutional (Convention in 1848.

Onias C . Skinner. - This gentleman resided a number of years in this county, coming among us a little previous to the close of the Mormon war. He settled first, we believe, in Nauvoo, and afterward resided at Carthage, where he became well known and built up a good reputation and practice. He took his seat on the Bench in 1851, occupying it till May, 1854, when he resigned and was transferred to the State Supreme Court. How long he held this position we are not advised. His death occurred at Quincy not many years ago.

Pinckney H. Walker - Succeeded Judge Skinner as Judge in this Circuit, and afterward succeeded him on the Supreme Bench, He was a Kentuckian - emigrated in his youth to McDonough connty. His present residence is Kusliville.

Joseph Sihley - Held the position of Judge in this Circuit for a longer period than any other - in all over twenty years. He was an attorney at law for sever il years in the county previous to his election, and resided here several years afterward. He resides at present in Quincy.

Chauncey L. Higbee - Is a resident of Pittsfield, in Pike county, where he has been many years in the practice of law. He will be remembered by the old citizens of the county as one of the members of the Mormon fraternitj- of Nauvoo, and owners of the Expositor newspaper, which was destroyed in the street of that city in 1844.