Jersey County, Illinois - Chapter 10: The Bar, 1885

Horace Greeley once said that the only good use a lawyer could be put to was hanging, and a great many other people entertain the same opinion. There may be cause for condemning the course of certain practitioners of the law, but the same may be said within the ranks of all other professions. Such nun should not be criticized as lawyers, doctors or the like, but rather as individuals who seek, through a profession that is quite essential to the welfare of the body politic as the science of medicine is to that of the physical well being, or theology to the perfection of moral nature, to carry out their nefarious and dishonest designs, which are usually for the rapid accumulation of money, although at times for more evil and sinister purposes, and which are the instincts of naturally depraved and vicious natures. None of the professions stand alone in being thus affected. All suffer alike. The most holy and sacred offices have been prostituted to base uses. And it would be quite as reasonable to hold the entire medical profession in contempt for the malpractice and quackery of some of its unscrupulous members, or the church, with its thousands of sincere and noble teachers and followers, in derision for the hypocrisy and deceit of the few, who simply use it as a cloak to conceal the intentions of a rotten heart and corrupt nature, as to saddle upon a profes-

By a wise ordination of Providence. law and order govern everything in the vast and complex system of the universe. Law is everything, lawyers nothing, Law would still exist though every one of its professors and teachers should perish from the face of the earth. And, should such a thing occur, and a new race spring up, the first instinctive desire of its best men would be to bring order out of chaos by the enactment and promulgation of wise and beneficial laws. Law in tfoe abstract is as much a component part of our planet as are the elements, earth, air, fire and water. In a concrete sense, as applied to the government of nations, races and peoples, it plays almost as important a part. Indeed, so grand is the science, and so noble are the objects sought to be accomplished through it, that it has inspired some of the noblest and greatest men of ancient and modern times to an investigation and study of its principles; and in the long line of great names handed down to us from the dim and shadowy portals of the past, quite as great men will be found enrolled as members of the legal profession as any other, and owe their greatness to a sound knowledge of the principles of law, and a strict and impartial administration of them. Draco, among the first and greatest of Athenian law-givers, was hailed by the people of that province as a deliverer, because of his enacting laws and enforcing them, for the preventing of vice and crime, and looking to the protection of the masses from oppression and lawlessness. It is true that many of the penalties he attached to the violation of the laws were seven1 and even barbarous, but this severity proceeded from an honorable nature, with an honest desire to improve the condition of his fellow man. Triptolemus, his contemporary, proclaimed as laws: "Honor your parents, worship the Gods, hurt not animals." Solon, perhaps the wisest and greatest of all, a man of remarkable purity of life and noble impulses, whose moral character was so great and conviction as to the public good so strong, that he could and did refuse supreme and despotic power when thrust upon him, and thus replied to the sneers of his friends:

What is true of one nation or race in this particular is true of all, viz: that the wisest and greatest of law-makers and lawyers have always been pure and good men, perhaps the most notable exceptions being Justinian and Trilionianus. Their great learning and wisdom nabled them to rear as their everlasting monuments the Pandects and the Justinian Code, which, however, they sadly defaced by the immoralities and excesses of their private lives. Among the revered of modern nations will be found, conspicuous for their great services to their fellows, innumerable lawyers. To the Frenchman the mention of the names of Tronchet, LeBrun, Por- t.ilis, Roederer and Thibaudeau, excites a thrill of pride for greatness and of gratitude for their goodness. What Englishman or American, either, hut that takes just pride in the splendid reputation and character of the long line of England's loyal lawyer sons? The Bacons, father and son, who, with Lord Burleigh, were selected by England's gn-itest queen to administer the affairs of State, and Somers and Hardwieke, Cowperand Dunning, Eden, Blackstone, Coke, Stowell and Curran, who with all the boldness of a giant and eloquence of Demosthenes, struck such vigorous blows against kingly tyranny, and oppression; and Erskine and Mansfield, and a score of others.

These are the men who form the criterion by which the profession should be judged. And in our own country, have we not names among the dead as sacred, and among the living as dear? In the bright pages of the history of a country, founded for the sole benefit of (he people, who, more than our lawyers are recorded as assisting in its formation, preservation, and working for its perpetuity?

The American will ever turn with especial pride, to the great Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, Jo Daviess, Rufus Choate, William Wirt, Taney, Marshall, and hundreds of others, who reflected the greatest honor upon the profession in our own country. Among the truest and best sons of this state are her lawyers, and even in this county, some of her most highly esteemed and most responsible citizens are members of this noble profession.

The first practicing attorney to locate within the bounds of what now constitutes Jersey county, was Martin B. Miner, who came to Jersey ville in 1840. He was born in Addison county, Vt., March 22, 1805, and was a descendent of one Henry Bullman, a miner, who had his name changed to that of Miner, by King Edward III, of England, for his loyalty in furnishing 100 men from his mines, all armed, when that king started on one of his wars. His ancestors came to America in 1630. Martin B. was educated in the schools and academies of his native state, by his own exertions, and read law with Herman Allen, M. C. of -Burlington, Yt. He was admitted to practice in the supreme court of that state in 1834, and was married to Laura S. McNeil, in January, 1836. In tin' fall of 1836, they removed to Illinois, locating at Woodburn, but in the fall of 18117 moved to Alton, and in the spring of 1840, to Jersey ville. He practiced law for over 30 years, and died a resident of this city in October, ls?4.

H. H. Howard was the third attorney to locate in the county. When he first came here he taught a private academic school. He afterwards practiced law, for a while alone, then took into partnership his nephew, A. L. Knapp, who afterwards represented this district in congress. Mr. Howard was at an early date editor of the De 'ncratic Union, a newspaper in Jerseyville. About the close of the war he left this place going to Kansas, where he is probably now living.

Aimer C. Hinton, practiced law for some years at Jerseyville. He afterwards inherited some property in the neighborhood of Garrolton, and removed there. He, in after years became partially insane, and in one of his spells of aberration of mind shot himself.

Robert M.. and Anthony L. Knapp, have both been prominently identified with this honorable profession in this county and vicinity. Both of these gentlemen - brothers - were so fortunate as to represent this district on the floor of the national house of representatives, in which connection sketches of them are given.

E. A. Pinero practiced law in Jerseyville for some years, first alone, then in partnership with T. J. Selby, and later with that gentleman and George W. Herdman.

Thomas J. Selby was admitted to the bar in 1869, but did not engage in the practice of law for a few years. In 1876, the firm of Pinero and Selby, was formed as above stated. Mr. Selby was prominently identified with the oilier of county clerk, and is mentioned at length in that connection in the chapter entitled National, State and County representation.

W . Ames, while a partner in the law firm of Warren, Pogue and Ames, was a member of the legal fraternity of Jersey countv. He left here about 1871.

Among other members of the bar of past was Robert A. King, who was a member of the -27th general assembly, in which connection, he is noted at length.

The bar of Jersey county at present, comprises some of the talented of the past and the rising legislators and statesmen of the future. Many of them are well known professionally, and a few are just rising into public favor. The following list embraces all of them : George E. Warren, George W. Herdman,' William II. Pogue. 0. B. Hamilton, A. M. Slaten, T. S. Chapman, Morris R. Locke, A. A. Goodrich, Joseph F. Greathouse, Joseph S. Carr, Thomas Ferns, ' William M. Jackson and George F. Lane, the latter a resident of Elsah. Many of these gentlemen having filled official positions are noticed at length in that connection, for which the reader is referred to the chapters in relation to the courts of the county, and the national, state and county representation.

Adams Augustus Goodrich, a son of Henry <>. ami Jane A. (Knapp) Goodrich, and a prominent lawyer of Jersey county, was born at Jerseyville, Jan. 8, 1849, and was educated in the graded schools of his native place and at the military academy at West Point, which he was obliged to leave on account of impaired health, in his fourth year. He spent nearly two years in Colorado and California, and returned with his health completely restored. He then read law at Jerseyville and Springfield, with his maternal uncles. He was admitted to the bar in Jan. 1873, and since that time has been engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, at Jersey ville. He has a good reputation as a lawyer, and manages cases entrusted to him with ability and care. He is studious and painstaking, and a young man of much promise. Thus, by nature studious and ambitious, lie is sure to succeed in life, if health will hold out under the strain brought to bear upon it. He held the office of city attorney three terms, and was elected state's attorney in 1878; re-elected in 1880, and again in

1884, and is the present incumbent. Politically, he affiliates with the democratic party, and is a rapidly rising character in the political field of the future. He is a Blue lodge Mason and Knight Templar, an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias. " He has been through the last two orders, holding all the offices of the local lodges.

Thomas F. Ferns, the present city attorney of Jerseyville, is a son of John and Hannah (Hays) Ferns, and was born in this city July 25, 1862. His father, John Ferns, was a son of Thomas and Margaret Ferns, and was born in Trenton. New Jersey, on the 4th day of March, 1832, He settled in Jersey county in 1835. He was married in September, 1860, to Hannah Hays, and two children were born to them - Thomas F. ami Margaret M. In politics he was a democrat, in religion a Catholic. Our subject was educated in the schools of Jerseyville, graduating from the high school in 1882. In October, 1883, he entered the St. Louis law school, from which institution he graduated June 10,

Illinois in March previous to his graduation. He immediately opened an office in Jerseyville, and commenced practice. He is a member of the Western Catholic Union, of which he is one of the supreme trustees. In politics he is a staunch democrat.

Allen M. Slat en, a member of the Jerseyville bar, was born in this county in 1842. His parents were J. W. and Ann F. (Pickett) Slaten. He attended the common schools, and awhile at Kendall college, also taking a commercial course. He clerked for his father at Grafton, and afterwards ran a store at Otterville. He was admitted to the bar in August, 1883, after which he commenced practice. He is now a member of the firm of Hamilton & Slaten.

Joseph F. Greathouse, was born near Milton, Pike county. 111., March 10, 1839. He resided upon a farm, with his widowed mother until he was 17 years of age. He then commenced teaching school, which he followed, successfully, until the breaking out of the civil war, when obeying the call of his country, he enlisted as private in Co. I, 99th 111. Inf. regiment. This was in 1862. In I860, he was made regimental quartermaster, and remained in that position until the close of hostilities. Returning home, he studied law with John B. Henderson, of Louisiana, Mo., from 1866 to 1869, and was admitted to practice as an attorney-at-law, by the rules of the Supreme court of the state of Illinois, in the year 1870. He opened an office and practiced his profession at Pittsfield, 111., for 10 years, hut in the spring of 1880, removed to East St. Louis, and in 1882, to Jersey- ville, where he now resides, and practices his profession. He was married Sept. 19, 1861, to Nancy L. Binns, and by virtue of this marriage there has been boTn unto them rive children - Dora, Lenore, Valeria, Gertrude and Nina.

Judge Geoige W. Herdman, the present circuit judge of this circuit commenced the practice of law in Jerseyville in the spring of 1867, having just graduated. He is ranked among the prominent attorneys of this section of the state and is accorded high rank as a judge. He is noticed at length in the chapter in relation to the courts of the county.

Joseph S. Carr, attorney at law, is a native of St. Charles, Mo., where he was horn in the year 1832. His parents were John Carr, a native of Lexington, Ky., ami Elizabeth Mary Ann (Sumner) Carr, who was born in North Carolina. John Carr was murdered in the old City hotel at St. Louis, in 1840. Mrs. Carr died in 1873. The subject of this sketch was reared in St. Charles, receiving a liheral education, graduating at the old St. Charles college. In 1869 he came to Illinois, and located in Kane, in Greene county, where he engaged in the practice of law until 1883. He then removed to Jersey county, continuing the practice of his profession in the city of Jerseyville, where he now resides. May 10, 1859, he was united in marriage with Georgie Ann Logan, a native of Callaway county, Mb. They had eleven children, nine of whom are now living, Bettie E., Lois. Ernest H., Louis M., John, Josephine, Fritz, Festus and Georgie E. He was bereaved by the death of his wife in

1881, and in 1883 was married to Etta Cory, a native of Jersey county. By this marriage there is one child, Etta May. Mr. and Mrs. Carr are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1881 Mr. Carr was chosen to represent his district in the state legislature and served one term. He is Deputy Grand Master of the state in the I. 0. 0. F., and a member of the Knights of Honor, also of the Knights of Pythias.

George F. Lane was born in Havana, Mason county, 111. His father was a minister of the M. E. church, and died while the subject of this sketch was a small lad. His mother was left awidow, with George and his sister Minnie to support and educate. The mother then removed to Lebanon, 111., and gave to her children all the advantages of an excellent education that could be afforded by the McKendree College, located at that place. For several years George did not follow any business very long, but was what is termed wild. In the year 1874 he became a student in the office of H. H. Horner, a real estate lawyer of that place, and what success has attended George F. Lane's efforts he attributes to the teaching of Mr. Horner. While in the law office, and while yet a student, George was chosen city attorney, and filled the office in an acceptable manner to the people. After his admission to the bar he commenced business for himself, and did well, until sickness compelled him to quit work for awhile. He moved to Elsah in 1879, and has resided in that place since. In regard to offices that he has held since he came to Jersey county, we can say he was elected township clerk in 1880; elected justice of the peace in 1881, and re-elected without opposition in 1885. He has not been engaged in active law practice since 1878, but has devoted his time to real estate and loan business. His office is in Elsah, where he has a good library of law, as well as books that are to be found on the shelves of private libraries. He was married to his wife - Emma Stephany - on Christmas day, 1883, and their union has been blessed by one child, an infant. George F. Lane is a man who tries to enjoy life, and is happy when he sees others enjoying themselves. He is a young man yet, only about 30 years old. He is at present the president of the board of trustees of the village of Elsah, to which office he was chosen unanimously. His office is the general meeting-place of the old business men of his township, and all matters of interest, either of the village or township, are talked over there. In politics he is a democrat of the Douglas democracy, and the ex- Union soldier has in George a friend who is always ready to help him get his pension papers in shape, and was never known to charge a pensioner a cent for his labor.