Jersey County, Illinois - Chapter 14: Courts, Bench and Bar, 1919

Chapter 14: Courts, Bench and Bar

CIRCUIT COURT - JUDGES OF PROBATE COURT - MASTERS IN CHANCERY - THE BAR - PIONEER ATTORNEYS - FIRST ATTORNEYS AT JERSEYVILLE - ATTORNEYS OF A LATER DATE - PRESENT ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE BAR - STATENS ATTORNEYS.

Circuit Court

Judge William Thomas held the first term of circuit court in this county, in the schoolhouse at the corner of Spruce and Jefferson streets, in December, 1839, and the session was for one day only. Robert L. Hill was clerk, and the following were the grand jurors: Elijah Van Horne, foreman, William Draker, John D. Gillham, Thomas M. Hamilton, Samuel McGill, James Davis, John Corson, George Hoffman, Josiah Rhoades, John Hawkins, Henry Coonrod, Mebane Anderson, John Kim¬ ball, George Smith, John Brown and Robert B. Robbins. The April term, 1840, was held in the Presbyterian Church, then in process of con¬ struction, and unplastered.

The new courthouse on the public square, being so far completed that it could be occupied, the October term of the court was held therein. Judge Thomas held the court until the spring term, 1841, when he was succeeded by Judge Samuel Lockwood, who remained on the bench until 1849, when Judge David M. Woodson of Greene County, was elected, and was twice re-elected, holding the office until 1867, when his former law partner, Charles D. Hodges of Greene County, was elected for one term of six years. Judge Cyrus Epler of Morgan County, succeeded Judge Hodges in 1873, and by re-election remained on the bench until June. 1879, a period of twenty-four years.

Under the Act of 1877, establishing the appellate courts, it became necessary to provide additional judges of the circuit courts to be as¬ signed as judges of the appellate courts, of the four appellate districts of the state. The Act of June 2, 1877, was passed for the re-districting of the boundaries of the circuit court districts of the state, and the election of an additional judge in each of the new districts. Under this act, the old nineteenth district, consisting of the counties of DeWitt, Menard, Logan and Mason was consolidated with the eighteenth district of Cass, Morgan, Scott, Greene, Jersey and Calhoun, the new district being called the seventh. Judge Lyman Lacy was judge of the seventeenth and Judge Cyrus Epler, of the eighteenth circuits. This act of June 2, 1877, pro¬ vided that the sitting judges should continue till the regular election for judges, the first Monday in June, 1879, and that an additional judge should be elected in each new district, whose term was to expire on the last named date, and at that time, three judges should be elected for the regular term of six years.

Albert G. Burr of Greene County, was elected as additional judge in the seventh district, and he, with the old judges, was elected in 1879 for the full six year term. Judge Albert G. Burr died in 1882, and George W. Herdman, of Jersey County, was elected to fill the vacancy, and he with the other sitting judges, Epler and Lacy, by re-election held their offices until 1897, when the circuits of the state were again re¬ districted, the seventh district under this act consisting of the counties of Sangamon, Macoupin, Morgan, Greene, Jersey and Scott, and James A. Creighton of Sangamon, Robert B. Shirley of Macoupin, and Owen P. Thompson, of Morgan were elected judges in 1897, and re-elected in 1903 and 1909.

Owen P. Thompson resigned in January, 1914, and April 21, 1914, Norman L. Jones of Greene County, was elected his successor. Judge Robert B. Shirley died in 1914, and July 3, 1914, Frank W. Burton of Macoupin County was appointed his successor, and in the election in June, 1915, James A. Creighton, Norman L. Jones and Frank W. Burton were all elected for the full term of six years. In January, 1917, James A. Creighton died, and on March 22, 1917, Elbert S. Smith of Sangamon County (Republican) was elected to fill his unexpired term. The sitting judges are Norman L. Jones (Democrat), Frank W. Burton (Democrat!, and Elbert S. Smith (Republican).

Judges Of The Probate Court Masters In Chancery

During his last term, Judge Woodson appointed Robert M. Knapp as master-in-chancery. Judge Hodges followed his example by appointing M. E. Bagley as master-in-chancery during his term of office. Judge Epler had George C. Cockrell in the same office until the March term, 1885, when Judge Herdman, presiding and representing Judges Epler and Lacy, appointed Joseph M. Page, who, by virtue of seventeen con¬ secutive appointments for terms of two years each, made thirty-four continuous years in the office of master-in-chancery, to the uniform satis¬ faction of the court, bar and litigants, transacting business with his office. This is indeed a remarkable record. The office, by its nature is judicial. The master is a deputy of the court and the office is usually filled by a member of the bar, but Mr. Page, a civilian, with no legal training, by his efficiency, integrity and uniform courtesy, for thirtyfour years has discharged the complicated duties pertaining to this office so competently, that it would be difficult to fill the office with equal acceptability by another appointee.

The Bar

At the time of the organization of Jersey County, it had been for eighteen years, or from 1821, three years after the admission of the state into the Union, a part of Greene County. All of the courts of record and business requiring the attention of members of the bar were in Greene County.

Prior to 1821, Edwardsville had been the nearest court. Later, dur¬ ing the early thirties, Alton developed into quite a nucleus for the courts, and when Jersey County was established in 1839, there was very little business at Jerseyville for members of the bar, nor was there for several years to come. The lawyers composing the bar of Greene County during the eighteen years above referred to were as follows: A. W. Caverly; James Turney, at one time attorney general of the state; David M. Woodson, later for many years judge of the circuit court; and Charles D. Hodges, who was a partner of Judge Woodson, and succeeded him as circuit judge.

First Attorneys At Jerseyville

The first attorney to locate at Jerseyville was Martin B. Miller, who was born in 1805, in Vermont. He studied law in his native state, where he was admitted to the bar, and when he came to Illinois, he spent some time at Alton before locating at Jerseyville in 1840. Here he remained until his death, which occurred in 1874, being during the intervening time engaged in the practice of law.

James Harriot located at Jerseyville about the same time as Mr. Miller, and he was born in Somerset County, N. J. In the same year as his settlement at Jerseyville, he was appointed school commissioner of the county, and was re-elected to that office until 1847. In 1844, he was elected a representative to the General Assembly of the State from Jersey County. After his retirement from the office of school commissioner, he went to St. Louis, Mo., and still later moved to Pekin, Tazewell County, Ill., where on March 25. 1857, he was commissioned judge of the circuit court. On July 1, 1861, he was re-commissioned judge for the twentyfirst district of this state. Mr. Harriot died August 2, 1869. Clark H. Goodrich, who was born in New York, located at Jerseyville in 1844, and he was one of the first states attorneys in this part of the state.

W. K. Titcomb was the next attorney to locate at Jerseyville, but in 1847 or 1848 he went to St. Louis, Mo., where he died of cholera during the epidemic of 1849.

H. H. Howard came to Jerseyville in 1854, and for some years taught a school for young men in the first story of what is known as the "Sons' Hall" north of the courthouse. Later he was admitted to the bar and practiced law here for a time, and was also editor of the "Democratic Union. " He was born in New York and was related to the Knapp family. Until 1865, Mr. Howard continued in practice at Jerseyville, but in that year went to Kansas and died in that state.

Anthony L. Knapp was a native of New York, and came to Greene County, Ill., with his father, in 1844 removing to Jersey ville. He was admitted to the bar in 1849, and practiced his profession here until 1865. After serving for one term as a member of the upper house of the State Assembly, Mr. Knapp was elected to Congress in 1861, and re-elected in 1863. In 1865, he went to Chicago, opened an office in that city, and was engaged in active practice for two years, at the expiration of which time he went to Springfield, Ill., where he located, and continued in prac¬ tice the remainder of his life, dying May 23, 1881.

Robert M. Knapp, a brother of Anthony L. Knapp, was bom in New York in 1831. He was a son of Dr. Augustus H. Knapp, and came to Jersey ville at an early day. After attending the schools of Jersey ville, he went to the Kentucky State Military Institution at Frankfort for several years, and was admitted to the bar in 1855, practicing his profes¬ sion at Jerseyville until his death, June 24, 1879. In 1867, he was elected a member of the lower house of the State Assembly from Jersey County, and to the Forty-third Congress in 1872, and the Forty-fifth Congress in 1875. On December 26, 1855, he was married to Miss Fannie A. Green, a daughter of Capt. Stephen S. Green of Macoupin County, Ill.

John W. Slaten was born in Georgia in 1810, and moved with his father to Jersey County in 1829. Mr. Slaten became a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in the early thirties was ad¬ mitted to the bar, continuing in an active legal practice with his brother, Benjamin F. Slaten. His death occurred in 1887.

Benjamin F. Slaten was born in Madison County, Ill., in 1820, and came with his father to Jersey County in 1829. He was reared on his father 's farm, and attended the local schools, after which he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in the early fifties, and he, in association with his brother, John W. Slaten, practiced his profession for many years. He was elected state's attorney of this county in 1873, and served for a term of four years. Benjamin F. Slaten was married to a daughter of Col. Josiah Askew of Elsah, and he died in his home in this county in the nineties.

George E. Warren was born in Ohio in 1817, and in the spring of 1818, his father, Dr. Thomas Warren, moved to Bristol, R. I., and there George E. Warren attended school, and the university. Dr. Warren came to Alton, Ill., in 1835, and entered a considerable amount of land in Jersey County, where he lived until his death in 1853. George E. Warren read law with Woodson & Hodges at Carrollton; and also as- sisted M. 0. Bledsoe, a clerk of the circuit, the county and commissioners' courts. In 1837, he returned to Rhode Island, and in June of that year, he was married to Harriet S. Allen, a daughter of S. S. Allen, collector of the port of Bristol. Returning west in 1838, Mr. Warren located at Alton, where he completed his law studies, and was prepared to prac¬ tice law in the Illinois courts in 1839. He then settled on a farm bought for him by his father, comprising 240 acres. In 1841 he was elected a justice of the peace, and continued to hold that office until 1849, when he was elected, under the state constitution of 1848, the first county judge of Jersey County, which office he held for eight years. In January, 1862, he entered into a partnership with his son-in-law, William H. Pogue, in the practice of law at Jersey ville, and continued in that rela¬ tion until the election of Mr. Pogue to the office of county judge in the fall of 1883. In 1875, Judge Warren was elected mayor of the city of Jerseyville as an anti-license candidate, and in 1878, he was elected a representative from this district to the legislature. He was the oldest member of the order of Odd Fellows in the city of Jerseyville, at his death, in Jerseyville, December 23, 1891.

William H. Pogue was born at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1835, and came to Alton, in 1854, where he read law in the office of Hon. Edward Keat¬ ing, who was at that time attorney general of the Chicago & Alton Rail¬ road. In 1857, Mr. Pogue began the practice of his profession, although he was then only about twenty years of age. In 1858, he was elected, in spite of his youth, city attorney of the city of Alton, and was ap¬ pointed master-in-chancery of the Alton city court by Judge Henry W. Billings in 1859, and was reappointed in April, 1861. In January, 1862, he came to Jerseyville and entered into partnership with his father-inlaw, Judge George E. Warren, under the firm name of Warren & Pogue, which association continued until he was elected judge of the county court in the fall of 1882, which office he held until his death in 1887.

Milton S. Littlefield came to Jerseyville in 1860, but only practiced a short time. In 1861 he was instrumental in organizing Company F, Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was elected captain of that company. He never resumed his practice at Jerseyville, and has since died.

Robert A. King was born in Missouri in 1830. He was admitted to the bar in his native state. During the Civil War, he served in the Con¬ federate army, and in 1865 came to Jerseyville, where he entered into partnership with Edward A. Pinero. This association continued for sev¬ eral years, when George W. Herdman was admitted as a member of the firm, the name becoming King, Pinero & Herdman. In 1872, upon the resignation of Judge J. M. Hurd, R. A. King was appointed judge of the county court of this county, which office he held by re-election for ten years, and then removed to California. At present he is residing at Los Angeles, Cal.

Attorneys Of A Later Date

Edward A. Pinero came to Jersey County in 1862. Later he was married to Miss. Irene Allen, a daughter of William H. Allen, with whom Mr. Pinero was associated as cashier of the Grafton Bank, of which Mr. Allen was the head. Mr. Pinero later, in company with T. J. Selby, went to Teeumseli, Neb., and practiced law for a time, after which he returned to Illinois, settling in Hardin, Calhoun County, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession. He died at Hardin.

John W. Merrill, a young attorney, practiced here for a short time in connection with Judge King, under the firm name of King & Merrill, but only remained for a brief period, and then removed from the county.

William M. Ames, after the close of the Civil War, read law with Warren & Pogue, was admitted to the bar, and became a member of the firm of Warren, Pogue & Ames. He left Jersey County in 1871, and never returned to it.

Adams A. Goodrich, a son of Henry 0. Goodrich, was born at Jerseyville in 1849. After attending the schools of Jersey ville, he was admitted to West Point. Following his graduation from that institution, he read law, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1873, and began the prac¬ tice of law at Jerseyville in connection with the firm of Hodges & Burr of Carrollton. After serving for several terms as city attorney of Jerseyville, in 1878, he was elected state's attorney and re-elected to that office in 1880 and 1884. In 1887 he was elected county judge to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William H. Pogue. In 1889, Mr. Goodrich opened an office at Chicago, where he continued the practice of his profession, later entering into a partnership under the name of Goodrich, Bradley & Vincent. He suffered a stroke of paralysis several years ago, and never recovered from it, dying at Jerseyville in May, 1918.

Thomas J. Selby was born in Ohio in 1840, and came to Illinois in 1860. For a number of years he was engaged in teaching school. In 1864 he was elected sheriff of Jersey County, and then was elected county clerk, holding the latter office from 1869 to 1877, inclusively, and he also served as mayor of Jersey ville. During the latter part of his period of service as county clerk, Mr. Selby was admitted to the bar, and he and E. A. Pinero removed to Tecumseh, Neb., where they were engaged in a legal practice. Returning from Nebraska, Mr. Selby located in Calhoun Cjounty, Ill., in 1890, and remained in active practice there until his death in 1916. He was elected state's attorney of Calhoun County several terms, and held that office at the time of his death. In 1900, he was elected a member of the Fifty-seventh Congress, from the sixteenth congressional district, to serve from 1901 to 1903.

Joseph S. Car was born at St. Louis, Mo., in 1832, and came to Illinois in 1869, locating first at Kane, Greene County, but in 1883 he came to Jersey ville, where he practiced his profession until his death in 1906. He was a prominent member of the Odd Fellows, and was past Noble Grand of the state in that order.

James F. Greathouse was born in Pike County, 111., in 1839, and after studying law, practiced his profession there for a great many years. In 1862. he entered Company I, Ninety-ninth Illinois Volunteer In¬ fantry. Leaving Pike County for East St. Louis, Ill., in 1880, he spent two years there, and then came to Jerseyville, where he remained until 1890, removing in that year to Ilardin, Calhoun County, Ill., where he still resides.

Orville A. Snedeker was born at Jerseyville, June 1, 1848, a son of Isaac and Caroline (Sunderland) Snedeker. His early education was obtained in the schools of Jerseyville, Shurtleff College and Bryant & Stratton's Business College. He studied law in the office of R. A. King, and was admitted to the bar in 1871. On August 12, 1873, he was married to Miss Emma Dalzell of Philadelphia, Pa. In February, 1874. Mr. Snedeker formed a partnership with O. B. Hamilton for the practice of law, under the firm name of Snedeker & Hamilton. That association continued for nine years, when the partnership was dissolved by Mr. Snedeker 's retirement from the firm. In 1892, he was elected to the State Assembly as a member from the Forty-seventh District, and re-elected in 1894. He died September 4, 1897, leaving surviving him his widow,

Harry Warren Pogue was born at Jerseyville, a son of Judge William H. Pogue. He was graduated from the Jerseyville high school in 1882, and commenced reading law with his grandfather, George E. Warren, and his father, Judge William H. Pogue, in that same year. In 1886, he was admitted to the bar, and in the fall of 1887, was elected state's at¬ torney, upon the resignation of Judge A. A. Goodrich from that office. Mr. Pogue was re-elected to that office for nine years, or until 1896. In 1910, he was elected county judge, and re-elected in 1914, dying wdiile holding that office, in November, 1915.

Theodore S. Chapman was born in Illinois in 1849. He attended Madison University at Hamilton, N. Y., and returning to Illinois in 1870, he taught the Hamilton Primary School at Otterville for the terms of 1871 and 1872. Later, he located at Jerseyville, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1874. On December 31, 1874, he was married to Miss Sarah Landon. From then until his death, in December, 1914, Mr. Chap¬ man resided at Jerseyville. He was elected to the lower house of the State Assembly in 1884, and to the upper house in 1886, being the only Republican senator that has ever represented this district in the state legislature. Mr. Chapman continued in practice at Jerseyville until his death, and he became very prominent there, being instrumental in secur¬ ing the adoption of the present system of administration of the George Washington Educational Fund, under decree of the Jersey County cir¬ cuit court, limiting the income from that fund to the purpose of assisting colored persons from Illinois to a college education. He was treasurer and clerk of that fund from 1880 to 1890, when he resigned the office of treasurer, and was appointed a trustee, acting as president of the fund from that time until his death, and was succeeded in that office by his son, Harry L. Chapman. He, in co-operation with Judge A. M. Slaten, pur¬ chased the banking outfit of M. E. Bagley's bank, and secured the charter for the Jersey State Bank, which was opened for business in Jerseyville. Mr. Chapman continued its president until his death.

Otis D. Leach was born at Jerseyville, October 4, 1860. After being graduated from the Jerseyville high school in 1880, he was engaged in teaching school until the fall of 1886, when he was elected county super¬ intendent of schools for a term of four years. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1890, when he formed a partnership with O. B. Hamilton under the firm name of Hamilton & Leach. Later he was ap-

Edward J. Vaughn was born in Jersey County, and was graduated from the Jerseyville high school in the class of 1888. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in January, 1890. From 1894 to 1896, in¬ clusively, he was a law partner of T. S. Chapman, and during 1895 and 1896, he was city attorney of Jerseyville. Subsequently he moved to East St. Louis, Ill., where he practiced his profession, but in 1916 he moved to Los Angeles, Cal., where he now resides.

John J. Hughes was graduated from the Jerseyville high school, and then studied law at the Northwestern University law school at Chicago. On March 26, 1895, he was admitted to the bar, and coming to Jersey¬ ville in 1896, he opened an office and was engaged in practice here for several years, but then removed from the county.

Charles N. Noble was born in Jersey County, and was graduated from the Jerseyville high school in the class of 1892. Two years later, he was admitted to the bar, and for a short time thereafter was engaged in the practice of law at Jerseyville, but then removed to St. Louis, Mo., and still later to Webster Groves, Mo., where he now resides.'

Eugene Hale, after being admitted to the bar, was elected city at¬ torney of Jerseyville in 1897, and held that office for two years when he removed to St. Louis, Mo., where he now resides.

H. P. Noble was born in Jersey County, and was graduated from the Jerseyville high school in the class of 1894. He then studied law, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1896. Mr. Noble occupies the same office formerly used by Senator Chapman. He was elected city attorney of Jerseyville April 16, 1901, for a term of two years. In August, 1910, he was appointed by Governor Deneen to fill the unexpired term of county judge, the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Thomas F. Ferns and held that office until December of that year, when he was succeeded by Judge H. W. Pogue.

George M. Seago was born in Jersey County, and graduated from the Jerseyville high school. After being admitted to the bar in 1894, he was elected city attorney of Jerseyville several terms, and then in 1900, he was elected state's attorney, and re-elected to that office in 1904, serv¬ ing eight years. Since 1894, he has been secretary of the Jerseyville Building & Loan Association.

Leighton E. Brown was born in Iowa, later moving to Kansas, and for several years he served as county clerk of Mead County. In 1892, he moved to East St. Louis, Ill., and practiced law there for two years, and

Thomas F. Ferns was born in Jersey County, Ill., July 27, 1862. He was graduated from the Jersevville high school on May 16, 1882, and from the St. Louis Law School in May, 1885. In the spring of 1885, he was admitted to practice law in Illinois. Mr. Ferns was elected city at¬ torney of Jersey ville, and held that office for three consecutive terms until 1891, aild he was elected for three consecutive terms to the State Assembly. On June 26, 1895, Mr. Ferns was married to Miss Elizabeth White of Springfield, Ill. He owns the former Isaac Snedeker farm of 240 acres adjoining the city of Jerseyville. In 1906, he was elected county judge of Jersey County, but before the expiration of his term, he resigned and moved to Springfield, Ill., and entered upon the practice of his profession, and there he still resides. In the spring of 1915, he was appointed master-in-chancery of Sangamon County. Judge Ferns en¬ tered into partnership with W. T. Sumner, and continued with him for several years after he removed to Springfield.

Charles S. White was born in Jersey County in 1868. He was gradu¬ ated from the Jerseyville high school in 1885, and was admitted to the bar in 1895, and immediately thereafter commenced the practice of his profession and has continued it ever since. In addition to being secre¬ tary and treasurer of the Jerseyville Mutual Life Insurance Company he has been a member of the board of education of the Jerseyville public schools for some years; for a number of years has been treasurer and olerk of the George Washington Educational Fund, and has been vice president of the Jersey State Bank from the time of its organization, and for the past two years, has been its president.

Paul M. Hamilton was born in Jersey County in 1872, and received his education in the public schools of this county, and the St. Louis Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1894, and immediate! v became a member of the firm of Hamilton & Hamilton, in which he still continues. In September, 1896, he was married to Miss Alma Carlin, a daughter of Walter E. Carlin. For some time after his appointment in 1901, Mr. Hamilton served as attorney of the claims department of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. During 1900 and 1901, he was secretary of the Piasa Chautauqua Assembly, and served Jerseyville as city attorney. In the fall of 1916, he was elected state's attorney of Jersey County, and he was elected president of the Jersey Township high school in 1915 and re¬ elected to that office in 1916, and was instrumental in securing the organ¬ ization, erection and equipment of that school. He is one of the directors

George W. Herdman was born in New York, March 6, 1839. In the fall of 1854, he located in Jersey County, having previously removed to Illinois with his parents. His early life was spent on a farm and in teaching school, and at the age of twenty-four years, he commenced the study of law. In the spring of 1867, he received his diploma from the University of Louisville, Ky., from which he was graduated. That same year, he began the practice of law at Jerseyville. In the fall of 1870, he was elected to the State Assembly as a representative from Jersey and Calhoun counties, and in 1876, was elected to the upper house, and served for four years. In July, 1882, he was elected judge of the Seventh judicial circuit, and filled the unexpired term caused by the death of Judge Albert G. Burr, and by re-election he held that office for fifteen years, or until 1897 ; when by reason of the redistricting of the state, and the taking in of Sangamon and Macoupin counties into the Seventh judicial circuit, the judgeship went to the larger counties, and James A. Creighton of Sangamon, R. B. Shirley of Macoupin County, and Owen P. Thompson of Morgan County, were elected. Since 1897, Judge Herdman has remained at his home in Jerseyville looking after his private affairs. He had an extensive practice while at the bar before his election to the judgeship, and was recognized as one of the best circuit judges of the state during his term of office.

Judge Allen M. Slaten was born on a farm in Jersey County, July 18, 1842. He attended the public schools of the county, McKendree Col¬ lege, and was graduated from the Jones Commercial College of St. Louis, Mo., in 1862. He is a son of John W. and Anna (Piggott) Slaten. On January 24, 1866, he was married to Miss Addie Vandewater of New Jersey. For several years he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, and then studied law and was admitted to the bar in January, 1876, and began the practice of his profession at Jerseyville. In 1890, he was elected county judge of Jersey County, which office he held for twelve years by re-election. He was one of the organizers and vice president of the Jersey State Bank, and for two years after the death of Senator T. S. Chapman, he was president of that institution. Judge Slaten is still a resident of Jerseyville, where he is engaged in the prac¬ tice of law, and he is one of the Jersey State Bank officials.

Martin J. Dolan, a native of Jersey County, born of Irish parentage, received his educational training in the public schools of the county, and the St. Louis Law School, from which he was graduated in 1892. Im- mediately thereafter he opened a law office at Jerseyville, and began the practice of his profession. In 1896, he was elected state's attorney, of Jersey County, for a term of four years. Since then he has been engaged in a private practice, but of recent years has turned his attention to some extent toward realty operations and has been successful both as a lawyer and real estate operator.

William T. Sumner came to Jerseyville from East St. Louis, Ill., in 1906. In 1908, he entered into partnership with Judge Thomas F. Ferns, which association continued until 1915, when Judge Ferns retired from the firm, and Gerald G. Reardon was taken in as a partner of Mr. Sumner, and the firm of Sumner & Reardon still continues. In 1917, Mr. Sumner was elected county judge to fill out the unexpired term of Judge H. AY. Pogue, deceased, and still holds that office.

Isaac D. Snedeker is a native of Jerseyville, and a son of Orville Snedeker, before mentioned. He is forty-two years old, and has been practicing in his father's former office, for the past sixteen years.

Richard Clyde Chappell, a son of Edward Chappell, the present sheriff of Jersey County, was born in this county. He attended the public schools of Jersey County, and was graduated from the Jersey¬ ville high school in 1912, and from the Springfield Law School in 1915, since which time he has been practicing his profession at Jerseyville.

Fred A. DuHadway was born in Jersey County, and was graduated from the Jerseyville high school in 1907, and from the law school of the Illinois State University in 1911. Following his graduation, he en¬ tered the law* office of Vaughn & Chapman, and continued there until 1916, when he went to Hardin, Calhoun County, Ill., and he and W. H. Chapman formed the firm of Chapman & DuHadway, with offices at Jerseyville and Hardin, which association still continues.

Walter J. Chapman came to Jerseyville from Medora, Ill., in 1906, and entered into partnership with E. J. Vaughn. In 1908 he was elected state's attorney of Jersey County, and re-elected in 1912, holding the office until December, 1916, when he was succeeded by Paul M. Ham¬ ilton. Mr. Chapman has been president and a member of the school board, and is cpiite successful in his profession.

Oscar B. Hamilton was born in what is now Jersey County (then Greene) January 31, 1839. His parents were Nathaniel and Mary (Dougherty) Hamilton, and lived a half mile west of the old stone schoolhouse at Otterville, in a log cabin erected by his father upon the land entered by him from the United States government in 1835. He received his common school education at the Hamilton Primary School in the old stone schoolhouse, and his law course in the St. Louis Law School, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1870, immediately thereafter commencing the practice of his profession, and has practiced sedulously from that time to the present. On October 25, 1860, he was married to Eliza M. Brown, a daughter of Chauncy Brown, one of the first commissioners of Jersey County. In February, 1874, Mr. Hamil¬ ton entered into partnership with Orville A. Snedeker, under the firm name of Snedeker & Hamilton, which continued for nine years, when Mr. Snedeker retired, and later Mr. Hamilton entered into partnership with Allen M. Slaten under the firm name of Hamilton & Slaten, which continued until 1886, when Mr. Hamilton removed to Meade County. Kas., where he entered into a banking business, and into the practice of his profession. He was called on to act as special judge to hold the December and January terms of the Meade County district court, in 1886-7, lasting about four weeks, at which term there were a number of quite important cases tried, among others, a murder case, where a man was convicted of killing another by shooting, and sentence was passed upon him, the extreme penalty in that state being imprisonment in the penitentiary for life. Said law requires a defendant to be taken to the penitentiary and held a year, and after that time the governor could issue a warrant for his execution, but no defendant has ever been ex¬ ecuted under that law. At several other later terms of the district court of Meade County, Mr. Hamilton wras called upon to act as judge. In July, 1890, Mr. Hamilton returned to Jerseyville, and entered upon the practice of his profession here, and occupies the same office now in 1918 that he did at that. time. In 1890, he entered into partnership with 0. D. Leach, under the firm name of Hamilton & Leach. Mr. Leach withdrew' from the firm in 1894, and the firm became Hamilton & Browm. Later Mr. Brown withdrew from the firm and went to Iowa, and Paul M. Hamilton, a son of Oscar B. Hamilton, became a member of the firm in 1894, wdiich connection is still maintained. Mr. Hamilton has been president of the Jersey County Bar Association for many years, and vice president and trustee of the George Washington Educational Fund, and was for nine years a director and active promoter of the Piasa Chautauqua Assembly, and president of the Jersey County Historical Society since its organization in 1909, besides holding other positions of trust during his connection with this county. He was city attorney of the city of Jerseyviile in 1875. At the Republican National Convention at Chicago, in 1880, Mr. Hamilton was one of the "Old Guard" of 306 that stood by General Grant throughout that convention, which suffi¬ ciently indicates his political preference. He is the editor of this history of Jersey County.

Present Active Members Of The Bar

The present active members of the bar in Jersey County are as fol¬ lows : The firms of Hamilton & Hamilton, Sumner & Reardon, Chap¬ man & DuIJadway, and M. J. Dolan, Charles S. White, Hiram P. Noble, George M. Seago, I. D. Snedeker, Richard Clyde Chappell, George W. Herdman, and Allen M. 'Slaten.

Statens Attorneys

The following men have served Jersey County as state's attorneys from 1848 to the present time: 1848, Clark K. Goodrich; 1852, Cyrus Epler; 1856, James W. English; 1864-70, William Brown, who resigned in 1870; 1870-72, William II. Pogue; 1872-76, Benjamin F. Slaten, who was the first one elected exclusively for Jersey County, the others being elected for the circuit of which Jersey County formed a part; 1876-80, William M. Jackson; 1880-87, Adams A. Goodrich, resigned; 1887-96, Harrison W. Pogue ; 1896-1900, Martin J. Dolan ; 1900-08, George M. Seago; 1908-16, William J. Chapman; 1916-20, Paul M. Hamilton.