Logan County, Illinois - Chapter 18: Bench and Bar, 1911 (part 2 of 2)

Chancery of the Logan County Circuit Court. He came to this county in 1885, read law here, was admitted to the bar in 1887, and has substantially practiced law here since that time. He was a member of the Republican State Central Committee in 1904 and was a Republican candidate for Presidential Elector in 1892. He was appointed Master in Chancery at the death of F. L. Tomlinson in 1909. Carl Bekemeyer graduated at Ann Arbor in 1894, being admitted that same year, and locating in Springfield. In 1898, he removed to Mt. Pulaski. William A. Crain was born in Logan County and was admitted to the bar in 1904. He is not now in the active practice. W. A. Covey is the law partner of E. D. Blinn, having become associated with Mr. Blinn at the time of Judge Harris' elevation to the Circuit bench. Mr. Covey was admitted to the bar in Mason County and practiced law in Mason City a number of years. He now practices in both Logan and Mason Counties. George H. Cox came from Kentucky to Logan County with his parents in 1852, and was admitted to the bar in 1882, after having taught school in Lincoln a number of years. He has held a number of township offices. Thomas S. Davy was born in Menard County, within two miles of the Logan County line, attended the Valparaiso, Ind., College, was admitted to the bar in 1874 and located permanently in Lincoln. He was Surveyor of the County from 1884 to 1896, three terms, and was the Democratic candidate for State Senator in 1908. Charles Gehlbach is a native of Logan County, was admitted to the bar in 1908 and is Secretary of the Democratic County Central Committee. David H. Harts, Jr., was born in Logan County, is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1905. He is now associated in the practice of law with his father, D. H. Harts, Sr. Milton Hoose is located in the practice of law at Atlanta. Hugh Hunter is a native of Logan County. On admission to the bar, he located in Lincoln, and was the successful candidate for State's Attorney in 1904, serving in that capacity until 1908. J. E. Jewett was admitted to the bar in 1876 and located in Lincoln for the practice of law in 1892. He served one term as Grand Chancellor of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, Knights of Pythias. Edward G. King came to Lincoln in 1887, having previously been admitted to the bar in Menard County. He was elected State's Attorney of the county in 1892, serving in that capacity until 1876. He was President of the Board of Education of Lincoln for several years and was Mayor of Lincoln from 1905 to 1907. He is associated in a law partnership with James E. Miller. He was President of the Lincoln Chautauqua from its organization in 1902 until 1908. Uriah J. Kissinger was admitted to the bar in 1903 and located in Lincoln in 1905. He was elected City Attorney of Lincoln in 1907 and is the present incumbent of that office. James E. Miller is a native of Logan County, was graduated from Lincoln University in 1883, read law and was admitted to the bar in 1887. He was Master in Chancery from 1891 to 1897, and has been President of the Board of Trustees of Lincoln College since 1904. He is associated in the practice with E. G. King. E. W. Montgomery was born in Menard County, near Middletown, in 1871, and was admitted to the bar in 1899. He is located at Atlanta, where he practices his profession. Peter Murphy is a native of Logan County and was admitted to the bar in 1899. He was elected State's Attorney of the county in 1900, serving for four years, and is at present associated with Judge McCormick in the practice of law. E. C. Perkins came to Logan County, with his parents, in 1860. After teaching school several years he read law and was admitted to the bar in 1889. He has been City Attorney of Lincoln and was Master in Chancery for seven years. He was a delegate to the National Republican convention in 1904 and is serving his second term in the Legislature. C. Everett Smith came to Logan County in 1890 and was admitted to the bar in 1900. He was elected State's Attorney in 1908, which position he now holds. He is associated in a law part: nership with Judge Hoblit. Lawrence B. Stringer was admitted to the bar in 1896, has been a member of the Illinois House of Representatives two terms and of the State Senate one term, was the Democratic candidate for Governor in 1904 and for United States Senator in 1908 and since 1905 has been Presiding Judge of the Illinois State Court of Claims. George J. Smith was born in the county in 1874, admitted to the bar in 1907, located in Mt. Pulaski, of which city he is City Attorney, and was associated in a law partnership with Frank L. Tomlinson to the time of Mr. Tomlinson's death. Harold F. Trapp was born in Logan County and was admitted to the bar in 1900. He is associated in a law partnership with T. T. Beach, under the firm name of Beach & Trapp. He has been a member of the Lincoln Board of Education for several years past. Harry F. Wakeman is also a native of the county and was admitted to the bar in 1896.

The writer well remembers his first entry into the hallowed precincts of justice, which occupied the second floor of the old court house, which was dismantled in 1903 to make way for the present structure. This was in 1884 and the west end of the court room was occupied by a raised dais, upon which was located the Judge's easy chair, a table and a bar rail in front. To the left of the Judge was another raised platform, seated with twelve hard wooden chairs, where sat the "gentlemen of the jury." At his right, before a small desk, sat the Circuit Clerk. In front of the Judge was a black walnut table, eleven feet long and six feet wide, and all was enclosed with a wooden spindle railing, with two gates, one opening from each aisle. Two soft coal stoves occupied prominent places on opposite sides of the room and spectators alternately froze or broiled, as the judgment of the Sheriff dictated.

A bucket of water, with a tin dipper, was located near the jury seats, perched on a pine starch box, to which jury, lawyers, witnesses and spectators frequently repaired to quench their thirst, the replenishment of which bucket, when exhausted, being one of the sacred duties of the Sheriff. Only the Judge, in his unermined majesty, was allowed the privilege of a pitcher and glass all by himself. The spectators sat on benches, the backs of which were built at an angle, as far from that conformable to the human form as ingenuity could invent. The ventilation was execrable and when the room was crowded, real, live, genuine oxygen was at a premium. Inside the bar sat the attorneys trying the cases, as well as "the members of the bar" who were not at that time otherwise engaged, but who interestedly watched the progress of the suit, and among themselves, either criticized or approved the manner of trial and the rulings of the court. Only "members of the bar" were allowed behind the rail and that term was a generic one, which included all who had been admitted to the bar, and incidentally included lawyers. The lawyers then, as they do now, fought every inch of legal ground and contested every technicality. Arguments before the jury were as long as the court would permit and as loud as the vor humam would allow. It seemed to be a notion then, that the more noise a lawyer made, the more effective the plea, an idea not yet entirely dissipated. In those days, arguments were plainly heard by passers-by upon the four streets which encompassed the court house. Established residents knew what it all meant, and took no notice, but strangers oftimes stopped and inquired whether a fire, a riot or a murder was in progress. An investigation would disclose an attorney, within arm's length of jury, using his vocal energies to the utmost, at the same time indulging in physical gymnastics with long extended fingers, tremendous sweeps of the arms and other calisthenical demonstrations which endangered the optics of those who had been sworn to "well and truly decide the issues between the plaintiff and defendant." Yet, despite these elocutionary and gymnastic concomitants - relics, perhaps, of pioneer forensics - legal battles were here fought, which for sagacity, generalship, acumen and ability, in their conduct and management, have never been equalled in any court room of the land, and the old court house, primitive and crude, now but a memory, rang with the eloquence of a Lincoln, a Stuart and a Trumbull, intellectual giants of other days, and when the old building had to give way, in the onward march of improvement, a landniark was removed, every inch of which was sacred with sublime reminiscences and hallowed associations.