McHenry County, Illinois - Chapter 9: Courts, Bench and Bar, 1922

Chapter 9: Courts, Bench and Bar

Under date of .May 10, 1838, pleas were heard before Judge Pearson, judge of the Seventh Judicial District, in and for the County of Mc 'Henry, presiding ai a courl held at McHenry, in McHenry County, those present being Judge John Pearson, Alonzo Euntington, state's attorney, and Henry B. Steele, sheriff of McHenry County.

The men composing the first grand jury of the circuil courl Eor this county were as follows: Andrew S. Wells. .lames II. Lloyd, Charles II. Bartlett, Jeremiah Porter, Willard Jones, Thomas McClure, Daniel Winters. Richard Steele, Samuel L. Wood. Alden Harvey. Christy G. Wheeler, Luke Hale. Amos Desmond. Moody B. Bailey, Aaron Randall. Christopher Walkup, William E. Keyes, John McCollom, and from their number Charles II. Bartletl was chosen foreman. Of the nineteen eases brought before this court the firsl day. three were for trespass, and one

County courts have jurisdiction in all matters of probate, settlement of estates of deceased persons; also in proceedings of executors, administrators, guardians Eor the Bale of real estate. In law cases they have concurrenl jurisdiction with circuil mints and in all criminal offenses where the punishment is not imprisonment in the penitentiary or death, but oo appeal is allowed from justices of the peace to county

From 1 s.!7 until Isl'.i. when township organization was adopted ami put into force in McHenry County, when supervisors assumed their office the county's affairs were conducted by what was termed the County Commissioners Court to which three commissioners were elected. These commissioners were as follows: 1837 - Charles II. Bartlett (resigned September term, 1837), .Matthias Mason, Solomon Norton; Samuel Sherman. December. 1n">7; l.^!> -Solomon Norton. Ransom Steele. William Jackson; 1839 - B. B. Brown, Gideon Colby, Eloberl G. White; 1840 - B. P.. Brown. R. C. White-. Daniel W. P. Tower; 1-H - R. <i. White D. W. 1'. Tower, Eosea B. Throop; 1843 - D. W. P. Tower. II. I'.. Th.oop. l'.ela II. Tryon; 1843 - H. B. Throop, B. II. Tryon, Andrew .1. Hayward; 1844 - Same as in 1843; 1845 - H. B. Throop, A. .1. Hayward, William A. McConnell; 1846 - H. B. Throop, William A. .McConnell, Carlisle Hastings; 1847 - William A. McConnell. Carlisle Hastings, Dexter Barrows; l>)s The same as in l>47.

County Judges Kaui.Y Attorneys

Mil I in i \ County was Amory E. Thomas, who came here in 1839, and continued his practice until 1844. The same year saw the advenl here of Calvin Searl, who located at Crystal Lake and remained there until L845

Ilosea <;. Wilson located at McHenry in 1842, and died in that village about 18 17. Charles .MeClure was admitted to the bar of McHenry county in 1840, bul lefl ii soon thereafter. Be returned to the county in IS.")] and located permanently at Woodstock. Solomon IJaird was another pioneer lawyer who spent two years in active practice at .Mc- Henry, which lie left in 184").

The following lawyers were ene.av.ed in practice in the county be tween its tirst settlement and 1S44, and some of these continued in practice for many years succeeding the latter date: .Milton Xixon. D. C. Bush, William Bloom, Col. Laurence S. Church, Amos B. Coon, Henry W. McLean, Anson Sperry, Phineas W. Piatt, Col. Alonzo Piatt, Amos Cogswell, Col. danics M. Strode, lion. Theodore I). .Murphy. Charles M. Willard, Preman Van Wickle, Hon. M. 1.. Joslyn, Hon. William Ken-. II. s. Banchett, 1'. B. Enos, S. R. Paynter, George A. Parrish, William Jackson, Bon. Ira Rozel Curtis, lion. B. X. Smith, M. L. Ellsworth, .lames II. Slavin, Hon. O. II. Gilmore, dames M. Southworth, Hon. Richard Bishop, C. II. Donnelly. A. B. Coon, Jr., Albert E. Boone. C. 1'. Barnes, and .1. I''. Casey.

Hon. Richard Bisbop, a native of New York state, was born in 1824 His father was killed by the falling of a tree when he was but seven years old. He soon became his mother's sole support, and worked for ten cents a day, at threshing grain with a Hail, and he also cut cord the age of twelve years, he was bound oul to a physician who owned ;i large "sugar bush," for whirl, the boy was obliged to provide all the accessary wood, gather the sap from sixty five trees and carry the sugar home by means of a yoke suspended from his Bhoulders. He subsequently learned the blacksmithing trade, receiving $105 for three years' work while mastering Ins trade, tn the spring of 1844, having completed his apprenticeship, he bade farewell to his mother, and set oul to seek his fortune in the much-heard-of west. After many experiences and some privations, he landed on fool al McHenry village, having waded through swamps for miles on Ins journey. The date of his arrival was 1844, and he found plenty of employment, working until the subsequenl spring, first al harvesting during the season, and then during the remainder of the time cutting cord wood at fifty cents per cord. In the spring of 1845 he began working at his trade of blacksmithing, and during the first year earned enough money to buy of the government, eighty acres of land, for w hich he paid the entry fee of $1 25

1,000 acres of McHenry County land, and he was also the owner of a large wagon factory and grist-mill. Tn 1874 he embarked in the banking business in Woodstock, and followed it for two years, when he bought a $1,000 law library, began studying law, and was later admitted to the bar. In 1874 he was elected to the State Assembly of Illinois. and he also served as county supervisor for fifteen or more years.

Albert E. Bourne, horn at Kenosha, Wis., in 1849, was educated in the Wisconsin State University at .Madison. Wis., from which he was graduated* in 1872. He was then engaged in teaching school for several terms, when he became a law student, and in L880 was admitted to the bar. At one time he served as captain in the Illinois National Guard. He was a well-known Mason, and in polities was a radical Republican.

I). ('. Bush was the first lawyer to locate at Woodstock. He came here in the autumn of 1844, and remained until in December, 1852, when he removed to .Madison. Wis. Possessing average legal ability, id a fair practice for his day and generation.

bora ;ii Nunda, N. Y., in 1820, and passed bis early years on a farm. Poss ssing strong ambitions, he studied until be fitted himself to be a teacher, and daring the winter months taughl school, and with the money thus earned was able to attend institutions of higher Learning during the other months of the year. Deciding upon the profession of law, he studied to thai end, was admitted to the bar, and in 1843 came Wist, iii Mi Henrj County, Locating in the village of McHeury. Colonel Church made the long trip in a leisurely manner, riding by stage coach a pari of the way and walking the remainder. To defray the expenses of his differenl rides, he frequently stopped long enough in the various communities through which he passed, to lecture on the Constitution of the United stairs. Soon after his arrival at McHenry, .lit to Springfield, Ills., was there admitted to the bar of tins state and at once began to practice law at McHenry. When the seal of justice was moved to Woodstock, he went with it, and continued in active practice during the remainder of his life. During his earlier years lie was ;i radical Whig, and so had no chance in this county for political preferment until 1856, when he, with so many of the former

Whigs, gave his supporl to John C. Fremont, the firsl man to he candidate t'<>r the presidency, of the Republican party. McHenry County went strongly Republican, and Colonel Church was sent as a candidate of his party to tin- State Assembly. He at once became a noted representative of the people, was reelected, and was made a leader in tin' stormy -es^ion which followed. Later he was a candidate for Congress, but was defeated at the polls by lion. E. 1!. Washburn. Once more he was returned to the Legislature, and was made chairman of the Judiciary Committee. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he displayed "Teat zeal in support of the Union, and aided in organizing the Ninety-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry of which he was made colonel, but his health failed, and he resigned. The strenuous exertions he had made in behalf of the cause had so undermined his health that he never recovered, and died in isiiii. He was a man of sterling integrity

A. B. Coon of Marengo, who in 1883, was accounted tin' oldest attorney then engaged in active practice in the county, was horn in Pennsylvania, in 1815, the youngesl of twenty-one children horn to his parents. In Is:;.") he came t,, .M, -Henry County, opening his law office at the village of Marengo. For a number of years he was a surveyor, as well as lawyer, and from IS HI to 1862, was inaster-in-rhancery in this county. During 185] 52 and 1860-64, he was state's attorney for the circuit is which this county was then included. During 1863-65 he served as provost marshal for his congressional district, and at ;i later date was registrar-in-banknrptcy.

money to take him through a three-years' course in Antiocfa College, where he was under the preceptorship of Horace Mann. Subsequently he entered Union College, ami was graduated therefrom in I860, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In February, 1861 he located in Mc- Henry County, taking up his residence at Marengo, where he continued to reside, becoming one of the honored citizens, successful lawyers and prominent business men of that place. During the Civil War he entered the Union Army, served for a year, but had to resign on account if poor health. Debarred from aetive service, he entered the provost marshal's office and remained there until the close of the war. Studying law, in June, ISIiii, lie was admitted to the bar, began active practice, and was admitted to he an excellent lawyer. He developed into one of the Strong political factors of his day. and in 1870 was elected as a representative from McHenry County to the State Assembly, on the Republican ticket. The same party sent him to the upper lions.' of the Legislature, in 1884, and in 1876 and 1880 elected him state's attorney. He was a zealous .Mason, a leader in the Grand Army of the Republic, ami one of the best citizens of his day in McHenry County.

M. F. Ellsworth, formerly one of the lawyers of Xunda. was born at Rochester, New York, in 1838. His parents moved to .McHenry County in 1843, and her,' the father became an extensive stockdealer. Operating until his death which occurred in Isjsl. The mother died in 1851. M. F. Ellsworth came of distinguished ancestry, he being a direct descendant of Supreme Judge Ellsworth, who served under General Washington while he was president; ami his maternal grandfather, a soldier of the American Revolution, was wounded seven times during that

.McHenry County M. F. Ellsworth here r ived his educational training but. after reaching manhood went to Kentucky, and was there mkeessfully engaged in school-teaching until tl utbreak of tin' civil War,

;it which time he enlisted in the Union army, and held various official positions until iis termination. After his return home from military fall of 1866 entered the law department of the state University at Ann Arlnii'. Mich., in 'in which he was graduated in 1868, and was admitted to the bar. For a short period thereafter, he was engaged in practice entering the law department of the University of Michigan, after preparing himself by study under A. 1".. Coon and Ira I\. Curtiss. He was graduated therefrom in 1ST.'!, and commenced practice that same year at Woodstock. He was elevated to the bench of McHenry County in 1882.

Charles M. Willard located at Woodstock in 1851, and formed a partnership with Col. L. S. Church. This connection soon terminated by mutual consent, and Mr. Willard practiced alone for a time. Still later he formed a partnership with .lames II. Slavin, severing it in 1857, to locate permanently at Chicago, III. He was an able lawyer.

he settled in 1S47. hut three years later came to Woodstock, where he forme, I a partnership with Charles McClure, and 1 hey enjoyed a large practice for several years. Later he moved away, he and Mr. .McClure going to Minnesota in 1859, and in the eighties he was known to he practicing his profession in Clark County, Dak. lie was a man of distinction, who. having Studied law with Franklin Pierce, was by that -.talesman, after he was elevated to the presidency, appointed to a

Col. -lames M. Strode was well known as one of the ablest lawyers of Northern Illinois during earlier years. He located at Woodstock in either 1850 or 1851, and at that time had already won his reputation at the har in both Galena ami Chicago. From 1854 to 1857 he served as county j mitre of McHenry County, hut during the later year he moved to Missouri, ami from thence to Kentucky, where he died. His was a logical and legal mind, and he was forceful in argument. It is born in Virginia, in 1826. He came i" McHenry County in L845, and settled ;it Woodstock in January, 1851, where he entered upon the practice of the law. He \\ ;i subsequently elevated t<> the bench, and served and then Erom 1862 until W'.i he was circuil judge. During the lasl three years he was chief justice of the appellate courl of Cook County, District No. 1. It was be who formed the appellate court of thai district, designed the seal, procured the books and completed all the arrange nts for opening it. In each and everj position to which he was called. Judge Murphy bore himself with dignified capability, and will Ion- lie remembered as one of the naosl distinguished men of this part of the commonwealth of Illinois.

Henry McLean, lawyer and politician and earlj settler of HcHenry County, was horn in Columbia County, X. V.. in 1M>*. a sou of a hnian who came to America when a young man. and became a soldier of the American Revolution. Henry \V. .McLean was reared on a farm. Init when he was twenty-two years old he began the study of law. and was admitted to the bar of bis native state, in 1834, and lie was there engaged in an active practice for two year-. He then party, he became one Of its zealous supporters, and attained distinction as a campaign worker. Mr. McLean stood high among his fellow citizens and was recognized as an excellent ami well-balanced lawyer.

Charles McClure was admitted to the McHenry County bar in 1S40. and for a few i i1 lis thereafter was engaged in practice at Mc- Henry. hut left that village for La Porte, End. still later la' became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal faith, hut returned to the law. and coming hack to McHenry County, for about seven years was engaged in practice at W Istock in partnership with Amos Co-swell.

Calvin Searl, who was the fourth attorney to engage iii practice iii McHenry County, settled at Crystal Lake in 1839, remained there until 1845, ami then moved io Wisconsin.

his evidenl sincerity was very convincing to a jury. He formed a partnership with Aionzo Piatt and thej operated as Platl & 1'latt and did a large business. Although possessed of the same surname, there was no relationship between them. AJonzo Platl wenl to California during the period of the firs! gold excitement, bul Phineas W. I'lalt remained in Woodstock until 1851, when he went to Texas, and there died several j ears later.

Col. Alonzo I'latt was engaged in the practice of law in McHenry County in partnership with Phineas W. Piatt, they having their offices in the historic "Ral Hole" Building on the Square. Going to California in 1850, he had many experiences, and died at Virginia city. New. in 1862. lie was an excellent lawyer, a strong Democrat, and tine campaigner. His birth took place at Danbury, Conn., in 1816, from whence he later went to Wisconsin, where he served in the State Assembly in 1844. Studying law. he was admitted to the liar, and began the practice of his profession at Woodstock. During the time he lived here he served as state's attorney, and was accounted an excellent lawyer and able man.

to Plattsburg, X. Y. In 1841 Anson Sperry came to Illinois, and In' the study of law under Judge Skinner, and was admitted to the liar in 1 > 4 A . lie continued with Judge Skinner for two years, and then. May 7, 1S47, arrived at Marengo, being the second lawyer to locate there. In the autumn of 1848 lie was elected magistrate in a political contest between the northern and southern part of Marengo Township. About the same time he was appointed postmaster of Marengo, and held that position until 1861. In 1853, in company with Cornelius Lansing, he opened a banking house at Marengo, and carried it on until 1863, when he was appointed paymaster in the Army of the Cumberland, during the Civil War. In lSii.'i he was transferred to Chk-ago, 111. He was still a resident of McHenry County late in the eigbl ies.

Merritl I.. Joslyii, Eor many years one "I' the Eoremosl lawyers of Northern [llinois, was lmrn in New Fork, Livingston County, in 1827, and resided in thai county until after 1839. II.' was a Democrat, ami an elector I'm- James Buchanan Eor tin' presidency. Later on lie united tlic stalwarts of this party. During the civil War be Berved as captain of the Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. During 1864-65 ho represented the districl of which McHenry County was a part, in the state Assembly, and in 1876 was elected to the State Senate by a majority of ..vcr 3.000. II.' was recognized as a man capable of holding high ami important positions. In the eighties this appreciation took still more practical form in his appointment to the office of assistanl secretary of the interior department at Washington, by President Arthur. July, 1882.

County. Always Erom his youth, he had evinced a Likhlg ami aptitude for legal matters, and while still in his teens helped t.. settle many a neighborhood dispute, without charge. In 1857 his friend, L. S. Church, business. -Mr. Kerr made an excellent lawyer, and was serving his second term as county judge, when, duly 26, 1866, he died very suddenly, his demise being a great shock to the community, for not only the members of the bar, hut the people at large, had great faith ami

II. S. Ilanchett, a lawyer of fair ahility, came to Woodstock in 1857, and was a partner of M. 1.. Joslyn until 1862, when he went int.. the Union army, during the Civil War. ami being subsequently captured and confined at Andersonville, there met his death, it i^ claimed from starvation.

Flavcl K. Granger, of McHenry, was another early attorney, although he was even better known as a husiness man. He was horn in Wayne County. X. V.. in 1832, and remained on a farm until he was fifteen years old. at which time he entered the Wesleyan Academy at Lima.

Bistort Of .M.Iikxky County 139

Lng his profession, for some years thereafter being engaged in stockbuying and farming in and aboul McBenry. As the years passed and he regained Ins health, he began to put to practical use the Legal knowledge he had gained, bu1 continued to look after his other interests as well. In 1870 he was elected county supervisor from Ids township, and was the firsl Republican to be circled from it. In 1S7'J lie was elected as a representative to the Illinois state Assembly, and was re elected for three terms without opposition. During the last two terms he was made speaker of the BoUSe, being the lil'st to preside in tile new state hOUSe. T. B. Wakeman located in what was then the Little hamlet of Alden.

of residence. In In>!I he moved to Harvard, and after a few years went to Chicago, where he died in 1882. In 1868 Mr. Wakeman 's son, Thaddeus Wakeman, a graduate of the University of Michigan, became associated with him in his law business.

John A. Parrish, horn in New York in 1825, was a member of a welleducated and highly-Cultured family. He attended the New York Normal School at Albany, X. Y., and then became a scl I teacher, following that calling until his health failed him, in 1859. He had conn' to Illinois and attained distinction in scholastic circles at Aurora and \Y I

Ilenry until his death in 1882. He was highly esteemed at the bar. but mi account of his weak lungs, was not a successful jury lawyer, but as an office attorney was excellent. Ml-. Parrish was also very successful as a pension agent and as an attorney in insurance cases. He amassed

William Jackson was born in Connecticut in 1S0S. He accompanied his family to Ashtabula, Ohio, in 1832. In L843 his father came to Melleuiy County, 111., where he lived until his death at the age of seventy-seven years. After obtaining an excellent education in the common schools. William Jackson engaged in Lumbering, but in 1828 began reading law with .Indue Pisbie, but was not admitted to the bar until 1859. First locating at Algonquin, in 1838, he lived in that village until he moved to Xiinda, now Crystal hake, where he was engaged in a general practice, and for sixteen years served as a justice of the peace. Twice he was elected associate judge, and later was appointed judge vice .Indue Carr, deceased. Politically he was a Democrat, and for fifty years he was a consistent member of the Christian Church.

a son of Nathaniel Smith, one of the pioneers of the county. He received an academic education ;ii various educational Institutions of Illinois and Wisconsin. In 1864 he enlisted in Company E, Ninety-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War, and continued to serve until the termination of the conflict. In April, 1866, he was graduated from the law departmenl of the University of Michigan, ;it Ann Arbor, .Mich., and immediately thereafter opened a law office al Woodstock, and was there engaged in practice for many years. In 1869 he was elected county judge, ami held that office for more than a dozen years, and for four years was a master-in-chancery. He was a zealous Mason, belonged tn the Methodisl Episcopal Church, the Grand Army of the Republic, and the Ancienl Order of United Workmen, and lived up to the ideals of all these organizations.

five days after Port Sumter was fired upon by the Confederates, en listed in the Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Later he re-enlisted in another infantry regiment, serving for a period of over five years.

of McHenry County in ISOli, and clerk of the circuit court, in 1868. In 1873 lie began the practice of law at Woodstock, hut during the eighties was an attorney of Chicago. In August, he was appointed e dssioner of the Illinois penitentiary.

generation. He was horn and reared in McHenry County, and after practicing here for fifteen years, on February (i, 1875, he passed away, aged thirty-eight years, lie was a self-made man. and rose to a high position among his fellow men. He had a Logical mind, a tine discriminating power, ami a most excellent memory. Although interested in state and national affairs, he kept out of polities, and oftentimes refused nomination for office, preferring to devote all of his time and energy

Bistory Of M. Benry Count'S 1 Ii Present Ittornets

Bon. Charles II. Donnelly; vice president, B. P. Manley; and Paul J. Donovan, secretary and treasurer. Nearly every member of the county bar belongs to this association. As it is still a somewhat new organization, there is hut little history connected with it. The judges and lawyers throughoul the entire portion of the state, acknowledge thai Mc- Benry County has an exceedingly strong bar and that no better trial lawyers ran be found in the entire state than some of the members of the small bar of McHenry County. They are often spoken of as "the figb.1 bag bar of McHenrj I !ounty."

Circuit Court Officers

Winnebago counties, are as follows: Edward 1>. Shurtleff, Claire C. Edwards and Robert K. Welch, judges; Arthur J. Mullen, master-inchancery; V. S. Lumley, state's attorney; Charles P. Hayes, clerk; and Roy T. Stewart, sheriff.

The McHenry County Bar passed and caused to be spread upon the court records of this county the following resolutions on the death of Judge Frost, and a number of his fellow lawyers, the same being executed by attorney J. P. Casey, and the committee of which he was chairman :

"He it resolved, By the members of the McHenry County Bar, and each of us, that with sail hearts, reverence and esteem, we assemble today, to pay a tribute, just and fitting to the memory of our departed professional brothers, citizens and beloved friends. Calvin J. Hendricks. John <!. Cooney and Joseph I. Land, each of whom have been taken

"Be it further resolved. I'.y the members of the .McHenry County Bar, thai each of our above mentioned professional brothers possessed excellent personality, good ambition and a trustworthy character, that each loved the law for its own sake, and practiced it with a true intent toward justice and the righl in all cases which came to them for consideration and adjustment.

"Be it further resolved, That each was successful in the great profession of the law, and that the same could not have been obtained without superior intelligence, energy and a high sense of duty, which each possessed in no small degree.

"Be it further resolved, Thai in the death of Judge Frost, the members of the McHenry County Bar and each of us lamenl the loss of a brother whose heart ami hand were ever ready in assist in bringing aboul our welfare and prosperity; a friend and companion who was to he followed by his fellow citizens; a lawyer of excellent ability and integrity, possessing a high sense of professional duty and ever striving to do it ; a judge who in the trial of the eases before him endeavored to recognize only the law and the evidence and rendered his derisions accordingly.

"Be it further resolved. That the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of the state of Illinois has suffered the li 3 of a jurist whose services on the bencb did much to promote justice, and give confidence to our courts

"1 regarded Mr. Lyon as a very aide lawyer. He was the oldest member of the McHenry County Bar at the time of his death: had a varied and extensive practice and combined with his legal knowledge, he possessed a wonderful fund of common sense. He was a careful advisor, a <_rood and resourceful fighter, a legal adversary to lie feared, and better than all, always fair and honorable witli the court. The members of the bar as well as the courts will miss him as he was always a source of assistance to each."

At the January term of the Circuit Court of McHenry County a large gathering of the lawyers and Judges of the Circuit was held at the Circuit Court room in the City of Woodstock to pay their respects to Judge Donnelly on his retirement from the Circuit Court bench.

A large number of the Rockford, Waukegan and Belvidere lawyers and court officials were in attendance as well as other lawyers from Kane anil adjoining counties, and on the occasion the following resolution was passed and ordered spread of record in the court over which Judge Donnelly had been tic presiding Judge for so many years:

"WHEREAS, the Bonorable Charles II. Dm, nelly, of Woodstock, Illinois, after a service of thirty years od the Bench, has voluntarily retired as one of the presiding Judges of the Seventeenth Judicial <ir-

AND WHEREAS, we, the presenl presiding Judges of the said Seventeenth Judicial Circuit and the members of the Bar thereof, have today assembled lot- the purpose of paying a jusl tribute of respect and Honor to Judge Donnelly upon his retirement;

AND WHEREAS, it is just that a proper recognition of his long ami faithful service ami a fitting acknowledgment of his many virtues should be publicly made;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the present presiding Judg< - ami the members of the Bar of tin' Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois, that in the retirement of Judge Donnelly we ami each of us regret the loss to the Bench of this Judicial < lircuit of a Judge who possessed legal qualifications of a high order, a true sense of professional honor and integrity, ami who. while ever tempering justice with mercy, performed the duties of his office fearlessly and fairly, yet with a kindness of heart that has endeared him to all whose duties or profession brought them in contact with his Court throughout his long years of public service.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in the retirement of Judge Donnelly the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois has suffered a loss of a jurist of signal aliility. scrupulous honesty and integrity, whose service on the Bench did much to promote justice, increase confidence in our courts and elevate the legal profession.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by the presenl Judges and members of the Bar of said Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, that our sincere and heartfelt thanks he atnl they are hereby extended to Judge Donnelly a- a private citizen for the many professional and personal court. received by us and (he kindly services rendered to us in the past with further assurance thai our love, esteem and lies! wishes go with him in hi- retirement, together with the hope thai he may he spared for many years to enjoy tin- confidence and respect of his f ellowmen for his long ami faithful services in their behalf, ami that his twilight years he brightened by tin' consciousness of duties well done.

RESOLVED, that this resolution he spread upon the records of the Circuit Court of the Seventeenth Judicial I lircuit of the State of I Ilium-, and an engrossed copy thereof presented to the Honorable Charles II. Dmmellv."