Lafayette County, Missouri - Chapter 13: The Bench and Bar, 1910 (part 2 of 2)

Harry B. Walker, who had been the principal of the Higginsville high school, was in the meanwhile a law student, passed an examination and was admitted to the bar at the August term, 1896. He did not linger, but located in Kansas City where he is reported as being engaged in a good practice.

S. S. Gundlach, who had been a teacher in the Wentworth Military Academy at Lexington, also studied law and was admitted to the bar at the May term, 1897. He, like Mr. Walker, removed to Kansas City and is engaged in a good practice in that thriving city.

Judge Richard Field held in December, 1898, his last term as judge, and Judge Samuel Davis, of Marshall, who had been elected at the fall election, held his first term in this county at the March term, 1900, in Higginsville. Judge Davis is still judge of the circuit and is a candidate on the Democratic ticket for a second re-election, and will doubtless be successful in his candidacy, as he is deservedly very popular. Judge Davis was born near Marshall, Missouri, on the 17th day of April, 1847. He was educated in the public schools of his county and at the noted Kemper School at Boonville. He was admitted to the bar in 1869 and was prosecuting attorney of Saline county for four years, from 1873 to 1877, which office he filled with great credit. He was also a member of the twenty-ninth and thirtieth General Assemblies, and was one of the best known members in those bodies. Judge Davis has also been mentioned and had a good following as a candidate for the office of judge of the supreme court of Missouri. The Judge is a fine all-around lawyer, just such a one as his office requires, and he has given general satisfaction by his administration of the law.

W. L. Cheatham, who was reared near Bates City in this county, was admitted to the bar at the December term, 1899, and after a short period of practice, he went farther west where he is still engaged in the duties of his profession.

Thomas J. Duling was a practicing lawyer at the bar here at this period, but the date of his admission is not obtainable as it was not made a matter of record. Mr. Duling died in Lexington several years ago. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church South, and a Democrat. He never married.

Pearl L. Smith, who was reared near Waterloo in this county, was admitted to the bar at the April term, 1902. After a short practice in Lexington, he removed to Excelsior Springs, from which he went to Golden City, Missouri, where he is at present located.

James G. Russell was admitted to the bar in 1899, and has been having a good commercial practice but loss of hearing has caused him to give up his profession.

James L. Roberts was admitted to the bar at Lexington in 1905, but did not engage in the practice here. He is a member of the firm of Barber & Roberts, a rising young firm. Mr. Roberts is also the official stenographer of this circuit.

In the last few years there have been admitted to the bar the following attorneys, who have their future before them and their histories to be written by some later writer. These are A. H. Whitsett, of Lexington, and W. M. Ilgenfritz, George C. Chamberlain and George W. Stagen, of Higginsville. Mr. Ilgenfritz, who came here from Sedalia, is making a good start on his part by being the Republican candidate for prosecuting attorney at the coming election.

It has not been feasible to work the history of the criminal court in this chapter in its regular order of time, and it will be given at this point. A criminal circuit composed of the counties of Pettis, Saline, Johnson and Lafayette was created by the Legislature in 1875 with power in the governor to appoint the first judge. Pettis had as its candidate William H. Hill, Saline, John B. Breathitt, Lafayette, Judge William Young, and these three counties had a delegation each at Jefferson City asking the appointment, and each working hard for its favorite. Governor Hardin was at a loss to decide and finally enquired who Johnson county favored. Johnson county had not been heard from, so a telegram was sent to the lawyers at Warrensburg asking the question. They got together and concluded to ask the appointment of Henry Neill, an attorney of that city, and so wired : "Johnson county favors Neill." The telegraph operator at Jefferson City in writing out the answer, in writing Neill wrote it in this manner "Heill," which the Governor read "Hill" and gave the appointment accordingly, Judge Hill appearing to have the support of two counties. Judge Hill had been probate judge of Pettis county and so was not without judicial experience and conducted his office very creditably. His health gave away and with it finally his mind and he was unable to attend the October term, 1880, of his court. On the opening of court the lawyers present elected the writer to hold the term under the law and he held court until October 18, 1880, when the news came announcing Judge Hill's death, which created a vacancy in the orifice. Judge John E. Ryland, who was a candidate for the office and was elected to it, was at once appointed by Governor Phelps to the place and he took charge of the court and finished the term. This office Judge Ryland held up to December, 1898, and was succeeded by the present judge, John A. Rich, of Slater, Saline county, who held for his first term the February term, 1899. Judge Rich is a candidate for re-election for the second time and will surely be elected. Judge Rich was born in Liberty, Missouri, July 12, 1855. and was educated in the public schools of Clay county and at Central College, in Fayette county, Missouri. He served as assistant prosecuting attorney for Saline county before being elected to the bench of the criminal court. Judge Rich is a Democrat, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church South, an excellent lawyer, an impartial judge and an exemplary citizen in every respect.

The writer has attempted to make this history as complete as possible, but, in spite of all the care taken, doubtless some names have escaped, which if true is to be regretted. The records of the circuit court fail to show in many instances the enrollment of well-known lawyers and of course must fail to show the enrollment of others whose names are not so familiar. The writer acknowledges with gratitude the very great help to him has been, ex-Supreme Judge W. V. N. Bay's, "Bench and Bar of Missouri" (St. Louis, F. H. Thomas & Co., 1878), the "U. S. Biographical Dictionary - Missouri" (Kansas City. Missouri, Wilson & Co., 1878), and the "Biographical Record of Lafayette and Saline Counties" (Chapman Bros., Chicago, 1893), for a great many facts which it would be impossible otherwise for him to obtain.

The facts have been given, as all history should be, in regular chronological order as far as possible, and that is in the main correct, but some dates which the writer has obtained may be not absolutely correct and allowance must be made for typographical errors which it is impossible to prevent and which may occur even after the manuscript has left the hands of the writer. The chronology and dates may, however, be relied upon as fairly correct and the writer hopes that this little history may be useful and interesting to the present generation and may be used by its successors in continuing to brighten it, from time to time as the years roll on, what the successors have added to that record. Perhaps William Aull, Jr., or Henry C. Chiles, who are awaiting the next state bar examination, or Warren Sherman, who soon will be, who will be the next lawyers added to this long list, may be the next historian. If so the writer hopes that the task may be as pleasant and interesting as it has been to him.