Adams County, Nebraska - Chapter 10: Adams County Bench and Bar, 1916

The Bench

The constitution of 1866, written for the oncoming statehood of Nebraska, contains the first provision for courts and judges to succeed those disaj^pearing under territorial regime. This document was constnicted and adopted by a convention of able men of the territory, and on February 9, 1866 it was approved by the proper officers and submitted to a vote of tlie jjeople June 2d of the same year. The returns of the election showed a ratification of the instrument and on February 9, 1867 the Congress of the United States passed an act admitting the territory into the Union as a state, the terms of which act were accepted on the "2 1st day of the same month and year by tlie governor, president of the Senate and speaker of the House, wliereupon the proclamation of President Johnson was issued on the first day of INIarch. 1867. formally admitting Nebraska into tl]e Union.

The first section of article four of the constitution of 1866 provides that: "The judicial powers of the state shall be vested in a Supreme Court, District Courts, Probate Courts, Justices of the Peace, and such other inferior courts as the Legislature may from time to time establish. The Supreme Court shall consist of a chief justice and two associate justices, any two of whom shall constitute a quorum, and shall hold a term of the Supreme Court at the seat of government annually."

The second section of the same article provides that the state shall be divided into three judicial districts and the several District Courts thereof shall be presided over by one of the supreme justices. Tliis practice obtained until the adoption of a new constitution for the state in 1875: hence, from the date of the organization of Adams County up to the time of the going into effect of the provisions of the new constitution, the District Court was presided over in turn by Oliver P. ^Nlason and Daniel Gantt, members of the supreme bench.

Justice JNIason occiij)ied the trial bench of the county until 1873 and Justice Gantt until 1870, when this arrangement was superseded by the jirovisions of the new constitution.

In the line of judicial officers no change was made in the constitution of 187.5 from those in the prior constitution except the addition of police magistrates for towns and cities.

Under ajjpropriate legislation based upon the constitution of 1875 Adams County became a constituent part of the Fifth Judicial District, and at the election in 1876 William Gaslin of Buffalo County, then a part of the district, was chosen as the judge of the district and served as such continually, barring a short period when Adams County was attached to the Fourth District under Judge Morris, until he was succeeded by Fred B. Beale of Harlan County. INIr. Beale was elected in November, 1891, and held his first term of court in Adams County the following INIarch.

In the meantime, the number of the district had been changed in 1880 to the Eighth District and carried that number by legislative action until 189'2, when by another change in number and territory, it became the Tenth District and so rema-ns to this time, 191.3.

^Villiam Gaslin, strictly speaking, the first district judge of the county, was of the sturdy New England stock and was, by education and exi)erience, well equipped for the serious and arduous service upon the bench in a border state. He was of an exceptionally strong personality, skillfid in the application of any or all the resources at his command. Probably his most valuable and lasting service upon the district bench was his courageous holding of a firm hand over the lawless elements of frontier life. At the close of his long service the affairs of the several counties comprising the district were as peaceable and orderly as in the New England whence he came, and at his death, coupled with deep regret there was a generous expression of gratitude for the public service he had so well rendered.

In 1891 Fred B. Beale was county attorney of Harlan County, Nebraska, and resided at Alma, looking after the pleas of the commonwealth under Judge Gaslin. At the hustings that fall ]Mr. Beale became the candidate of the independent voters for the district bench and defeated Judge Gaslin at the ensuing election. Pie changed his residence to Hastings and resided there during his two terms upon the bench. He was a just man of many refinements, well suited to the improved conditions of society made possible by the rugged methods of his predecessor. It is no disparagement of either to remark that Beale could not have done the work of Gaslin's time;

Edwin L, Adams of Kearney County succeeded Judge Beale in 1900. He brought to the district bench all the good acquirements of both Gaslin and Beale. further embellished by native ability little short of the marvelous. He served t^o terms and retired. With better health, he was destined to rank still higher as a jurist and as a leader of his fellowmen.

The Tenth Judicial District consists of six large and populous counties: Adams, Kearney, Phelps, Harlan, Franklin and ^^'^ebster. Hariy S. Dungan, of Hastings, was elected to succeed Edwin Ij. x\dams and in January, 1908, entered upon the duties of the presiding judge of the Tenth Judicial District. The growth in population, commerce, education and retinement, called for enhanced equipment of the incumbent of this important office. His excellent training at the fireside of his parents, and in the public schools, rounded out with a full course in college, supplemented bj^ years of reading under the tutorship of an able practitioner, linked with diligence eveiy day in the year, put JNIr. Dungan forward in the ranks of the legal profession clothed Avith the essential })reliminary attainments that pave the way for a successful and honorable career among men. He has brought to the bench in the discharge of its burdensome duties the skill of an Adams, the energy of a Gaslin and the refinement of a Beale, and is now reaching the close of his second term, carrying M'ith him the confidence of the district in his integrity and ability.

The Probate or County Court is, in some resi^ects, the most important tribimal in the commonwealth, because of its original and exclusive jurisdiction at first hand over the settlement of the estates of decedents, and also as the conservator of the estates of minors, incompetents and spendthrifts, together Avith certain jiowers and duties touching the personal custody and welfare of juvenile delinquents, and has lodged with it the sole power to issue marriage licenses and concurrent authority to perform the marriage ceremony. It also possesses a limited concurrent jurisdiction with the District Cf)urt in certain criminal and civil actions.

Upon the organization of the coimty Titus Babcock of Juniata was chosen as the judge of this court, and by re-election continued to serve until succeeded by Benjamin F. Smith of the same town. INIr. Smith was followed by George F. Work of Hastings, who in turn was re])laced by James H. Fleming. jNIr. Fleming occupied the bench from January, 1884., to January, 1890. He was then succeeded by William R. Burton, of Hastings, who held the office for four years and was followed by Jacob Baily of Hastings, who occu- pied tliis bench during the ensuing four years. Adna H. Bowen was elected next and assumed the duties of the office in January, 1899, and retired at the close of his second term to be followed by Harry S. Dungan who presided over this court vintil the exj^iration of his third term in 1908. William F. Button suceeded Judge Dungan and was elected for four successive terms. In the summer of 1915 Judge Button resigned, his resignation to take effect at the expiration of the first year of his third term, January 1, 1916. The county board of supervisors elected John Snider to fill the unexpired term of JNIr. Button. INIr. Snider was Judge Button's opjjonent in the campaign of 1914.

The several townships have kept in office competent men as justices of the peace and the towns entitled thereto have been served with police judges or magistrates.

In the territorial days, the pleas of the commonwealth were looked after by the attorney-general, but upon the adoption of statehood the attorney-general was replaced in this duty by a prosecuting officer, legally designated as district attorney. The latter rode the circuit with the judge and had charge of the important prosecutions in all of the counties of the district. In addition to this office, the several county boards were empowered to employ an attorney to assist in the conduct of the civil affairs of the county. The office of district attorney was abolished in 1885 and the election of a county attorney provided for whose duties embrace both tlie civil and criminal affairs of the county. Prior to 1885 criminal proceedings could be begun only upon an indictment against the accused being returned by a grand jury; since that time, however, proceedings can be begun ujjon the filing of an information by the county attorney. The last grand jury called in Adams County was in INIay. 1915, when Judge Dungan ordered an investigation of the bribery charges made in court by W. P. Davis of Hastings against John T. Culavin of Omaha in the John O'Connor Avill case. Davis testified that Cula- ^ in had offered him and his wife $2,000 each to witness a will in favor of Culavin. No indictments were returned by the grand jur^^

The United States District and Circuit Court for the district of Nebraska consists of eight divisions. The City of Hastings in Adams County is one of these divisions and one regular session of court is held each year in the well appointed and commodious court room in the Federal Building. This term begins on the first INIonday in JMai'ch and continues until the business of the term is disposed. Hon. T. C. Hunger, of Lincoln, is the present United States district judge and George F. AVork, Esq.. is tlie de])uty clerk. The territory comprising this branch of the Federal Court is identical with that of the Tenth Judicial District of the State Court with the addition of the Counties of Clay and Nuckolls. The Federal District Court of Nebraska is entitled under the law to two judges. The death of the Hon. William H. ]Munger on August 11, 1915, one of the incumbents, left a vacancy on the bench. P>deral judges are appointed by the President of the United States and serve during good behavior but with the privilege of retiring after reaching the age of seventy years.

Oliver P. JMason was appointed to the supreme bench in 1867 and was elected in 1868. He served as chief justice from 1867 to 1873 and died at Lincoln August 18, 1890.

Daniel Gantt went upon the supreme bench January 16, 1873, and served until iNlay 29, 1878. He was chief justice from January 3. 1878, to ]May 29th f)f that year upon which date he departed this life at Nebraska City.

Judge William Gaslin died at Alma, in Harlan County, June 14. 1910, and by his dying request his funeral oration was delivered by the Hon. James P. A. Black, of Hastings.

All the judges of the County Court are still living except Judge Eabcock and Judge Fleming. Of the incumbents of this office Babcock. Smith, Work, Burton and Bowen were veteran Union soldiers in tlie Civil war. and Judge Dungan was an officer in the Spanish- American war.

The Bar

"NVlien the first term of tlie district court in Adams County was o]jened ]May 6, 1873, in a schoolhouse in Jiuiiata, there were only four cases on the docket, and there were only seven attorneys in the county. At this term James Laird, Benjamin F. Smith, Titus l^abcock. Harrison H. Blodgett, Guvera ^I. Blodgett and John ]M. Al)l)ott were admitted to ])ractice at the Nebraska bar. Judge IDaniel Gantt presided at this term. James Laird, C. J. Dilworth and John D. Hays were appointed the committee to examine the applications foi- admission to the bar.

Benjamin F. Smith is the only member of the original bar still residing in Adams Comity. His home is in Juniata. Adna H. Bowen continued to practice Jaw in the county until shortly after completing a term of office as county judge, in 1901, when he removed to his IH'esent location, Fayette, Idaho. That ]Mr. Bowen's capabilities were versatile may be inferred from the fact that he was a physician as well as an attorney, and upon his arrival in the county he practiced medicine to some extent. Mr. Bowen was the attending physician at the first accouchement in Adams County. He was also the first superintendent of schools and served in that capacity for two terms. The first case to be tried in the district court was the case brought by JNIr. Bowen for himself against the Challenge Windmill Company. He was one of the JMichigan colony that settled at Juniata in 1871.

It is generally conceded that James Laird, also from ^Michigan, though he was born at Fowlerville, N. Y., June 20, 1849, was the most distinguished member that ever graced the Adams County bar. This is largely due to the fact that ]Mr. Laird was eminently successful in jjublic life as well as a keen and able lawyer. After the apportionment based upon the census of 1880, when Nebraska was divided into three districts, JNIr. Laird was elected by the republicans as the member to Congress of the then Second District. He was a member of the Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth. Fiftieth, and Fifty-first congresses, his majority being increased with each election. He was an active member of the committees on military affairs and on pensions. In his efforts in behalf of the old soldiers he was tireless. One of his most notable contests in Congress was in repudiation of the charge that a great majority of the entries of the public lands were fraudulent, and that the West was mostly made up of land thieves and ])erjurers.

Although Laird was only twelve years old when the Civil war broke out, by virtue of a good bodily growth he succeeded in enlisting for service in Company K, Sixteenth Regiment, INIichigan Infantry, and though but a lad through the term of the war he was promoted to file positions of sergeant, second lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain and brevet major. He received four gunshot wounds and one saber cut, and was imprisoned in Libby prison for six weeks. Laird fought at Hanover Court House, Gaines' Mills, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and in the struggles about Richmond. The captain of Laird's regiment wrote General ^Nlanderson of the lad's conduct at a critical moment at Dabney's INIills, when the enemy had turned the Federal flank:

Avavering and cursing tlie cowardly. His long hair fluttering and eye lit with enthusiasm, he appeared the personification of war's fiery madness. The enthusiasm of the boy awoke a steady determination in the men. The impending stampede stopped, and under his inspiring leadership the regiment took a new position with unbroken ranks."

]\Ir. Laird came to Juniata in 1871. and prior to his election to Congress took a leading part in the county's affairs. He was a strong i^artisan for Jimiata in the county seat fight, but after the affair was settled he announced shortly afterward in a political meeting held in Liberal Hall that though he was disappointed, he was sure that the county seat had passed into good hands and that, therefore, he would change his residence to Hastings. Thereafter he was second to none in loyalty to the new county seat.

The legal and oratorical abilities of INIr. Laii'd were never displayed to better advantage than during the thirty days occupied by the Olive trial. JNIr. Laird Avas one of the ])rincipal attorneys for the defense, and his address to the jury at that time is probably the climax of court oratory in Adams County.

]Mr. Laird was never married, and after his death. General INIanderson, addressing Congress, said: "To me there is something pitiful in the loneliness of the last few years of his short life. He had no near relative living at the time of his death. He was the last of his race. His father, the strong preacher, died in his youth. His two brothers were killed on the field of honor, near his side, in the earlj' days of the war. His younger brother died of a distressing accident some years ago." Until her death, his mother had made her home Avith Mr. Laird.

While he was elected to the Fifty-first Congress, JNIr. Laird did not actively particijiate in its Avorkings. He had made a very strenuous campaign the j^receding November, and a fcAv days before the election he Avas suddenly prostrated. He rallied sufficiently to return to ^Vashington folloAving his election, but the rally Avas only temjjorary. On the morning of August 7, 1889, ]Mr. Laird died at his home in Hastings, at 123.5 West Second Street. A number of years later, Avitli fitting ceremony, his resting place in ParkvicAv Cemetery Avas marked Avith a giant Colorado boulder and a cannon that had seen service in the Civil war.

R. A. Batty was a notable member of the Adams County bar. Lie practiced laAV in Hastings continuously from his arrival in June, 1873. to Avithin about a year of his death in June, 1911. INIr. Batty Avas Avidelv read outside of the laAv and Avas a keen thinker and observer, brusque of manner, but much beloved by many intimate friends. In jiolitics he was a democrat and in 1878 was elected to the lower house of the State Legislature. The question of prohibition was before the Legislature that session and it had been understood that Mr. Batty would support a prohibitory measure. He, however, did not do so, and the incident probably had something to do with keejjing him more out of political life than otherwise Avould have been the case. In 1883 he was defeated in the race for district judge by Judge INIorris. He subse(juently took part in city campaigns against licensing saloons and at the time of his death was a strong supporter of the "drys."

]Mr. Batty had pronounced independent views in religion and it was largely through his influence in the early '70s there was organized the Free Religious Church Society. Other members were John N. Lyman, George W. ]Mowry, E. Steinau, A. D. Yocum and ]M. K. Lewis. In 1878 the society erected Liberal Hall, which still stands on the southeast corner of Third Street and St. Joseph Avenue. For a number of years the free religious thinkers of the community met in the hall and from time to time lecturers on jjhilosophical and kindred subjects were listened to in the hall. The building has had a varied career, having been used as a gymnasium, public school, theater, church, and now as a vulcanizing and bicycle repair shop.

"Honest Bob Batty" was a sobriquet often used by his friends. "He was a formidable opponent in a case," said a prominent member of the Adams County bar. "^Vhen he was thoroughly aroused, which happened every year oi- tAvo, we had to get out from under." jNIr. Batty was variously associated as follows: Batty, Abbott & Dow; Batty & Ragan; Batty & Casto; Batty. Casto & Dungan. and Batty, Dungan & Burton.

Caleb J. Dilworth was a prominent member of the Nebraska bar, beginning his practice in Lincoln in 1870. He came to Nebraska from I^ewiston. 111. In 1874 he was elected district attorney for the Second Nebraska District, which then embraced the two tiers of counties from the IMissouri River to the Colorado line. He served two terms as district attorney, and in 1878 was elected attorney-general of the State of Nebraska and filled that office for two terms.

In 1883 he came to Hastings and formed a law partnership with Benjamin F. Smith and his son, William A. Dilworth. who had been admitted to the bar at Sidney in 1880. From Hastings JNIr. Dilworth removed to Omaha, Avhere he died a number of years ago. Will Dilworth was a member of the first Nebraska State Railway Commission, and subsequently was for several years a member of the legal

John A. Casto was for many years a prominent attorney of Hastings, beginning his practice in 1883 and continuing his residence in the city until his death in the middle '90s. JNIr. Casto was a graduate of Union Law College. He was a classmate and roonmiate of William Jennings Bryan. In 1884 Mr. Casto was joined in Hastings by a college classmate, INIorris Cliggitt, and they were law partners until 1887, when ]\Ir. Cliggitt left Hastings and Mr. Casto formed a partnership with R. A. Batty.

In the spring of 1877 Bedford Brown was graduated from the Columbian University Law School at Washington D. C, and shortly afterAvards came to Hastings. He was in the office of Dilworth, Smith & Dilworth for about three months and then formed a partnership with W. L. jNIarshall, who came to Hastings from Leadville, Colo. The partnership formed in April, 1888, continued until January 2.5, 1890, when ^Mr. Marshall left Hastings. Mr. Brown was married to ^liss Laura Baily, daughter of Judge Jacob Baily of Hastings, and in the later '90s removed to Spokane, Wash., where he is now practicing his profession.

James H. Fleming was admitted to the bar at Springfield, 111., in 1876, and in 1878 came to Hastings and entered upon the practice of his profession. ]Mr. Fleming was a republican and manifested considerable interest in politics. In 1883 he was elected county judge of Adams County and was elected to the office three times. For the last several years of his life he did not engage in active practice. He died in Hastings in the simimer of 1911.

Chris Hoeppner began practicing law in Hastings in 1886, coming from Fremont County, Iowa. In 1890 he was elected county attorney. In 1887 ^Ir. Hoe])pner formed a law partnership with his brother, Ernest Hoeppner, who came to Hastings that year. He was for a time associated with A. H. Bowen. iNIr. Hoeppner left Hastings in 1893, going first to Omaha and subsequently to St. Louis. He is now practicing his profession in Los Angeles.

Jacob Baily began practicing law in Hastings in 1886, coming from Richardson County. He was a republican and took an active interest in politics. He was elected county judge in 1893 and served in tliat capacity for two terms. ]Mr. Baily formed a law partnership M'ith A. ]M. Cunningham, who came to Hastings the same year as jNlr. Baily. Judge Baily removed with his family to Spokane, Wash., in 190.J, where he still resides.

bar from 1885 to the early years of the present century. He was a(hiiitted to the bar at Bedford, Pa. JNlr. Cessna was a rei^ubhcan and frequently took the stump for his party. He was much interested and one of the chief jjromoters of the Nebraska & Gulf Railroad, Avhich contemplated building a railroad from a point in Dakota to the Gulf of Mexico. INIr. Cessna was an impulsive gentleman with a quite distinct personality. He contributed some articles to the North American Review. Since leaving Hastings his home has been at Erie, Pa.

I^ucius Junius Capps was a member of the Adams County bar ^^ho in many ways displayed unusual strength. Speaking of him. years after his death, an Adams County attorney said: "In his cases jNIr. Capps ^as quick to recognize the strong positions, and to dislodge him was practically impossible. He was perhaps the most tenacious, in this regard, of any member of the bar."

]Mr. Capps was a graduate of Ann Arbor, graduating with the class of 187.5. Following his graduation he practiced in Paris, 111., until he came to Hastings, in December, 1878. For a time he was associated with W. P. ]McCreary. Mr. CapjJs took a keen interest in politics, and especially in the campaign of 1896 he did a good deal of speaking for the republicans. For some time prior to his death, which took place March 21, 1907, he Mas a United States deputy internal revenue collector.

Angus B. IMcDonald was a graduate of the Yale Law School and had practiced for many j'ears in New York State before coming to Hastings in 1885. He Avas a quiet, studious attorney and had served in the constitutional convention of New York in 1867. He was an attorney for fifteen years in Geneva, N. Y., and thirteen years in Rochester. In Hastings he was the attorney for the Nebraska Loan &: Trust Company, but did not live in Hastings for long.

Charles H. Tanner was the first county attorney of Adams Comity to be elected by a general vote in Adams County. This was in 1886, and he served one term. Previously the county attorney had been employed by the commissioners as the occasion required. ]Mr. Tanner is recalled as a man of versatility and a gift of ready speech, with erratic habits. His greatest streng-th was in conducting the defense and addressing the jury. He was born in New York State in 1853, and was admitted to the bar in Lancaster County in 1877. He settled in Hastings in 1879 and continued to practice there until the latter years of the 90's. He died at Eustis, Neb., about 1901. He had practiced his profession in Eustis since leaving Hastings.

the latter part of 1884. He purchased a farm a short distance south of the city and for a time lived upon it, at the same time practicing law in town. He was associated with W. P. McCreary for a time, but was in Hastings only a few years. An incident occurred in the life of Judge Hester Avhich lends itself to romance more readily than the usual tenor of the legal life affords. Some years before coming to Hastings, JNIr. Hester defended a woman under indictment for murder in the court at New Albany, Ind. INIrs. JNIelissa Morton was the woman. Mrs. Morton related that she shot a young man upon the doorstep of her home because he had persisted in forcing his attentions vii3on her. Some time after her acquittal her husband died, and subsequently she was married to the attorney who defended her case. Judge Hester, and whom she then met for the first time.

Frank D. Taggart, a graduate of Wooster University, was admitted to the bar in Adams County in December, 1881. He was the founder of the Hastings Independent, out of which the Hastings Daily Tribune eventually developed.

Charles D. Taylor was an attorney who came to Hastings from Marshalltown, Iowa, in 1885. After a short time he removed to Washington State, where he died about twelve years ago. I. E. Pierce is another attorney who practiced in Adams Coimty only a short time, coming to Hastings in 1887. George I^ynn came also in 1887. He was an ardent populist and contributed to the local press on political subjects. A. D. Yocvim was admitted to the bar in Hastings in 1878, and William S. ]McKinney in September, 1883, when he came from Kalamazoo, JNIich., and near which place he was killed in an automobile accident in 1914.

T. D. Scofield was active in the practice of his profession in the early days of the coimty. He was frequently employed as county attorney by the early commissioners. He was one of the prosecutors in tlie Olive trial. From Hastings he Avent West. A. T. Ash was another of the well-known early Adams County lawyers. INIr. Ash died in Hastings in the early '80s.

.lohn Finley practiced law in Adams County for about ten years, coming about 1880. Subsequently INIr. Finley has attained prominence in the politics of Western Kansas.

Elmer E. Ferris is remembered as one of the distinguished members of the Adams Coimty bar. JNIr. Ferris was born in Wisconsin and was graduated from the Chicago University and the Chicago Union Law College. He came to Hastings and began practicing law in 1888. and two years later became the junior member of the firm of Tibbets, Morev & Ferris. The firm of Tibbets & IMorev was estab- lished in April, 188G. After about ten years with the law tirni. Mr., Ferris gave up the law and became a minister, removing his residence east. He has since become a novelist and short story writer, contributing to the best fiction magazines.

Obadiah Hewitt was a much respected member of the Adams County bar for a period of about a dozen years centering around 1889, in which year he ran for county judge on an independent ticket. jMr. Hewitt's son, who is now an attorney at Alliance, Neb., was the first student graduated from Hastings College. ]\Ir. Hewitt served as city attorney of Hastings for a time. He formed a law jjartnershiji with F. P. Olmstead. JMr. Hewitt was an independent candidate for county judge in 1889, though normally a republican in politics.

John C. Stevens attained notalile distinction in the Adams County bar through his success in influencing juries. He enjoyed a remarkably wide ac(|uaintance throughout Adams County and easily won the confidence of those he met. He took an active interest in politics and was a candidate for county judge vipon the democratic ticket. Before studying law, JMr. Stevens taught school in Blaine Township and took up the study of law in the ofl^ce of Capps & JMcCreary. He was admitted to the bar in 1887 and continued in active practice until his death, January 23, 1914. In December, 1913, he formed a law partnership with John A. Lawler. Walter JM. Crow, the present deputy county attorney,, studied law in the office of John Ste^'ens. JMr. Stevens was born in Okanee, 111.

As mentioned before, Benjamin F. Smith has been longer in the county than any other member of the bar. Judge W. R. Burton began practicing in Hastings in 1884. George W. Tibbets and Charles F. JMorey have been members of the Adams County bar since 1886, and JM. A. Hartigan since 1888, coming from Plattsmouth. John JM. Ragan first came to Hastings in 1874, at that time remaining for only a short time. JMr. Ragan returned in 1878, and in October of that year formed a partnership with R. A. Batty, buying the interest of J. F. Nelson, who went to Kansas. JMr. Ragan has served as city attorney and was six years on the Nebraska Supreme Bench.

F. P. Olmstead was admitted to the bar in Adams County in 1888. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1884 and in 1888. and introduced the bill providing for the locating of the State Hospital for the Insane at Hastings. W. P. JMcCreary has practiced law in Hastings since 1884. He was three times elected county attorney, and for several years was prominently identified with politics, with the republicans. With the exception of those mentioned, the Adams County bar is lai'gely made up of younger men who have become members within the last ten years. The bar is now composed of James E. Addie, J. P. A. Black, A. T. Bratton, W. R. Burton, W. F. Button, P. E. Boslauoji, W. H. Baugh, C. E. Bruckman, J. J. Buchanan, Karl D. Beghtol, W. ]M. Crow, James Crowley, R. R. Damerell, E. E. Danly, II. S. Dungan, Phillip H. Fuller, H. F. Favinger. Don C. Fonts, Joseph A. Gardiner, C. E. Higinbotham, C. K. Hart, Ernest Hoeppner, JNI. A. Hartigan, J. W. James, F. J. Johnson, W. H. Lanning, John A. Lawler, Charles F. IMorey, W. P. INIcCreary, F. P. Olmstead, John INI. Ragan, B. F. Smith, John Snider, George W. Tibbets, Raymond Tibbets, George F. Work and J. E. Willits. The present law firms are IMcCreary & Danly: Tibbets, INIorey, Fuller & Tibbets; P'outs & Crow; Stiner & Boslaugh, and Bruckman & Johnson.

John ^I. Abbott opened the first law office in Hastings June 1, 1873. For several years Mr. Abbott was the law partner of R. A. Batty. When the Adams County bar was formed there was only one term of the District Court a year, and the first year there were only foiu" cases on the docket. Now there are forty resident attorney's, four terms of court a year, with the cases each term reaching well toward two hundred.