St.
Clair County
Remnants Of The Past
History of Henry and St. Clair Counties, Missouri, 1883
The Early Bar
The early bar of St. Clair County, those who practiced
in the courts and rode the circuit were, in legal parlance, a brainy
set of men, and many of them have since become noted in the forum, in
the field and in the political arena.
Thomas Ruffin was circuit attorney, then a member of congress from North
Carolina, resigned his seat, raised a regiment and fell in the cause
of the Confederacy. He was one of the brightest stars in the galaxy
of legal lights, a giant among men of intellect.
Of Judge Waldo P. Johnson, whose home was here for so many years, few
words need be said, for he ranks with the noblest in the state, and
his history is a household story in St. Clair County. Judges Ballou,
Wright and Emerson rose to the bench, and wore the ermine with grace,
dignity and ability.
Many others played a conspicuous part in the legal arena of their times,
and are worthy of a prominent place in the history of the bench and
bar of the state.
The following names and date they commenced practicing at the bar in
this county may be of interest to the legal fraternity: Benjamin P.
Major, November 30, 1941; George Dixon, first circuit attorney, 1841;
James Winston, August, 1841; Messrs. Major and Stewart acted as circuit
attorneys pro tem, for a short time; E.C. Davis, 1842; A.M. Tutt, John
T. Crenshaw, R.P. Clark, William S. Mayo and William H. Ollee, 1843;
Thomas Ruffin, July 3, 1843; L. Abney, December 4, 1843; C.C. Smith,
April 1, 1844; Waldo P. Johnson, September 30, 1844, R.A. Boughan, October
8, 1845; W.A. Ballou, April 7, 1846; Burr H. Emerson, 1846; S.M. Grant,
April 23, 1848; Thomas P. Engle, May 3, 1853; O.C. Hall, October 28,
1855; Thomas W. Freeman, M.L. Means, Foster P. Wright and William A.
McClain, October 29, 1855; S. Chandler, May 6, 1856; A.B. Whipple, December
9, 1856; Allison Wamsley, 1857; T.H. Richardson, March 10, 1859; James
D. Perkins, March 8, 1860; Thomas B. Johnson, September 3, 1860; George
H. Vaughan, September 4, 1860; John F. Snyder, 1860.
These were the principal names who practiced in this judicial circuit
up to 1860. Since that time many of the ablest lawyers in the state
have practiced in the courts here. There were J.P. Tracy, R.T. Butler
and James Masters, of Stockton, Hickory County; Sidney Wilson, Amos
S. Smith, Charles Kroff and W.Q. Paxton, all of Hermitage, Missouri;
William N. Pickerill, M.A. Fike and Banton G. Boone, Clinton, Missouri;
Governor John S. Phelps, Hon. T.A. Sherwood, Springfield, Missouri;
George G. Vest, Sedalia; Colonel M.W. Johnson, Linn Creek; T.M. Johnson,
Nevada; T.H. Well.
On March 21, 1871, H.S. Douglas, of Osceola, was admitted to the bar,
and C.A. Sweeney of Roscoe, Judge McGaughey on the bench.
