The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-06-27

in our Circuit Court on Wednes-
day afternoon, by Hon. A. W. Cavalry AS
the proceedings were nearly repetition of
the proceedings on the like occasion before
the Supreme Court, we give below the pro-
ceedings in the latter Court, as directed to
be published at the time, but which have
not heretofore been published.
Hon. a. w. Cavalry addressed the Court
as follows:
II has been made my duty as the Chairman. Of a
meeting of the members of the Bar of La Sale
county, and the officers of the county, circuit and
supreme Court at its present session, the death of
the Hon. Henry G. Cotton late the presiding Judge
OF the county court of La Sale county, and late a
member of the bar of this court.
In the performance of this duty NAV be per-
mitted to say that death is the common lot of Us all
The mortal sting was planted i'll the bosom of Adam
common ancestor, ty the fiat of tho aI,,;,bt,
when he was driven from the garden of Eden. Tie
sting of death has been Inherited by all his off
spring, and must pass upon all to the latest genera
ton.
This rrcversble law Of our being, is the common
heritage of man, and from il there is no escape,
Judge Cotton the last victim AMONG the
members of the bar of this county, and his death
has created void in the different relations which
he occupied, and which time can never fill The
family circle has been invaded, and the widoy and
fatherless are left to bewa their loss and mourn
over the desolation created by this sad event The
people of La Sale county have lost able honest
and upright Judge-the bar one of its purcst most
modest and gentlemanly members
Judge Cotton was the first presiding JUDI re of the
county court of La Sale county under its present
organization and enlarged Jurisdiction and was
called to occupy. that responsible position BY the
voice of the people.
The county court, with it, present enlarged civil
jurisdiction, was looked upon bv very many mem
1 he :. Il. as nv, 9,
tellgeni citizens, Us an experiment, and much
doubt was honestly entertained whether any man
who should be called TO preside in this new tribu-
nal, would be able 10 command the confidence of
the people and sustain himself before bar so in
teliigent and distinguished for its legal learning as
the bar OF this county; yet Judge Cotton by his
profound knowledge of the law bis inticxib!e in
tegrliy, his gcntlenanly department, modest cour-
teous and unassuIning manners Immediately ban
i>hed all apprehensons of failure and secured for
himself the respect and confidence of the people
: well rs the respect and confidence of his nrotas-
sional brethren.
The county court of La Sale county was no
longer an experiment, but became at 6Acr under
his JudlciOus administration, Of equal dignity and
Importance with the circuit court without any dis
paragemeni 10 the distin guished Judge Of that de
seryedlv popular court
Judge Cotton, whilst he added dignity 10 the
bench, inspired the people who had business before
him with mistaken confidence in his ability and
integrity He unobtru>ive. modest and re-
firing IN his manners; and IN all his intercourse
with the bar and the people lie was just and blame
less.
In one branch Of his official duties. NAV be or
mitted 10 say, he may be held up - a model Judge
| allude To his Probate duties. IN that relation
his memory will ever be regarded and held in the
highest respect by the widows and orphans whose
rights and Interests he guarded and watched over
with slecple-S vigilance. lie was always patient
in listening the afflicted widow In her btreave-
ment, and ever ready with bis counsel and advice
10 protest her rights and the right, Of her orphan
aid i.p -
estate she was called upon 10 settle
When II was announced in this city that Judge
Cotton was no more, all felt the shock. y Thrill Of
grief and sorrow was felt hv the inhabiraut< rhro
out the length and breadth Of this county. He i,i
at a time Of his greatest usefulness in the mid-
OF his family, and surrounded by his friends, The
void thus created IN the family circle i irrelarablc
The court and this bar deeply syupatliSc with his
afflicted widow and his orphan children. And al
though his frail and slender form j no more to be
seen among US either here IN the COMMON walks
OF life, vet ms memory and modest bearing Will
ever be present III our recollection.
In vain would attempt to add q peibe to his
monument: lie has reared 1t for himself and it may
be found where he erected il III tie records Of his
court and in the confidence and hearts Of Ia people
These are but the faint outline, # judge Cotton :
vel! defined character. His biographer win find
abundant mat erals IN his well spent life Till uI
and complete II 80 a. 70 present It IA all IL jus; and
I symmetrical proportions.
. Here We might pause. and profit by the lesson
/ which thI, sad event has taught Us
But - survey the dcsolatIOn which death has
produced among the members Of the bar Of Illinois
during The last - wears, cannot oTlHi; tie coca
son t. pass without calling up the names Of such
. of our departed brethren with whom wa, carly
associated, and the places where they then resided
/. Lieut.. iTov. Hubbard; John Mclean a speaker Of
the House OF Representatives, of this State, and /,
/ United states Senator; Henry Eddy, Il member Of
tie legislature tins state, accomplished scholar
and distinguished advocate Jefferson Gatcwood a
State Senator. ard man OF ii-tu-ii she'd taler:
Jeptha Hardin, District ATTORNEY Of the Uptcd
States for Illinois, and of great compass ot
mind; Judge Grant, one O. the circuit Judges oi
this State, and Mr.. Champion. These were Of
| ShaUneetown aud Equality ia Galiatin county.
Judge Pope delegate from this Territory il
Congress, and upon the adoption Of the cgust.;u-
ton, and upon the admission 81 this State into the
Union appointed the District Judge q Illinois
Which Office he held for about thirty wears. His
character as Judge and eminent lawyer J. "a
milidr to the court and most Of the bar Elias Men;
Kane, Secretary Of state, member Of the Illinois
Legislature and afterwards q United State Scnat-
or. man Of rare talents, and an able advocate
/ Thomas Reynolds, a member Of the Legislature in
l-26, Judge Of the Supreme Court Of this state
and afterwards Governor Of The State Of Missouri
and Gen. Dodge These were of Randolph county
David Blackwell, Attorney General member OF
the Legislature in s2t man distinguished for III,
purity of his character. and was one of the best
special pleaders III the State Mr. Mears Il Scotch
man, educated in Scotland Attorney General of this
State, and profound lawyer and scholar and Adam
". Snider, captain in the Sank War. "a member
of Congress, state senator and afterwards 4 can
didate for Governor, and died before the election
These were of 81. Clair county.
George Forquer, Attorney General Of this State
man Of great purity of character and self made
man /; Samuel McRoberts, a Circuit Judge in IS %
member of the state senate, and afterwards a Sc
nator in the United States Congress, and Thomas
Ford judge of the supreme court, and afterw ards
Governor Of the state of Illinois. These were OF
Monroe county.
Theophoius ". Smith, member Of the state
senate and afterwards one of the Judges of the
supreme court, which last Office he filed with dis
tinguished ability for many wears a. his publ.
opinions bear witness; Daniel !. Cook, a distin-
gui>hed advocate, the sole member of Congress for
many years, highly gifted as debater, profound
statesman and of great purity of character; Niuan
Edwards, Governor of the territory of Illinois the
first UnitedGStates senator after her admission into
the Union Minister 10 Mexico, and afterw ards
Governor Of the state of Illinois, man of supe-
/ ror talents, distinguished debater in the C. :
Senate, ranking the equal of those in that gust
body, and ut last fell victim TO the ravages of the
cholera in atording aid and succor TO his distressed
townsmen; Henry Starr, man of u finished edu-
cation, "A profound lawyer an able advocate and
ranked as equal with the best special peaders in
the State, and afterwards removed 10 Cincinnati and
maintained standing at the bar equal with the
! first in that city; JOHN YORK Sawyer, one of the
Circuit Judges OF this State in 1924 David Pricket
and Jesse ID. Thomas, one of the Judges of the SUI
preme Court. These were Of Madison county
Gen. james Adams, Charles J. Matthew John l.,
I Bogardus, William Hamilton and Jonathan II
Pugh; the two last were members of the Legisla
ture, and filled their stations with abilities
! These were of Sangamon county.
Col. John j. Hardin. member of the legislature
an able advocate and good LAWYER: he fell at the
battle of Buenna Vista IN leading part of his re-
| glment in a charge upon the Mexican infantry-he
fell with his military harness on, brave man as
ever faced foe His gallant Adjutant, w II. L.
Wallace, Esq, in that bloody strife and is now
| present and will bear me witness; John Turney-
| These were of Morgan county.
William II. Tisdalc, good LAWYER and a Mr.
! Hopins were of Greene county.
William Wilson, who departed this life on the
29th Of April last, i'll White county, was Chief
Justice of the State of Illinois, from the commerce.
MN, ,, yoIs NJ ~ " 'nS adoption oil