The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-01-05

the request Of the Bar Association, on Thurs
day evening, to receive The Memorial upon
the death Of the Hon. L. F Bull, which was
presented by Hon James " Duncan, at the
reques, Of the Association.
The court room was by half past seven
filed with the friends and recent associates
Of Mr.. Bull. even to the monopolizing Of
standing room. Although the audience
was mainly composed of gentlemen, many
ladies' were seated inside the rail, and scat
tered through the rows in the body of tie
room, There was but little talking, each a.
he entered The place, seeming to remain
silent rs mute tribute OF respect to the
memory OF the Cead attorney.
Mr.. Duncan read the Memorial at Ii tie
after half past seven. and his remarks upon
the life and cha racter Of Mr.. Bull, occupied
perhaps an hour. No man could have a
more fair, amore just, eulogist than did Mr..
voice while reading the Memorial, but as his
flow Of language came it expanded and
grew richer with the thoughts his subject
prompted, Before entering into his al
dress. Mr. Duncan moved that the Memorial
be spread upon the records of the court,
The FaEE TRADER will not attempt to give
more than the briefest synopsis of the ad'
dress by Mr.. Duncan. as his remarks were
too extensive for verbatim report, though
the reporter recognizes the fact that even
the best synopsis does grave injustice to the
effort of the orator Mr.. Duncan said he
felt that something elaborate should have
been prepared by him, but when he came to
approach the question, he found 1t, from the
nature of his feelings impossible. What.
ever he should say would be guided by the
promptings of his thought, as he was
totally without preparation. Mr.. Bull was
oyertaken at the nOontide of his life, in the
midst of rich and general practice. He
had a right to expect that many years OF
usefulness were before him. He had been
cess, while his lips were yet parted TO quaff
its nectar. There we're many matters of
especial Significance in connection with the
life Of Mr.. Bull, which he (Mr. Duncan)
held in common with his fellow members of
the bar, and many which related to him
personally. Mr.. Bull came to La Sale
when he was mere boy. Lawyers were
always prominent figures, even to the child.
rem of the town, and he was one Of Mr..
Bulls admirers. There is great principle
of our government that all men are born free
and equal, and in MIR. Bulls life is the ex-
ample Of how hat equality exists. For if it
| be true that all men are born free and equal
! it means that all have at their youth an
equal and an untrammeled opportunity to
success and way to progress, and man is
Just what he makes himself We are al |
equal in the glorious and untrammeed con-
ditiou Of our citizenship and our manhood
Mr. Bulls onward progress was an illustra
ton Of this fact Away from home in early
manhood, aye. in hs bOyhooi, he came to
this grand prairie state, Illinois, bending
every energy toward success in the law,
| tie taught school and worked hard to gain
an education, and at length was admitted to
the bar at Mt. Vernon. lie came to La
Sale at the age Of twenty one, and there
! laid for himself the footstones Of success ,
which in after life were surmOunted by q
triumph which was his own. Then by
unremitting toll he struggled upward, and
soon commanded the attention Of the bar
While there. he formed a partnership with
James Strain, under the firm name Of Bull
& Strsin, a partnership which continued
was dissolved. He in the meantime also
formed partnership with John F Nash,
this city, which continued until 1868, when
il was dissolved upon MIR Nash's entering
the banking business, Mr.. Bull removed to
this city in 1870, and formed a law partner
ship with his cousin, Palmer b. Follett,
whose health health becoming poor in few
years, this partnership was also dissolved.
Upon the death of the lamened Mr.. Avery,
Mr. Bushnell, knowing the energetic mind
of Mr. Bull, suggested a partnership, and
the suggestion was acted upon. When
Judge Gilman's term expired as county
Judge, he also entered the firm, which was
known as Bushnell Bull s. Gilman. That
partnership WAS dissolved for reasons
known to the court and the bar.
There we're many memories of Mr. Bull
which the members of the bar would talk
over and relate while together, but there
we're some marked traits, some pronounced
facts that should not be allowed to escape
notice. MIR. Bull was man Of restless
energy and of great determination. He was
not an imitator, but had his own thoughts
and convictions, and was steadtast to them.
When once he was convinced he was very
positive in his argument. He was as faithful
| to the interests of his clients as to his own
for he made their case his own and acted