Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-24
ALL THE FAMILY LAWYERS.

Father. Mother and Three Daughters VIII
BE Working at the Bar.
An entire family of lawyers. That is what
the Pier family-father, mother and three
daughters-are TO be. Col C. X. Pier, for
merly of Fond du Lac, now of Milwaukee, is
an old practitioner. His wife and his oldest
daughter are also practicing, and his two
younger daughters are taking the law course
at the State university.
Mrs. Pier and her daughter, Kate II. Pier,
graduated from the law department of the
State university in 1887, AMI were two of the
only four women lawyers who have thus far
taken the law cou: Sc of the State university,
the other two being Mrs. La Toilette, the
wife of Congressman La Toilette, of Madi-
son, who graduated in 1885, and Miss Jessie
Hutchinson, of Richland Centre, Wis. who
graduated last year. Mrs. Pier and her
daughter are associated together, with an
Office in the Miller block, and are enjoying a
large practice.
IL was Miss Pier who attracted such in
ierest in the supreme court, last week, from
the fact that she was the first woman lawyer
who ever appeared before the supreme tribu-
nal OF the state. She appeared but as a
young girl among the coterie of old lawyers
present. For half an hour her argument
was followed with the closest attention by all
present. Even the dignified judges seemed
to appreciate it as unusual event, and
mingled an increased degree of austerity
with a certain amount of interest i'm the fair
young attorney.
Miss Pier stated her case unhesitatingly,
and frequently turned TO and cited authori-
ties, showing an acquaintance with law and
a degree of self possession. At the conclu-
sion of her address she was cordially con-
graduated for the successful impression she
had made, and among themselves the law
yers were unanimously Of the opinion that
she made an exceedingly strong and con
vincing argument.
1t was a trying ordeal for lady 50 young,
as Miss Pier is but 20 years Of age She has a
strikingly handsome and intelligent face, and
Is possessed of wealth of black hair, which,
in a single coil, almost trails the floor Like
the exceptional young woman of today, she
wears no bangs, but combs her hair back
Miss Pier is a native of Fond du Lac, Wis,
and a graduate of the Fond du Lac high
school. In 1856, at the same time as her
mother, she entered the law department of
the State university and, by taking a double
course in 1887, obtained her degree, emitting
her to practice in all the state courts For
ten months she held position in the legal de
partment of the Wisconsin Central railway,
retiring April l 10 associate herself with her
mother.
Yes, like the profession" said Miss Pier
today, land also the science of medicine,
which l have studied, too, for some years.
While, OF course, the two are in no way
identical, still think it well for a lawyer to
be more or less familiar with medicine, as il
is often useful, particularly in the taking of
such expert testimony as is likely to be offer
ed in the Cronin case"
Miss Piers two sisters, who have entered
the State university for a course in the law
department, are Carrie r., aged is, and Har-
rIet H, aged I7.-Milwaukee Cor Chicago
Inter Ocean