Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-03-20
w, o. FORREST DEAD.
. Brief History of His Life and
Account of His Death.

Liberty street as 9:lU p. al. Mon
day. His last words we're: ~
will meet you all in heaven"
Forrist has been confined to
his room for months, and, although
his death vas not unexpected, it
was nevertheless a shock To this
community, where he was so well
known and beloved by all who
knew him. His funeral took
place at 2:30 p m. Wednesday.
JUDGE FORESTS FUNERAL.
The members of the Mexico bar
met in the Office of the deceased,
w. o. Forrist, Tuesday
at 10 O'Clock. Judge Edwards was
selected to act as chairman. A
composed of Attorneys
Mscfarlane, Kennen and
Trimble was appointed to draft
resolutions ofsrespect. A commit
tee was also Selected to notify
friends of deceased living at other
points, of the death and time of
funeral which was at 2:3O p. m.
Wednesday. This committee con-
sisted of Messrs. Robertson, Barker
and Edmonston.
Judge Forrist was a member of
the bar of Audrain county for 81
years, and was recognized as one of
the leading criminal lawyers of
this section of the State. Judge
Forrist was born in Trumbull
county, Ohio, October l, 1926, a
section of that State noted for the
intelligence of its people and the
strong abilities of many of it's citi-
zens. On both sides, he came of
ancient and honored New England
families. His father, Ira Forrist,
a native of Vermont, and was
gallant soldier in the American
army in the wal of 1912. In an
early day the Judges parents re-
moved to Ohio, settling on the
Western Reserve, and in Trumbull
county, where Judge Forrist, or
William O as he was then called,
grew to manhood. William o.
was kept at school while Young,
when schools were accessible in
the neighborhood; and when not
at school his time was well occu-
pied with WORK on the farm. Later
along, he entered Pennington
Seminary, of Ohio, an institution
of high repute at that time, in
which he concluded his studies in
1913. Such were his proficiency
in his studies and recognized su-
periority IN the Seminary that he
was awarded the honors of his
class, being made its valedlctor-
ian. Prior to this he had decided
to devote himself to the legal pro-
fession, as being the calling most
in accord with his tastes and best
adapted, as he believed, to the USE
full and successful exercise of his
abilities; and while his progress
through school was such as to raise
high antIcipatlons in the breasts of
his friends of his future at the bar.
his valedictory, on quitting his
alma Mater, was of such an order,
both in substance and the elo-
quence of its delivery, as to pre-
dict for him a high place in his flu
ture profession. He now left the
Seminary and began, regularly, a
preparatory course of study for the
bar. He put himself under the
preceptorate of John Crank, Esq,
an eminent lawyer of Trumbull
county, and after remaining under
him some time, he became a
student under Gov. Ford of that
State. Entering actively upon the
practice of his profession, he con-
tinued at Chardon, the county seat
of Geauga county, until 1860, when
he removed to the city of Warren,
where he practiced law with in
creasing success and reputation for
the following eight years. But by
this time the war had come and
gone, and changed conditions
found Missouri a State of great
desirabiIity as a place of residence
to the people of the North. Bless
ed as this State is with all the Ia
tural resources and advantages for
a great and prosperous common
wealth, it now became almost a
promised land" to the people of
the North and East. The result
was that a heavy current of emf
grafton set in to Missouri, which,
though greatly lessened now, has
still not ceased. Judge Forrist,
like thousands of other men of pro-
~gressive and liberal ideas in his
native State, decided to come to
Missouri, and unite his energies
and counsel with those of the peo-
pie here in the great work of max
ing this State what it has every
advantage to be--one of the first in
the sisterhood of commonwealth.
Acco. dinghy, in 1868, he came to
Missouri, and located at Mexico in
the practice of his profession,
where he has since resided. Here
his superior abilities and high at
tainments as a lawyer soon became
recognized, and he rapidly built up
a large practice. The favorable
impression he early made IN the
courts of Missouri did not prove a
mistaken one. A man devoted to
his profession with almost religious
fidelity, he pursued the practice of
law more from his love of the great
principles which it embodies and
en'orees, and from his admiration
of the law as the first and highest
of sciences, than for purpose of
profit. Addressing himself to his
profession from this high and
worthy standpoint, he followed its
practice with that industry, energy
and integrity that could not have
failed, not only of making him q
successful lawyer, but of command
ing the respect and confidence of
the courts and the public, a matter