Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-12-11
DELAWARE MEN FROM YALE.
Judge Houston the Oldest Graduate
from the State.

Nhtoc NOW sthuthtS 1neres
Special Correspondent of Gazette and journal
NEW HAVEN. Dec 6.-The attention Of
the public is drawn quite frequently these
days toward the college world, and a con
hantly growing interest seems to be taken
p its doings. Most especially, perhaps, is
this found to be true at the time of inter
collegiate contests, when the various ath-
ietlc teams struggle against one another to
win laurels for their respective colleges,
while supporters of each do their utmost
to aid and encourage. Again, interest is
awakened when the closing exercises OF
the college year are in progress and the
graduating class prepares to take final
farewell Of its alma mater and goes forth
a. 20 battle with the world. Least frequently
Of all, it may be said, does the public find
us attention again drawn in this direction
by the elevation of a college graduate into
a high position of honor and RESPONSE
bility. II is chiefly with reference to this
last example, however, that your CORE
bpondent will speak. Taking this as a
motive, the thought has occurred of re-
viewing briefly the careers of some of
those .nllege graduates in Delaware who
nave isched positions of prominence in
various spheres of life.
Owing TO the limited space as well as to
the lack OF complete information on the
subject attention will have to be confined
to those of the graduates who have come
from Yale as this institution appears to
have been the most favored thus far. 1t
may be Of interest to note at the outset
that with but oneor two exceptions every
one Of our graduates began the study Of
law after leaving college and through this
profession attained prominence
The oldest living graduate Of Yale from
the state of Delaware is Hon. John w
Houston of Dover, Il member of the class
of 1884 After leaving college lie studied
law under Hon. John NJ. Clayton and was
admitted to the bar. His ability in the
profession was soon recognized and his
services rewarded. From lSil-lS45, he
was Secretary of State for Delaware, and
from 1S45-5l he served as a representative
in Congress. In the year 1855 he was an.
pointed associate judge of the superior
court of the state position, which he
still occupies, and by law he is the ex-
ofticio reporter Of the judicial decision.
The Rev. William w Taylor was class
mate of Judge Houston's, After gradual
ing he took a course in the Yale Theo-
logical School and became minister, In
that profession he has attained eminent
success and has been pustdr of several
large churches in different cities in the
east
The next oldest graduate is Hon. Leonard
". Wales who belonged to the class OF 40
lie began practielng law as his chosen pro
fession in ISIS For Il number of wears he
was clerk of the United States circuit and
district courts for the Delaware district,
and from ls5l-53 he served as city So
hector. After the war, during which he
served as lieutenant in the First Regi-
ment Of Delaware Volunteers he again
tto9k up his profession and in 1864 received
the appointment of associate Judge Of the
superior court of Delaware lie served III
TINS position with distinction until the
death Of Judge Bradford made vacant the
bench OF the United States circuit court
Judge Wales was appointed to succeed to
this position, which he still occupies For
q number OF years, also, lie las been presi-
dent OF the Historical Society of Delaware.
DR., Robert 7. johnson graduated in 1Si7.
After leaving Yale he entered the medical
department of the University Of Pennsyl.
yania, after which he began the practice of
his profession. For several years he acted
as surgeon on board an ocean steamship
and when the war broke ont he served in
that capacity under the United states gov
erhment, After the war he returned to
Wilmington, Where he acquired a large
practice and met with great success mill
,upto the time Of his death, which occurred
last wear.
lie lion. Charles NJ. Cullen Of George
town was a member of the class of As. lie
lie studied law in his fathers office and
began practieing in his native town, His
AFFINITY and success in the profession have
been marked in proof Of which his recent
appointment as associate judge Of the SUI
perior court of the State bears sufficient
witness.
Delaware was represented in the class Of
,55 Of Yale by Hon William f. Causey of
Milford. He was a student at law from
l6o5-5l and also acted as private seere-
tary to his father, the Hon. Peter r.
lausey, who was governor at that time.
lie entered the Albany law school for Il
year and then began the practice az his
1flt4 1t.I
at n, Louis. Returning to Milford he re-
NAMED until 1863 during the time he
served rs deputy attorney general Of Della
ware for one year and was then elected
member ot the state Legislature. In tile
year 1859 he went to St Louis again. where
he entered into law partnership With liz
Hon, Trusten Polk, Yale 81, whose
daughter he had married at the time Of
ms previous visit. He remained there
until 1879 and then returned to his native
town Soon after he received the appoint
ment Of secretary of state from the gov
ernor
Hon. Anthony Higgins graduated from
ale IN 1861. Like the majority Of his pre-
decessors he chose law for lis profession
ana formed partnership in the wear 1854
WIN a prominent lawyer in the State
soon atterward he was made assistant ut
tofliey 70 me Encouragement for the dis
trlet OF Wilmington From ls69to 1875 he
was attorney Of the Omitted States for the
district OF Delaware, and in 1851 he re-
f Tfl,fes, l ihe Republican nomination for
uHIleu states senator, and was again noni-
t sl;Ia iof CONGRESS IN 1854, His party
ialled on both occasions however, to carry
We the, state, but when the elections for the
next term TOOK place, in lsSs he received
Al election to the Senate, thereby gaining
the uistitieuoh q being the first Republic
caii senator rom Delaware.
~. Inward tn =. bradford, ESD, was a mem
! per q me cltsS Of ~ He il now one Of
the mos prominent lawyers u the state
HI, b