Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-02-27
Hon. George ClementsOn.

Hon. George Clementson.
Hon. George Clementson, OF Lam
caster, who is a non-partisan candi-
date for justice of the Wisconsin
Supreme court, is native of York
shire, England, and is about As years
of age. When his parents came to
the United States they settled at
Hazel Green, Grant county, and with
them came son and q daughter.
The son, George, received a good
common school education, and after
wards attended for two years the
academy at Hazel Green. His
parents being poor and unable to
send him away to school, at the age
of II he entered his fathers shop,
where he learned the wagon.maker's
trade, at which he worked for several
years. While thus employed he
found time at night to pursue general
studies, and later on he took up the
study Of law in the same manner. At
the age OF "a, having saved money
enough to enable him to do so, he
took a course in the law department
of Michigan university, and after that
pursued the study of law for a
year with j. Allen Barber, at Lancas-
ter. He was admitted to the bar in
the spring of 1868, and in the fall of
that year was elected district attor-
ney OF Grant county, holding that
office for two terms.
In the fall of 1868, Hon. j. Allen
Barber offered to take him as a part
ner. This offer Mr.. Clementson &C.
copied and the law firm of Barber &
Clementson continued until Mr.. Bar
ber's death in June, 1881. Upon Mr..
BARRIERS election to congress in 1872,
and from that time on, the manage
ment Of,the firm S extensive law prac,
tice fell entirely upon Mr.. Clementson.
By hard study, and strict attention
to business, and the ability he dis
played in the trial of cases, he speed
lily placed himself in the front rank
OF the, bar of Northwestern Wisconsin,
and when it became a question who
should be brought out to oppose
Judge Cothren at the judicial election
of 1882, the sentiment was unani-
nous that he should be Mr.. Clement
son. Although the judicial circuit was
Republican, Judge Cothren's popu-
larity with the people was so great
that he had been elected in 1876 by
over L. 200 majority. The Republi-
can convention to nominate a can
didatefor Judge of the fifth circuit was
held in Dodgeville in February, 1882;
without a dissenting vote it nomi-
mated Mr.. ClementsOn; and after a
most excltingcampaign he was elected
by over 1920 majority When his
first term expired, Judge Clement
son informed his friends that he
would never again be party can
didate for q judicial office. In 1888
and again last spring he was elected
Judge Of the fifth circuit as non
partisan candidate Since his cleo
ton to the bench thirteen years ago,
Judge Clementson has absolutely re-
Trained from taking any part in
politics.
Judge Clementson was very re-
luctant TO come out as a candidate
against Judge Winslow, but the pres
sure brought to bear upon him was
SO great that he at last yielded.
Judge Clementson stands very high
as Judge, his fairness being one of
his conspicuous characteristics. He
is not a stickler for legal technicali-
ties, but every litigant in his court is
assured that he will receive justice,
whether he be rich or poor Among
the recent notable cases in which
Judge Clementson has presided is
that of John B. KOetting, the Mil
Waukee ex-banker.