Birmingham state herald., 1896-03-01
contribute to the development of her re-
Walker, Porter 6 Walker.


 One of the ablest and most popular le- gal firms in northern Alabama is that
 named above. It is strong In prestige, strong in ability and strong in the con fidenee of it's extensive clientage. William A. Walker, the senior partner,
 was born near Elyton in 1S46. He secur- | ed his early education in the neighbor- hood schools, entering the University of | Alabama at Tuskaloosa in his 16th year. | In September, 1863, he enlisted in a com | pany formed of the university corps, | and was assigned to duty in the Seventh | Alabama Confederate cavalry. He re- mained in the service until the close of l the war. being promoted to sergeant and | having the usual experiences of a captive | when he was a prisoner of war. Returning to Elyton he at once began | to teach school and later began the study | of law, being admitted to the bar in 1867.
 He at once began the practice in partner | ship with Mir B. B. Lewis who was soon
 elected to congress, and of MT. Cobb who | was afterwards twice governor of Ala | bama.
 | In 1870 he became the partner of Hon.
 G. W. Hewitt, who was for eight years | a member of congress. On August g, of | the latter year. he was married to Miss | Virginia T. Mudd. daughter of the dis | tinguished Judge w. s. Mudd.s deceased.
 From 1868 to, 1876 he held the office of
 county solicitor, and in 1885 he was elect | ed president of the First National bank | of Birmingham, which he soon resigned because he could not reconcile it's duties
 with is law practice. In 1878 he was | elected to the legislature at the solicita- | tion of his friends, not being a seeker fort
 political preferment. He is noted as a strong pleader and a successful advo- | cate-in fact one of the best, if not the
 very best trial lawyers in the state. This
 Is distinction merited by his record, | and one accorded him by the bar, of
 which he has been so long respected
 and influential member.
 l Mitchell A. Porter was born at Elyton
 August F, 1859. His father, Mitchell T.
 Porter.-is now, and has for many years | been the judge of the probate court of
 Jefferson county. Young Porter received | his early education in the schools of Ely | ton and Birmingham, and began the study of law in the office of Porter &
 Martin, his father and uncle. He then | attended the law department of the Uni versity of Alabama, from which institu- | tion he graduated in June, 1881. He en- l tered into the practice with his father | until 1884 when the latter was appointed
 probate judge. He then became asso- | ciated with Messrs Hewitt and Walker until the death of Colonel Hewitt May | 27, 1895, when the firm became as now | constituted.
 | In 1SS8-9 Mr. Porter served his con- | stituency as member of the legislature | and was again nominated by his party | to succeed himself, but declined to run | He has always been ane active worker | fer the democracy in every campaign,
 but never is a seeker for favors at its | hands.
 Mir Porter is an active member of the l Episcopal church. He is also one of the i substantial and efficient aids in all local dramatic entertainments, being an anna l teur actor of Exceptional ability. He
 was married in December, 1886. to Miss | Hattie Earle of Tyler, Tex. MT Porter l Is properly regarded as one of the ablest | members of the bar, and as one of the
 representative citizens of Birmingham. l William M. Walker is a son of the se- nior partner and is a native of Elyton. l His preliminary education was secured | in the, schools of Birmingham, after l which he pursnei the collegiate and law | courses prescribed by the University of | Alabama. graduating from both. l He entered the firm in June. 1895. and, | although the short time subsequent has | not been especially fruitful in opportuni- | ties for distinction, he has demonstrated | abilities that will vet make him an im- | portant factor in the litigation of Jeffer- | son county and northern Alabama The firm are attorneys for the Kansas | Citv Memphis and Birmingham railroad | in the state of Alabama: for the Louis vile and Nashville in Jefferson county. | for the Western Union Telegraph com panv for this district: for the Southern | Re]l Telephone and Telegraph comnanv | for this district for the Brminpham m l Rai1cav and Electric company and for | the First National bank.
 l Roberts 6 Son.
 The leading commercial printing and | lithographing establishment in the state | of Alabama is that conducted by the | above firm, which was first established 1 by the late Willis Roberts and his son l Charles under the name of Roberts & l Son. After the death of the senior part | ner in 1892 the business was incorporated, retaining the firm name. The capital in- | vested aggregates s35,000. and the plant | is complete in every detail
 The premises occupied are located at | 1909 Second avenue, and are 25 by 40 feet | in dimensions. Three stories are oceu- l pied the first floor being the store, sta l tionery and salesroom; the second floor | the press and composing room. and the | third is occupied by the bindery and lith- l ographing departments. In the press ] room are four Gordon jobbers and two | Campbell cylinders. one of the latter be- | ing the finest printing press in the state. | The ithographing press is also of the l Campbell make, and the quality of work | done is of the highest class.
 | Fifty men, boys and girls are employed | in the various departments, receiving an 1 average of $500 per week in wages. The company publishes the city directory of
 Birmingh ham, the 1896 edition having been 1 issued February l, with all information I up to date. This work demands high | class equipment, and the credtable work done IS convincing teSt1mOn1ai 10 the | efficiency of the plant.
 | The establishment is especially 1 equipped for county printing and SUD- l plies. Anything from a subpoena to a | court docket is executed with care and | accuracy that never fails to convince all | concerned of the superiority of the plant. | Heretofore all of this work has gone out f-of the state. but now the necessity for l sending money outside has been ebviated. 1 This is the only establishment in the l state doing lithographing, a travelling l representative making all contiguous ter i ritory, securing orders for blank books, l stationery, printing, binding, lithograph- i ing and office supplies of every kind. The 1 state agency for the New Hammond l Typewriter has been placed in the hands I of the company.
 The president of the incorporation is l MT. Charles Roberts who also has the | active management. MT. R. c. Booth is 1 the secretary and treasurer. MT. Rob- erts is native of Alabama, and has been connected with printing and newspaper k1