Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-04-12
JUDGE WIN. 0. FORREST
PEN PICTURE on ONE OF MEX.
IC0s PROMINENT CITIZENS,
NOW DECEASED.
WRITTEN BY GEORGE ROBERTSON.
Brief Bit Of Local History in Which
the Judge Figured His Defense Of
the Celebrated Monk" Rrans-
letter Murder Case-A
Noted Lawyer.
WRITTEN BY GEORGE ROBERTSON.

The following Biographical sketch
of the iAte Judge William Q. Forristy
IN his life one Of the best known
lawyers in the West, was written by
1eorge Robertson, OF this city, for the
"Encyclopedia of the History Of Mis-
souri," now in course of preparation
by the Southern History Company, Of
New York, Louisville and st. Louis:
William Orestes Forrist, born Octo-
bsr 1st, 1925, in Trumbull county, Ohio;
died in Mexico, Missouri, March 17th,
1890.
His natural abilities, scholarly at
tainments and success az lawyer
made him one of the notable men Of
that section OF the State of Ohio,
where he was born and engaged in the
practice of his profession from his
majority until he was forty-on years
Of age and in that part OF Missouri
where he devoted twenty-five years
Of his life to the profession OF law
with almost a religious fidelity.
He was Of New England stock on
both sides. His father, Ira Forrist,
was native Of Vermont, q soldier in
the second war with England, who, in
an early day, settled and improved o
farm in the Western Reserve, where
William was born and reared.
At the age of seventeen William
graduated with honors at Farmington
Seminary, an Institution of high re-
pute in that day. After completing
his education he for a while engaged
in teaching as means Of procuring
funds to enable him to study law.
He read law with and was ASSOCIATE
ed in practice with Seabury Ford, af-
terward Governor Of Ohio. Ford was
Wing and an ardent friend OF Henry
CLAY, from whom young Forrist took
his political views. He became prom
inent in the Whig party and like most
Wings In the North, when that party
dissolved, aligned himself with the
new Republican party.
His researches into the common
law were OF the most profound and
continued till late In life. Having
been educated In the common law
practice hs never became wholly rec
onciled 20 the code, retaining to his
death that sntIpathy to 1t found in so
many able lawyers Of mis- time who
believed that the common law was
the scum Of all reason"
On the breaking ont Of the OWL
War he volunteered as o soldier In an
Ohio regiment, but never left the
state. His ability as an advocate
made his services more valuable to
the state as a recruiting officer where
he was retained by the Governor Of
the state till be had assisted in raising
several regiments.
"Judge" Forrist, on account OF his
attachments as alawyer, though never
holding Q judicial office, became to be
universally so called by his acquain-
tances. He came to this State and
settled in st. Louis In 1867, and on
account of his abilities as an orator, at
the request of the National Commit
tee, campaigned throughout the State
for Grant and the Republican party in
1868. Though Republican after the
organization OF that party, he was
conservative and liberal and was one
OF the prominent men of his party to
advocate the re-enfranchisement Of
the Confederate In the begin
ming of the agitation Of that question
he contended that the "confiict of the
war wac one wholly over American
ideas, in which each side had its rea-
sons to believe 1t was right. The
Confederate was as patriotic as the
Federal soldier and should be accord
ed all the privileges and rights OF
any American citizen and be given
an opportunity to show his loyalty to
the Union under the new conditions"
During the agitation OF the question
he poured forth his logic and elo-
quence In behalf OF the canse of re-
enfranchisement with all that zeal and
ability of which he was 80 abundantly
endowed.
In 1868 he settled In Mexico where
he began q successful career as
lawyer, though never losing inter-
est in public questions. He was
always at the front in overy enter
prise for the benefit Of bis commune
ty, but was best known as an able
lawyer, with large practice, making
the criminal law q speciality.
From the time he began the prac-
tice of law In Audrain county until
falling health, about two years before
his death, he was engaged in the de-
Tense OF every criminal case of any
note in his own county, with q con-
siderable practice In counties sur