Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-17
IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

IN THE PUBLIC EYE.
Judge Josiah Given, late justice of
the supreme court, after reading law
in the Office of Given & Bancroft, was
admitted to the bar in Canton, O., in
1850. Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, later
secretary of war in Lincoln's cabinet,
then being chairman of the examining
committee. The following year Judge
Given was elected to the office of
prosecuting attorney of his county
and engaged in the practice of law
with Judge Bancroft, later of Des
Moines. In 1856 he removed to Gosh
octon, o. and engaged in practice
with Colonel James Irwin, and later
with Hon. Julius G. Pomerene, which
continued until 1861, when Mr.. Given
entered the army. Soon after the
close of the war he became member
of the firm of Walker, Downing & Civ
en- of Wooster. O., and in 1868 carried
out previously formed purpose of re-
moving to Des Moines, forming part
nership of Jacob st. John, and later
with his former preceptor and part
ner, Judge Bancroft, which latter part
nership continued until 1873. when
bench. Judge Given has served CON
tinuously on the circuit, district and
supreme bench to January 1, 1902, the
last thirteen years being on the SUI
preme bench, four of these years be-
ing chief justice of that court. In adj
dition to this professional career, the
judge served as a member of the Iowa
house of representative for one term
and deputy commissioner of internal
revenue under General Grants first
administration. He was postmaster
of the thirty-ninth house of repre-
sentatives in Washington and attained
the rank of brigadier general during
the war of the rebellion.
General Wade Hampton, who died
Friday, was native of Charleston, S.
c., and was born on March 2S, 1918.
His grandfather was the wealthiest
planter in the United States, and from
him young Wade received material as
sistance and on his death in 1885 in
herited goodly share of his wealth.
He attended the University of South
Caroline, where he graduated with
honors, and subsequently served sew.
eral terms in the state legislature. He
entered the Confederate army as pri-
vate and subsequently raised legion
of six companies of infantry, four of
cavalry and one of artillery, which af-
terward became conspicuous as the
Hampton legion. He was successive
ly promoted to a brigadier and a major
generalship. He served through the
peninsula campaign of 1862, and was
severely wounded at Gettysburg, los
ing leg. In 1864 he was promoted to
the position of lieutenant general of
all the cavalry in the army of Virginia.
In 1865 he was sent to South Caro-
lima, where he commanded the rear
guard of the Confederate army, which
was retreating before the advance of
General Sherman. At Columbia all
the cotton at hand had been piled in
the public square. On the approach
of the Union army this cotton was fir
ed and a conflagration ensued which
destroyed the greater part of the city.
General Hampton was accused of hav-
ing ordered this great destruction of
property, but he denied it and charged
General Sherman with responsibility
for the act. This was denied in turn
by General Sherman, but subsequent
inquiry has proved that the Federal
troops, with or without orders from
their commanders, fired the property.
In 1876 General Hampton was chos-
en- governor of South Carolina, being
reelected in 1878. In 1879 he was
elected to the United States senate,
where he served with distinction and
ability for two terms. He was a
member of the committees on coast
defenses, epidemic diseases, civil SER
vice, fisheries and military affairs.
He was an eloquent speaker and
was exceedingly popular with men of
all political parties. OF late years he
had been less of a partisan than in
earlier life. He was cultivated and re.
fined, and in all respects genial and
companionable.