River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-05-24
MEMORIAL ADDRESSES.
Pierce County Bar Honors the
Memory of Deceased
Lawyers.

The death within the space of one
year of two prominent members of
so small a bar as that of Pierce
county naturally aroused more
than common feeling of loss and
sympathy with the friends of the
departed and hence it was felt that
those who were left must have some
opportunity in which to express
publicly their affection and esteem
for those who had gone before as
we'll as to show in fitting manner
that the lessons of their lives had
not been forgotten.
Hence at the opening of the court
at the last session Judge Helms set
apart Monday afternoon, May 2lst,
as day in which memorial eXer-
cises should be held commemorate
ing the lives of Mr.. ]. S. White and
DR.. j. w. Hancock.
Promptly the gavel fell at two
o'clock p. m. of that day, and Judge
Helms briefly stating the object of
the special session called upon Mr.,
Combacker for the first address.
Mr.. Combacker delineated with
rapid but accurate sketches the life
of Mr.. White. Born in Indiana, his
father circuit rider, he was sur.
rounded at the outset with intluen-
ces that affected his whole life.
Ambitious to make his way in the
world he early entered law office
and being admitted to practice
sought a field for his life work. In
a canoe he traversed the waters of
the Mississitp i, arriving in Prescott
in 1852. There seemed to open to
him the land of promise and there
he located to make it his home for
fifty-three years. His practice being
small at first owing to the sparse
population, the number of souls in
the entire county at that date not
exceeding fifteen hundred, he work
ed at his trade of carpenter for a
while until his larger acquaintance
and the moving of business affairs
gave him an opportunity to devote
himself entirely to his profession.
A little later he returned to his old
home and brought back his bride,
Miss Mary E. White. From that
time his devotion to the law was
continuous. His knowledge of law
was deep. He read and understood.
If technical, it was because he be-
lieved the law to be right and that
no omission of form was justifiable.
AS family man he was devoted
husband and father. AS citizen
his instincts were for the right and
it is not strange therefore that he
became an ardent prohibition in
his political faith.
This brief abstract gives but lit
tie idea of the excellent article pre-
sented by Mr.. Combacker. Follow
ing this Mr.. Owen was called upon
and he presented in turn a sketch
of the life of DIR. Hancock. The
doctor was several years younger
than Mr.. White. He commenced
his professional career a S physi-
clan and in his practice secured The
confidence of and endeared himself
to the largest part of the people OF
Pierce county. His cordial manner,
his confidence in his work, his abil-
ity to cheer and help the sick made
him to them a friend and helper
whom they were loath TO lose when
the time came that he determ ined
to accept a position as county clerk
and remove to Ellsworth. Had DR..
Hancock chosen to remain In the
practice of medicine there seems
little doubt that he would have dis
tinguished himself in this profess
sion. He was we'll read, possessed
an instructive insight into human
nature and was skil1ful in the ap-
plication of his knowledge. But he
chose otherwise for reasons that
the reader does not understand. AS
county officer he was popular.
His work was good. He was ap-
pointed to the office of county clerk
to succeed Hon. H. B. Warner, who
had been elected secretary of state,
and served in this position for sew
eral years. In the meantime he had
studied law and was admitted to the
bar. Here he brought the same
characteristics of research, knowl-
edge of human nature and kindness
towards his fellow men. But his
business became too widespread
and he was obliged to practically
abandon his practice of medicine.
A mortal disease coming upon him
he struggled against its insidious
approaches only to Succumb at last,