Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-08-18


eight counties. Later he was appoint
ed United States commissioner OF the
] western district of Arkansas, compris-
| ing the western part of Arkansas and
all of Indian Territory He served as
assistant United Staten district attor-
ney of the United States ana
district courts. in addition to the du-
| ties of his other Offices. until Jan. l,
1867. when he was commissioned cir
cult Judge of the Ninth judicial circuit,
| by the provisional governor, with the
approval of the United States military
authorities. He served under this
commission until July %, 1868, when
Governor Clayton. with the approval OF
the state senate. commissioned him as
Judge of that same circuit. He served
under this commission until Feb. 10,
1871, when he was appointed with the
approval of the senate and the associ-
ate justices, to the bench of the su-
preme court of Arkansas.
After two years he was reelected to
the bench, for a term of eight years,
but the term was cut short by the adop-
ton of a new constitution.
Founded State University.
He was a member of the Arkansas
state board of education for several
years. and of the board of trustees OF
the state university, which he helped
to found. and of which he drafted the
scheme of government and instruction,
in all departments. He was men,
Der of the executive and the building
committee of the board of trustees Of
the university.
In 1875 he returned to Illinois, To-
eating at Pana. He practiced law in
Chicago for a few years, taking part
N a number of notable cases, at one
time having as his opposing counsel
A. B. Cummins. now governor of Iowa.
He also practiced law for time in
st. Louis. In 1876 he took an active
part in the campaign, and filled nearly
all of the engagements of Senator
John A. Logan, who was ill.
After practicing law for al time in
st. Louis, he spent three years in
travel, and in 1887 returned to his old
home. Rock Island county. and pur-
chased the General Rodman home.
where he resided until his death. He
also purchased the farm in Yuma town
ship. where he was brought up. After
coming to Rock Island he practically
retired from active life.
He was at one time president of the
old settlers association, was colonel
Of the L. V. T.. and a member of John
Buford post, G.. A. r.
The Surviving Family.
He was married April 1. 1868. at
Springfield. his wife being Miss Kate
Pierce OF the six children born to
the couple. two survive. Hon. Charles
J. Searle. and Miss Blanche Searle. at
home. He is also survived by three
brothers and four sisters. They are:
Alvah p. Searle, Atlantic. Iowa: Clark
\. Searle. Sac county, Iowa, and Sher- |
nan w. Searle of Davenport; Mrs |
Pauline Smith of Berkeley, Cal; Mrs. !
Melcina Yoltan of Port Byron; Miss |
Mary Searle of Sac county. Iowa. and |
Mrs. Clarissa Hubbart of Champaign, |
IL.
Colonel Searle was a man who, de- |
pite his active and remarkable career |
is jurist and soldier, lived the simple |
life. The closing years were spent in |
retirement, where he en-
Dyed the companionship of books and |
he love of his family and near friends |
lie was possessed of a wonderfully re-
entive memory, was student of the |
ines. and withal a living encyclope-
liza of information. He knew every |
ounty and state in the union: its pop
lation and resources. He was an au-
hority on social and political ques-
ions, and those who knew him profit
ID by his acquaintance and friendship
KrOpp.
Miss Lydia Kropp. aged 20, died this
morning. at the home of her mother.
1rs. Ann kropp, 427 Fifth avenue. Mo-
me. After graduating from the Mo
me high school in 1904. Miss Kropp en-