The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-07-09
I, ~ q st4 II.
Wallace ingalls, Recalls History Of
the First Judicial Circuit in
EuIogy Of Judge Fish
MANY FAMo US MENaASjUDeE
First District Has Stood High Among
/. the Judicial Districts of the
| n, State During the Last Y 4. Z
! 800 Half a Century

1
| The following paper, read by Attor-
4ey Wallace ingalls, of Racine at the
recent memorial service held by the
Walworth County Bar for the late
Judge. Fish, is valuable in a historical
| way, and has been warmly praised by
the friends Of Mr.. Ingalls, in this coun-
| ty. Mr. ingalls,, said: u !.
| 1 "On this occasion it may not be
Inappropriate to briefly refer to some
| Of the distinguished members of the
Judiciary who have occupied the bench
Of this circuit since the birth of our
state ass 1i
T'The first among its eminent judges
| was the Hon. Wyman Spooner, who
served as the first judge of the First
Judicial Circuit Of Wisconsin until
1858. r. Z
"He was succeeded by Hon James
R. Doolittle of Racine. He continued
upon the bench until the year 1856, and.
/ Of all the judges who ever occupied
the bench of this circuit, Judge Doolit,
tie was the most widely known.
| ! "For nearly a half century and until
| his death he enjoyed not only state
| but a national reputation. He resign
ed from the bench on being elected to
the United States senate sip, the year
1856, and served in that distinguished
body for. two successive terms.
"He was a close friend and advisor
| of President Lincoln, and as a mark
| of distinction and confidence was sent
| by the president to the Russian empire
commissioned to transact business with
the Russian government of the highest
Importance apda extremely delicater.in
it's nature. This journey of Mr.. Doc
little into the far orient had much to
do with the friendship and loyalty
which that great empire manifested
toward the: Union, cause during. the civil
war For Russia was our friend in an
hour when the world looked on with
.feveldsh dquht and hesitation, wonder
ing whetheftna republic could long en-
dure upon TINS garth. s,
IL GAS. to- how Emuch this mission of
MR. Doolfttl6I anfbs thetadyalty of Russ
sia had to do with controlling the
ldestinysof thes5p nio1t cause no one will
ever know. s.
7 However, all will remember that in
the very midst of the, most DESPERATE
conflict among a civilized people which
the sun had ever beheld. and when the
outcome was known only to the God of
battles, and while the sullen British
sea dogs lay off the Bermuda Islands,
proWlihg- back and forth Watching the
tide. Of affairs, tie Russian battle{ships
of that loyal old empire lay within call
off New York harbor
/ ,I!tJudge Doolittle would have been
returned to the senate for a third time
had he not become estranged from his
party in this state, but this fact, though
eventful in his careers in nqcwise diminz
ished theI'high regard ino which he was
at all times held by the people who best
knew him for what he was. ri
1T was often said of him that he
was the fpleasantest. speaker in the
United States senate In his 4palmy
days his power ,as an 'oratorWas seldom
equalled He possessed wonderful
voice, with great dramatic force, and
his speeches while, in and put of the
senate daring the ciEH war in support
4 of the cause Jgof the Union. were i'm
measurably effective. d
"He was an honor to the oench of
this circuit, to the state and the nation
and died in the rich heritage of having
done what he thought to- be right.
\ i" He was succeeded upon the bench
of this circuit by the Hon. Charles
!, Minton- Baker in the year 1857. Judge
Il Baker was "a resident Of Lake Geneva
widely known and highly respected
who served with distinction and credit
"Next in line came the Hon. J. M.
Keep, who occupied the bench from
1857 to 1859; He was a model, pains.
taking, lawyer-like judge. (
Following his service upon the
bench came eDavid Noggle, who served
as circuit Judge from 1859 to 1865
Next came VIM. Penn Lyon, who
was elected to the circuit bench while
still soldier in the Union army and
prior to being mustered out.
"Judge Lyon served with espeeia
distinction upon the bench from 1856;
to 1871. He now resides in Los Ange
les, Cal. It may be said of him tina
, while he occupied many position o:
: trust and honor in this state and upol
the battlefield, he was a brilliant sue
cess in them ALL He served one tern
in the assembly at Madison, being
. elected Speaker In that body and it i
!. tradition 2a$ Madison that there neve
! was an ADLER presiding officer in tina
+ body than Judge Iyon.
J cat the Conclusion Of his servic
: upon the circuit bench in this circui
: he was selected as a, member Of tn
/ Supreme Court of this state, and in dl1
n time and for many years was it's chic
Z justice, declining a reelection SOM
I years ago, and Judge Lyon s record i