Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-12-07
BAR PRESENTS PICTURE.
Portrait of Hon. w. C. SiIverthorn to
Be Placed Among Those of
Other Former Circuit Court
judges.

AT meeting of the Marathon
County Bar association held SOME
time ago it was decided to secure &
picture of Hon. W. c. Silverthorn,
have the same enlarged and framed
and presented to the circuit court of
Marathon county. In due time the
enlarged picture was received and
was held until the opening of court
Yesterday morning. The bar associa-
ton selected Atty. G. B. Bird to pre-
sent the same.
Mr.. Bird said that in behalf of the
association he moved that the court
accept the picture, it TO occupy a
place on the wall with other judges
of this circuit, it being the custom to
place such pictures in the court room
| after the judges have left the bench
The judge has been identified with
the countys history for fifty years.
One newspaper 1.-THE PILoT, he said
has of late been running items of
news originally appearing forty and
fifty years ago and hardly a week
passes but what these items do not
contain some mention of Mr.. Silver
thorn. 1t is therefore fitting that
his picture be hung among the others.
NtOSC 1lCAQ otllO Olldb IL gave llAlll
pleasure to accept the portrait, he
concurring in what had been said.
He said he first met the Judge while
he (Mr. Reid was beginning the
practice of law, and that Mr. Silver
thorn had inspired him as being
man to be emulated. That his record
shows that he was factor in building
up this community. He was one of
those prominent in bringing the first
railroad TO WauSau, one of the great
est developing influences in our his
tory. He has always been an example
of the best citizenship, public spirited
and never spared his time in doing
anything for the public good.
Prior to the time Mr.. Silyerthorn
was called to the bench five other
judges had presided and two changes
had been made in the number of the
district and the territory embraced.
Shortly after Wisconsin was admitted
to the union this territory was includ-
ed in the Third judicial court and C.
ii. Larrabee was the first judge, he
going on the bench in 1858. A year
later the territory was split up
and what is now Marathon county
was included in the newly organized
0CNCllUll QlSUllCb Will 0CO. W. OdOC
as judge, he serving from 1854 to 1875
In the latter year G.. L. Park sue
ceeded to the bench and served until
1884, when he in turn was succeeded
by Chas. M. Webb. In 1890 the terri
tory was again cut up and this county
was placed in the Sixteenth judicial
circuit, Chas. V. Bardeen being elect
ed in the spring of 1891 as judge. Mr..
Bardeen served until 1898, when he
was called to the supreme bench, and
Gov. Scofield appointed Mr.. Silver
thorn to fill the vacancy. He con-
tinued to serve until the summer of
1908. In July of that year Mr.. Silver
thorn made up his mind to retire.
When the attorneys of the district
were apprised of his intention they
prevailed upon Atty. A. III. Reid of
Merrill, to say that he would accept
the Office if appointed. A number of
attorneys then visited Gov. Davidson
and informed him of their wishes,
and acting upon Mr.. Silverthorn's
resignation he appointed Mr. Reid to
the bench.