The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-10-28
NUMBER I8

tasted black-strap incidentally but
cannot conscientiously recommend it
as a steady beverage.
Kyle must have been immensely
popular in the community for he was
much quoted and as rule what Jim
Kyle said went. | have tried hard to
find out something about Kyle's ante
cedents, but can learn nothing definite.
| have been told that he was a YER
monter, and was related to the Merrill
family, early lumbermen here, but
know nothing definite He was menu
her of assembly in 1854. He fell vic
tim to the cholera epidemic of 1854
His old friends cared for his grave at
Evergreen for many years, but as they
died or removed to other places it be-
came neglected.
Contemporary with Kyle was Ezekiel
Kicker young lawyer from the state
of Maine They must have arrived in
Manitowoc about the same time, which
was first cannot he aScertained. Rick
er arrived in the late fall of 1876. He
took hold of things at once and the
early records show him to have been
worker. He was a man of good edu-
cation, not collegiate, but of good aca-
demic training, and had himself been
teacher in advanced academies in
Maine and Rhode Island. When the
circuit court was organized at the
Rapids, he was appointed the first
clerk of the court and his records of
the early sessions still to be seen at the
court house indicate that he knew his
business.
Kicker was Democratic in politics,
while Kyle was an ardent Henry Clay
Wing and the members of these parties
gathered around them as leaders. In
local matters these affiliations appear
ed to cut little figure and the early
members of the bar divided the county
offices with great impartiality, each
holding one, and sometimes two.
Ezekiel Kicker also fell victim to
the cholera epidemic.
The latest member of the original
four which formed the first bar of
Manitowoc county, was f.. Holmes Ell
lis. He came from Green Bay, where
he had been a student in the office of
Henry S Baird, known as the first law
yer in Wisconsin territory, and was
admitted to practice there. He must
have come to Manitowoc in the fall of
lSi7, as he told me he came to Mani
towoc and located at the Rapids in an
tlcpation of the county having its own
Judicial organization which was not
accomplished until April, ls4S. My
early recollection of him was of slim
youthful appearing man of medium
height, although his rather slender fig
ure made him appear taller than he
really was.
These four persons constituted the
entire legal force of Manitowoc county.
They could hardly be called a Manito-
voc bar, for in the absence of all
courts, all law business, probate work,
criminal administration, entering of
lands, and all suits at law involving
application to "A court of general iurisl
diction, etc, had to be transacted at
Green Bay, county seat of Brown
county of which bar they were mem
bers. 1t was not an infrequent Incl
dent that these lawyers, mounted an
Indian pony and with few papers in
their saddle bags, took to the Military
Road" as the Green Bay road was then
called for The long ride to the legal
center at the bay. Sometimes the pony
was lacking, and then a pack was made
up, strapped on their backs and with a
stout stick and a stouter heart they
footed the long trail through the un-
broken forest to their destination.
An appearance in court involved at
least three days time. In these rail
way and automobile days we leave
Manitowoc after breakfast, transact
business in court, and are home for
supper \
TO be continuedl