The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-12-23
PIONEER COURTS AND
LAWYERS OF MANlTOWOC co.
Collections and ReCOlIeCtiOns
BY j. S. ANDERSON
'FJrsan thaec olim meminiose juvabit'
NUMBER
Judge David TAYLOR

successor.
David Taylor was born at Carlisle,
Schoharie county, New York, on
March IL, 1918. He was one of the
products of the great American melt
ing pot for his fathers ancestry was
Irish, while his mother was descend
ant of the Dutch immigration along
the Hudson river. His early education
was had in local public and private
schools. This was followed by his
graduation at Union college in 1871.
He then studied law in the offices of
local lawyers, and was admitted to the
bar at CobleSkill, n. y, and practiced
there for about two years when he
came West. He visited several local.
ties including Milwaukee and Green
Bay but decided to locate at Sheboy-
gan and in July 1916, formed a part
nerShip with a lawyer named Cyrus Z.
Hitler which lasted until he was called
to the circuit bench. Judge Taylor was
a man fully six feet tall with well
proportioned physique, indicating a ro-
bust constitution. lie had horid com
plcNion, reddish or sandy hair, a good
example of the type known as the Red
Irish"
lie developed great strength as
lawyer. He was well equipped both in
general scholarship and law learning
and his exceeding energy, and a tire
less industry which became proverbial
made him strong man at the bar. The
firm of Taylor & Hitler became known
over large section of the state, espc-
cially in the Lake Shore region, and it
had a very large practice; the court
work being chiefly conducted by Judge
Taylor His appearances at the Mani
towoc courts were frequent, for it must
be remembered that the old fashion of
travelling the circuit" was still in
vogue.
Although busy and hardworking at
his profession, he paid considerable at
tention to politics. lie was an ardent
Wing while that organization existed
and when the Republican party was
organized, an equally ardent support
er Of that party He was looked to as
a leader in political movements during
that stirring period extending from the
Mexican war to the elect on Of Lin
coin. lie represented SheGoygUn in
the Assembly in 1858, was state scna-
tor in lS5G-57 and again in lsG9-7O.
He brought to his legislative work The
same energy and industry he eXerted
in his law efforts, and was universally
recognized as a leader in legislation.
Perhaps the first notable thiug for
which the people of Wisconsin are in.
debtcd to Judge Taylor was the sue
cessful effort to induce the legislature
of 1856 to enact the law adopting the
New York Code of Procedure, aud
changing the common law in that re-
spcct. / became well aware of Judge
Iaylor's tircless efforts to pass that
! bill through the senate, from my faith
er-in-law the late Judge Joseph T..
! Mills of Grant county who was ut the
same time a member of assembly and
had charge of the measure in that
house while Judge Taylor looked after
il in The senate. The New England
lawyers, of Massachusetts, Vermont
and contiguous states, trained in and
devoted to the common Law forms of
pleading were almost solidly opposed
to the measure in both houses, but
they were strongest in the senate.
1t happened that Judge Mills had
been a studcrl in Kentucky when that
state had adopted its code being the
first state to so so) and could bear tes-
timony TO the necessity and value of
the reforrm lie and Judge Taylor
worked together. The bill passed the
house in good shape, the -ena,e by a
small margin Hos approved by the
governor Oct. ., and was published IN
supplement Jan, 9 following, thus be
coming a law. Judge Mills in many
conversations spoke of the untiring ef-
forts of Judge Taylor to win support
for the measure and his patience,
skin and industry in drafting amend
ments and changes to avoid the objcc-
tions and win the support of the com
mon law advocates.
When Judge Gorsline resigned Judge
Taylor was appointed by the governor
to fill the vacancy until an election
could be held, then elected to fill the
unexpired term, aud was then elected
for a complete full term, SO that he pre-
sided over the Fourth judicial Circuit
until Jan l. 1869, At the previous
fall election he had been candidate
but was defeated by Campbell Nc
Lean of Fond du Lac. Political con-
siderations had a good deal to do with
bringing about this result Judges
Gorsline and Taylor both had been
Wings and later Republicans. Both
had been residents of Sheboygan
county and II was urged that Il was
time for a change both politically and