The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-12-09
NUMBER "a

haclne, Wis, Joined the bar moved his
family here and settled down to work
in general practice At the same time
came Isaac II. Parrish from some place
in Michigan, who also was enrolled,
sent for his family, built what was
then somewhat pretentious home for
them and became hard working and
influential membebr of the community.
| have always remembered Judge Par
rish, as he afterwards became, be-
cause l was very chummy with some
of the boys in his neighborhood, and
soon after | entered the profession, l
| purchased the house he then built in
the Second ward and made IL my home
for forty-six years At the same term
Charles Esslinger, one of the leading
pioneer Germans, obtained license to
practice and he and Judge Parrish
formed the law firm of Parrish K Ess-
linger which lasted two or three years.
With the exception of Edward Salo-
mon and Charles Esslinger all these
newcomers were trained lawyers and
had more or less experience in practice
before coming to Manitowoc.
All were married men with families,
excepting l.. T. Warren and George c.
Lee, some of them with grown up
| children. This marked the difference
in conditions from the lawyers of ten
years previous who were all young
men, fresh from their schooling and
recent admission to the bar
l.. T. Warren soon cast off his
bachelorhood by marrying Harriet
Steele, the eldest daughter of Richard
Steele, a pioneer farmer at the Four
Corners, very attractive and hand
some young woman, sister to the late
Mrs. +. S Bedell of the Rapids.
The inflow of lawyers still continued
and at the September term of 1856,
John d, Markham and George Rice,
both from New York state, and John
A. Daniels, made their first appear
ance. | have no recollection of Mr..
Daniels whatever, neither of seeing
him or hearing him referred to in later
years. am inclined to think that he
must have been an attorney who To-
Gated in some other county of the cir
cult and desired to obtain his license,
which, of course was operative
throughout the circuit
j. ID. Markham became identified
with the Manitowoc bar during the
whole of his life thereafter, brought his
wife and built home now occapied
by his lawyer son, Robert Markham
George Rice, also brought his wife
and family, built home on Buffalo
street, being the building later owned
and occupied by Hon. Jos. Villas and
still later owned and occupied by A. ).
Schmitz Esq, He worked up con-
siderable practice, taking an active
part in local matters, and acquired
considerable influence. He was then
in middle life, and had an interesting
family, His two older children were
my classmates in school.
In the following year three more
lawyers appeared and joined up. At
the April term, 1857, there were ad-
mitted Benjamin j. Sweet, who at
once joined with George Rice to form
the firm of Rice & Sweet, attorneys at
law, whose "shingle" remained nailed
on building on York street, long aft
er both of them had left the city.
William NJ. Nichols, former resi-
dent and lawyer of Orange, N. Y, sent
for his wife and small daughter, set
tied down to work for himself and
Manitowoc, especially for himself. He
built good home on the site now oc-
cuped by the residence of Hon. l.. ].
Nash, and practiced law strenuously
for several years.
A little later came the last of the
trio, John II. Bentley, a very able and
accomplished young lawyer, who rent
ed an Office on Eighth street on the
North side, and hung out a modest
sign to inform the people that he was
an attorney at law"
After about two years practice the
firm of Rice & Sweet dissolved, Sweet
going to Chiffon, Calumet county. In
1860 Sweet was elected state senator,
the district then comprising the coun-
ties of Calumet and Manitowoc.
John II. Bentley continued in prac-
tice in Manltowoc some Ave or six
years and then removed to Sheboygan
and continued practice there. After
! the Civil war he formed partnership
{ with the late United States Circuit
, Judge w. IL. Seaman, the firm being
( Bentley & Seaman. Both b. j. Sweet
! and John II. Bentley became men OF
b national reputation though not pre-.
r cisely in the field of law.
Now came an ebb in the tide of legal
( immigration which had been flowing
>. into Manitowoc county. The year 1885
/. shows no accesSionS to the bar. The
: bright prospects of Manitowoc becom
4 ing metropolitan city had faded
70 away to mere shadowy hopes. II,
{ railroad projects on which so mucl
s depended had come to standstill