The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-05-12
Oil Painting Of Pioneer Jurist is Pre-
scented to Iowa Supreme Court
by w. w. Baldwin Of Bur
Ington.
HAD BRILLIANT CAREER
JUDGE Hall Was Prominent in tho
Early Pioneer Days in This
Section Of the
State.

DIES MONIES, Ia, May Ian Oh
painting of a former supreme cour'
Justice and pioneer OF Iowa, nameiy
Jonathan Chaplin Hall, has been pre-
scented to the state supreme court
w w. Baldwin, Of Burlington, 1oi
wears one of the famous lawyers OF
Iowa and former partner OF Judge
Hall was commissioned to make the
presentation address.
The presentation address was de
liyered in the state supreme court
chambers at theg state house IN the
presence of the bench ana many
prominent men OF Iowa. JUICY
Weaver presided and Judge Ben Sal
linger gave the address OF thanks Oh
behalf of the supreme court
Judge Hall, in whose memory tne
painting and ceremony were offered
was a member of the state supreme
court in 1851 He was also mem
her of the two constitutional conven
tions of 1874 and 1857, deliberatlVe
bodies which framed Iowa's constltu
tion. He was known as one or the
most successful trial lawyers in Iowa
He was a big man physically, ana
stood out in any gathering OF early
pioneers. t.,
He was born in Batavia, N. T., IN
1908. He first established himself
as a lawyer in Mount Vernon, ONO
and later located in Burlington, IN
1899. shortly after Lincoln began his
career in Springfield. This according
to Mr.. Baldwin.
while Abe Lincoln was riding
horseback, with saddlebags across
his saddle, going from court house 10
court house, following the judges
across the prairies as they made
their circuits, Hall was doing ike
wise in Iowa." said Mr.. Baldwin
During his first year in Iowa, he
attended court in eleven dltferenl
counties. He attended ire lirs'
courts ever held in Linn. Cedar
Johnson, Keokuk, MahasSa, Wapello
Monroe and Davis counties.
.tOuick to catch the vital issues
and with rare faculty for statlns
them. Hall was a great fofce-a
power in action before a jury. Judge
Charles Mason, the first federal ]uo &c
in Iowa, said that Hall, when aroused,
seemed like great locomotive thai
nothing could resist.
"His mind was of the rugged type
Of John Marshal, Lemuel Shaw ana
Samuel F. Miller. He was the co1
Temporary of Grimes, klrk"ooa
Wright, Dillon and Miller, and asso
ciate at the bar nf Burlington OF
starr. Browning, Rorer and mason
In notifies he was democrat or the
most pronounced orthodox type. he
had little interest in money making
and was public spirited.
eye was appointed to the supreme
court to fill the vacancy caused ps
+he RESIGNATION of Judge Kinney. IN
eneskine of banks at one time,
Judge Hall said, "a bank of earth Is
The best bank and the best share d
ploughshare. - -,
rudge Halls life I was in partner
chin with him and his gifted son
Renton J. Hall, engaged IN active
nractice in Burlington. Judge Hal
died a comparatively young man, anc
to me it has always been great re
eret that he did not longer continue
The exercise of his splendid powers
Rut history will record that among
the men of mark IN Iowa, is written
large the name of Jonathan 'Chaplr
Hall"
Judge Sallinger made fitting ad
dress in accepting the portrait OF the
former supreme court Jur1st he
paid tribute to Judge Halls memory
integrity and ability. The portrait
will occupy a place Of honor adjacent
to paintings of other 1owans who
wrote much of the states early his
tory by their deeds and words