The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-01-16
MEMORY OF DEPARTED
BAR ASSOCIATION HELD
THE EXERCISES
Tribute Was Paid Late Benjamin
Taylor, Miles Porter and
w. B. Davies

Solemn and impressive memorial
services were held by the Blue, Earth
County Bar association at the court
house Saturday afternoon. Judge w.
l.. Comstock presided and tributes to
the members of the association who
have died during the past year paid
by the various members OF, the BAT
appointed to draw up such resolu.
tons Attorney Thomas Hughes read
the memoriam to w. B. Davies, At
torney s. 3. Wilson for Benjamin
Taylor and Attorney John +. Regain
for the late Miles Porter. ,l
Members of the bar spoke in mem
DRY of the departed members and
moved the adoption of the resolu-
tons, which were unanimously pass
ed. 1t was also moved that copies
of the resolutions be sent the rela-
ltives of the deceased ....
The tributes to the departed mem
bers of the association We're as fol-
lows: ...
Memorial to Benjamin Taylor: The
undersigned committee appointed by
Jean A. Flittie, president of the Blue
Earth County Bar association to draft
a memorial to the late Benjamin
Taylor respectfully report:
Benjamin Taylor was born in Min
neapolis, Mimi, December IA. 1871
and died at Mankato. Mimi, Deem
Der /, 1919. He graduated from the
academic department of ouf state
university in 1893 and while there his
record as a student gained him the
distinction of being member of the
Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated from
the law department of the university
in June, 1895, and at once began the
practice of his profession in this city,
where he continued until about two
years ago, when he was compelled to
discontinue the same by an insidious
disease, which after long illness
caused his death.
On June II, 1901 Mr.. Taylor was
united in marriage with Miss Lucy
Pope of this city, a daughter Of the
late General E. M. Pope, who with
two children, Virginia, aged twelve
and Harlan, aged eleven, survive him.
Mr.. Taylor was a man OF broad
views slow to condemn others, and
was charitable toward the shortcom-
| ings OF others. This disposition un-
dcubtedly made it easier for him to
endure the trials of "a long illness.
He was a scholarly man, refined
gentleman keen in his perception and
who was never chargeable with the
blunders of q careless man or the
yacilliations of a weak one. He was
pure and just man, yet free from
| that morbid excess of virtue which
| makes some good men unjust OF their
i, friends. E,a
Mr.. Taylor's personality was uni
que and PECULIARLY distinct. Tall and
! slender in stature, dignified, of a gen
+, ial Temperament and solemn in coun-
Itenance, underlaid with an enormous
supply of wit and humor, he was al
! ways to respond at the shortest call
! He delivered an address to the Min
nesota Bar association at Mankato
at it's annual meeting in 1915 that Is
considered a classic in the legal MS
| tory of the association.
He was POSTMASTER and after
dinner speaker of the most unusual
talent and ability. Few indeed among
Ibis contemporaries were his equal in
this distinction. Mr.. Taylor was not
an eloquent man, as the term is gen
erally understood in relation to jur-
les: but had what is vastly more i'm
/ portant, the power of clear, concise
vigorous statement which illuminat-
ing the subject under discussion con-
vince the understanding. He was an
able lawyer and d citizen of the high
est type, who recognized that the
highest ideals Of any profession OF
calling are based upon the philoso
phy that teaches that home and ram
| lily are the goal of success IN TINS ne
| This man was of unblemiShet
character and his integrity was never
questioned He was a just and up.
fright man. He was patent ane
sympathetic listner; in his dealings
with counsel he was cordial but dig
Unified; conscientious in Investigation
honest and impartial in Judgment ant
of that type of man and friend whicf
demonstrated his fitness for thl:
sphere of action, and that his forced
removal ard death. in the Midst o.
Ibis usefulness can not but be regard.
ed as a severe loss to the bar, the
Judiciary and the state. fei
In view of life like this, crowned
with the success that waits upon alb
solute devotion to duty, how false
the responding exclamation, tina
which is in the days to como
| shall be forgotten" S. b. wilson
John Noe, C. o. DALEY.
! Memorial to Miles .Porter-Mlie:
| Porter was born in Blue Earth coun'
ty, Minnesota, December Z, 1873, ant
attended the common schools. In 1897
he graduated from the Mankato STATE
| Normal school. For several years ne
was engaged in the Hardware busi-
mess in Vernon Center. Minnesota
and he studied law under the Hon
/ Frank Clague. He was married II
1904 to Margaret E. Lowell. He was
1 a member of number OF Fratefna
/ organizations. For five years he sefv-
ed as president of the city council o.
Vernon Center. He held the Office
of City attorney at Mankato. In l9li
he was elected as member OF the
State Legislature for the session o.
!1913. Mr.. Porter was also the orig
iinator of the Northwestern Lawyers
association. He was "a member or Inc
/ Minnesota State Bar association ant
of the Commercial Law league o.
America. In politics he was pro
/ gressive republican.
Mr.. Porter was a man OF excelienl
! character. clean liver, faltn1u