The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-02-10
PIONEER COURTS AND
LAWYERS OF MANITOWOC CO
Collections and ReCOIeCtiOns
BY J. S. ANDERSON
'FJrsan ct haec oim meminisse juvabit
NUMBER Is
James l.. Kyle.

already said in the general history Of
the bar. Nothing of his ancestry or
birth can be traced The little estate
he left at death was administered by a
creditor on behalf of creditors and
nothing appears to have been known,
even in those early days, of any heirs
or kindred.
All that is left of him is the occa-
sional 'Foot-print on the sands Of
Time" made in his short life of about
six years as a Manitowoc barrister
In lst9 he was a candidate for the
state senate on the Wing ticket bu.
was defeated by Charles Kuchn. the
vote being 1872 to 1872. In the fall Of
1853, the Wings were victorious and
Kyle was elected assemblyman by a
large majority, although the county
gave Barstow, Democratic candidate
for governor over GOO majority
This would seem to indicate that the
personality of Mr.. Kyle was a forceful
one.
Under the Wing administration Of
President Zachcry Taylor and Milard
Fillmore from Dec, 4, lSt9 to April
20, 1852, Mr. Kyle served as postmas-
ter, being succeeded by James Ben
nett who held during the balance of
President Fillmorc's term.
During the years lS53-1S5i he was
district attorney and held that office
at the time of hs death, Nicholas
Wollmcr being appointed to serve the
balance Of his term. 1t will he noticed
that he held at the same time the of
fees of assemblyman and district at
torney. There are several instances of
that kind, in the early period D
As stated he was a victim Of the
great cholera epidemic which prevailed
from 1852 to 1854. lie died on June
| 10, 1854.
E. Holmes Ellis.
While the connection of r. Holmes
Ellis with the pioneer bar of Manito-
voc county is measured by the short
term of a little over four years it has
an Importance beyond the mere fact OF
its duration 1t may be said that he
was connected with the county all his
life, for he vas born in Green Bay
/
Aug, 20, 1926 when the territory OF
Manitowoc county was a part OF
Brown. Ills father Gen. Albert EIIiS
had quite extensive lands and other IN
tereSts in this county at and before the
year 1887, and he also was the United
States surveyor who surveyed the gov
crnment lands comprised in Brown,
Manltowoc ana kewaunee countess on
the eNtinguIShment OF the INDIAN ttles
thereto
r. Holmes EMS, atter the custom oi
the times studied law IN the once oi
Henry , Bard the first lawyer TO set
tie IN the territory OF Wisconsin, ana
was admitted to practice as soon as hc
became OF age winch was IN August
1917. In November ot that year he
came to Mahlto"oc tapidS ana opened
an olhce' lie practIccd here until 1901
or little later lie then returned ia
Green Bay and was Identified with that
CITY ana with the county OF brown al
ms NE lie was mayor OF Green bal
and register OF deeds Tor brown
county lie engaged IN the practice oi
law ana became Judge OF the clrcul'
from 1872 to 1879 Declining hcalu
compelled him to retire from the
bench
Whlle Mr. EMS was located here ne
was very active IN all measures Tor inc
pest interests ol the community. II u
recorded that IN May lal9' meeting
OF teachers and others interested was
held al the kapldS AT "hlch the STATE
superintendent OF Schools EleaEel
Root was present II may be hote'
that Mr. Root was the FIRST incumheni
Of the office a permanent ASSOCIATION
was organized OF "hi'h Mr' hlllS was
secretary
Nhen D. James Eplscopal chur'I
was organized lknown hrSt as NJ
James MlSSlon)' on feb. % l6lS' Mr.
ElllS was one OF the twchty-SeFeh com
municants VINO made up the member