Phillip Barton Warren PHILIP BARTON WARREN, prominent Springfield, Illinois attorney died at his home, 906 South Sixth Street, on February 24, 1926, at the age of 55 years. Philip Barton Warren was born in Springfield, Illinois, October 25, 1870. His grandfather, Major William Barton Warren, settled at Jacksonville in 1835, and had among his friends and contemporaries Lincoln, Douglas, Governors Ford and Yates. Major Warren won military fame in the Mexican war. P. B. Warren's father, Phil Warren, was a prominent farmer of Springfield. P. B. Warren began his education in the Springfield schools, and was graduated from the local high school with the class of 1888. For the next 18 months he studied law in the Illinois State Law library under the direction of Judge E. S. Smith, then assistant attorney general of the state. Mr. Warren also acted as librarian during this period. After another year of study in a law office, Mr. Warren took a course in the Harvard Law school. He was admitted to the bar of Illinois in August, 1892. He immediately began practice in Springfield, and after a year entered the law office of Colonel Bluford Wilson. It was in the office of Colonel Wilson that he first became interested in corporation law, which was chiefly practiced in this office. This practice included the supervision of the legal matters of several railroads, and Mr. Warren's aptitude for this kind of work resulted in 1894 in his being made assistant general solicitor of these companies. In 1895 he formed a partnership with Colonel Wilson, which continued under the firm name of Wilson & Warren until March, 1904, when Henry L. Child, a graduate of the law school of the University of Michigan, was taken into the firm. Colonel Wilson later died, and after Mr. Childs left the firm, Mr. Warren took up the practice alone. At the time of his death, he had in addition to a general practice, the supervision of the legal affairs of the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis, the Litchfield & Madison railways, and the public utilities corporations, gas, electric light, heating and street railway of Springfield. Mr. Warren was an ardent admirer of Abraham Lincoln and was one of the organizers with the late Judge J. Otis Humphrey of the present Lincoln Centennial association. For many years he has been very active in planning celebrations in honor of Lincoln. He was one of the incorporators and moving spirit in organization of the present country club and was its first president. Mr. Warren was also a member of the Sangame club and prime mover in many of the most attractive social events in the capital city. His ready wit, brilliancy of speech and magnetic personality won for him an intense admiration of all who enjoyed close association with him. Besides his wife, Jessie Wilson Warren, Attorney Warren is survived by one daughter, Alice Warren, city; one son, Lieut. P. W. Warren; two sisters, Cordelia Warren and Adel Warren, both of this city. Charles S. White CHARLES S. WHITE, who was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association from 1922 until his death, departed this life on November 12, 1925. Our deceased member was born in Jersey County, Illinois, on December 10, 1868, and was educated in the local country and high schools, from which he was graduated in 1886. For the next few years he was engaged in farming. In 1892 he entered the law office of the late Senator Theodore S. Chapman, and was admitted to the bar May 23, 1895. Immediately upon his admission he entered practice, occupying the same office until the day of his death. Mr. White was elected County Judge of Jersey County in 1902, serving one term only, at the expiration of which he returned to private practice. In 1904 he married Miss Sarah Russell Kulkerson, daughter of Colonel William H. Kulkerson, one of the sterling characters of Jersey County. Judge White was that type of man and lawyer whereon is based the high estimate in which the bar of this state is held. While conversant with the technicalities of the law, he was averse to their use, but sought rather to serve his clients, his community, and his state by the exercise of most excellent judgment and the observance of high ethics. His ability gained for him a most enviable practice in his community, and the respect of all with whom he came in contact. His example as a man who lived Christianity in his every-day activities and associations will be imperishable. He was early associated with the Jersey State Bank, which was founded by his life long friend Senator Chapman, after whose death Judge White became the guiding genius of that Bank, acting successively as its president and chairman of the board. Warren Bryan Wilson WARREN BRYAN WILSON, who died January 15th, 1926, at his residence in Hinsdale was born at Greensburg, Ind., in 1857. He graduated from Indiana University in 1875, and commenced the practice of law in Chicago in 1878. He was a member of Beta society. In 1891 he married Miss Stella Hinckley and they have resided in Hinsdale since that time. Mr. Wilson served for twelve years as a member of the Hinsdale board of education. In this capacity he had much to do with the building programs for the Hinsdale high school, as well as the Hinsdale gymnasium. In these his penetrating vision and excellent judgment in the execution of plans came into full play. He was a great lover of nature and as a member of the Prairie club took many long walks in this vicinity, and was familiar with every forest, glade and stream within the range of a day's walk. In his law practice Mr. Wilson was a lawyer of the type described by Abraham Lincoln as the true lawyer-one who regarded his oath to uphold the laws of the state as transcending all other obligations, and considered no legal victory complete unless crowned by justice. He would not accept retainers or work for clients whose cause he did not believe to be righteous. In his home and social life he was quiet and reserved. He did not seek friends, but those who came to know him well, enjoyed his keen mind, his quiet humor and his kindly friendliness. He was a member of the Union church of Hinsdale and practiced Christianity, as with everything else, in a quiet and unobtrusive way. He was naturally equipped for well directed effort and for a high place in the regard of his friends. He enjoyed life, but relinquished it heroically when the call to do so came. During the world war Mr. Wilson gave freely of his talents in the service of the country. He was a member of the draft board, and spent much time in Wheaton in that capacity. He was a four minute man and made many addresses in the interests of the various war activities. Mr. Wilson is survived by his wife, and two sisters, Misses Ella and Lizzie Wilson. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. W. A. Rowell in the parlors of Union church on Monday, January 18th. The interment was at Bronswood. Wayne Wright WAYNE WRIGHT was born in McLean County, Illinois, October 17, 1884 and died in Carrollton, Illinois, April 15th, 1925. He attended the public schools near his home and later entered Illinois College at Jacksonville, Illinois where he graduated in 1911. Later he took his law course at the George Washington Law School of Washington, D. C., graduating in 1914. He located in Carrollton, January 15th, 1915, and engaged in the practice of law. He formed a partnership with F. A. Whiteside, which continued until 1921, when he opened a law office for himself. During that year he was appointed Clerk for Judge Norman L. Jones, of the Second District Appellate Court and continued in that position until he died. He was City Attorney at Carrollton and enjoyed a remunerative law practice. He was married to Miss Courtney Crouch in Jacksonville, Illinois on December 23rd, 1917. He was a respected member of the Bar and was always courteous and ethical in his conduct not only towards members of the profession, but to the public generally. |