Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 03.pdf/258

The Supreme Court of Illinois.

231

tender age, he obtained for himself what was sketch of him by Robert Fergus it is said: then considered a pretty good education, " Viewed in other phases, we find in him and was admitted to the bar in Illinois in the practical and sagacious business man, 1833. He was the second lawyer to practise capable of originating and directing the in Chicago, and the first to begin a suit in most complex affairs; founding a vast system the Circuit Court there. Practising law, he of telegraphy; engineering water-works; organizing starch-factories, glass-works, cop earned a reputation which secured his ap pointment as a member of the Supreme per-mines, coal-mines, and other enterprises. Court, August 20, 1842.

Excepting from He is also a country gentleman surrounded by his flocks and March to May, 1843, he remained upon the herds; and his ample parks are stocked with Supreme Bench con tinuously a period of deer and elk, whose habits he notes and about twenty-two describes with the years, a little over six trained eye of the years of which time naturalist." He has he was Chief-Justice. His first opinion was published a volume a dissent in Camden of his occasional ad v. McKoy, 3 Scamdresses and essays, mon, 437, a very im entitled "Miscella portant early Com nies." He has trav elled extensively and mercial Paper case. His last opinion was published " A Sum in Livings v. Wiler, mer in Norway," and has on other travels 32 Ill. 387written series of let In Munn v. Burch, ters which have been 25 lll. 35, Judge published in news Caton delivered an in teresting opinion, de papers and periodicals. ciding that the holder In 1888-1 889 a series of a check drawn on of papers written by a bank having funds him appeared in the BENJAMIN R. SHELDON. of the drawer could sue "Chicago Legal the bank on the check. News," on Circuit In Olds v. Cummings, 31 lll. 188, he Court scenes, and the Conference-room of the wrote the opinion holding that the bona fide Supreme Court, and other early history con purchaser of a note for value, before maturity, nected with the profession in Illinois. He though holding the note discharged of de has a home in Chicago and at Ottawa, and is fence against it in the hands of the payee, being granted a long enjoyment of the rich takes the mortgage which secures the note, fruits of his active career. subject to such defences. We shall now pass to a number of men Judge Caton, though not a public speaker, whose terms in the Supreme Court were has been eloquent on those few occasions more or less brief. James Semple, Richard when it was his duty to speak. His pro M. Young, and John M. Robinson (a brother fessional and judicial career, though long of James F. Robinson, Governor of Ken and honorable, is probably only a small part tucky), all deceased, were each by birth Kenof his varied activity. In a biographical tuckians and United States Senators from