Hovvk, who was seeking a re-election. In recent years he became Dean of the Law School of De Pauw (formerly Asbury) Uni versity, but retired in 1890. On the bench he was a very industrious man. His opinions are long, but not com pact nor forcibly written, nor written with that exactness of expression that should at all times characterize judicial opinions. Re cently he was elected judge of the seventh judicial circuit. Samuel H. Buskirk. Judge Buskirk was born at New Albany, Ind., Jan. 19, 1820. When he was quite young, his father moved to Bloomington, Ind., where young Buskirk graduated from the State University Law School, and en tered the practice of the law, being an un successful candidate for the office of prose cuting attorney in 1843. In 1848, 1849, 1850, 1851, 1852, and 1854 he served in the State legislature. He was an elector on the Democratic ticket of 1856. In 1863 he was Speaker of the State House of Repre sentatives, and in 1865 was again a member of that body, but failed to get a third term, although nominated by his party. In 1871 he took his seat on the Supreme Court bench, but was forced to decline a renomination in 1876, because of the onslaught made on the members of the court in the use of the public funds in furnishing the court chambers. While on the bench he prepared his work on Practice in the Su preme Court, which for many years was a vade mecum for Indiana lawyers. Although out of date and inapplicable to many ques tions of practice under the revision of 188 1, it is still a very useful work. His opinions are very long and laborious, and show mar vellous research. At times they are mines of information, exhausting the subject, and are, in fact, treatises on the questions dis cussed. While this is true, they are not always wanting in vigor of thought, but display strong powers of originality. He was a fine public speaker, being regarded as
one of the strongest men in that way in his party. He died April 3, 1879. One of his ablest opinions was delivered in Cory v. Car ter, 48 Ind. 327, upholding the law providing separate public schools for colored children. ,
Andrew L. Osborn. When the court was increased to five mem bers, Judge Osborn was appointed by Gover nor Baker in December, 1872, to fill the vacancy thus occasioned, but was defeated at the polls in 1874 by Horace P. Biddle. He was born May 27, 1815, in New Haven County, Conn., and at the age of twenty moved to Chicago, Ill., and engaged in the printer's trade. He was a Whig, and after wards a Republican. In 1836 he moved to Michigan City, Ind., and engaged in the practice of the law. In 1844 he moved to Laporte, where he continued to reside until his death early in 1891. In 1844 and 1845 he was elected to the House of Representa tives of the State, and in 1846 to the State Senate. In 1857 he was elected judge of the ninth judicial circuit for six years. Upon retiring from the bench in 1875 he re-entered the practice, and was employed by the Mich igan Central Railroad Company as their Gen eral Attorney, holding the position until the day of his death. His opinions are good ex amples of a judge of fair ability. Horace P. Biddle. The subject of this sketch was born March 24, 18 1 2, twenty miles below Lancaster, Ohio, and is still living at his " Island Home " at Logansport, Ind. He was the ninth and youngest child. His father dying when Horace was seventeen, his education was limited; but he was a voracious reader, which supplied many defects in his educa tion. He did not begin reading law until he was twenty-four years of age, and was not admitted to the bar until three years afterwards. In October, 1839, ne went to the place of his present residence, and be gan the practice of the law, and grew into favor rapidly. In 1844 he was nominated
