for the term that expired in 1884. He was again elected in 1883, for another term of ten years — the Constitution meanwhile hav ing been amended to extend the term from six to ten years. He served out his full term, which expired January i, 1894, and although no opposition to his re-election was heard from any quarter he retired from judicial service, declining to be considered candidate for a further term. Upon the re tirement of Chief-Justice Cole in 1892, he became, by reason of seniority of service, the chief justice of the court, and so served until his own retirement. His work on the bench of the Supreme Court is embraced within sixty volumes — beginning with the twenty-seventh and closing with the eightysixth of the Court Reports. It is said to be " unsafe to praise the liv ing," but it is but stating a truth to say that no man ever stood higher than Judge Lyon for all the qualities and the equipoise of qualities that constitute the just judge. Confidence in his integrity is universal. His mind is happily constituted to see the right of the case. Calm, patient, unbiased, he brought to investigation that sincere desire to be right that opens the mind to perceive justice. His professional labors covered a period of forty-eight years. He was judge twenty-eight years, and twenty-three years on the bench of the Supreme Court. His style is remarkable for its simple directness, lucidity and freedom from ornament. His invariable practice was to write a statement of the case out of which the points arose; and this gives his opinions a special value for case study. He still resides at Madison, in perfect health, preserved by regularity of life and physical exercise. He spends part of his winters with his children in Califor nia; and all the promises are that the late afternoon of his life will be as serene and full of cheer, as the long day has been full of usefulness and honor. EDWARD GEORGE RYAN was born in the
village of Enfield, County Meath, Ireland, November 13, 1810. On the maternal side he was grandson of John Keogh, of Mount Jerome, the chairman of the famous Cath olic Committee, whose services to the Cath olics of Ireland endeared and immortalized his name. Keogh's efforts were untiring to secure the emancipation of Catholics in Ireland; and Grattan said that he did more than any other individual for that body. In his own words, the chairman " devoted near thirty years of his life for the purpose of breaking the chains of his countrymen." From him doubtless the grandson inherited the lofty independence of character and eminent talents, which gave him such unique distinction. When Ryan was born, his father was prosperous; but between the peace of 1815 and the passage of the corn laws he was ruined, as he owed money on his estate. Grandfather Keogh left an annuity for the education of his grandchildren, and Ryan received his at Glengowes, Wood College, where he remained for seven years. He was destined for the law, but he says he was " nominally engaged " in its study in 1828 and 1829, but was " an expensive and improvident youth and a great burden to his father." He came to the United States in 1830, having the prevalent idea that anyone could get on in this country. He studied law in New York, supporting himself meanwhile in teaching, too proud to let his father know of his straitened circumstances. On his admission to the bar in 1836 he came to Chicago. There he suffered much from mi asmatic disease. In 1839, he edited the " Chi cago Tribune," which was the Democratic paper, designed to reach the intellectual classes. He wrote long and able editorials in a forcible and elegant style, but they were too elevated in tone, and too philosophical to be appreciated by the masses in the rough-and-tumble of political controversy in the West in those days. In 1840 and
