BRUCE H. GARRETT. One of the members of the Rockford bar
is Bruce H. Garrett, who has been in active practice for more than
fifteen years, and controls a large clientage in general practice, but
particularly in corporation law.
624 COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS
Bruce Hayes Garrett was born in Winnebago County, Illinois,
November i, 1865, and was educated in the public schools, and
through private schools and private tutors. He studied law with
A. D. Early and was admitted to the bar in 1887. In the year 1900
Mr. Garrett began a general practice at Rockford, and during much
of the subsequent time has paid special attention to corporation,
probate and chancery affairs. Mr. Garrett is a member of the
Illinois State Bar Association and the Winnebago County Bar Asso-
ciation, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and has taken thirty-
two degrees in the Scottish Rite and belongs to the Mystic Shrine,
and is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks and the Hamilton Club of Chicago.
EDWIN M. ASHCRAFT. For more than forty years the name
Ashcraft has been identified with the Illinois bar, and Edwin M.
Ashcraft has practiced at Chicago since 1887. About fifteen years
ago his mature experience was combined with the energy and youth
of his son, and the firm of Ashcraft & Ashcraft is one of recognized
prominence and success at the Chicago bar.
Edwin M. Ashcraft, the senior member of this firm, and for
twenty-seven years a member of the Chicago bar, was born on a
farm near Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia (then
Virginia) August 27, 1848. The family homestead was in the
vicinity of some of the early campaigns during the Civil war, in
which struggle several of the family took part. His parents were
James M. and Clarissa (Swiger) Ashcraft, and he was the oldest
of their two sons and two daughters. After attending the public
schools of his native locality and Wheeling University, he studied
at the State University at Normal, Illinois, and while teaching school
during 1867, 1868 and 1869, devoted his leisure time to the study of
law, having early decided upon a professional career. Mr. Ashcraft
successfully passed his examination before the Supreme Court of
Illinois, sitting at Springfield, and, admitted to the bar, engaged at
once in practice at Vandalia, Fayette County. His ability attracted
such favorable notice that before the end of the year he was elected
prosecuting attorney of the county, and continued to serve three
years. In 1876 Mr. Ashcraft was made the candidate of the repub-
lican party for Congress from the sixteenth district, and although
defeated at the polls reduced the normal democratic majority from
5,000 to 1,400, his opponent being W. A. J. Sparks, who served as
land commissioner under President Cleveland.
Removing to Chicago in April, 1887, Mr. Ashcraft associated
himself with Thomas and Josiah Cratty, under the firm name of
Cratty Brothers & Ashcraft, an association which continued until
June i, 1891, when Mr. Ashcraft withdrew to become a member of
the firm of Ashcraft & Gordon. In 1900, with his sons, Raymond
M. and Edwin M. Jr., he formed the strong combination of Ash-
craft & Ashcraft, which has continued in existence to the present
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS 625
time and has a large general practice. It is generally accepted that
as a trial lawyer Mr. Ashcraft has few superiors in the state, and
during the long period of his practice in Chicago he has been
identified in one or another capacity with some of the most notable
cases tried in the Illinois courts. For years he has been a member of
the Illinois State Bar Association, and the regard in which he is held
by his fellow lawyers was shown by his election as president of the
Chicago Bar Association. Mr. Ashcraft married, March 16, 1875,
Miss Florence R. Moore, daughter of Risden Moore, of Belleville,
Illinois. Their children are : Raymond M., Edwin M. Jr., Florence
V. and Alan E. Mr. Ashcraft is not a confessed member of any
religious body, but has been generous in his support of religious and
charitable projects. His social connections are with the Union
League, Hamilton and Calumet Country Clubs.
RAYMOND MOORE ASHCRAFT was born at Vandalia, Fayette
County, Illinois, January 9, 1876, commenced his education in the
primary schools in 1884, and after coming to Chicago in 1887
attended the city public schools until 1892. Following this he
was a student in the Chicago Manual Training School, from which
he graduated in 1894, and in the latter year entered Northwestern
University, where he was graduated in 1897 with the degree
Bachelor of Laws. In the following year he took a post-grad-
uate course at Lake Forest University, and from that institution
received a like degree. From 1894 until 1900, Mr. Ashcraft was
employed by the firm of Ashcraft & Gordon, and in the meantime, in
1897, was admitted to the bar, becoming associated with his father
in the firm of Ashcraft & Ashcraft in 1900. Their offices are located
in The Temple. Mr. Ashcraft has steadily advanced in the ranks
of his profession, and is now recognized as a lawyer of thorough
learning and talent. Like his father, he is a stanch republican, and
holds membership in the Chicago, Illinois State, and American Bar
Associations, being also connected with the Delta Chi college
fraternity, the Chikaming Country Club and the Lakeside Golf Club.
His residence is at 6127 Kimbark Avenue.
Mr. Ashcraft was married August 3, 1901, to Miss Charleta
Peck, daughter of Charles Peck, one of the founders of^the Academy
of Design and a well-known artist of early Chicago. Two children
have been born to this union : Charleta Jane, born December 8,
1906; and Florence Elizabeth, born March 6, 1911. Mr. and Mrs.
Ashcraft are members of the Presbyterian Church.
CHARLES WESLEY FLACK. A foremost member of the Macomb
bar and equally prominent in other lines of useful endeavor, Charles
W T esley Flack, the senior member of the law firm of Flack & Lawyer,
at Macomb, and president of the First Trust and Savings Bank of
this city, is one of the best known men of McDonough County.
While the law claims most of his attention, the educational and
626 COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS
lecture field, after many years of success as a teacher, is yet attrac-
tive, and his versatility is further demonstrated by his substantial
standing as a financier.
Charles W. Flack was born in Fremont County, Iowa, June 2,
1865, a son of John W. and Louisa (Osborn) Flack. The paternal
ancestors came from Germany. John W. Flack was born in Mc-
Donough County, Illinois, December 30, 1840. For a number of
years he has been a leading citizen of Industry, McDonough County,
where he has served as a justice of the peace and on the village
board, and at present is town clerk. Mrs. Flack was born in Mc-
Donough County, Illinois, April 13, 1842. In the public schools of
Industry Charles W. Flack secured his early educational training.
Later he came to Macomb, and here was a student in the Normal
School and subsequently attended the Normal College at Valparaiso,
Indiana, after which, for almost a decade, he devoted himself to
educational work. From 1887 until 1889 he was principal of the
Carman School in Henderson County, Illinois, and from 1889 until
1891, of the Biggsville School in the same county, and during 1892
was principal of the Fourth Ward School at Macomb. During 1891
he was president of the Henderson County Teachers' Association,
his interest in educational work so continuing that on May 21, 1913,
he was appointed by Governor Dunne one of the trustees of the
Western Illinois State Normal School, and is now president of the
board.
Mr. Flack was admitted to the Illinois bar at Mt. Vernon August
23, 1893. From 1896 until 1898 he officiated as master in chancery
of the Circuit Court of McDonough County. His political identifi-
cation has always been with the democratic party, and in 1889 he
was made chairman of the Democratic County Central .Committee.
In 1897 his personal popularity was shown when he was elected
city attorney of Macomb by a majority of fifty-three votes when the
city was republican by 400 majority. He has been very active in
advancing every interest of the city, and has frequently been called
upon to accept offices of civic importance, the public reposing great
confidence in his attainments and in his public spirit. In 1886 he
was made president of the Macomb Library Board and served until
1899, and in July, 1905, was appointed to the same position, in
which he served continuously until the spring of 1914, when he
resigned on account of his many other pressing interests. In April,
1910, he opened the First Trust & Savings Bank at Macornb, and
has been its president from the start, his name being a guarantee of
the stability of the institution, which is in a very prosperous condi-
tion.
Mr. Flack was married August 17, 1887, to Miss Ura M. Kee,
of Industry, Illinois, and they have two children, Vera B. and
Charles E. The daughter was born December 29, 1889, and makes
her home with her parents at Macomb. Carefully and liberally
educated, after graduating from the Macomb High School she com-
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS 627
pleted the full course at the Western Illinois State Normal School
and Northwestern University and is now an instructor in a high
school, teaching German and Latin. The son, Charles E. Flack, was
born March 29, 1892, and after completing the academic department
of the Western Illinois State Normal School entered the North-
western University in the fall of 1910, and the Northwestern Uni-
versity Law School in 1913, where he is now continuing his studies.
The family belongs to the Christian Church. They reside at No. 512
South Randolph Street, Macomb.
Mr. Flack is very prominent in Masonic circles, belonging to
Mohammed Shrine, Peoria Temple and the Consistory at Ouincy,
having reached the thirty-second degree. Locally he is affiliated
with Macomb Lodge, No. 17, A. F. & A. M. ; Morse Chapter, No.
19; and Macomb Commandery, No. 61, and during 1901 and 1902
was worshipful master of Macomb Lodge No. 17. He is a member
of the State and County Bar associations. His law office is main-
tained on the West Side Square, Macomb, and he has one of the
largest and best law libraries in this part of the state.
DONALD L. MORRILL. For more than a quarter of a century
Donald L. Morrill has been successfully engaged in the practice of
law in the City of Chicago. He has gained a prominent position in
the ranks of his profession as a result of his diligent attention to its
demands during that period.
The greater part of Mr. Merrill's life and all his professional
career thus far has been spent in Chicago. He comes of an old and
honored colonial family of the State of Maine, and was born at
Auburn, in that state, in the early years of the Civil war. His
parents, Nahum and Anna I. (Littlefield) Morrill, were both of
English ancestry, and their respective families were established in
the Pine Tree State in the early colonial period. His father, Judge
Morrill of Auburn, Maine, is still living at the age of ninety-four
years and is the Nestor of the Maine bar. During his active pro-
fessional career of over fifty years, his prominence and influence
at the bar and in public affairs has been widely recognized through-
out the entire state. The mother of Mr. Morrill died in 1896. His
elder and only brother is one of the leaders of the Maine bar.
Donald Littlefield Morrill attended the schools of his native
community, and when barely sixteen years of age entered Brown
University from which institution he has received both the Bachelor's
and Master's degrees. Soon after his graduation Mr. Morrill came
to Illinois and devoted several years to effective work as principal
of the high school at Moline, Illinois, and later as principal of one of
the grammar schools of Chicago. He commenced the practice of
law in Chicago in 1887, where he has been engaged ever since in the
active, continuous practice of that profession. He has enjoyed a
substantial and representative clientage and gives especial attention
to corporation law and chancery practice. His offices are in the
628 COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS
Chicago Title and Trust Building and his residence is at 421 Barry
Avenue.
A man of high civic ideals, Mr. Morrill has always done his
part in furthering the interests of the community. He served with
efficiency and distinction as a member of the board of education and
later he was attorney for that body for eight consecutive years. In
1909 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the office of judge of
the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Mr. Morrill is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the
Illinois State Bar Association and the American Bar Association,
also of the board of managers of the Chicago Law Institute. He is
president of the Associated Alumni of Brown University and a
member of the University Club, the Law Club, the Edgewater Golf
Club, and the Sons of the Revolution.
He is the author of the following published works, "Federal
and State Government," being an elementary text book in civics ; "A
Students Manual of the Constitution of Illinois"; "Illinois School
Law Annotated"; a treatise on "The Law of Persons, including
Domestic Relations" and sundry pamphlets on historical, legal and
political subjects.
On October 17, 1892, Mr. Morrill was married to Miss Edith N.
Storey, of Detroit, Michigan. They have one son, Nahum, who
was graduated with high honors from Brown University with the
class of 1914, receiving both the Bachelor's and the Master's degrees
upon his graduation, and who is now a student at the Harvard Law
School.
JUDGE JOHN D. BRECKENRIDGE. Many successful lawyers have
entered the profession comparatively late in life, after varied
experience in other affairs, and it is a well recognized fact that those
who take up legal studies with matured character and experience
often attain front positions in the profession. An illustration of
this fact is the career of Judge John D. Breckenridge of Fulton
County, who in his early life was a farmer, a carpenter, a merchant,
and only during his service as circuit clerk of Fulton County began
the study of law.
John D. Breckenridge was born in a log cabin on a farm in
Waterford Township in Fulton County, Illinois, April 12, 1859, a
son of John W. and Adaline (Preyir) Breckenridge, Jr. The
Breckenridge ancestors were from Scotland, and the family .is said
to have been founded by five brothers who emigrated to this country,
some of them settling in Canada. John W. Breckenridge, Sr., the
grandfather, was a cousin of the noted John C. Breckenridge of
Kentucky, who in 1860 was a candidate of one branch of the
democratic party for the office of president. John W. Breckenridge,
Jr., came to Illinois in 1837, settled in Will County, and moved to
Fulton County in 1845. During the Civil war he served as a member
of Company B in the Eighty-fifth Illinois Infantry.
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS 629
Judge Breckenridge acquired his preliminary education in the
district schools near the home farm, and all his early life was spent
in the wholesome environment of a farm and hard work. He
divided his time for several years between farming and the carpen-
ter's trade, and on reaching his majority turned his attention to mer-
cantile lines. In 1 880-81 he conducted a store at Sepo in Fulton
County, and from 1882 to 1884 was a merchant at Bybee. He also
served as postmaster at both places. Mr. Breckenridge in 1884
became clerk in a retail store at Lewistown, and four years later
went on the road selling goods for a wholesale grocery house of
Peoria. His experience as a traveling salesman continued until
1892. In that year, having maintained his citizenship in Fulton
County, where he had a large acquaintance and enjoyed the thor-
ough confidence of the people, he was elected to the office of circuit
clerk. The duties of the office necessarily brought him in close con-
tact with the legal profession, and he took up the study of law at
home and pursued it with such energy and persistence that at the
end of three years he was admitted to the bar on June 14, 1895,
and was admitted to practice in the federal courts at Peoria in April,
1897. While gaining a legal education he had no assistance from
anyone, and the fact that he qualified himself for the bar, while ably
discharging the duties of a public office, is an incentive and inspira-
tion for young men who comparatively late in life determine the true
direction of their careers. On retiring from the office of circuit
clerk on December i, 1896, Mr. Breckenridge took up the active
practice of the law, and soon had a profitable business at Lewistown.
In November, 1906, he was elected to the office of county judge, and
entered upon his duties on December ist. He has also served as
police magistrate at Lewistown, having been elected May i, 1897.
Judge Breckenridge's record in his present judicial office has been
one of unquestioned ability, fairness, and thorough competence,
and he is regarded as the most popular official of the county.
Judge Breckenridge is a democrat, is affiliated with Lewistown
Lodge No. 104, A. F. & A. M. ; Havana Chapter, R. A. M. ; Damas-
cus Commandery No. 42, K. T., with the Mystic Shrine at Peoria,
and with the Knights of Pythias at Lewistown. He has long been
a church worker in the Christian Church, and has served as elder and
superintendent of the Sunday School. Mr. Breckenridge was mar-
ried March 20, 1879, to Miss Ella A. Bradley of Lewistown. They
are the parents of ten children: John L. ; Robert R. ; Mary, wife
of Charles Bosworth ; George W. ; Frances, wife of William Brad-
ley ; Grace, wife of Ralph Hall of Joliet; Elizabeth, wife of Allen
Daily of Joliet ; Paul, Mildred and Jessie, at home.
D. J. NORMOYLE. The continuous progress of D. J. Normoyle
to a substantial standing at the Chicago bar has been the pure result
of personal exertions and worth, as he has never been able to apply
the influences of family influence or inherited wealth to his in-
630 COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS
dividual affairs. It has been his fortune, however, to have prose-
cuted his activities in a city where he has had many brothers in the
unaided fight for recognition, and where those who have battled
their own way to substantial positions have not been slow to appre-
ciate manliness and merit.
Mr. Normoyle is a native son of Chicago, born September 6,
1876, a son of Denny R. and Mary (Gaffney) Normoyle, natives of
Ireland. His father, a machinist by vocation, came to the United
States about the time of the outbreak of- the Civil war, settling in
New York, and subsequently enlisting in the Union army from the
City of Troy. During his service he was stationed at the arsenal at
that place, and also at Fort Hamilton, and although his term was of
extended character and his services of a faithful nature, he would
never apply for a pension, believing that as his service had been a
voluntary one he was not entitled to further remuneration than that
given him during the period of the war. In his later years Mr.
Normoyle came to Chicago, and here passed the remainder of his
life working at his trade.
D. J. Normoyle was given only ordinary educational advan-
tages in his youth, attending the graded and high schools of Chi-
cago, and when he entered upon his career chose the trade of ma-
chinist, at which he was engaged for nine years. It was not his
intention, however, to make this his life work, taking it up merely
as a means toward an end, and while working thus continued as a
student at the night schools of the Young Men's Christian Asso-
ciation Central Department. Later he went to the Chicago Athe-
naeum, and when he had completed the classes there entered the
Chicago College of Law, now known as the Chicago Kent College
of Law, from which institution he was graduated in June, 1901,
with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, although he had been admitted
to the Illinois bar by examination during the previous month. Dur-
ing the first ten years of his practice Mr. Normoyle was associated
with Pliny B. Smith, former counsel for the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern Railroad and president of the Chicago Law Institute, but
at the present time is in independent practice, giving his attention to
general professional business. His offices are maintained in the
Unity Building. Although the scope of his professional work has
always been broad, Mr. Normoyle has given close consideration to
the civic, social and municipal problems of his native city. He was
assistant city corporation counsel in 1911 and 1912, president of
the State Board of Arbitration in 1913, and was Chicago counsel
for the States Utilities Commission for some time. He has never
omitted an opportunity to do what he could toward the improve-
ment of the municipality. His reputation has extended far beyond
the limits of his native city, and his high abilities are freely acknowl-
edged by his fellow-members in the professional organizations with
which he is identified, such as the American Bar Association, the
Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association and the
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS 631
Chicago Law Institute. He holds membership in the Illinois State
Historical Society, takes a keen and active interest in the affairs
of the Knights of Columbus, and is also popular with his fellow-
members in the Order of the Alhambra and the Loyal Order of
Moose.
In 1902 Mr. Normoyle was married to Miss Mary F. Brennan,
of New Jersey, a member of an old and distinguished family of that
state, and they have one daughter : Dorothy.
GUY VAN SCHAICK. Few young lawyers enter their profession
with a more liberal training and broader experience than Guy Van
Schaick possessed when he was admitted to the Illlinois bar in
August, 1909.
He was born at Gilroy, California, December 6, 1876, a son of
Holmes David and Mary A. (Wright) Van Schaick. His father
was a California business man. His early education came from
attendance at private schools and the high schools at Gilroy and
San Francisco. He then entered the University of California,
where he was graduated B. L. in 1898, following which he was a
high school instructor two years in California, and then went out to
the Philippines in the educational service of the Federal Govern-
ment. For one year he was one of the staff of regular teachers
and for four years was division superintendent of schools.
Returning to the United States, he came on to Chicago and
entered the law department of the University of Chicago, where
he was awarded the degree J. D. in 1909. In the meantime he had
also taken several courses in the Northwestern University Law
School.
Mr. Van Schaick began his professional career in the law office
of Stewart G. Shepard and Robert R. McCormick. Later he was
with the firm of Judah, Willard, Wolf & Reichmann and for a
short time in the office of the Winston, Payne, Strawn & Shaw.
Mr. Van Schaick is now associated in practice with Frank C. Rathje
and Adolph H. Wesemann, with offices in the National Life Build-
ing. This firm has a large general practice, and Mr. Van Schaick
has already made no little reputation both as a counselor and advo-
cate.
He is a member of the Chicago and Illinois State Bar associa-
tions, the Chicago Law Institute, the Chicago Association of Com-
merce, the City Club, and the California Society of Illinois. Fra-
ternally he is affiliated with the Garden City Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
On September 15, 1905, he married Esther Knapp of Jamestown,
New York. They have one child, Harold G. Their home is at
581 1 Maryland Avenue.
FRANK C. RATHJE. Senior member of the firm of Rathje &
Wesemann, with offices in the National Life Building at 29 South
LaSalle Street, Frank C. Rathje is a lawyer of solid and even bril-
632 COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS
liant attainments both in his profession and in business affairs. By
hard work and study night and day he has found a successful posi-
tion in the Chicago bar at a time when most young lawyers are only
laying the foundation for a career.
Frank C. Rathje belongs to a well known family of DuPage
County, and was born at Bloomingdale, Illinois, August 20, 1883,
a son of William and Louise (Ehlers) Rathje. His father is one
of the substantial farmers of DuPage County. Mr. Frank Rathje
was educated in country schools, and lived on a farm west of Chi-
cago until nineteen years of age. He then entered St. John's Mili-