the Illinois and Chicago bar. He was admitted to the Illinois bar
on examination in 1882, and was in practice at Vandalia until 1893.
The only office he ever held was as city attorney of Vandalia for
one term, at a salary of $75. After the removal of Mr. Ashcraft
from Vandalia to Chicago about 1888, Air. Cox succeeded him as
local attorney for the Vandalia Railroad, a part of the Pennsylvania
system. He represented that company until 1892, and in 1893 moved
to Chicago and entered the office of Judge Elbridge Hanecy. Sub-
sequently Judge Hanecy secured for him a better connection in the
offices of Paden & Gridley. About 1894 Mr. Cox became a member
of the firm of Ashcraft, Gordon & Cox, and several years later
became senior member of Cox, Heldman & Shortall, and subse-
quently Cox, Heldman & Lipson. Mr. Shortall retired a few years
later and Mr. Cox's name next appeared as an associate in Cox,
Winslaw & Ward. For about fifteen years Mr. Cox has been
engaged in an individual practice, and his present offices are in the
Insurance Exchange Building.



COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS 649

In 1898 he became attorney for the Standard Life & Accident
Insurance Company of Detroit, representing that corporation in
Illinois. This was the important relation which has since caused
him to specialize as a corporation and insurance lawyer. He also
became trial attorney for the Maryland Casualty Company of Bal-
timore, and one of the trial attorneys for the London Guaranty
& Accident Company, and in some important cases was retained to
represent other insurance companies. In 1906 Mr. Cox began try-
ing cases for the Travelers Insurance Company of Hartford, Con-
necticut, and in February, 1907, this company retained him per-
manently as its counsel and trial attorney for Illinois. Since then
the responsibilities of this position have increased so rapidly that he
has given up his business with other companies, and now gives his
entire time as attorney to the Travelers Insurance Company of
Hartford.

Mr. Cox is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, is affil-
iated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his
wife attend the Christian Science Church. On May 4, 1884, he mar-
ried Miss Martha N. Arnold, of Vandalia, Illinois, daughter of
former county treasurer Joshua Arnold, of Fayette County. Mr.
Cox's home is at 4548 North Ashland Avenue. He is one of the
comparatively few successful members of the bar who have not
engaged in outside business, being primarily and exclusively a
lawyer.

ALBERT G. WELCH. Among Chicago firms that give especial
attention to practice in the Federal courts, that of Sims, Welch
and Godman is one of the best known, on account of the individ-
ual prominence of its members and their broad experience as
counsel for the Government and in association with cases con-
tested before the Federal courts.

Mr. Welch, who has been a Chicago lawyer since 1894, has
in recent years paid special attention to the handling of cases
arising under the Sherman anti-trust act. Mr. Welch has served
as special assistant United States attorney, for the Northern Dis-
trict of Illinois to which position he was appointed under the
regime of Edwin W. Sims and reappointed under James H. Wilk-
erson. He is a member of the board of managers of the Chi-
cago Bar Association.

Albert Gaylord Welch was born in Chicago, June 3, 1873, and
is a son of Leon C. and Laura (King) Welch. He was educated
in the public schools of Chicago and in Lake Forest Academy. He
was admitted to the bar in November, 1894, so that his active work-
as a lawyer has covered a period of twenty years. In addition to
his active association with the Chicago Bar Association, Mr. Welch
is identified with the Chicago Law Club, the Illinois Bar Associa-
tion, and is a charter member of the Chicago Society of Advocates,



650 COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS

besides which he has membership in the Union League Club of
Chicago. His political allegiance is with the republican party.

On January 10, 1906, Mr. Welch married Miss Katharine
Strong, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David O. Strong, of Chicago.

WILLIAM PRENTISS. With an active membership in the Illinois
bar covering more than thirty-five years, William Prentiss has
been a Chicago lawyer since 1891, and besides his successful prac-
tice in his profession has become well known through his civic
and political activities.

William Prentiss was born at Davenport, Iowa, September 19,
1848, a son of Dr. William and Elizabeth (Gapen) Prentiss.
Soon after his birth his parents moved to Schuyler County, Illi-
nois, and later to Fulton County, where his father died in 1854.
In 1860 his mother married James Manley, a farmer of McDon-
ough County, where William Prentiss lived during his early youth.
After the public schools he entered Knox College at Galesburg, but
ill health prevented his graduation. For several years he lived in
Minnesota, and farmed and taught school in that state, for three
years being county superintendent of Cottonwood County. Re-
turning to Illinois he was admitted to the bar in June, 1878, and
in the same year was elected state's attorney of McDonough
County to fill a vacancy, and was re-elected in 1880 for the four
year term. Since his removal to Chicago in 1891 Mr. Prentiss
has been identified with large and important practice.

He has been much in public life throughout his career as a
lawyer. Besides filling the office of state's attorney in McDonough
County, he was elected mayor of Macomb on the democratic ticket
in 1 88 1. In 1888 he was nominee for Congress in the old Eleventh
District, and made a strong campaign. In Chicago the democrats
put him on the ticket for the office of circuit judge of Cook County
in 1893, in 1898 and 1903. He was a delegate to the Democratic
National Convention in 1896, and in 1898 was chairman of the
state convention. As a political orator he has taken a prominent
part in campaigns for a number of years, and worked in behalf
of the democratic interests in the national campaigns of 1896 and
1900. In 1904 he withdrew his name as a candidate for the
democratic nomination for governor. In 1905 he was one of the
leading democrats of Chicago who sought the nomination for the
office of mayor, his individual platform being one providing for
municipal ownership. When the present .Governor Dunne was nomi-
nated on a platform embracing those principles he withdrew and
supported Mr. Dunne, who was elected. During 1905-07 Mr. Pren-
tiss was a civil service commissioner and was president of the board
during the second year. Not long afterwards he became dissatisfied
with the actual leadership in the democratic party, especially in Illi-
nois, and accordingly declined to support Mr. Bryan in 1908, and
gave his influence in behalf of the Roosevelt policies and the can-



COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS 651

didacy of Judge Taft. After that for several years he acted inde-
pendently in politics, taking as his motto Lincoln's words of 1854:
"Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he
is right and part with him when he goes wrong." In 1912 Mr.
Prentiss found the newly organized progressive party acceptable
to his ideals of political action and was presidential elector at large
on that ticket and in 1914 was one of the unsuccessful candidates
on the progressive ticket for judge of the Cook County court.

Mr. Prentiss has his offices in the Ashland Block, and his city
home in Rogers Park. He finds recreation in farming, and has
an attractive country place, known as "Willhelen" in Allegan
County, Michigan. Mr. Prentiss was married in 1872 to Elizabeth
Helen McCau'ghey, of Marietta, Fulton County, Illinois. Their
children are: James Manley, deceased; Jackson McCaughey and
William, Jr.

JOSEPH K. McMAHON. A Chicago lawyer whose professional
activities have brought the substantial results of secure position
and influence, Joseph K. McMahon came to Chicago from the
farm, and graduated from the Lake Forest University Law School.
He has been connected with court and office practice in that city
for seventeen years.

Born at Amboy, Lee County, Illinois, November 9, 1868, he is
a son of Patrick and Ann (Clancy) McMahon, his father a native
of County Limerick and his mother of King's County, Ireland. The
father came to the United States when about eighteen years of age,
was married in Rochester, New York, and for a number of years
was a merchant in LaSalle and later in Amboy, Illinois, and still
later followed farming.

Joseph K. McMahon waft reared on a farm and educated in dis-
trict schools, and on coming to Chicago took up the study of law
in the office of Hon. John Mayo Palmer. He continued his work
in the law department of Lake Forest University, graduated LL. B.
in 1897, was admitted to the Illinois bar the same year, and took
active practice. Mr. McMahon was associated in the law office of
F. H. Trude, one of the foremost of Chicago's lawyers, from 1898
until Mr. Trude's death in November, 1913. Since that time Mr.
McMahon has managed an individual practice.

He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, is grand regent
of the Royal Arcanum of Illinois and is a member of the state
council of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. McMahon married No-
vember 25, 1911, Miss Elizabeth Waugh, of Chicago. Their two
children are Joseph K., Jr., and Brandon Waugh. Mr. McMahon
has his offices in the Ashland Block and his residence at 637 North
Lotus Avenue.

SIMEON STRAUS. In the forty years of his active practice as
a Chicago lawyer special pre-eminence has come to Simeon Straus



652 COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS

through the ability and success with which he has handled chancery
cases and real estate matters. In this department of the law he
undoubtedly stands in the very front rank, with very few peers.

Simeon Straus is a native of Milwaukee, but has spent nearly
all his life in Chicago. He was born November 21, 1855, his
parents being Samuel and Rosine Straus. Samuel Straus, his
father, came to Chicago in 1852 and after living there until 1855
moved to Milwaukee and returned to Chicago in 1856. Samuel
Straus was a lawyer, well known in real estate work, and died in
1878. Mr. Straus received his early education in a public school
that has been famous for producing some of the leaders in the city's
life, the Old Jones School, from which he graduated in 1869. He
finished the course of the Chicago High School in 1872, and then
entered the cla.ss of 1876 at Yale University. He abandoned his
collegiate course to enter the Yale Law School, and was graduated
LL. B. in 1874. Admitted to the Connecticut bar in June, 1874,
the same year Mr. Straus established his practice in Chicago.

From May, 1875, to December, 1877, he acted as attorney for
the German National Bank, the German Savings Bank, and for
Henry Greenebaum & Company, bankers. With that preliminary
experience he engaged in private practice, and has since confined his
work to chancery and probate cases and real estate law. For
several years he has had his son Ira E. associated with him. Mr.
Straus has had the settlement of some of the largest estates in Chi-
cago, and the handling of some of the largest real estate cases in
business. He has always been a republican in politics, is a member
of the Hamilton Club and of the American, Illinois and Chicago
Bar associations.

FREDERICK JOHN NEWEY. For fifteen years, the entire period
of his professional activities, Mr. Newey has practiced with one firm
in Chicago, having begun as a junior and for the past twelve years
has been partner with Wheelock, Shattuck & Newey, now Wheelock,
Newey & Mackenzie, with offices in the Marquette Building. In
this time Mr. Newey has had professional relations with a large
clientage in Chicago and is a lawyer of successful attainments.

Born in Wolverhampton, England, September 4, 1872, Frederick
John Newey is a son of William Newey, a minister of the Methodist
Church, who came to the United JStates about 1880 and for more
than thirty years was identified with the work of his profession in
the State of Michigan, where he had several charges. Frederick
J. Newey had the beginnings of his education in the schools of his
native town, and after coming to America attended public schools at
Detroit, Hadley and Williamston in Michigan, graduating from the
Hadley High School. For three years he was a student at the Athe-
naeum in Chicago, and took the regular law course of the Lake
Forest University, graduating LL. B. in 1899. Admitted to the Illi-
nois bar the same year, he began practice with W r heelock & Shat-



COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS 653

tuck, was admitted to partnership in 1902, and has since been one of
the active members of this firm engaged in general practice.

Mr. Newey is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the
Illinois State Bar Association, the Law Club, the Hamilton Club,
the Congregational Club, and his college fraternity is the Delta Chi.
On June 27, 1901, he married Miss Gertrude E. Newton, of Chicago.
Three of their four children are living: Harriet A., Kathryn and
Helen. Mr. Newey and family reside in Wilmette.

FRANK FREMONT REED. A member of the Chicago bar since
1882, Frank Fremont Reed has brought to the practice of his chosen
profession the natural aptitude which is inherent in a mind of great
logical and analytical power, as well as the culture which is the
product of a thorough education, aided by intelligent and persistent
study. To untiring industry he has joined a thorough knowledge
of the law and a close familiarity with authorities, and his citations
are made with unerring judgment. Aside from the duties of his
large and constantly-growing practice, he has found the time to labor
in educational circles, and since 1903 has held a professorship in the
University of Michigan.

Mr. Reed was born at Monmouth, Illinois, August 18, 1857, and
is a son of Philo E. and Minerva D. Reed. When he was still a lad
he was taken by his parents to Warren, Ohio, where he attended the
public schools from 1868 to 1875, in the latter year commencing the
study of the profession upon which he had determined as his life
work. After some preparation, Mr. Reed entered the University
of Michigan, where he pursued a literary course, and in 1880 was
graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, immediately there-
after beginning his practical experience in a Cleveland law office.
Later he returned to Warren, where he continued to work in an
attorney's office until 1882, and in that year was admitted to the
bar and came to Chicago. Mr. Reed's practice has been somewhat
general in its character, but he gives special attention to trademarks,
unfair trade, copyright and anti-trust litigation, fixed prices and
price maintained. Since 1903 he has been a lecturer on law of copy-
rights and trade mark law in the University of Michigan, and since
1908 on the same subjects in the University of Chicago. It has been
his fortune to acquire a large and representative professional busi-
ness, and to attain a substantial reputation among the members of
the fraternity, the latter gained through strict adherence to the
unwritten ethics of the calling. Mr. Reed is a member of the Chi-
cago Bar Association and the American Bar Association. While
he is a deep thinker and a profound student, he is fond of social
pleasures and holds membership in such well-known organizations
as the Chicago Athletic Association, the Riverside Golf Club and
the University Club, all of Chicago, and the Baltusral Club, of Short
Hills, New Jersey.

Mr. Reed was married at Riverside, Illinois, August 2, 1888, to



654 COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS

Miss Hattie C. Allen, and they reside in that beautiful Chicago
suburb. Mr. Reed maintains well-appointed offices in the Peoples
Gas Building.

ANTON ZEMAN. A rising young lawyer of foreign birth, but of
Chicago training, Anton Zeman absorbed the best spirit of the city
and the times and since his admission to the bar in 1908 has pur-
sued his well-chosen career to such good purpose that he enjoys
a large practice and a special reputation for successfully handling
cases in the criminal courts.

Mr. Zeman was born in Bohemia, January i, 1881, and is a
son of Anton and Frances (Kubik) Zeman. When the family
came to America his father was naturally attracted to Chicago,
which contains the largest Bohemian element in the United States,
and here the elder man was engaged in business for many years,
although he is now living retired. That he was determined his son
should familiarize himself with the customs and language of the
adopted country is evident from the fact that Anton, then a lad of
but six years, was sent to the public school the first day of the fam-
ily's arrival in Chicago. In later years he took a private course
of study at the Young Men's Christian Association, and following
some little further preparation he began the study of his chosen
profession at John Marshall Law School, where he was graduated
in 1908 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. At the time of his
graduation, it should be said, he had the highest average in his class
in all the different branches. In the same year Mr. Zeman was
admitted to the bar and he at once engaged in practice. He has
since continued as he began, in independent practice, and has his
offices in the City Hall Square Building.

Of late Mr. Zeman has given his attention to criminal law. In
the recent notorious murder trial, the Spencer-Rexroat case, Mr.
Zeman represented the defendant, taking the case to the Supreme
Court and repeatedly saving his client from the gallows, although
the decision was finally given against him. This case, which was
tried at Wheaton, attracted the attention of the country, and was
financed throughout by Mr. Zeman, who made a brilliant fight for
the life of his client. He is particularly well known among Chi-
cago Bohemians and handles the major part of the criminal cases
among his countrymen.

Mr. Zeman is a member of the Lawyers' Association and his
fraternal connections include membership in the Independent Order
of Foresters and a number of Bohemian societies. He is a repub-
lican, but has not found time from his large and growing practice
to devote to politics. However, he takes a keen interest in move-
ments making for progress and he has done much to advance the
welfare of the community in which he resides.

Mr. Zeman is unmarried and lives at 3909 West T\venty : sixth
Street.



COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS 655

HENRY F. DICKINSON. When Mr. Dickinson began practicing
in Chicago in 1898, he had not only the training but the energy and
ambition for a successful career and his professional attainments
now give him a high rank among the city's lawyers.

Henry F. Dickinson was born in St. Louis, Missouri, March 23,
1874, and is a son of Henry B. and Elizabeth (Martin) Dickinson,
who now reside at Rockford, Illinois. His father is now retired
after many years of business activity. Henry B. Dickinson was born
in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, and was educated at Amherst
College, that state. He became one of the pioneer representatives
of the sewing-machine business, in which he was long associated
with the old-time Grover & Baker firm of manufacturers. Prior to
the Civil war he came to Chicago, whence he later removed to
St. Louis and finally established his residence at Rockford, Illinois.

Henry F. Dickinson, after leaving Rockford High School,- was
given the special privilege of attending the excellent Latin School
in Neufchatel, Switzerland, where he remained two years. He then
attended Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest, Illinois, and afterward
entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin, at
Madison, graduating in 1896, Bachelor of Laws. Following a post-
graduate course in the Law School of Harvard University, he was
admitted to the Illinois bar in 1898. He served his professional
novitiate in Chicago, where for four years he was associated with
George Steere, and since that time has conducted an individual
practice. Mr. Dickinson is an active member of the Chicago Bar
Association and the Illinois Bar Association. He is also a member
of the University Club of Chicago, and in his home city of Evanston
is affiliated with the University Club and the Evanston Country
Club, and holds membership in the Phi Delta Theta college fra-
ternity. While a student in the University of Wi'sconsin, Mr. Dick-
inson was prominent in its athletic affairs, especially as a member
of the university football team, on which he played end. Later he
was a member of the Harvard law team. His present interest in
sports is chiefly in hunting and fishing.

On June 27, 1902, Mr. Dickinson married Miss Edith Baxter
Colebrooke, daughter of the late William Colebrooke, who was a
prominent Chicago lawyer and author of a valuable law publication
entitled "Collateral Securities." Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson have four
children Elizabeth, Henry, Edith and William Colebrooke.

ROBERT W. FISK. As an active and successful attorney Robert
W. Fisk has occupied a prominent place in his profession in Vermil-
ion County for the past twenty-five years, and has had a varied and
broad experience as a lawyer in all departments of practice. His
home is at Ridgefarm in Vermilion County.

Robert W. Fisk was born in Clark County, Illinois, November 7,
1858, one of a family of four children born to James W. and Sarah
A. (Dodd) Fisk. His father, who was born in Putnam County,



656 COURTS AND LAWYERS OF ILLINOIS

Indiana, was one of the substantial farmers of Clark County. On
the old homestead and in the wholesome environment of the country,
Robert W. Fisk grew to manhood, read law when a young man
under Golden & Wilkins, and completed his studies in the Michigan
University law department. Admitted to the Illinois bar in 1888,
Robert W. Fisk has since been identified with much of the work in
the courts and in office practice in Vermilion County. He is a
member of the Vermilion County, the Illinois State and the Amer-
ican Bar associations, served as supervisor for ten years of Elwood
Township, and in 1910 was a candidate before the republican
primaries for the Legislature.

Mr. Fisk is affiliated with the Masonic order, the Knights of
Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Royal Neighbors,
belongs to the Methodist Church, while his wife is a Presbyterian.
Mr. Fisk married Miss Belle Brown, daughter of Isaac and Virginia
A. (Hutchison) Brown. They are the parents of one daughter,
Una Fisk, now the wife of Wilbur H. Tribble, a progressive farmer
at Ridgefarm, Illinois.

GEORGE HAVEN MILLER. A lawyer who had reached a high
position in his profession before his early death, George Haven
Miller was a splendid representative of the scholarly and able law-
yer, a high-minded public servant, and a courtly and popular gen-
tleman. He spent nearly all his life in Evanst'on, where for a
number of years he was connected with the Evanston Civil Service
Commission in addition to his work as a lawyer. Following his
death, which occurred February 6, 1915, his colleagues on the Civil
Service Commission expressed their appreciation of his working fel-
lowship and counsel in the following words: "Both by blood and
training George Haven Miller belonged with those who devote
time, effort and a high degree of skill to the wellbeing of the com-
munity, with never a thought of reward. His keen sense of justice,
his knowledge of the civil service law he was charged with admin-
istering, and his manly and forceful presence cannot be replaced."

George Haven Miller was born at Pittsfield, in Illinois, Novem-
ber 3, 1876, and when six months of age was brought to Evanston
by his parents, Henry H. C. and Harriet Scott (Lewis) Miller.
His father was for many years an able member of the Illinois bar.
Mr. Miller was educated in the public schools, graduating from
grammar school and high school, finished his college course in the
Northwestern University in 1898, and in 1901 was awarded the
degree LL. B. from the Northwestern Law School. In university
he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi, and was a leader in athletic
affairs, particularly baseball. He played on the high-school team
four years, and four years on the university team, being captain
in his senior year. After his admission to the bar Mr. Miller
became associated with his father in practice and together they
enjoyed an extensive clientage. The elder Miller was peculiarly



identified with civil service in Evanston, having served as president