University of Kansas School of Law - Shingle Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

Page 22 text:

tice of the Law. He has lectured the Senior Law Class of the University on Equity Jurisprudence each year, commencing with 1897-giving a course of twenty-iive lectures. - ' 5,5 5 ALFRED W. BENSON Is a native of Chautauqua County, New York. He was educated in the common schools, and at the Jamestown and Randolph Academies, leaving the latter institution when he was eighteen years of age to enlist in the Union Army. He served for three years with the 154th New York Volunteers, in vari- ous ranks from private to major, and was severely wounded at Chancellorsville. At the close of the war he read Law at Jamestown, and was admitted to the bar in the Supreme Court of New York, in November, 1866, at Buffalo, and practiced at Sher- man in that State until about January 1, 1870, when, having removed to Kansas, he commenced practice at Ottawa, which has been continued with- out interruption until this time, except while serv- ing as District Judge. Judge Benson held the office of Mayor at Ottawa for two terms, also served as County Attorney and State Senator, and for twelve years as Judge of the Fourth Judicial District of this State-from 1885 to 1897. He is now in actual prac- tice at Ottawa, being the senior member of the firm of Benson Sz Smart. Judge Benson has instructed in Code Pleadings in the Law School since the year 1892. 5 5 5 MARCUS SUMMERFIELD A Was born August 15, 1842, in Persia. His early education was received in the schools of his native land. At the age of fourteen he emigrated to the United States. Here his education was continued by private tutors. -In 1864 he graduated in Medi- cine, and in 1869 was admitted to the bar, and since that time has practiced Law. He has been con- nected with the Kansas University Law Sch-ool since the second year after its organization as Assistant Professor and Professor,and is now Lecturer on Fed- eral Courts and Equity Pleading and Practice. As a corporation lawyer Dr. Summerfield has won dis- tinction, and has been identified with important corporation litigation. During his absence from the State, and entirely without solicitation, Justice Fos- ter, of the Supreme Court, appointed him receiver of the Watkins Land Mortgage Co. Dr. Summer- field's work ini the Law School has always been highly appreciated by his class, who realize its merit and true worth, and it is to be hoped that, as his' faithful labor has helped to build up the school, he may long continue in his capacity of Instructor. 5 5 5 SAMUEL A. RIGGS Was born at Hanging Rock, Ohio, March 1, 1835. He attended Marietta College, Ohio, for a term, and then went to Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, from which institution he graduated with honors. He then studied Law in the Cincinnati Law School. Here he graduatedin 1858, and was admitted to the Hamilton County bar. He was married in 1861 to Miss Kate Earle. Mr. Riggs is one of the leading lawyers in Kansas, and is at present Judge of the Fourth Judicial District. His home is in Lawrence, and he has been a Lecturer before the Senior Class of the Law School for over a decade. - 5 5 5 WILLIAM B. BROWNELL. To the members of the Law Class of 1900, and to several preceding classes, the subject of this sketch is known as Professor Billy. For several years VVil1iam B. Brownell was a Lecturer and later an In- structor in the Law Department of Kansas Univer- sity. He was born in Hamilton, N. Y., in 1859, and in 1883 graduated from Hamilton College, of his home town. Immediately he came to Kansas Uni- versity, as assistant in the Department of English. While an Instructor in the institution, he took a course in Law, graduating with the Class of 1886. He at once entered upon the practice of his pro- fession with W. C. Spangler, under the firm name of Spangler Sc Brownell. For several years he was em- ployed as a Lecturer upon certain subjects, and for two and one-half years held the position of Associ- ate Prof. in Law. In November, 1898, he was elected County Attorney of Douglas County, without oppo- sition, being nominated as a Republican, and the Democrats and Populists making no nomination against him. At the close of the school work, at holiday time, he resigned, and the esteem in which he was held was shown by the Classes of '99 and '00, on his leave-taking, by the presentation of a hand- some office-desk and chair, the donation of the boys and girls of these two classes. Prof.'Billy Brownell is makinga splendid record as County Attorney, and his ability as a teacher will be at- tested by any who were fortunate enough to be members of his classes. ' 5 5 5 W. C. SPANGLER. Another graduate of Kansas University, whom we are pleased to mention in the capacity of Lecturer, is Mr. Spangler, who took his degrees from this in- stitution, A.B. '83, LL.B. '85. He was and has been since that time closely allied with the University. As Chancellor's secretary from 1880 to 1885, Vice- Chancellor from 1889 until 1890, Regent of the Uni- versity from 1889 until 1893, and this year taking the position of Lecturer and Instructor in Real Property. In this latter position he has given great satisfaction to the class, and we feel safe in adding, to every one. Mr. Spangler was born in Illinois in the year 1859, and came to Kansas in 1870, entering on his University career nine years later. He has been engaged in the practice of his profession, since graduation, in the city of Lawrence. His ability as an attorney may be attested by the fact that since 1887, two years after beginning his practice, he was elected to the ofiice of City Attorney of Lawrence, to which oiiice he has been repeatedly re-elected to the present time. I A -14-

Page 21 text:

MARCUS SUMMERFIELD, M.D. A JUDGE-W. A. EENSON

Page 23 text:

Our Alumni. Happy is a man who has had two mothers whom hereverences. How near akin are the two, his moither and his Alma Maier: WVe never hear of an Alma Pater. To the man of alert intellect, pure heart, and strong will the college represents a new birth and a new life. As is the mother, so is the love of the so11 5 and as inreal life the pride of the mother is in the son, so old Mother K. U. is proud of her sons who have gone out into the world. to exemplify the lessons here learned. Among those who have given her the most cause for a righteous pride, are her Law Alumni. They stand forth here, there, everywhere they have gone, shining lights worthy of the mother who set them forth. Theirs is the greatness of the single individual, for the very nature of the work required of the law- yer prevents the complete extinction of the individual. In no sphere of human activity is the rule of the survival of the Httestj' f-15 more perfectly exemplifded. It brings out the character of a man's mettle to be seen, known and awarded, while sham and shallowness are sure to be discovered and rebuked. Kansas University's best friends have been her Law Alumni. Our State's best citi- zens are many of them members of the bar. Where Kansas has given one of these men to a sister State, she has as ,often received in returned a like product, of which the com- mon brotherhood of the profession soon makes as one of Kansas' own sons. The Shingle is grateful to many of our leading Alumni, who have helped make pos- sible its existence, and is happy to devote, in small return, to them a few pages between its covers. And we wish success to each and every one of them, whether herein mentioned at length or not, who has hung out his shingle. ,fl