University of Nebraska College of Law - Yearbook (Lincoln, NE)

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prof. 5. lj. wilson Prof. Henry H. Wilson was born January 1, 1854, near Fre- mont, Sandusky county, O. He came with his parents to Ne- braska in 1871, and settled on a farm in Saunders county, near Ashland. Before coming to Nebraska, and from an earlyage, the care of his fatheris farm devolved chiefly upon him, but soon after coming to this state he abandoned theffarm and taught school for some time in the Platte valley. In 187 3 he entered the State University, from which institution he graduated in 1878 with the degree of Ph. B., and in 1886 the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him. From the University he went to Seward, Neb., where he was principal of the high school for two years. It was during his- stay at Seward that he began the study of law. Returning to- Lincoln in 1880, and entering the office of a prominent attorney, he completed his preparation for the bar, to which he was admit- ted in 1881. Since that time he has been successively associated with the firms of Ricketts Xe lWilson in 1881, Lamb, Ricketts QQ Vlilson in 1882, and Riclzets LG lVilson again in 1892, of which latter firm he is at present a member. Professor lVilson has continued his interest in literary matters since leaving the University, and has at different times contrib' uted prominently to the current magazines, articles both of a lit- erary and legal nature. He has occupied the chair of Lecturer on Evidence in the Law College since its formation, and in 1895 was given the degree of LL. M. by the University. He is a. member of the American Bar Association, and is chairman of the Committee on Legal Education of Commercial Lawyers' League of America. He is also 2L1110111b61'Of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, before which court he has appeared n several prominent cases. Although a Republican politically, hc is a firm believer in the principles of Prohibition. Professor Wilson was married in June, 1882, to Miss Emma Parks. They have had a family of three children, two of which ure living. .

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26 HON. JOSEPH R. WEBSTER and is a member of Farragut Post, Lincoln, Neb., also of mili- tary order of the Loyal Legion, Department of Nebraska, and of the Society of Colonial lVars, council of District of Colum- bia. Judge WVebster has always been an ardent republican, and has served the state in a civil as well as military capacity. As a member of the Board of Education he aided in hastening the erec- tion of permanent school structures, thus placing the educational system on a sound basis, as-'member of the city council he was active in advocating and adopting municipal ownership of water service and other municipal enterprises. In 1878-79 he was county judge of Lancaster county, and in 187 3-74 Attorney Gen- eral of Nebraska. He has always taken a lively interest in social and municipal improvements and reforms, and in his profession has attained prominence as an able and widely informed lawyer. He was one of the organizers of the private law school under Dean WVm. Henry Smith, which preceded the present Law College, and at the organization of the University College of Law was made Lecturer in Equity Jurisprudence, which position he now holds. He was married in 1873 to Sara Cooper Thompson, of Lima, Ind., and they have one child. He traces his ancestry back to John lVebster, of VVarwickshire, England, who immigrated to Connecticut before 1635, and was its Colonial Governor from 1656-59. Judge VVebster's father, in 1835, went in the service of the American Board of Foreign Missions to Bombay, in charge of its publishing house there, and while there assisted in publishing the Maharatta translation of the Bible.

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viii! Ziubge Samuel Maxwell Hon. Samuel Maxwell, the Patriarch of the Nebraska bar, was born in New York State, May 20, 1826, at Lodi, a suburb of Syracuse. His father and 'mother were children of wealthy par- 'entS, and both we1'e well educated. He received a common school education, but continued his studies for some time after leaving school. -- In 1844 he moved to Michigan, where he taught school several years, and in 1852 purchased a farm in Oakland county. He re- mained there until 1856, when he disposed of his property and moved to Nebraska, taking up a pre-emption near Plattsmouth. Having taken up the study of law some time prior to this, and feeling the need of a better opportunity for pursuing his study, he returned to Michigan in 1858, and entered the office of a prominent lawyer in Bay City. ' He was admitted to the bar in 1859, and immediately returned to Nebraska. Soon after his return he was elected delegate from Cass county'-touthef iirst Republican Territorial Convention, and in October 'Ofiitllf-3 same year was elected Representative' from Cass countytto the Legislature. In June, 1864, he was elected delegate to the first Constitutional Convention. The convention met at Omaha, July 4, 1864, but adjourned sine die immediately after organizing, as it was evident that any constitution prepared would be defeated. 1 A In October, 18611, he was again elected to the Legislature, and was chairman of the judiciary committee, introducing the bill for the revision of the statutes, October, 1865, he was a third time elected a member of the House, and assisted in framing the Con- stitution of 1866. He was also a member of the first State Leg- islature, which met at Omaha, July 4, 1866, for the purpose of 'electing senators, and setting in operation the new state govern- ment. And in 1867 the Governor appointed him Commissioner to select the Capitol building and University lands.