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

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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.

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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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fi . . . L 'L s. ., '89, A . Sit JUDGE SAMUEL MAXWVELL ' 29 About the year 1870 he organized the First National Bank of Plattsmouth, with which institution he was connected for some time. In April, 1871, he was elected from Cass, county to the second Constitutional Convention, which met in Lincoln in May of that year, and continued in session until the following September. He was chairman of the Committee on Suffrage, and was one of the Commissioners appointed by the Legislature to collect the 872,000 insurance for the burned Asylum at Lincoln, and adopt plans and erect a new building. In 1872 he was elected to the Supreme Court on the Republican ticket. The judges at that time were also judges of the District Courts, and Judge Maxwell was assigned by the Legislature to the third district-then comprising all the territory north of the Platte river except Douglas and Sarpy counties. In o1'der to be more accessible to his district he moved to Fremont in 1873, where he has since resided. ' He was elected from Dodge county in 1875 to the third Con- stitutional Convention, and was chairman of the Judiciary Com- mittee. In the following October he was elected judge of the Supreme Court for the six-year term under the new constitution, and was again elected in 1881 and-,188t7r Judge Maxwell has also been an industrious author on the sub- ject of Procedure, and his works are authority in all the Code states. In 1877 he prepared a digest of the Nebraska Reports, and in 1879 published the first edition of his Practice in Lzsticc Charts, which has now reached the sixth edition. In 1880 he published Pleacliag and Practice, which has also reached the sixth edition. He published Ctaimiaal ltioccclurc in 1887, which has since passed another edition, and in 1892 his work on 6bcZe Plead- -ing was published. He was elected Representative to Congress in 1896 on the Free Silver ticket. ' '- , 4 For several years he has held the chair of Lecturer on Code Pleading in the College of Law. Although Judge Maxwell has passed his three-score years and ten, he is still alert and aciijve and is an indefatigable worker.