This rugged intellectual honesty constitutes a positive force and a sterling asset. The public service and the legal profession have no purer representative than Henry W. Chadeayne.
Among the members of the Newburgh bar who have risen rapidly to prominence is James G. Graham, the son of the gifted lawyer already referred to, whose full name he bears. Mr. Graham, after four years' experience in public affairs at Albany, in the executive chamber, accepted the office of deputy attorney-general, which he held two years. This position, which has always been a most exacting one, involving the trial and argument of cases of great magnitude, was filled by Mr. Graham with marked ability and to the entire satisfaction of the public. It was during his incumbency of this position that Mr. Graham was chiefly instrumental in bringing about the creation of the new ninth judicial district—a service for which the Orange County bar can never be sufficiently grateful to him. It is to his untiring and influential exertions that we are chiefly indebted for the creation of a natural, homogeneous judicial district, free from the blight and incubus of Kings County—a district in which the accession to the bench of Judges Mills, Tompkins and Morschauser insures the preservation of those standards of judicial dignity, decorum, deliberation and, above all, consideration for the rights and feelings of the bar, which have been so nobly maintained by their distinguished colleague, Judge Keogh.
The Newburgh bar has many members of varying degrees of prominence and experience, including the venerable Jesse F. Shafer, who was born in 1828; Samuel E. Dimmick, who comes from a family of able lawyers; Seward U. Round, who worthily bears the famous name bestowed upon him at the time his father was principal of the Seward Institute at Florida; Caleb H. Baumes, who is idolized by his brethren of the Odd Fellows; Peter Cantline, aggressive, ambitious and rising, destined to take his place among the foremost members of the Orange County bar; James M. H. Wallace, earnest, forcible, unflinching, indefatigable and intellectual; Charles W. U. Sneed, modest, interesting and well informed; David C. Scott, patient, devoted and industrious; Leroy Dickerson, engaging and efficient; John B. Corwin, the fit successor of Louis S. Sterrit as attorney for the Newburgh Savings Bank and, like him, retiring and reserved until the occasion calls for action, when he is eloquent, convincing and powerful; Frank W. Tompkins, popular and respected; George W. May, refined and gentlemanly; Martin G. Mould, courteous and affable; W. J. Wygant, unassuming and competent; Reeve Ketcham, faithful and energetic; Reuben H. Hilton, U. S. Collector of the Port of Newburgh; Russell S. Coutant, accomplished and scholarly; Nehemiah Fowler, solid and dignified; A. D. and A. W. Lent, father and son, educated, amiable and conscientious.
The Walden bar is adorned by the ardent, impulsive, enthusiastic, brilliant A. S. Embler; by the earnest, thoughtful, learned Irving H. Loughran; by the bustling, energetic, ambitious Anson J. Fowler, and by the fine natural abilities of Caleb B. Birch, Jr.
Joseph M. Wilkin, of the Montgomery bar, bears an honored name—that of his father, who for several years occupied a prominent position at the bar of Tennessee, returning to Orange County at the opening of the war on account of his pronounced Union sentiments. He was the brother of Judge John G. Wilkin, already referred to, and the two had many traits of character in common derived from their sterling ancestry. It is not strange that the younger Joseph M. Wilkin should exhibit in his present administration of the duties of special surrogate the qualities which have always distinguished the members of his famous and honorable family.
The bar of Montgomery is also strengthened by the high character and unquestioned capacity of William L. Dickerson. But Montgomery has ceased to be the center of legal interest which it was in the days when Edward Van Orsdall organized a suit there at least once a week and where he and that once well known member of the Goshen bar, George W. Millspaugh, frequently tried out the issues before a jury packed to beat one or the other.
The Middletown bar includes, among its well known members, Henry T. Crist, whose personal popularity led to his election as coroner; Russell M. Vernon, who has acquired a large practice in the Surrogate's Court; Howard M. Starr, who is performing the duties of justice of the peace; John Bright, whose alertness, readiness and general information predestines him to an active career; Jeremiah E. Barnes, who served most acceptably for several years as the recorder of the city of Middletown; and Charles C. Elston, who has manfully overcome many difficulties in establishing and maintaining his position at the bar.
The Goshen bar includes among its honored members Charles W. Coleman, who notwithstanding that he is a martyr to ill health and is compelled to spend the winters in Florida, retains the confidence and business of a host of personal friends; also William D. Mills, who has learning enough to equip a dozen lawyers for successful practice.
Louis Bedell, of the Goshen bar, secured at Albany in the Assembly a more powerful personal influence than any member from his district ever enjoyed, with the exception of his former partner, George W. Greene. This was, of course, partly due to the wisdom of the electors in keeping him there. But Mr. Bedell's many qualifications for success in public life accounted in a large degree for the extent of his influence. A lawyer is always needed in either the Assembly or the Senate and no amount of good fellowship or general intelligence can make up for the lack of legal training and experience.
Joseph Merritt, of Goshen, whose diffidence prevents his coming into prominence before the public is, however, unable to conceal from his professional brethren his very superior legal attainments. He is a lawyer of the very first rank. His opinion is respected and followed in many instances in which the court is unaware that it is he who has guided it to a correct conclusion.