HON. LYMAN LACEY
Page 203
HON. LYMAN LACEY
Page 203
 HON. LYMAN LACEY. In the course of his active and honorable official career Judge Lacey has become widely known as one of the most eminent jurists of Illinois. His record is that of an impartial, able and learned judge, a fearless advocate, successful attorney and progressive citizen, and since coming to Havana, in 1856, his name has been inseparably associated with many of the leading measures for the development of the city. Since 1873 he has served as Judge of the Circuit Court, and four years after entering upon the duties of that office he was appointed Judge of the Appellate Court of the Third District, which important position he still holds. In Dryden Four Corners, Tompkins County, N.Y., May 9, 1832 the subject of this sketch was born to John and Chloe (Hurd) Lacey, natives respectively of New Jersey and New York. The first representative of the Lacey family in America came from England prior to the Revolutionary War and settled in New Jersey, where were born many of his descendants. The great-grandfather of our subject, Richard Lacey, was a farmer and land owner in New Jersey, and during the Revolutionary War was Captain of a company of minute men organized to repel the British forces and prevent them from stealing cattle and provisions from the patriots. The grandfather of our subject, who also bore the name of Richard,. Served as the assistant of Surgeon-General Shippen during the battle of Monmouth, N.J., at which time there were seven hundred men wounded and three hundred and fifty killed. He was born in New Jersey, and was one of eight brothers included in the large family of his parents. When establishing a home of his own, he married Miss Susannah Smith, a native of New Jersey, and they became the parents of one son and three daughters, all of whom are deceased. The father of our subject, the last survivor of the family, was born January 8, 1804, in Hunterdon County, N. J., and died in Fulton County, Ill., December 23, 1892, aged eighty-eight years, ten months and twenty-six days. John Lacey was six years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Tompkins County, N. Y., and there he passed his boyhood days. He was trained to habits of industry and perseverance, and his father being a farmer, he naturally chose agriculture for his life occupation. His education was limited to the common schools of that early day, but being fond of reading good books, he kept himself well posted alike upon literary and general subjects. Like the majority of self-made men, he met with marked success in all his undertakings, and ranked among the most prominent agriculturists of his county. He also owed the celebrated mineral springs of Tompkins County, N. Y. The parents of our subject were married in New York in 1831, and to them were born nine children, of whom our subject was the eldest. When he was about four years of age, the family removed to Oakland County, Mich., where they made their home for a year and a-half. In the fall of 1837 they came to Fulton County, Ill., where the father both entered and purchased land, becoming the owner of a large and valuable estate. He was very successful as a farmer in the Prairie State, and at the time of his decease was the possessor of fifteen hundred acres. During his residence in Fulton County, John Lacey served two years as Supervisor of Pleasant Township. For the same length of time he was Assessor, and also filled the office of Justice of the Peace for several years. He took great interest in political affairs, and was a firm believer in the principles of Democracy. January 15, 1879, he was bereaved by the death of his wife, who for about forty-eight years had been in efficient help-mate, aiding him in their struggles through life and enjoying with him their successes. She was a woman of well balanced mind, and was beloved by all who knew her. At the time our subject's parents settled in Fulton County, their nearest neighbor was five miles away. In his boyhood the Judge would often circulate petitions in order to get the people to contribute toward hiring a teacher for the winter months. His desire for knowledge has never grown less, and even at the present time, in the midst of the manifold cares of public life, he keeps himself well informed upon events transpiring in the world about him. He remained at home until reaching his twentieth year, when, in the fall of 1852, he entered the Illinois College at Jacksonville, Ill., and was graduated from that institution with the Class of '55, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science. Since that time he has been honored by his Alma Mater with the title of Master of Arts. After completing his studies in college, Mr. Lacey devoted himself to reading law in the office of Hon. Lewis W. Ross, of Lewistown, this state, and was there admitted to the Bar in 1856. In the fall of the same year he came to Havana, where he formed a partnership with William Walker, at that time the most prominent lawyer in the place, and now a resident of Lexington, Mo. The firm conducted business under the title of Walker & Lacey for two years, when the partnership dissolved my mutual agreement. Our subject then continued the practice of his profession alone for a time, and in 1865 took Charles A. Harnden into the office with him, the firm becoming Lacey & Harnden. This partnership lasted for three years, and would have continued much longer had not the failing health of the junior partner rendered it inadvisable for him to continue longer in active practice. Subsequently Mr. Lacey was in partnership with E. A. Wallace, which connection existed until our subject was chosen a member of the judiciary. Elected to the Circuit Bench January 2, 1873, Judge Lacey has since been the incumbent of the office, having been successively re-elected for four terms of six years each. In 1877 he was appointed be the Supreme Court to the position of Judge of the Appellate Court of the Third District, which office he filled very soon after the establishment of that court. The first term of the Appellate Court was held at Springfield the third Monday in November, 1877, and Judge Lacey remained on the Bench during that term in company with his associates, Oliver L. Davis, of Danville, and Hon. Chauncey L. Higby, of Pittsfield. He also served as Judge during the May and November terms of 1878, and in June, 1879, when a re-election of Circuit Judge took place, he was appointed by the Supreme Court to the Appellate Bench of the second District, his associates during that year being George W. Pleasants, of Rock Island County, and Nathaniel J. Pilsbury, of Pontiac. He has served in this position each successive year since his first appointment to the present time, and has remained on the Bench for a longer period than any other judge. Under the constitution the Appellate Judges are required to perform the duties of their office for the same compensation as though they were only Judges of the Circuit Court, and the sole advantage over the latter position is that it is a much more honorable appointment, and the duties of that court are similar to the Supreme Court. In 1885 the Appellate Judges were not compelled to file opinions in any except reversed cases, but since that time written opinions are required by an amended statute to be filed in all cases. There are now forty-nine volumes of Appellate Court reports published, in nearly all of which will be found the opinions of Judge Lacey. In 1862 our subject was elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature, representing the counties of Mason and Menard. At that time the House was composed on the Democratic side of many young lawyers who have since become noted in the field of law and politics. Of these were Judge M. W. Fuller, now Chief Justice of the United States; Judge Burr, who was several times elected to Congress, afterward to the Circuit Bench, and died in office; and Judge Congor, who for many years was Circuit and Appellate Judge. Recognizing his practical knowledge of agriculture, the Supervisors of Mason County appointed Judge Lacey Drainage Commissioner, and under his direction were constructed over forty miles of drain in that county for the benefit of the drainage of the wet lands. Mr. Lacey owns several farms in Mason and Fulton Counties, the improvements of which he personally superintends. Prior to his election to the Bench, the Judge was one of the prime movers in securing the charter for the Havana, Mason City, Lincoln & Easter Railroad Company, and was one of the charter members and incorporators in procuring the building of over one hundred miles of railroad under that charter. He drew up all the petition for subscriptions from Mason County and the various townships through which the road runs, writing the notices for election, and canvassing the county and townships for votes in order to get the project before the people. Afterward the Board of Directors of the Railroad Company appointed him one of the committee to receive contracts for the building of the road, and in their interest he made several journeys to New York and Philadelphia in order to place the contract. He also canvassed in and through Fulton, Schuyler, McDonough and Hancock Counties for subscriptions toward the building of the Havana, Mason City, Lincoln & Eastern Railroad, and it was largely through his efforts that the people were prevailed upon to vote a subscription ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 in the various townships. Unfortunately, however, the panic of 1873 prevented the road from being extended west from Havana to the Mississippi, which otherwise would have been done the next year. Judge Lacey was Director of the Springfield & North-western Railway Company, and took an active part in securing the building of the road from Havana to Springfield, which has been in operation since 1873. He likewise procured the passage through the Legislature of the charter of the Illinois River Bridge Company, of Havana, and largely aided in procuring the subscription of about $60,000, which was generously donated by the citizens of Havana, his personal contribution being $500. On one occasion, when quite a young man, Judge Lacey was a candidate for Congress on the Democratic ticket, in a strongly Democratic district, but failed to get the nomination, for which he has always been exceedingly thankful. Since his election to the Bench he has devoted his energies to the proper fulfillment of the duties of that office, and has neither time nor opportunity to engage in public enterprises, although his is greatly interested in all measures tending toward the advancement of the county. While engaged in the practice of law, Judge Lacey had the largest clientage in the county, and during many sessions of the court had more cases on the docket than all the other lawyers combined. The good health he has always enjoyed is largely due to the fact that by farm work in youth he developed an excellent physique and a robust constitution. After leaving college he devoted himself perseveringly to the task of learning the German language, and soon mastered the tongue sufficiently to be able to read German almost as readily as English. He has read the works of a large number of the great German writers in history, poetry, romance and science. May 9, 1860, Judge Lyman Lacey and Miss Caroline A. Potter, of Beardstown, this state, were united in marriage. The lady survived her union only three years, and at her death, September 12, 1863, left one son, Lyman, Jr., now a prominent attorney-at-law in Havana. The Judge was again married, May 19, 1865, his wife being Miss Mattie A. Warner, of the city. To them were born seven children: Charles, Frank, Mattie, Edward, Alice G., John and Fannie F., the last two dying in infancy. Mrs. Lacey is a lady of culture, very popular among her associates, and is prominent in the social affairs of the city. |