the earlier years of its history. At the time of his death he was almost the last of the old "Circuit riders," who, during the era of the "stirrup practice" laid the foundation of their success in a later generation. To those who knew him best, to his many admirers whether within our profession or not, he was so long, the grand old man-whose championship of any cause was an argument in its favor, whose learning on many subjects was so profound that men wondered how he had found time to acquire it all, whose manners, bearing and address were so characteristic of the most cultivated exemplars of the old school as history paints them, whose dignity was so natural that it was never for a moment laid aside that it was difficult to conceive of him under any circumstances except as a tireless student and a great advocate, with a book in his hand or sentences of classic purity falling from his lips. Such, doubtless, is the impression of him which is most general with men of the present generation, especially those who have but recently come upon the stage which he has just left. But they should remember that his span of life covered two former generations of which they formed no part. Those who were so fortunate as to enjoy his companionship during the hours of his relaxation from professional labor could not help observing his thorough knowledge of human nature, his keen sympathy with his fellowmen, his disdain for all shams, his admiration for true worth and his contempt for the unworthy, and his gentleness, his forbearance and his generosity towards the unfortunate in every walk of life. In youth his surroundings were as close to nature and to pioneer life as those which, in history, are associated with the names of Marshall and Webster, Ewing and Ranney and scores of others who have honored our profession. While we do not know that Mr. Harrison, like John Marshall, walked in his younger days to the court house eating cherries from his hat, or that, like Thomas Ewing, he made political speeches from a perambulating log cabin, we have the statement of Hon. Lawrence Weldon, recently deceased, but for many years a judge of the Court of Claims at Washington, a boyhood friend and one of the earliest law students of the subject of this memorial, that in the memorable campaign of 1840 Richard A. Harrison then but sixteen years of age, rode horseback as one of a large delegation of men and boys accompanying log cabins and one large canoe made of cottonwood hauled on wagons from Urbana and Springfield to Columbus. We are told by the same authority that Mr. Harrison in his younger days was an enthusiastic and very active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and on account of his familiarity with the ritual, his dignified bearing and power of elocution, was in frequent demand by that order for conducting the funeral services of its members; that in 1847, when but twenty-two years of age, he delivered in the old Methodist church in London, a very notable address on the anniversary of Washington's birthday; that in the year following he took a very active part in the presidential campaign in support of General Taylor; that he was reared a Whig and generally supported that party, but that, like many others of the younger Whigs, voted for Franklin Pearce in 1852. He early enlisted in the ranks of the Republican party, which was organized soon afterwards, and usually, but not always, supported its candidates and policies to the time of his death. Mr. Harrison's loyalty to any cause which he espoused, whether public or professional, and the high standard of duty which he maintained, at any sacrifice of health or strength, are fully attested by his associates. Even during his earlier practice, while traveling the circuit over a dozen counties, he was not a man of robust health. His narrow escape from death, as the penalty for his zeal in the defense of Governor Chase, would, by most men, have been regarded as a warning against such forensic efforts, whether in public debate or at the bar. But to each cause he gave the full measure of his strength both mental and physical, with no thought of its consequences to himself. After he had suffered for more than thirty years as the victim of an insidious disease which sapped his physical strength, emaciated, the sight of one eye lost, when he had passed the age of seventyseven years, it was my privilege to hear him make in an important cause the most powerful oral argument to which I ever listened, occupying more than a day and a half in its delivery. After that he was still engaged in much important litigation and prepared his most elaborate and laborious brief, ever patient and resigned to the inevitable, with a sense of humor as keen as in the days of his prime, with a mind undimmed and an interest unabated in his professional work which he carried on until the end. Throughout his long career Mr. Harrison maintained the most pleasant relations with his professional associates, and treated every court before whom he practiced with a candor and courtesy that commanded its respect. He engaged in no intrigues. He had friends to reward, but no enemies to punish. He was magnanimous in the hour of victory, stoical in the hour of defeat. His life was not embittered by enmities or jealousies. Happily for him and for all who knew him, he was like the Greek patriot of old Who did not find his sleep less sweet If he saw visions and dreamed dreams, he did not take the public into his confidence. He did not seek to walk among the stars but was content to keep his feet upon the ground. He was a man of the people in the best sense; hence as far removed as possible from the demagogue. He had no sympathy with the slaves of mammon, craving forever and forever hungry, engaged in the mad race for money, whether in the broad highways of business or in the blind alleys of frenzied finance, or with the shameless tribe of charlatans whose chief asset is their ability to make merchandize of every social, economic and political evil whose fruit is the apple of discord. Upon men and their motives he placed just values. Whether addressing courts or juries, he appealed not to their prejudices, but to their intellects and their sense of justice. He was cautious beyond most men in accepting a retainer, but when employed by client, rich or poor, he sought victory zealously, tirelessly, courageously, but only by legitimate means. He was a modest man, and sought by merit only to earn the esteem and good will of his fellowmen, as one who Remembers that the ocean deeps are mute; That worth the ocean is-Fame but the bruit MEMORIAL ON JUDGE J. H. COLLINS BY W. O. HENDERSON. James Henry Collins, a member of this association from December 28, 1880, (the date of the adjourned session at Columbus of its first meeting begun at Cleveland) until his death, and a constant attendant on its meetings, died January 9, 1904. His He was born June 18, 1835, near Cumberland, Allegheny county, and was a son of Johnson and Esther Collins. father's family emigrated from England to America in the seventeenth century, and settled in the state of Delaware, whence his immediate branch of the family removed to Maryland. In 1844, he removed with his parents from Maryland to Ohio, and settled near Fairview in the edge of Guernsey county and not far from the town of Barnesville in Belmont county. His parents left Maryland because the father was not in sympathy with slavery, and was ready to lend his assistance in freeing the slaves. His father was a farmer of moderate means, and the son was occupied chiefly with farm duties for about nine years thereafter, attending district school in winter, in much the same way as many another farmer's boy has done. He also worked at digging coal; and, in 1853, he engaged as a teacher in the schools of the neighborhood, in order to obtain sufficient means to enable him to complete his education at the Barnesville Classical Institute. Having thus acquired, or perhaps while thus acquiring, a preparatory general education, he began the study of law with Hon. John Davenport at Barnesville, in 1855, and was admitted to the bar at Columbus, by the Supreme Court, April 16, 1857. On his admission, or shortly thereafter, he began the practice of law at Cambridge, Guernsey county, where he remained for a brief period only, and then removed to Barnesville, and there remained until he removed to Columbus in January, 1880. The venerable William T. Meek, Esq., now of Columbus, but formerly of Barnesville, thus speaks of him: "My first knowledge of Mr. Collins dates from the fall of 1856, when I heard him deliver his first political speech while a student at the Barnesville Academy, his fine young form towering, statute-like, on the horse block in front of the old Shankland hotel building. Our personal and friendly relations began in 1858, when he tried his first case as a lawyer in my court, an incident we have often pleasantly discussed. He attended to numerous cases in my court, where for many years I had the honor of serving Warren Township, as Justice of the Peace. During all of those years, our relations were of the most intimate and friendly character. He lived a correct life, was an able all-round lawyer, without a glimpse of the pettifogger, and was an esteemed member of his honorable profession. There could be no stronger evidence of his ability than his long service in that great and shrewd corporation, The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company.' In 1866, he became local attorney at Barnesville for The Central Ohio Railroad Company and thereafter remained such attorney for the railroad, both while it continued to be operated by that company and after it became a part of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad system, and until his removal to Columbus, when his jurisdiction was enlarged and he became general counsel for the Trans-Ohio division of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, a position which he continued to occupy until his heath. By reason of his connection with the companies mentioned, he became and was what was popularly termed a railroad lawyer, although his practice was not restricted either to the business of his company or to business involving that part of the law which relates to corporations. Such, however, together constituted the bulk of his practice. There was at St. Clairsville, the county seat of Belmont county, and had been from the early days, a strong bar, by and before whom each important case was elaborately tried. There was ample time and opportunity for full trial and forensic display, and there was always a good audience of lawyers who had time and disposition to hear and watch all important cases tried. In the early days, there was Charles Hammond, the first official reporter of the supreme court of this state; Benjamin Ruggles, United |