Here are more biographies of those men who served in Eau Claire Co. in the legal profession. Henry H. Hayden. Among the successful and prominent lawyers of Wisconsin for many years was H. H. Hayden. He was born in Schenectady, N. Y., May 3, 1841. His father, Edwin S. Hayden, a Connecticut Yankee, was a mechanic and farmer; his mother, Matilda Hayden, nee Joyce, was of Dutch ancestry and a daughter of a survivor ot the Mohawk massacre. Raised on a farm, his boyhood was uneventful. After obtaining a good common school education at Crystal Lake, Ill., he became a student in the law office of M. L. Joslyn, at Woodstock, Ill. His legal studies were continued in Oshkosh, Wis., in the office of Jackson & Halsey and of Felker & Weisbrod. He was admitted to the bar in September, 1871, and on January 1, 1872, located in Eau Claire, where he became associated with William Pitt Bartlett under the firm name of Bartlett & Hayden. Mr. Hayden soon demonstrated his ability in his profession, and in a short time, through close application and indefatigable energy, he became one of the leaders of the bar in the state. After the partnership of Bartlett & Hayden had continued for fourteen years it was dissolved, and Mr. Hayden shortly thereafter formed an association with T. F. Frawley, which continued for three years. He next admitted R. H. Start into his business, forming the firm of Hayden & Start. This partnership continued two years, and from that time Mr. Hayden practiced alone. He was engaged in many cases of more than local importance, and probably argued as many cases before the higher courts as any member of the bar in the state, outside of a few members of the Milwaukee bar. His knowledge of the law, his energy and industry, his tact and force before judge and jury, earned him a position in the front rank of a small body of men who, collectively, were the ablest lawyers in the state. His success was largely attributed to the care with which he prepared his cases before trial and to the conscientious manner in which he treated his clients, always endeavoring to avoid litigation when just settlement could be obtained out of court. Although his time was almost entirely absorbed by this profession, Mr. Hayden became largely interested in manufacturing enterprises and financial institutions, and was the vice president of the bank of Eau Claire. He served in the war of the rebellion as sergeant in Company H, Thirty-Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Hayden was twice married. His first wife was Florence Slocum, by whom he had two daughters, Avis and Georgie. On March 18, 1885, he was again married to Alice W. Ellis. In the death of Mr. Hayden, which occurred January 4, 1903, the bar lost one of its brightest legal minds, and the city, on of its most influential and highly respected citizens. Lewis R. Larson was born near Bergen, Norway, September 1, 1849, and came with his parents to Columbus in the spring of 1850. He was educated in the public schools of Columbus and at the Wisconsin University at Madison, graduating from the latter institution in the class of 1872. He read law in the office of A. G. Cook, of Columbus, and was admitted to the bar May 20, 1874, at Portage, and May 28, 1880, to practice in the supreme court. He remained in the office of A. G. Cook until June 14, 1875, when he came to Eau Claire and began practice alone. He was city attorney from April, 1877 to April, 1878, when he was elected municipal judge for a term of four years. He subsequently moved to Minneapolis, practicing his profession there. He died there in August, 1914. Levi E. Latimer was born in the town of Bloomfield, near Hartford, Conn., April 12, 1838, and lived there until 1858, when he went to La Porte, Ind., and studied law. He came to Eau Claire June, 1860, and engaged in the practice of law until 1872, when he became municipal judge, which office he held for six years. He also held various town offices, and in 1878 engaged in the real estate business. He subsequently moved to Chicago, where he died in 1909 or 1910. Samuel W. McCaslin was born in Neillsburg, Pa., November 3, 1844 and lived there until 1865, when he went to Painesville, Ohio. He read law, was admitted to the bar and began practicing in September, 1866. In 1868 he removed to St. Charles, Winona county, Minnesota, where he remained until he came to Eau Claire in 1872. Alexander Meggett was born in Glasgow, Scotland, March 26, 1824, and came to America with his parents when a little over three years old. They settled at Uxbridge, Mass., living there until 1836 or 1837, when they removed to Chicopee Falls, town of Springfield, Mass., where they resided until 1841, in which year they located at Slaterville, R. I. Mr. Meggett worked in cotton manufactories until he was nineteen, when he commenced to educate himself. At Wilbraham Academy, Wilbraham, Mass., and at Washington, Conn., he prepared himself for the Middleton University. he spent three years in that institution in the sciences, two years in belle letters and one year in mathematics. In the winter of 1847-48 he removed to Pawtucket, Mass., and taught in the public schools for five years. He studied law in 1851-52 while engaged in teaching with Hon. C. B. Farnesworth, of Pawtucket, and completed his legal studies the year following with Hon. Thomas A. Jenckes, of the city of Providence, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1853, and commenced practice at Pawtucket, R. I., and practiced at Providence one year prior to coming west in May, 1857. In June, 1857, he visited Eau Claire and permanently located here in July following, when he commenced the practice of his profession. During the winter of 1857-58 he was editor of the Eau Claire Times. He was the second lawyer to settle in Eau Claire county. He held the offices of town superintendent of schools and city attorney, and was also at one time candidate for judge of the district. Mr. Meggett was doubtless engaged in more important criminal cases than any other lawyer in this section of the state, having been either sole or leading counsel in the following cases: State vs Nethers, Fritz, Noble, Murray, Moseby, Mrs. Wheeler and Carter, Davy, Jump and Muzzy, besides many cases of homicide in various degrees and other important cases, both criminal and civil. His untiring zeal for his client's cause, his professional learning and ability, and his peculiar forcibleness and success in jury trials, both criminal and civil, justly merited him that prominence which was so generously accorded him by members of his own profession as well as by others. +++++++++++ Oh, yes, there's more! And we'll read another segment from this chapter tomorrow. -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net