Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/611

 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 551 liildebraud made this cave his headquarters at various times, especially on one occasion vfhen he was recovering from a gun shot wound. Samuel Byrns. a native of Jefferson county, was born March 4, 1848. He was reared on the farm, received a good English education, stud- ied law, was admitted to the bar and began the practice of his profession at Hillsboro. He soon became known as a good lawyer, es- tablished a practice, and took an active part in politics. In 1876 he was a presidential elector and east a vote for Tilden and Hen- dricks. In 1877 he was a member of the house of representatives of the legislature. In 1878 he became a member of the senate and served four years. He was a member of the Democratic state committee from 1886 to 1888, and in the latter year was again a presi- dential elector, voting for Cleveland. He be- came a member of congress in 1890 and served with distinction. At the close of his first term he returned to the practice of law. He was always interested in public affairs and a lead- ing figure in everything looking to the up- building of the community. Benjamin Benson Cahoon was born in 1846, in Delaware. After receiving a common school education and being admitted to the practice of law in tlie District of Columbia, he came to Fredericktown in 1868. Shortly after his arrival he was married to Miss Bell LeCompte of Ste. Genevieve, who was a mem- ber of one of the old French families of ilis- souri. Mr. Cahoon built up a large law prac- tice and was soon recognized as one of the leading attorneys in Madison county. He was elected prosecuting attoimey in 1870, but after the close of his term he declined to be- come a candidate for anv other office. lie has always been interested in party movements, being a Republican but is a man of liberal views. It was due in part to his work that the liberal movement in Missouri to enfran- chise former Confederate soldiers was success- ful. One of his interests is in connection with the development of water transportation and the improvement of the Mississippi river. James D. Fox was born in Madison county January 23, 1847. He was educated in the common schools at Fredericktown and at St. Louis University, was admitted to the bar in 1866, and began the practice of law at Fred- ericktown. He came to be known as a good lawyer and established a large practice. He was elected judge of the 27th judicial circuit in 1880, and held the position until 1904, when he was elected a member of the supreme court, a position which he still holds. Mr. Fox is a Democrat. Joseph J. Russell, of Charleston, Missouri, was born August 23, 1854, and is a native of Mississippi county. His grandfather, James A. Russell, came to Mississippi county from Maryland in 1836. Joseph J. Russell was reared on a farm and attended a country school ; at the age of nineteen he began to teach and continued his education at the Charleston Academy. In 1876, after having studied law in the office of Moore and Hatcher, he was admitted to the bar and was aftenvard graduated from the law depart- ment of the University of Missouri. He was successful in the practice of law from the be- ginning and acquired a large and valuable practice. 'Slv. Russell was school commis- sioner of Mississippi county for two years and prosecuting attorney from 1880 to 1884. In 1884 he wa.s a presidential elector on the Dem- ocratic ticket and in 1886 he was a representa-