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 The Supreme Court of Indiana.

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others of that age, was confined to his diana, both as a lawyer and Democratic father's farm, where he labored, assisting politician, holding a magic power over his his father, until 1837, his twentieth year. professional and political friends. In 1842 During this time he gave more than ordi Governor Whitcomb selected and appointed nary attention to mental culture, being a vo him his private secretary; following this, the racious reader. He soon acquired a breadth State legislature, then having that power, of thought and book culture rarely attained elected him prosecuting attorney for the ju dicial circuit composed of the counties of by one of his age. Mr. Hanna then entered the office of John Putnam, Clay, Park, Vermillion, Vigo, Sul M. Johnson, an able

livan, and Knox. lawyer of Brookville, The office of prose cuting attorney re Ind., and commenced his course of legal quired talent and legal acumen of the highest study. Two years' close application, with order. The common the assistance of his law governed the rules able mentor, qualified of procedure in crimi him for admission to nal as well as in civil the bar. business. He had to He then started be not only well ac West in search of a quainted with the suitable location to technics of the law, commence practice as but skilled in all the a professional lawyer. forms of criminal pleading and evi The old National Road was then the great dence. He met and highway of travel; and discharged the duties he stopped at Wilof that office with liamstown.a small vil credit to himself and honor to the State. lage on that road, in During this time the north part of Clay he became a Mason, County, Ind., and while stopping at that and stood well in the WILLIAM A. WOODS. ranks of that ancient place was advised by and honorable order. a gentleman to go to Bowling Greene, the then county-seat of At the expiration of his term of office he resumed his local practice, and continued Clay County. Very simple things sometimes shape the in that line until 1849. At the August course of a man's life. Mr. Hanna followed election of that year he was elected to the State Senate, representing in that branch the advice of his new acquaintance, and lo cated at Bowling Greene, and commenced his of the legislature the counties of Vigo, Sul professional career, spending the balance of livan, and Clay. During his term of ser his life within a radius of forty miles of that vice in that body the State passed from the old to the new Constitution. This place. As a young lawyer, he soon acquired legal change required many new and important business, and began to reap the rewards of alterations in the law; the old common-law close application and hard study. He soon and equity practice had to give way to the commanded a wide influence in western In- advanced thought of the age.