Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Some Early County Lawyers


Marion seemed well-blessed with the number of attorney's that were available in her early years. From the archives of The Crittenden Presses you can find many ads placed there telling of their services to help the public. Here are just a few of the attorney's that were practicing law in Marion in the late 1880s.
JAMES & JAMES
Lemuel H. James, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, June 7, 1844, received his education in the common school's and when only twelve years of age was left an orphan and began working to support himself and widowed mother. No doubt his trials and had work gave him a great deal of the push, pluck and perseverance which has made all that have a personal knowledge of his character and of his work pronounce him as a thoroughly capable and reliable lawyer.

He practices in all the state and federal courts and is noted for his success in winning cases.  L. H. James wields a jury as one man.  He is a self-made man who began educating himself at 19 years of age, and studied law under the Honorable Sumner Marble.  He was admitted to the bar in 1859.

He has made a successful specialty of criminal law, and has in the most severe litigation been equal to the task and come off conqueror.

He is noted for the quickness and vigor with which he compels attention to the governing questions and the same quality has given him is enviable reputation among businessmen.
Associated with him in business, is his son, Ollie M. James.
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Ollie M. James, born to legal purple, his success might have been great through the illustrious name of his father, but his own merits give him a prominence that is distinctly his own.

He was born on a farm in Crittenden County July 27, 1871, attended the public school and academy at Marion receiving a thorough general education. 

In 1887 he was elected page to the House of Representatives and in 1889 was made cloakroom keeper of the Senate.

He was admitted to the bar in 1891, under Judge Givens, formed a partnership with his father in 1892. His naturally strong and well-equipped legal mind together with his persuasive address has won him an enviable reputation, he has that magnetism that commands strict attention when he talks.

He is a good jury lawyer, always gaining his prestige by honorable means. He has a larger acquaintance over the state than any man in the county and before him opens a bright prosperous future.

L. H. James died in 1928 and is buried in the James flamily plot at Mapleview Cemetery.
His son and partner, Ollie M. James, went on to have a brilliant political career, and had bright prospects for the future but he died Aug. 28, 1918 of kidney disease and is also buried at Mapleview cemetery.
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 Cruce & Nunn
The law firm of Cruce & Nunn occupy a fine suit of rooms in the Carnahan building, and are they are never too busy to talk and execute business, although they have a large law practice, one that has proven alike satisfactory to the lawyer and the client.

Their large library, composed of the authentic works with the latest reports and publications, brings them in touch with the brightest minds of this and every other age, and much time is devoted to a careful perusal of its volumes. 

They are both men of experience and ability, whose practice has won the favor of all with whom they have met in business connection.

Wm. I. Cruce, the senior member of the firm, is a Kentuckian, born in this county, near Crayne. His legal education was thorough and he possessed the necessary qualifications to make practical use of it. 

He is a lawyer of recognized ability and Marion has cause to feel proud of him. Well versed in law and unusually ready and quick in repartee, it is not strange that he has established a position among the best lawyers in the state.

William I. Cruce after this time moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma with other members of his family. He died there in 1928 and was also buried there.
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Clem S. Nunn is also a son of Kentucky and is a rising young attorney. He has the natural adaptation and educational training for a good, sound lawyer, and thus far in his professional calling has every reason to be pleased with his success. 

He is careful and painstaking, looks closely after the interested of his clients, and secures favorable verdicts by the employment of honorable and professional methods. The firm as now composed is one of the best in this part of the State.

They have incorporated into their law practice live business methods. The are not only able to handle any matters entrusted to them, but they give close and prompt attention to all cases of whatever magnitude, and it they take it al all, it is "to win." Their live methods are continually adding to their already large volume of business.

Clem S. Nunn died June 19, 1935 and is buried in Mapleview Cemetery.

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