Local Historical Society recognizes Logan County law practices

[May 20, 2017]  LINCOLN - Logan County law offices, attorneys, and judges are being saluted in a window display at the Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society, 114 N. Chicago St., in conjunction with Law Day, May 1.

Lincoln’s four multi-generational law offices are among those being recognized.

Miller & Miller

Miller & Miller law office was established in 1887 by Attorney James E. Miller, the great-grandfather of current Attorney, Stephen L. Miller. James E. served the firm until 1938.

Steve’s grandfather, Leland P. Miller, received his degree from the University of Chicago Law School and practiced law from 1920 until 1963.

His father, Burke Miller, also a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, practiced law for 50 years, from 1946 until 1996.

Steve began his law career in 1978 upon receiving his degree cum laude from Chicago Kent College of Law.

A past president of the Logan County Bar Association, Steve has written more than 1,375 wills for his clients in addition to providing other legal services. He has also served as president of the Logan County United Way board of directors and of the Lincoln Branch of Catholic Social Services of Peoria board of directors.

Steeped in the tradition of law Miller is also the maternal great-grandson of former Atlanta Attorney John Bevan, a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Law, who practiced law in Atlanta from 1874 until 1933.

Steve is the maternal grandson of Judge Frank S. Bevan, whose legal career spanned half a century, and was a 1910 graduate of the University of Chicago Law School. Bevan began practicing with the firm of Bevan & Bevan in 1910, serving until 1939 when he was elected Circuit Judge. He was re-elected in 1945, 1951, and 1957.

Woods & Bates

The Woods & Bates law firm began in 1972 with the partnership of the law practices of William C. Bates and Robert Woods.

William C. Bates Jr. was graduated from the University of Miami Law School cum laude in 1950 and began the practice of law in Lincoln, joining with Robert J. and Dick H. Woods in 1972.

Gerald Dehner, who later became a circuit judge, was also a member of the firm.

Dehner, who was admitted to the bar in 1972, received his JD degree from Washington University. He retired from his judicial duties in 1998.

From 1952 until 1964 Bates served as Master of Chancery of the Circuit Court. He retired from the law firm in 1985 and was succeeded by his son, William B. Bates.

William B. Bates received his juris doctorate with honors degree from Drake University in 1978, having served as a law clerk for Fourth District Appellate Court Justice John T. McCullough. Bates then became an associate with Woods, Bates, and Dehner, becoming a partner in 1981, and managing partner in 1983. He assumed ownership of the firm in 1994, retiring in 2014. Bates concentrated his practice on estate, trust, and real estate law.

He serves on the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital board of directors and is president and a director of the Woods Foundation, a philanthropic group.

William Blinn Bates Jr. received his Juris Doctor degree with honors from Drake University Law School in 2007 and commenced his practice of law in Lincoln.

A past president of the Logan County Bar Association, Bates is active in local civic, charity, and educational affairs and serves on the Lincoln Elementary District 27 Board of Education, the Community Action Partnership board of directors, and on the Young Professionals Network steering committee.

Blinn has concentrated his practice in estate planning, including drafting of trusts and wills, administration of decedents’ estates, real estate, and collection matters.

Robert J. Woods graduated in 1948 from the University of Illinois Law School entering into a partnership with his father Charles H. Woods, who practiced law in Logan County for more than 50 years.

Following his father’s death in 1958 Robert practiced alone until 1961 when Roger W. Thompson became associated with him. Thompson left the firm in 1972 upon becoming Logan County State’s Attorney. Doug and Laurie Muck were also associated with the law firm.

Robert J. Woods spent considerable time involved with trial work with his concentration being in real estate, estate planning, wills and trusts. He has served as president of the ALM Hospital board of directors and was active in other church and community organizations.

One of his greatest accomplishments was the founding upon his (and his wife’s) deaths of the Woods Foundation, a philanthropic organization which invests thousands of dollars yearly in community projects.

Norman Stanley Woods, another son of Charles H. Woods, practiced with his father from 1940-1941, but met his death in World War II.

Harris & Harris

Harris & Harris Law Office was founded in 1921 when Judge Thomas Milton Harris and his son, Homer Blinn Harris, became law partners. Offices were opened in Lincoln in the Greisheim building and in Mt. Pulaski in Fred Zimmerman’s South Washington Street building.

Thomas Milton Harris studied law under the direction of Lincoln Attorneys, Edward D. Blinn and James T. Hoblit, whom he joined in practice in 1893 following his graduation from Valparaiso University Law School.

In 1895 Harris became a partner in the law firm of Blinn and Harris. Harris became the first Circuit Judge to be elected from Logan County. In 1914 Judge Harris was appointed to the Illinois Appellate Court, now the Fourth District.

Son Homer Blinn Harris was named after his father’s senior law partner, graduated from the University of Illinois Law School, and was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1942, becoming the house majority leader in 1944. He served three terms in the Illinois State Legislature. Homer decided in 1948 to retire from politics to devote full time to trial work and the general practice of law.

He practiced law in Lincoln for more than 35 years and also served as a special legal counsel for the Chicago and Illinois State Bar Associations. He also served on the elementary school board of education.

Following his return to the law office, Homer’s sons, Tom and Bud joined the firm. Tom received his degree from the Northwestern University School of Law, while Bud was graduated from the University of Illinois Law School.

Both brothers have served as president of the Logan County Bar Association. Tom was the initial chairman of the Logan County Planning Commission. Bud was an organizer of the United Fund in Lincoln and served as president of the Lincoln Elementary District 27 Board of Education. The firm began serving as Mt. Pulaski City Attorney in 1971.

Tom’s son Thomas began his legal career in the Lincoln office upon receiving his juris doctor degree from the University of Colorado in 1988.

He worked as an assistant state’s attorney, later becoming an Associate Judge. He was elected a Circuit Judge in2008. In 2012 the Illinois Supreme Court assigned Judge Thomas Harris to the Appellate Court of the Fourth Judicial District.

Judge Harris has served on the Chester-East Lincoln Board of Education, and as a director for the Illinois Bar Foundation. He has been a frequent lecturer at Illinois State Bar Association seminars.

Mills Law Office

Edwin Coddington Mills established the Mills Law Firm in Lincoln. He graduated from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1930 and began his career as a trial attorney with the Peter Murphy firm. Mills served as Master in Chancery in the Logan County Circuit Court from 1932-1935. He was elected Logan County State’s Attorney in 1940, 1944, and 1948. In 1952 he returned to private practice.

Mills served as county chairman of the National Recovery Act, was a board member of the Chamber of Commerce, president of the March of Dimes, an Exulted Ruler of the Lincoln Elks, and served as an officer of the State Elks Association.

Mills was succeeded by his son Edwin Mills Jr., who was graduated from the John Marshall School of Law in Chicago. At the time of his death he was a legal representative of Old Heritage Life Insurance Co. In 2005 Edwin (Ted) Mills III began practicing law in Lincoln to continue the Mills tradition.

Additional Logan County judges and attorneys being recognized include:

R. Marlin Baker

Robert Marlin Baker attended Abraham Lincoln College of Law in Springfield and was admitted to the bar in September of 1941. He practiced law in Lincoln.

Rob Barry

Robert John “Rob” Barry was graduated from the Drake University School of Law and began his practice of law. In 1980 he was elected Logan County State’s Attorney, later returning to private practice. He was a past president of the Logan County Bar Association.

Judge Donald Behle

Donald Behle received his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. He began his practice with the John Gehlbach Law Firm and maintains a private practice in Lincoln. He served several years as a judge in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.

Fred Blanford

Frederick L. Blanford was graduated from the University of Illinois School of Law with a Juris Doctorate degree. He practiced privately in Lincoln and also worked with his brother-in-law, Judge David Coogan.

Nick Burgrabe

Nick Burgrabe practiced law in the areas of Criminal Law, divorce, DUI and DWI, Family Law and Real Estate law in Lincoln.

Judge David Coogan

David L. Coogan received his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law and was admitted to the bar in 1968. Coogan was a Logan County Assistant State’s Attorney, Public Administrator and Public Defender, in addition to serving as Lincoln City Attorney before joining the bench in 1985 as an Associate Judge in the Eleventh judicial circuit.

Elected a circuit judge in 1988, he remained in that position until his retirement in November of 2008.

Luther Dearborn

Luther Dearborn was graduated in 1939 from the University of Illinois Law School. He began practicing law in Mason City and Lincoln, a practice which continued for 42 years until his retirement in 1975.
His son, Luther H. Dearborn, served as a circuit judge in Bloomington and practiced law there.

Timothy J. Forman

Timothy Forman was admitted to the bar in Illinois in 1983 and opened an office in Lincoln in 2010. He is a former Logan County Assistant Public Defender. Forman’s firm concentrates in the areas of Family Law; Adoption, Child Support, Custody, & Visitation; Bankruptcy, Contract & “Business Law, Real Estate law, Criminal, DUI, Misdemeanors and Felonies.

Judge Thomas W. Funk

A Lincoln native, Judge Thomas W. Funk has practiced law in Logan County since 1984 following his graduation from the Indiana School of Law.

Funk began his legal career as a Logan County Assistant State’s Attorney, served as a Logan County Public Defender, and as a City Attorney for Mt. Pulaski. He has practiced law in Lincoln since 1989. His areas of practice include Criminal Law, Divorce, DUI and DWI, Family Law, and Real Estate Law.

He serves on the board of the International Disaster Emergency Service and served on the board of Christian Homes. Funk is a Rotary past president.

John R. Gehlbach

John R. Gehlbach of Elkhart received his Bachelor of Law degree in 1949 from Northwestern University Law School. After being admitted to the bar in Illinois, he became an assistant to the General Counsel for Swift & Co. in Chicago.

In 1951 he returned to Lincoln and opened his law firm, remaining in practice until his death in 2010. Gehlbach served as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois for 20 years. He became the longest serving trustee in the history of Lincoln College, for a total of more than 56 years.

Elected to the State Bank of Lincoln Board of Directors in 1972, Gehlbach became the bank’s first Director Emeritus in 2010. A former chairman of the board of the Illinois State Historical Library, Gehlbach was a former chairman of the Illinois Historical Society.

He was a past president of the Lincoln Kiwanis, Illinois FFA, and was a past trustee of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. A past board member of Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Gehlbach also served as a member of the Illinois Executive Mansion Association and was on the committee to Restore Historic Postville Courthouse.

His son, Rick, joined him in the practice of law following his graduation cum laude from Southern Illinois University School of Law. Rick served as president of the Logan County Bar Association and as vice president of Main Street Lincoln. Following a courageous battle with cystic fibrosis, he died in 1996 at age 36.

Jim Grimaldi

Jim Grimaldi received his JD degree cum laude from the University of Illinois Law School in 2005 and has been licensed to practiced law for twelve years. His specialties include Criminal Law and DUI defense.

Grimaldi is a past president of the Logan County Bar Association. A criminal defense attorney, Grimaldi’s law practice concentrates in the areas of DUI, felonies, misdemeanors, expungements, driver’s license reinstatement, and traffic tickets.

Daniel W. Handlin

Daniel W. Handlin served as Logan County Public Defender for eleven years, resigning the position in 1984 several months prior to his death.

Handlin served as Lincoln City Attorney from 1957 until 1959, having practiced law in Lincoln for 31 years.

A past president of the Logan County Bar Association, Handlin was a former legal advisor to the Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections.

He was a 1952 graduate of the Lincoln College of Law in Springfield, where he was salutatorian and class president.

Handlin was a past commander of American Legion Post 263, a charter member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association.

Bradley M. Hauge

Bradley M. Hauge is a Logan County Assistant State’s Attorney and serves as president of the Logan County Bar Association.

Rick L. Hobler

Rick L. Hobler received his JD degree from the Southern Illinois University School of Law in 1978 and was licensed to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court in 1981.

Hobler has been licensed to practice law for 39 years.

Robert Richards Humphrey

Robert Richards Humphrey was graduated from the University of Chicago School of Law and began practicing law in Lincoln in 1919 with his father, Robert Humphrey. He retired in 1977.

Humphrey served as Logan County State’s Attorney from 1928 until 1932. He served on the board of directors of the State Bank of Lincoln for about 50 years and was board president. He was a 30 year chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, a former commander and charter member of American Legion Post 263 and a charter member of Voiture 985 of the Forty & Eight.

For 30 years he served as Chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield.

Timothy Huyett

Tim Huyett began is prosecutorial career shortly after graduating with honors from Southern Illinois University School of Law.

In 1988 he became a Logan County Assistant State’s Attorney. In 1995 he was appointed Logan County State’s Attorney.

After leaving office Huyett worked as a special prosecutor for the State’s Attorney’s Appellate Prosecutor’s office in Springfield. Huyett regained the State’s Attorney’s position in 2000.

Huyett has spent time in a teaching capacity at Lincoln College and Lincoln Correctional Center.

Darrell Klink

Darrell E. Klink practiced law in Lincoln for 58 years. He received his law degree from the University of Illinois School of Law in 1953. He served two terms as Logan County State’s Attorney. Klink was a 50 year member of BPO 914 Elks Lodge.

Michael Lakin

Michael Lakin received his Doctor of Law degree from the DePaul University College of Law. Lakin opened a law office in Mt. Pulaski in 1976 and later served as Logan County Public Defender. He currently is the publisher and editor in chief of the Mt. Pulaski Times.

Natalie Marquez

Natalie Marquez, a Lincoln native, received her JD degree from the DePaul University College of Law in 2000 and became a legal counsel to the Illinois State Senate, insurance and pensions committee. She then worked in corporate and executive offices of integrated health care systems and private equity firms.

Marquez started her Lincoln career in the office of the late John Gehlbach. Upon his death she purchased the business through his partner Phillip A. Montalvo in 2011.

Marquez concentrates her practice to the areas of legal services in estate planning, banking, business, construction, special needs, health care and government/municipal corporations. She has served on the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Board of Directors.

Justice John T. McCullough

Often referred to as, “The Judge,” John T. McCullough at the time of his death was the longest serving judge, 50 years, in Illinois history. His passion was the law. Judge McCullough was educated at Lincoln College and received his JD degree in 1955 from the University of Illinois College of Law.

Following four years in private practice, he was elected a county judge in 1962 and through transition became resident Circuit Judge. In 1974 McCullough was elected Chief Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.

In 1984 Judge McCullough was elected to the Fourth District Appellate Court, serving for 28 years. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Illinois Judges Association.

McCullough served 22 years on the Worker’s Compensation Commission for the Appellate Court and was elected presiding judge of the commission each of those years.

The judge demanded absolute respect for the judicial system in the court room, was always willing to lend a hand, but reluctant to accept one. It is said he enjoyed a good game of golf and the companionship of the 19th hole.

Paul A. Meints

Paul A. Meints was admitted to the bar in Illinois in 1974. He maintains offices in Bloomington and Atlanta. His areas of expertise include agricultural law and tax matters. Meints has been appointed to the Illinois State Bar Association Trusts and Estates Section Council and to the Agricultural Law Section Council.

Phillip Montalvo

Phillip Montalvo was a law partner with the John Gehlbach law firm. His area of concentration is estate planning and Real Estate Law.

Douglas A. Muck

Douglas Muck received his Juris Doctor degree from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis in 1979 and became a member of the Woods & Bates law firm. He later went into private practice with his wife, Laurie. Muck specializes in criminal defense, DUI & DWI. general practice, and real estate law.

Laurie E. Muck

Laurie E. Muck received her Juris Doctor degree from the Washinton University School of Law in St. Louis in 1980 and became a member of the Woods & Bates law firm. She later went into private practice with her husband, Doug. Laurie was the first female resident attorney in Logan County.

Laurie specializes in real estate law, probate, general practice, and Family Law.

Frederick W. Nessler

Frederick W. Nessler of Emden was graduated from the Kent College of Law, Chicago, with his JD degree cum laude in 1977. The same year he began his career in Lincoln as a personal injury attorney.

Nessler has been selected a leading attorney in the area of personal injury and named a top 100 lawyer by the American Association of Justice. His largest personal injury settlement exceeded $15 million. He is the owner of Nessler & Associates, a firm with law offices located throughout the state. He continues to maintain an office in Lincoln.

Jonathan Thomas Nessler

Attorney Jonathan Thomas Nessler, son of Frederick W., is the managing attorney for Nessler & Associates. He was graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law, Chicago, receiving his JD degree in 2007.

Nessler is recognized as a top 100 trial lawyer and in the top 40 under age 40 of trial lawyers. A personal injury lawyer, Nessler began his legal career in 2007 with Nessler & Associates. Other areas of concentration include nursing home abuse and neglect, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, products liability, and insurance claims.

Warren Peters

An attorney for 58 years, Warren was graduated from the University of Illinois in 1954 with his Juris Doctor degree and was admitted to the bar the same year.

Peters served as a Logan County Assistant State’s Attorney from 1956-1957, an Assistant Attorney General from 1961-1964, State’s Attorney from 1964-1968, and as Lincoln City Attorney from 1969 until 1981.

He was a 50 year Rotary member and past president and served as a board member of the Paramedics Association.

Zach Schmidt

Attorney Zach Schmidt is serving as a Logan County Assistant State’s Attorney.

Judge Leland Simkins

Leland Simkins was graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 1939 and maintained a private practice from 1940 until 1961 when he was elected to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. In 1964 he became Chief Judge of the circuit. In 1971 he was appointed to the Fourth District of the Illinois Appellate Court, retiring in 1976.

Roger W. Thompson

Roger Winston Thompson was graduated from the University of Illinois School of Law in 1961 and established his practice in Lincoln.

During a 40 year legal career Thompson served as Lincoln City Attorney from 1963-1966, as Logan County Public Defender from1966 until 1972, Logan County State’s Attorney from 1972-1980, Atlanta City Attorney from 1984-1987; and as county Public Defender from 1987-1989. He also served as treasurer for the Lincoln Public Library District.

A past president of the Logan County Bar Association, Thompson held executive and board positions with the Illinois State’s Attorney’s Association. He is known for organizing and directing the first Logan County Legal Aid Society in 1970.

His father, Donald L. Thompson of Lincoln, was a well known trial lawyer who practiced law for 40 years in the Chicago area. The elder Thompson received his degree from the Georgetown University Law School in Washington, D.C.

Judge Robert L. Thornton

Robert L. Thornton served as a judge in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit for 26 years. At the time of his death in 1995, Thornton was serving as an adjudicating judge. Thornton’s circuit work included duties as a Justice of the Peace and as a Police Magistrate. He had been a hearing officer for the Illinois Department of Revenue and practiced law in Lincoln before taking a seat on the bench.

Thornton was a 1951 graduate of the Lincoln College of Law in Springfield. In community work Thornton was legal adviser for the Lincoln Baseball Association and managed the Eagles Lodge Little League baseball team.

Patrick Tim Timoney

Patrick Tim Timoney received his Juris Doctor degree from the Southern Illinois University School of Law in 1990. A partner in Timoney and Page Law Offices since 1992 Timoney has served as Logan County Public Defender, beginning in that capacity in 1992. He concentrates in Family and Criminal Law.

Timoney served as a Commissioner of the Illinois Court of Claims from 2004 until 2015 and is owner of the Corner Pub & Grill in Springfield and the Creek Pub and Grill in Chatham.

Harold Trapp Sr.

Harold Trapp Sr. received his law degree from the University of Illinois and began his reading law in the firm of Beach & Hodnett, continuing the office following the death of Attorney Beach.

A prominent trial lawyer, Trapp was honored by the Illinois State Bar Association for 50 years of service. Trapp was a charter member of the Lincoln ELKs, organizer and first president of the Lincoln Rotary, and served as a Lincoln College Trustee.

Judge Harold Trapp

Harold Trapp was graduated from the University of Illinois Law School in 1933, joining his father in the family law firm, Trapp & Trapp.

Trapp was appointed to the Appellate Court in 1964, retiring from the bench in 1986. A past multi-term president of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital board, Trapp served as president of the Lincoln College Board of Trustees, spending 16 years as a director.

William F. Trapp

William Frederick Trapp of Lincoln, son of Robert and Dorothy Ward Trapp, was graduated from the Washington University School of Law in 1976 and worked as an attorney in the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s office from 1977 until 1981.

In 1981 he undertook civil litigation work with Brown, Hayes, and Stephens, becoming a partner in 1984 and engaging in that work until 2004.

Trapp served on the board of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra for ten years.

Judge John Turner

John W. Turner received his J D. degree from DePaul University College of Law in 1981. Turner served as Logan County Public Defender from 1984 until 1987. He was elected Logan County State’s Attorney in 1988 and 1972. He maintained a private practice in Lincoln while serving as public defender and state representative.

In 1994 Turner was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. He was then appointed to the Fourth District Appellate Court in 2001. In 2002 he was elected to a full term on the court, where he continues to serve.

Judge Turner is an honorary alumnus of Lincoln College.

Thomas L. Van Hook

Thomas Van Hook received his Juris Doctor degree from Regent University School of Law in 1995. Van Hook served as a Logan County Assistant State’s Attorney from 1996 until 1998 and has maintained a private practice of law in Lincoln since 1999.

Van Hook concentrates his work in the areas of probate, estate planning, real estate, guardianship, and adoption.

He served on the Illinois Supreme Court committee on character and fitness from 2008 until 2015. In the community Van Hook has coached youth baseball and softball.

Thomas F. Walsh

Thomas F. Walsh was a graduate of the Lincoln College of Law in Springfield. He practiced law in Lincoln for a number of years.

Judge Bill Workman

Bill Workman served as a Logan County Assistant State’s Attorney before his elections in 1996 and 2000 as Logan County State’s Attorney.

While State’s Attorney Workman established a victim/witness advocate as a full time staff member.

In 2014 Workman became an associate judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.

Jonathan Wright

Jonathan Wright began his practice of law in Logan County in 1995 and served as city attorney for Lincoln and Atlanta.

Wright was employed as a Logan County Assistant State’s Attorney prior to being elected State’s Attorney in 2012 and re-elected in 2016. He is a member of the Illinois Supreme Court for criminal pattern jury instructions.

[Diane Osborn, LCG&HS]