Elliott Anthony
Encyclopedia
Elliott Anthony was a prominent Illinois
lawyer
and judge
who was active in the founding of the Republican Party
.
on June 10, 1827. He was raised as a Quaker, being born into a family that had been Quaker for generations. In 1845, he enrolled in Courtland Academy and in the fall of 1847, entered Hamilton College, graduating in 1850 with high honors.
After college, Anthony read law
with Timothy Dwight V
. In May 1851, he was admitted to the bar of New York
. In June 1851, he spent one year at Sterling, Illinois
. He returned East in July 1852 and on July 14, 1852 married Mary Dwight, a granddaughter of Timothy Dwight IV
and sister of Timothy Dwight V. In November 1852, the couple returned to Illinois
, settling in Chicago
. With the aid of his wife, in two years Anthony prepared and published a digest of the Illinois Reports
. Four years later, he was elected City Attorney
and then Corporation Counsel
.
In 1858 or 1859, Anthony was appointed General Solicitor
of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad
, which position he held until 1864, when that corporation became consolidated with the Chicago and North Western Railway Company. When that took place, Anthony was employed by the non-consenting stockholders and bondholders, and engaged in a litigation to break up the consolidation. He published a book on railway consolidation in 1865. The case was ultimately argued before David Davis
of the United States Supreme Court and Samuel Hubbel Treat, Jr.
of Springfield, and resulted in favor of Anthony's clients.
In 1876, he was called again to the position of corporation counsel under Mayor of Chicago
Monroe Heath
, and took a conspicuous part at that time in the great reform movement in connection with Thomas Hoyne
.
Anthony early took part in the formation of the Republican Party
and for more than a quarter of a century was a leader of that organization. He was twice elected to constitutional conventions
, called by the people to revise the Illinois Constitution
— the first time in 1862 and the last in 1869-70. In the last he was chairman of the executive committee that framed the article in the 1870 constitution, relating to the executive department. He was a delegate to the 1880 Republican National Convention
and aided in the nomination of James A. Garfield for President of the United States
.
In November 1880, Anthony was elected Judge of the Superior Court of Chicago by a large majority. He was identified with many of the public improvements of Chicago, such as the establishment of graded streets, water works, public parks, public library and cemeteries.
In 1894, Anthony served as president of the Illinois State Bar Association
.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
who was active in the founding of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Biography
Elliott Anthony was born in Onondaga County, New YorkOnondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
on June 10, 1827. He was raised as a Quaker, being born into a family that had been Quaker for generations. In 1845, he enrolled in Courtland Academy and in the fall of 1847, entered Hamilton College, graduating in 1850 with high honors.
After college, Anthony read law
Reading law
Reading law is the method by which persons in common law countries, particularly the United States, entered the legal profession before the advent of law schools. This usage specifically refers to a means of entering the profession . A small number of U.S...
with Timothy Dwight V
Timothy Dwight V
Timothy Dwight V was an American academic, an educator, a Congregational minister, and president of Yale College...
. In May 1851, he was admitted to the bar of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. In June 1851, he spent one year at Sterling, Illinois
Sterling, Illinois
Sterling is a city in Whiteside County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,370 at the 2010 census, down from 15,451 at the 2000 census. Formerly nicknamed "The Hardware Capital of the World", Sterling has long been associated with manufacturing and the steel...
. He returned East in July 1852 and on July 14, 1852 married Mary Dwight, a granddaughter of Timothy Dwight IV
Timothy Dwight IV
Timothy Dwight was an American academic and educator, a Congregationalist minister, theologian, and author...
and sister of Timothy Dwight V. In November 1852, the couple returned to Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, settling in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. With the aid of his wife, in two years Anthony prepared and published a digest of the Illinois Reports
Illinois Reports
Illinois Reports is the official reporter of the Illinois Supreme Court. It is published by Thomson Reuters, under contract with the Illinois Supreme Court Reporter of Decisions. The Illinois Supreme Court retains the copyright....
. Four years later, he was elected City Attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
and then Corporation Counsel
Corporation Counsel
The Corporation Counsel is the title given to the chief legal officer in some municipal and county jurisdictions, who handles civil claims against the city, including negotiating settlements and defending the city when it is sued. Most corporation counsels do not prosecute criminal cases, though...
.
In 1858 or 1859, Anthony was appointed General Solicitor
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad
Galena and Chicago Union Railroad
The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad was a railroad running west from Chicago to Clinton, Iowa and Freeport, Illinois, never reaching Galena, Illinois...
, which position he held until 1864, when that corporation became consolidated with the Chicago and North Western Railway Company. When that took place, Anthony was employed by the non-consenting stockholders and bondholders, and engaged in a litigation to break up the consolidation. He published a book on railway consolidation in 1865. The case was ultimately argued before David Davis
David Davis (Supreme Court justice)
David Davis was a United States Senator from Illinois and associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. He also served as Abraham Lincoln's campaign manager at the 1860 Republican National Convention....
of the United States Supreme Court and Samuel Hubbel Treat, Jr.
Samuel Hubbel Treat, Jr.
Samuel Hubbel Treat, Jr. was a United States federal judge.Born in Plainfield, New York, Treat read law to enter the bar in 1834. He was in private practice in Springfield, Illinois from 1834 to 1839. He was a judge on the Circuit Court of Illinois from 1839 to 1841, becoming a Justice of the...
of Springfield, and resulted in favor of Anthony's clients.
In 1876, he was called again to the position of corporation counsel under Mayor of Chicago
Mayor of Chicago
The Mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of Chicago, Illinois, the third largest city in the United States. He or she is charged with directing city departments and agencies, and with the advice and consent of the Chicago City Council, appoints department and agency leaders.-Appointment...
Monroe Heath
Monroe Heath
Monroe Heath was a U.S. politician. He served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois for the Republican Party. He is buried in Oak Woods Cemetery....
, and took a conspicuous part at that time in the great reform movement in connection with Thomas Hoyne
Thomas Hoyne
Thomas Hoyne was elected Mayor of Chicago in 1876, but his election was later declared null and void by a Circuit Court....
.
Anthony early took part in the formation of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and for more than a quarter of a century was a leader of that organization. He was twice elected to constitutional conventions
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
, called by the people to revise the Illinois Constitution
Illinois Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Illinois is the governing document of the state of Illinois. There have been four Illinois Constitutions; the fourth and current version was adopted in 1970.-History:...
— the first time in 1862 and the last in 1869-70. In the last he was chairman of the executive committee that framed the article in the 1870 constitution, relating to the executive department. He was a delegate to the 1880 Republican National Convention
1880 Republican National Convention
The 1880 Republican National Convention convened from June 2 to June 8, 1880 at the Interstate Exposition Building in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and nominated James A. Garfield and Chester A...
and aided in the nomination of James A. Garfield for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
.
In November 1880, Anthony was elected Judge of the Superior Court of Chicago by a large majority. He was identified with many of the public improvements of Chicago, such as the establishment of graded streets, water works, public parks, public library and cemeteries.
In 1894, Anthony served as president of the Illinois State Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
The Illinois State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the country. Approximately 30,000 lawyers are members of the ISBA. Unlike some state bar associations, in which membership is mandatory, ISBA membership is not required of lawyers licensed to practice in...
.