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    Wisconsin Lawyer
    May 01, 2000

    Wisconsin Lawyer May 2000: James Sibree Anderson

    James Sibree Anderson

    James Sibree Anderson was born in Scotland in 1841, came to this country with his parents, two brothers and two sisters in 1852, and settled on a wooded tract in what is now the town of Kossuth. After moving to the neighboring village of Manitowoc in 1855, Anderson continued his education in the public schools until joining the Union Army in 1861 at age 18 as one of the original 104 members of Company A, Fifth Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. He was wounded in several battles, the last at Gains Mills, and was mustered out of service in July 1864.

    Anderson After the war, Anderson studied law at Lawrence University in Appleton. He was admitted to the Bar in Manitowoc in 1871, and was appointed a county judge in 1895. He died in 1927 as a result of being struck by a cyclist in front of his office on North Eighth Street. [Armond Kueter, "Centennial Celebration" Herald Times Reporter, Manitowoc, Wis., 1998-99]

    At the 1919 June term of the Manitowoc circuit court, a memorial service was held for a member who died some time previously. Among others, Anderson spoke in tribute to the deceased, and alluded to the fact that by reason of his residence in the county for more than 60 years he had personally known every lawyer who had practiced at the Manitowoc bar since its organization in 1848. Anderson grew reminiscent and spoke of some of those who were pioneers in the early work of the court, who had passed away and lived only in local tradition. Those present became interested and said their story should be preserved. One remarked, "Why do you not write it? You are the only one left who can."

    Anderson's collections and recollections were published originally as a series of papers in the Manitowoc Pilot during the winter of 1920-21. The completion of these newspaper publications and the occurrence of the fiftieth anniversary of Anderson's admission to the bar were so nearly contemporaneous that the Manitowoc County bar was moved to celebrate those concurring events by a dinner in his honor on Feb. 15, 1921.

    As a token of its "love and as a measure, though wholly inadequate, of their appreciation," the Manitowoc bar undertook to republish the papers in one volume, under Anderson's editorial supervision. [L.J. Nash, A. Hougen, H.L. Markham, E.L. Kelley, A.J. Wyseman, "Introductory," Pioneer Courts and Lawyers of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, Dec. 1, 1921]

    The accompanying text is excerpted primarily from chapters 13 and 17 of Pioneer Courts and Lawyers of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, and is reprinted here with permission from the Manitowoc County Historical Society, which reprinted the publication in 1997. The 134-page book is available for $10 plus $3.50 shipping/handling from the Manitowoc County Historical Society, P.O. Box 574, Manitowoc, WI 54221-0574, phone (920) 684-4445, fax (920) 684-0573.

    In addition to Robert P. Fay, Manitowoc County Historical Society executive director, who provided us with Pioneer Courts and Lawyers, the Wisconsin Lawyer editors thank Milwaukee attorney Raymond J. Pollen for alerting us to this charming publication.


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