Leonidas Hogg McGill

Contents

Personal and Family Information

Leonidas was born on 22 Feb 1854 in Kentucky, the son of unknown parents.

He died on 23 Jul 1931 in Benton County, Arkansas .

His wife was Elizabeth Peel, who he married on 26 DEC 1881 in Benton County, Arkansas . Their only known child was Mary Katherine (1890-1944).

Events

EventDateDetailsSourceMultimediaNotes
Birth22 FEB 1854
Place: Kentucky
Death23 JUL 1931
Place: Benton County, Arkansas
BurialJUL 1931
Place: Benton County, Arkansas
Address: Bentonville Cemetery with wife findagrave 43272773

Notes

Note 1

McGILL, Leonidas Hogg - Lon H. McGill, aged 77 years a prominent and widely known Northwest Arkansas attorney, died at the family home on West Twelfth St. Bentonville this morning at 10:15 o'clock. His death was not unexpected as Attorney McGill had been ill the past two months and for the past ten days had been gradually sinking. All of his children were at his bedside during his last hours. Mr. McGill was dean of the attorneys of Benton County and probably the oldest practicing lawyer in Northwest Arkansas. He was admitted to the bar in Bentonville in 1876. For many years he was a member of the law firm of McDaniel and McGill and later with McGill and Lindsey. A few yeas ago the firm name was changed to McGill & McGill, J.T. McGill entering the practice of law with his father. Attorney McGill had practiced law for 55 years. He practiced in Ozark, Clarksville and Morillton as well as in Bentonville. During this time, through his integrity and knowledge of law, he built up a large practice. Out of respect Judge Lee Seamster adjourned chancery court today. Leonidas Hogg McGill was born in Kentucky Feb. 22, 1854 and when a young man came to Bentonville and studied law. On December 26, `88` he was married in Bentonville to Miss Mittie Peel, a daughter of the late Congressman Sam W. Peel, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Peter Carnahan. To them were born ten children, nine of whom are now living. Besides his widow the following children survive him; Mrs. Elizabeth Bohart and Mrs. Katherine Dickson of Fayetteville; Mrs. Mary Davis of the home; J.T. McGill of the home; L.H. McGill, Jr. of Los Angeles; Charles McGill of Ft. Smith; Sam McGill of Tulsa and Wm. and Berry McGill of Needles, Calif. Funeral services for Mr. McGill will be held at the First Presbyterian Church Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The Rev. Arthur Henderson will have charge of the service, assisted by the Rev. Stanley Hayden and Rev. Dana Dawson of Fort Smith. [Benton County Record & Democrat & Sun - Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas - July 16, 1931][Rogers Democrat -Rogers, Benton County, Arkansas - July 23, 1931]

Funeral services for L.H. McGill, prominent Bentonville attorney who died at his home in Bentonville at 10 o'clock Thursday morning after a lengthy illness, were held Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the First Presbyterian church in Bentonville. The services were conducted by the Reverend A.W. Henderson, pastor of the church, assisted by the Reverend R.S. Hayden, pastor of the Bentonville Methodist church. Burial was in the Bentonville cemetery. Honorary pallbearers were Judge Joseph M. Hill, Fort Smith; Judge J.B. McDonough, Fort Smith; Harry Daily, president of the Arkansas Bar association, Fort Smith and Grover C. Hardin, Fort Smith. Active pallbearers were Vol. T. Lindsey, Jeff R. Rice, Alvin Seamster, Joe Beasley, all of Bentonville; Robert Butt, Rogers and A.L. Smith, Siloam Springs, all members of the county bar association. He served as private secretary to the late United States Senator James H. Berry when Mr. Berry was governor of Arkansas from 1883 to 1885. Surviving relatives are his wife; six sons: Attorney J.T. McGill of Bentonville, Lon H. McGill, Jr. of Los Angeles, California, Charles B. McGill of Fort Smith, Berry McGill and Billy McGill of Needles, California and Sam McGill, Jefferson City, Missouri; three daughters, Mrs. Raymond Davis of Bentonville, Mrs. Shannon C. Bohart, Fayetteville musician and Mrs. Bennett Dickson, also of Fayetteville; and one brother, Dr. Tom McGill, who for many years has been a member of the faculty of Vanderbilt University. [Gravette New Herald - Gravette, Benton County, Arkansas - July 23, 1931]

Funeral services were held for L.H. McGill, prominent Northwest Arkansas attorney, of this city, at the First Presbyterian Church on last Friday afternoon at three o'clock. The church was filled to capacity with friends and relatives who wished to pay their last respects to one who had lived among us so many yeas in a modest quiet way. Many and beautiful were the floral tributes. Leonidas Hogg McGill was born Feb. 22, 1854 in Kentucky, his parents being Samuel and Elizabeth Hogg McGill, pioneer southern families. The family lived for many years in Gilmer, Texas from whence Mr. McGill came to Bentonville at the age of 19 years to enter the law school of Morgan H. Looney who conducted the school in this city. His marriage with Miss Mittie Peel, daughter of the late Congressman Samuel W. Peel, took place Dec. 26, 1881, the late Rev. Peter Carnahan, Cumberland Presbyterian minister, performing the ceremony. Practicing law for over 50 years in Morrillton, Clarksville and Bentonville he had had his law office continuously for over 42 years in its same location over the First National Bank, facing south Main street. Rev. R.S. Hayden, pastor of the M.E. Church, South and Rev. Dana Dawson of Fort Smith, conducted the funeral services. Burial took place in the City Cemetery. [Benton County Record & Democrat & Sun - Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas - July 23, 1931]

BAR ASSOCIAITON HOLDS MEMORIAL SERVICE

Members of the Benton County Bar Association held a memorial service in the courtroom Monday afternoon for L.H. McGill, E.P. Watson and W.A. Burks, three prominent members who have passed away during the past few years. Chancery Judge Lee Seamster, presided over the services.

Tributes were paid by W.B. Holyfield of Rogers to L.H. McGill; to Col. E.P. Watson by Charles M. Rice and to W.A. Burks by Jeff R. Rice. These tributes were ordered by Judge Seamster to be spread on the records of the Chancery Court, July 9th.

Congressman Claude A. Fuller paid a glowing tribute to the three whom had been his friends for many years.

Others who spoke were Judge Seamster, A.L. Smith of Siloam Springs, Claude Duty, John W. Nance of Rogers, and W.D. Mauck of Bentonville.

Following are the resolutions offered and adopted.

IN MEMORIAM – L. H. McGILL

Resolution of the Benton County Bar

We, the members of the Benton County Bar, assemble on this occasion to take appraisal of the loss we have sustained in the passing from us of a very distinguished member of our profession, and to pay a tribute of respect to his memory.

L.H. Gill was born February 22nd, 1854, of pioneer parents, in the State of Kentucky, and when a boy, migrated, with his family, to Gilmer, Texas. About 1876, his father having previously died, he moved with his mother and brother to Bentonville, Arkansas where he met and married Miss Mit Peel. This union was blessed with ten children, nine of whom are still living and each of whom was regarded by fond parents as a special benediction.

When a young man he had the good fortune to receive elementary instruction from a very capable teacher, Morgan H. Looney, and he thus acquired the basis and inspiration for a legal career. He afterwards taught school and while thus engaged began the study of law. He later read law for a time in the office of Judge Mansfield, and while there prepared the notes for Mansfield Digest; was private secretary to Governor Jas. H. Berry and while thus in Little Rock, attended law lectures by Judge W.M. Rose. About 1886 he practiced law in Clarksville, in partnership with Eugene Henry and was later a partner of the late Senator James P. Clark at Morrilton. A little later he returned to Bentonville and here he practiced law continuously to the time of his death, on July 16, 1931, his good wife surviving him only till August 9th, following. After his return to Bentonville he had as law partners, Judge Ellis, Judge E. McDaniel, F.G. Lindsey and lastly his good son, J.T. McGill.

Mr. McGill's early environment, experience and training was such as to develop in him the true spirit of democracy – a democracy of open minded, fair dealing and such was the guiding spirit of all his professional and business conduct, fortified always by plain truth.

He was a gentleman of modest but becoming dignity, had a keen sense of humor and was endowed with a strong, practical and analytical mind. Like many of the best lawyers of this time, and of every age, he educated himself largely in the study and practice of law, and knew full well that the law was developed through the ripe experiences of the human race, reflecting its progress through the ages.

As a lawyer his opinions and ability were highly regarded by the courts, by other lawyers and by the public at large. He regarded the law as an honorable and dignified profession and practiced law that justice might be administered, in an orderly manner, through the courts; always observing fixed rules of practice and procedure and never unmindful of the ethics of his profession.

He was a painstaking and persistent worker, having always in his mind, his duty to his client, and never shirked a duty, professional, public or private.

His career was one not only of applied, practical ability an usefulness, in his chosen profession, but he discharged equally well and faithfully all duties to his family and to his fellow man. He was an outstanding, able, but humble citizen, who knew well his duties, and had always the courage to do the right, as it appeared to him, being ever guided by an enlightened conscience.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED:

That, in the loss of Mr. McGill, the bar of the state and the nation has lost one of its great members, and the country one of its noblest citizens.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That a copy of this resolution be furnished the Clerk of the Chancery and Circuit Courts, of this county for record as a permanent memorial to the life, character and service of L.G. McGill.

W.B. HOLYFIELD,

JOHN R. DUTY,

A.L. SMITH

Committee.

[The Benton County Record & Democrat & Sun - Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas - Thursday, July 12, 1934 - Page 2 Column 2]

findagrave 43272773