BOB.

Peter Wade was a pioneer, away down on the southeast limits. The Rock Island and Peoria railway cut his farm in two. Wade wanted damages. The company said he had received benefits equal to his losses. A lawsuit resulted. Wade was too poor to employ a lawyer, and proposed to fight for his rights himself. The railway lawyer was Bob Ingersoll.

The day of the trial the great Bob came up from Peoria. He was dressed finely and carried himself like a Lord of Creation. The poor and humble Wade beheld this magnificent creature with sinking heart. At first he thought he would take a sneak home, and let the result be what it would.

But he braced up, and spoke to Ingersoll.

"I'm a poor man," he said : "I worked hard to make my farm, and I feel that it cannot be right for a railroad to take my best land away from me, and split my farm in two, without paying me for the damage caused. I know you are the railway's attorney ; but I—I think it ain't right."

The blue eyes of the great agnostic filled for a moment. Then they glittered. "No, it is not right, Mr. Wade," he said; "and I'll not fight you. Your claim is just. The company must pay it in full."

And it did.

 

History of Henry County

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Illinois Ancestors