Lawyers of Harrison County, Missouri

When Harrison County was organized and the courts instituted there were no resident lawyers here as was generally the case in pioneer communities. However, it was not long until members of the legal profession settled here and engaged in the practice of the law. It was the custom in the early days for lawyers to travel from county to county, or from one district to another to attend court to try cases and in this way leading lawyers of these pioneer times covered a large scope of territory in their professional capacity. These lawyers were sometimes known as "circuit riders." All of the prominent lawyers of the early days thus practiced in many counties of the state.

William G. Lewis, a pioneer lawyer of this county was the first resident lawyer of Bethany. He was a native of Greenbrier County, Virginia, and came here in 1847. He practiced here until the time of his death in 1869.

The bar of Harrison County has always maintained a high standard and some of the ablest lawyers of the state are enrolled among its members. Little is known of some of the early attorneys. Among those of whom we have a record are:

 Harrison County| AHGP Missouri

Source: History of Harrison County, Missouri, by Geo. W. Wanamaker, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, 1921