His Impressive Looks

1901

Trumbull's cradle was in Connecticut. He came of the old Jonathan Trumbull breed. As a young man he went south to teach school, but he liked it not and dipped into law books. As soon as he was equal to his examination he was called to the Georgia bar, but he never paused to practice there. He migrated to Illinois, then the utter west and settled at Belleville, St. Clair county, in that part of the state known as Egypt.

There he at once took a leading place at the bar. He was always courtly, always carefully polite, what one might call a bit cold, yet he had great sway with the juries. He was a clear, cogent reasoner and had a trick of admonishing with his forefinger. Sometimes it would seem as if that potent forefinger wove a spell. I doubt not it has brought many a jury in its time to Trumbull's side of the question.

Such were the impressive looks of Trumbull that I recall what Governor Reynolds once said of him as he closed his argument in a law case. Trumbull was on the other side.

"And now, gentlemen," said Reynolds as he prepared to close: "I've answered his arguments. I've overturned his statement of facts. I've undone the fallacious law he has announced to you; but, gentlemen, the man never lived who can reply to his looks!" — Chicago Tribune.