Ethelbert Callahan

December 17, 1829 (age 88)

Licking Company, Ohio, United States

In 1849, he relocated to Crawford County, Illinois, where he became a teacher. In 1853, he entered the world of political journalism as editor of the Wabash Sentinel. A year later, he moved to Marshall, Illinois to edit the Telegraph, a paper that supported the Know Nothing movement. Callahan was elected as a justice of the peace in 1857, and it was at this time that he began to read law. He was admitted to the bar in 1859. He opened his own law practice in Robinson, Illinois in 1861. Over the next four decades, he built one of the most successful practices in southern Illinois. Callahan played a role in organizing the Illinois State Bar Association in 1877, and served as its president in 1889. Callahan was the first Republican to speak in Crawford County. He was elected to four two-year terms in the Illinois House of Representatives on the Republican Ticket. McKendree College awarded Callahan an honorary Doctor of Laws in June 1898. In 1883, Callahan gave a paper at the Illinois State Bar Association entitled "The Lawyers of the Bible." The work was widely copied, and in January 1911, he was invited to deliver the paper as an address at the Indiana University School of Law. This address was very well received and was therefore published the next year by Hollenbeck Press.

Ethelbert Callahan

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lawyer politician

Background

Callahan, Ethelbert was born on December 17, 1829 in Licking Company, Ohio, United States. Son of John and Margaret (Brown) Callahan.

Education

Educational public schools. (Doctor of Laws, McKendree College, 1894).

Career

In 1849, he relocated to Crawford County, Illinois, where he became a teacher. In 1853, he entered the world of political journalism as editor of the Wabash Sentinel. A year later, he moved to Marshall, Illinois to edit the Telegraph, a paper that supported the Know Nothing movement.

Callahan was elected as a justice of the peace in 1857, and it was at this time that he began to read law.

He was admitted to the bar in 1859. He opened his own law practice in Robinson, Illinois in 1861.

Over the next four decades, he built one of the most successful practices in southern Illinois. Callahan played a role in organizing the Illinois State Bar Association in 1877, and served as its president in 1889.

Callahan was the first Republican to speak in Crawford County.

He was elected to four two-year terms in the Illinois House of Representatives on the Republican Ticket. McKendree College awarded Callahan an honorary Doctor of Laws in June 1898. In 1883, Callahan gave a paper at the Illinois State Bar Association entitled "The Lawyers of the Bible." The work was widely copied, and in January 1911, he was invited to deliver the paper as an address at the Indiana University School of Law.

This address was very well received and was therefore published the next year by Hollenbeck Press.

Achievements

Ethelbert Callahan has been listed as a reputable lawyer by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Member Callahan, Jones & Lowe. Member 29th, 37th, 38th and 39th Illinois General Assemblies.

Connections

Married Mary Barlow Jones, June 27, 1854.

Father:: John Callahan
Mother:: Margaret (Brown) Callahan
Spouse:: Mary Barlow Jones

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