Winfield Family - Ourfolk

Maurice Winfield, is a distinguished lawyer and member of the Logansport, Cass county, Indiana, bar, where he has successf ully practiced his profession for thirty-two years. He is a native of ulster county, New York, where he was born January 27, 1841. It is doubtless true - though perhaps a mere fancy - that men in their reflective moods, realize that in some measure they derives dignity and importance from the land of their birth, provided it is a great land with widely extended boundaries, including within their sweep mountains, lakes and rivers and great cities, and withal renown for its great men - warriors, statesmen, lawyers, poets, etc.

Judge Winfield is a native of the Empire state, containing more pop ulation than the thirteen colonies co uld boast of in the days of the revolution, when then Continental army beat back the hosts of England and gave to the word a new nation. Without pursuing the inviting them to the extent of describing New York's great metropolis, the second city in the world, its magnificent Hudson river, its world wonder Niagara Falls, and its scarcely less wonderf ul canal that untied Erie and Hudson, it may be that Judge Winfield, like any other native son of the Empire state, feels a glow of state pride that he by birth and ancestry a New Yorker. True, Indiana, too, is a great state, not great like Texas and some other sovereign states of the Empire Republic, but in its institutions, its churches and schools, and in the spirit of progress which places it in the front rank of the state symbolized by stars on the blue field of 'Old Glory'. Judge Winfield, like thousands of others who have made their mark in the varied occupations and professions, received his rudimental education in the common schools of his native county, and at the age of fifteen began his academic course in the academy at Montgomery, Orange county, in his native state.

His aptitude in acquiring education was so pronounced that, coupled with his industry, the required preparation for college was accomplished in little more than a year, after which, in 1860, he matric ulated at Princeton college, New Jersey, one of the most renowned institutions of learning in the country. His studied having been interrupted by illness for one year, he did not finish his collegiate course until 1865, when he graduated with honor, taking the prize for proficiency in Greek. Having completed his college course, Mr. Winfield, in April, 1866, migrated to Logansport, where, for one year, he taught in the Presbyterian Academy of that city. He had, however, chosen law as a life profession, and while teaching gave his unoccupied hours to reading law, reciting to Judge P. H. Biddle, the justly renowned poet-jurist, a man of great literary c ulture, as well as legal learning, who, on his favorite Pegasus, was wont to visit Helicon and hold converse with the muses.

Having completed his legal studies, Mr. Winfield began the practice of his profession in Logansport in 1867, where he has since resided. The pathway to eminence in the legal, or in all other professions, is not always flowery or of easy grade. A 'little learning' in law may not be 'a dangerous thing', but it does not win in courts before bench or jury. Mr. Winfield,having been trained in the severities of student life, was prepared for every obstacle that confronted him. He understood, not only the value, but the importance or investigation and study, and, as a consequence, any step of advancement helped to further progress, until the serene elevation of knowing was reached, since when Judge Winfield's position as an eminent lawyer had been secure.

He is a master of logic - sees at a glance the strong points in a case, and enforces them with the skill of a master. His methods, in addressing a jury, exhibit him as proficient in the mystery of mind reading, by which a smile, a frown or the glance of an eye tells him as if written in a bold hand the drift of thought, and whether to 'sail on' in his chosen course, or presents the facts in a new and stronger light.

On May 7, 1868 Mr. Winfield was married to Miss Jennie M. Johnson, daughter of the late Israel Johnson and sister of Mr. Wm. M. Johnson, a leading business man of Logansport.

Judge Winfield is not a member of any religious organization, but favors the creed and doctrine of the Dutch Reformed church. He is Democratic in his political preference, but is inclined to be independent, preferring principle to party. He enjoys in a large measure the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens, who esteem him for his integrity, publics spirit and honorable life as a citizen and a jurist.

The hard mental work incident to his extensive legal practice began to affect his health in 1883 and 1884, and to obtain rest he accepted the nomination for circuit judge in his circuit and was elected, and served as circuit judge to November 5th, 1889, when he resigned his practice. Since then his practice has extended over a large part of northern Indiana. He has been engaged in the trial of many important cases.

In 1898 he was elected state senator for Cass and P ulaski counted, serving with distinguished ability in the last session of the legislature.

From: Men of progress, Indiana: a selected list of biographical sketches and portraits of the leaders in business, professional and official life : together with brief notes on the history and character of Indiana Indianapolis: Indianapolis Sentinel Co., 1899, pg. 226-7

Name: Maurice Winfield
Age: 59
Birth Date: Jan 1841
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1900: Eel, Cass, Indiana
Ward of City: 4th
Street: Market Street
House Number: 712
Sheet Number: 15
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital status: Married
Spouse's name: Jennie M Winfield
Marriage Year: 1868
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Household Members:
Name Age
Maurice Winfield 59
Jennie M Winfield 54
Maurice J Winfield 26
Abbie Winfield 23
Thomas E Armstrong 36
Arther Graffis 14
Samuel L Tanguey 74
Laura A Howe 21
Esther L Semans 10
A Verice Bert 24
Frank Foster 24

Veteran jurists dies At home in market st.

Judge Maurice Winfield, second oldest member of Cass Bar answer Last Summons.

Death due to Pneumonia

Occupied the Bench in the Cass Circuit court with distinction; well and Favorably known

Judge Maurice one of the pioneers of the Cass county Bar association, died this morning at 4:30 o'clock, at his residence, 719 east Market street aged eighty-one years. death was due to pneumonia.

He is survived by his wife and three grandchildren, children of his deceased son. Maurice Winfield jr., their names being Margaret, Jane and Maurice Winfield, who with their mother reside in the city.

Maurice Winfield was the son of Zemas and Mary (Terwilliger) Winfield, and was born in Ulster county, New York January 27, 1849.

He received his common school education in the schools of his native city, and at the age of fourteen entered the academy in Montgomery, New York, where he mastered the preparatory course, and in a year entered Princeton college in the fall of 1860, from which institution he graduated with the class of 1865.

He came to Logansport in April 1865, where for a year he was a teacher in the Presbyterian academy. his natural tendency was toward the law, and under the direction of Judge Horace P. Bibble studied law and entered upon his professional career in 1867.

His education bought him immediate success at the bar, handling several important cases with marked ability.

He was a Democrat by politics and all his life was a leader and advisor in his party. In 1864 he was elected judge of the circuit court and assumed the duties of the office two years later. He occupied the bench with distinction for a period of five years and then resigned to enter the regular practice of law.

In the year 1868 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary j. Johnson, daughter of William H. Johnson, on of the leading business men of Logansport.

to this union was born three children, two of whom died in early childhood. a son, Maurice J. Winfield, graduated from Princeton college in 1885, he was admitted to practice at the Cass county bar. Maurice J. lost his life in an automobile accident a few years ago and is survived by his wife and three children.

Judge Maurice was admitted to practice in Cass County, December 17, 1868. He was a Veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in the union Army at Jacksonville, Ill.

The Cass county Bar Association met this morning upon the announcement of the death of Judge Winfield and appointed committees and Saturday morning at 10 o'clock the Bar association will meet to hear the report of the various committees, on resolutions and arrangements and take action in honor of the deceased.

In addition to his offices of judge of the Cass circuit court, Mr. Winfield also served as state senator from 1898 to 1902.

On of the greatest legal victories of Judge Winfield was the winning of the case that gave Logansport Erie avenue and fifth street, which were formerly traversed by the Wabash and Erie canal.

After the death of his son Maurice J., Judge Winfield seemed to have lost his old time fighting spirit and quietly withdrew from the more strenuous legal business and conducted a Farm Loan business which was the most successful of its kind in this section of the state.

Logansport Pharos-Tribune
Thursday, December 01, 1921 Logansport, Indiana