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Silas Hare, Sr.  The Sunday
Gazetteer
Sunday, December 6, 1908 pg. 1 HON. SILAS HARE, SR Doubtless no citizen of Sherman has ever died since the founding of the town who left more sincere friends to mourn with deep sorrow than the demise of Judge Silas Hare. Among the citizenship Grayson county has never had a better friend to her every interest. She has never had a man more capable to advocate her interest, intelectually, nor one more competent and wiling from unselfish motives. In the councils of her people, when action was demanded for the promotion of a public enterprise, his advise was sought, and if money was required his purse strings were opened, and no one gave more unsparingly than he according to his means. Was it charity, he was one of the very first to be approached and no real object of want was turned away empty-handed. As a friend he was warm in his devotions, confiding and ever ready to extend a helping hand if necessary. As a lawyer he stood at the head of the bar in North Texas. While not an orator of eloquence with beautifully rounded periods, his convincing force was his logic that rarely ever failed him as an advocate. As a jurist, his well poised mind and knowledge of the law, eminently qualified him for the bench and won for him laurels as a competent and just judge. A soldier at the age of 18, he entered the service of his country and was in the Mexican War. An honored Confederate - his patriotic zeal for his country in times that tried men's souls always led where duty called with a cheerful devotion. As a statesman, in the councils of his country, his usefullness was as marked by intelligent, industrious and conscientious action for the best interests of his people as characterized his private, his judicial or military life. A democrat of the old school of Jefferson and Jackson, he never varied from their teachings. The writer of this article has known him for thirty-six years intimately and has followed him in his triumphs and defeats, in prosperity and adversity, and can truthfully say he never knew a truer man. Judge Silar Hare was a gentleman in all the term implies. His work was finished well, a long and useful life spent, when at the ripe age of 81 he was called to the fathers. Farewell, generous friend. The funeral services were held at the residence of Silar Hare, Jr., on South Travis street, Monday at 2 o'clock p.m. The services were conducted by Rev. J.M. Binkley, the pioneer Methodist clergyman of Sherman and an old personal friend of Judge Hare. They were short but impressive, the Rev. gentleman paying a noble tribute to the many virtues of the deceased. There was a large attendance of grey-bearded men who came to testify by their presence their love and esteem for their old time friend and comrade in arms. At the grave Rev. Binkley read the burial service, and the choir sang that beautiful hymn "In the Sweet By and By." The floral offerings were numerous and the new made mound was buried 'neath a profusion of flowers and evergreens. The active pallbearers selected from the Grayson County bar were: J.A.L. Wolfe, C.L. Vowell, Ben L. Jones, Cecil H. Smith, W.W. Wilkins, W.J. Mathis, Rice Maxey, and H.O. Head. Associate Justice T.J. Brown of the Supreme Court was also named but sent a letter of regret that it was impossible for him to be present, and testifying to his high regard for Judge Hare as an advocate. The honorary pallbearers selected from among the pioneers and old friends of Judge Hare were: L.F. Ely, Geo. A. Dickerman, R.A. Chapman, B.C. Murray, T.J. Crooks, J.P. Hopson, Jesse P. Loving, Ed. F. Halsell, J.E. Wharton, J.L. Randolph, West Scott, D.E. Bryant, Ed Metz, Legrande Woods, and Sam Bonham. General Luther Hare and Silas Hare, Jr. came from Washington today with the body. Being ill, Mrs. Hare, wife of the deceased, did not come to Texas. Mrs. Frank Hare of Uvalde and Mrs. Eula Smith of New Orleans, son and daughter of Judge Hare, awaited the arrival of the body at Sherman. Judge Silas Hare was born Nov. 13, 1827 in Ross county, Ohio. Graduated at Greencastle (Ind.) College, 1846. Enlisted as private First Indian Regiment, Mexican War. Admitted to bar at Noblesville, Ind. in 1849. Married Miss Octavia E. Rector of Piqua county, Ohio, 1859. Moved to Texas shortly after and practiced law at Belton three years. Spent next three years in New Mexico and Arizona in the practice of law, then became Chief Justice of Arizona. Commissioned as Captain in First Arizona Confederate States army in 1862. Located at Sherman in the practice of law in 1865. Made Judge of the Criminal District Court for the district composed of Grayson, Dallas, and Collin counties in 1873. Made County Judge of Grayson County in 1876. Elected to Congress, Fifth Texas District, in 1886 and served two terms. Upon retirement from Congress took up practice of law at Washington and has since made that city his home. Married his second wife, Mrs. Louise Kennedy of Washington, in 193. The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, December 6, 1908    Biography Index Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |