The Encyclopedia of Texas Page: 457 of 970
This book is part of the collection entitled: Rare Book and Texana Collections and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries Special Collections.
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS
AMES EDWIN YANTIS. Among the many
prominent names of the Central Texas bar
that of the late James Edwin Yantis, of
Waco, is outstanding, representing as it does
a quarter of a century of practice and service
wherein he won distinction not alone as an attorney
handling an extensive private practice, but as a public
official who never betrayed the trust the public
imposed on him. Admitted to the bar in 1887, at
McKinney, Judge Yantis spent two years in that
city, at the expiration of which time he went to
Sweetwater and practiced law for eight years, after
which he moved to Waco, in 1894. Two years after
coming to Waco, and less than a decade after his
admission to the bar, Judge Yantis was elected to
the state senate, in 1896, and achieved a high place
by his legislative record, impressing his influence
on much of the legislation of that time. At the expiration
of his term he returned to Waco, and for
the ensuing six years engaged in private practice.
In 1906 his distinction as a legist was marked with
approval by his appointment by Governor Landon
to the office of assistant attorney general, and the
next few years were spent at Austin where he further
added to his record of achievement by the
capable manner in which he fulfilled the duties this
office involved.
There again followed a period spent in private
practice, the first few years at Waco, and then four
years at San Antonio, where he was associated with
J. T. Sluder. Judge Yantis was then honored by
his elevation to the bench of the Supreme Court,
where his devotion to the best interests of this office
and his judicial ability added more laurels to
a career already crowned with the highest approval
by an admiring public. Judge Yantis retired from
the bench in April, 1918, due to ill health, his death
occuring the following November.
Judge Yantis was born at Columbus, Kentucky,
the third of April, 1864, son of J. E. and Martha
Hill Yantis. His father, a lumberman and mill owner
of that state, came to Texas in 1880, locating
at McKinney, and later removing to Fisher County,
where his death, and that of Mrs. Yantis, occurred.
Judge Yantis was educated in the public schools
of McKinney, later attending Sam Houston Normal,
and after leaving school studied law in the office of
John Church, of McKinney, and was admitted to the
bar in 1887.
Judge Yantis was married at Temple, Texas, the
twenty-eighth of January, 1896, to Miss Lillie Margurette
Sloan, daughter of T. M. and Mary (Black)
Sloan. Mrs. Yantis' parents were natives of Mississippi,
coming to Texas in 1867, and locating at
Austin, later removing to Bell County, where she
was reared on a farm, chartered to her father, and
whereon is now located the city of Temple. Judge
and Mrs. Yantis made Waco their home for many
years, living at 1428 North Twenty-fifth Street.
They had only one child who died as a babe in 1898.
Judge Yantis was prominent in church work, attending
the Presbyterian Church. He also belonged to
a number of fraternal orders, such as the Knights
of Pythias, the Elks and the Odd Fellows.
In summing up his character no more fitting
words can be found than those uttered by Chief
Justice Nelson Phillips, his close friend and staunchadmirer, in speaking to resolutions and remarks
which had been presented on his death. Excerpts
from this response of Chief Justice Phillips, on behalf
of the supreme court follow:
"The death of Judge Yantis encircled with sorrow
every place that in life had known his presence and
had been the scene of his labors, but none more
than this judgment seat which during his service
he adorned with the uprightness, the dignity and
the courtesy of a true man and with the learning,
the ability and the fairness of a true judge. His
duty was always his supreme concern. But to be
fair was always his supreme zeal. This fine trait
marked him in my opinion above all others he possessed,
and of the manly elements of his nature contributed
most to make him the just, the kindly,
generous and lovable man that he was. * * *
"Distinguished as was the character of Judge
Yantis for kindness, gentleness and consideration for
the feelings of others-always and everywhere the
mark of the chivalrous nature and a true gentleman-there
was a quiet firmness about him which
equally bespoke the stalwartness of his manhood.
* * * His nature was a patient one in rare degree.
That is why his outlook was kindly and indulgent,
marked by equananimity and. rarely disturbed.
* * *
"He was without pretense, without simulation.
Openness and sincerity he held to be the emblems
of honesty. * * *
"Long life was not permitted him. His end with
life was not that which comes from the fulness
and completion of years. * * * Yet to few men
is it allowed to fill their days with more varied
and useful service. As a lawyer at the bar, as a
state senator, as assistant attorney general, and as
an associate justice of the supreme court, he filled
a distinguished place in the affairs of the state and
ably discharged high and responsible trust. One
of the finest things about his life, as Addison
said of John Somers, was that throughout all his
public service 'he was as solicitous to shun applause
as he was assiduous to deserve it.' That is why the
lives of such men do not end with them, but live
on as a brave and noble memory to inspire the
lives of other men."
UDGE L. C. ALEXANDER, the subject of
this sketch, was an eminent Jurist, a distinguikhed
lawyer and a prominent citizen
of Waco for many years. He was born in
Fayette County, Tennessee, September 14, 1846,
and died at his home in Waco on the sixth of
January, 1913. He was reared in Smith County,
Texas, and at the early age of sixteen enlisted in
the Confederate Army, serving until the close of
the war as a member of one of the regiments of
the Texas Cavalry. He was admitted to the bar
in 1867, and first settled at Meridian, Texas. Without
influential friends or means, he soon arose to
the head of the profession in Texas, and at the
early age of thirty-one was appointed Judge of
the 19th District Court, at that time composed of
McLennan, Falls and Bell Counties, and served in
that capacity with signal ability until 1880, when
he retired and returned to Waco, where he engaged
in the general practice, in which he continued
actively until about six years before his death,
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The Encyclopedia of Texas (Book)
This book provides a biographical view of Texas and its history. The book uses many narratives of the individuals who helped shape Texas history. The book also includes profiles of: the public school system in Texas; banking; the public school system; the State Fair; the Cotton Industry; oil history; and histories of select towns, such as Dallas, Fort Worth, Wichita Falls, Burkburnett, Ellis County, Waco, San Antonio, Galveston, and many others.
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Davis, Ellis Arthur & Grobe, Edwin H. The Encyclopedia of Texas, book, [1921..1922]; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth21069/m1/457/?q=%22james+edwin+yantis%22: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.