My Genealogy Hound

HON. JOHN H. BOTHWELL, B. S., LL. B., an able and leading attorney of Sedalia, Mo., has done more for this place than almost any other man. He is now serving as Vice-President of the Sedalia National Bank and as President of the Board of Trade. He was a member of both the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-eighth General Assemblies of the Missouri Legislature, serving with distinction in that body.

Mr. Bothwell was born in Maysville, Clay County, Ill., in November, 1848, and is a son of James K. Bothwell, a native of Athens County, Ohio. The grandfather of our subject, whose name was also James Bothwell, was born in the North of Ireland, of Scotch parentage, and came with his parents to the New World when a child, they locating in Virginia, where James was reared. He later went to Geneva, Pa., where he was married, and removed to Athens County, Ohio, settling in the portion which is now comprised in Vinton County. There he engaged in agricultural pursuits, meeting with excellent success, and reared a large family of children.

The father of our subject located in Clay County, Ill., over a half-century ago, and there, in connection with farming, also dealt in merchandise in Clay City. He married Marian Brissenden, who was born in Edwards County, Ill., and is a daughter of John Brissenden. Her parents came from England, and were pioneers of the Prairie State, where they arrived in the early part of this century, and made a location in Edwards County. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bothwell, five grew to maturity, while four are still living: H. C., who is County Treasurer of Clay County, Ill.; Hon. John H.; James, a resident of Seattle, Wash.; and Florence, who resides on the old home. The father is still living at the ripe old age of seventy-six years, and is a stanch Republican in politics.

The primary education of John H. Bothwell was begun in an old log schoolhouse with puncheon floor, after which he attended school in a frame building in Maysville, and still later in one of brick in Clay City. He remained at home until he had reached the age of seventeen, when he entered the State University at Bloomington, Ind., completing the scientific course in the Class of '69, when he received the degree of B. S. He then traveled a few months, after which he began the study of law in Edwards County, Ill., with A. B. Matthews; subsequently he went to Springfield, Ill., studying with the firm of Stewart, Edwards & Brown. Major Stewart was at one time preceptor and partner of Abraham Lincoln, of whom he was ever a warm personal friend. Our subject later went to Albany, N. Y., and graduated from the law school there in the Class of '71, receiving the degree of LL. B., at which time he was also admitted to the Bar, being licensed to practice in both the New York and United States courts.

In the same year Mr. Bothwell located in Sedalia, where he opened a law office, and after engaging in practice for one year, formed a partnership with F. Houston, the firm being known as Houston & Bothwell. This connection continued for twelve years, when it was dissolved by mutual consent, after which Mr. Bothwell joined his brother-in-law, William V. Jaynes, and the firm became Bothwell & Jaynes. This continued until his partner's death, in July, 1891, since which time he has practiced alone. He is connected with various business interests, having served as Vice-President of the Sedalia National Bank for two years, and is a very successful loan agent. He owns a farm of three hundred acres ten miles west of Sedalia, besides much valuable real estate in the city, including both business and residence property, and has erected several brick blocks. He also laid out the Bothwell & Weed Addition to Sedalia, and organized the Midland Saving & Loan Company, of which he was secretary and manager, but resigned on account of not having sufficient time to devote to the duties of the same.

In 1884, in this city, Mr. Bothwell married Miss Hattie E. Jaynes, the eldest daughter of Col. A. D. Jaynes, who is now deceased. She was born in Athens County, Ohio, and was educated in the Wesleyan Female Seminary of that state. She was called to her final rest in 1887.

In politics Mr. Bothwell takes a prominent part, and was elected in 1888, on the Republican ticket, to the Thirty-fifth General Assembly, representing the eastern half of the county, which was then divided into two districts. He served on the Judiciary Committee, as well as the one on penitentiaries, and during the term introduced several important bills. At the close of that session he was appointed on the committee which revised, compiled, annotated and published the revised statutes of Missouri of 1889. In 1892, while on a two-months trip to Europe, he was made Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, serving from April, 1892, until August, 1894, when his successor was elected. In 1894 he was elected to represent Pettis County in the Legislature, receiving a majority of four hundred over his opponent, and he was a candidate in the Republican caucus for Speaker of the House.

Mr. Bothwell introduced the resolution which was passed to remove the capitol to Sedalia, which had frequently been attempted during the preceding eighteen years. It was a master stroke on his part. After he had secured its passage through the House, Senator Yeater, also of Sedalia, managed and supported it in the Senate. He served on a number of important committees, including the Judiciary, which was the leading committee of the House; the one on Criminal Fees and Costs; the one on the permanent Seat of Government, and on Rules.

Besides his many other business interests, Mr. Bothwell is now serving as President of the Sedalia Board of Trade. He has not only visited Europe, but has traveled very extensively in his own country, having visited three-fourths of the states of the Union, going from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Lakes to the Gulf. He is one of the most brilliant attorneys of Sedalia, and ranks high among his professional brethren in the state. He has met with excellent success in almost everything he undertakes, and as a public man has a record of which he may well be proud.