By Charles P. Pettus.
In the death of Judge
Walter Bond Douglas, which occurred on November 7, 1920, the Missouri
Historical Society of St. Louis sustained an irreparable loss, the
Mississippi Valley lost one of her most able historians and the world a
gentleman of the noblest type.
The people of St. Louis knew him
as an upright judge who had done honor to the Circuit Bench; as a member
of the Bar who exemplified the finest ideals of the legal profession.
This has been well expressed by Mr. Tyrrell Williams, who writes: I had
much admiration for Judge Douglas as a lawyer and a historian, but at
this. time, I want to speak of what I regard as most important for a
lawyer to possess, namely, a clear distinction between what we call law
and something else which we may as well call morality. I judge lawyers
very largely by the attitudes they assume towards these occasional gaps
between law and morality. They are the lawyers who in the long run
improve conditions and preserve society."
Though a Democrat in
the full sense, he never followed the mob, but kept himself within the
moorings of sane and sound government. Always self-effacing, with the
natural instinct of the historical student. Judge Douglas combined rare
mentality with an altruistic bend and gave his talents lavishly to the
community.
Even as early as 1897 Judge Douglas had become
identified with the Missouri Historical Society and was making its
development along the best lines of labor of love. In January 1903 he
was chosen President of the Society.
He superintended the
historical exhibit for the Society at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
held in St. Louis in 1904.
He was one of the foremost workers
for the week-long celebration of the Centennial of the incorporation of
the City of St. Louis in 1909.
He contributed in no small
measure to the great success of the St. Louis Pageant and Masque held in
Forest Park in 1915.
But as an authority on the history of St.
Louis and Missouri, and in fact of the whole Mississippi and Missouri
Valleys, Judge Douglas was best known far beyond the State 's borders.
He was in demand for addresses before historical Societies, he
was consulted on historical questions in dispute, and he responded
always cheerfully and with conscientious devotion to accuracy.
At the time of his death. Judge Douglas was preparing several works
which he hoped to publish. That he had not finished them, was due
largely to the fact that he was forever giving all of his spare time
helping others with the publication of their works, always encouraging
others to do their best that he might credit them with all the help he
could give them in doing it.
For many years he was editor of the
Missouri Historical Society's Collections. In Volume III, was published
his scholarly article on Manuel Lisa. He also edited with most
interesting notes, James' Three Years Among the Indians.''
On
request he prepared papers for other Societies such as his address on '^Sieur
de St. Ange," published in the Transactions of the Illinois State
Historical Society, (No. 14, 1909). Such papers and brief articles
signed with his initials in the Missouri Historical Society Collections,
no nothing more than suggest the power he had developed as a historical
authority.
Judge Douglas was bom in Brunswick, Missouri,
December 20, 1851; son of James Marsh(1) and Caroline (Bond) Douglas.
Graduated from Westminster College, A. B., 1873. Harvard University Law
School, LL.B, 1877. Admitted to the practice of law in Missouri, May
1878; Judge of the Circuit Court of St. Louis, 1901; Secretary of the
Judicial conference since 1903. Instructor in Benton Law School in 1898
and for several succeeding years. Member of the American Bar
Association, of the American Historical Association, and of the
University, Jefferson and Mercantile Clubs, and an honorary member of
the Illinois State Historical Society.
He was a Missourian, this
was a primary fact. But, he also loved to remember that he was a
Scotchman by descent and by tradition. The thistle to him, was probably
the loveliest bloom. This spirit was evidenced at his summer home *Spot"
in Florissant, when celebrating the birthdays of his children each year,
he would engage a Scotchman, attired in kilts, to play his bag-pipe on
the lawn.
Judge Douglas was married April 29, 1891, to Francesca
B. Kimball. He is survived by his widow and the following children:
Antoinette, Marjory, James Marsh, Francis Paxton and William Oerre.
The members of the Missouri Historical Society knew him as the
official who for more than twenty years had been the main stay of the
organization, carrying on not only cheerfully but with enthusiasm the
burden of the details. That the library, the manuscripts, the archives,
the fur trade correspondence, the war trophies and the varied
collections of the Society have grown until they tax the spacious
Jefferson Memorial is due to Judge Douglas in a greater degree than to
any other person.
In these sordid times, how refreshing was his
unselfish spirit which never lowered its standard, however great the
cost.
Notes:
1. James M. Douglas was a
druggist in Brunswick, Missouri (1850) |
