STILWELL-Hiram H. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

H. H. Stilwell, attorney, Covington, whose name stands prominent among the list of Fountain County's oldest attorneys, is a native of Montgomery Co, In where he was b. March 10, 1830. He is the s/o Jeremiah and Didama (HALLOWAY) Stilwell, who became residents of Montgomery (County) as early as 1826. His early life was spent on his father's farm, where he was kept hard at work and had no chances for obtaining an education. His chances were so meager in this respect that he was 16 before he had learned to read. He made the most of the opportunities that were afforded him, and though he remained on the farm he had progressed so far in his studies at the age of 21 that he was able to teach a common school. He continued teaching and studying for about two years, then engaged for a short time in the grain trade, and then tried the dry goods business, in the capacity of a salesman. Through these different changes he had continued to study, and after carefully considerating the question, and by the advice of friends, he concluded to enter the legal profession. With this object in view he entered Asbury University and grad. from the law department at that institution Feb 5, 1857. Returning to Crawfordsville, he was formally admitted to practice at the Indiana Bar March 5, 1857 and continued it until 1860. In Jan of that year he removed to Covington, where he has since resided and practiced with success, both financially and professionally. In 1865 he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Indiana. The first year of his residence in Fountain he was honored by the Republican Party by being elected to the office of prosecuting attorney, the term being for two years and was re-elected for another two. Four years after he became a resident of Covington Mr. Stilwell was alone in the practice of law. His first partnership was with Mr. S. F. Wood, with whom he was associated 8 years. He and his brother, Thomas H., were then together 3, and then for 4 Mr. Jno. B. Martin was with him, and was dissolved in 1879, since which time he has been alone. Mr. Stilwell's specialty in the practice is probate business. In this line he probably does as much as the balance of Covington's attorneys. In 1861 he married Miss Clara V. KNIGHT, whose people were among the early and prominent pioneers of Montgomery County. They have one son.