Onias Childs Skinner (1817 - 1877)

Born 22 Jul 1817 in Floyd, Oneida County, New York

Died 4 Feb 1877 at age 59 in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Brian Stump [send private message]

Biography

The subject of this sketch is another of the prominent men whose pre-eminent genius and mighty intellect has shone out in that illustrious body — the bar of Quincy.

O. C. Skinner was born in Oneida County, New York, where he remained until the age of fifteen, when he made a trip to the Indian country of Lake Superior, and the north. Subsequently he visited Prairie du Chien, Chicago and Milwaukee, remaining a short time in each of these localities. He then settled in Peoria County, in this State, and tried farming for a time, after which he went to Cincinnati, in 1839, and commenced the study of law. Being admitted to the bar in 1841, he practiced for a short time in that State, but in 1842 came to Illinois, and located at Carthage. There he remained until 1844, when he took up his residence in this city.

Before coming to Quincy however, his reputation as an able and profound lawyer had been established, and in 1851, he was elected to the bench of this circuit, In 1855 his great legal attainments received a more mark- ed recognition, he being called to the Supreme Bench of the State. Previous to this he had also served one term in the Legislature, and in every position to which he was called by his friends and admirers, he was found not only equal to the emergency, hut eminently the right man in the right place.

Retiring from the Supreme Bench, Judge Skinner became an active and influential leader in the Democratic party of Illinois, and although political honors were at all times within his grasp, ho never advantaged himself of hie opportunities in this respect. The past year, however, he was elected by the democracy of Adams County a delegate to the Convention to remodel the Constitution of Illinois, in which capacity he is now serving his constituents and the State in the most responsible position of that distinguished body, viz., as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

Quincy boasts no more distinguished or more valuable citizen than Judge Skinner. Full of public spirit and enterprise, he was among the earliest advocates, of our railroad system, and having aided in the completion of the three roads that at present enter the city, he is now President of a fourth, the Quincy and Carthage Railroad, which by his energy and tact he hap placed upon the road to speedy construction.

Generous, impulsive, and earnest, a zealous and untiring lawyer, a warm and devoted friend, and an uncompromising Democrat, such is Hon, O. C. Skinner.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ History of Quincy and Its Men of Mark, 1869

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/185528463/onias-childs-skinner