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NOAH M. TOHILL is a fine combination of professional and business man. He is of that type of men who can never devote themselves to one thing to the exclusion of all other interests, but must have other channels into which to direct their surplus energy. As a lawyer he has been highly successful, proof of which is to be found in his services as state's attorney and as city attorney. He is one of the men who is doing much to allay the distrust that has sprung up in the minds of the public concerning law and lawyers. He has a brilliant and well trained mind, his knowledge of legal lore being very thorough, but better than these qualities is that of a sincere determination to do what he considers the right. He has a native eloquence and knows how to sway the jury, but he was never known to take an unfair advantage and he pleads that in the courts of justice at least justice should be shown.

Noah M. Tohill was born in Crawford county, Illinois, on the 10th of December, 1864. His father was Lewis N. Tohill, who was born in September, 1829, in Crawford county, Illinois. The founder of the Tohill family in this state was John Tohill, the grandfather of Noah Tohill, who came to Illinois from Virginia about 1822. This pioneer in the days of Indians and bears was a millwright by profession, but like all the settlers of that early date he took up farming, and followed his trade at intervals only. On the farm of his sturdy old father Lewis Tohill grew to manhood. He was early made familiar with the work of the farm and it was inevitable that he should in time follow in his father's footsteps and become a farmer. This was the profession that he has followed throughout his life, the only break in his life as an

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agriculturist being when he enlisted and went to the front as one of the Ninety-eighth Illinois. His war record is an honorable one, and when he received his discharge at the end of his term of service he returned home and settled down to the old life again. His marriage to Cynthia A. Jones took place in 1861. She was a daughter of John M. Jones, who was a farmer of Crawford county. Six children were born of this union, and Noah was the second of these. Mrs. Tohill died on the 2nd of August, 1874, but Mr. Tohill is still living, at the old home in Crawford county. He is a firm believer in the doctrines of the Republican party, and his religious affiliations are with the United Brethren.

Noah M. Tohill, like his father, had the wholesome influences of the farm as his early surroundings. He grew up in Crawford county, and the schools of the county provided him with an education. He afterwards went to the State Normal University at Normal, Illinois. He was ambitious to acquire as much education as possible and saw no way of securing what he wanted except by his own efforts, so during the period while he was attending school he was also teaching. After the two years which he spent at Normal were over he went to Valparaiso, Indiana, and entered Valparaiso University, where he remained for one year. During all this time while he was attending school he taught for six years. This process of studying for a time, then breaking it off and plunging into pedagogical work, only to resume the studies when enough money had been earned to carry him a few months further along the road, was a slow one, and entailed endless patience. He never faltered, however, and before him always he kept the goal of his ambitions bright, for it was ever his intention to become a lawyer.

He was postmaster at FIat Rock, and taught the public schools of that place for a number of years, three of which were spent in the principal's chair. He had always desired to read law in the office of Callahan, Jones and Lowe at Robinson, Illinois, for his admiration for the senior member of the firm had always been intense. At last his wish was fulfilled, and he spent two years in the offices of the above mentioned firm. He feels that the thorough training which he here received is in a large measure responsible for his success, and he will always feel the influence of the high ideals for which the above firm of lawyers stood. He was admitted to the bar in February, 1895, and located at Lawrenceville in March of the same year. After practicing for one year he was elected state's attorney, and proved to have been chosen wisely. In 1897 he formed a partnership with E. S. Kingsbury, and this partnership continued until the 1st of January, 1906. In 1909 he formed a partnership with Mr. J. E. McGaughey, and this partnership is still active. They are doing a large amount of business, and some of the cases which they handle are very important. For a period of six years Mr. Tohill held the office of city attorney, and his work won the approbation of all who knew of it. He is much interested in politics, and believes that the preservation and safety of the nation will be best effected with the Republican party in power, consequently he is active in behalf of that party. He has been delegate to both state conventions and to congressional conventions, and is always willing to work for the glory of his party and the good of the people.

In the business world Mr. Tohill is especially well known through his connection with the oil business, for he has been greatly interested in promoting the opening up of the oil fields in all of the surrounding country. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Lawrenceville, and is vice-president and a stockholder of the Citizens' Telephone Company, which has been in operation for over ten years. He is a member of

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the Christian church, and his fraternal affiliations are with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Mr. Tohill was married on the 12th day of November, 1888, to Rose Otey, of Robinson, Illinois, now deceased. On the 4th of January, 1899, he was married to Fannie E. Barnes, of Flat Rock, Illinois. She was a daughter of George D. Barnes, a well known merchant of Flat Rock, who is now dead. She died on the 15th of April, 1901, leaving a little daughter, Mona. Mr. Tohill married again, Inez M. Hill, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, becoming his wife.