Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Corbett, Hugh E 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 7, 2008, 12:02 am

Author: Past and Present Will County IL; 1907

Hugh E. Corbett, attorney-at-law of Joliet, was born on a farm in Livingston 
county, Illinois, in 1871, his parents being Thomas and Ellen (Kane) Corbett. 
The father was a farmer by occupation and is now living in Chatsworth, 
Illinois. In the family were eight children, of whom four are living: Julia, 
who resides with her parents; John C., who is engaged in the grain, coal and 
lumber trade at Chatsworth and is vice president of the Commercial National 
Bank there; Hugh E., of this review; and James A., who is located at Philo, 
Illinois, being manager of three banks—one at Philo, one at Fairland and one 
at Tolono, Illinois. Hugh E. Corbett attended the country schools and is a 
graduate of the Chatsworth high school. He remained upon the home farm until 
1889, in which year the family removed to Chatsworth, and after completing his 
studies there he pursued a business, teacher's and scientific course at 
Valparaiso, Indiana. He afterward taught for three years and then returned to 
Valparaiso, being graduated from that school. He likewise spent a year in the 
office of A. C. Norton, a leading attorney of Pontiac, Illinois, and later 
located for practice at Elkhart, Indiana, where he formed a partnership with 
Charles F. Waltz, remaining a member of the bar at that place for six years. 
He was chairman of the democratic county committee and of the democratic 
central committee while in Elkhart, and was prominent and influential in 
public life and in professional circles. In a profession where advancement 
depends entirely upon individual merit he made steady progress. The favorable 
judgment which the world passed upon him at the outset of his career has in no 
degree been set aside or modified, but on the contrary, has been strengthened 
as the years have gone by, and he has demonstrated in the courts his strong 
and cogent reasoning and his familiarity with law and precedent. His position 
in public regard in Elkhart was indicated by the following, which appeared in 
a republican paper when he decided to leave that city: "Hugh E. Corbett has 
decided to leave Elkhart. This will be unpleasant news to those who know Mr. 
Corbett and who appreciate the value to a community of men of such character 
and purposes. Mr. Corbett has proved himself a young man of ability, honor, 
public spirit and high character. Such young men are necessary in all cities, 
and the more of them a city has the better its standing in the state. Mr. 
Corbett will go to Joliet, Illinois, to practice his profession and has what 
seems to his friends an exceptionally good opportunity." In 1904 Mr. Corbett 
came to Joliet and formed a law partnership with E. Meers. He soon won 
recognition here as an able member of the bar and much important litigation 
has been entrusted to him, the clientage of the firm being large and of a 
distinctively representative character. He has always figured prominently in 
political circles and in 1906 was a candidate of his party for the office of 
county judge of Will county. On the 14th of August, 1900, Mr. Corbett was 
married to Miss Agnes M. Murdock, of Elkhart, Indiana, and they have two 
children, Louise and George. He owns his own home and other property in the 
city of Joliet and fraternally he is connected with the Elks and the Knights 
of Columbus here. He manifests a public-spirited interest in citizenship and 
stands for progress in municipal and national affairs. The greater part of his 
time and attention, however, are given to his profession, and in the trial of 
a case he manifests definite thought, clear conception and logical reasoning—
qualities which are essential to the conduct of successful litigation. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/corbett2597nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 4.5 Kb