McDonough ILGenWeb

TUNNICLIFF, George D., one of the leading members of the McDonough County Bar, was born in Macomb, Ill., December 14, 1861, a son of Damon G. and Mary E. (Bailey) Tunnicllff, the former a native of Herkimer County, N. Y., and for many years the foremost lawyer of McDonough County. In boyhood George D. Tunnicllff attended the public schools of Macomb, and afterward entered the Northwestern University, at Evanston. In his sophomore year he left that institution and entered the law department of the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated and immediately commenced the practice of law in Macomb. His career since then is familiar to all. Both as public prosecutor and in private practice, he has conducted a large number of important cases with signal ability and pronounced success. His absolute fidelity to the interests of his client, whether advocating the cause of the county or the State, or appearing in behalf of a humble and obscure client, is one of the salient traits of his character. Alert, forceful, keen and convincing, he has acquired an excellent patronage and made a record in which he may take a just pride.

On October 5, 1886, Mr. Tunnicllff was united in marriage, in Macomb, Ill., with Isabelle Baker, who was born in that city, December 6, 1864. Mrs. Tunnicllff is a daughter of Jonathan H. Baker, who was one of the early settlers and leading citizens of McDonough County, and was for several terms Judge of the County Court. Three children have been the result of this union: Helen D., born July 4, 1887; Mary Louise, born September 10, 1889, and Morris, born September 13, 1895. In 1886 the subject of this sketch became associated with his eminent and lamented father, Damon G. Tunnicliff, whose career is portrayed in the preceding sketch in this work. On the withdrawal of Judge Tunnicliff from active life, the firm became Sherman & Tunnicliff, Lawrence Y. Sherman having been admitted to the partnership in 1890. In 1901 C. G. Gumbart became a member of the firm which is now styled Sherman, Tunnicliff & Gumbart.

The religious belief of Mr. Tunnicliff is in harmony with the creed of the Universalist Church. Politically, he is a pronounced Republican. In the spring of 1887 he was elected City Attorney of Macomb, and filled that position with great efficiency. He was elected to the office of State's Attorney of McDonough County in the fall of 1888, and, during his term of four years, so discharged the duties devolving upon him as to gain additional distinction. At the end of the term, he declined a renomination at the hands of his party. Fraternally, Mr. Tunnicliff is affiliated with the K. of P. He has hosts of admiring friends throughout McDonough County, who hold him in warm regard, not alone for his estimable qualities of head and heart, but because he worthily upholds a name long honored in the legal annals of this region.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, pages 1030-1031, extracted 07 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass.