N. E. Corthell. a distinguished member of the Laramie bar, who has been prominently identified with various public and private interests as well, and ranks with the honored and representative citizens of the southern section of the state, was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, November 14, 1861, a son of Lathrop V. and Phebe (Morris) Corthell. who were also natives of the Empire state, the father being a well known and highly respected farmer of New York. He remained there up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1909, when he had reached the age of seventy-seven years. His widow survives and is now a resident of Twin Falls county, Idaho. In their family were six children, one of whom has passed away, while those who survive are: N. E., of this review ; Edward; Ernest: Mrs. Alargaret Ringert; and Mrs. Leila Rutherford. The member of the family that has passed away was Mrs. Belle Robinson.
    N. E. Corthell. after attending the public schools of his native county, entered the Ten Broeck Free Academy at Franklinville, New York, from which he was graduated on completing the classical course in 1879. It was in that year, when a youth of eighteen, that he made his way westward to Wyoming, since which time he has lived in Laramie. He entered the law office of Colonel S. W. Downey, who directed his reading, and in 1883, after thorough preparation, he was admitted to the bar. He remained in Colonel Downey's office for four years thereafter and then entered upon the private practice of law, having had valuable experience with his preceptor, so that he was splendidly qualified for the onerous duties of the profession when he entered upon active practice. Through the intervening years his clientage has steadily increased in volume and importance and he is today one of the able members of the Laramie bar, his name figuring prominently in connection with much important litigation that has been tried in the courts of the state. He served as prosecuting attorney in Albany county in 1887 and 1888 and aside from his work in the strict path of his profession he has become well known in other connections, being a director of the Albany County National Bank of Laramie and a director in various other business projects and enterprises in which he holds stock. In a word a number of the important business concerns of the city have profited by his cooperation and benefited by his support.
    On the 30^th of June, 1885. Mr. Corthell was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor Quackenbush, of Laramie, who belonged to a prominent Wisconsin family. Seven children have been born of this marriage. Mrs. Evelyn Hill, who was born in Laramie and is a graduate of Wellesley College at Wellesley, Massachusetts, became the wife of Professor John A. Hill, now a captain in the United States army, and has three children, Robert, John and Ross, all born in Laramie, Morris, the second of the family, now a lieutenant in the army, is a native of Laramie, a graduate of the city schools and is married and resides in Laramie. Miriam, who was graduated from the university, is the wife of Thayer Burgess and resides in Utica, New York. Gladys completed the university course in Laramie, her native city, and has become the wife of Wilbur A. Hitchcock, by whom she has one child, Wilbur. Robert, born in Laramie, is now a marine in the United States navy. Huron D., a former student in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he was pursuing the civil engineering course, is a member of the Twenty-third Regiment of United States Engineers. Irving was graduated from the university at Laramie in 1917, and is now a lieutenant in the United States infantry.
    In his political views Mr. Corthell is a democrat, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. Aside from filling the office of prosecuting attorney he was a member of the school board from 1900 until 1903 and in the latter year became a member of the board of county commissioners, in which office he served for a four years' term. His course has ever been marked by genuine and unfaltering devotion to the public good. He is a broadminded man who looks at questions from the standpoint of a progressive and enlightened citizenship and his endorsement of a measure is sure to secure for it a large following. His personal career in its business relations has also been marked by steady advancement and he is today one of the prosperous citizens of Laramie, having made judicious investment in ranch property in this section. He is among the most highly respected and valued residents of this part of the state.
    In a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit he has made a creditable name and place for himself. He has won very favorable criticism for the careful and systematic methods which he has followed in the preparation and in the presentation of his cases. He throws himself easily and naturally into the argument. There is a self-possession and a deliberation which indicate no straining after effect. On the contrary, there is a precision and clearness in his statements, an acuteness and strength in his arguments which speak a mind trained in the severest school of investigation and to which the closest reasoning is habitual and easy.