Boswell, H. James.  American Blue Book Western Washington, Seattle, Lowman and  
Hanford Co., 1922.  p. 198.

S. M. SHIPLEY is an attorney of Seattle whose ability enables him to cope with 
important and intricate legal problems.  And he has at all times indicated a 
keen, rapid, logical mind, plus the business sense, and a ready capacity for 
hard work.  In the beginning of his legal career he gave every evidence of the 
fact that he possessed the rare gift of eloquence of language and a strong 
personality.  His splendid strength of character, his thorough grasp of the 
law and complete grounding in its fundamentals, and his ability to correctly 
apply its principales, have proven strong factors in his effectiveness as an 
advocate.  Mr. Shipley is from Wisconsin, where he was born in 1859.  He 
received his early educational training in the public schools, and Pacific 
University took his B. S. degree in 1886.  Two years later M. Shipley took the 
LL. B. degrtee from the University of Oregon, and the same year came to 
Seattle in company with Henry F. McClure, with whom he was associated in 
practice until 1889, the firm being known as McClure, Shipley & Wheeler.  
Later he became a member of the firm of Battle & Shipley, his associate being 
Judge Alfred Battle, and this partnership existed for nearly ten years.  In 
1900 he joined forces with Will H. Morris, and this association has continued 
for the past 22 years.  He served as a member of the first city council under 
the freeholders, charter, establishing a splendid record.  As an examiner of 
scientific and expert witnesses, especially in big criminal cases, I doubt if 
Mr. Shipley has a superior in the state, and his firm has won some of the 
hardest fought cases in the Northwest.  In 1890 Mr. Shipley married Miss Julia 
Graves, and they have four children, Ethelyn, 27; Harold, 24; Dorothy, 20, and 
Alyss Jean, 14.  He is a member of the Seattle bar association.

Submitted by: Judy Bivens

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.