They may prefer appointment of judges rather than election to avoid having judges who have biases towards cases & people that they judge upon? (Hopefully that helps a little, I hope it isn't confusing)
Industrialization and/or Urbanization. We now have technology fields, and higher paying job fields, that seem more interesting or grabs the younger generations attention.
Well....
1.George Rodgers Clark captured the west from the British
2.Nathan Hale gave his life for his country
3. Benedict Arnold
4.John Paul Jones (Later nicknamed"Davy Jones") Defeated the British Navy
5.Colonel Hamilton was British commander at Vincennes
