Adams County, Ohio - Chapter 15: The Courts Under the Constitution, 1900 (part 2 of 3)

The practice of the law in Adams County was much more profitable in the early history of the county than it is now. Then the people thought they were rich ; now they know they are poor. At least, that is the statement most of them made to the canvassers for this work. Then the county was new; lands were taken up in large tracts, and there was much litigation over disputed and conflicting lines. For thirty years all the boundary questions have been settled, and the litigation is made up chiefly of foreclosures, damage suits, and divorces. The lawyers of this day have a better time than the early lawyers did, but are not so much looked up to as the first lawyers, because the people have other things to think of. In the early days all public interest centered in the courts. Now it has many other objects. A number of the older generation of lawyers were gay lotharios, and very fond of corn whiskey, but the present generation have abandoned both proclivities. The older generation of lawyers rode the circuit. They passed from county seat to county seat on horseback, with saddle pockets across their saddles, and sherry vallies encasing their legs. They rode in all weathers and on all kinds of roads. The present generation travels only turnpikes in carriages, or travels on the cars. The older generation spent their evenings in inns, before blazing fires, and with candle light. The present generation would not be found in a common bar room, and enjoys all the comforts and conveniences of life. The older lawyers depended much on oratory and effect ; the present generation are largely business agents with business methods. The older lawyers may have enjoyed log cabins with puncheon floors and clapboard roofs, but the present members of the fraternity enjoy all the fruits of the intense civilization in the midst of which we live. Law books are plenty now. In the early times they were scarce. While the present lawyers have business away from home and attend to it, the old plan of riding the circuit has gone, never to return. George Collings, the father of Judge Henry Collings, rode the circuit, as did John W. Campbell and their cotemporaries. Judge George Collings attended the courts in Scioto, Highland, and Brown Counties. The fashion of riding the circuit went out with the old Constitution. The old-fashioned judges were not always strong men, nor were they all learned in the law. Wylliss Silliman was an able lawyer, but Levin Belt was no better qualified than a justice of the peace. Robert F. Slaughter was not much of a lawyer, though quite an orator. John Thompson was only passable, though of a very high temper and much natural dignity, which shielded his lack of training as a lawyer. Joshua Collett and George J. Smith were able judges. John W. Price was a fair lawyer. Judge Fishback is described in a separate sketch. George Collings was an able and successful lawyer, but his feelings were too sensitive for a judge, and he would not remain on the bench. Shepherd F. Norris was a fair lawyer and judge, but Judge Fishback would never concede it. Thomas Q. Ashburn made an efficient judge, but was not brilliant. Tarbell was proficient in the law. Cowen, Collins, and Davis were able judges, above the average of judges before the present constitution and their immediate predecessors. Loudon made a good judge, though not of a judicial temperament. Of the nineteen associate judges of Adams County, as we learn them, Robert Morrison was the best informed on the law, and of the greatest natural ability. Aloses Baird was the next in ability, though we do not know so much of him as of Morrison, hut he was a man of excellent natural ability and of great dignity.

The old courts and judges, however, believed in dignity. Colonel John Lodwick, sheriff of the county, mustered the court with martial music and a procession from their hotel to the courthouse on the opening of every term. He wore a cocked hat and carried a sword. Of all men, Colonel Lodwick was most efficient in a case of this kind. At militia musters he made the finest appearance of any one on the parade, and as sheriff, was capable of maintaining his own dignity and that of the whole court. He was a model for every sheriff who has followed him.

son of Rev. John Collins, was born February 22, 1796, in New Jersey. He was liberally educated, studied law with John McLean, was admitted to practice in 1816, and settled in Hillsboro. He was appointed prosecuting attorney of Highland County in 1818 and resided there until 1832. On August 7, 182 1, he was appointed prosecuting attorney of Adams County and on Aug^ist 5, 1822, he resigned. He represented Highland County in the House from 182 1 to 1823. He removed to Maysville, Kentucky, in 1833, and represented Mason County in the Kentucky Legislature in 1834, 1844, 1847. Po'" fifteen years, he was president of the city council of Maysville, Kentucky, and was the first president of the Maysvile and Lexington Railroad. In 1853, he removed to his father's old home in Clermont County, where he died May 12, 1855.

one of the members of the bar of Adams County in its early history, was born at Amherst, New Hampshire, in 1707, and died at West Union, July 11, 1835. one of the victims of Asiatic cholera. He was the son of Andrew Wilkins and Lucy lyovell Blanchard, his wife. His grandfather, Rev. Daniel Wilkins. entered the ministry of the Congregational Church at Amherst, New Hampshire, in 1740, and died there at the age ol eighty-five. Of him the record is preserved that **The people of Amherst paid the highest respect to his memory and erected over his remains a monument of respectable proportions commemorating his memorable acts and intrinsic merits.'*

Daniel P. Wilkins came from a family eminent for services as statesmen and soldiers. Among them are named Daniel Wilkins, Major in the Revolutionary War, who died of smallpox at Crown Point; Hon. William Wilkins, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, United States Senator and Secretary of War, 1841-1846; General John A. Dix, governor of New York and minister to France: General Thomas Wilkins, of Amherst, New Hampshire ; George Wilkins Kendall, editor of the New Orleatis

Daniel P. Wilkins was a brilliant, scholarly lawyer ; keen, bright and pungent in his manner. It is said he made the following statement in court in regard to a pleading of an opponent, "May it please the Court. In the beginning the earth was without form and void, and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters and there was light. So, too, may it please the Court, this pleading is without form and void, but it lies in the power of no spirit to move upon its face and give it form or iight."

He married Susan A. Wood, a pioneer school teacher from Massachusetts, and they had four children - Susan and Clara, who are now deceased and who were married successively to Daniel Barker, of Red Oak Junction, Iowa ; Anna I., now deceased, married to John Eylar, of West Union, and Mar}% married to Charles B. Rustin, now living at Omaha, Nebraska. Our subject's acquaintance with Miss Wood, whom he married, was romantic. She had studied law and appeared in some cases in the minor courts. Mr. Wilkins was called before a trial justice and there he found Miss Wood as counsel for the opposite party, and this was the first time he had met her. She conducted the trial for her client and won the case. Her management of defense so impressed young Wilkins that he courted and married her.

He located as a young lawver in West Union, Adams County, in 1820. On the fifth of October, 1822. he was appointed prosecuting attorney of Adams County and served as such until June 12, 1826, when he was succeeded by George Collings. On the fourth of July, 1825, he delivered an oration at West Union, of which an account is given in the Village Register. He was aho a land accent and advertised lands sales in that paper. There uas a public library in West Union in 1825, and he was librarian. In 1826, he was aid-de-camp in the militia and brigadier general of the district. The children of his daughter, Anna A. Eylar, aie Joesph W. Eylar, editor of the News Democrat, of Georgetown ; Oliver A. Eylar, of the Dallas Herald, of Dallas, Texas ; John A. Eylar, a lawver at Waverlv ; Albert A. Evlar, lawver at El Paso, Texas, Louella B. Eylar, a school teacher at West Union. Henry Rustin, a lawyer at Omaha, Nebraska, is a son of his daughter, Mary.

was born in Maryland, and came from there to Chillicothe, Ohio. From the latter place, he came to West Union, probably about 1816. About all we know of him, we learn from Col. Wm. E. Gilmore, of Chillicothe, to whom we are indebted for many favors.

While in Adams County, Fitzgerald kept a fine horse, which he was accustomed to loan 10 his friend, youncr Joseph Riggs, a bank clerk, to ride to X'orth Liberty to court Rebecca Baldridge, daughter of Rev. Wm. Baldridge. In t8t8, he was elected to the Legislature from Adams County and had Gen. Robert Morrison for his colleague. In 1821 and 1822, he again represented Adams County in the lower House, having no colleague. In 1822. he appears to have changed his residence to Highland County, for he was prosecuting attorney there in 1824 and again in 1831 and 1833. From there he returned to Chillicothe, and was in partnership with Judge Henry Brush. Fitzgerald was a portly, good looking man and of first-rate legal abilities and attainments. He was studious and attentive to business. He was moral and temperate in his habits, but at the same time, moody, often depressed in spirits, and melancholy. Whether this arose from lo\'e or dyspepsia, we do not know, but he was madly enamored of one of the daughters of Wm. Creighton, Jr., and his addresses were rejected. Upon Miss Creighton's marriage to another suitor, he went to Washington, D. C, and soon after committed suicide.

was a young lawyer in West Union in 1824, 1825, to 1828. He is said to have been a relative of John W. Campbell. His marriage is announced in the Village Register, of November .14, 1826, as having occurred on the thirty-first of November, to Miss Nancy Hutcheson, at Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, the Rev. Dr. Brown, President of Jefferson College, performing the ceremony.

On March 2y, 1827, he was president of the council of West Union while Joseph Darlinton was recorder. At that time, the president of the council was the mayor. In 1827, he was a candidate for county treasurer, but as usual, Gen David Bradford was elected. No one had any show as against him. At the election for treasurer at that time, October 27, 1827, the vote stood as follows: David Bradford, 707; Joseph D. Darlinton, 191 ; John M. Hayslip, 170; Garland B. Shelledy, 97; William McColm, 35.

He was born in Kentucky. His mother's maiden name was Bradford. He was a graduate of Jeflerson College of Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania. When he left Adams County he located in Edgar County, Illinois. He was known as a fine speaker at the bar. In his political views he was a Whig and in his religious views a Presbyterian. He reared a family and has one daughter, Mrs. S. H. Magner, aged 64 years, who resides at Paris, Edgar County, Illinois, where he died and is buried. He died of consumption, as did most of his family.

was born January 13, 1809, in Chenango County, New York, where his father resided until 1815, when he removed to Chillicothe, Ohio. His father, Piatt Brush, was a lawyer and practiced in Chillicothe with his son, Henry Brush. In 1820, he removed to Delaware, where he remained until 1828, when he returned to Chillicothe.

Samuel Brush was a clerk in his father*s office. He received a classical education from three private tutors, one of whom was John A. Quitman. He read law with his father and Avas admitted to the bar at Tiffin, Ohio, August 30, 1830. In the spring of 1831, he located at West Union, Ohio, and was elected prosecuting attorney in 1833, the first one elected in the county. He served two years and then went to Batavia, Ohio, and practiced a short time when he removed to Columbus, Ohio. He acquired the title of major in Columbus by being brigade inspector of the militia. He was vice president of the agricultural society of Franklin County when it was organized. In 1859, he retired from practice and removed to Canandaigua, New York, and engaged in farming. He was a Union man during the Civil War. It is said he never lost a case he prepared or had it reversed. He had great powers of concentration and was of great industry in his business, always ready to try his cases. He was true to his friends and very grateful to those who favored bim, and of an undoubted integrity.

was born near Killala, County Down, in the Province of Ulster, Ireland, December 30, 1800. He was the youngest of fourteen children, but four of whom survived to maturity. His father was William Keenin, and his mother Miss Deborah Gaugh. His ancestors were originally from Scotland. His parents were well educated, and strict members of the Presbyterian Church. His father died when he was but eighteen years old; and with his mother, his brother William, and one sister, he took passage on a sailing vessel to this country in 1819. The ship was bound for New York, but it was chased by Algerian pirates, and driven out of its course. After landing in this country, they went to Pittsburg.

Our subject received a good education. He read medicine; but on account of his health and the advice of physicians, never practiced. He then took up the legal profession ; and after being admitted to the bar, located in Adams County for the practice of the profession. In 1832 he married Miss Lucasta H Cole, a daughter of James M. Cole, who was then the sheriff of Adams County. His wife died June 29, 1834, and is buried in the CoUings Cemetery at West Union. In 1835 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Adams County, and served until 1837 ; when he resigned and moved to Pike County. He removed from Piketon in the same year, and went to Tennessee. He located at Camden, and practiced law there and at Paris.

In 1844 he removed to Mississippi and was admitted to the bar there. On June 3, 1840, he was remarried to Mrs. Lucynthia W. Rucker CounsuUe, of Ripley, Mississippi. Of this marriage there were two daughters, Mrs. Linnie A. Robertson and Susan Deborah, and one son, William James. Soon after his marriage, he devoted himself to farming.

He was a natural born orator, and possessed much ability as a law- \er. He was frequently called upon to act as a special judge. He was a magistrate of his neighborhood for years. He died the eighteenth of October, 1873, ^"^ Js buried in Rucker Cemetery, near Ripley, Mississippi, and his wife died the first of September, 1875. His daughter Linnie married Charles Alexander Robertson, son of Col. C. S. Robertson, a prominent lawyer of New Albany, Mississippi. His daughter Susan Deborah is unmarried, as well as his son William James. They reside in the old homestead. In his religious belief, he was a Universalist ; but not a church member. In his political views, he was a Democrat. He was of a kind disposition, gentle and affectionate to those about him, and charitable to all.

the son of Adam McCormick and Margaret Ellison, his wife, was born in 1841 in Cincinnati. He was an only child. As a child, he lived a part of the time in Cincinnati and a part of the time in West Union. He is said to have attended college at Marietta. In 183 1 and 1832, he was at Pine Grove Furnace, ostensibly as a store-keeper. He studied law soon after this under Nelson Barrere and was admitted to the bar in about 1835. Directly after his admission to the bar, he located in Portsmouth, where he remained for only a few months. He then went to Cincinnati and remained there most of the time until 1838 when he became prosecuting attorney of Adams County. In 1843 he was again prosecuting attorney of Adams County, first by appointment and afterwards by election, until 1845 » O^ May 20, 1840, he was married to Elizabeth Smith, sister of Judge John M. Smith, of West Union. They had three children, two sons and a daughter, bom in Adams County, but only one survived to maturity, Adam Ellison, born January 31, 1843. He was a fine looking man, of magnificent physique, an Apollo Belvidere, but the bane of his life was the drink habit. His father died in July, 1849, of the Asiatic cholera and left a large estate, which was disposed of by will. He gave a life estate in it to his son, Joseph, with the remainder over to his grandchildren, Adam and Mary, the latter of whom died at the age of ten years. He made Judge George Collings trustee of his estate and directed him that in case his son should reform his present unfortunate habit as to drinking, he was to turn the whole estate over to him. That event, however, never occurred and the estate was held by the trustee until his death, when it was turned over to his son, Adam. He was elected to the Constitutional Convention in 1850 from Adams Countv. where he serv^ed with much distinction. On Mav 5, 1 85 1, he was appointed, by Governor Wood, attorney general for the state of Ohio in place of Henrv Stansberry, whose term had expired. He served about seven months, until George E. Pugh, the first attorney general under the new constitution was elected and qualified. At the time of Mr. McCormick's appointment, the salary of the office was $750. Henry Stansberry was the first attorney general appointed in 1846, and Mr. ilcCormick was the second.

In about 1857. he left Adams County and went to the state of Califoniia, where he remained until his death in 1879. His wife and son continued to reside in Manchester from 1857 until 1872 when she died.

>vas born September 16. 18 16. in Logan County, Ohio. His father, John ^^'ilson. was born December 17, 1786, in Kentucky, and died October 5, 1824. in Locran County. His wife, Margaret Darlinton, was born in \\'inchester. \'irginia. She was married to John Wilson in Adams County. August 6, 1810, by Rev. William Williamson. She survived until ^larch 8. i860. Her fatlicr was boni March 24, 1754, and died May 20. 181 1, at Newark. Ohio. Her mother was born April 10, 1700, and died December 14, 1832. John Wilson, grandfather of our subject, moved to Maysviile, Kentucky, about 1781, and bought land on the Kentucky side o\ the river tor tnelve or fifteen miles. This land is all

The father of our subject had fifteen children, all of whom lived to maturity, married and had families. Our subject went to reside with his uncle. General Joseph Darlinton. in Adams County in 1823. He was brought up in the Presbyterian church and had such education as the local schools afforded. At the age of sixteen, in 1832, he became an assistant to his uncle in the clerk's office of the court of common pleas and Supreme Court. In 1837, when he had attained his majority, he started out for himself, with a certificate from J. Winston Price, presiding judge of the common pleas that he was of correct and most unexceptionable moral character and habits. Gen. Darlinton also gave him a certificate that he was perfectly honest and of strict integrity; that he was familiar with the duties of the clerk's office, that he had had some experience in retailing goods from behind the counter and in keeping merchant's books. Between 1837 and 1840, he was a clerk in the Ohio Legislature at its annual sessions. In September, 1838, he was employed in the county clerk office at Greeup County, Kentucky. In November, 1838, he obtained a certificate from Peter Hitchcock, Frederick Grimke, Ebenezer Lane, Supreme Judges, that he was well qualified to discharge the duties of clerk of the court of common pleas of Acams County, or any other court of equal dignity in the State. In November, 1840, he obtained employment in the office of Daniel Gano, clerk of the courts of Hamilton County, as an assistant for four years at $380 per year. He was married to Harriet LaflFerty, sister of Joseph West Lafferty, of West Union, April 14, 1839, by Rev. Dyer Burgess. He formed a great friendship with Nelson Barrere, a young lawyer who had located in West Union in 1834 and several of Barrere's letters to him are in existence. To Barrere, he disclosed his inmost soul as to a father confessor and Barrere held the trust most sacredly. He seems also to have had the friendship of Samuel Brush, an eminent lawyer of that time, who practiced in Adams County. In 1846, he was an applicant for the clerkship of the Adams Court of Common Pleas, when Gen. Darlinton resigned the office. He was recommended by George Collings, Nelson Barrere, William M. Meek, Chambers Baird, John A. Smith, James H. Thompson and Hanson L. Penn, but Joseph Randolph Cockerill was appointed. However, on September 18, 1846, he entered into a written contract with Joseph R. Cockerill, the clerk, to work in the office at $30 per month until the next spring, and in that period, to be deputy clerk, in April, 1848, he was admitted to the bar at a term of the Supreme Court held in Adams County, but it is not now known that he ever practiced. He always had a delicate constitution and died of pulmonary consumption December 16, 1848. His wife died August 12, 1850. They had two children, a daughter, who died in infancy, and a son, John O., who has a sketch herein.

was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, February 7, 1826, the son of the Rev. John Graham, D. D., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this book, and of Sarah Bonner, his wife. He resided in W^ashington, Pa., until the age of four years when bis father moved to Greenfield, Highland, County,

Ohio. He resided at Greenfield and Chillicothe till 1840, when he went to West Union, Ohio. In 1845, ^^ attended Washington College at Washington, Pennsylvania, and was a student there until the summer of 1848. At that time, he begfan the study of law at West Union, Ohio, under the late Thomas McCauslen, and completed his studies in 1850, when he was admitted to the bar. He resided at West Union and practiced law there from 1850 until 1853. when he removed to Xenia, Ohio, and formed a partnership with Mr. Beatty Stewart.

On the twelfth of February, 1857, he was married to Miss Cornelia McCroskey. Of this marriage, there were three daughters, all now residing in Cincinnati, Ohio. Miss Henrietta, the eldest, is a fine musician; Mrs. Minnie Redd is a widow with a grown daughter, and the youngest is the wife of Dr. Landis, of the Brittany Building.

David Graham removed to Delphi. Ind., in September, 1859, and remained there till 1872. when he located in Logansport, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died there in 1887. His wife, a lovely and lovable woman, survived him but a short time, and side by side their ashes repose in the beautiful cemetery at Logansport.

David B. Graham resided in West Union from his fourteenth year until his twenty-seventh year, and as a youth and yoimg man. he was the soul and life of the society of the young people in West Union, and in his yoimg manhood, they had more social pleasures than any generation since. He was genial, companionable and full of humor and fun. He was fond of the society of young people and they were all fond of his companionship. He was kind, loving and jolly, and always looking out to do a kindness or a friendly favor, and among his accomplishments, he was a fine musician. In his mature life, his genial spirit never forsook him and he was very popular. He was a cholera sufferer in 1849 and went through the scourofe in 1851. He was of strong religious feelings and was a member of his father's church in West Union. At Delphi, Indiana, he connected with the Presbyterian Church and at Logansport, he was connected with the Methodist Episcopal, and so remained until his death. In politics, he was first a Whig and afterwards a Republican. He will be remembered as a man with a great and generous soul, with a heart for all humanity and a sympathy for all who knew him, which made them love him in return.

Kdward Patton Evans was born May 31, 1814, on Eagle Creek. JefTorson Township, in Brown County, Ohio. He was the eldest son of William Evans and his wife, Mary Patton. daughter of John Patton. of Rockbridge County, Virginia. His mother was born in Rockbridge County, \'irginia. in 1781). and was married to Charles Kirkpatrick in Virginia in 1806. She and her husband came to Ohio in that year, and he bought the farm on Eagle Creek on which our subject was bom. In t8t8 Kirkpatrick obtained his (]ec(\ to the farm of one hundred and thirty-eight acres in l^hillip Slaughter's Survey Xo. - , of i.ooo acres, and ]Kiid $600. The i\<^ci\ was executed in 1812 before John W. Campbell, justice of the peace, at West I'nion. Ohio, and afterwards U. S. Tudi^^e for (^hio, and was witnessed bv him and his wife, Eleanor Campbell.

The same year Charles Kirkpatrick went out in Captain Abraham Shepherd's company, and on his way returning, was shot and wounded by Indians, and died of his wounds at Chillicothe, Ohio, and was buried there. William Evans was his friend, and had to break the news to his widow. Next year, August 13, 1813, he married her, and our subject was their first child. He had nine brothers and sisters, and on March 22, 1830, his mother died at he early age of 41.

When our subject was bom, it was customary to name the first boy for his two grandfathers, so he got Edward on account of his grandfather Evans, and Patton, for his grandfather, John Patton. As his father and mother had four other sons, they might have saved the name of one grandfather for one of them. His grandfather, Edward Evans, was bom in Cumberland County, Pa., in 1760, and was a member of Col. Samuel Dawson's company, nth Pennsylvania Regiment, Col. Richard Humpton, in the Revolutionary War, and was in the battles of Germantown, Brandywine, and Monmouth, and spent the winter of 1777 at Valley Forge. His great-grandfather, Hugh Evans, was also in the Revolutionary War. and before that had been a school teacher in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and had had Mad Anthony Wayne for a pupil, when the latter was only twelve years old. He was a very unruly pupil and always at pranks. His four times great-grandfather, Hugh Evans, came over with William Penn in 1682, and the family were Quakers until the Revolution.

Edward Patton Evans worked on his father's farm and went to school of winters until his eighteenth year. He went to school at Ripley for awhile, and afterwards at Decatur. He became a school teacher and law student, and May 20, 1839, he was married to Amanda J. King, at Georgetown, Ohio. Subsequent, to his marriage, he carried on a general store at Hamersville, Ohio, and afterwards removed to Sardina, and carried on a cooperage business there. In 1842 his eldest son was born, and in 1844 he was admitted to the bar. He removed to West Union, Adams County, Ohio, in April, 1847, ^"^ continued to reside there until his death. He was engaged in the active practice of the law from his location in West Union in April, 1847, ^"^il 1877, when he retired on account of failing health. He was a Whig until that party dissolved. When the Republicati party was organized he identified himself with that, and was an enthusiastic Republican all his life. But at all times he was an anti-slavery advocate. He was a very successful lawyer, and made more money at the practice of his profession than any lawyer who has ever been at the bar in Adams County. When he was at his best, physically and mentally, he was on one side or the other of every case of importance. When he brought a suit, he never failed to gain it, unless he had been deceived by his client. The fact was, he would not bring a suit unless he believed his client had the chance to win largely in his favor. Once a farmer called on him to bring a suit in ejectment. Mr. Evans heard his statement and informed him that if he brought the suit he would lose it, and declined to bring it for him. This made the farmer very angry, and he went away in a great passion. He found a lawyer to bring his suit, and Mr. Evans was employed by the defendant, and won the case. He was very positive in his judgment about matters of law, but his judgment in such matters was almost in- variably correct. He was an excellent trial lawyer, and commanded the confidence of the entire community. He never sought office, but in 1856 was presidential elector on the Fremont ticket, and, as such, canvassed his entire congressional district with Caleb R. Smith, R. W. Clarke, and R. M. Corwine. From 1856 until after the war, he usually attended all the State conventions of his party. In i860 he took part in the canvass for the election of President Lincoln, and during the war was chairman of the military committee of Adams County, which was charged with raising all the troops required in the county. As such, he did a great work in aiding the prosecution of the war. He also did a great work in looking after the families of the soldiers. In the fall of 1864 he went out with the 6th Independent Infantry to guard rebel prisoners at Johnson's Island. In 1862 he became a member of the banking house of G. B. Grimes & Company, and continued in that business until 1878. During and directly after the war for a time, he owned and was concerned in operating the flour mill at Steam Furnace. In the seventies he and three others for a time conducted a woolen mill at West Union, but, it proving unprofitable, the business was closed down. Up till 1877 he had apparently had an iron constitution, had never been sick, but in that year his health beg^n to fail, and continued to grow worse until he gave up all business. He survived until April i7» 1883, when death ended his sufferings. He was an honest man, punctual about all his obligations. He was positive in his convictions on every subject. He was devoted to the interests of the community in which he lived, and in the county seat contest spent his money, time, and labor freely for West Union. He was energetic and enthusiastic in eyerything he undertook. He was always in favor of public improvements, and the West Union school house and new court house in West Union were largely due to his efforts.

Chambers Baird was born July 25, 181 1, at Sandy Springs, Adams County. Ohio, and died at Ripley, Brown County, Ohio, March 20, 1887, ^^^^ 75 years, 7 months, and 25 days. He was the son of Judge Moses Baird. an Ohio pioneer, who came from Washington County, Pennsylvania, and settled at Sandy Springs in 1790, and who has a sketch herein.

Chambers Baird was reared on the home farm on the banks of the Ohio River opposite Vanceburg, Kentucky, where he remained with his parents until the age of nineteen, when he entered Ripley College in 1830. lie entered Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1832, in company with his cousin, Stephen R. Riggs, afterward noted as a minister and missionary among the Dakota Indians. He was graduated with him in the class of 1834 with second honcM^, having distinguished himself in Greek, Laitin, English composition, and as a speaker.

He returned to Ripley after his graduation and began the study of law with Hon. Archibald Leggett and Col. Francis Taylor, formerly of Kentucky. He was admitted to the bar in November, 1836, and he was a regular practitioner in the courts of Adams County from 1837 during the whole time he was in the practice of the law. He was mar- ried in 1837 to Miss Mary Ann Campbell, of Ripley. She died in 1844, childless. He was ag^in married May 6, 1845, ^o Miss Judith Anne Le&gett, only daurfiter of Mr. A. Leggett, who had married two daughters of Col. Taylor. Mrs. Baird is still living in Ripley (1899). To them were bom five children, three daughters and two sons, of wliom three died in infancy. The surviving children are Florence C, now Mrs. John W. Campbell, of Ironton, Ohio, and Chambers, Jr., the youngest, an attorney of Ripley.

Mr. Baird's early years of manhood were spent in the active work of his profession. He was a close student and a hard worker. His great ability, perfect integrity, and high character secured for him recognition in his profession and in the county, and he became a prominent and influential figure at the bar to the end of his long life. He was in all the activities of life at home, and served several terms as mayor of Ripley, and was also repeatedly a member of various elective and appointive local boards, in which positions he was an efficient and acceptable officer.

Being a man of strong convictions and great industry, Mr. Baird early took an active part in political life. He was originally a Whig, a follower of Henry Clay, and championed the cause of the party in the great campaign of 1840 and many others following. As a strong antislavery man, he was one of the organizers of the new and great Republican party, to which he constantly adhered to the end of his Hfe. In 1855 he was elected State Senator from Brown and Clermont counties, and served with honor and distinction during the sessions of 1856 and 1857. In 1856 he was a delegate to the first National Republican convention, held at Philadelphia, and assisted in the nomination of Fremont for President. During the troublous and exciting years preceding the war, some of the l)est work of his political life was given to the cause of free speech, free men, and a free press. Here, as usual, his courage, ability, and energy placed him in the front rank and won for him the distinction which he ever after retained. He was only prevented from attaining the highest political honors by his modesty and lack of ambition. He rose to everv occasion and contest, but the crisis past, he returned to his profession, and left the gathering of public laurels to others.

In the campaign of i860 he took a prominent part in the election of Lincoln, and at the outbreak of the Civil War, which he always believed would and must come as the only settlement of the great question of slavery, he was one of the first and foremost to speak for the Union, to the maintainance of which he gave his highest and untiring energies. His close personal and political relations with Senator Sherman, Secretary Chase, Governor Dennison, and other statesmen, gave him great prominence in state affairs. His age, fifty years, prevented him from entering active military service, but he was at once appointed Provost Marshal by the Governor, and was intrusted with the responsible duty of organizing a defense of the Ohio border against the inroads of disloyal Kentuckians and raiders from the Confederate Armv. This confidence of the War Governor was not misplaced. With his accustomed energy, he set about organizing minute men and military companies until the 14a martial reputation of the people of Ripley and vicinity, already secured by the many enlisted men in the active volunteer service, made them well known as being thoroughly prepared to repulse any attack that might be contemplated. Later in the war he desired more active service, and having been offered the appointment of paymaster in the U. S. Army, he accepted it. He was first assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, with headquarters at Louisville, Ky. But he was often with the army in the field, and was present at several battles, having witnessed the famous "battle above the clouds" at Lookout Mountain, and other engagements. Later on he was ordered to Washington, and there remained on duty among the eastern armies until the close of the war. He was living in Washington at the time of the assassination of President Lincoln. At the close of the war he was sent to Annapolis to pay the Union troops returned from Southern prisons, where he witnessed many pitiful scenes. On the first day of July, 1866, after a service of three hard years, he was at last, at his own request, honorably mustered out of the U. S. service, after handling many millions of money without the loss of one cent and without a blemish or spot upon his integrity.

Leaving the army, Major Baird returned to Ripley, to his home and family, and resumed the practice of his profession. In this work he continued for a number of years, until the cares of it became a burden, when he relinquished a lucrative practice and occupied himself only with his private business and affairs, retiring finally with abundant honors and a competence. During the last decade of his life, however, he continued his usual activities and expanded his interests. For many years he was engaged in tht banking business as director of the First National Bank of Ripley, Ohio, and later as president of the Farmers' National Bank, and of its successor, the Citizens' National Bank. He was president of the Ripley Gas Company from its organization in i860 until his death. He was an active member of the Ripley Fair Company, the Ripley Saw Mill and Lumber Company, of several turnpike companies, and also an investor in other industries and enterprises at home and abroad, always desiring to promote the welfare and prosperity of his town and its people. His handsome home w^as the seat of a continuous and generous hospitality, and here he entertained many of the distinguished men of the coimtry. He possessed two of the largest libraries of law books and miscellaneous books in southern Ohio, and wrote many addresses and articles on subjects of general interest. He also maintained a wide correspondence with friends and public men, and obtained many tokens of their esteem and confidence.

In his active political life, which was continued for a number of years after the war,he was a regular attendant of state and otherconventions of the Republican party, and had a wide acquaintance with public men and politicians in the state. He was famous as a debater, and no antagonist could easily annoy or ever discomfit him, for his quick, full mind was always ready to reply with facts, arguments, stories and witticisms. He usually had the best of every discussion, because from his nature and conscience, he always took the best side of the question. Thus he was in constant demand as a speaker, and during his long, active life, made many thousands of addresses of all kinds, professional and political, aiid on temperance and religious subjects. He was never an office seeker, nor often a place holder. He declined many nominations and appointments, which he felt would take him away from his law practice and family life.

He was long and closely identified with the Presbyterian Church of Ripley, which he truly loved and faithfully attended for more than half a century. For more than forty years he was a trustee, and chairman of the board for many years. He also served several terms as elder in his later years, and always took a deep interest and an active part in the religious services. He was earnest and effective in all church work and charities, and contributed largely of his time and means to their support and furtherance. He was long connected with the Sunday School in various capacities, and for some years was teacher of a large Bible class. He served repeatedly as a delegate from the church to the meetings of the Pesbytery and Synod, and was once a delegate from the Presbytery of Portsmouth to the General Assembly.

Major Baird was of medium height, fine, regular features, a handsome man, possessing a sound mind in a sound body. From his middle life, he wore a full brown beard, later tinged with gray. His disposition was sunny and cheerful, and his manners were kindly and courteous. He was friendly to every one, and had a great fondness for little children, with whom he was a fast favorite. He was fond of men and company, of books and of social pleasures, - the life of every assembly with his vivacity, humor, and stories. His temper was easy and kindly. In affairs of duty and honor, his courage was unaffected by opposition or self-interest. He always saw the right clearly and instantly, and took his stand upon it without any fear or wavering. He was generous to the poor and helpful to the deserving, always ready to assist persons in distress and trouble. For years he maintained many private charities and dependents, of which the world knew little or nothing. His personal and professional life was clear, just, and consistent, and he lived an earnest, devoted Christian gentleman. He lived long and worked hard, rising from simple beginnings to the highest eminence in his profession and in the consideration of his conimuniaty. In his profession of the law, he attained the highest reputation ; among men of business and affairs, he was esteemed as a banker and financier; in politics, he was the trusted Republican leader of his county, and possessed the unlimited confidence of the leaders of his party in the State ; in the work and counsels of the Presbyterian Church, he was prominent and useful as a trustee and an elder ; in slavery and temperance agitation and in other moral reforms, he was ever active and eloquent ; and in the general routine of life, he was helpful, sympathetic and generous, a leader in all good works and deeds. He lived a long, full life, and the world and humanity are the better for his efforts and example.

son of Rev. John and Anna Meek, was born November 22, 1818, in Wr?t Union, where he resided with his parents until 1836, when they removed to Winchester. That same year he entered school at Hillsboro, and completed the Hillsboro schools. He then accepted a position with the dry goods firm of Trimble & Barry, where he remained until 1838, when he returned to West Union, accepting a like position with Edward Moore. In 1841 he began the study of law. He was the pupil of the Hon. Nelson Barrere. In May, 1844, in the Supreme Court of Hillsboro, he was admitted to practice. The Hon. Thomas L. Hamer, of Brown County, was one of the committee who examined him and recommended his admission. He opened up a law office in West Union and remained there for more than a year. In August, 1845, he was married to Miss Hester DeBruin, of Winchester, daughter of H. I. DeBruin, a well-known merchant. In October, 1845, ^^ formed a partnership with Hon. Nelson Barrere, in the practice of law at West Union, and this continued until March, 1850, when he rempved to Winchester and entered into merchandising as a partner with the late I. H. DeBruin in Winchester. Pie continued the practice of law at the same time he was engaged in merchandising business, which he continued until 1854, when he removed to Hillsboro, Ohio, where he resumed practice. He was elected probate judge of Highland County first in 1863, re-elected in 1866, and again in 1869. In 1872 he resumed the practice of law, and continued until his health broke down. In politics he was a Republican. He was a member of and devotedly attached to the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was reared, and he was twice a lay delegate to the geiteral conference of that church, first at Baltimore in 1876, and again in 1880 at Cincinnati. He was made a Master Mason in 1849 i^ West Union. He was a Royal Arch Mason, Hillsboro Chapter, in 1850, and was made a Knight Templar in the Chillicothe Commandery in 1851. He departed this life April 29, 1893.

Among those wlio were continuous residents of the village of West Union for the greater number of years was Judge John Mitchell Smith, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, June 29, 1819. He was of Scotch-Irish extraction, his ancestors having emigrated from Argylshire, Scotland, to the north of Ireland, and thence to the New Hampshire Colony, America, in 1719. His grandfather, John Smith, was a non-commissioned officer in the Revolutionary War, and was wounded in the service of his countrv.

His father, Judge David Campbell Smith, a graduate of Dartmouth College in the class of 1813, came to Ohio from Francestown, New Hampshire, where he was born October 2, 1785, and settled in Franklintown, now a part of the city of Columbus, in the year 181 5. He was the first lawyer to locate permanently in Columbus, and was one of the first associate judges of the common pleas court for Franklin County, having been elected as **David Smith'* in 181 7. Almost invariably afterwards, he dropped his middle name. He was a member of the House in the Twenty-first General Assembly and also in the Twenty-fifth General Assembly of the State. From 1816 to 1836 he was editor and proprietor of the Ohio Monitor (afterwards in the Ohio Statesmen)^ the third newspaper established in the county. He was State Printer in 1820 and again in 1822. From 1836 to 1845 ^^^ was chief clerk in the *'Dead Letter" office in the Postoffice Department. On August 17,

The Cjourts Under The Constitution 213

1814, David Smith was married to Miss Rhoda S. Mitchell, of Haverhill, Mass., and John M. was their third child. His mother died when he was only six weeks old, and on June 5, 1820, his father again married - a sister of the fist wife. Miss Harriet Mitchell (born in Haverhill), December 23, 1802. By this latter marriage, there were also three childen. Mrs. Harriet Smith died of cholera, August 11, 1833. Judge David Smith remained a citizen of Columbus until 1836, when he went to Manchester, Adams County, Ohio, to reside with his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth McCormick. He died at her home February 4, 1865. His remains, as also those of his wife, repose in Greenlawn Cemetery, at Columbus.

Until seventeen years of age, John Mitchell Smith continued to live with his father in Columbus, receiving such education as the public schools and the severe training of his father's printing office afforded. He then took three years' course of study in Blendon College. In the spring of 1840 he removed to West Union. Here he studied law for two years in the office of Jos/bph McCormick - afterwards attorney general of the State, and was licensed to practice law by the Ohio Supreme Court in 1843. In the meanwhile he had served as deputy sheriff under Samuel Foster, and from 1841 to 1846 was recorder of Adams County. In 1850, greatly to his surprise and against his wishes, he was nominated and elected representative of Adams and Pike Counties in the Fifty-ninth General Assembly, serving but one term. In 1846 he was clerk of the courts for a short time to succeed General Darlinton, whose term had expired. In December, 1846, he purchased and for the next twelve years, successfully and ably edited and published the Adams County Democrat Though a vigorous organ of the Democratic party, the paper was popular with all patrons, and is yet frequently mentioned as one of the ablest journals ever published in the countv.

In 1 85 1, upon the adoption of the present constitution of the State, he was elected probate judge. In 1854, the year of the famous "Know- Nothing" campaign, Judge Smith was defeated, along with the remainder of the Democratic ticket, as a candidate for re-election. In 1856 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Cincinnati, and was a firm supporter of Lewis Cass, from first to last, as against James Buchanan and Stephen A. Douf2:las. In 1857 ^^ was again nominated and elected probate judge, and, in i860, was for the fourth time nominated and the third time elected to that office. Owing to the declination of Judge Henry Oursler, in 1865, he continued to perform the duties of the position for a year longer - serving practically for ten vears.

In 1866 he was appointed United States deputy internal revenue collector for Adams County, and served for a number of months under Gen. Benjamin F. Coates, of Portsmouth, the collector for the district. Afterwards, he served as deputy sheriff under Messrs. John Taylor, John K. Pollard. James M. Long, and Grecnleaf N. McManis, and at the time of his death was deputy county clerk under Wm. R. Mahaffey.

As school director, he actively assisted in establishing the union school in West Union, shortly before the Civil War, and for twenty years prior to his death he was almost constantly clerk of the incor- porated village of West Union (generally by unanimous election), and clerk of the school board of the special district, ever taking pride in every movement for the advancement and progress of the people, and especially of the youth of the village. In 1880 he was United States census enumerator for Tiffin Township, by appointment of Henry A. Towne, of Portsmouth. For years he was county school examiner, and for a long time was the secretary of the old agricultural society of the county. From the time of the adoption of the Australian ballot system in Ohio, until his death, he was president of the county board of elections, and his last official act was in connection with that office.

On the breaking out of the Rebellion, Judge Smith was what was known as a **War Democrat," but, during or about the close of the war, he became a Republican, and was as ardent in support of that party as he was in earlier years of the Democratic party. However, he was always fair and conservative in his political opinions, and independent and conscientious in support of party candidates.

On November 30, 1842, John M. Smith was married to Miss Matilda A. Patterson, third child and oldest daughter of John and Mary Finley Patterson, who were among the early settlers of Adams County. The acquaintance of the families began in Columbus, where their fathers served together in the Legislature. They were married in the house on Main street (built by Mr. Patterson), in which they lived from 1848 to 1892, and in which eight of their eleven children were born. Two of their children (John David and Thomas Edwin) died in infancy ; Elizabeth, married to Rev. WilHam Coleman on May 18, 1864, died April 26. 1873. at Pleasant Hill, Mo. ; Joseph P. died at Miami, Florida, February 5. 1898. Those surviving (in the spring of 1899) ^^ Mary Celia (Mrs. Chandler J. Moulton), Lucasville, O. ; Virginia Gill (widow of Luther Thompson), West Union; Clarence Mitchell, Columbus: Clifton Campbell, Columbus ; Frederick Lewis, Cincinnati ; Herbert Clark, Hyattsville, Md; Sarah Lodwick (Mrs. Charles E. Frame), West Union.

John M. Smith was never a church member, but he respected the beliefs of others, and encourgagcd his children to imitate their mother's example as a humble follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. His religious convictions were in accord with those entertained by those persons who are affiliated with the Universalist Church of the present day. In his last days he said to his wife: '*I have always considered religion a matter of personal belief and concern. T have tried to lead an honorable and useful life, and am content to leave mv future in the hands of a merciful God." He died on November 17, 1892, after a sickness of about a month.

Jn the "inner circle" - the home life, the wife and children of John M. Smith knew him as an affectionate husband and loving father; jj^enerous and thoughtful, tender and compassionate, indulgent and self-sacrificing. What some others saw in his life is expressed in their own language, as follows : - Judge Henry Collings said in part -

*'The modesty of his disposition and the great antipathy to anything like display, probably prevented his taking the rank he otherwise might have done at the bar, and certainly obscured his ability, to an extent, among the common people. But lawyers and courts knew and often attested that we had no profoimder legal mind, no

**I learned to respect and honor him as a just, honest, true, intelligent man; one whom, had he desired to actively engage in the practice of law, had rare ability and thorough knowledge, and, with it all, an intimate insight into the motives of men."

Col. Jc^n A. Cockerill wrote from New York that "He was the first man, outside of my own father, whom I learned to esteem and honor ***** Judge Smith was indeed a very able man, and I think in a wider field than Adams County afforded, would have achieved marked distinction."

Matilda A. Smith, wife of Judge John M. Smith, was born in the house in which she was afterwards married, in which she made her home for so many vears, and in which she died. Her birthdav was October 4, 1823. Her mother died February 6, 1831, and as the eldest daughter, three younger children were left for her to care for. Her father married Miss Celia Prather on the ninth of the following November. Five children were bom to this union, previous to the death of the mother at Columbus, O., February 22, 1840. Never freed from the care of her own brothers and sisters, during the illness and after the death of her step-mother, the additional care of her half-brothers devolved upon Matilda. She also assisted in caring for the children of her second step-mother. (Mary Catherine McCrea,) married to John Patterson at Columbus, November 12, 1840, until after her marriage in 1842.

These family cares deprived Matilda A. Smith to a great extent of the educational facilities of her young days, and early privations had their influence on her health. P>ut while frail of body, she was strong of mind and energetic will. Her younger brothers and sisters looked up to her as a second mother. She had a great, loving, sympathetic heart. In addition to caring for those mentioned, and for her own eleven chHdren, she also took into her family and her affections, treating him all his life as one of her own, John M. Chipps, a distant relative.

In the retrospect of the life of our mother, we the children, stand amazed at the duties assumed and wonder how it was possible for her to accomplish so much. And yet, despite her own cares, she found time to minister to the sorrowing and afflicted among her neighbors. Her whole life was a continuous round of unselfish usefulness. Her highest ambition was the success and happiness of her children; and her greatest earthly joy, as she reached the twilight hours of her life's journey, was that the members of her family were living in comfortable circumstances. After the death of her husband, she resided for a time with one of her sons in Columbus, but wanted to return to end her days in the old homestead. For more than fifty years, she was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church at West Union and died on August 21, 1895, with the blessed liope of a blissful eternity. Together the remains of Judge John M. and \Iatilda A. Smith are reposing in the old cemeterv south of West Union. Their children bless God for such a father and such a mother. The world is better for their having lived in it.

was born September 15, 1828, in Clermont County, Ohio. He was the architect of his own fortune - was dependent upon himself from childhood. He qualified himself to teach school and followed that occupation for several years. When a young man he ran a threshing machine in times of harvest. He came to West Union in about 1850, and began the study of law under the late Edward P. Evans. He maintained himself by teaching while a law student. He was admitted to the bar May 2, '853, and began practice in West Union. That same fall he was a candidate for the nomination for prosecuting attorney before the Democratic primary and defeated J. K. Billings, who had had the office but one term, and by all precedents was entitled to his second term. McFerran, however, made an active canvass and being very popular secured the nomination. Before the people, E. M. DeBniin, now of Columbus, Ohio, was his opponent, but McFerran was elected. He was renominated and reelected for a second term as prosecuting attorney. In the fall of 1857, he determined to contest with Captain Moses J. Patterson for the place of representative to the Legislature. Captain Patterson resided near Winchester. He was highly esteemed by every one and had but one term in the Legislature. McFerran, however, contested the nomination v/ith him and won. McFerran had 679 votes and Patterson, 407. Before the people the Hon. George Col lings was the Whig candidate. Mc- Ferran had 1626 votes and Collings, 1282. Legislative honors did not please McFerran. He said it was well enough to go to Legislature once, but a man was a fool to go a second time. He declined a second term and Moses J. Patterson succeeded him. McFerran then devoted himself to the practice of law and was making a great success when the war broke out. He could make pleasing and effective arguments before a jury and he carried the old and young farmers of Adams County with him. He was of a fiery temper and disposition. Whatever he undertook, he did with great enthusiasm. It was just as natural that he should be consumed by the war fever as that a duck should take to w^ater. When the war broke out, he gave his entire soul to the Union cause, lie aided in organizing the 70th O. \^ I., and became its major, October 2, 1861. He was the idol of the men of his regiment and was willing to do anything for them. However, he fell a victim to the southern climate and died of a fever at Camp Pickering, near Memphis, Tennessee, October 6, 1862. His body was brought to Cairo, Illinois, and afterwards to West Union, and reintcrred among the people who admired and loved him.

He was married to Miss Hannah A. Briggs, June 2y, 1858, a most estimable woman, and there were two children of the marriage, Minnie, the wife of Dr. W. K. Coleman, of West Union; John W.. who died at the age of four.

In the public offices he occupied, he faithfully and capably discharged their duties. He was public spirited and always ready to aid any worthy and good enterprise. In his private deaHngs, he was honest and liberal. For his soldiers, he always had kind words and pleasant greetings. There was nothmg he would not do for them and they knew it and felt it. He had the respect and esteem of his fellow officers. He was always at his post, always cheerful and imcomplaining and ready

He was worthy of the cause he fought for and his patriotic career will be one which his descendants can look back to with pride and it will grow brighter as the years go by. It has been thirty-seven years since he gave his life to his country, but to those who knew him and loved him, and who survive, it seems but yesterday.

There were three officers of the Civil War who lost their lives in the service whom Adams County will always remember, and they were Major McFerran, Samuel E. Clark and Major Philip R. Rothrock.

George Collings Evans was born February 20, 1858, the son of Edward Patton Evans and Amanda Jane Evans, in the family homestead now owned and occupied by John P. Leonard. As a babe, he was large, strong and healthy. He walked at the age of nine months. He was always a sturdy boy. His father and the Hon. George Collings, of Monroe Township, were close friends and the babe was named for the latter. George attended the public schools in West Union until his sixteenth year when he went to school in Portsmouth, Ohio, residing with his elder brother, Nelson W. Evans. In September, 1874, he entered the Academv at South Salem, Ross Countv, and remained there one year. In September, 1875. he entered Marietta College in the freshman class. He remained there until July, 1877. While in college he was a fair student and was very fond of athletic sports and all those amusements dear CO college boys.

In the summer of 1877, he took up the study of the law with his father and was admitted to the bar by the district court in Ironton, Ohio, April, 1879. He formed a partnership with Luther Thompson, also now deceased, under the name of Thompson and Evans and practiced his profession at West Union until January, 1881. when he opened an office in Columbus, Ohio, and began the practice of law there. From 1877, his father's health had been failing and in 1881, it had so far failed that he was confined to his home, a helpless invalid. About the first of December, i88t, George returned to West Union to make it his home during the life of his father. On December 27, t88t, he was married to Miss Josephine Cluxton and the two took up their home with his parents.

On September 25, 1882, in the forenoon, he was in as good health, apparently, as any one could wish to enjov. He went to his office and attended to his business. Conversing with some friends that morning, in regrard to the death of a young ladv, it was said to him, "You have +he phvsical powers to live to old age." George replied he believed he would have a very long life. Tust before noon, he began to write out an administrator's deed. He had it half finished and left it on his desk, when he closed his office and went to dinner. - He never was at his office again. He ate a hearty dinner and rested awhile. Then he complained of severe pain. He w-as attacked with hepatic calculi or gall stones. From that time imtil his death, he was never free from pain, unless under the influence of opiates. Pie continued sufi^ering until it P. M. October 2. when peritonitis set in and from that time until he breathed his last at 9 A. M. October 3, he was in a mortal agony which opiates could not relieve. It is believed that at this hour, the gall stones ruptured the hepatic duct and let the contents of the gall bladder into the cavity of the bowels. However, all this time, he was in his full strength. On the morning of October 3, at 6 A. M., a neighbor, David Thomas, called and saw that George was dying, though not apparent to others. He requested the physician in attendance to notify the family which was done and they gathered about him. His aged father was carried to his bedside to bid him a last farewell. His mother and his wife were beside him. George said, "Father, I had expected to be your comfort and stay in your old age, but I am called first." Tlie word spread through the village quickly, "George Evans is dying," and his friends hurried to bid him farewell. He made his will; he prayed for himself and bade his relations and friends all a touching farewell. He left messages for his brother in Portsmouth and his sister in school at Oxford. He left directions as to his wife, expecting soon to be a mother, and expressed his willingness and readiness for the inevitable. Fifteen minutes before he died, he was on his feet and was conscious almost to the last moment. Those who were present say they never saw such a death scene and hoped to be spared from a like one. He died at fifteen minutes past 9 A. M. October 3, 1882, and the court house bell at once tolled the fact and the number of his years. The community was never so shocked by the death of anyone since the cholera epidemic of 1851. His funeral was held October 5th at his father's residence. It was a beautiful, ideal, October day and the attendance was so numerous that the services were held in the open air. The Masonic Order had charge of the ceremonies and the West Union band, at its own request, preceded the funeral procession playing dirges. No sadder funeral was ever held in West Union than this and none in which more profound sympathy was felt and expressed for his family friends.

"He was just entering into the realities of life and beginning to assume the responsibilities of manhood. His star of hope shone bright ill the firmament of his ambition. The future to him was the fairest of visi(»ns, and his life full of the enthusiasm of youth His most earnest desires and aspirations seemed to be fast approaching a happy consummation. Young in years, buoyant in spirits, ardent in hope, his li^ht was dashed out at the beginning of a splendid and promising career. The midnight of the grave drew its sable curtains at a time wiien all things seemed fair. To say that his death caused universal grief hut illy expresses the universal feeling of sorrow at his sudden demise."

"George C Kvans, a highly esteemed and respected member of the bar. having i)een suddenly removed by the casualty of death, his late associates, in commemoration of his estimable qualities of head and licart aiiil as expressive of their unfeigned sorrow at his sudden death, take this action: years been admitted to practice, he had scarcely developed to the public the large ability which his fellows at the bar knew him to possess. Notwithstanding his brief career as a practitioner, he gave clear evidence of the many qualities which form the able and successful lawyer.

"He possessed in the prosecution of his business almost untiring energy. He was always prompt and persistent in attending to the interests committed to his keeping. He manifested much more than usual ability as an advocate and had a happy vien of humor, and a pleasant faculty of expressing himself, which rendered him a pleasing and forcible speaker. His unquestioned integrity rendered him at all time a safe representative of the interests of clients and he was an agreeable associate and respected and trusted opponent in the practice His social qualities render particularly sad his untimely death. He had an almost uninterrupted flow of good spirits - always a kindly disposition and a general warm heart with a hopeful view of the future. These qualities made him a rare addition to any social occasion. Those of this bar who have known him as a man and boy during his life, cordially bear testimony by this tribute that no loss that could have been visited upon us would have been more sadly deplored than the sudden death of the brave, warm-hearted genial gentleman, and upright lawyer, George C. Evans. Great as our sense of bereavement is, we can only appreciate in a small way, the sorrow that has fallen upon his aged parents and young wife. We tender them our heartfelt sympathies in their great loss. In token of our respect of the deceased,

''Resolved, That the court be requested to enter upon its journal the foregoing action, that the same be published in each of the several papers of the county, and a copy furnished the wife^ the parents, brother and sister of the deceased."

The Masonic Fraternity also passed resolutions in respect to the awful calamity. His Sunday School class, consisting of ten young boys, all of whom are now men, and two of whom have since passed beyond, expressed, by written resolutions, their feeling on the occasion of the sudden demise. These resolutions were presented at a memorial serv^ice held by the Presbyterian Sunday School. They spoke of him as their able and beloved teacher, of his genial manners, his earnest instruction, of his liberality and of the brave manner in which he submitted to the last enemy.

His office was opened the day after his funeral and his papers were found just as he had left them at noon on Monday September 25. The administrator's deed lay on his desk half finished, just as he had left it to go to his dinner.

When we reflect that in the disease of which George Evans died, there is only one fatal case in every hundred, and that almost immediately after his death, the medical profession be^an the practice of successfully relieving such cases, by surgery, it seems a thousand pities that this young man, so full of manly viiij^or, of courage and hope with such happy prospects for a long life, and so full of the activities of this life, should be so suddenly called away, but until every one living in West Union, who realized this startling event, has passed away, the shock caused by his untimely demise will not be forgotten.

who in his time was one of the prominent lawyers of the county, was bom December lo. 1848, In Oliver Township, the only son and child of Archibald and Sarah Ann (McKenzie) Thompson. He was reared in the county. His education was in the public schools of the county and at the Lebanon Normal School. As a boy, he was serious, conscientious and exemplary. He was strictly truthful and was njever known to use a profane or vulgar word. His moral character as boy and man was perfect. He was ambitious and studious and always honest and conscientious. He began the study of law with the Hon. F. D. Bayless, in 1869, and continued it while engaged in teaching until April 24, 1873, when he was admitted to the bar and began practice at West Union. It has been a custom in West Union to have a lawyer, young or old. as justice of the peace, and in 1874, Mr. Thompson was elected as such and served two terms.

On January 5, 1876, he was married to Miss Jennie Smith, daughter of the Hon. John M. Smith. They had six children, but only two survive - Charles L., born October 22, 1877, and Matilda, born April I, 1883.

He was, at one time, a school examiner for the county. He had no ambitions for political honors, but an intense ambition to succeed as a lawyer. In his profession, he was thorough in all he did. He never tired in his legal work. He had a love for his profession and delighted in the performance of its duties. He had in his work that most essential element of success, enthusiasm. The elements of his character held for him the confidence of all who knew him. His attainments and his conscientious discharge of his professional duties gave him the respect of the court and his fellow lawyers, and secured him the devotion of his clients.

From 1879 to i88t, he was in partnership with the late George C. Evans, under the firm name of Thompson and Evans. From 1882, until his death, he was in partnership with his father-in-law, Hon. John M. Smith under the firm name of Thompson & Smith.

He was onlv thirteen vears at the bar, but in that time he demonstratcd that had he been permitted to live, he would have made a noble success in his profession, but consumption had marked him as its own, and at thirty-eight years, when the world is brighest and fairest, he was called away. For nine years he had been a member of the Presbyterian Church and lived up to his religious profession. Politically, he was reared a Democrat and adhered to that party, but never was a partisan and had as many friends in the other party as in his own. In the testimonial the lawyers gave him, they said he was a good citizen, an able lawyer and an honest man.

What greater tribute could he have earned or could have been given him than this? All that is grand or good, all that is valuable is character, and Luther Thompson left the memory of one, which his

One of the editors of this work, Mr. Evans, knew Luther Thompson well. He respected him for his high personal standard of life, for his attainments and his work as a lawyer. He knew from his own lips how bitter it was to him to turn his back on the world and face death at the early age of thirty-eight, and he knows how bravely and well, how like a philosopher and a Christian, he met the inevitable and submitted to it. No truer man, no more honorable and noble in his life efver lived, and the passing of one so endowed, but illustrates that irony of fate which takes those best qualified to live.

lawyer and soldier, was born in Loudon County, Virginia, Augiist ii, 1833, the fourth child in a family of six. His father was Joseph Thomas and his mother, Sallie Worthington. They were natives of Loudon County, Virginia, whose male ancestors were soldiers in the Revolution. His father \v2ls a wagon and carriage maker. He removed to Ohio in 1836, locating at Mt. Vernon, Knox County, and remained there three years. He then removed to Adams Countv, near Mt. Leigh, where he resided until his death in 1870. He was noted for his ability as a master mechanic, and esteemed for his sterling integrity of character.

Our subject's earlier years were passed in various employments, in the carriage shop and on the farm. His early training was limited to the common schools. In his twentieth year, he was so far advanced by self-culture, that he became a teacher of the district schools and engaged in that profession at Locust Grove, Adams County, where he taught two winters, and labored on a farm in the summers. In this period he began the study of law. In the winter of i860, he removed to West Union and resumed his law studies under Col. Joseph R. Cockerill. In May, 1861, he enlisted in the immortal Co. D. of the 24th Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that regiment the full period of three years. On the second day of the battle Shiloh, he was wounded in the thigh and was incapacitated from service for about two months. After the battle of Stone River, he was promoted to first lieutenant and subsequently made captain of the company.

At the expiration of his term of service, he returned to West Union and again resumed the study of law under the late E. P. Evans. He was admitted to the bar on the first of October, 1864. Most of the time during the remainder of his life, he resided at West Union, and acquired a very extensive practice. In 1867, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Adams County, and served until May, 1869, when desiring to remove to Georgetown, Ohio, to practice his profession, he resigned that office and was succeeded by Franklin D. Bayless. Our subject, however, resided at Georgetown but two years, and then returned to West Union. He was elected mayor of West Union in 1873, and re-elected in 1874, holding the office three years consecutively. In his political faith, he was always a Democrat.

Our subject died April 13, 189^., at Cincinnati, Ohio. He is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery at West Union, Ohio. His widow, daughter Hattie, and sons who are at home, reside at West Union.

David Thomas was a man of the most generous impulses. He was always ready to do a kind act for an enemy or a friend. His patriotism was of the unselfish, exalted kind, and it was his pride that he had been able to serve his country as a soldier in the Civil War. As a lawyer, when in the possession of good health, he was active, industrious and devoted to the interests of his clients. He possessed more than common ability in his profession and was successful, but his last years were burdened by infirmities, resulting from his service in the army, and he was compelled to relinquish the practice of his profession for several years prior to his death. He was of that noble band of patriots who offered their services to their country at the very outset of the war, to whom the people of Adams County and of all the country will be lastingly grateful. In politics he was always identified with the Democratic party. He was identified with the Presbyterian Church of West Union.

was born February 2, 1839, on 5rush Creek, at a time when the thermometer stood fifteen degrees below zero. He was thus early thrown upon the cold world, but this fact has never seemed to have had a bad influence on his subsequent life. His parents were Elza Bayless and Jane W. DeCamp, and from his mother, he received his second name. He received his education principally in the West Union schools. In 1858 and 1859, ^^ taught school and in i860 and 1861, he was a student. In the latter year he was in school, and just prior to Major McFerran's departure with the 70th O. V. I., he enrolled himself as a law student under him.

On July 29, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, 91st O. V. I. He was appointed sergeant on the 22d of August, 1862. On July 20, 1864, he was severely wounded at an engagement at Stephenson's Depot ; being shot in both thighs. He was appointed first sergeant. December i, 1864, and was mustered out June 24, 1865. When he returned from the war. he resumed the studv of law, and was admitted to the bar at Portsmouth, Ohio, April 23, 1866. The same fall, he was a candidate on the Democratic ticket to represent Adams County in the Legislature, but was defeated by Captain W. D. Burbage, now of Washington, D. C, by a majority of twenty votes.

In 1869, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Adams County on the Democratic ticket, and was re-elected in 1871. In 1873, ^^ ^'^^ again a candidate for the legislature on the Democratic ticket and was defeated by Richard Ramsey, Republican.

In 1881, he was a candidate for common pleas judge in the counties of Adams, Brown and Clermont, on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated by Col. D. W. C. Loudon, of Brown County, by 41 votes. He received the remarkable majority of over 600 votes in his own county, but was defeated by his own party votes in the other two counties,

He has been twice married, first to Helen M. Young, on November 22, 1869. She died September 9, 1884. He entered into a second marriage with Nora White Young, on October 8, 1885. Mr. Bayless has three daughters, two of his first marriage and one of his second marriage. Politically, he is a Democrat, and in his religious views, he is a Presbyterian. He is one of the ablest lawyers who ever practiced at the West Union bar.

It is a great' responsibility for a father to name a son for the father of his country, but in this case, Mr. Pettit's father assumed it. If a boy or man having this prenomen, does not live up to the model set by his immortal name, then it is always cast up to him, but in this case, our subject has always done the best he could under all circumstances, and has never been reminded that he did not follow the model of his patronymic.

Our subject was bom near Dukinsville, Adams County, April 5, 1856. His father was Isaac Pettit and his mother's maiden name was Sarah Chambers. His father was a native of Greenup County, Kentucky, and his mother of Washington County, Pennsylvania. His father was a farmer and a blacksmith, and young George partially learned the latter trade while a boy at home with his father. All the education he received from others was in a log school house in Oliver Township, known as the "Gulf District," and he had but three months school in any one year, but George was ambitious and determined to seek learning and did so. He acquired a sufficient knowledge of the comon branches and began his career as a county school teacher, April 30, 1866, at Mt. Tabor, in Jefferson Township. The same year he taught at Bentonville, and continued there until 1870. In 1871, he began teaching at Rome, and taught there until 1874.

On May 20, 1874, he was married to Laura A. Adamson, daughter of John Adamson, of Bentonville. In 1874 and 1875, ^^^ taught in Concord, Kentucky. In 1875 and 1876, he taught again at Rome. In 1876 and 1877, he and his wife both taught at Buena Vista, in Scioto County, and in 1877 and 1878, he taught again at Rome.

In April, 1878, he removed to Chenoa, Illinois, and was there ^v^ months, when he returned to Adams County, and that same winter he taught at Bentonville. He began the study of law under the Hon. F. D. Bayless, of West Union, and continued it while he was teaching. He was admitted to the bar in West Union in 1878, and Ijegan practicing in April, 1879, at West Union. In October, 1880, he was t-lected clerk of the courts of Adams County by a majority of 215 over f^. J Fenton, afterward congressman. He was re-elected in 1883 over R. S. Kirkpatrick by 420 majority and had 124 more votes than the Democratic state ticket.

He has three children - Horace G., who married Vida Sutterfield, daughter of D. R. Sutterfield, Ernest G., aged eighteen, and Helen, aged II. He is a member of the board of elections of Adarns County, having been appointed .August i, 1890. In his political views, he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Methodist Church. He is a strong advocate of the cause of temperance. He is known even where as a Christian gentleman. He is honest and honorable in all hi< relations of life. As a lawyer, he is active, energetic and industrious. He always prepares his cases well, tries them thoroughly and excels as a trial lawyer. At the great day, when all records are read and examined, George Washington will have no occasion to blush for this namesake.

was born August 26, 1854, at West Union, Ohio, in what was then known as the "Dyer Burgess property," now the Palace Hotel. His father, James N. Hook, was at that time, clerk of the courts of Adams County. His mother's maiden name was Sarah Jane Baird, daughter of Joshua Baird, a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, and her mother's name was Susan (Gibson) Baird. The last named was left a widow early in life with a large family to care for. She is said to have been a woman of great natural ability and force of character. She was able to take care of a farm and raise and educate a large family of children. She lived near Bentonville, and it is said of her that nothing but serious sickness prevented her from attending the services of the Presbyterian Church at West Union, of which she was a devoted member, and of bringing her numerous family with her in an old buggy over the worst roads in the world, every Sunday, rain or shine, winter as well as summer.

John W. Hook passed the greater part of his boyhood on the farm of his father, attending the village schools of his native town in the winter and assisting with the farm work in the spring and summer. At the age of eighteen years, he began teaching school, which occupied him for a part of the time. During the remainder of the time, he either attended school or pursued the study of the law, having determined early in life to make that his calling.

In September, 1876, at a session of the district court of his county, he was admitted to the bar, having had the firm of Bayless & Thompson as his instructors. After teaching another year, he began the practice of his profession in his native town and has continued therein for the greater portion of his time to the present.

In 1 88 1, he was elected a member of the board of education of the West Union village school district. He was mayor of his native town in 1884 and was re-elected again in 1886.

On July 1, 1889, he accepted the position of chief deputy under the United States Marshal for the southern district of Ohio, which position he held for four years. After leaving the marshal's office he returned to the practice of law at West Union where he has since been actively engaged in the courts of Adams and adjoining counties and in the United States Courts.

In 1898. Congress having passed a national bankrupt law, Hon. George R. Sage, l-nited States District Judge, appointed him referee in bankruptcy for Adams County, which position he now holds. In politics, he has always been a Republican, and being a young man located at the county seat in a Democratic county, he has been called upon to act as chairman and secretary of the county executive committee a number of times, and has thereby been more or less prominent in the local politics of his party for a number of years. At the Republican State Convention of 1880, without his knowledge or solicitation, he was made an alternate delegate from his congressional district to the National Convention at Chicago, where General James A. Garfield was made the Republican candidate for the presidency. In 1883, he connected himself with the Presbyterian Church and has continued a member of that church to the present time. He is one of the charter members of Crystal Lodge, No. 114. He was its first presiding officer and has remained an active member of that organization to the present time. He is a member of the uniform rank of Central Division No. 2t7 and a present regent of Adams Council, No. 830, Royal Arcanum.

In November, 1884, at West Union, Ohio, he was married to Miss Rachael, daughter of William and Rebecca Wilson, and at that time, a member of the corps of teachers of the West Union schools. They have had five children, three of whom are Hving at this time.

A gentleman who knows Mr. Hook well and is capable of judging says of him : "There is no better citizen than he ; his influence is always for good citizenship ; that on every question of morals, he will be found advocating that side which is for the best interests of society. Mr. Hook is a man of excellent reasoning powers and a good lawyer. He is one of the most sensitive men and this is against him as a lawyer as the latter should have no feelings or sensibilities. He is not aggressive, but that is owing to natural diffidence born with him. He is a very companionable man and had he lived in the days of the Greek philosophers, he would have been the chiefest among them. He is a born counsellor and adviser, but he lacks just what John Alden lacked - he does not always speak for himself when he ought to. lie can always do better for a friend than for himself. He is an estimable citizen and one who is always ready and willing to do his part in the communi'.y.

was born in Erie County, New York, on the twentieth day of November, 1840. His father's name was Milo H. McNeal, and his mother was Sarah P. Playter. Both were born in the province of Upper Canada, and both families moved into Erie County, Western New York, at the breaking out of the war of 1812. Milo H. McNeal was a farmer and our subject grew up on a farm about two miles from Williamsville. He received his education in the common schools and the Academy at Williamsville. He taught school at Clarence, New York, during the winter of 1861 and 1862, and in August of 1862, he enlisted in the 50th New York Volunteer Engineers, and served till the close of the war, being discharged at Ft. Barry, Virginia, in June, 1865. On returning from the war, he taught school four more years, one year in Michigan, one year in Indiana, and two years in Iowa.

went to Brown County? In 1876, he went to Adams County, taking charge of the farm of Captain C. W. Boyd, at West Union. In 1878, he was elected to the office of probate judge, serving one term, from February, 1879, ^^ February, 1882. He then formed a law partnership with J. M. Wells, which continued for two years. In the spring of 1884, he went to Indianapolis, Indiana, to take editorial charge of the Indianapolis Republican, having purchased one-half interest in the paper. In December, 1885, he sold his interest in that paper and moved to Rarden, Scioto County, Ohio, where he resided for ten years, practicing law in the courts of Adams and Scioto counties. In 1895, he left Rarden, and removed to Cincinnati. He resides at Hartwell and practices law in Hamilton County.

While a resident of Adams County, Judge McNeal was regarded as an excellent citizen. He was courageous and able in his advocacy of any principle or issue, which he believed to be right. He discharged the duties of probate judge with marked ability and fidelity. Before his election, he declared his hostility to the corrupt use of money in elections and on that idea, was elected by a good majority.

was born on Friday, December 31, 1861, but has no superstition as to the concurrence of the two dates. His father was George Washington Blair, and his mother's maiden name was Nancy Miller Frazier. The place of his nativity was near Belfast, in Highland County. His grandfather, John Blair, was a native of the Emerald Isle, but was caught young, being brought from Ireland when but two years of age.

Our subject's father was a farmer, and he was reared on a farm. He qualified himself for a teacher and took up that occupation in 1878 and followed it for twelve years. In this period of twelve years he has taught in Jackson Township, Highland County. In 1880, he went to Kansas and taught there one term. He had the highest certificate of any teacher in the institute. He came back in 1881 and obtained a school in Highland County in the district where he first taught. \\ bUe in Hio^hland County, he was township clerk from 1886 to 1890. He taught in Highland County in 1888 when he began the study of engineering and surveying, and at the same time began studying law with J. B. Worley, of Highland County. In June, 1886, he obtained a ten years' certificate as a teacher. In 1888, he taught at Rome schools, consisting of four departments, and in 1889, he was appointed county engineer, with a salary of $5.00 a day, which amounted to about $1,000 a year. He held this position four years. He began practicing law in 1889, and while he was county engineer, he was a partner with Hon. F. D. Bayless, under the firm name of Bayless & Blair. In the years 1891, 1892 and 1893, he served as county engineer, to June, 1894. He is a school director in West Union.

On March 5, 1898, he formed a partnership with W. R. Mehaffey, as Blair & MchafTey, which continues. He is attorney for the Farmer's Bank of Manchester and the Peebles Bank. He is a Democrat. He is a member of the Christian Church. He was married on the twenty- first day of February, 1889, to Miss Alberdie Armacost. They have four children^<iuy Mallen, aged nine years ; George Benton, aged four years; Gladys Inez, aged seven, and Albion, aged two years. He is an active, energetic lawyer, a good pleader, a pleasant speaker and tries his cases well. He is a power in the Democratic party in Adams County, and a number of the Presbyterian Church of West Union.