Adams County, Ohio - Chapter 16: Poutics and Poutical Parties, 1900 (part 1 of 4)

Chapter 16: Poutics and Poutical Parties

From the period of the organization of Adams County, politics, local, state, and national, has been an absorbing theme with its citizens, enlisting their time, talent, and best energies. It was here that the contest for supremacy in governmental affairs between Governor St. Clair and his adherents on the one side, and Nathaniel Massie and the "Virginians" on the other, was begun and continued with unabating effort to the fina> downfall of the former. This contest was purely a matter of politics. It involved the question of republican government as opposed to nionarchial rule - the Democratic ideas of Jefferson versus the Federalistic plans of Hamilton.

It must be borne in mind that Manchester, at the "Three Islands/' was the first settlement within the Virginia Military District,and became the gateway to the settlements afterwards made in the interior of that region. Massie with a few daring spirits had established a fortified station there when there were but two other white settlements within the limits of the present State of Ohio ; the one at Marietta, and the other at Fort Washington, where Cincinnati now stands. The inhabitants of Marietta, the seat of government for the Territory, were New Englanders, whose political ideas were markedly Federalistic. The inhabitants of Fort Washington were necessarily dominated by the military with all the pomp and circumstance thereto attendant ; so that there was a sympathetic political bond of union between the inhabitants of these first two permanent settlements in the Territory. But the inhabitants of Manchester and the settlments within the district contiguous thereto were both from education and force of circumstance, most democratic in their manners and customs and their ideas of government. They were Virginians, and had been schooled under the teachings of Jefferson; and braving the dangers from savage foes, had sought a home on the frontier, with no protection to life and limb, except such as could be provided by themselves. They erected their own block-houses and garrisoned them from among their own numbers. It is worthy of mention that the Federal Government never erected a fort nor sent a company of soldiers for the protection of the settlers of the Virginia Military District. And so it was, that these people with their ideas of republican )2rovernnient, and with that strength of character that comes from self-reliance, became the opposing element to the schemes of the leaders of the Federalistic colonies in the Territory. Governor St

Clair, the very embodiment of aristocracy, and the head of the Federalists in the Territory, believed the people but ill qualified to decide political questions for themselves. "He believed that a wise and good man, provided like himself, by some far-away superior power, was much better fitted to be intrusted with all such matters."

St. Clair, in speaking of these people, had expressed the opinion that a "multidude of indigent and ignorant people are but ill qualified to form a government and constitution for themselves." And he had further said that they were "too far removed from the seat of government to be impressed with its powers," deploring the fact that if they were permitted to form a government that "it would most probably be democratic in form, oligarchic in its execution, and more troublesome * * * than Kentucky."

It was the ambition of Massie to make Manchester the county town and seat of justice of the new county which must of necessity be soon erected in the Virginia Military District. It was a central point between its eastern and western boundaries on the Ohio River, and the mass of population in the district centered about it. With this in view, he had selected for himself a fine plantation of one thousand acres, on which he had erected a magnificent dwelling, which he named Buckeye Station, situated on a high plateau, overlooking the green hills of Kentucky and commanding a fine view of the Ohio River for miles up and down its course (see Buckeye Station). This was to be his country seat and future home, being about four miles by river to the eastward of Manchester. But the presumptions authority of St. Clair was interposed in all matters of government in the Territory, even to the organization of the new counties and the fixing of the seats of justice for them. At the organization of Adams County, in September, 1797, Massie succeeded in having Manchester named as the county town. But the scheming Federalists, through a majority of the Court of Quarter Sessions appointed by the Governor, directly thereafter fixed the seat of justice at an out-of-the-way point, where there were absolutely no accommodations for the public, at what was named Adamsville, in honor of John Adams, the Federal President, but which was called in derision "Scantville." Afterwards, while Massie's brother-in-law, Charles Willing Byrd, was Secretary of the Territory, and in the absence of St. Clair, who was at the seat of the Federal Government at Philadelphia, scheming to thwart the plans of the "Virginians" to form a state government, and thus rid themselves of the "old tyrant," as St. Clair was designated, the seat of justice was removed to Manchester foi one session of the court, ''^hen it was established by the opposition at a point named Washington, at the mouth of Ohio Brush Creek, where it remained until fixed at West Union, the present county seat, a name signifying the burning of the hatchet. But this contest engendered by St. Clair was carried down among the people to the year 1871, when a vote was taken by authority of an act of the Legislature on the question of removal of the county seat to Manchester.

While this contest between Massie and St. Clair was being waged in Adams County, the Governor, by proclamation, erected in 1798 the county of Ross from the northern portion of Adams. This he named after his friend, Senator Ross, of

Pennsylvania, a rabid Federalist. This county contained the site of a new town, Chillicothe, laid out by Massie, which was largely settled by Virginians, many of whom were relatives and personal friends of its founder. Among them none were more conspicuous than Thomas Worthington, a brother-in-law of Edward Tiffin, the first Governor of Ohio, and who himself became Governor of the State. Worthington had served with Massie as a member of the first Court of Quarter Sessions held at Manchester, and was Massie's confidential friend and political adviser. It was through his diplomacy as the political envoy of the "Virginians" to the seat of the Federal Government when Jefferson became President that St. Clair and the Federalists in the Northwest Territory were so completely overthrown and Ohio made a State.

In 1799, the first Territorial Legislature convened at Cincinnati. Nathaniel Massie and Joseph Darlinton represented Adams County. Thomas Worthington was one of the members from Ross County. A bill was passed fixing Manchester as the county seat of Adams County ; and other bills were passed dividing other counties and creating new ones. The Governor, at the close of the session, vetoed these bills, holding that under the Ordinance of 1787, "the erection of new counties was properly the business of the Executive," and not of the Legislature. However, Cong^ress finally determined the right in favor of the Legislature. Hostilities now between the Federalists, headed by St. Clair, and the '^Virginians," led by Massie and Worthington, opened in a broader field. The questions at issue became political, extending throughout the Territory. It wasJ ** Democrats," as the Republican admirers of Jefferson were derisively styled, against the aristocratic Federalists. The "Virginians" planned operations on a large scale: to divide the Territory, form a State, and lay its foundations on true republican principles, the right of the people to govern themselves. Massie's idea to make Manchester the principal city was abandoned; he disposed of his home at Buckeye Station, and plans were perfected to make Chillicothe the chief city in the district, and the capital of the new State.

The Federalists, in anticipation of this movement, sought to have the Territory divided, but in such a manner as to prevent the erection of a new State. The schemte, for scheme it was, was to make the eastern division a Federalist territory, to so divide the "Virginians" as to place them in a hopeless minority. This will be best shown by quoting from St. Clair's letter to Senator Ross, of Pennsylvania, mention of whom has heretofore been made. This letter can be found in St. Clair's published correspondence in what is known as the "St. Clair Papers." On the subject of dividing the Territory, he says : "But it is not every division that would answer those purposes (to keep the 'Virginians from control of the government - Ed.), but such a one as would probably keep them in the colonial state for a good many years to come. In a letter which I wrote to the Secretary of State by the last post, on this subject, I mentioned the proper boundaries to them (the dividing line then proposed was from the mouth of the Scioto River north - Ed.), but on further reflection, I think it would not answer: that it would divide the present inhabitants in such a manner as to make the upper or eastern division surely Federal, and form a counterpoise from opposing local interests in the western division to those who are unfriendly to the general government, I think is certain; but the eastern division is too thinly inhabited, and the design would be too evident. A line drawn due north from the mouth of Eagle Creek, where it empties itself into the Ohio, would answer better. * * * The division of the Territory, I am persuaded, will be pressed, and I believe it to be a part of Col. Worthington's business in Philadelphia ; and the Great Miami, or a line drawn from the mouth of it, will be set forth in the strongest manner as the proper line. The people of Ross County are very desirous it should take place. Their views are natural and innocent enough. Tliey look no further than giving consequence to ChilHcothe. But I am very much mistaken if their leaders have not another and more extensive view. They think the division in that way would but little retard their becoming a state, and, as almost all of them are Democrats, whatever they pretend to the contrary, they expect that both the power and the influence would come into their hands, and that they would be able to model it as they please ; and it is my fixed belief it would be in a manner as unfriendly to the United States as possible. This, however, is in strict confidence, and I particularly request that my sentiments may not be confided to Col. Worthington, who, I have discovered, not to be entirely the candid man I once represented him to you, and who I now think a very designing one."

It was a fortunate condition for the "Democrats" in the Territorv that the Territorial Representative in Congress,* William Henry Harrison, was a Virginian with Democratic ideas of government. He sympathized with Massie and Worthington in their efforts to rid the Territory of St. Clair and his advisers, and heartily assisted in carrying out their plan to do so, which was to divide the Territory by the Greenville treaty line, thus giving the "Virginians" the coveted right to demand that the eastern division, by reason of sufficient population, be admitted a State of the Union. In May, 1800, Congress passed an act dividing the Territory as desired by Massie and Worthington. The eastern division retained the name Northwest Territory, and the western division was named Indiana Territory. Vincennes was made the capital of the latter, and Massie's new town, Chillicothe, became the capital of the former. This was a great victory for the "Virginians" or "Democrats," as the advocates of republican government were derisively called by the Federalists. Party Hues were now closely drawn, and Federalists or "Tories" and Republicans or "Democrats" battled with fury for supremacy in the Territory. In this year, the "Father of Democracy," Thomas Jefferson, was elected President, and the hopes of the "Virginians" in the Territory for statehood ran hi^h. But President Adams reappointed St. Clair Governor, and the Senate confirmed his appointment a few days before the inauguration of the "Sage of Monticello."

St. Clair, enraged to desperation, set about to elect a Territorial Legislature favorable to the Federalists and himself, which by a small majority he succeeded in doing. His scheme was to make the Scioto

*Ttae first Territorial Legislature which sat In Cincinnati in 1799 elected William Henry Harrison then Secretary of the Northwest Territory, delegate in Congress, over Arthur St. Clair, Jr. , by two votes out of twenty-two cast. The votes of Nathaniel Massie and Joseph Darlinton. the representatives from Adams county in this Legislature decided the contest against young St. Clair, a fortunate matter for the " Virginians" in their memorable contest with the Federalists as above narrated.

the western boundary of the Northwest Territory, and thufe keep it in its Territorial stage for years to come. The Legislature, which met at Chillicothe in November, 1801, among other partisan acts, passed a bill removing the capital from Chillicothe back to Cincinnati, and another declaring the assent of the Territory necessary to a change of boundaries of the States to be formed from the Territory as provided in the Ordinance of 1787. St. Clair approved both these acts. At this session of the Territorial Legislature, Joseph Darlinton represented Adams County in the House, and was a warm supporter of Massie, as opposed to St. Clair. Immediately upon the passage of these acts, Massie dispatched Worthington and Michael Baldwin to Washington to oppose the approval of the act changing the boundaries of the Territory. Paul Fearing, the territorial delegate then in Congress, was a Federalist, and favored making the Scioto the western boundary.

There was no trouble in preventing the proposed division of the Territory, for Jefferson and his party supporters were anxious to help their fellow "Democrats" triumph over the Federalists. Congress passed an act authorizing a convention of delegates to be elected by the people of the Territory to form a State government. The contest over the selection of these delegates was one of the fiercest. The "Virginians" triumphed and statehood quickly followed, builded upon a constitution most liberally "Democratic," and which, as a safeguard against future tyrants, prqvided that the Governor should not have power to veto acts of the Legislature, which provision is carried down in the constitution of the State today. Adams County was carried overwhelmingly by the Democrats at the election to select delegates, Joseph Darlinton, Israel Donalson, and Thomas Kirker having been chosen to represent the county.

"The constitutional convention," says a writer, "was the first fruits of republican victory. It was their convention. The men who had sided with Massie and his fellow Chillicotheans controlled it completely. Edward Tiffin was its President, and a careful study of its committees and proceedings will disclose what an iron grip they had on it, and how fully they directed its work.

"For years these men had been contending for the right of the people to govern themselves through their representatives, and had been fighting the paternal policy of their Governor. It was but natural when the opportunity came, for them to try to secure perpetually these principles, and to embody them in the Constitution. The Governor was made a mere figure head, given no control whatever over the Legislature, by the right of vetoing its acts or otherwise ; he was not even required to sign its laws before they went into effect (provisions still in force) ; was shorn of all patronage and allowed to name no officers except an adjutant general. The Legislature made all the appointments of state officers, including the judiciary; its powers were bounded only by the constitution itself, which protects the people by a large and liberal bill of rights, and provides an easy way of amending its pro\'isions. This constitution was the full and complete triumph of Democracy, and is the crowning glory of those who brought it about; for the history of the Anglo-Saxon race in its broadest sense is a record of the struggles of the people to assert themselves against their rulers.

"The great trophies in this contest are the Magna Charta and the Bill of Rights of 1689 won by our ancestors in their old homes across the sea, and the Declaration of Independence, made good by our Revolutionary forefathers in America. Each of these mark a long step forward toward a **government of the people, by the people, and for the people," but none go quite so far as to claim for the people absolute power, freed from all control by king or president or governor. The first to reach that goal were the founders of Ohio, led by the Chillicothe statesmen, who had been trained in their backwoods struggles with savage men and rugged nature to rely upon themselves alone, and to allow no man to dictate what was best for them and theirs.''

Adams County remained steadfastly true to the principles of Democracy and the party of Jefferson from the erection of the State until the year 1826, when Allen Trimble, of Highland County, and a follower of Henry Clay, carried it by a plurality of ninety-one votes over his highest opponent, John Bigger. At this election Alexander Campbell received ninety-two votes, Benjamin Tappan twenty-seven votes, and there were scattering twelve votes. On the question of the war with Great Britain in 1812, the people of the county were nearly unanimous for its vigorous prosecution. In the period from 1820 to 1830 the questions of public schools, public highways, and canals occupied the public mind. In this period, the Presbyterians, who were dominant in the county, were bitterly attacked by members of other sects jealous of their power and wealth, as well as by some secularists, for their loyalty to the cause of President Andrew Jackson. The Presbyterians in those days were Jacksonian Democrats - Judge Morrison, a pillar of the Cherry Fork congregation, being the Jackson presidential elector in 1824 from the district to which Adams County belonged.

Some of the leading politicians of this period were John W. Campbell, William Russell, Israel Donalson, Thomas Kirker, John Means, John Lodwick, Joseph Riggs, Joseph Darlinton, John and Nathaniel Beasley, John Fisher, Joseph Moore, Robert Lucas (afterwards of Scioto County), Col. Kincaid, Judge Morrison, Thomas Mason and Edward Browning, of "Browning's Inn."

Although Colonel Trimble had in 1826 carried the State by an astonishing majority, receiving nearly five-sixths of the vote cast, and had swept Adams County from its Democratic moorings, yet in 1828 while he was re-elected, Jackson carried the State, and John W. Campbell, Trimble's opponent, carried Adams County by the decisive vote of 1065 to 216 with but one scattering vote.

Through all the years of bitter contention between the Whigs and Democrats in the period from 1830 to i860, not even the matchless oratory of the "Wagon Boy of the Miami Valley," although personally known to the citizens of Adams County, could wrest it from the Democrats. They held steadfast and unfaltering to the political teachings of Jefferson, Jackson and Benton. In 1840 with the brilliant military record of General Harrison and his hundreds of personal admirers who had served under him in the last war with England, as the presidential candidate on the Whig ticket, Corwin, as the gubernatorial candidate on that ticket, failed to carry the county over Wilson Shannon, his Democratic opponent, although Corwin car- ried the State. In 1842 Shannon again carried the county over Corwin and defeated him in the State. In the memorable campaign of 1844, David Tod, Democrat, received 1,605 votes as against 1,213 for Mcwdecai Hartley, Whig, and Leicester King, Free Soiler, 88, for Governor.

Ten years later William Medill, Democrat, received 1,314 votes; Nelson Barrere, Whig, 861 votes, and Samuel Lewis 304 votes for Governor. In the campaign of 1857, Medill received 1,422; Allen Trimble, 207; and Salmon Chase, 1,130 votes. In 1859, Rufns P. Ranney, Democrat, carried the county by 348 majority over William Dennison, Republican, for Governor. This was the beginning of the war period, when old party lines were almost obliterated. In 1863, John Brough received 2,322 votes as against 1,798 for C. L. Vallandigham. This was the second time in the history of the county, that it had been lost to the Democrats. In 1865 Jacob D. Cox carried it over Geo. W. Morgan, Democrat, but in 1867 after the return of the soldiers from the army, Allen G. Thurman, Democrat, carried the county over R. B. Hayes, Republican, by a vote of 2,300 to 1,982.

About the time the War of the Rebellion the old line Democratic party became known as "Douglas" Democrats and "Breckenridge" Democrats. The old time "Virginians/' who had early come into the county, for the most part took the southern view of the question of Negro Slavery, and were classed as "Breckenridge" Democrats, as favoring the presidential candidacy of John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky. They opposed as a class the extension of slavery and further agitation of that question. The younger and more liberal element, however, dissented from the opinions of their fathers, and adopted the ideas of Stephen A. Douglas, advocating "Squatter Sovereignty" a kind of "local option" as to Negro Slavery. But when the War of the Rebellion came on, party opinions were laid aside and all were "War Democrats" for the suppression of the rebellion. Adams County shows by undisputed records that she sent to the front in that war more soldiers, based upon her population, than any other county of the State. In round numbers, from first to last, 2,000 of the flower of her manhood took up arms in defense of the Union. The valiant 70th Regiment, O. V. I., was essentially made up of volunteer soldiers of the county.

The Covenanters, a respectable religious body in the northwestern portion of the county, for years refused to take part in politics, but during and since the war they have, as a body, been acting with the Republican party.

The eastern portion of the county has a very large soldier element scattered throughout the hilly section who are largely dependent upon their pensions for a living. They contribute much strength to the Republican party.

The sons of Adams County who have enrolled their names among those prominent in political affairs of the State and nation are too numerous to name individually here. The biographies of many of them appear in this volume. Some of them, as will be seen, have molded the policies of Governors and Presidents.

In closing this sketch, we call attention of the reader who may have high political aspirations, to the following parody on Holmes' "Last Leaf," written by an Adams Countian, who went through the "whirlwind and flame" of the Buchanan campaign, 1856.

Since the War of the Rebellion and the reconstruction period following, the county has been very closely divided politically on both state and national issues, while locally neither party has had any advantage over the other, the county officers within the entire period being about equally divided.

The following is the vote for Governor with the exception of that for Edward Tiffin, the first Governor, who practically had no opposition, from th« organization of the State to the present time. It will be observed, that prior to the new constitution of 1851, the vote was taken in even years. Since then in odd years.

"^The first vote for Governor, January 12. I80S, is not a matter of record that we have heen able to find. Neither is the second vote taken the following year. Edward TifDn, the Democratic candidate, had practically no opposition.

Politics And Poutical Parties Politics And Political Parties

By the provisions of the Constitution of 1802, Adams County had one senator and three representatives. This instrument provided that one year after the first meeting of the General Assembly and every four years thereafter, there should be an enumeration of the white male inhabitants above 21 years of age, and the Legislature should not have over twenty-four senators and thirty-six representatives until the white male inhabitants were more than 22,000 ; after that, there should not be over thirty-six senators and seventy-two representatives. The representatives were chosen annually on the second Tuesday of October, and the senators were chosen biennially, and were divided into two classes, one-half going out each year. Under this apportionment, General Joseph Darlinton was the senator for the first legislative session, which met at Chillicothe, March i, 1803, and adjourned April 16, 1803. Thomas Kirker, Joseph Lucas and William Russell were the representatives from Adams County.

The second legislative session was from December 5, 1803, to February 17, 1804. The general assembly was the constitutional term for the legislature, and met on the first Monday of December in each year. At this session, Thomas Kirker represented Adams and Scioto in the senate, and Daniel Collier, of Tiffin Township, John Wright, of Sprigg, and Abraham Shepherd, of Byrd Township, represented Adams in the lower house.

February 11, 1804, was the first apportionment. In that, Adams and Scioto had one senator and three representatives. The enumeration of Adams County was 906, and of Scioto was 249, and a total of the entire state of 14,762.

The third legislative session was the first under this apportionment, and Thomas Kirker was senator, and Philip Lewis, Abraham Shepherd, and Thomas Waller, of Scioto, were the representatives.

Philip Lewis resided in Jefferson Township, Shepherd in Byrd, and Waller at Alexandria, in Scioto County. This legislature remained in session from December 3, 1804, until February 22, 1805.

The fourth legislative session under the second apportionment, December 2, 1805, to January 27, 1806, Thomas Kirker was senator; Philip Lewis, Daniel Collier. And Abraham Shepherd were representatives.

At the fifth legislative session, Thomas Kirker was senator, Philip Lewis, James Scott and Abraham Shepherd were representatives. This legislature was in session from December i, 1806, to February 4, 1807.

At the sixth legislative session, December 7, 1807, to February 22, 1808, Thomas Kirker was senator, Alexander Campbell, of Huntington Township, Andrew Ellison, of Tiffin Township, and Philip Lewis, of Jefferson Township, were representatives.

On February u, 1807, the third apportionment was made. The enumeration of the entire state was 31,308. Adams and Scioto counties were given two representatives and one senator. Under this, Thomas Kirker was senator, Alexander Campbell and Andrew Ellison were representatives. Tlie seventh legislature was in session from December 5, 1808, to February 21, 1809.

At the eighth legislative se^ision, December 4, 1809, to February 22, 1810, Thomas Kirker was senator, and Alexander Campbell and William Russell were representatives.

At the ninth legislative session, December 3, 1810, to January 30, i8ri, Thomas Kirker was senator, and John W. Campbell and Abraham Shepherd were representatives.

At the tenth legislative session, December 10, 181 1, to February 21, 1812, Thomas Kirker represented Adams County in the senate, and John Ellison, Jr., and William Russell in the house.

At the eleventh legislative session, December 7, 1812, to February 9, 1813, which was under the fourth apportionment, Thomas Kirker was senator and John Ellison and William Russell were representatives.

At the twelfth legislative session, December 6, 1813, to February n. 1814, Thomas Kirker was senator, John Ellison, Jr., and John W. Campbell were representatives.

At tlie thirteenth legislative session, December 5, 1814, to February 16, 1815, Thomas Kirker was senator and John EUision Jr., and Nathaniel Beasley were representatives.

At the fourteenth legislative session, December 4, 1815, to February 4, 1816, Abraham Shepherd was senator and John W. Campbell and Josiah Lockhart were representatives.

At the fifteenth legislative session, December 2, 1816, to Tanuar\' 28. 1817. Abraham Shepherd was senator, John Ellison, Jr., and Thomas Kirker were representatives. At this session. Shepherd was speaker of the senate and Kirker speaker of the house.

At the sixteenth legislative session, December i, 181 7, to January 30, 1818, Abraham Shepherd was speaker of the senate and represented Adams County, while Robert Morrison, better known as "J^^^^ Morrison" and William Middleton were representatives from Adams County.

At the seventeenth legislative session, December 7, 1818, to February 9, 1819, Nathaniel Beasley represented Adams County in the senate and George R. Fitzgerald and Robert Morrison in the house.

At the eighteenth legislative session, December 6, 1819, to February 26, 1820, the sixth legislative apportionment was made, and Adams County was given one senator and one representative. The enumeration of the state at that time was 98,780. At this session, William Russell was senator and Nathaniel Beasley and Robert Morrison were representatives.

At the nineteenth legislative sessi6n, December 4, 1820, to February 3, 1821, under this apportionment, William Russell was senator and Robert Morrison representative.

At the twentieth legislative session, December 3, 1821, to February 4, 1822, Thomas Kirker was senator and George R. Fitzgerald was representative.

At the twenty-second legislative session, December i, 1823, to February 26, 1824, Thomas Kirker was senator, and Henry Steece, representative. At this session, the seventh apportionment was made. Brown County was given two representatives and Adams one, and the two counties were given one senator, but it was provided that one senator and one representative should be chosen from each county, and the two representatives from the other, and this was to be done alternatelv. Brown Countv was to have the senator first.

At the twenty-third legislative session, December 6, 1624. to February 8, 1825, Thomas Kirker appeared as senator again and John Means was representative. This was the last appearance of Thomas Kirker in pubHc life.

At the twenty-fourth legislative session, December 5, 1825, to February 5, 1826, Abraham Shepherd was senator from Adams and Brown, and John Means and James Rogers were representatives from Adams.

At the twenty-fifth legislative session, Abraham Shepherd, of Brown, was senator and John Patterson and William Robbins of Adams County were representatives.

At the twenty-sixth legislative session, December 3, 1827, to February 12, 1828, John Fisher was senator from Adams and Brown counties and William Robbins was representative. At this session, the eighth apportionment was made. Adams and Brown were together given one senator and the two counties, one representative, and one additional representative. Brown, having the office in 1828 and Adams in 1829 and alternately thereafter during the period the apportionment continued.

At the twenty-seventh legislative session, December i, 1828, to February 12, 1829, John Fisher was senator and John Patterson representative.

At the twenty-eighth legislative session, December 7, 1829, to February 23, 1830, John Cochran of Brown County, was senator and Abraham Moore and John Patterson were representatives.

At the twenty-ninth legislative session, December i, 1830, to March 14, 1831, John Cochran, of Brown County, was senator and John Patterson, representative. George Edwards and Nathan Ellis represented Brown, the latter being the floater.

At the thirtieth legislative session, December 5, 1831, to February 13, 1832, Joseph Riggs represented Adams County and Brown C /'unty in the senate and William Robbins and George Collins represented Adams County in the house.

On the thirteenth of June, J832, at an adjourned session, t^e ninth apportionment was made, but fieretofore, the enumeration had always been made in August preceding the meeting of the legislature, but it seems it was not completed before legislature met and that necessitated an extra session. The enumeration was not completed until after the regular legislature had adjourned. Adams and Brown were given one senator and Adams one representative.

At the thirty-first legislative session, December 3, 1832, to January 25, 1833, wnder this apportionment, Joseph Riggs was senator from Adams and Brown, and William Robbins was representative.

At the thirty-second legislative session, December 2, 1833, ^^ March 3, 1834, James Pilson, of Brown, was senator and John Patterson, representative from Adams. These same persons were senator and representatives respectively at the thirty-third legislative session. December 31, 1834, to March 9, 1835.

At the thirty-fourth legislative session, December 5, 1835, ^^ March 14, 1836, John Patterson represented Adams and Brown counties in the senate and William Robbins represented Adams County in the house. At this session, the tenth apportionment was made, and Adams, Brown and Scioto were given one senator and two representatives.

At the thirty-fifth legislative session, December 5, 1836, to April 3, 1837, under this apportionment, John Patterson was senator, John Glover, of Scioto, and James Loudon, of Brown, were representatives.

At the thirty-sixth legislative session, December 4, 1837, to March 19, 1838, Charles White, of Brown, was senator and Nelson Barerre, of Adams, and William Kendall, of Scioto, were representatives.

At the thirty-seventh legislative session, December 3, 1838, to March 18, 1839, Charles White, of Brown, was senator, and John H. Blair, of Brown, and John Leedom, of Adams, were representatives.

At the thirty-eighth legislative session, December 2, 1839, to March 23, 1840, John Glover, of Scioto, was senator and John H. Blair of Brown, and Joseph Leedom, of Adams, were representatives.

On March 23, 1840, the eleventh apportionment wasj made. Adams. Highland and Fayette were made one legislative district with one senator and two representatives and an additional repesentative in 1840.

At the thirty-ninth legislative session, December 7, 1840, to March 29, 1841, John Glover was held over and was senator from Adams, Brown and Scioto, but the representatitves were elected under the eleventh apportionment. James Carothers, of Fayette, David Reese and James Smith, of Highland, were representatives.

At the fortieth legislative session, December 6, 1841, to March 7, 1842, William Robbins, of Adams County, was senator and Abraham Lowman, of Fayette, and John A. Smith, of Highland, were representatives.

At the forty-first legislative session, December 5, 1842, to March 13, 1843, William Robbins, of Adams, was senator, and Robert Robinson, of Fayette, and John A. Smith, of Highland, were the representatives.

At the forty-second legislative session, December 4, 1843, ^o March 13, 1844, John M. Barrere, of Highland County, was senator, and, Burnham Martin, of Fayette, and Hugh Means, of Adams County, were the representatives.

At this session on March 12, 1844, the twelfth apportionment was made. Highland, Adams and Pike were given one senator, and Adams and Pike one representative.

At the forty-third legislative session, December 2, 1844, to March 13, 1845, Jol^n M. Barerre, of Highland, was senator, and Joshua M. Britton of Pike, was representative.

At the forty-fourth legislative session, December i, 1845, ^^ March 2, 1846, Tilbery Reid, of Pike County, w^s senator and Daniel Cockerill was representative.

At the forty-fifth legislative session, December 7, 1846, to February 8, 1847, Tilbery Reid was senator and John P. Bloomhuff, of Adams, was representative.

At the forty-sixth legislative session, December 6, 1847, to February 25, 1848, Jonas R. Emrie, of Highland County, was senator, and Amos Corvvine, of Pike, was representative. At this session, the thirteenth apportionment was made and Adams and Pike had one representative and those two counties and Scioto and Lawrence, one senator, elected in 1849 ^^^ 1851.

At the forty-seventh legislative session, December 4, 1848, to March 26, 1849, Jonas R. Emrie, of Highland, held over as senator, and Daniel Cockerill, of Adams, was the representative.

At the forty-eighth legislative session, December 3, 1849, to March 25, 1850, William Salter, of Scioto, was the senator and Jacob Taylor, of Pike, the representative.

At the forty-ninth legislative session, December 2, 1850, to March 25, 1851, William Salter was senator and John M. Smith, of Adams, the representative.

The fiftieth general assembly was elected under the apportionment in the new constitution. Under this, Adams, Jackson, Pike and Scioto constitute the seventh senatorial district, and have one senator, which has been the case from 1852 until now; Adams had one representative until 189 land since, Adams and Pike has had one representative, and the table of senators and representatives is as follows : -

In this age of pessimism, agnosticism, materialism, skepticism and other isms, it is refreshing to go in the past for two generations and find a character whose faith in our Christian rehgion, was as pure, sincere, true and genuine as the sunlight. We know of no such character now and it elevates the soul to find one of a former generation and to contemplate his life. Such was Joseph Darlinton. He was bom July 19, 1765, within four miles of Winchester, Va., on a plantation of over four hundred acres, owned by his father, Meredith Darlinton. It was a pleasant home with delightful surroundings, as the writer, who has visited it, can testify. He was the fourth of seven children, six sons and a daughter. He grew up on his father's plantation, receiving such education as Winchester then afforded, and he went through all the experiences of the average boy. He was too young to have been a soldier in the Revolution, but old enough to imbibe the spirit of the times. When he was twelve years old, in 1777, six hundred of the prisone?rs, British and Hessians, taken at the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, were kept on his father's plantation from that time until the close of the war. A part of them, were lodged in his father's bam, and for the remainder, barracks were built which they occupied. As might be expected, young Darlinton spent much of his time with them, trading knives and trinkets, and listening to their wonderful stories of travel and adventure. He was, by their influence, filled with a consuming desire to see the world, so much so that, when of age, he begged his father to advance him his patrimony, which he did. Young Darlinton went to Philadelphia, and from thence took a sea voyage to New Orleans, and returned to his home by land. While seeing the world, he spent his money freely, and lived extravagantly. Had he lived in our dav, he would have been called a dude or a dandv, but those names wxre not then invented, and so he was a young gentleman of fashion. He wore a queue, and as the young men of that day vied with each other which could have the thickest and longest queue, he had one as thick as an ordinary arm and very long. In his travels, he found Miss Sarah Wilson, at Romne>', W. Va. She w^as an heiress, possessed of lands and slaves, and was the belle of the two counties of Frederick and Hampshire. She had many suitors, among whom was young Darlinton, and the future statesman, Albert Oallatin. Darlinton was the best looking and won the lady. He was married to her at Romney, March 18, 1790. He was, at the ceremony, dressed in a ruffled shirt, coat, waistcoat, knee breeches, silk stockings, great shoe buckles, and with his abundant hair pomaded and powdered and with his wonderful queue. He Hved in Romney till about the close of 1790, when he moved to Favette Countv, Pennsylvania, on a farm w^iich his wife owned there. His oldest son, John Meredith, was bom there December 14, 1791, and his second son, George Wilson, was also born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1793. The same year he and his wife united with the Presbvterian Church. While in Fayette County, he began his long career of office holding, having been chosen a county commissioner. It is told in the family that while living in Pennsylvania, young Darlinton and his wife w^ere much discouraged. They often talked and wept together and thought there was nothing in the world for them. However, they concluded to try a new country, and they, with their two children, in October, 1794, left Pennsylvania. They descended th^ Ohio, on a '*broadhom" and landed at Limestone, Kentucky, November 14, 1794. He went from there to the niouth of Cabin Creek, where he kept a ferry. Tiring of this he bought land just across the river in Ohio, and removed there. In the spring of 1797, believing that the county seat would be at Washington, below the mouth of Brush Creek, he moved there. When the county was organized on July 10, 1797, he was, by Governor St. Clair, appointed its judge of probate, and thus became Judge Darlinton. How long he held this office has not been ascertained.

In March, 1798, at Adamsville, he was, by the Court of Quarter Sessions, appointed one of the three first county commissioners of Adams County and clerk of the board. James Scott and Henry Massie were the other two. In this same year, he was made an elder in the Presbyterian Church, which office he held for the remainder of his life. In

1803, he located lands east of the site of Weist Union and built a double hewed log house on the same, on the hill opposite Cole's spring. The house and spring have long since disappeared. He was elected a representative from Adams to the first Territorial Legislature. It sat from November 24, 1799, until January 29, 1801. He also represented Adams in the second Territorial Legislature, which sat from November 23, 1801, till January 23,- 1802. He was one of the three members from Adams in the first Constitutional Convention, which sat from November i, 1802, until the twenty-ninth of the same year. As this body transacted most of its business in the committee of the w^hole, its record is meagre. He was on the committee on privileges and elections. On November 3, he voted against listening to a speech from Gov. St. Clair. He was on the committee to report a preamble to the first article of the constitution. On November 6, he was appointed on the committee to prepare the second article of the constitution, atul on the eighth of November, he presided over the committee of the whole. He was also on the committee to prepare the third article on the judiciary. He was also on the committee to print the journal oi the convention. He and his colleagues voted to retain the word "white" to the qualifications of electors. It is sufficient to say that he was present at every session and voted on every question before the body. In the first Legislature, of the state he was a member of the Senate and served from March I, 1803, until April 16, following.

1804, and Necdham Perr>^ was appointed in his place. On September 10, 1804, he was commissioned by the Governor lieutenant colonel of the 1st Brigade, ist Regiment, 2nd Division, Ohio Militia, and thus he became Colonel Darlinton. He w^as commissioned a brigadier general of the militia March 17, 1806, and thus became General Darlinton, by which title he was ever afterwards known. He was appointed clerk of the court of common pleas of Adams County, August 3, 1802, and continued to hold that position by successive appointments until August, 1847, when he resigned, as he wrote to Judge Cutler, of Marietta,

"to prepare for that better country out of sight." *He served as recorder of Adams County from 1803 to 1810 and ag^n from September, 181 3, to 1834. Any one examining the old records in the recorder's office and clerk's office of Adams County will find whole volumes written out in his old-fashioned copper plate style. He never used anything but a quill pen and used a soft piece of buckskin for a pen wiper.

On February 20, 1810, he was appointed a member of the commission to locate the capital of the state. No doubt the General held many other important offices and appointments, but as the writer has no time to read over the entire records of the state kept during the General's life, he is unable to give them, but the people interested and the appointing powers wanted him to have these various offices and he discharged the duties of every one of them, with the utmost fidelity.

While he was the incumbent of the clerk's office, there was no law as to the disposition of unclaimed costs. Whenever any costs were paid in, he would put it iq a package by itself, and label it with the name of the party to whom it belonged and never disturb it until called for by the party entitled to it. These packages he kept loose among his court papers and with his office door only secured by an ordinary lock. In all the years he kept the office it was never burglarized, and his successor. Col. J. R. Cockerill, found the unclaimed costs in the very money in which it was paid in and much of it was worthless because the banks which issued it had failed years before.

In 1805, he became an elder in the Presbyterian church at West Union, and felt more proud and honored in that office than any he ever held. He reared a family of eight : the two sons have been already mentioned : John Meredith was married three times, while his second son, George, who has a separate sketch herein, never married at all. His third son, Gabriel Doddridge, well known to all the citizens of West Union, was born February t, 1796, and married Sarah Edwards, his full cousin, October 2, 1823. His fourth son, Carey A., was born October 2, 1797, and married Eliza Holmes, May 5, 1829. His daughter. Sarah was born January 26, 1802, married the Rev. Henry Van Deman, November 2. 1824, and two of her sons, John D. and Joseph H. have sketches herein. She died July 23, t888. The General's daughter Eliza, born January 22, 1804, and died April 2, 1844, never married. She was a woman of lovely character and was much esteemed in the society of her time. The eighth and youngest child of Gen. Darlinton was David N., born on December 10, 1806, and died in 1853, without issue.

On May 17, 1804, in the allotment of lots in West Union, he took lot No. 84 at $17. This was just north of lot 57, which he afterwards acquired, and on which he built his home. Just west of the home he built a log office, which was afterwards weatherboarded. It was in this log office he kept the postoffice in West Union from July i, 1804, until October i, 181 1. His old residence is still standing, but its chief features, three immense stone chimneys, have long since been taken away. In this home, made pleasant and happy by the daily observance of ail the Christian virtues, General Darlinton dispensed a generous and bounteous hospitality. No stranger of consequence and no public officer ever came to West Union without being his guest. In the first place, he entertained all the Presbyterian ministers who came there ; in the second place, all the statesmen who traveled that way, and many of them did, and were not permitted to be entertained elsewhere. The associate judges and prominent citizens of the county were entertained at his home on the occasion of their visits to the county seat. In fact, in his day, the General's home had as many guests as the hotels, or taverns as they were called then, and but for the name of it, he might as well have had a tavern license.

His personal appearance would have attracted notice anywhere. He was about average height, somewhat corpulent, of full and slightly elongated visage, fine regular features, clean shaven, diark brown eyes with heavy brows, and a large head and forehead with his white hair combed back from his forehead and behind his ears. He was quack of movement and to the last walked with the firm step of youth. He had a manly bearing which impressed all who knew him. The business of his office was admirably systematized and all his habits of daily life were regular and methodical. In the routine of life, it is said he did the same thing every day and at the same hour and moment for fifty years. His going to his office from his home in West Union and his returning were with such exactness as to time that his neighbors along the route, used him as a living town clock and did actually set their clocks by the time of his passing. Among other instances of his regularity in all things was the winding of his watch. While writing in the clerk's office, he would lay it down beside him, and when the hands pointed to a certain hour, he would take it up and wind it. The offices he held and his associations with the lawyers and judges, gave him such a knowledge of the princii)les of the common law of the state, and his familiarity with the statute aw, having grown up with it, together with his excellent judgment, qualified him for a local oracle, which he was, and grave matters of domestic and legal concern were constantly referred to him, and when he decided the matters, his disposition was acquiesced in as satisfactory to all sides. Jn politics, in his last years, he was a Whig. He believed in the state promoting religion, education and internal improvements. While not anti-slavery in his views, he thought the war with Mexico was unrighteous.

His day, as compared with ours, was that of beginnings, and of small things. Everything was primitive but human character. That then had its highest development. In his day, there were no steam railroads, no macademized common roads, no luxurious vehicles, no telegraphs, or telephones, no typewriters ^nd but few newspapers and books. All services were ihen compensated in sums of money which would seem insignificant to us in these days, and trade was largely carried on by barter, and exchange of goods and services.

General Darlinton always alluded to Winchester, Virginia, in affectionate terms, and loved to converse about it, particularly with his neighbors, Abraham Hollingsworth and Nicholas Burwell, who were also natives of that place. He owned the site of Winchester in this county, laid it out and named it in honor of his own loved Winchester, Virginia, but strange to say, he never re-visited the latter, though he had an interest in his father's estate until as late as 1817. But he never visited much in or traveled over Adams county, yet he knew every one in it and their circumstances. In his day, the clerk's office was the most important in the county, for every one's property rights were registered there.

What distinguished General Darlinton among men and above his fellows was his unusual amount of good, hard, common sense, which after all, is the most uncommon kind of sense. He was an entertaining talker, and always had something useful and entertaining to say. He had a wonderful natural dignity of which he seemed unconscious, and which impressed itself on those with whom he came in contact. His Hfe was on a plane above the ordinary and the people who knew him well felt they were looking^ up to it.

But what distinguished his life above everything else, what shone out above all things, and what will be remembered of him when all else is forgotten, was his remarkable Christian life and character. His religion was of the very highest and best type of the Puritanic. With him, religion was not as now in many cases, a fashionable sentiment, but it was a living, essential realitv, controlling every thought and action of his life. His whole soul, conscience, principles, opinions, worldly interests and everything in his life was m.ade subservient to his religion. His life made all who knew him feel that there was truth and reality in the Christian religion, and he lived it every day. In his judgment, his crowning earthly honor was that he had served nearly fifty years as a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church at West Union.

Four years before his death, he had retired from all public business and was simply waiting the final summons. All his life he had had a dread of the Asiatic cholera. When that pestilence visited West Union in the summer of 185 1, the first victim died June 26. By some irony of fate, he was the last and died of the dread disease on the last day it prevailed, August 2. He died in the morning about 7 o'clock after a sickness of but a few hours and was buried before noon that day, and there were but four persons present at his interment, when, had he died of any ordinary disease, the v/hole county would have attended. Geo. M. and William V. Lafferty, his son, Gabriel Darlinton and Rev. John P. Van Dyke were the only persons to attend his funeral rites. Rev. Van Dyke repeated a prayer at the grave.

The writer, at nine years, knew him at eighty-five. He was in his sitting room. He had a wood fire in an old-fashioned fire place. The floor was uncarpeted and a plain deal table stood out in the middle of the rocMTi, at which the General sat and wrote. The table had a single drawer with a wooden knob. On that was tied a piece of buckskin, which he used to wipe his pen. A rocking chair was at each comer of the fire place, and common split-bottomed chairs in the room. Grandmother Edwards, his sister, with cap and spectacles, sat in one of the rocking chairs. The General's hair was then as white as snow, long and combed behind his ears. He arose to meet and welcome me, only a child, and a more grave and dignified man I never met. To me, a boy, his presence was awe-inspiring.

General Darlinton was and is a fair example of the good and true men; who built well the foundations of the great State of Ohio, His good works in church and state have borne and will bear fruit to many generations of posterity. From the day West Union was laid out.

for forty-seven years his fig^ire was a familiar one, seen daily on its streets, but for forty-eight years, it has been missed, but his memory is as fresh and green as that summer day, forty-eight years past, when he closed his books at the clerk's office for the last time and walked to his home. The memory of his lovely and lovable Christian character is the richest legacy he left his children, but they can give it to posterity, and be none the poorer.

was a native of Ireland. His father lived in Tyrone County, and was a man of small means, but good standing. Thomas was one of a large family, and was born in 1760. Until he was nineteen years old, he lived with his parents in Ireland and endeavored with them to make a living out of the poor soil and against the exactions of oppressive landlords. His father concluded that was too much of an undertaking, and moved to America, settling in Lancaster County, Penn. After a few years of hard work in that county, the father died, leaving behind him a fragrant memory and a wife and five or six children. By constant toil and good management the family made a living and the children acquired some education. From the death of his father in Lancaster County, until 1790 Thomas Kirker left no account of himself. At that time, being thirty years of age and having acquired some little money and seeing a hope for the future, he was married to Sarah Smith, a young woman of excellent family and great worth, eleven years his junior. They remained in Pennsylvania for a short time when stories of great wealth to be made in Kentucky came to them across the mountains, and the perilous journey of moving to the Blue Grass State was undertaken. Indians were on the way, and they kept the small company in constant fear by occasional arrow practice with them as targets. Kentucky proved a failure so far as they were concerned, and in 1794, Mr. Kirker and his wife crossed the Ohio and settled in Manchester, this county. This marked the beginning of his public career, and of his financial success.

In 1796, our subject changed his residence from Manchester to Liberty township in the same county, and settled on a farm, which has ever since been known as the Kirker farm, and on which he died in 1837, and in the cemetery there the ashes of him and his wife now repose. When he moved to Liberty township, his family consisted of himself, wife and two children. Thev were the first settlers to locate in the county outside the stockade in Manchester, but the county was speedily covered with settlements. The site selected proved a happy choice and soon blossomed with crops that yielded an abundant harvest. Within the next few years, Liberty township was dotted with cabins and the sturdy settlers were tilling the soil. He was a member of the first Court of Quarter Sessions held in the county under the Territorial Government at Manchester, in September, 1797. He was also a county commissioner under the Territorial Government, but the record of his service is lost. Mr. Kirker was the leading man in that settlement, and was usually the foremost in all public matters. By common consent he setled quarrels among his neighbors and acted in the capacity of judge and jury. All his neighbors respected him and looked to him for counsel. His reputation for good judgment in his township spread throughout the county, and when delegates were elected to the first Constitutional Convention in 1802, he was sent as one of them, and at, once, on the opening- of the convention, Mr. Kirker took a prominent part in its deliberations.

Thomas Kirker was a member of the lower house of the Legis- * lature from Adams County at the first legislative session March i, 1803, to April 16, 1803, He entered the Ohio senate at the second legislative session, December 5, 1803, and served in that body continuously until the thirteenth legislative session, closing February 16, 1815. In that time he was Speaker in the Senate in the fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth, tenth, eleventh and thirteenth sessions. From November 4, 1807, to December 12, 1808, he was acting Governor of the State by reason of a vacancy in the office of governor and his then being speaker of tl^e senate. At the fifteenth legislative session, December 15, 1816, to January 28, 1 817, he was a member of the House and its speaker. Then he took a rest from legislative honors for four years. At the twentieth legislative session beginning December 3, 1821, he was again in the senate from Adams and served in it continuously until February 8, 1825. On January 17, 1821, he was appointed an associate judge from Adams county, and served until October 30, 1821, when he resigned. In 1824, he was presidential elector, and voted for Clay. From 1808 until his death, he was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church at West Union, and his son William was also an elder in the same church from 1826, during his father's lifetime.

Mr. Kirker was not a brilliant man, but he was honest, conscientious and possessed of sound judgment and integrity that was unselfish and incorruptible. He was respected, esteemed, and exerted an influence that was felt in the entire circle of his acquaintance. No man served his state better or with more credit than he. Called to high places, he filled them well and went out of office carrying with him the respect of all who knew him. His wife died August 20, 1824. He died February 20, 1837. He reared a family of thirteen children, and has a host of descendants, who are scattered in difTercnt parts of the United States. A number of them are residing in Adams County, but most of them are in other localities.

He succeeded Gov. Tiffin, March 4, 1807, when he resigned to enter the U. S. Senate and served to the end of his term. In December, 1807, the election of governor having failed by reason of Return J. Meigs not being qualified and N. Massie declining, he served as Governor one year or to December 12, 1808, when Samuel Huntington succeeded him. The vote stood Huntington 7,293 ; Worthington, 5,601 ; Kirker, 3,397.

It is a pleasure to study the subject of this sketch, and the more we study the more we find to admire. He came from Virginia's best blood. His grandfather was Captain Thomas Shepherd, a title probably coming from the French and Indian War, and his grandmother was Elizabeth Van Meter, daughter of John Van Meter. His father, John Shepherd, was born in 1749 and in 1773 was married to Martha Nelson, born in

1750. To them were born seven children, six of whom were bom in Shepherdstown, Va., and one at Wheeling Creek, Ohio. Capt. Thomas Shepherd died in 1776, and among other property, left a new mill, which fell to his son, John, father of our subject. John, however, was a Revolutionary soldier. He was a private in Capt. Wm. Cherry's Company, 4th Virginia Infantry, from April, 1777, to March, 1778. The regiment was commanded by Col. Thomas Elliott and Major Isaac Beall. John's brother, Abraham, was a captain in the nth Virginia Regulars. Captain Abraham Shepherd, on August 13, 1787, entered 1000 acres of land. Entry No. 1060, on Virginia Military Warrant, 290, for his own services, at Red Oak, in Brown county. This was surveyed November 3, 1791, by Nathaniel Massie deput\ surveyor; Duncan McKenzie and Robert Smith, being chain carriers and Thomas Stout, marker. He had an uncle, David, who was a colonel in the Revolutionary War and so came of good fighting stock. The subject of our sketch was born August 13, 1776, at Shepherdstown, now Jefferson county, Va. He must have drank in patriotism with his mother's milk. Next year his father was in the service and so continued most of the time during the war. It seems his father operated a flour mill from 1781 to 1787, and his son Abraham learned something of the business. It is said Abraham received a liberal education for his time and surroundings. The details of that education we do not know, but do know that he learned the operations of his father's mill and the art of land surveying. In 1787, John Shepherd, with his family, moved to Wheeling Creek, Ohio, about eight miles from Wheeling, W. V. Here were already located two brothers and a married sister of John Shepherd. In 1793 he removed to Limestone, Ky., where he remained two years. In 1795 he removed to what was then Adams County, Ohio, but what is now Red Oak, in Brown County, locating on the trrct entered by his brother, Captain Abraham Shepherd. In 1799, he married Margaret Moore and was at that time living at Red Oak. Soon after this he bought a part of Capt. Phillip Slaughter's survey 588 on Eagle Creek and built a brick house on it, now owned by Baker Woods. Here he also built and oj^erated the mill afterwards known as Pilson's Mill. He also laid out and dedicated the cemetery on his lands now known as Baird's cemetery. In October, 1803, he was elected one of the three representatives of Adams County in the lower house, and took his seat December 5, 1803. He continued to represent Adams County in the house by successive re-elections till February 4, 1807. He remained out till December 4, 1809, when he again represented Adams County in the house and continued tc^o so until January 30, 181 1. At the session in December, 1809, he received two votes for senator, but Alexander Campbell was elected. In the fifth legislative session, December i, 1806, to February 4, 1807, he was speaker of the house, while at the same session Thomas Kirker, also from Adams County, was speaker of the senate. He seems to have dropped out of the legislature from January 30, 181 1, until December 4, 1815, but in the meantime he was not idle. He was in the war of 1812 as captain of a company and had two of his men shot by Indians as they were returning home in 1 81 2. In 181 3 he was out in the war again as captain of a company in Major Edward's Battalion, ist Regiment, ist Brigade, 2d Division, Ohio Militia. In the fourteenth legislative session.

December 4, 181 5, to February 27, 1816, he was a member of the senate from Adams. In the fifteenth legislative session, December 2, 1816, to January 28; 1817, he represented Adams County in the senate and was speaker at the same time Ex-Gov. Kirker was speaker of the house, he and Shepherd having exchanged offices from the fifth legislative session. In 18 16, he was one of the eight presidential electors of Ohio and cast his vote for James Monroe. Brown County was set off from Adams and Clermont by the legislature December 21, 181 7, and Abraham Shepherd procured the passage of the act in the senate.

In 1818 the first court was held in Brown County, at Ripley, by Josiah Collett, presiding Judge, with James Moore, William Anderson and James Campbell, associate judges. At this term, Abraham Shepherd, was appointed clerk for a term of seven years, and served a full term. In this period he was an active politician and practically controlled affairs in Brown Coimty.

In 1825, he was sent back to the senate from Adams County and Brovm. During this twenty-fourth legislative session, from December 8, 1825, to February 3, 1826, he was appointed a member of the state board of equalization for the sixth district, the first state board appointed. In the twenty-fifth legislative session, December 4, 1826, to January 31, 1827, he was again in the senate for Adams and Brown counties, and again its speaker. This closed his active career in public office.

He was a Presbyterian in faith and practice, and long a ruling elder in that church. The records of the Chillicothe Presbytery show that he attended it as a delegate in 1823, 1830 and 1832. He was master of a Masonic lodge at Ripley in 1818 and appears to have taken a great interest in the order for a period of years. In private life Abraham Shepherd was quite an energetic character. In 1815, he built and operated Pilson's mills on Eagle Creek then in Adams County, now in Jefferson township, Brov/n County. He held this until about 1817 when he sold it and went to Ripley. He built the Buckeye mill on Red Oak and operated it with steam as early as 1825. While engaged in this he was a pork packer.

He was of pleasing address, large and portly. No picture of him was preserved or can be obtained, ?Ie was always courteous and gentlemanly in his intercourse with others, and was popular with all sorts and conditions of his fellow men in his county. He was f)Ossessed of unbounded energy and wonderful perseverance, and naturally became a man of influence and importance in the community in which he dwelt. As a legislator and as presiding officer of the two houses, his services commanded the respect and commendation of his constituents and his fellow members. In his farming, he excelled his neighbors and made more improvements on his farm than any of them, and did it more rapidly. As a miller, he did more business than his competitors and the same is true of his pork packing. In 1834 it is said he met with financial reverses, and in consequence removed to Putnam County, IlHnois, with his family. In that county he lived as a farmer, a quiet retired life, until his death on January 16, 1847.

He was the father of ten children by his first wife, who died in 1818. All his children by his first wife are deceased. He married Miss Harriet Kincaid on October 19, 1819, and by her he had two children,

Andrew K., born November i8, 1820, and Martha Ann, March i, 1823, and both of whom are now living at Crete, Neb. His second wife died November 10, 1884, at the residence of her two children. -

When the slavery question came to be agitated, he became strongly anti-slavery. While acting with the Democratic party in his earlier career on account of slavery he abandoned it and became an Abolitionist. His convictions on every subject were positive and strong. His influence on his community, either in politics or religion was great and it was always on the side of humanity, right and justice.

was bom in Pennsylvania, May 4, 1789. He moved to Cincinnati. Ohio, in 1807. He was married there at Fort Washington, July 12, 1810. He went to Hillsboro and from there to Manchester. On June 13, 1815, he was made post master at Manchester, and served until 1822. He resided at Manchester until 1836. He was a commissioner of Adams County from 1819 to 1822. During his residence at Manchester he carried on the commission business most of the time. In 1822 and 1823 he was a member of the house of representatives. In 1827 and 1828 he was in the senate, representing Adams and Brown counties, and also in the winter of 1828 and 1829. He was a Whig at all times. In 1836, he purchased the Brush Creek Forge Furnace and moved to Cedar Mills, where he spent the remainder of his life. When the Whig party ceased its organization, he became a Republican. He was a justice of the peace in Sprigg and Jefferson townships seventeen years. He was devoted to his party and very fond of contributing political articles to the newspapers. He was an interesting writer and his articles were terse and to the point. He was more a philosopher than a politician. A number of his letters are in existence and they give much insight into his life and thoughts.

A letter from him dated in 1859 to a friend in Scotland, gives some account of himself. He states in this letter that his father lost his life in the campaign of Gen. Anthony Wayne, against the Indians in 1793, and that his mother died six months aften^^ard, leaving him to find his way alone, friendless and penniless, the best he could. He states that he was never in a school house in his life as a pupil. He says when he located in Cincinnati, he had but six cents left, and that he has never received a penny since except what he earned by his own hands. That his mental acquirements are what he obtained by his own creation as he passed along. He states that ten years before, in 1849, ^^ closed his accounts with the world and owed no man a cent. That he has not done a days work for ten years and don*t ever intend to do one - that he does just what seems right in his own eyes. He says four of his children live in sight of his residence, that all of his children are industrious and doing well for themselves and their families. That he enjoys himself at reading and writing far better than he did in his younger days, and that he has no cares. That he has enough to keep him and his wife, who has cheered him in adversity and prosperity for fifty years, and that while he has but little, he considers himself richer than the Rothschilds. Then he comments on the Russian War, and gives an account of a trip to Iowa to visit a son located there. He gives a description of Iowa as he found it, worthy of the pen of the best descriptive writer. He speaks of the approaching political campaign and defines the position of the three parties, Republican, Democrat and Abolitionists. He states that his friends, Thompson, (Peter) and Campbell and their families, as well as himself, and all connected with him were Republicans. That the Abolitionists are right in the abstract, but as the constitution recognized slavery in the slave states, we must submit to slave states, but are opposed to admitting any more in the Union.

John Fisher was fond of writing for the newspapers and enjoyed a political controversy on paper. One or more of his political controversies got into the courts and cost him much expense and trouble, owing to its personal character, but those matters are better now forgotten than remembered.

John Fisher was not a religious man. His philosophy largely took the place of religion, but he believed in right and justice. With him, the golden rule was the highest law. He believed in every man having a full opportunity to do the best he could for himself in the world, and in his doing right at all times. John Fisher's code of morality was the highest and of the best order. He lived up to it himself, and had no respect for the man who did not or could not live up to it. Had he lived in the days of the Greek philosophers, he would have been one of them, and the principal one among them. Probably he would have been a Stoic. He aimed to do his part in the world's work from his standpoint as he saw it, and in view of what he accomplished from his slavery point. We think his life and career was a credit to himself and to the community of which he was a member. His descendants are all honorable, self-respecting and highly respected men and women, and the impress he left upon them, they need not be ashamed of, and the world can congratulate itself on the legacy he left it in his posterity. He died October 24, 1864.

one of the most distinguished of the early citizens of Brown County, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, September 19, 1781. His father, William Cochran, was an early pioneer of Brown County, was a native of Ireland and born in County Antrim in 1722. He was married in his native countrv to Elizabeth Boothe, and about the middle of the last century, emigrated to America. He served in the Revolutionary War, and resided in Pennsylvania, afterward in Kentucky, and about 1795 or 1796, came to the Northwest Territory and settled on the east fork of Eagle Creek, near the present eastern boundary of Brown County. He died in March, 1814, aged ninet3^-two. His wife, Elizabeth, died October 21, 1823. John was about nine years old when his father came to Kentucky. He lived for a few years in the vicinity of the old settlement of Washington. When a small boy, he was at Fort Washington, on the site of Cincinnati, and saw corn growing on what is now Fourth Street of the Queen City. He was with his father on his settlement north of the Ohio, as above stated, and when about eighteen years old, became overseer of the Kanawha Salt Works, where he continued about seven years. Salt was one of the necessaries of life which it was most difficult for the pioneers of Kentucky and the Northwest Territory to obtain. John Cochran is said to have shipped the first boat load of salt down the Ohio River to Louisville, Kentucky. He came to what is now Brown County in about 1805 or 1806. He married Tamer Howard, daughter of Cyrus and Milly Howard, who was born in Montgomery County, Virginia. Her father for some years kept the ferry between Aberdeen and Limestone. John Cochran purchased a farm from Nathaniel Beasley, about six miles northeast of Aberdeen, on the east fork of Eagle Creek, in what is now Huntington township, on which he resided for the greater portion of the remaining years of his life. He served in the War of 181 2 as dleputy sergeant in the commissary department. He took much interest in the old militia musters and passed through all the grades from captain to brigadier general. He was known as General Cochran. In the year 1824, he was first elected representative to the legislature as a Democrat, and was re-elected in 1826, 1827 and 1828. In 1829, he was elected senator from Brown and Adams counties, and was re-elected in 1830, thus serving six full terms in the general assembly. Gener^ Cochran had but little education from books in his early life, never attending school but three months in his life. He was, however, self-educated. He was a man of strong con\ictions and remarkable memory. In his recollection of dates, he was seldom found to be in error. He carefullv cultivated his memorv in his early business transactions by imprinting facts on his mind, and he became marked for the tenacity with which he could retain everything he heard or read.

General Cochran was the father of thirteen children, five sons and eight daughters - Joseph, John, Milly, William, Mary, Elizabeth, James, Tamer, Ellen, Thomas J.. Sarah J., Malinda and Lydia. Of them, ten are now living. Mrs. Cochran died in 1855. She was an esteemed member of the Christian Church. General Cochran was a Mason, and assisted in organizing the first Masonic lodge in Brown County. In his business pursuits, he met with great success and died in possession of considerable property. In his old age, he resided for a time in Illinois, but he returned to Brown County and lived with his children. His death occurred at the residence of his son-in-law, William Shelton, in Adams County. He lived eighty-three years and died on his birthday, September 19, 1864. His remains, with those of his wife, repose in the cemetery of Ebenezer Church. General Cochran left behind him a high reputation for ability and judgment and patriotism, and his name finds an honored place among the rnen of Brown County.

was born near Aniitv, Washington County, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1796, the eldest son of Stephen and Anne Baird Riggs. He had four brothers and six sisters. His father removed to near Steubenville, Ohio, when he was a child ; and later to Sardinia, Ohio, where both he and his wife are buried. In August, 1817, our subject left his home near Steubenville Ohio, to visit his uncles James and Moses Baird in the Irish Bottom in Green Towmship, Adams County. While there he was offered the position of clerk in the West Union Bank, kept by George Luckey. This position he accepted on December 31, 1817: and in coming from Steubenville to Manchester, travelled on a flat boat.

Fitzgerald, and frequently borrowed his fine horse to ride to North Liberty to court Miss Rebecca G. Baldridge, daughter of Rev. William Baldridge. On January i, 1819, he was elected cashier of the West Union Bank ; and on December 8, 1819, he married Miss Rebecca Baldridge, before named. Soon after, they joined the Associate Reformed Church, at Cherry Fork. He served as cashier of the West Union Bank until 1823. On March i, 1824, he was appointed auditor of Adams County, Ohio, to serve an unexpired term. He was elected and re-elected; and served from March i, 1824, until the fall of 1831. In 183 1 he was appointed a deputy surveyor of the Virginia Military District of Ohio, for Adams County. While holding that office, he made a connected survey of all the lands in Adams County, and made a map of the county which remained in the auditor*s office till it fell to pieces from age. Mr. Riggs was an accomplished surveyor, but when or where he learned the science we are not advised. He resigned the office of auditor on October 3, 1831, to accept the office of state senator from Adams and Brown counties, to which he was elected as a Democrat in 183 1 and served ufitil 1833. In the fall of that year he removed to Hanging Rock, Ohio. He remained there until 1837, when he removed to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he resided the remainder of his life.

On reaching Portsmouth, in 1837, he and his wife connected with the First Presbyterian Church, and he was ordained an elder in 1838. He served until February 9, 1875, when he connected with the Second Presbyterian Church. He was at once made an elder in that Church, and continued as such during his life.

In 1837 he opened a general store in the city of Portsmouth, and continued in that business, either alone or with partners, for many years. He was a man of substance and of excellent business qualifications. In March, 1838, he was elected to a township office in Wayne Township, in which was located the town of Portsmouth. He was elected a member of the city council of Portsmouth, March 3, 1838; and continued in it, with intervals, until t868. He was elected recorder of Portsmouth, April 10, 1838, and served until March 15, 1844, and again from March 17, 1848, to March 16, 1849 Me was county surveyor of Scioto County from 1839 to 1841. OnMay2i,i838,he was appointed on acommitteeto secure an armory at Portsmouth. He was surveyor of the town of Portsmouth from November 7, 1845, to March 7, 1849, and again from 1852 to 1854. On December 4, 1846, he was appointed one of the first infirmary board of Scioto County, Ohio, and served by subsequent elections till 1852, and during that time he was clerk of the board. In i860, he engineered the construction of the tow path from the city of Portsmouth to Union Mills, and charged $70 for his entire services. In 1867, he was president of the city council of Portsmouth. He was usually on the committee of ordinances, and was one of the most useful members of the council. He was responsible for most of the city ordinances, and general legislation during his membership of council.

He was a public-spirited citizen, and was so recognized. 'When any delegation was to be sent on a public mission by the city authorities, he was usually one of it. In 1869 he retired from all business, and lived qui,etly until his death on Jtily 28, 1877, at the age of 81 years, 26 days. He was a just man, a consistent Christian, and a most valuable citizen.

was born in April, 1796, in Augusta County, Virginia, the son of Samuel and Dorcas Pilson. His parents emigrated to Adams County in 1807, and settled on Eagle Creek. Dorcas Pilson died in 1840, and Samuel Pilson in 1848. James taught school when a youth, and at the age of twenty was appointed surveyor of Adams County, and held the office two years. From the organization of Browm County, he was its county surveyor until 1824. In 1831 and 1832, he was a member of the house from Brown County, defeating Jesse R. Grant, father of President Grant, for that office.

He was for many years proprietor of Pilson's mill on Eagle Creek. The mill was built by Abraham Shepherd. For many years he was a brigadier general in the militia. From 1833 to 1835, he represented Adams and Brown counties in the senate. He was a man of good business capacity, of integrity and steady and reliable character. He married a niece of Gen Joseph Darlinton, daughter of his sister, Mrs. Edwards. She was a widow of George Sparks when he married her.

They had one son, Samuel Pilson, born March 7, 1843. Gen. James Pilson died April 4, 1880. He was a Democrat and a Republican. The writer remembers him very well and was a playmate of his son Samuel, also now deceased.

John Patterson was born in Pendleton County, Virginia, November 23, 1793, and died in Wilkins, Union County, Ohio, February i, 1859. His parents were James Augustine Patterson, of English descent, and Ann Elizabeth Hull (Patterson), of Dutch descent.

The family lived in that part of Virginia (now West Virginia) known as the "Backbone of the Alleghanies," and owned large tracts of land on the South Branch of the Potomac River. James A. Patterson rendered the American cause important service during the War of the Revolution, and for that reason became possessed of sufficient means to purchase a large body of land in Alleghany County, Pennsylvania, a part of which is now in the heart of the city of Pittsburg. Others had preempted a part of the land before he reached it, and he did not attempt to dispossess them.

John Patterson was but about eight years of age when his father died, in 1801, and in 1804 he was apprenticed for a period of ten years to Z. A. Tannehill to learn the trade of watchmaker and silversmith. His employer died in 1813, leaving his apprentice on his own resources. He then enlisted as a private soldier in a Pittsburg infantry regiment, serving in Gen. Adamson Tannehiirs Brigade in what is historically knmvn as the "War of 1812." He saw but little field service, but before the war ended he was made a corporal.

In 181 5 he went to Alexandria, Va., expecting to go into business, but his partner proved unworthy, and he returned to Pittsburg, entering the employ of Mr. John Thompson. In the autumn of 1817 he emigrated to Ohio, making the journey down the Ohio River on a keel boat to Manchester, and thence overland to West Union, then one of the most promising settlements in the Bucke>'e State. Here he opened a jewelry store, made and repaired watches and clocks and man- ufactured articles of silverware. Some of the spoons and possibly other utensils of his handiwork are still in existence. He afterwards established a tannery, and then one of the first wool-carding and combing factories erected in southern Ohio. In the spring of 1819 he was elected justice of the peace for Tiffin Township, and subsequently was twice elected to the same position. For several years he held the office, by appointment, of county collector of taxes. On January 27, 1827, the system of tax collecting then in vogue was abolished by the act of the legislature, which created the office of county treasurer, and the incumbent of that office was made the only tax collector.

In 1826 Mr. Patterson was elected as representative from Adams County to the twenty-fifth general assembly of the state; in 1828 to the twenty-seventh ; in 1829 he was joint representative with Hosea Moore in the twenty-eighth general assembly. He was then, as always throughout his public career, an ardent Democrat. In 1833 ^^d again in 1834, he was for the fifth and sixth times elected as representative in the legislature. He was elected as state senator from Adams and Brown counties in 1835 to the thirty-fourth general assembly; and in 1836 was elected as state senator from Adams, Brown, and Scioto counties to the thirty-fifth general assembly.

With the single exception of Hon. Thomas Kirker, Governor of Ohio, in 1808, who served as senator and representative for seventeen years prior to 1825, John Patterson was a member of the legislature longer than any other citizen of the county. He took high rank as a party leader and debater, and secured the passage of excellent laws. He was a firm friend of all public improvements, and heartily supported the "National Road" and all the various canal projects which were before the legislature during his eight terms of service.

In 1834 John Patterson, of Adams; Uri Seeley, of Geauga, and Jonathan Taylor, of Licking, were appointed by Governor Lucas as commissioners for Ohio to settle the boundary between Ohio and Michigan. The action of the commissioners was resisted by the Governor and inhabitants of Michigan Territory, and for a time there was g^eat excitement throughout the state, the militia was called out on each side, and for a few weeks there was every prospect of bloodshed. Happily for all concerned this was averted. This, and subsequent proceedings relative to the disputed boundary line, are matters of record end a part of the history of the state, too lengthy for repetition here. Suffice it to say that the action of the commissioners was sustained by the governor and legislature of the state, and by the president and congress of the United States. The territory in dispute now includes the great city of Toledo.

On March 21, 1838, President Van Buren appointed Mr. Patterson United States Marshal for the state of Ohio, as the successor of John Patterson, of Belmont County, who, though he bore the same name, was not a relative. The United States courts then were all held at Columbus, and thither Mr. Patterson removed his family, residing in that city from the date of his appointment until the expiration of his official term, July 10, 1841. His most important service was the taking of the United States census, during the summer of 1840. This immense and important task was solely in his charge, and it was per-

Returning to Adams County, in 1841, Mr. Patterson resided in West Union until the summer of 1847, when he removed to York Township, Union County, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life on a farm in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture and stock raising. His remains were laid to rest in sight of his home, in the cemetery of the York Presbyterian Church, with which he was identified during the last twelve years of his life.

John Patterson was married three times. His first wife was Mar>^ Brown Finley, daughter of Major Joseph Lewis Finley and Jane Blair Finley. They were married at her father's residence on Gift Ridge, south of West Union, November 10, 1818, by Rev. Thomas Williamson. Six children were born of this union, namely: Joseph Peter (died at Butler, Pa., March 4, 1856), Lewis Augustine (died at West Union, April 26, 1846), Matilda Ann (mameu John Smith, died at West Union, August 23, 1895), Thomas R^ed (resides at Price Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio), Hannah Finley (married Lewis C. Clark, died at ilanhattan, Kansas, April 23, 1884), and Mary Brown (married Jacob Dresback, resides at Paris, 111.). His first wife's remains were laid away in the old village cemetery.

His second wife was Miss Celia Prather, daughter of Major John Prather, of West Union, to whom he was married November 9, 183 1. by Rev. John Meek. To them the following children were born : Algernon Sidney (died in infancy), Elizabeth Jane (married Benjamin F. Coates, resides at Portsmouth, Ohio), Robert Emmet (died at Nashville, Tenn., June 25, i860), John Prather (died at Chicago 111., December 17, 1889), ^^^ James Hamer (died in infancy at Columbus, Ohio)

Mrs. Celia Patterson died at Columbus, Ohio, February 22, 1840. A number of vears afterward her remains were removed to the West Union cemetery

His third wife was Miss Marv Catherine McCrea, a relative of Jane McCrea, whose tragic massacre by the Indians near Saratoga, N. Y., is narrated in the annals of the Revolution. They were married at Columbus, Ohio, on November 12, 1840, by Rev. James -Hoge. All of their four children were born in West Union ; three of them (James McCrea, Stephen Henry, and Celia Ann) died in infancy. Charles Moore, their youngest child, died in his seventeenth year (March 4, 1863), at Murfreesboro, Tenn., while in the service of his country as a volunteer soldier during the War of the Rebellion.

Mrs. Catharine M. Patterson was married to Andrew McNeil, of Union County, on June 16, 1862, who died December 31, 1889. She died at her home near Richwood, Ohio, October 27, 1893.

who represented Adams County as a part of the seventh Ohio senatorial district in the fiftieth general assembly, and its first senator under the constitution of 1851, was born January 2y, 1817, near Steubenville, the son of James H. Moore and his wife, Sarah Stull. His maternal grandfather, Daniel Stull, was a captain in the Revolutionary War. He graduated at Washington College, Pennsylvania, in the class of

1836. He beg^n the study of law immediately, under D. L. Collier, then mayor of Steubenville. He attended one session of the Cincinnati Law School, and was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court at Steubenville, October, 1838.

In April, 1839, ^^ located at Portsmouth, in the practice of the law, nnd conimued to reside there the remainder of his life. In 1850 he was elected as a Whig to represent Lawrence and Scioto counties in the house of representatives in the last session under the constitution of 1802. He participated in the senatorial election in which Benjamin F. Wade was elected to the United States senate. In 185 1 he was elected to the state senate, as stated at the opening of this sketch. He had as associates in the house. Col. J. R. Cockerill, of Adams County, and Hon. Wells A. Hutchins, of Scioto. In 1854 he was elected to the thirty-fourth congress as a Whig, representing the tenth district, composed of Scioto, Pike, Ross, Jackson, and Lawrence. On July 23, 1861, he entered the 33d O. V. L, as its lieutenant colonel. He was promoted colonel of the regiment July 16, 1862. At the battle of Perryville, October 8, 1862, he was wounded, captured, and paroled. He remained at home until February, 1863, when he was exchanged. He commanded his regiment in the two days* fight at Chickamauga, where the regiment met with heavy loss in killed and wounded. He served on court martials at Nashville, Tenn., in 1863 and in 1864, until July 20, 1864, when he resigned.

In politics he was a Whig until the dissolution of that party, when he was a member of the American party during its existence. After its dissolution, he went to the Democratic party, in which he remained during his life.

On September 19, 1843, ^^ was married to Martha B., daughter of Hon. Thomas B. Scott, of Chillicothe. He had two daughters, the eldest of whom he named Clay for the idol of his party, Henry Clay. She married Mr. George O. Newman in 1866. His second daughter, Kate, is the wife of Hon. James W. Newman.

"He was a man who had many warm friends, of liberal views, of a kind, charitable nature, and who scarcely ever expressed a harsh remark or used an unkind word to others. His life in this respect was a lesson of the broadest charity. As a lawyer, he had a wide reputation, and will long be remembered in southern Ohio. He was in active practice at the Portsmouth bar for over forty years, a period longer than any other member has served ; his ability was of the very highest order, and as adapted to the varied practice in the diflferent courts, both state and federal, whether before court or jury, and whether relating to cases at law or in equity or to criminal practice, he had but few equals. He seldom made mistakes in the management of a case. Perhaps the most striking feature of his mind was the faculty of clear discrimination, which enabled him, with care and facility, to sift authorities quoted against him and explain the facts of a case so as to avoid legal principles, supposed by an opponent to be conclusive against him. He had a keen relish for a "close case," full of surprises by the disclosure of un-