Crawford County, Ohio - Chapter 4, 1881

Chapter 4

THE professions exert a wide influence in a community, and the historj- of Crawford Count}- would he incomplete witliout a history of the legal and medical professions. The following sketch of the bar of the county is bj' Franklin Adams, Esq., and was prepared at our special request for this work :

Crawford County was erected and attached to Delaware County April 1, 1820. In February, 1824, the northern tier of townships was attached to Seneca County for judicial purposes, and on May 1, 1824, the remainder to Jlarion County. The county was organized

The first term of the Common Pleas Court of the county was held at Bucyrus, in the dwellinghouse of Lewis Car}', on the south bank of Sandusky River, at the site of the present residence of C. H. Shonert. Ebenezer Lane, of Xorwalk, was Presiding Judge. He was appointed in 1824, his circuit including all the northwestern part of the State. Upon its organization, Crawford County was attached to it. He continued to discharge the duties of Corn-

April 1, 182G, and soon after Bucyrus was , mon Pleas Judge until the fall of 1830. He selected as the county seat. 1 was then appointed Judge of the Supreme Court

The general surface of the county was a clay soil, covered with rich vegetable mold, and so level that the fallen and decaying timber of the forests and the grasses and rank growths of the prairies were sufficient to obstruct drainagei and present, upou a large proportion of the territory, a series of swails, marshes and sluggish water-courses. Bridges and culverts were few, and mostly of the corduroy style. The houses and barns were constructed of logs, and in the most economical manner. The property of the inhabitants consisted of their lands, and scarcely anything else. Until after the public lands in this part of the country were taken up, the market value of unimproved land was $1.25 per acre, the Government price.

The Wyandot and the Cherokee Boy reservations, containing about 147,000 acres, were within the original limits of Crawford, and were occupied by the aboriginal inhabitants, about 700 in number, until July, 1843. Thirty-eight thousand four hundred acres of these lands were ceded to the General Government in 1836. The

Judge Lane was born at Northampton, Mass., September 17, 1793, and died at Sandusky, Ohio, June 12,1866. He graduated at Harvard University in 1811. He studied law with Judge Matthew Griswold,at Lyme, Conn., and in 1814 was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice at Norwich, Conn. In March, 1817 he came to Elyria, Ohio. In May, 1810, he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of Huron County, and in October of the same year removed to Norwalk. After his resignation as Judge of the Supreme Court, he accepted the presidenc}' of the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad Company, and devoted the next ten years to the management of railroads in Ohio. In November, 185.5, he was appointed coun.sel and resident director of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, a position he held, with his residence at Chicago, until March 16, 1859, when he resigned and retired to private life. He was a close stnrlent of law, science and general literature, and was prompt and indefatigable in meeting every engagement and discharging every duty. On the circuit, he would patronize the most retired and orderly hotel within a mile or two of the court house, and devote all his leisure time to reading and study. He in an eminent degree the confidence and of the bar and the people. His opinions contained in the Ohio Supreme Court Reports are monuments of his scholarship, integrity and abilities.

In the winter of 18.30-31, Judge Lane was succeeded in the Common Pleas Court by David Higgins, of Norwalk, who held the office of President Judge seven years - a full term. His last appearance on the bench in Crawford County was at the September term, 1837. He was a dignified gentleman, of good abilities and intentions, and of fine personal appearance. He was, however, rather unfortunate in securing the deference to which he was entitled, and in comprehending the motives of others, and in making his own properly understood. This led to frequent unpleasant collisions with members of the bar. Upon the whole, his term was a stormy one, at the close of which he retired to private life. In the winter of 1837-38, Judge Higgins was succeeded by Ozias Bowen, of Marion, who held the office of President Judge for two terms - fourteen j-ears - until the judicial sj-stem under the Constitution of 1802 was superseded by that of the Constitution of 1851.

Judge Bowen possessed much shrewdness and ability, and excelled as a chancellor. He discharged his duties honestlj' and faithfully and to the general satisfaction of the public and the bar. He was born at Augusta, Oneida Co., N. Y., July 1, 1805, and died at Marion, Ohio, September 20, 1871. He studied law with Gregory Powers at Canton, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar, at that place, September 23, 1828, and soon after commenced practice at Marion. In 1856, he was, b}-

Gov. Chase, appointed a Judge of the State Supreme Court, to fill a vacancy causecl by the resignation of Judge C. C. Converse, and, in October of the same year, was elected to fill the unexpired term. In 1860, he was one of the Ohio Electors for President of the United States.

From the organization of the county until February, 1852, the offices of Associate Judges of the Common Pleas Court have been filled by the following persons : John Cary, Enoch B. Meriman, John B. French, Jacob Smith, Abel Cary, Josiah Roliertson, George Poe, Hugh Welch, Samuel Kuisely, Andrew Failor, Robert \V. Musgrave, Robert Lee and James Stewart. These were all gentlemen of character and standing in the community, and discharged their duties well and conscientiously. The earlier records and files of the courts are lost. Once they were partially destroyed by fire ; at a later date, the most that remained were taken away in the night by parties against whom indictments were pending. There are no records or files extant of an earlier date than 1831. The Common Pleas journal opens with the March term, 1834.

The first resident members of the bar being j'oung men, without experience or confidence in themselves, the most important business of the courts was conducted by older and more experienced lawj'ers, residing in neighboring counties, and accustomed to following the circuit, sometimes on foot and sometimes on horseback, with about the regularitj- of the Judges. Among those of this class whose names appear most frequently marked as counsel upon the earlier court dockets are Andrew Coffinberry, James Purdy and John M. Maj', of Jlausfield ; Orris Parrish, of Delaware ; Ozias Bowen and James H. Godman, of Marion ; and Charles L. Boalt, of Norwalk. All of them were earnest, active men, and distinguished nisi prius lawyers.

ization of the countj', in 1826, and was the first Countj- Treasurer elected. He was considered a brilliant man, but lacking in the steadiness and perseverance necessary for success and distinction in his profession. He removed to Findla^-, Ohio, in 1S37, where he died a few _years ago. Isaac H. Allen, M. Flick and a iMr. Stanberg located at Bucyrus and practiced law between the j-ears 1S26 and 1830. Allen died here in 1828. The others left the place prior to 1830.

Josiah Scott was born in Washington County, Penn., December 1, 1803, and died at Bucyrus, Ohio, June 15. 1879. He graduated with high honors at Jeflerson College, Pennsylvania, in 1821, taught a classical school at Richmond, Va., and became a tutor at Jefferson College and studied law and was admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania. He located at Bucyrus and commenced the practice of law in 1829. He represented Crawford, Marion and Delaware Counties in the Ohio Legislature in 1810. In 1850, he removed to Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio, and continued practice. In 1856, he was appointed by Gov. Chase a Judge of the Supreme Court, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge Ranney, and in October of the same year was elected to a full term of five years, and was re-elected in 1861 and 1866. His services as Judge commenced at December term. 1856, and ended Feljruary 9, 1872. He removed to Bucyrus in 1870, and at the close of his last term resumed practice. In 1876, he was appointed, by Gov. Hayes, upon the Supreme Court Commission, a bod}' of five members, created in 1875, by Amendatory Section 22, Article 4, of the Constitution of Ohio, to dispose of a part of the business then on the dockets of the Supreme Court, with the same jurisdiction and power in respect to such business as the Supreme Court. Upon the organization of the Commission, February 2, 1876, he was elected, by his associates. Chief Judge for one year thereafter. He continued a member of the Commission until February 1, 1879, the close of its term.

His active business life covers a period of fifty years, the greater portion of which was spent in this community. Nearly all the wit> nesses of his earlier efforts passed away liefore him, leaving a succeeding generation the spectators of his later and more mature labors. He was endowed by nature with a fine presence, a genial disposition and sparkling wit, and intellectual faculties and powers of analysis of a very high order. He was thoroughly honest and upright in his dealings and intercourse with others ; a Christian gentleman, a scholar, excelling specially in mathematics and the classics ; an eloquent advocate and an able and learned lawyer and jurist. No man was ever more thoroughly understood and appreciated at home, and few, indeed, have been so deserving.

George Sweney was born near Gettysburg, Penn., November 1, 1796, and died at Bucyrus, Ohio, October 10, 1877. He graduated at Dickinson College, Pennsylvania ; studied law and was admitted to the bar. About the year 1820, he commenced practice at Gettysburg and continued it for ten years. The Gettysburg bar was then distinguished for the abilities and brilliance of its members. In 1830, he removed to BucjTUS and continued practice. While holding the office of Prosecuting Attorney of Crawford County, in 1838, he was elected a member of Congress from the Fourteenth Ohio District, and was re-elected in 1840. In 1853, he removed to Geneseo, 111., but returned to Bucyrus in 1856, and, after serving another term as Prosecuting Attorney, retired from the bar. He was of fine personal appearance, intellectual, dignified, engaging in manners, a good public speaker, amiable, honorable and upright, and plain and domestic in his habits. His cases at bar were well managed, but the practice was distasteful to him. He was an excellent scholar and close student of science, and always preferred the retirement and comforts of home, and a life of literary ease, to the turmoil and controversies of politics and active practice at the bar.

John M. Armstrong was educated at Norwalk Seminary, read law with Judge James Stewart, of Mansfield, was admitted to the bar, and located in practice at Bucyrus in 1838. In 1843, he moved west with the Wyandot Indians, at the junction of the Kaw and Missouri Rivers, where the town of Wyandotte, Kan., now stands. He died several years afterward, at Mansfield, on his way home from a visit at Washington on business connected with the affairs of the Wyandot Indians. Robert Armstrong, his father, had been talien prisoner by the Indians, and lived among them and married a half-blood Wyandot woman, and acquu'ed a a tract of land at Fort Ball by the treaty of 1817. John M. Armstrong, the son, was married to a daughter of Rev. Russell Bigelow, a distinguished preacher. He had good business capacities, and was well educated and accom-

Ebenezer A. Wood removed from Norton, Ohio, to Bucyrus, in the spring of 1841, and entered upon the practice of law. After remaining about two j-ears, he went to Missouri.

William Fisher, of Marion County, came to Bucyrus in June 1841, and went into practice in partnership with Josiah Scott. He returned to Marion in a year, and continued practice there until his death.

Lawrence W. Hall came to Bucyrus from Cuyahoga County in the spring of 1844 and commenced the practice of law. He held the office of prosecuting attorney of Crawford County, by successive elections, from October, 1845, to October 1851. At the fall election of 1851, the first under the present constitution, he was elected a Judge of the Common Pleas Court, which he held until February, 1857. In 1856, he was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the Thirty -fifth Congress, for the term closing in March, 1857, and continued practice until his death, which occurred at Bucyrus, Januar}' 18, 1863. He was liind and genial in disposition, popular in manners, able and successful as a practioner, and a model of urbanity on the bench, and was more a politician and partisan leader than lawyer. The opposition to the war of the rebellion, developed in this locality, attracted the attention of the Government, and, in 1862, Judge Hall was arrested and nominally held for several weeks a political prisoner, at Camp Mansfield, and finally discharged without further action. In consequence of ill health, he was on parole, and required to report, only as it suited his convenience.

Josiah S. Plants was born in Pennsylvania m 1820, and died in Bucyrus, August 23, 1863, of wounds received by the accidental discharge of a gun. He was educated at Ashland Academy, studied law under instruction of Judge Josiah Scott, and was admitted to the bar and commenced practice at Bucyrus, in 1844. In the fall of 1858, he was elected a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for a five years' term, commencing in February, 1859. He was distinguished for industry, honesty of purpose, devotion to his friends, fidelity to his clients and earnestness and force as a public speaker. His career at the bar and on the bench, was such as to justify the highest expectations of his friends had his life been prolonged.

Joseph E. Jewett came from Wayne County, opened a law office at Bucyrus, in 1844, and continued in practice until the fall of 1848, when he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where he has since died.

John Clark, from Richland County, commenced practice at the bar in Bucyrus, in the the spring of 1845. He removed to Ashland in 1846, and afterward to Iowa City, where he died.

Va., August 12, 1861. He was admitted to the bar in 1853, and continued in practice until the spring of 1861. He volunteered under the President's first call for troops, was elected First Lieutenant of his company and died in camp before the expiration of his enlistment. Heury C. Rowse was born in Bueyrus in 1835, and died at Rockford, HI., October 17,

1862. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice at Bueyrus in 1857, and continued in business about three j-ears. At the time of his death, he held an appointment as clerk iu the Interior Department at Washington.

Burr Morris was born September 9, 1829, in Stark County, and died in November, 18G6, at Albany, Linn Co., Oreg. He went with his parents to Hancock County in 1834, and was educated in the Common Schools and at Findlay Academy. He read law with Henry Brown, of Findlay, and graduated at Cincinnati Law School in 1855. In 1856, he was admitted to the bar and commenced practice at Bueyrus. In October, 1861, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Crawford County, and re-elected in

1863. In April, 1864, he resigned and removed to Albany, Or., and commenced the practice of law. In June, 1866, he was elected County Judge of Linn County, and died while in office.

William S. Fitzsiramons was born in Crawford County March 8, 1841, and died at Bueyrus, July 11, 1870. He read law with D. W. Swigart, at Bueyrus, and was admitted to the bar March 16, 1868. In March, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and went into active service. Ho was in many skirmishes and engagements, including the first battle of Winchester, Va., and the battle of Antietam, MA. He was severely wounded at Antietam, and finally died from the effects of his wounds.

1857. In August, 1858, he was appointed by the Governor Probate Judge of Crawford County to the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Patterson S. Marshall, and held the of fice until October 18, 1858, when his successor was elected and qualified. In 1859, he removed to Wapakoneta, where he has since died.

William M. Beer studied law with his brother, Judge Beer, and was admitted to the bar about 1866. He had enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and First Ohio Volunteer Infantrj', serving during the war, and b^' regular gradation rising to the rank of Captain. After graduating in the law, he engaged for a time in the book business, but finallj' removed to Humboldt, Iowa, where he practiced law, until his death in 1874.

Robert M. Kelly was bora in Lancaster County, Penn., April 8, 1815, and came to Knox Countj^ Ohio, in 1834. He was admitted to the bar Julj- 1, 1842, and removed to Bueyrus and commenced practice August 1, 1842. In 1845, he received from President Polk the appointment of Register of the Land Office at Upper Sanduskj', and removed to that place in June of that year. He had charge of the sales of the lands of the Wyandot Reservation, and held the ofBce until its removal from Upper Sandusky. In 1852, he was appointed by Governor Wood, the first Probate Judge of Wyandot County, holding the office from January to October of that year. He was elected a Director of the Ohio & Indiana Railroad Company, in January, 1854, and was its President the last 3'ear of its separate organization. He originated in its Board of Directors the movement for the consolidation of the three companies owning the continuous line of railroad between Pittsburgh and Chicago, resulting in the organization of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway Corapanj-. He was also, for several years, a Director, and Solicitor of the latter company. He was a member of the Ohio Senate for Crawford, . Seneca and Wyrv

Cyrus Linn removed from Cambridge, Ohio, to Bucyrus in 1853, and entered upon the practice of law. After continuing in practice about three years he returned to Cambridge.

John D. Sears read law with Judge Josiah Scott, at Bucyrus. On his admission to the bar in 1844, he entered into partnership with his preceptor, and removed to Upper Sandusky in 1845, and continued the practice. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1873, for Wyandot County.

Abraham Summers, Jr., commenced the practice of law at Bucyrus, in 1850. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Crawford County in 1855, and re-elected in 1857. In 1860, he was elected Probate Judge of Crawford County, and re-elected in 1863. He removed to Hicksville, Ohio.

Conrad W. Butterfield commenced the practice of law at Bucyrus, in 1853. In 18G0, he removed to Lima, Ohio, and returned to Bucyrus in 1863. In 1876, he removed to Madison, Wis. He is the author of a " Ilistorj' of Seneca County, Ohio ;" a " Historj' of Col. Crawford's Expedition against the Indians in 1782 " (which has had a wide circulation), and some other works.

Abner BL Jackson was admitted to the bar in September, 1854, and commenced practice at Bucyrus. He was Auditor of Crawford County from March 3, 1851, to March 1, 1855, and was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Crawford County in October, 1859. In 1871, he was elected a Judge of the Fourth Subdivision of the Third District of the Common Pleas Court, composed of Crawford, Hancock, Marion, Seneca, Wood and Wyandot Counties. He resigned in 1874, and went into practice at Cleveland, Ohio.

Cyrus Sears was born March 10, 1832, in Delaware County, N. Y., and came with his father's family, in January, 1836, to Crawford County, where he remained on a farm until of age. He graduated at the Cincinnati Law School April, 14, 1856, and, in June of the same year, was admitted to the bar at Upper Sandusky. He commenced practice at Bucyrus, April 1, 1857, and continued until June 15, 1859, when he removed to Upper Sandusky and continued practice. August 12, 1861, he was enrolled a private, at Cincinnati, in the Eleventh Ohio Independent Battery of Light Artillery, and was promoted to Lieutenant October 12, 1861. He participated in the siege of New Madrid and Island No. 10, and commanded the battery during the siege of Corinth, and also at the battle of luka, where his battery lost fifty-six men, and he was severely wounded. In his official order on this battle. Gen. Rosecrans states that "The Eleventh Ohio Battery, under Lieut. Sears, was served with unequaled bravery, under circumstances of danger and exposure, such as rarelj', perhaps never, have fallen to the lot of a single batter}' during the war." In April, 1863, he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the Eleventh Regiment of Louisiana Volunteers, afterward named the Forty-ninth U. S. Colored Infantrj', and commanded this regiment at the battle of Milliken's Bend, June 7, 1863. In a letter to his superior officer, dated Blarch 25, 1866, Col. Van E. Young, commanding the post of Vicksburg, says : " Lieut. Col. Sears was specially mentioned in official reports of the battle of luka, and recommended for promotion for gallant conduct, by Gens. Hamilton, Rosecrans and Grant. He was also conspicuously gallant at the battle of Milliken's Bend, commanding bis regimcat. The present very efficient condition of tliis regiment is largely attributable to Lieut. Col. Sears. I trust his services may be properly recognized by the Government."

Christopher Jllliott was admitted to the bar at Bucyrus, August 31, 1858, and, after continuing in practice for some 3'cars, removed to Mansfield.

Matthias Buchman read law with Judge A. M. Jackson, and was admitted to the bar in 1860. He was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of Crawford Countj', on the resignation of Burr Morris, in April, 1864, and held the office until October, 1865. He now resides in Cleveland, Ohio.

Archibald McGregor came to Bucyrus from Canton, Ohio, in 1858, and commenced the practice of law and the publication of the Crawford County Forum, and continued until April, 1860, when he returned to Cantou.

J. A. Estill came to Bucyrus from Millersburg, Ohio, and commenced the practice of law, in July, 1858, and discontinued practice the following year. He returned to 3Iillersburg.

John B. Scroggs was admitted to the bar June 27, 1861, and commenced practice at Bucyrus. He continued in practice until April, 1863, when he removed to Wyandotte, Kan.

Joseph R. Swigart was admitted to the bar and commenced practice at Bucyrus in 1859. He went into the army in 1861, and served on the staff of Gen. Milroy, and continued in the service until 1864. He removed to Toledo and served eight years as a Register in Bankruptcy

Walter B. Richie was admitted to the bar in 1874, and commenced practice at Lima, Ohio, as junior member in the firm of Ballard, Richie & Richie. In October, 1876, he came to Bucyrus, and went into practice as a member of the firm of Richie & Eaton. In May, 1879, he returned to Lima.

Robert Lee was born April 20, 1805, in Butler County, Penn. In 1823, he removed with his father's family to Richland, now a part of Crawford County, and located where Leesville is now situated. In the earlier part of his life, he was engaged in the business of farming, and was part owner of a steam flouring-mill, sawmill, carding machine and fulling-mill, and was also a merchant. In 1836, he was elected a member of the Ohio Legislature for Richland County, and was re-elected in 1837. In 1839, he was elected a Justice of the Peace, and held the office continuously for ten 3'ears. He was elected by the Legislature an Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Crawford in 1849, and held the office until February, 1852, when it was abolished by the present Constitution of the State. In 1853, he was elected State Senator for Crawford, Seneca and Wj'andot Counties, and was chosen President pro tern, of the Senate, May 1, 1854, and, as such, was presiding officer of that body during the illness of Lieut. Gov. Myers. On March 3, 1854, he was admitted to the bar by the Supieme Court of Franklin County, and was for a term Mayor of Crestline. In 1869, he was elected Probate Judge of Crawford County, and reelected in 1872. He is at present a member of the Board of Education of Bucyrus Union Schools. He has acquitted himself well and ably in every situation in which he has been placed, and now, with good health and unimpaired mental faculties, is enjoying the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens, and the fruits of an active, blameless and well-spent life.

Wilson C. Lemert was admitted to the bar and commenced practice at Bue3rus about the year 1858, and continued until 1SG2, since which time he has been engaged in other pursuits.

John Hopley came to Bucj-rus in 1856, as Superintendent of the Union Schools. He was admitted to the bar in 1858, and commenced practice in partnership with A. M. Jackson, In 18G2, he visited England on professional business. On his return in the fall of the same year, he accepted a clerkship in the Treasury Department at Washington, requiring service in the office of Secretary Chase and especial attention to the subject of finance. He was afterward transferred to the Currency Bureau, and had charge of the statistical division. In 1864, he resigned, and engaged in a New York City banking establisliment. In 1866, he was appointed Examiner of National Banks for the Southern States and Kansas. In September, 1867, he purchased an interest in the Bucj'rus Journal, and became editor. The following May, he became sole proprietor of the office. He was appointed Postmaster at Bucyrus, in August, 1870, and held the place until January, 1879. His devotion to the interests of his paper, makes his return to the practice of law a remote possibility.

Franklin Adams was admitted to the bar in 1836, and commenced practice at Bucyrus in August, 1837. He was Prosecuting Attorneyof Crawford County from 1838 to 1845.

Stephen K. Harris was born in Stark County, Ohio, May 22, 1824. He was a student of the preparatory department of Washington College, Pennsj-lvania, in 1842, and of Norwallv Semiuarj', in 1844, and finished his collegiate education at Western Reserve College in 1846. He read law with his uncle, John Harris, at Canton, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in 1849. In June of that year, he opened a law | office at Bucyrus, and became a partner in business with the late Judge Scott, which was continued up to the time of the decease of the latter, except during the time that Judge Scott was on the bench of the Supreme Court, and a member of the Supreme Court Commission.

David W. Swigart was born in Franklin Count}', Penn., December 12, 1824. He came to Crawford County in November, 1846, and was Deputy Clerk of the courts until April, 1848. He was then appointed Clerk, and held the office until February, 1852. He graduated at the Cincinnati Law School, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1852, and immediately commenced practice at Bucyrus. He served in the Quartermaster's Department during the war of 1861, headquarters at Cincinnati, and was President of the Atlantic & Lake Erie Railway Company, from September, 1869, to August, 1873.

[P. S. - Since the foregoing sketch of Mr. Swigart was penned, his family and friends have been called upon to mourn his sudden and untimely death. On the 25th of November (1880), after having enjoj^ed a period of unusually good health, he died very suddenly of paralysis of the nerve centers, after an illness of but a few minutes. - Historian.]

Jacob Scroggs was born at Canton, Ohio, August 11, 1827, of Scotch and German descent. He came to Bucyrus, with his father's family, in 1839 ; attended the common schools and worked at the hatter's trade until 1848. From that time until 1852, he was engaged as a school-teacher and clerk in a store. He studied law, and in May, 1854, graduated at the Cincinnati Law School and was admitted to the bar by the District Court of Hamilton County, Ohio. In 1855, he commenced the practice of law at Bucyrus. The following year he was elected Blayor, and served in that capacity four years. From 1862 until the close of the war of the rebellion, he was Chairman of the Crawford County Military Committee, and enjoyed the con-

James Clements was admitted to the bar August 28, 1854. He was elected Sheriff of Crawford County in 1845 and re-elected in 1847, and held the office of Probate Judge of Crawford County from February, 18fi4, to February, 1870.

David C. Cahill was admitted to the bar December 20, 1860, and continued in practice at Bucyrus until April, 1865. The next two years he spent in California and Oregon, returning to Bucyrus and resuming practice in June, 1867. In the fall of 1873, he was elected Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County, and held the position from February, 1874, until February, 1880, and then returned to the practice of law.

Ebenezer B. Finley was born at Orville Wayne County, Ohio, July 31, 1833, and was educated in the common schools. Of his early manhood, he spent five years in Dlinois and Kansas and two years in the Rocky Mountain region. In 1859, he located at Bucyi'us ; studied law with Stephen E, Harris, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1861. In the fall of 1861, he recruited a militar}^ company, was elected First Lieutenant, and in October of that year went into the service as part of the Sixty -fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, serving in Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi, and was present at the battle of Shiloh. He was disabled by an accident and retired from the service in September, 1862, and resumed the practice of his profession at Bucyrus. In 1876, he was elected a member of Congress, and re-elected in 1878, his last term expiring in Jlarch, 1881. He is at this time Chairman of the Committee on Public Expenditures, and has distinguished himself in the House of Representatives by speeches on the subjects of the silver bill, the equalization of bounties to soldiers, the use of United States Marshals at elections, and by his

Thomas Beer read law with J. C. Tidball, of Coshocton, Ohio ; edited the Crawford County Forum from April, 1860, to April, 1862, and was admitted to the bar and went into practice at Bucyrus in 1862, In 1863, he was elected a member of the Legislature, and re-elected in 1865. He represented Crawford County in the Constitutional Convention of 1873, in which he took a prominent part, and as a member of the two most important committees in that body - that of the Judiciary and on Municipal Corporations - found an ample field for the exercise of his sagacity and abilities as a lawj'er. In August, 1874, he was appointed by Gov. Allen a Judge of the Fourth Subdivision of the Third District of the Common Pleas Court, composed of Crawford, Hancock, Blarion, Seneca, Wood and Wyandot Counties, to fill a vacancy until the next election, occasioned by the resignation of Judge A. M. Jackson. In October of the same year, he was elected by the people to the remainder of the term expiring in February, 1877. In the fall of 1870, he was elected to a full term of five j^ears. He has pro\'ed a success as a Judge, as well as a lawyer. The urbanity of his deportment and the accuracy of his opinions command the respect and esteem of the public and the bar.

John A. Eaton was born in Crawford County, Ohio, November 17, 1853, and was admitted to the bar at Columbus, Ohio, October 3, 1876, and was a member of the firm of Richie & Eaton until ]\Iay 14, 1879.

John R. Clymer was born in Franklin County, Ohio, January 23, 1834, and was educated at Otterbein University, Ohio. In 1835, he graduated at Granger's Commercial College. He had charge of the High School from 1856 to 1859, and was Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County, Ohio, from 1860 to 1868, and editor and proprietor of the Crawford- County Forum from 1868 to 1877. He was admitted to the bar, at Tiffin, April 9, 1878, and commenced practice at Bucyrus.

The former members of the Galion bar were George Crawford, Andrew Poe, M. Virgil Payne, Lewis Bartow and "W. A. Hall. The present members are Abraham Underwood, admitted to the bar in 1855. He was Mayor of the city in 1878, and a Justice of the Peace from 1845 to the present time, with the exception of about eighteen months. James H. Marshman. We have been unable to obtain any data of Mr. Marshman's legal life.

Henry C. Carhart was born in Richland (now Ashland) County, August 16, 1827, and was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood, and at Vermillion Institute, at Hayesville, Ohio. He read law with Judges Brinkerhofif & Geddes, at Mansfield, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar July 12, 1852. His committee of examination were Jacob Briukerhoff, a member of Congress, and fifteen years a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio ; Samuel J. Kirkwood late Governor and now United States Senator of Iowa, and John Sherman, late United States Senator of Oliio, and now Secretary of the Treasury. He was in practice a year at Mansfield after his admission, and in October, 1853, removed to Galion. He was Mayor of Galion three years, from April, 1854, and Postmaster from May, 1861, until August, 1864. He was also a member of the Galion Union School Board for two years, from April, 1872, and a

James W. Coulter was born July 4, 1846, at West Bedford, Coshocton County, Ohio. He obtained his education at Spring Mountain, Coshocton County, and read law with Judge Thomas Beer, at Bucyrus, and was admitted to the bar August 16, 1865, and immediately thereafter commenced practice at Galion. In 1869, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Crawford County, and was re-elected in 1871. He has served as a member of the County Board of School Examiners, and of the Board of Education of the Galion Union Schools.

Jacob Meuser, admitted to the bar about the year 1874. He was a member of the Legislature from January, 1876, to January, 1880, and Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

John De Golley was admitted to the bar at Chambersburg, Penn., in 1871. He removed to Galion in 1874, and commenced practice in 1876. In 1879, he was elected Corporation Attorney, the first to serve under the City Charter.

Alexander F. Anderson was admitted to the bar in 1869, and located first at Findlay, then at Carey, and removed to Galion in October, 1878. Of George W. Johnson we have no data.

The former members of the bar at Crestline were Lemuel R. Moss, from 1852 to 1854 ; James W. Paramore, John W. Jenner, Samuel E. Jenner and 0. B. Cruzen.

The present members are Nathan Jones, admitted to the bar at Norwalk, April 13, 1855, commenced practice at Crestline in 1856. In 1866, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Crawford County and re-elected in 1868. In May, 1876, he was elected Grand Master of the

Grand Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Ohio, and in December, 1877, was elected a representative to the Grand Lodge of the United States.

Daniel Babst, Jr., was admitted to the bar at Columbus in 1871 ; P. W. Poole, admitted at Bucjrus, in September, 1SG5 ; Frederick Newman, admitted at Mount Gilead in 1867; L. C. Hinman, we have no particulars ; G. B. Cruzur, admitted at Bucj'rus in 1869.

The following history of the medical profession of Crawford County was written by Dr. George Keller, of Bucyrus, expressly for this work, and will be found of interest to the members of the profession :

In our ettbrt toward writing up the history of the medical profession of Crawford County, we necessarily begin about the year 1820, at which time the county was very sparsely settled, having few or no doctors and few requiring the services of a doctor.

Xearl^- all of the earliest phjsicians were imported from Eastern Ohio, and other Eastern States, since it could scarcely be presumed that there were, at that time, any parties engaged in the study of medicine, preparatory to the practice of it.

It might be proper, under these circumstances, to give a brief resume of the condition of the profession iu those States east of us, in order that we may become better acquainted with the history of the pioneer doctors of the country.

At and previous to the year before mentioned, the greater number of physicians in the east, were what is called regulars - those who bled, blistered, gave mercury, antimony, etc., etc., secundum artem. Homeopathy was scarcely known this side of the Atlantic ; Thomsonianisra was iu its infancy, and hydropathy, physiopathy, eclecticism, chrono-thermalism, etc., had not been born into the world.

Thomson'S Patent

THOMSON'S PATENT. this may certify that we have received op Thomas M. Sargent, Twenty Dollars in full for tiie right of preparing and using for himself and family, the medicine and system of practice, secured to Samuel Thomson, by letters patent from the President of the United States, dated .January 28, 182S, and that he is thereby constituted a member of the Friendly Botanic Society, and is entitled to an enjoyment of all the privileges attached to membership therein. Dated at Locust Grove, this 27th day of August, 1834. Pike, Plait & Co., Agents for Samuel Thomson.

The fortunate individual who, for the consideration of $20, became possessor of the above document, further agreed '' in the spirit of mutual interest and honor, not to reveal any part of said information to any person, except those who purchase the right, to the injury of the proprietor, under the penalty of forfeiting their word and honor, and all right to use the medicine."

Accompanying the letters patent was a 24mo. book of 168 pages of texts, and a supplement of twenty -eight more, which was supposed to contain all that was necessary to know in the departments of anatomy, physiology, materia medica, practice, surgery, midwifery and chemistry.

While Hippocrates, the "father of medicine," wrote many " aphorisms," Thomson had but one : " Heat is life, and cold is death;'' and as a result, all that was necessary in order to treat a case was to keep the patient warm - hot in fact. This was accomplished mainly by pepper, lobelia and steam.

Thomson and his confreres, used in particular sLs preparations which were applicable to almost any form of disease, and in any stage of it. No. 1, lobelia ; No. 2, cayenne pepper ; No. 3, bayberry root bark, white pond lily root and inner bark of hemlock ; No. 4, bitters made of bitter herb, bayberry and poplar bark, one ounce of each to a pint of hot water and a half a pint of spirit ; No. 5, cough sjrup ; No. 6, tincture of m3-rrh and cayenne pepper.

The following case, " selected at random," will serve to illustrate treatment of rheumatism. The Doctor ordered a large iron kettle to be filled with water and brought to boiling point. The kettle being removed from the fire, the patient was divested of most of his clothing, a couple of sticks placed across the kettle for him to sit on, and a blanket thrown about him to retain the steam. Either from lightness of the sticks or too great weight of the patient, the sticks gave way and the unhappy subject of treatment found himself a posteriori at the bottom of the kettle. This sudden, excessive, and untimely application of the principle of health - heat - as might naturally' be inferred, aroused all the evil passions of the patient, and the fears of the Doctor who beat a precipitate retreat, followed by the victim, and the race was only concluded when a fortunate stream of water separated the pursuer and pursued. It need hardly be remarked that the treatment was a success.

As time progressed other vegetables were added to the materia medica, until it became much more extensive. These worthies went about the country, abusing the " calomel" doctors, who were killing people, as they said, by blisters, bleeding, opium, tartar-emetic, etc.

Dr. Tliomson believed, with the ancient philosophers, that there were only four elements, fire, air, earth and water, as the following lines, taken from one of his poems, will show.

" My system's founded on the truth, Man's Air and Water, Fire and Earth, And death is cold, and life is heat, These, tempered well, your health's complete."

The Doctor, of course, condemned nearly all the medicines used by the " regulars," especially saltpeter, which he says " has the most certain and deadlj' effects upon the human S3'stem of any drug that is used as medicine. Being in its nature cold, there cannot be any other effects produced by it than to increase the power of that enemy to heat."

In our Ijoyhood days, we heard a celebrated professor of this system boast that he never graduated a 3'ouug man in less than six weeks, but even this was seemingly asking too much, since the " average " boy of twelve years might make himself thoroughly familiar with the system in a few hours. This aged doctor was also a preacher, and was thought at times to be given somewhat to exaggeration in his statements. On being talked to on that subject, he said he had always been aware of his tendency to that weakness, and had shed barrels of tears on account of it. This class of doctors has become extinct.

Another system of medicine in full blast forty -five years ago, was the uroscopian or water doctor. These gentlemen did not subject the urine to a chemical test or anything of that nature, but pretended to diagnose all kinds of disease, without seeing the patient - requiring only a sample of the water. This thej- shook up smelled - wormed out of the messenger all they could, and guessed at the remainder. It need hardly be remarked that they were frequently terribly victimized by pretended bearers of " samples."

The gi-eat panacea with many of this school, was the celebrated " blood physic," made up of juniper berries, epsom salts, senna leaves, etc. An ordinary dose of this, properly prepared, would nearly fill a gallon pot. Manj- years ago, we were attending a patient suffering from a lingering form of fever, and on making a visit found a pot full of this mixture ready for administration, it having been prescribed by the uroscopian. Two days afterward the poor pa-

In the early settlement of the country, and for many years afterward, there was a tribe of doctors called par excellence, the " Indian doctors." Slany persons supposed that the red man - the untutored child of nature - because he did not know au3'thing else, ought to be, and really was, a first-class doctor.

It was often remarked that while the educated phjsician might be good enough for ordinary cases of disease, the obstinate, obscure, and really difficult cases could be most successfully managed by the Indian doctor. White men who had lived for awhile among the Indians, or had even been chased by one, was supposed to have imbibed their peculiar skill, and ranked among the first phj-sicians of the land. It need scarcely be remarked that the Indian knows nothing of disease or remedies for it, and that their prescriptions, as a general rule, have in them no more medical virtues than can be found in a decoction of oat straw. The Indian doctor is far from being extinct, as the current literature of patent medicine almanacs abundantly demonstrates.

Before concluding this part of our subject, we must make mention of a certain kind of " regular doctors," who were verj' common in the early settlement of the country. Many young men, thinking they might as well be doctors, would spend a few days, weeks or months in the office of some phj-sician and then " go out West " to practice. Fifty years ago, almost any point west of Mansfield was " out West." The only requisites in this system of practice, was a horse, a few drugs and a respectable amount of what the Arkansas doctor called the three "I's" - ignorance, impudence and independence. During our boyhood, two young men brought

Many of them relied largely on their experience - that is - they had taken during their lives an occasional dose of pink and senna, calomel and jalap, castor oil, had been bled and blistered and had not forgotten the eflTects of them, or whj' they had taken them. Happily for the people, " out West " has no longer any existence, and this kind of doctors are found more rarely. Fifty years ago, the country was new, people suifered much and often from the malarious influences almost universally jjrevalent, and in pain and distress were ready to accept the services of any one calling himself doctor, without stopping to inquire as to his antecedents.

Some of these doctors began business with a self-constituted diploma, resembling very much the one which may be found in the comedy of Moliere, entitled '-Le Malade Imaginaire, or the Hypochondriac," which reads thus :

A liberal translation of this mongrel Latin and French would seem to declare that the newly fledged doctor is duly empowered to dose, purge, bleed, cut and kill with impunity, throughout the entire earth.

as the celebrated firm of Sangrado and Gil Bias, the latter remarking that when a malignant form of fever made its appearance in one of the cities of Spain, under their treatment it was never necessary to visit a patient but once, for on the second one he was either dead or moribund, and that they made more widows and orphans in six weelis than were made during the siege of Troy.

One of our early acquaintances who went West was called to see a boy who was drunk. Not understanding precisely the nature of the case, he informed the parents that it was a case of Asiatic cholera.

During the times we have been speaking of there were numbers of young men in the East who obtained as good an education as their resources permitted, studied medicine two or three years in the office of some practitioner, and starting from home on horseback, with all their worldly effects, traveled in mauj' instances hundreds of miles, in order to come West for the purpose of really practicing medicine - meaning faithfully and honestly to relieve, as far as possible, suffering humanity.

When time permitted, they read such books as they had, procured others as soon as practicable, took such periodicals as were within reach, and gave their lives to the duties of their profession, each daj- endeavoring to learn more and more of its mysteries. They sacrificed home, early friendships and associations, forsook the comforts of civilization and refinement and came to an almost howling wilderness, with all its lack of comforts, for the purpose of practicing what they believed to be a noble and honorable profession, and for all this hoping only to secure for themselves future homes and an honorable place in society. The few surviving pioneers hold these men in grateful remembrance, and are ready to accord to them their justly deserved measure of praise, and thank them for many an act of mercy and kindness extended to them in their hours of affliction, pain and death.

With these prefatory remarks, we commence our list of the doctors of Crawford County, at the same time thanking many of the profession and others for the aid they have so kindly extended to us in the work.

Biicyrus. - Dr. Khodes, most probably the first physician of the place, came here in the latter part of the year 1822, a few months after the village was laid out. He remained but a short time, and we have been able to gather but little of his history during his stay, and do not know what became of him after he left. While here, he imrtially extracted a tooth for an auut of Dr. Squiers, of Sulphur Springs. When the tooth was nearly out of the socket, he pushed it back in place, remarking that it would never ache again - a statement which was verified by the after-history of the tooth, which remained in situ many years afterward, but never ached. We need scarcely remark that there were no dentists in those days, and when teeth became troublesome, the doctor was called upon to extract them. Doctors, for this purpose, did not use the various kinds of forceps now in use, but an instrument called very often a pulUcon. This operated on the principle of the cant-hook, having a point ifappui, or fulcrum, and a hook. The fulcrum was placed on the tooth and gum, on the inside, usually, while the hook passed over it and caught it as low dowH as possible. By a simple " turn of the wrist," the tooth came out or was broken off - frequently the latter, leaving the patient in a worse condition than before, since the doctor was not usually provided with the necessary instruments to remove the remaining portion. We are not acquainted with the etjmolog3' of the name " puUicon," but suppose it had reference to the fact that it frequently pulled the tooth in a great variety of directions before pulling it out. No fee was paid the doctor for tooth-extracting, the patient usuall}' remarking that "it hurt bad enough without paying anything for it." A few years later some of the doctors occasionally ventured to charge a " shilling " for such services.

Dr. McComb (or McCombs) came here in 1823. He was quite a popular phj-sician, and had the confidence of the few settlers who were then here. He was a man of pleasant address; was well calculated to make friends ; had good common-sense ; was " well read," as the expression goes, and was a man of much experience. His usefulness during his latter years was much impaired by a too great fondness for strong drink. He died, about 183G, at the residence of the parents of Dr. Fitzsimmons, about three miles southeast of Bucjtus. The immediate cause of death was a fall from his horse, death ensumg a few hours afterward. His wife also died here.

Dr. Hobbs came here about 1824 or 1825, and remamed until about 1832. His wife, in ] 830, taught what was among the first schools of the village. Dr. Hobbs, after leaving here, went to Indiana ; remained there some time, then came back to Mount Vernon, Ohio, at which place he died two or three years since, at the age of eightj'-three or eighty-four j'ears. A number of the early physicians of Crawford remained but a short time, since the practice of medicine in those early days required a great deal of physical and moral energj'. The country was sparsely settled. Instead of roads, there were mere trails, almost impassable the gi-eater part of the year, on account of mud and water ; frequently not even these, but simply paths leading from one lonely cabin to another. South of town, on the " plains," some of the natural grasses attained a height of six or eight feet, and one of the earlier physicians (Dr. Merriman) informed us that in riding along these paths, flanked by the long grass, his clothing would be completely wetted through by the dews in his nightly rides. Besides, as nearlj' all the settlers were poor and frequently sick, the Doctor was not in the habit of getting much ready pay, and had, as a matter of course, to await the time when his patrons would be able to settle their bills - usually a long way in the future, and often never. People sick nearl}' all the working months of the year were illy prepared to pay doctors' bills. Under these discouraging surroundings, the Doctor, as far as his physical wants were concerned, fared about as badl}- as his patrons.

Dr. Pierce came here from the State of New York, about the year 1825. He was then a widower, with two children, and soon afterward married Jliss Mary Care^'. In addition to practicing medicine, he kept a " tavern," in a building across the street from Mi's. Rogers', on the lot now occupied by Mr. Christian Shonert. He remained here seven or eight years, and then " went West." The old settlers speak of him as a man of fair attainments and a good citizen.

Dr. Willis Merriman was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., in 1801, and came to Ohio in 1817, studied medicine in Norwalk, Ohio, in the years 1822 and 1823, practiced there for some time, coming to Bucyrus in 1827. He continued in practice here until the death of his first wife in 1834. (Her maiden name was Lois Cook, of Mansfield.) Dr. Merriman, in 1835, entered into the mercantile business, which he followed until 1853. He gave us the following anecdote, connected with his early mercantile life : In those daj's, it was customary for merchants to have on their counters a bottle of whisky for the entertainment of all those who wished to partake. As some of the Wyandot Indians were in the habit of visiting the town, especially on Saturdays, he placed on his counter, on a certain Saturday morning, a bottle of tincture of cayenne pepper, instead of whisky, for their especial benefit. Prett3- soon a red man came in, took a diink, and as soon as he

Dr. Merriman was, for se^'eral jears, one of the Directors of the Ohio & Indiana Railroad Companj', and its first President. He retired from this position January 1, 1855, on the consolidation of the railroad companies into the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, becoming at the same time one of the Directors of the new organization, which position he held until 1868. He was also Deputy U. S. Collector from 1863 to 1865.

Dr. Merriman was a man of sterling integrity, noted for his real goodness of heart, and alwaj'S a gentleman - traits of character which won for him the respect and esteem of all. His mental powers were vigorous, and his knowledge varie'd and extensive. He died in Bucyrus August 30, 1873.

Dr. Sinclair came here about 1830, and remained until 1836. He went from here to Maumee City, where he did a very successful business, pecuniarily and otherwise. He was a popular physician, and had the confidence of the people generally.

Dr. Douglas came here in 1835, and remained until October 1850, when he went back to New York. He was a man of fine professional and literary attainments, and in every sense of the word a gentleman. Every act and every word of his was well considered, and under no circumstances did he ever permit himself to be vulgar, or anything approaching thereto.

Dr. Andrew Hetich was born and brought up in Chambersburg, Franklin County, Penn. ; received a liberal education for those times, studied medicine and located in Bucyrus, in 1835. His wife not liking the place, he returned to Chambersburg, but finally came back in 1839, resumed practice, which he continued until a short time before his death in 1860. Dr. Hetich was a gentleman of respectable professional attainments, pleasant and aifable in his manners, acquainted with nearly every

Dr. Gr. A. Hetich, a cousin of Dr. Andrew Hetich, was also born and reared in Chambersburg, Penn. ; came to Ohio in 1835, located in BucjTus, and practiced his profession until his death in 184-4. Dr. G. A. Hetich, both in a literary and professional sense, was a gentleman of more than ordinar}' attainments, had the confidence of the general public, but almost uninterrupted bad health prevented him from doing a very large amount of general practice, which in those times implied a vast amount of physical exertion. Buggies and carriages were almost unknown, and nearly impracticable, on account of the generally new and bad state of the roads, consequently the country doctor was compelled to go on horseback or on foot.

Dr. A. M. Jones was born in Berkshire County, Mass., and came with his parents to Ohio in 1817, settling in Lorain County. He came to Bucyrus in December, 1835, and practiced medicine for ten years; after which he became associated with Samuel Clapper in the woolen-mill business, which partnership lasted three years, he then selling out to Clapper. He has not given any attention to the practice of medicine for the past thirty years, having turned his attention largely to the real estate business, in which he has been remarkably suc-

Dr. Boehler (a German) came here in 1837, and remained until 1841 or 1842, when he went to Tiffin, and some time afterward died there. He belonged to the uroscopians, a class of doctors which we have already attempted to describe.

Dr. William Geller came here in 1840, and remained until 1844, going to Mount Gilead on the erection of the new county of Morrow. While here, he was elected County Treasurer, and soon after went to California. He is well spoken of by such of our old citizens as were acquainted with him.

Dr. Jacob Augensteiii i-ead medicine with Dr. Boeliler, already mentioned, began practicing about 1842, and continued in tlie business until about 1862. He resides at present in Napoleon, Ohio, lie also belonged to the uroscopian or water doctor system of practice.

Dr. Hauck, a compound doctor, made up of homeopathy and uroscopy, came here in 18-43, and remained until his death a few years after. Dr. Frederick Swingley was born in Maryland ; came to Ohio, antl commenced practice in Chesterville, in 1835. He remained at the latter place until December, 1844, when he located in Bucyrus, and has been in continuous practice since. He served several years as surgeon during the rebellion. During the years, especially 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, we remember that Dr. Swingley did quite a large amount of surgical practice in and about Bucyrus.

Dr. Haas, a German Jew, came here in 1845, pretending to be a dentist, and was the first one offering himself in that capacity to the people of the place. That he was not always a doctor^ we learn from a poem purporting to have been written by him, a verse or two of which is as follows :

The Doctor wore expensive clothing, sported considerable jewelry, and had reallj- a magnificent set of dental in.struments, for those times, at least, but which, unfortunately, he did not know how to use, and soon left the place.

Dr. Cochran Fulton was bom in Westmoreland Count}-, Pcnn., Februarj- 22, IS 19, and when quite a young man came with his parents to Ohio. He read medicine in Stark County, and came here to engage in practice in 1845. Graduated in Eclectic Medical Institute in Cincinnati in 1848, and has been engaged in practice since. During a period of thirty-five years' practice, he has always enjoyed a fair share of the public patronage. The drug and book store opened by him in 1861 is the oldest establishment of the kind iu the town, and probably in the county.

Dr. Robert T. Johnson also came here in 1845, from Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, practiced a short time, but soon engaged in the drug and book business, which business he still carries on.

Dr. Potter, belonging to the " lobelia, pepper and steam' system, came here in 1847, and remained several years. When questioned as to the particular system of medicine which he practiced, his answer usually was " Anti-poison, if you please." This he repeated so frequently that the boys about town dubbed him, "Dr. Anti-poison, if j'ou please." He engaged boarding in town by the meal, and when he iiad a patient in the country, usually managed to " happen round " about meal-time, and by this dodge lived quite economically. We have not been able to learn of anything redounding much to his reputation in anj' direction.

Dr. Robert Sweeny read medicine here, and began practicing in 1847. He remained here until the spring of 1851, when he went to Marion, where he has since resided, and where he has always enjoyed the public confidence.

Dr. Applebaugh came here in 1848, stayed three or four years, and then went to Philadelphia, Penn., and engaged in the commission business. We have heard that he received consignments from parties here, the returns of which were not considered very satisfactorj'. He is said to have been very fond of fishing, etc., and was a good performer on the violin.

Dr. Samuel Long came here in 1849, and remained two 3-ears. He was well educated, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, of fine literary tastes, and being in easy circum- ! stances did not give much attention to the practice of his profession. We have learned that during the rebellion he held an important place in the Medical Department of the army, at Washington.

Dr. Francis Meyer was bom in Frankfort, Germanj- ; attended the schools of the city, and received his medical education at the universities of Tubingen, Heidelberg and Halle. After graduation, he passed what might be called the State Board of Examinsrs, and served for several j-ears as surgeon in the Schleswig-Holstein war. He came here in 1851, and continued in the practice of medicine until broken in health, about five years ago. Dr. Meyer, receiving a classical education in his early life, has, bj- constant reading of the best authors, added largely to his original stock of knowledge, and has always had the conSdence of a large portion of the citizens of BUC3TUS and vicinity. Being a gentleman of fine literary and artistic tastes, his office and rooms have always been the repository of many articles of virtu, rare and valuable.

Dr. W. R. S. Clark came here in 1852, practiced until 1 857, when he became a partner of Dr. Fulton in the drug business. He bought the interest of Dr. F. in this business in 1860, and carried it on until about 1867, when he sold out and removed to Indiana, He served as surgeon for several years during the rebellion.

Dr. M. C. Cuykendall was born in Cayuga County, N. Y.; came to Ohio when a 3'oung man, read medicine in Plymouth, Ohio, and began practicing in Ganges, Ohio, in 1854. He came to Bucyrus in 1857, and remained in practice until the breaking-out of the rebellion, when he entered the military service as surgeon, and before the close of the war reached the position of Medical Director. Since 1865, he has devoted his attention largely to the practice of surgery, in which department he has the confidence both of the profession and the public at large. He has held for several years past the position of Professor of Gynecology in the Medical College of Columbus. His failing health, caused by disease of the bowels, contracted during the term of his military service, has prevented him to a certain extent from doing much active work during the past two or three years.

Dr. Price, a botanic, located on the Johnson farm, seven miles south of Bucyrus, about the year 1837 ; remained in the neighborhood about fifteen years, and then went to Illinois.

Oceola. - Dr. J. N. Richie read medicine with Dr. Leauder Firestone, of Wayne County, Ohio, and Dr. Henry Houtz, of Canal Fulton, Stark County ; graduated at Willoughby Medical College, and commenced the practice of medicine at this place in 1847, and has been in active practice ever since. He is a gentleman, pleasant in address, affable at all times and to all persons, familiar with the details of his profession, energetic in business, and consequentlj' obtained and has always retained the confidence of his manj' patrons.

soon finding the field unprofitable, sought locations elsewhere. In the spring of 1874, he entered into partnership with Dr. William 0. Hanb}', a young man of gi-eat promise, which partnership was abruptl_y broken up by the untimely death of the latter in October, 1S79. He has recently taken as a partner Dr. John Chesney. sou of Dr. Chesney, of Bucyrus.

Dr. Richie received a kick from a horse, about a year since, which caused the loss of one eye, and has otherwise so much affected his health, that he is scarcely able, much of the time, to endure the fatigue attendant on a country practice.

Dr. Hahn, now of Three Locusts, began practicing here in 1852, but remained only eight months, going then to New Winchester, where he remained until 1807.

This has always been a good field for the practice of medicine, since that portion of the county west of it was settled, many years after the other portions, on account of its being part of the Wyandot Reservation.

iSuIj)hur SjJrrngs, or Annapolis. - The first physician that came to this place, as far as we can learn, was a Dr. Kelley. He located here in 1836 or 1837, but remained only a short time.

Dr. Geo. Zeigler located here in 1840, and remained until his death in February, 1872. Dr. Zeigler had a good practice during his entire professional life. He acquired the habit of making long professional rides, for the purpose of visiting patients scattered over quite an extent of territory, frequently being from home for two or three days, often sleeping on the floor in preference to going to bed. All this told on

His neighbor. Dr. Squiers, advised him to give up his night riding and hard work generally, but he replied that he " might as well die at his post," and finally did so, being overtaken by a severe attack of lung disease, when about two miles from home, stopped at the nearest farm-house and remained until death, which occurred two or three days after.

Dr. John B. Squiers was born in Washington Countj-, N. Y., May, 1818. Came with his parents to Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio, in the autumn of 1822. In 1835, he attended school at Norwalk, Ohio, one term of three months, began the study of medicine with Dr. Zeigler in 1845, and commenced practice with him in 1848, after having attended a course of lectui'cs in Cincinnati, and graduated at the latter-named city in 1853. Since that time, although much crippled, and frequently really unfitted for the laborious duties of a country practitioner, he has constantly been at his post.

He is emphatically a self-made man. and, although ne\'er receiving the advantages of a literarj- education at an}- college or other institution of learning, has been a diligent student for the past forty -five years ; has read general literature quite extensively, and has always been a reader of the serial medical literature of the day. As far as we know, he has deservedly the entire confidence of the people with whom lie has been so long associated.

We have never heard him speak unkindly of a brother practitioner, nor have we ever heard any one accusing him of the commission of any act derogatory to the dignity of the profession.

About the year 184-, there was in the place, for a short time, a doctor usually styling himself C. Turley, M. D., of whom we have never heard any one speak very kindlj". He was thought to have in his composition a more than ordinarj- amount of impudence, as the following anecdotes will show : When practicing in West Liberty, he called an old gentleman across the street, as he wished to see him. The victim waded the deep mud, in order to reach him, when the Doctor wished to know whether he could give him change for a dollar bill ! When in Sulphur Springs, he sent his boy to Dr. Squiers' office witli a message that he wished to see him. Dr. Squiers left his business and repaired to the Doctor's office as hastily as possible, and on his arrival was asked whether he could lend him an ounce of quinine. On a certain occasion, the Doctor went into the oldfashioned " bar-room " of the old-fashioned " tavern," and at once placed himself between a facetious old gentleman and the stove, completely cutting off his supply of heat and disturbing his range of vision. The old gentleman at once cried out, " Cramps, cramps ! " and, raising both legs and throwing forward his hands, precipitated the Doctor on the hot stove. The latter soon righted himself, but, a second attack of convulsions coming on, he was again thrown against the stove. The convulsive attack then ceasing, the Doctor was permitted to make his escape.

Richville. - Dr. Fairbanks located here in 1848 and remained until 1858. He was succeeded by Dr. Peitzel, who remained until 1863. He died in Missouri a few years ago. He was succeeded by Dr. Urias Tupps, who remained until his death, in 1873. Dr. Zeigler, son of the late Dr. Zeigler, of Sulphur Springs, has been here since 1871.

Wi:st Liberty, or Liberty Corners. - Dr. Wood commenced practicing here about 1843, and died of typhoid fever in 1847. He was a gentleman of fine attainments, and his death was universally regretted.

Dr. Thomas C. Aiken succeeded him, and practiced here until the autumn of 1851. The writer of this sketch was here from May, 1851, to May, I860.* There were several other physicians here between 1851 and 1865, but none remained any length of time. The place has been without a doctor for the past fifteen years.

De Kalb. - Dr. Carleton came to this place in 1831 or 1832, and remained for several years. In addition to practicing medicine, he sold dry goods in a log building standing on the lot afterward occupied by David Anderson and others, at the junction of the Plymouth road and the one running north through Vernon Township. He is remembered by a number of the early settlers, who speak of him as a man of considerable ability.

Dr. R. A. N. Be was born in the State of Rhode Island about the year 1798. He received a tolerably liberal education, and graduated at one of the medical colleges of Philadelphia. He came West about 1830, and at first located in Southeastern Indiana, but, not being satisfied with the country, came back to Ohio and located at this place in the year 1836. He continued to practice here until 1854, when he went to Van Wert County, Ohio, and remained there about ten years, coming back to De Kalb in 1864. In December, 1865, he had an apoplectic attack, which very considerably impaired his mental powers, and he resided with the writer from February, 1866, to July, 1867, when he visited his brother in Galesburg, III., dj'ing there the following December. Although quite eccentric in many particulars, and peculiarly reticent in everything pertaining to his early life, he was a man of much more than ordinary ability and attainments.

torian deeme it due to him that he should have a place with the other physicians of the county, and feels it his duty to add this notice. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Harley. In 1846-47, he attended the Cleveland Medical College, and, in the winter of 1852-53, graduated at Cincinnati. After several years at West Liberty, he located in Bucyrus, in the fall of 1861, where, with the exception of two years, he has ever since remained, ranking among the leading physicians of the town.

He devoted his time, when not professionally engaged, to reading, both professional and otherwise, and in his office there might alwaj's be found rare medical works not usuallj- found in the office of the country practitioner, with the best serial medical and other literature. He was a good practitioner, a reliable friend and a . strictlj- honest man. The following points connected with his early history, not known during his life in De Kalb, will explain many things in his private life, which were regarded, generally, as eccentricities. When reading medicine, he was thrown from a horse, fracturing his skull, and otherwise injuring him, the result of which was the impairment of his intellectual faculties to a considerable extent and for some length of time. While in this state, he was sent b}' his preceptor to visit a patient. The mother was highly incensed at the doctor for sending a crazy man (as she expressed herself) to visit her daughter, and so informed the young man. The Doctor, on hearing himself thus spoken of, determined to leave the countrj' at once, go West, change his name, and forever cut loose from his then friends and relatives, arguing that if he kept up anj' correspondence with them, that his history would soon follow him wherever he might go, and destroy his future prospects. He accordingly went to Indiana, as we have stated, changed his name from Roman Babcock to Rom A. N. Be, bj' which name he was known until his death. During the long, weary years from 1830 to 1866, he never once communicated directly or indirectly with mother, brothers, sisters, or other relatives - completely dead to every friend and associate of his youthful daj-s. His manj- surviving friends will now understand why he was al waj's so reticent in reference to his early life and family.

Dr. R. Cahill, from Wayne County, Ohio, practiced here from April, 1846, to April, 1848. when he returned to Wa3-ne County, afterward went to Bluifton, Allen County, Ohio, at which place he died a few years ago.

Dr. Benjamin McKee has been practicing here for the past seven or eight years. - Lecsville. - As far as we have been able to learn, Dr. John McKeau located at this point in the year 1834. The road known as the Columbus and Sandusky State road had been cut out but for a short time, and was. at best, little, short of a succession of " corduroys," while a large part of the country north and northeast of the place was little better than a swarap. Under these unfavorable circumstances Dr. Mc- Kean, to use a familiar expression, " grew up with the country," and had no competitor, as far as we have been able to learn until 1 847, when Dr. Peter Rupp began practicing, and remained until 1853 or 1854, when he went to South Bend, Ind., where he still resides and is engaged in the drug business.

Dr. McNutt practiced here from 1S57 to 1859, went thence to Caroline, remained there a short time, then located in New Washington, at which place he remained until the breaking-out of the rebellion, when he entered the army.

Bentov, or Poplar. - As far as we have been able to learn, Dr. Peitzel was the first physician of the place, coming here about 1844 or 1845, and remaining until 1858, when he went to Richville (see Richville). Dr. Bissel came about the same time, but did not remain long. Dr. John Atwood practiced here from 1846 to 1840. going then to Galion and afterward to McCuchenville.

Dr. D. Alvord came here in 1847 and remained until 1873, when he removed to Bloomville, at which place he still resides. Dr. Alvord, soon after his arrival here, engaged in an active and laborious practice, which he kept up until 1863, when bad health compelled him to give up active practice to a veiy great extent. Although entirely' unassuming, he is a gentleman of marked ability, both in a professional and literary sense, and always had the confidence of the people of Benton and vicinity.

Dr. Schwan came here in 1877, and still remains. Dr. Schwan graduated in 1867, practiced in Peoria, 111., and afterward in Dubuque, Iowa, where he held the position of lecturer on Chemistry, Physiologj' and Hygiene in the Zwingle Normal Institute.

New Washington. - Dr. Andrews located here in 1840, when the village was made up of a very few log cabins, but remained only about one year. During his short stay he lost two childi'en, which apparently disheartened him so much that he returned East.

When we visited this place first, in 1841, it did not offer a pleasant or profitable field for the medical profession. There were then a few scattered rough log cabins - the roads (?) leading to the place did not deserve the name - " corduroys" as a general rule - and some of these made on a most gigantic scale - logs one or two feet in diameter being put aci-oss the track instead of the ordinary small timbers about the size of fence rails. During part of the year, there was enough water in the Hue of the road to float even these large logs in some places, which rendered the route over them entirely impracticable except to a person on foot, and it required some care on his part to prevent his slipping off and between these moving, rolling logs. South and southeast of the place, there was a succession of marshes and swails covered with water or ice nearly all the year, and during the latter summer months so covered with decaj'ing vegetable matter, and the proverbial green scum, as not to tell well for the health of the neighborhood.

The owners of the lands had but recently purchased them from the Government ; and, when health permitted, had in a few places, scattered far and wide through the neighborhood, cleared up a small patch of gi-ound, erected a primitive cabin, many of these structures not having an ounce of iron or other metal in their composition. One end served as a huge fire-place, the bare earth constituted the floor, and an opening, frequentlj' covered by an old quilt, served as a door. Malarious diseases were, of course, very prevalent ; but the greatest scourge of the country was " sick stomach," or " milk sickness." This disease was attended with very distressing S3mptoms, the patient suffering from intense burning pain in tlie stomach, great thirst, with incessant nausea, retching, vomiting and obstinate constipation, which frequentljonl}' ceased with his life. Much time has been spent in the endeavor to get at the origin of this poison, but all efforts have as j-et proved unavailing. Some persons have been ver}- certain that it is of mineral origin, and dissolved in the water ; others equally certain that it has its existence in some plant. It is usually conceded that, when suspected places are cleared up and grass gi'owing on them, that the disease is not propagated. Young cattle, sheep, hogs, dogs and horses become frequent victims. Milchcows never suffer to any extent, the poison being thrown off from the system through that secretion. Man and animals using the milk almost invariably suffered from it. In the lower animals, the most marked symptoms were, apparently, those of extreme nervous prostration. In animals, it was often called ''the trembles.' since they usually exhibited that symptom prominently until convalescence or death.

Milk sickness, in its hahitftt, closelj' resembles the miragi' of the desert. You can always hear of it in the neighborhood where it exists, but never reach the actual place, there being few land-owners who will admit its existence on their own premises ; but, of course, are satisfied that it exists on the lands of some one else.

George Keller, uncle of the writei-, who settled here very earlj-, was the only man we ever met who admitted that the cause of the disease was on his own farm. Since there were no pasture-lands in the early times, it became necessary to have cattle run at large ; but after the country became so far improved that pasture could be furnished domestic animals, the disease has disappeared, or nearl}- so. The worst districts were the northern and central portions of Cranberry and Auburn Townships and two or three points in the northern part of Vernon.

Dr. Pope came here in the spring of 1855 and pi-acticed until about 1870, when he became connected with the Franz & Pope Knitting Machine Works, a history of which will be found in another part of this work.

Dr. John McKean, formerlj^ of Leesville, has been here since 1867. He has been practicing medicine longer than any other physician of the county.

Dr. C. W. G. Ott has been practicing in New Winchester for nearly a year, and Dr. Sheckler in North Robinson for past three years. Dr. Lea has been practicing for several years at Wingert's Corner, or Broken Sword.

Gallon. - Since Gallon was a comparatively small village until the building of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati and Bellefontaiue & Indiana Railroads, we do not have the opportunity of giving the history of as many pioneer phj'sieians here as at some other points in the county. As far as we have been able to learn, a Dr. Johnson was among the first physicians of the place, coming here about 183- and remaining a few 3'ears. His wife assisted by another lady of the village weie instrumental in establishing the first Sunday school. Shortly after he came. Dr. Bleymeyer, now of Delaware,

Dr. Reisinger was a real practitioner of medicine - practiced his profession for the sake of suffering humanity rather than for the money he might obtain for his services. During the building of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincimiati Railroad, cholera visited this portion of the State, and many of the employes of the contractors were stricken down with the disease. As might be expected, many of these men weie badly provided with the ordinarycomforts of a sick room, and lacked proper nursing. Under these circumstances. Dr. Reisinger himself supplied these wants as far as he could, gave his patients all the attention he could, supplied their wants to the extent of his ability, and,at their death, dug their graves and buried them. In 1866, he received a telegram stating that his son, a student of medicine in Cincinnati, had been attacked by cholera. Hastening there as rapidlj' as possible, he was himself attacked by the disease and died eight hours before his son. Their bodies were brought to Gallon and interred in the village cemetery.

Dr. Reisinger, during a residence of nearly thirty years in this place had deservedly the confidence of the community, both as a citizen and as a practitioner of medicine.

Dr. E. Stieffel was born in Warburg, Germany, educated at the uuiversitj' of that place, and came to the United States in 1850. j He remained in New York until 1852, and then located here. With one or two brief interruptions, has been practicing here since that time.

Delaware County and Morrow County, coming to Gallon in 1854, and has been practicing here since that time. During nineteen years of this time, he was connected with the drug trade.

Gallon has always been rather an unhealthy place, especially when compared with Bucyrus, but certain improvements in a sanitary direction, recently made, have added much to the healthfulness of the place.

We might remark, in conclusion, that several efforts have been made during the past thirty j'ears to organize a county medical societj-, but thus far they have always proved decided failures. We have learned that an cflbrt in that direction is now being put forth, with what result the future will determine.

In conclusion, permit us to remark that we have endeavored to fairly present a history of the early physicians of the count}'. These sketches are, of necessitj', brief, since we were, in the onset, restricted to a limited amount of space, and we again thank those physicians and others for the aid thej- have rendered us. The diseases of the county were, for the first thirty or forty years, principally malarial. For which are obvious to the pri but which we cannot here explain, those forms of pulmonarj' disease like consumption, were comparative!}' rare. With the decrease of malarial disease, lung diseases such as we have just mentioned, will, no doubt, increase in numbers and fatality. Diphtheria, which, during the past twenty j-ears, has been prevalent in different portions of the United States and elsewhere, has never shown itself to a very great extent in the county. Around and in Bucyrus, there have not probably been a halfdozen cases of the disease in the past seventeen years. As far as I can remember, there have been only two seasons attended with much dysentery, since year 1854. As regards the profession, it is, of course, in a greatlj' advanced state from the days of lolielia, pepper and steam.