Madison County, Ohio - Chapter 10, 1883 (part 2 of 2)

Palmer C. Smith, ex-Prosecuting Attorney of Madison County, and a well-known young lawyer of London, was born in this county April 22. 1857. He is a son of Hon. Henry W. Smith, whose sketch appears in this volume. His mother was Miss Jennette Smith, a descendant of the celebrated Otis family, of Revolutionary fame, in Massachusetts. Our subject received a good education, and early commenced the study of law with his father. He graduated from the Cincinnati Law School May 8, 1877, and was admitted to practice by the District Court of Cincinnati on the following day. He returned to London, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession in connection with his father. In April, 1880, he was appointed Mayor of London, to fill out the unexpired term of Noah Thomas, now Warden of the Ohio Penitentiary at Columbus. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Madison County, in the fall of 1880, on the Republican ticket, for a term of two years. He resigned his former position of Mayor, in December of that year, to accept the latter one. Mr. Smith was married, in April, 1882, to Bertha, daughter of Hon. George W. Wilson, a prominent attorney of London. Mr. Smith is a member of the Masonic Lodge and Chapter of London.

George B. Cannon, attorney at law, office with Mayor Bruce P. Jones, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, January 11, 1851. His father, Matthew W. Cannon, was a native of Maryland, and accompanied his parents. Jesse and Margaret Cannon, to Ross County, when a small child. He was a farmer by occupation, and resided in Pickaway County until 1859, when he removed to Madison County, and now resides at Mt. Sterling, in the Seventy-second year of his age. He married Mary A. Lister, a native of Ross County, Ohio, and daughter of William Lister. He was a resident of both Ross and Madison Counties, and a man of great physical endurance ; he died in 1877, at the remarkable age of one hundred and four years. He lived under the administrations of all the Presidents, up to the time of his death, and walked two miles to cast his vote for Samuel J. Tilden. Mr. and Mrs. Cannon were the parents of twelve children, nine living. Mrs. Cannon departed this life February 26, 1872. Our subject was the eighth child of this family, and was seven years of age when his parents removed to Madison County. His educational facilities were rather limited, his time being taken up in assisting his father on the farm until his twentieth year. His principle education was obtained in the hours between farm labor and retiring for the night. When twenty-one years of age, he taught the wl Maxey School," in Paint Township, and was engaged in that profession for about eight years. During this time, he commenced the study of law, and in 1874, came to London and entered the law office of R. A. Harrison, and subsequently that of George Lincoln. He was admitted to the bar April 24, 1878, and afterward taught school for one year. Mr. Cannon has met with fair success in his law practice. He is a member of Chandler Lodge, No. 138, Masonic, and the Knights of Pythias. Politically, his views are in strict accordance with those of the Democratic party. He once served as Clerk of Paint Township. Mr. Cannon was married, on "Thanksgiving Day" of 1878, to Laura J., daughter of John T. Maxey (deceased). They have two daughters - Mary E. and Georgia B.

Richard Harrison McCloud, was born in London, Ohio. March 11, 1858, and is a son of Col. J. C. McCloud, a leading attorney of the county. Richard H. grew up in his native town, and in 1875, graduated from the London High School. He then spent two years at the Ohio University, read law during his school days in his father's office, and began to read regularly in 1877. On the 13th of March. 1879, he was admitted to the bar at Marysville, Ohio, by the District Court then in session. Prior to this, on the 1st of March, he had formed a partnership with his father and is now of the firm of McClouds & Converse. Politically, he is a Republican. In April, 1880, he was elected a member of the School Board, being the first graduate of the school who has ever filled the office, and the youngest member ever elected to that position, which he looks upon as an honor to bestow upon so young a man.

D. C. Badger, Prosecuting Attorney of Madison County, was born in Range Township, this county, August 7, 1857. His father, Benjamin Badger, is a native of Fayette County. Penn. He came to Ohio about 1827, locating in Fayette County, and to Madison County in 1845 ; he bought a farm in Range Township, where he has since resided; he owns 110 acres of land, and is one of the prominent farmers of Southern Madison. He married Martha, daughter of Levin Willoughby, an honored pioneer of Range Township. Our subject is the second of five children, four of whom are living. He grew up on the farm and when between fifteen and sixteen years of age, taught school in his native township. He subsequently attended the academy at Bloomingburg, Fayette County, and Mount Vernon College, Stark County, Ohio. He afterward resumed teaching in Range Township for nearly four years. During this time, he read law and was admitted to practice November 4, 1879, and has since been located at London. Mr. Badger is still a young man, but his energy and perseverance bid fair to win him a place among the legal lights of the State. He is Secretary of the Madison County Bar Association, and connected by membership with the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities. Politically, Mr. Badger is an ardent Democrat, and in the summer of 1882 was nominated for the office of Prosecuting Attorney of Madison County, and in October was elected by 520 majority, which was one of the largest majorities ever given in this county.

Manus O'Donnell, the youngest attorney at the bar of London, was born at Oldtown, Greene Co., Ohio, and is a brother of Martin O'Donnell, previously spoken of. He attended the Xenia High School, and in December, 1876, came to London, where he has since resided. He read law in his brother's office, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1882. In October, 1881, he was appointed official stenographer of the courts of Madison County, which position he still occupies, and is often employed by the adjoining counties to act in the same capacity.

Among other lawyers who have resided in Madison County were J. T. Lacy and A. F. Reed, in 1852; Lawrence Weldon, in 1854; D. M. Creighton, in 1858 ; Darius Warner, the present United States Consul at St. Johns, New Brunswick ; George E. Rapp, at one time Mayor of London ; Martin Marshall, and A. Waddel, Jr.; also Charles P. Neal, of Plain City. At the present time there are William P. Andrews, of Plain City ; B. F. Thomas of Mount Sterling ; John C. Hayes, of South Solon ; R. S. Leake, of Jefferson ; George Hamilton and F. Webster, of London.

This association was organized December 2, 1880, and a constitution and by-laws adopted. The following officers wTere elected and have served continuously to the present time. Col. J. C. McCloud, President ; George W. Wilson, Vice President; Sylvester W. Durflinger, Treasurer; D. C.

Badger, Secretary ; John F. Locke, P. C. Smith and Bruce P. Jones, Executive Committee. The association meets annually, also at the call of the President or Executive Committee; and all members of the Madison County bar, in good standing, are eligible to membership.

The senior members of the bar of Madison County, have, many of them, made up their records ; those left are still to follow, and the juniors are to assume their places at the bar and on the bench ; to them will soon be committed these great, responsible trusts. The perpetuity of our free institutions is committed to the guardianship and keeping of the bar and judiciary of our free country, for the history of the world teaches, and all free governments illustrate this truth - treat the subject lightly as you will - that to the profession of the law civil government is indebted for- all the safeguards and intrenchments with which the liberties of the people are protected ; that legislation is shaped, constitutions enlarged, amended and adopted by the enlightened administration of the statesmen in all free governments, educated for the bar, and, ascending by the inherent force of their disciplined professional life, they become the directors of the destinies of States and nations. Military chieftains may spring into power ; tyrants may for the hour dazzle, with the glamour of military parade and the pomp of war, an oppressed and frenzied nation ; but they turn as the cannonade dies away, to the statesmanship of the country, and call to the legislative halls for final debate the arbitraments of the liberties of the people.

From the days of King John to the present hour, the bench and the bar have furnished the great majority of the statesmen who have erected the bulwarks of constitutional law, and extorted from tyrants the Magna Chartas which have secured to the oppressed the guarantees of free institutions. Imbued with the historical traditions of their predecessors, tracing the higher paths they have trod, and emulating their good example, it should become more and more the resolute purpose of the Madison County bar to so walk in the light of their professional teachings that when they are called to follow them to that upper court, and file their judgment-roll of the great trial of life with that Supreme Judge from whose bar there is no appeal,

" Thou go not like the quarry slave at night, Scourged to his dungeon ; but sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trust, approach the grave Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."