Sandusky County, Ohio - Chapter 10: Sandusky, 1909

By Their Peers, And Then In Pursuance Of Tile Laws And Evidence In The Case

OH YES! A COURT IS OPENED FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF EVEN MINDED JUSTICE TO THE POOR AND TIE RICH; TO THE GUILTY AND THE INNOCENT, WITHOUT RESPECT TO PERSONS; NONE TO BE PUNISHED WITHOUT TRIAL BY THEIR PEERS, AND THEN IN PURSUANCE OF TILE LAWS AND EVIDENCE IN THE CASE.

Territorial Judiciary Of Ohio

Gen. Arthur St. Clair was appointed governor and commander in chief, Samuel Holden Parsons, James Mitchell Varnum and John Armstrong were appointed judges, and Winthrop Sargent secretary of the territory. Arm strong declined and John Cleves Symmes was appointed judge in his place. On July 9, 1788. the governor arrived at Marietta accompanied with Judges Parsons and Varnum and_ these were soon joined by Judge Symmes, and there was then provided the first form of civil government within the territory. The judges or any two of them constituted a court with common law jurisdiction. All power, legislative, judicial and executive was concentrated in the governor and judges. The governor had authority to appoint all officers of the militia below the rank of general and all magistrates and civil officers except the judges and secretary of the territory, and to lay out townships and counties, where the Indian titles might be extinguished. The legislative power vested in the governor and judges, was intended, however, to extend only to the adoption of such laws of the original siates as might be suited to the circumstances of the country; but they did not strictly confine themselves to this restriction: when they could not find laws of the original states thus suited to the condition of the country they supplied the want by enactments of their own; it seems, however, that they did it judiciously, for they were subsequently confirmed by the territorial legislature in 1799.

There was then no fixed seat of government, properly so called. The governor resided at Cincinnati; the laws were passed whenever they seemed to be needed and promulgated at any place where the governor and judges might be assembled. The earliest laws were published mostly at Marietta, a few at Vincennes and the remainder at Cincinnati.

In 1792 Congress passed an act giving to the governor and judges authority to repeal the laws made by them; and enabling a_ single judge of the general court, in the absence of his brethren, to hold terms of court.

The judges constituted the Supreme Court of the territory. and their jurisdiction extended over the whole region northwest of the Ohio, which of course embraced our Sandusky Valley. The court at first had no certain place of

Inferior Courts

Inferior to this court were the county courts of Common Pleas, and the general quarter sessions of the peace. The Common.Pleas Court consisted of any number of judges not less than three nor more than seven, and had a general common law juristiction, concurrent in the respective counties, with that of the Supreme Court; and to hold two terms in each year, which was increased to four terms in 17g0. The quarter session of the peace consisted of a number of justices of the peace for each county, to be determined by the governor. This court was to hold three terms in every year, and had a limited criminal jurisdiction. Besides these courts each county had a judge of probate, clothed with the ordinary jurisdiction of a probate court. The expenses of this system were defrayed in part by the National Government, and in part by assessment upon the country, but principally by fees which were payable to every officer from the judges downward.

Corn The Standard Of Values

"And whereas a dollar varies in its real value in the several counties of the territory, some provision ought, in kind, to be made, therefore, Be it enacted: That for every cent allowed by this Act, one auart of Indian corn may be demanded and taken by the person to whom the fee is coming, as an equivalent for the cent, always at the election of the person receiving the same, whether to accept of his fee in Indian corn or in specic, at the sum affixed by the foregoing table of fees, one quart of Indian corn being always equal to one cent, and so at that rate for a greater or less sum." Corn it seems was then the standard of values!

Judiciary Revised

In 1795 the governor and judges revised the territorial laws. Laws were adopted to regulate judgments and executions and for many other general purposes, and notably one providing that the common law of England and all general statutes in aid of the common law, prior to the fourth year of James I, should be in full

The General Court was fixed at Cincinnati, and Marietta, and a circuit court composed of the supreme judges, or any one of them was established with power to try issues in fact, in the several counties depending before the superior tribunal, where alone causes could be finally decided. Terms were to be held twice a year. Orphan's courts were established with jurisdiction analogous. to, but more extensive than that of a probate judge. From this time forward there were no changes materially effecting the judiciary, until the convening of the territorial legislature, which body, December 9g, 1800, passed an act modlfying the law concerning the circuit courts, among other things, by creating six separate districts, and fixing the places of holding terms by one or more judges of the territory annually therein, to try all issues in fact, that might be joined in any case in the General Court. The county of Wayne, which then included our Sandusky Valley, was made a district with Detroit as the place of holding the court. Whether any case between inhabitants of this region ever came before this court, there is no evidence at hand to show, but to this jurisdiction they were subject, if any had existed.

State Judiciary

"The judicial power of the state both as to matter of law and equity shall be vested in a Supreme Court, Court of Common Pleas for each county; in Justice of the Peace, and in such other courts as the Legislature may from time to time establish."

It further provided that the Supreme Court should consist of three judges, any two of whom should form a quorum; that they should be appointed by a joint ballot of both houses of the General Assembly and should hold their offices for the term of seven years, if so long they behaved well.

zation of the judiciary. This legislation abolished all courts which had been established during the existence of the territorial government.

The Supreme Court, composed of three judges, until 1804, four from then until 1810, three from then until 1816, and from the last date four again. to close of February 9, 1852. Terms were held once a year in each county by any two of the judges who formed a quorum. A general term was held once a year at the Capitol by all the judges and known as the court in bank. The Supreme Court had concurrent jurisdiction with the Common Pleas Court when the amount in dispute exceeded one thousand dollars; appellate jurisdiction in all cases where that court had original exclusive jurisdiction; exclusive jurisdiction in capital punishment cases, except that from and after the year 1825 the law permitted persons charged with capital crimes to be tried in the Common Pleas Court, at their option; and it had exclusive jurisdiction in all cases of divorce and alimony until the year 1843, at which time concurrent juristiction was conferred by the legislature upon the Common Please Court, in divorce cases.

The Common Pleas Court, composed of a lawyer as a president judge for each circuit, and not less than two nor more than three laymen as associate judges for each county, and resident therein. This court had original jurisdiction in all criminal cases except in capital punishment cases; in al! civil cases where the jurisdiction exceeded that of justices of the peace; appelate jurisdiction from justices of the peace and original jurisdiction in all probate matters. The associate judges could hold special terms for the transaction of probate matters and were in their judicial capacity, substantially the probate court. All judges were elected by the State Legislature for the term of seven years if they behaved well so long.

Justices of the Peace. who were elected bv the voters of each township in the several counties for terms of three vears with jurisdiction limited to small amounts in civil cases and preliminary hearing in crimmal charges. In all

And Representative Citizens

Prosecuting Attorneys, as heretofore stated, for both the Supreme and Common Pleas Courts for each county were, until 1833 appointed by the courts, to hold office during the pleasure of the courts making the appointment. After 1833 they were elected by the voters of the county for a term of two years.

Clerk of Courts, as we have seen were, both, for the Supreme and Common Pleas Courts appointed by the courts in which they served, for the term of seven years, where the appointment was not pro tempore.

By an act of the State Legislature of April 15, 1803, organizing the judicial courts, the whole state was divided into three judicial circuits, the territory which became the county of Sandusky being embraced within Franklin County in the Second Circuit. In 1809 it was anzexed to Delaware County, which was then in the Fourth Circuit, created in 1808, and there remained with Delaware County, until transferred from Delaware County to the county of Huron in 1815 for judicial purposes, which placed it within the Third Circuit of Ohio, where it remained, as a part of Huron, 'until

Indian Murder Trial Episode

While thus within the jurisdiction of Huron County, occurred the trial at Norwalk of three Indians by the names of Negosheek, Negoneby and Negossum for the killing. within the Lower Sandusky region, soon to become Sandusky County, of two white men, trappers, by the names of John Wood and George Bishop, near the present site of Oak Harbor on the Portage River. Joshia Rumery, who was afterward auditor of Sandusky County, was one of the jurors in the trial, which was at the May term, 1819. Judge George Tod was the president judge and Ebnezer Lane. the prosecuting attorney. The record of the case is found in Vol. 1. p. 217, Law record, Huron County, Common Pleas Court. The late Judge Welch, of Greenspring, Ohio, who was familiar with the facts, gives the following account of the affair, which we are kindly permitted by the W. R. Hist. Society to use. Judge Welch writes: "In 1817, I think, or perhaps 1818, two men, Wood and Bishop, of Sandusky and the Peninsula, went up the Portage River, trapping coon. They had guns, ponies and considerable fur and other property. There, Indians, part Potawatomies and part Ottawas, came to their camp. The two elder killed the whites. A friendly Indian found the bodies of the whites and revealed the crime giving a clue to the murderers.

"A Captain Burt, of Milan, raised a squad of seventeen or eighteen men in Huron County, then just organized. Burt demanded the murderers, threatening that if they were not given up the Government would exterminate the tribe. The rogues were surrendered, taken to Norwalk and confined, handcuffed and chained to the floor in a hatter's shop. Sometime after, they were let out for a few moments. They slipped their hands out of the cuffs (an Indian's hand is like a woman's) caught up their chains and ran. The jailer shot one in the shoulder, but all got away. We then lived 5 miles south of Norwalk; all that could carry guns turned out and searched the woods around Monroeville, between Norwalk and the river. At night we formed a line just so we could perceive if any one passed, but we could not find them. Two of them got back to the nation. The old one shot was found two or three weeks after by a man hunting cattle between Milan and Monroeville. He had lived on roots. His wound was very bad. The other two had already been returned by the nation, camped on the Maumee.

"All were tried together at Norwalk. The youngest (about 17) turned State's evidence. He said he was with them but took no part in the murder, but they compelled him to break the legs of the victims with a hatchet afterwards, so he would not inform. He was a fine looking boy. He was acquitted. He sat on the floor and when so informed by an interpreter he sprang to his feet and gave a terrible yell of rejoicing. The other two men were found guilty and sentenced to be hung. Before they were hung there were so many more Indians than whites, there was much excitement, it being reported that a rescue was to be attempted.

Burt gathered his company. Four, of whom I was one, were placed at the door to keep away the crowd. There were many whites from Cleveland, Mansfield, Sandusky and about the bay, men, women and children. The Indians outside made motions to shoot or bayonet the criminals, also making mutterings and shaking their heads at hanging. It is terribly against their nature to be hung like a dog. The captives were placed on a wagon and we opposite the wheels. When we got half way they gave a very savage yell, which made very great excitement, being supposed to be the signal for rescue, but no one came near.

It has been reported that they were given liquor. It is a mistake I have desired to correct. The sheriff (first in the county, named Lyman Farwell) told them that if they went out quietly and walked up to the gallows he would give them something to drink; he did not say what. When they were seated they were handed a black junk bottle filled with water. One of them put it on his mouth, but at once pushed it away and shook his head. He wanted rum and was very angry. When the circle formed I was inside and within 10 feet of the drop. The gallows had a trap door with a key which the sheriff knocked away with an adze. They fell so that their feet werc about 4 feet below the scaffold and not near the ground. One had his neck broken, I think. I saw no sign of life. The other did not break his neck and struggled for some time. I can not tell how long, but am sure as long as a man can live without breath. Thev were hung between 1 and 2 P. M. and after it was over the Indians got to drinking and fighting among themselves."'

Sandusky County remained in the Third Circuit, which embraced the counties of Portage, Medina, Huron, Cuyahoga, Ashtabula, Geauga, Trumbull, Sandusky and Wood, until February 10, 1824, when it was placed in the second circuit with the counties of Union, Delaware, Marion, Seneca, Wood, Williams, Huron and Richland. January 27, 1846, Sandusky County became a part of the Thirteenth Circuit with the counties of Wood, Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Henry and Lucas, and so remained until 1852.

President Judges

The president judges holding courts in Sandusky County from its organization until the close of the Constitution of 1802, in 1852, were as follows:

First Term Of The Common Pleas Court

The first term of the Common Pleas Court of Sandusky, was held in Croghansville, the temporary seat of justice, on May 8, 1820, Hon. George Tod, president judge of the Third Circuit presiding, with Israel Harrington, Alexander Morrison and David Harrold, associate judges. Willis E. Brown was the sheriff and Jacob Parker of Richland County was the first prosecuting attorney. Court was duly opened by proclamation of Sheriff Willis E. Brown.

On the return of the venire for the grand jury, it being found that the same had not been issued the length of time required by law, it was challenged, and the panel quashed; and thereupon the sheriff was ordered to select a news grand jury from the bystanders, which was accordingly done. The following were selected.

Joshua Davis, Elijah Brayton, Charles B. Fitch, Reuben Bristol, Elisha W. Howland, Jonathan H. Jerome, William Morrison, Joshia Rumery. Nicholas Whitinger, William Andrews, Ruel Loomis, James Montgomery, Caleb Rice, Robert Harvey, Thomas Webb; whereupon Charles B. Fitch was appointed foreman and took the oath prescribed by law, and his fellow jurors, after having taken the same oath, received a solemn charge from the court and retired.

igent, for the next day they closed their labors for the term, by returning seven indictments, three of which were against persons for selling liquor to Indians.

Among the other four was one against one Almeron Sands for assault and battery on the body of Calvin Leesen. Leesen, the person assaulted, was one of the parties indicted for selling whisky to the Indians. Sands was immediately arraigned and entering a plea of guilty, was sentenced to pay a fine of $15.00. This was the first indictment returned and the first fine ever entered in this court.

A small book, six by eight inches, with two hundred and sixty pages, is Journal No. 1 of the Common Pleas Court of Sandusky County and contains all the proceedings of this court from May 8, 1820, to March 24, 1824, inclusive.

The first term lasted three days. There were no trials at the first term either by the court or to a jury. Letters of administration were granted on the estate of John Orr, deceased, to West Barney; on the estate of Gabriel Neilard, deceased, to Joseph Nellard; and on the estate of Aaron T. Keer to Moses Nichols; Seneca Township was granted the privilege of electing two justices of the peace, licenses were granted to William Andrews and Samuel Cockran, to keep taverns in Sandusky Township in their respective dwellings on paying $15.00 and $6.00 respectively for the privilege. The first judgment for money was at this term in the suit of Alexander Morrison against William Morrison. The journal shows that the plaintiff came into court with his attorney, E. Lane, and the defendant in his own proper person came and said: "that he cannot gainsay the plaintiff's demand; and doth confess to owe unto the plaintiff the sum of $271.75 debt." Judgement was entered accordingly and "that the defendant be held in mercy, etc."

Footman, 644 cents; man and horse, 12% cents; wagon and one horse, 25 cents; wagon and two horses, 37% cents and for a wagon and four horses 50 cents. Portage County was also authorized to elect a justice of the peace.

The second term of the Common Pleas Court was held in October, 1821, and lasted four days. George Kemp, a subject of Great Britain, was admitted to citizenship. At this term like the first the venire for the grand jury was quashed and a new venire was ordered returnable forthwith. whereupon the sheriff returned the following: Charles B. Fitch, Jesse S. Olmsted, Samuel Baker, John Drury, Josiah Parrish, William Christie, Hugh Knox, Wilford Norris, George Shannon, Ruel Loomis, John D. Davis, Jonathan H. Jerome, Thomas Emerson and Asa B. Gavit. Charles B. Fitch was appointed foreman. The jurors were sworn and "retired to a private room in discharge of their duty."

Thomas L. Hawkins was granted license 'to keep a ferry across the Sandusky River at the crossing of the road from the town of Croghansville to Sandusky on payment of $1.00.

The prosecuting attorney nollied some of the indictments, among them one against George G. Olmsted for selling liquor to an Indian named Seneca Jim. .

William Chard entered a plea of guilty to an assault and battery and was fined $1.00 and cost. Jacob Parker, prosecuting attorney, was allowed for his services for the term $30.c:

The first jury trial in the county was ct the May term, 1822. The case was The State of Ohio vs. Sally Wolcott, indicted for burning a house owned by Moses Nichols. Pickett Latimer of Huron County was prosecuting attorney. The jurors were Levi Cressas, John Eaton, Giles Thompson, Joseph Keeler, Alexander McNutt, Phinias Frary, Asa B. Gavit, John Searles, Jonathan H. Jerome, William Clark, Caleb Rice and Jared H. Miner.

The jury returned a verdict of "not guilty" and the defendant was discharged. This trial was had in the log house on the west side, in the permanent seat of justice and at the first term of court held therein.

At the May term, 1824, of the Common jurors: Asa B. Gavit, Elisha B. Johnson, Joseph Loveland, James Knapp, James Justice, Daniel Brainard, Jr., Geo. G. Olmsted, Isaac Van Doren, John Davenport, Helsey Forguson, James A. Scranton and John Prior. Nimble Jim was a minor and Montgomery, his next friend, was a pioneer Methodist preacher in this region. Eleuthorus Cooke, of Sandusky, appeared for the Indian and Judge Parrish for Chena. It was a case in replevin for a colt or pony which the Indian claimed to own. His statement was, that he had raised the pony from a colt and that it was only 3 years old, and having been put out a few miles from where Chena lived, while he, Nimble Jim, was on a hunting expedition, the pony left him and was making his way home to the Seneca reserve, and while thus on its way it was taken up by Chena, who refused to give it up and claimed that he had raised it from a colt, that it was 4 years old and was his colt, and not the Indian's. On the trial there were four Indians called as witnesses, George, a chief being one. The question arose as to what form of oath was to be administered to savage Indians to testify to the truth.

Judge Lane who was presiding, through an interpreter questioned Chief George as follows: "Do you believe the Great Spirit will punish you if you tell a lie about the horse?" Chief George replied with considerable warmth: "Me tell no lie for any man's horse." Whereupon Judge Lane, through an interpreter, called all four of the Indian witnesses up and administrated to them the following oath: 'You and each of you do not believe, that the Great Spirit will punish each one of you, if you tell a lie about the ownership of the horse in dispute between the Indian and the white man."

The Indians all swore that the pony belonged to the Indian and that he was only 3 years old. Chena brought four white men as witnesses who testified that the pony belonged to him and that it was 4 years old the last spring. Judge Lane had the sheriff bring in as witness three men who professed to be able to tell the age of a horse by examining his teeth, which the sheriff accordingly did. The pony's teeth were examined by them and they all testified that the pony was only 3 years old. The case being submitted to the jury, they to the surprise of all present returned a verdict against the Indian, in the sum of $20.00 for the value of the pony and the sum of $10.00 damages. The Indians present showed their resentment, and the white men attending court, in order 'to pacify them and save possible trouble, made up a "pony" purse and paid off the white man's claim, to the great pleasure of the Indian who was clearly the owner of the pony. This satisfied the Indians who were present.

Riparian Rights

The case of Gavit vs. Chambers, involving ownership of the beds of Sandusky River was brought in the Common Pleas Court while Judge Lane was on the bench. This was an action to recover damages caused by the erection of a mill dam across the river, causing the water to flow back and cover a stone quarry worked by Gavit, near the middle of the stream, which he claimed title to by reason of his ownership of the lands along the banks next to the same. Judge Lane charged the jury that Gavit could not set up a valid right by reason of his ownership of the adjacent land, because the stream being a navigable one under the law, Gavit did not own to the center of the same, and had no right to the quarry. The case went to' the Supreme Court and at the December term, 1828, the judgment of the Common Pleas Court was reversed, the Supreme Court holding that the owners of lands on the banks of navigable streams running through Ohio, were also owners of the beds of the rivers to the middle of the streams, subject only to the easement of navigation, thus deciding an important question for the first time made in the state (3. O. R. 495).

This ruling was followed later by the Supreme Court in the case of June vs. Purcell, (36, O. S. 396) which also went from this county, and is the settled doctrine and has become a rule of property in Ohio.

A Jurisdictional Question

An interesting question now involving the criminal jurisdiction affecting the tribes in the Seneca reserve arose about the year 1828. It seems that Seneca John, an Indian Chief, had been, by a council of the tribe, adjudged guilty of causing the death of a brother named Comstock, a chief, in order, as was alleged, that he might succeed to the position of chief in his brother's stead. He was sentenced to be executed and his brother, Coonstick was by law of the tribe, made his executioner. This sen- tence Coonstick executed by the aid of another brother named Steel; Coonstick was arrested by a constable and brought before a magistrate in Lower Sandusky charged with murder. The Supreme Court being in session there at the time, the question was raised by the defense for the Indian that the state authorities had no jurisdiction over the matter. The Supreme judges were consulted and gave it as their opinion that the Indian tribes had complete jurisdiction in such matters, under their laws of government, and that Coonstick was acting in the capacity of an executioner only. He was accordingly discharged. Judge Higgins is authority for the statement. No court record, however, of the case appears, but there is no doubt of the correctness of Judge Higgins' account, as he was familiar with the court proceedings at the time. It is very probable that no papers were filed in the matter, and that the opinion of the Supreme Court. judges was given more in the way of advice than in a formal decision. NOTED MURDER CASES. At the September term, 1842, and on Sep-

Lindsey was foreman, returned two indictments for murder in the first degree; one against Joseph Sperry, who lived near Greenspring, for killing his wife, Catherine, in a fit of jealous rage, April 9, 1842, by striking her in the temple with a flat-iron. The other indictment was against George Thompson for the killing of a young woman by the name of Catherine Hamler in the Exchange Hotel at Bellevue, on May 30, 1842, by shooting her because she refused his offer of marriage. Sperry was tried at once. He was defended by Homer Everett and N. B. Eddy, the defense being that his wife had accidently fallen from a ladder in the house, which reached the garret, and in falling struck her head against the corner of a stone in the fire-place. W. W. Culver was prosecuting attorney and was assisted by Cooper K. Watson. Judge Bowen and associates McIntyre, Knapp and Overmyer were the judges. The trial lasted five days and the jury found him guilty as charged. He was sentenced to be hung November 2, 1842, and remanded to prison to await his execution.

On Sunday, September 30, his two children, ' a little son and daughter, were taken to the prison to see him for the last time, and in some way he procured a pocket-knife from the boy and secretly breaking off and retaining the point of the blade, handed the knife back. With the point of the blade thus procured he committed suicide that night by cutting an artery and bleeding to death.

Thompson, his fellow prisoner, witnessed the tragic end of Sperry's life, but did nothing to prevent it, saying afterwards he would prefer a countryman of his would kill himself rather than to be hung. They were both Englishmen. In Common Pleas Court Journal No. 4, at pages 600 and 601, will appear, to the left, the record of Sperry's sentence and to the right the probating of his will, which he had made before his death.

Thompson effected two escapes from prison, and was finally captured at Ottawa, IIl., and in March, 1844, brought back, and June 20, 1844, was tried, the same judges presiding as in the Sperry case. He was defended by Brice J. Bartlett and Cooper K. Watson. The state was represented by W. W. Culver, prosecuting attorney, and L. B. Ottis. The defense was insanity. Thompson was convicted and sentenced to be hung July 12, 1844, which sentence was carried into effect by John Strohl, sheriff, in the rear of the new court house, which had lately been built. An enclosure to screen the hanging from public view was erected, but just at the time the execution was to take place, some reckless persons suddenly tore down this enclosure and the sad spectacle was exposed to the full view of the assembled crowd. The venerable Dr. Beaugrand was present as one of the physicians at the execution, and in a recent conversation with the author, gave a dramatic picture of the appearance and condition of the prisoner as he saw him in that barbarous subterranean prison, with palid face and prostrate form, kneeling with the priest just previous to the hanging, a sight, he said, most affecting and never to be forgotten.

Salaries Of Judges

sident judge of the Common Pleas Court $750. Judge Tood was allowed $200 in addition, for going to Sandusky and Wood Counties, for they were added to his circuit. In 1837 the salary of each Supreme judge was increased to $1,500 per year and that of the president judge of the Common Pleas to $1,200. These salaries thus remained until 1852. The president judges traveled many hundreds of miles each year upon circuits in which the best roads were very poor and the most of them often impassible, on wheels. Members of the county thing in those days of wilderness and swamp. Judge Higgins, in his "Memories" for Knapp's history, relates an instance which illustrates the difficulties encountered in those itineraries. They had held court at Findlay; from there their circuit route took them first to Defiance and from thence to Perrysburgh. To go on horseback was then almost impossible, so they hired a man to take their horses through the Black Swamp direct to Perrysburgh, and procuring a pirougue the judge and his party of lawyers, Rodolphus Dickinson of Lower Sandusky, being one of them, with saddles, bridles and baggage, descended the Blanchard and Auglaiz Rivers, a dismal voyage through an unsettled wilderness of sixty miles to Defiance, and from thence down the Maumee

-River to Perrysburgh. "The saddle bags carried Ohio statutes, then small in bulk, Blackstone's Commentaries, sometimes Cook or Littleton; sometimes a volume or two of an English law or equity report. Such a life made these judges thinkers. If riding alone each had ample time and temptation to beguile the tedium of slow travel by putting to himself legal cases, question and problems and solving them upon principle. Out of such a life those who were blessed with legal ability and judicial minds grew to be great judges and caused right and justice to prevail within their jurisdictions and left behind them, among lawyers and people high reputations for ability and integrity."

And receiving their positions from the State Legislature instead of popular vote, they were to a greater extent, than where elected by the latter method, as at present, relieved from the temptation of resorting to partisan political practices in order to hold their places. Comparatively greater dignity attached to the office of judge in those pioneer days, as we sometimes call those closing with the first constitution in 1852, than in the present.

Judge George Tod

George Tod was born at Suffield, Connecticut, December 11, 1773, was graduated from Yale College in 1795, and subsequently studied law at New Haven, Connecticut. He was there admitted to the bar and entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1880 he accompanied a party of prospectors to the Western Reserve and formed so favorable an opinion of the great opportunities for business and professional development in Ohio that he made plans, which he later successfully carried out, to become a resident of this beautiful state.

In 1801 Judge Tod removed, with his wife and two children, to Youngstown, and in the same year was appointed secretary for the territory of Ohio, by Gov. Arthur St. Clair. In 1802 Ohio became a state and at the first election held thereafter at Youngstown, George Tod was elected clerk of Youngstown Township, to which office he was subsequently reelected. He continued in the practice of his profession but was soon called into active public life, being elected state senator from Trumbull County, serving in the session of 1804-05, and again, in the same capacity, in 1810-11. In the interim between these two terms of service, he filled for four years an important position on the bench, serving for four years as a judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio, which service was terminated in 1810.

At the opening of the War of 1812, Judge Tod signified his intention of taking an active part in military operations and was first commissioned major of the Nineteenth Ohio Regiment, later serving as colonel. On the field Judge Tod distinguished himself, participating in the battles of Fort Meigs and Sackett's Harbor. At the close of the war he returned once more to the practice of law, but in 1815 he was again honored by his fellow-citizens, be- ing elected president judge of the court of Common Pleas, an office he held until 1829. With the exception of one term as prosecuting attorney of Trumbull County, this closed Judge Tod's public career. Upon the retirement from the cares and duties which had so completely filled so many years of his life, the aged jurist sought recreation in looking after his farm, to which he had given the name of "Briar Hill." This was appropriate on account of the abundance of briars then found there. The name remains, but in these latter days it represents a wealth of coal, and its material products are carried over a large part of the world. At a later date the farm passed into the more practical hands of his son David, and it still remains a possession of the family. David Tod, the son of George Tod, was one of the war governors of Ohio.

Judge Tod married in 1797 to Sally Isaacs, who was a daughter of Ralph and Mary Isaacs. Their long and happy companionship lasted for forty-four years, being broken by the death of Judge Tod in 1841. The wife survived until 1847.

Judge Ebenezer Lane

Ebenezer Lane was born at Northampton, 'Massachusetts, September 17, 1793. He prepared for college at a grammar school at Leicester at 8 years of age, and at the early age of 14 entered the University of Cambridge, from which he graduated in 1811. One of his classmates was Edward Everett. He studied law with his uncle, Matthew Griswold, and began practice at Norwich in 1814. In 1817 he emigrated west and located first at Elyria, where he engaged for a time in farming. Desiring to return to New England he went on foot by the way of Pittsburg, a distance of 700 miles, In 1818 he returned to Elyria by stage, but the same year he went back to New England where in October of that year at Lynne, Connecticut, he was married to Frances Ann, daughter of Geo. Roger Griswold, with whom he returned again to Elyria where he and his bride commenced housekeeping on a farm near that village. :

He had been appointed presecuting attorney for that county and about his first work as such was the prosecution of the Indians for the murder of the white trappers, Wood and Bishop, before mentioned.

In 1824 he was appointed president judge of the second circuit of the Common Pleas Court, serving six years, when he was elevated to the Supreme bench. He occupied the Supreme bench until 1845, when he resigned to engage in a railroad enterprise of much importance, as counsel and director, and removed to Chicago from Sandusky, to which 'atter city he had removed while on the bench. In 1850 his Alma Mater conferred upon him the degree oi L. L. D.

He was an able jurist, clear and concise in thoughts and repression; his decisions while on the Supreme bench were regarded as models in these particulars. He was an active and consistent member of the Episcopal Church. In 1860 he made an extensive European tour. He died in '1866 and was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Sandusky.

Judge David Higgins

David Higgins was the eldest son 0 V. David Higgins, and Emma (Gelbert) Higgins. He was born at Lynn, Connecticut, August 2, 1789. His father at that time was pastor of the church at Lynn. In 1801 his father and family moved to Aranelius, now the city of Auburn, New York. During their residence there David, their son, was for two years a student at Yale College. In 1812 his father was called to the Presbyterian Church at Bath, New York. Before this David went to Cambridge, Maryland, as tutor in a private family ; while there he made the acquaintance of and married Miss Cecelia Davis, of Harper's Ferry, Virginia. They soon removed to Angelica, New York, where he practiced law for a few years. Their eldest son, Robert, was born here. Before 1816 they moved to Hamilton, Ohio, performing the journey on horseback, the mother, Mrs. Higgins, carrying the iniant son most of the time before her. 2 1¢ 1819 they removed again, this ti

While living in southern Ohio he represented Butler County in the State Legislature and was speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1828 they removed to Norwalk, Ohio, where he practiced law for many years in northern Ohio, until his election by the: State Legislature as president judge of the Third Circuit of the Common Pleas Court. He resided in 1841 and 1842 in Maumee City, after that returning to Norwalk, until after the election of James K. Polk, President; he then went to Washington, D. C., having received the appointment to a clerkship in the Treasury Department, which he retained until his death which occurred in 1873. His wife died in Washington in October, 1846. In 1848 he married Miss Letitia King of Washington who, with two children, a daughter and a son, survived him. During his residence in Norwalk in 1834, his horse running away, he in jumping from the carriage, injured one of his feet, so that amputation was necessary, between the knee and ankle, so that ever afterwards he used an artificial limb.

Judge Ozias Bowen

Ozias Bowen was born July 21, 1805, at Augusta, New York. At 18 years of age he came to Ohio, studied law in the office of Gregory Powers, at Canton, and was admitted to the bar September 23, 1828. The same year he came to Marion and began the practice of law. In 1830 and again in 1835 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Marion County. The Legislature in 1838 elected him president judge of the Common Pleas Court, which office he held for fourteen years. Gov. Salmon P. Chase, in 1856, appointed him Supreme judge, and the same year he was elected to that high office by the people. In 1860 he was a presidential elector and cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln. In 1861, thirty years after his first election to that office, he was again elected prosecuting attorney. He was regarded as the best-read lawyer of his day in centrat Ohio. This was due partly to his close application and study and partly to his long service on the bench at a time when the laws of the state were being fundamentally interpreted and construed. With Swan, Ranney and Thurman, he helped to lay the foundation of our jurisprudence and in this service became, like his co-workers, a giant at the bar.

In politics Judge Bowen was a whig and one of the pioneers in the anti-slavery movement in Ohio. This, coupled with his service on the bench, led, in 1856, to his nomination and election to the Supreme bench in 1856.

Judge Myron Holmes Tilden

Myron -H. Tilden, son of Dr. Myron H. Holmes, was born August 25, 1812. His father died betore the birth of the son; and his mother Nancy Drake Holmes in 1815 married Dr. Damiel Tilden, and in 1817 came to Ohio and settled in Huron County. It will be observed that the son took the name of his step-father.

In 1833 the subject of this sketch entered the law office of Thaddeus Sturgis of Norwalk, Ohio. The place and date of his admissioi to the bar is not at hand. He settled in Toledo in aun early day, and served as the first mayor of the then village of Toledo. In 1844 he was elected by the Legislature president judge of the Thirteenth Circuit, and served seven years. In 1850 Judge Tilden moved to Cincinnati, equity in the Cincinnati Law School, which position he filled for fifteen years. In 1873 he was appointed by Governor Noyes, judge of the Superior Court of Cincinnati, to fill the unexpired term of Judge Hagans, and was elected in the following spring for a full term. In 1833 at Norwalk, Ohio, he married Louezar Morse, daughter of Harvey and Chloe Morse of Norwalk. Judge Tilden died in Cincinnati, Ohio, February 23, 1888. There were three sons and one daughter born to Judge Tilden. The daughter, Louise M. Tilden, is the only surviving child. Judge Tilden was a profound lawyer and an able and upright judge. JUDGE EBENEZER B. SADLER. Ebenezer B. Sadler was born in Grafton, Massachusetts, November 16, 1808. After living at various places his parents finally settled in Lima, New York, where, at the age of 18, young Sadler started out to make his own way in life, working during the summer as he could find employment and in the winter going to school until he acquired an.education suffcient to qualify him for teaching. While teaching he devoted what spare time he had to reading law with John Dickson of West Bloomfield, New York, then a congressman. In May, 1835, he started west finally settling in Sandusky. He there prosecuted his legal studies with Francis D. Parrish. In 1836 he was admitted to the bar, and Mr. Parrish took his as a partner. This partnership continued until 1847, at which time Mr. Sadler was chosen president judge of the Thirteenth Circuit of the Common Pleas Court; which office he held until February 10, 1852, his term of service then expiring by operation of the new constitution which then came into force. He served as postmaster of Sandusky, mayor of that city, and State senator from his district. In all the official positions filled by him and in the conduct of his professional life he exhibited the highest integrity.

He was the friend of every good work, ready to sacrifice his own comfort, if need be, to the pleasure and good of others. He was fond of the beautiful in art and nature, and during his leisure hours cultivated with devotion choice flowers and fruits. His flower garden in season was a recurring picture of beauty and pleasure long to be remembered by his friends and the public. In 1843 he married Emily Webb. His wife died in 1849 and he never married again.

Associate Judges, Dates Of First Appointment

The associated judges were men of influence in their respective localities, and beside the judgeship, several of them held other important offices in county and state. Judges Fitch, Everett, Newman, Howland, Overmyer and Olmsted were county commissioners; Morri- son and Hulburd, clerk of courts; Everett and Hulburd, representatives in State Legislature; Fitch, county recorder, and Olmsted was at different times sheriff, county auditor and county treasurer.

First Term Of Supreme Court

The first term of the Supreme Court, in Sandusky County, was held in the log house before mentioned, in the town of Sandusky, April 30, 1823, by Judges Charles R. Sherman and Jacob Burnet, both distinguished for ability and learning. Judge Sherman, as has before been mentioned, was the father of Gen. William T. Sherman. He was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, September 26, 1788; studied law under the instructions of his father, Taylor Sherman, and was admitted to the Connecticut bar in 1810. In 1811 he settled in Lancaster, Ohio; was a major in the War of 1812 in a Fairheld County regiment. In 1823 the Legislature elected him a supreme judge. He died suddenly of cholera at Lebanon, Warren County, on January 24, 1829, where he had gone to hold court. Judge Sherman was admired not alone for his splendid abilities as a lawyer, but also for his stainless integrity of character as a judge and man.

Judge Burnet was born at Newark, New Jersey, in 1770, and educated at Princeton. He came to Cincinnati in 1796, then a village of a few log cabins and 150 inhabitants, to practice law. In 1799 he became a member and the leading mind of the Legislative Council of the Territorial Government, and was the author of the first constitution. From 1812 to 1816 he was a member of the State Legislature. In 1821 he was appointed judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio, which office he resigned in 1828 to accept the position of United States senator to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Gen. W. H. Harrison. He was eminent for his acuteness of intellect and integrity of character as a man. Yearly terms of the Supreme Court were thereafter held in the county by Supreme Judges Sherman, Burnet, Hitchcock, Collett, Brush, Lane, Wright, Wood, Grimke, Birchard, Reed, Avery, Spaulding and Caldwell, holding terms in pairs for each of the several terms, as shown by the journal of said court.

Hayes And Matthews

At the August term of 1845 of this court Stanley Matthews, then on a visit to a friend in Lower Sandusky was admitted to the bar as an attorney-at-law.

His friend, Rutherford B. Hayes, then a young lawyer here, was a member of the committee appointed by the court to report on the qualifications of the applicant for admission. A third of a century later this member of the committee had become President of the United ° States, and Stanley Matthews, having become eminent as a lawyer and jurist, was again recommended by his old time friend for position, this time to the United States Senate for the exalted position of a justice of the Supreme Court.

There were four divorce cases brought at the first term of this court, which then had exclusive jurisdiction of divorce matters, and three were granted and one refused and the petition dismissed. During the following twenty-nine years to the close of the old constitution, this court together with the Common Pleas, which after 1843 had concurrent jurisdiction, in such cases, there were only fortythree divorces granted including the above. According to the marriage record, there had been 2,184 marriages in the county during this period, which shows two divorces only to every 100 marriages. During the past several years in Sandusky County the divorces have been not fewer than fifteen to every 100 marriages.

The Bar Of Pioneer Days

At first and for some years after the organization of the county there were but few resident lawyers therein, and the legal business was done, mostly, by lawyers from other places, who, as we have seen, with the president judges traveled the circuit from county to county.

Itinerant Lawyers

Among the itinerant lawyers who thus came here were Ebenezer Lane, Eleutheros Cooke, Pickett Latimer, Philip R. Hopkins and Ebenezer Andrews of Huron County. Erie County was not yet organized. Later from Huron County came C. L. Boalt, S. T. Worcester, C.

Early Resident Lawyers

Latimes. (LB. Sturcis..H. Wk artisn,.k R: Osborn, J. M. Root and E. B. Sadler; Orris Parrish of Columbus; Andrew Coffenbery, John C. Spink, Jacob Parker, and James Purdy of Mansfield; '1. W. Powell of Delaware, and J. C. Spink of Perrysburgh, came in the earlier years of courts in the county. EARLY RESIDENT LAWYERS.

Harvey J. Harmon. Mr. Harmon was probably the second lawyer to settle here, which was in about 1822, as his name then begins to appear on the court docket. He was a well educated lawyer of ability and, as the records show, did much of the legal business of the county, besides occupying important official positions, among which were county treasurer and representative in the State Legislature. Mrs. William E. Haynes was his daughter. Mr. Harmon while ministering to a brother Mason who was sick with the cholera in August, 1834, at the Western House in Lower Sandusky, contracted the disease and died very suddenly after being attacked.

RopotpHus Dickinson. Mr. Dickinson came to Lower Sandusky in 1826. He was born in the state of Massachusetts in 1797, and graduated at Williams College, studied law with Gustavus Swan at Columbus, Ohio; first commenced practice at Tiffin and was prosecuting attorney for Seneca County in 1824 and served in the same capacity in Williams County in 1826. He was prosecuting attorney for Sandusky County in 1827, and a member of the State Board of Public Works from 1836 to 1845. In 1846 he was elected to Congress, and re-elected in 1848; died March 20, 1849. His wife was Marguerite Beaugrand, daughter of John B. Beaugrand, an early settler of Lower Sandusky. Mr. Dickinson for his private virtues and public services is still held in grateful remembrance.

Hiram R. Petripone. Mr. Pettibone was born in Granville, Connecticut, May 20, 1795. In 1830 he served one term in the legislature of his native state; studied law with Judge

Fousey of Connecticut, and finally in 1835 came to Lower Sandusky to engage in the practice of his profession, which he here pursued with success until 1849, when he removed to Wisconsin. While residing in Lower Sandusky, Mr. Pettibone and his wife reared and fitted for useful living a family of four sons and three daughters. His eldest daughter, Delia, married Austin B. Taylor, an early and successful merchant, Mrs. Delia Shackelford, wife of M. L. Shackelford, attorney-at-law, is a daughter of Delia and Austin B. Taylor; his second daughter, Harriet, married C. G. McCullouch, an early druggist of Lower Sandusky and a brother of our esteemed citizen, C. R. Mc- Cullouch.

SAMUEL TREAT. His name as an attorney appears as early as 1829. When and where born or admitted to the bar is not now known. He was county auditor in 1830-6,, prosecuting attorney in 1836, and representative in the State Legislature in 1837.

Witiiam W. CuLver. The name of Mr. Culver appears in the dockets as an attorney in 1835. He was from the state of New York, but very little can now be learned as to his early life. He was prosecuting attorney of Sandusky County in 1835-6 and 1838-44. In his addresses to a popular assembly or to a jury he was very brilliant and captivating in style, and always listened to with great interest. He retired from the practice in 1847, first going to California, but finally settling in Pen Yan, New York, where he died a few years ago.

PETER YATES. But little can be ascertained of Mr. Yates' career. His name as an attorney first appears in the court record in 1837, and his law card is published in the Lower Sandusky Times, September, 1837. In 1830 he removed from Ohio, and in a notice in the same paper turns his unfinished business over to R. P. Buckland.

Rodolphus Dickinson

Daniel Brainard. In 1840 he was in partnership in the law practice with John L. Greene, Sr. He removed to Chagrin Falls, where he died many years ago.

RaLtpH PoMERoy BucKLaANnp. Ralph P. Buckland was born at Leyden, Massachusetts, January 20, 1812. His father, Ralph Buckland, was a soldier in the War of 1812. His grandfather, Stephen Buckland, was a captain of artillery in the Revolutionary War, from East Hartford, Connecticut. His mother was Anna Kent. He came to Ohio in an early day with his parents, but did not commence the study of law until about 1835, after spending one year at Kenyon College. He studied law at Middleberry and at Canfield, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1837 and soon after settled in Lower Sandusky.

In the Lower Sandusky Times of September, 1837, his law card appears. In the same year he married Charlotte Boughton of Canfield, Ohio. In 1845 Rutherford B. Hayes became a partner with Mr. Buckland, in whose office he had studied law before attending law school.

Later Homer Everett, James H. Fowler, Wilbur G. Zeigler and his sons Horace and George A. Buckland were at different periods associated with him in the practice. He occupied many important positions, civil and military, with ability, in county, state and nation. His services in professional and civil life and the eminent character he achieved stand as a munoment to his industry and integrity. In the military services of his country he achieved renown as colonel of the gallant Seventy-second Regiment and as general of a brigade under Sherman. His brave conduct at Shiloh in all probability saved the day from disaster, and won for himself and the soldiers under his command the gratitude of the nation. "The names of Shiloh and Buckland must forever be linked together."

Joun A. Jounson. Mr. Johnson was born at Canfield, Ohio, and after receiving a fair academic education studied law with Judge Newton of that place. He came to Lower Sandusky and commenced the practice of law in 1839. In 1842 he formed a partnership with Cooper K. Watson, which firm did he went to California as a gold hunter and was absent about a year and a half. Soon after his return he sold his possessions here and moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he not long after died. His wife and four children, three sons and a daughter survived him. In Lower Sandusky he was a trustee of the Presbyterian Church and aided in building the first brick edifice for the society.

NATHANIEL B. Eppy. Mr. Eddy was a native of New York State, and was well educated. He came to Lower Sandusky and commenced the practice of law about the year 1839. In 1842 he and Homer Everett formed a partnership in the practice, and did a successful business. In 1845 Mr. Eddy retired from the practice to enter into a mercantile business. This business he closed up a few years later and moved to Madison, Wisconsin. There he was chosen county judge which office he held for many years, and died in that city.

HOMER Everett. Mr. Everett's career has been so fully mentioned elsewhere, in this volume, that a very brief sketch here will suffice. That he was a versatile and able man and lawyer, enjoying the confidence of all the people to a remarkable degree, is shown by the very many official positions they conferred upon him, the duties of which he discharged with ability and fidelity. He was postmaster at Lower Sandusky, sheriff and auditor of his county, mayor of Fremont, justice of the peace, and state senator. He died June 22, 1888.

Brice J. Bartitetr. Mr. Bartlett, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Bartlett, was born in Lincoln County, Maine, September 21, 1808, and came to Ohio with his parents, who settled in Hamilton County in 1824. He came the same year to Seneca County and in 1829 married Phebe Ellis and in 1833 removed to Lower Sandusky.

He commenced reading law in April, 1838, and in July, 1840, was admitted to the bar, forming a partnership with L. B. Otis. In 1843 he and John L. Greene, Sr., formed a law partnership, in which firm Chester Edgerton subsequently became a member for some time; and in 1851 Mr. Bartlett and Thomas P. Fine- frock were associated as partners. Finally in 1853 he and his son Joseph R. Bartlett became partners in the practice, which partnership continued with the exception of one year's retirement owing to his ill health, until the time of his death in March, 1859.

He was mayor of Fremont in 1850-52 and in 1855-6. While mayor he caused "Old Betsy," the historic cannon used by Major Croghan in his defense of Fort Stephenson, to be recoyered and placed on the spot where it did such wonderful execution, August 13, 1813.

Joun L. GREEN, Sr. Mr. Green was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, July 16, 1806. In August, 1815, he moved with his father's family to Newbury, in the Western Reserve; he soon thereafter went to Plattsburg, New York, where he spent some years and there began the study of law with his uncle, John Lynde. He attended the University of Burlington, Vermont. Returning to Ohio he was employed as teacher in an academy at Cleve- Jand, and here spent his spare time in pursuing his law studies with Leonard Case.

July 16, 1828, he was married to Julia L. Castle of Cleveland. In 1840 he came to Lower Sandusky and commenced the practice of law, in which he was successful. He was associated

Edgerton in the law practice in the forties and later with Thomas P. Finefrock. He was prosecuting attorney in 1850-52. In 1855 he was elected to the State Legislature; was mayor of Fremont in 1858. In 1861 he was elected judge of the Common Pleas Court to fill the unexpired term of Judge Worcester. In 1864, his term having expired, he resumed the practice of law. Later he and his son John L. Greene, Jr., formed a law partnership, which continued until his death, which occurred November 8, 1879.

Judge Green left to survive him eleven adult children, all occupying honorable positions as worthy, useful men and women in life - a noble work for society and a monument which will long preserve his name among men.

CHESTER EpcrerTon. Mr. Edgerton was born in Pawlet, Vermont, in 1819, and came to Ohio in 1844, soon after which he hecame a partner with Brice J. Bartlett and John L.

Greene, Sr., in the practice of the law, giving, however, special attention to the collection branch, which was in those days a prominent part of legal business, and in which he was very successful.

In 1845 he married Augusta F. Fusselman, who was born in 1826. There were born of this marriage six children, three sons, namely, Frank, Chester and Harry G., and three daughters, Hattie (Edgerton) Kinney; Maude (Edgerton) Garvin, Fanny A., who died in 1870.

In the sixties he retired from the law and engaged in the lumber and planing-mill business in Fremont, with his brother, Gilbert Edgerton, under the firm name of Edgerton Bros., in which by fair dealing and attention to the business he acquired a comfortable fortune, which he with Mrs. Edgerton lived to enjoy in later years, mostly at their fine old suburban home a mile west of Fremont, where they died at a good old age, highly respected by all. Their son Dr. H. G. Edgerton now owns and occupies the same as his family home, known as Edgerton Place.

Lucius B. Otis. Mr. Otis was born March 11th, 1820 at Montvilla, Connecticut, and was educated in Ohio at the common schools in Berlin, then Huron County, at Huron Institute, Milan, Ohio, the Norwalk Seminary and finishing at Granville College, Granville, Ohio. He studied law with Sturgis & Whitbeck, of Norwalk, in 1840-1; attended law school at Cincinnati College, from which he graduated in April, 1841, and was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court at Norwalk in August, 1841, and at once took up his residence in Lower Sandusky where he was at first associated with Brice J. Bartlett and later with Homer Everett in the law practice. j

In January, 1844, he married Lydia Ann Arnold. Seven children were born of this marriage. He was prosecutting attorney of Sandusky County in 1842-4. He was Judge of the Common Pleas Court under the new constitution, his term commencing in 1852. At the close of his term he removed to Chicago where he resided until the time of his death. In 1850, with Sardis Birchard, he established the banking house of Birchard & Otis at Fremont, which finally developed into The First National Bank of Fremont. He had a capacity for large financial operations, and became possessed of great wealth. His character was of the highest type in public and private life.

_ Cooper K. Watson. Mr. Watson was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, June 18th, 1810. In his earlier days he worked at tailoring, which he finally abandoned for the law. After qualifying himself by study he was admitted to the bar at Columbus, Ohio, in 1831. After spending two years at Newark, four at Delaware and five at Marion he came to Lower Sandusky in 1842, where he practiced till 1850, when he removed to Tiffin. In 1870 he removed to Norwalk, Ohio, where he remained till 1874, when he located in Sandusky City, where he died May 20, 1880. He was prosecutting attorney of Marion County four years.

He was elected to Congress in 1854; member of the constitutional committee from Huron County in 1873, and was judge of the Common Pleas Court of the First Subdivision of the Fourth District, 1876-1880.

Judge Watson possessed legal and judicial ability of the highest order. Before court and jury in the examination of witnesses, in know]- edge of court decisions and rules and modes of practice he combined striking talents. In his sentences of convicted criminals he was regarded as severe, but he honestly believed that his practice in this regard, tended to reduce criminal offenses, and were just toward the offenders as well as the public. Judge Watson was a great reader and a profound student, not only of the law, but of theology, history, romance and science, remembering and making useful in his profession, and on the bench and in his intercourse with his friends, what he read.

The saying that, "a rolling stone gathers no moss," was not verified in his frequent removals from place to place, for, he easily stood among those at the head, wherever located.

RUTHERFORD BrrcHARD Hayes. Mr. Hayes was born at Delaware, Ohio, October 4th, 1822. After a thorough collegiate education he commenced tthe study of the law with Thomas Sparrow of Columbus, Ohio. He afterwards took a full law course at Harvard Law School, graduating with honor in 1845; and at once began the practice of law in Lower Sandusky, where in April, 1846, he formed a partnership with Ralph P. Buckland, which continued with success until 1849, when Mr. Hayes went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where by his marked ability he soon attracted attention as a lawyer. December 30, 1852, he married Lucy W. Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, a physician of high standing in Chillicothe, formerly one of the squadron sent by General Harrison to take Major Croghan to Fort Seneca to answer for disobeying orders to evacuate Fort Stephenson in 1813.

Mr. Hayes served as city solicitor of the city of Cincinnati from 1858 to 1861. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 he gave up his practice and entered the military service of his country, in which he continued until the close of the war.

In the war he was conspicuous for his personal bravery and brillant conduct as a military commander. He never resumed thé active practice of his profession. In 1864 he was elected to Congress, taking his seat December, 1865, and was re-elected in 1866. In 1867 he was elected governor of Ohio and re-elected in 1869. In 1873 he returned with his family to Fremont. In 1875 he was for the third term elected governor of Ohio, having been nominated over his objections. In 1876 he was, while governor, chosen the nineteenth President of the United States. His administration was in keeping with the high personal character of the man, pure, able and wise. His treatment of the South, in restoring the right of self government, entitles him to be held in grateful remembrances, not only by the people of the South, but also by a generous North. He was a pacificator indeed, in an eminent degree.

Epwarp F. Dickinson. Mr. Dickinson was born in Lower Sandusky, January 21, 1829. His parents were Rodolphus and Marguerite (Beugrand) Dickinson. He attended the public schools of this town and received his higher education at Cincinnati, Ohio. He studied law and was admitted to the bar when quite a young man. He was well qualified for the profession, being a fine scholar and of superior natural ability, but never devoted himself assiduously to the practice of law. He was prosecuting attorney in 1852-4 and was re-elected for a second term but resigned to engage in the newspaper business with C. J. Orton, during his second term. He was in partnership in the law practice with George R. Haynes in 1852. In that year he was married to Henrietta k. Mitchner. Three children were born to this marriage. In 1861 he enlisted in the army as first lieutenant of Co. G., Eighth Regiment, O. V. I.; was promoted to the captaincy and served as quarter master. He was probate judge in 1866-69; 1877-79 and in 1885-91, dying in office in August, 1891. He was also a member of Congress for one term beginning in 1868. He also served the city of Fremont as mayor. Judge Dickinson was a large-hearted, broad-minded man and was a model probate judge. He was a fit counsellor and advisor in that important office.

HEZEKIAH REMSBURG. Mr. Remsburg was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, February 3, 1812; came to Lower Sandusky, May 11, 1822, with his father's family. His education was obtained in the country schools, commencing in a log schoolhouse near the Muscalonge Creek, the first one erected between Lower Sandusky and the Maumee River.

He helped his father to clear off a fine farm along this creek on the south side of what is now the Maumee and Western Reserve Turnpike. His father was a mechanic whose services were in those early days much in demand, as a millwright, and Hezekiah learned the trade with his father and worked at the same until in 1849 he commenced the study of law with John L. Greene, sr. and in 1851 was admitted to the bar in Fremont.

While suffering from the handicap, hoident to his limited early education, Mr. Remsburg had natural talents of a high order, and was ingenious and forceful as an advocate before the jury. He had been a member of the Fremont City Council and was prosecuting attorney of the county for two successive 'terms beginning in 1874. He died March 26, 1896, aged 86 years.

career of Governor Glick given elsewhere, in this volume, to which reference is made, makes it unnecessary to give an extended one here. He was an honored member of the bar in Lower Sandusky from the time he commenced practice in 1850 until his removal in 1857 to Erie County. His career has been one of success and high achievements, as evinced by the sketch referred to.

A. B. LINDSEY. But little is known of the early life of Mr. Lindsey, only that he was a self-made man, in so far as his education and equipments as a lawyer were concerned. He was a man of more than ordinary natural abilities, and made the most of himself as a lawyer, considering the limitations incident to a lack of early educational advantages. He was prosecuting attorney of Sandusky County in 1860-4 and in 1866-70 in which position he rendered able and satisfactory service.

WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS. When and where Mr. Reynolds was born and educated we have no evidence at hand to show. In early court days of the county, and especially in the tribunals of justices of the peace, Mr. Reynolds was an attorney of force, and his services and counsels were in demand by litigants, where large interests were involved. He was a man of natural gifts of mind, of a high quality and had given much time to study. In the earlier history of Clyde, he was prominent and was postmaster there for some years, and held other positions in the village in the days mentioned. He died at about the age of 75 and was buried in McPherson Cemetery, Clyde, Ohio.

HIRAM Ww. WINSLOW. Mr. Wilslow was born in Essex County, New York February 2, 1825, and came to Huron County, Ohio, in about the year 1845, and commenced 'the study of law with Ezra M. Stone of Norwalk, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar in 1848 and moved to Bellevue where he began the practice of law. He was elected prosecuting attorney in 1862 and moved to Fremont in that year, where he continued to live and practice his profession until his death which occurred May 4, 1879. He was elected representative to the State Legislature in 1868, and served two years. He was as a lawyer of fine abilimt REPRESENTATIVE: CIIIZENS ties, devoted to the interests of his clients and won the affection and esteem of his brethren of the bar and the courts, by his uniform custody and consideration of the feelings and opinions of others. In 1872-76, he was a partner with John T. Garver in the practice.

THOMAS P. FINEFROCK. Mr. Finefrock was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, January gth, 1826, and came to Lancaster, Ohio, while a young man, and took a classical course at Greenville Academy. He studied law in the office of Medill & Whitman. After completing his law course of reading he was admitted to the bar in August, 1851, by the Supreme Court then in session in Trumbull County.

In September of that year he came to Fremont and commenced the practice in partnership with Brice J. Bartlett. In 1856 he and J. F. Price formed a partnership which was dissolved by Mr. Price removing to Toledo. He and his biuther Henry R. Finefrock in 1861 composed the firm of T. P. & H. R. Finefrock, which continued until Thomas P. was elected to the Common Pleas Court bench in 1874; which position he filled with ability and integrity for the full term of five years. He had served his county as prosecuting attorney for two successive terms beginning in 1853, and as representative in the State Legislature in 1858; he was the author of the provision in our criminal code making seduction under promise of marriage a felony. At the close of his judicial term he resumed the practice; at first associating with himself his law student Charles F. Bell, as the firm of Finefrock & Bell. In 1883 Mr. Bell retired and was succeeded by S. C. Garver, son-in-law of Judge Finefrock, the firm being Finefrock & Garver, which continued until Judge Finefrock's death, which occurred March 27, 1909.

Judge Finefrock was endowed with superior natural gifts and these he supplemented by careful and diligent study, causing him to rank among the highest in his profession. He was in May, 1854, married to Emma E. Carter, who survives him as do also one son, Dr. Charles B. Finefrock, and two daughters, Mrs. Helen (Finefrock) Garver, and Miss Lottie Finefrock.

Georce R. Haynes. Mr. Haynes was born in Monson, Massachusetts, January 24, 1828, and came to Huron County, Ohio, in the spring of 1836, with his father's family. He lived near Norwalk until 1851, first upon the farm until he was 17 years of age, thence for several years going to school at Norwalk Seminary, teaching and studying by turns, until about 1849 he commenced the study of law with John Whitbeck, Esq., and finished his studies with L. B. Otis at Fremont, Ohio, in 1851. December 2, 1851, he was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court at Columbus, Ohio. . January 1, 1852, he opened an office at Fremont, with E. F. Dickinson.

In 1853 he was appointed prosecuting attorney to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Dickinson. In the fall of 1853 he formed a partnership with John L. Greene, sr., which continued until September, 1854, when Mr. Haynes settled in Toledo, Ohio, where he resided until his death, which occurred January 22, 1908. He served as city solicitor of Toledo and was prosecutting attorney of Lucas County. In 1883 on the face of the election returns and certificate, he was elected judge of the Common Pleas Court, but on a contest before the State Senate the office was given to his competitor, Judge Pike.

In 1884 he was elected judge of the Circuit Court of the Sixth Circuit of Ohio, to which office he was three times elected, and had he been spared to serve out the term of his last re-election, he would have been judge of this court for twenty-four years consecutively.

He was an able lawyer, and a jurist of spotless integrity. His abiding courtesy and kindly disposition endeared him to every lawyer at the bar, and to his brethren on the Circuit Bench. In the discharge of every duty imposed by any position, to which he was called he brought a conscientious desire for faithful and efficient service.

The lawyers who composed what is known as the pioneer bar of Sandusky County, that is, those admitted under the constitution ending in 1852, were, as a body able men, learned in the profession and successful in its pursuit; and not only were they prominent in the legal pro-

Besides important local offices in city and county acceptably filled, there have come from its ranks eight representatives and senators in the Ohio Legislature; two colonels and two generals in the Union army in the War of 1861; five Members of Congress; a governor