Springfield Township (part 8 of 69)

A line or two about the tax duplicates and tax rates might be interesting. The first authentic record that I could find was for the year 1^53 for the amount of tax duplicate. It was then $2,234,441. In 1858 it had increased to $2,778,370. In i860 it was $3,083,575. It has been increasing each year until it has reached about $17,800,000. The tax rate has varied; beginningin 1834 with I 1-2 miHs. In 1850 it was 4 1-2 mills. At the present time the maximum is fixed by law at 10 mills. It has been slightly decreased each year for the last three years, and has been fixed this year at 9.85 miUs. Much has been said about our low tax rate, and I believe we have enjoyed about the lowest rate of almost any city of our population that has kept pace with city improvements.

I have not mentioned the Board of Education, which is scarcely a department of the city government, but rather a branch of State administration, and I presume some one else has been assigned to treat of the educational department. I may, however, for the sake of completeness, refer to it briefly. It is composed of twelve members, elected in the same manner as Councilmen, and has complete charge of the educational facilities of the city and territory annexed for school purposes. It has the expenditure of a larger amount of money than any other department, and nearly as much as all other departments combined. Much dissatisfaction has always been expressed by taxpayers with the work of this board ; and while there may be room for criticism, yet the educational advantages of Springfield are admittedly first class.

I have purposely left the Board of Elections for last consideration, not on account of its unimportance, for its jurisdiction is the beginning of government in a republic. This board has, probably, more difficult problems to confront it all the time than any other board in the city. Election law and rules are without end, and no one can find the beginning, and the length and breadth thereof cannot be estimated, much less measured. In this matter of elections a vast amount of law and machinery is required to decide which candidate has received the most votes, while none of it is devoted to the question whether the candidate is in the least fit to hold the office. Here is one of the weakest points in our republic, and may we not say the source of almost all others? There is no method possible of adoption that can remedy the defect of incompetent or dishonest officials. It has been supposed that the voting public would look after this, but it has been demonstrated that there is nothing in the proposition. The candidate, however incompetent, of the party in the major- ity, or with the most money, is ahiiost certain of election, although the fitness of the opposing candidate may be acknowledged by all. In fact, personal prejudices or spite enter far more largely into the matter than fitness. So long as this remains true, all discussion of different forms of government is absolutely vain. Put honest, competent men into office, and no form of government is needed. Without such men no form will give good government, Springfield, during all of her political life, has been singularly and unusually free from official scandal or corruption. Not that charges have not arisen from morally irresponsible sources, btit nothing in the shape of convincing proof has been produced.

Manufacturing began with the town, and ever since has seemed as natural to it as the water flowing down hill past it, along which our first industries were located.

The very first business in Springfield was the manufacture of "fire water" by no less a person than Jafnes Demint, the founder of the town, in 1799. He did better afterward, and in 1803 built a grist mill.

At the first census in 1820 the town had flour, lumber, woolen, cotton, and powder mills ; and in 1827, a large paper mill. In 1830, the Bretney tannery was started, and is still in operation by the same family.

In 1840, James Leffel built the first foundry. In 1841, the Barnett Flour Mills were opened, and marked an era in the history of the town, as it was the largest enterprise of the place, up to that time ; and was operated by water brought in a race from a mile and a half up Buck Creek. This attracted to the same vicinity, in a few years, several other factories.

First Agricultural Implements

The agricultural implement business, which first made Springfield famous throughout the land, was begun by William Whitele3% who in 1840 began building plows. It was here, I believe, that our greatest inventor, William N. Whitele}', learned his trade as a machinist, and whose indomitable will, ceaseless activity, and prolific invention, which are a true type of the aggressive spirit and tireless energy that have prevailed here for fifty years, created our great and varied industries, increased our population to 40,000, and made Springfield one of the finest cities of its size in the United States.

In 1842, threshing machines were made by John A. Pitts, and this w-as the beginning of the great industry now known as the O. S. Kelly Company.

The years 1850 to 1856 mark a great epoch in the agricultural implement interest here, for during those years Warder & Brokaw (1850) began making reaping machines; Whiteley, Fassler & Kelly began making reapers and mowers, and Thomas & Mast (1856) began building grain drills, and these interests with their successors and outgrowths, form the extensive industries known today as The Warder, Bushnell & Glessner Company, P. P. Mast & Co., Mast, Foos & Co., The Superior Drill Company, and The Thomas Manufacturing Company. These factories, with the other implement shops of the Whiteley, Kelly, Ross, Evans, Foos and Funk Companies, comprise our agricultural implement group of eleven factories, which today employ 4,000 men and 125 women, using a capital of about $6,000,000, and with an annual product of about $8,000,000, and which, I believe, may be truly called the backbone of Springfield ; and from which there have been many branches.

All these industries, except one, were "born and raised" in Springfield ; and hence, our greatest development has been from within - a gradual growth along safe lines - what might be called legitimate expansion, in which we can all afl^ord to believe.

These other factories have multipHed and grown so fast that today they comprise over one-half of our manufacturing interests in number of employes and annual product - but not in amount of capital used, for the experience here is, that, on the average, it takes $1,500, in money invested, to each employe in the implement business, while in our other kinds of factories $1,000 invested is sufficient to each employe. And in each $1,000 capital in the implement line there is $1,300 annual product - while in our other factories there is $1,800 of product in each $1,000 capital. So that it is a good thing, in every way, to encourage a variety of factories in our city, while at the same time we must maintain our reputation and ascendency in the implement line.

Other Factories

This is a most important group for the implement and other factories here, and stands next to the implement interest in employes, capital and product.

The thirteen factories in this group produce gray iron, malleable iron, and brass castings, machine and shop tools, emery wheels, steel wheels, and nails.

These factories began business from 1872 to 1893, are all flourishing, well established, and give promise of still further enlargement. They are largely the kind that run the year 'round, and we need some more of the same kind - notably rolling mills, for making steel and iron bars, tees, angles, and special shapes in steel. This group contains thirteen factories, employing 1.400 men and 35 women, uses $1,000,000 capital, and its annual output is $1,750,000.

Gas And Steam Engine Group

made by seven different factories; and one of these (James Leffe! & Co.) began business in 1862, on water wheels, and afterward added steam engines. The five making gas and gasoHne engines have all started and developed during the past ten years, but their enterprise is so great, and their expansion so rapid, that they are making it known everywhere that Springfield is the place to buy gas engines, of any size, for any purpose, and to be run by any kind of gas.

Factories Making Iron And Steel Products

The twenty-one factories in this group make furnaces, stoves, architectural iron work, bridges, iron fences, fire escapes, boiler cleaners, railroad frogs, switches, etc. ; clothes wringers, trucks,. undertakers' hardware, electrical specialties, sheet metal work, plumbers' supplies, boilers, roller-bearing axles, wire bale ties, saddlery, hardware, etc. Some of these industries began in the seventies, a few in the eighties, but about half of them started in the last ten years. Most of them have done so well that it is expected others will soon organize, as the field is large, and no better place than Springfield in which to make these lines.

Manufacturing Publishers

All business being so dependent upon some kind of advertising, it is quite natural to find here a group of enterprising publishers, printers, lithographers, engravers, binders, etc., who are issuing four daily, five weekly, two farm papers (one of these - The Farm and Fireside - has probably the largest circulation of any farm paper in this country), besides printed books and circulars by the million, to be sent all over the world, and every piece of it makes Springfield known to some one. Indeed, for a city of its size, I believe Springfield is more universally known than any other American town.

Manufacturing Florists

Alono- with the material prosperity of Springfield, from 1870 to 1890, we were fortunate in developing an extensive florist and greenhouse business.

There are now nine of these houses here, with a growing trade throughout the country - one of them alone is selling two and one-half millions of rose plants each year.

Some local effects of this interesting business were seen this spring, in the numerous and beautiful rose bushes, of the Rambler variety, to be seen all over Springfield, and the many farmers' houses throughout the county, where flowers are now common.

Medicine, Chemical And Coffin Companies

This group comprises four medicine companies, three embalming fluid companies, and two coffin factories, making nine industries in all, employing 275 men and 50 women, using a capital of $500,000, and their annual product is $800,000.

That these concerns are enterprising and up to date, will be conceded, when it is known that one of them is spending $100,000 a year in advertising, and another builds the very best caskets in the world.

General Factories

We also have seven large factories, each one a specialty of its own - (1) Gas plant: (2) electric light plant; (3) rubber factory; (4 and 5") two rul)l)cr tire plants; (6 and 7) two breweries. The product of each is well indicated by its name. They employ 250 men. use a capital of Si, 000.000, and their annual product and receipts arc about $1,000,000.

M Lscellaneous Factories

For those furnishing a house, we make furniture, tables, mattresses, pillows, cushions, fancy seats, gas burners, gas stoves and heaters, awnings.

For the family table, we make flour, corn meal, breakfast food, sausages, baking powder. Saratoga chips, salted nuts, bread, cakes, ices, and cigars for the gentlemen.

Then we also make optical instruments, spectacle cases, wood and metal patterns, hardware specialties, cigar boxes, saddlery leathers (an industry started in 1830), tari)aulins, iron files, electro-plating, and monuments.

This shows a great variety of articles, useful and healthy, beautiful and ornamental, and all contributing to the convenience and happiness of thousands of people.

These factories employ 900 men and 240 women, use a capital of $725,000, and their present annual product amounts to $1,850,000, and growing larger.

Some evidence of the variety of our products was seen at our local exposition held in 1899. where over 200 different machines were on exhibition, and all made in Springfield.

Employment Of Women

If you will recall the figures already given, you will note that in the factories which produce agricultural implements, engines, iron and steel articles, heavy machinery and factory supplies. there are very few women employed except as clerks and stenographers in the offices.

But in the publishing houses, and in the factories, makingpaper boxes, food products and wearing apparel, women are doing a large share of the work ; and the high quality of the goods they are making, shows that our Springfield girls and women are perfectly competent to compete in these lines with their sisters in other cities - so that we are well able to compete with any other town, in the lines of goods where it has come to seem natural for women to be employed - but. for one, I do not want to encourage too much the employment of our girls, outside of homes, where they can do such excellent, natural, and beautiful service, either as wives or mothers, or assistants to their mothers and other housekeepers.

Causes Of Success

First - A group of honest, courageous, energetic, intelligent, competent, persevering men ; such men as would have made a success anywhere - but, of course, we think their success has been all the greater, because they settled in Springfield.

Founders And Earliest Developers

Second - Co-operation. I am told that in the early days, these men were in frequent consultation with each other - .2:iving' advice here, a friendly suggestion there - correcting a mistake here and straightening out a tangle there, and sometimes helping each other at the bank. This co-operation went beyond this city - every traveling salesman sent out by one factory, was told to put in a good, strong word of recommendation for the goods made by our other factories - every dealer who came to town was taken around to the other shops.

Third - Making machines necessary and economical for farmers to use - making them at the right time to supply the growing demand for improved implements - and making the very best machines on the market, and protecting them by patents - machines that talked for themselves, in the fields of the world, and soon made the name of Springfield universally and favorably known, and the fame of its factories world-wide - as the political speaker says, we "point with pride" to the unequalcd excellence of the large line of farm machinery and other articles made here, and we are successfully meeting the world in competition. This can be continued only by staying at the top in quality - indeed, so strong is the feeling here in favor of building only good things, that I verily believe any one who attempted to make a poor article, and put "Springfield" on it, would find his credit at his banker's greatly impaired.

It certainly augurs well for the future that the present generation is so magnificently maintaining the splendid traditions of the past, in its belief that the best is none too good for farmers and others to use, or for Springfield to make.

Fourth - An energetic pushing of the business, in all directions, combined with conservatism in financial matters - not going too fast, nor attempting more than could well be handled.

Employer And Employe

Fifth - While the papers are full of news about conflicts between labor and capital in many of our cities and manufacturing centres, in Springfield you seldom hear those two words spoken at all. As commonly used, these words represent two distinct, opposing and conflicting interests - but here, we do not recognize any such antagonism - both the employers and the employes are on the most pleasant terms with each other, and it is, here, more like one big family than anything else.

Our largest employers, and richest men, have grown up from very modest beginnings, and their employes have grown up with them, until today, a large number of our present manufacturers began as workmen themselves ; and by economy, industry, and push, have now factories of their own, and, year by year, such men are doing a large share in starting other industries, and adding to the variety and the quality of goods made in Springfield.

In looking back over the last fifty years, which embrace the greatest part of our manufacturing activity, I do not know of more than two cases of any special trouble between the men who work in the shops and the managers who work (and worry) in the offices.

This freedom from labor troubles in the past has greatly assisted in the building up of our manufacturing plants, while the existence of such troubles in other places have simply ruined many towns.

It therefore behooves both employers and employes to see to it that the future is kept as free from such difficulties as the past has been ; so that all of us may devote our time and our energies to the further enlargement of the trade of our factories, with a feeling of confidence that our conduct toward each other shall always be sensible, reasonable, and just, remembering there are two sides to most questions, but only one real side to this - our interests being strictly mutual.

Si.vtli - There are very few factories which do not need, at certain seasons, extra money; over and above their capital and surplus. Right here the banks come in, and are expected to supply this money, for the short or long periods required.

That sounds like an easy thing to do, as banks are supposed always to have money. In times of plenty of money, the banks readily respond to requests for loans, but in hard times, when money is scarce, and hard to get, and collections almost impossible to make, then it is that manufacturers need and appreciate moneyed institutions like the Springfield Banks ; and I do not believe any town has banks as liberally conducted, or more free from hard-hearted and arbitrary methods, or more anxious to accommodate customers, and at the same time their affairs are run on safe and conservative lines, as we must always remember that in loaning money, at low' rates of interest, it is highly necessary to have the principal well secured.

First - Honest and competent men. Second - Co-operation. Third- - Making the best goods. Fourth - Push, and plenty of it. Fifth - Freedom from labor troubles. Sixth - Liberal banks.

Success And Failure

Looking back over the hundred years now closing, we can not say that a Paradise of business conditions has ever existed here, and that no failures have ever occurred.

Still, when you take out of the list those who retired from business on account of old age, death, removals, and changes of conditions, you can almost count on the fingers the factories that have actually failed here. The percentage of success is about 98 per cent., and of failures. 2 per cent. This is a most remarkable record, almost approaching an ideal condition, and ought to be a potent argument with those seeking new locations, or desiring to engage in the manufacturing busmess. Surely, no luckier place can be found than Springfield, in which to make things, and there is no place where persons will receive more real encouragement and cordial co-operation, in any kind of legitimate manufacturing business.

Future Prospects

Now, what as to the future of our manufacturing industries ? Those of us now in the business have many more advantages than our founders had - such as abundant shipping, banking, and mailing facilities - and supplies of raw material, and the benefit of the experience of our predecessors. We have in our employ the second and third generations of men in families that have grown up, and been drilled in this line of trade. Our lines of goods are well introduced, and have an established reputation in the markets everywhere - but this kind of business as well as others, is concentrating, and the more dififerent kinds of implements and other articles that are made here, the better chance we will all have of holding and increasing our implement and other trade. Plows and wagons ought to be made here by all means - when nothing- else sells, farmers buy plows and wagons - and these two staple articles built here on a large scale would be of immense benefit to this city. But aside from all these things, our future growth, after all, is going to depend on just about the same fundamental elements that first built up the town.

Extended Trade

The trade of this town is so extended now, that, wherever you go, you will find Springfield represented, either by its products or by its men. Whatever happens all over this earth has an influence here - if rains are short in Australia, not so many of our harvesting machines will be wanted ; if times are bad in Russia, they cannot buy so much of our machine tools ; if the German grass crop is good, they want our mowers and rakes ; if the price of grain goes down, our drills are not wanted so much - but when wheat goes to $i per bushel, we all rejoice and Springfield flourishes.

Activities Involved

The invention, improvement and completion of the machine - buying material and labor, and selling the product - banking, borrowing and collecting - litigation in prosecution and defense - taxes, patents, insurance, water, fuel, light, heat and sanitary arrangements - communications by mail, wire, 'phone and verbal, receiving and entertaining all classes of callers, from the crank to the capitalist - and all this going on all the time, without any cessation, and is so like women's work, never done, that I sometimes wonder more manufacturers do not break down under it ; for we in the trade know what kind of experience a man goes through, and what an all-'round kind of a man he must be, who becomes a successful manufacturer.

Benefits Of Improved Tools

Now, beyond the making and selHng of the goods, and perhaps making some money out of it, I beHeve our manufacturers have had in mind and take much pleasure in, the great benefit to the world there is in the use of these improved tools. We hear a good deal of the man behind the gim ; and manhood, at its best, is the finest product of the earth - but if this magnificent man behind the gun is to do the best execution, he must have the finest gun. Is. not that the case with the farmer - the man behind our machines ? If our modern farmer, scientific, practical, and up-todate, as he is, is to do his best work, he must have the best machinery with which to do it - and right there is where Springfield steps in, and supplies our best farmers with the very best farm machinery made in this world - enabling him to do his harrowing' planting, cultivating and harvesting quickly, economically, and thoroughly, and all he has to do, is to sit on his machine and drive his team - press the button on the lines to the horse's bit, and Springfield's farm machinery does the rest.

Increasing Happiness

I believe our manufacturers here realize and idealize what they are doing - and we do rejoice that we are "increasing the sum of human happiness" when we lighten the hard labor of farming, and shorten the farmer's working hours - giving him and his family some leisure time for recreation and elevation.

"The Gospel Ministry is a sacred calling - but so is yours." "We supply the motives of the larger life - but you furnish the instruments of its attainment."

"We give the impulse to climb ; but you furnish the ladder." "You are among the high priests of the modern world." "To me, every workshop is a temple ; the whirr of the machinery is the music of the organ ; the workmen are the worshipers; the manufacturer is the priest."

Pioneer Day

Tuesday, the 6th, was designated Pioneer Day, at which time the old people of the county were especially invited to be present. Many of them came, some who had seen the lands of Clark County changed from forests into fertile fields, the logcabin give place to the fine farm houses which adorn our townships today, and the rough and often impassable roads transformed into smooth and elegant highways suitable for travel at all times of the year. These old pioneers held pleasant association with each other, and lived over again the many trying experiences, as well as those that were pleasant, of other days. On this day were read papers on the "Bench and Bar," and the "History of the Medical Profession of Clark County."

The arrangement was not out of place, for perhaps no classes of our citizens in early times experienced more inconvenience from necessary travel than the members of the legal and medical professions. Pioneer physicians especially found their practice very laborious, being compelled to visit distant parts of the count\ over roads which at some periods of the year were scarcely passable. At the meeting in the morning, A. P. L. Cochran, Esq., presided, who made an introductory address :

Chairman Of The Day

The General Committee having named me chairman of this morning's proceedings, I beg leave, in recognition of that honor, to submit a few preHminary remarks.

This day is designated on the program as Pioneer's Day, because, after the addresses for this morning have been read, you will hear from some of our oldest residents their recollections of our pioneer ancestors. They will tell you of their habits and customs and manner of living. These recollections will interest and benefit you great h, because we cannot know too much of these sturdy people, and the lesson of their lives is one whose study must redound to our profit and advantage.

They will tell you how, as soon as they provided temporary shelter for themselves, they cast about them to erect the little church and the little schoolhouse, those bulwarks of civilization which have made our city and our State and our country what they are todav. They will tell you they were a God-fearing and Sabbath-observing people: that these were their most marked characteristics, and how. im1)uc(l with tliesc principles, they laid the foundation of our economic and social conditions wbicli liave withstood tlie shocks of one century, and will withstand those of many more, if the descendants prove worthy of their ancestrv.

W'e are hearing much this week of the centurv's progress, and it has lieen great ; but we must remember our pioneer fathers and mothers did not have at their command the churches and schools and colleges and millions of money this generation has at its disposal to accomplish the great results we boast of. And we must further remember that these people planted the social fal)ric which, nurtured by their toil, their energy, and their suffering. has grown into the conditions which prevail today.

But all is not progress that we see around us. Our pioneer ancestors, as we will be told, were a Sabl)ath-obscrving people ; and had they been establishing an ( )hio State Fair, I do not think they would have inaugurated it, as is proposed to be done in this now great State of Ohio next September, b}' opening it on the Sabbath day. They call such action modern liberality ; but a liberality which leads to the infraction of any commandment of Almighty God, promulgated amidst the thunderings of Sinai, is wrong. This is not progress ; it is retrogression.

^'ou will hear today from one of the learned members of our medical profession, who will tell you of the progress in that during the past century. He will tell you of the changes in the practice ; how the old doctor exerted all his skill with the aid of his good lancet, to get the blood out of his patient, and how the modern practitioner exerts all his skill to keep the lilood in his patient. He will also tell you of a modern school which would do away with doctors altogether ; which would have us believe that sickness and disease are mere figments of the imagination, hint as, notwithstanding, we continue to sicken and die as heretofore, we will doubtless always re(|uirc the skill and attention of our medical brethren.

You will further hear today from one of the honored members of m}- own profession, who will tell you of the courts and lawyers of the i)ast. Judge Rockel cannot tell you of the advancement and progress in the legal profession that Dr. Seys will show in the medical, because the fundamental principles of the law are the same todav as when the sun first shone on the hamlet of Spring'field. Aye, the same as when our Savior was horn. Aye, further back, the same as when they were first indicted in Holy Writ : for all principles of law and equity are derived from the Bible.

It is true, the lawyers of today have more books than those of one hundred years ago. Go into a law library and you will find books piled up like Pelion upon Ossa : but they contain no new principles. They simply show the application of old principles to ever-chang"ing" facts.

Our pioneer fathers and mothers builded l:)etter than tuey knew. Whilst self-reliant, they relied chiefly upon God. As a consequence, they laid the foundation of our social fabric broad and deep, and God crowned their efforts with success ; so that today we can proudly lioast of the results of their prayerful efforts.

Success does not attend self-reliance alone. Take Napoleon, one of the greatest military geniuses of the world, as an illustration. In the pride of his success, he boasted that God always favored the strongest battalions : meaning there was no God ; but that all depended on the aliility of the commander and the strength of his army. His own career belied this statement. Let us see. The Sun of Austerlitz shone brightly down on the Moravian plain on that December morning which was to witness the fearful struggle between three empires. Xaught disturbed the quiet of that winter morning save the bellowing of the husbandman's cattle, and the twittering of winter Ijirds. But soon all was changed. Soon that scene of rural beauty was transformed into one of strife and carnage. And as the day wore on. it did seem as if Xapolcon was riglit : that there was no God. His eagle eye had seen that victory was again perched upon the banners of France, and when, to complete the rout of the opposing forces, he ordered the advance of the Imoerial (iuard, history tells he stood upon a little knoll overlooking the bloody field, and with folded arms and a proud smile playing over his face, glanced along the roadway the Old Guard was cutting through the foes of France.

the God of Battles, who holds all in the hollow of His hand, but Whom he did not recognize, was directing the maneuvers of that field which he vainly supposed were under his control. Napoleon little recked that the roadway along which he was then proudly gazing, now paved with dead and dying Austrians and Russian^ was one of the roadways by which, under that God of Battles, he would afterward march to Waterloo.

Napoleon relied upon himself and his boasted battalions. History tells us the consequences. Our pioneer fathers and mothers relied, it is true, upon themselves, but always under the guidance and direction of God ; and all around us today we see and are enjoying the glorious results.

A distinguished lawyer, and a great statesman, who left the impression of his very great intellect in the Senate of the United States and on the bench of our Supreme Court, Allen G. Thurman, once said: "That without any boasting, and without any disposition to brag or boast, it is and has been for a great while my firm belief that, great as has been the bar of other States, there is no State in the Union that has had a bar of greater men than have appeared in the State of Ohio. That is my firm belief. I do not forget the great lawyers of Massachusetts, of Connecticut, of New York, of Pennsylvania, of Maryland, of Virginia, and of Kentucky. I do not forget any of them. ]\Iany of them I have seen and heard with great delight and with great instruction. And yet, I repeat the opinion I have had for many long years, that no State has ever had within its limits an abler and better bar than the State of Ohio."

Having heard this great encomium on the bar of our State, it would be supreme arrogance in me to claim for the bar of the City of Springfield, that it was the equal or the greatest in the State of Ohio. I can say, however, that, taking into consideration the date of the city's organization, its population, and the character of its industries, that the bar of the City of S])riiigtield and the County of Clark, compares favorably with any other city or county of the State. And in point of integrity, honor, and high character of its members, and general standing in the community, it acknowledges a superior nowhere on the face of the earth.

There is no record that any one within the confines of our city or county limits was ever questioned before a court organized under territorial laws. Under the constitution of 1802, it was provided that there should be a Supreme Court of thr^e or five judges, who were required to hold court once a year in each county in the State. This court had original and appellant jurisdiction, both at Common law and in Chancery. By the rapid increase of population in the State, this court was soon greatly overtaxed; allowing the judges thirty days for court in bank at Cohmibus and one day for travel from one county to the other, making no allowance for sickness of the judges or any respite from labor, they had an average of less than seven and one-half days for the annual business of each county. The records, however, disclose the fact that the cases were carefully considered, and the occupants of the bench were men of very great ability. The first session of the Supreme Court that was held in the City of Springfield was in 1805, the judges being Samuel Huntington, Chief Justice; and William Sprigg and Daniel Symmes, Associates. At this session three men were tried for shooting an Indian, whose name was Kanawa-l\ickow. The accused were Isaac Broken, Archibald Dowen and Robert Rennick, who w'ere acquitted. This was before the organization of our county. The first session of the Supreme Court that was held in our county began on July 10, 1819. Hon. Calvin Pease was the Chief Judge, and Hon. John McLean was associated with him. Of this first Chief Justice who graced the bench of our county. Judge Thurman once said, "That he was one of the finest specimens of manhood that I ever saw, dressed in a way that would make a dude faint, the most perfect dress I ever saw on a man, and the nicest ruffles to his shirt bosom, looking the very beau ideal of a gentleman of the olden times."

much of his profession as to dechne a caiuhdacv for the United States Senate, when his election was reasonably assured. He afterward became a member of the Supreme Court of the United States, and served with distin.c^uished ability for a period of thirty-two years. From this time on, until the constitution of 1852, the Supreme Court, with some of its members, g-ave an annual hearing to causes in the County of Clark and in the City of Sprinc^field.

The Common Pleas Court, as orf:^anized by the constitution of 1802, consisted of three members, a presiding- judge, and two associates. They were appointed by joint ballot of both houses of the General Assembly, and held their offices for the term of seven years, "if so long they behaved well." The State was divided into districts or circuits. At first there were but three circuits in the State - these were afterward increased from time to time as business demanded. The composition of this court was very often criticised, and sometimes spoken of as a court of one hundred judges, that is. one judge and two ciphers. In jurv cases, undoubtedly the associate judges, who were not men skilled in the law. were practically ciphers, but in the trial of causes to the court they brought to the aid of the presiding judge, good common sense and business knowledge which was often an invaluable assistance, and aided in making the finding of the court much more satisfactory than the verdict of a jurv.

The first Court of Common Pleas held in Clark County was on April 7. 1818. with ( )rrin Parish as presiding judge; Daniel McKinnon, Joseph Tatman and Joseph Layton. associates. .\t the .August term of 1819, the record shows that Frederick C.rimke was the presiding judge. At the March term of the Common Pleas Court in 1820. Joseph H. Crane was the presiding judge, with the same associates as the first term. .\t the March term of the court in 1822. Samson Mason was, by order of the court, ap- I)ointcd Prosecuting .Attorney of the county. Judge Crane was presiding judge until the close of 1828. when he resigned, having been elected to Congress in the fall of that year. It is said that he was an able lawver and an excellent judge. That his manners and his conduct on the bench were such as won for him the esteem of all who had tran.sactions in the court during his presidencv.

He was succeeded by Hon. George W. Holt, who continued to hold the office until 1834, at which time a new circuit was formed. Over this new circuit, which embraced the counties of Franklin, Madison, Clark, Champaign and Logan, and for a short tme Hardin County, Judge Joseph R. Swan was called to preside. He held the office from 1834 to 1845, when he resigned to return to the practice of law. Afterward, Judge Swan served with distinguished ability on the Supreme Court. But he will no doubt be longer remembered as the author of an incomparable volume on the practice in Justice of the Peace's Court, familiarly knowai as "Swan's Treaties," than as a lawyer or a judge. He was succeeded as presiding judge by the Hon. James L. Torbert, who occupied the position from 1846 until 1852, when the new constitution went into efifect.

Judge Torbert was the first member selected from the Clark County Bar as a presiding judge on the Court of Common Pleas. He was afterward elected Judge of the Probate Court, and was a man of superior attainments and great literary taste. He was modest and unobtrusive. He was a man of strong convictions, and violently opposed to the institution of slavery. He was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 1796; came to Springfield in 1824, and died very suddenly on the 15th of May, 1859, o" board a steamer on the Mississippi River. The associate judges of Clark County from 1831 to 1852 were Daniel McKinnon, William G. Serviss, Joseph Perrin, Ira Paige, John R, Lemon, John T. Stewart, Isaac Paint, John Hunt, Abraham D. Menness and Oliver Clark. The history of our county shows that these associate judges were men of honorable and respectable callings, and lived the lives of useful citizens.

With the advent of the constitution of 1852 came the reorganization of the judiciary of Ohio. The Supreme Court no longer traveled on the circuit. For a while after the adoption of the present constitution one member of the Supreme Court would sit in each county in what was then known as the District Court. The Supreme Court held all its sessions at the City of Columbus. The Common Pleas Court no longer had associate judges, and there was organized a new court which had jurisdiction in probate and testamentary matters, the appointment of executors and

-guardians, and the settlement of accounts of executors, etc., and such other jurisdiction as may be provided by law. This court took awa}- from the Common Pleas Court many of the duties that formerly devolved upon associate judges, and was known as the Probate Court. Under the new constitution, all the judges were made elective, not appointive, as before. The first person to be as judge of the Common Pleas Court of this district was a distinguished member of the Clark County Bar. Concerning the character and qualifications of William A. Rogers no word of disparagement has ever been uttered. None of the present members of our bar ever practiced law before him, and but few have any personal recollection concerning him. Those few who do remember anything about him have only words of praise in refer- to his legal abillity and general versatility. Judge W.H. West says : "He was a man combining both talent and genius, and certainly one of the best lawyers in the Mad River Valley." He was born December 13, 1809, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; studied law in Pittsburg, and in the fall of 1834 removed to the City of Springfield. He became prominent as a Whig in politics and was a delegate to the National Convention which nominated General Harrison in 1840. In 1851, as before stated, he was elected Common Pleas Judge, which position he occupied until 1855, when he resigned his office on account of failing health. And on the 25th of May, of the same year, he died in the City of Springfield. One who knew him well says of him: "He was endowed with a brilliant intellect and with remarkable power of analysis ; he possessed a sparkling wit, was a logician of high order, and his eloquence was rich and impressive; these qualities made him an effective advocate and formidable antagonist in any case which he espoused ; he was a man of broad culture, and of liberal and comprehensive views."

The next person called from the bar of Clark County to the position of Common Pleas Judge is justly entitled to be designated as the greatest jurist that ever came from this bar. William White was born in England on the 28th day of January, 1822, He came to this country with an uncle in 183 1. At 12 years of age he was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker for a term of nine years, but after serving six years of his apprenticeship.

he purchased his time by giving his notes to his master. In 1846 he was admitted to the bar. In 1847 ^^'^s elected Prosecuting Attorney, and three times re-elected. In 1856 he was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. And in 1861 was reelected. In 1864 he was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court, and was three times re-elected. And in 1882 he was appointed by President Arthur, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio, and was confirmed by the Senate, but died before he could qualify for that high position. His death occurring as recent as 1883, leaves a personal recollection of many of his distinguishing characteristics among the older members of our bar. But from the fact that his duties called him away from our city, since 1864, most of the present generation of our lawyers remember nothing more about him than having seen his striking, strong, pleasant face. For twenty-seven years he wore the judicial ermine, stainless and spotless as ever the mantle fell from a human judge. He was an affectionate and devoted husband, a considerate, kind, and indulgent father. His manners were modest, kind and unassuming ; to his brethren of the bar he was the personification of kindness and generosity. His popularity among all classes of people was evidenced by the fact that every time he was a candidate for their suffrages, he led his ticket by many hundreds of votes. He was a man of very great industry. He may have had compeers on the bench who were more brillliant, and quicker to grasp some intricate question of law, but none ever exceeded him in an industrious investigaton and firm determination to arrive at a right and just conclusion. His life was no doubt shortened by his close application to the arduous duties devolving upon him as a member of the Supreme Court.

From 1864 until 1875 the Common Pleas Court was presided over by judges from other counties. In the previous year an additional judge having been granted to this district, James S. Goode, a practitioner at this bar for nearly thirty years, was elected to that important position. Declining a re-election, he served for ten years, with the general approbation of all persons who had business with him in his judicial capacity. James S. Goode was born in Warren County, Ohio, January 22, 1823, and

Avas admitted to the bar in 1848. In the same year he opened an office in the City of Springfield. He was Mayor of the City of Springfield and Prosecuting Attorney for two terms. He died after an illness of but a few days, on April 10, i8c)T. Judge Goode is remembered kindly by all the older members of the present bar, and by many of the younger ones. When he took his seat upon the bench, the docket was crowded by the accumulation of years, justice was tardily administered; "the law's delavs" was much cause of dissatisfaction. He brought to the bench his well-known energy at the bar, and soon made order out of disorder ; and in a reasonably short length of time had the docket in such a condition that a suit could be brought and tried during th.e same term. He deservedly won a high and enviable reputation not only with the public, but with the bar of this and other counties. Imposing in appearance, quick of apprehension, learned and patient, he was an ideal on the bench, and many of the members of the bar have reason to remember his extreme kindnss to them in the earlier years of their professional life. After Judge Goode's retirement from the bar, he practiced law with his son Frank until the latter's death, in 1887. With the death of his only son, Judge Goode seemed to have lost much of his interest in the profession, and from that time vmtil his death did not appear in court very frequently. His long and extensive practice at the bar, with his quickness of mind, made him an exceedingly good Nisi Prius judge.

Judge Goode was succeeded on the bench by Charles Rogers White. Charles R. \\niite was the only son of Judge William White. He was born i'.i the City of Springfield, the 25th day of ]\Tay, 1849. Admitted to the bar 1873, and in 1884 was elected Judge of the Court of Conmion Pleas, and re-elected in 1889. He died on the 29th dav of July, 1890. in the forty-second year of his age. Charles R. Vv'hite was a worthy son of an illustrious father. Ho was c|uicker to arrive at conclusions, and therefore, in the opinion of some, was a better Nisi Prius judge than his distinguished, father. He was studious, honest, and exceedingly sensitive to any act of his which might cause pain to the feelings 01 an.y member of the bar. His dealings with all persons were conducted with the sole ]nirpose of justice and right. He re- vered the memory of his father, and it was the highest ambition of his Hfe to follow in his footsteps ; and should he have lived, no doubt hig-h judicial honors would have fallen upon him. As it was, taken from the bench in the prime of life, he left behind him a memorv cherished by all who came in contact with him.

Upon the death of Charles R. White, Governor Campbell appointed Francis Marion Hagan to fill the vacancy, until the regular election. Judge Hagan was born June lo, 1844, in Mad River Township of this county. By his own efforts he secured his education, and is in every sense of the term a "self-made man." He was admitted to the bar in 1873, and in 1879 and again in 1883 was elected City Solicitor. In 1887 he was appointed postmaster. While Judge Hagan's occupation of the bench was for the brief period of four months, yet it was sufficient to demonstrate the fact that he possessed exceptional judicial qualifications ; and no doubt were it not for the fact that his political belief is not in accord with that of the prevailing party in this district, his judicial career would have been very much extended. Judge Hagan made a careful, painstaking, able, and conscientious judge. Since his service upon the bench he has been engaged in the active practice of his profession, and is now^ the senior partner of the firm of Hagan & Kunkle. In all matters connected with the welfare of the City of Springfield he has always taken a prominent part ; and is chairman of the committee having in charge this centennial celebration.

In 1890, John C. Miller was elected to fill the vacancy made by the death of Judge Charles R. White. In January, 1891, he relieved Judge Hagan, who had been appointed to fill the vacancy until an election. Judge Miller came to the Common Pleas bench with a long career in public life. His father, Reuben Miller, likewise had a long public career in our city and county. He was born in the City of Springfield, April 13, 1834. He was apprenticed as a printer, afterward took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1855. In 1861 he was elected Mayor of the City of Springfield, and in the fall of the same year was elected Prosecuting Attorney of the county, and several times re-elected. In 1869 he was chosen City Solicitor, and held the office by repeated elections until 1876, when he resigned to accept

-the position of Probate Judge, to which office he had been elected in the previous October. This position he held until 1891, when he resigned to accept the position of Common Pleas Judge, to which he had been elected in the previous fall. He was twice reelected to this position. He died September 17, 1900, at his residence in this city. Judge Miller was a familiar character for many years, to the people of the City of Springfield ; he possessed great aptitude for politics, and had few superiors in the managing of men to secure official positions. His learning of the law did not seem to come from books, but rather from strong common sense ; intuitively he seemed to correctly grasp the rights that ought to exist between man and man. He was quick and impulsive, possessed of a temper which at times made him disagreeable to do business with, yet much of this irascibility no doubt came from long and continual ill health. His convictions were strong, and no doubt expressions were sometimes made that carried him beyond his real intention. He had a determined idea of justice and right. Beneath an austere manner and demeanor, was a heart as kind and open to a person in distress as was ever possessed by man. With all his faults - and who has none? - he was a strong, able, conscientious judge, an exceedingly good interpreter of the law, and an upright citizen.

Upon the death of Judge Miller, the bar selected for appointment Jacob Kreider Mower, who was afterward, in the fall -of 1900, elected and now occupies the position of Common Pleas Judge. Judge Mow^er was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, April 4, 1833, was admitted to the bar in 1858, in the same year took up his residence in the City of Springfield. He was City Solicitor from 1868 to 1870, and the next two years a member of the Legislature. Other than serving upon the School Board, these were the only public positions which Judge Mower held until his present one. Judge Mower comes to the bench with ripe experience, gathered from a varied and extensive practice at the bar. His character is high and unblemished, his decisions are prompt and fearless, and he gives promise of making a judicial career equal to that of any of his predecessors.

J48 Centennial Ov

This provision allowing other jurisdiction to be conferred upon the Probate Court has made it a court very little inferior in its importance to the people than the Court of Common Pleas. As^ first intended by many of the members of the Constitutional Convention, it was to be an inferior court which might be presided over by men not learned in thie ilaw. With the extended jurisdiction that has been conferred, it is now universally believed that on account of its importance, its! occupant should not only be a lawyer, but a good lawyer. The first person to fill the position of Probate Judge was not of our profession. James S. Halsey was born in Warren County, December 7, 1804; he came to Springfield in 1822, and served as Auditor from 1826 to 1836; and from 1836 to 1852, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas. Tn the fall of 185 1 he was elected 1^-obate Judge, and served one term. He died in Plymouth, Ind., January, 1876. It has been said of him that "he had an innate scorn of meanness, mendacity and sham, which was as natural to him as it was to breathe the vital air. His charity was large, and while giving unostentatiously, he gave munificently ; indeed, in everything he did there was an entire absence of ostentation, and, next to dishonesty and fraud, it was probably the object of his profoundest contempt." Such were some of the characteristics of the first Probate Judge.

The next Probate Judge was James L. Torbert, of whom we have spoken heretofore as an occupant of the Common Pleas bench. Upon Judge Torbert's death, in 1859, John H. Littler was appointed to the vacancy, and thereafter elected for three full terms, going out of office in 1870.

Judge Littler was born near Winchester, Virginia, September I, 1820. He came to Clark County in his youth. In 1855 he was elected a member of the Legislature of the State of Ohio. In 1857 ^''6 ^^''is admitted to the bar; in 1881, twenty-six years from the time that he first entered the General Assembly of Ohio, he was again elected a member of that body and re-elected in 1883. He died June 8, 1885. Judge Littler was perhaps more of a politician than a lawyer, yet it may, however, properly be said of him that he was a faithful, honest public servant, and a good citizen.

Enoch G. Dial, who was born in Clermont County in 1817. He came to this county in 1845 as a professor in the Springfield Academy. In 1840 he was admitted to the bar. He occupied the position of Probate Jndge for two terms, from 1870 to 1876. In 1879 he was elected and served two terms in the Ohio House of Representatives. He was a man of scholarly attainments, possessed of fine literary taste and ac(|nirements ; active and industrious in promoting- the interests of various character which affected the welfare of the City of Springfield. He was careful and painstaking, and left the reputation of an able, cautious and conscientious judge. He died in 1896-

Judge Dial was succeeded on the Probate bench by John C. Miller, who occupied the same until December. 1890, when he resigned to accept the i^sition of Common Pleas Judge. Madison Over was appointed to fill the vacancy of seven weeks, to February 9, 189 1. when the writer of this paper assumed the position of Judge of Probate Court. He occupied the same for two terms, and was succeeded in 1897 by James P. Goodwin, the present incumbent.

In 1883 an amendment was passed affecting the judiciary of our State bv the organization of a new intermediate court, known as the Circuit Court. Previous to this time, it was the practice for three members of the Common IMeas bench to sit as an appellant court and review actions brought from the Common Pleas. As this court was composed of members who sat in the trial of the case below, it therefore made the judge review his own decision. It was not very satisfactory, and, besides, the Common Pleas Courts, by the increase of business, had so much of the time of their judges taken U]) that, as judges of the District Court, they could not give that consideration to the causes before them that was required. Any way. the people were satisfied to have a new intermediate court. At the first convention to select judges for this new court. Clark County presented the name of Judge Mower, but was unsuccessful in having its candidate endorsed for the nomination. Afterward, when Judge Williams was promoted to the Supreme bench, Clark County agam presented a candidate in the, person of Judge Charles R. W bite, but was again doomed to the disappointment of defeat. In 1894, upon the retirement of Judge Stewart, Clark County again presented a candidate in the person of Augustus N. Summers. This time carrying into execution the x>ld adage that the third time brings success. Mr. Summscrs received the nomination. He was elected in the fall of that year and again re-elected in 1900. Judge Summers was born in Richland County, June 13, 1856' admitted to the bar in 1881. His gentlemanly conduct, courteous bearing, and industrious habits, have made him a wise and successful judge.

Until the year 1887, the Mayor of the City of Springfield performed the duties of a police magistrate. The Legislature of the previous year passed a law creating the office of Police Judge. The first occupant of this position was Luther F. Young. He was succeeded in 1891 by Charles E. Morris, now a resident of Columbus. In 1893, O. B. Trout became Judge of the Police Court, and in 1895 he was succeeded by William R. Horner, whoin turn was succeeded in 1899 by J. J. Milller, the present incumbent. All the occupants of the Police Court bench were members of our bar and are still such with the exception of Charles E. Morris.

This, no doubt, has been the penalty of a large portion of the members of our bar. The court records disclose the individual names of persons who had proceedings there. But otherwise no record appears containing the names of the members of our bar, since the organization of our Common Pleas Court. In order to enable future generations to know who have been so fortunate or unfortunate as to expend their eloquence in our courts, I would suggest that a register be kept by the Clerk of our Court, in which every person practicing there should be required to register. The first attorney whose name appears uport our law record is that of Henry Bacon. Other names closely following are those of George W. Tewett and L Cooley. In the Chancery Court, the first paper was filed by H. Flournoy, and soon thereafter the names of T. C. Flournoy and William Else- berry appear as attorneys. I am not positive that any of these, with the exception of George W. Jewett, were residents of our city. Tewett combined the newspaper business with his law business, and was editor of the "Pioneer." The records of our court would not be an infallible guide to furnish a list of attorneys of our bar ; for, in the earlier times, it was the custom of the lawyers to practice in various counties in the circuit. Throwing their saddle-bags, with a few books, on their horses, they would follow the judges from county to county, either to try causes in each countv. Or in the hope of being retained in some one. Clark County l)cing new, and the City of Springfield young, many distinguished, counsel came from distant parts of the State. From recollection, an early settler has given the names of the following lawyers who practiced law here prior to the adoption of the present 'constitution: George W. Jewett, Piatt, Higgins, Mott. A. G. r.urnett, William A. Rogers. James M. Hunt, William White. T. 1'. Underwood, Joseph P.. Craig, Joseph Anthony, James L. Torbert, Robert W. Carroll, William Gushing, Samson Mason, Charles Anthony and Harvey Vinal.

In 1852, a directory of the City of Springfield gave the occupation of the following persons as attorneys-at-law : Charles Anthony, J. R. Coverdill, John Foos (the directory was mistaken; Mr'. Foos read law. Init was never admitted to the bar), George Frey. J. S. Goode, Samson Mason, Rodney Mason, R. R. McNemar, A.'d. Rogers, Samuel Shellabarger, George Spence, J. L. Torbert. William White, and H. Blair Wilson.

General Samson Alason and General Charles Anthony were by far the most conspicuous members of our bar from 1824 to i860. \\'hile both were of the same political faith, yet they were rivals in politics as well as at the bar. General Mason was more aristocratic in his bearing and deportment, and more scholarly in his attainments, and more popular with the learned and aristocratic clement of our people, while General .Anthony, of fine presence and agreeable manners, was more approachable and more ])opular with those who scorned to belong to what they termed the "cultured aristocracy." General Mason was born in New Jersey in 1793. He was the first Prosecuting Attorney of Clark" County, served a number of terms in the Legislature, w^as eight years in the United States Congress, and (hiring the administration of Mihard FiHrnore was United States Attorney for Ohio, and was a meniher of the Constitutional Convention of 1852. As a lawyer he had a reputation wliich extended heyond the State. His professional circuit emhraced the counties of Clark, Greene, Champaign, Union, Logan and Madison. He was an honest lawyer and faithful manager of all husiness intrusted to his care. His hearing was dignified, and his language that of a scholarly gentleman. He was in every sense of the term a true gentleman of tlw old school. He died in this city, Fehruary 1, 1869.

(leneral Anthony was born in Richmond, \'irginia, and came to Ohio in 1811, and to Springfield in 1824, and died March 31, 1862. His popular manners soon gave him a practice and a prominence at the bar that established him as a worthy rival of General Mason. He was not so fortunate in being elected to public positions, l)Ut for a number of years was a distinguished member of the General Assembly. In 1840 he was appointed by General Harrison as United States Attorney for Ohio, and held it for four years. Always active and enterprising, in all public measures he was foremost. He gave very great attention to the Masonic fraternity, and was elected Grand Master of the State. After his death a new lodoe of Masons was organized in our city which bears his name.

A great lawyer who came upon the scene of action al)()ut the time that Mason and Anthony were drifting awa\- bv reason of old age, was Samuel Shellabarger. In many respects he was the most prominent and gifted of the lawyers that ever honored the bar of Clark County with his presence. He was born December 10, 1817, in Mad River Township, of this county, and died August 7, 1896. in Washington, D. C. Admitted to the bar in 1846, he came to practice law in Springfield in 1848. He was elected to the General Assembly in 1852, and to the Congress of the United States in i860, and served several terms until 1873. In the United States Congress he was recognized as among the foremost of statesmen, and it was said by Blaine that "he was distinguished for the logical and analvtical character of his mind. Without the gift of oratory, paying little h.eed to llie graces of speech. Mr. Shellabargcr conquered by the intrinsic strength of his argument, \vhich generally amounted to demonstration. His mind possessed many of the qualities which distinguished Mr. Lincoln." After retiring from Congress, he removed to Washington for the purpose of practicing his profession, and was engaged in many of the most important matters of litigation that appeared in the Supreme Court of the United States. His industry and faith to duty and to his country were crowning virtues; he was as good an example as the history of our profession furnishes, of an able, learned and Christian lawyer.

George Spence's name appears upon the record about the same time as ^\r. Shellabarger's. He was born in Pike Township in 1828, and was admitted to the bar in 1850. died Februar)' 6, 1895. He had the reputation of being the best jury lawyer that ever appeared in our court. Popular in his manner, he had a larger personal acquaintance in the days of his prime than any person in our county. Active in l)ody. with a wonderfully live and vigorous mind, he brought into the trial of his cases great vigor. His argument in a cause was sometimes compared to zigzag lightning - you never knew where it was going to strike, but it was sure to strike somewhere, and with great force. Mr. Spence had the misfortune of not receiving what might be termed a good education, and his environments and associations in early life were not su ch as led him to the highes elevation of a good citizen. Naturally, he had a mind which, perhaps, never was surpassed by any member of our bar. He was active and energetic in matters pertaining to the welfare of our city. A Democrat in politics, prevented his acquirement of political positions. l>ut for many years he was acknowledged as one of the uheel-horses of that partx . He was a delegate to the celebrated Charleston Convention, in i860, which adjourned to Baltimore and nominated Stephen A. Douglas for the Presidency, which precipitated the terrible civil conflict of 1861. Large investments and loose business habits caused Mr. Spence to lose his property in his declining (lavs. He ])ossessed many excellent traits of character, and was very faithful to the interests of clients confided to his care. In his long active professional and business career he aided manv persons needing aid and assistance. W bile

Purely as a lawyer - and he sought distinction in no other way, excepting that of good citizenship - Samuel A. Bowman had no peer at the bar of Clark County, and but few in the State of Ohio or the United States. He was born at Zanesville, January 13, 1832. graduated from our own Wittenberg College in 1852, and commenced the practice of law in the City of Springfield in 1854, continuing in a large and lucrative practice until the day of his death, which occurred July 5, 1895. His early associations with General Mason gave him a large clientage in his younger days. He was purely a lawyer, and his profession washis only ambition. His practice extended throup"!! all the courts of the United States, and he was able and worthy to meet any adversary in that broad field. He possessed a mind of great natural vigor, which was trained to its highest capacity by methodical study, reading and thought. Often on the street his mind was engrossed with thoughts of matters pertaining to his profession, and he would pass a friend without recognizing^ him. This gave the impression to many people that he was aristocratic in his ideas and selfish in his disposition. It is true he was not a good "mixer" with the populace ; as a politician he was not a success; but as to all his dealings with man, he was just and generous. He had the power to grasp the salient features of his case to a wonderful degree, and could plan and formulate the method of action and execute a defense second to none. He was the originator of the beautiful Ferncliff Cemetery, the Savings Bank, the Associated Charities, and other matters pertaining to the city's welfare. Three sons - Edmond O., John E., and Border - continue the lucrative practice left them by their father, and exhibit many of his distinguishing characteristics, Border giving his attention chiefly to the practice of Patent Law, in which his noted father was an adept.

In 1864 the names of the following persons are given as practicing law at our bar: Aaron Cochran, A. P. Linn Cochran,^ David M. Cochran, John B. Hagan, D. A. Plarrison, Saul S. Hinkle, Samson Mason, Samuel Bowman, T. J. Pringle, J. K. Mower, George C. Richardson, Joshua D. Sharon, Samuel Shel- labarger, J. S. Goode, George Spence, John McGaffey, and H. Vinal. David M. Cochran, a brother of A. P. Linn Cochran, died the latter part of the sixties. He was a very brilliant lawyer, possessed of many excellent traits.

There are other members of our bar whose names do not appear in the list above given, who died in early age or removed to other scenes of action. James Willis came within forty votes of being elected Mayor, and died suddenly about the year 1870. He was a young lawyer of brilliant parts and promising future. Milton Cole, a member of this bar, was born in 1848, elected Mayor of the city in 1875, and again in 1877; was a man of quiet demeanor, with considerable legal ability. For a number of years before his death he suffered from a paralytic stroke, which incapacitated him. He died in 1894. J. J. Hanna, a member of this bar and Mayor of the city in 1870, removed from the city, and shortly thereafter died. J. F. Oglevee was a former member of this bar and partner of General Keifer, served as County Auditor from 1871 to 1874 ; thereafter represented this county two terms in the Legislature, and was State Auditor for a number of years, and is now a resident of Columbus, engaged in manufacturing.

Frank C. Goode, son of Judge James S. Goode, was born in this city in 1853, admitted to the bar in 1875, and died in 1887. He was a young man having many of the striking characteristics of his distinguished father, and, had not death called him so soon, would no douht have had a very distinguished legal career. Willis S. Walker, son of General Moses Walker, of Kenton, was for a short time a member of our bar. Afterward he was Chief Clerk in the Secretary of State's office under General Robinson. From there he went West, and died in the prime of young manhood. He was of studious habits, and, for his age, a verv good lawyer.

John D. lUirnett, who died in January. 1899, was a member of our bar. but for many years was not actively engaged in the profession. He is remembered as a kindly old gentleman who painstakingly and carefully looked after the interests entrusted to his care. John H. Thomas was admitted to the bar in 185 1, but soon thereafter went into the manufacturing business, in which he acquired great wealth. In later years he mingled some in State politics, but held no important positions. Percy Norton, James Homan and Randolph Coleman, one time members of our bar, are now also engaged in the more lucrative calling of manufacturing. George Frey, who \\'as a member of the bar in 1852, and is yet alive and with us, was but a short time if ever an active practitioner. The venerable Thomas F. McGrew was for nine years an active member of the Steubenville bar, but never practiced here.

William D. Hill, later a Congressman in Northern Ohio, was at one time a member of our bar and Mayor of the city in the early sixties. Charles Evans, who was afterward a Common Pleas Judge in Cincinnati, and now a practicing member of that bar, was a member of our bar during the latter part of the sixties. There was also about the same time an attorney by the name of Jacob R. McGarry, a member of our bar, who afterward went to Cincinnati. From the time of his admission, in 1868. until 1893, when he left for New York City, no one was better known at our bar than Edward S. Wallace, who was born in Kentucky in 1846 and came to Springfield in 1855. Mr. Wallace was a man of commanding presence, versatile in thought and action, popular in manner and demeanor. His greatest force was in the criminal practice, where his fine appearance and great oratorical powers gave him more than ordinary success. He was a brilliant conversationalst, but not as careful and cautious in his habits as he might have been. He was at one time a Democratic candidate for Attorney General, afterward elected as an independent candidate for Mayor, and still later chosen by the Republicans of Clark County as their candidate for Congress.

Of the present members of our l)ar in active practice, (jeneral Keifer is the oldest as well as the most distinguished. He is strictly a product of Clark County, born in Bethel Township. January 30, 1836. Admitted to the bar in January, 1858; entering the Civil War in 1861, he rose to the rank of Brevet Major General of Volunteers in 1865. In 1876 he was elected to Congress and thereafter re-elected three times. In 1881 he was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1898 he was appointe4 a Major General of Volunteers in the Spanish War. While not engaged on the field of war or in the halls of Congress, General Keifer was an active, energetic member of our bar, and still continues to be such. He never in his life knew what it was to be idle or take a vacation. A few years ago there was issued from the press a very creditable work of which he was the author, entitled, "Slavery and Four Years of War." He was an excellent soldier, an energetic legislator, a good lawyer, and in all respects ever was and still is a good citizen of our community. It is the wish of all that he may long continue to remain with us.

Among others of our older members of the bar, whose namej« I would not be justified in omitting, is .\. P. Linn Cochran (the honorable chairman of this day). Mr. Cochran was born (1 presume he will not have any objection to my stating his age) in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, 1836, and came to our bar in 1859. Since that time he has been a lawyer, walking strictly in the higher plane and true nobility of a lawyer in his chosen profession. The reason that he has not received distinction elsewhere is because he would not accept official positions. I need not say to you that which you all know, he is a citizen "whom all would delight to honor."

T. J. Pringle was born in Clark County, near South Charleston, in 1838, and admitted to our bar in 1864, and was Prosecuting .\ttorney shortly thereafter for seven years. Mr. Pringle is too well known to everybody to need any particular comment.

He is of fine appearance, affable and genial, and during his career at our bar was as well beloved for his kindly social qualities as any member who ever graced it by his presence. Mr. Pringle served two terms as State Senator from our Senatorial District.

George C. Rawlins, a present, able, active, and energetic member of our bar, was Prosecuting Attorney from 1876 to 1880, and thereafter served with distinguished honor for two terms in the lower house of the General Assembly. Walter L. Weaver served ten years creditably as Prosecuting Attorney, and from 1896 to 1900 was an able member from this district to the United States Congress.

Chase Stewart served two terms as Prosecuting Attorney, from 1889 to 1895 ; and from 1895 to 1899 he served two terms in the General Assembly. Horace W. Stafford has served two terms as Prosecuting Attorney. M. T. Burnham and D. Z. Gardner have each ably served one term as City Solicitor. Albert H. Kunkle creditably filled the position for four successive terms. Victor Y. Smith is the present incumbent of that office. John L. Plummer very ably served one term as State Senator from this Senatorial District.

Frank W. Geiger is now Referee in Bankruptcy. J. F. McGrew served two terms in the Legislature. He was a prominent member and came very near being elected Speaker. He is a good public speaker and now President of the Commercial Club.

James Johnson, Jr., a good lawyer and good fellow, creditably served one term as Mayor. John B. McGrew is the present Prosecuting Attorney. Oscar T. Martin and George Arthur, both eminent members of our bar, have never held public positions. Mr. Arthur has not, for the reason that he belongs to the party in the minority, and, further, that he thinks more of his profession than he does of political positions. Mr. Martin has not occupied public positions solely for the reason that he wishes to devote all his time and energy to the practice of his profession, and by doing so he has built up an enviable practice and bids fair in the not far distant future to be the leading member of our bar.

Tbere arc otlier members of our bar wbo, by their merit, are entitled to distinct mention in this paper, and some of whom no doubt have occupied positions of trust and honor. But these matters are common to the knowledge of all, and the limits of my paper will not permit them to be individualized.

On several occasions in the past the bar has organized for the purpose of advancing the interests of its members and maintaining the dignity of the profession. But for various reasons about a'll that would be accomplished, would be a meeting, some strong speeches about maintaining the dignity of the profession, possibly an assessment for dues, an election, and then - a quiet, unobtrusive death. However, probably by reason of the interest that the bar has in maintaining an excellent law library, the present Bar Association has had a longer existence than any of its predecessors and bids fair to remain with us for some time to come. The present Clark County Bar Association was organized July 6, 1888, with Hon. J. K. Mower as President; A. N. Summers, Vice President ; W. M. Rockel, Secretary, and George S. Dial, Treasurer. In March, 1892, for the purpose of raising money to buy books for the library, it became incorporated. An enjoyable feature of the meetings of this Bar Association is the custom that has come into vogue, of the new President, on his induction into office, annually, giving a spread to which all members of the bar are invited.

The Bar Association formerly met monthly, and should do so now in compliance with its by-laws, but usually the meetings are only held annually, or at the call of the President. There is an annual fee of five dollars attached to the membership, which is applied to the fund for the purchase of books to keep up the library. The present officers of the association are : James Johnson, Jr., President ; F. W. Geiger, Vice President ; Jacob N. Harner, Secretary, and Clement Collins, Treasurer. This sketch of our bench and bar would be incomplete did it not contain a word in reference to our present excellent lilirary. Woni the beii'inning" of a few volumes, it iia? grown until it now numbers nearly three thonsaml volumes at a total cost of about $10,000. i'or a considerable time the matter of a library had been a subject of speculation and discussion among- the members of our bar. and when the new Court House was completed, a room was provided for that purpose. lUit. like nuiuy other things, it needed something to make the start in that direction. In 1886 or 1887, in a casual conversation. Judge Charles R. White remarked that he had a fund in his hands as treasurer of a defunct r>ar Association, and that he would like to be relieved of his responsibility, but there was no knowledge of the persons who had contributed the fund, or to whom it should be returned. The writer suggested to him to invest it in books, for the nucleus of a library in the Court House. He responded that if the consent of certain members of the bar, whom he presumed had contributed the fund, would be secured, he would gladly turn it over for that puqsose. The consent of such members of the bar having been obtained, and the fund turned over to the writer, it was b\' him invested in the \\'est System of Reporters. The bound volumes were placed in the library anil the advanced sheets were kept at the writer's otfice until a librarian was appointed. The fund amounted to $30<S. Afterward, upon the organization of a Bar Association, a Roard of Trustees was appointed for the librarv. This first board was composed of Judge C. R. \\'hite, Oscar T. Martin and \\'. M. Rockel. Afterward A. S. Rogers. Albert H. Kunkle. F. M. Hagafn. with Rockel and White, constittited the board. By this time it was ascertained that the library of George Spence could be purchased for a very reasonable sum. A contribution was taken up among the members of the bar. and the library purchased. This was the tirst substantial addition to the previous purchase of the \\est Reporters. Judge ?^ lower has been an active member of the Board of Trustees for the Library for the past ten years. The Legislature having in the meantime passed a law permitting the court to appoint a librarian, Mr. Oliver H. Miller, a member of the bar. accepted the position for a number of years and turned the salary over to be applied in the purchase of books. Funds were also received from certain

Gexebal Samson Masox

General Samson Mason was born in Xew Jersey, 1793; died in Springfield, Ohio, 1869. He was a noted lawyer in Southwestern Ohio. He served in both branches of the Ohio State Legislature. He reached the rank of major-general in the militia of the State. He was elected to Congress in 1834 and served four successive terms in that body. During the administration of Millard Fillmore he was United States District Attorney for Ohio. He was a member of the convention that formed the present Constitution of the State, in 1850- 1, and was an influential personage in that body. In all movements for the improvement of Springfield materially and morally. General Mason was always interested, and helped in every good cause to the extent of his ability.

Genekat. Charles Anthony

General Charles Anthony was born at Richmond, Virginia. He came to Ohio near the beginning of this century. He was a member of the Springfield Bar from 1824 to 1862. He was elected three times to the State Legislature, and served in the position of Speaker of that body, an office that he administered with much ability and dignity. He also served in the Senate. He was widely known as a campaign speaker, and had many invitations to address the people on the questions of the day. He held the office of United States Attorney for Ohio from 1841 to 1845. General Anthony was a noted Mason, and was elected Grand Master of the State. He was a man of integrity and force of character, and was popular w itli all classes. He dieil in 1862.

Police Court fines. In order to increase the usefulness of the library and secure the purchase of more books, in 1892 the Clark County Bar Association was incorporated and shares of stock of fifty dollars each were issued. In these various ways, and from time to time, funds were secured, with which the excellent library now in the Court House was procured. A complete set of the reports of all the important States of the Union are now on its shelves, together with modern digests and encyclopedias. A subscription has just been made for the English Reports. W. F. Bevitt and Charlotte Cross have been the accommodating librarian and assistant librarian for some time. The present trustees are: Judge J. K. Mower, Judge A.. N. Summers, Judge F. M. Hagan, Oscar T. IMartin, J. E. Bowman, J. F. McGrew and W. W. Keifer.

at onr bar. It can be trutbfully said that there is no class of persons in the community that stand higher than the members of the bar. In the last one hundred years but one member was disbarred from practice. Generally, in all matters that pertain to the welfare of our citv and county, they are found ever contending for that which will bring prosperity and honor to our city and its people. If the next hundred years can show as bright a history as the past one hundred, the Bar of the City of Springfield can indeed well be proud of its record.

County

The fact that there is Httle in the profession of medicine that becomes matter of record, so far as its members are concerned, has made it no easy task to get the names and still more difficult to learn any facts of the history of the early doctors of our county.

They came and settled in this field of labor ; led lives of hardship, exposure and toil, anxiety and responsibility, had their friends and enemies, sought other scenes or died, and were soon forgotten.

Their names are but traditions that linger in the memories of those who are soon to leave us forever. Only now and then can be found a descendant who can tell us some little of those good men, who so well filled their places in the community. No records have been left of them, save the most meager, and in many cases their names can only be found on some moss-covered stone on which scant proof beside "some letters tell that they have lived and died."

It is not the ol)ject of this paper to deal with the Hving or those who, though dead, are not to he classed as pioneers. To Dr. Isaac Kay and Dr. John H. Rodgers I am indebted for very much of the material at mv disposal. In April, 1816, a Medical Society existed in Dayton. How far its jurisdiction extended, I do not know, but the records show that on that date, by virtue of authority derived from the State, they licensed four men who. for many years, were well-known physicians, and two of whom became citizens of Springfield, Drs. Isaac Hendershott and W. A. Needham. The others were Dr. Joshua Martin, of Xenia, and Dr. Carter, of Urbana.

It might be well to state here that in those days not many of the practitioners of medicine w^re graduates of medical colleges. The lack of means, the distance and difificulty of travel, compelled many to forego the advantages thus to be obtained, and perforce they were content to learn what they might from their preceptors and obtain a license from the Board of Censors of some Medical Society. This was the course ordained by the laws of this State at that time, and consequently, the "Board of Censors" of each Medical Society became an important factor in the medical history of each district.

It is impossible to separate the medical history of Clark County or Springfield from that of the surrounding counties, from the fact that in 1824 the Ohio General Assembly divided the State into twenty districts for Medical Societies, Montgomery and Clark Counties being joined together, forming the Seventh District.

Drs. John Steel, Job Haines, William Blodget, W. A. Needham, Richard W. Hunt, Elijah Laurence and Ambrose lUount organized the Medical Society for this district. Drs. Richard Hunt and Ambrose Blount were chosen members of the P.oard of Censors.

The society met semi-annually in Dayton, Fairfield and Springfield. At a meeting held in Dayton, A^'ay, 1828, the following ofificers were elected : President, William Blodget ; Lot Cooper, Vice President; William Mount, Secretary and Treasurer; A. Blount, E. Laurence, H. Alexander, W. A. Needham and R. E. Stevens, Censors. The membership was twenty-e:ght.

Of them, only Dr. Blount, Dr. Hunt, Dr. Xcedhani, Dr. Towler and Dr. Job Haines were, so far as I can learn, citizens of Springfield, and Dr. E. Laurence and Robert Houston of the county.

Others came, some to find here a home for a shorter or longer period, among them a Dr. Nourse. Of him I can get no record, save that he lived here about a year, then entered the navy and died in the service.

Of those whose names have been mentioned but little can be said. Dr. Richard H. Hunt was born in Greenwich, Cumberland County, New Jersey, in 1780. Came west while young, settled in Cincinnati, and moved to Springfiekl in 1809. He married Miss Frances Reeder, then living near the McClure farm on the Old Yellow Springs road, some three miles south of Springfield. The date of his death I have not learned. One daughter, Miss Sophia Hunt, is still living in our city.

Dr. Job Haines, also from New Jersey, was born in 1791. graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in the spring of 181 5. Stopped for a short time in Cincinnati, moved to Springfield, formed a partnership with Dr. Hunt, moved to Dayton in 181 7. and died there in i860, aged 69 years.

Dr. W. A. Needham, who, though dead this many a year, still lives in the memory of some of our oldest ctizens. He was born in Shoreham. Vermont. 1776. There is no knowledge of when or where he studied medicine. He served as surgeon in the Vermont militia, his commission being still in the family. Came to Springfield in the fall of 181 3, first living near Lagonda. which, because of him. was called "rillville." He afterward lived in a cabin in the southwest corner of Columbia and Factory streets until 1 81 7, when he moved into his own new frame house on the southwest corner of Main street and the first alley east of Limestone street. This building was recently torn down by Elder & Tuttle, when they built the addition to their store room. In this house he died, August 13. 1834, of some epidemic disease, after an illness of only four days. He had three daughters. The oldest. Amelia, married Jonah Baldwin ; the next. Alice, married Cyrus Ward and lived in Urbana ; the youngest, Minerva, married Samson Mason. Dr. Needham was buried in the old Columbia Street Cemetery.

Of Dr. Hendcrshott no record can be obtained. He was a member of the Clark County Medical Society when Dr. Kay and the speaker joined it in 1853. I find no record of his death, which I believe occurred not far from 1856. One daughter died in the frame house on East ]Main street, east of Spring street, about 1855. One son was in the army. Of him I have no history.

Dr. Robert Rodgers, whom to know was to love and respect, was a man whose influence on the community was wholly for good, and whose memory will ever be held in honor by those who knew him, was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1807, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He studied medicine at Shippenburg, Pennsylvania, graduated at Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1828; came to Springfield, July 4. 1833, and practiced here until his death in i88r. His descendants are still with us - they need no introduction to this audience.

Contemporaneous with Dr. Rodgers was Dr. Benjamin Winwood. Born in England, he came to this country in 1804. graduated in Baltimore, Maryland, in 182 1 ; came to Springfield in 1832. He died in the Government service in Nashville, Tehn., in 1866.

The Gillett Brothers also were noted men in the profession of those days. The younger brother, Harvey, did not devote himself entirely to medicine, living on his farm, east and south of the city. Berkley, the older brother, Avas bom in Vermont, November 10, 1791 ; moved to Springfield, Ohio, from New- York State in 1834. He was a man of strong personality and large, progressive ideas, and was well and favorably known by a large constituency throughout the county. He was identified with many of Springfield's early and best interests, being among the first projectors of the school afterward known as the "Methodist High School." He ranked with the first of his profession, and died October 9, 1855. Dr. Berkley Gillett was an important member of the profession in those days.

With Dr. Rodgers begins the history and records of his profession in this county. On the eve of March i, 1838, a meeting was held in his office and the initial steps taken to form the Clark County Medical Society. On the 4th of April the organization was effected. The meeting was held in the Buckeye Hotel, on East Main street. Dr. Isaac Hendershott, President; Dr. Smith, Vice President; Robert Rodgers, Secretary; M. ]\Iurdock, Treasurer; Censors, Berkley Gillett, E. W. Steel, Robert Rodgers. There is no record of those present. The names of Towler, Happersett, Steel, Winwood, Garst and Houston are found on the minutes. To the constitution are signed the names of Isaac Hendershott, Benjamin Winwood, Berkley Gillett. Elias Garst, Robert Houston. William Murdoch, Robert Rodgers. Michael Garst and James Robbins.

I shall not weary you with a longer history of this organization. It had its seasons of prosperity and of decadence. New names are found on its roll and others disappear. In 1839 the society died of malnutrition, to be reborn May 31, 1850.

The officers elected were : President, Robert Rodgers ; First Vice President, Berkley Gillett; Second Vice President. Isaac Hendershott ; Secretary, E. M. Buckingham ; Treasurer, George Bunyan; Censors, Gillett, Cook, Stockstill, Bunyan and Robert Rodgers.

Of other branches of the profession I find nothing of certainty. Dr. Starr and Dr. Saul were the first Homeopaths, I believe, to settle in Springfield, Ohio. I can leani nothing of the date. They were followed by others, who are modern and cannot be classed as pioneers.

Of all the men who have settled in our county, none obtained so great celebrity as Dr. Alexander Dunlap. He settled here, I believe, about 1856. At that time abdominal surgery was practically unknown - ascepsis unthought of; a few bold spirits believed that ovarian tumors might be successfully removed. By many of the profession in these earlier days the operation was considered little less criminal than nuirder. Dr. Dunlap was one of the first to endorse the procedure and become known worldwide by reason of a fair share of success, in this, then, almost unknown and little practiced attempt, to relieve suffering humanity and prolong life.