Weston Township (part 5 of 15)

1852. A large number of Irish and German settlers and two Englishmen were naturalized. In October, 1854, Coroner John Elder was acting sheriff, and in 1855 John Webb was clerk. On October 5 of the latter year, no less than 444 men asked the court to be admitted as citizens of the United States. In February, 1856, William

M. C. Whiteley presided. From September 20, 1852, to March 5, 1857, there were 502 settlers admitted to citizenship, the great majority registering before the fall elections. In June, 1857, C. W. Norton was present as sheriff. The judges of the Tenth District in December, 1858, were M. C. Whiteley, George E. Seney and Josiah S. Plants; while in February, 1859. M.'C. Whiteley, William Lawrence, A. Sankey Latty and George E. Seney signed the rules then adopted for the Third Judicial District. In February, 1861, Judge Whiteley, with Gabriel E. Guyer, sheriff, and William H. Jones, clerk, were present, and again during the summer and fall terms - the records, like the Commissioners' Journal, containing not one reference to the Civil war. The conviction of Walters for murder in the second degree, in February, 1862, and of Rachel Ann Nicely for manslaughter, in March, 1862, were part of the excitements and troubles of war times. On September 1, 1862, Mrs. Moore, of Tontogany, was killed, and a Mrs. Thomas wounded, by the irritated husband of the first named and the father of Mrs. Thomas. He was sentenced to the penitentiary, and died there. In October of that year, John McGowan was prosecuting attorney. In March, 1863, Judge A. S. Latty presided. One year later, James W. Knaggs appeared as clerk, who appointed Thomas J. Webb and W. S. Eberly his deputies.

Wood Countt, Ohio

In 1865 Charles W. Evers succeeded C. C. Baird, who was acting sheriff, vice Guyer, resigned. In 1866, George Weddell signed the record as clerk. One of the features of the March term of 1867, was the memorial resolution, presented by Asher Cook, on the death of 'Lieut. George N. Parsons (formerly auditor of this county). It was signed by the members of the Bar, then present, namely: Henry H. Dodge, J. F. Price,

Asher Cook, James R. Tyler, J. M. Hord, John A. Shannon, S. B. Price, John H. Reid, George Strain, P. S. Slevin, E. Tuller, D. K. Hollenbeck, F. Hollenheck and Willard V. Way. About this time, the returns of the election of 1866, for and against the removal of the county seat, were presented to the court and spread on the record. In 1868, Judge James Pillars took his seat, and, in June following, Judge Mott was called upon to give judgment in the matter of the removal of the county seat.

In 1870, Judge Pillars was here with George Weddell, clerk, and John W. Brownsberger, sheriff. In 1872, Andrew D. Stewart was clerk, and in 1874 Charles C. Baird was sheriff. In December, 1875, the contested election of William A. Benschoter, as prosecutor, was tried. The election returns of Qctober, 1875, showed 5,217 votes for Jasher Pillars, the contestor, and 4,068 for Benschoter, and on these figures Pillars was adjudged the legal holder of the office. Judges Pillars, Latty and Beer were present in March, 1876, in District Court. Orrin Henry appeared as sheriff in January, 1877; in March, 1878, Selwyn N. Owen, and Pillars and Latty were here as District Court judges, and W. S. Eberly as clerk. On May 6, 1878, Judge Henry H. Dodge succeeded Judge Pillars, and the procedure and usages, which now obtain, were fully introduced.

The cases presented to Common Pleas, since 1878, compass many important civil ones, and not a few heavy criminal ones, such as those which led Bach and Grove to execution. The trials growing out of the death of Mrs. Peany,

1 894, brought forth the best efforts of prosecution and defense. The opening of the gas and oil fields of Wood county, the extraordinary stampedes, town-building and general activities of the last ten years, introduced new men, new manners, new criminal and civil causes, and changed, in a measure, the local notions of former times. Of course, invincible ignorance still exists in very vicious forms; but its influence is bounded by the ever-growing intelligence of the people who naturally incline toward justice. The Common Pleas journals, numbering from 1 to 36 (the last being opened in February, 1895), contain the minutiae of transactions for seventy-five years. The first thirteen volumes cover the business of the Common Pleas for almost fifty-five years, while twenty-three books and many supplementary records have been required for the last twenty years, exclusive of the voluminous records of the Probate Court since 1852.

Judicial Districts. - The old district, under the Constitution of 1802, embraced all northwestern Ohio down to 1830, when this Judicial Circuit included Wood, Huron, Richland, Delaware, Sandusky, Seneca, Crawford, Marion, Hancock, Henry, Williams, Putnam, Paulding and Van Wert counties. The Assembly of 1838-39 established the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, embracing the counties of Wood, Seneca, Henry, Williams, Paulding, Putnam, Allen, Hardin, Hancock and Van Wert. On February 19, 1845, the Judicial Circuits were reconstructed. The Constitution of 1851 abolished the office of president judge, and created five great circuits, or one for each of the Supreme Court justices, who were excused from attending in 1863 or 1864.

That Constitution of 1851 abolished the office of associate judge, and provided for the establishment of a Probate Court. Under the Constitution of 1802, the Court of Common Pleas, represented by the president or any one of the associate judges, considered all probate cases; but the New Constitution blotted out the associate judges, and removed such cases to the newly established Probate Court. District Courts were held here from 1852 to 1884, one of the Supreme Court judges, with two district judges, being generally present. It was really the successor of the county sessions of the Supreme Court.

In 1853, Wood, Seneca, Wyandot, Hancock and Crawford were placed in the Third Sub- District of the Third Judicial District. In April, 1857, the Legislature authorized the election of an additional judge for this Sub-District. In April, 1858, this territory was made a Sub-Division of the Tenth Judicial District, but on May 1, 1862, the Tenth was disestablished and the Third reorganized. The Act of 1868 provided for an additional judge, and, though that Act was repealed in 1 879, the office exists under the Act of 1879. In 1879 the First Sub-Division of the Tenth District was recreated to embrace Wood, Seneca, Hancock and Hardin, and Judge John McCauley was elected in April of that year as additional judge for this First Sub-Division. The judges of the circuit, at the close of 1894, were elected, one under the Act of 1879, and two un-

Judges of Common Pleas. - In the following list the president judge holds first place, and the names of the three associate judges follow the date:

Under the Constitution of 1851, and- the several Legislative Acts reconstructing judicial districts, the following named judges were elected and presided over the Common Pleas Court of Wood county: Lawrence W. Hall, 1852; M.

C. Whiteley, 1857; A. Sankey Latty, 1863; Chester R Mott, 1866; James Pillars, 1868-78; Henry H. Dodge, 1878-83; John McCauley, 1879- 84; Henry H. Dodge, 1883-88; George F. Pendleton, 1884-89; John H. Ridgeley, who was elected (under the Act of 1868), served as additional judge from 1888 to February, 1893; Artemus B. Johnson, from February, 1889, to February, 1895, (under the Act of 1 879) ; J. W. Schaufelberger (under the same Act), from February, 1893, to the present time, his term not expiring until February, 1898; and Charles M. Melhorn from February, 1895, to the present time, his term not expiring until February, 1900.

Circuit Judges. - The judges of the Circuit Court, re-establshed in 1884, were Henry W. Seney, Thomas Beer and John J. Moore. So far as the Sixth Judicial Circuit is concerned, they are Charles H. Scribner, elected in 1886 and re-elected in 1892; Charles S. Bentley, elected in 1888, and E. B. King, elected to succeed Judge Charles S. Bentley, who was elected in 1884 to serve two years, and was re-elected at the end of his term for six years. George R. Haynes was elected in November. 1 896.

Probate Judges. - The judges of the Probate Court, since its establishment, are named as follows: Asher Cook, 1852; John A. Kelley, 1855; J. F. Price, 1857; William Ewing, 1858; Daniel W. Poe, 1 861: Edwin Tuller was appointed in 1863, vice Judge Poe, resigned; was elected in 1863, and re-elected in 1866, but resigned in 1869, when John A. Bonnell was appointed; George C. Phelps qualified in 1869; John Reed, 1879; Frank M. Young, 1885; Guy C. Nearing, in 1891, and Stephen A. Angus, in November, 1896.

Transactions of Supreme Court. - A Supreme Court record, now in possession of Clerk Baird, shows that Judges Jacob Burnet and Charles R. Sherman presided at Perrysburg, August 1, 1825, and heard eight cases. At that time Silas Lee was admitted to the Bar. In July, 1826, the same judges being present, Wolcott Lawrence was admitted to practice. At the August session of 1827, Judges Peter Hitchcock and Charles R. Sherman presiding James A. Scranton was admitted to the Bar. In 1828, Judges Calvin Peas and Sherman were present, and, in 1830, Judges Peter Hitchcock and Henry Brush. The trial of George Porter (an employe of E. Foote), for the murder of Isaac Richardson at Roche-de-Boeuf, July 22, 1830, was heard at this term, the court appointing Orish Parrish and David Higgins to defend the prisoner, while Thomas W. Powell prosecuted. The jury in the case comprised Robert Shaw, Palmer Kellogg, John M. Jaques, Aurora Spafford, Elijah Huntington, Sewell Gunn, Thomas Learning, Nathaniel K. Decker, Knowlton Young, Nathaniel Blinn, Reuben Freshwater and Andrew Hoover. This jury found Porter guilty of murder in the first degree when he was sentenced to be hanged at Perrysburg November 5, 1830, on which day he was executed by John Webb. Thousands witnessed the execution. At that session, also, James W. Robinson was admitted an attorney of the Ohio Bar.

In 1831, Judges Joshua Collett and John C. Wright were present; Elijah Huntington was appointed master commissioner of the court. J udges Collett and Reuben Wood presided here in July, 1833, when Jessup W. Scott was admitted to the Bar, and a number of civil cases disposed of.' In 1834 Judge Ebenezer Lane was present with Judge Collett; but in 1835, when Frederick Lord, John C. Champlin and Henry Reed were admitted to the Bar, Judges Wood and Collett were here. In 1836, Francis H. Gillet, Samuel M. Young, and Emery D. Potter were admitted before Judges Lane and Wood, and at that time the celebrated trespass case of David Hedges vs. Isaac Van- Tassel was disposed of. In 1837, before the same judges, Henry Darling, Samuel B. Campbell, Daniel F. Cook and Henry Bennett were admitted to practice. The judges who presided in 1839 were Ebenezer Lane and Frederick Grimpke. David Allen and Joseph Utley were admitted attorneys. In 1839, Judge Wood was present with Judge Lane. Josiah G. Abbott and Joshua B. Davis were admitted to the Bar, while in July, 1840, the last term recorded in the old book, Judges Hitchcock and Wood presided. James Coffinberry was admitted to the Bar and a number of assumpsit and chancery cases heard.

In 1841, the same judges were present, the cause celebre being the Utley divorce suit, which resulted in a decree giving Mrs. Mary Ann Utley $2,000 alimony and costs. The same judges presided in 1842; but, in 1843, Judge Matthew Birchard appeared with Judge Wood, who were also present in 1844 and again in 1845, when Joseph Utley was appointed clerk of the court for the constitutional term of seven years. In 1846, the same judges were present; but, in 1847 and 1848, Matthew Birchard and Edward Avery were on the Bench. The July term of 1849 was presided over by Judges Hitchcock and William B. Caldwell, and in 1850 by Rufus P. Spalding. With the exception of the admission of Asher Cook to the Bar in 1848, there is no record of admissions for the three years ending in 1851. In September, 1852, John A. Corwin, John M. Palmer and L. W. Hall appear as judges of the District Court, with Thomas L. Webb, coroner, acting sheriff and L. O. Simmons, clerk, and the records of the Supreme Court sessions in Wood county cease.

Under the Constitution of 1851, the District Court, composed of a judge of the Supreme Court and two district judges, was established, and held regular sessions until 1884, when the Circuit Court was established under an amendment to the Constitution.

United States District Court. - From 1855 to 1870, Wood county was in the Cleveland division of the United States District Court. In July, 1870, it was ordered that two terms of this court should be held at Toledo by Judge Charles T. Sherman, who was succeeded in 1873 by Judge Martin Welker, who preceded Judge Ricks. In June, 1878, Wood county was placed in the western subdivision of the Northern District, with Toledo the seat of justice. The United States Circuit Court subsequently held terms here, Judge John Baxter, of Tennessee, presiding until his death in 1886, when Judge Howell E. Jackson, of Tennessee, succeeded him, and he in turn was succeeded by W. H. Taft, the present circuit judge.

Justices Courts. - Many volumes might be filled with the serio-comic administration of justice by the justices of the peace of Wood county, since the days when it was a part of Waynesfield township, of Logan county, or, as our brothers of Michigan would call it, "Maumee township of Erie county, Erie District of the Territory of Michigan." It would not be practicable to treat the subject extensively, but a little may be written to show the idiosyncrasies of the pioneer justices and, incidentally, of their unofficial neighbors.

In the reminiscences of the late Willard V. Way, the story of Joshua Chappel, who settled at Perrysburg in 1817, and who was a constable of Logan county in 1819, is related. At that time Logan county appears to have been attached to Champaign for judicial purposes, and in the jail at Urbana prisoners from Wood county found a temporary home. It appears that, in 1819, Jacob Wilkinson sued a fisherman for $9, which the fellow refused to pay. The debtor also was impudent enough to say to his creditor that, if he wanted fish for his pay, he must turn out and catch them himself. The reply was an irritating one. The creditor sent the debtor to Urbana in charge of Constable Chappel, to be held there until the $9 and costs would be paid. After traveling 1 50 miles, Chappel offered his prisoner to the sheriff, but that official would not receive him until his board bill was guaranteed. This Chappel could not do, and the only alternative was to return with the debtor to Perrysburg. The expenses of the trip and law proceedings exceeded $150, for which a bill was presented to Wilkinson. This was one of the incidents which urged the people to ask for the organization of Wood county.

Elijah Huntington, who succeeded Justice Powell in 1830, had advantages which were not offered to the lawyer while in office. He did not stop to consider technical points of law, but entered at once into the equity of a case, and decided it quickly. Hezekiah L. Hosmer tells of one' of the first cases tried by him:

The "Old Squire" (Huntington) was a local institution. His knowledge of politics was encyclopaedic. He read "Nile's Register" through regularly, and knew it by heart. In all matters of local interest he was always prominent, politics and schools receiving his special attention. No man ever discharged the duties of a magistrate or legislator more conscientiously, or generally with better judgment; but his court was often the scene of a funny incident. ' On one occasion a lawless character, known by the sobriquet of "Catfish Smith," a sort of land pirate, who had a shanty below the town, was arrested and brought before him on the charge of stealing Doctor Wood's pigs. The evidence disclosed the facts that the Doctor, on missing his property and suspecting Catfish, went to his premises and found the pigs penned up. Summoning Catfish, he charged him with the crime: tempest of anger. "Take 'em all and go to the devil with 'em," and turned and left. Convinced, however, that the pigs belonged to him, he made complaint and Catfish was arrested. Catfish was in the last stages of whiskey disease; bloated, blotched, a most pitiable object. He employed Count Coffinberry to defend him. Wood's attorney claimed that the case was clear, and asked that the defendant be punished. The Count in reply urged a justification.

"Admitting, may it please your honor," said he, "that the pigs were originally the property of Doctor Wood, the evidence shows that Wood gave them to the defendant. He told him to 'take them,' and the prisoner did so, and of course for this he is not liable to punishment. He told him furthermore to * take them and go to the devil with them;' and any one, the most common observer, may it please your honor, can readily perceive, from the appearance of the man, that he had done no more than comply with this request. He had taken the pigs, that was undeniable, and, may it please your honor, he is going to the devil as fast as any man in the country."

Pig cases are not confined to that of Catfish and Dr. Woods. Wild hogs offered sport for hunters in early days, and men, armed with rifles and possessed of elastic consciences, did not always stop to learn whether they killed tame or wild swine. This haste led some of the sportsmen into the criminal court on charges of theft or robbery, and many men barely escaped the penalty attached to such crimes.

To show how the law was administered in Perrysburg in olden days, let the following copy of a page of Thomas W. Powell's justice docket be given:

September 4, 1830, Elijah Huntington personally appeared before me and made complaint in writing and under oath that John Harris, of Auglaize, did, on the third day of the present month, run a horse within the limits of the town of Perrysburg, at Perrysburg township aforesaid. And thereupon a warrant was issued which was forthwith returned by Jonas Pratt, constable, with defendant in custody. Proceeded to trial, and upon hearing the proof and " allegations" of the parties.it is considered by the court the said John Harris pay a fine of two dollars and fifty cents, and 50, cents the cost of the prosecution.

This extraordinary docket of Justice Powell gives the history of 224 cases tried by him from 1823 to November 16, 1830, when he transferred the record book to Elijah Huntington. While the greater number of entries concern debtor and creditor, a large minority deal with social evils, showing, after all, that, in the quiet, pastoral days of this county, prior to the close of 1830, the people were not, morally, very far above what the inhabitants of the busy, ambitious county of to-day are. Justice Hezekiah Hosmer's docket is also to be found in the archives of the county, and, like that of Justice Powell, is filled with accounts of big and little crimes, petty wrangles and numerous suits for debt. Beyond such trifling infractions of the law as that given in the Harris case, the writer of history may not go - the old books should be bound and made a part of the records of Wood county.

Members of Old and New Bars. - The first attorney named in the Court of Common Pleas record was C. J. McCurdy, the prosecuting attorney, whose permit to practice is not a part of the record. The admissions to the Bar of Wood county from the fall term of that court in 1820 to the fall term of 1840 are noticed as follows: Thomas W. Powell, Maumee, Eleutherus Cook, Huron county, Ebenezer Lane and Phillip R. Hopkins, in October, 1820; Charles L. Lanman, of Michigan, Moses B. Corwin and Oliver Overton, in 1822; John C. Spink, 1831; Jessup W. Scott, 1833; Sidney Smith and Willard V. Way, 1834; (Mr. Kinney, 1835, semi-lawyer); Isaac Stetson, 1835; Andrew Coffinberry, Henry Reed, James Purdy, Albion N. Olney and Henry C. Stowell, in 1837.

From 1826 to 1840, the Supreme Court, in session at Perrysburg, admitted the following named attorneys to its Bar: Silas Lee and Wolcott Lawrence, 1826; James A. Scranton, 1827; Orris Parrish and David Higgins, 1829; Frederick Lord and John C. Champlin, 1835; Francis H. Gillett, Samuel M. Young and Emery D. Potter, 1836; Henry Darling, Samuel B. Campbell, Daniel F. Cook and Henry Bennett, 1837; David Allen, Joseph Utley, Josiah G. Abbott and Joshua B. Davis, 1839; and James M. Coffinberry, 1840.

In many cases the admissions were mere formal permits to practice in the courts of Wood county, and even this formality was not observed in all cases. In the "twenties" and early "thirties," such lawyers as William Dougherty, Rodolphus Dickinson, Charles Ewing, Henry Cooper (of Fort Wayne), Charles Robey, James Lee Gage, Jonathan E. Champlin, George W. Ewing, David A. Colerick (of Fort Wayne) and Cyrus Lee Gage practiced here without a permit, so far as the records tell. Later in the "thirties," John M. May, James G. Haley, David Allen, Horace Sessions, Willis Silliman, Hezekiah L. Hosmer, Nathan Rathburn, Horace F. Waite, Henry S. Commager, Morrison R. Waite, Caleb F. Abbott, Richard Cook, George B. Way, D. O. Morton and Patrick G. Goode practiced in the courts of Wood county; but there is nothing of record to point out the date of their formal admission to the Bar of this county.

Hezekiah L. Hosmer, the old justice of the peace, and later chief justice of Montana Territory, in his reminiscences of Perrysburg (written in 1862), speaks as follows of the lawyers whom he found at Perrysburg, when he settled there:

' ' There is no portion of the twenty-five years that I passed in the Maumee Valley filled with more agreeable associations than the ten-years' residence at Perrysburg. My partner, the late John C. Spink, was the oldest resident practitioner on the river - a good lawyer, of abundant resources as an advocate: a cute, sharp intellect; and aside from his professional accomplishments, one of the most genial, kind-hearted gentlemen I ever knew. His generosity to all knew no limit, save that of his contracted means, and always kept him poor. Indeed, his very ' failings leaned to virtue's side. ' These characteristics surrounded him with friends, but failed to increase his store; and he, though ambitious of his professional reputation, and of political preferment, cared little for the accumulation of wealth. He was fond of conviviality and mirth, and always contributed his share of humor to enliven the leisure hours of our varied circuit experience. We were sure of a jovial evening when Spink was with us. He was full of anecdote and fun, and possessed a fine vein of quaint humor, which was ever at his command, and made him a very enjoyable companion. He was the soul of honor, and scorned a mean action with all the bitterness of an intense nature. A western man in birth and breeding, he exemplified in his intercourse with his fellows those hearty, hospitable and disinterested qualities of character common among the early settlers of the western States. His practice - a good one for the time - was in the courts of Wood, Lucas, Sandusky and Williams counties, and, after Lucas and Williams were divided, in Fulton and Defiance. The other resident lawyers in Perrysburg, when I went there, were Bennett & Campbell, Isaac Stetson, Henry C. Stowell, and Willard V. Way. Joseph Utley and Albion N. Olney, also residents, had been admitted but were not in practice. I formed a pleasant professional acquaintance with all of these gentlemen, and with some of them that acquaintance, as I am happy to believe, ripened into life-long friendship. Bennett & Campbell and Henry C. Stowell are the sole survivors of the number." do; Emery D. Potter died there February 12, 1896, in his ninety-second year. James M. Coffinberry died at Cleveland in recent years, and Henry Bennett died at Toledo in 1887; so that only the one member of the Old Bar remains. Judge Potter had been postmaster, collector of customs, common pleas judge, served in both branches of the State Legislature, and was a representative in Congress in 1851, where he led the fight for a reduction of postage to three cents instead of from five to twenty-five cents, according to distance. Objection being made in the House to the reduction to three cents because of the difficulty of making change he inserted in the bill a section authorizing the coinage of the silver three-cent piece, which remained until repealed by the coinage law of 1873.

Asher Cook, the first judge of probate, was admitted as an attorney in j 849, and about the same time, William H. Hall, James Mefford, the inventor, and William H. Hopkins, practiced here. D. M. McKinley, of Grand Rapids, and John Mastin, were here in 1855-58. James Murray, who was Ohio's attorney-general in 1861 and 1862, may be named among the lawyers of the middle period, with Henry H. Dodge, judge of common pleas for ten years; John E. McGowen, who resigned the office of prosecutor to become a soldier in 1862; Edwin Tuller, of Tontogany; B. W. Johnson, E. M. Colver, J. B. Spafford, George N. Parsons, who died in 1867; John A. Shannon (who died at Mason, Mich.), Josiah F. Price, Samuel B. Price, J. M. Hord, George Strain, M. B. Doyle, L. Fuller, Patrick S. Slevin (who died in 1895), Francis Hollenbeck, and John H. Reid, deceased; W. R. Bryant' of Prairie Depot (1863); James R. Tyler, who died at Perrysburg; William H. Gorrill (who graduated with the Michigan University law class of 1862, and died in California in 1874); Peter Bell and D. K. Hollenbeck, of Perrysburg, were lawyers in the Wood county courts between the close of the pioneer period and March, 1867, when many of them signed the resolutions on the death of George N. Parsons.

Willard V. Way was a native of Springfield, N. Y., born in 1807, and his early life was passed on a farm. He was graduated from Union College, and then began the study of law in the office of Bangs & Haskell, at Le Roy, N. Y. , and completed his study under Payne & Wilson, in Paynesville, Ohio. He was admitted to practice in the latter State in 1832, and from this date he soon became and was widely known as an honored member of that profession. He settled in the practice of law at Perrysburg in 1834.

His death occurred August 25, 1875. His attachment for the village of his adoption was great and he proved one of its greatest benefactors, bequeathing to it upward of $15,000 for the establishing and maintaining of a Public Library. In his younger life he took an active part in politics, and served as the prosecuting attorney for the county.

Judge Asher Cook was born in Pennsylvania, but in early childhood came to Ohio with his parents, who located for a time in Richland county, then, settled at Perrysburg. He learned the trades of a stone mason and plasterer, and for a short time followed them. He also served for a time as a common sailor on the lakes. His ambition and thirst for knowledge, however, soon led him into a higher and broader sphere of usefulness. Without means. other than the earnings of his daily labor, he acquired a thorough knowledge of the common branches of learning, as well as several of the higher, and he had a special liking for the study of languages. Without the benefit of a college training, he was able to read, with ease, Latin, French, German and Spanish. He was admitted to the Bar in 1849. In the practice he was associated with and pitted against the ablest lawyers in northwestern Ohio, and was second to none of them in ability and knowledge of the law. The late Chief Justice Waite once said of him: "In knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of law, Asher Cook has no equal in the Maujnee Valley." Immediately on his admission to the Bar our subject was elected prosecuting attorney for his county, and, in 1852, was elected probate judge. From 1862 to 1864 he represented Wood and Ottawa counties in the Fifty-fifth General Assembly of Ohio. He was a delegate to the convention which nominated Gen. Grant for the Presidency in 1868. In 1873, he was elected to the convention to revise the State Constitution, and was made chairman of its committee on education. He showed marked ability in the deliberations and debates of the convention, and was recognized as among the best constitutional lawyers in that body of able men. Throughout his professional and political career Judge Cook's great ability, his unquestionable integrity, his genial courtesy and fairness, won for him the profound respect and esteem of his associates and competitors.

Judge Henry H. Dodge is a native of the State of New York, born in 1830; was graduated from St. John College, New York City, in 1849, and two years later began the study of law with Victory Birdseye, of Pompey, N. Y. In the fall of 1852 he came 10 Perrysburg, and finished his preparation for the Bar in the office of Spink & Murray, and was admitted in 1855. After his admission he went into partnership with James Murray, Mr. Spink having died, and continued in practice with him until Mr. Murray was elected attorney general of Ohio. Mr. Dodge then formed a partnership with James R. Tyler, which lasted until 1869. Subsequently, he was fora short time a partner with Edson Goit, of Bowling Green, now deceased, and later was associated in practice with Jasher Pillars. In 1887 he was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and was on the Bench for ten years, making an enviable record for judicial ability. On his retirement in 1888, he resumed his law practice, forming a partnership with John W. Canary, and is the oldest practicing member on the Wood county roll.'

John H. Reid was a native of the State of Pennsylvania, born in Pittsburg, in 1823. He was a carpenter by trade, but not content with this vocation, and with a limited education, he, by his own efforts, worked his way through college, graduating at Oberlin, Ohio. He then read law at Findlay, Ohio, and on being admitted to the Bar located in the practice at Delta, Fulton county, this State, and, in 1851, was elected prosecuting attorney for the county. He remained there until in 1853, when he located at Perrysburg. He served the people of the latter place as postmaster, and during the war organized and was made captain of Co. D, 86th

0. V. I., and later was quartermaster of the 144th Regiment, O. V. I. At the close <?f the war Capt. Reid resumed his practice at Perrysburg, and at the time of the contest over the county seat, he was retained on the side of Bowling Green, whose interests he heartily espoused and earnestly defended. Later he removed to Bowling Green. His death occurred November

Francis Hollenbeck, deceased, was a native ef the State of New York, born in 1809. In 1847 he located at Perrysburg, this county, and here lived until his death which occurred in 1894. In his early life he was a newspaper writer, and for a time was managing editor of the Toledo Blade. He was one of the founders of the Perrysburg school in 1848. In 1856 hs was admitted to the bar, and for upward of a quarter of a century was a prominent member of the Wood County Bar.

Judge Edwin Tuller was a native of Delaware county, Ohio, born in 1821. He was a merchant and business man before he became a lawyer. He began to read law in the office of

James Coffinberry/of Maumee, and in 1865 was admitted to the Bar. He was appointed probate judge in 1863, and was twice elected to that office. Subsequently he was associated in the practice of law with James R. Tyler. He was active in politics, and for thirteen terms served as a justice of the peace. He was postmaster at Otsego for several years. His death occurred at Tontogany, August 29, 1896.

From 1 868 to 1878 the majority of the senior members of the present Bar settled in the county. S. W. Clay, who died about ten years ago, and

E. H. Hull, who moved to Bryan, Texas, selected Bowling Green as a place of residence in 1867. In 1868, John W. Canary and Henry S. Siple came, and W. A. Benschoter was admitted that year. Seth H. Fairchild and Henry A. Lease were admitted in 1869. Early in the ''seventies" the names of Simbn P. Harrison, James O. Troup, Frank A. Reid, J. R. Swigert, Jasher Pillars, J. M. Hord, Robert Dunn and Robert S. Parker were enrolled as members of the Bar. Edson Goit had moved to Bowling Green, where he died in 1880. Elam Day was at Weston or Grand Rapids; R. I. Campbell located here in 1876; Guy C. Nearing began practice at Bowling Green the same year; H. E. Averill came in 1877; Frank A. Baldwin located at Weston in 1877; Benjamin L. Abbott, George Smith, Andrew D. Stewart (now of Toledo), Geo. R. Miller, Henry S. Bunker, William H. Harris and Albion E. Lang were admitted here in 1878; J. C. Elder (now of Deshler) in 1879; while William B. McCarty, D. W. H. Day, Thomas Meehan, A. M. Treadwell, G. P. Thompson and L. K. Parks, were resident attorneys of Wood county prior to 1 880. Judge Dodge, Canary, Fairchild, Troup, Reid, Dunn, Parker, Baldwin, Nearing, Abbott, Parks, McCarty, Harrison, Bierly and Thompson belong to the Bar of the present time. N. R. Harrington, Benjamin

F. James, Rufus B. Moore, Andrew J. Mears, Ira C. Taber, A. R. Campbell, Edward Beverstock, Leander C. Cole, Perry J. Chase, W. S. Haskell, C. R. Painter, Thomas F. Conley, Joe Baird, Datus R. Jones, E. G. Mc- Clelland, E. M. Fries and A. B. Murphy, who located here within the last fifteen years, are known as residents of Bowling Green; Thomas N. Bierly (also of Toledo), and J. P. Hoyman, of Pemberville; D. K. Hollenbeck and M. Bowers, of Perrysburg; Christopher C. Layman, of Woodville; Simon P. Harrison, E. R. Dean, E. H. Westenhaver, William Anderson, Frank Taylor and W. H. McMillan, of North Baltimore; Daniel C. Bemis, of Haskins; G. P.

Thompson, of Weston; George Fries, of Jerry City; Lewis C. Edgar, of Prairie Depot; G. C. Sheffler, of Risingsun, and Jesse Stephens, of Fostoria, are well known members of the Bar.

Edson Goit was born in the State of New York in 1808, and before he was of age came to Ohio, and at Tiffin read law under the direction of Abel T. Rawson, and, after admission to the Bar, located in the practice at Findlay, where, in the course of time, he became extensively engaged in mercantile pursuits in connection with his profession. Later in life Mr. Goit located in Wood county, and for many years was a prominent and successful member of the Wood County Bar. His father died when he was but an infant, and he had few opportunities to improve his mind by the aid of books; but such chances as presented themselves he availed himself of, and by the time he was twenty years old he was capable of teaching. He was a man of great force and strength of character, and of great energy, and made a success of life. It is said of him by all his clients, that he would not, for the sake of money, encourage litigation. In his professional capacity he was a peace-maker among men, always counseling the settlement of difficulties without going into court if it was consistent with the honor of both parties. He was a sincere friend, and in his most prosperous days never forgot those who were his friends at the beginning when he was poor. His death occurred in 1880.

H. A. Lease is a native of Ohio; was admitted to the Bar in the Supreme Court of California in 1861; served by appointment, as district attorney for Colusa county, Cal., for one term, returned to Ohio in 1866, and in 1867 was admitted to the Bar in Ohio, and, in 1869, located at j Bowling Green. He was enrolling clerk of the Ohio Senate for the sessions of 1872-3.

S. P. Harrison is a native of this State, born in 1849; read law in the office of Watson & Strong, of Norwalk, Ohio, and later entered the law department of Michigan University, from which he was graduated in 1872, and located in the practice at Bowling Green. He remained here for some twelve years, and after an absence of several years from the State, returned and located at North Baltimore, of which he became i the first city solicitor, elected in 1890. He had served as mayor of Portage in 1870 and '71, and as a justice of the peace in Bowling Green in 1874, '75 and '76.

the Bar in this county in April, 1873. He resided in Perrysburg in the practice of the law until 1880, since which time he has lived in Bowling Green, and followed his profession, in which he is at the present time actively engaged.

Judge Guy C. Nearing was born in Ohio, and raised on a farm in this his native county. He began the study of the law in 1873 with Col. John A. Shannon, in Bowling Green, and was admitted to the Bar in 1876, and then located in the practice at Bowling Green. He has served this city as city solicitor, and is now serving his second term as probate judge of Wood county.

Robert S. Parker is a native of Ohio. He attended the pubic schools at Findlay until twelve years of age. In early youth he learned the cigar-makers trade, which he followed seven years, during part of which time he also attended school. He began reading law at Findlay, Ohio, with Shaffer Bros., then under the direction of his father. He was admitted to the Bar in April, 1876, and at once began practice at North Baltimore in partnership with William H. Anderson, and in September of the same year located in Bowling Green. The first year he practiced alone, and then became associated with Col. John A. Shannon under the firm name of Shannon & Parker, which firm continued about two years. In 1890 Mr. Parker became associated with R. B. Moore, and the partnership lasted some five years, since which time he has practiced with E. M. Fries. During the twenty years of his active professional life, he has never missed a term of court in Wood county. He served as prosecuting attorney of the county two terms, and he was nominated by the Republican parly for judge of the Court of Common Pleas, but failed of election. In the fall of 1894 he was endorsed by the Wood county delegation for representative in Congress, but was defeated in the convention.

Frank A. Reid is a native of the State of Ohio, a son of John H. Reid, whose sketch appears above. He was graduated from the law school at Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1877, and located in the practice in this county, becoming associated with his father.

Frank A. Baldwin was born in the State of New York, attended for a time the high school at Toledo, Ohio, and Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Later he was prepared for the Bar under the direction of J. R. Tyler, of Perrysburg, and McCauley & Pennington, of Tiffin, and was admitted in April, 1877. In June of the same year he began practice at

Thomas N. Bierly is a native of Center county, Penn. He grew to manhood in Wood county, this State, and read law at Perrysburg, under James R. Tyler. He was admitted to the Bar in 1877, and opened an office for the practice of his profession at Pemberville. Mr. Bierly served as mayor of the latter village several terms, and was once a candidate for prosecuting attorney for the county, but was defeated at the election. In 1895 he located in Toledo, where he opened an office.

B. L. Abbott, of Bowling Green, was born in this State, though his early life was passed in Michigan. He began the study of law at Bowling Green with an uncle, Philander Abbott, and some years later, in August, 1878, was admitted to the Bar. He began practice with Edwin- Goit, a former preceptor, which partnership lasted until the latter's death. Mr. Abbott was elected mayor of Bowling Green, in 1886, and for more than thirteen consecutive years has been a justice of the peace.

Abel Comstock is a native of the State of Pennsylvania, but grew up near Bowling Green, to which place the family removed in his youth. He was prepared for the Bar by Col. J. A. Shannon, with whom he afterward formed a partnership, which continued until in 1 886. He began his law studies in 1879, and has given especial attention to pension claims. He has been a justice of the peace in Bowling Green since 1 890.

William S. Haskell, recently mayor of Bowling Green, and of the law firm of Mears & Haskell, is a native of Michigan; received a liberal education, having been graduated in a classical course from the University of Michigan in 1872, and in August, 1877, came to Bowling Green. From 1877 to 1883 Mr. Haskell was the superintendent of the public schools of the latter city. He afterward read law with Cook & Troup, and in 1885 was admitted to the Bar, and since 1 894 has been associated in the practice with Mr. Mears.

Lewis C. Edgar, of Prairie Depot, is a native of Ohio, and before coming to the Bar was for many years a school teacher. He read law at Toledo and at Fostoria, Ohio, and was admitted to the Bar in 1882, and located in the practice at Bowling Green, Ohio, and there remained until 1887, when he removed to Prairie Depot.

Ira C. Taber is a native of Wood county, this State. He was graduated in 1882 from the public schools of Bowling Green, and at once began the study of law in the office of Frank A. Baldwin of that city. Subsequently he entered the Cincinnati Law School, from which he was graduated in 1885. He at once began practice at Bowling Green, and is now the senior member of the law firm of Taber & Painter, of the latter city.

Frank Taylor, of North Baltimore, is a native of Maryland. He came to Ohio with his father in his youth, and was here educated. For a time he attended Heidelberg College at Tiffin, and the College at Oberlin. Later he was occupied as a school teacher in his native State, and in 1878 took charge of the public schools at North Baltimore. He was admitted to the Bar in 1886, and has since followed the legal profession at that place.

Benjamin F. James was born near Mt. Gilead, Ohio, and, until fifteen years of age, was employed on his father's farm. He was a student at the Ohio Wesleyan University, Dennison University and the Chicago University, at which latter he was graduated in 1 884 at the age of twenty-one, with the degree of A. B. He took a post-graduate course and law studies at Yale College, receiving the degree in 1887 of LL. B. In October of that year he began the practice of law in partnership with Judge Nearing, of Bowling Green, and later became associated in the practice with his present partner, Edward Beverstock, the firm being styled James & Beverstock, and has offices both in Bowling Green and in Toledo, Ohio, the Toledo location being in the Spitzer Building. In 1890, Mr. James was chosen vicepresident of the Ohio Republican League, and a year later a vice-president of the National League. In 1890 he was elected city solicitor, and in 1891 he was elected to the General Assembly of Ohio.

Edward Beverstock, the junior member of the law firm of James & Beverstock, is a native of Ohio, born in Wood county. He was reared on a farm, and in 1889 completed a classical course, and was graduated from Oberlin College with the degree of A. B. He was subsequently graduated from the Cincinnati Law School, receiving the degree of LL. B. in 1891, and in June of that year was admitted to the Bar.

A. B. Murphy, prosecuting attorney of Wood county, is a native of this State. He was graduated in the scientific course from the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware in 1885, with the degree of A. B. In 1884, he won the college prize for oratory, and in February, 1885, took the second place among eight contestants in the State oratorical contest in Oberlin. He began the study of law with John S. Jones, of Delaware, Ohio, and, in 1886, entered the senior class of the Cincinnati Law School, and graduated the following year. In the fall of 1887, he located at Bowling Green and began practice. In November, 1890, he was appointed mayor to succeed Andrew Mears, and the following April was elected to that office. He was re-elected in 1892, but resigned to take the office of prosecuting attorney January 1, 1894.

L. C. Cole is a native of Ohio, and grew to manhood on a farm in Jefferson county. He attended college at Mount Union and Richmond, and afterward read law, with Judge Robert Martin, of Steubenville, Ohio. He was admitted to the Bar in 1872, at Newark. Ohio, and began the practice of the law at Massillon, Ohio, where he was engaged in the profession until in April, 1887, when he came to Bowling Green. For a number of years he served as city solicitor of Massillon, and, in 1884, he was elected to the State Legislature in Stark county, in which he served two terms. Mr. Cole is connected with a number of business enterprises. He was a member of the State Central Committee for a number of years; also one of the executive committee for several years. In 1894, he was defeated for probate judge of this county.

N. R. Harrington is a native of Pickaway county, this State; was educated in the public schools of Warren, Ohio, and began a business career as bookkeeper for the Lima Paper Mills of Lima, Ohio. He later became secretary and superintendent of the mills. He resigned in 1884, to study law, which he did in the office of his uncle, C. A. Harrington, of Warren, Ohio. While pursuing his law studies he served as deputy clerk of the court. He was admitted to the Bar in March, 1887, at Columbus, Ohio, and in the following May began the practice of law at Bowling Green. In 1888 he was elected city solicitor on the Republican ticket.

Rufus B. Moore is a native of Ohio; was graduated from the high school at Gabon, Ohio, in 1878, with the highest honors of his class, and also with the same grade from Otterbein University in 1883, where he took a classical course. After graduation he taught one year in the grammar school at Bowling Green. He then went to Kansas, and was superintendent of schools and high-school teacher at Burden for two years. He returned to Bowling Green in 1886, and studied law with R. S. Parker, and was admitted to the Bar in June, 1888, and immediately after formed a partnership with that gentleman, which continued until January 1, 1895. Mr. Moore was elected city solicitor of Bowling Green in the spring of

Thomas F. Conley, of Bowling Green, was born in the city of Baltimore, Md., and there grew to manhood, where he attended the public schools and business college: He began life as a messenger boy in the freight office of the B. & O. railroad, from which position he rose step by step, until he became private secretary to the general manager of the road. In 1890 he became the official stenographer for the Court of Common Pleas at Bowling Green. He studied law for two years with Messrs. Cook & Troup, and afterward attended the Law School of the Cincinnati College, from which he was graduated with the degree of LL. B.

E. M. Fries is a native of this county. After having attended the district schools at home, he spent two years in the academy at Fostoria, and the same length of time in the Ohio Normal University at Ada. He fitted himself for a civil engineer, and after having taught one year he entered the employ of the L. E. & W. R. R. as civil engineer. He passed upward of a year at Seattle, Washington, as a civil engineer for a land company. Subsequently he returned to Ohio and took a course of law in the Cincinnati Law School, from which he was graduated in 1893 with the degree of LL. B. , and located at Bowling Green.

John S. Hoyman read law with Thomas W. Bierly, graduated from the Cincinnati Law School in 1894, which admitted him to practice in ail the courts of Ohio. On his admission he formed a partnership with his former preceptor which lasted until August 1, 1896, since which time he has been in the practice alone.

J. R. Tyler, who made a reputation as a successful criminal lawyer, passed away only a few years ago. Col. Shannon moved to Mason, Michigan, where he died only recently; C. F. Lewis was at Weston in the "eighties." A. C. Houston, of Risingsun, moved to the Indian Territory; Jasher Pillars returned to Tiffin; C. W. Everett, who resided near Millgrove, resides at Toledo; Jason Barbour established an office at Toledo, and is prosecuting attorney of Lucas county; Thomas H. Tracy, of Millbury, is now an attorney of Toledo; Thomas Meehan, who was here in the " seventies, " was mayor of Findlay, Ohio, in 1894; W. S. Thurstin is a member of the Lucas County Bar; C. F. Lewis was here in 1884; R. C. Wilson came in 1885, removed to the new State of Washington in 1 888 or 1889 and is now in the Senate of that Commonwealth;

Fred Hollenbeck was admitted here, but moved county, and L. D. Heller, another school teachto the State of Washington; R. F. Beausey, su- , er, now a lawyer of Columbus, Ohio, was adperjntendent of the Pemberville schools, was ad- mitted here; Clyde R. Painter, who studied in mitted in March, 1895; George H. Withey, now Ira C. Taber's office, is one of the most recent of Grand Rapids, Mich., began practice in this additions to the law circle.

Chapter Xv

Political Status of Wood County - The Toledo War - Incidents connected therewith - The Whigs at Fort Meigs - Elections in the County up to 1890 - Lists of National.

THE political status of Wood county, down to 1840, was scarcely considered by candidates for State or National offices. Beyond the limits of Perrysburg, the canvasser for votes seldem strayed, unless indeed, he ' considered it advisable to visit the enterprising towns along the Western Reserve road. To local politicians, however, the county was an open book; for they knew all the nooks where a vote rested, and, when the roads or trails were passable, directed their steps to secure it. For fully twenty years after its organization, the people paid very little attention to the outside world. Gen. Harrison's visit to Fort Meigs, in 1840, attracted their attention, and, by degrees, the Congressional, Senatorial, Representative and Judicial contests interested them, but never distroyed their absorbing interest in county and township elections. The Toledo War irritated the pioneers, who, in the sober hours after the conflict, speculated on their narrow escape from civil strife, and wondered why or how the authorites, elected to direct their affairs, would entail upon them such risks. From 1835 to the fall of 1839, the people avoided State politics, and, not a few, looked upon the State officials with suspicions of their competency. This was all due to the trouble with Michigan.

The Toledo 1 1 7 a r. - This ludicrous fiasco is an example of the excess to which the individual or people of one State may go to rob another State of its territory. Ohio played this game on Michigan, and Illinois on Wisconsin, each taking a strip from its northern neighbor without regard to the law, only with regard to the profits, and each building a large city in relative positions, on the lake shore of the acquired territory.

remotely to Wood county, but there are circumstances in connection with it which justify a mention of the fiasco in these pages. A Wood county citizen, W. V. Way, wrote a most complete sketch of the little attempt at civil war; Perrysburg was converted into an armed camp for the would-be warriors, among whom were many of Wood county's old settlers, ready to advance against the soldiers of Michigan. Ohio was determined to hold the "Six-Mile Strip." The trouble may be said to have preceded the Act of the Ohio Legislature, February 23, 1835, authorizing the governor to appoint three commissioners, for running the north line of the State, from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan to the most northerly cape of the Maumee Bay. On February 12, 1835, the Michigan Council passed an Act to prevent the organization of a I foreign jurisdiction within the limits of the Territory. On March 31, 1835, Gov. Lucas and the boundary commissioners, appointed by him, j arrived at Perrysburg en route to re-mark the Harris Line, and, about the same time, 600 militia, under Gen. John Bell, of the Seventeenth Ohio Militia District, went into camp round the old British Post, known as Fort Miami or Fort Campbell. According to Judge Way's history:

The force consisted of five companies of the 1st regi- 1 ment, 2d brigade of the 17th division of militia, under the command of Col. Mathias Vanfleet. The captains of these companies were J. W. Scott, of the Perrysburg company: Stephen S. Gilbert, of the Maumee company: John Pettinger, of the \\ aterville company; Felton, of the Gilead company, and Granville Jones, of the Lucas guards, an independent company at Toledo. These companies numbered about 300 men. There was also a part of a regiment from Sandusky county, commanded by Lewis Jennings, and a part of a regiment from Seneca and Hancock counties, under command of Col. Brish, of Tiffin. These numbered about 300 more, making the total force 000 men. I am unable to give the particulars of the recruiting of any of the companies in Col. Vanfleet s regiment, except that of Capt.

Scott. Agreeably to military usages, he employed a drummer to wake up the martial spirit of the inhabitants. Instead of establishing headquarters at some particular place, he made them rove up and down nearly the whole length of Front street, in Perrysburg. That street was the only one, except Louisiana avenue, that contained many inhabitants. He selected a spot some distance below the avenue, and one near the upper end of the town, between which the drummer was required to beat the drum, from early morning until night. The drummer was a very large man by the name of Oule. He had a brother who was of usual size: but the drummer was so much larger than his brother, that he went by the name of the " Big Odle." He was so large, that while marching beating a common-sized drum, the drum appeared, in comparison of size with him, no greater than one of those small drums in toy shops, for the use of little boys, would appear in the hands of an ordinary sized man. He wore a two-story white felt hat, with a narrow brim; but by long use it had become softened and the crown bulged up so that it was really a two-story and an attic. A strip of paper with the words " recruiting for the war," in large letters printed on it, was fastened around it. His coat was an old rifleman's uniform of green color, trimmed with black lace. His pants were domestic cloth, colored with oak bark, and also trimmed with black lace down the legs.

Thus equipped, Odle, accompanied by a man carrying the American flag, marched up and down the street, beating the drum with great vigor from morning to night. This drumming continued for several days in succession. In the meantime the Court of Common Pleas of Wood county commenced its session. David Higgins was presiding judge. In going his beat up and down Front street, Odle had to pass by the Court house. The drumming after a while became annoying to Judge Higgins, who was a very nervous man, and somewhat irritable at times. One of his peculiar irritable moods came over him during this term of court. He vented his feelings by pitching into Capt. Scott's drummer, instead of some young and modest member of the Bar, as was his usual custom. He ordered the sheriff to go out and stop that drumming. The sheriff went to Odle and told him that he was ordered by the court to stop his drumming. Odle replied, that he was under orders and pay from Capt. Scott to drum for recruits for the war. That he considered it his duty to obey him as a military authority, and should continue to beat the arum until stopped by him; or until he was satisfied that the court had more authority than Capt. Scott. He marched on beating his drum, and the sheriff went into the court room to report. The Judge's eyes flashed lightning when he heard the report. The sheriff was ordered to arrest Odle forthwith and bring him before the court, and also summon Capt. Scott. All of which was done in a few minutes. Capt. Scott was interrogated whether this man Odle was disturbing the court under his orders. The Captain replied that Odle was beating the drum under his orders, having received instructions from Col. Y'anfleet to employ the music to aid in recruiting volunteers for the service of the State. He further stated that Gov. Lucas, who was stopping at Spafford's Exchange, had sanctioned his proceedings before the court commenced its session, and should therefore continue the music until stopped by Col. Vanfleetor his Excellency. The Judge roared out in a stentorian voice, " Mr. Sheriff, take Capt. Scott and his music organ to jail and lock them up. Mr. Prosecuting Attorney, draw up an information against these men for contempt of court, and have the case ready for hearing to-morrow morning."

The sheriff, Jonas Pratt, made a move toward executing the order. Capt. Scott and Odle readily followed him down stairs to the corner of the building where there was a path leading to the log jail on the back end of the lot. Here a stand was made. The sheriff's authority to imprison was repudiated. The Captain informed him that he should not sacrifice the interests of the State to gratify Judge Higgins's assumed authority. That in the emergency of war, when the State was invaded by an enemy, the military authority, on which the State relies for protection, is paramount to the civil authority; that although he regretted to disturb the proceedings of the court, yet he could not consent to the enforcement of its order in his case. He gave the sheriff to understand, that if he persisted in attempting to take him to jail, he would then and there, on the spot, test the question of power, between himself and the court. He told the sheriff that if he made a single move further to imprison him, he would declare martial law, and do with him and Judge Higgins as Gen. Jackson did with Judge Hall at New Orleans, put them both under arrest. "That is right; that is right. Captain," said Odle, at the same time doubling up his two hands to about the size of elephant's feet. " That's the way to talk. Bully for you, Captain. Stand off, Sheriff ! "

By this time, there was a commotion in the crowd of bystanders, indicative that the sheriff would have a lively time of it, in getting them to jail, if he should attempt it by force. The sheriff retreated up-stairs to the court-room as soon as possible, and reported what had taken place at the door below.

The Judge never said a word in reply; but continued in the trial of the case on hand, as if nothing unusual had happened. Without losing any more time, Odle slung the drum strap over his neck, and continued his march and music as before up and down the street. After some little time, the Judge directed the sheriff to go and find Capt. Scott and ask him if he would be so goiid as to order that music to some back street, where it would interfere less with the court. The enthusiasm for enlisting recruits was so great, that if the court had attempted to enforce its order, it would have tailed. Capt. Scott acquired so much popularity by these proceedings, that he shortly after had no further use for his drummer. His company was made up at once. Gov. Mason, with Gen. Joseph W. Brown, arrived at Toledo with a force under the immediate command of the latter, variously estimated from 800 to 1,200 men, and went into camp, ready to resist any advance of the Ohio authorities upon the disputed territory to run the boundary line or doing other acts inconsistent with Michigan's right of jurisdiction over it. Gen. Brown had, for his staff, Capt. Henry Smith, of Monroe, inspector; Maj. J. J. Ullman, of Constantine, quartermaster; william E. Boardman, of Detroit and Alpheus Felch, of Monroe, aids-de-camp. The two governors, having made up an issue by legislative enactments, found themselves confronted by a military force that had been called out to enforce their respective legislative pleadings. Gov. Mason, representing the tenant in possession, was content to rest at his ease. Gov. Lucas, representing the plaintiff, had to open the trial. He found it convenient to observe a " masterly inactivity " for some days.

Nothing prevented war but the arrival of Richard Rusk and Col. Howard from Washington, who came as peace delegates from the President. They proposed that the Harris Line should be re-marked according to the Act of the Ohio Legislature; but that the residents of the " Six- Mile Strip" should be free to recognize the authority of the State and Territory according to the sympathies of each, until Congress would settle the question. It cannot be said that the two governors accepted this solution; but it had the effect of permitting the militia to retire to their homes without firing a shot. Michigan maintained her pretensions until August 29, 1835, when Gov. Mason was removed and Charles Shaler appointed in his place; but the boundary-line troubles continued down to June 15, 1836, when Congress designated the Harris Line as the southern boundary of the State of Michigan, admitted that day.

land five or six miles wide, which, by a survey made by William Haris, and known as the "Haris line," belonged to the State of Ohio. But, according to another line, surveyed by John A. Fulton, and known as the "Fulton line," it belonged to the Territory of Michigan. By the "Fulton line" Toledo and the north part of Lucas county would now be in Michigan. As Lucas was then a part of Wood, or rather as there was no Lucas county, Wood was right in the midst of the "war." Army headquarters were at Perrysburg.

The Ordinance of 1787 provided that the line in question should be a line extended due east from the South end of Lake Michigan. It is easy to see that there might be considerable room for slight variations. Ohio was a State, and has votes and influence in Congress. Michigan was just a Territory, subject to the action of Congress. Ohio had specified her boundary lines in her Constitution; she was no doubt in the wrong; but while the Michigan people stood manfully for their "rights," Congress thought best to recognize the Haris or Ohio line, and did so, but as a sop to the wrathy "Wolverines" gave them what is known as the Upper Peninsula, and, further, admitted Michigan to Statehood.

The Whigs at Fort Meigs. - The Harrison meeting at Fort Meigs remains, to-day, one of the political landmarks of Ohio. The idea of this demonstration was expressed February 21, 1840, at Columbus, when a miniature fort, armed with a brass cannon, cast at Toledo, and a few iron pieces, was shown to the Whigs, then present to ratify the nominations made at Philadelphia, December 4, 1839. It was resolved then to hold a great meeting at Fort Meigs in June, 1840.

From the report made in the Perrysburg journals, and reprinted in a thousand papers, pamphlets and books since that time, the following story of the meeting is taken: It was decided that a huge log cabin should be erected upon the fort, to be used as headquarters by Gen Harrison for reception purposes. One log for this cabin was to be furnished by each township in Wood and Lucas counties. The first log to arrive was brought from the neighborhood of the present village of Swanton. It was a fine stick of timber, about fifty feet in length. Its arrival was the signal for a jollification. The cannon was bought and taken to the fort, followed by three barrels of hard cider. The Whigs of Maumee and Perrysburg united in this demonstration, which lasted until the evening, when many of the men and a host of boys gave |

The next day, many of the Whigs visited the fort to see the log, which had met with such a warm reception that the Democrats had gone to the fort in the night and stuck said log into the well. Not only this, but they had bored a hole in the end of the log which projected out of the well about five feet, then had got a hickory bush, shaved the end to fit the hole in the log, and then planted the bush in the log. The bush was removed, but the log could not be lifted out of the well, and it remains there to this day. The parties who did it were Charles F. Wilson; Henry Ewing; Samuel Bucher, who lived in a cabin near the fort; S. D. Westcott, a well-known citizen of Perrysburg, and John Westcott, of Vanlue. Just how so few men could plant so large a log in a well, the reader will be curious to know. A man by the name of Radway lived on the farm later owned by F. R. Miller & Co., about a half mile above the fort. He had a pair of breachy oxen, and was in the habit of turning them upon the commons in their yoke. These cattle were at the fort, and the guerrillas drafted them into the service. Bucher got a log chain, the oxen ' were hitched to the log. and it was drawn into position, the butt at the well and the other end resting upon the embankment. Thus situated, the men managed to raise the small end and slide the log into the well.

The Whigs were not discouraged by this little episode, but the logs kept coming in until every township had its representative for the cabin. The logs ranged from forty to sixty feet in length, were straight as an arrow and smooth as a ramrod. The Whigs were proud of their logs, and contemplated the beautiful cabin to be made of them with great satisfaction. It is singular that the fate of the first log did not operate to warn the Whigs against further raids, but they evidently thought the success of the first venture would satisfy their enemies. In this they were deceived, for one dark night men, armed with cross-cut saws, entered the fort and cut those logs into old-fashioned back' logs. Like the man who locked his stable door after the horse was stolen, the Whigs now built a bark guard-house and hired a man, armed with a shot-gun, to keep watch. Other logs were procured, and a huge double cabin was erected, George W. Newton, acting in the capacity of master builder, John C. Spink, Julius Blinn, Judge Hollister, J. W. Smith, and other Whigs of Perrysburg, being the leading spirits in this preparatory work for the great convention.

The Fort Meigs demonstration was worthy of the campaign of 1840. In fact, everything considered, it was the most remarkable political gathering ever witnessed in this county. It must be remembered that facilities for travel were very limited at that time, and that Fort Meigs was then a point on the frontier. Notwithstanding these facts, the crowd assembled was estimated at from 40,000 to 60,000 persons. It is safe to say that there were 50,000 people at the fort on the nth day of June, 1840. They came from all parts of the country, in all manner of conveyances. Capt. Wilkinson, with his "Commodore Perry , " escorted sixteen steamboats up the river, all loaded to their utmost capacity. Men are said to have sold their last cow to get the means to take them to that convention. Military companies from various cities were present, and a large number of bands furnished music. The processions on the roads leading to Perrysburg were immense, while thousands upon thousands were streaming in for two or three days before the demonstration, from all parts of the country. A mock siege occurred on the night of the 10th, and the cannonading is described as having been sublimely grand. Every house at Perrysburg and Maumee was crowded with weary men who had rode in buggies and wagons hundreds of miles. Thousands slept upon the ground in the woods adjoining the fort. The wells in the upper portion of Perrysburg were soon pumped dry in relieving the thirst of the multitude. Gen. Harrison was present and while in Perrysburg was the guest of Judge Hollister, who then owned and occupied the residence now owned by H. E. Peck. In the evening, in response to the calls of a great crowd of people, he appeared upon the grounds in front of the residence, and briefly addressed the multitude. The General, Tom Ewing, and a large number of other distinguished Whigs were present, and addressed the people. Gen. Harrison passed a portion of his time in Maumee, the guest of Judge Forsyth. Thus was inaugurated and successfully concluded one of the greatest political demonstrations ever witnessed on this continent.

Harrison was then the Whig and Van Buren the Democratic candidate, both receiving about onetenth of the vote cast in 1892 for a lineal descendant of the first' named on the Republican ticket, and a political descendant of the second on the Democratic ticket.

In 1848, the county gave 562 votes for Seabury Ford (W.), and 557 for J. B. Waller (D.), candidates for governor; 626 for John C. Spink (W.), and 471 for James Myers (D.), for senator; 575 for Isaac Van Doran (W.), and 526 for the Democratic candidate for representative; 574 for John A. Kelley (W.), and 529 for Whitman (D.), for commissioner, and 565 for J. W. Ross (W.), and 552 for Simmons (D.), for coroner. The Presidential election in November brought out a similar vote; but in April, 1850, the county gave 598 votes to John E. Hunt, and 585 to Charles J. Orton, being 27 and 21, respectively, more than recorded for Spink and Rawson, candidates for delegates to the Constitutional Convention.

The elections of 1850 show 475 votes for W. Johnston (W.), and 530 for Reuben Wood (D.), candidates for governor; 452 for John Kelley (W.), and 463 for James Myers (D.), senatorial candidates; 391 for Samuel Treat (W.), and 589 for Eber Wilson (D.), for representative; 418 for William Campbell (W.), and 541 for John Groves (D.), for commissioner; 452 for John Webb (W.), and 524 for Jairus Curtis (D.), for recorder; 408 for J. F. Stubbs (W.J, and 571 for John Webb (D.), for coroner. Less than twothirds of the electors appeared at the polls. In June, 1851, the county gave 487 votes against and 458 for the New Constitution, and 556 for and 335 against the proposed liquor law.

the enemy and - are defeated. But there ain't no use o' crying, and, like the old Kentucky hunter, when his gun missed fire, we'll pick the flint and try 'em again in 1855." The Whig and Know-Nothing tickets were merged into one, known as the "Fusion." The Democrat dealt with the principles of Know-Nothingism without gloves, but the demagogues of the period looked only for votes, regardless of private or party principles, and got them; in October, 1855, a Republican mass meeting was held at Bowling Green, and the same month the party reassembled there to congratulate its atoms on the victory. Salmon P. Chase (R.), received 1,099 votes against 591 cast for William Medill (D.), and 45 for Allen Trimble (K. N.) for governor; Erasmus D. Peck (R.), candidate for the Legislature, received 1,144 against 598 cast for John Bates (D.); auditor - James W. Ross (R.), 1,160 against 564 for Josiah N. Westcott (D.); treasurer - Shibnah Spink (R.), 1,211 against 518 for Dr. Thomas S. Carman (D.); commissioner - Samuel M. Chilcote (R.), 1,138 against 588 for William R. Bryant (D.); attorney - Sylvanus Jefferson (R.), 1,149 against 571 for Willard V. Way (D.); and 1,079 for county surveyor - Francis W. Bowe (R.), against 647 for John Clarke (D.).

The vote cast in 1858 was 1,328 for Chester W. Norton, 881 for Lorenzo Borden, and 67 for W. A. Prior, for sheriff; 1.356 for Samuel M. Chilcote, and 935 for Daniel Mercer, commissioner; and 1,368 for John Elder, and 918 for Thomas S. Carman, coroner. In 1859, the Republican majority was over 500.

During the campaign of i860, the " Wideawake" companies weredrilled, and special attention paid to militia matters, so that, though the attack on Fort Sumter was sudden and unexpected, the rank and file of the Republican party in Ohio were prepared to carry arms in defense of party principles and the integrity of the Republic, while the majority of the Democrats of Wood

The Union State ticket received a majority vote in October, 1861, John C. Wooster, for treasurer, receiving 1,557 votes; John E. Mc- Gowan, for attorney, 1,556 votes; Addison Smith for auditor, 1,554 votes, and«Addison Lansdale for commissioner, 1,420 votes, while Asher Cook, forrepresentative, was elected without opposition. The- Jewett or Democratic ticket received only 282 votes. Judge Whiteley received 1,522 votes in Wood, and 4,001 in the judicial district.

The County Union Mass Convention was called to meet at Bowling Green, September 13, 1862. The signers of the call were John Bates, George Knoll, William G. Lamb, W. R. Caruthers, Henry H. Dodge, Eber Wilson, J. J. Parks, N. L. Besanson, John C. Wooster, Sanford Baldwin, A. La Farree, A. Van Camp, Joel Foote, S. D. Westcott, J. R. Tyler, Michael Hayes and Lorenzo Borden - all war Democrats, with Asher Cook, Francis Hollenbeck, George Weddell, T. G. FYisbie, Daniel Newton, E. Quigley, Thomas Taylor, David Gibson, J. W. Ross, Peter Bell, A. E. Jerome, R. Russell, R. Brisbin, De Los Pratt and Thomas Junkins - all Republicans. The convention met on the day named, M. R. Waite and Judge Whiteley addressed the delegates and the election which followed in October, 1862, was simply the voice of that meeting. The returns give the following namesand figures: 1,458 votes for G. E. Guyer(U.), 1,250 for Thompson, and 49 for Flower, candidates for sheriff; 1,326 for Alvin Clark, and 1,401 for Hill, for commissioner; 1,421 for Sylvanus Hatch, and 1,328 for Stephen Merry, for recorder; 1,354 for D. D. Ames, and 1,390 forN. W. Minton, for surveyor, and 1,388 for S. L. Sergeant, and 1,366 for John Elder, for coroner.

The election of October, 1863, was a contest between the Union party and the Democratic party, in which the latter was worsted, though making a very thorough fight. For governor, John Brough (R), received 2,280, and O. L. Vallandigham (D.), 1,175 votes; for senator, J. C. Hall received 2,274, and Lemmon, 1,215; for representative, John Ryder. 2,273, and Cole,

The voters of the county gave more attention to military affairs during the ensuing two years, than to politics. Even when the cloud of civil war was riven, the question of removing the county seat was brought forward, and, for four years, at least, was one of absorbing interest; the candidates for State and county offices coming next in public calculation.

The vote of October, 1869, showed majorities ranging from 142 for Commissioner St. John to 791 for Infirmary -director Bruce. For governor, R. B. Hayes received a majority vote of 756, being 53 below the Republican majority for Secretary of State in 1 868.

The political contest of 1870 was carried on here by George Kimberlin, candidate for treasurer; Stephen Merry for recorder; John W. Brownsberger for sheriff; R. W. Kelly for commissioner, and Jabez B. Lockhart for infirmary director, all Republicans, against the ablest .gladiators of the Democrats. In 1874, Wood county recorded 597 votes for and 3, 163 against the New Constitution; 537 for and 2,987 against minority representation; 391 for and 3, 324 against railroad aid, and 1,980 for and 1,774 against license. The October elections resulted in Republican majorities ranging from 343 for congressman to 906 for Baird, candidate for sheriff.

R. S. Parker (R.) 4,614, for prosecuting attorney; J. D. Halsey (Peo), 3,804, and F. M. Young (R.), 4, 580 for probate judge; C. E. Winchester (Peo.), 3,862, and O. Stearns (R.), 4,541 for infirmary director. The vote in November, 1884, was 3,753 for Cleveland, and 4.549 for Blaine, candidates for President of the United States.

In 1892 there were 5,314 votes cast for the Republican candidate for President, or rather for the electors, while 4,784 were cast for the nominee of the Democrats. In 1893 McKinley received 5,714. and Neal 4.395 votes for Governor of Ohio, while 5,233 votes were recorded for S. M. Taylor (R.), 3.436 for M. F. Turner (D.), 589 for M. G. McCaslin, of the P. party, and 388 for C. R. Martin, of the P. P. party, all candidates for Secretary of State.

There were 10,358 votes cast in this county in November, 1895, for gubernatorial candidates, as follows: Bushnell (R.), 5.370; Campbell (D.).

3,814; Coxey (People's party), 654, and Ellis (Prohibition party), 520. The total shows 581 more votes than were cast for the candidates for county treasurer, where the race was supposed to be strongest and swiftest. The official record of the vote for senators, representatives and county officers cast at this election is given as follows: .

County Officers

The names of the men who have been elected to represent this county, as part of a district, in Congress or in the Legislature, or to serve the county in its various offices, are given in the following lists:

Byron F. Ritchie, elected in 1892. The district, now known as the "Ninth," embraces Wood, Lucas, Fulton and Ottawa counties. In November, 1894, James H. Southard (R.) received 20,715 votes; Byron F. Ritchie (D.), 14,109 votes; George Candee (.Pro.), 1,130 votes, and George Candee (Pop.), 1,834 votes in the district. In the above list, district lines are not always observed, for congressmen elected from adjoining districts were as true to Wood county as if they depended on her vote for success.

District Senators. - The members of the General Assembly who represented Wood and the district of which it formed a part in the Ohio Senate, from 1820 to the present time, are named as follows: George Fithian, 1820, and James

Cooley, 1821, representing Wood, Logan, Champaign and Clark; James Cooley, 1822, and George Fithian, 1823, representing Wood and Logan; Robert Young, 1824-25, Wood, Hardin, Logan, Hancock, Miami and Shelby, with Allen added in 1825; Daniel M. Workman, 1826-27, Wood, Miami, Shelby and Logan; David Campbell, 1828-29. Wood, Seneca, Hancock and Sandusky; Samuel M. Lockwood, 1830-31; Daniel J. Tilden, 1832-33; Joseph Howard, 1834-35, and John E. Hunt, 1835, represented the four counties last named, with Huron added in 1830. John E. Hunt and David E. Owen appear to be senators from that large district in 1835; while, in 1836, John E. Hunt represented Wood, Lucas, Hancock and Henry, and Curtis Bates the same district in 1837 and 1838, when it embraced Wood, Lucas, Henry, Hancock, Van Wert, Allen, Shelby and Hardin. John E. Hunt was Senator in 1839-40, when Williams, Putnam and Paulding were added. John Goodin, in 1840, and Moses McAnelly in 1840-43, when Wood, Seneca, Sandusky, Hancock and Crawford formed the district ; Charles W. O'Neal in 1844-45, and Jesse Wheeler in 1846-47, when Wood, Lucas, Hancock and Ottawa were embraced in one district; James Myers in 1848, when Henry and Sandusky were added, and also in 1849-50 and 1851, when Hancock was detached. The Thirtythird District was established in 1851, embracing Wood, Lucas, Putnam, Fulton, Hancock and Henry. William Mungen was elected, took his seatin 18 52, Samuel H. Steedman in 1854, W. S. Lunt in 1856, Josiah N. Westcott in 1858, George Laskey in i860, Charles M. Godfrey in 1862. and James C. Hall in 1864. Dual representation was given in 1866, when Parlee Carlin and James C. Hall qualified as senators. Since that time the following citizens have been honored with the senatorship : James C. Hall and Charles A. King, 1868 ; Abel M. Covy, 1870; D. W. H. Howard and Hanks P. Gage, in 1872 ; E. D. Potter and W. A. Tressler, in 1874 ; D. I. Brown in 1876 ; David Joy and James B. Steedman, in 1878; John A. Wilkins, in 1880 ; Joseph H. Brigham and Jonathan D. Norton, in 1882 ; William H. McLyman (now, 1895, of Bowling Green), and Orlando B. Ramey, 1884; Ezra S. Dodd and H. C. Groschner, 1886; William Geyser and William L. Carlin, 1888 ; John Ryan and William W. Sutton in 1890 ; John C. Rorick and Thomas H. McConical, in 1892; John R. Hankey with Messrs. Harbaugh and Vogt, in 1895.

In a work entitled "Ohio Statesmen," the names of Thomas W. Furnas and David F. Heaton are given as senators prior to Robert Young's first term, while those of John G. Jamison, James Johnson, William J. Thomas, John Walters and Alfred P. Edgerton are also given under the head of Wood county senators. The authority under which this is done is unknown to the writer.

District Representatives in General Assembly. - The members of the House from the Representative Districts, of which Wood county was a part, down to 1851, are named as follows:

I. M. Gray, 1819-20, and John Shelby, 1820-22 - Wood and Logan counties; John Shelby, 1823 - Wood, Logan and Hardin; John Shelby, 1824-26 - Wood, Logan, Hardin and Hancock; John Shelby, 1827, same district; Samuel M. Lockwood, 1828 - Wood, Hancock. Sandusky and Seneca; Josiah Hedges, 1830, Harvey J. Harmon, 1831, James L. Everett, 1832-33, and Jaques Hulbard, 1834, same district; Stacy Taylor, 1835 - Wood, Lucas, Williams, Paulding, Darke, Shelby, Mercer, Allen, Van Wert, Putnam and Henry; John Hollister represented the same district in 1836; Parlee Carlin represented Wood, Hancock and Seneca in 1837; William Taylor - Wood, Lucas, Hancock, Henry and Williams in 1838; Moses McAnelly, the same district in 1839. Between the years 1839 and 1849 the following were elected: Amos E. Wood and Moses McAnelly represented Wood, Ottawa, Hancock, Sandusky and Seneca; Amos E. Wood and George W. Baird - Wood, Seneca, Hancock and Ottawa; George W. Baird and Henry C. Brish - W'ood, Seneca, Sandusky, Hancock and Ottawa; Samuel Waggoner and William B. Craighill; Elijah Huntington - Wood, Lucas, Hancock and Ottawa; Lyman Parcher, John McMahan, and Emery D. Potter; Isaac VanDoren represented Wood, Sandusky and Ottawa; Eber Wilson, in 1849-51, when Wood and Ottawa were established as a Representative District. Of this new district, Samuel Hollingshead was representative in 1852, Addison Smith in 1854, Erasmus D. Peck in 1856-60, William S. Woods in 1860, Asher Cook in 1862, John Ryder in 1864, H. L. Wood in 1866-70, William Park in 1870, John Norris in 1872, Nathan Hatfield in 1874, Edwin R. Sage in 1876-80, W. H. Wetmore in 1880-84, Elijah P. Emerson in 1884-88, George B. Spencer in 1888-92, Benjamin F. James 1892-96, and Omar P. Norris in 1895. In 1873 Wood county was set off as a distinct Representative District, and so remains.

In a work entitled "Ohio Statesmen," it is written that Justin Hamilton, Patrick G. Goode, John M. N. McNutt and John G. Jamison followed Shelby, in the order given; that Horace S. Knapp followed Huntington, and that Nathan Landis, C. P. Edson, S. S. Sprague, W. H. Snook and Morrison R. Waite preceded Hollingshead. In the record by sessions of the General Assembly, the owners of these names do not appear to be associated with Wood county as representatives.

County Assessors. - Ambrose Rice, 1825; Joshua Chappel, 1834 (real-estate appraiser in 1844); John McBride, 1836, was succeeded in 1837 by Samuel Matthews; Francis Carrothers, 1840-44; John H. McBride, 1844-46. In 1846 the district assessors, named in the "Transactions of the Commissioners," were appointed, and this system of local assessors continues down to the present.

Auctioneers. - John Wood, 1835; Daniel H. Wheeler, 1835; William H. Irwin, 1837, 1842 and 1844; and L. C. Lock in 1844. The office was a licensed one rather than a county office. Coroners. - Francis Charters, 1820; A. M.

Surveyors. - From 1820 to 1830 many surveyors are named in the records, such as Wilson Vance and James L. Freeman in 1820. Ambrose Rice is referred to as county surveyor in 1830; Hiram Davis, 1835; Gideon Jones, 1839; Hiram Davis, 1841; Morris Brown, 1841 ; Hiram Davis, March, 1844, vice Brown, resigned; Samuel H. Bell, 1849; S. H. Bell and Sylvanus Jefferson, ditch surveyors, 1853; Francis W. Bowe, 1855;

Auditors. - Daniel Hubbell, clerk to commissioners, April 12, 1820; Seneca Allen, clerk to commissioners. May 3, 1820; Ambrose Rice, auditor, 1820; Thomas W. Powell, March 4,

Messrs. Kingsbury and Bolles were appointed by the auditor, recorder and probate judge, acting as an appointing board, July 31, 1895. The vacancies were created by the removal from office of James Gibson and Samuel Knight. Wilson Hamilton was appointed to succeed Knight, but he declined, and the appointment of E. L. Kingsbury was decided upon. In September Commissioner Knight resumed his place; then, in November, Commissioner-Elect Brand was elected for short and long terms, and January 6, 18%, was appointed to succeed himself and to serve until September, 1896.

Chapter Xvi

The Press of Wood County - Pioneer Journalism - Newspapers of Perrysburg, Bowling Green, North Baltimore, Weston, Pemberville, Grand Rapids, Cygnet, Tontogany, Bradner, and other Localities in the County.

THE newspapers of the county, outside Perrysburg, have all come into existence since the close of the Civil war. The contest, for the removal of the Seat of Justice to a point near the geographical center of the county, suggested the publication of more than one journal, and the Advocate appeared at Bowling Green in 1866. The efforts, subsequently made, to re-establish the Seat of Justice at Perrysburg, brought into the field a few more newspapers, which defended the respective interests of the rival towns with warmth and enthusiasm. Then, the development of the southern townships began, and, later, that of the gas and oil fields of the county commenced, new towns were founded and new interests created. The newspaper publisher came to aid the developers, and localities, which were clothed with the forest before the advance of the commercial and oil men. were now cleared, and again dressed with the buildings of a new civilization. The printing press was found in the midst of the new peoples, and the old journals of Perrysburg. as well as their younger contemporaries of Bowling Green, found their hunting grounds, from Pemberville to North Baltimore, and from North Baltimore to Perrysburg, invaded by an army of hustling news-gatherers and printers.

The Miami of the Lake , the pioneer newspaper, was issued at Perrysburg, December ii, 1833, by J. W. Scott and Henry Darling, the latter bringing the press and type from New York. In June following, J. Austin Scott purchased the office and, with J. H. McBride and Henry Reed, Jr., as associate publishers, issued the paper regularly until February, 1835, when J. H. McBride (who with Charles Wilcox, of Detroit, was the first printer), became sole owner. At that time, Capt. Allen established a paper at Vistula (Toledo), which lived but a short time. Hezekiah L. Hosmer (the old justice of the peace), H. T. Smith and William P. Rozner, were successive owners until August 18, 1838, when the name was changed to The Ohio Whig. Henry Reed, Jr., was a son of Henry and Temperance (Pratt) Reed, who located near Waterville, in 1832, on land purchased from John Pray. Samuel R. Reed became editor of the Cincinnati Gazette , while Alexander, a third son of the pioneer, Henry, was connected

The Ohio Whig was first published at Perrysburg, August 1 8, 1838, by H. T. Smith, as successor of The Miami of the Lake. In its columns were the professional notices of J. Purdy, of Mansfield; W. V. Way, David Allen, Henry Bennett, John M. May, Samuel M. YoungandJ. C. Spink, local lawyers, as well as of A. Coffinberry, Isaac Stetson and Horace Sessions, of Defiance, and of Dr. N. Dustin. All the traders in that vicinity selected the Whig as an advertising medium, and, altogether, it was a popular journal until November 28, 1840, when it was merged into the Maumee River Times.

The Perrysburg News was issued June 28, 1842, by A. C. Morton. A copy of this journal could not be found, but the name and date are taken from a contemporary.

The Miami of Lake Erie was issued May 29, 1844, by W. P. Reznor; No. 7, Vol. I, bears date July 10, 1844. In March, 1846, H. L. Hosmer was proprietor; in the following month, Hosmer & Atkinson were owners.

The Fort Meigs Reveille, No. 1, Vol. I, bears date June 1, 1844, and No. 1, Vol. V, that of June 3, 1848, with the imprint of S. T. Hosmer as publisher. This issue showed an enlarged paper of 48 columns, filled with general news and advertisements, but wanting, almost in toto, in local items. In June, it published the names of Zachary Taylor for President; Millard Fillmore for Vice-President; Seabury Ford for Governor; and was altogether in the Whig interest. J. D. Bean was the successor of Hosmer, taking charge, March 2, 1850, and telling his readers that, not only was he opposed to the extension of slavery, but also to slavery in every form. On November 9, 1850, Silmon Clark became owner, but promised not to make the Reveille partisan. On June 7, 1851, owing to the difficulty of pronouncing this name, it was changed to The Perrysburg Star.

The Perrysburg Star was issued on the date above given, and continued publication until March 10, 1853, when the name was changed to The Perrysbtirg Journal.

The Maumee Express was founded about 1837. If was an important factor in the improvement of the Western Reserve road, in so much, that it ridiculed the county and State for tolerating such an unruly highway. Every issue of The Express abused the road in prose and poetry, and shamed the authorities into its improvement.

The Maumee River Times followed The Express as its successor on November 28, 1840. It was as much a Perrysburg as a Maumee journal, for it was published in each place, the name of location being the only difference in the dual issue. H. T. Smith carried on the paper until 1855, when the office was moved to Toledo. The Express , named above, was first issued March 25, 1837, by Calvin Frary and Henry Reid, Jr. J. H. Brown succeeded Frary in May, 1837, and the same month, H. L. and S. T. Hosmer, of Perrysburg, became owners, with Lawyer H. Reid, as editor.