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PART I.
CHAPTER XV
THE COURTS UNDER THE
CONSTITUTION.
p. 168
Common Pleas Circuits and Districts -
Common Pleas Judges - The Circuit Court - The Bar and
Judiciary.
Common Please Judges in Adams
County.
The constitution of 1802 divided the State into
three districts, in each of which there was a President
Judge of the Common Pleas, elected by the Legislature
for seven years. Three circuits were established
by the Legislature, Apr. 16, 1803, and there as follows:
First Circuit - Composed of the counties of Hamilton,
Butler Montgomery, Greene, Warren and Clermont.
Second Circuit - Composed of the counties of Adams,
Scioto, Ross, Franklin, Fairfield and Gallia.
Third Circuit - Composed of the counties of Washington,
Belmont, Jefferson, Columbia and Trumbull.
In 1810, four circuits were made, and the second was
composed of the counties of Ross, Pickaway, Madison,
Fayette, Highland, Clermont, Adams, Scioto and Gallia.
The circuit so remained until 1816, when six were
created and the second circuit was composed of the
counties of Highland, Adams, Scioto, Gallia, Pike and
Ross. this law was amended in 1817, and Lawrence
added to the second circuit. In 1818, seven
circuits were provided for and the second was composed
of Highland, Adams, Scioto, Lawrence, Gallia, Jackson,
Pike and Ross. In 1819 nine circuits were made,
and the second was composed of the counties of Hocking,
Pickaway, Fayette, Highland, Adams and Ross. This
remained, so far as Adams County was concerned, until
1821, when the second circuit was composed of Hocking,
Fayette, Highland, Brown, Adams and Ross, and so
remained until1825, when the seventh circuit was
constituted of the counties of Butler, Clermont, Brown,
Adams, Highland, Greene and Warren. In 1826, the
seventh circuit was composed of Preble, Butler, Adams,
Highland, Clinton, Warren and Greene.
In 1828, the seventh circuit was composed of Butler,
Adams, Highland, Clinton, Warren and Greene. This
arrangement continued until 1834 as to Adams County,
when the tenth circuit was composed of the counties of
Clermont, Brown, Adams, Highland and Fayette. In
1839, thirteen circuits were made, but the tenth
remained as before. This tenth circuit remained
composed of the same counties until 1852 when the new
constitution took effect. Under that, Adams County
was placed in the fifth judicial district. This
district and the first subdivision remained the same
until Apr. 21, 1896, when Adams County was trans-
Page 169 -
ferred to the second subdivision of the seventh judicial
district, composed, as changed, of the counties of
Adams, Scioto, Pike, Jackson and Lawrence.
Common Pleas Judges
in Adams County.
The first judge under the constitution of 1802 was
Willis Silliman, of Fairfield County, elected Apr.
15, 1803. He resigned some time in 1804, and
Governor Tiffin appointed Levin Belt, of
Chillicothe, in his place.
On Feb. 7, 1805, the Legislature elected Robert F.
Slaughter, of Fairfield County, in Belt's
place, and on Jan. 9, 1807, removed him by impeachment.
On Feb. 7, 1807, the Legislature elected Levin Belt.
On or before Feb. 10, 1810, Levin Belt gave
up the office, but whether by death or resignation,
does not appear, and on that date, John Thompson,
of Ross County, was elected in his place. The next
year John Thompson was impeached on a lot of
ridiculous and foolish charges and was tried and
acquitted, and on the eighteenth of January, 1817, was
re-elected by the Legislature.
In January, 1824, Joshua Collett was elected
presiding judge of the second circuit, and served till
1828, when he was succeeded by George Smith.
In 1834, John Winston Price was elected judge of
the seventh circuit and served one term.
In 1841, Owen J. Fishback, of Clermont, was
elected judge of the tenth circuit and served a full
term. In 1848, George Collings, of Adams,
was elected and served until he resigned in 1851.
The Legislature elected Shepherd F. Norris to
fill out the term.
The president judges under the old constitution received a
salary from the formation of the State until 1821 of
$750 per annum. From that until 1852, their salary
was $1,000 per annum, paid quarterly.
Shepherd F. Norris was
the first judge of the common pleas court elected by the
people, for a term of five years beginning Feb. 9, 1852.
He was re-elected in 1857, and served until Feb. 9,
1862, when he was succeeded by Thomas Q. Ashburn
who was elected three time and served until March, 1876,
when he resigned to take the appointment of one of the
Supreme Court commission. Governor Hayes
appointed Thomas M. Lewis, of Batavia, to
succeeded him, and he served until the October election,
1876, when Allen T. Cowen was elected to serve
out the term ending Feb. 9, 1877, and David
Tarbell was elected to take the full term beginning
Feb. 9, 1877. In February, 1882, D. W. C.
Loudon, having been elected the fall previous, took
Tarbell's place. He was re-elected in 1887 and
served until Feb. 9, 1891, when he was succeeded by
Henry Collings, who served until Feb. 9, 1897, when
the constitutional judgeship of the first subdivision of
the fifth district went to John Markley, of Brown
County.
On Apr. 9, 1871 (Vol. 68, page 68), an act was passed
to make an additional judge in the three counties of
Adams, Brown and Clermont. There was a special
election on the third Monday of May, 1871, and David
Tarbell was elected. He took the office the
third Monday in June, 1871, and served one term of five
years.
In the fall of 1876 he was nominated for and elected to
the constitutional term as already stated.
Page 170 -
On Apr. 28, 1877 (Vol. 74, page483), an act was passed
renewing the additional judgeship, which the Supreme
Court in State v. Brown, 38 O. S., had held was but for
the one term. In the fall of 1877, Allen T.
Cowen was elected to this office and served for five
years form Feb. 9, 1878. On Mar. 26, 1883 (Vol.
80, page 76), the Legislature provided for an additional
judge in the three counties to be elected in Order,
1883, and take his office Oct. 15, 1883. Under
this act Allen T. Cowen was elected and served
five years. In October, 1888, he was succeeded by
Frank Davis, who was re-elected and served ten
years and until Adams County ceased to be a part of the
first subdivision of the fifth district.
On Apr. 21, 1896 (Vol. 92, page 214), an act was passed
which transferred Adams County from the fifth district
and placed it in the second subdivision of the seventh
judicial district. This act took effect Sept. 1,
1896, and from that date, the common pleas judges of
Adams County, were Henry Collins, W. D. James and
Noah J. Dever.
In the fall of 1896,
Henry Collings was re-elected, and John C. Milner
elected to succeed Noah J. Dever. Their
terms began Feb. 9, 1897. The term of W. Dow
James expired Feb. 9, 1899, and he was succeeded by
William H. Middleton, so that at the publication of
this work, Henry Collings, Wm. H. Middleton and
John C. Milner are the common pleas judges of Adams
County. A table of the common pleas judges of
Adams County from the foundation of the State to the
present time is as follows:
1803 to 1804. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Willis Silliman
1804 to 1805. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . Levin Belt
1805 to 1807. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . Robert F. Slaughter
1807 to 1810. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . Levin Belt
1810 to 1824. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . John Thompson
1824 to 1828. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . Joshua Collett
1829 to 1833. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . George Smith
1834 to 1841. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . John Winston Price
1841 to 1848. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . Owen J. Fishback
1848 to 1851. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . George Collings
1851 to 1852. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . Shepherd F. Norris
Under the constitution of 1851, fifth district,
constitutional judges:
1852 to 1862. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shepherd F. Norris
1862 to 1876. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . Thomas Q. Ashburn
1876 to
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thomas W. Lewis
1876 to 1877. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . Allen T. Cowen
1877 to 1882. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . David Tarbell
1882 to 1892. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . D. W. C. Loudon
1892 to 1897. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . Henry Collings
Additional judges fifth district:
1871 to 1876. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Tarbell
1878 to 1888. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . Allen T. Cowen
1888 to 1898. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . Frank Davis
Page 171 -
Seventh district since September 1, 1896:
1896 - 1897. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noah J. Dever
1896 - 1899. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . W. D. James
1899 - 1906. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . W. H. Middleton
1897 - 1902. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . Henry Collings
1897 - 1902. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . John C. Milner
WYLISS SILLIMAN - 171
LEVIN BELT - 172
ROBERT SLAUGHTER - 172
ABRAHAM SHEPHERD - 173
JOHN THOMPSON
- 175
JOSHUA COLLETT - 176
GEORGE J. SMITH - 177
JOHN WINSTON PRICE -
178
OWEN T. FISHBACK -
178
HON. GEORGE COLLINGS
- 179 *
SHEPHERD F. NORRIS -
182
THOMAS Q. ASHBURN -
182
THOMAS M. LEWIS
- 183
DAVID TARBELL -
183
DeWITT CLINTON
LOUDON - 184
HENRY COLLINGS - 184
FRANK DAVIS -
185
NOAH J. DEVER - 186
WILLIAM DOW JAMES
- 188
WILLIAM H. MIDDLETON
- 189
JOHN CLINTON MILNER
- 190
Page 191 -
The Circuit Court of Adams County.
The Constitution of 1802 provided that the Supreme Court
should be held in each county once a year.
The holding of this court in the circuit was found to be
a disappointment to the judges, to the bar, and to the
suitors. It was hardship on the judges to travel
and on the bar to follow them about. Suitable time
was not give in the hearing and consideration of the
cases and under the circumstances, it could not be
given. The terms for the counties were often,
therefore, omitted, or held in the capital or some other
county.
The Constitution of 1851, in making provision for an
intermediate court between the common pleas and circuit
court provided for a District Court to be held in each
county at least once a year. It was to be composed
of one supreme judge and at least two common pleas
judges of the district. In practice, it worked
badly. None of the common pleas judges liked to do
district court work. The supreme judges found
themselves too busy at Columbus to attend and soon after
the constitution went into effect ceased their
attendance. In practice, the district court was
usually made up of the common pleas judges who had heard
the cases before the determined them, and to other
common pleas judges, judicial courtesy required them to
affirm the former decision, and judicial courtesy was
not often violated. The system became so
satisfactory to all concerned that in 1883, a
constitutional amendment was adopted providing for the
present circuit court. These courts were to have
independent judges, not sitting in any other court, and
were to be held in each county once a year. Each
judge could sit in any circuit. The legislature
acting on the amendment made nine circuits of which the
fourth was composed of the sixteen counties of
Page 192 -
Monroe, Washington, Athens, Meigs, Hocking, Pickaway,
Vinton, Jackson, Gallia, Lawrence, Scioto, Pike, Ross,
Adams, Highland and Brown. Afterward Monroe was
detached and attached to the Zanesville circuit.
The first election was in 1884 and the judges elected
were Thomas Cherrington, of Lawrence; Milton
L. Clark, of Ross; and Joseph P. Bradbury of
Meigs. The judges met and drew lots for terms.
Judge Cherrington drew the two-year term;
Judge Bradbury the four-year term, and Judge
Clark, the full or six-year term. The court
was opened for businesss on Feb. 9, 1895. It has
proven a very satisfactory court. In the fourth
circuit, there have been but few changes. Judge
Bradbury served out his term of four years in 1889
and was succeeded by Judge Daniel A. Russell, who
was elected in 1889, and re-elected in 1894.
Judge Clark was re-elected in 1890, and served until
Feb. 9, 1897. He was succeeded by Hiram L.
Sibley, of Marietta. The bench as now composed
consists of Hon. Daniel A. Russell, chief judge,
and Honorables Thomas Cherrington and Hiram L.
Sibley, judges. The lawyers and people of the
district are well satisfied with these judges and hope
they may serve as long as they are willing to remain.
Sketches of the several judges who have occupied the
bench are as follows: -
MILTON LEE CLARK
- 192
HIRAM L. SIBLEY - 193
DANIEL A. RUSSELL
- 194
THOMAS CHERRINGTON - 194
Page 195 -
The Bar and Judiciary of Adams
County.
Jacob Burnet
and William McMillan, of Cincinnati, and
Levin
Belt, of Chillicothe, were
admitted to the bar in Adams County and practiced in its
courts under the Territory.
William Creighton, Henry Brush, Michael Baldwin
and Thomas Scott, afterward
of Chillicothe, were practitioners in Adams County.
Francis Taylor and other lawyers of Maysville,
Kentucky, attended the courts of Adams County until in
the forties.
The first Supreme Court held in Adams County of which a
record was found, was October term, 1804. It was
held by Judges William Sprigg and Samuel
Huntington. There was but one term held in
each year.
General Darlinton was appointed clerk of this
court. He was the only clerk this court ever had,
serving as such from 1803, until his death, Aug. 3,
1851. The court passed out of existence Sept. 1,
1851, but no clerk was reappointed after his death.
In 1819 and 1820, no court was held. In 1821,
Judges Pease and Couch held the court, and in
1822, Judges McLean and Jacob Burnet held
court.
In 1823, the court was held by Peter Hitchcock
and Charles R. Sherman father of the Senator.
The May term, 1824, was held by Judges Peter
Hitchcock and Jacob Burnet. At this
term, George Collings and Kidder Meade Byrd
were admitted to the bar. The latter was drowned
in the Potomac River in Washington, Sept. 24, 1824.
At the May term, 1825, General Darlinton was
reappointed clerk for seven years and William H.
Allen was admitted to the bar. Judges Pease
and Burnet held the term.
The May term, 1826, was held by Judges Hitchcock
and Burnet. Archibald Leggett, of Ripley,
was admitted to the bar. Joseph D. Darlinton,
son of the General, was appointed deputy clerk.
At the May term, 1827, held by Judges Burnet and
Sherman George Lyon was admitted to the bar.
Page 196 -
In 1828, Judges Hitchcock and Burnet held
the court. Allen D. Beasley was admitted to
the bar.
The May term, 1829, was held by Judges Pease and
Sherman. Henry Brush was one of the attorneys
in attendance, and John H. Haines was admitted to
the bar.
The August, 1830, was held by Judges Joshua Collett
and Ezekial Hayward.
At the April term, 1832,
the judges were Joshua Collett and John C.
Wright. General Darlinton resigned as
clerk because his term expired May 7, following, and he
was reappointed for seven years. The court also
appointed him master in chancery for three years.
At the April term, 1834, the judges were the same as
the previous term.
At the August term, 1835, the judges were Collett
and Lane. Thomas J. Buchannan and
Andrew Ellison were admitted to the bar.
The March term, 1836, was held by Judges Lane
and Hitchcock.
The April term, 1837, was held by Judges Lane
and Hitchcock. General Darlinton was
appointed master in chancery for three years.
At the March term, 1838, the judges were Wood
and Grimke. Joseph Darlinton was
reappointed clerk for seven years, and Joseph D.
Darlinton, his deputy. No term was held in
1839. In 1840, Judges Lane and Hitchcock
held the term. Charles K. Smith was
admitted to the bar.
In 1841, Judges Grimke and Hitchcock held
the term. George Nealy was admitted to the
bar. In 1842, the judges were Lane and
Birchard. John M. Smith was admitted to the
bar.
In 1844, the judges were Lane and Wood, and
James W. Armstrong was admitted to the bar.
In 1845, the judges were Wood and Birchard, and
in 1846, Reed and Birchard.
On Mar. 30, 1846, Gen.
Darlinton was reappointed clerk for seven years, his
last appointment. In 1847, the court was held by
Judges Reed and Avery. In 1848, the
same judges sat. James Clark and Joseph
Allen Wilson were admitted to the bar. the
latter died the following December.
In 1849, the court was held by Judges Avery and
Spaulding. Andrew W. McCauslen was
admitted to the bar.
The April term, 1851, was the last Supreme Court held
in Adams County, and was held by Judges Spaulding
and Ramsey. Joseph R. Cokerill, John K.
Billings and David B. Graham were admitted to
the bar at this term.
The District Court succeeded the Supreme Court and its
first term in Adams County was held Oct. 17, 1852.
Judge Allen W. Thuran of the Supreme Court,
presided, and John F. Green and Shepherd F.
Norris were the common pleas judges.
The first court of common pleas held in Adams County
was Dec. 13, 1797. The judges of that court were
John Beasley, John Belli and Benjamin Goodwin,
all lay judges. This court was held at Adamsville.
The next was held at the same place in December, 1898.
Benja-
Page 197 -
min Goodwin had removed from the county and court
was composed of Beasley, Belli and
Nathaniel Massie.
The December term, 1799, was held at Washington. The
court was composed of John Beasley, president,
John Belli, Moses Baird and Noble Grimes, all lay
judges. They held this court in September, 1800,
June and September, 1801, at Washington. There is
no record for 1802.
In August, 1803, David Edie was presiding judge
and Hosea Moore and Needham Perry were
associates. This was the first court under
statehood. John Lodwick was sheriff.
At the December term, 1803, Wyllis Silliman, a
lawyer and presiding judge, sat at Washington and his
associates were Hosea Moore, Needham Perry and
David Edie.
As to the lawyers who attended early courts, there is
little of record. John S. Wills was
prosecuting attorney in 1804, James Scott in
1807, and Jessup M. Couch, in 1808. Prior
to that, the State used any attorney who happened to
attend as prosecutor. John W. Campbell
located in West Union in 1808 and was a leader at the
bar until 1826, when he removed to Brown County.
He was prosecuting attorney from 1808 to 1817 under the
magnificent salary of one hundred dollars per year.
In 1817, he was succeeded by Samuel Treat, whom
oblivion has fully obscured. Even the writers of
this work could not resurrect him. Richard
Collins practiced in Adams County in 1821 and 1822.
He was a son of the Rev. John Collins, of
fragrant memory. He afterwards went to Maysville
and died there.
The first term at which the attendance of lawyers was
noted was November term, 1822. There were present
at that term John W. Campbell, Samuel Treat, Daniel
P. Wilkins, Richard Collins, Benjamin Leonard, Henry
Brush of Chillicothe, and George R. Fitzgerald.
At the June term, 1823, the same attorneys were
present, together, with Taylor and Scott.
In 1824, John Thompson, of Chillicothe,
attended. In 1825, the Legislature passed a law
placing a specific tax on lawyers and this remained in
force until 1851. This law did not take effect
until June, 1826, and the assessments were made by the
associate judges until 1830, when the law required them
to be made by the commissioners at their June session;
hence, the resident attorneys from 1830 to 1851 can be
found in the commissioner's journal at every June
meeting.
George Collings first
appeared as an attorney at the March term, 1824.
In 1825, the lawyers were Samuel Brush, Geo. R.
Fitzgerald, Richard Collins, Daniel P. Wilkins, George
Collings, Taylor and Benjamin Leonard.
The latter was considered a great lawyer and was
employed in all great cases. He never resided in
the county. Henry Brush, of Chillicothe,
attended in 1826. In 1827, Garland B. Shelladay
appears. He was a Virginian, a protege of John
W. Campbell. John Thompson, of Chillicothe,
attended regularly. At June term, 1828, Beasley
appears. In 1828, we note the first appearance
of Archibald Leggett. In 1829 Leggett,
Beasley, and George W. King, of Brown County
attended. In 1832 the list of taxed lawyers were
Samuel Brush, George Collings, and Daniel P.
Wilkins. Thomas L. Hamer, of Brown, attended
first that year.
Page 198 -
In 1834 Nelson Barrere first appears. In
1835 John P. Crapsey attended. At this time
James Cole, and soon after located in Piketon.
In 1836 John Hanna attended, and three of the
Brushes, J. T., Samuel, and Henry.
In 1837 David Devore, of Brown, and McDowell,
of Highland, attended; also Shepherd F. Norris.
In 1839, A. McClausen first appears. We are
uncertain whether this was Thomas A., or an elder
brother of his.
In 1840 O. F. Moore attended; Joseph
McCormick and Chambers Baird, McCauslen, Devore,
Barrere, and Hamer were also present.
In 1841 William V. Peck attended. At the
October term, 1841, Henry Massie, of Chillicothe,
Chambers Baird, Hamer, Devore, J. S. Taylor, John
W. Price, of Hillsboro, and H. L. Penn, of
Brown, were in attendance. The same lawyers
attended most of the terms for several years after.
At February term, 1845, Edward P. Evans appears
for the first time. He did not become a resident
of the county till April, 1847.
At March term, 1846, John M. Smith appears for
the first time.
At the June term, 1847, William M. Meek made his
bow to the court. At the September term, 1847,
there were present, John M. Meek, Edward P. Evans,
Hanson L. Penn, Joseph McCormick, Thomas McCauslen,
and James H. Thompson. Of all the above,
the latter only is living at a great age.
In 1849 and 1850 John W. Price attended.
In 1851 the name of Col. Cockerill first appears
at September term. McCauslen, McCormick,
and Evans are named. George Collings
was last named at June term, 1847.
At the August term, 1852, there were present Evans,
Penn, McCauslen, Cockerill, Billings, David B. Graham,
James Lowery, William M. Meek, William C. buck, James H.
Thompson, Chambers Baird, and William H. Reed.
As this brings us within
the memory of the present generation, we do not mention
the attendance. McFerran appeared on the
state the next year. Jacob M. Wells located
in West Union as a lawyer in 1854. The same year,
1854. Thomas J. Mullen located in Adams
County for the practice of law. The ashes of
Evans, Cockerill, Mullen, Wells, Billings, and
McFerran all rest in the old South Cemetery.
David W. Thomas began the practice of law at
West Union in 1864. He, too, has joined the silent
majority.
Edward M. DeBruin was a lawyer at West Union in
1860. He went into the 33d Ohio Volunteer Infantry
as an officer, and after the war went to Hillsboro.
He died at Columbus, Ohio, in October, 1899.
Colonel Cockerill practiced at West Union from
1851 to 1875, and was well and favorably known.
The present bar of Adams County in composed of
Franklin D. Bayless, George W. Pettit, A. Z. Blair,
William R. Mehaffey, Cyrus F. Wikoff, C. F. McCoy,
the prosecuting attorney; Carey E. Robuck, M. Scott,
John W. Hook, J. W. McClung, all residents of West
Union; C. C. W. Naylor, William Anderson, S. N.
Tucker, and W. E. Foster, residents of
Manchester; and Philip Handrehan and T. C.
Downey, of Winchester.
Page 199 -
Separate sketches of all the prominent members of the
bar, past and present, will be found following this
article, as well as separate sketches of the judges in
succession.
The practice of the law in Adams County was much more
profitable in the early history of the county than it is
now. Then the people thought they were rich; now
they know they are poor. At least, that is the
statement most of them made to the canvassers for this
work. Then the county was new; lands were taken up
in large tracts, and there was much litigation over
disputed and conflicting lines. For thirty years
all the boundary questions have been settled, and the
litigation is made up chiefly of foreclosures, damage
suits, and divorces. The lawyers of this day have
a better time than the early lawyers did, but are not so
much looked up to as the first lawyers, because the
people have other things to think of. In the early
days all public interest centered in the courts.
Now it has many other objects. A number of the
older generation of lawyers were gay lotharios, and very
fond the corn whiskey, but the present generation have
abandoned both proclivities. The older generation
of lawyers rode the circuit. They passed from
county seat to county seat on horseback, with saddle
pockets across their saddles, and sherry vallies
encasing their legs. They rode in all weathers and
on all kinds of roads. The present generation
travels only turnpikes in carriages, or travels on the
cars. The older generation spent their evenings in
inns, before blazing fires, and with candle light.
The present generation would not be found in a common
bar room, and enjoys all the comforts and conveniences
of life. The older lawyers depended much on
oratory and effect; the present generation are largely
business agents with business methods. The older
lawyers may have enjoyed log cabins with puncheon floors
and clapboard roofs, but the present members of the
fraternity enjoy all the fruits of the intense
civilization in the midst of which we live. Law
books are plenty now. In the early times they were
scarce. While the present lawyers have business
away from home and attend to it, the old plan of riding
the circuit has gone, never to return. George
Collings, the father of Judge Henry Collings,
rode the circuit, as did John W. Campbell and
their cotemporaries. Judge George Collings
attended the courts in Scioto, Highland, and Brown
Counties. The fashion of riding the circuit went
out with the old Constitution. The old-fashioned
judges were not always strong men, nor were they all
learned in the law. Wylliss Silliman was an
able lawyer, but Levin Belt was no better
qualified than a justice of the peace. Robert
F. Slaughter was not much of a lawyer, though quite
an orator. John Thompson was only passable,
though of a very high temper and much natural dignity,
which shielded his lack of training as a lawyer.
Joshua Collett and George J. Smith were
able judges. John W. Price was a fair
lawyer. Judge Fishback is described in a
separate sketch. George Collings was an
able and successful lawyer, but his feelings were too
sensitive for a judge, and he would not remain on the
bench. Shepherd F. Norris was a fair lawyer
and judge, but Judge Fishback would never concede
it. Thomas Q. Ashburn made an efficient
judge, but was not brilliant. Tarbell was
proficient in the law. Cowen, Collins, and
Davis
Page 200 -
were able judges, above the average of judges before the
present constitution and their immediate predecessors.
Loudon made a good judge, though not of a
judicial temperament. Of the nineteen associate
judges of Adams County, as we learn them, Robert
Morrison was the best informed on the law, and of
the greatest natural ability. Moses Baird
was the next in ability, though we do not know so much
of him as a Morrison, but he was a man of
excellent natural ability and of great dignity.
The old courts and judges, however, believed in
dignity. Colonel John Lodwick, sheriff of
the county, mustered the court with martial music and a
procession from their hotel to the courthouse on the
opening of every term. He wore a cocked hat and
carried a sword. Of all men, Colonel Lodwick
was most efficient in a case of this kind. At
militia musters he made the finest appearance of any one
on the parade, and as sheriff, was capable of
maintaining his own dignity and that of the whole court.
He was a model for every sheriff who has followed him.
RICHARD COLLINS - 200
DANIEL PUTMAN
WILKINS - 200
GEORGE R. FITZGERALD
- 201
GARLAND B. SCHELLEDY
- 202
SAMUEL BRUSH -
202
JAMES KEENAN -
203
JOSEPH MCCORMICK
- 204
JOSEPH ALLEN WILSON
- 204
DAVID B. GRAHAM
- 205
EDWARD PATTON EVANS
-
206
MAJOR CHAMBERS BAIRD
- 208
WILLIAM M. MEEK
- 211
JOHN MITCHELL SMITH
- 212
MAJOR JOHN W. McFERRAN - 216
GEORGE C. EVANS
- 216
LUTHER THOMPSON -
220
DAVID W. THOMAS
- 221
FRANKLIN D. BAYLESS
- 222
JOHN W. HOOK
- 223
RICHARD WATSON McNEAL
- 225
ALBION Z. BLAIR - 226
CYRUS FRANKLIN WIKOFF - 227
JAMES R. B. KESLER -
228
CHARLES FRANKLIN McCOY
- 228
CAREY E. ROBUCK -229
ROBERT CRAMER VANCE - 229
CHESTER C. W. NAYLOR -
230
WILLIAM ANDERSON - 231
HENRY SCOTT - 231
JUDGE JOHN WESLEY MASON
- 232
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