The first lawyer who located in Pickaway County was Richard Douglass, a native of New London, Connecticut, born in 1785, who came West to "grow up with the country" in 1808 and when he reached Chillicothe, Ohio, decided to remain there for a while, finished his law studies with Col. Henry Brush, a noted lawyer of his time, was admitted to practice law in 1809, opened an office in Chillicothe, publishing his professional card in the Scioto Gazette of December 23rd of that year.  Soon after the organization of Pickaway County in 1810, Mr. Douglas came to Jefferson, the temporary county seat, and "hung out his shingle."  He was present at the first court held in the county and was appointed prosecuting attorney, holding the office until 1813.  In 1812 he was elected one of the Representatives of the county in the General Assembly, serving one year.  In 1815 Mr. Douglas returned to Chillicothe and to the end of his active life was a leader in the profession, a forcible speaker, noted for his ready and sparkling wit, in fact was a remarkable man.  He died in 1852.  His son, Dr. Albert Douglas, was a prominent citizen of Chillicothe until his death some years ago, and his sons, Albert Douglas and J. C. Douglas, are leading lawyers of the Ross County bar, the former when this was written the Republican candidate for Congress in the Ross district and the latter having served 10 years as common pleas judge.

     Ralph Osborn, who was one of the first attorneys who located in Columbus, came to Pickaway County soon after the county seat was fixed at Circleville and opened a law office.  He was a native of Waterbury, Connecticut.  In 1810, he was elected clerk of the Ohio House of Representatives and was re-elected in 1811, 1812, 1813 and 1814.  In 1813 he was appointed prosecuting attorney of Pickaway County, continuing in office until 1816.  In 1815 Mr. Osborn was chosen Auditor of State by the General Assembly in joint meeting, and was continuously re-elected until 1833.  He had a few, if any, superiors in a clerical position.  Soon after his first election as Auditor, Mr. Osborn changed his residence to Columbus.  In 1833 he was elected to represent Franklin and Pickaway counties in the State Senate.  His death occurred Dec. 30, 1835, at the age of 52 years.  Mr. Osborn was twice married; first, on Apr. 26, 1812, to Catherine Renick, daughter of John Renick, then living near Darby Creek, Jackson township.  After her death, about 17 yeas thereafter, he married Mrs. Jane Turney, widow of Dr. Daniel Turney, who was the eldest daughter of Col. James Denny, of Pickaway County.  He was the father of a number of children, three by the second marriage; the only one now living is Mrs. Catherine Ruggles, widow of Samuel H. Ruggles, of Circleville, born of the second marriage.

     Joshua Folsom was one of the first lawyers in Pickaway County, coming to Circleville the first year of its existence.  He was born in New Hampshire in 1783 and was

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partly educated at Dartmouth College.  His reputation was that of a very good lawyer, well-read on all subjects and possessed of extensive information.  He served as prosecuting attorney from 1828 to 1832, after which, having acquired a considerable estate for those days he quit the law and located upon a large tract of land which he owned, in Logan County, Ohio.

     Caleb Atwater, who came to Circleville in 1815 and engaged in the practice of the law, was a man of varied ability - educator, minister, lawyer, legislator, author and antiquarian.  He was born at North Adams, Massachusetts. Dec. 25, 1778.  He was one of the earliest I graduates of Williams College.  He moved to New York and for a while conducted a school for young ladies, at the same time studyiing for the ministry, and was ordained as a minister of the Presbyterian Church.  Soon there after deciding to change his profession, he studied law and in due course was admitted to the practice.  In 1821 Mr. Atwater was a Representative from Pickaway County in the General Assembly, serving one term and was conspicuous as an advocate of popular education and public improvements, a pioneer in the movement for the construction of the Ohio canal system.  At the close of his legislative service, he was commissioned to represent the United States government in the treaty with the Winnebago Indians at Galena, Illinois.  Thenceforth he devoted years to literary pursuits, writing one of the earliest works, on “Western Antiquities", also works on other subjects, and a “History of Ohio.”  Mr. Atwater died at Circleville Mar. 13, 1867, having survived his second wife 10 years.  Of his nine children only one, Mrs. Lucy Brown, is living.  It was said of Caleb Atwater by one who knew him intimately:  “He was a man of somewhat eccentric characteristics, but of large and genuine worth.  He combined, with culture the qualities of exceeding kindness and of the most rigid conscientiousness.  He was un selfish, labored for the benefit of others—the masses and his neighbors - and exhibited but little desire for pecuniary gain or personal advancement.   His character commanded the respect and his talents and his employment of them, the admiration of all who, personally or by reputation, had knowledge of his life and services."

     Guy W. Doane, a native of New Milford, Connecticut, a graduate of Union College, New York, and a student in the law school at Litchfield, Connecticut, located in Circleville in 1816 to practice law.  The legal profession was not then crowded with business, as Mr. Doane from Jan. 20, 1818, to Feb. 9, 1819, was the editor of the Olive Branch, the pioneer newspaper of the county.  Mr. Doane was prosecuting attorney two years, commencing in 1824, and in 1826 was elected Representative in the General Assembly, serving one term.  He continued in active practice of the law until 1844, when loss of eyesight disqualified him for active pursuits.  He died Feb. 4, 1862, and an obituary published in the Circleville Union, the same week, says: "Mr. Doane was eminently a just man, an humble-minded, consistent Christian and a good citizen.  *    *    *   With social qualities that but few possess, he was yet an indefatigable student; with an industry that never flagged, he kept pace with the progress of his profession, drew from the stores of ancient learning, and mastered the current literature of his day."  One of Mr. Doane's sons, George W. Doane, located at Omaha, became prominent as a lawyer, served in the Legislature and upon the bench.  Clement Doane, another son, was editor of the Jasper (Indiana) Courier for over 30 years, dying in 1905.  The youngest of the late Col. Samuel A. Moore.
     It is recorded that in 1810 Joshua Folsom, Guy W. Doane, Caleb Atwater and Neil McGaffey were the only resident attorneys of Circleville.  McGaffey soon thereafter emigrated farther west and nothing concerning him is obtainable, except that he was the son-in-law of John McNeal, the first coroner of the county.

     The first lawyer, who completed his studies here, and began the practice in Circleville, was Joseph Olds, a native of Brattleboro, Vermont,

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and one of the Olds family, which became notable in Pickaway County, several of the brothers attaining prominence in the professions and in business.  Joseph Olds came to Circleville in 1818, and in a short time began the practice of the law, soon rising to eminence in the profession.  He was prosecuting attorney four years, beginning in 1820, and Representative in the General Assembly in 1824 and 1825 and Senator from Pickaway and Hocking counties in 1827 and from Franklin and Pickaway counties from 1828 to 1831, and in both branches was a leader in legislation.  He was not only one of the ablest lawyers of his time but one of the best and most successful financiers, dealing extensively in real estate in town and country, owned large tracts of land in Pickaway and Madison counties, as well as town property and laid out two additions to Circleville.  He was rated as one of the wealthiest men in the county.  When the Bank of Circleville was organized in the fall of 1834, Mr. Olds was elected its president and continued in that capacity until his death, always judiciously and successfully managing the affairs of the institution.  In 1842 Mr. Olds built the large brick house at the corner of Main and Pickaway streets, now owned by Mrs. Mary G. Marfield, bought by her deceased husband, William B. Marfield, in 1870.  “Then first erected, this house was considered as a palatial mansion, the finest in the town.  In politics, Mr. Olds was a strong Whig; and in the memorable campaign of 1840 was a popular stumper, doing efficient service for his party.  The last time he appeared before the people, as a candidate, was in 1842, the Whigs having nominated him for Representative.  His brother, Dr. Edson B. Olds, was the Democratic candidate.  It was a hot, exciting, close contest, both candidates men of much forensic ability, sharp disputants and each “bowed to the line," no matter where the chips might fall.  Joseph Olds was elected by three majority, having two majority in Circleville.  He declined to accept the office, and a special election was held at which Dr. Edson B. Olds was chosen by a large majority and began his first term as a legislator.  Mr. Olds died on the 26th of April, 1847, in the 53rd year of his age, surviving his wife about two years.  There not being any children, his estate was bequeathed in equal shares to his brothers and sisters.  The late John A. Lutz, in reminiscenses printed in the Circleville Union-Herald about 20 years ago, said of Joseph Olds: “As the writer remembers him, he was of about medium height, rather slender, naturally bright and well educated for that period, and being a good speaker he soon gained practice.  He had the energy, shrewdness and push common to the Yankees in the early part of the present century, and in addition to being attentive to his profession, he took an active interest in all the enterprises and movements calculated to build up the city."  An obituary of Mr. Olds published in the Circleville Watchman, May 7, 1847, contained the following:  “His honesty was proverbial, and so high was his character in this respect, that no man, not even his political opponents, ever doubted the honesty and integrity of Joseph Olds.”

     John L. Green was the first of the early lawyers locating in Circleville, who was not a New Englander.  Mr. Green was born at Richmond, Virginia, in 1807.  His parents both perished in the burning of the Richmond Theatre, the night of Dec. 26, 1811, if the writer was correctly informed.  Mr. Green came to Circleville about 1830, and soon was successful in the law practice.  He was clerk of the Ohio House of Representatives in 1831-32; was elected prosecuting attorney in 1832 and served six years; was Senator from the Pickaway and Franklin district from 1837 to 1840.  He was commissioned as a general in the State militia, wearing the title for years.  Mr. Green changed his location to Chillicothe in the ’40’s, forming a partnership with William Creighton, Jr., which continued a few years.  In 1850 General Green was elected as one of the representatives from Ross County in the convention which formed the present constitution of Ohio and in 1851 was elected the first common pleas judge in the Ross, Fayette and Highland subdivision of the Fifth Judicial District, serving five years.  In 1880 he moved to Columbus

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and in 1866 was elected common pleas judge in the Franklin, Madison and Pickaway subdivision, re-elected in 1871 and 1876, serving 15 years as did his predecessor, Judge James L. Bates.  When Judge Green closed his judicial career on the 9th of February, 1882, he did not resume the law practice, living a retired life until his death, July 3. 1886.  Politically Judge Green was a zealous Whig, while that party lived.  In 1861 he joined the Democratic party, to which he adhered there after.

     Henry Hedges

     Joseph H. Geiger

 Pictures of
St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Circleville
Baptist Church, Circleville
Road Bridge Over Scioto River, Circleville
The Sulphur Spring, Williamsport,
In the center is shown the old Radcliff Distillery.

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had campaigned for each; in his later years he was an independent voter.  Genral Geiger survived three wives.  He died Mar. 23, 1903.

     John Cradlebaugh

     Chauncey N. Olds

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     Thomas C. Jones

     M. C. Canfield had a law office in Circleville for a few years after 1840; was elected prosecuting attorney in 1841, serving one term, then going elsewhere.

     John C. Groom

     Jonathan Renick

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     Henry F. Page

     Palmer C. Smith had a leading place at the Pickaway County bar for 50 years.  He came from New York, born in Whitestown, Oneida County July 31, 1823.  He received a good academic education and worked on the home farm until he reached his majority, when he removed to London, Ohio, and studied law in the office of his cousin, Henry W. Smith; was admitted to the practice by the old Supreme Court of Ohio in December, 1846; and in April following opened an office in Circleville.   From that time he devoted all his attention and energies to the profession, securing and holding a large law business.  He was elected city solicitor at the April election in 1855, and was re-elected in 1857; was elected prosecuting attorney in 1855, holding the office one term.  Mr. Smith was the Republican candidate for common pleas judge, in the Franklin. Madison and Pickaway subdivision, in 1879 and 1882, and, while defeated, his vote showed his strength at home, having a majority in the county in 1882.  Mr. Smith, during his half century in the law practice, had a partner most of the time - from 1849 to 1857, Thomas C. Jones; in 1861-62, Henry F. Page; in 1863-66, Hon. Jacob J. Pugsley, now of Hillsboro, Ohio; subsequently, for 10 years, William F. Hurst; and from 1877 his partner was Milton Morris, the firm of Smith & Morris existing until Mr. Smith’s death, Aug. 19, 1900.  He was then in his 78th year and had been the Nestor of the Pickaway County bar for 15 years.  Mr. Smith, in 1858, married Sarah Osborn, daughter of Hon. Ralph Osborn, one of the earliest attorneys mentioned.   She died in 1892, leaving three daughters.

     Joseph Olds, one of the best lawyers Pickaway County has produced, was born in Circleville, Apr. 15, 1832.  He was the son of Dr. Edson B. Olds, for years one of the foremost men of the county.  After receiving his preliminary education in Circleville, he entered Yale College in 1849 at the age of 17 years, graduating in 1853.  He began the study of the law with his uncle Chauncey N. Olds, in Circleville, from here going to the Harvard Law School, graduating in 1857, receiving the degree of LL. B.  The same year he was admitted to the practice of law by the District Court in session at Chillicothe, and

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at once commenced the practice in Circleville.  For a few years he was in partnership with Jonathan Renick, which association was terminated by the latter's death, in 1862.  Mr. Olds soon impressed the people with his ability as a lawyer and business quickly came to him.  He was three times elected prosecuting attorney of the county - in 1857, 1859 and 1865.  An additional judgeship having been created in the Franklin, Madison and Pickaway subdivision of the Fifth Judicial District, Mr. Olds was elected to this judgeship at the April election in 1868.  His record on the bench placed him in the first rank of the judiciary in the State.  As a judge he was patient to hear, diligent to investigate and impartial to decide.  He declined a re-election and at the close of the term in May, 187, associated himself with Hon. Richard A. Harrison, then of London, Ohio, opening an office in Columbus, their partnership continuing until the death of Mr. Harrison.  This firm had a deservedly high reputation in Ohio and other States and in the 30 years of its existence successfully carried through the higher courts cases of great importance, involving vast interests and close legal questions.  Judge Olds was thoroughly familiar with the law and authorities on all subjects. and in argument was always logical and forcible and a close, effective reasoner.  His death occurred at his home in Columbus, Jan. 31, 1904, in his 73rd year.  His brief and fatal illness followed a few hours after consultation upon an important pending case, so that it could truthfully be said he “died in the harness.”  Mr. Olds was twice married and twice a widower, his second wife being the only daughter of the late Col. W. Marshall Anderson, of Circleville.

     John A. Lutz

     David M. Jones

     Ansel T. Walling

     Albert H. Roose

     Charles F. Kimmel

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panies as an assayer.  His death occurred some years ago.

     Burr H. Bostwick, a prominent

     Julius Wyman

     Jeremiah Hall

     Alfred Williams, who was identified with the legal profession at Circleville for 30 years, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, the son of Prof. John Williams, of Pleasantville, Ohio, a noted educator. Mr. Williams located in Circleville about 1856.  He was mayor of Circleville from 1859 to 1861.  When the office of collector of internal revenue for the 12th District was opened in Circleville in 1862.  Mr. Williams was selected by the collector, Nathan Denny, of South Bloomfield, as his chief clerk and continued in the position until 1866, and afterwards for several years was employed in other legal and clerical capacities.  In 1867 he was the Republican candidate for prosecuting attorney, when Samuel W. Courtright was first elected.  Mr. Williams was editor of the Circleville Union-Herald from 1872 to 1874.  He secured a position in the State Department at Washington, D. C., during the administration of President Hayes and showed such capability in the work assigned him that he retained the place until his death, Feb. 8, 1901.  He had charge of the correspondence with England and Spain.

     C. B. Mason

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     James Green

     Joash Miller, Joseph Knox, Samuel P. Branerd, Gustavus Scott, Harrison Welton and perhaps others unknown to fame, were registered as lawyers in Circleville for long periods, years ago, and drifted away to unknown locations.

     Jacob J. Pugsley

     Frank C. Doddridge

     Amherst Franklin

     Lewis Hamilton Bond

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PRESENT MEMBERS OF THE BAR.

     J. Wheeler Lowe

     Samuel Courtright

     Isaac N. Abernathy

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     Jacob P. Winstead

     Charles Dresbach,

     Henry P. Folsome

     Charles J. Delaplane

     Andrew R. Bolin

     Stuart R. Bolin, the junior member of the firm of

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     Clarence Curtain

     George H. Pontius

     S. L. Grigsby

     Charles C. Chappelear

     Irvin F. Snyder

     Charles H. May

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     Charles Gerhardt

     Charles W. Murphy

     Joseph W. Adkins, born in 1864 in Pickaway County, was educated at the National Normal University at Lebanon and in the law department of the Ohio Normal University, at Ada, where he was graduated in 1898.  He was admitted to the bar in June of that year and commenced the practice of the law in Circleville in 1900.  Previous to taking up the study of the law at Ada and also subsequent to his graduation he was engaged in teaching school.

     Chris. A. Weldon

     L. F. Wegerly

     George W. Lindsay

     Milton Morris was born in 1851 in Walnut township, Pickaway County.  He read law with P. C. Smith, of Circleville, and was admitted to the bar in 1875.  He has practiced in Circleville since 1877, when he entered into partnership with his preceptor, P. C. Smith, which continued until Mr. Smith’s death, Oct. 19, 1900.  He has since practiced alone.

     John Schleyer

     M. A. Sweetman

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ment, Ohio Vol. Inf., in the War of the Rebellion.

     H. B. Weaver

     Ed. A. Brown was born in 1868 in Walnut township, Pickaway County, and attended the Ohio Normal University at Ada, leaving this institution in 1889 and engaging in teaching for six years.  He then returned to the University and completed the law course in 1895.  He was in partnership with Irvin F. Snyder in Circleville for three years and has since practiced alone.

     C. A. Leist

     William A. Welch,

     Perry G. Bostwick

     Festus Walters

     Percy A. Walling

     Heise, John L.

     Howard B. Moore

     Barton Walters

     Meeker Terwilliger was born in Wayne township, Pickaway County.  His parents, David and Elizabeth (Brown) Terwilliger, were among the most respected people of the community.  He graduated from the law department of the Ohio State University, at Co-

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lumbus, was admitted to the practice in December, 1900, and has since had an office in Circleville.  He was elected justice of the peace for Circleville township and served one term, declining re-election, and is now serving his second year as clerk of the Election Board of the county.

     George W. Morrison

END OF CHAPTER XXIV. Bench and Bar.