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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02495 8222
Gc 977.101 Se5c
A centennial biographical history of Seneca County
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1
A CENTENNIAL
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
OF
SENECA COUNTY
OHIO
ILLUSTRATED
EMBELLISHED WITH PORTRAITS OF MANY WELL KNOWN PEOPLE OF SENECA COUNTY,
WHO HAVE BEEN OR ARE PROMINENT IN ITS HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT.
10.2018 CHICAGO V.N. THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1902
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
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1
Ic
369394
PREFACE.
UT of the depths of his mature wisdom Carlyle wrote, "History is the essence of innumerable biographies." Believing this to be the fact, there is no necessity of advancing any further reason for the compilation of such a work as this, if reliable history is to be the ultimate object.
Seneca County, Ohio, has sustained within its confines men who have been prominent in public affairs and great industrial enterprises for almost a century. The annals teem with the records of strong and noble manhood, and, as Sumner has said, "the true grandeur of nations is in those qualities which constitute the greatness of the individual." The final causes which shape the fortunes of individ- uals and the destinies of States are often the same. They are usually remote and obscure, and their influence scarcely perceived until manifestly declared by results. That nation is the greatest which produces the greatest and most manly men and faithful women; and the intrinsic safety of a community depends not so much upon methods as upon that normal development from the deep resources of which proceeds all that is precious and permanent in life. But such a result may not consciously be contemplated by the actors in the great social drama. Pursuing each his personal good by exalted means, they work out as a logical result.
The elements of success in life consist in both innate capacity and determination to excel. Where either is wanting, failure is almost
8361 63 030
4
PREFACE.
certain in the outcome. The study of a successful life, therefore, serves both as a source of information and as a stimulus and encour- agement to those who have the capacity. As an important lesson in this connection we may appropriately quote Longfellow, who said : "We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while we judge others by what they have already done." A faithful personal history is an illustration of the truth of this observation.
In this biographical history the editorial staff, as well as the pub- lishers, have fully realized the magnitude of the task. In the collec- tion of the material there has been a constant aim to discriminate carefully in regard to the selection of subjects. Those who have been prominent factors in the public, social and industrial development of the county have been given due recognition as far as it has been possible to secure the requisite data. Names worthy of perpetuation here, it is true, have in several instances been omitted, either on account of the apathy of those concerned or the inability of the compilers to secure the information necessary for a symmetrical sketch; but even more pains have been taken to secure accuracy than were promised in the prospectus. Works of this nature, therefore, are more reliable and complete than are the "standard " histories of a country.
THE PUBLISHERS.
1
INDEX.
A.
Adelsperger, John, 195 Albright, John, 710 Alcott, Roger, 192 Allen, Eugene W., 64 Alter, John K., 230 Ames, Charles, 689
Anderson, Anson A., 491 Anderson, John, 322
Ansberger, Albert, 717
Anway, Joseph L., 687
Anway, William H., 278
Arbogast, Michael, 344 Armstrong, Jacob S., 566
Artes, Thomas H., 327
Ash, Charles, 440 Ash, William, 464
B.
Bacher, Jacob T., 27 Baker, Grattan H., 680 Baker, William, 173 Balbian, Henry, 661 Ball, John, 571
Ball, Joseph, 614 Baltzell, Lewis, 357
Baltzell, Thomas, 125
Brown, Jacob, 98
Brown, Owen T., 272
Brown, Wilbur C., 288
Brundage, Henry H., 134 Buchman, Jacob, 138
Bemenderfer, William K., 14 Benham, George, 197
Berkey, John, 335, 756
Bunn, Jacob F., 128
Berlekemp, H. Bernhardt, 160
Berlekemp, Frederick W., 104 Bever, Joseph M., 232 Biggs, Joseph, 641 Bigham, John, 578 Bihn, Andrew, 24 Black, Harry P., IIO Blaine, H. G., 558 Blair, Thomas, 443
Blum, Joseph, 716 Bollinger, Daniel, 715
Bollinger, Louis W., 617 Bollinger, Phillip, 407 Bork, Francis J., 366
Bork, John P., 150
Bork, Minrad, 456
Bork, Philip H., 458
Borough, Michael, 267
Bowser, John, 254 Boyd, Catherine, 314
Boyd, David, 629
Boyd, Hiram, 315
Boyd, Levi, 477
Boyd, Levi F., 315
Bradner, Harry E., 271
Bradner, John A., 697
Bradner, John R., 82
Brauser, Rudolph, 162
Brayton, Peter, 600
Brendle, Jacob, 4II
Bretz, Philip, 657
Brewer, Edward A., 188
Brewer, Nelson L., 185
Brickner, George, A., 609
Briney, George, 574
Britt, John, 53 Brown, Daniel, 434
Brown, David W., 568
Bare, James M., 462 Barrick, William, 34 Barto, Elias, 748 Bealer, Andrew, 757 Beard, Eli F., 655 Beck, Felix, 60
Buchman, P. A., 376 Buckley, George, 589
Buckley, Michael, 589
Bunn, Otho A., 520 Butterfield, Isaac, 272 Byers, Henry, 494
C.
Caples, Philip D., 329 Caples, Robert F., 330 Carbin, James T., 96
6
INDEX.
Carle, Roscoe L., III Chamberlin, John W., 669
Chance, Henry, 393 Chappelle, Caleb, 197 Charlton, M. A., 99 Church, Earl, 223-4 Clark, Henry D., 637 Clouser, Lewis J., 319 Coffman, Joseph, 246 Cole, Harrison, 41
Dudrow, William, 325
Dunn, Arlington, 649
Dunn, Deroy C., 202
Dunn, Norman, 553
Dunn, William N., 637
E.
Eakin, Samuel, 451
Earl, Leroy, 83
Ecker, Jacob, 488
Egbert, Jeremiah, 410
Egbert, Newton U., 220
Einsel, Henry, 208
Cook, Harmon H., 673
Cook, Jacob, 518
Emerine, Andrew, 282
England, Frederick E .. 638
Eppler, Jacob, 118
Cookson, Isaac W., 303
Cooley, Frank, 55
Corfman, Dr., 50
Corfman, Levi, 323
Falter, Henry G., 609
Falter, John B., 646
Falter, Philip, 661
Feasel, Charles E., 563
Cramer, Frederick, 77
Feasel, Charles H., 551
Cramer, William, 505
Feasel, Isaac, 529
Creeger, Henry W., 336
Feasel, Samuel, 195
Crissel, W. J., 433
Ferree, Elijah B., 535
Crocker, Rawson, 328
Crockett, Edward, 326
Cromer, Ezra, 469
Crum, Daniel L., 416
Crum, Elias W., 300
Crum, Frederick, 203
Culler, Philip H., 173
Cunningham, Arthur A., 258, 260-I
Cunningham, George W., 156
Cunningham, Sylvester, 653
D.
Daniel, Valentine, 148
Davis, Levi, 259
Decker, Amos, 512
Deisler, Charles, 619, 716
Deisler, George, 384
Delaplane, Abraham H., 460
Derr, David H., 76
Detterman, Harrison, 205
Fritcher, Jacob, 284
Fruth, John, 621
Dewald, Peter, 544
Dewald, Philip, 469
Dick, Joseph, 22
Donaldson, Andrew J., 228
Doran, William H., 405
Downs, Lemuel, 635
Drenning, Samuel, 727
Droll, John G., 482
G.
Gangwer, Charles D .. 390
. Flack, Albert L., 663 . Flack, Jacob, 580 . Flack, Lewis, 552 ยท Flack, More, 606
Fleet, William, 682
Flicker, John, 201-2
Foos, Peter J., 19 Force, Alfred, 559
Force, C. A., 438
Forrer, John R., 714
Foster, Charles, 176
Foster, Charles W., 48, 177
Foster, Sampson, 442
Frederick, Frank J., 412
Free, Howard S., 330
Free, John, 333
Frees, Wesley B., 44
Freeze, Barney, 419
Dewald, Jacob, 95
Fruth, John F., 581
Fry, Franklin J., 707
Funk, Henry K., 428
Funk, Isaac, 408
F.
Corrigan, Peter, 494
Corthell, George, 169
Cramer, Daniel H., 360
Crocker, John, 177
Fiant, Martin, 555
Finch, Madison, 640
Fitz, George W., 226
Elliott, George W., 314
Cook, John H., 332
Cook, Solomon, 167
Cole, William, 98 Conaghan, Dennis, 218
Cook, C. G., 243
Cook, Fred, 161
1
7
INDEX.
Gault, Isaac, 138 Gerber, Michael, 237 Gerhart, E. V., 357 Geyer, Charles, 598 Gibson, John, 166 Gibson, William H., 102 Glick, John, 144 Good, J. H., 354 Good, Reuben, 213 Gooding, Josiah, 90
Gray, Edson F., 683
Gray, William, 37
Green, Owen P., 573 Griffin, Philip, 114 Grimes, Elias H., 685 Groff, Hezekiah, 13I Grove, William, 298 Guss, Casper, 594
H.
Haines, Owen, 339 Hall, Luther A., 398 Harmon, William, 347 Harter, Joseph, 750 Harvey, W. H .. 352 Hatfield, John, 639 Haverstick, David, 53 Haverstick, John, 132 Heath, Edward E., 274 Hedges, Josiah, 188 Heiserman, Jacob, 96 Hemming, Thomas, 425 Henzy, Albert J., 748 Herr, George W., 375 Hershberger, Jonas, 19 Hershiser, Henry K., 93 Hickman, Dr., 50 Hite, David, 352 Hoke, Jacob, 17 Hollenbaugh, Elias, 633 Holmes, David, 527 Holmes, John R., 261 Holtz, Charles D., 264 Holtz, Clay. 408 Holtz, John, 168
Honey, Christ, 55I
Hoover, Joseph F., 321
Horn, Samuel, 695 Hosler, Peter, 754
Hossler, Isaac N., 68
Hossler, Jacob, 293 Houck, Jacob, 154 Houck, William, 690 Hovey, A. B., 212
Huber, Eugene B., 153 Huber, Horace, 15I Huber, Uriah 144 Huffman, Josiah, 543 Hughes, Albert, 158
Hull, Abraham W., 147 Hunsicker, Michael, 743 Huss, Jacob S., 576 Huss, David, 265 Huth, Nicholas, 476
J.
Johnson, Joseph, 72 Jones, Junius V., 57
K.
Kaga, Rudolph, 78
Kagy, Isaac, 496
Kaufman, Samuel F., 542
Kaull, John, 379
Keller, Amos, 304
Keller, Peter, 62
Kelley, Charles, 284
Kennedy, Tohn, 191
Kenower, J. L., 157
Keppel, Guilford B., 12
Keppel, Henry D., 208
Kepple, George, 416 Kern, Eli, 521
Kibbler, Anthonv. 750 Kimmel, Henry, 31 King, Obediah, 668
King, William H., 417
King, William T., 189
Kintz, Thomas J., 217
Kirgis, Henry, 250
Kishler, George W., 72
Kissaberth, Philip, 480
Kistler, Herbert, 202
Kistler, Josiah, 280
Kistler, Monroe J., 199
Klaiss, Henry, 83
Knapp, James H., 432
Knepper, Benjamin F., 615
Knight, Thomas C., 276 Koller, Henry A., 116
L.
Lake, George C., 548 Lake, James L., 231 Lambright, Henry, 302 Lebold, Frederick, 505 Lee, J. C., 102
Lee, John C., 186 Leonard, Clark, 66 Leonard, Henry, 358 Leonard, William F .. Lepard, Ira H., 228
Lepard, Isaac, 148
Lewis, James, 659 Lichtle, Martin, 485 Lockwood, Alonzo, 364 Long, Adam, 480
8
INDEX.
Long, Benjamin L., 479 Long, Charles R., 509 I.ong, Michael, 255 Lonsway, Julius J., 712 Loomis, Wildman, 723
Loose, Daniel, 656 Loose, T. C., 308 Lutes, Nettie C., 13 Lynch, John A., 407
Neikirk, D. J., 230 Neikirk, John, 224 Newcomer, John, 588
Niebel, Elijah, 269
Nighswander, Lee, 746
Noble & Lutes, IIO
Noble, Warren P., 9
Noel, John, 225
Norris, Ephraim, 132
Norris, Lloyd, 74
Norris, William H., 244
Norton, James A., 422
Null, Jacob, 570
Null, William H., 312
Nyman, Philetus, 740
Marshall, Jacob, 738
Martin, Anthony McC., 291
O.
Martin, John, 475
Martin, John W., 333
Olmsted, Charles, 376
Martin, Joseph M. 623
Omwake, Jacob 312
Matthews, Henry W., 546
Oster, Jacob W., 650
Matthews, Scott J., 348
Overmeire, Hugh, 361 Owen, Alanson S., 584
McCray, J. R., 49 McCollum, Ephraim J., 651
P.
McDole, Ellsworth L., 238
McDonald, John M., 403
Paine, James, 93
Palmer, William, 165
Pankhurst, Jeremiah. 490
Pankhurst, John, 532
Park, George H., 523
Parker, James M., 559
Meeker, Commodore P., 483
Patterson, Daniel, 598
Mergenthaler, Gottfried, 623
Patterson, William H., 163
Mergenthaler, William, 728
Pennington, Adam, 461
Meyers, George W., 203
Meyers, Rudolph, 205
Michaels, Leroy J., 169 Miller, Adam, 210
Petticord, Daniel, 92
Miller, Joseph, 137
Philhower, Elias, 529
Miller, Paul, 736 Miller, Robert, 125
Phillips, Louis, 660
Miller, Wesley W., 350
Pillars, James, 240
Millhine, John, 564
Pittinger, Benjamin, 538
Mourer, James P., 392
Platt, James H., 109
Mumaw, W. S., 107
Portz, Nicholas, 47 Puetz, John P., 675
Musgrave, Elijah, 706 Myers, Benjamin F., 592 Myers Brothers, The, 42 Myers, David, 586
Myers, E. Bruce, 45
Myers, E. Shelby, 44 Myers, John M., 42
Myers, Joseph, 487
Myers, Leon B., 45
N.
Naylor, John M., 536 Neikirk, Daniel, 332
R.
Randell, Edwin. 700 Rawson, Abel, 102 Reber, Valentine, 153 Reed, Seth, 38 Reeme, William, 617
Reid, William L., 17
Reisz, Daniel, 436 Reynolds, Abraham, 578 Rex, Irvin N., 46 Rex, Jeremiah, 32
M.
Magers, James V., 34I
Manecke, Frederick, 752
Mansfield, Henry, 30
McDonel, James D., 19I
McDougle, Benjamin, 491 Mckinley, Abner, 290
McMeen. William S., 446 McNama, Morris, 714
Pennington, Robert G., 100 Peter, Jacob, 583
Peters, Abraham, 695
Phillips, John, 415
McCauley, John, 362
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INDEX.
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Rhineberg, T. B., 566 Rhineboldt, Joseph. 96 Ricketts, Lorenzo D., 678 Ridgely, John H., 24 Rife, Abram. 67
Rigby, W. J., 235 Rine, Abraham, 201 Rine, Jacob, 201
Rine, Nathan, 14I
Rinebold, Abraham, 174
Rinebold, Henry, 487
Robertson, John. 726
Robertson, Robert, 604
Rock, Nicholas, 236
Rodegeb, Joseph, 479 Rohn, John K., 378
Rohrer, Silas W., 51
Rollins, William B., 658
Rosenberger, Eli L., 556
Rosenberger, Henry. 209
Rosenberger, John F., 719
Rosier, George W., 471
Rospert, John, 28
Ross, William, 693
Sneath, William, 307
Songer, John, 535
Souder, John. 335
Spaulding, Samuel D., 253
Speck, Peter, 321
Spitler, John K .. 596
Spraggins, John W .. 501
Stackhouse. David. 284 Stahl, Ephraim, 693
Stahl, Henry, 489
Staib, Jacob. 449
Staib, Lewis, 296
Starck, Melchior, 51I
Stearns. George. 666
Steinmetz, Balthasar. 648
Steinmetz, John C., 612
Stevenson, T. D., 738
Stinchcomb, James, 447
Stinebaugh, Isaac B., 254
Stoner, George. 430 Stoner. Henry, 345 Strauch, Charles A., 272 Strausbaugh. Jacob, 629 Stuckey, Philip. 521
Stucky, Henry. 263
Sutton, A. G., 309
Sutton, Lester, 539
Swope. Daniel, 556
T.
Tendick, Peter, 439 Thayer, Sarah J., 358 Thomas, Liverton, 199 Thomas, Mahlon A., 86
Seiger, Charles H., 297 Seiple, John, 675 Seitz, Aaron, 112 Seitz, John, 350 Seitz, Lewis, 597 Sendelbach, Joseph, 608 Seney, George E., 393 Shade, Samuel, 386 Shafer, Alfred L., 445 Shannon, George. 78 Shaull, John B., 569 Shaw, John W., 642 Shaw, Joseph, 364 Sherman, Lorenzo, 248 Shidler, Abram D., 691
Shireman, Aaron, 346 Shock, Jacob, 113 Shuman, Thomas G., 59 Skinner, Morris P., 377 Slaughter, - 585 Slosser, Vernon H., 430
Smeltz, Frederick L .. 503 Smeltz, Jacob. 383
Smith, Abraham, 536
Smith. Charles F., 85
Smith, David, 684
Smith, George E., 473
Smith, Henry L., 717
Smith, Jacob, 482 Smith, John H., 74
Smith, Matthias, 368
Smith, Philip, 562 Smith, Samuel B., 136
Smith, S. H. 267
Smith, William J., 386
Sneath, Ralph D., 260
Sneath, Robert. 307
Sneath, Samuel B., 256
Royer, Isaac, 524
Royer, John C., 122
Ruch, John, 122 Rule, Daniel C., 222
Rundell, William, 541 Ruse, Solomon, 418
S.
Saliers, Henry A., 39 Sankey, Joseph, 19 Saul, Stephen A., 590
Schatzel, Jacob M., 744, Scheerer, Henry F., 742 Scherger, Anton, 516 Schlink, Francis H., 631
Schmaus, M. R., 725 Seemuth, William D., 120 Seewald, Henry, 626
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INDEX.
Thornburg, Harrison, 298 Tittle, William R., 70 Titus, J. Frank, 564 Titus, Rasselas R., 709 Tompkins, Isaac, 567
Tremaine, Warren, 279
Trott, Christian, 454
Trumbo, Enoch, 466, 533 Trumbo, Pliny, 603
Tubbs, Jane E., 366
U.
Unser, Joseph, 76 Unser, Julius, 414
V.
Valentine, John, 17 Van Natter, Moses, 405
Van Nest, Joseph, 730
W.
Wade, William H., 131
Wagner, Daniel, 705
Wagner, John, 166, 554
Wagner, Samuel, 721
Wagner, Winfield S., 755
Wall, Nicholas, 193 Walter, Michael. 421
Waltermier, James T., 554 Wannamaker, Samuel, 419
Washburn, William B., 80 Weeks, George R., 293
Wehrle, Xavier, 752
Weininger, Charles L., 388 Weller, Henry J., 363
Wenner, Edward, 105 Wenner, Henry L., 211 Wentz, James H., 46 Werley, Andrew, 561 Wertz, Jacob, 735 Whitman, George. 533
Wilhelm, David, 232 Wilhelm, John B., 619 Wilkerson, Charles, 574 Williams, Daniel, 507 Williams, John D., 643 Williams, Reuben, 643
Williams, Rollin K., 316
Williard, George P., 372
Williard, George W., 368
Wolf, Samuel, 331
Wolfe, Solomon, 35
Worm, Christian, 612
Y.
Yambert, Aaron, 452 Young, David, 270
Z.
Zarges, Frederick, 294 Zeigler, Benjamin, 69 Zeigler, Jacob, 162
Zeis, Godfrey, 61, 625 Zeis, William H., 466 Ziegler, Henry, 88
Zimmerman, John B., 310
Zirger, Marcus; 22 Zutavern, Conrad H., 382 Zutavern, Jacob B., 62 Zutavern, Paul W., 252
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A
Tranen Proble
1
A CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
OF SENECA COUNTY, OHIO.
HON. WARREN P. NOBLE.
For almost sixty years Hon. Warren P. Noble has been a practi- tioner at the bar of Tiffin. An enumeration of those men of the present generation who have won honor and public recognition for themselves, and at the same time have honored the state to which they belong, would be incomplete were there failure to make prominent reference to the one whose name initiates this paragraph. He holds distinctive precedence as an eminent lawyer and statesman, a man of high scientific attainments and as one who occupied a unique and trying position during one of the most exciting epochs in the history of our country, in which position he bore himself with such signal dignity and honor as to gain to him the respect of all. He has been and is distinctively a man of affairs and one who has wielded a wide influence. A strong mentality, an invincible courage, a most determined individuality, have so entered into his make- up as to render him a natural leader of men and a director of opinion. Although he has passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey, he is still an active factor in the business life of Tiffin, although it is his desire to rest from the more active duties of his profession.
1
Warren P. Noble was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, June 14, 1820, and is of English extraction on his father's side, with a strain of Irish blood from his maternal grandfather. His father, William No-
1
IO
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
ble, was a native of Connecticut, which state had been the residence of his ancestors for several generations. He removed to Pennsylvania when a young man, settling near Berwick, then in Luzerne county, but now in Columbia county. There he married Miss Rebecca Lytle, of that place. Her mother barely escaped being one of the victims of the Wyoming massacre, in 1778, by fleeing to a blockhouse. In the war of 1812 Will- iam Noble entered the army and rendered valiant service to his country. Unto him and his wife were born ten children; and during the infancy of our subject the parents came with their family to Ohio, locating first in Wayne county and afterward in Medina county, whence they came to Seneca county in 1836, settling in Jackson township. The father was a millwright by trade and was engaged in building mills in Pennsylvania and Ohio for many years. He owned a small farm in the latter state and thereon his family lived. He reached a venerable age and died at his home near Fostoria in 1864, at the age of eighty-one years. His wife passed away in 1872, at the age of seventy-one.
Warren P. Noble spent his childhood days in his parents' home, attending the pubic schools until eighteen years of age; but the facilities for acquiring an education in those days were not of the superior order that we find them to-day. He was desirous of mental improvement, how- ever, and became a student in the Wadsworth Academy .. in Medina county, then under the control of Professor John McGregor, one of the ablest educators of the time in Ohio. On several occasions Mr. Noble walked to and from that school, where he remained as a student for two years, supporting himself by teaching school through the winter months. Among the most pleasurable recollections of his early life is the school which he taught in Fostoria in the winter of 1840-1. Several of the boys then under his instruction have since become distinguished men, including the Hon. Charles Foster, congressman, governor and secretary of the United States treasury. The late Judge John Lawrence, of Tennessee, was also a pupil of his at that time, as was Colonel William E. Haines, distinguished both on the field of battle and in the field of public life. serving several terms in congress. Judge John F. Caples, of Portland, Oregon, was another of that number.
II
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
While engaged in teaching Mr. Noble began the study of law, and in February, 1842, he came to Tiffin, which was then a small town. Here he read law in the office of Rawson & Pennington, General William H. Gibson being a fellow student in the same office. This man's brilliancy in later years lent lustre to the Tiffin bar, and though unfortunate as state treasurer he made an enviable reputation as colonel of a renowned fight- ing regiment. On the 4th of July, 1843, Mr. Noble was admitted to the bar, and has since been engaged in practice in Tiffin, throughout the years enjoying a large and distinctively representative clientage. As a lawyer he is sound, logical, clear-minded and thoroughly trained. With the limitations which are imposed by the constitution on federal powers, with the long line of decisions from Marshall down, by which it has been expounded, he is familiar, though he is at home in all departments of the law, from the minutiae in practice to the greater topics wherein is in- volved the consideration of the ethics and philosophy of jurisprudence and the higher concerns of public policy. He has always prepared his cases with the greatest precision and care, has studied every point of law bearing upon his cause and has marshaled his evidence and his argu- ments with masterly skill.
In 1846-as soon as his age rendered him eligible-he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature, and at the close of his two- years' term was re-elected. In 1851 he was chosen by popular ballot prosecuting attorney of the county, but resigned after serving for three years. In 1860 he was elected to congress on the Democratic ticket, and so capably represented his district, so loyally upheld the Union cause and the soldiers that he was re-elected by a majority of twelve hundred, not- withstanding the fact that gerrymander work had been done, adding to his district Republican counties and taking therefrom those of recognized Democratic strength. His course in congress awakened admiration and respect, and during the entire war period he was an influential member of that body. He was what was known as a "war Democrat," and faithfully supported the administration in the conduct of the war, voting for all men and means called for from time to time ; and by his speeches and con- tributions he helped raise every company and regiment enlisted from his
12
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
district, while he was at all times ready to help by every means in his pow- er all soldiers who in any way needed assistance. This disposition, which made him popular with the soldiers and their friends, greatly aided his second election over an apparent majority of three thousand in favor of the opposite political power. He carefully and thoughtfully studied every question which came up for consideration during his congressional career, and gave his influence and support in the direction which he be- lieved would work the greatest good for the greatest number and advance the weal of the nation. Among his contemporaries in the house at the time were James G. Blaine, Roscoe Conkling, George H. Pendleton, Will- iam Windom, James A. Garfield and Thaddeus Stevens, all of whom had marked influence in shaping the policy of the nation during the most trying period in its history.
Mr. Noble returned from congress with a reputation heightened by able and patriotic service, and resumed the practice of law in Tiffin. Soon after he became a member of the bar he entered into partnership with his brother, the late Judge Harrison Noble, who had studied with him. This business relation was maintained unchanged for a quarter of a century, at the end of which time Nelson B. Lutes, one of their students, was admitted to the firm under the style of Noble Brothers & Lutes. After two years the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent and for several years Mr. Noble was alone in practice. About 1876 he formed a partnership with Perry M. Adams, a promising and able young attor- ney, who had been a student in his office, and who remained a member of the firm of Noble & Adams until his death, in 1891, while he was serving as president pro tem. of the Ohio senate. Mr. Noble then formed a part- nership with his son, Warren F., and Guilford B. Keppel, under the firm name of Noble, Keppel & Noble, a relationship that is still continued, although the senior member does not seek further practice, and only acts as counsellor to accommodate some old client who desires his services. Many of the decisions of the appellate courts bear the impress of his patient investigation and his logical argument. His careful and sys- tematic method of preparing cases has been a strong element in his suc- cess. In this respect he resembles the late Allen G. Thurman, employing
13
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
none of the arts and tricks of oratory, his speeches, however, being elo- quent in the clearness of statement, the broad common sense of reason- ing, the force of logic, earnestness and power. He always commands the strict attention of courts and juries and of his fellow practitioners, and has never been known to fail in that strict courtesy and regard for professional ethics which should ever characterize the members of the bar. His professional career is an inspiration and a noble example to the younger men who follow him.
Mr. Noble has served in many important positions of business, trust . and confidence outside the strict path of his profession. He was one of the directors of the Tiffin, Toledo & Eastern Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany from its organization until it was completed and turned over to the Pennsylvania system. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Ohio State University for about ten years, and the year after it was organized he was elected its president, being again chosen to that posi- tion, although the majority of the board members were Republicans. For many years he was president of the board of education of Tiffin, and the cause of education found in him a warm friend, as evidenced by his untiring efforts in behalf of the schools. He was the first president of the Commercial Bank of Tiffin and is now its vice-president. The first woman ever admitted to the Ohio bar-Mrs. Nettie C. Lutes-was a student in his office.
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