USA > Ohio > Bench and bar of Ohio; a compendium of history and biography, Vol. I > Part 44
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" In his practice as a lawyer Mr. Canary has always taken a conservative course. He has never sought to dazzle the bystanders by an ambitious dis- play of forensic ability, though capable of doing so, or to win cases by sharp practice. He has been remarkable for the extreme fairness with which he treats witnesses on both sides alike, never seeking to distort or misrepresent their statements, or to cross or confuse them by any unfair course of examina- tion. He has always been especially careful to avoid harsh or unnecessary comments upon those who have given testimony. Perhaps he has carried this tenderness toward witnesses to excess, but it is his deliberate judgment that little if anything is gained by abusing anybody in court, and that much is lost by it. He always studies his cases carefully, and comes into court with a very definite idea of what he wants to prove in order to gain a case ; and he expects to win, if at all, upon the basis fixed upon. For this reason he is apt to dis- regard such facts and considerations as do not, in his opinion, uphold his theory, sometimes making admissions that are regarded by other attorneys as somewhat risky, or rash, but which he regards as unimportant. His argu- ments to a jury are extremely clear and fair, and for that reason produce much impression. He has been upon the whole successful in his professional career, and has accumulated a very handsome fortune. He is still in the vigor of professional life and work, although inclined to take things somewhat easy."
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Sward Durstock
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EDWARD BEVERSTOCK, Bowling Green, is a native of the State and of Wood county. He was born May 8, 1862, on his father's farm in Washington township, near the village of Tontogany. He is of Anglo-German descent. His father was a native of Vermont and his mother of Wood county, Ohio. His paternal ancestors were originally English, and came to this country in colonial times, settling first in New Hampshire and later in Vermont. His father, Edward B. Beverstock, came to Ohio with his parents when a boy and lived with them in Richland county, until 1855, when he went to Wood county and soon after married Miss Victoria V. Kuder, a resident of that county, and settled on the farm where he now resides. His maternal ancestors were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania and of German descent. His grandfather on his mother's side was a soldier in the War of 1812, and came to Ohio soon afterwards, and after spending a few years in Ross county, finally located in Wood county, in 1832, when settlers there were very few. He purchased a large tract of land, some twelve hundred acres, which in later years he divided among his children. He died in 1872, at the age of eighty-three years. Edward's
early education was obtained in the public schools of Washington township, and the high school of Tontogany. He left school at the age of fifteen and for five years remained at home working on the farm. January 1, 1883, he entered the preparatory department of Oberlin College and continued his studies there for six years, working at home during the summer vacations. He took the . full classical course and was graduated with the class of 1889, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In the fall of the same year he entered the Law Department of the Cincinnati College, where he spent two years in legal study. He was graduated from that institution in 1891 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and at the same time admitted to the Bar. During his course at the law school, he served the first year as assistant librarian and the second year as chief librarian of the law library, and secretary to the faculty. He at once entered on the practice at Bowling Green, in the office of Honorable B. F. James. After a few months a copartnership was formed under the _style of James, Taber & Beverstock, which continued for about one year, when it was dissolved, Mr. Taber retiring, and the present firm of James & Beverstock was formed. The firm as it now stands is one of the most successful in northern Ohio. Their clientage extends to the surrounding counties, and they have an office in Toledo, Ohio. Their reputation is as high for conscientious work in behalf of their clients as it is for legal ability. Mr. Beverstock is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the Blue Lodge and the Chapter at Bowling Green, Council Commandery and A. A. S. R. at Toledo, and Consistory at Cleveland. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a Republican both by inheritance and choice. He takes an active interest in political affairs. In 1894 he was chairman of the Republican county central committee. Ile was married in 1891 to Miss Elizabeth Ferguson, daughter of S. E. and Mary C. (Lawrence) Ferguson, of Oakland county, Michigan. They have two daugh. ters. Mr. Beverstock and family attend the Presbyterian Church, of which he and his wife are members. A circuit judge thus characterizes him : " He has
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a vigorous mind, a comprehension quick, clear and exact; his application to study is close; his opinions expressed on intricate law questions are clear. With faculties well disciplined, supported with habits of close and accurate reasoning, he rapidly gains business, and his diligence, promptness and accuracy in all matters entrusted to his care secure the confidence of those who employ him."
JASON A. BARBER, Toledo. Honorable Jason A. Barber, a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, was born at Ionia, Michigan, January 24, 1855. His father was a farmer and a native of the State of New York, who came to Ohio in boyhood. His mother was born, reared and married in Ohio. His parents removed to Michigan in 1852 and were among the very early settlers of the section of the State in which they located. When Jason was eight . years of age the family removed to Huron county, Ohio, and his education was begun in the district school. In 1867 they removed to Wood county, where he continued to attend the country schools in the winter and work on the farm during the remaining portions of the year, until he reached the age of seventeen. He aspired to a higher education and was willing to make the necessary sacrifices to secure it. Obliged to rely upon his own resources, he , entered himself as a student in the preparatory department at Oberlin in 1872. Although little more than seventeen years old when this important step was taken, he had the courage and self-reliance of a man. Paying his expenses by manual labor and teaching, he pursued his studies until the regular classical course was completed, although it required seven years. He was graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in 1879. His experience and success in teaching secured employment for him as superintendent of public schools at St. Mary's immedi- ately after his graduation, and he remained there one year. The next year he was employed as principal of the high school of Toledo. He was during this time engaged in the study of law as a preparation for practice. At the close of his term as principal of the high school his law studies were continued in the office of L. K. Parks, Toledo, until he was admitted to the Bar in 1882. He then formed a partnership with Mr. Parks, and they remained together in the general practice of the law about ten years. In 1890 Mr. Barber was elected prosecuting attorney of Lucas county, and was re-elected in 1893. The duties of this office were discharged with ability and integrity. Both the court records and common repute accredit him with the conscientious and impartial administration of this office. One evidence of popular approval is found in his nomination as the Republican candidate for judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas and his election in November, 1896. The judicial office came to him as a merited promotion, and he took his seat upon the Bench in February, 1897, enjoying the fullest confidence of his fellow citizens and of the Bar. Industry, accuracy and integrity may be said to be the prevailing character- istics of Judge Barber. He is absolutely honest and truthful, sincere and earnest. He is entirely free from anything like pretense, either professionally
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. or personally. He made an admirable prosecuting attorney for Lucas county and is qualified for the judgeship, as the few months of service on the Bench have demonstrated. He is a thorough student, a convincing speaker, and very effective with a jury. He was married in 1883 to Ida H. Hull, of Sandusky, and has five children - three boys and two girls - all living.
CHARLES A. BOWERSOX, Bryan. Judge Bowersox is a. native of the State and of Williams county. He was born October 16, 1846, in the woods, or on his father's new farm, which was only a clearing, when the entire north- western part of the State was little more than an unbroken forest. His father, John W. Bowersox, and his mother, Mary Breckenridge, were both natives of Maryland ; they were married in that State and came westward over the moun- tains and settled in Stark county, Ohio, about 1830. After living there, four miles south from Canton, seven years they removed to the wilderness of Will- iams county. His paternal ancestors were of German origin, but emigrated to America at an early day and settled in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Ilis maternal ancestors were Scotch-Irish, who settled in Maryland six or seven generations in the past. Without spending time to trace the genealogy with particularity, Judge Bowersox is content to know that he is descended from honest, undistinguished ancestry-such as compose the great body of the sturdy and self-supporting American people. The foundation of his education was laid in the little log school house, which was one of the earliest evidences of the triumph of civilization over savagery in the Northwest Territory. It is worthy of especial mention as one of the most potent influences in founding a great and prosperous commonwealth. He entered school at the age of nine and attended a short term each year, working on the farm the remaining months until seventeen, when he began teaching. Like many ambitious boys of lim- ited opportunities, who have become famous, he prosecuted his own studies in the higher branches while imparting instruction in the common school branches. In this way he was disciplined and self-taught for seven years. In 1870 he entered Otterbein University at Westerville, Ohio, and pursued to completion the regular classical course, from which he was graduated four years later with the degree of A. B. Judge Bowersox may without criticism cherish a certain pride of independence in having educated himself-not without the instruction of tutors and professors, but with the earnings of his own hands and head and voice. He saved the wages received for teaching and provided for the deficiency while in college by giving instruction in vocal music, or teaching singing schools-as we used to say. It is something to which any successful man may properly refer with complacency. After leaving college he was employed as superintendent of the public schools at Edgerton, Ohio, for two years, and during the same time was a member of the board of school examiners for Williams county. In 1875 he was elected Probate Judge. and during the continuance of his term as such prosecuted the study of law with
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diligence and enthusiasm. For one year of that time he was one of the pro- prietors and sole editor of the Bryan Press, a Republican weekly newspaper. In September, 1879, he was admitted to the Bar, and formed a partnership for practice with Honorable Edward Foster, which was maintained very prosper- ously until the death of Mr. Foster in 1883. In 1881 Judge Bowersox was elected a member of the State legislature and served one term. In the fall of 1883 he was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas in the sec- ond subdivision, third judicial district, by Governor Charles Foster, to serve the unexpired term of Judge Owen, who had been elected to the Supreme Bench. On retiring from the judicial office, whose duties he discharged cred- itably to himself and satisfactorily to the public, he resumed the practice, con- tinuing alone until 1889, when the firm of Bowersox & Starr was formed, which has been continued to the present time. He was voted for in the Republican State convention of 1887, and again in 1895, for nomination as a candidate for judge of the Supreme Court, and was urged for the office by many who recognized his qualifications for that tribunal. His firm has held a leading position at the Bar of Williams county, and had important litigation in all the State and Federal courts. It has held a large business and been con- nected with most of the celebrated cases in northwestern Ohio; has even crossed over into the adjacent territory of Indiana and Michigan, for tempting retainers in noteworthy cases. In 1891-2 Judge Bowersox partially retired from the management of litigation in court and accepted election to the presi- dency of Otterbein University, a position which he held for two years. Con- scious of the high compliment paid to his scholarship and executive ability in calling him to the chief administration of affars of his Alma Mater, he has devoted much time to the duties of president. The honor was appreciated none the less because entirely unsought. He has not let go the reins of his legal practice, or neglected his large personal interests in commercial and finan- cial business at any time. In 1887 he was elected president of the Farmers' National Bank, and has held the office continuously by successive re-elections. He was a promoter of the Cincinnati, Jackson and Mackinaw railroad, and has been the legal adviser of the company at Bryan continuously. He controls large landed properties in his section of Ohio, and has mercantile interests in neighboring towns. His travels, extending over a large portion of the United States, from the Atlantic seaboard to the Rocky Mountains, have been devoted to the prosecution of his business. Politically he has been loyally identified with the Republican party, and his services have been given freely on the stump in Ohio and adjacent States. He leaves to others the management of the party machine, content to be an advocate and a defender of the faith. His talents are versatile, enabling him to obtain conspicuous rank as a lawyer, grace the position of college president and manage the business of a bank. He has endeared himself to the community by public-spirited citizenship, sup- porting with energy and liberality such measures as promote the general wel- fare. His magnificent physique, dignified presence and genial manners are sources of personal influence and popularity. He stands six feet four, with
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symmetrical proportions, and both in person and features bears a striking , resemblance to his great friend, the martyred Garfield. As a jury advocate and political orator he is equally powerful and equally ready ; fearless in con- flict, generous in victory ; kind of heart ; loved by his friends, respected by polit- ical foes. In the preparation of a history of St. Joseph township some years ago he displayed literary ability and versatility as a writer. A prominent member of the Bar has this to say in response to a request of the editor for an estimate :
" After serving the people acceptably as Probate Judge of Williams county, and as Common Pleas Judge of the second subdivision of the Third Judicial District of Ohio, he entered actively into the practice of law in Bryan. Endowed with great natural abilities and favored with a thorough collegiate education, he was not long in demonstrating his worth as a lawyer. While comparatively a young man, he has reached the front ranks in his chosen profession. Being distinguished in appearance, with a powerful and impres- sive voice and an unusually easy and elegant flow of language, he is a remarkably strong advocate before a jury ; and being strictly honest with the courts and his clients, he has for many years enjoyed a lucrative practice. He is in every respect entitled to the confidence and high respect in which he is held by his fellow citizens. As a lawyer and advocate he has few superiors and as a citizen he is the equal of any man."
For the past twenty-five years Judge Bowersox has been a member of the United Brethren Church. He was married June 10, 1875, to Miss Laura A. Jarvis, of Westerville, Ohio, a native of the State, a graduate of Otterbein University and a daughter of Samuel and Lydia Gilbert Jarvis. Her father was the leading merchant of Westerville. They have one child, Ralph, a bright, manly boy, born March 28, 1886, in whose character and disposition appear to be combined the refined intellectual forces of his father and the gentle, æsthetic qualities of his mother.
RICHARD W. CAHILL, Napoleon. Mr. Cahill is a native of Crawford county. born April 22, 1853. His extraction is Scotch-Irish, and he is equipped mentally and morally with the best traits of both nationalities. His grand- parents emigrated from Ireland. His father was a pioneer settler in Crawford county, a farmer, and also a leading citizen ; a representative in the legislature of the State and a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1851. Richard was born and raised on the farm. His education, begun in the country district school, was continued in the preparatory department of the university at Wooster and completed in Wittenberg College at Springfield, Ohio, where he pursued the classical course to graduation. He was graduated in 1878, and immediately took up the study of law at Norwalk. From boy- hood his aspirations to become a lawyer were strong enough to lead him into a course of broad and thorough preparation. His purpose was in perfect har- mony with his inclination, and the end was kept steadily in view. After reading for about two years, first at Norwalk and then at Napoleon, he was
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admitted to the Bar in the fall of 1880, after an examination before the Supreme Court committee at Columbus. He settled down to the practice at . Napoleon alone, but after a short time formed a partnership with Honorable J. E. Haley, which was terminated in 1882 by the election of Mr. Cahill to the office of prosecuting attorney for Henry county. He was re-elected three years later, and served continuously for six years. It is an office which takes the measure of a lawyer's ability and tests the honesty of a man who admin- isters it before the grand jury and at the Bar. Mr. Cahill displayed remark- able talents, for one so young, in the discharge of his official duties, and preserved his integrity as a man and a lawyer. He conducted one of the most notorious prosecutions in the criminal annals of the State and secured a con- viction. Wesley Johnson was arraigned and tried on an indictment charging murder in the first degree. The crime alleged was the killing of the Williams family. The evidence was almost wholly circumstantial; but so closely did the prosecutor follow the steps of the accused, and so cleverly did he weave the net around him, out of the threads of circumstance gathered up here and there, that escape was impossible. The jury followed him and accepted the theory of the prosecution as true. He forged the links of circumstantiality into a chain of evidence which the jury accepted as incontestable proof. The verdict was "guilty " and the felon was executed, after preparing an elaborate confession which sustained the prosecution in every essential detail. The case was sensational, and its management in behalf of the commonwealth was alto- gether creditable to the State's attorney. Upon retiring from the office of prosecuting attorney, at the close of his second term, Mr. Cahill resumed gen- eral practice. In 1891 he formed a partnership with James Donovan, which is still maintained. He has given especial attention to real estate law, and is exceedingly well informed upon all its phases. His conclusion, after the examination of a title or the study of the complications sometimes arising in the partition of realty, and claims through bequest or descent of property, is usually correct. He does not shrink from the labors of a tedious investiga- tion of the facts and the law, but pursues it to the deepest depths until he reaches a solid and impenetrable rock foundation. On this his argument is constructed and his conclusion based. A lawyer of the circuit who knows him well says he is deeply versed in land titles and criminal law. In the laws pertaining to ditches, roads, and everything affecting farms, or litigation pecu- liarly agricultural, his information is full and his success remarkable. He appears to be guided by the aphorism of the college president, "Other things being equal, the man who has the most facts is the winner." Hence he is indefatigable in obtaining all the facts in a case, and finding the witnesses to prove them, and persevering in the study of the authorities. Nothing material is neglected or overlooked. He prepares his cases with excellent method and superlative care. His character for morality is without reproach, his integrity is unchallenged, and his reputation so well grounded that his fellow citizens, no less than the court, are accustomed to rely implicitly upon his statements. His veracity is never questioned. Politically he is a Democrat, and one who
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proves his faith by his works. He has for years been a member of the city council, and his activities are freely exerted in behalf of popular interests. Mr. Cahill was married June 8, 1884, to Miss Jennie Shoemacker, of Napoleon, only child of Dr. Shoemacker. The family consists of two daughters, aged respectively seven and three years.
WILLIS F. CORBETT, Paulding. Willis F. Corbett, prosecuting attorney of Paulding county and one of the successful attorneys of Paulding, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Seneca county on the 14th day of October, 1862. His parents, Martin Corbett and Elizabeth French, were also natives of the State, although the family on both sides is of English descent. His paternal grandfather, James Corbett, served in the British army in the wars of the allied armies against Napoleon, and was with the Iron Duke in his victory at Waterloo, afterwards emigrating to the United States, settling first in Penn- sylvania and coming thence soon afterwards to the young State of Ohio, where he met and married a woman of English birth whose family had settled in the State in the early part of the century. Mr. Corbett's mother's family, the Frenches, were residents of Columbiana county. His education was begun in the common schools of his native county, which he attended during the winter months, spending the remainder of the year at work on his father's farm. In this way his body and mind were kept in balance, the former assisted in its cultivation by a vigorous frame developed by the healthful outdoor exercise incident to farm work. At nineteen he entered Heidelberg University, at Tif- fin, where he pursued the course of study for two years. After another year at home, employed in the duties and labor of the farm, he set about the direct preparation for his profession, by taking up the study of law in the office of Honorable George E. Seney. Judge Seney, who was at that time represent- ing the Ninth Ohio District in the Congress of the United States, had achieved distinction in the judiciary of the State and eminence at the Bar. Young Cor- bett was fortunate in being associated at the very threshold of his student life in the law with a lawyer whose abilities were so manifest and whose position in the profession was so unequivocal. He studied under the preceptorship of Judge Seney for two years, and was then admitted to the Bar by the Supreme Court on the 4th day of June, 1886. His opening practice for one year was in the office where his studies had been prosecuted, and under the same auspices. He then removed to Paulding and formed a partnership with Honorable F. B. De Witt, who was subsequently elected to Congress. This partnership was dissolved at the end of the first year, since which time Mr. Corbett has con- tinued in practice alone. In the spring of 1891 he was elected city solicitor of Paulding, but resigned the position in the fall of the same year upon his elec- tion to the office of prosecuting attorney of Paulding county. In 1894 he was re-elected, and is now serving his second term. In his official capacity he has conducted the prosecution of some very important felonies, perhaps the most
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notorious of which was the State of Ohio vs. Charles Hart, indicted for murder in the first degree. The crime of which he was accused-and convicted-was one of the most revolting in cruelty and atrocity which the records of Ohio disclose. The defendant, a boy of eighteen, son of a Paulding county farmer, attempted to commit assault on a little girl, a mere child, and was frustrated by an outcry of the girl's seven-year-old brother. Enraged, he murdered both children, dismembered their bodies and endeavored to conceal his double crime by burning the bodies. His crime was expiated on the gallows. Mr. Cor- bett is a Republican politically, and has uniformly given his party active sup- port in the field campaigns, while at the same time he has been prominent in the secret councils. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and a Knight of Pythias. He was married in 1892, to Miss Nettie Hildred, a native of Napoleon, and daughter of George Hildred, a prominent citizen and lumber merchant.
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