Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 44

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926

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and which are highly prized and much used by the courts and bar, viz., "Powell's An- alysis of American Law" and "Appellate Jur- isdiction." He has also written a "History of the Ancient Britains," and a book entitled "What is Knowledge." He was always an untiring worker and though almost blind in the latter years of his life, he never ceased to write until the final call came when it was said to him, "Well done thou good and faith- ful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things," etc.

HON. JOHN ANTHONY QUITMAN was born in Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, New York, September 1, 1799. He came to Delaware County, Ohio, about the year 1820, as a clerk in the land office under Platt Russell, who was register of the land office at that time. Mr. Quitman read law with Platt Russell, who was also a lawyer, and he was admitted to the Bar in the year 1821. He practiced for a short time only in this county, when he re- moved to the State of Mississippi, where he became a man of great note and prominence. He became a member of the Mississippi Legis- lature in 1827, was chancellor of the State from 1828 to 1834 and became president of the State Senate. He was appointed brigadier- general in the war between the United States and Mexico; after the close of the war he was elected governor of the State and in the year 1855 was elected for Congress from said

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State, was re-elected to succeed himself in 1857. and became chairman of the Military Committee. He died in the city of Natchez. July 17, 1858.

HON. CHARLES SWEETSER was born about the year 1805 in the State of Vermont. He came to Delaware County with his father in the year 1817, who settled on a farm just north of Delaware, Ohio. He engaged in mercantile pursuits for a few years and began the study of law in the year 1830 in the office of the Hon. Thomas W. Powell. He was ad- mitted to the Bar in the year 1832 and imme- cliately began an active practice, which was distinguished more by his activity than by his sound knowledge of the law or his study of its more abstruse principals. His education was limited to the public schools and his activity never permitted him, by industry and persever- ance, to overcome its defects. He disliked discipline, study, and technicality and boasted that genius and original common sense were the vantage ground for him. He was captious and capricious and was often the cause of violent squabbles at the bar. But with all his irregularities he was remarkably successful both in the law and in politics. He was a mem- ber of the Thirty-first and Thirty-second Con- gress, having been chosen from the Tenth Dis- trict, to which Delaware County then be- longed. He served during the years 1849- 1850 and 1851-1852. He continued his prac- tice up to a short time before his death, which occurred in the year 1864. He was always noted for his taste in the elegance of his equipment. For many years he kept a very fine carriage and a span of cream-colored horses. This it is said he used during his can- vass for member of Congress. Upon one oc- casion in addressing a large Democratic ineet- ing he said that some of his friends advised that he should, while a Democratic candidate. dispose of his carriage and cream-colored horses. "But," said he, "I will do no such thing, for I think that a good Democrat has as good a right to a fine carriage and horses as anybody else." This sentiment is said to have been vigorously applauded. Ile left to his

family a large estate. He built and occupied at the time of his death what was then known as the "Sweetser Mansion" located on the corner of Sandusky Street and Central Avenue, and which was for many years the most imposing residence in the city. He laid out a large addition to the town (now city) of Delaware, just north of the original site of the town, which is known as Bomford and Sweetser's addition to the town.

JUDGE SHERMAN FINCH came to Dela- ware as a lawyer in the year 1832, having been born in the State of Connecticut. He was a graduate of Yale College. He was a good scholar and had been a professor in Latin in Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio. He was a man of strong intellectual powers and was a good logician. He was a distin- guished lawyer, especially in the principles of equity. He was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas in the first subdivision of the Sixth District, froin Delaware County and served from February, 1857, to February. 1862. During his official terin he moved to Mt. Vernon in Knox County, which is in the same subdivision as Delaware. At the end of lis judicial term he moved to St Paul, Min- nesota, where he died in the year 1873. Sher- man Finch left many monuments of his pres- ence and residence in Delaware County, espe- cially upon the court and deed records of the county, having owned at various times numer- ous tracts of land. He laid out an addition to the town on the east side of the river, which is known as Finch and Lamb's addition to Dela- ware.

JUDGE DAVID T. FULLER settled in Dela- ware, Ohio, early in the thirties. He was 3 brother-in-law of Judge Finch, they having married sisters. Judge Fuller was a native of the State of Vermont. He was the son of a clergyman and is said to have been a grad- uate of Williams College. He was scholarly, well versed in literature and theology, and had also been a professor in Kenyon College. He was at one time a law partner of Judge Thomas W. Powell. Mr. Fuller was elected

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auditor of the county and was subsequently probate judge, having served for less than one term in that office. He died in the year 1854. before he had completed his first term. The last entry made by him on the journal of his court was August 5, 1854.

HON. COOPER K. WATSON came to Dela- ware County as a member of the bar in the year 1834, having been admitted to the Bar at Newark, Ohio. He remained in this county but a few years and from here went to Marion County and from there to Seneca and finally settled at Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio. He was a member of Congress from the Ninth Congressional District from Seneca County and served in the Thirty-fourth Congress for the years 1855-1856. He was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the Fourth Judicial District and served from February, .1. D., 1876, to the time of his death, which oc- eurred in the year 1880. He became very eminent in his profession as an advocate and jury lawyer. While at Delaware he gave full assurance of his future eminence by his great capacity for public speaking. But he more particularly distinguished himself as an amateur actor in the Thespian Society, which then flourished here. This so tempted him that he thought stongly of abandoning the profession of law for that of the stage.

EDWARD JONES was the son of Robert Jones, who resided in the parish of Myfod, Montgomeryshire, North Wales. He was born on Wales and was an elder brother of Thomas C. Jones. The family immigrated to America about the year 1822, and settled near Delaware, Ohio. Edward Jones was admitted to the Bar about the year 1836, and began the practice of his profession. He was a young man of great talent and was noted particularly for his gift of oratory. Contrary to the pre- dilections of his brother Thomas C. Jones, who was a Whig, Edward Jones was a thorough Democrat and though not yet twenty-five years of age at the time of his death, his party had hoped to make him governor of the State. It is said of him that in the year 1836, at a

Democratic meeting held in Franklinton, Franklin County, Ohio, which had been ad- dressed by Alfred Kelley, he was urged by his party to make a reply, which he did in a manner highly gratifying to the leaders of his party and which was greatly admired and com- mended by all who heard him. He died in the year 1838, at the age of twenty-four years. His death was greatly lamented by the whole community as a premature departure of one who promised to be a great man. *

JAMES M. BARNES came to Delaware from Newark, Ohio, about the year 1839, hav- ing just been admitted to the Bar. He soon became a law partner of the Hon. Charles Sweetser, which partnership continued until the year 1850, when he went to California by the Overland Route with a company of gold seekers. He returned in about two years, hav- ing obtained some success in the gathering of gold. He again began the practice of law and he did not faney the profession as well as he did the making of money and he turned his attention to the manufacture of linseed oil, in which he was successful. He built the large linseed oil plant on the corner of Winter and Depot Streets, just opposite the Big Four depot, and he ereeted a large warehouse near the depot on the railroad lands and was in business there for many years. He was later elected mayor of the city of Delaware. Owing to failing health he quit business in Delaware and removed to the State of California where he died a number of years ago.

JUDGE THOMAS C. JONES was born in the parish of Myfod, Montgomeryshire, North Wales, February 9. 1816, and died at Dela- ware. Ohio, August 13, 1892. His father, Robert Jones, was a farmer in his native coun- try of Wales, and the family immigrated to America in the year 1822 and settled on a farm near Delaware, Ohio. At the early age of thirteen years the subject of this sketch earned his own living by working on farms for the neighbors in the spring and summer and fall and attending school in winters. In this way he obtained a sufficient education to

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teach. In the year 1837, he began the study of law with his brother Edward, who had just previously opened an office in Delaware. The brother died in the year 1838 and Thomas taught a district school in the winter of 1839, and in April of that year he started to Wales to settle his father's estate. He traveled from Delaware to Philadelphia on horseback, where he sold his horse and sailed for his former home. He studied law in England for about eighteen months, and as a student attended the sessions of the English courts with great bene- fit to himself. In the spring of the year 1841 he returned to America and was admitted to the Bar before the Supreme Court of Ohio, which was then being held at Gallipolis, Ohio. Justices Peter Hitchcock, Thomas A. Grimke and S. F. Vinton, examiners. He immediately opened an office in Delaware, Ohio, with good prospects. In a short time he entered into a partnership for the practice of his profession with Judge Sherman Finch, which partnership continued for only a short time. In the year 1843, Mr. Jones removed to Circleville. Pick- away County, Ohio, where he continued in the practice of his profession for thirteen years. In the year 1856 he returned to Delaware County, where he formed a partnership for the practice of law with H. M. Carper, the style of the firm being Jones & Carper, which partnership continued until Mr. Jones was elected to the Common Pleas bench. In the year 1859. he was elected State senator from the Sixteenth Senatorial district. at that time composed of Delaware and Licking Coun- ties. as a Republican, though the district was largely Democratic. Mr. Jones was elected by a handsome majority. In January. 1859. Mr. Jones was elected a member of the State Board of Agriculture, which office he held for eight years, being president of the board for two years.

In the autumn of the year 1861, Mr. Jones was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the First Subdivision of the Sixth Judicial District. composed of Delaware, Knox and Licking Counties. He was re- elected in the autumn of 1866, serving for the

term of ten years with general satisfaction to the public and to the Bar.

He was a delegate to the National Repub- lican Convention held at Chicago in the year 1868, which nominated Grant and Colfax for president and vice-president, respectively, of the United States and was chairman of the delegation. He was also a member of the Na- tional Republican Convention which nomi- nated R. B. Hayes for president in the year 1876, and he was one of President Hayes' strongest supporters, having known him from childhood, they having been school boys to- gether. After the expiration of Judge Jones' second term on the bench, he engaged in agri- culture and the breeding of thoroughbred short-horned cattle, Southdown sheep and other fine stock, for which he always had a taste. no doubt inherited through many gen- erations from his ancestors. He was appointed trustee of the Ohio Agricultural College. lo- cated at Columbus, Ohio, was made chair- man of the Executive Committee, and was largely responsible for the design and erec- tion of the college buildings as well as the se- lection of the first professors and the charac- ter of the course of study. In the year 1876 he was one of the jury selected to award the honors in the cattle department of live stock at the Centennial at Philadelphia and he was made chairman of that body.

In the year 1880 he visited Great Britain, including his native Wales, taking with him his wife, and with the aid of a letter from President Haves, his old school fellow, he made extensive observations with reference to our live stock trade with that country and the effect of its restrictions upon our exports. The result of his observations was made known to the president in a letter by Mr. Jones, which letter he caused to be published for distribu- tion among breeders and others interested in this most important branch of our export trade. In the year 188t he was appointed on a commission by a special act of Congress to examine and report upon the agricultural needs and resources of the Pacific States. In the government's earnest endeavor to solve and

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settle the Indian question the wisdom of Judge Jones was recognized by his appointment to several commissions.

Judge Jones was at one time an official visitor to the Naval Academy at Annapolis. As a writer on agricultural subjects and espe- cially in the department of stock-breeding. he liad a national reputation.

Judge Jones was chosen as the first presi- dent of the Ohio Association of Breeders of short-horn cattle and was really the leading spirit in its organization. The judge was a man of sincere and earnest convictions, liberal and public spirited, of a genial temperament and was interested in his fellow citizens and his company was sought after in the social circle.

Religiously, he was a positive character. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, had clear views on the subject of re- ligion and he believed in a God as taught by his church and the Bible. He had no patience with non-believers or with the doctrines of the rationalists. He was for many years a trustee of the Theological Seminary and of Kenyon College, which was established by his church at Gambier, and his eldest son is a professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Polity in Kenyon College.

COLONEL JAMES WILLIAMS CRAWFORD was born in Franklin County. in the State of Pennsylvania. December 2, 1788. His father's ancestors came from the Highlands of Scot- land to the north of Ireland at an early date. His mother was of Welsh descent. The an- cestors of both families immigrated to Amer- ica before the war of the Revolution and in America they were known as "The Scotch Irish." These people took a very active part in the struggles for American independence.

In the year 1810 the subject of this sketch came to Delaware County, Ohio, bringing with him his young wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth (Van Lear) Crawford. He pur- chased a tract of wild land on the west bank of the Olentangy River in Liberty Township. where they built a log cabin and began cut- ting down the timber in order to make a home

in the wilderness. At the beginning of the War of 1812, Mr. Crawford put aside his axe and plow and took up his musket in defense of his country's cause. He was chosen a lieu- tenant of his company and served until the close of the war. Just before the close of the war, he was chosen colonel of his regiment, from which he derived his title of colonel.

At the close of the war. Mr. Crawford re- turned to his home in Liberty Township and began, with his neighbors, the task of felling the forests, cutting down the thickets and pre- paring the highway for future generations. To Mr. Crawford and Elizabeth, his wife, were born five children.

In the year 1818, he sold his farm in Lib- erty Township and bought a farm on the west bank of the Scioto River in what is now known as Thompson Township, on the old Military Road which led from Franklinton to the seat of war in 1812. Here he again began to clear up his land and built his log cabin. but he was soon destined to disappointment ; his faithful wife. Elizabeth, died in the year 1821 and passed to her final reward. A short time after this sore bereavement, Mr. Craw- ford was called away from his home for the night, leaving his children during his absence with a housekeeper. The cabin took fire and burned to the ground with all its contents, the inmates escaping with nothing but their night clothes. They were taken care of by their neighbors with true frontier hospitality. Early in the following spring the cabin was rebuilt and Mr. Crawford again began house- keeping in true western style. On the eigh- teenth day of May, 1823. Mr. Crawford was married to Miss Nancy Stevens, a daughter of Zacharia Stevens, who was one of the pioneer settlers of the county. To this union was born a family of ten children. In the same year Mr. Crawford sold his farm and bought another, where he built a saw mill.

In the year 1832, Mr. Crawford was elected to the Ohio State Senate. The district at that time was composed of Delaware, Mar- ion and Crawford Counties. He served in what was known as the Thirty-second General Assembly. He remained on the last farm until

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the year 1838, when he became financially in- volved, through his generosity toward his friends. But his gallantry and courage was equal to the occasion. He sold his farm and all his belongings, paid out his liabilities, and moved to Delaware in the autumn of 1839, with his large family to support and only three shillings with which to start. He imme- diately opened an office and began the practice of law, being then fifty-two years of age. His old friends in the legislature having heard of his misfortunes and anticipating his necessi- ties, had passed on the sixteenth day of March, 1839, the following bill of relief: "An act for the relief of James W. Crawford."

"Section One. Be it enacted by the General As- sembly of the State of Ohio, that James W. Crawford of Delaware County, may be admitted to an examina- tion to be permitted to practice as an attorney and counsellor at law as provided in the act entitled an Act to Regulate the Admission and Practice of Attor- neys and Counsellors at Law, passed February 14, 1824, without presenting to the judges as provided in said act, a certificate that he has regularly and at- tentively studied law during the period of two years previous to his application for admission."

"JAMES J. FORAN, "Speaker of the House of Representatives. "WILLIAM HASKINS, "Speaker of the Senate." "March 16th, 1839."

This was an unusual proceeding and it only goes to show Mr. Crawford's high stand- ing with the members of the General Assembly and their estimate of his ability to fulfill his obligations as an attorney-at-law. Mr. Craw- ford's successful practice of law for twenty years after his admission to the bar in Dela- ware and surrounding counties, proved that the Legislature had not over-estimated his ability and he was never known to betray his trust. Mr. Crawford was connected with many of the most important cases before the courts of Delaware County during his prac- tice here. One case in particular, in which he was personally concerned, began by himself in the Common Pleas Court, is worthy of men- tion. The Council of the village of Delaware had changed the grade of North Sandusky

Street, in front of Mr. Crawford's residence. He brought suit for damages and recovered a judgment in the Common Pleas Court. The village claimed that it could not be held in damages for such an injury. It was at the time an unsettled question. The case was taken to the Supreme Court, which court held that the village was liable and that case has become a leading authority both in this and other states. It is reported in the Seventh O. S. R., Page 457. An amusing incident oc- curred during the trial of this case in the Com- mon Pleas Court which goes to show the earn- estness and zeal with which Mr. Crawford tried a case. Hon. Thomas W. Powell and John D. Van Deman were representing the village in the trial of the case and Mr. Craw- ford was arguing his own case. Mr. Powell contended that the injury for which Mr. Crawford claimed damages was an injury for which there was no remedy in law and in his argument quoted the Latin Maxim. "Damnum absqui injuria." Mr. Crawford ( who was not a Latin scholar), in his reply to Judge Powell's argument, turned to him and quoting the maxim as he understood it, said to Mr. Powell, "I'll show you before I get through with you, whether it is a dam tight squeeze." Colonel Crawford was a ready speaker, a good de- bater, was full of wit and repartee. He lived in Delaware from the time of his admission to the bar until the date of his death, which oc- curred the eleventh day of December, A. D., 1859.

ISRAEL E. BUCK was admitted to the bar in the year 1842. He was a native of Dela- ware County and his opportunities for an edu- cation were limited to such as the county then afforded, but he was a hard student and he pur- sued his studies with vigor and diligence. He was distinguished for his strong and robust in- tellect, so that be ranked among the best in- formed and most intelligent men of the county. As a lawyer he was more distinguished for his knowledge of the law and his common sense and good judgment than for his eloquence in trials at the bar. Ile was for many years a law partner of the Hon. Thomas W. Powell

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and their names are attached to many plead- ings in the Clerk of Courts' records.

He platted and laid out an addition to the city of Delaware which is known as Buck's Addition to the Town (now city) of Dela- ware, Ohio. He was mayor of the city at the time Kossuth, the distinguished Hungarian patriot, visited Delaware and he delivered an address in his honor which was much admired and complimented. On account of his sound judgment, good learning and diligence, he gave hopes to his friends that when an occa- sion presented he would be promoted to the bench, but he died at an early age, much la- mented by his friends and those who knew him. His only child, Henrie E. Buck, is still living and is a resident of Delaware County.

JOHN EGAN ROSETTE was the son of George G. and Ann (Egan) Rosette. The parents located in Delaware, Ohio, in the year 1825. The subject of this sketch was born at Reading, Ohio, January 16, 1821. He re- ceived his education at a private school taught by Mrs. Murray in Delaware at that time, in which school he prepared himself for the pro- fession of teacher. He taught for several years in the public schools of the county, studied law with Hon. Charles Sweetser, and was admitted to the Bar December 11, 1844. He immediately formed a partnership for the practice of his profession, with his former teacher, Hon. Charles Sweetser, the style of the firm being Sweetser & Rosette, which partnership continued as long as Mr. Rosette remained in Delaware. David T. Fuller, the probate judge of Delaware County, died dur- ing the time he held that office and Mr. Ro- sette was appointed by Governor William Ma- dill, on the twelfth day of September, A. D., 1854, to fill the vacancy. The original ap- pointment is yet in existence and is now in the possession of the nephew of John E. Rosette, viz., our genial deputy sheriff, William Wells. In the year 1855. Mr. Rosette went to Spring- field, Ilinois, where he located and continued the practice of his profession, until the date of his death, which occurred in that city October I. 1881. In the year 1867, Mr. Rosette was

appointed United States district attorney by President Andrew Johnson, which position he held during the incumbency of Johnson as president.

ISAAC RANNEY was admitted to the Bar in the year 1842. He studied with the law firm of Sweetser & Barnes. He began to practice in this city and was soon elected prose- cuting attorney of the county. He was a man of good legal ability, but he did not apply him- self closely to his profession. In the year 1857 he went to California by the Overland Route, where he remained about two years, when he returned and again entered upon the practice of his profession. At the commence- ment of the Civil War he was appointed col- lector of this district, which he filled with credit to himself for a short time, when he re- signed. He was elected probate judge of this county and was re-elected to succeed himself and served out his two terms, having served from October 20. 1854. to November 1, 1862. He had in various ways accumulated quite a fortune, but the same was greatly reduced by his many changes of his residence in Delaware County, Washington, D. C., and other places. His name appears frequently upon the records at the Court House, which shows that he had at various times quite a business in the county. He finally settled upon a farm he had pur- chased in the valley of the Potomac, a few miles from Georgetown, where he died. *

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 44

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company Number of Pages: 926

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926