USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th > Part 47
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
year 1809. His mother, Mary Williams, was born in South Wales.
The subject of this sketch grew to man- hood in Thompson Township and he received his early education in the public schools of that township. He attended the Ohio Wesleyan University during the years 1858 and 1859 and began the study of law with the firm of Reid & Eaton in the year 1861. During the time he was completing his course in law, he taught in the public schools in this and other counties and he was admitted to the Bar by the Dis- trict Court of this county in the year . 1865. He immediately opened an office in Delaware and began the practice of his chosen profes- sion. He became the editor of the Delaware Weekly Herald for about six months of the year 1867. In the year 1868 Mr. Cone set- tled in Delhi (now Radnor), in Radnor Township, Delaware County, where he re- sided for about thirty years and continued the practice of his profession. He was elected justice of the peace of that township, which of- fice he held for eighteen successive years. At the same time he became clerk of that town- ship, which position he held for sixteen years. He also had charge of the public schools of that village at this time, which he taught for many years. During the time that John T. Evans was clerk of the court of Delaware County. Mr. Cone occupied the position as his deputy for about two years. Mr. Cone was also postmaster of the village of Radnor for many years during the time he lived there. Hle returned to Delaware and opened an of- fice for the practice of his profession in the spring of 1897. He was nominated for the of- fice of probate judge by the Democratic party of Delaware County in the summer of 1905, to which office he was duly elected in Novem- ber of that year. He assumed the responsibil- ity of his office February 9, 1906, and is the present incumbent.
In the early part of the Civil War Mr. Cone enlisted as a private in Company C. Eighty-sixth Regiment, O. V. I., and served until the discharge of the regiment. He again enlisted on the second day of May, 1864, in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-fifth
Regiment, O. V. I., and he became the first lieutenant of his company and served with the command until the regiment was discharged August 24. 1864. Fraternally, Mr. Cone is a member of George B. Torrence Post, G. A. R., and is affiliated with Radnor Lodge. I. O. O. F.
HON. JAMES R. LYTLE was born in Fair- field County, Ohio, on the ninth day of April, A. D., 1841. He is the son of James and Catharine ( Freymyer) Lytle. The parents were natives of Lancaster County, Pennsylva- nia, and were of Scotch-Irish and German de- scent, respectively. They located in Fairfield County, Ohio, about the year 1837. The sub- ject of this sketch received his early education in the public schools of his native county and worked on his father's farm until twenty years of age, when he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, in the autumn of 1861. After one year in the University, his brother having enlisted in the Union Army, he returned to the farm and took up the man- agement of affairs there. In the month of May, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment, O. V. I., and served out the term of his enlistment and was discharged with the regiment.
At the completion of his term of service, he again entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, completing the classical course in that institu- tion, with the class of 1868. Having com- menced the study of law during his college course he was admitted to the Bar in the month of June in the year 1869. He immedi- ately began the practice of law in Fremont, Ohio. He remained in that city for one year and in the summer of the year 1870, he re- turned to Delaware and entered into partner- ship with his former preceptor. General John S. Jones, which partnership continued for twenty-five years, the style of the partnership being Jones & Lytle. During the existence of this partnership the firm of Jones & Lytle were employed in most of the important cases tried in Delaware County.
After the dissolution of the partnership with General Jones, Mr. Lytle continued his
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practice alone and is still in active work. He has devoted much of his time to office work and has been very successful in his practice before the Bureau of Pensions. He has pro- cured for the veterans of the Civil War, their widows, minor children and dependent fathers and mothers, more than fifteen hundred pen- sions, also hundreds of bounties for these vet- erans, their widows and heirs at law. Having become very familiar with the bounty records of Delaware County, Mr. Lytle discovered what has been commonly known as "The Bounty Frauds of Delaware County."
Delaware County, during the Civil War. offered bounties to volunteers who would give their credit to its quota, and certain scrip or promises to pay had been issued to the soldier, which were payable to him, his widow or legal heirs or representatives. Many of these had not been paid and certain parties who claimed to represent these veterans, their widows and legal representatives, forged their names to applications and affidavits and procured the al- lowances of these claims by the commissioners of the county and warrants were issued for the amounts. These forgeries having been discov- ered by Mr. Lytle before the warrants were paid, the county was thus saved more than twenty thousand dollars, and in addition Mr. Lytle collected for the rightful heirs of these veterans many thousand dollars, having prose- cuted many cases from the Common Pleas Court to the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Probably the most notable litigation in which Mr. Lytle ever engaged was the prose- cution of two cases for the heirs of Leonard Case, which involved the recovery of real es- tate in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, of which this well known multi-millionaire died seized. which suits involved the Case Library, the City Hall, about one mile of lake front, about four thousand lots in the city of Cleveland, and about nineteen hundred acres of land ad- joining the city, amounting in value to many millions of dollars. The cases were prose- cuted through the United States Circuit Court and resulted in a verdict for the defendants in one and a dismissal without prejudice in the other. The time spent and labor performed
in the preparation and trial of these cases was necessarily very great. The defendants in one case numbers six hundred and forty-eight and the lots and tracts of land over four thousand. Opposed to Mr. Lytle in this litigation were the noted legal lights of the Cleveland Bar.
Mr. Lytle has been remarkably arduous and successful in his chosen profession, al- ways manifesting a great interest in his clients' cause, which has made him many personal friends and owing to these traits of character he has succeeded in building up and retaining a large and remunerative practice. He has al- ways taken an active interest in public affairs and has filled many positions of trust and re- sponsibility, both in the city and in the church. He is absolutely honest and trustworthy and for a period of more than thirty years he has been regarded by the profession in Delaware and throughout the counties of central Ohio. as an able and successful lawyer. His indus- try has seemed untiring both in his profes- sion and as a student. Law, history and liter- ature have received constant attention, when not occupied with the cares and duties of his professional engagements. He has always taken an active part in the politics of his county and is recognized as one of the ablest organizers in the county, being also re- garded as a careful, conservative and safe leader. He has ever been interested in the young men of Delaware and especially in those who have studied law under his tutelage, sev- eral of whom have become prominent lawyers and politicians in this and other counties and states.
Mr. Lytle is the attorney for the Fidelity Building Association and Loan Company of Delaware, Ohio, in which organization he has ever manifested a lively interest.
Fraternally Mr. Lytle is affiliated with the Masonic order, being a member of Hiram Lodge No. 18, F. & A. M. : Delaware Chapter No. 54. R. A. M. : Delaware Council No. 84. R. & S. M., and of George B. Torrence Post, G. A. R.
[The above sketch was prepared by Wil- liam B. Jones, a member of the Delaware County Bar.]
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WILLIAM A. HALL is the only son of John WV. Hall and Susan A. Hall. His parents set- tled in Kingston Township. Delaware County, Ohio, where he was born on the first day of June, 1849. He received his early education in the public schools of his native township, working by turns on his father's farm and at- tending the district schools in the winter sea- sons and later he attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. In the year 1871 he began the study of law with H. C. Carhart of Galion, Ohio. He completed his studies at Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan in the year 1873. He was admitted to the Bar the same year. He immediately commenced the practice of his chosen profession in Galion, Ohio, where, he continued the practice with gratifying success until the year 1876. His parents having moved to Delaware, Mr. Hall came here and opened an office in this city where he has ever since continued the practice of his profession.
Mr. Hall has also engaged in other busi- ness which he has prosecuted with success, having been a member of the Board of Direc- tors of the Deposit Banking Company of Dela- ware, Ohio. He is now the secretary and treasurer of the Hotel Donavin Company and he is the owner of lands in his native township. which he manages successfully and profitably. *
HON. FREDRICK MERRICK JOY was born November 15, 1846. in Delaware, Ohio, and * died March 17, 1883, being only a little over thirty-six years of age when called to his long rest. He grew up in the community in which he was born and attended the public schools until he had advanced as far as the course would take him. He entered the Ohio Wes- leyan University, from which he graduated in June, 1867. He immediately began the study of the law in the office of Messrs. Reid & Powell, attorneys, and was admitted to the Bar in the suminer of 1869. from which time to the date of his death he devoted his ener- gies and talents to the profession of his choice. He was a justice of the peace for two terms and mayor of the city of Delaware for two
terms. He was a law partner of Hon. H. M. Marriott at the time of his death.
He was possessed of a keen and lively hu- inor, but his sarcasm left no sting. In his so- cial relation he was congenial and companion- able, but in his domestic life the real beauty of his character shows most resplendent. As a husband he was affectionate and devoted, as a father he was indulgent and kind, as a neigh- bor civil and obliging, and as a citizen zealous and patriotic, and his early demise was la- mented by all who knew him.
HENRY S. CULVER was born in Delaware County, Ohio, April 17, 1854. He attended . the public schools while young, worked on his father's farm until he was seventeen years of age. He then attended a select school and later became a teacher in the public schools of the county for two years. He attended the Con- mercial College at Cleveland, Ohio, for two years, and in the fall of 1874 began the study of law in the office of Judge G. H. Stewart of Columbus, Ohio. He came to Delaware. Ohio, in the year 1875 and entered the office of Hon. H. M. Marriott, where he completed his course of study and was admitted to the Bar by the Supreme Court in the month of June. A. D., 1876. He at once began the practice of his profession in Delaware, Ohio
Mr. Culver is prominent in the politics of the county and was elected prosecuting attor- ney of the county in the year 1878 and was re-elected in 1880. In politics he has always been a Republican. He has shown marked ability as a public speaker and has always com- manded the respect of the court and jury. He is a man of fine physique and commanding and dignified bearing. In the spring of the year 1890 he was elected mayor of the city of Delaware, Ohio. He continued the practice of law at Delaware. Ohio, until the autumn of 1897. when he was appointed consul to Lon- don, in the Dominion of Canada, which posi- tion he held until 1906, at which time he was appointed consul to Cork, in Ireland, which position he is still filling satisfactorily to him- self and his friends and to the government of the United States.
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HON. FRANCIS MARION MARRIOTT was born in Eden Township. Licking County, Ohio. September 5. 1847. He is the son of Thomas Homewood Marriott and Druzilla (McClelland) Marriott, who were the parents of nine children. Thomas Homewood Mar- riott was born in Utica, Licking County, Ohio, in the year 1814, being the son of Homewood and Mary (Ridgeley) Marriott who came from the State of Maryland to Ohio in the year 1811. Joshua Marriott, the great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch, came from France and settled in Maryland in the year 1740. His wife Rachel Ann Homewood, was of English birth.
Thomas Homewood Marriott was a suc- cessful farmer of Licking County and was a man of great prominence and local distinction in the community in which he lived. He was an uncompromising Democrat in his political views and he early instilled in the minds of his children his political principles so that his sons, including the subject of this sketch, have never departed from their allegiance to the faith of their father.
F. M. Marriott received his early education in the public schools of Licking County, Dan- iel Paul being one of his early teachers. In the year 1864 Thomas H. Marriott came to Delaware County with his family and settled in Harlem Township on the farm now owned by his son. The subject of this sketch. Francis M. Marriott, soon thereafter began a higher education by attending school at Central Col- lege. Franklin County, Ohio. He afterward attended the Ohio Wesleyan University, teach- ing at times during the winter terms to en- able him to defray the expenses of his educa- tion. Mr. Marriott became prominent as a teaclier in Delaware and Union Counties, hay- ing taught the high school at Sunbury during the year 1870. In the spring of the year 1871 he began the study of law in the office of Hon. Charles H. McElroy, who afterwards became judge of the Common Pleas Court. After three months of study. Mr. Marriott, in order to help defray expenses, taught another term of school at Sunbury, Ohio, and again in the autumn of 1871 resumed the study of his
chosen profession with the law firm of Reid & Powell of Delaware. Ohio, who at that time comprised one of the leading law firms of central Ohio. Mr. Marriott was admitted to the Bar on March 19, 1874. The same year he was nominated by the Democratic Party for prosecuting attorney of Delaware County and he was elected by a majority of four hun- dred and eighty-nine, the nominal Republi- can majority of the county at that time being about seven hundred. Mr. Marriott's experi- ence in the office had brought to him a cli- entele, which made it inexpedient for him to serve a second term and he therefore refused a second nomination, and began a successful practice which he continued until the year 1879, when he was nominated by his party for State Senator in the Sixteenth Senatorial Dis- trict composed of Delaware and Licking Coun- ties. He was duly elected in October of that year and faithfully and efficiently served his party and district during the Sixty-fourth Gen- eral Assembly. He became a leader of that body and his counsel was always sought, es- pecially on all parliamentary questions. He was chosen by the Democratic members of the Senate as one of the committee to visit the National Democratic Committee at Washing- ton. D. C .. for the purpose of inviting that body to hold the national convention in this State and he with his co-laborers, so prevailed upon that committee that the National Dem- ocratic Convention was held in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the year 1880. To this convention. Mr. Marriott was unanimously chosen as a delegate from the Ninth Congressional Dis- trict, Delaware County at that time being a part of the Ninth District.
Mr. Marriott was again chosen as a dele- gate to the National Democratic Convention from the Eighth Congressional District which met in Chicago, in the year 1896 and which nominated as its candidate for president, the Hon. William Jennings Bryan, and for whose nomination Mr. Marriott was very enthusias- tic. In the year 1884. Mr. Marriott was ap- pointed by Governor Hoadley as one of the three managers of the intermediate peniten- tiary, which position he held for many years,
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having been re-appointed by Governor James E. Campbell, Governor William MeKinley. Governor Asa S. Bushnell and Governor George K. Nash.
Mr. Marriott's greatest achievements were in the practice of his profession. He has been for many years one of the acknowledged lead- ers of the Delaware County Bar, and there have been but few hotly contested cases in which he was not employed. either by the plaintiff or defendant. He is an able advocate and his success to the court and jury is largely due to his ability in that direction. Frater- nally Mr. Marriott is prominently identified with the Masonie order, having taken all the degrees of both the York and Scottish rites. He has served as master of Hiram Lodge No. 18. F. & A. M .. also as high priest of Chap- ter No. 54. Royal Arch Masons, at Delaware, Ohio.
CYRUS C. BROOKS is the son of David and Jane ( Butler) Brooks. He was born in Liek- ing County. Ohio, January 29, 1845. He re- ceived his early education in the public schools. He attended the high school at Sunbury, Dela- ware County, Ohio, and the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, where he prepared himself to teach. He taught in the public schools for a number of years and during the time he was teaching he read law under the preceptorship of Messrs. Powell and Reid, attorneys of Delaware, Ohio, and he was admitted to the Bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio, in the year 1874. He opened an office in the village of Sunbury, Delaware County, Ohio, where he has continued the practice ever since. Mr. Brooks, living near the Franklin, Knox and Lieking County lines, has practiced in all of these counties as well as in his own county.
He has been elected mayor of the village of Sunbury for four terms and has held that of- fice for eight years. In the early part of his practice he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, which office he held for a great number of years and from which he derived the title by which he is most generally known of "Esquire Brooks."
ROYAL DUGLASS ROBINSON was the son of William and Mary Robinson, who resided in Knox County, Ohio. He was born near Danville, Knox County, August 10, 1839, and died in the city of Delaware, Ohio, January 5. 1894. He was educated in the public schools of Knox County, Ohio, and at Kenyon Col- lege, Gambier, Ohio. He studied law in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and was admitted to the Bar in the year 1866. He immediately began the practice of his chosen profession in the city of Mt. Vernon, where he remained until the autumn of 1872, when he removed to Sun- bury, Delaware County, Ohio. He opened an office in November of that year in the village of Sunbury, which he continued to keep up to the time of his death. His practice, however. was not confined to Delaware County. as he had an office in Columbus, Ohio, where he staid part of the time. He was elected mayor of the village of Sunbury about the year 1885, but he declined a re-nomination. This was the only elective office he ever held in the county. He was for many years attorney for the Bank of Sunbury and he was the attorney for the C., A. & C. Railway Company for Delaware and Franklin Counties from the time the road was built to the date of his death. He was married to Miss Sarah E. Meredith March 7. 1861, from which union four children were born, two of whom survive, viz., Harry L. and Edson MI. Robinson, who reside in the city of Columbus, Ohio.
HON. ARCHIBALD LYBRAND is the son of Archibald and Jemima Lybrand, who resided at Tarlton, Piekaway County, Ohio. The sub- jeet of this sketch was born May 23. 1840. while his parents resided in Tarlton. He re- ceived his early education in the public schools of that village. His parents came to Dela- ware, Ohio, in the year 1857, when their son entered the Ohio Wesleyan University with the purpose of completing a classical course. but before he had done so the Civil War be- gan and like many other young men of the university, Mr. Lybrand enlisted in his coun- try's cause ; first in Company C, Fourth Regi-
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ment. O. V. I., and next in Company E. Sev- enty-third O. V. 1. He was wounded twice. first at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, and again at Dallas. After the close of the war, Mr. Lybrand began the study of law in the office of E. F. Poppleton and he was admitted to the Bar in the year 1871. He soon formed a partnership for the practice of law with Mr. Poppleton, his former preceptor, the style of the firm being Poppleton & Lybrand. In the year 1869. Mr. Lybrand was elected mayor of the town of Delaware and served one term.
Mr. Lybrand only practiced for a few years, having with his brother. Robert G. Ly- brand. Thomas E. Powell and others, former what has ever since been known as "The Dela- ware Chair Company." He quit the practice of law and became the head of that institution which has become one of the most successful manufactories of this city.
He was appointed postmaster of the city of Delaware, in the year 1881 and served un- til 1885. one term. He was elected to the Fifty-fifth Congress of the United States in the autumn of 1896 from the Eighth Con- gressional District, composed at that time of Champaign, Delaware. Hancock, Hardin. Logan and Union Counties and was re-elected to succeed himself in the autumn of 1898. to the Fifty-sixth Congress and served both terms.
He has charge of the Delaware Chair Com- pany as its president and is now traveling in the far east in the interest of that organiza- tion.
JUDGE JOHN SMITH GILL was the son of Mason and Harriett (Granger ) Gill. lle was born May 9. 1842, at Darby Plains, near Mil- ford Center. Union County, Ohio, and died at Columbus, Ohio, December 12, 1906. All- drew Gill, the grandfather of Judge Gill, was a native of Virginia and was of Irish descent. He immigrated to Ohio with his family in the year 1804, floating down the river in a flat boat, and settled near Cincinnati, Ohio. About the year 1812. at the beginning of the war of that time, he settled in that part of Ohio which became Union County, where Mason
Gill, the father of Judge Gill was born. The subject of this sketch was educated in the pub- lic schools and worked on his father's farm un- til the beginning of the Civil War. In the month of August, 1862, he enlisted in the Union army and was assigned to Company I. One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment. O. V. I., and served with his command until the close of the war. He was severely wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, Georgia. Sep- tember 20, 1863, and was sent to the hospital and while he never fully recovered he rejoined his regiment and served with his command and was in every engagement in which his regi- ment fought, and was with General Sherman's command on his famous march to the sea.
After the close of the war, Mr. Gill re- turned to his native county, where he taught in the public schools and engaged in farming. During this period he was married to Miss Frances Iva Mitchell, a daughter of John Mit- chell of Union County, Ohio. One son was born of this union, Mason Mitchell Gill, who resides with his widowed mother in Colum- bus. Ohio, and where he is engaged in busi- ness.
In the year 1874. John S. Gill removed to Delaware, Ohio, where he entered the law of- fice of Messrs. Reid and Powell, as a law stu- dent. He was admitted to the Bar in 1876 and he soon afterward entered the firm as the junior member thereof. the style of the firm being Reid. Powell & Gill. After the death of Colonel Reid, he formed a partnership with Mr. Powell, the title of the new firm being Powell & Gill. During the continuance of this partnership Frank A. Kauffman studied with the firm, and when he was admitted he was taken into the firm and the style of the new firm became Powell, Gill & Kauffman.
Judge Gill was an ardent Democrat. and in the summer of the year 1887 he was nomi- nated by his party for the office of Representa- tive, and he was duly elected and served as a member of the Sixty-eighth General Assembly from Delaware County, being one of the few Democratic members elected from Delaware County since the close of the Civil war. In the summer of the year 1891, Judge Gill was
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