USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th > Part 48
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nominated by his party for the office of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, for the first subdivision of the Sixth Judicial District of Ohio, from Delaware County, and in the autumn of that year was elected and took his seat in February, 1892. At the close of his term he declined a renomination and soon re- moved to Columbus, Ohio, and took up the practice of the law in which he continued to the time of his death.
Judge Gill was an active Grand Army man. He was appointed by Governor James E. Campbell, one of the members of the Ohio Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Mili- tary Park Commission, under an act of the General Assembly of Ohio, providing for such a commission to mark the sites where the Ohio troops were engaged on those fields of battle. The monuments provided for that purpose were dedicated September 25, 1895, in which services Judge Gill took an active part.
Fraternally Judge Gill was affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic and with the Union Veteran Legion. *
JUDGE GIDEON G. BANKER was born in Cardington, Morrow County, Ohio, on the twenty-fifth day of December, 1850. He is the eldest son of Captain Benjamin A. Banker and Elizabeth ( Worline) Banker. The par- ents, soon after the birth of their son, came to Delaware County and located on a farm, where the subject of this sketch spent his boy- hood days and received his early education in the public schools.
When Mr. Banker was sixteen years of age, his parents moved to the city of Delaware, and he attended the city schools and prepared himself for a collegiate education. He then entered the Ohio Wesleyan University and took a classical course, being graduated in the month of June, 1873. Mr. Banker im- mediately entered the office of Messrs. Reid and Powell, attorneys at law, where he read for two years, when he was admitted to the Bar in the year 1875.
Ile was soon after elected solicitor of the city of Delaware, which position he held for three successive terms. Mr. Banker continued the practice in Delaware County until about
the year 1888, when he was employed as a traveling agent for a collecting association, in which agency he continued for five years, dur- ing which time he resided in Delaware, Ohio. In the year 1893, Mr. Banker removed to Findlay, Ohio, where he opened an office and began the practice. of his chosen profession. In 1902 he received the nomination for the office of probate judge by the Democratic Party of Hancock County and was duly elected at the November election of that year. He assumed the duties of his office on the ninth day of February, 1903. He was re-nominated by the same party in the year 1905 to succeed himself, and was again elected and he is now the present incumbent. His second term will expire February 8, 1909.
OTWAY CAREY COWGILL was born in Lo- gan County. Ohio, on the twenty-fifth day of September. 1846. His parents' names were Daniel and Mary ( Everett) Cowgill. He re- ceived his early education in the public schools of his native county. The family came to Delaware County in the year 1859, and located on a farm in Delaware Township, where the subject of this sketch worked on his father's farm and attended the public schools. He attended the Ohio Wesleyan University for about two years and then entered the law office of Messrs. Reid and Powell, attorneys at law, where he studied for two years and in the year 1877 he was admitted to the Bar. He was elected township clerk of Delaware Township in the year 1875, and in the year 1876 was elected justice of the peace, which office he held for two terms. He opened an office in Delaware, Ohio, immediately after his admission to the Bar and began to practice his chosen profession. In the year 1883 he returned to Logan County and opened an of- fice in Bellefontaine, the county seat, where he continued his practice for three years. He then moved to the west and located in Sterl- ing, in the State of Kansas, where he died July 31, 1888.
EUGENE D. HAMILTON was the son of John Hamilton and Jenette Hamilton. He was born January 15. 1854. in Concord Town-
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ship. Delaware County, Ohio. He received his early education in the public schools of that township. He prepared himself for a teacher and taught his first school when he was but seventeen years of age. He attended the Ohio Wesleyan University for a time, but he finished his course and took his degree from the Northwestern University of Chicago, Illinois, about the year 1877. From the time he began to teach. he supported himself in that way and at intervals attended college, taught, and studied law, and he was admitted to the Bar in the year 1878. Ile immediately opened an office in the city of Delaware and began the practice of his chosen profession. He was married to Miss Alice E. Freshwater on the fifteenth day of January, 1880. He was elected solicitor of the city of Delaware, Ohio, in April. 1880, but he only lived about two months after he had taken his office, his death taking place June 14, 1880. * *
JUDGE BENJAMIN F. FRESHWATER was born November 24, 1852. on the "Hinton Farm" in Delaware Township, and grew to manhood on his father's farm in Berlin Town- ship. He is the son of Captain Archibald Freshwater, an honored veteran of the Civil war. The subject of this sketch received his early education in the public schools. At the age of nineteen he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he completed the classical course, and was graduated in the year 1877. He began the study of law in the office of Carper and Van Deman, teaching school at times to help defray expenses. He was ad- mitted to the Bar on the second day of June, 1880, by the Supreme Court of Ohio, and on the first day of July, 1880, began the practice of his profession, having formed a partnership with F. B. DeWitt. of Paulding County, Ohio. The style of the firm being De Witt and Fresh- water. In the year 1881 the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Freshwater continuing the prac- tice in Paulding County until the year 1885, when he returned to his old home and he opened an office in Delaware in the autumn of that year.
Mr. Freshwater is a Republican in politics, and he was chosen secretary of the Republican
Central Committee in which he served the party for two years. Ile was nominated for probate judge by the Republican party in the year 1893, and was elected and entered upon the duties of his office February 9. 1894. 1Ie was re-nominated and re-elected in the year 1896, and served out his full term. After his retirement from office he entered into a partnership for the practice of law, with Hon. F. M. Marriott, the style of the firm being Marriott & Freshwater. This firm continued in the practice until February, 1902, when Judge Wickham retired from the Common Pleas bench, at which time a new partnership was formed and Judge Wickham was taken into the firm, the style of the new firm being Marriott, Freshwater and Wickham. This partnership continued until December. 1906, when Judge Wickham retired from the firm to accept the Common Pleas Court judgship, to which he had been elected in November, 1906, since which time Marriott and Freshwater have continued the practice under the style of the old firm of Marriott & Freshwater.
Mr. Freshwater belongs to the following named fraternal organizations, viz .: Hiram Lodge, F. & A. M .: Lenape Lodge. No. 28. K. of P .. and Delaware Lodge, B. P. O. E. He is one of the Alumni Trustees of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and is one of the di- rectors of The Delaware Savings Bank Com- pany, and is the attorney for the People's Building and Loan Company, and is now in the midst of an active and lucrative practice of his profession.
HARRY H. BEECHER was born at Johns- town. Licking County, Ohio, on the fourth day of July. A. D., 1857. He is the eldest son of William A. and Oral Beecher. His parents came to Delaware County in the year 1875. and are both living, having celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary. The sub- ject of this sketch received his education in the public schools of Delaware County.
He began the study of law with Godman & Glover, attorneys, completed his course with the firm of Jones & Lytle, and was admitted to the Bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio on the fourth day of June, 1881. He
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opened an office in Delaware in the spring of the year 1882. and entered upon the practice of his profession. He was elected solicitor for the city of Delaware at the April election of the year 1888, and was re-elected to suc- ceed himself in the year 1890, and again in the year 1892. He was chosen clerk of the County Board of Elections when it was first organized after the adoption of the Australian ballot system in Ohio, which position he held continuously until the autumn of the year 1905. He was elected justice of the peace for Dela- ware Township at the April election, for the year 1903, which office he resigned in the autumn of 1905 to accept the nomination for mayor of the city of Delaware. He was elected mayor at the November election and served as mayor one terni, 1906 and 1907. having retired in January, 1908.
Mr. Beecher is a member of both the fra- ternal orders of the I. O. O. F., and the K. of P., and has passed through the chairs of both lodges.
EDWARD THOMPSON BRANDEBURY was born in Delaware, Ohio. He is the son of Rev. Brandebury, a minister of the Metho- (list Episcopal Church. The subject of this sketch received his early education in the pub- lie schools of this city. Having graduated from the high school about the year 1876, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University the same year from which institution he graduated in 1880. He studied law in Delaware and was admitted to the Bar. He located in Minneapolis, where he practiced for some years, and then returned to Delaware, Ohio, where he began the practice. He was soon after elected justice of the peace of this town- ship, which .office he held for several years. He returned to Minneapolis but a short time since, where he is again engaged in the prac- tice of his profession. *
FRANK A. KAUFFMAN came to Delaware County to attend the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity. He soon after entered the law office of Powell and Gill, with whom he completed his course of study and was admitted to the
Bar. He entered the firm of Powell and Gill as junior member, and he was soon after elected prosecuting attorney of the county. He held the office for two terms and at the expiration of his term of office he retired from the practice in this county. He located in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, and he soon after became attorney for the Deering Har- vester Company. He later became the general attorney for that company, and removed to Chicago, where he now resides.
GEORGE W. CARPENTER was born in Dela- ware County, Ohio June 28, 1859. His fa- ther's name was Mandeville Carpenter. He was a farmer by occupation and was one of the early settlers of the county. The subject of this sketch received his early education in the public schools of Delaware County, in which he afterward taught for several years. He also taught in a graded school at Fredricktown, Ohio, for some time. He later attended the Ohio Wesleyan University. In the year 1884 he began the study of law under the tuition of Hon. Henry S. Culver. In the year 1886, he was admitted to the Bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio, and in the autumn of the same year he opened an office in Delaware and began the practice of his chosen profession. In the year 1888 he was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney of Delaware County, and in the year 1891 he was re-elected to suc- ceed himself, there being no opposition in the field against him for his second term. Mir. Carpenter has always been an active Republi- can. He has frequently occupied a seat in the State, Congressional and Judicial Conventions of his party, and has greatly aided the party by his speeches during the campaign in which he has engaged. In the year 1895 he was a candidate for the nomination of State Sen- tor in the Sixteenth Senatorial District, and in the year 1899, he was a candidate before the Republican State Convention for attorney- general from this county. In the year 1895 Mr. Carpenter formed a partnership for the practice of his profession with Judge C. H. McElroy, the style of the firm being Carpen- ter and McElroy.
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Mr. Carpenter is a close and careful stu- dent of the law, and his services are sought often by the members of his profession in the trial of complicated and difficult cases, both before the court and jury.
On the first of July, 1899, Mr. Carpenter opened an office in Columbus, Ohio, and two years later removed to that city, at which time he formed a partnership with Campbell M. Voorhees, where he is now engaged in an active practice. Although Mr. Carpenter has not lived in this county for six or seven years, many of his Delaware County clients often consult him, and his name still appears on our court docket. Fraternally Mr. Carpenter is affiliated with the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
HON. NORMAN FULLER OVERTURF was born in Liberty Township, Licking County, Ohio, February 13, 1846. He is the son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Griffey) Overturf. He was educated in the public schools and at different select schools and acadamies and at the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. He began to teach when he was but seventeen years of age and taught in the public schools of this and Madison Counties until he was thirty-two years old, it being his principal oc- cupation until about the year 1878, when he began the study of law. He was at that time living at Somerford, Madison County, Ohio, where he was teaching. He began to practice in the justice's courts, though he had not yet been admitted to the Bar. He also devoted a part of his time to the business of collections. He came to Delaware, Ohio, in the year 1883. and entered the law office of the Hon. Henry S. Culver, where he remained until he was admitted to the Bar in the year 1885.
In the spring of the year 1886 he was nominated by the Republican Party for city solicitor of Delaware, to which position he was elected in April of that year. the term of . office being two years. He was re-nominated by the same party to succeed himself and was again elected in April of the year 1888, which position he resigned for the purpose of ac- cepting the nomination to the office of probate
judge of Delaware County, to which office he was duly elected in the autumn of 1887. He was re-nominated to succeed himself and was again elected in September of that year, his second term expiring in 1894. He then retired from office, having served the people for six consecutive years, and began the practice of his chosen profession, to which he assiduously devoted himself. He was nominated by the Republican Party for the State Senate in the year 1902, by the Ffteenth-Sixteenth Joint Subdistrict, which is composed of the counties of Delaware, Licking, Muskingum and Perry. to which position he was elected at the No- vember election of that year.
HENRY GRIFFIN SHELDON was born at Greenwich, Huron County, Ohio, July 16. 1838, and died at Delaware, Ohio, April 12. 1889. He received his early education in the public schools in Huron County, and some time in the latter fifties began a course in Oberlin College, and was a junior at said col- lege at the beginning of the Civil war. Soon after the call for troops he enlisted as a private in Company C, Seventh Regiment, O. V. 1. He was severely wounded at the battle of Cross Lanes, West Virginia, for which wound he was discharged from the service on the third day of July, 1862. He returned to his home, where he began to recuperate and on July 26, 1862, he re-enlisted and became cap- tain of Company D, One Hundred and First Regiment. O. V. I., but his old wound soon warned him that he must quit the service if he expected to live, and he resigned his com- mand, and on January 28, 1863, returned to his home. After recuperating he again en- tered Oberlin College, where he graduated in the summer of 1864. He studied law at the Law School at Albany, New York, from which he received his degree in the year 1865. and he immediately entered the practice of his profession. Hle located at one time in the State of Kansas, but he only remained there a short time, when he came to Delaware-some time in the seventies-where he remained and practiced his chosen profession up to a short time prior to his death.
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WERTER B. ALBRIGHT was the son of Jacob S. Albright and Nancy Albright. The father was a minister of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and the mother a faithful help- mate in her husband's calling. The subject of this sketch was born on the twelfth day of October, 1858. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of Delaware and at the Ohio Wes- leyan University. Mr. Albright studied law and was admitted to the Bar in the year 1885. He soon thereafter opened an office in Dela- ware, and began the practice of his chosen profession. Mr. Albright gave special atten- tion to the law of real estate, and he became an expert in that particular branch of his pro- fession. He was an untiring student and pre- pared an abstract of title to all the lands of Delaware County at a cost of hundreds of dollars and several years of labor to himself and employes. This work had just been com- pleted a short time before his death, which occurred on the eighth day of January, 1893. *
ROBERT LORENZO MCCABE is the son of Lorenzo Dow McCabe, one of the well known professors of the Ohio Wesleyan University. He was born in Delaware, Ohio, and received his early education in the public schools of this city. He graduated at the Ohio Wesleyan University with the class of 1883. He began the study of law with the firm of Harrison and Olds, of Columbus, Ohio, and finished with Hon. F. M. Marriott, of Delaware. Ohio, and was admitted to the Bar about the year 1888. He soon after formed a part- nership with Mr. Marriott, his former pre- ceptor, which partnership continued for one year, when it was dissolved, Mr. McCabe re- tiring and entering into other business. Mr. McCabe is now located at Dayton, Ohio. where he is known as a successful promoter and dealer in stocks. * *
JAMES T. SHOUP was born in Scioto Town- ship, Delaware County, Ohio. Ilis parents lived on a farm in that township, where the subject of this sketch received his early edu- cation. He came to Delaware, Ohio, in the
early eighties, where he studied law with Hon. Early F. Poppleton. In the summer of 1883 he was nominated for prosecuting attorney of Delaware County by the Democratic party and in the autumn of that year he was duly elected to that office. He took his seat on the seventh day of January. A. D., 1884. and served his full term, retiring at the end of his term. He removed from this county to Springfield, Ohio, at the close of his term, where he now resides.
FRANKLIN A. OWEN was born in Knox County, Ohio, near the village of Rich Hill. His father's name was Franklin M. Owen and his mother's was Pauline ( Boughton) Owen. His grandfather located in Knox County in the year 1818, and was a native of Vermont. His mother's people, the Boughtons, immi- grated to this state in the year 1840. from Scipio, New York. The subject of this sketch was born on the twenty-second day of December, 1853. and is the eldest son.
The family came to Delaware County in the month of April, 1860, and located on a farm in Kingston Township, where Mr. Owen spent his boyhood and where he ob- tained his early education. At the age of eighteen he began to teach school and con- tinued his education, completing a classical normal course at the Ohio Central Normal School, which was then located at Worthing- ton, Ohio. He then taught in the public schools of Delaware County for about four- teen years. During this course of teaching he began the study of law, with the firm of Powell, Gill and Kauffman, and on June 7. 1888, he was admitted to the Bar by the Su- preme Court at Columbus, Ohio. He im- mediately began the practice of his profession and located in the same office which he now occupies , and where he has enjoyed a lucrative practice ever since. In January, 1906, at the unanimous request of the members of the Delaware County Bar, he was appointed one of the referees in bankruptcy for the Southern District of Ohio. In the year 1902 he entered into a partnership with his brother, Eugene
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S. Owen, for the practice of his profession. the style of the partnership being F. A. and E. S. Owen.
WILLIAM BERNARD JONES is the eldest son of General J. S. Jones, and was born September 9. 1868. He attended the public schools and graduated at the high school in Delaware. Ohio, with the class of 1884. He entered the Ohio Wesleyan University and completed a classical course with the class of 1889. He began the study of law the same year in the office of Jones and Lytle, attorneys. and was admitted to the Bar in March, 1891. He became a law partner with his preceptors and the new firm was Jones, Lytle and Jones. In the spring of the year 1895. the partnership firm was dissolved by mutual consent and the subject of this sketch entered into a partner- ship with his father and brother for the prac- tice of the law, the style of the new firm be- ing John S. Jones and Sons. In the autumn of the year 1898. at the earnest request of Congressman Archibald Lybrand, of the Eighth Congressional District, Mr. Jones be- came secretary to Mr. Lybrand, and during the remaining portion of Mr. Lybrand's term of office Mr. Jones remained with him, and when Congressman William R. Warnock be- came the representative from the Eighth Dis- trict. Mr. Jones became his secretary. He re- mained with Mr. Warnock as secretary until the fourth day of February, 1903. when at the request of Mr. Warnock. he was appointed postmaster of the city of Delaware, and is. the present incumbent with a second appoint- ment for four years. Mr. Jones is the local attorney for the Delaware and Magnetic Springs Interurban Railway, and he has been a successful practitioner both in our State and in the United States Courts. He is a kind and affable gentleman, and has made one of the best postmasters Delaware has ever had.
JUDGE EMMETT M. WICKIIAM was born in Genoa Township, Delaware County, Ohio, October 29, 1859. His father and mother were of English and Dutch origin, respec- tively. He is able to trace his genealogy on
his father's side back to a period of more than two hundred years. But it is not intended in this sketch to refer to the family history. but rather to the Judge's early life and education and his progress from teacher, lawyer and judge. He received his early education in the public schools of Genoa Township, in which schools he prepared himself for a teacher. He taught his first school in the same district where he had attended school, viz .. Sub-Dis- trict No. 5. in said township. His compensa- tion was $18.33 per month. He continued to teach for a period of twelve years, having taught in eight of the eighteen townships com- posing Delaware County.
He began the study of law in the year 1889. under the tutorship of Hon. F. M. Marriott, of Delaware. Ohio, during the time he was teaching, and on the third day of De- cember, 1891, he was admitted to the Bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio, having taught school seventeen months during the time he was preparing himself for admission to the Bar. His contract to teach did not expire until May. 1892. after his admission. In the autumn of the same year he came to Delaware and began the practice of his profession, hav- ing his office with his former preceptor. Hon. F. M. Marriott, and in January. 1895. en- tered into a partnership with Mr. Marriott. the style of the firm being Marriott and Wick- ham.
At the Democratic Convention which was held at Centerburg. Knox County, Ohio. in July. 1896, he was nominated as one of the candidates for Common Pleas Judge in the First Subdivision of the Sixth Judicial Dis. trict, composed of Delaware, Knox and Lick- ing Counties, and at the November election following was elected by a good majority. In the year 1900 he was re-nominated to suc- ceed himself as judge. The slump in the Democratic vote in the district was so great that he was defeated, his opponent having a majority in the district of but eight votes. In this campaign Mr. Wickham ran ahead of his ticket very largely.
In the year 1906 he was again nominated by his party for Common Pleas judge. and
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was elected in November of that year by a majority of over four hundred votes, carrying Delaware County by a majority of two hun- dred and sixty-five, while the county gave to President Roosevelt the same year, a majority of fifteen hundred and sixty-five, and at the same time he carried Knox County by one hundred and thirty-three, while that county is largely Republican.
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