USA > Ohio > Coshocton County > Historical collections of Coshocton County, Ohio : > Part 6
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COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
The first county commissioners, elected in April, 1811, were Charles Williams, James Meskimens, and Mordecai Chalfant. The following shows the incumbents and time of service in that office :
Charles Williams. 1811-13 Isaac Darling. 1843-49
Mordecai Chalfant. 1811-18 Jas Ravenscraft. 1844-47
James Meskimens. 1811-21 Samuel Lamberson. 1845-48
James Calder 1813-17 Alex. Matthews 1847-50
Squire Humphrey 1817-19 George Wolf .. 1848-51
Samuel Clark.
1818-29 Francis Buxton. 1849-52
Samuel Clark.
1831-33 Henry Schmueser 1850-56
Robert Darling 1819-25 Thomas Darling
1851-54
Robert Boyd 1821-24 Lewis Swigert 1852-55
John G. Pigman
1824-26 Owen Evans .. 1854-57
Benjamin Ricketts 1825-28 Abraham Shaffer
Gabriel Evans. 1826-33 James E. Robinson. 1856-59
Richard Moode 1828-31 Wm. Doak 1857-63
John Mitchell 1829-32
Wm. Hanlon. 1858-64
John Quigley.
1832-34 Jas. M. Smith.
1859-65
Andrew Ferguson 1832-38 Thomas Darling
1863-69
Joseph Neff. 1833-36 Joseph Keim.
1864-70
Daniel Forker. 1834-43 Thomas McKee 1865-71
Eli Fox 1836-39 Joseph S. McVey. 1869-75
Arnold Medbery 1838-44 John Taylor 1870
Samuel Winklepleck 1839-42 Samuel Moore
1871
J. D. Workman. 1842-45 William Forney 1875
COUNTY AUDITORS.
The first clerk (now called auditor) to the commissioners was Thomas L. Rue, but after a few meetings he ceased to
1855-53
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Historical Collections of Coshocton County.
attend, and Adam Johnston was appointed to his place, and held the office until 1821. The salary at that time was forty dollars per year. The following persons have held that office since Johnston ; the dates following being the dates of their appointment or election :
A. M. McGowan.
1821 Wm. Himebaugh 1854
Jos. Burns*
1824 Samuel Forker 1858
J. W. Ruet
1838 C. H. Johnston 1862
H. Cantwell.
1848 W. R. Forker 1866
HI. Rahauser 1850 Wm. Walker 1871
B. F. Sells 1852 Wm. Wolf. 1875
COUNTY CLERKS.
The following is the list of persons who have held the office of clerk, with the date of their appointment or elec- tion :
Adam Johnston.
1811 A. M. Williams. 1854
John Frew.
1829 Lemuel Kinsey .. 1857
A. M. McGowan.
1836 Chas. K. Remick 1863
Joseph Burns. 1843 G. H. Barger 1869
B. R. Shaw 1851 Israel Dillon 1875
COUNTY TREASURERS.
The first treasurer of the county was Wm. Whitten, holding office from 1811 to 1817. Dr. Samuel Lee succeeded him, and held the office until 1825. The pay of the office for a few years was five per cent., then three per cent. on moneys received, and amounted to from forty to sixty dollars per year prior to 1818. Dr. Lee was succeeded by James Ren- frew, who agreed to serve for three per cent., and obligated himself " not to speculate on the county's money." John B. Turner was treasurer for 1827 and 1828. A. M. McGowan for 1829 and 1830. Samuel Rea į became treasurer in 1831.
* Resigned.
+ Appointed, and afterward elected.
¿ Rea was a son of the well-known Rev. John Rea, of Harrison county. He studied law, and was a man of ability. But he was of too social a turn-fond of "good fellows"-a fine violinist. He was drowned at Fry's Ford, on Walhonding river, in 1834, on his way home from a convivial party which had been keeping late hours. His estate and securities satisfied the county's claim.
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County Buildings and Officers.
In December, 1832, he was removed from office and a suit begun against his securities for a " shortage" of nearly $2,000. Robert Hay was appointed in Rea's stead, and held the office until 1834. Wm. G. Williams was elected in 1834, and held the office until 1846. Benjamin Bonnett succeeded him in 1846. In 1849, he left the county very abruptly, sending in his resignation .* J. W. Rue was appointed to complete the term of office, ending in 1850. Wm. P. Wheeler held the office 1850-52. Lewis Demoss was his successor, and served two terms, going out in 1856. Samuel Ketchum was treasurer from 1856 to 1859; in Oc- tober of the latter year, owing to the hue and cry about the treasury robbery, ; he resigned, and Samuel Lamberson fin-
* His cash-box was discovered to be in a very bad shape, and his se- curities were required by the county to respond. He is understood to have gone to California.
+ Ketchum was found by some persons who heard his outcry n seem- ingly exhausted condition in the treasurer's office, about midnight, January 21. 1859. He alleged that having kept the office open to pay some witnesses from abroad who desired to take a late train, two men came in, and, throwing a shawl over his head, bound and gagged him, and took what moneys were in the safe, reported afterward at about $20,000, the larger part of it State moneys. Subsequently he confessed that the thing was a job, and implicated James M. Brown, from whom he said he had in a strait borrowed some money. They were indicted by the grand jury. A change of venue having been asked by Brown, the case was tried in Licking county, and on law points carried to the Supreme Court at Columbus, but in 1870 Brown was sentenced to pay double the amount abstracted, and spend five years at hard labor in the Ohio penitentiary. Ketchum plead guilty, after Brown was sen- tenced, and received the same sentence. While in the penitentiary, Ketchum failed rapidly in health, and in this view, having been par- doned, came to his home in West Lafayette, and there died in the summer of 1872, a sad, penitent victim of his own folly, and possibly of the wiles of even more cunning and unscrupulous men. Brown was pardoned by Governor Allen in 1874. A considerable sum was realized by sale on execution of some of the property held in Coshoc- ton by Brown, but finding the legal complications increasing, growing out of claims put forward by his relations, the commissioners com- promised on a less amount than originally assessed. The State, how- ever, obtained $10,000, and the county nearly the amount lost. But nearly or quite all that amount was expended in the legal proceedings connected with the case, and the treasury never got back its own.
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ished the term, and, being elected and re-elected, served until 1864. His successor was Samuel Burrell, 1864-68. Then Thos. Jones came into office, and held the place for two terms, 1868-72. Richard W. McLain was in the office from 1872-76. John Waggoner succeeded him, and is the present incumbent.
COUNTY RECORDERS.
The first recorder was Adam Johnson, appointed in 1811, and dying in 1829, Jos. Burns was put into his place, and held it until 1836, when Geo. W. Price was appointed. He died in 1840, and Russell C. Bryan took his place 1840-46. The following is the succession, with date of election; G. F. Cassingham, 1846 ; John F. Williams, 1855 (resigned in 1857, and R. M. Hackinson filled out his time) ; A. McNeal, 1858; C. W. Stanford, 1861; L. L. Root, 1864; and M. W. Wimmer, 1870.
SHERIFFS.
C. Van Kirk
1811-15 Samuel Morrison. 1845-49
Chas. Williams.
1815-19 Samuel B. Crowley 1849-53
Chas. Miller
1819-21 Richard Lanning. 1853-55
John Smeltzer
1821-23 W. H. H. Price. 1855-57
John Crowley 1823-27 David Rodahaver. 1857-61
T. Butler Lewis 1827-29 John Hesket. 1861-65
John Crowley. 1829-33 James Sells* 1865-68
J. H. Hutchinson 1833-37 Thomas Platt. 1868-69
Saml. Morrison. 1837-41 Joshua H. Carr 1869-73
Jos. C. Maginity. 1841-45 John Lennon. 1873
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
Wright Warner was appointed, at the September term of court, in 1811, for seven years, but resigned in 1814. Alex. Harper was then appointed, and continued until 1823, when, having been elected judge, he was succeeded by Chas. B. Goddard, who served until 1827. W. Silliman, David Spangler, and Richard Stillwell served for terms of court until 1830 (March term), when Noah H. Swayne was
* Sells left the county very abruptly, and his bondsmen had certain claims to satisfy. Platt succeeded him by virtue of being at the time coroner of the county.
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County Buildings and Officers.
appointed for a full term. But in 1833, Josephus Ricketts having been elected, came into office. He resigned in 1834, and G. W. Silliman was appointed and afterward elected in 1835, and his health failing in 1841, the latter part of his term was filled out by T. S. Humrickhouse by appoint- ment. In 1843, and also in 1845, Thomas Campbell was elected. Then the succession was Wm. Sample in 1849; John T. Simmons in 1851 and 1853; John D. Nicholas in 1855 ; and Charles Hoy in 1857 and 1859. Hoy, in 1860 resigned, and Thomas Campbell finished his term. In 1860, Richard Lanning was elected, but in the second year of his service resigned his office to take that of Major in the army, and Thomas Campbell filled out his term. In 1862. Asa G. Dimmock was elected, and again in 1864 and 1866. His health having failed, and he having resigned and removed in the spring of 1868, R. M. Voorhes was appointed to com- plete his term, and having been elected in the fall of 1868, and also in 1870, continued in the office until it was taken by the present incumbent, Wm. S. Crowell, who was elected in 1872.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
The first county surveyor was Wm. Lockard, appointed in 1812. He served until 1817, when James Ravens- craft became surveyor. He resigned in 1819, and Win. Coulter was appointed until 1824. Wm. G. Williams then came into office, and served till 1830. Jas. Ravenscraft was in the office from 1830 to 1836. Then came John M. Sweney, and then John M. Fulks. Henry Seevers was Fulks' successor, and served until 1852, when Lemuel Kinsey was elected. C. W. McMorris was elected in 1855 ; R. L. Baker in 1858; T. P. Latham in 1861 ; he having resigned, Levi Gamble was appointed in 1864, and then elected in 1865 and 1868. John A. Hanlon was elected in 1871, and Geo. Miller in 1874, being in office at this writing.
CORONERS .*
The following persons have held the office of coroner, viz. : David Bookless, Geo. Leighninger, James Ravens-
* The list is not complete as to the earlier ones.
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Historical Collections of Coshocton County.
craft, Abraham Sells, Benj. Coe, Thomas McAnnally, Ad- dison Syphert, James T. MeCleary, Jos. Hitchens, Wn. Jeffries, Thomas Platt, Nicholas Schott, and John Richeson.
INFIRMARY DIRECTORS.
The following have served the county as infirmary direc- tors : Lewis Row, Jas. Jones, Henry Wheeler, Isaac W. Miller, John M. Johnson, Stephen D. Sayer, Thomas Dwyer, D. E. Laughlin, Geo. McCune, J. C. Frederick, Wm. Simons, James McBriar, John Chambers, Nathan Buckalew, John Hawley, Wm. McCoy, C. F. Sangster, Samuel Gardiner, and Thomas Wiggins.
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Connection with State and National Affairs.
CHAPTER IX.
CONNECTION WITH STATE AND NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
.
STATE SENATORS.
FOR some years after its organization, Coshocton county was combined with Guernsey and Tuscarawas in a state senatorial district. From 1820 to 1830, the district was made up of Coshocton and Tuscarawas, and after 1824, Holmes, which was in that year organized. Still later, Knox and Coshocton made the district. Since 1850, Coshoc- ton and Tuscarawas have formed the district.
The first citizen of Coshocton elected state senator was Wilson McGowan, serving 1821-22. Samuel Lee was sena- tor, 1826-27; Charles Miller, 1828-29; James, Ravens- craft, 1834-36; James Matthews, 1838-39; John Johnson, 1842-43; F. W. Thornhill, 1845-46; Andrew Ferguson, 1850-51; Wm. Heslip, 1854-55; A. L. Cass, 1858-59; Wm. Stanton, 1864-65; James M. Burt, 1866-67, also 1870-71; John C. Fisher, 1874-75.
REPRESENTATIVES.
The representative was elected, until 1820, by Tuscara- was and Coshocton. Occasionally, at a much later day, to make the proportionate representation, Coshocton would elect a representative, and then Coshocton and Knox or Guernsey together, would have an additional representa- tive.
In 1814, Charles Williams was elected representative by Tuscarawas and Coshocton ; in 1816 and also in 1818-20, and 1823, Joseph W. Pigman was chosen ; in 1817, Squire Hum- phrey. In 1820, Coshocton itself became a representative district, and James Robinson was the representative, 1820-21, also 1824; Charles Williams, 1825; John Smeltzer, 1827-28; N. H. Swayne, 1829; James Robinson, 1830; Charles W. Simmons, 1831; James Matthews, 1832; John Crowley,
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Historical Collections of Coshocton County.
1833-34-35; Samuel Whitmore, 1836; James Matthews and F. W. Thornhill, 1837; Joseph Burns, 1838-40 ; Jesse Meredith, 1841-42; Geo. A. MeCleary, 1843; Jesse Mere- dith, 1844 ; Heslip Williams, 1844-45 ;* Joseph Williams, 1846-47; James M. Burt, 1848-49; Timothy C. Condit, 1850-52; Geo. McKee, 1852-54; John Pierson, 1854-56; Patrick Thompson, 1856-58; C. F. Sangster, 1858-60 ; James Gamble and J. N. Fellows, 1860-62; Andrew J. Wilkin, 1862-64 ; F. W. Thornhill, 1864-70;} John Baker, 1870-72 ; B. C. Blackburn, 1872-74 ; John Baker, 1874-76; E. L. Lybarger, 1876.
In 1812, Coshocton county gave Return J. Meigs, can- didate for governor, 65 votes ; and to Thomas Scott, opposing candidate, 21 votes. In 1814, 248 votes were cast for Thomas Worthington, and one for his opponent. In 1824, Jeremiah Morrow received 634 votes, and Allen Trimble 531 votes, for governor. In 1834, Robert Lucas got 885, and John Findley, 705 votes. In 1844, Mordecai Bartley got 1,749, and David Todd, 2,156 votes. In 1855, William Medill got 2,007, and Salmon P. Chase, 2,064. In 1865, J. D. Cox got 1,979, and G. W. Morgan, 2,374. In 1875, R. B. Hayes got 2,321; and Wm. Allen, 2,913.
In the state constitutional convention of 1851, Coshoc- ton county was represented by John Johnson; and in that of 1874, by Wm. Sample, Esq. The opposing candidates were Captain J. M. Love and E. T. Spangler, Esq.
James M. Burt represented the Coshocton and Tuscara- was distriet in the state board of equalization in 1860.
James Gamble was chosen a member of the board of public works in October, 1862-entering upon his duties in February, 1863. He died in March, 1864, and James Moore was appointed by the governor to fill the vacancy in April, 1864. He was elected in October, 1866, and held thus the legal term of three years.t
* Dr. Williams is reported as the author of the famous "Liquor Law," passed by that Legislature.
+ Speaker of the house, session of 1868-69.
¿ Removed to Indianapolis in 1875.
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Connection with State and National Affairs.
John C. Fisher was appointed a member of the Fish commission in 1875 by Governor Allen.
CONGRESSMEN.
Coshocton county has furnished four congressmen to represent the district of which it has formed a part, under the decennial apportionments. David Spangler, Esq., was the first of these-elected by Coshocton, Holmes, Knox, and Tuscarawas counties. He was re-elected-thus serving from 1833-37. The next was James Matthews, Esq., also serving two terms, 1841-45. John Johnson was the con- gressman, 1851-53; and Joseph Burns, 1857-59. Since 1870 the district hasbeen composed of Coshocton, Lick- ing, Muskingum, and Tuscarawas counties.
MISCELLANEOUS.
J. W. Dwyer was for some time (in Delano's adminis- tration of internal revenue affairs) supervisor of internal revenue for the northern district of Ohio, with office at Coshocton. He was, at a later date, pension agent, with office at Columbus. W. A. Johnson served, for several years, as deputy United States Internal revenue assessor ; and John Frew and James Dryden, and Dr. S. H. Lee as deputy collectors.
U. S. POSTMASTERS AT THE CAPITAL OF THE COUNTY.
Adam Johnson, 1811-29; postoffice on Water street: Wilson McGowan, 1829-30; postoffice on Third street: Wm. K. Johnson, 1830-45; postoffice on Second street: C. H. Johnson ; on Water street: R. F. Baker; on Second street : Samuel Rich, 1853-54; on Chestnut street; H. N. Shaw, 1854-61; on Second street : Asa L. Harris, 1861-64; on Second street : A. H. Fritchey, part of 1864; on Second street : W. A. Johnson, 1864-65 ; on Second street; R. M. Voorhees, 1865-68; on Main street one month, then back on Second st. : T. W. Collier, 1869 ; Main street, corner of Fourth ; between Third and Fourth; between Fifth and Sixth .*
* In the "Opera House," erected by J. Heskett, A. Miller, and John Timmons, in 1873-74. Size, 44 by 100; cost said to be $25,000.
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Historical Collections of Coshocton County.
CHAPTER X.
THE COURTS AND THE BAR.
THE first term of the Court of Common Pleas for Coshoc- ton county was held on the 1st day of April, 1811. By the legislature the county was placed in the judicial district over which Hon. William Wilson, of Licking county, was president judge. William Mitchell, Peter Casey, and Isaac Evans, three substantial citizens of the county, were also designated as associate judges. The court sat in the parlor of Colonel Charles Williams' hotel, as elsewhere stated. Some choice hickory-wood had been cut for the occasion, and " mine host " was doubtless in his best humor, feeling the importance of the occasion and his own importance as one of the head men of the new county and the host of the court. It is said new hunting-shirts were plenty in town that day. It must, however, have somewhat diminished the glory of the occasion that the president judge did not put in an appearance. The three associates were on hand, and the court " sat" with becoming gravity. Cornelius Van Kirk was sheriff, and the court appointed Adam John- ston clerk for the term. Johnston was also appointed re- corder for the term of seven years, and the only other busi- ness transacted at that term was the ordering of elections for justices of the peace for the townships of Tuscarawas, Washington, and New Castle, one each, and for Franklin two. The legislature had provided for three terms of court for that year, as was done for many years thereafter. The second term was held in September. At that Judge Wilson was present, as also the three associates already named. The full-blown dignity of the court was then attained. Thomas L. Rue was appointed clerk pro tem. A grand jury was sworn, consisting of the following persons, viz: James Turner, James Craig, Benjamin Fry, Samuel Clark, Samnel Hardesty, John Harrison, Isaac Workman, Charles Miller, Michael Miller, Windle Miller, Henry Miller, Philip Wag-
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The Courts and the Bar.
goner, Francis McGuire, and John Mills. The jury re- ported " no business." The docket showed three cases. In two the writs were quashed, and the other case was " contin- ued." At the December term the judges were again all pres- ent, and business began to grow more lively. Adam John- ston was appointed clerk for seven years. Elections for two more justices of the peace were ordered for Tuscarawas township and one for Oxford. The most important case tried was that of Charles Williams against Adam Markley ; verdict, nine dollars and sixty cents damages for plaintiff. Lewis Cass (afterward so prominent even in National af- fairs) was Williams' attorney.
The legislature had provided that no term of the court should extend beyond twelve " working days." For the first few years actually from one to five days were occupied. The cases were largely criminal, and especially relating to crimes against the person, assault and battery and slander abounding. The sums involved in civil suits seem insignifi- cant in these days. Pretty large figures were, however, sometimes put upon the records, as, for instance, when a decree was, without resistance, taken requiring Matthias Denman * to execute a certain conveyance on penalty of having to pay $30,000. Among the curiosities as now re- garded of the criminal proceedings of the early days is the sentence passed at the December term in 1814 upon one Zeba French, convicted of passing a counterfeit note of the " Miami Exporting Company," viz., that he should be tied to the public whipping-post and receive thirty-nine lashes upon his bare back; also be fined twenty dollars and costs, and be imprisoned thirty days in the county jail. The two " unpardonable sins " with the early settlers of most coun- tries have been passing counterfeit money and stealing horses.
Judge Wilson continued as president judge until 1822, when he was succeeded by Alexander Harper, of Zanes-
* He was the grand-father of A. D. and Martin Denman, living in Springfield, N. J., and at that time a very large landholder in Coshoc- ton county.
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Historical Collections of Coshocton County.
ville .* He served two terms, and was succeeded in April, 1836, by C. W. Searl, also of Zanesville. Richard Stillwell, of Zanesville, was the next president judge. Owing to ill health he was not able to attend for several terms of court in Coshocton. About the end of his term of office Coshoc- ton county was placed in another district, and James Stew- art, of Mansfield, became president judge. He was present at only a few terms of the court before the change was made under the new constitution. The first judge to sit at Coshocton under that instrument was Martin Welker, then of Holmes county, now judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Having served one term of five years, Judge Welker was succeeded in 1857 by William Sample, of Coshocton. He served for nearly two terms-ten years-(C. F. Downing, of Wayne county, serving two months in consequence of Sample's resigna- tion), and was succeeded in 1867 by William Reed, of Holmes county, the present incumbent.
Under the old constitution three citizens were designated by the legislature to occupy the bench as associate judges. Their terms of office were the same as those of the presi- dent judges, viz., seven years. The following citizens served in that capacity : Isaac Evans, William Mitchell, Peter Casey, Lewis Vail, Joseph W. Pigman, Thomas Johnson, Benjamin Robinson, Mordecai Chalfant, John Mitchell, James Robinson, John Crawford, James Le Re- tilley, Robert Crawford, Benjamin R. Shaw, Samuel Elliott, Josiah Harris, and James M. Burt. Messrs. Casey, John- son, John Crawford, and Le Retilley were reappointed. John Mitchell served for a brief time, filling a vacancy. Messrs. Harris and Burt served only a few months, having been inducted just before the adoption of the new constitu- tion, by which the office was abolished. B. R. Shaw now resides in Knox county. Messrs. Harris and Burt are still in the county. The others are all dead, and their sepul-
* IFarper had frequently visited Coshocton as a lawyer, and for several years had acted as prosecuting attorney for Coshocton county. IIe was exceedingly popular with the bar and also with the citizens. A. H. Spangler and A. H. Fritchey are witnesses-by their names-for this appreciation by both classes.
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The Courts and the Bar.
chers, except that of Peter Casey, who was buried in what is now Holmes county, are with us to this day. For the times and their work, it is claimed that these gentlemen were, almost without exception, well chosen. It has been insisted by some of the ablest lawyers that the associate judge courts oftentimes correctly accomplished an amount of business not always attained under the present system.
There was little claim, by or for these associate judges, of any special knowledge of the law, and the system under which they served came in time to be regarded as a sort of wagon with five wheels-a third estate between the judge proper and the jury, and not demanded in settling either the law or the facts. One of the commonest jokes of their day was that telling of the man who declared that it was terrible to be brought before a court of a thousand men- the president judge being one (1), and the three associates the three ciphers (000).
Under the old Constitution, a term of the Supreme Court of the State was to be holden in each county. In pursu- ance of this order, the first term of that court was held in Coshocton in 1814, and every year (except one) thereafter until 1851. The judges who were first detailed were W. W. Irwin and Ethan Allen Brown. Afterward came P. Hitchcock, Jacob Burnet, John C. Wright, Charles R. Shernan, Rufus P. Spalding, and others-indeed, most of the judges of the Supreme Court.
Under the Constitution of 1851, a District Court was provided for, and has annually sat in Coshocton. For some years one of the three judges required for this court must be of the Supreme Bench, but under a more recent law the court is made up of the Common Pleas judges of the district.
The Probate Court having special relation to social con- ditions and primary cognizance of all forms of disposal of property, whether by assignment, testament, or ordinary rule of inheritance, together with concurrent jurisdiction in certain matters of criminal sort, was organized under the Constitution of 1851. It is in daily (week day) session for some kinds of business, while for criminal and some other matters terms are appointed. The first judge of this
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Historical Collections of Coshocton County.
court was Thomas Campbell, Esq., of Coshocton, who came into office in 1852, and served (the prescribed term) until 1855. C. S. Barnes, of Bedford township, was the next in- cumbent. Then John T. Simmons, Esq., of Coshocton, served two terms, 1858 to 1864. M. C. McFarland, Esq., of Coshocton, served from 1864 to 1870.
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