USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 32
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He was patient in hearing facts from his
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clients, prudent and careful in preparing his cases, terse and logical in his pleadings, elo- quent and convincing in argument and success- ful as a lawyer. "Jack" Wright was a man of commanding presence and superior mind. He possessed an excellent voice and strong per- sonal magnetism. He was of an ardent and enthusiastic disposition. He inherited from his distinguished father, literary tastes and tend- encies. He had a remarkable command of language, a vivid imagination and great de- scriptive powers. From early boyhood his productions were numerous. His first publi- cation being a sketch of the life of his vener- able friend David Foster, the cabinet maker, for this work "Jack" received six solid hand- made chairs. Before his graduation he wrote a poem, which was inspired by a visit to Riven or "Christmas Rocks," which we copy.
Hard by, to the south is a city, A wonderful city of stone, Through the streets of this lone, still city The wild winds ceaselessly moan.
`Tis a city by Nature constructed, The work of vain man is not seen, 'Tis decked not with gaudy "improvements," But revels in Nature's own green.
No model of fine landscape garden May greet tis at every turn, But there in a wild rich profusion Is the daisy and laurel and fern.
Are you fond of such places as this is? Do you think the picture that's drawn, By the hand of Dame Nature surpasses All others, by far ?
If so, then do you go thither To this wonderful city of stone
Where the winds through the streets of the city, In musical cadence moan.
"Esmerelda," a romance founded on pio- neer life in Lancaster, is also worthy of note. This brilliant young man died at the age of 41, being cut off in the prime of life. He died in 1901, after an illness of two years.
Silas H. Wright was born in Hocking County, Ohio, June 21, 1830. He attended the country schools when a boy. His father, John Wright, was a farmer, but Silas displayed no aptitude for farming; when sent to plow he sat under a tree and read. At the age of thir- teen his father placed him with the famous educator, Dr. John Williams, of Greenfield Academy. Here he acquired the love and laid the foundation for a student's life. From this school he went to Delaware, where he gradu- ated from the Wesleyan University. Silas Wright then studied law with Judge Van Trump of Lancaster. After his admission to the bar, he settled in Muscatine, Iowa. After remaining one year, he returned to Ohio, and began the practice of law in Logan. He was twice elected prosecuting attorney of Hocking County. In 1858 he married Miss Kate Moore of Newark, daughter of John Moore, owner of the famous old Mary Ann furnace. In 1866 he was elected Judge of the Common Pleas Court of Hocking, Perry and Fairfield coun- ties. In 1874 Judge Wright moved his family to Lancaster. He served upon the bench con- tinuously for over twenty-one years, having been elected for a fifth term. Judge Wright's life was an open book, his nature as frank, free and familiar as the beautiful sunshine he loved so well. He had a deep, inborn, earnest love for nature, including everything animate and inanimate, made by the master of the universe. He was a man of kindly, social nature, his in- stincts were all for and with the people. He felt as if all men were brothers and as such were entitled to receive due respect and atten- tion, irrespective of race, condition, color or
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creed. He was instinctively broad and demo- cratic in his views, generous in judgment, boy- ish in his vivacity, frank in his faults, spotless in his honesty, strong in his attachments, true to his friends and forgiving to his enemies. Judge Wright was not only a jurist, but he was also a man of fine literary taste, and was all his life a student. He possessed a large and well selected library, was a careful reader and was endowed with a most retentive memory. He was the author of a number of poems and prose articles, which appeared in the papers and magazines of the day, notable among them is "Bound and Unbound," "The Persimmon," "Hills of Hocking," together with many me- morial addresses and orations. His oration on the life and death of his old friend and teacher Dr. Williams and upon the death of Thomas Ewing, Sr., are worthy of note. Doubtless had Judge Wright devoted his time and talents exclusively to writing, he would have occupied a place in the literary world pos- sessed by few. Judge Wright was one of the founders, workers and first trustees of our public library. He was deeply interested in its welfare from the day it was established until his death which occurred at his home (located on the lot where our new postoffice now stands) in November of 1887.
Edson Lee Shaw was born in West Rush- ville, Ohio, Jan. 15, 1861, and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Shaw. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm, attending the village school until 17 years old, when he began teaching. After several years as in- structor of township schools he spent three years at Ann Arbor University, afterward taking up the study of law, and graduating from the Cincinnati Law School in 1885.
He came to Lancaster soon after being ad- mitted to the bar and in a brief time was elected City Solicitor. In 1891 he married
Miss Annie Wright, second daughter of Judge Silas H. Wright. Three sons were born to them : Silas Wright, Leland Moore and Rhod- erick Reese (twins).
Edson Shaw was a young man of persever- ance and ambition, and anything he undertook was pushed to the front. He engaged in ab- stracting, and made the Fairfield County ab- stract. He also published a city and county map which proved of great value. He founded the Fairfield County Democrat. He was elect- ed Clerk of Courts and immediately set to work straightening out records and classifying the papers on file in the clerk's office. His efforts were greatly appreciated by the attorneys and those having business in that office. He was elected for a second term.
He originated and had copyrighted a con- plete form of abstract which was unique in idea, embracing the whole United States. He was of a cheerful disposition and was a friend of all classes. His death occurred Feb. 24. 1899, at the age of 38 years, having been stricken with apoplexy, while on duty at his office of Clerk of Court.
General Philoman Beecher came from Litch- field, Ct., in 1801. He opened a law office at once and in 1803 he was elected a member of the Ohio Legislature. In 1818 he was elected to Congress and served for seven years. He died 1839 aged sixty-four years.
Elijalı B. Merwin came from Vermont and commenced the practice of law in 1804. He represented his county in the Legislature 1808: moved to Zanesville, 1815. He married a sister of Mrs. Elnathan Scofield of Lancaster.
Alexander White, came from Winchester, Va. He was a good lawyer but died in 1804. while quite a young man. He was admitted in 1801.
William W. Irvin came to Lancaster from Virginia in 1801; was elected to the Ohio
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Legislature. In 1810 he was elected Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio, and in 1828 was elected to Congress ; was several times a mem- ber of the General Assembly. He died March 27, 1842.
Charles Robert Sherman was born in Nor- walk, Ct., May 26, 1788; admitted to the bar, 1810. He came to Lancaster in 1811. He was Internal Revenue Collector (July, 1817) for four years. In 1823 he was elected Su- preme Judge of Ohio. He died June 24, 1829, aged forty-one years.
Henry Stanberry, born in New York City in 1803, came to Zanesville with his parents in 1814. He was educated at Washington Col- lege, Pa .; read law in Zanesville, and was ad- mitted to practice in Gallipolis, O. He was in partnership with Thomas Ewing. In 1846 he was elected Attorney General of Ohio, and served for five years. He moved to Columbus in 1850 and was a member of the Constitu- tional Convention from Franklin County. Later he moved to Cincinnati. He was At- torney General of the United States in 1866, in President Johnson's Cabinet ; he resigned to defend the President during his trial for im- peachment. He died while on a visit to New York City, in 1883, aged eighty years.
1831
Thomas Ewing came to Ohio from near Wheeling in 1789. He came to Lancaster in 1815 and commenced the study of law with Philomen Beecher and was admitted to the bar in 1816. He was prosecutor for Fairfield County from 1817 to 1830. He formed a part- nership in 1824, with Henry Stanbery. In 1810 he went to the U. S. Senate and served six years. In 1841 he was Secretary of the Treasury under President Harrison. In 1849 he was Secretary of the Interior under Presi- dent Taylor. He was appointed to fill the vacancy of Senator from Ohio, caused by the
death of Thomas Corwin in 185f. He died October 26, 1871.
John Trafford Brasee was born in Hillsdale, Columbia Co., N. Y., in 1800. He came to Ohio about 1819; graduated from the Ohio University at Athens. He read law with the Hon. Joseph Dana, of Athens, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in 1826. He began the practice of law in Gallipolis, where he re- mained for seven years. He moved to Lan- caster in 1833 and practiced until his retire- ment in 1860. He was State Senator for one term, and died in October, 1880.
Hocking H. Hunter was born in 1801. He studied law in the office of Wmn. W. Irvin and was admitted in 1824. He was prosecuting attorney of Fairfield from 1830 to 1836. He was for many years, the law partner of Michael A. Daugherty.
William Creed was a prominent member of the bar for many years.
William Medill, born 1802 in Delaware, came to Lancaster, 1832. In 1835-36-37 he was a member of Ohio Legislature from Fair- field. He served two terms in Congress, 1839- 43. He was assistant Postmaster General under President Polk, and later was made Commissioner of Indian Affairs. He was a member of Ohio Constitutional Convention in 1850 and was elected president of that body; lientenant governor of Ohio in 1851, and was elected governor in 1854. He was ap- ' pointed Comptroller of the U. S. Treasury by James Buchanan. He died, 1865.
William J. Reese was born in Philadelphia, August 3, 1804. He came to Lancaster in 1827, moved back to Philadelphia in 1843. He was Brigadier General of the Ohio Militia. He was Secretary of Fund Commission, State of Ohio, for several years. He died in Lan- caster, Dec. 17, 1883.
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Michael A. Daugherty was born in Mary- came Supreme Judge of Washington Terri- land. He came to Ohio and became the law tory, where he dicd. partner of William Irvin. Later he was the Charles Drinkle read law in the office of Hon. Jno. S. Brasee, was a promising young lawyer and was killed by accident in 1876. partner of Hocking H. Hunter. He was State Senator, 1870-1872, and served with John Scofield Brasee on the Codifying Commis- sion, 1876-1880. He moved to Columbus.
Henry C. Whitman was a lawyer from . Washington City, 1843, and was the law part- ner of William Medill. He was State Senator in 1849, and was at one time Common Pleas Judge. He moved to Cincinnati.
Morton Elnathan Brasee read law with his father, John T. Brasee. He went to Colum- bus and was the partner of George K. Nash. He died in 1870.
H. H. Geisey was born Feb. 17, 1836. He studied law with the Hon. John T. Brasee; was admitted to the bar and practiced here before the Civil War. He fell in the battle of Dallas, at the age of twenty-eight years.
Emanuel Geisey was for many years a mem- ber of this bar.
John Hinter studied law with his father, Hon. H. H. Hunter. He practiced for some years with his father, but later moved to Utah Territory and was chief justice there for sev- eral years. He died and is buried in Salt Lake City.
Charles G. Hood was born in Lancaster in 1845. He read law with M. A. Daugherty, and was admitted to the bar. He died in Butte, Montana in 1899.
Kinnis Fritler was a member of this bar for many years.
Edward Hunter studied law with his father, Hon. H. H. Hunter and was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one years. The next year he went to California, where he practiced some time but returned to Lancaster and be- came a partner of his father. He later be- 18
John D. Martin was born Jan. 7, 1819. He read law with John Trafford Brasee and prac- ticed in Lancaster for ten or twelve years, when he retired from the profession and became a prominent business man.
John M. Creed was a lawyer of Lancaster. He was Speaker of the Ohio House in 1835, and in 1840 he was a delegate to the National Whig Convention, at Harrisburg.
James Smith, a cousin of Benj. Smith, read law with the Hon. John T. Brasee and later went to Minnesota where he became a promi- nent lawyer and wealthy citizen of St. Paul.
Horace P. Biddle was in 1838 a law student with Hocking H. Hunter.
Robert F. Slaughter, born in Virginia, went first to Kentucky and in 1796 went to Chilli- cothe, Ohio. He came to Lancaster about 1800. He was appointed Common Pleas Judge in 1805. He was elected to the Ohio Legis- lature, 1817-19-21-23-24. He was prosecuting attorney for the county for four years : was a member of Ohio Senate, 1810-11, also 1827- 1831. He died October, 1846, aged 76 years.
William Creighton was sworn in as an at- torney, January the twelfth, 1801, and later moved to Chillicothe.
Judge Silliman was the first Common Pleas judge.
Benjamin Smith was a member of Ohio Legislature 1813-1815 and moved to Charles- ton, West Virginia about 1820, where he be- came a prominent lawyer and politician.
Thomas U. White, attorney came from Philadelphia to Lancaster in 1827. He was appointed County Auditor upon the death of Edmund B. Thompson. He was postmaster
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during Andrew Jackson's second term and later retired to his farm in Hamilton County, where he died.
Samuel A. Baxter studied law with William Medill and was admitted in 1838. He moved to Lima, Ohio.
John M. Connell was born in 1828. After luis admission to the Bar he moved to Indiana. In 1855 he came back to Wooster, where he remained for a few months and then came to Lancaster. In 1857 he was chief clerk to William Medill, comptroller of the treasury. He was electel Colonel of the 17th Ohio Regi- ment in 1861, but resigned in 1863 to become State Senator. He was U. S. Revenue Asses- sor from 1866 to 1869, and died April 17, 1882.
Col. Van Trump was born Nov. 15, 1810. He was Common Pleas judge in October, 1862, and member of Congress, 1867-73. He was nominated for governor in 1857. In 1838 he was a partner of Henry Stanberry. He died in 1874.
Newton Schleich was in partnership with Chas. D. Martin. He was appointed one of the three Brigadier-Generals to command Ohio troops during the three month's service. At the expiration of that time he recruited and commanded the 6Ist Ohio regiment.
Charles Borland, came to Ohio from Rock- ingham Co., Va., in the 30's. He was elected clerk of the Ohio House of Representatives in 1839, and was appointed inspector of land offices, 1849. He abandoned his profession years before his deathı. He was Deputy Sheriff in 1841, under Thos. Eddingfield.
William T. Wise was admitted to the Bar in 1857. Before he began the study of law he was in business in Lancaster, firm name being (1846), Wise and Hilliard. He came from Rushville.
James W. Stinchcomb, was born in Perry
County, Ohio. He was a citizen of Lancaster in 1857; studied law with Henry Stanberry and Col. Van Trump. He formed a partner- ship with R. M. Clarke. He was prosecuting attorney for several terms. He died in Nevada.
R. M. Clarke was admitted to the Bar in 1847. He served one year as Deputy Revenue Collector under President Lincoln.
William Dade, was a son of Ex. Gov. Dade, of Vermont. He was a partner of William Medill in 1840. He moved to Cleveland in 1850 and held some foreign appointment under the United States Government.
John Scofield Brasee, was born in Gallipolis, Ohio, August 19, 1832 and was brought to Lancaster in 1833. He spent two years at Greenfield Academy, one year at Milnor Hall, Gambier, and graduated from Kenyon Col- lege, 1852, with the degree of A. B. and after- ward received the degree of M. A. from the same college. He read law with his father, Jolın T. Brasee, and was admitted to practice in 1854. He was first president of the Ohio and West Virginia R. R., now a part of the Hocking Valley Railroad. He was appointed a member of the Codifying Commission, 1876- 1880, and was General Solicitor for more than forty years for the C. & M. V. R. R., now a part of the Pennsylvania system. He died February 23, 1905.
Charles D. Martin, born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Aug. 5. 1829. He read law with John D. Martin and was admitted to the Bar in 1850. He was elected to Congress in 1858, and served two years ; was appointed a mem- ber of the Supreme Court Commission, 1883. for the term of two years. He died August 27, 19II.
David Stalter, born about 1829, near Somer- set, came from Perry County ; attended Green- field Academy under John Williams; studied
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M. E. CHURCH, BASIL
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THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK, BALTIMORE
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law with Hon. John S. Brasee. He removed to Columbus, where he continued in the pro- fession until his death, which occurred in 1904.
Silas H. Wright, born in Hocking County, Ohio, June 21, 1850; studied law with Col. Van Trump. He lived in Logan and was twice elected prosecuting attorney for Hocking County. In 1866 he was elected Common Pleas judge for the counties of Perry, Hock- ing and Fairfield, and served for twenty-one years. He came to Lancaster in 1874, and died in 1887, aged fifty-six years.
John B. McNeil was admitted to the Bar in 1847 and was the law partner of Hon. Charles D. Martin. He died at about sixty years of age.
Alfred McVeigh served one term as State Senator during the war. In 1862 he was a delegate to the great Union State Convention, held in Columbus and was accidentally killed near Winchester, Ohio, by the over turning of a stage coach.
Edson Lee Shaw, spent three years at Ann Arbor University and afterward went to the Cincinnati Law School, graduating in 1885. He then came to Lancaster and was elected City Solicitor. He was later elected Clerk of Courts, and while serving his second term, he was stricken with apoplexy, and died Feb. 24, 1899.
John M. Wright, graduated from the Pleasantville Academy in 1880. He studied law with Martin and McNeil, and was admit- ted to practice in 1882. He was elected pros- ecuting attorney in 1890; died in 1901.
Theodore Wood Tallmadge was the partner of John T. Brasee. He moved to Columbus and from there to Washington.
John Trafford Brasee, graduated from Ken- yon College with the degree of A. B. in 1882. He read law with his father, John Scofield Brasee ; was admitted to practice in 1885. He
entered into partnership with his father, which continued until he was appointed deputy state commissioner of insurance for Ohio, by Gov. George K. Nash in August, 1900. He served continuously in this capacity under Govs. Nash, Herrick, Pattison, Harris and Harmon until Sept. 1, 1911. Mr. Brasee is now in Cleve- land, and is president of the Cleveland Na- tional Fire Insurance Company.
George E. Martin went to Wittenberg Col- lege, Springfield, Ohio, and to Heidelberg University; admitted to the Bar, 1883; was Common Pleas judge, and has recently been ap- pointed judge of Customs Court of Appeals by Pres. Wmn. H. Taft. He has moved to Washington.
Arthur I. Vorys, attended the public schools in Lancaster and spent one year in the Ohio State University. He studied law in the office of Hon. John S. Brasee and was admitted to the bar in 1879. He served two terms as City Solicitor. He was appointed commissioner of insurance in 1900 by Gov. Nash to fill an un- expired term. He was again appointed by Gov. Nash in 1902, and by Gov. Herrick in 1905. In 1907 Mr. Vorys resigned to take charge of the Taft campaign. He is now a member of the law firm of Vorys, Seymour, Sater & Pees of Columbus, Ohio.
Geo. W. Steinman, studied law with Geo. E. Martin and was admitted to practice in 1900. He practiced a short time in Lancaster. He was appointed chief clerk in the State In- surance Department, and served under Govs. Nash, Herrick, Pattison and Harmon. He is at present Comptroller of the Midland Life In- surance Co.
Jonas Shallenberger obtained his education at Fairfield Union Academy; was postmaster in Lancaster. He practiced law here until his death.
Edson B. Cartmell, born 1846, graduated
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from Kenyon College, and was rector of the Episcopal church here. He later read law in the office of Hon. John S. Brasee, was ad- mitted to the practice, but remained in the pro- fession only a few months. He retired and became associated with the Hocking Valley Manufacturing Co., and became its president a few years later.
Charles Courtright, read law with Thomas H. Dolson. He practiced in Lancaster for a few years and then moved to Columbus.
Samuel Kistler practiced law in Lancaster from his admission to the Bar, until his death.
David Clover, now dead, was at one time prosecuting attorney and practiced law in Lan- caster a number of years.
William A. Schultz was probate judge at the time of his death.
James W. Bope was admitted to the practice · of law in 1847.
Albert Heister, was a practicing lawyer in Lancaster for a number of years.
James Farrell was a lawyer in Lancaster for a few years, but moved to Los Angeles, Cal.
There was a Mr. Gaston who practiced in Lancaster and was the partner of David Stalter for a time.
Virgil E. Shaw was elected probate judge by the Know-nothing Party. In 1856 he was chairman of the Republican Committee. He later became a Democrat.
John J. Crosby came to Lancaster from Perry County. He removed to Columbus, where he died.
Levi Hite was for many years a partner of Thomas H. Dolson. He moved from Lan- caster to Columbus and died soon afterward.
Harry Bradford read law with Thomas H. Dolson. He practiced some years in Lan- caster and later moved to Columbus.
Martin. He is now Common Pleas judge of Franklin County.
Edward D. Teele was in the office with Judge J. G. Reeves. He moved to Michigan and died there.
Basil Carlisle was in partnership with C. W. McCleery for about fifteen months. He moved to Missouri Valley, Iowa, where he died.
A. Reese Eversole, practiced law in Lan- caster for a few years when he retired from the profession to become Editor of the Fair- field County Republican.
L. O. Binkley was a practioner here until his death.
John D. McCormick, was born in Cincin- nati, O., Feb. 27, 1848. He graduated from Notre Dame University, June, 1872, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He studied law with Kinnis Fritter and was admitted to the practice, 1875. Mr. McCormick also re- ceived the degree of Master of Science from Notre Dame. He was elected mayor of Lan- caster in 1877 and prosecuting attorney in 1880. He died Sept. 23, 1881.
George Washington Alfred, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1837. He attended the University at Athens, read law with the Hon. William Medill of Lancaster, and was admitted to the Bar about 1860. After about two years he went to Salina, Mercer County, where he remained until 1865. He then went to Hocking County and was elected probate judge in 1866 and served two terms. He re- mained in Hocking County until 1880, when he came to Lancaster and lived here until 1887. He then went to Columbus for three years but returned to Lancaster in 1900, at which place he continued in the practice of his profession until his death, which occurred March 17, 1909.
Gen. Thomas Ewing was Secretary to Pres.
Edward B. Dillon, read law with George E. Taylor to sign land warrants. He was made
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chief justice of Kansas after it became a state. He returned to Lancaster and was elected member of Congress. He moved to New York.
John G. Ewing was a member of this bar for some years, but is now living in Detroit, Michigan.
Tallman Slough read law in the office of Robert Clarke and was admitted to the bar in 1860. In 1861 he was elected City Solicitor and in 1862 he was elected Prosecuting At- torney and served two terms. He was elected Mayor of Lancaster in 1867 and served four terms. He was elected Common Pleas judge and died during his incumbency.
Washington Van Ham, Wmn. R. Rankin, Adison Shaw, Alfred Williams were all mem- bers of this bar from 1838 until late in the. eighties.
John Garaghty was for many years the part- ner of Hocking H. Hunter. He served as Mayor of the City in 1848-49. He later re- moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Jesse B. Hart was one of the carly lawyers here and was a partner of Chas. Borland.
William Hackett, practised law in Lancaster for a number of years. .
Charles F. Shaeffer was a member of this bar, practising here for about thirty years, when he retired from active professional life.
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