USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 33
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George L. Sites studied law in Lancaster, spent several years in Chicago and filled sev- eral positions in Washington.
Hugh Ewing was for many years a member of this bar but retired from active practice many years before his deatlı.
Philomen Ewing was also a member of this bar and served as Common Pleas judge for a short time.
Harry Kemmerer Beck, was admitted to practice in 1895. He graduated from the Georgetown University in 1895. He prac-
ticed law for about ten years in Washington, D. C., and returned to Lancaster in 1904. Mr. Beck is at present the Cashier of the Fairfield National Bank.
Mr. James Miller practiced law in Lancas- ter in partnership with his brother Mr. George Miller, but later moved to Los Angeles, Cal- ifornia where he now lives.
Mr. H. C. Drinkle secured his education in the public schools of Lancaster, except a very short period at the Ohio University at Athens in 1866. He read law with the late Judge John Scofield Brasee, one of the greatest lawyers ever at the Lancaster Bar, and was admitted to practice Sept., 1869. He was elected city solicitor of Lancaster, Ohio, in 1873, and reelected for three additional terms of two years each, eight consecutive years. In January, 1876, he was elected one of the ser- geants-at-arms of the Ohio Senate, and served two years. The democrats carried the Senate the next session by one majority. In April, 1883 he was elected Mayor of the City of Lancaster, and served only one term of two years, declining a re-election. In 1889 he was appointed deputy internal revenue assessor for Fairfield, Hocking and Perry Counties, serving four years when the office was abol- ished. On January 8th, 1900 he was appointed probate judge by Gov. Bushnell to fill a va- cancy caused by the death of the then Judge William A. Shultz, and served until the fol- lowing November election-a little more than eleven months. Mr. Drinkle continued in the practice of the law until September 1, 1910, when he was appointed postmaster of the City of Lancaster by President Taft, upon the recommendation of Congressman Albert Douglas, and Hon. Arthur I. Vorys. He died April 4, 1912.
Claudius T. McCoy was born in Hardin County, near Kenton, Ohio, May 30, 1845.
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He was a farmer's boy. He attended Kenton High School and Vermillion Academy in Ashland County, a Presbyterian school, which is now superseded by Wooster University. He taught school fourteen years, was princi- pal of Kenton High School for two years; Lancaster High School, three years; and su- perintendent of Waverly, Ohio, schools for seven years. He read law with George D. Cole, of Waverly, Ohio, and was admitted to the practice in 1878, and practiced at the Pike County bar until 1891, when he removed to Lancaster, Ohio. In 1894, because of ill health, he gave up practice and has since been the general agent of the American Book Com- pany, traveling in this and other states.
John K. Henry was for a few years a mem- ber of this Bar, but for many years has been actively engaged in the practice of law in Co- lumbus, Ohio.
THE BAR OF TODAY
William A. Davidson graduated from Lan- caster High School in 1867; Ohio Wesleyan University, June, 1871; studied law with Martin and McNeil; admitted to bar 1873; has been practising in Lancaster ever since.
Thomas Hanby Dolson, admitted to Bar Dec. 11, 1873; formed partnership with Levi Hite, under firm name of Hite & Dolson, which continued for ten years; prosecuting attorney 1876-78 and appointed to fill out un- expired term of John D. McCormick. He is one of the strong members of the bar.
Ben R. Dolson, born March 13, 1879; grad- uated from Lancaster High School 1898; graduated from Ohio State University 1903, with degree of Bachelor of Philosophy ; studied law in office of his father, Thomas H. Dolson; was admitted to the bar in 1905. November, 1905 he was elected City Solici- tor and served two terms until Jan. 1, 1910.
Charles Dickinson Brasee, read law in the office of his father John Scofield Brasee; was admitted to practice in 1903, and has prac- ticed in Lancaster ever since.
Joseph S. Sites, studied law with Hunter & Daugherty; was admitted to practice in 1874, and entered into partnership with Tall- man Slough, for two years; graduated from Fairfield Union Academy, 1870, and from Ohio State University, 1872; superintendent of Public Schools at Dresden, 1873-1874; elected to State Senate 1906 and served three years ; member of City Council for eight con- secutive years and was president of that body part of the time.
Charles W. McCleery read law in the of- fice of William Davidson; was admitted to the bar in 1878.
James McCleery graduated from the Ohio State University in 1909 and was admitted to the practice of law the same year.
Augustus W. Mithoff graduated from Lan- caster High School in June, 1889. He studied law under Charles D. Martin; was admitted to the bar in March, 1897. He was associated with Judge Martin from the time of his ad- mission until the death of Judge Martin in August, 1911.
Edward C. Rutter, admitted to bar 1893; had common school education; was elected probate judge in 1890, and served as such two terms 1891 to 1897 ; has been in practice since 1897.
David Sites is practicing in Pleasantville, Ohio.
Frank M. Acton graduated from the Lan- caster High School in June, 1900. He read law in the office of Chas. W. McCleery and was admitted to practice in 1903; served as city solicitor and was prosecuting attorney of Fairfield County.
Charles A. Radcliffe read law in the office
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of Irvine Dungan and J. K. McClung of Jackson, Ohio; graduated, O. S. U., 1895; ad- mitted to practice 1898; came to Lancaster from Jackson in 1901; has been secretary Public Service Commission since June, 1909.
John Harvard Littrell, born in Greenfield Township, Fairfield Co., Ohio; graduated from the public schools of Pleasant Township; began the study of law June 6, 1900, with J. S. Sites; was appointed clerk at the Boys In- dustrial School by D. M. Barrett, Apr. 1, 1892; resigned Jan. 1, 1893, and resumed the study of law in office of H. C. Drinkle; admitted to bar June, 1895.
George C. Miller, admitted to practice May 28, 1897 from Ohio State University, Colum- bus, Ohio.
Olaf E. Myers registered and read law with A. I. Vorys; was admitted to the Bar in 1900.
Edward G. Kirn, graduated from the Ohio State University June 28, 1904, and has been practicing law in Lancaster ever since.
Charles Clayton Pickering read law with IV. H. Lane, of Franklin County ; admitted June, 1887; practiced three years at Canal Winchester; came to Lancaster, 1890, and formed partnership with his brother, James T. Pickering. He graduated from Ohio Wes- leyan University in 1883.
James Tivis Pickering studied law with W. H. Lane of Franklin County; was admitted to the bar January, 1888. He practiced two years at Pickerington and came to Lancaster, 1900, where he formed a partnership with his brother, C. C. Pickering. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University, 1883, and was postmaster at Lancaster from 1898 until 1910.
cuit and District Courts, 1900; U. S. Supreme Court, March 5, 1909.
George Washington Moss read law with George E. Martin and was admitted Dec. 7, 1901. He was a member of the Board of Elections for eight years. He moved to Lan- caster in 1892 from near Carroll.
Chas. Otto Beals, is practicing law in Pick- erington, Fairfield County, and is a member of this Bar.
William K. Martin graduated from Ohio State University in 1903, and was admitted to the Bar in 1904.
Brooks E. Shell was educated at the O. W. University; studied law with George E. Mar- tin; was admitted to the bar in Denver, Col., in Jan., 1911. He was police prosecutor at Denver, 1895-1897; has practiced in Lancas- ter since 1898.
John G. Reeves, was admitted to practice, May 19, 1865; was admitted to practice in the District and Circuit Courts of U. S. at Cin- cinnati, in 1880 and in the Supreme Court of the U. S., at Washington, D. C., 1885. He was elected Common Pleas judge and is the present incumbent. A strong lawyer and worthy judge.
W. T. McClenaghan was admitted to prac- tice in the state of Michigan, in 1880 and Ohio in 1881. When he came to Lancaster, he en- tered the law office of Hon. C. D. Martin.
J. Frank Thompson is practicing in Bremen, Ohio.
J. H. Fultz is a lawyer in Rushville, this county.
William Daugherty, lawyer, was court stenographer for a number of years.
James W. Deffenbaugh was born in Perry Township, Hocking County, Ohio. He taught school from 1892 until 1902 ; began to study law under Judge I. N. Abernethy of
Van A. Snider, read law with John G. Reeves; Deputy Sheriff, 1892-1895; City So- licitor, 1910-1912; reelected 1912-1914; was admitted to the bar Oct. 16. 1896; U. S. Cir- Circleville, Ohio, and finished his course of
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law in the Ohio Northern University; was admitted to the Bar in December, 1902, and began to practice in Laurelville. He came to Lancaster in 1905 and has practiced here ever since.
James A. Tobin was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Ohio in 1881. He came to Lancaster in 1884 and has practiced here ever since.
George Ewing was admitted to the bar in May, 1888. He attended school at St. Vin- cent College, Westmoreland County, Pa. He graduated from the Cincinnati Law School in May, 1888; commenced to practice in Lancas- ter in 1889; was in partnership with his brother Fenwick from 1893 until 1898; has been a member of State Board of Pardons from 1895 until the present time.
Fenwick Ewing was admitted to the bar in 1903. He was in partnership with his brother George for some years. He now lives in Granville, Ohio.
Neil Ewing was admitted in 1903 but has moved to New York.
Michael A. Daugherty is an active member of the profession here, and has been here many years. He is also prominent in politi- cal life and is widely known over the state.
Leroy G. Silbaugh was admitted to the bar Oct. 5, 1893. He came to Lancaster July 7, 1895; was elected Mayor of Lancaster 1901- 1903. He is a member of the Board of Edu- cation and the Board of Review. Mr. Sil- baugh read law with Gen'l. Enochs of Iron- ton, Ohio.
Thurman Courtright came to Lancaster in 1902. He read law with Judge Reeves, and later completed the Law Course at the Ohio State University in 1900. He was elected prosecutor in November, 1908 and is the pres- ent incumbent of that office.
W. Stanley of Lebanon, Ohio, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1898. He came to Lan- caster in 1907, and was appointed Clerk of the County Commissioners and is still acting in that capacity.
Alexander Brown Kiefaber was born in Oakland, Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1857. He was justice of the peace in Clear Creek and Amanda townships for eleven years; post- master at Oakland, seven years; county school examiner, six years; probate judge, six years. He was educated in the common schools and the National Normal University of Lebanon, Ohio, where he took the degrees of Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts. He read law with John G. Reeves of Lancas- ter, Ohio; was admitted to practice in the Ohio State Courts on October 8, 1891 and in the Federal Courts on December 5, 1898. He is president of the Sinking Fund Trustees of the City of Lancaster, Ohio, and is practicing law in that city at the present time.
Geo. Strode Cunninghanı, came to Lancas- ter in 1880 and attended the public schools. In 1881 he went to the Ohio State University and graduated from there in 1885. He read law with Martin & McNeil and later spent two years in the Cincinnati Law School, grad- uating from there in 1887. He was in part- nership for several years with the late Edson L. Shaw. He was Mayor of Lancaster for two years.
Charles Edman Ruble came to Lancaster from North Berne in 1900. He read law with George E. Martin and was admitted to the Bar in December, 1901.
C. M. Strickler studied law under Judge John S. Brasee and graduated from the Uni- versity of Michigan School of Law in 1887.
Mr. Henry J. Booth was born at Lancaster, Fairfield Co., March 14, 1849. He received
H. Clinton Belt studied law with Judge G. his early education in the public schools of
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Lancaster, later attending Dennison Univer- sity and in 1873 he was graduated from Am- herst College with the degree of A. B. He was admitted to the Bar in 1874 and has been practicing in Columbus since that time. Though his professional life has been spent entirely in the capital city Fairfield County claims him as one of her distinguished sons.
John K. Henry, an attorney practicing at the Columbus bar, is a native of Fairfield County, born in Rush Creek township in 1859. He graduated from Muskingum College in the class of 1880, read law in Fairfield County and served for a time in the county clerk's office. He was admitted to practice in 1892, soon after which he located in Columbus, O., where he is now engaged in the practice of his profession.
William Davidson, a member of the Lan- caster bar, was born in Licking County, Ohio in 1850. He graduated from Delaware Col- lege in 1871. In 1873 he was admitted to the bar and has been in active practice in Lancas- ter ever since.
Hon. Henry Clay Drinker, the present postmaster of Lancaster, O., was educated in the public schools of this city and for some years was employed in the office of the Lan- caster Gazette. He studied law under the Hon. John S. Brasee and was admitted to the bar in September, 1869. He gave up his law practice on being appointed to his present of- fice. His death occurred Apr. 4, 1912.
Hon. Elijah F. Holland, probate judge of Fairfield County, O., now serving in his sec- ond official term has been a member of the Ohio bar for almost forty years. He was born at Baltimore, O., in 1845. After serv- ing in the Civil war he taught school for a time. He then studied law under Judge Bra- see and was admitted to the bar of Fairfield county in 1872, becoming one of its leading
members. In 1900 he settled in Lancaster and in 1905 was elected to the bench, in which position he has proved himself a man of large capacity!'
Charles Bell Whiley was a student at the Ohio State University, 1882-3. He read law with Hon. George E. Martin and has been en- gaged in its practice in Lancaster. He is now (1912) cashier of the "Farmers & Citizens Bank."
THE BENCH
The Bench of Fairfield County has been quite as noted as its Bar, though the number of distinguished men has not been so large. These judges have been clear logical reasoners with a desire for justice, based upon a wide and accurate knowledge of the law.
The list of judges as here given is as nearly complete as it is possible to obtain from the records, which are not at all times clear or full. The courts, and the districts have been changed by the Legislature quite frequently, which is the cause in part for the condition of the records.
COMMON PLEAS JUDGES
The Common Pleas Judges elected April 6, 1802 were Win. W. Irwin, Samuel Carpenter and Daniel Van Meter. Irwin was impeached by the senate for neglect of duties Jan. 6, 1806.
Robert F. Slaughter was elected president judge of the middle circuit, Feb. 7, 1805.
The associate judges elected Jan. 20, 1806 were Henry Abrams and Joshua Burton.
Emanuel Carpenter was elected associate judge Feb. 7. 1809.
The associate judges elected Feb. 15. 1810 were Henry Abrams, Samuel Carpenter and James Quinn.
The associate judge elected Feb. 25, 1816 was Elnathan Scofield.
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The associate judges elected Jan. 25, 1817 were David Swazy and John Augustus.
Jacob Deitric was the associate judge elected during the session of 1821 and he was again elected in January, 1828.
In January, 1833, David Ewing was elected associate judge; in January, 1835, Joseph Stukey; in January, 1838, John Graybill; in the session of 1840, David Ewing; in the ses- sion of 1842, Joseph Stukey.
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS SINCE 1851
Seventh District-First Sub-Division
Common Pleas districts 1901, as fixed by the General Assembly under its constitutional powers by act of January, 1879-7th District, Ist Sub-division.
Henry C. Whitman, elected February, 1852, resigned March, 1862; Philadelph Van Trump, November, 1862 to August, 1866; Philomen B. Ewing, September, 1866 to No- vember, 1866; Silah H. Wright, October, 1866, died November, 1887; Tallman Slough, November, 1888, died August, 1900; Charles WV. McCleery (appointed vice Slough) Au- gust, 1900 to November, 1900; John G. Reeves, November, 1900; Geo. E. Martin.
The Circuit Court of Fairfield County, 5th Judicial District, was created in 1883.
MEMBERS OF THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET
Thomas Ewing was Secretary of the Treas- ury under President Harrison in 1841 and Secretary of the Interior under President Taylor in 1849.
Henry Stanberry was attorney-general un- der President Johnson, 1866 to 1868.
The U. S. Senators from Ohio; 1831-33,
Thomas Ewing, January, 1831, vice Burnet ; 1833-37, Thomas Ewing.
William McClung was elected associate judge in the session of 1842-3; Gideon Mar- tin, 1845; Elias Perry, 1849; Wm. McClung, 1850.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY JUVENILE COURT
The Juvenile Court was organized in this county on the Ist day of January, A. D., 1909, by the appointment. by the Common Pleas judges of this sub-division of the probate judge of this county, E. F. Holland, as the judge of the Juvenile Court. S. Theodore Shaeffer was, on said day, appointed by the juvenile judge as chief probation officer, and Miss Ethel Shaeffer was appointed assistant probation officer.
This is a most important court. It puts into the hands of the judge the care and keeping of the wayward and unfortunate youth of the county, who are soon to become citizens with all the rights and powers of citizenship. The judge should have a great heart and a deep in- sight into human nature. He can make or ruin the ward under his charge. He must be, for Fairfield County, all that Judge Ben Lind- say has been for the city of Denver, or Judge Samuel L. Black for the City of Columbus. The Common Pleas judges of this sub-divi- sion made no mistake when they appointed E. F. Holland as Juvenile Judge. He is a man of keen intellect and generous impulse. He is a true father to the erring boy and a wise advisor for the helpless orphan. His high Christian character and honorable career mark him as one of Fairfield's most worthy so11s.
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CHAPTER XII
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
A Brief History of Medicine-Doctors of the Old School-Medical History of Fairfield County (by Dr. H. M. Hazelton)-Sketches of Drs. J. H. Goss, Geo. W. Boerstler, Tom O. Edwards, Michael Effinger, F. L. Flowers, P. M. Wagenhals, Hervey Scott-List of Physicians and Surgeons in the County-The Dentists-The Park Street Hospital- The Lancaster Medical Research Club.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF MEDICINE
"The proper study of mankind is man; higher than this there is none." The above is a philosophical truth-expressed many cen- turies ago. It has the same force to-day, for the proper study of man leads to the study of the laws of God as applied to and as govern- ing man. The study of medicine is the study of man in most vital relations. It is as old as civilization itself.
The history of medicine must necessarily begin with the written history of events. Its earliest period is enveloped in profound ob- scurity. It is largely myth and fable. We look to the Scriptures for our earliest account of medicine. In these writings may be gath- ered here and there a fair idea of Egyptian knowledge and practice. Egypt had a class of men who practiced the healing art, and they also embalmed the dead. The art of embalm- ing required a rather definite knowledge of anatomy. Prof. Roswell Park, in his great history of medicine, says that probably the mythical being whom the Egyptians called
"Thoth," whom the Greeks named "Hermes," and the Latins "Mercury," passed among the Egyptians as the inventor of all sciences and arts. They attributed to Thoth a large num- ber of medical works, and great medical skill. A knowledge of medicine is not attained in a day. It is a growth of centuries. Perhaps no one of the professions is based more largely upon experience than medicine. Strabo says that the Egyptians exposed their sick and afflicted in the public squares; that any one who had been similarly afflicted might give his experience and advice for the benefit of the sufferers. Herodotus says the same custom prevailed in Babylon. Pliny assures us that the kings of Egypt permitted the opening of corpses for the purpose of discovering the causes of disease. Thus originated the au- topsy of modern days.
The Scriptures give ample proof of the medical knowledge of the Hebrews. The book of Leviticus is largely made up of rules concerning matters of public health. The measures suggested by Moses for the preven- tion of the spread of leprosy could not now be
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surpassed, says Professor Park. Solomon was skilled in medical lore next to Moses. To Solomon is attributed a very accurate knowl- edge of natural history. Josephus claimed Solomon had such perfect knowledge of the properties of all the productions of Nature, that he availed himself of it to make remedies extremely useful. A knowledge of medicine was widely extended among the Brahmins, a priest caste of India, who alone had the right to practice medicine.
These ancient priests practiced much ab- surdity, yet they had some knowledge that we of to-day cannot equal. "They are believed to have had an ointment that caused the cica- trices of variola to disappear, and they cured the bites of venomous serpents with remedies whose composition has been lost."
In China medicine has been practiced for almost untold centuries. Its study was intro- duced by the third emperor of the first dy- nasty, Hwangti. It was based upon the pulse. Great stress was placed upon the study of the pulse, for from it could be divined the seat, duration and gravity of the disease.
As the historian must look to Greece for much of the world's art, so also must the writer of medical history, for it was Æscula- pius who gave to the Greeks, and thus to mod- ern times, the first principles of medicine. Æsculapius was supposed to be the son of Apollo and the nymph Coronis, and, as was true of Homer, a number of Grecian cities claimed the honor of his birthplace. He was the leading character in medicine of all the ancients. Temples were erected in his honor, and distinguished priests were dedicated to these temples, and schools of instruction founded. So noted did he become that, in later times, the imaginative Greeks related that when Pluto became alarmed at the daily diminishing number of arrivals in his king-
dom, he complained to Jupiter, and the latter destroyed the audacious healer of men. From this event, some wit said, "The modern chil- dren of ÆEsculapius abstain from performing prodigies."
Pythagoras was the first to introduce the custom of visiting the sick in their own homes. He was a man of immense learning, and in many ways has left his mark upon the intel- lectual world.
But the central figure in the history of an- cient medicine is Hippocrates, a descendant of Æsculapius. To him at least 10 volumes on the general practice of medicine are attributed by Renouard, who has made an exhaustive study of the life and work of Hippocrates. These writings, joined to those of Pythagoras, Plato and Aristotle, formed a definite part of the great libraries of Alexandria and Perga- mos-"The most ancient authentic monument of medical science." Next in order comes the work of Alexander the Great, who collected the riches, intellectual and natural, of the uni- verse. The value of this collection-the great Alexandrian Library-will never be ex- hausted.
The most noted of the early Roman writ- ers on medicine was Aulus Cornelius Celsus. Celsus was a man of very wide and accurate knowledge-in fact, he was a walking cyclo- pedia of the day.
But the most noted, as well as influential, of all the early physicians was the great Galen (131-201 A. D.). He was a native of Perga- mos. He traveled widely, and studied at Alexandria. He practiced at Rome, where, by his brilliant logic, eloquence, profound eru- dition, great versatility and practical skill he easily took first rank. He was a voluminous writer and he accomplished great things in anatomy and physiology. For many years after Galen the practice of dissection was dis-
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continued. His influence was so great that many schools grew up under his instruction, and he had many followers.
Following Galen came a long period of transition covering the Greek period of Rome, then the Arabic period, the great School of Salemum and the School of Montpellier. This brings the history of medicine down to I400 A. D., when the "New Age" begins, running on to the present. This "New Age" -or the "Age of Renovation," as Renonard calls it, had a sudden awakening, following the establishment of hospitals and medical schools, the invention of the compass, the tele- scope and the microscope. Engraving on cop- per also added to this new age, but above all other influences was the invention of printing. This was the erudite period, and we find the names of Linacre, Vesalius, Columbus, Eu- stachius, Fallopius and others, prominent. Then we read of the great work of the Uni- versity of Paris with its thousands of students from all nations. º The "cell" doctrine was in- troduced after more extended study of botany and zoology in the 16th century.
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