USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Ohio. Biographical and Statistical > Part 6
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JACOB BARND.
Jacob Barnd was a bright promising, young lawyer, who died in 1845. He was a native of Perry county, Ohio, and a son of Christian Barnd, a pioneer of 1831, in which year he removed with his parents to this county. In 1832 the family moved from the farm into Findlay, where Jacob afterward studied law under Edson Goit. He was admitted to the bar in 1837, and in October, 1838, was appointed prosecuting attorney, but served only until the end of the term of court, which was October 9. 1838. He filled the recorder's office two terms, from October, 1838, to October, 1844, and it is probable that he did not practice much during that period. He left two sons at his death.
JUDE HALL.
Jude Hall came to Findlay about 1836, where he followed the carpenter trade, and sometimes preached the gospel. He was a queer specimen of the genus homo and quite an eccentric character. He read law with Edson Goit and soon
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
after admission. in 1838, he was elected prosecuting attorney and re-elected in 1840. In 1843 he removed to Defiance, and thence to Upper Sandusky, where further trace of him was lost in the fading twilight of tradition.
HON. CHARLES W. O'NEAL.
Honorable Charles W. O'Neal comes next in the order of time. He was born in Middletown, Frederick county, Maryland, January 18, 1811, and in 1833 removed to Zanesville, Ohio, where the following year he was married to Miss Amy J. Baldwin. In July, 1835, he came to Findlay and began the study of law in the office of Goit and Merriam and in August. 1838, was admitted to practice. Mr. O'Neal was a practical surveyor and did a great deal of surveying in this county. He was also one of the pioneer school teachers of Findlay.
In 1836 he was elected auditor, serving one term, and he also represented this district in the state senate from 1844 to 1846. He practiced his profession in Hancock county nearly forty years, retiring from active practice a few years prior to his death, and removing to Indiana, whence he returned and died in Find- lay, December 20, 1879. Mr. O'Neal, though a safe counsellor, was not an advo- cate and rarely appeared in that capacity in any important case. He was very methodical and dignified in his practice, terse and forcible in argument, and al- ways courteous to the opposing counsel. He was close and economical in his business habits, and very successful in the accumulation of wealth, leaving to his descendants a handsome fortune.
ABEL F. PARKER.
Abel F. Parker was born in Cavendish. Windsor county, Vermont, May II. 1800, and died in Findlay May 31, 1881, in his eighty-second year. In early manhood he settled in Genesse county, New York, where he removed with his family to Blanchard township, this county, and two years later located in Find- lay. He read law under Edson Goit, and was admitted to the bar in 1842. The same year he was elected prosecuting attorney and served one term. In 1846 he was again elected prosecutor and re-elected in 1848, but resigned the office in 1849. Mr. Parker also filled the office of postmaster of Findlay. His first wife died in 1848, leaving a family of one son and two daughters. In 1852 Mr. Parker married Sarah A. Robinson, who bore him two sons and one daughter. His two daughters, Misses Julia and Dora, still reside in this city, and a son, Judge Robert Parker, resides at Bowling Green.
Though Mr. Parker lived to the ripe old age of more than four score years, he nevertheless continued in practice up to within a short period of his decease.
He loved his profession and was highly respected by his associates of the bar.
EZRA BROWN.
Ezra Brown was born in Lown, Canada, August 4. 1814, and when about three years old removed with his parents to what is now the town of Albion. Or- leans county, New York, where he resided till October, 1839, when he came to
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Findlay. He entered the law office of John H. Morrison and was admitted to practice in July, 1842. He formed a partnership with his preceptor and con- tinued in practice until February, 1847, then removed to a farm in Wood county, near Fostoria. In the spring of 1852, Mr. Brown returned to Findlay and re- sumed the practice of his profession. He remained in practice till the fall of 1880, and then retired from the active duties thereof. In the spring of 1885 Mr. Brown was elected justice of the peace, which office he held until his death, some- time later. He was mayor of Findlay and a member of the council. On the IIth of November, 1845, he married Miss Jane E. Bigelow, who died February 4, 1873, leaving a family of two daughters, Miss Metta, who is a teacher in the schools in Portland, Oregon, and Mrs. S. P. DeWolf, wife of the ex-county auditor and present manager of the Findlay Morning Republican. A son died at Memphis, Tennessee, in 1863, while serving in the Union army.
ELIJAH WILLIAMS.
Elijah Williams was also a student in the office of Mr. Morrison, and was admitted with Ezra Brown in July, 1842. He practiced in Findlay about eight years, when he removed to Portland, Oregon, where he died a few years ago. He is remembered as a sharp, shrewd but diffident lawyer.
M. C. WHITELEY.
Honorable Machias C. Whiteley was born May 24, 1822, and died several years since. He came of Scotch-Irish parentage and was born at East New Market, Dorchester county, Maryland, on the eastern shore of that state. His paternal grandfather was a patriot of the Revolution, and his father served in the war of 1812 against the British. In 1832 his parents, Willis and Elizabeth Whiteley, removed with their family to Baltimore, Fairfield county, where the subject of this sketch worked on a farm and attended the common schools of the neighborhood. He subsequently learned the harness and saddler trade, which he followed until coming to Findlay in 1840. For two years he worked in the clerk's office, devoting his spare time to reading law with Goit & O'Neal, and then returned to Fairfield county, where he continued his law studies with Medill & Whitman, of Lancaster. On the 4th of July. 1843, he was admitted to the bar at Tiffin, and immediately opened a law office in Findlay, where he gradually attained a lucrative practice. In 1847 Mr. Whiteley was married to Miss Sarah A. Henderson, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and daughter of William L. Henderson, a leading pioneer surveyor of Hancock county, and one of its earliest settlers. Nine children were born to this union, of which Fred P. Whiteley, of this city, is one of the survivors. In 1848 Mr. Whiteley was elected to the leg- islature, and re-elected in 1849. While in the legislature he took part in the elec- tion of Salmon P. Chase to the United States senate, and secured the charter of the Pittsburg. Ft. Wayne & Chicago railroad. In 1856 he was a delegate to the Democratic national convention, which nominated Buchanan and Brecken- ridge for president and vice-president of the United States.
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The same fall he was elected judge of the court of common pleas for the third subdivision of the Ninth judicial district, and re-elected in 1861, serving on the bench ten years. In 1864 Judge Whiteley was nominated on the Demo- cratic ticket for supreme judge, but with the balance of the ticket was defeated, the state going largely Republican that year. Upon retiring from the bench in 1867, Judge Whiteley resumed practice in Findlay and continued in active practice almost up to the time of his death. He was one of the most prominent attorneys of Northwestern Ohio, and a Democrat of Democrats, but absolutely refused to vote when the registration law went into effect.
WILLIAM M. PATTERSON.
William M. Patterson was admitted to the bar at Tiffin July 4. 1843, on the same day as Mr .Whiteley. He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, March 24, 1812, and in the spring of 1834 came to Findlay with his parents, Major John and Elizabeth Patterson. He read law with Charles W. O'Neal, and upon his admission began practice in Findlay. In 1844 he was elected prosecuting attorney and served one term. He was married in 1834 to Susan Amspoker, and resided in Findlay till 1854, when, with his wife and four children, he removed to Kan- sas and died in the spring of 1858 from the effects of an accident caused by a boiler explosion in the fall of 1855 in a saw mill which he was then operating.
HON. JAMES M. COFFINBERRY.
Honorable James M. Coffinberry became a member of the Findlay bar in the fall of 1845. He was born in Mansfield, Ohio, May 16, 1818, whence, in 1836. his father, Andrew Coffinberry, removed to Perrysburg. Wood county. Here James M. read law in his father's office, and in 1840 was admitted to the bar. His father, widely known as "Count" Coffinberry, was one of the leading attorneys of Northwestern Ohio, and practiced in this portion of the state throughout the earlier years of its history. Soon after admission to the bar James M. opened a law office in Maumee city, and subsequently served as prosecuting attorney of Lucas county. Late in the fall of 1845 he settled in Findlay, where he purchased an interest and took editorial charge of the Findlay Herald, the local organ of the Whig party. In the spring of 1846 he became sole owner of the Herald, which he published about three years, then sold out to Dr. David Patton. From the date of his coming to Findlay, Judge Coffinberry took and retained a leading position at the Hancock county bar and in 1852 was a prime mover in the estab- lishment of the Findlay bank, the first financial institution established in the county. Feeling the need of a large field for the full exercise of his maturer powers he concluded in 1855 to remove to Cleveland, Ohio, where he held a high rank among the eminent lawyers of that city. In 1861 he was elected on the Union ticket judge of the common pleas court, and served five years on the bench. Upon the expiration of his judicial term, he resumed his professional duties, and con- tinued in the enjoyment of a large and lucrative practice till 1875. when he retired. He was one of the greatest lawyers Findlay ever had.
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THE BAR OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
CHARLES S. COFFINBERRY.
Charles S. Coffinberry, a younger brother of the judge, practiced law in Findlay about three years. He was a native of Mansfield, Ohio, born February I, 1824; read law with his father at Perrysburg and came to Findlay in the spring of 1846, where he formed a partnership with John H. Morrison. In 1849, in company with others from this portion of Ohio, he went to California, and was afterward appointed by President Filmore to take the first census of that state. In the discharge of this laborious undertaking he was ably assisted by his father, who had followed him to the new Eldorado. He finally returned to Ohio, and for a few months was associated with his brother in the practice of the law in Cleveland; but failing health compelled him to again relinquish his pro- fessional labors, and he went to Oregon and New Mexico, where he spent the latter years of his life dying of consumption about thirty miles south of Pueblo, December 17. 1873.
AARON H. BIGELOW.
Aaron H. Bigelow was a native of Vermont, and a graduate of Middlebury college. He there read law and was admitted to practice. In July, 1841, he lo- cated in Findlay, and for a few years was engaged in mercantile pursuits. He then began the practice of law, which he followed until 1856, when he gave up the profession, and subsequently removed to Indiana, where he died. Mr. Bige- low possessed a good education and was a fair speaker, but never acquired much practice.
JOHN E. ROSETTE.
John E. Rosette, first located in Mt. Blanchard, where he was married. In 1848 he removed to Findlay, and in April, 1849, was appointed prosecuting at- torney, vice Abel F. Parker, resigned. He was twice elected to the same posi- tion, serving until January, 1854. He was a modest, quiet man, of studious habits, possessed good legal judgment but diffident and lacking self-reliance. Soon after the expiration of his last term as prosecutor he removed to Spring- field, Illinois, where he rapidly secured recognition as a sound, reliable lawyer. He was appointed by President Johnson United States district attorney for the southern district of Illinois. For some years before his death he enjoyed a wide reputation as a criminal lawyer, and commanded the confidence of a bar embrac- ing many distinguished men.
HENRY BROWN.
Henry Brown was one of the oldest and best known members of the bar. He was born in Albion, Orleans county, New York, November 25, 1826, and received a good literary and classical education at the Albion academy. In May, 1844, he came to Ohio and engaged in school teaching near Fostoria, which vo- cation he followed three years. During this period he commenced the study of law under Honorable Warren P. Noble, of Tiffin, and in the fall of 1848 was admitted to practice. In January, 1842, he located in Findlay as a member of the law firm of Goit, Bigelow & Brown. In January, 1851, Mr. Brown became
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
one of the editors and proprietors of the Hancock Courier, which he continued to publish until January, 1854, when he sold his interest to his partner, Aaron Black- ford, who had also been his law partner for the last two years. In January, 1855. he assumed entire editorial control of the Courier, and carried on that paper un- til December 20, 1856. He was elected auditor in October, 1854, and served till March, 1857. Mr. Brown was then compelled by ill health to retire from active business. After a period of needed recuperation he resumed the practice of his profession, and in November, 1862, was appointed prosecuting attorney to serve the unexpired term of James A. Bope, resigned ; was elected as his own suc- cessor, and re-elected to the same position. In 1868 he was the Democratic senatorial candidate for election in this district, and made a splendid race, reduc- ing the previous Republican majority 1,973 votes, being defeated by only 227. Mr. Brown was again elected prosecutor in 1875, and re elected in 1877. In 1884 he was once more chosen to fill the same office. and in 1887 was elected to the lower house of the legislature, succeeding himself in 1889. He died May 11, 1893, regretted by all who knew him.
WILLIAM GRIBBEN.
William Gribben was one of the brightest and brainiest members of the Find- lay bar and might have risen very high if he had devoted his talents to his pro- fession. He was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, March 11, 1825, and the following autumn his parents removed to what is now Ashland county, Ohio, where Mr. Gribben grew to maturity and received a common school education. He read law with Johnson and Sloan of Ashland and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1850. The same autumn he located in Findlay and formed a part- nership with John H. Morrison, and subsequently with Judge Whiteley. In 1853 he was elected prosecuting attorney and re-elected in 1855. He served in the legislature from 1862 to 1864, and received the certificate of re-election, but lost the seat on contest. This was during the most exciting period in the political his- tory of the state, when Democrats were publicly branded as rebels, and political passion ran high. Mr. Gribben followed his profession until his death. which oc- curred November 28, 1887.
AARON BLACKFORD.
Aaron Blackford is one of the oldest and most prominent members of the Hancock county bar, to which he has belonged nearly fifty years. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio. February 8, 1827, and removed to Findlay with his parents, Price and Abigail Blackford, in October, 1834. He received his educa- tion in the public schools of Findlay and at Delaware college, Delaware, Ohio. He read law with Henry Brown, of Findlay, attended the Cincinnati law school, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1852. In January, 1851, he became asso- ciated with Henry Brown, in the publication of the Hancock Courier, which they jointly edited until January, 1854, when Mr. Blackford became sole editor. He conducted the paper about one year, and then disposed of his interest to his former
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THE BAR OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
partner. During this period Mr. Blackford also practiced law, and with the passing years, has attained more than a state prominence in his profession. Mr. Blackford is the Nestor of the Findlay bar and has accumulated great wealth. but works as hard as ever. He has four sons, two of whom are now practicing attorneys in this city-Rollin dying a few years ago, the two still practicing here being Frank P. and Charles A. Blackford.
WILLIAM MUNGEN.
Honorable William Mungen was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, born May 12, 1821, and died September 9, 1887. He removed with his family to Car- roll county, Ohio, in 1830, where he received a common school education, and
William Mungen.
subsequently studied Latin, German and the physical sciences. He came to Find- lay in October. 1842; in February, 1845, he took possession of the old Hancock Farmer and changed the name to the Hancock Democrat, and on the first of July, 1845, became the editor and proprietor of the Hancock Courier, consoli- dating the two papers. Excepting one year that the office was rented to William M. Case, and a short period to B. F. Rosenberg, Mr. Mungen published the Courier until January, 1851, when he sold the establishment to Henry Brown and Aaron Blackford, two leading members of the bar. In 1846 Mr. Mungen was elected auditor of Hancock county and re elected in 1848. In 1851 he was chosen to represent this district in the state senate, and declined a renomination, which was then equal to election. In the meantime he had been reading law during his spare moments, and in 1852 was admitted to the bar and began practice. When
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
the Rebellion broke out in 1861, Mr. Mungen was foremost in recruiting the Fifty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, and was commissioned colonel of that gal- lant regiment, which he commanded until April. 1863, when he resigned his commission. Colonel Mungen served as a Democrat two terms in congress from 1867 to 1871. He is the only congressman Hancock county ever had. Mrs. Jacob H. Boger and Miss Effie Mungen, of this city, are his daughters. Mr. Mungen was a true patriot, a noble citizen, a great lawyer and a brave soldier, serving in any capacity in which his country's cause was the prime motive.
ANDREW "COUNT" COFFINBERRY.
Andrew Coffinberry was conspicuous among the old-time lawyers of the Maumee Valley, and though not a resident of Findlay until a few years prior to his death, he practiced at this bar before the county possessed a single attorney. He was born at Martinsburg, Berkeley county, Virginia, August 20, 1788. In the spring of 1836 he removed with his family to Perrysburg, Wood county, where he resided until 1849-50. From Perrysburg he removed to Sidney, Snelby county ; there he left his family and went to California. Upon the death of his wife, which occurred during his absence, his son, James M., brought the family to Findlay, where their father joined them on his return from California. Here he continued in practice until his death, May II, 1856. Count Coffinberry was not only a lawyer of ability, but possessed considerable literary talent, and gave some attention to the muses. "The Forest Rangers," a descriptive poem, was one of his productions. His sobriquet of Count was first playfully given him by his professional associates from some real or supposed resemblance to the illustrious German jurist and publicist, Count Puffendorf. The title was rec- ognized as being so appropriate to the man that it stuck to him through life, and thousands of those who knew him long and well never learned that it was not his real name.
JOHN F. CAPLES.
John F. Caples came to Findlay from Fostoria in the fall of 1854, and practiced law here till the spring of 1858, when he removed to Warsaw. Indiana. He subsequently went to Portland, Oregon, and entered into the practice of his profession. "John F. Caples," said Judge Coffinberry; "is one of the best law- vers of his adopted state." During his life in Findlay he was recognized as a good speaker and a promising young lawyer.
DANIEL B. BEARDSLEY.
Daniel B. Beardsley, one of the pioneers of Hancock county, and a lawyer for many years in Findlay, was born in Licking county, Ohio, May 12, 1832, and was brought by his parents to Hancock county in 1834. where he resided un- til his death, September 29, 1894. Mr. Beardsley was educated in the public schools of this county and taught school for a number of years. He read law with Walker & West, of Bellefontaine, and was there admitted to the bar in
Dach F. Basket,
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THE BAR OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
August, 1856. In March, 1857, he located in practice in Findlay, and for thirty- seven years was a member of the local bar. In 1858 he was elected a justice of the peace of Findlay township, and re-elected eight times, serving continuously from the spring of 1858 to the spring of 1885, a period of twenty-seven years. Mr. Beardsley was prominent in the organization of "The Hancock County Pioneer and Historical Association," and an active member during its existence. His connection with this society prompted him to write a history of Hancock county, which he published in 1881. Mr. Beardsley was also secretary of the Hancock County Agricultural Society for many years, and he was a good one- an untiring worker and a genial, courteous gentleman, with friends in every nook and corner of the county.
WILLIAM C. BUNTS.
William C. Bunts located in Findlay in the spring of 1858, whither he re- moved from Youngstown, Ohio. He graduated in 1854 from Allegheny college at Meadville, Pennsylvania, read law with Ridgeley Powers, of Youngstown, and upon admission began practice with his preceptor. Mr. Bunts practiced law in Findlay till 1860, and then returned to Youngstown and resumed partnership with Mr. Powers. He afterwards served in the Civil War, on the staff of General Rosecrans; located at Nashville, Tennessee; returned to Youngstown ; thence to Cleveland, where he filled the position of assistant United States district attorney and city solicitor, dying January 16, 1874, while holding the latter office.
HON. JOHN M. PALMER.
Honorable John M. Palmer was born in Clinton county, New York, July 5, 1814, learned the cabinet makers' trade in Portland, Vermont, and worked at his trade in that state. In 1837 he came to Ohio and attended Granville Sem- inary. He studied law with Honorable Henry Strausberry, of Cincinnati, and was there admitted to practice in 1841. In 1843 he was married at Lancaster, Ohio, to Miss Ellen Weaver and located in practice at Somerset, Perry county. In 1846 he removed to Defiance, where he followed his profession until 1852, when he was elected judge of the court of common pleas. While still on the bench Judge Palmer removed to Putnam county, in which county he had con- siderable land interests, and a township of which was named in his honor. In June, 1858, he settled in Findlay and resumed the practice of law in partnership with John Maston. From 1861 to 1863 he was a commissary in the army, with the rank of captain, but, resigning the office, remained in the south for some time. Returning to Findlay he again took up his practice and followed the pro- fession up to the illness which resulted in his death, November 29, 1876.
COLONEL JAMES A. BOPE.
Colonel James A.' Bope is a native of Adams county, Ohio, born November 30, 1833. His parents removed to Fairfield county, where Mr. Bope grew to maturity and received the advantages of a public school education. He graduated
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
from Wittenberg college, Springfield, Ohio, in 1855, and soon afterward entered the law office of Hunter & Dougherty, at Lancaster, Ohio. In the fall of 1857 he was admitted to practice and the following year opened an office at Lancaster. Colonel Bope came to Findlay in the fall of 1859. where he has ever since prac- ticed his profession. In October, 1861, he was elected on the Democratic ticket prosecuting attorney of Hancock county, but he entered the army as captain of company D, Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, in July, 1862, and resigned the office of prosecutor the following October. He served until the close of the war and came out with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Resuming practice in Find- lay. he soon became recognized as one of the most prominent attorneys of the bar. In November, 1887, Mr. Bope was appointed to fill vacancy in the office of prosecuting attorney, Henry Brown, resigned, and also filled one term to 1891 as prosecuting attorney, he being elected to that position, this time as a Republican. Colonel Bope is a careful, conscientious, scholarly lawyer, who believes in the dignity of his profession, and is one of the most popular members of the legal fraternity.
JACOB F. BURKET.
Jacob F. Burket, chief justice of Ohio, was born March 25, 1837, near Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, son of Solomon Burket, who was of Swiss descent. One of his ancestors, who came from Switzerland and settled near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, had two sons, John and Jacob Burket, who were the progenitors of the Burket family in this country.
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