USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Ohio. Biographical and Statistical > Part 7
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The grandfather of our subject, John Burket, who served in the Revo- lutionary war, in Von Hees' cavalry, and served as a body guard to Wash- ington, emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio and lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years. Mr. Burket's mother, Mary (Brehm) Burket, whose father was also in the Revolutionary war and emigrated from Pennsylvania to this state, was of German extraction. In September. 1839, the Burket family moved from Perry county to Hancock county, settling in Union township.
Mr. Burket went to the log school house and had at the same time to do work on the farm. When he was ten years of age his father died, leaving a widow with nine children, of whom Jacob F. is the youngest son. When he reached the age of seventeen he removed to Findlay and was apprenticed to his brother-in-law, Jacob Falk, for the purpose of learning the carpenters' trade. After working for him thirteen months his brother-in-law's health failed, where- upon, by mutual agreement, the indentures were cancelled. June 4, 1855, he began teaching at Lewisville, Blanchard township. Having taught for three years he attended a very excellent select school at Vanlue, in Hancock county, the proprietor being Mr. William K. Leonard; completing his term he returned to his trade (carpenter) for a time, engaging in mechanical labor in the sum- mer and teaching school in the winter and attending school in the fall and spring. In 1859 he entered an academy at Republic, Seneca county, Ohio. At this school Mr. Burket received a thorough training in logic which afterwards was of great advantage in his profession. June 29 .. 1859, he commenced reading law with
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THE BAR OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Judge Palmer, and having remained with him a little more than a year, he en- tered the office of Goit and Brown, in the meanwhile teaching school every winter. July 1, 1861, he was admitted to the bar, when he commenced the practice of his profession at Ottawa, Putnam county, Ohio, where he remained until April, 1862. On the 16th of that month he opened an office in Findlay, and September 7 of that year, entered into partnership with Henry Brown un- der the firm name of Brown & Burket, which was dissolved May I, 1869, since which time Mr. Burket has been alone in his practice, up to the time he and his son, Harlan F., formed a partnership, January 1, 1888. Mr. Burket assisted in organizing the American National Bank in 1887, and holds the office of pres- ident of that institution. In politics he is a Republican ; he was one of the electors in the presidential contest of 1880, and still has in his possession the ticket by him voted for James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur in the electoral college held in the senate chamber at Columbus, Ohio. In the fall of 1892 Mr. Burket was elected to the office of supreme judge of Ohio, and re-elected in 1898, he now holding the office of chief justice of the state of Ohio.
ELIJAH T. DUNN.
Elijah T. Dunn was born in Knox county, Ohio, June 20, 1840. His father was a farmer and tobacco grower. In 1844 he removed with his people to Wood county, Ohio, in what was then known as the "Black Swamp," where around a hickory bark fire, and three terms of winter school, his early education was finished. At the age of thirteen he entered the office of the Herald of Freedom, at Wilmington, and became an expert printer. He taught several terms of school in Clarke and Hancock counties, pursuing in the meantime the study of law. On the breaking out of the Rebellion he united with the Union party, while yet a minor, and did service for a short time as a member of the Twenty-first regiment, Ohio volunteers. Becoming unable to perform duty as a soldier, he continued for a while in a clerkship in the quartermaster's department at Nashville, Ten- nessee. Returning to Findlay, he completed his law course, and on the 2d of August, 1862, was admitted to the bar. He was then twenty-two years of age. He then settled down in Findlay, and has ever since been creditably identified with the legal profession.
GEORGE F. PENDLETON.
Honorable George F. Pendleton, at present one of the leading attorneys of Findlay, Ohio, was born in Waldo, now Knox county, Maine, September 27, 1840, and the following year was brought by his parents to Hancock county, where he has ever since resided. Mr. Pendleton passed his boyhood days upon the farm, receiving his education principally in the common schools of Putnam and Han- cock counties. At the age of fifteen he began work for himself by teaching school. He taught in the winter and worked on the farm in the summer until August, 1862, when he closed his school at Union Center and responded to the call of his country for assistance in preserving the Union. August 19, 1862, he
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
enlisted in company G, One Hundred and Eighteenth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, of which his father, Darius Pendleton, was first lieutenant, and his brother John a private. After a year's service as private in this company our subject was advanced to the position of corporal, in which he served in the com- pany and on detached service until he was mustered out on June 5, 1865, at Co- lumbus, Ohio. After remaining with his company for the first fifteen months, Mr. Pendleton was detailed to act as chief clerk of the brigade commissary, and shortly afterward was advanced to the position of chief clerk of the post com- missary, with headquarters at Kingston, Tennessee. After the war he returned to Nashville, Tennessee, where he assisted in closing the military accounts of different officers. In August, 1865, his health compelled him to resign, and he returned to his home in Hancock county, where he resumed his work of teach- ing. In 1867 he was appointed chief deputy in the office of C. B. Wilson, internal revenue collector for the Seventh district of Ohio, with headquarters at Findlay, and in this office he passed the two following years. He then entered the office of Brown and Anderson in Findlay and began the study of law, and after doing the requisite amount of reading, passed the examination and was admitted by the su- preme court of Ohio to the bar, at the December term, in 1870. He formed a partnership with W. H. Anderson, which continued as the firm of Anderson & Pendleton, with a year's intermission, until 1876. At that time the partnership - was dissolved, and our subject connected himself with Honorable Henry Brown, the senior member of the firm, who had been his preceptor. This partnership continued for two years, after which time Mr. Pendleton practiced alone until 1883. He had taken a very active interest in the campaigns of the party, and as a recognition of his services he was elected common pleas judge for the Tenth district in October, 1883. In this office he served for a period of seven years, dur- ing which he established a reputation for the correct administration of justice, which but few have equaled. He again resumed the practice of law, in which he has been continuously engaged since that date. Mr. Pendleton has filled a num- ber of public positions, all of which he has filled with credit to himself and sat- isfaction to his constituents. In 1867 he was appointed county school examiner, in which position he served for a period of seven years, at the same time acting as examiner for the city schools of Findlay. From April, 1870, to April, 1872. he officiated as mayor of Findlay, and from January 1, 1872, to January 1, 1876, he was prosecuting attorney of Hancock county.
But enough ; were I to undertake a biography of all the legal lights of which Findlay is possessed, I could write an entire volume on this subject alone; but suffice to say the attorneys of this county are all well qualified to enter into the most intricate cases and do justice thereby.
HANCOCK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION.
Pursuant to a call which was circulated among the attorneys of Findlay, up- wards of thirty members of the legal fraternity met at 4 o'clock Saturday after- noon, March 11, 1899, in the circuit court room. On motion Mr. Aaron Black- ford was chosen chairman and Silas E. Hurin secretary.
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THE BAR OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Mr. E. T. Dunn offered a motion to the effect that it was the sense of those present that a bar association should be formed. After remarks by several of the attorneys, Mr. Dunn's motion was adopted.
Mr. George W. Ross then moved that the chair appoint a committee of five to formulate a constitution and by-laws. This carried, and Messrs. George W. Ross, J. A. Bope, E. T. Dunn, Jason Blackford and Harlan F. Burket were named as that committee
The association held meetings from time to time, adopted a constitution and by-laws, and at the present time, under the able officers, Aaron Blackford presi- dent, and Silas E. Hurin secretary, bid fair to equal any association of its kind, in the matter of qualifications, clear-mindedness and capability, that can be pro- duced any where in this state.
The constitution has been signed by the following named attorneys: A. Blackford, J. A. Bope, E. T. Dunn, Jason Blackford, George W. Ross, W. H. Kinder, John N. Doty, A. G. Fuller, S. E. Hurin, N. W. Bright, T. H. McConica, A. E. Kerns, M. C. Shafer, R. A: Blackford (deceased), Chas. A. Blackford, John E. Todd (Columbus) H. F. Burket, W. F. Duncan, F. P. Blackford, J. W. Grimm, John E. Betts, W. W. Chapman, F. V. Bope, C. B. Dwiggins, W. L. David, J. Frank Axline, G. G. Banker, Reed Metzler, George F. Pendleton, J. J. Cole, George H. Phe.ps, Theodore Totten, B. L. Dunn, W. V. Coons, H. Walter Doty, A. P. Byal, W. H. McElwaine (removed). This, however, represents only a portion of our legal talent in this city and county, and below I endeavor to give the names of those, some of whom have become members of the bar asso- ciation, but failed to sign the constitution, and others who as yet have not con- nected their name with said association: O. A. Ballard, C. V. Bish, J. C. Bitler, Chas. O. Burket, R. Clint Cole, Honorable Ralph D. Cole, R. K. Carlin. D. H. S. Davis, John E. Priddy, Marion G. Foster, Franklin Franks, J. W. Franks, Al- fred Graber, John M. Hamlin, J. M. Harrison, L. Howard Jones, Charles E. Jor- dan, Samuel A. Kagy, R. J. Kibler, R. C. Lovering, Thomas Meehan, Robert Morris, E. L. E. Mumma, J. M. Platt, John Poe, Merle N. Poe, John F. Rankin, John Sheridan, J. D. Snyder, Beecher W. Waltermire, Ross J. Wetherald, F. P. Whiteley, Willis H. Whiteley, William F. Yost and Albert Zugschwert, all of Findlay; W. F. Brickman and W. E. Cooper of McComb, Jacob Line and Jacob Slike of Mt. Blanchard, and W. S. Snook of Vanlue-74 in number. Surely from this outlay of legal talent, no one in Hancock county ought to go forward into the dark caverns of unlighted knowledge, especially from lack of persons able to throw legal light upon almost any subect which the human mind might possess.
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CHAPTER XII.
THE NEWSPAPERS.
The first issue of the paper now called the Hancock Courier was given to the few citizens of the small hamlet of Findlay on the toth of November, 1836. There are few persons who were here then that are yet living. The Courier is older than the city, as Findlay was not incorporated until two years later. It was the first newspaper in Northwestern Ohio, and for a time it had a precarious existence. At that time it was an 18x26 inch sheet. There were no steam presses, and the pressman had to pull the "Devil's tail" for every impression. The nearest paper mill was at Delaware, and mud wagon over muddy roads the only means of getting the paper to Findlay. There were no railroads-it might be said there were no roads at all. Matters and times have changed materially. News which then required four weeks to come from Washington and six to eight weeks from Europe, now reaches us with the swiftness of the lightning's flash.
The paper was first called The Findlay Courier, but at the beginning of the second volume the name was increased to The Findlay Courier and Hancock and Putnam Democratic Shield. In 1851 the name was changed to The Hancock Courier, and this name has been retained ever since, except that the superfluous "The" was dropped in 1862.
The Findlay Courier was established November 10, 1836, by Jacob Rosen- berg, and edited and published by him until January 17, 1839.
Mr. Rosenberg was born in Bedford, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, October 13, 18II. He came to Findlay on the 29th of September, 1836, and started the paper shortly after, as stated above.
On the 24th of January, 1839, Mr. Henry Bishop purchased the Courier and edited and published the Courier until July 1, 1845.
Mr. Bishop was born and raised in Franklin county, Ohio. In 1851 he was elected to the Ohio legislature and filled the office with ability for two terms. After selling out the office in 1845 he removed to his farm in Eagle township. He was drowned in Eagle creek June, 1855.
On July 1, 1845, Mr. William Mungen purchased the Courier and conducted it until in November, 1849. We have given an account of Mr. Mungen in the chapter of the Bar of Hancock County.
In November, 1849, William M. Case rented the office for one year. He was an easy-going, careless, worthless fellow, and never appeared to care whether or not the paper came out on time. During this year Mr. Mungen did
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
most of the editorial work. At the close of Mr. Case's lease the office was rented to Mr. B. F. Rosenberg for a short time. In the spring of 1851 Mr. Henry Brown purchased a half interest in the Courier, an account of whom we have given in the chapter of the Bar of Hancock County.
Some time in the spring of 1851 Mr. Aaron Blackford purchased the inter- est of Mr. Mungen in the Courier and continued in partnership with Mr. Brown until the close of 1856. We have given the biography of Mr. Blackford in the chapter of the bar.
In January, 1857, Mr. Benjamin F. Rosenberg purchased the Courier and conducted it for six months. Mr. Rosenberg was the son of the founder of this paper.
On the 25th of July, 1857, the Courier passed into the hands of Mr. A. M. Hollabaugh, who published and edited the paper until March 1, 1861.
On the 8th of March, 1861, Messrs. L. Glessner and son assumed the charge of editing and publishing the Courier and continued until January 1 , 1865.
On the Ist of January, 1865, Mr. William L. Glessner assumed control of the Courier and edited and published the same until May 1, 1866.
Mr. Lewis Glessner assumed charge of the Courier from May 1, 1866, until his death, which occurred March 13, 1879, from which time Fred H. Glessner assumed control and served as general manager and editor until February 23, 1899, when J. L. Patterson, T. A. Dean and others formed a stock company and purchased and assumed control of the Courier, under whose management the paper rapidly progressed. October 20, 1902, Mr. Patterson released his holdings to other parties, and the paper immediately passed under the management of T. A. Dean, who at present has charge of the paper that dates back to the days when Hancock county was just emerging from its primitive condition, and Find- lay was a straggling hamlet of cabins; the paper which lias published the obitu- aries of several opposition papers during the period of sixty-seven years; the paper that has ever battled for Democracy and the rights and liberties of the people.
The Hancock Republican was established by Arnold F. Merriam in January, 1838, and was the first Whig paper published in the county. This paper was published about one year and, probably, owing to lack of patronage, died a natural death in its infancy.
The Hancock Farmer was started by Jacob Rosenberg in 1842, as a Dem- ocratic paper in favor of nominating candidates by the delegate system instead of by popular vote, the latter system being advocated by Mr. Bishop of the Courier. The Farmer was published by Mr. Rosenberg until his death in October, 1844. and afterward by the administrator, Jacob Barnd. Early in 1845 William Mun- gen took possession of the office, and issued his first number February 19 of that year.
Toward the close of June Mr. Mungen purchased the Courier and consol- idated the papers as the Democratic Courier.
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THE NEWSPAPERS.
The Western Herald was the second Whig paper started in Findlay. It was established by John T. Ford in January, 1845, in the second story of the old frame building on the corner of Main and Sandusky streets. October 5, 1845, Mr. James M. Coffinberry obtained a half interest in the paper, and the same was issued under the control of both Mr. Ford and Mr. Coffinberry, until January, 1846, when Mr. Coffinberry assumed full control and edited and published the paper as The Findlay Herald until January, 1848, when he sold the office to Dr. David Patton and the paper soon after was suspended.
In September, 1848, Robert Coulter came to Findlay, purchased the Herald office and began the publication of a six-column folio paper called The Hancock Whig. He conducted the Whig until February, 1850, when he sold out to William P. Resznor, who published the paper about seven months, then disposed of it to George G. Lyon in September, 1850. Mr. Lyon was a man of great en- ergy and with the hope of benefiting the paper, changed its name to The Han- cock Journal. In July, 1851, Mr. Coulter, who on selling out to Mr. Resznor, had removed to Springfield, Ohio, returned to Findlay, and again became editor and publisher of the paper. Mr. Coulter published the paper until July, 1852, when the Journal suspended publication.
The Home Companion was established by Samuel A. Spear, and its first number issued June 8, 1854. It was a seven column folio, printed on a sheet 25x27 inches in size. The paper started as non-political, and more on the order of reform in the liquor law, the advancement of education by the elevation and improvement of the public schools. In the spring of 1856 Mr. Hugh L. McKee obtained an interest in the paper, and was one of its principal pushers until April 24, 1857, when Mr. Spear became entire owner. On June 19, 1857, the name of the paper was changed to The Hancock Jeffersonian, and remained under the control of Mr. Spear until November 22, 1861, when it suspended business. After a few weeks Mr. D. R. Locke, of Bucyrus, Ohio, came to Findlay and resusci- tated the Jeffersonian. Under the new management the paper rapidly increased, owing to the publication of the "Nasby Papers." which won for Mr. Locke a, national reputation, and the title of Petroleum V. Nasby. In September, 1864, Irvin S. Chamberlin purchased an interest in the Jeffersonian, and in February, 1865, Mr. Locke sold his remaining interest to Otis T. Locke. In April the name of C. N. Locke appears in the editorial heading. On November 17, 1865, Mr. Chamberlin and C. N. Locke retired and Messrs. L. G. Thrall and Otis T. Locke became sole proprietors. In July, 1866, Mr. Thrall disposed of his interest to his partner, and C. N. Locke again became one of the editors. W. G. Blymyer bought an interest in the Jeffersonian in December, 1866, and the firm was then Locke & Blymyer. In February, 1868, C. N. Locke again purchased an interest, and Locke & Blymyer were editors and proprietors until Septem- ber 4, 1868, when E. G. DeWolfe and Dr. A. P. Miller purchased the office. On April 1, 1870, the paper came out in a ten-column folio as The Findlay Jeffer- sonian. In January, 1873, O. J. DeWolfe, a brother of E. G. DeWolfe, bought Dr. Miller's interest, and the paper continued under the management of DeWolfe
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Bros. until March, 1876, when E. G. DeWolfe became sole owner. E. G. De- Wolfe continued to edit and publish the Jeffersonian until April 28, 1876, when he sold it to his old partner, Dr. A. P. Miller, who, before issuing a single num- ber, sold the office to A. H. Balsley, who published the first number under the new management May 5. 1876, and continued at the helm of this paper until Jan- uary 6, 1902, when Mr. John M. Hoffa, of Bowling Green, purchased the office, and under the new management the paper is becoming one of the largest in cir- culation. On June 5 , 1881, this paper was changed to the Findlay Weekly Jeffer- sonian, because the daily, which was started November 15, 1880, was called the Findlay Daily Jeffersonian.
The Reporter, a journalistic enterprise, was started June 18, 1872, by C. G. and J. K. Barnd, and originally was a literary paper. In October, 1872, J. K. Barnd sold his interest to C. G. Barnd and the paper attained a very respectable circulation, until early in its second year, it drifted into the grange movement, hoping to become a great organ among the farming community. But the change proved a mistake and the paper's patronage began decreasing. The name was finally changed to the American Patron, and when the grange movement cooled off it became the Property Journal. It was published about five years and then ceased to exist.
Das Ohio Volksblatt, a German Democratic weekly paper, was started in 1877 by Adolph G. Zwanzig. After publishing the paper about one year he re- moved the office to Lima, where it was subsequently sold by his creditors.
The Findlay Weekly Republican was established by J. M. Beelman and James E. Griswold, and the first number issued February 6, 1879. It was started in opposition to the Jeffersonian, many Republicans not regarding that paper as sufficiently "stalwart" to satify their ideas of a party organ. In July, 1879, Mr. Griswold sold his interest to his partner, who enlarged the paper to an eight- column folio. On the 3d of January, 1881, E. G. DeWolfe, then postmaster of Findlay, and Jason Blackford, a member of the Findlay bar, purchased an in- terest in the Republican. The following October, Mr. Blackford sold out to Mr. De Wolfe, and the paper was subsequently enlarged to a nine column folio. Capt. H. H. Alban bought Mr. Beelman's interest July 28, 1882, and the firm of De- Wolfe & Alban edited and published the paper until the death of Mr. DeWolfe, which occurred August 8, 1888, when H .P. Crouse became editor and S. P. DeWolfe business manager. On April 1, 1900, Mr. Crouse sold his interest to Jesse Huber and I. N. Heminger, and Mr. Huber became editor. On December 7, 1901, Mr. DeWolfe purchased more stock in the paper, and became editor, while Mr. I. N. Heminger became business manager, which offices are at the pres- ent time thus filled. Mr. Alban about 1890 sold his interest to other stock- holders and thus severed his connection with the paper. At present The Repub- lican publishes a semi-weekly and a morning daily paper, with quite an extensive circulation of both.
The Findlay Daily Star was established by W. S. Hammaker, and first issued August 21, 1882. It was a live, progressive little daily, thoroughly Democratic
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THE NEWSPAPERS.
in politics, and during its career of less than two years was a welcome friend in 550 homes and business places. On April 21, 1884, Mr. A. H. Balsley, of the Jeffersonian, purchased the Star, and consolidated it with the business of that office.
The Findlay Wochenblatt, a German newspaper, was established October 28, 1886, by A. Weixelbaum, who was a very genial and well-educated gentleman, and well fitted for the duty which he undertook. The paper grew rapidly in the field of circulation, and on April 1, 1888, Mr. Christian Heyn purchased the Wochenblatt, which he still edits and publishes, with credit to himself, and to the subscribers, who, without doubt, obtain their money's worth in the way of a first-class German paper. The present owner, Mr. Heyn, is among the industrious, thriving, and energetic business men of our city and county, is very pleasant to meet in conversation of a social or business character, and highly esteemed by all who know him.
The Findlay Union was established in November, 1890, by H. Wilts Brown and Rufus M. Horn, and was published under this firm name until March, 1892, when, on account of ill health, Mr. Horn sold his interest to Mr. Brown, who has ever since sent out his voluminous sheet to the patrons all over this county, who see in his columns some of the wit and humor, as well as the common sense articles, which he, no doubt, inherited from his father, Hon. Henry Brown, an old pioneer newspaper man, and prominent citizen of the county. The Union is a weekly paper, which bids fair to rank among the leading papers of the county in the face of its primitive birth. August 1, 1903. The Courier Company purchased and consolidated The Union with The Hancock Courier, Mr. Brown, former publisher of the Union becoming editor of The Courier.
We have other papers in this county, which the writer does not care to ignore, but of which he cannot give a history. The McComb Record, started July 4, 1894, by E. L. Sutton, and L. G. Herbert, and a few months later sold to the H. H. Moore Printing Co., which now publishes the paper, and gives some very glowing articles, which shows that Mr. Moore is not afraid to express his sentiments in words that the ordinary person can understand.
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