History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 59

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207

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MADISONIANS BY BIRTH, BUT PRACTICED ELSEWHERE.

It is deemed appropriate to make mention in this chapter of the persons who were born, or reared from early childhood in Madison county, who became lawyers and prac- ticed law elsewhere.

Ebenezer Erskine Hutcheson was born in Summerford, Madison county, about the year 1830. He attended the common school in the village, and also the London academy. He was a student in the Miami University, Oxford. Ohio, for two or three years. He studied law with R. A. Harrison, at the same time his neighbor, Lawrence Weldon, did; was admitted to the bar in 1857, and began the practice of law in Cincinnati. in 1858. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from Madison county in 1856-58. He was prosecuting attorney of Hamilton county in 1861-63. He was a delegate from Ohio to the. Democratic national convention. at Chicago in 1864, which nominated General McClellan for President. The train on. which Mr. Hutcheson and the delegates from Cincinnati were traveling had a collision near Chicago and Mr. Hutcheson was among the injured .. He was brought back to Cincinnati, where he died soon afterward from the injury. He was a brilliant man, a keen lawyer and successful politician. His early denth cut short a promising career.

Lawrence Weldon was born in Zanesville, Ohio, August 9, 1829. He came to Madi- son county with his family when a child and resided at Summerford until he became a resident of Illinois. He attended the country schools of Madison county and the academy at London, and spent one year at Wittenberg College at Springfield. He read law with Hon. Richard A. Harrison in London. In 1854 he moved to Clinton, Illinois, where a number of Madison county people were living, and commenced the practice of law. He had always been a Democrat and soon was introduced to Senator Stephen A. Douglas, being one of the latter's followers in the then exciting Kansas-Nebraska-bill agitation. He was introduced to Mr. Lincoln by Senator Douglas. That introduction ripened into an intimate political and personal friendship that continued until Mr. Lin- coln's death. He "rode the circuit" of the old eighth judicial district, of which Judge David Davis was the circuit judge. with Mr. Lincoln, and other lawyers, many of whom became distinguished in their profession.

In 1860, he was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the state of Illinois and served in that body during the session of 1861. His name occupied an unique position on the Republican ticket at the election in 1868, appearing in two places. once as a candidate for presidential elector for his congressional district, and again as

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a candidate for the state legislature, and was elected in both instances. President Lin- coln, at the close of the session of the Legislature, appointed him United States district attorney for the southern district of Illinois, the district comprising the whole southern half of the state. He continued to hold that position until 1866, when President John- sou removed him for what is now known as "offensive partisanship." 'In 1867 he moved from Clinton to Bloomington, Illinois, and practiced law there until 1883, when he was appointed by President Arthur a justice of the United States court of claims, and went to Washington to assume the duties of that office. He continued to make bis home in Bloomington, returning during the .vacations of the court. He served for a period of more than twenty years and died in the city of Washington, April 10, 1905, in the seventy- sixth year of his age. Mr. Weldon was one of the most able and distinguished intellec- tual products of Madison county, a superb orator, splendid lawyer and upright judge.

Robert Hutcheson was born in Somerford township, Madison county, Ohio, about 1835. He attended the village school and the London Academy. He studied law under the instruction of R. A. Harrison and was admitted to the bar in 1857. He practiced law in London for about five years. He represented this county in the General Assembly of Ohio in 1860-62. On the expiration of his term he located in New Orleans and prac- ticed law there, and was some time afterward appointed attorney-general of Louisiana. Afterward he located in Washington, D. C., where he practiced law until his death there, in 1903. He was a brother of Ebenezer Hutcheson, above mentioned. Robert was a very bright man and a fine speaker.

Joseph R. Lewis was born in London, Ohio, September 17, 1829. He received his early education in the common schools and the London Academy. He taught school several terms and read law under R. A. Harrison, being admitted to the bar in 1854. He then located in Iowa and practiced law there until 1889, when he was appointed by President Grant territorial judge of Idaho. He served in that position until 1873, when he was appointed by President Grant associate justice of the territory of Washington. He resigned that position in 1880, and resumed the practice of law in Seattle. He at once became an active and influential citizen of that growing city. He was president of the first Board of Trade; founded a bank and became connected with large and success- ful business enterprises. He retired from .business life and lived for several years in Los Angeles, California, where he died on March 19. 1911. Judge Lewis was a self-made man. He acquired knowledge rapidly and applied it correctly. He always had a keen appreciation of the place of his nativity. His father. Col. Phillip Lewis, was one of the early and distinguished pioneers of. the county, having served as sheriff, county commissioner, representative and state senator several terms.

Darius B. Warner was born in London, Ohio, in March, 1831. He was educated in the village schools and the Londou Academy. He read law under the tutorship of his brother-in-law. Hon. R. A. Harrison, and, being admitted to the bar about 1855, prac- ticed law with Mr. Harrison a few years. Early in the spring of 1862, be recruited and formed a company of volunteers for service in the Civil War, and was elected captain by the company. In Angust. 1862. this company was mustered into the United States service as Company A, One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Toland Jones was commissioned captain. On September 8, 1862, Captain Warner was appointed major of the regiment. and was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel .in April, 1863. At the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, June 27. 1864, he lost his right. arm. He was promoted to Colonel of the Regiment February 23, 1865, and resigned June 6. ,1865, on account of the wound received at Kenesaw.

He was appointed by President Grant, United States consul at St. Johns. New Brunswick, and held the position under two or three presidents. After his retirement from that service, he engaged in business in St. Johns and has since resided in that city.

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William Vincent Allen was born in Midway, Madison county, Ohio, January 28. 1847. For a while he attended the village schools there. In 1857 the family moved to Iowa. He was educated in the common schools and attended the University at Lafay- ette for a time. He was a private soldier in Company K, Thirty-Second Iowa Volun- teer Infantry during the Civil War, during the last five months of which he was on the staff of General Gilbert.

After the war he read law under R. A. Harrison. was admitted to the bar in 1869. and practiced law in Iowa until 1884. when he moved to Nebraska, and practiced law there until 1891, when he was elected judge of the ninth district of Nebraska. He was elected, in 1893, United States senator from Nebraska to succeed Senator Poddock and served the full term of six years. In 1869 he was appointed United States senator from Nebraska to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Haywood. He has the distinction of having made the longest speech ever delivered in either house of Con- gress. It was on the free-silver question and occupied four days-October 7-11, 1893. In legislative parlance, it was a speech "against time." He is the only Madison county boy who ever became a United States senator. He resides in Nebraska and is one of the best lawyers in that state.

David Kemper Watson was born in Range township, Madison county, Ohio, June 18, 1849. He attended the country schools and was prepared to enter college by the Rev. C. W. Finley, of London, Ohio. He entered the freshman class of the Ohio Wes- leyan University in 1866. where he was a student one year, and then entered Dickin- son College. Carlisle. Pennsylvania, graduating from there in the class of 1871. He read law with Wilson & Durflinger one year at London. a short time with Mitchell & Watson at Columbus, and then entered the law school of Boston University, graduating in the class of 1873. In the fall of 1873 he married Louie H. Harrison, a daughter of Hon. R. A. Harrison. He practiced law in London a short time, as a member of the firm of Harrison, Marsh & Watson. He located in Columbus in 1876 and has resided and practiced law there ever since. In 1883 he was appointed by President Arthur. assistant United States district attorney for the southern district of Ohio. In 1887 he was elected attorney-general of Ohio, and was re-elected in 1804, serving two terms. In 1894 he was elected a member of Congress from the twelfth district of Ohio. and served one term. Mr. Watson is the author of "History of American Coinage." a text- book in Harvard University. In 1910 be published his work on "The Constitution of the United States" in two large volumes, a standard authority on the history and con- struction of that instrument. He has frequently delivered his address on "Lincoln as a Lawyer."

DeWitt Clinton Jones was born in Paint township. Madison county. Ohio, Septem- ber 5, 1848, his mother's twenty-eighth birthday. He attended the district school at Newport until he was seventeen and then taught school one term. He entered the freshman class of the Ohio Wesleyan University in the fall of 1866, and is a graduate of that institution of the class of 1870. He then began the study of law in the office of Chauncey N. Olds, a leader of the Columbus bar. He was admitted to the bar in 1872 and at once began the practice of his profession in Columbus. In 1876 he was elected a member of the city council and served one term. In 1886 Mr. Jones was appointed by President Cleveland, postmaster of the city of Columbus and served four years. Soon after his term as postmaster expired, he became editor-in-chief of The Press Post, a daily newspaper published in Columbus, which position he held for seven years. He then renewed and continues the practice of law.

George D. Jones was born in Paint township. Madison county, Ohio, in 1857. After receiving a common-school education. he was instructed in Greek and Latin, higher mathematics and science by able private tutors. He read law with R. A. Harrison and

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also with Judge J. R. Swan, in Columbus; was admitted to the bar in 1879, and at once began to practice law in Columbus. He has been a member of the board of education president of the city council, city solicitor, director of law in the board of public service, and in 1914 was elected representative from Franklin county to the present General Assembly of Ohio. He is a brother of D. W. C. Jones, above mentioned.

Scott Bonham was born at Midway, Madison county, Ohio, January 25, 1853. His early education was gained in the school of his native town, and In 1882 he graduated at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. For a year after finishing his college course Mr. Bonham taught in the school at West Unity, Ohio. His ambition was along iegal lines, and he attended the school of law in the University of Virginia, taking his degree, however, in 1885, at the Cincinnati Law School. While in college, Mr. Bonham developed into a skilled debater, an accomplishment which he used to advantage in later years. In 1893 he was admitted to practice in the United States court. For nine yeurs Mr. Bonham was a member of the board of legislation in Cincinnati. He was elected to that body, which afterward became the city council, in 1891, and served until 1800. He was an energetic and faithful member of the board, and he often developed symptoms of insurgency, which the leaders were not able to control. He served two terms as president of the board. He was a leading member of the once famous Lincoln Club. He was the most prominent spirit in the Stamina Republican League, and :was twice president of the Ohio Republican Club. Mr. Bonham was a member of the Sec- oud Cincinnati Cavalry Troop and president of the Cincinnati Cavalry Club. He attained distinction as a Mason, becoming a member of the order in 1879. He died at Cincinnati, November 1. 1915, and was buried at London, Ohio.

Perry Arthur Roach was born in Galin county, Ohio, November 27, 1863, but came to Sedalia, Madison county, with his parents in December of that year. He attended the Sedalia schools, afterward . read law with Mayo & Freeman, of Chillicothe, and attended the Cincinnati Law School. from which he graduated, and was admitted to the bar in 1889. He then began the practice of law in Columbus, and is still so engaged. He was justice in the four courts of that city for six years.

John Morrissey was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1857. He came to Range township, Madison county, Ohio, with his parents when he was about one year old. He attended the common schools until he was nineteen,, and attended the .. London high school for some time and the normal school at Worthington, Ohio. He taught school several years, was a student at the Northwestern University at Ada, Ohio, for two years; read law with Wilson & Durflinger at London; was admitted to the bar in 1886, and began the practice of law in London. In 1893 be removed to Columbus, Ohio, and has been in the practice of law there since. He was assistant city solicitor of that city, 1912-14.

Harford Aquilla Toland was born in London, Ohio, August 12. 1875. He attended the schools in London and graduated from the high school. He attended Dennison University at Granville, Ohio, two years. He enlisted in Company E, Third Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, in the Spanish-American War and served as corporal until the company was discharged. October 26, 1898. He then entered the law school of the Ohio State University, graduated from that institution in 1901, and was admitted to the bar at the same time. He at once began to practice law in Columbus and is now so engaged.

. Marshall J. Sanford was born in Monroe township. Madison county, Ohio. in Decem- her, 1856. He received his early education in the district schools and taught school several years in Ohio and Tennessee. He attended the celebrated normal school at Lebanon. Ohio, and graduated there in . 1883. He also read law there and after his graduation, and was admitted to the bar. in 1885. He then located in Lima, Ohio, and has been engaged in the practice of law there until the present time.

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Homer E. Johnson was born in Jefferson township, Madison county in 1879, and was educated in the public schools of that township. He taught school several years. He attended the Ohio Northern University, where he graduated In the classical course; began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1903. He then located in Marion, Ohio, to practice law. He was elected prosecuting attorney of that county in 1912, re-elected in 1914, and is the present incumbent.

Howard C. Black was born in Plain City, Madison county, Ohio. He attended the Ohio State University and read law under Thomas E. Powell, of Columbus. He was admitted to the bar in 1887 and began to practice law in Plain City. A few years Jater he located in Ottumwa, Iowa, where he now resides.

George H. Hamilton was born in Midway, Madison county, Ohio. He taught school several years; studied law with Judge Badger; was admitted to the bar in 1881, and began to practice law in London. He was mayor of London two terms In 1893 he located in the state of Washington, where he is engaged in the practice of law.

John Dineen was born in Paint township, Madison county, Ohio. He attended the London high school, and the Cincinnati Law School, where he graduated in 1909, and was admitted to the bar at the same time. He practices law in Dayton, Ohio.

John M. Markley was born in Somerford township, Madison county, Ohio, in 1852. He taught school several terms: attended the law school of the University of Michigan ; was admitted to the bar in 1888, and located in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he now resides.

Floyd Johnson was born in Range township. this county, and practices law in Springfield, Ohio.

Patrick Higgins was born in Somerford township, and practices law in Spring- field, Ohio.

LIVING RESIDENT ATTORNEYS.

Bruce Paul Jones is now the nestor of the Madison county bar. He was born in London, Ohio, May 9. 1843. His father, with his family, soon afterward settled on his farm about three miles east of London. Here Mr. Jones attended the common school in the neighborhood and also the London Academy. He afterward entered the Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, and graduated in the classical course there in 1868. He then began the study of law under John C. McCloud and was admitted to the bar in 1870. He then went to Ottawa, Kansas. where he began the practice of law. and remained there five years. during which time he filled the office of city attorney and police judge, and was editor of the Ottawa Times, the leading newspaper of that city. In 1875 he returned to London to practice law. In 1879 he was elected mayor of - Lon- don. which office he held until 1882. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Madison county in 1884. and re-elected in 1886, his second term expiring in January, 1889. He was city solicitor of London three terms. The degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by Miami University in 1887. He is a member of the Miami chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa society. a distinguished Greek-letter fraternity.

John Fletcher Locke. the next oldest member of the bar, was born in Somerford township. August 12. 1847. He attended the common schools and entered the Ohio Wesleyan University in the fall of 1865, being an alumnus of the college of the class of 1870. He then rend law under the tutorship of R. A. Harrison for two years, and was admitted to the bar in 1872. He then began the practice of law in London and has continued in the practice to the present time. He was elected city solicitor of Lon- don in 1873. In 1875 he was elected mayor to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of John Jones and served as mayor one year. In 1878 he was elected prosecuting attor- ney of this county. and was re-elected in 1878. In 1879 he was elected representative from this county to the General Assembly and re-elected in 1881. He was again elected

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representative in 1803. He is thus far the only man elected to the General Assembly three terms from this county. In June, 1898. he volunteered as a United States soldier in the Spanish-American War, and served as captain of Company E, Third Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, until the company was discharged, October 26, 1898.

Richard Harrison McCloud was born in London in 1858. He attended school in the village and graduated from the London high school in 1875. He attended the Ohio State University two years, and read law with his father, John C. McCloud; he was admitted to the bar in 1879, at once began the practice of law in London, and has continued in the practice to the present time. He has served several terms as a member of the board of education of London. Never desiring office, he has for years been a member of the Republican state central committee from this congressional district.

Michael Sylvester Murray was born on January 1, 1856, in Stokes township, Madi- sou county, Ohio. After receiving a common-school education in the country, ne attended the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, under the instruction of the celebrated educator. Doctor Holbrook, for two years. He taught school for several terms, studied law with Judge Badger in London and was admitted to the bar in 1884. He at once began the practice of law here and is still an active lawyer.

Albert T. Cordray was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in 1861. He lost his father at the battle of Chickamauga in 1863. He received his early schooling in New Philadelphia. Ohio, and taught school for several years. He attended Doctor Holbrook's normal college, at Lebanon, Ohio, where he graduated in 1883. He taught the grammar school in Mt. Sterling, Ohio, two years, and was superintendent of the high school there two years. He studied law privately, while teaching, and in 1891 was admitted to the bar, beginning the practice of law in London. He was elected and served two terms, 1903-07, as mayor of London.

Peyton Randolph Emery was born in Range township. Madison county, Ohio. in 1867. He attended the country school and the London high school. from which he gradu- ated in the class of 1888. He read law with Judge Durflinger in London and Judge Alsberry in Columbus. He attended the Ohio Wesleyan University two years, and, afterward, the law school of the Ohio State University, from which he graduated in 1893, being admitted to the bar at the same time. He then formed a partnership with Mr. Durflinger, which continued until the latter's election as judge, when he became a member of the law firm of Murray & Emery. He served as first lieutenant of Com- puny E. Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the Spanish-American War, until the close of the war.

Cary Jones was born in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1862. He attended the common schools and worked upon his father's farm. He graduated at Buchtel College, Akron. Ohio. and at the Cincinnati Law School in 1889, being admitted to the bar at the same time. He at once located in London and began the practice of law. He was elected prosecuting attorney of this .county in 1804 and re-elected in 1897. During his two terms as prosecuting attorney it became his unpleasant duty to try more cases on the charge of murder and nunslaughter than all his predecessors for more than twenty sears.

Cyrus R. Hornbeck was born in this county, near the present state fish hatchery, in 1858. He attended the common schools and worked on the farm until nearing manhood. He taught school several terms. He came to London and was justice of the peace six years, during which time he studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He was elected prosecuting attorney in 1900 and re-elected in 1903.

James Finley Bell was born in Oak Run township, Madison county, Ohio. in 1872. Ile attended the common schools and taught school several years. He graduated from Pearson's Business College. Columbus, and then studied law at the Ohio State Univer-

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sity, from which he graduated in 1899, and was admitted to the bar at the same time. He began the practice of law in London, in 1900. He was elected mayor of London and served one term, 1908-09. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Madison county and served one term, 1911-12. He was for some time acting city solicitor and legal advisor for the village of London, being appointed by the village council.

Harford Bennett Welsh was born in Paint township, Madison county, Ohio, August 12, 1878. He attended the country schools until he was twelve years old. His parents removed to Washington C. H. in 1800 and he attended the high school there, graduating in the class of 1896. He attended the Ohio State University and graduated in 1900: was admitted to the bar in 1901 and at once began the practice of law in London, He was elected prosecuting attorney of Madison county in 1906 and served two terms. until January, 1911.

Edward Woodward Johnson was born in Jefferson township, Madison county, Ohio. October 27, 1876. He attended the public schools until he was sixteen, and then taught school for three years. He went to Ohio Northern University at Ada, Ohio, and gradu- ated there in 1898, with degree of Bachelor of Arts. He studied law at Ada until 1903. when he graduated and was admitted to the bar the same year. He then began the practice of law in Madison county. In 1911 he was elected a delegate from Madison county to the constitutional convention of 1912, and served as a member of that con- vention, which framed the present constitution of Ohio, which was adopted by a vote of the people, September 3, 1912.

Charles C. Crabbe was born in Range township, Madison county,. in 1878, and received his early education in the public schools of Fairfield township. He taught school seven years in Madison county. He attended the law school at Ohio Northern University, and was admitted to the bar in 1904, at once locating in London to practice law. He was elected prosecuting attorney of this county in 1912, re-elected in 1914, and is the present incumbent. He is also city solicitor of London, being appointed by the council.

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History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 59

Author: Chester E. Bryan Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1207

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207