USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 61
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205
"A new Court House" had been the cry for so many years, at regular intervals, that there were those who had despaired of ever seeing the ugly old building, with its totally in- adequate accommodations (?) replaced with a modern, well-fitted Court House. But it has come; and even the doubter and scorner be- lieved when, two years ago, the old building came down. Hot was the war which had waged, as to the site to be used; many were the places suggested, ranging all the way from the Campus Martius to "the Point." and from "Ice-Harbor" to the Elevated Square; but all that is now lost sight of, in the universal sat- isfaction and admiration which all her citizens feel in Washington County's new Court House.
The same old bell, which swung in the funny little cupola of the Court House built
431
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
in 1799, still "calls the people to come into Court." For over a century of time that bell has summoned the citizens of the county to come and adjust their differences, answer to their crimes and misdemeanors, prove them- selves innocent or be found guilty, plead the cause of the accused or his accuser. To many, its voice is as familiar as that of friend or kindred, and long years of habit have made its tones the signal for the day's work to begin.
Within the recollection of these readers, the steps to what we call the "Old Court House" were worn into hollows by the passing tread of myriad feet. How many burdens of want, and care, and wrong, and black crime have been carried over those steps-records which do not appear on any journal, of pro- ceedings within the walls of these old build- ings, the full history of which will never be known.
In his address at Marietta's brilliant Cen- tennial celebration in 1888, Judge Cox elo- quently said "That Court of Justice of this State so solemnly opened, on the 2nd day of September, 1788, has, in all these hundred years, never been closed; it is still open to all classes who seek redress for wrongs." In our beautiful new building, the "Scales of Jus- tice" hang over the judge's desk, an ever pres- ent reminder that to us all shall be weighed out that measure of justice which is ours by right.
To the early judiciary we owe the spirit of law and order which has prevailed in our midst ; to those who established it, the example of great things accomplished with very limited resources.
ROSTER OF COUNTY OFFICIALS.
JUDGES OF PROBATE COURT.
Rufus Putnam, October, 1788, Resigned December, 1780
Joseph Gilnian, December, 1789. Resigned Decem- ber. 1706. Paul Fearing. March, 1797, to March. 1803.
Thomas W. Ewart, February, 1852, to October, 1852.
Note .-- Under the first Constitution of Ohio. there was no provision for a Probate Judge ; hence none were elected between 1803 and 1852.
Davis Green, October, 1852. 0 February. 1858 William Devol. February, 1855. to February, 1858. C. R. Rhodes, February. 1858, to February. 1861.
C. F. Buell, February, 1861. to February. 1864.
L. W. Chamberlain, February. 1864. to February, 1870. A. W. McCormick. February, 1870, to February, 1876. C. T. Frayzer. February, 1876, to February, 1882. F. J. Cutter, February, 1882, to February, 1888. William Il. Leeper, February, 1888. to February, 1894. David R. Rood, February, 1804. to February. 1900. Charles H. Nixon, February, 1900.
CLERKS OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.
Under the Territory the title for Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas was Prothonotary. This office and the Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions avere appointed by the Governor. Under the State Constitution of 1802 the Court appointed its own Clerk for seven years. Under that of 1851 the people elect, for three years.
Return Jonathan Meigs, September, 1788, to June, 1795. Benjamin Ives Gilman, June, 1795, to July, 1803. Edward W. Tupper. July. 1803, to October, 1808. Giles Hempstead, October, 1808, to January, 1809. Levi Barber, January, 1809, to March, 1817. George Dunlevy, March. 1817, to October, 1836. Thomas W. Ewart, October, 1836. to October, 1851. William C. Taylor, October, 1851, to February, 1852. George S. Gilliland. February. 1852. to July, 1852. William C. Taylor, July, 1852. to February, 1854. O. Lewis Clark, February. 1854. to February, 1857. Jasper S. Sprague, February. 1857, to February, 1862. Willis H. Johnson. February. 1863. to February, 1866 Jewett Palmer, February. 1866, to February. 1872. Daniel B. Torpy, February, 1872. to February, 1878. Christian H Etz. February. 1878, to February, 1884. J. M. Mitchell, February, 1884. to February, 1887. Wesley G. Barthalow, February. 1887, to February, 1893. L. E. McVay, February, 1803, to February, 1899. Orlando Tretter, February. 1890, to September, 1900. Elmer E. Trotter (appointed to fill unexpired term). September. 1900, to February, 1902. Elmer E. Trotter, February, 1902.
SHERIFFS.
Under the Territory the Governor appointed. Under the State the people elect, for two years. Sheriffs arc eligible only four years in six.
Ebenezer Sproat, September 2, 1788-1802. William Skinner, 1802-1803. John Clark, 1803-1810.
432
HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,
SHERIFFS-CONTINUED.
William Skinner, 1810-1812.
Timothy Buell, 1812-1814.
Alexander Hill, 1814-1816.
Timothy Buell, 1816-1820. Silas Cook, 1820-1824. Tesse Loring, 1824-1828. Robert R. Green, 1828-1832.
Jesse Loring, 1832-1834.
Benjamin M. Brown, 1834-1838.
John l'est, 1838-1842. George W. Barker, 1842-1846.
Junia Jennings, 1846-1850.
Jesse Hildebrand, 1850-1853.
Marcellus J. Morse, 1853-1857.
Mark Green, 1857-1861. Augustus Winsor. 1861-1865.
Jackson A. Hicks, 1865-1869.
Samuel L. Grosenor, 1869-1873.
George Davenport, 1873-1877.
William T. Steadman, 1877-1879.
Daniel P. Torpy. 1870-1883.
T. R. Rose. 1883-1887.
Arthur B. Little, 1887-1801.
William B. Dye, 1893-1897.
T. S. Mc Allister, 1807-1901.
Jesse C. Morrow, 1901.
COUNTY AUDITORS.
The office was created in 1820. The General As- sembly appointed the first Auditor. In 1821 the Auditor was required to be elected by the people cach year. In 1824 the lowe made the term two years. The successive Auditors have been:
Royal Prentiss, 1820-1825. William A. Whittlesey, 1825-1838.
James M. Booth, 1838-1840. Joseph P. Wightman, 1840-1842.
James M. Booth, 1842-1846. Sala Bosworth, 1846-1854. Horatio Booth. 1854-1856. Frederick A. Wheeler, 1856-1864. Zadok G. Bundy, 1864-1868.
John V. Ramsey, 1868- 1870.
John T. Mathews, 1870-1876. Benjamin J. Mckinney, 1876-1882.
P. B. Stone. 1882-1888.
David H. Merrill, 1888-1804. \V. A. Patterson, 1894-1900. C. C. Chamberlain, 1900.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
The Governor appointed until the formation of the State. By the law of 1803, the Associate Judges ap. pointed. By the law of 1864 the Commissioners annually appointed the County Treasurer. Since 1827 the peo- ple have elected, for two years. By the Constitution of 1851 the Treasurer is eligible only four years in si.r. The successive Treasurers have been:
Jonathan Stone, 1792-1801. Jabez True, 1801-1817.
Joseph Holden, 1817-1828. Weston Thomas, 1828-1830.
Roval Prentiss. 1830-1832.
Michael Deterly, 1830-1832.
Michael Deterly, 1832-1836. Ebenezer Gates, 1836-1838. Robert Crawford, 1838-1850. Abner L. Guittean. 1850-1856.
Stephen Newton, 1850-1858.
Ebenezer B. Leget, 1858-1860.
William B. Thomas, 1860-1862.
Rufus E. Harte, 1862-1866. William B. Mason. 1866-1868.
Lewis Andreson, 1868-1870. Ernest Lindner, 1870-1874.
William S. Waugh, 1874-1878.
William R. Goddard, 1878-1880. John Holst, 18So-1882. Walter Thomas, 1882-1886.
Thomas J. Connor, 1886-1890.
George W. Stanley, 1890-1894.
G. J. Lund. 1894-1898. H. P. Bode, 1898.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
This officer was appointed by the Courts under the Territory. The State law of 1803 gave the appointment to the Supreme Court, and that of 1805 to the Court of Common Pleas. From 1833 the people have elected. The term is two years. The successive Prosecuting At- torneys have been:
Paul Fearing. September 9, 1788-1794.
Return Jonathan Meigs, Jr., 1794-1798. Matthew Backs, 1798-1808.
William Woodbridge, 1808 to February 6, 1815. Caleb Emerson, February 6, 1815, to April 10, 1821. John P. Mayberry, April 10, 1821, to October 30, 1829. Arius Nye, October 30, 1829, to August 17, 1840. Arius Nye, April 3. 1845, to March 8, 1847. David Barber, October 26, 1840. to April 3, 1845. William D. Emerson, March 8, 1847, to March 13. 1848 William S. Nye, March 13, 1848, to March, 1850. Davis Green, March, 1850, to April 5, 1852. Rufus E. Harte. April 5, 1852, to October 4, 1852. Samuel B. Robinson, October 4, 1852, to January, 1855 Charles R. Rhodes, January, 1855, to January, 1857. Samuel B. Robinson, January, 1857, to January, 1859. Charles R. Barclay, January, 1859, to January, 1861. Frank Buell, January, 1861, to April, 1861. Melvin Clarke. April. 1861, to October II, 1861. William S. Nye. October 11, 1861, to January. 1862. David Alban, January, 1862, to January, 1868. Walter Brabham, January, 1868, to January. 1870. Reuben L. Nye, January, 1870. to January, 1872. Walter Brabham, January. 1872, to January, 1874. Samuel B. Robinson, Janttary, 1874, to January, 1876 Frank F. Oldham, January, 1876, to January, 1880. David Alban, January, 1880, to January. 1882. L. W. Ellenwood, January, 1882. to January, 1884.
433
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
PROSECUTING, ATTORNEYS-CONTINUED.
John W. McCormick, January, 1884, to January, 1892. John C. Preston. January. 1802, te January, 1898. J. C. Brenan, January, 1898.
COUNTY RECORDERS.
Und. r the Territory the Recorder-styled Register until 1795-was appointed by the Governor. By the law of 1803 the Issociate Judges appointed, for seven years. By the late of 1829 the people elect, for three years. The successive Recorders have been :
Enoch Parsons, 1788 to 1700. Dudley Woodbridge. April, 1790, to June, 1807. Giles Hempstead. June. 1807, to June. 1814. George Dunlevy, Jime, 1814, to June. 1817. Daniel H. Buell. June. 1817, to October. 1834. James M. Booth, October. 1834. to November, 1837. Daniel P. Bosworth, November, 1837, to October, 1843 Stephen Newton. October, 1843, to November, 1855. William B. Mason. November, 1855. to January, 1862.
Manly Warren. January, 1862, to May. 1864. William Warren (ppointed) May. 1864, to Janu ary. 1865. George J Bartness, January. 1855. to August, 1866. A T. Ward (appointed ) August, 1866, to Jand- ary. 1867. James Nixon, January, 1867. to January, 1882. Joseph P. Ward, January, 1882, to January, 1888. John W. Steele, January. 1888, to January, 1894. John W. Athey. January, 1894. to January, 1900. George W. Bonnell, January, 1900.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
From 1803 to 1831 the Surveyor was appointed by the Court of Common Pleas, id commissioned by the Governor. Since 1831 the election has been by the propie, for three years. The successive Surveyors have been :
Levi Barber. November, 1805. to July, 1816. William R. Browning. February, 1827. to May, 1832. Benjamin F. Stone. May, 1832. to November, 1841. Levi Bartlett. November. 1841. to October. 1851. L. W. Chamberlain, October, 1851. 40 December. 1851.
R. W. St. John, December, 1861, to December. 1864. Charles E. Gard * (appointed) January, 1865. to December. : 86%.
John A. Plumer, February, 1866, to January, 1875. J. P. Hulbert. Jannary, 1875. to 1881. Daniel F. Dufer, January, 1881, to 1884. A. A. Hollister, 1884. to 1887. William Eldridge, 1887 to 1893. Daniel F. Dufer, 1803 to 1896. Levi Bartlett, 1806 to 1902.
*Samuel N. Hobson was elected October, 1864. but resigned.
CORONERS.
Provision was made in 1788 por a Coranger in each county, to be appointed by the Governor. The first State Constitution also provided for one to be elected every two years by the people, and a low of 1854 continued the provision. The list appended is believed to be correct from 1812 to the present tune; there is some uncertainty as to the previous periods.
Charles Greene ( Territory ).
Joel Bowen, 1803.
Joseph Holden, 1806.
Alexander Hill, 1812.
Silas Cook, 1814.
Samson Cole. 1816.
Silas Cook, 1818.
John Merrill.
Griffin Greene, 1824.
Francis Devol. 1834.
Warden Willis, 1836.
Lawrence Chamberlam, 1838.
John T. Clogston, 1844.
Lewis Chamberlain, 1846.
Chauncey T. Judd. 1850.
Finley Wilson, 1852.
James H. Jones, 1853.
Chauncey T. Judd. 1855.
Benjamin F. Stone, 1857.
Louis Soyez, 1859.
Allen M. Creighbaum, 1860.
Lemuel Grimes, 1864.
Simeon D. Hart. 1866.
Herman Michealis 1868.
Philip Emrich, 1870.
Marcellus J. Morse. 1872.
T. C. Kiger, 1874.
Conrad Krigbaum, 1870.
J. F. Ullman, 1880.
John Bohl, Jr .. 1882.
B. C. Gale, 1883.
J. B. Mellor. 1884.
J. J. Neuer, 1886.
Frank F. MeKim, 1890.
O W. Willis, 1806.
John B. McClure, 1900.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Provision was made for three such officers by a law adopted from the Pennsylvania code by the Gov- ernor and Judges in 1795, and confirmed by the Ter- ritorial Legislature in 1799. They were to be appointed by the Court of Quarter Sessions. The State lawe of 1804 provided for their election by the people, one cach year, the term of office being three years. The follow- ing were appointed under the law of the Territory:
William R. Putnam. Paul Fearing, Oliver Rice. Gilbert Devol,
Jonathan Haskell.
Simeon Deming, Isaac Pierce.
434
HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,
(Of these, Isaac Pierce served until 1804, William R. Putnam until 1805, and Simcon Deming until 1806.)
The list of those elected in successive years is as follows :
Nathaniel Hamilton, 1804.
John Sharp, 1805.
Paul Fearing, 1806.
Nathaniel Hamilton, 1807.
Joseph Barker, 1808. Paul Fearing ( resigned ), 1809.
John Sharp ( for two years), 1809.
Nathaniel Hamilton, 1810.
Daniel Goodno, 18II.
Henry Jolly, 1812.
Nathaniel Hamilton, 1813.
Daniel Goodno, 1814.
William Skinner, 1815.
Titan Kemble, 1816.
John B. Regnier, 1817.
Daniel Goodno, 1818.
Titan Kemble (resigned), 1819.
John B. Regnier ( died ), 1820.
Samuel Beach ( two years ), 1821.
Amzi Stanley (one year), 1821.
Daniel Goodno, 1821.
Jo-epli Barker, 1822.
Wlliam R. Putnam, 1823.
Daniel H. Buell ( resigned), 1824.
Joseph Barker, 1825.
Thomas White ( one year), 1825.
William Pitt Putnam. 1826.
Silas Cook (one year), 1826.
Anselm T. Nye, 1827.
Seth Baker (one year), 1828.
Joel Tuttle, :829.
Jabesh F. Palmer (two years), 1829.
Anselm T. Nye, 1830.
Jabesh F. Palmer, 1831.
Ebenezer Battelle, 1832.
William Pitt Putnam, 1833.
John D. Chamberlain, 1834.
Robert K. Ewart, 1835.
Daniel H. Buell, 1836.
John D. Chamberlain, 1337.
William Dana, 1838.
Daniel H. Buell, 1839.
John D. Chamberlain, 1840.
James Dutton, 1841.
Douglas Putnam, 1842.
Hiram Gard, 1843. William West, 1844.
Douglas Putnam, 1845.
Boyleston Shaw, 1846.
Lewis H. Greene, 1847.
Douglas Putnam, 1848.
John Breckenridge, 1849.
George Stanley, 1850.
Douglas Putnam, 1851.
Walter Curtis, 1852.
Benjamin Rightmire, 1853. William Mason, 1854. Walter Cuttis, 1855.
Charles Dana, 1856.
William R. Putnam, 1857.
Joseph Penrose, 1858. Zachariah Cochrane, 1869.
James McWilliams, 1860.
J. J. Hollister, 1861.
William Thomas, 1862.
Antony Sheets ( resigned), 1863.
J. J. Hollister, 1864.
George Benedict, 1865.
James Little (one year ), 1865.
James Little, 1866.
Seymour Clough, 1867.
George Benedict, 1868.
Thomas Caywood, 1869.
Mark Green (resigned), 1870.
Joseph Penrose, 1871.
Cyrenius Buchanan (two years), 1871
John Hall, 1872. Pemberton Palmer, 1873.
John Pool, 1874.
John Potter, 1875.
Moses A. Malster, 1876.
John Hoppel, 1877.
Philip Mattern, 1878.
Robert Mullenix, 1879.
William Thompson. 1880.
Phillip Mattern, 1881. William Thompson, 1882.
B. J. Williamson, 1883.
I. M. Fearson, 1883.
J. M. Murdock, 1884.
J. M. Farron, 1885.
Mason Gorby, 1886.
J. Warren Thorniley, 1887. 'Fleming, 1888.
J. Warren Thorniley, 1889.
John A. Gage, 1800. Mason Gorby, 1801.
Samuel S. McGee, 1892.
C M. Grubb, 1893.
John Randolph, 189.4.
Samuel S. McGee, 1895.
C. M. Grubb, 1806.
John Randolph, 1897.
William I .. Hadley, 1898.
Henry Strecker, 1899.
Daniel R. Shaw, 1900.
William I .. Hadley, 1901.
INFIRMARY DIRECTORS.
These officers were appointed by the Commissioners from 1836 until 1842, when they were required to be elected by the people, one each year, to serve three years.
Samson Cole, 1836-1842.
Eben Gates, 1836-1842.
Wyllys Hall, 1838-1842. James Dunn, 1842-1849. Thomas F. Stanley, 1842-1844.
William R. Putnam, Jr., 1842-1845. Samuel Shipman, 1844-1847.
435
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Brooks Blizzard, 1845-1851 John Collins, 1847-1859. Jame M. Booth, 1849-1850. James Dunn. 1850-1801. James Dutton, 1850-1853. James S. Cady. 1853-1856.
Robert E. Cheatham, 1800-1863.
Junia Jennings, 1861-1870. John Dowling, 1862-1805. William West, 1863-1866.
James Dunn, 1865-1868. F. A. Wheeler, 1806-1875. Samuel E. Fay. 1868-1871.
H. W. Corner, 1870-1873. Charles Athey, 1871-1874.
George W. Richards, 1873-1876.
William Caywood (3rd), 1874-1880.
John Dowling, 1875-1878. Charles A. Cook, 1876-1870. John Dowling, 1878-1881. John Strecker, 1879-1882.
Charles W. Athey, 1880-1886.
John D Templeton. 1881-1884. Henry Van Bergen, 1882 1885. William T. Harness, 1883-1886. Thomas D. Iloff, 1884-1886. Robert G. Miller, Jr., 1885-1887. William G. Harness, 1886-1888. James F. Briggs, 1887-1800.
Robert G. Miller, Jr., 1888-1891.
William G. Harness, 1889-1892. James F. Briggs, 1890-1892. Russell O'Neall, 1891-1893.
George Richards, 1892-1894
Russell O'Neall, 1893-1895. William Schnauffer, 1894-1896.
George Richards, 1895-1897. Russell O'Neall, 1896-1898. William Cranston, 1897-1899. William Schnauffer, 1898-1900.
George W. Smith, 1899-1901. William Cranston, 1900. J. K. Gregory, 1901.
CHAPTER XIX.
BENCH AND BAR.
Personal Sketches.
MAJ .- GEN. SAMUEL HOLDEN PARSONS was born at Lyme, Connecticut, in 1737. He graduated at Harvard College in 1750; studied law in the office of his uncle, George Matthew Griswold, and was admitted to the bar in 1759, and settled at Lyme in the prac- tice of his profession. In 1761 he married the daughter of Richard Mathew of Lyme, and in 1762 was elected member of the Gen- eral Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut, and by successive re-elections held that position until 1774, when he removed from Lyme to New London.
In the stirring times preceding the Declar- ation of Independence by the Colonies, Mr. Parsons was an ardent partiot, and to him has been attributed the first suggestion of a meet- ing of commissioners from the Colonies to consult as to their general welfare. Mr. Par- sons was one of the bold men who in conjunc- tion with Col. Etham Allen conceived and carried out the project of capturing the forts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, whereby the command of Lake Champlain was obtained for the Americans. This was the first of- fensive blow struck by the Colonies in their war for independence.
In 1775 Mr. Parsons was commissioned by the Colony of Connecticut as colonel of a regiment raised for the defense of the Colony, and was actively engaged in the battle of Long Island.
In 1776 he was appointed by Congress, brigadier-general and was with the army at the battle of White Plains. The most im- portant operation of the campaign of 1777, to- wit, the capture of the prisoners and the de- struction of the enemy's ships and supplies at Sag Harbor, was designed by General Parsons and executed under his directions, and re- ceived from Congress a complimentary no- tice. During most of the years of 1778 and 1779 he was stationed at West Point and the Highlands and rendered valuable service. In 1780 he was commissioned by Congress as major-general. For his bold and successful enterprise for the relief and protection of the inhabitants between New York and Green- wich, he received the thanks of Congress. At the close of the war he resumed the practice of law at Middletown, Connecticut.
In 1786 General Parsons, with General Butler, of Pittsburgh, and George Rogers Clark, by appointment of Congress, held an important treaty with the Indians at the mouth of the Great Miami.
In 1789 he was appointed by Congress one of the judges of the Supreme Court for the "Territory Northwest of the river Ohio," and in May, 1788, removed to Marietta and entered upon the discharge of his duties.
In 1789 he was appointed by the State of Connecticut a commissioner to hold a treaty with the Wyandot Indians of the Western Re- serve, and visited that country to make prep- arations for holding the treaty. In descend-
437
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
ing the rapids of the Big Beaver River, on his return he was drowned, November 17. 1780, aged 52 years.
GEN. JAMES MITCHELL VARNUM WAS a descendant of Samuel Varnum, who emi- grated from Wales to this country in 1649. and settled at Dracut, Massachusetts. He was born at Dracut in 1749, graduated at Providence College (now Brown University ) in the first class in 1769, studied law in the office of Oliver Arnold, Providence, Rhode Island, was admitted to the bar in 1771, and settled at East Greenwich in the practice of his profession. He took an active part in the controversy between the Colonies and Great Britain, had a taste for military life, and shortly after the battle of Lexington, was ap- pointed colonel of one of the three regiments raised by Rhode Island in 1775. During 1776 he served as colonel in the Colonial Army, and in 1777 was promoted by Congress to the rank of brigadier-general. During 1777 and 1778 he was with the army and com- manded at Red Bank and Mud Island. In 1780 he was elected a delegate to Congress from Rhode Island, and was an active and influential member of that body. After the war he resumed his practice of law at East Greenwich, and was engaged in most of the important cases in the State. As an advocate and orator, he was considered the equal of Patrick Henry. In 1786 General Varnum was again elected Representative to Congress and was noted for his brilliant eloquence. In 1787, upon the organization of the Ohio Com- pany of Associates at Boston, he was elected a director of the company, and soon after the passage of the ordinance of that year estab- lishing the Northwest Territory, he was elect- ed by Congress one of the judges of the Terri- tory ; in the spring of 1788 he left his home in in June, and entered upon the discharge of his duties of his office. Hle was the orator of the day at the celebration of American Inde- pendence held at "the Point" in Marietta. July 4. 1788. and his address was noted for its many beauties of sentiment and language. He
was in poor health when he arrived at Mari- etta, but was able to attend the meetings of the directors of the Ohio Company, and as- sisted the Governor and other judges in forn- ing a code of laws for the government of the Northwest Territory. He died at Marietta, January 10, 1789, at the early age of 40, and his funeral was attended with great ceremony.
GEN. RUFUS PUTNAM was appointed by the President, 1790, one of the judges of the Supreme Court for the "Territory northwest of the river Ohio." and served until 1796. An account of the events of his life is contained in a succeeding chapter, on "Sketches of Pio- neers.
JOSEPH GILMAN was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, in 1736. In the struggle of the colonists for liberty and independence, he took a decided part for the Whigs, and had their entire confidence. He was chairman of the Committee of Safety for New Hampshire, and, as such, made large advances from his own personal resources for the purchase of supplies for the State troops. Upon the for- mation of the Ohio Company, he became an associate, and, with his wife, Rebecca Ives Gilman, and his son, Benjamin Ives Gilman, removed to Marietta in 1789.
By Governor St. Clair, he was appointed to and held the offices of Probate judge, judge of the Court of Quarter Sessions, and judge of the Court of Common Pleas.
In 1796 he was appointed by the President of the United States one of the judges of the General Court for the Northwest Territory, and attended the sitting's of that corrt at Mar- ietta, Cincinnati, Detroit, and other places at which the court was held.
Judge Gilman was highly respected and es- teemed for his learning and abilities as a jur- ist and scientist, and for his pleasing quali- Rhode Island for Marietta and arrived here Ities. He died in 1806, aged 70 years.
RETURN JONATHAN MEIGS, JR., served by appointment of the President of the United States, as one of the judges of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territory from 1798 until 1803. A sketch of Colonel Meigs ap- pears in a succeeding chapter of this work.
25
438
HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,
PAUL FEARING was born in Wareham, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, February 28, 1762, and was the son of Noah and Mary Fearing. Of his early childhood, but little is known; but as the boy is said to be the father of the man, he was doubtless an upright, open- hearted youth. The minister of the parish prepared him for college, as was common in that day, and he was graduated at Harvard in 1785. Having decided on law for a profes- sion, he studied in the office of Esquire Swift, of Windham, Connecticut, and was admitted as attorney in the courts of law of that State in September, 1787. During this year the Ohio Company was matured, for establishing a colony in the Northwest Territory, and was a general topic of conversation in New Eng- land. The glowing descriptions of the coun- try and climate in the valley of the Ohio caught the fancy of many young men, as well as older persons, and he decided on visiting that region. On the Ist of May, 1788, he em- barked at Boston for Baltimore, where he ar- rived on the 16th of that month. There he put his trunk into a wagon, and commenced the journey across the mountains on foot. He reached Pittsburgh on the Ioth of June, and embarked the same day in a boat for Mari- etta, where he arrived on the 16th. On the Fourth of July he participated in the first pro- ceedings had on the banks of the Muskingum in honor of the day, and on the 20th listened to the first sermon ever preached in the Eng- lish tongue northwest of the Ohio River. On the 2nd of September, 1788, he attended the first Common Pleas Court held in the county, and was admitted an attorney-at-law of the courts of the Territory. On the 9th of this month, the county Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace sat for the first time, and he was appointed counsel in behalf of the United States for Washington County.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.