USA > Ohio > Medina County > History of Medina county and Ohio > Part 39
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" He was married, January 1, 1840, to the daughter of William Bell, of Seville, the little girl who met him the day he first came to town. They had six children, only two of whom are living."
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238
HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
We append a complete list of the gentlemen who have served the county in the various posi- tions of Senators and Representatives in the State Legislature, Judges of the Court of Com- mon Pleas, Judges of the Probate Court, and in the various official positions of county respon- sibility, for which the writer is indebted to the painstaking researches of Hon. F. R. Loomis.
The list also includes the residence, when elected, the year of taking office, and the term of service. It will be observed, that from 1803 until 1851, the members of the General As- sembly were elected nnder the old constitution for a term of one year. Under the present con- stitution, adopted in 1850, the members are elected biennially.
SENATORS.
1. David Abbott, Portage County, 1808, 4 years.
2. Peter Hitchcock, Geauga County, 1812, 4 years.
3. Aaron Wheeler, Ashtabula County, 1810, 3 years.
4. Almon Ruggles, Cuyahoga County, 1816, 3 years.
5. John Campbell, -- - County, 1818, 2 years. 6. Jonathau Foster, Portage County, 1820, 2 years.
7. Jonathan Sloan, Portage County, 1822-27, 4 years.
8. Aaron Norton, Portage County, 1824, 1 year
9. Elkanah Richardson, Portage County, 1825, 1 year. 10. Reuben Wood, Cuyahoga County, 1828, 2 years. 11. John W. Willey, Cuyahoga County, 1880, 3 years. 12. Frederick Whittlesey, Lorain County, 1833, 2 years. 13. John W. Alleu, Cuyahoga County, 1835, 1 year, 14. James Moore, Medina County, 1836, 2 years.
15. Herman Birch, Lorain County, 1838, 2 years.
16. James S. Carpenter, Medina County, 1840, 2 years. 17. Josiah Harris, Lorain County, 1842, 2 years.
18. John Codding, Medina County, 1844, 2 years. 19. Nathan P. Johnson, Lorain County, 1846, 2 years. 20. Harrison G. Blake, Medina County, 1848, 2 years. 21. Aaron Pardee, Medina County, 1850, 3 years. 22. Norton S. Townshend, Lorain County, 1853, 2 years. 23. Herman Canfield, Medina County, 1855, 4 years. 24. James Monroe, Lorain County, 1859, 3 years.
25. Samuel Humphreville, Medina County, 1862, 3 years.
26. L. D. Griswold, Lorain County, 1865, 4 years. 27. James A. Bell, Medina County, 1869, 4 years. 28. Andrew M. Burns, Richland County, 1873, 4 years. 29. Thomas M. Beer, Ashland County, 1877, 4 years.
30. Rollin A. Horr, Lorain County, 1879,
REPRESENTATIVES.
1. Abel Sabin, Portage County, 1808, 1 year.
2. Benjamin Wheadon, Portage County, 1809, 1 year.
3. Elias Harman, Portage County, 1810, 2 years.
4. Real McArthur, Portage County, 1812, 3 years.
5. Moses Adams, Portage County, 1815, 1 year. 6. Darius Lyman, Portage County, 1816, 2 years.
7. Jonathan Foster, Portage County, 1818, 2 years.
8. Jonathan Sloan, Portage County, 1820, 2 years. 9. James Moore, Medina County, 1820-27, 5 years. 10. Geo. B. Depeyster, Portage County, 1822, 2 years. 11. Joseph Harris, Medina County, 1822, 1 year. 12. Jacob Ward, Medina County, 1824, 1 year. 13. Philo Welton, Medina County, 1826-35, 2 years. 14. Josiah Harris, Lorain County, 1828-30, 2 years. 15. 'William Eyles, Medina County, 1820-31, 2 years. 16. Duthan Northrup, Medina County, 1882, 2 years. 17. John Newton, Medina County, 1834-36, 2 years. 18. John Codding, Medina County, 1837, 2 years.
19. James S. Carpenter, Medina County, 1839, 1 year. 20. Albert A. Bliss, Lorain County, 1840, 2 years. 21. Lorenzo Warner, Brunswick,* 1841, 1 year. 22. Richard Warner, Sharon, 1842, 2 years. 23. Earle Moulton, La Fayette, 1814, 2 years.
24. Harrison G. Blake, Medina, 1846, 2 years.
25. James C. Johnson, Seville, 1848-51, 4 years. 26. Philip Thomson, Montville, 1849, 1 year. 27. Edwin H. Sibley, Harrisville, 1853, 2 years. 28. James A. Bell, Seville, 1855, 4 years. 29. John Sears, Litchfield, 1859, 2 years. 30. Myron C. Hills, Granger, 1859, 4 years.
31. James A. Root, Brunswick, 1863, 2 years. 32. Hiram Bronson, Medina, 1865, 4 years.
33. Albert Munson, River Styx, 1869, 4 years.
34. Finney R. Loomis, Harrisville, 1873, 2 years. 35. E. Smith Perkins, Weymouth, 1875, 4 years. 36. Alvan D. Licey, River Styx, 1879.
Under the Constitution of 1802, the Judges of Common Pleas Court in caeh county con- sisted of a President Judge, whose jurisdiction extended over a defined circuit, including a certain number of counties, and three Associ- ate Judges, who were to be residents of the connty in which they held conrt, and had jnris- diction. These Judges were each clected for a term of seven years, by a joint ballot of both Houses of the General Assembly.
*From this date Medina constituted a district alone,
239
HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
PRESIDENT JUDGES.
1. George Tod, Warren, Ohio, 1816, 14 years.
2. Reuben Wood, Rockport, Ohio, 1860, 3 years.
3. Matthew Burchard, Warren, Ohio, 1833, 1 year.
4. Ezra Dean, Wooster, Ohio, 1834, 7 years.
5. Jacob Parker, Mansfield, Ohio, 1841, 7 years.
6. Levi Cox, Wooster, Ohio, 1848, 4 years.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
1. Joseph Harris, Lodi, 1818, 5 years.
2. Isaac Welton, Richfield, 1818, 7 years.
3. Frederick Brown, Wadsworth, 1818, 14 years.
4. Noah M. Bronson, Medina, 1823, 7 years.
5. John Freese, Brunswick, 1825, 7 years.
6. Reuben Smith, Medina, 1830, 6 years.
7. John Newton, Richfield, 1832, 2 years.
8. Allen Pardee, Wadsworth, 1832, 14 years.
9. Orson M. Oviatt, Richfield, 1834, 6 years.
10. Benjamin Lindsley, Medina, 1835, 1 year.
11. Philo Welton, Montville, 1837, 3 years. 12. Stephen N. Sargent, Medina, 1839, 7 ycars.
13. William Eyles, Wadsworth, 1840, 7 years.
14. Charles Castle, Medina, 1846, 6 years.
15. Henry Hosmer, Seville, 1847, 5 years.
16. Josiah Piper, Hinckley, 1847, 5 years.
JUDGES UNDER CONSTITUTION OF 1851.
1. Samuel Humphreville, Medina, Ohio, 1852, 5 years.
2. James S. Carpenter, Akron, Ohio, 1857, 5 years.
3. W. H. Canfield, Medina, Ohio, 1860, 5 years.
4. Stephen Burke, Elyria, Ohio, 1862, 6 years.
5. W. W. Boynton, Elyria, Ohio, 1868, 9 years.
6. Samuel W. McClure, Akron, Ohio, 1870, 5} years.
7. Newell D. Tibbals, Akron, Ohio, 1876, present in- cumbent.
8. John C. Hale, Elyria, Ohio, 1877, present incum- bent.
PROBATE JUDGES.
This office was not known in this State until the adoption of the Constitution of 1850, and, in October of the following year, the first Pro- bate Judge of Medina County was elected.
1. Calvin B. Prentiss, Medina, 1852, 3 years.
2. Henry Warner, Spencer, 1855, 6 years.
3. Samuel G. Barnard, Medina, 1861, 6 years.
4. George W. Lewis, Medina, 1867, 6 years.
5. Charles G. Codding, Medina, 1873, 6 years.
6. Albert Munson, River Styx, 1879.
CLERKS OF THE COURT.
The provision of the Constitution of 1802, was as follows : SECTION 9. Each court shall appoint its own Clerk for the term of seven years ; but no person shall be appointed Clerk, except pro tempore, who shall not produce to the court appointing him, a certificate from a majority of the Judges of the Supreme Court that they judge him to be well qualified to exe- cute the duties of the office of Clerk to any court of the same dignity with that for which he offers himself. They shall be removable for breach of good behavior, at any time, by the Judges of the respective courts.
1. John Freese, Brunswick, 1818, 5 years.
2. Timothy Hudson, Wadsworth, 1823, 143 years.
3. William N. Pardee, Wadsworth, 1837, 7 years.
4. Edward L. Warner, Medina, 1842, 7 years.
5. Herman Canfield, Medina, 1849, 2} years.
6. John B. Young, Medina, 1852, 3 years.
7. Oscar S. Codding, Granger, 1855, 6 ycars.
8. Asaph Severance, Jr., Hinckley, 1861, 3 years ; re-elected in 1868, but died just before entering upon his second term.
9. W. H. Hayslip, Medina, 1864, 7 years.
10. Joseph Andrew, Medina, 1871, 6 years.
11. George Hayden, Sharon, 1877, present incumbent,
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
1. Luther Blodget, -, 1819, 6 months.
2. Reuben Wood, Rocky River, 1820, 6 months.
3. Booz M. Atherton, Medina, 1820, 4} years.
4. Jonathan Sloan, Ravenna, 1825, 1 month.
5. Charles Olcott, Medina, 1825, 5 years; and 1833, 4 years.
6. Edward Avery, Wooster, 1829, 6 months.
7. George Tod, Warren, 1830, 1 year.
8. William H. Canfield, Medina, 1831, 3 years.
9. Israel Camp, Medina, 1837, 6 years.
10. Samuel Humphreville, Medina, served by appoint- ment, for a term or two during Mr. Camp's illness.
11. Whitman Mead, Medina, 1843, 2 years.
12. Chester T. Hills, Medina, 1845, 4 years; 1869, 1 year.
13. Francis D. Kimball, Medina, 1849, 4 years.
14. Henry McElheiney, Medina, 1853, 2 years.
15. Charles Castle, Medina, 1855, 2 years.
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240 HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
16. Nathaniel II. Bostwick, Medina, 1857, 4 years.
17. Stephen B. Woodwird, Medina, 1861, 4 years ; 1879, present incumbent.
18. Charles G. Codding, Mediua, 1865, 4 years ; 1870, 1 year.
19. William W. Pancoast, Medina, 1871, 2 years.
20. Edmur. 1 B. King, Montville, 1873, 2 years.
21. J. Thurman Graves, Seville, 1875, 4 years.
TREASURERS.
The first record in regard to the Treas- urer3 is the recorded bond of Rufus Ferris, in the sum of $3,000, dated June 7, 1821. In the absence of further data, it is presumed that previous to this time Mr. Ferris acted in a semi- official capacity.
1. Rufus Ferris, Medina, 1818, 14 years.
2. Gustavus V. Willard, Medina, 1832, 7 years.
3. Isaac R. Henry, Medina, 1839, 12 years.
4. James W. Weld, Richfield, 1840, 12 years.
5. Charles Castle, York, 1842, 2 years.
6. Abraham Morton, Medina, 1844, 2 years.
7. Eli Baldwin, Westfield, 1846, 2 years.
8. William Root, Brunswick, 1848, I year 10 months.
9. Josiah B. Beckwith, York, 1850, 2 years 2 months.
10. Robert Carr, Liverpool, 1852, 4 years.
11. Barney Daniels, Chatham, 1856, 2 years.
12. Samuel B. Curtiss, Lafayette, 1858, 4 years.
13. William Shakespeare, Medina, 1862, 4 years.
14. Joseph Andrew, Hinckley, 1866, 4 years.
15. Samuel J. Ilayslip, Medina, 1870, 4 years.
16. Hosea P. Foskett, Medina, 1874, 4 years.
17. Francis B. Clark, Medina, 1878, present incumbent.
AUDITORS.
I. Abraham Freese, Hinckley, 1822, 2 years.
2. Peter Berdan, Brunswick, 1824, 9 years.
3. W. H. Canfield, Medina, 1838, 8 years.
4. Isaac R. Henry, Medina, 1841, 2 years.
5. Charles Lum, Medina, 1843, 2 years.
6. W. II. Alden, Scville, 1845, 4 years.
7. Samuel HI. Bradley, Medina, 1840, 4 years.
8. George A. L. Boult, Mediua, 1853, 2 years.
9. Gideon W. Tyler, Granger, 1855, 4 years.
IO. John R. Stebbins, Medina, 1859, 4 years.
11. Alexander R. Whitesides, Seville, 1863, 4 years.
12. Thomas S. Shaw, Chatham, 1867, 4 years.
13. 1Ienry C. Pardee, Wadsworth, 1871, 4 years.
14. Shepard L. Dycr, IIarrisville, 1875, 4 years.
15. Chas. J. Chasc, Westfield, 1880, present incumbent.
SHERIFFS.
1. Lathrop Seymour, Weymouth, 1818, 6 years.
2. Samuel Y. Potter, Weymouth, 1824, I year; died in officc.
3. Gustavus V. Willard, Medina, 1825, 3 years.
4. Hiram Bronson, Medina, 1828, 2 years.
5. Stephen N. Sargent, Medina, 1830, 4 years.
6. William Root, Medina, 1834, 2 years.
7. John L. Clark, Medina, 1836, 4 years; 1844, 2 years.
8. William II. Alden, Seville, 1840, 2 years.
9. William T. Welling, Brunswick, 1842, 2 years.
10. Allen R. Burr, Harrisville, 1846, 4 years.
11. George W. Jordan, Medina, 1850, 4 ycars.
12. John Rounds, Medina, 1854, 4 years and 2 months.
13. Morgan Andrews, Hinckley, 1859, 4 years.
14. Jesse Seeley, York, 1863, 2 years.
15. Lucius C. Sturges, Litchfield, 1865, 4 years.
16. Nelson W. Piper, Medina, 1869, 4 years.
17. Oscar P. Phillips, La Fayette, 1873, 2 years.
18. Samuel Scott, Medina, 1875, 2 years.
19. Charles E. Parmelce, Liverpool, 1877, present in- cumbent.
RECORDERS.
1. John Freese, Brunswick, 1818, 5 years.
2. Timothy Hudson, Wadsworth, 1823, 13 years.
3. Oviatt Cole, Litchfield, 1836, 6 years.
4. David B. Simmons, Medina, 1842, 6 years.
5. Samuel J. Hayslip, Brunswick, 1848, 9 years.
6. Earle Moulton, La Fayette, 1857, 6 years.
7. Ashael Beswick, Medina, 1863, 6 years.
8. M. Irvine Nash, York, 1869, 6 years.
9. Franklin R. Mantz, Chatham, 1875, present incum- bent.
CORONERS.
1. Moses Deming, Brunswick, 1818, 4 years.
2. John Hickox, Medina, 1822, 4 years.
3. Ilenry Hosmer, Seville, 1826, 6 years.
4. W. R. Chidester, Medina, 1832, 2 years, ('34 1 year) '38, '40, '42, 9 years.
5. William Paull, Granger, 1834, 2 years.
6. Jonathan Deming, Brunswick, 1886, 2 years.
7. Ransom Clark, Medina, 1844, 2 years.
8. Lewis C. Chatfield, Sharon, 1846, 4 years.
9. Joseph Whitmore, Medina, 1850, 2 years.
10. Addison Olcott, Medina, 1852, 4 ycars.
11. Morgan Andrews, Hinckley, 1856, 4 years 2 months.
12. Josiah B. Beckwith, Mcdina, 1861, 4 years.
13. William Il. Alden, Medina, 1865, 2 years.
14. Johu McCormick, Medina, 1867, 4 years.
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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
15. Wm. H. Bradway, Medina, 1871, 2 years 4 months. 16. Alexander Whitesides, Medina, 1 year 8 months. 17. Hiram Goodwin, Medina, 1875, present ineumbent.
COMMISSIONERS.
1. Miles Clark, -, 1818, 1 year and 7 months.
2. Timothy Doan, Weymouth, 1818, 2 years.
3. Andrew Deming, Brunswiek, 1818, 2 years and 7 months.
4. John Bigelow, Richfield, 1819, 3 years.
5. Stephen Sibley, Grafton, 1820, 4 years.
6. Ebenezer Harris, Harrisville, 1820, 3 years.
7. William Eyles, Wadsworth, 1822, 6 years.
8. Wiley Hamilton, Westfield, 1823, 3 years.
9. John Codding, Granger, 1824, 6 years.
10. Seth Warden, Liverpool, 1826, 3 years.
11. Rufus Vaughn, Westfield, 1828, 6 years.
12. John Newton, Richfield, 1829, 3 years.
13. Jonathan Starr, Copley, 1830, 6 years.
14. Samuel Stoddard, Medina, 1832, 3 years.
15. Alexander Forbes, York, 1834, 3 years ; and Liteh- field, 1840, 3 years.
16. Henry Hosmer, Seville, 1835, 3 years.
17. James F. Leonard,. -- , 1836, 3 years.
18. Curtiss Bullard, Hinekley, 1837, 3 years.
19. Elisha Hinsdale, Norton, 1838, 1 year and 3 months.
20. Timothy Burr, Harrisville, 1839, 3 years.
21. Richard Warner, Sharon, 1840, 8 months.
22. Sheldon W. Johnson, Sharon, 1840, 4 years.
23. John Tanner, Homer, 1842, 3 years.
24. Jabish Castle, Brunswiek, 1843, 3 years. 25. Sherman Loomis, Wadsworth, 1844, 3 years.
26. William Paekard, Chatham, 1845, 3 years. 27. Lueius Warner, Liverpool, 1846, 3 years. 28. Joseph Overholt, Guilford, 1847, 8 years. 29. Franeis Young, Granger, 1848, 3 years. 30. Solomon Halliday, Litehfield, 1849, 3 years. 31. Jonathan Simmons, Westfield, 1850, 3 years. 32. Carr G. Rounds, La Fayette, 1851, 3 years. 33. James M. Henderson, Hinekley, 1852, 3 years. 34. James S. Redfield, Harrisville, 1853, 3 years. 35. William Crane 2d, Sharon, 1854, 3 years.
36. Thomas S. Seeley, Litehfield, 1855, 3 years. 37. Samuel Miller, Guilford, 1856, 3 years. 38. Jacob H. Welcher, Spencer, 1857, 3 years. 39. Arza Pearson, York, 1858, 8 years.
40. John W. Stowe, Brunswiek, 1859, 3 years.
41. George W. Wise, Wadsworth, 1860, 3 years.
42. Russell B. Smith, Chatham, 1861, never qualified.
43. Joshua Bernard, Chatham, 1862, 8 months.
44. Wilson Mahan, Homer, 1862, 8 years.
45. Joseph Fiteh, Modina, 1862, 1 year ; died in office. 46. E. A. Tillotson, Liverpool, 1863, 6 years.
47. L. J. Parker, Hinekley, 1863, 2 years and 6 months. 48. Nathan W. Whedon, Hinekley, 1866, 2 years and 6 months.
49. Joseph S Boise, Westfield, 1868, 6 years.
50. Joseph P. Wyman, Brunswiek, 1869, 8 months; died in office.
51. Alexander R. Whitesides, Medina, 1870, 4 months.
52. William Kennedy, Brunswiek, 1870, 8 years.
53. Benjamin Burt, Granger, 1870, 6 years.
54. F. M. Ashley, Litehfield, 1874, 6 years.
55. Speneer F. Codding, Hinekley, 1876, present in- eumbent.
56. Frank Mills, Wadsworth, 1878, present ineumbent.
57. Sherman B. Rogers, Harrisville, 1880, present in- eumbent.
SURVEYORS.
1. James Moore, Medina, 1820, 5} years.
2. Nathaniel Bell, Guilford, 1826, 11 years.
3. Whitman Mead, Medina, 1837, 1 year 3 months.
4. Abel Dickinson, Wadsworth, 1838, 4 months.
5. Abraham Freese, Brunswiek, 1838, 6 years.
6. William F. Moore, Lafayette, 1844, 6 years.
7. Zachery Deam, Weymouth, 1850, 6 years.
8. Alonzo Beebe, Granger, 1856, 6 years.
9. William P. Clark, Montville, 1862, 6 years.
10. Flavius J. Wheatley, Granger, 1868, 6 years.
11. Amos D. Sheldon, Lafayette, 1874, present ineum- bent.
INFIRMARY DIRECTORS.
1. E. A. Warner, Medina, 1854, 6 months.
2. Henry H. Hibbard, Medina, 1854, 1 year.
3. Hesea Foskett, La Fayette, 1854, 1 year.
4. John Albro, Medina, 1805, 6 months.
5. Joshua Bernard, Chatham, 1855, 4 years.
6. Garrett Spitzer, La Fayette, 1855, 5 years.
7. Pemberton Randall, La Fayette, 1855, 6 years.
8. James R. Newton, Westfield, 1859, 3 years. 9. Charles Eddy, Montville, 1860, 6 years.
10. William D. Prouty, La Fayette, 1861, 3 years.
11. Henry K. Noble, Litehfield, 1862, 3 years. 12. Roswell Williams, La Fayette, 1864, 6 years 13. Albert Rounds, La Fayette, 1865, 9 years.
14. Lyman Pritehard, Medina, 1866, 6 years.
15. S. II. Pomroy, Westfield, 1870, 6 years.
16. J. B. Chase, La Fayette, 1872, present ineumbeut. 17. Abraham Depew, York, 1874, 3 years.
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343
HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
18. Sam'l B. Curtiss, Medina, 1876, present incumbent.
19. Amos Gardner, York, 1877, present incumbent.
SUPERINTENDENTS.
1. George W. Jordan, Medina, 1854, 12 years.
2. Abel Bostwick, La Fayette, 1855, 6 months.
3. William Stowell, Chatham, 1856, 3 years.
4. John Rounds, Medina, 1859, 3 years.
5. S. H. Pomeroy, Westfield, 1862, 7 years,,
6. Merit Nichols, Weymouth, 1869, 5 years.
7. William F. Nye, Westfield, 1874, present incum- bent.
CHAPTER III .*
HISTORY OF THE PROFESSIONS-THIE BENCHI AND BAR UNDER THE OLD AND NEW CONSTITU- TIONS-MEMBERS OF THE MEDINA COUNTY BAR-THE MEDICAL FRATER- NITY - EARLY EPIDEMICS - MEDICAL SOCIETY- MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSION.
THE history of the beneh and bar of Medina County is probably not materially different from that of other rural counties in this part of the State, except in the names of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas and of the lawyers practicing in the courts. The names of all the Judges and lawyers practicing at the bar of this eounty, with a full biography of each, would oeeupy more space than ean properly be devoted to that subjeet, aud would be more than the author of this brief " History of the Beneh and Bar of Medina County " is capable of giving, for want of the necessary informa- tion.
It has been said by those capable of judging, that the bar of Medina County would compare favorably with that of any eounty iu this part of the State, and we certainly have had as able and upright Judges as any other county. The writer came to this eounty to live on the 10th day of June, 1834, and has lived here ever sinee, and from personal observation, and from information of others of the names and eharac- ters of those before his time, he has no doubt of the truth of the above statement.
The people of this eounty have, in the main, been peaceable and quiet, and there has probably been less litigation here than in most counties
* Contributed by Judge Samuel Humphreville and Dr. E. G. Hard.
of its size and population. Land titles have, as a general thing, been indisputably good, consequently there have been few "land cases," and, as the people have been honest and law- abiding, there have been comparatively few eriminal cases in the courts.
Under the Constitution of 1802, the Judges of all the courts were elected by the General Assembly for seven years each, and the Judges of the Supreme Court, four in number, were, as a general rule, seleeted from the best men in the State for that important position. For the Supreme Court in the several counties, holden by two Judges, the State was divided into two circuits or divisions, two Judges taking each eireuit.
The first Supreme Court in Medina County was held in September, 1820, by the Hon. Calvin Pease and the Hon. Peter Hitchcock, who ap- pear to have been among the earliest Judges in the State. Judge Hitchcock was a very able and upright Judge, always at the place of duty, which duty lie discharged to the general satis- faction.
The first ease tried to a jury in the Supreme Court of Medina was that of Daniel Bronson against Justus Warner, Moses Deming, Aaron Warner and Truman Walker, in an action on the ease for a conspiracy. This ease had been tried in the Court of Common Pleas, and the
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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
plaintiff had recovered a judgment for $300, but the defendants appealed to the Supreme Court, and there the plaintiff was defeated with costs. The Judges who attended the Supreme Court iu Medina were Calvin Pease, Peter Hitchcock, John McLane, Jacob Burnet, Charles R. Sherman, Joshua Collett, Henry Brush, Ebenezer Lane, John C. Wright, Reuben Wood, Matthew Birchard, Edward Avery and perhaps others. This court held but one term in the year, usually in September.
The business of the court generally pro- gressed in the usual humdrum manner of most courts, but occasionally an incident would oc- cur worth relating. The Hon. Judge Collett was an honest, simple-minded, incorruptible Judge. At one term of the court when he was on the bench, a case was called for trial, wherein the surnames of plaintiff and defendant were alike. George W. Willey, an eccentric, waggish attorney, represented the plaintiff. When the case was called, Judge Collett said : "Mr. Willey, what relation do these parties bear to each other?" Mr. Willey replied, " Your honor they bear the relation of plaintiff and defendant." The Judge then said, "Do they bear any other relation to each other?" Mr. Willey, who could no longer evade the question, replied, that the plaintiff was a son of the defendant." The Judge straightened him- self up in his chair, apparently in great sur- prise and said, " What, a son sue his father! I never heard of such a thing." After waiting awhile, he turned to Mr. Willey, and, in a peculiar tone, said : "Well, Mr. Willey, you may go on, if you think best." But Mr. Willey, under the circumstances, did not think best "to go on," and discontinued his action, to the great amusement of the bar and the spectators in court.
The Supreme Court, as thus constituted, continued to be holden until the adoption of the constitution of 1851, when it was super- seded by the "District Court" as provided for
by that constitution. The constitution of 1851 provides that the District Court of the several counties shall be holden by one of the Judges of the Supreme Court, and the Judges of the Court of Common Plcas of the district, any three of whom shall constitute a quorum. At the election for Supreme Judges in 1851, the Judges elected were William B. Caldwell, Thomas W. Bartley, John A. Corwin, Allen G. Thurman and Rufus P. Ranney.
The first District Court for Medina Couuty was holden in 1852, the IIon. Thomas W. Bart- ley, Supreme Judge, presiding, and Lucius B. Otis, Samuel Starkweather and Samuel Hum- phreville, Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in the several subdivisions of the Fourth Judicial District. At the clection in 1851, Hon. Lucius B. Otis was elected Common Pleas Judge in the First Subdivision, Samuel Hum- phreville in the Second, and Samuel Stark- weather, in the Third Subdivision. The Fourth District contains nine counties. The counties of Lucas, Sandusky, Ottawa, Erie and Huron, constitute the First; the counties of Lorain, Medina and Summit, the Second, and the county of Cuyahoga, the Third Subdivision of the Fourth Judicial District. At the first election, under the present constitution, only one Judge was elected in and for each subdivision of the district, but now the business of the courts has increased to such an extent that it has been necessary to increase their number, so that there are in the First Subdivision, five Judges, in the Second, two, and in the Third, six Judges, making in all, thirteen Judges to do the busi- ness which, in 1852, was easily done by three.
The business of the District Court continued for several years to be done by one Supreme Judge, and three Judges of the Court of Com- mon Pleas, until the business of the Supreme Court became so great that the General Assem- bly passed a law to relieve the Supreme Judges from Circuit or District Court duty, since which time the District Court has been holden by the
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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas in the district.
This court has not given general satisfaction, and there is great anxiety for some reform in our judiciary system, so as to relieve the busi- ness of the county from the incubus of the " District Court." The Judges are usually away from home and are so anxious to get through with the business of the court, that they seldom take sufficient time to give the cases submitted to them that thorough examina- tion and consideration which their merits, and frequently their intricacy, requires. Their de- eisions are frequently reversed by the Supreme Court, and often the decision of the District Court is reversed, and that of Common Pleas in the same case, affirmed. All this is calcu- lated to bring the District Court into merited disrepute, and it puts litigants to great and often unnecessary delay and expensc. It is believed the District Court in and for Medina County is not, in these respects, materially different from that of other counties in the State, judging from the reports of the Supreme Court.
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