USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Vo. I > Part 32
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In 1835, W. B. Craighill was elected representative; Luther A. Hall clerk; John Goodin, treasurer; Seelah Chapin, prosecutor ; Benjamin Whitmore, commissioner, and John Webb, assessor.
Elected in 1836: Senator Joseph Howard; representative, William B. Craighill; sheriff, Elam Lock; auditor, Levi Davis; recorder, Daniel Dildine ; commissioner. Lewis Seitz; assessor, John W. Eastman; surveyors, George W. Gist. David Risdon; coroner, Levi Keller.
This was the first time a county recorder was elected, pre- viously he was appointed.
In 1837, Senator, William B. Craighill; representative, John Welch; sheriff, Levi Keller; auditor, Levi Davis; commissioner, John Terry; assessor, Samuel S. Martin; coroner, Henry Mc- Cartney.
The first regularly organized temperance meeting, held at Tiffin, was that of July 4, 1838, after the great celebration of that . day.
Henry C. Brish was elected associate judge, and David E. Owen state librarian, in January. 1839. Other officials-elect : Representative, W. H. Kessler; commissioner, Andrew Moore; sur- veyor, Jonas Hershberger. Joshua Seney defeated Levi Davis and John Park for treasurer of the county.
1840, Senator, John Goodin: representatives, McAnelly and Wood; sheriff, Levi Keller; commissioner. George Stoner; auditor. Gabriel J. Keen; assessor, Benjamin Carpenter; coroner, Daniel Brown ; clerk, C. F. Dresbach.
The office of county assessor expired about 1840, when a law was passed creating the office of township assessors. The county assessors in early days had no more work to perform than the town- ship assessors now have. The land that was bought at the govern- ment land offices was exempt from taxation for five years from the date of sale.
1841: Representatives, Geo. W. Baird and Amos E. Wood; commissioner, John Terry; treasurer. Joseph Senev.
1842: Senator. Moses McAnelly ; commissioner. James Mc- Clelland; auditor. G. J. Keen; recorder, W. HI. Kessler; sheriff,
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U. P. Coonrad; representatives, 11. C. Brish and Geo. W. Baird; coroner, Geo. II. Show; prosecuting attorney, J. W. Wilson; sur- veyor, Thomas Heming. Richard Williams was commissioner of the bankrupt court for Seneca county in May, 1842.
1843: Representatives. Samuel Waggoner and W. B. Craig- hill; treasurer, Richard Williams ; commissioner, Norris P. Skinner ; coroner, Geo. II. Show; prosecuting attorney, J. W. Wilson; sur- veyor, Thos. Heming.
1844 : Representative, Henry Cronise; senator, Amos E. Wood; sheriff, Uriah P. Coonrad ; auditor, Fred W. Green ; coroner, George H. Show; prosecuting attorney, Wm. Lang; commissioner, Jacob Decker.
1845: Representative, Daniel Brown; commissioner, Joseph McClellan; treasurer, Richard Williams; recorder, W. H. Kessler; surveyor, Thomas Heming.
1846: Senator, Henry Cronise; representative, Warren P. Noble; commissioner. Morris P. Skinner; auditor, Fred W. Green ; sheriff, Eden Lease; coroner, Sam Herrin; prosecuting attorney, William Lang.
1847: Representative, Warren P. Noble; treasurer, George Knupp; recorder, R. M. C. Martin; commissioner, Jacob Decker.
1848: Senator, Joel W. Wilson; representative, John G. Breslin ; commissioner, Samuel Saul; auditor, Fred W. Green; sheriff, Eden Lease; coroner, Sam Herrin; surveyor, George H. Heming; prosecuting attorney. Warren P. Noble.
1849: Representative. John G. Breslin; treasurer, George Knupp; commissioner, Barney Zimmerman.
1850: Poor house vote. For, 1031 ; against, 1315.
The office of associate judge was abolished by the legislature this year. Thomas Lloyd, chosen to fill vacancy, was the last associate judge elected in Seneca county.
1850: Representative. Jacob Decker; sheriff, Stephen M. Ogden; auditor, Richard Williams; recorder, R. M. C. Martin ; senator, Michael Brackley; prosecuting attorney, W. P. Noble ; commissioner, David Burns; coroner, George Ransburg.
1851: Judge of common pleas. Lawrence W. Hall; senator, Joel W. Wilson; representative. Jacob Decker; probate judge, William Lang; clerk of courts. Philip Speilman ; treasurer, Thomas Heming; commissioner, Samuel Saul; prosecuting attorney, Wil- liam M. Johnson; surveyor, Geo. H. Heming.
1852: Auditor, John J. Steiner; sheriff, Stephen M. Ogden ; commissioner, Calvin Clark; coroner, George Ransburg; senator, Robert Lee.
1853: Representative: John D. Paine; treasurer, Thomas Heming; commissioner. David Burns; prosecutor, Wm. M. John-
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son ; recorder, Wm. Kline. They all received the full party vote of the county.
1854: Congress, C. K. Watson; auditor, Wm. Stevens; pro- bate judge, J. K. Hord; auditor, Wm. Stevens; treasurer, Thomas Heming; clerk of courts. Philip Speilman; sheriff, Ephraim C. Wells; commissioner, Isaac Stillwell; coroner, Alvison Flumerfelt.
1855: Senator, James Lewis; representative, Joseph Boyer ; commissioner, James Boyd ; prosecuting attorney, L. A. Hall.
1856: Judge of common pleas, D. W. Swigart; auditor, James M. Stevens; treasurer, Geo. H. Heming; sheriff, Jesse Weirick; recorder, Wm. Kline; commissioner, Enoch Trumbo; coroner, Henry Stone; infirmary director, Andrew Lugenbeel.
1857 : Judge of common pleas, Geo. E. Seney; senator, Robert McKelley; representative, John W. Paine; probate judge, Truman H. Bagby; clerk of courts, Geo. S. Christlip; prosecuting attorney, Robert L. Griffith; commissioner, Henry Opt; infirmary director, Jonas Hampshire; surveyor, Thomas Burnsides.
1858: Auditor, Erastus Bowe; treasurer, Samuel Herrin ; sheriff, Jesse Weirick; judge of common pleas, Josiah S. Plants ; commissioner, Robert Byrne; infirmary director, T. Swander ; coroner, J. W. Lawhead; land appraisers, Edwin Pennington. John Gersbert, John Seitz, David Burns. D. Rickenbaugh, Wm. Fleet, Rezen Rickets, Gideon Jones, Dan Lynch, Nicholas Rosenberger, Ira Allerton, S. Bemenderfer, R. R. Titus, A. C. Baker, S. J. Recher, T. P. Roberts and John Bunn.
1859: Senator, Thos. J. Orr; representative, M. P. Skinner ; prosecuting attorney, Robert L. Griffith : recorder, Albert Beilharz: infirmary director, Andrew Lugenbeel; commissioner, Michael Beard; surveyor, Dennis Malloy.
1860: Congress, Warren P. Noble; probate judge, Truman H. Bagby; clerk of court, Geo. Christlip; auditor, Isaac Kagey; treasurer, Samuel Herrin; sheriff. Levi Weirick; commissioner, Henry Opt; infirmary director, Barney Zimmerman; coroner, Paul Bolinger.
Political life in 1860 may be summed up as one continued round of excitement and uncertainty. The shadow of the Civil war was visible.
Stephen A. Douglas visited Tiffin, September 24, 1860, and addressed the largest Democratic meeting ever held in northwest Ohio, at that time.
1861: Representative, R. R. Titus; prosecuting attorney, Alfred Landon; commissioner, Robert Byrne; infirmary director, Thomas Swander.
1862: Auditor, Isaac Kagey; treasurer, Silas W. Shaw; sheriff, Edward Childs; recorder, Albert Beilharz; commissioner,
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Peter Ebersole; infirmary director, Andrew Lugenbeel; surveyor, Dennis Malloy ; coroner, Paul Bolinger.
1863: Senator, William Lang; representative, R. R. Titus; clerk of courts, Wm. M. Johnson; prosecuting attorney, Alfred Lan- don ; commissioners, Thomas W. Watson and (short term) Samuel Grelle; infirmary director, Barney Zimmerman.
The county officers elected in 1864 were: Edward Childs, sheriff; John F. Heilman, auditor; Silas W. Shaw, treasurer ; Samuel Grelle, commissioner; Thomas Swander and George S. Christlip, infirmary directors; and Jonas MI. Hershberger, coroner.
1865: Senator, Curtis Berry; representative, Isaac Kagey ; treasurer, J. H. Zahm; recorder, J. T. Martin; prosecuting at- torney, John McCauley; commissioner, Peter Ebersole; surveyor, Dennis Malloy; infirmary director, H. Noble.
1866: Judge of common pleas. Chester R. Mott; county clerk, W. M. Dildine; probate judge. W. M. Johnson; sheriff, P. P. Myers; auditor, J. F. Heilman ; commissioner, T. W. Watson ; infirmary director, Eden Lease; coroner, James Paine.
1867: Senator, Curtis Berry; representative, Horace Hall; treasurer, Jacob M. Zahm; commissioner, H. B. Rakestraw; prose- cuting attorney, John McCauley; infirmary director, Uriah P. Coonrad.
1868: Congress, Ed. F. Dickenson ; auditor, Walter S. Burns; sheriff, Peter P. Myers; recorder, James T. Martin ; commissioner, Joseph E. Magers; surveyor, Dennis Malloy; infirmary director, Harrison Noble; coroner, Sylvester B. Clark. James Pillars was elected judge of common pleas.
1869: Probate judge, W. M. Johnson; treasurer, Wm. Lang; clerk, J. C. Milhelm; representatives, E. T. Stickney and John Seitz; prosecuting attorney, Frank Baker; commissioner, Stephen M. Ogden; infirmary director, Eden Lease. ·
1870: Congress, E. F. Dickenson ; sheriff, John Werley ; audi- . tor, G. A. Allen; commissioner, H. B. Rakestraw; coroner, James Van Fleet; infirmary director, U. P. Coonrad.
1871: Senator, A. E. Jenner; representative, John Seitz; judge of common pleas, A. M. Jackson; prosecuting attorney, Frank Baker; treasurer, William Lang; recorder, Wm. DeWitt; commissioner, Joseph E. Magers ; surveyor, P. H. Ryan; infirmary director, Jesse Weirick.
1872: Judge of common pleas, James Pillar ; clerk of court, Jacob C. Milhelm ; probate judge, Upton F. Cramer; sheriff, John Werley; auditor, Levi D. Kagey ; commissioner, Stephen V. Ogden ; coroner, James Van Fleet; infirmary directors, G. W. Bachman and Peter Haefling.
1873: Representative, Jas. A. Norton; senator, J. Seitz ; prosecuting attorney, Geo. W. Bachman; treasurer, Francis
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Wagner; commissioner, Robert Mcclellan ; infirmary director, John Britt; coroner, George W. Willo.
1874: Judge of common pleas, Thomas Beer; sheriff, G. Acker; auditor, L. D. Kagey; recorder, William DeWitt; com- missioner, Solomon Gambee; surveyor, Dennis Malloy; infirmary director, Peter Haefling.
1875: Senator, E. T. Stickney; representative, James A. Norton; clerk, Jeremiah Rex; probate judge, Upton F. Cramer ; prosecuting attorney, George W. Bachman; treasurer, Francis Wagner; recorder, Thos. J. Kintz; commissioner, N. G. Hayward : infirmary director, Charles Mutschler ; coroner, George W. Willow.
1876: Judge of common pleas, Thomas Beer; auditor, V. J. Zahm; sheriff. Geo. D. Acker; infirmary director, John Britt.
1877: Senator, John Seitz; representative, James A. Norton ; treasurer, John W. Barrick ; prosecuting attorney, G. B. Keppell ; commissioner, S. Gambee ; surveyor, Samuel Nighswander ; common pleas judge, Henry II. Dodge; infirmary director, Lewis Spitler ; coroner, Wm. Smith; probate judge. Jacob F. Bunn; clerk, Jere- miah Rex; auditor, Victor J. Zahm; sheriff. Lloyd N. Lease; re- corder, Thos. J. Kentz; commissioner, W. T. Histe; infirmary director, George Heplar.
1879: Representative, Amos Decker; treasurer, J. W. Bar- rick ; prosecuting attorney, G. B. Keppell ; commissioner, James H. Fry; infirmary director, Joseph E. Magers; coroner, William Smith.
1880: Congress, Morgan D. Shafer; sheriff, L. N. Lease; surveyor, Samuel Nighswander; commissioner, Edward Childs; infirmary director, Lewis Spitler.
In April, 1880, the question of building pike roads was sub- mitted to the people of the county; 1,578 votes were recorded in favor of this enterprise, while 5,156 opposed the project. Tiffin alone gave the majority in favor of such roads.
1881: Senator, Moses II. Kirby; representative. A. Decker , probate judge, J. F. Bunn; prosecuting attorney, P. M. Adams ; clerk of courts, James V. Magers ; treasurer, John Heabler ; auditor, F. E. Stoner; commissioner, W. T. Histe; recorder, J. H. Benne- hoff ; infirmary director. George Heplar ; coroner, E. Lepper.
1882: Common pleas judge, Henry H. Dodge; sheriff. Thomas F. Whalen; commissioner, Daniel P. Lynch; infirmary director, William Kline.
1883: Judge of common pleas. Geo. F. Pendleton ; senator. J. W. Williston ; representative, David J. Statler; treasurer, John Heabler; commissioner, Edward Childs; surveyor, Samuel Nighs- wander; infirmary director, Daniel Metzger; coroner, Edward Lepper.
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1884: Probate judge, Harrison Noble; prosecuting attorney, Perry M. Adams; county clerk. James V. Magers; auditor, Francis E. Stoner; sheriff, Thos. F. Whalen ; commissioner, T. H. Bagby ; recorder, John H. Bennehoff ; infirmary director, James Sanders.
1885: Senator, John Hopley ; representative, E. B. Hubbard; auditor, J. A. Norton; treasurer. B. F. Myers; commissioner, Levi Haines; infirmary director, William Kline; coroner, Edward Lepper.
Dr. Isaac Kagey was appointed treasurer July 2, 1885, vice John Heabler, deceased.
J. A. Norton was appointed auditor in August, 1885, vice F. E. Stoner, who died August 10, 1885.
1886: Auditor, James A. Norton; treasurer, B. F. Myers; surveyor, George McGormley; recorder, J. H. Benninghoff; pro- bate judge, Harrison Noble; clerk, James Magers; sheriff, George Homan; prosecuting attorney. Perry M. Adams; coroner, Edward Lepper; commissioners, T. H. Bagley, Levi Haines and Henry F. Hedden; (incoming) James Saunders, William Cline and Daniel Metzger ; common pleas judges, George F. Pendleton and Henry H. Dodge.
1888: Common pleas judges, Henry H. Dodge and John Ridgely; probate judge. John C. Royer.
1890-1903: Common pleas judges, John H. Ridgely, Artemas B. Johnson, J. W. Schaufelberger, Allen Smalley. Charles M. Melhorn, Frank Taylor and Charles C. Lemert. The judicial district is composed of the counties of Hardin, Hancock, Seneca and Wood.
1904-10: Common pleas judges, Hon. George E. Schroth, E. M. Fries, William Duncan, Frank A. Baldwin and William P. Henderson.
Probate judges from 1886 to 1910: Harrison Noble, J. C. Royer, A. Kisskadden, W. S. Wagner and Hal. W. Michaels.
Auditor, 1891-96, W. H. Glosser; probate judge, 1892-96, A. Kisskadden; treasurer, Henry Mansfield; recorder (two terms), Thomas H. Drohen; clerk, 1895-96, G. A. Gribble; prosecuting attorney, G. E. Schroth; sheriff. 1895-96, Joseph Van Nest; com- missioners-N. Burtsch, Truman Zeist and John A. Bain; (incom- ing)-John Roller, William King and Elmer E. Fisher. The in- coming probate judge was Harrison Noble, and the incoming clerk, James Magers.
County clerk, I. N. Rex, 1897-99 ; sheriff, W. M. Shaffer, 1895- 98; auditor, W. H. Glosser. 1895-98; probate judge, W. S. Wagner ; commissioners-L. J. Nighswander (1898-1901). J. H. Knapp, (1895-98), Julius Keissling (1896-1900), J. P. Warnement (1897- 1900) and Henry Eissler (1898-1901) ; common pleas judge, J. W. Schaufleberger, 1893-1903.
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1900-01 : Auditor, Lee Nighswander; clerk, Irvin N. Rex ; commissioners, John P. Warnement, Henry Eissler, Julius Kiess- ling; coroner, Edward Lepper ; infirmary directors, John L. Gahris, John Krupp, James L. Bowser; judges court of common pleas, J. W. Schaufleberger. Charles M. Melhorn, Frank Taylor; probate judge, W. S. Wagner; recorder, Thomas H. Drohen ; sheriff, W. M. Shaffer ; surveyor, C. J. Peters; treasurer, James D. MeDonel.
1902-3: Auditor, Lee Nighswander ; clerk, Irvin N. Rex; com- missioners-John P. Warnement, Burtis W. Finch, Julius Kiess- ling; coroner, Edward Lepper; infirmary directors-John L. Gahris, John J. Krupp, James M. Bowser; judges of court of com- mon pleas-J. W. Schaufleberger, Charles M. Melhorn, Frank Taylor ; probate judge, W. S. Wagner; recorder, Louis Wagner; sheriff, A. J. Henzy ; surveyor, C. J. Peters; treasurer, James D. McDonel.
1903-4: Auditor, Lee Nighswander ; clerk, Irvin N. Rex ; com- missioners-John P. Warnement, Herbert G. Ogden, Frank J. Fry; coroner, Edward Lepper; infirmary directors-John Krupp. Frank P. Sherman. Jas. T. Williams ; judges court of common pleas -George E. Schroth, E. M. Fries, Charles C. Lemert; probate judge, H. W. Michaels; recorder, Louis Wagner; sheriff, Henry Brohl; surveyor, C. J. Peters; treasurer, Charles Ash.
1906-7: Auditor, Romanus R. Bour ; clerk, Francis R. Mann ; commissioners-Jacob M. Schatzel, Herbert G. Ogden, Frank J. Fry; coroner, Edward Lepper; Infirmary directors-James T. Williams, Lewis Hufford, Daniel B. Crissel; judges court of com- mon pleas-George E. Schroth, E. M. Fries, Wm. F. Duncan ; pro- bate judge, Hal. W. Michaels; recorder, Harry Taggart; sheriff, Charles Nepper ; surveyor, C. J. Peters; treasurer, Charles Ash.
1908-9: Auditor. Romanus Bour; clerk, F. R. Mann; com- missioners-Frank Fry, G. N. Young, Nicholas Wall, Herbert G. Ogden; incoming, N. Wall, John M. Fry, C. D. Holtz, John W. Cook; recorder, Harry Taggart; probate judge, Hal. Michaels ; treasurer, Chas. Ash ; surveyor, C. J. Peters, H. B. Puffenberger ; sheriff, Chas. Nepper, P. H. Reif ; judges common pleas court, 1908 -William F. Duncan, Edward M. Fries, Geo. E. Schroth. 1909, William F. Duncan, Frank A. Baldwin, Wm. P. Henderson.
1910: Auditor, J. H. Lennartz; clerk, Geo. N. Young; treas- urer, Wm. M. Shaffer ; incoming, W. D. Heckert; surveyor, Henry B. Puffenberger ; coroner, Ed. Lepper; sheriff, Philip H. Reif; probate judge, Geo. M. Hoke; prosecuting attorney, Harry P. Black; present county commissioners-John W. Cook, Nicholas Wall, John M. Fry.
New board of county commissioners coming in are John W. Cook, John M. Fry and Christian Miller.
Present board of infirmary directors D. H. Good, Samuel
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Dreitzler and Jacob Staib. Edward L. Yale is superintendent at infirmary.
New board will be Samuel Dreitzler, David Auble and John R. Jewett.
In 1902 the representative in the legislature was Roscoe L. Carle; senator from the 31st district, John C. Royer.
In 1903, the state senator was Elza Carter, and the representa- tive, Roscoe Carle.
In 1900 John C. Royer was senator from the 31st district, and Henri Melber was representative. 1901, the same.
In 1904, state senator, Elza Carter; representative, Roscoe Carle.
1905, state senator, Elza Carter; representative, Rudolph Keller. The same in 1907.
1901, John Royer, senator, and Henri Melber, representative.
1907, Elza' Carter was senator, and Rudolph Keller repre- sentative.
Present representative, Charles Ash, of Fostoria; representa- tive-elect, R. R. Bour, of Tiffin.
Present senator, O. J. Cory ; senator-elect. Frank Dore.
Seneca county is not only in the Thirty-first Senatorial dis- trict, but in the first sub-division of the Tenth judicial district, common pleas court, composed of the counties of Seneca, Hancock, Hardin and Wood.
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CHAPTER XIV.
LEGAL AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONS
OBJECTS OF LAW AND LAWYERS-COUNTY'S EARLY BENCH AND BAR-FIRST LAW CASE-PIONEER CASES, LAWYERS AND JUDGES- ASSOCIATE JUDGES OF SENECA COUNTY-HON. JAMES PURDY'S REMINISCENCES-THE TIFFIN BAR IN POETRY-LAWYERS WHO TRAVELED THE CIRCUIT-EARLY PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY- FOSTORIA MEDICAL SOCIETY-SENECA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
Of the antiquity of law we make the following quotation : "Law has lived, not as a mummy, embalmed in gum and spices, buried in crypts and catacombs and pyramids, but alive and in active contact with the life and thought of each succeeding gener- ation, through centuries of war and conquest, through cycles of revolution and reform, until it has become, in modern thought and civilization, like an invisible combatant, the spirit of the law, which Coleridge once described when he said of it: 'No space con- tains it, time promises no control over it, it has no ear for my threat, it has no substance my hands can grasp, or my weapons find vulnerable. All but the most abandoned men acknowledge its authority, and the whole strength and majesty of the country have pledged to support it.' "
The object of the law is to secure for us life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness-to measure, to define and to protect our rights and afford redress for wrongs. It reaches and pervades every part of our social organization. It is over us and around us; while living it protects us, and dying it settles our estate. It
recognizes no distinction among men ; whether high or low, famous or obscure, all are alike amenable to its provisions and are bound to obey it. The present perfection of the law is the combined wis- dom of the ages; is said to be the perfection of human reason. and has been handed down to us by the sages of the past.
It has been said that lawyers are not needed ; that they are use- less, as well as expensive members of our body politic. This is a mistake. As our laws now stand, with their necessarily wide range, it takes the life-work of an exclusive class of men, specially
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trained for that purpose, to understand and administer the laws in our courts, so that right and justice may be meted out to all.
In every age of the world's history, the lawyers have been the defenders of civil liberty against tyranny and oppression. All movements for equality and reform have been carried by lawyers as leaders. It has ever been their mission to promote and main- tain right and justice among men. No higher earthly object can animate the patriot and philanthropist. Intimately connected with the law, stands the legal profession as its guardian.
The bar of Seneca county ranks well with that of other counties in Ohio. Mention is herewith given of a number of the members of the Seneca county bar, more especially of those of the earlier history of the county, as personal sketches of the Tiffin lawyers of today will largely be found in Volume II of this work.
The probate court was established under the new constitution in 1850, and William Lang was the first probate judge. The first president judge of Seneca county was Ebenezer Lane, of Norwalk.
The first robbery and the first law case which occurred in Seneca county, was in 1821. when the Indian captive. William Spicer, was robbed of several thousand dollars. This Spicer had his cabin and stock farm on top of the plateau. on the west side. opposite the north end of the island in the Sandusky, and four miles south of the old military post. While alone in the cabin a carpenter from Fort Ball. named William Rollins, entered, told Spicer to give up his gold and silver, and then struck him to the floor. While in a semi-conscious state. he heard Rollins laugh and address other men who joined him; but, on recovering, the robbers were gone and with them several thousand dollars in gold and silver. Louis Papineau was then constable, and he, assisted by Benjamin Barney and Caleb Rice. arrested Rollins. Butler, Case and Downing. brought those of them who did not escape to trial, and succeeded in having Rollins sentenced to eleven years in the penitentiary.
The history of the courts and bar of Seneca county may be said to begin with the settlement of Rudolphus Dickenson. at Fort Ball, in 1824, and the opening of the circuit court in Hedges' build- ing on Virgin Alley, April 12, the same year. During the short period which elapsed between the date of his settlement at Fort Ball and the opening of the circuit court, the celebrated case of Spencer vs. Hedges, known to Judge Lane as the "Dam" case. was prepared by him. Judge Ebenezer Lane. Associate Judges William Cornell, Matthew Clark and Jacques Hulburt opened court on April 12th; when Neal McGaffey was appointed clerk. Agreen Ingraham. who was elected sheriff a few days prior to April 12th, opened court in regular form. The case of Spencer vs.
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Hedges was begun in September, 1824, the particulars of which are given in Vol. I, court records, now deposited at Tiffin.
The first case on record was that of Josiah Hedges vs Jesse Spencer, tried in chancery before Judge Ebenezer Lane, September 21, 1824, on a bill filed May 3, 1824, in the clerk's office. R. Dick- enson, for the defendant, filed his demurrer, denying the suffi- ciency of the plaintiff's case as well as the authority of the court. In April, 1825, the plaintiff withdrew the suit and the defendant was empowered to recover costs.
The first case in common pleas was that of Jesse Spencer vs. Josiah Hedges, petition for the issue of a summons. This was heard September 22, 1824.
The first bill filed for naturalization or citizenship was that by William Doyle. of Ireland. September, 1824.
Francis D. Parish, of Sandusky. attended the first court at Tiffin.
Josiah Scott, of Bucyrus, practiced in the courts of Seneca county, and later became a judge of the supreme court.
John C. Spink was a Wooster lawyer who frequently practiced in the Tiffin courts.
Lawrence W. Hall became the successor of Judge Bowen in 1852.
Josiah S. Plants, who was elected judge of the common pleas court, was wounded while on a hunting trip to Indiana and died shortly after.
Charles L. Boalt, brother-in-law of Judge Lane, practiced here until about 1843, and then went into railroad work. His name is connected with the first law cases heard in this county.
Judge Ozias Bowen, whose district comprised Seneca. San- dusky, Erie, Marion and Crawford, succeeded Judge Higgins. He opened the spring term (April 2. 1838), at Tiffin. and was president judge of the district until November, 1851, when he retired after fourteen years' service.
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