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 33
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Andrew Coffinberry, favorably and generally known as Count Coffinberry, was one of the leading lawyers of the first circuit court of northern Ohio. He never resided in Seneca county.
Rudolphus Dickenson. born in Massachusetts. December 28, 1797, was admitted to the bar of Columbus, settled at Fort Ball early in 1824, and was appointed prosecutor that year. He moved to Lower Sandusky in May, 1826.
Abel Rawson, born at Warwick, Mass .. May 11. 1798. studied law at New Salem and Northfield. Mass., and was admitted to the bar in August. 1823. was admitted to the supreme court of Ohio, in August, 1825. Ile settled in Tiffin in June, 1825, was prosecutor from May, 1826, to October. 1833, and died August 24, 1871.
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Robert G. Pennington, born in Delaware county, Penn., in 1816, came with his parents to Tiffin, May 24, 1834; entered the office of Abel Rawson in 1839; was admitted to the bar in 1842; was presidential elector in 1856, and in 1861, with Colonel Lee and Major De Walt, organized the Fifty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry- and joined that command with rank of quartermaster. In 1862 he was commissioned adjutant general on General McLean's staff.
William H. Gibson, born in Ohio, May 16, 1822; read law in the office of Rawson & Pennington ; admitted to the bar in 1845; elected state treasurer in 1855; was commissioned colonel of the Forty- ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861; commanded in forty-two battles, and was commissioned brigadier general for distinguished service. He retired from the practice of law in 1872, and was commissioned adjutant of state in 1880.
Warren P. Noble, born in Luzerne county. Pennsylvania, June 14, 1820, came with his parents to Jackson township, Seneca county, in 1836; studied law in the office of Rawson & Pennington from 1842 to 1844, and was admitted to the bar in 1844. He was elected state representative in 1846, and re-elected in 1847; elected prose- cuting attorney in 1848, re-elected in 1850. and in 1860 and 1862 was elected member of the Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth con- gresses.
Jesse Stem was admitted to the bar at Columbus, in 1842; moved to Texas and was killed by the Indians.
John L. Lamareaux, a resident of Attica, was a member of the Seneca county bar.
R. P. Buckland. a prominent lawyer and politician, may be named among the members of the Seneca county bar.
William Lang, a native of Pennsylvania, was admitted to the bar in 1842. He filled many publie positions, and wrote an histor- ical work of the county.
Luther A. Hall, arrived at Tiffin in 1833; read law with Abel Rawson, graduated from the Cincinnati law school in 1841, was admitted to the bar the same year and practiced until his death in 1880.
Frederick Lord was one of the early lawyers who studied at Tiffin.
Edson Goit studied law under Abel Rawson and became one of the well known circuit lawyers of this district.
John H. Pittenger came to Tiffin with his parents in 1830. read law and was admitted to the bar in 1850. In 1877 he was elected mayor of Tiffin. He was one of the organizers of the fire ' department, of old No. 1 company, of which General W. H. Gibson was foreman.
Eleutheros Cooke, an attorney of 1829-30, was the solemn man of the pioneer law circle, and one of the good pleaders of the old
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bar. He was the father of the great Civil war financier, Jay Cooke.
H. J. Harmon and M. M. May were lawyers here in 1836. Smith & Chaffin were solicitors here in 1836.
Joseph M. Root, Charles Olcott, and one Parker, practiced in the early courts.
Asa Way, an old lawyer of Republic, and W. V. Way, of Perrysburg, were on the pioneer circuit.
Philomon Beecher, an old resident of Sandusky City, practiced in the early courts of the county.
Ezra M. Stone, of Norwalk, practiced here in the early courts. Brice J. Bartlett, of Fremont. was an early lawyer.
Joseph Howard was one of the pioneer lawyers of Tiffin. In 1830 he was appointed elerk of the court.
Oliver Cowderly was a Tiffin lawyer who became a Mormon leader and removed west.
George W. Bachman was a member of the Tiffin bar from 1867 until his death in 1879. He was mayor of Tiffin and also prose- cuting attorney of Seneca county.
Joseph Tyler was a pioneer lawyer. In 1830, he was ap- pointed clerk of the court.
Nelson L. Brewer was born in Washington county, Maryland, September 17. 1832; graduated from Heidelberg in 1855; was ad- mitted to the bar in 1858. and located in Tiffin, where he is still in the practice of the law.
John McCauley was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, Decem- ber 10, 1834. He was educated in the university at Delaware. where he finished his course in 1859. He was admitted to the bar in 1860; located in Tiffin and was elected prosecuting attorney in 1865, which office he held for four years. He was elected a mem- ber of the late constitutional convention to fill the vacancy created by the death of Dr. O'Conner. In October, 1879. he was elected a judge of the court of common pleas, and upon his retirement from the bench he resumed the practice of the law, in which he is still actively engaged. being one of the most prominent attorneys of the county.
Harrison Noble was born in Wayne county. Ohio. January 28, 1826, and was admitted to the bar in 1849, when he located in Tiffin. He was city solicitor for four years, and was also mayor of Tiffin.
James A. Norton was admitted to the practice of law in 1879, but being a born politician. it was difficult for him to confine him- self to professional pursuits. He served his county for a num- ber of terms in the legislature of the state. and his district in con- gress for six years. Further political honors no doubt yet await him.
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The first court held in Tiffin was on the 12th day of April, 1824.
The first session of the supreme court here began on July 28, 1826, before Jacob Burnett and Charles R. Sherman, supreme judges.
R. Dickinson was the first lawyer here. He settled in Fort Ball at a very early date. A. Rawson was the second resident lawyer. Mr. Rawson remained in Tiffin, but Mr. Dickinson removed shortly after to Lower Sandusky-Fremont.
These early judges and lawyers generally traveled their cir- cuits on horseback, carrying their books, briefs and other docu- ments in saddlebags, and had to ford streams, as there were no bridges in the first settlement.
Joshua Seney was one of the pioneer lawyers of Tiffin. He was clerk of the supreme court and one of the early treasurers of Seneca county. He was the father of the late George E. Seney, and had two other sons, lawyers.
George E. Seney read law in the office of L. A. Hall, and was admitted to practice in 1852.
In 1857 he was elected judge of the court of common pleas. In 1858 the office of district attorney of the United States was tendered him, which he declined. He was the quartermaster of the One Hundred and First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and after serving two years returned to his profession. He was a member of congress, the author of "Seney Code" and was an able advocate and successful practitioner.
Lafayette L. Lang, son of William Lang, a native of Seneca county, was admitted to the bar in 1877.
H. J. Weller, a native of Seneca county, was admitted to the bar in 1880.
Gerald E. Sullivan, a native of Tiffin, was admitted to the bar in 1878. Upton F. Cramer, who was born in Seneca county, was admitted an attorney in 1878.
Miss Nettie Cronise was admitted to the practice of law in 1873. She married N. B. Lutes, who had been admitted to the bar on the same day.
Miss Florence Cronise graduated from Heidelberg college in 1876, was later admitted to the bar and is now in practice in Tiffin.
Miss Edith Sams read law and was admitted to the bar. She later married Lawyer Seiders.
J. M. Belver, a native of Seneca county, was admitted an at- torney at law in 1878.
Warren F. Noble, son of Warren P. Noble, studied law in his father's office ; he was educated in the state university and admitted to the bar, at Columbus.
Vol. I-20
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Lester Sutton, Attica, born in 1836, in Steuben county, New York, was admitted to the bar in 1867.
John P. Cornell went to Cincinnati; studied under Abel Rawson; died at Cincinnati.
Alexander Brown, a native of Perry county, Ohio, born in 1832, was admitted to the bar in 1864, and settled at Fostoria in 1872.
James R. Wilson, born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1825, settled with his parents in Bloom township, in April, 1834; he was admitted an attorney at law in 1866.
John W. Schaufelberger, born at Fostoria, January 29, 1853, studied at Heidelberg College; continued law readings in Judge Seney's office, and was admitted to the bar in 1877.
Rush Abbott, born in Seneca county, was admitted to the bar April 12, 1877.
Guilford B. Keppell, born in Seneca county, May 8, 1845, graduated from Heidelberg College in 1869, admitted an attorney at law in 1871, and was elected prosecutor in 1879.
H. C. Keppell. born in Seneca county, March 20, 1847, studied at Heidelberg College, and was admitted to the bar in 1872.
Jacob F. Bunn, born in Seneca county, June 6, 1847, grad- uated from Heidelberg College in 1870, was admitted to the bar in 1871 and elected probate judge in 1878.
Jacob K. Hottal, born in Seneca county, October 8, 1846, was admitted to the bar in 1871, and two years later became editor of the Tiffin Star.
William M. Johnson was elected and re-elected probate judge.
Frank Dildine, born at Tiffin. October 15. 1849, graduated from Heidelberg College in 1869, and was admitted to the bar in 1872.
John K. Rohn, now a lawyer of Tiffin, is a native of Clinton township.
The following were the associate judges of Seneca county un- der the old constitution.
Jacques Hulburt, one of the pioneers of Fort Seneca, and who taught the first grammer school in the county, was elected associate judge of Seneca county in 1824.
Mathew Clark, elected associated judge in 1824, was an old settler of Eden township.
William Cornell, one of the pioneers of the county, was elected associate judge in 1824.
Agreen Ingraham, the first sheriff, was subsequently elected treasurer, and filled a large space in the pioneer official life of the county. £ He was elected associate judge in 1831.
Selden Graves, who was elected associate judge in 1831, was
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a pioneer physician; a man, in word and deed, of the old, old school. He settled in Eden township, March 6, 1822. He served from 1831 to the close of his term on the bench.
Benjamin Pittinger, born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1798, came to Tiffin in September. 1825, with his brother John, and opened a store there, which they carried on until 1834. In 1832 they established the Perry street tannery. Benjamin Pittinger, was elected associate judge in 1831 on the Whig ticket, and served on the bench with Judge Higgins for many years. In 1860 he moved to his farm in Eden township.
Henry Colgate Brish, elected associate judge in 1838, was a native of Frederick county, Maryland, born in 1799, died near Tiffin, in February, 1866. In 1809 he was clerk in the recorder's office of that county, and remained until 1824, when he married Mrs. Eleanor S. Carey. In July, 1828. they came to Seneca coun- ty, making the trip in a small covered phaeton, and arriving July 6th, that year. Mrs. Brish, noticed among the pioneers, died recently. General Brish succeeded Montgomery as agent for the Senecas.
Andrew Lugenbeel. born in Maryland, in 1806, moved to Seneca county in 1832, was elected associate judge in 1838, and re- elected in 1845. He died December 10, 1863, thirteen years after his judicial term ended.
Lowell Robinson settled in Bloom township, section 8, in 1823, was elected associate judge in 1838, was one of the pioneers of Tiffin. At the beginning of his public career in the county he was deputy sheriff. He was elected coroner in 1830, and associate judge in 1845.
Henry Ebbert was one of the hatters of Tiffin in early days, and always one of the city's working politicians. He was elected associate judge in 1845, and was one of the leaders of the American or Know-nothing party of this county in 1852-55.
Thomas Lloyd was elected associate judge to fill vacancy, and served until the office was abolished.
The associate judges were elected by the legislature for terms of seven years. They were not lawyers, but were selected from the business men of the county, generally from the party having the majority in the legislature. The constitution of 1850 abolished the office.
Andrew Lugenbeel, William Toll and Henry Ebert were elected in 1845.
Thomas Lloyd was also elected to fill a vacancy.
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HON. JAMES PURDY'S REMINISCENCES.
Hon. James Purdy, who was one of the pioneer lawyers of Richland county, and who founded the first Whig paper in Mans- field, attended the early sittings of the first courts in Seneca county. gave the late Mr. Lang the following descriptions of scenes and incidents in connection with the practice in those early days :
"At the age of eighty-seven I retain vividly in my memory amusing anecdotes of the bar in those early days, a few specimens of which I give, that you may, if you desire, incorporate in proper language in your history of Seneca county. In those days each circuit had a president judge-a lawyer-and in each county there were three associate judges-country gentlemen. The law- yers called this the 'Demarara team.' A sailor was fined, and as he stepped up to the clerk to pay, said he hoped the Demarara team was now satisfied. He was asked to explain, when he said: 'In the Island of Demarara a team is composed of three mules and a jackass.'
"Some of the members of the bar traveled the circuit with the judge. This, the second circuit, was composed of the counties of Richland, Huron, Sandusky, Seneca, Crawford, Marion and Wood, the latter being organized in the winter of 1823-4. The members of the bar that traveled with Judge Lane were: Parish, of Column- bus, Purdy, Parker, May and Coffinberry, of Mansfield, and Bolt, of Norwalk. All these practiced in Seneca county. The two first named handled the whole circuit. except Wood county, which was then inaccessible on horseback a great portion of the year. That county was reached by the members of the bar of Norwalk by sail boats from Sandusky City. These circuitizers were called 'Judge Lane's gang.' They traveled on horseback, and in the spring term had muddy roads and deep streams to ford. sometimes nearly covering their horses. often affording amusing incidents. Coffin- berry, May, Parker and myself left Tiffin for New Haven one day on the then traveled road. Two well-to-do farmers on that road had a suit tried at that term, Purdy for plaintiff and Coffinberry for the defendant. Contrary to his usual practice, Coffinberry abused the plaintiff personally. Six miles out they found a branch of Rocky creek more than mid-side deep to their horses and over- flowing it banks. Coffinberry, having been a sailor in his day, deemed it prudent to head up stream, and making allowance for lee-way, got out of the road and ran his horse against a tissue which was covered with water; his horse, 'Old Tom,' fell, the girt broke, rider, saddle and saddle bags went over his head into the water. He got out as best he could and the journey was resumed. We reached the main stream. which was considered too deep to ven- ture across that day. Here the plaintiff resided. In sight on
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the other side was the residence of the defendant. The gang determined to ask the hospitality of the plaintiff, but Coffinberry vehemently protested. Judge Clark, the plaintiff, most cheer- fully received us, took Coffinberry into a room and gave him a suit of dry clothes, treating him more kindly than the rest of us, and would not permit him to apologize.
"They left Tiffin for Norwalk on Sunday morning with Judge Lane, and reached 'Strong's ridge' and 'Strong's tavern,' tired, hungry and thirsty. The family was absent, and the house closed. They went to the barn, where they found oats and fed their horses. Then they got into the house and into Aunt Molly's cupboard, where they found plenty of good, fresh-baked bread, biscuits, pies and all necessary accompaniments for a good dinner. of which they heartily partook. The bar was locked also, but the contents of a bottle that had the appearance of brandy attracted their atten- tion. With the tongs, through a hole in the window, they caught the decanter by the nozzle and pulled it to the opening, where the thirsty customers were accommodated. It was emptied. Leav- ing in the bar double the amount of the usual charge, they closed the house, mounted and left. They soon met Mr. Strong and lady coming from church with quite a number of friends to partake of Aunt Molly's nice dinner, which they had just consumed. They left the judge to apologize as best he could and went on their way.
"Fort Ball, on the west side of the river, had been an appli- cant for the county seat and failed; consequently there were fre- quent controversies between citizens of the two places. Mr. Hedges bought Fort Ball and combined their interests. A log jail was built in Tiffin, in which was left a very heavy piece of timber, hewed. . The proprietor of Fort Ball was a tall, handsome man, and full of mettle. Parish had been his attorney. One day dur- ing a term of court, Parish commenced a suit against him for fees, and had him imprisoned. He raised the heavy timber, smashed the door to pieces. and made his way down street. Parish saw him and asked him how he got out of prison. He answered, 'I took myself out on a writ of habeas corpus.' Parish, learning the facts, dismissed the suit and forgave the debt.
"Members of the bar played cards at night for small sums of money, and sometimes were indicted for the same. One morning in court a jury was sworn to try a case in which Parish was of counsel. The prosecuting attorney, Mr. Sea, interrupted business and asked leave to arraign a person then in court, against whom an indictment had just been found. Leave was granted. He called Mr. Parish to stand up, and read to him an indictment con- taining two counts for gambling with cards. Parish promptly responded to one count, which he said was a gentleman's game, and plead guilty. To the other he plead 'not guilty,' and said,
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'that d-d shoemaker's game, I never play.' (Sea formerly was a shoemaker by trade.)
"J. Boyd, a farmer and early pioneer on Honey creek, boxed a young fellow's ears at a log rolling, for which he was indicted. William Clark, also an early pioneer and a farmer, had an old fashioned fisticuff with a neighbor. for which he was indicted also. Their trials came on at the same term : each determined to defend himself. Mr. Boyd's case was first heard. The witnesses were examined and the prosecuting attorney addressed the jury. Uncle Jimmy, although a very intelligent man, found himself very much embarrassed in examining the witnesses, and his speech in defense was a failure. He sat down discomfited. O. Parish volunteered to reply on behalf of the state, and scored him severely. He was found guilty and fined five dollars, the ordinary charge in such cases at that time.
"Uncle Billy was intelligent and had practiced in justice's courts, besides he was naturally shrewd. His case came on. In examining the witnesses he did well. The prosecuting attorney made a short speech intending to give Parish full space to reply to Uncle Billy. The judge said, 'Mr. Clark, do you wish to ad- dress the jury?' Having the fear of Parish before his eyes, he answered : 'No, your Honor, that little speech is not worthy of an answer.' Parish was disappointed. being cut off in this manner.
"A large portion of the early pioneers of Seneca county enii- grated from New York. In that state grand jurors receive no pay. The sheriff selected them from the most independent free-holders, who could afford to spend their time and money. They organized and adopted certain rules for their government. For absence at roll call they were fined a bottle of brandy. The Seneca county grand jury adopted the same rule, and the full bottle was always on the table. Judge Lane was notified of the rule, gave the grand jury a blowing up, ordered its repeal, and the practice discon- tinued.
"Now these things were quite amusing to us, but whether the present generation will take any interest in them is for you to judge."
THE TIFFIN BAR IN POETRY.
It was a custom in Seneca county fifty years and more ago for the Seneca County Bar Association to hold annual banquets. The third of these gatherings was held on the evening of Novem- ber 30, 1855, at the "Shawhan." In response to the toast "The Tiffin Bar." Judge William Lang responded with the following poem :
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When vulgar minds with epithets have done, And spent on us their last of common fun ; When poets, statesmen, warriors, one and all, Have run their course on this terrestrial ball. The fame of Tiffin's green bag knights shall stand, Comparing well with any in the land. There's John J. Steiner, and our brother Scott. The former now enjoys a farmer's lot, The latter, charmed by Kate and Cupid's tune. Has left the earth and moved to honeymoon. Because for law he never cared a feather, So off he went with love, shoes, boots and leather. Whenever ye in business counsel need, Or need another in your cause to plead, And ye in custody, and charged with crime, And ve whose creditors no prose cr rhyme Can soothe ;- and ye whose debtors stubborn be. (Provided you always come with a fee, ) Here Rawson lives, and Watson, Pillars, too, Johnson and Stem, Hall, Seney, Lamareaux; Noble, Cronise, Dildine, Griffith, Ike, Say nothing of the self-made lawyer Pike; Here's Wilson, who once prosecutor, late, Was chosen our own senator of state; And he who much abounds in worlds and fun, Of ready action, T. C. Tunison ; Here's Johnny Payne, the man who, by-the-by- Was representative-near six feet high ;
And Landon, Lee, who always for a song
Will make wrong right, and change right into wrong; Omnipotent John Smith, and Stickney, Way, Pittenger, Martin, Hedges, who, they say, Has left the law-the higher, nobler rank, And gone astray, with money-into bank. Patterson, Birnside, at last, not least, There's no such man as Welch, from west to east ! While on the bench of people's probate court, Sits our esteemed and worthy John K. Hord; Robert G. Pennington, poor fellow, gone To see the railroad matters all alone ; And Gibson-so agreed among the gods, Is treasurer of state by many odds.
Let satire scoff, and wicked critics frown, There's no such galaxy from congress down ! Represented well in every station, Look first to the counsel of the nation, Then to the officers of state-then see The senate's chairman-one of us was he; And in the lower house, our Noble sat. While we at home supplied the bench at that ; Made school directors, and encouraged science. Turned stumpers and set statesmen at defiance; Practiced philanthropy in christian meekness, Made money, too, from other people's weakness,
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Attended fairs and studied agriculture,
In short, watched everything from pink to vulture.
So. onward, brethren, let us stand together,
In fortune's rays ; in adverse, stormy weather ; Now push about the social flowing bowl, Drink lusty draughts, fraternal flow of soul, And may he now, and ever be a beast, Who feels no joy in this fraternal feast. And one and all, take counsel, be advised, By no temptation let us be enticed
To lose the secret of this earthly life,
So full of blessings, full of peace and strife;
May each and every noble, honest heart Be truly man, and bravely act his part;
And when we've finished every case below, When nature's law shall bid us hence to go,
To meet the Judge of nations at the bar Of His tribunal in the world afar;
May each in peace, prepared to close the race,
Make out himself a good, conclusive case.
The name of every lawyer then in Seneca county is here given except the writer's.
LAWYERS WHO TRAVELED THE CIRCUIT.
Judge Burnett, in his reminiscences of the pioneer courts, wrote : "The journeys of the court and bar to the remote places through the country in its primitive state, were unavoidably at- tended with fatigue and exposure. They generally traveled with five or six in company, and with a pack horse to transport such necessaries as- their own horses could not conveniently carry, be- cause no dependence could be placed on obtaining supplies on the route ; although they frequently passed through Indian camps and villages, it was not safe to rely on them for assistance. Occasion. ally small quantities of corn could be purchased for horse feed, but even that relief was precarious and not to be relied on. In con. sequence of the unimproved condition of the country, the routes followed by travelers were necessarily circuitous and their progress slow. In passing from one county seat to another they were generally from six to eight, and sometimes ten days in the wilder- ness, and at all seasons of the year were compelled to swim every water course in their way which was too deep to be forded; the country being wholly destitute of bridges and ferries. travelers had, therefore, to rely on their horses as the only substitute for those conveniences. That fart made it common. when purchas- ing a horse, to ask if he were a good swimmer, which was considered one of the most valuable qualities of a saddle horse."
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