History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions, Part 18

Author: Curry, W. L. (William Leontes), b. 1839
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind., B. F. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1322

USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 18

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Joseph M. Kennedy, a native of Madison county, Ohio, first read law in 1858. He studied under Harrison & McCloud, of London, Ohio. In August, 1871, he was admitted to the practice of law in this county. He was a part- ner with H. J. King for a few years and later with J. L. Cameron. He moved to Madison county and returned to Union county in 1871 and the following spring was elected mayor of Marysville and was mayor during the temperance crusade. He is now deceased.

A. T. Carpenter, a native of Delaware county, Ohio, located at Marys- ville and read law with Porter & Sterling. He was admitted to the bar in December, 1871, by the supreme court at Columbus and immediately opened a law office at Marysville. He had different partners, including W. D. Pudney and John M. Brodrick. He remained with Brodrick until the latter was elected prosecuting attorney. As early as 1873-74 he was first assistant journal clerk in the Ohio House of Representatives. He moved to Wichita, Kansas, but is now practicing law at Toledo, Ohio.

James B: Cole, son of Judge P. B. Cole, graduated in 1866 from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and served five years on the frontier of Texas in Company C. Fourth United States Cavalry, as first lieutenant. He left the service in 1871. His last duty in the military ser- vice took him to the old City of Mexico, being detailed by the secretary of war. He read law with his father, was admitted to the bar in 1872 and then located at Marysville.

Walstine D. Pudney was admitted to the bar in 1872, practiced law at Marysville for a time with A. T. Carpenter and subsequently removed to Cleveland. By birth he was a New Yorker.

A. H. Kollefrath, of German parentage, came to Marysville in 1872 and made a successful lawyer. He had been in practice for some time at Spring- field, Ohio, before coming to Union county. He is still in law at Marys- ville, where he has been mayor of the city since 1913.

William B. Hamilton, youngest son of Hon. C. S. Hamilton, read law with Col. M. C. Lawrence, was admitted to the bar, practiced for a time at Marysville and later moved to London, Ohio,

F. T. Arthur, a native of Delaware county, Ohio, a resident of Marys- ville since about 1867. read law with what spare time he could get while clerk of the courts, between 1869-75 and was admitted to the bar before the district court in January, 1874. He did not engage in practice of law, but in mercantile pursuits in Marysville. He is deceased.

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Charles W. Fairbanks, ex-vice president of the United States, a native son of Union county, was admitted to the practice of law in 1874. Imme- diately thereafter he was appointed attorney of the Indianapolis, Blooming- ton & Western Railway Company, with headquarters at Indianapolis. He was highly successful in that role and made wealth rapidly. He was elected vice-president with Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. He is a resident of In- dianapolis.

George O. Hamilton, born in Union county, Ohio, son of Dr. I. N. Hamilton, was admitted to the bar at Columbus in 1874 and for a time practiced in Marysville with Col. M. C. Lawrence. In the autumn of 1880 he formed a partnership with W. O. Henderson, but was obliged to quit on ac- count of failing health. He died at Marysville, September 1, 1882.

T. B. Fulton, formerly of the law firm of Powell, Fulton & Hoskins. was born in Homer, Licking county, Ohio. He read law with Gen. George WV. Morgan, at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar at Lima in 1875. He practiced at various points until 1876 and then opened an office in Newark, Ohio, practicing alone until 1879, when he was appointed deputy clerk of Licking county. He moved to Marysville in July, 1880, and formed a partnership with Thomas E. Powell, who still resided at Delaware. In 1882 E. L. Hoskins was made a member of the firm. Mr. Fulton is now judge of the court of common pleas at Newark, Ohio.

John M. Brodrick was born in Allen township and commenced to study law with the firm of Porter & Sterling in January, 1874. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1875. On account of hard study and indoor confinement, he did not at once take up his law practice, but taught school a few terms and regained his health on the farm where he had been reared. In Novem- ber, 1876, he commenced practice and from 1879 to 1881 was a law partner of A. T. Carpenter. He was elected prosecuting attorney in 1881, and was clerk of the municipality of Marysville four years. He read law at the same time and with the same preceptor as did Thomas B. Benton and they were both admitted at the same time. They were partners for a time. Benton was a cousin of the famous Thomas H. Benton. Mr. Broderick was elevated to the bench in 1906 and is still serving with credit to himself and the bench and bar.

Charles B. Newsom, the only colored man ever admitted to the bar in Union county, studied with P. R. Kerr at Richwood, and was admitted to the bar before the district court at Marysville, September 6, 1875. His trade was that of a barber. From Marysville he went to North Lewisburg. Ohio,

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where he practiced both as a barber and as an attorney, a queer combination. It is related that he was as good at one as the other. Subsequently. he moved to Tennessee as agent of a mutual aid association, and was still there at last accounts.

J. H. Kinkade was born in Marysville in 1853. He began reading law in the office of Robinson & Piper in 1873 and was admitted to the bar in 1875. He practiced in his native town and was elected mayor, at the same time being commissioned as a justice of the peace. He is still in active practice at Marysville.

Edward E. Cole, another son of Judge P. B. Cole, also chose law as his profession. He read under his father and was admitted to the bar in March. 1876. From 1879 to 1882 he was a justice of the peace in Marysville. He died in 1909.

A. H. Beightler, born in Paris township, Union county, read law with R. L. Woodburn, beginning in 1874, and was admitted in April, 1877. He opened an office in Marysville in 1878. In the spring of 1881 he was elected clerk of Paris township. In 1879 he succeeded R. L. Woodburn as secre- tary of the Union County Agricultural Society.

William O. Henderson, son of James A. Henderson, of Marysville, was admitted to the practice of law at Lima, Ohio, in July, 1877, and located at Columbus, where he still practices.

Others who have practiced here a shorter or longer period are as follows: Henry D. McDowell, of Holmes county ; James S. McCampbell ; W. T. Hoopes, of Morgan county, Ohio; Edward W. Porter, son of Judge John L. Porter, a member of the law firm of Porter & Porter, was born in Marysville, read law under his father, beginning in 1879, and was admitted to the bar in 1881. His first case was tried before his father near the close of his term of office as judge. The firm of Porter & Porter was formed in February, 1882. He was prosecuting attorney two terms and elected in 1913 as probate judge.

Emery L. Hoskins, of the firm of Powell. Fulton & Hoskins, became identified with the firm in 1882. He was born in Leesburg township in this county. After reading law with Col. Lawrence, and Powell and Fulton. he was admitted by the supreme court at Columbus, June 7. 1882.

The first lawyer at Richwood was Louis Blake, who located there in 1870. The next lawyer was P. Ray Kerr ; then came Seth S. Gardner and S. W. Van Winkle, the latter having been admitted in 1882. He is still in active practice at Richwood.

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Clarence Cranston practiced law at Milford Center for a short time and then removed to Topeka, Kansas. T. H. Bain, who also read law at Marys- ville, went to Kansas and formed a partnership with Mr. Cranston. M.r. Bain is now practicing in Seattle, Washington.

Robert McCrory, who served as clerk of the courts in Union county front 1888 to 1896, studied law and was admitted to the bar. He became the part- ner of J. L. Cameron for several years and later was associated with Cameron & Son. They had an extensive business, which was followed until his re- moval to Spokane, Washington, in about 1908. He still resides in that beau- tiful Western city.

There were numerous students who read law in Marysville and never practiced in Union county, but removed elsewhere. In a chapter of this character it will not be out of place to recall what the historian can con- cerning their whereabouts. These included the following: James F. Free- man was admitted in 1838. He was a resident of Madison county and was one of the few men who were admitted to the practice of law when the su- preme court was held at Marysville under the old state constitution. Lucius Case, of Licking county, was another in this class. Those who were ad- mitted by the district court are as follows :

William T. Buckner read with Robinson & Piper; admitted 1871; W. A. Beard, of Delaware county, admitted 1872; Wilson S. Bailey, admitted 1878, moved to Kansas; T. S. Cheney, admitted 1872; A. G. Carpenter, of Mansfield, admitted 1875: Stephen A. Court, non-resident, admitted 1878; Erwin G. Dudley, admitted 1854: Eugene D. Hamilton, admitted 1879; Samuel F. Marsh, from Woodstock, admitted 1868: John H. Miller, ad- mitted 1876; Richard M. McCloud, of London, Ohio, admitted 1879; Robert B. Montgomery, of Columbus, admitted 1879; Anthony J. McCaffery, ad- mitted 1875: James T. O'Donnell, of London, Ohio, admitted 1874: George H. Purdy, of Delaware county, admitted 1857, entered Union Army, was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, July, 1863: Thomas H. B. Park, read law with Robinsons & Piper, admitted 1869; removed to Kansas; George Randall, admitted 1861, served in the Union Army in Civil War, located in Kansas; Arthur I. Vorys, admitted 1869.

TIIE PRESENT BAR OF UNION COUNTY.

In December. 1914, the following were in active practice at the Union county bar : At Marysville -- Ballinger, F. Z .; Cameron, J. L .; Cameron, R. L .; Cole, James B .; Graham, Walter H .; Hoopes, Clarence ; Kinkaid, J. H. ;

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Kollefrath, A. H .; Loughrey, J. L. ; McCampbell, James ; Myers, M. L. ; Por- ter, E. W .; Piper, L .; Robinson, J. E .; Thompson, F. A .; Thornton, D. E .; Willis, J. H. At Richwood -- Van Winkle, S. W .; Simons, Arthur B .; Haines, Milton; Stiles, A. G. At Milford Center-Fullington, F. G. At Peoria-Moffitt, Nate L. At Plain City-Strayer, J. E.

PRESENT COURT OFFICERS.

The present court officers for Union county are as follows : Judge, John M. Brodrick ; prosecuting attorney, John H. Willis; clerk, John C. Harts- horn; deputy clerk, Dana L. Hartshorn; sheriff, John N. Laird; sheriff's clerk, Anna J. Laird; court stenographer, Eva Byers: bailiff and law li- brarian. George C. Edwards.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE CHURCHES OF THE COUNTY.

The numerically strong denominations in Union county have been the Presbyterians and Methodists. The Presbyterians were first to erect a building for worship. This was in Upper Liberty in 1809, the society hav- ing been formed about 1800. The church annals show that about 1799 the presbytery of Transylvania, Kentucky, was divided into three presbyteries, viz: Transylvania. West Lexington and Washington, the latter including all that portion of Ohio west of the Scioto river. Rev. Archibald Steele, a licentiate of the Washington presbytery and an uncle of Gen. William B. Irwin, a former well-known citizen of this county, was commissioned as a missionary in southwestern Ohio in the spring of 1799, with authority to visit all new settlements and make out a list of all members of his denomina- tion. Whenever they wanted a church he was to report to the presbytery for proper action. This was carried out and he visited this county and found many of his denomination who wanted a church of their choice formed as soon as practicable. Thus it will be seen that this denomination was first in the field. and hence will be first treated in this chapter.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.

As has already been stated, the Presbyterians erected the pioneer church of this county in 1809. Among the churches of this denomination the fol- lowing should ever have a place in the annals of the county and state of Ohio. Joshua Ewing and his family. James, his brother. Betsey, his sister, and their aged mother, lived in a new town on the west bank of Big Darby, named North Liberty. This was in the southeast part of what is now Darby town- ship. Here Archibald Steele organized a Presbyterian church in the fall of 1800, calling it North Liberty. Joshua Ewing and Samuel Kirkpatrick were elected elders at the organization of this, the first religious body formed in what now constitutes Union county, and one of the pioneer organizations of the state. But very few families had then settled in the neighborhood, and the membership of this church included most of them. The people lived far apart and never had a pastor nor stated supply. Neither was a house of

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worship erected and in a short time the organization was dissolved by mutual consent. Out of the materials that belonged to it, however, the churches of Upper and Lower Liberty were formed, the former being near what is now Milford Center and organized in the latter part of 1807 or early in 1808. Rev. Samuel Woods was the first pastor, from whose tombstone is taken the following: "Rev. Samuel Woods, first pastor of the Presbyter- ian church of Upper and Lower Liberty, was installed pastor in this church June 15, 1808, and died April 27, 1815, in the thirty-sixth year of his age." Mr. Woods was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, January 15. 1779. and was a graduate of Dickinson College, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

"The first house of worship erected by a religious society in Union county was built by the Presbyterians of Upper Liberty in 1809. It stood on the line dividing the farms of Rev. S. Woods and Elder Samuel Reed, between the road and the old graveyard. It was a plain, primitive building of hewn logs, twenty-four feet square. All the materials and mechanical labor were supplied by the membership. It was not necessary to consult an architect and get up plans and specifications and give out the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, and then, when dedication day came, report a few thousand as a debt to be removed before the Lord could get the building. But this primitive church edifice was for many years without the means of heating: the people, therefore, met during the winter in school houses and private dwellings. It was also very plain internally; slabs, with rude legs. were used for seats. Tradition has it that two or three families in process of time became so aristocratic as to construct backs to their pews, thus show- ing that at a very early day invidious distinctions will intrude themselves upon a church.' An addition of eighteen feet was made to one side of the old church about 1822-23, and the building was used until 1834, when a brick structure was erected at Milford Center, and the congregation re- moved there. The old house stood a mile and a half east of the village, on the north side of Darby creek."

The exact date of the organization of Lower Liberty Presbyterian church, as it was named, is unknown, but the best information obtainable makes it about 1807. AAbout the same time a similar organization, denom- inated Upper Liberty Presbyterian church, was formed in Union township. and the two societies were served by the same pastors for many years. Rev. Samuel Woods was the first pastor, until 1815.

From that date, Revs. William Dickey. Archibald Steele, James Hodge. D.D., Eller Hughes and others supplied the church until 1821. when Rev. James Robinson was installed pastor. He served the church seven years.

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Rev. Darius C. Allen was stated supply from 1829 to 1831. The year fol- lowing. Rev. Benjamin Dolbear became the pastor and continued his labors with this charge until about 1838. In 1837, Lower Liberty was rent in twain by the internal dissensions then existing in this denomination. The two factions were nearly equally divided, but a slight majority favored the Old School branch. Rev. Dolbear continued with this division. His successor, Rev. William H. Galbreath, was installed October 7, 1839, serving until April 18, 1848. Rev. Benjamin Evans was the next and last pastor of this branch. In the New School division, Rev. Henry Shedd was the only settled pastor. but Rev. Kuhn, Rev. Ulfeld and others supplied it.

Among the earliest prominent members of this church were James Ewing. Joshua Ewing, David Mitchell, Jr., David Chapman and John Taylor. The early services were probably held in private houses ; then in the school house, which stood on the lot where the first meeting house was erected. This primitive church stood on a lot of four acres, donated to the society by Walter Dun, and situated about a mile northwest of Plain City in the forks of the Post pike and the road leading northeast to Big Darby. The building was erected as early as 1820, perhaps sooner. It was a large, unfurnished frame structure ; weather-boarded, but not plastered : roofed, but without a chimney. The seats were only slabs supported by rough sticks. A broad, center aisle, at each end of which a door was originally designed, but never inserted. The women occupied one side of this room; the men held undisputed possession of the other.

This old building could not be heated and was used only during the summer. In cold weather, the school house on the same lot was brought into requisition, its more limited space proving sufficient to accommodate the few members who attended in that season. In 1836, a large brick structure, forty-six by fifty-two, was reared on the same site. It was constructed by by Mr. Gifford, of Union township. The congregation then numbered about seventy-five. Scarcely had it taken possession of this new home when the troubles arose which produced the division. Of the four ruling elders then in office. James Ewing. T. M. Ewing and John Taylor adhered to the Old School, and David Chapman united with the New School branch. While the united congregation was strongly self-supporting, both divisions were too weak to maintain efficient organizations and struggled between life and death for about sixteen years. The Old School division kept possession of the church, but by agreement the other branch had the use of the church each alternate Sabbath. About 1853 both societies disorganized. Four years later a reconciliation was effected among the members and a new organiza-

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tion entered into, which re-assumed the old name, Lower Liberty. Their church, however, was built and still stands in Plain City, Madison county, and its subsequent history by this change of location was passed from the domain of Jerome township.

Among the old and prominent families of this congregation were the Mitchells, Ewings, Robinson, Gills, Curry, Rickards, Bucks, Allens, Guys, Taylors and Chapmans. T. M. Ewing, James Ewing, Jesse Gill, Stephenson Curry, James Robinson, Jessie Mitchell and Abner Chapman were the ruling elders for many years. A number of their descendants are now prominent members of the Presbyterian church at Plain City.

As was the custom, the men sat on one side of the church and the women on the other side. In 1836 a large red brick building was erected on the same site, in which services were held until about 1850. The pul- pit was in the front of the church, so that upon entering the church one would face the congregation. The platform of the pulpit was about six feet high, and only the head and shoulders of the minister could be seen, as the front wall of the pulpit was so high. The seats all had high board backs and a door next to the aisle had a button to it, which was turned as soon as the children were all counted in. In those days families all sat in the same seat and the seat of each family was well known. Strangers and transients were seated in the rear part of the church unless invited to sit with some family. Sunday school was in the morning at 9:30, preaching at 11 :00, two prayers and a sermon an hour in length. Then came a half hour intermission for the dinner, which had been brought along in baskets. After eating all took their seats in the church for another long sermon.

The music was not classical, but there were many good voices and it was a real praise service. The singing was usually led by two of the elders of the church. As there were not a sufficient number of hymn books to go round, the two leaders would stand up in front of the pulpit and "line out" two lines of the hymn and then lead the singing. Jesse Gill and James Rob- inson were the leaders for many years. Later Benjamin Fay, who played the flute and was quite a musician, organized a choir of young people. The old red brick church drew great congregations in the summer time and it was often full to overflowing, for the people came from miles around, even as far as Milford Center and Fairview, in wagons, on horseback and on foot. When the young folks would start home on their prancing horses it would look like a troop of cavalry. The regular Sunday services usually lasted until about two o'clock. After the disorganization of the society the

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old church building was also abandoned to the birds and bats, the windows were knocked out, the yartl grew up in weeds and bushes, and so it remained until after the Civil War. In 1870 it was torn down and the brick were hauled to Plain City and used in the erection of the Presbyterian church. W. H. Galbreath. the pastor in 1839, in the old church building, lived to became ministers. Among the number were David G. Robinson, deceased, and James Curry, who preached the faith believed in and lived by their ven- erable fathers and mothers. For almost two score years Rev. James Curry, a son of Stephenson Curry, preached in California, and now has a pastorate at Newark, California.

The Milford Center Presbyterian church was organized, as now con- stituted, after its removal from the old site, east of the village, on April 8, 1838. before which time it had been known as Upper Liberty church. It had been made a part of the Marion presbytery in 1835. Its present mem- bership is about fifty. Among the pastors who have faithfully served may be recalled the following: Revs. William M. Galbreath, 1839 to 1848; James. Pelan, 1849-52; he went south and on account of his Northern senti- ments was cruelly killed by rebels; Chester H. Perkins, 1854 to 1859; Al- bert A. Thompson, 1861-65; Rev. William G. March, 1868-1878; W. H. McMeen, 1882-84: James H. Hawk, 1885-87; William T. Wardle, 1890-91 ; W. O. Toby. 1894: D. L. Myers, summer of 1896; W. M. Pocock, 1896-97 ; William B. Chancellor, summer of 1897: J. S. Surbeck, June, 1898-Septem- ber, 1902: A. M. Chapin, 1903-08; H. M. Noble, student from Lane Semi- nary, 1908. In the autumn of 1914 the church was without a pastor. In . 1834 a brick church was erected at Milford Center. It was forty-four by fifty feet and cost one thousand five hundred dollars. It was used until the fall of 1860. after which, for a year or more, the congregation used the Methodist building. In the meantime the old church was torn down, the grounds cleared off, and in March, 1871, a beautiful new edifice was dedi- cated by Rev. William G. March. This cost four thousand five hundred dollars. The building has been kept in good repair and now has furnace heat and electric lights.

The Jerome Presbyterian church was organized December 16, 1853, the first pastor being Rev. William Brinkerhoff. He decided to remain until the church concluded to become Congregational in its church policy, so, in November, 1862, he resigned as pastor. In 1867 it was again changed to the New School Presbyterian. Rev. A. N. Hamlin was made pastor, fol- lowed by Revs. Stevenson, Mason, Hill, Crow, Thomas Christ and Henry Schedd. About 1898 the Presbyterians and Methodists united and the Pres-

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byterian society disbanded. The Methodists are quite strong in that locality now.

The Providence Presbyterian church was organized in December, 1860. by Rev. Brinkerhoff. A church edifice was built in 1860. In the summer of 1861, when the division arose in the church between the Old and New School factions, this society became a Congregational church and so re- mained until 1877, when it again came into and under the rulings of the presbytery.

In York township the Presbyterian church was located near the north- eastern corner of the township, in the Joseph Miller survey. Rev. William D. Smith, then of Marysville, was the first to preach there. The congrega- tion was organized in November. 1839. Preaching was not altogether regu- lar, but it may be of historic interest to name a list of the faithful men who have served in this church as pastors. They include Revs. D. W. Smith. Sephas D. Cook, James Robinson ( then in his seventy-seventh year). Rev. James Campbell. James Smith of Marysville. Henry Hess, John W. Drake, Evan Evans, Henry Vandeman, Alex S. Thorne, Henry Shedd, John W. Thompson, Charles S. Wood. Charles W. Torrey, William G. March, and others whose names are now forgotten, but whose work lives in the hearts of the community. A church building, erected in 1855, was used until 1882. during which year a new and more modern building was provided. Its cost was about two thousand three hundred dollars.

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History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions, Part 18

Author: Curry, W. L. (William Leontes), b. 1839 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind., B. F. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1322

Author: Curry, W. L. (William Leontes), b. 1839
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind., B. F. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1322