USA > Ohio > Ohio's progressive sons; a history of the state; sketches of those who have helped to build up the commonwealth > Part 52
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Linn Walker Hull,
Deceased, late Judge of the Sixth Ohio Judicial Circuit, was born on the 9th of April, 1856, on a farm in Perkins Township, Erie County, Ohio, near the city of Sandusky. His parents, John Linn Hull and Angeline Walker Hull, were both natives of this country, the father coming from Washington County, Pennsylvania, and the mother from New York State. Both settled in Ohio at an early age, and continuously lived in the State until the time of their death. Mr. John Linn Hull, the father of Judge Hull, was one of the leading
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farmers of the county, and was twice elected County Commissioner on the Republican ticket, when the county was Democratic. He was a member of the Board of Education of the township and a Township Trustee. The parents of Judge Hull's mother, Samuel Walker and wife, were pioneer settlers in Sandusky, and were two of the founders of the Congregational Church there in 1819. Judge Hull received his education in the district schools, the high school of Sandusky, the Oberlin College, Cornell University and the Cincinnati Law School, graduating from the latter institution in May, 1883, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. His admittance to the bar dates from June, 1883, when he immediately took up the practice of his pro- fession. The first office to which he was elected on the Republican ticket, having always been an uncompromising Republican, was that of member of the Board of Education for the Sec- ond Ward, of the city of Sandusky, Ohio, serv- ing a full term of two years. He was re-elected to that position, and during his incumbency of the second term was elected Common Pleas Judge in November, 1896. Three years later, in October, 1899, he resigned his position to accept an appointment as Circuit Judge, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge R. B. King, and, in November, 1900, he was LINN WALKER HULL elected to that responsible position to a full term of six years. Judge Hull has, since he became of age, always been an active worker in the Republican ranks, and has served his party often and faithfully. He received the nominations for Prosecuting Attorney for Erie County in 1885 and 1888, and, while he ran ahead of his ticket both times, he was defeated, owing to the county then being heavily Democratic. In the years of 1887, 1893, 1895 he was Chairman of the Republican Execu- tive Committee of Erie County, resigning when nominated for Common Pleas Judge. He was a delegate from the Thirteenth Congressional District of Ohio to the Republican National Convention at St. Louis in 1896 that nominated Mckinley. As a jurist, Judge Hull gained an enviable reputation for wise decisions, legal knowledge and uprightness of character. Never has a word of reproach been cast upon him for any of his judicial acts. He was broad in his sympathies, and of a kind and gentle nature. In fraternal circles of the Masons and Elks Judge Hull was a prominent and popular factor. On the 18th of July, 1883, he was united in marriage to Mary Emily Hall, of Cincinnati. She died in August, 1887, leaving three daughters. Judge Hull died on the 27th of May, 1905.
Frank H. Kerr,
Judge of the Probate Court, of Jefferson County, Ohio, and a leading attorney of Steubenville, was born on the 5th of February, 1862, near Richmond, Ohio. His father, William E. Kerr, was a farmer and a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, while his mother, Mary A. Stoneman, was born at Leesville, Carroll County, in the same State. Judge Kerr is
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of Scotch-Irish blood. His early life was spent on the farm on which he was born, and his boyhood days were passed in the pursuits and pleasures natural to one in that position of life. In the schools of Richmond and at Richmond College Judge Kerr received his education, but he did not graduate from college, owing to the fact that necessity compelled him to earn his living by his own unaided efforts. Careful study, however, more than made up for the loss of his collegiate course. He studied law while Deputy Clerk of the court he is now the Judge of and was admitted to the bar on Octo- ber 8, 1891, and became engaged in the prac- tice of his profession. During all his active life Judge Kerr has been a staunch Republican. He was elected Judge of the Probate Court of Jefferson County, Ohio, in November, 1899, and entered upon the duties of that office on the 9th of February, 1900, and again in 1902 he was nominated and elected to the same office, which term will expire on the 8th of Feb- FRANK H. KERR ruary, 1906. Judge Kerr is identified with many secret organizations. He is a member of the K. of P., I. O. O. F., and a Mason of all branches and degrees except the thirty-third degree. The Protestant faith embraces his religious prin- ciples, and he attends and is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church, of Steubenville, Ohio.
CHARLES F. MALSBARY
Charles F. Malsbary,
Of Cincinnati, Judge of the Probate Court, of Hamilton County, was born in 1857 in this county, in which he has been identified with the legal profession all his active life. Of Ger- man-English extraction his early life was spent on the farm of his father, Mr. Job Malsbary, where he acquired the sound and healthy con- stiution which later in life was of incal- culable value .to him in his struggle for success. The first rudiments of his educa- tion were obtained in the public schools of his native district, and he later attended the High School of Clermont County. Desiring to re- ceive a collegiate education, he matriculated at the National Normal College, at Lebanon, Ohio, graduating from that seat of learning with honors. He then entered the Cincinnati Law School and graduated from there with the
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class of 1889. This marked the commencement of his career as an attorney, which has been a very successful one. Judge Malsbary is a jurist of more than ordinary ability, thoroughly grounded in the knowledge and details of his profession, of pleasing personality, and of broad human sympathies. His name is a synonym for probaty, honesty and ability. In political life Judge Malsbary has always taken a keen and active interest in the affairs of the great Republican party, and has rendered that party many valuable services, particularly by his public addresses during many campaigns. His style of oratory is effective. His arguments are plain, direct and convincing, and he has the power of making a deep and lasting impres- sion upon his audiences. The first political office held by Judge Malsbary was as census enumerator in Clermont County, in 1880. Ten years later he occupied the same position in Hamilton County. In the fall of 1904, after the death of Judge Nippert, Charles F. Malsbary was appointed Judge of the Probate Court of Hamilton County, Ohio, which position he holds to the entire satisfaction of the people and added honor to himself. He is a member of the Blaine Club and of the Stamina Republican League, in both of which organi- zations he is recognized as a leading spirit. Judge Malsbary resides at Rossmoyne, a pretty suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Ulysses L. Marvin, LL. D.,
Of Akron, Ohio, Judge of the Circuit Court of the Eighth Ohio Circuit, was born on the 14th of March, 1839, at Stow, Summit County, Ohio. His father, Ulysses Marvin, was a native of Connecticut and of English ancestry. The Marvins settled in Connecticut in the early part of the seventeenth century. Judge Mar- vin's mother was Elizabeth Bradley, whose ancestors were also among the early English settlers of Connecticut. Young Marvin received his education in the public schools in the neigh- borhood of his home, until at the age of 13 he was sent to the Twinsburg Academy, where he remained for some time pursuing academic studies. He then entered the Franklin Insti- tute, in which his scholastic education was fin- ished. At the age of 16 he commenced teach- ing in a country school, and in 1861 and 1862 was Superintendent of the common schools at Kent, Portage County, Ohio. While engaged in that occupation he took up the preliminary ULYSSES L. MARVIN, LL. D. study of law under H. B. Foster, whose influence and instructions were most helpful. According to the family traditions, the Marvin men have either been clergymen or lawyers for many generations. In compliance with the wish of his father, Judge Marvin determined to enter upon the study of law in earnest, and to equip himself for practice with as little delay as possible. With that object in view he entered the office of Edgerton & Sanders, the former of whom was afterwards appointed Governor of the Territory of Montana, and the lat- ter elected the first United States Senator upon the admission of that Territory to Statehood. On he 2nd of May, 1860, Judge Marvin was admitted to the bar at Canton, Ohio, and began practicing his profession in partnership with Mr. Sanders. Shortly afterwards, upon the
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outbreak of the Civil War, his law preceptor entered the Union Army and young Marvin commenced teaching school at Kent. In August, 1862, Judge Marvin enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteers. In 1864 he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and in the spring of 1865 was breveted Major, his commission reading "for gallant and meritorious service." He was severely wounded before Richmond on the 29th of September, 1864. Judge Marvin participated in all the engagements of his division during the sieges of Richmond and Petersburg. At the close of the war, in 1865, he was appointed Judge Advocate of the district of Newborn, North Carolina, and remained in that service until the 4th of October, 1865, by which time civil government had been established. Upon being mustered out of service he at once returned to his native State and commenced the practice of law in Portage County. In the fall of 1867 he removed to Akron, where he formed a partnership with J. J. Hall, which continued until 1869, when he was elected Probate Judge, serving six years. He then formed a partnership with Mr. Foster and Charles A. Grant, the firm being Foster, Marvin & Grant. In 1883 he withdrew from that firm, having been appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Upon retiring from the Common Pleas Bench he formed a partnership with Mr. F. M. Atterholt. Judge Marvin retired when he was elected to his present position as Judge of the Circuit Court of Ohio, in 1894. To that position he was again elected in 1900. In the same year Kenyon College conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL. D. Judge Marvin, when in practice, enjoyed a large and lucrative business, having been engaged in many important cases. He is a lawyer of ability and orator of note; he has delivered a number of addresses and made many political speeches. In politics he has always been a Republican and manifested commendable inter- est in political affairs, taking such active part as his law practice and judicial positions would permit. He is the Senior Warden of the Vestry of the St. Pauls Protestant Episcopal Church, at Akron, and is an active member of the Loyal Legion and the G. A. R.
H. B. Maynard,
Attorney at law at Washington Court House, Ohio, and ex-Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. of the second division, of the Fifth Judicial District of Ohio, ranks among the foremost lawyers of Fayette County. He was born in Massachusetts, but grew up to manhood in New Hampshire. After having obtained a thorough education Judge Maynard took up the study of law. was admitted to the bar in Vermont, and took up his profession. In 1854 he came to Ohio and settled in Washington Court House, where he has been continuously engaged in the prosecution of his chosen profession. Judge Maynard has always been an enthusiastic Republican and a willing worker in the ranks of his party, taking an active interest in State, Judicial, Congressional and County nominating conventions. He always was an efficient member of the local Executive Committees, as well as a speaker on the issues of the day. For many years Judge
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Maynard has held a place on the City Council and also on the School Board of Washington Court House. In 1868-69, he filled the position of Prosecuting Attorney of Fayette County. After the expiration of his term he took up the general practice of law, in which he was engaged with marked success until 1894, when he was appointed Judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas to fill a vacancy made by the death of Judge Gregg. In the fall of the same year Judge Mayard was elected to the same office by a majority of 2,300 over Arch Mayo, of Chil- licothe. Judge Maynard is the father of five sons, Herbert, John P., Walter, Augustus and Horatio.
Willis Seymour Metcalfe,
Of Chardon, Judge of the Common Pleas Court, was born on the 26th of October, 1853, in the city in which he resides. His parents, Eben Metcalfe and Lovisa Chapin Metcalfe, were both natives of Enfield, Connecticut. The father was a carpenter by trade, who, after working in that capacity for a number of years, engaged in the lumber business in New York prior to 1850, but, meeting with financial reverses, he left that State and settled in Ohio. He was a descendent of Michael Metcalfe, who settled at Dedham, Massachusetts, in the first half of the Seventeenth Century. The mother of Judge Metcalfe was a descendent of Deacon Samuel Chapin, one of the first settlers of Springfield, Massachusetts. Receiving his early education in the public schools of Char- don, Judge Metcalfe later took up the study of the law, was admitted to the bar before the Su- preme Court of Ohio on the 14th of April, 1878, WILLIS SEYMOUR METCALFE and commenced the practice of his chosen pro- fession, in which he has become pre-eminently successful. His career as a public official started when at the age of 37 years he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Geauga County, a posi- tion he held for three successive terms, from 1891 to 1900. On the 4th of January, 1901, he was appointed by Governor Nash Judge of the Common Pleas Court to succeed Judge D. W. Canfield, deceased. In November of the same year he was elected to the same position. In politics Judge Metcalfe has always been a staunch Republican, and he is recognized as a leader of his party in his part of the State. On the 7th of February, 1884, he was married to Hattie Morton, and by that union he is the father of one daughter, Garda Metcalfe. Judge Metcalfe and his family are members of the First Congregational Church, of Chardon. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the I. O. O. F.
Jacob Kreider Mower,
Deceased, late Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, of the Second Sub- division of the Second Ohio District, with headquarters located at Springfield, Ohio, was a man who commanded the utmost respect of the members of the Clarke County bar and the people of his district in general. Judge Mower was of German ancestry and a native of
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Pennsylvania, born in Franklin County, that State. His parents were George Mower, a far- mer, and Mary Kreider, both natives of Pennsylvania. He received his education in the Mas- sillon High School, the Ohio Wesleyan University and the Ohio University, from which edu- cational institution he was graduated in 1876 with the degrees of A. B. and A. M. Starting in public life at the age of 18 years as a teacher, he followed that profession for a number of years, carefully saving his earnings to obtain the necessary funds for a higher education, deciding to become a lawyer, to which profession, after careful preparation, he was admitted in 1856. After his admission to the bar he practiced law with marked success until 1900, when he was appointed by Governor Nash to fill the unexpired term of the late Judge John C. Mil- ler, after the expiration of which he was elected to the same position. Judge Mower was a strong follower of Republican principles, but opposed to all machine methods in politics, and in favor of but one term of office. In 1868 he was elected City Solicitor of Springfield; he was a member of the Ohio Legislature in 1870- 1871, and during his incumbency of that office belonged to the standing committees on Munici- pal Corporations and Public Works. In 1872 he was elected a member of the Springfield Board of Education, which position he held until 1877, occupying the chair in that body. Judge Mower was a natural orator, and pos- sessed all the qualities that are bound to make a man successful in everything he. undertakes. He had strong intellectual endowments, clear conceptions and great powers of logic and analysis. As a lawyer he possessed unusual abilities, and as a man he was kind-hearted, public-spirited and charitable. He had a host of admirers and friends. His demise in the spring of 1905 caused sincere grief in the com- munity in which Judge Mower had labored faithfully during all his active life. JACOB KREIDER MOWER
Felix G. Slone,
Judge of the Common Pleas Court, Wilmington, Ohio, was born on the 28th of July, 1826, at Goshen, Clermont County, Ohio. His father, William Slone, was a native of Ohio, born on the 19th of March, 1801, near the city of Cincinnati. His mother was a native Ken- tuckian. Judge Slone's early education was gained in the old-time district school until he reached the age of 19 years, when he entered the Friend's School at Martinsville, where he remained the greater part of three years, teaching during the winter months and thereby earning sufficient to allow him to continue his studies in the summer. He taught school until the autumn of 1853, when, after having studied law, he was admitted to the bar and practiced his profession until the commencement of the Civil War. Enlisting in the Union Army, in 1861, as a private, he was mustered out in 1863 as Captain of the Seventieth Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, having during the time of his service gained three commis- sions, that of Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, and, as mentioned above, Captain, which
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position he later resigned. Upon his return he settled at Georgetown, remaining there one year, and from there he permanently settled at Wilmington, his present home, forming a law partnership with Captain F. O. Hildebrandt. The firm flourished for nine years, when Cap- tain Hildebrandt retired and was succeeded by Hon. Levi Mills, under the firm name of Slone & Mills. At the end of two years Lewis J. Walker took the place of Mr. Mills, the firm then becoming Slone & Walker. For ten suc- ceeding years this firm was actively engaged in business, when Mr. Walker retired and J. C. Martin became the partner under the firm name of Slone & Martin. This firm was dis- solved on the 14th of April, 1903, when Mr. Slone was appointed one of the Judges of the Common Pleas Court for the Third Sub-divis- ion of the Second Judicial District of Ohio. He was nominated on the Republican ticket, in FELIX G. SLONE 1903, to fill the unexpired term of his prede- cessor, without opposition, and was elected. In April of the following year he again received the nomination, this time for the full term of five years, and in the coming election he was re-elected by an increased majority. Judge Slone married Catharine Hodson on the 24th of
August, 1848, and was the father of six children, all of whom died in infancy. His wite died on the 23rd of August, 1900, and on the Ist of May, 1904, Judge Slone was united in marriage to Anna Hopkins. The judge is a member of the I. O. O. F., G. A. R. and Elks.
Caleb H. Norris,
Of Marion, Ohio, Judge for the Third Dis trict of Ohio, was born on the 29th of Septem- ber, 1850, in Marion County, Ohio, the son of Daniel Norris and Rosanna French Norris, the former being a native of Ohio and the latter of Virginia, now West Virginia. Judge Norris has been a life-long Democrat, and for eight years was Prosecuting Attorney of Marion County. In January, 1885, he was appointed Common Pleas Judge of the Second Subdi- vision, Tenth District, embracing the counties of Marion, Crawford and Wyandotte, by Gov- ernor George Hoadly. Subsequently he was elected for three terms to the Common Pleas Bench and served continuously until the 9th
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of February, 1897, when he, being elected Cir- cuit Judge, became the incumbent of that dis- tinguished position. Judge Norris served in that branch of the Judiciary of the State ever since, his term expiring on the 9th of February, 1909. Judge Norris is closely identified with many industrial and banking enterprises in his home county. He is Vice President of the Norris & Christian Lime & Stone Co., of Marion ; member of the Board of Directors of The Central Ohio Loan & Trust Co., and The Marion Telephone Company, and he is also connected with other bank and manufacturing industries in his home city.
James C. Tobias,
Judge of the Common Pleas Court, ranks among the foremost members of the bar of Bucyrus, Ohio, and Crawford County. After JAMES C. TOBIAS obtaining a thorough education and collegiate training, he took up the study of the law and was admitted to practice, at the age of twenty- one years. Judge Tobias is a staunch Democrat, who has served his party and the people quite satisfactorily. For six years he was Probate Judge, and he is serving now his second term as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, being re-elected to his second term without opposition. While serving in these judicial offices, Judge Tobias also served for fifteen years as member of the Board of Educa- tion of the city of Bucyrus, ten successive years of which he acted as President of that body.
Charles S. Reed,
Of Sandusky, Ohio, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, First Subdivision of the First Judicial District of Ohio, was born at North Fairfield, Huron County, Ohio, in the year 1862, being a son of Dr. D. H. Reed, an hon- ored citizen of Huron County, and a member of the Ohio Legislature from 1892 to 1896. He was educated at Oberlin and Ohio Wes- leyan University, and after reading law in the office of Kennan & Kennan at Norwalk, Ohio, he took the law course at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
In the fall of 1884 the young man went to Kansas and settled at Fredonia, at which place he was admitted to practice as an attorney after an examination before the District Court in May, 1885. Shortly afterwards he was
CHARLES S. REED
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admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Kansas, and he was later admitted to prac- tice in the United States Circuit and District Courts and in the United States Court of Appeals. Mr. Reed practiced law in Fredonia until the spring of 1897, and was counsel for two important railroads-the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the St. Louis & San Francisco, with headquarters at Topeka.
During his residence in Kansas, Mr. Reed was twice elected Prosecuting Attorney of his home county, in 1888 and 1890, which office he filled with honor to himself and his constituents alike. In the year 1896 he was a candidate for the office of State Senator on the Republican ticket, and though in that year the entire ticket was defeated, he ran ahead of his ticket throughout the district.
Family ties prompted Mr. Reed's return to his native State in the spring of 1897, and in March of that year he located at Sandusky, associating himself with Hon. Grayson Mills, ex-Common Pleas Judge, the firm style being Mills & Reed. He rapidly won his way as a practitioner at the Erie County bar. He showed himself thoroughly versed in the law, a ready and skillful cross-examiner, fluent and graceful as an advocate, and possessing the faculty of presenting his arguments in a lucid and forceful manner. As a criminal lawyer, Mr. Reed achieved much distinction.
In the fall of 1899 a vacancy was created on the Common Pleas Bench by the resignation of Judge Linn W. Hull to accept an appointment as Circuit Judge in succession to Judge E. B. King, resigned. The nomination belonged to Erie County, according to the unwrit- ten laws of politics. Mr. Reed had been an active party worker, but being a new man in the county, he had not been drawn into the factional fights which at that time were dis- rupting the local Republican party. He had demonstrated his undoubted fitness for the position, and in looking for a man upon whom all could unite, the Republican party picked him out as the strongest candidate to present to the Judicial Convention which had to nominate for the remainder of the term of Judge Hull. On the 5th of October he was unanimously and enthusiastically endorsed at a convention of the Republicans of Erie County, and the following day the Judicial Convention which met in Sandusky nominated him. The same day Governor Bushnell commissioned him as Judge to fill the office until election, and he at once assumed the duties of the office. The general sentiment upon Mr. Reed's nomination is best summed up in the following extract from an editorial article in the Sandusky Register, the local Republican organ, the day following his nomination :
"Mr. Reed has all the qualifications to fill the place with credit to himself, the bench and the bar. He is a clean-handed, honorable gentleman, a lawyer of experience and edu- cation, possesses a judicial mind, and with him on the bench all parties, lawyers, jurors and litigants, will have fair and courteous treatment."
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