The history of Clark County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, V. 1, Part 28

Author: Steele, Alden P; Martin, Oscar T; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers and Co.
Number of Pages: 1010


USA > Ohio > Clark County > The history of Clark County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, V. 1 > Part 28


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61



264


HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.


Snyder. 1861-63-Samuel W. Sterrett, Daniel O. Heiskell, L. B. Sprague. 1863-64-Samuel W. Sterrett, L. B. Sprague, David Hayward. 1861-65 -- Samuel W. Sterrett, David Hayward, E. B. Cassily. 1865-66-David Hay- ward, E. B. Cassily, Perry Stewart. 1866-67 -- E. B. Cassily, Perry Stewart, David Hayward. 1867-68 -- E. B. Cassily, William O. Lamme, Jacob Seitz. 1868-69 -- E. B. Cassily, William O. Lamme, William D. Johnson. 1869-70- .. E. B. Cassily, William O. Lamme, William D. Johnson. 1870-72-E. B. Cas- sily, William D. Johnson, N. M. McConkey. 1872-74-William D. Johnson, N. M. McConkey, H. G. Miller. 1874-75-H. G. Miller, N. M. McConkey, J. H. Blose. 1875-76-N. M. McConkey, J. H. Blose, George H. Frey. 1876-77


-- J. H. Blose, George H. Frey, Edward Merritt. 1877-78-George H. Frey, Edward Merritt, Mark Spence,* John Scarff. 1878-79-George H. Frey, Edward Merritt, John Scarff. 1879-80-George H. Frey, John Scarff, Leon II. Houston. 1880-81-John Scarff, Leon H. Houston, Jonathan S. Kitchen.


Date.


Auditors.


Treasurers.


Recordere.


1818.


John Daugherty.


John Ambler.


David Kizer.


1819.


John Daugherty


John Ambler.


David Kizer.


· 1820.


David Higgins


'John Ambler.


David Kizer.


1821


William Wilsou


John Ambler


David Kizer.


1822.


William Wilson.


John Ambler


David Kizer.


1823


William Wilson


John Ambler


David Kizer.


1824


William Wilson.


John Ambler.


David Kizer.


1825


William Wilson


Jobn Ambler.


Saul Henkle.


1826


James S. Halsey


John Ambler


Saul Henkle.


1827


James S. Halsey


John Ambler


Saul Henkle.


1828.


James S. Halsey


.. Cyrus Armstrong.


Saul Henkle


1829


James S. Halsey


Cyrus Armstrong ..


Saul Henkle.


1830.


James S. Halsey


Cyrus Armstrong.


Saul Henkle.


1831


James S. Halsey


Cyrus Armstrong.


Saul Henkle.


1832


James S. Halsey.


Cyrus Armstrong


Saul Henkle.


1833


James S. Halsey.


Cyrus Armstrong ..


Saul Henkle.


1834.


James S. Halsey.


Cyrus Armstrong ..


Saul Henble.


1835.


James S. Halsey


Cyrus Armstrong.


Isaac Hendershot.


1836


S. M. Wheeler ..


Cyrus Armstrong.


Isaac Hendershot.


1837 ..


Stephen M. Wheeler ... Cyrus Armstrong.


Isaac Hendershot.


1838


Reuben Miller.


Cyrus Armstrong


Isaac Hendershot.


1839


Reuben Miller


Cyrus Armstrong


Isanc Hendershot.


1840.


Reuben Miller.


Cyrus Armstrong ..


Isaac Hendershot.


1841


Reuben Miller.


Cyrus Armstrong ..


Isaac Hendershot.


1842


Reuben Miller.


Cyrus Armstrong.


lsaac H. Lancy.


1843.


Reuben Miller.


Cyrus Armstrong.


ISAAC H. Lancy.


1844


Reuben Miller.


Cyrus Ariastrong


Isaac H. Lancy.


1845


Reuben Miller.


Cyrus Armstrong ..


Isaac H. Lancy.


1846.


Reuben Miller


+William Berry


Isaac H. Lancy.


1847


Reuben Miller


S. B. Williams


Saul S. Henkle.


1848


Robert Black.


1849


Reuben Miller


Samuel B. Williams


Robert Black.


1850


Reuben Miller


Samuel B. Williams ..


Robert Black.


1851.


Reuben Miller.


Samuel B. Williams ..


Robert Black.


1852


Reuben Miller.


Samuel B. Williams ..


Robert Black.


1853


Reuben Miller.


Samuel B. Williams.


John H. Thomas.


1854


Reuben Miller


Samuel B. Williams ..


John II. Thomas.


1855


Reuben Miller.


William C. Frey.


John H1. Thomas.


1856


John Newlove.


William C. Frey


Isaac Hendershot.


1857


John Newlove


William C. Frey


Isaac Hendershot.


1858


John Newlove.


William C. Frey


Isaac Hendershot.


+Died in office.


+Berry appointed to fill vacancy caused by death of Armstrong.


·


( Cyrus Armstrong


Isaac H. Laney.


f James S. Halsey,


Isaac Hendershot.


truly James D. Goodle


265-266


267


HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.


Date.


Auditors.


Treasurer.


Recorder.


1859


John Newlove


Theodore A. Wick


Isaac Hendershot.


1860


John Newlove ..


Theodore A. Wick


Isaac Hendershot.


1861


John Newlove ..


Theodore A. Wick.


Isaac Hendershot.


1862


John Newlove.


Theodore A. Wick


THI. S. Showers.


1863


John Newlove.


Thomas R. Norton.


*W. S. Miranda.


1864


John Newlove.


1865


John Newlove.


Thomas R. Norton.


Ashley Bradford.


1866


John Newlove.


Thomas R. Norton


Ashley Bradford.


1867


John Newlove.


Theodore A. Wick


Ashley Bradford.


1868


John Newlove.


Theodore A. Wick.


Ashley Bradford.


1869.


John Newlove.


Theodore A. Wick


Ashley


Bradford.


1870


John Newlove.


Theodore A. Wick


Ashley Bradford.


1871


J. F. Oglevee.


Richard Montjoy.


Ashley Bradford.


1872


J. F. Oglevee


Richard Montjoy


Ashley Bradford.


1873


J. F. Oglevee


William S. Field


Ashley Bradford.


1874


J. F. Oglevee


William C. Frey


Ashley Bradford.


1875


Quincy A. Petts


William C. Frey


Ashley Bradford.


1876


Quincy A. Petts


John W. Parsons.


Ashley Bradford.


1877.


Quincy A. Petis


Jolin W. Parsons.


Ashley Bradford.


1878


Quincy A. Petts


Jolin W. Parsons


Ashley Bradford.


1879


Quincy A. Petis


John W. Parsons.


Ashley Bradford.


1880.


Quincy A. Petts.


John W. Parsons


Ashley Bradford.


Date.


Sheriffe.


Coroners.


Surveyors.


1818 ..


Cyrus Ward


John Hunt.


William Wilson.


1819


Thomas Fisher.


John Hunt.


William Wilson.


1822


Thomas Armstrong.


John Hunt.


William Wilson.


1824


John A. Alexander.


John Hunt.


William Wilson.


1826


William Sailor.


John Hunt


William Wilson.


1828


William Sailor


William Needham.


William Wilson.


1830


William Berry


William Needham


Reuben Miller.


1832


William Berry


William Needham.


Reuben Miller.


1834.


John Loitimer.


Harvey Humphreys


Ruben Miller.


1836


John Lattimer


Harvey Humphreys


William A. Rogers.


1837


Samuel Harvey.


1838


William Berry.


John Hunt.


John R. Gunn.


1840


William Berry ..


John R. Gunn.


1842


Absalom Mattox.


Thomas Kizer.


1814


Absalom Mattox.


Thomas Kizer.


1846


Daniel Raffensporger


Thomas Kizer.


1848


Harry Hallenback


Thomas Kizer.


1850


Harry Hallenback


Thomas Kizer.


1852


Joseph Melntyre.


Thomas Kizer.


1854


Joseph Melutyre


Morton Cary.


Thomas Kiver.


1856


John E. Layton


Thomas Kizer.


1858


John E. Layton.


Thomas Kizer.


1860


James Fleming.


J. D. Moler.


1862


James Fleming.


Cyrus Albin Thomas Kizer.


1864


Cyrus Albin


Isaac Kay ..


Thomas Kizer.


1865


James Fleming.


Thomas Kizer.


1866


Cyrus Albin


Renben Miller.


William Brown.


1868


E. G. Coffin


W. B. Huffman.


Willian Brown.


1870.


E. G. Coffin


Oscar F. Bancroft.


J. D. Moler.


1872


Cornelius Baker.


Biddle Boggs


'Thomas Kizer.


1874


Cornelius Baker


E. G. Coffin.


:Thomas Kizer.


1876.


E. G. Coffin.


James Kinney


|Thomas Kizer.


1878


E. G. Coffin.


J. L. Coleman


Chandler Robbins.


1880


James Foley


J. L. Coleman


Frank P. Stone.


*A. Dean for a few months in 1863.


D


J. D. Moler.


1863


Thomas R. Norton.


Ashley Bradford.


268


HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.


CLERKS OF COURT.


John Layton, Thomas Armstrong, Saul S. Henkle, James S. Halsey, Har vey Vinal, Absalom Mattox, Edward P. Torbert.


PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.


Zepheniah Platt, George W. Jewett, Samson Mason, Charles Anthony, James L. Torbert, Charles Anthony, William White, John S. Hauke, James S. Goode, John C. Miller, Dixon A. Harrison, Thomas J. Pringle, Walter L. Wea- ver, George C. Rawlins, Walter L. Weaver.


PROBATE JUDGES.


James S. Halsey, James L. Torbert, John H. Littler, Enoch G. Dial, John C. Miller.


COUNTY INFIRMARY.


During the first sixteen or eighteen years of tho history of this county, the poor were " farmed out," as it was called, i. e., let to the lowest bidders, who provided food, clothing, and all that was necessary for the ordinary wants of those unfortunates. During the session of the Board of Commissioners, held on the 4th day of December, 1833, a resolution was passed to purchase a lot for the erection of a suitable poor house. In the following month (January 18, 1834), the records show that Joseph Perrin transferred a tract of 48.54 acres to Clark County; on this ground the present infirmary stands. In 1839, Richard Rogers deeded another tract, adjoining the first on the north, to the county. On the 18th day of April, 1835, the Commissioners contracted with Hugh Degear and John Thompson to erect a suitable building for the sum of $2,500. In Decem- ber, 1835, the Commissioners appointed Joseph Perrin, Charles Cavileer and Cyrus Armstrong as Infirmary Directors. On January 7, 1836, the first Board of Directors met and organized, and on February S, same year, they appointed Dennis Jones Superintendent, and inserted a notice in the Pioneer that the poor house would be open for the reception of inmates on the 1st day of the June following (June 1, 1836). A little before this, however (May 30), John Ross. of Bethel, was admitted, he being the first one in the present house.


Francis Elliott was appointed Superintendent March 1, 1842, to succeed Dennis Jones.


The record is quite imperfect, as the next entry is dated December 14. 1842, at which time the Directors were J. W. Kills, Joseph Osborne and Levi Lathrop. with Dr. Keifer as physician. February 14, 1853, Directors were Kills, Osborne and Peleg Coates; Dr. A. Bruce appointed to fill vacancy caused by Dr. Keifer's removal from the county. December 13, 1853, Dr. --. Foster appointed physician. December 18, 1855, Directors-Kills, Osborne and Coates; Drs. Foster and Kay, physicians. December 9, 1856, Directors-same; Dr. Foster, physician. April 10, 1857, Dr. Isaac Kay appointed to fill vacancy. January 13, 1858, Directors-same; Dr. Kay. physician. December 13, 1858, Directors -- Kills, Osborne and Jasper W. Peet; Dr. H. H. Seys appointed phy- sician. December 9, 1859, Directors-same; Dr. Reeves, physician. December 5, 1860, Directors-same: Dr. Reeves, physician. December 9, 1861, Directors -Kills, Osborne and William Eby: Dr. Reeves, physician. February 21, 1862; here there is another break in the record, as the entry informs us that Christo- pher Laybourn was re-appointed Superintendent, but omits to say when Francis Elliott ceased to fill the office. December 8, 1862, Directors-same; Dr. Kay,


2. She


269


HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.


physician. February 23, 1863, Directors-same; W. H. Ford, Superintendent. December 14, 1863, Dr. Kay, physician. January 7, 1864, Directors-William Eby, Joseph Osborn and Alex Ramsey; Superintendent Ford re-appointed. December 12, 1864, Dr. Kay re-appointed. January 5, 1865, Directors-same; Superintendent-same; Doctor-same. January 10, 1866, Directors-same; Superintendent-same; Doctor, John Rogers. July 2, 1866, Directors -- Osborne, Eby and J. R. Miller. October 15, 1866, Directors-Osborne, Eby and J. D, Stewart. January 7, 1867, Directors-same; Superintendent-same; Dr. Kay, physician. 1868, Directors-same; Superintendent-same; Dr. Whitehead, physician. 1869, Directors-same; Superintendent-same; physician-same. 1870, Directors -- same; Superintendent-same; Dr. Jesse O. Davy, physician. 1871, Directors-same; Superintendent-same; Dr. Whitehead, physician. 1872, Directors-same; Superintendent -- same; physician-same. 1873, Direc- tors-same; Superintendent-same; Dr. John Rodgers, physician. 1874, Directors-Osborne, Stewart and John T. May; Superintendent-Ford; Dr. H. H. Seys, physician. 1875, Directors-same; Superintendent-same; physician -- Dr. W. E. Potter. 1876, Directors-same; Superintendent-Isaac Curl; phy- sician-Dr. W. E. Potter; during this year, E. B. Cassily was appointed Director, to fill vacancy caused by the death of Joseph Osborne. 1877, Directors-Sam- nel Rhodes, John T. May, J. D. Stewart; Superintendent-Isaac Curl: physi- cian-W. E. Potter. 1878, Directors-Rhodes, Stewart and John E. Layton :** Superintendent-Isaac Curl, superseded by James Fleming; physician-W. E. Potter. 1879, Directors -- Rhodes, Layton and Isaac Kindle; Superintendent- Fleming; physician-W. E. Potter. ISSO, Directors-same; Superintendent-


same; physician -- Dr. W. E. Potter. 1SS1, Directors-same; Superintendent- same; physician-Dr. Orinsby, to date (February 15, 1880).


The institution is conducted under the careful management of the above directory in a manner at once pleasing and satisfactory to all concerned. The grounds are pleasantly situated, about one mile north of the court house.


THE CHILDREN'S HOME.


The origin of these noble public institutions can be traced to the active labors of a class of philanthropic people in different parts of the State. The subject was discussed upon the platform and through the press as long ago as the year 1856. In every large town or city in the State were more or less of a certain class of homeless children, who were dependent upon public charity for all that goes to make good citizens of the youth of the land. The war of the rebellion added great numbers of unprotected and helpless children to the already long list. This prepared the popular mind for decisive action, which was made practically manifest by an act of the Legislature, on the 20th of March, 1866.


By this law, the Commissioners of any county in the State were empowered to take all necessary steps in the direction of providing a suitable home other than that of the County Infirmary for such of the homeless children as chanced to be within the jurisdiction of said Board of Commissioners. This could be done in one or more ways-either by contributing to any private institution already established, or by purchasing the same, or by organizing and erecting an entirely new establishment.


About the year 1575, the subject of building a home in the county began to be agitated. After due consideration of all minor questions pertaining to the matter, the Board of Commissioners selected the present site, and ou the 10th day of May, 1877, they contracted with various parties for the erection of suita-


* Died in office.


-


270


HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.


ble buildings, and on the 4th day of March, 1878, Frederick Halford, Clifton M. Nichols and E. B. Cassily were duly appointed Trustees of the Children's Home. On the 14th day of March, same year, William Sloan was as appointed Superin- tendent. and his wife, Mrs. Mary Sloan, as Matron of the same.


On the 1st of April, 1880, Nathan M. MeConkey and wife were appointed to succeed Mr. and Mrs. Sloan, and in their hands the institution is at present.


The home is located directly north of the infirmary, aud about three-fourths of a mile distant therefrom. It is on the tract or lot of land purchased from Richard Rodgers in 1839, and formerly used as a wood lot for the infirmary. The site is well chosen, being far enough from the city to be sufficiently se- cluded, yet near enough for easy access by those who have occasion to visit the establishment.


SKETCH OF THE BENCH AND BAR OF CLARK COUNTY.


THE BENCH.


The history of the Bench and Bar of Clark County would properly begin with the organization of the county, but there is record evidence of the sittings of court and the administration of justice which antedates that period. Spring- field was temporarily the seat of justice for Champaign County, which then included what is Clark County within its limits.


The first Judges who sat upon the wool-sack here were Francis Dunlevy, Presiding Judge; John Reynolds, Samuel Mccullough and John Runyan, Asso- ciate Judges. Arthur St. Clair was Prosecuting Attorney, and John Daugherty Sheriff, with Joseph Vance Clerk.


The above court was held at the house of George Fithian, in Springfield.


There was a session of the Supreme Court held in 1805, the Judges being Samuel Huntington, Chief Justice; and William Sprigg and Daniel Symmes. Associates. At this session, three men were tried for shooting an Indian, whose name was Kanawa-Tuckow. The accused were Isaac Broken, Archibald Dowden and Robert Rennick, who were acquitted.


The first Court of Common Pleas held in Clark County after the county was organized was on April 7, 1818, with Orrin Parish as Presiding Judge; Daniel Mckinnon, Joseph Tatman and Joseph Layton, Associates. The State, under the constitution of 1802, had been divided into three circuits, in each of which a President of the Court of Common Pleas was appointed, while in each of the counties of the State there were appointed not more than three and not less than two Associates, who, during their continuance in office, were to be res- idents therein. The President and the Associate Judges in their respective counties, composed the Court of Common Pleas. All the legal business of the county was transacted in the Court of Common Pleas, including all probate and testamentary matters. The Judges were appointed by joint ballot of both houses of the General Assembly, and held their offices for the term of seven years, "if so long they behaved well." At the August term, 1819, Frederick Grimke was the President Judge.


The first term of the Supreme Court held in this county began on July 10, 1819. Hon. Calvin Pease was the Chief Judge, and Hon. John McLean was associated with him. The Supreme Court was held once a year in each county. The first recorded act of the Supreme Court in Clark County was the appoint- ment of Saul Henkle as Clerk pro tempore. His bond was in the sum of $2,000, and William Ross and William McCartney were his sureties, attested by Hiram Goble and Griffith Foos.


The record of proceedings in the courts of those days was wonderfully brief and concise. The f: + inry case before this Supreme Court has a complete rec-


271


HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.


ord, which does not, including the names of the jurors impaneled, take half a page of an ordinary blank book. It was an " appeal in case, damages $400," in which Robert Barr was plaintiff and David Day was defendant. The following citizens of the county composed the jury: William Willis, William Hall, Arthur Layton, Justus Luse, Alexander Sympson, Samuel Hogg, Ralph Peterson, Thomas Turner, George Jennings, James Shipman, John Ambler, Samuel McMillan. G. Swan and S. Mason are the first attorneys who appear of record in this court.


-


1


At the March term of the Common Pleas Court, 1820, Joseph H. Crane was the Presiding Judge, with the same Associate Judges as the first term. At the March term of this court, 1822, Samson Mason was, by order of the court, ap- pointed Prosecuting Attorney of the county. Judge Crane continued in office as Presiding Judge until the close of the year 1828, having been elected to Con- gress in the fall of that year. He was an able lawyer and an excellent Judge. His administration was marked by even-handed justice, tempered by a suavity of manner which won him the esteem of those who were brought in contact with him. He was succeeded by Hon. George W. Holt, who continued to hold the office until 1834, at which time a new circuit was formed, in which the counties of Clark, Champaign and Logan were included, in addition to several counties from the Twelfth Circuit. The original Twelfth Circuit embraced the counties of Preble, Darke, Montgomery, Miami, Shelby, Logan, Champaign and Clark. Hon. Joseph Swan was chosen to preside over the new circuit, which embraced the counties of Franklin, Madison, Clark, Champaign and Logan, and, for a time, Hardin County. Judge Swan held the office of Presiding Judge from 1834 to 1845, at which later date he resigned in order to return to the practice at the bar. He was held in high esteem by the bar, and his resignation was received with regret.


The Associate Judges of Clark County from 1831 to 1847 were Daniel McKinnon, William G. Serviss, Joseph Perrin, Ira Paige, John R. Lemen, Jolm T. Stewart and Isaac Paint. Hon. James L. Torbert succeeded Judge Swan in 1846, and served in that capacity until after the adoption of the new constitu- tion in 1852, when William A. Rogers, a prominent member of the bar, was elected to succeed him. Judge Rogers was then a member of the law firm of Rogers & White (Hon. William White, one of the present Supreme Judges of the State). Judge Rogers had been recognized by the members of the bar as a brilliant and successful advocate, who attained his ends by a strict devotion to principle, and appeal to the reason and sound judgment of his auditors. He was one of the ablest lawyers of the State, and his demise, in the midst of a career of promise and usefulness, was the source of great regret. He was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas shortly after the adoption of the new con- stitution, as an independent candidate, over the regular party nominee. Hon. Robert Barclay Harlan, of Clinton County, Ohio, then in this judicial district, had been nominated by the regular Whig convention as the candidate of that party. The people had been accustomed to the immemorial usage of an appointive judiciary, and they regarded with disfavor any tendency to the pol- lution of the bench with the degrading touch of partisan politics. There was a determination to discountenance the nominations of partisan Judges, and there- fore a candidate such as Judge Rogers, who was the creation of no party, was heartily supported. In addition to this prejudice among the people, the charac- ter of Judge Rogers was in itself a sufficient commendation. He had allied himself with the political party known as the "Liberty," or Abolition party, whose cause he espoused with zeal. The political speeches he made were elo- quent with the plea for the extermination of slavery. This feature of his public life, added to his exalted private character and his eminent fitness for the posi-


----


272


HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.


tion, gave him a standing with the people which was irresistible. The lawyers in the district were his stanch adherents. They labored assiduously in the con- test, visiting the adjoining counties in the judicial district, with such success that, notwithstanding the overwhelming Whig sentiment, Judge Rogers was elected. He carried to the bench the same ability and fairness which had made him prominent at the bar. Before the close of his term, he was seized with a fatal disease, which soon terminated his life, and William H. Baldwin, of Clin- ton County, Ohio, succeeded him by appointment of the Governor. Hon. Robert Barclay Harlan was nominated for the vacancy in 1855, and elected over Will- iam H. Baldwin. After the expiration of this unexpired termin, Hon. Robert Bar- clay Harlan was again placed in nomination by his party. But the same oppos- ing element which had encompassed his defeat before again rose up against him. The law partner of Judge Rogers, William White, was in 1856 presented by the Independents as a candidate for Judge, and such was the overwhelming popu- larity of the candidate that his election was almost unanimous, his majority in this county alone being over 3,700. Judge William White was born in England January 28, 1822. He was left an orphan in his infancy, and was placed under the care of his uncle, James Dory, who brought him to the United States in 1831, taking up his residence in Springfield. At the age of twelve, he was ap- prenticed to a cabinet-maker for the term of nine years. He purchased his time by giving his notes for a considerable amount. These were afterward promptly paid. He early evinced a desire for education, and devoted all his energies toward the accomplishment of that end. All his spare hours from study and his leisure in vacations were devoted to his trade. to obtain means to purchase books, etc. Under the tutorship of Chandler Robbins, at the Springfield High School, he obtained the better part of his early education. Judge Rogers, then in large practice at the bar, encouraged him in kindly words to prosecute his legal studies in his office. The student was enabled, by teaching school at intervals and serving as night clerk in the post office, to earn sufficient means to allow him to complete his studies. Upon his admission to the bar in 1846, he was taken into partnership by his preceptor, which continued until the accession of the latter to the bench. In 1847, Mr. White was elected Prosecuting Attor- ney, and continued to hold the office successively for eight years. The diligent, earnest and faithful discharge of his official duties was recognized by the people in the largely increased majorities which were given him. In 1856, without solicitation upon his part, he was, by the members of the bar of his sub-judicial district, as before stated, placed in nomination as an independent candidate for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In October, 1861, he was re-elected. A vacancy was caused in the Supreme bench by the resignation of Judge Hocking H. Hunter, and, upon the request of the bar of this district, in February, 1864, Judge White was appointed by Gov. Brough as one of the Supreme- Judges of the State, and in October of the same year, was elected to the unexpired term. In October, 1868, he was re-elected, and again in 1873, and in 1578. At the last election, he received a county majority of 2,392, being about double the usual party majority, while his vote in the State was also the highest of . any candidate on the State ticket. The career of Judge White, from comparative obscurity to the proud eminence he now occupies, is not due to any of the hap- hazard chances to which many are indebted for their success in life. His posi- tion has been the result of his own inherent energies-of the possession of those elements of character which always demand recognition, and will force success. although the obstacles in the way be mountain high. A diligent student, a conscientious lawyer and a courteous gentleman, added to quick perception, a comprehensive mind, which enables him to grasp the hidden points and dispel the cobwebs of sophistry, and an instinctive impartiality, have been the elements




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