The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 43

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180

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John R. Montgomery was born in Richland County, Ohio; came to this county in 1855. and was soon after admitted to practice. He was Prosecuting Attorney of Madison County from 1858-69 ; here married Jo- sephine T. Edwards, and about 1861 removed to Little Rock, Ark., became Attorney General of that State, and continued in the practice of the law until a few years ago, when he removed to Jacksonville, Ark., purchased a a plantation, and enzagel in farming. He was an ardent Republican, and a fair lawyer.

Col. J. C. McCloud, of MeClouds & Converse. attorneys at law, Lon- don, and a prominent member of the Madison County bar, was born in Union County, Ohio, February 15. 1×29. He is a son of Circle 1. Chi a native of Vermont, and grandson of Charles McCloud, ao Migrated from Vermont to Worthington, Franklin County, Onio, in 1906. Curtis MeCloud subsequently settled in Union County, and about 1899 located on a farm in Darby Township, this county, three miles west of Plain City. He was a farmer by occupation, and resided there till his death in December, 1863. He married Elizabeth Cutler, also a native of the " Green Mount- ain State," and a daughter of John Cutler. who came to Ohio in 1915. Eight children were sent to bless this union. five living, our subject being the only one in Madison County. MIrs. McCloud departed this hfe in 1380. Col. McCloud came to Madison County when about ten years of age. He

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

received a fair education in the district schools, and, after reaching his majority, attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. He assisted his father on the farm, and subsequently taught school for a short period. He read law with R. A. Harrison, a prominent attorney of London, now residing at Columbus, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1857. He immediately formed a law partnership with Mr. Harrison, the firm being known as Harrison & McCloud, until April, 1859, when it was dissolved. He has subsequently been in partnership with Emery Smith, George W. Burnham, Martin O'Donnell, R. H. McCloud, and, on March 9, 1881, the present firm, consisting of J. C. and R. H. McCloud and O. P. Converse. was formed. He was married, in 1854, to Elizabeth Winget, a native of this county, and reared by a cousin of her father, William Winget, of Union County. Mr. and Mrs. McCloud have been given five children, four living -William Mc., R. H. (of McClouds & Converse), Luther and George. John is deceased. Mrs. McCloud is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Col. McCloud is well and favorably known to every person in Madison County, and his success in law practice has been steady and firm. He was Chairman of the County Republican Central Committee for sixteen years, but was never an aspirant for office of any kind. He is recognized as one of the best jury lawyers at the bar, and his citations of law and fact are looked upon as being always correct. To be a lawyer, in the highest sense of that term, has ever been 'his aim, and the undoubted success he has met with in the practice of his profession, while at the same time he has won and retained the confidence of the people of Madison County, is the strongest evidence that his dealings with his fellow-man have at all times been straightforward, upright and honorable.

Robert Hutcheson and John L. McCormack, both read law with R. A. Harrison, and were admitted to the bar in 1857. Mr. Hutcheson was born in the northern part of Madison County, was a fine scholar and a bright lawyer. In 1860-62, he represented this county in the Ohio Legislature, and upon the expiration of his term was married, subsequently removing to New Orleans, and was appointed Attorney General of Louisiana. He is now residing at Washington, D. C., in the practice of his profession. John L. McCormack was born in London, Ohio, December 15, 1836, and is a son of Thomas McCormack, a life-long resident of this county. Immediately after his admission to the bar he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for Prosecuting Attorney, and elected in the fall of 1857. He occupied the office in 1858, then resigned and removed to Iowa, where he has since resided. He was married, in this county, to Miss Ella Crain, and is said to have been a promising young lawyer.

Benjamin F. Montgomery came from his home in Richland County, read law in his brother's office at London, was admitted about 1860, and formed a partnership with John R., which continued during their resi- dence here. He married Elizabeth Riddle, of Union County, removed to Michigan, and from there to Utah Territory, where he engaged in mining speculations and became very wealthy. Like his brother, he was an ardent adherent of the Republican party.

Emery Smith was born in Delaware County, Ohio, April 9, 1838, and in 1844 removed to Canaan Township, of this county, where he received the benefit of a common school education. In 1856-57, he attended Oberlin

John F. Locke

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

College ; thence, in 1858, he went to the Cleveland Law College, graduating in the spring of 1860, and was immediately admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court, at Columbus. On the 16th of August, 1860, he came to London, and formed a law partnership with Col. J. C. McCloud, which lasted about seven years, when it was dissolved and he continued alone. He subsequently was in partnership with John J. Bell, B. H. Lewis and D. C. Badger, respectively, but since the dissolution of the last partnership, has practiced alone. He was married to Sarah McClimans, daughter of James and Margaret McClimans, of Madison County. She lived but a few months after her marriage, and he was subsequently united to Frances McClimans, a sister of his first wife, who has borne him one son. Forest. Politically, Mr. Smith is a Republican, and in 1861 enlisted in Company C, Seventeenth Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for the three months' service. After the expiration of that term, he was appointed Deputy Provost Marshal of the Seventh District, which he held until the close of the war. He has been Mayor of London one term, and is a well-read lawyer, who obtains a fair share of the law business of Madison County.

Robert M. Hanson, a native of Madison County, born April 14, 1837, was for a short time a member of this bar. He was educated in the common schools of the county, and Miami University at Oxford, Ohio. He read law with Henry W. Smith, and was admitted to the bar early in 1861. In April of that year, he went into the army and served throughout the war. In the fall of 1865, he returned to London, and was elected to represent Madison County in the Ohio Legislature. During this time he practiced his profession in London, but in 1869 he was appointed by President Grant, Consul to Bremen, returning to the United States in December, 1870, on account of poor health from wounds received during the war, and on the 29th of February, 1871, was married to Miss Kate Williams. In March, he again set sail for Bremen, but was destined to never again see his native land. His health continued to fail while in Europe, and in August, 1873, he embarked for home, but died September 14, ere reaching New York. A fuller sketch of Capt. Hanson will be found in the biographical depart- ment of this work.

Judge B. F. Clark, Cashier of the Madison National Bank, and a life resident and well respected citizen of this county, was born in Deer Creek Township, October 23, 1829, in the neighborhood familiarly known as " Limerick," and where the first term of court was held in Madison County. His father, Franklin Clark, was a native of Massachusetts, and a trunk maker by trade. While a resident of the township, he served as Justice of Peace for many years. He was twice married. By his first wife he had three children, probably none now living. His second wife was Narcissis (Babcock) Newcomb, widow of William Newcomb. Our subject was their only child. The father died in October, 1843, aged sixty-five years, and the mother in March, 1874, aged eighty-two years. When fourteen years of age, Judge Clark went to Urbana, Champaign Co., Ohio, where he learned carriage-trimming and harness-making, following these two trades for twelve years at Urbana and Columbus, and eight years after locating in London. He was appointed to the position as Postmaster of London by President Franklin Pierce, serving in that capacity for a period of six years. He was then elected Probate Judge of Madison County, holding the

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

office for six years. During this time, he studied law, and on February 22, 1864, was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Ohio. He opened an office at London, and remained in the practice of his profession until July 1, 1870, when he was appointed Teller of the Madison National Bank. He accepted the position, acceptably filled it until October, 1880, when he was made Cashier. Judge Clark is a member of Chandler Lodge, No. 138, and Adamran Chapter (Masonic), and Madison Lodge, No. 70, and London Encampment, No. 126 (I. O. O. F.). He has always cvinced a deep inter est in religious matters, and for twenty years has served as Elder in the Presbyterian Church at London. In 1870, he was a delegate from the Co- lumbus Presbytery to the General Assembly, which met at Philadelphia, Penn., and which was the first union of the Northern and Southern branches of the church after the close of the war. Judge Clark has ever voted the Democratic ticket, and was serving his second term as Mayor of London when he resigned to accept the position offered him in the bank. He was married, in August, 1850, to Rachel Jones, a native of this county. Two children were given them, one living-Job J .. an insurance agent of Lon- don. The elder son, Quinn, died in 1879. Mrs. Clark is also a member of the Presbyterian Church.

George W. Wilson, of the law firm of Wilson & Durflinger, London, was born at Brighton, Clark Co., Ohio, February 22, 1840. He is the third son of Washington and Mary A. Wilson. His parents are natives of Ohio, and now reside in Springfield. Washington Wilson is a retired farmer of considerable wealth, and highly respected by all who know him. He is a son of Michael Wilson (deceased), who was a brother of Valentine Wilson (deceased), late of Madison County. Mary A. Wilson is a daughter of William Foreman (deceased), late of Clark County, Ohio. Washington and Mary A. Wilson had eleven children, named, respectively, Michael, William J., George W., Harrison, John, Addison, Nancy T., Luther, Har- rict F., Mary A. and Flora Etta, all of whom are living, except Luther. George W. Wilson, the subject of this sketch, was brought up on his father's farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he was sent to Antioch Col- lege, Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he remained three years. During this time, that institution was presided over by Horace Mann, and after his death by Dr. Thomas Hill, subsequently President of Harvard College. In the year 1861, Mr. Wilson commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. R. A. Harrison, of London. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Ninety-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was afterward com- missioned respectively Second and First Lieutenant in the regiment. On the 2d of July, 1864, he received a commission from the President as First Lieutenant in the First Regiment of United States Veteran Volunteer Engi- neers, the only organization of the kind in the service. About the close of the war, he was appointed Captain of Company L, of that regiment, but never received the emoluments of that rank. He was mustercd out of the army about October 1, 1865, the services of his regiment being no longer re- quired. After the war, Mr. Wilson resumed his studies in the office of his preceptor, and was admitted to the bar on August 7, 1866. In the October following, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Madison County for a term of two years. At the expiration of his term, he was re-elected to the same office for another term. In October, 1871, he was elected to the

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House of Representatives of the General Assembly of Ohio, and served in that body two years. In October, 1877, he was elected a member of the Ohio Senate from the district composed of the counties of Champaign, Clark and Madison. He has also held several minor offices of honor and trust. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Wilson has always been a Republican, believing that by means of that party, the best interests of the country would be promoted and preserved. He is a successful lawyer, the firm of Wilson & Durflinger enjoying a large practice, and no member of the legal profession has a better standing at the Madison County bar than the subject of this sketch. Before going to the army, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Martha L. Rice, of Yellow Springs. Ohio. They have three children-Bertha J., William R. and Fannie. Miss Bertha J. was recently married to Palmer C. Smith, Prosecuting At- torney of Madison County. Mr. Wilson has a pleasant home, and, while devoted to his profession, takes time for social intercourse with his friends and neighbors.

Otis C. Smith, a deceased member of the bar of Madison County, Ohio, was born in London, in said county, on the 29th of September, 1845. After graduating from the London schools, he prepared himself for college under the tuition of Rev. C. W. Finley; entered the Miami University, and gradu- ated therefrom in 1866. He studied law with his father, Hon. H. W. Smith, was admitted to the bar in 1868, and commenced the practice of his profession in Madison County, Ohio, with his father. He was married to Miss Sallie Coons on the 20th of October, 1871. On the 24th of June, 1873, after a lingering illness, he departed this life. He was in good stand- ing as a member of the bar, a kind son and husband, and a good citizen. On the 25th of June, 1873, a meeting of the bar of the county was held to take action concerning his death. This was the first time in the history of the county that the bar had lost one of its members by the hand of death. Appropriate resolutions were passed, showing the standing and merit of Mr. Smith, as a member of the bar to have been of the first order, as considered by his brethren. The proceedings and resolutions of the bar at that meeting will be found recorded on the journal of the Court of Com- mon Pleas for the year 1873. Mr. Smith was also a member of the Lodge of I. O. R. M., which lodge passed appropriate resolutions concerning his death.

Sylvester W. Durflinger, of Wilson & Durflinger, attorneys at law, London, was born near Jefferson, in this county, April 20. 1836. His father, Philip Durflinger, was a native of Ohio, and located in Madison County at an early day. He died about 1839. He was united in mar- riage to Mary Lilly, a native of Ross County, who bore him two children- Philip, a farmer of Jefferson Township, and our subject. Mrs. Durflinger subsequently married Samuel T. Pearce, an old an honored resident of London, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. S. W. Durflinger was the oldest of two children, and was reared on the old homestead. He received a fair education in early years, and at eighteen years of age entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, graduating in 1860. Soon after this date, he came to London, and commenced the study of law with R. A. Harrison, an able attorney, now a resident of Columbus. Mr. Dur- flinger remained with Mr. Harrison six months, and then removed to

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

Bloomington, Ill. In the fall of 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Thirty- third Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as a private. He served nearly four years, being once wounded in a railroad accident, while in Louisiana. He was honorably discharged in July, 1865, and soon after re- turned to this county. In the summer of 1866, he was nominated by the Republican party for. the office of Recorder, and elected the ensuing fall. He served his constituents in this position for a term of three years. During this period, he employed his spare time in reading law and was admitted to the bar in 1869. He immediately formed a law partnership with George W. Wilson, under the firm name of Wilson & Durflinger, and the firm has remained such to the present. Both members are able attorneys, and enjoy a large share of the legal patronage of Madison County. Mr. Durflinger served as Prosecuting Attorney of Madison County, in 1871-74, is politically a Republican, is a member of the Board of Education of London, and holds a position as Trustee in the official board of the M. E. Church. He is connected by membership with Chandler Lodge, No. 138, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Durflinger was married, October 17, 1867, to Eliza J. Silver, a native of this county. Two chil- dren were given them-Mary K. and Annie L. Mrs. Durflinger departed this life May 22, 1878. Mr. Durflinger was again married, in the fall of 1879, to Mary A. Flannigan, a native of Brooklyn, N. Y. They have one child-Florence.

John Fletcher Chapman was born in Madison County, Ohio, Novem- ber 8, 1843, and was a son of James and Mary Ann (Chapell) Chapman, natives of Virginia. Fletcher, as he was always called, grew to maturity in this county, and was self-educated, never having attended school but three months in his life. In the fall of 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the war closed, being mustered out at Louisville, Ky., with the balance of his regiment. He was an ardent Democrat all his life. Upon the close of the war, he began to read law in the office of Col. J. C. McCloud ; was admitted to the bar in 1869, and practiced his profession until his death, December 7, 1879, leav- ing his widow, Clara B. Chapman, with two children, all of whom reside with her father, James B. McCarty, of Xenia. Mr. Chapman enjoyed a fair practice, and is kindly remembered by the bar of the county.

Bruce P. Jones, Mayor of London and attorney at law, was born in this village May 9, 1843. His father, Job K. Jones, was a member of the Jones family of the eastern part of Tennessee, where he was born November, 1811, and accompanied his father, William Jones, to this county in November, 1814. He located in London, where he resided till his death, April 4, 1877. At that time, he had 813 acres of land in Union and Deer Creek Townships, which he had owned for many years. He married Miss M. C. Custer, a native of Rockingham County, Va., who accompanied her father, Paul Custer, to this county about 1822. She died in January, 1874. They were the parents of nine children, six now living. Two sons were in the late war. Jasper enlisted in Company K (Capt. Hanson's), Ninety-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; was taken prisoner, and confined in the Andersonville Prison, Georgia. After release, died at Wilmington, N. C. The other son, Berthier W., enlisted in Company D, Fortietli Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died in the hospital at Franklin, Tenn.

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The subject of this sketch obtained his early education in the London High School, and subsequently attended Miami University at Oxford, But- ler Co., Ohio. He studied a term of five years, and graduated in the reg- ular course in the class of '68. He commenced the study of law with Col. J. C. McCloud, of London. He was admitted to practice at the December term of the Ohio Supreme Court, in 1869, and to the United States Court, at Leavenworth, Kan., in 1874. He removed to Ottawa, Kan., and prac- ticed five years with fair success. He was Police Judge two years, and City Attorney two years. In 1875, he came back to London, and has since practiced his profession. Mr. Jones has always advocated Republican prin- ciples. In December, 1880, he was appointed Mayor by the Village Council, and elected the following April to fill an unexpired term. He was re-elected in 1882 for a full term. Mr. Jones is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and connected with Chandler Lodge, No. 138, of London.

B. H. Lewis, a well-known attorney at law of London, was born at Jefferson, this county, August 1, 1839. He is a son of George W. Lewis, a farmer, and grandson of Philip Lewis, one of the early settlers of the county, who assisted in laying out London, and who represented this district in both Houses of the General Assembly of the State. He first attended school in Jefferson, and subsequently became a student in the London High School, where he remained until he attained the age of eighteen years. He then passed a year as clerk in a warehouse in London, and afterward taught school for three terms of four months each. During the late civil war, he enlisted in the Ninety-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Au- gust 14, 1862, and was an Orderly Sergeant, and afterward Sergeant Major of the regiment. He served in that command for the full term of three years, being honorably mustered out in August, 1865. In the autumn of the same year, he was elected Sheriff of Madison County, and re-elected in October, 1867, serving four years in that office. During this time, he was also Deputy United States Marshal for Madison County, under Gen. A. Hickenlooper, Marshal of the Southern District of Ohio. After his term as Sheriff had expired, he commenced the study of law, and was ad- mitted to the bar May 12, 1872. He opened an office in London, and prac- tices his profession in Madison and adjoining counties. In April. 1875, he was elected City Attorney of London for a term of two years. Mr. Lewis' progress, so far in life, is entirely due to his own energy and perseverance, combined with unremitting patience and industry, never having received as- sistance from any source whatever. He was united in marriage, October 14, 1875, to Nannie, daughter of A. Dunkin, of London (and a grand-daughter of Simon Kenton), a prominent stock-raiser and dealer of Madison County.

Hon. John F. Locke, attorney at law, London, and Representative to the Sixty-fourth and Sixty-fifth Sessions of the Ohio Legislature from Madi- son County, was born in Somerford Township August 12, 1848. His father, John B. Locke, is a native of West Virginia, and located in Madison County in 1836. He has been engaged in agricultural pursuits through life, and now resides on the old homestead in Somerford Township, consisting of 300 acres of valuable land. He was married in this county to Louise Morris, a native of Adams County, Ohio. They are the parents of six children, all living. Both parents are living, father sixty-eight years of age and mother fifty-four. Our subject is the eldest child, and resided on the farm till

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eighteen years of age. In 1865, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University of Delaware, graduating in the class of '70. He immediately commenced the study of law with R. A. Harrison, of London, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1873. He commenced the practice of his profession alone, and has continued successfully, with one exception, to the present time. Mr. Locke has always been an advocate of Republican principles, and in 1873 was elected City Solicitor of London, serving two years. In 1875, he was elected Mayor of the village to fill a vacancy. In 1876, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Madison County, and re-elected in 1878. In 1879, he was the Republican nominee from this county, for Representa- tive, and though the county was close on party votes, yet he was elected. His services were well appreciated, and in 1881 his constituents once more elected him to the same position. In his official duties, Mr. Locke has been governed by no partisan views, but has endeavored to assist in creating and voting for those measures which be believed would tend to promote the best interests and prosperity, both in a moral and financial way, of his constitu- ents and the State at large. He is a member of Chandler Lodge, No. 138 (Masonic), of London, and a Master Mason. He was united in marriage, in 1876, to Sally E. Waite, a native of New York. There was one child given them, a daughter named Gertrude. Mrs. Locke departed this life, June 29, 1877. Mr. Locke is a suave, pleasant gentleman, who by his genial manners has won hosts of warm friends.

John J. Bell was admitted to practice about 1873, and in the spring of 1874 came to London from Greene County, Ohio. He served throughout the war in a regiment from that county, and upon coming to London formed a partnership with Emery Smith, which lasted until his election as Prosecut- ing Attorney in the fall of 1874. He held that office two years, and is said to have been a bright young lawyer. He married Susan Pepper, and in March, 1879, left for Texas, thence removed to New Mexico, where he is now engaged in the practice of the law and publishing a newspaper.

George W. Burnham, a native of Champaign County, Ohio, removed to Iowa, with his parents, in childhood ; there grew to maturity and gradu- ated from the Agricultural College. He returned to Ohio, and began read- ing law in the office of Col. J. C. McCloud, of London. In the spring of 1873, he was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court at Columbus, and immediately entered into partnership, with his preceptor, under the firm name of McCloud & Burnham. This continued until November, 1874, and soon afterward Mr. Burnham went back to Iowa, where he is now residing.

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 43

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180