Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-10-06
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMORANDA

Z. w adsWortn, E~q-,oi this town has
with much pains. collected biographics
memoranda relating TO the early setller
OF ONO. They are as nearly aurhenii'
as it is possible 10 obtain, afler The laps,
of years, the SOURCES OF much Of his IN
formation beng original letters in his col
lection OF the late Gen. Elijah Wadswortl
papers.
Mr.. w. has at our request, furnished
for publication The following brief sketch
of the life and character of the Hon
George Tod.-Akron Beacon.
GEORGE TOD.
He was a native of Sufield, Conn,
born December l1th, 1773. Graduated
at Yale College IN 1895. and received
his law education at the celebrated Law
School of Judge Reeves at Litch6eld
Connecticut.
On his admission to the bar, he com
menced the practice of law at New Ha-
ven, Connecticut, and intermarried in
October 1897, with Miss Sally Isaacs,
then residing with her sister, the wife oI
Gov. Ingersoll.
He was one of the early, and respec.
table pioneers of the Western Reserve,
be came first to Youngstown, Trumbull
county, in 1900. Was private Secretary
TO Governor St. Clair, then Governor oi
the North Western Territory, aud in 8
10, removed his family. consisting of his
wife and two children, from New Haven,
and settled at Youngstown, now Maho-
ming county, and in the year 1916. he
removed to Brier Hill, near Youngstown,
which was his place of residence until
his death.
He was a prominent lawyer, and
Judge of Ohio, an eloquent debater. and
an accomplished gentleman.
He was member if the Ohio Senate
from Trumbull county in 1904 5, and
1866. and was again a member of the
Stale Senate from the same county in
1910 II, and 1911 12.
In the first organization Of The Ohio
Militia, he look great pride in having it
well and efficiently organized. and was
reputed by the Militia officers of that day
to be strict disciplinarian. and an ef-
ficient drill officer. At the first Military
election, in the 4th Division of the Ohio
Militia. on the 7lh of May, 1904, he was
elected Captain, and soon after Ma
jor and Colonel in the Regiment where he
Sesided, and it was through his interven-
ton. and partly by his means, that the
first field piece WAS obtained, for the first
Artillery Company in the Brigade (and
probably in the Division) in which he re-
sided.
In 1905 he was elected one Of the
Judges of the Supreme Court Of the
State.
In 1907 or 8, the Conslituiionality of
the Act defining the duties of Justices of
the Peace, was drawn in question:
Judges Huntington and Tod of the Su-
preme Court, and Judge Pease of the
Common Pleas declared the law uncon-
stitutionsl and void. At the session of
the Legislature of l8o7-s. resolution
for the impeachment of the Judges was
introduced. but not acted on. In 1908,
Judge Huntington resigned bis seat on
the Supreme Bench, and was elected Gov.
ernor of the State. At the session of the
Legislature of l8o8-9. Committee re.
ported articles of impeachment against
Judges Tod and Pease. The investigs-
ton lasted several days. but resulted in
the acquiltal Of Judge Tod, and after.
wards in the scquittal of Judge Pease.
The frm stand taken by Judge Tod
and maintained by him through all oppo-
sition. relative to the Constitutionslity of
the law regulating or defining the duties
Of Justices of the Peace, received the un.
qualified approval Of the most able ju.
rists OF the country. And not few Of