The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-02-29

Jones, Associate Judges; H. Fl. Mott,
Clerk; Noble Rayle, Sheriff; Humphrey
FL. Leavitt, Prosecuting Attorney; Messrs.
George Paul and Samuel Stokely, each
had been. before that time, Prosecuting
Attorney, in the order of time in which
their names stand.
The first house built in the town of
Woods6eld was occupied by Spencer Bid
die as tavern; it was small log house
and stood on the ground now occupied by
Schumacher's bakery, and after undergo
ing various changes and removals, it was
torn down, in the summer, of 1858, to
make room for the present splendid resi-
dence of N. Hollister, Esq. 1t would
have been well to have kept it in its prim-
litive state near it's successor, as the two
would have afforded an apt illustration of
the different times at which they were
built.
The only mill near Woods6eld at that
time was little log mill built by Jacob
Winland, but then owned by Lewis EN-
mons, and afterward known as Minors
mill; it had one run of stones-a pair of
Laurel Hill stones, and the -four made by
that mill would scarcely bear inspection
in the market at present. There was no
other mill, however. within ten or fifteen
miles of the place; and, although it was a
rude structure aud did what at present
would be considered poor work, the peo-
pie looked upon it as great blessing,
received its labors thankfully nos "looked
the gift horse in the mouth"
One of the Cities of Ohio is now proud
to be called rhe Forest City" Any
one looking upon Woodsfeld in 1919,
would have been struck at once with the
propricty of SO designating this ancient
Capital of old Monroe. A fine forest
stood where now stands the Court House;
a narrow space was cleared from the main
cross street southwark to Washington
street; below that all was dense forest.
Where the Methodist Church now stands
was an unbroken woods extending all
over and around the mound and to the
westward for many miles. Small spots
were cleared in, ano Immediately around
town, but the greatest portion of the
land within the limits of the town and
its environs was covered with the original
forest trees. Fire-wood in those days
was not an expensive article, neither was
the labor of hauling it great, almost every
householder could fell trees near enough
to his dwelling to be chopped up and
carried into the house, without the aid of
teams; indeed the doctrine of ron-inter-
vention was very generally applied to
teams, on this subject
The househoiders of Woodsfeld, in the
fall of 1918, were Patrick Adams, james
Carrothers. Joseph briggs, John Snyder
Arson Brewster, James Phillips, Messel
Sayers, Michael Davis, John Coll, Henry
II. Mott, Stephen Indy, John King
Henry Jackson, Amos B Jones, Davit
e Pierson and Mrs. Mary A. G. Hunter
james Okey lived on the back street wher
. Nicholas Koehler now lives. There wer
at this time no resident Lawyers in tn
3 County; those practising here were JOIN
s G. Wright, Humphrey H. Leavitt, Sam
e uel Stokely, John M. Goodenough
J Ephraim Root, Walter B. Beebe, Jane
Paul, David Jennings and Charles Ham
e mond,-the first three of whom are tn
q only ones now living-Mr. Leavitt bein
8 at present the United States Judge, 70
d the Southern District of Ohio.
J. Seneca s. Salisbury was the first law
/ yer who resided in.the county, he came
y Woodsfieid in 1921, and in 1922 wa
10 appointed Prosecuting Attorney,-th
:. law then requiring the appointment (whic
!, was made by the Court) to be made froI
the resident practising Attorneys of tn
q county, if any such there were. Nj
u Salisbury practised but few years, turn
10 ing his attention to agriculture; he mo-
'e lives in or near Ellison, Illinois.
The President Judges of the Court {
q Common Pleas from the formation of .th
e county to the present time, were as TO
lows:
le Benjamin Tappan presided from 1s1
e until 1928, and was succeeded in ths
e year by Jeremiah H. Halleck. who occr
: pied that position from 1923 until th
2. close of September term 1888; was the
:. succeeded by Alexander Harper, wh
2, presided until March term 836; at whic
le term Corrington w. Searle presented h
Is commission and took his seat upon tt
IS bench, and served until the April ter
le 1910; when w. Kennon, who had bee
10 elected the winter before, took his sea
J. and served in that place until the Apr
ne term l847; when he was succeeded
=. Benjamin S. Cowen. Judge Cowen W,
VI the last President Judge under the o.
y Constitution. AT the March term 185
G. R. j. Alexander, who had been electe
at the election the fall before. took his sea
y which place he filed until his term e.
III pired; and in 1857 was succeeded
n Judge Okey. the present incumbent.
rs Under the old Constitution and up
~ 1852, there were, beside the Preside
AZ Judge, three Associate Judges elected |
rd the Legislature) in each county,