Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-12-04
Count Comnherrr.

One OF the pioneers OF Napoleon is con
tributing sketches of pioneer life in Henry
county and vicinity to the Henry County
Signal, from which we select the subioined
amusing sketch of Count CorF1NBERRY
with whose history the pioneers of this vi.
cinity are familiar:
Conspicuous among the old time lawyers of
the Maumee Valley. aud beloved by his nrofes.
sional brethren, and by all with whom he came
In contact, was Count Ouffinberry He seems
70 nave OBTAINED his snbsiqaet BY means Of his
| genteel address, and uniformly nice apparel
In personal matters, Judge Potter was also, in
'hose DAYS, iastidious, and during his judicial
service, accompanied often by roistering Nom
oers OF the bar, and tossed about for lod1ings
10 miscellaneous places he would permit no
| Count.
When traversing the Circuit, the ournoys
always being on horseback, the Count carried in
his portmnnteau, or sadie bags, n considerable
wardrobe. II was during heated term Of the
summer snlstieo, when the roads we're supposed
to have been exhausted of water and mud that
Judge Potter, Judge Higgins, Mr.. CofIin6erry,
jobs q. Sphinx, James q. ilaly, and some others
lett Defiance for kalda, ~ attend the opening
Of the Common Pleas Court. The good Count
had decked himself in his best-feaiing no evil
IN the form OF rain, water or mud bnl some-
miles, his apparel, sn faultless nn starting ont.
was IN condition, when they reached Knlida'
to exhibit him as the most sorrow speeinrn nj
the whole party; the mu1 marks upon his lin
on oeing more conspicuous thdn thnse upon the
coarser garments OF his travelling companions,
and giving his clothing the general appearance
of the unchangeaOle spots of the leopard. He
was IN ill-humOr with himself, by reason Of his
personal appearance, when he entered the viii
lagej but the contents Of his pnrtmanleau en-
abed him TO appear nuxt morning, as usual
"as nice as pin"
The dignity and grace Of the Count in ad-
dressing Court or jury. were conspicuous,
aud even his attitude was very marked In the |
year lS4O he was the Wing candidate for the |
State Senate, and Colonel William Sawyer,
then resident Of Mamisburg, Montgomery |
county, was the Democratic candidate for Gun
gress against Patrick @. Glode. 1t was dur.
ing the famous " hard cider and log cabin " |
campaign, and party spirit ran high. Colonel
Sawyer having been ADVERTISED to address u |
meeting ut Maumee City, the friends of Sir. |
c. 'ffinberry challenged SAWYER to engage in a |
joint discussion To bS held at P-rrYsburg Col |
onel Sawyer promptly accepted the challenge. |
The odds were unequal, as the Count, although |
lawyer of acknowledged power, pos ,essed |
none of the elements which forms the SUCCESS
full politician. Under tho argument Sawyer
made the opening speech. He charged upon |
the leaders Of the Whig party that they were
aristocrats, controlling the banking and money |
interests Of the country, and that the pr0fessed |
sympathy with the real dwelurs in log ca bins
was shan aud fraud. The wire-pullers OF
the Wing party, he said, occupied the palaces |
If the Land, aud were arrayed in purple and
tine linen. And here he east a sgni icAnt
glance atthe Count himself, designed u convey
the Impression that he was one of EN- "As |
IN myself" continued Sawyer" was born in |
log cabin, and vet reside in n log cabin. Nv |
blacksmith shop, which, when AT home, my cir
cumStances compel me to severe toll, about
twelve hours nut of twenty -funr, is a log cabin.
My associations, sympathiss and hopes have
ever been, aud now are, identified with the pi-
oneers OF tue country, and the occupants of log
cabins. Can my highly aristpcratc friend who
is to follow me in this discussion. and who lives
in lordly mansion almost within sight of this
audience, say this for himself ?"
Slightly embarrassed aud vexed, the Count
rose, struck his " characteristic attitude and
commenced by deprecaling the personal allu-
sions in which his friend. Col. SAWYER, had seen
1T ~ indulge. To get even with his oppon,n
he tossed his head back to point that looked
toward zenith. and exclaimed, with great en-
phasis; Yes, gentlemen, IL there is any mer-
u In having been b-o r-n in a Log cabin. !, too,
Mr.. Chairman and ladies, and fellow citizens,
was born in log cabin-m the fr.t Instance !" |
the latter part of the sentence bsng one that he |
was accustomed TO use in his opening add re sses |
before Courts aud Juries. This incident virtu.
ally closed the political contrnVersy between Mr. |
C"hnberry and Col. Sawyer, and. for that |
campaign, at least, virtually placed the former /
upon the retired list. The pnJl C are indebted |
to Gen. Hill for preserving the foregoing anec-
doie.