The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1884-10-08
HON. MILTON [. CLARK
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR CIR.
CUT JUDGE.
A Sketch Of his Professional and Public
Life.

The new Office of Circuit Judge, created
in pursuance to Constitutional Amendment
adopted last fall, organizing Circuit Court
intermediate between the Common Pleas
and the Supreme Courts, is one Of the most
important to be filled at the ensuing cleo
ton.
One Of the three Republican candidates
for Judges in this Judicial Circuit, com
posed Of sixteen counties, and the one who
is best known to the people in the western
part Of the circuit is the gentleman whose
name appears at the head of this article.
Mr. Clark has for many years enjoyed an
euviable reputation as one of the leading
lawyers in southern Ohio. And inaddiGon
to the ardorous duties of a long aud sue
cessful professional career has frequently
been honored by his fellow citizens with
responsible public trusts, in the execution
of which he has given entire satisfaction to
the people
Without disparagement to the other can
didates, who are associated with him on the
Judicial ticket it may be safely said that
no one Of them is better qualified than Mr..
Clark for the responsible duties which will
devolve on the Judges of the new Court.
If elected, as we have no doubt he will
be, his administration of the high Office
will reflect equal honor upon himself ard
the people.
Below will be found a brief sketch of his
life and public career, copied from the
Chillicothe Leaaer, which will be found of
interest to all our readers.
NJ. J.. Clark was born in the village of
Clarksburg, this county, April q, 1918. his
father being Col. William Clark, the found
er Of the village, and the subject of this
sketch being the first child born there. Col.
| William Clark was the commander of the
Second Regiment, Ohio Militia. in the war
of lSl2-13, and served with credit and dis
tinction. OF the boyhood years of Milton
l.. Clark we need not sueak They were
years of industry, and integrity, and study.
years of patient clerical toll in his native
| village, at Chillicothe, at Louisville, Ken
lucky, and at other points; years Of frugal
| ity, which enabled him to follow out the
cherished desire Of his life, and returning
to ChilhcOthe on the 9th of August. lS42
he entered the Office of Col. Jonathan F.
/ Woodsides, then one of the leading praeti-
| TONERS at the Ross county bar, and subse-
| quentIy distinguished as a legislator, and
as Charge de Affairs at Denmark.
November %, 1874, he was admitted to
the bar and in the campaign of 1874 took
an active part in public debate as friend
and admirer Of the Gallant Harry of tbe
| Vest He was elected by his party TO the
position of Prosecuting Attorney, and, re-
elected him in l847. The records show
that he had but one indictment ouagbed
/ during the two years he held the Office. and
seldom lost verdict. In 1849 he was sent
to the Legislature by a majority of over
| 1000, and was there given the important
chalrmanship Of the Committee on Claims.
In the Legislature his confrees were he who
IS now Chief Justice Waite, George E.
Pugh, Judge William Lawrence, etc.
| At the expiration Of the term he gave
himself up completely to the practice of his
| profession, and soon won his wav to the
front rank We have not the space here to
only briefly refer to his professional bloc
raphy. Nothing could be said to his dis
credit in that connection. He has been as
sOciated with most of the famous cases
tried, not only at the Ross county bar. but
at the bars of adjoining counties: and in
every case he has added to the reputation
as lawyer already gained. His oppo-
nents have been the ablest attorneys of
Southern Ohio, numbering among them,
Allen g. Thurman, Henry S. Stansberry,
Hooking Hunter, George Z. Puph. William
Y. MCCintick, and all the able LAWYERS of
his own bar. His practice in the Supreme
Court has been large, and in his points of
law he has aided in the settlement of many
disputed legal propositions
In the spring of 1873 Mr. Clark was
made the nominee of his party for delegate
to the Constitutional Convention His
Democratic opponent was the Hon. Arch
Mayo, while Capt. Theodore Sherer. an oc-
tive Republican, entered the field as an In
dependent candidate. Capt Sherer drew
from Mr. Clark / 300 votes, and vet he was
elected by handsome pluarlity, and this in
the face Of the fact that the fall before the
D county had gone 26l Democratic. and the
! fall following it gave Gov. Allen CAT major
/ ity. In the Constitutional Convention he
occupied a conspicuous place among the de-
baters and always commanded attention
He was made chairman Of the committees
ON Public Debt and Public Works. two
very important committees. His speech on
the report of the Committee on Public In
Z stituuons was a mastery effort, was highly
commended, and was published IN full by
the leading daily press.
Mr., Clark was a delegate to the National
Republican Convention Of 1860. and went
! there as a Lincoln man. In 1870 he was a
= candidate before the State Republican Con
S yentlon for Supreme Judge, and received
the highest vote of any candidate from this
l. section of the state had received since Jdupe
Peck's time, but failed of a nomination. in
the fall Of 1878 he was urged by Ross county
Republicans for the Congressional nomina
ton in 1850 his name was again presented
to the State Convention as a cadidate fol
s. supreme Judge, and i'm 1889 he would prob
Is ably have been given a place ON the Suprem,
a Court Commission, had it not been for Sen
II ator Sherman's urgent advocacy of Judge
Granger. he was for quite a number o.
. years a. member of the State Examining
Is Board, and for several years the chairman
, Of it.