Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-04-12

gives the suhjoined sketch:
CHIEF JUSTICE WAITE.
"This gentleman was horn at Lyme,
Conn, November %, 1916, and gradu-
ated at Yale College in 1887. He
studied law with his father, Hon.
Henry NJ. Waite, who had been elected
Judge of the Jupreme Court Of Errors
Of Connecticut, in 1888, and subse-
quently became Chief Justice of that
court. The subject Of this sketch re-
moved to Maumee City, Ohio, In Oc-
tober, 1888, and resumed law studies in
the office of Samuel M. Young and was
admitted to the Ohio bar In October,
1889. Previous to his admission he
had formed law partnership with his
preceptor, Mr.. Young, which continued
until the first of January, 1854. He re-
moved to Toledo, however, in the sum-
mer of 1850. In 1858, the existing
partnership with his brother, Richard
Waite, was formed. On the 2lst of
September, 1910, he was married to
Miss Amelia c. Warner, of Lyme,
Conn.
Mr.. Waite was elected as Whig to
the General Assembly of Ohio, in the
fall of 1849, in legislative district then
opposed to him in politics. This was
the only political Office ever held by
Fhim-law, rather than politics, having
always been his chosen field.
In November, 1871, he was appointed
one of the counsel of the United States
before the tribunal of arbitration, at
Geneva, Switzerland, convened to ad-
just the claims of the United States
against Great Britain, known as the
Alabama Claims''-an appointment
that reflected credit upon the admins
tration that rendered it itunsought. n
On the 5th of November, 1872, Mr..
Waite landed at New York, on his re-
turn home from his mission. In 1874
he was appointed to the position of
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
the United States, the position which
until his death, March %, 1883, he so
ably occupied. He was the seventh oc-
cupant of this onerous and honorable
position. Since the organization of the
government only six persons prior to
Mr.. Waite; have occupied the chair; SO
that he may be regarded as much more
fortunate than President of the Union.
One of these was not confirmed by the
Senate, while two others who were ap-
pointed and confirmed declined the
honor-the most dignified it was in the
province of the people to confer. There
were two others whose nominations
were withdrawn without the action of
the Senate.
Fulton county was organized in 1S49.
1t has no points of ancient historical
interest.
Henry county was formed April l,
1920, and named from Patrick Henry,
the Virginia orator. 1.-The notorious
Simon Girty," says Henry Howe,
"once resided five miles above Napo-
leon, at place called Girty's Point.
His cabin was on the bank of the
Maumee, few rods west of the resi-
dence of the late Elijah Gum. All
traces of his habitation have been OBJ
liberated by culture, and fine farm
now surrounds the spot. Napoleon,
the county seat, was plated in 1882.
MAJOR ANDRES CAPToRs.
Williams county was erected April l.,
1920, and was named for David Will
liams, one of the three captors of
Major Andre. Defiance county erected
in 1845, took from Williams the place
of its first settlement. When the coun-
ty seat was removed from Defiance to
Bryan in 1940, there was not an in
habited dwelling on the site of Bryan.
1t was named from Hon. John A.
Bryan, former Auditor of the State, and
later Charge a. Afdires at Peru.
Defiance county contains the site of
the old Fort Defiance, from which it
was named-the scene of important |
and stirring events already mentioned.
It was erected March 4th, 1845, from
Henry and Paulding. Much
Of the County is or was covered with
the Black Swamp" The noted men
Of the county mentioned by Mr.. Knapp
ire Miller Arrowsmith, formerly a
of the State Board of Equaliza-
ion; Horace Sessions, a prominent
awyer; VIM. c. Holgate, an enterpris-
ng pioneer, and others.
Paulding county was formed April ],
.920, and named from John Paulding.
/ native of Peekskill, New York, and
me of the three captors of the famous
Major Andre. The county was organ
zed in 1889.
Van Vert, was formed April l, 1920,
md was named from the other of the
hree captors of Andre-Isaac Van
Vert; until 1886 it was attached to
Mercer county for civil purposes. The
irst court was held at Wiltshire, Oct.
!, 1887. The town of Van Vert was
aid out, 30th of March, 1885. Will
hire is the Oldest town in the county,
laving been founded in 1922 by Capt.
lanes Watson Riley, also one of the
'riginal proprietors of the town of Van
Vert.
Putnam county was formed April !,
800, and was named after Gen. Israel
Putnam of Revolutionary fame. Until
S34 it was attached to Williams coun-
Y for judicial purposes. Kalida, the
county seat, was named from a Greek
word signifying Beautiful" H. s.
Knapp, the author of the work to
which we are so greatly indebted
vas a citizen of Putnam. and at
me time representative in the Cen
,ral Assembly of Ohio, and the author
If the proposition to reduce the valua-
ion Of the State canal lands, and Sc
,ure their sales in redistricted quanti-
lies to actual settlers. DIR. G. M. God
'rey and Gen. G. III. Rice, are also
highly esteemed citizens of this county.
Hancock county was formed April l,
1920, and named for John Hancock the
irst President of the Continental Con-
yress, and first signer of the Declara-
ion of Independence. The county was
in April, 1928. The only vot-
ing place was at Findlay, and only ~
votes cast. The first court was held in