The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-10-16
THE COURTS OF I.
THE ANCIBNTS.
What Early Records of Stark
County Courts Show.
ARCHIVES OF PROBATE OFFICE,
Interesting Records Are to he Found In
Them -sone Novel Entries-The
Records of the Early
Marriages.

Anything savoring of antiquity excites
interest with the average citizen. This
is true Of old furniture, old books or
old records. Some discussion Of early
records led a News-Democrat news
gatherer to delve into the archives Of
the probate judges Office, in an effort
to find something fnusty with age.
The probate office was not established
in Ohio until the adoption Of the new
constitution in 1852. Hence certain
class Of records cannot be found dating
back Of that year: but wills and ac-
| counts were kept prior to that In the
| county court, as It was first called, and
| later in the common pleas court.
The first criminal probate court in
Stark county was held In August, 1853,
when George w. RAN presided. He was
the first probate Judge after the court
was created.
His first case was that of the state Of
Ohio VS.. August Gaschatt and others.
for assault and battery. A gang of five
had laid for one Pierre d. Fiellig, and
given him drubhing. Judge Raff
mulcted them $40 and costs, and sent
them to Jail for three days on bread
and water only" VIM. F. Evans was
prosecuting attorney.
| A year later William Forsyth and
Joseph Adams were arrested for
DEFACING A TOMBSTONE
erected to the memory Of Nellie Evans.
The specific charge was that they broke
IAN ear off of a marble lamb, an emblem
of purity" and for this they got $40 and
costs each, and ten days in Jail on the
same prohibition diet that the others
were assigned to.
That was the age of fistic chivalry,
when men fought on the slightest prov
ocation, and the records are full of cases
Of assault and battery.
The first will recorded in probate court
was that of Frederick Boettler, in 1852,
and the first account filed was in the es-
tate of Joseph Vesseriat. But back OF
these records are the books Of the county
court, dating back to 1909, in which mar
riage, administrators and will records
were kept. These were turned over to
the probate office and became part OF
the records Of that office.
The first will in these old records is
that of William Stanton, Of Stark
county, who preambles by saying, that
being Of sound mind and memory, and
calling to mind the uncertainty of life
he makes and ordains his last WILL" II
Is dated January /, 1917.
John Eddington's will is the second
one in the records. John declares that
being weak in "boddy," but of Sound
and perfect mind and memory, blessed
be Almighty God for the same" HI
therefore publishes his last will. This
is dated August 81, 1872.
Peter Shorb Is a little more devout
and starts off with: "In the name Of
the Holy and undivided Trinity, pub
mortal soul to the hands Of God" This
, was in 1914.
i. OLDEN TIME MARRIAGES.
/, A popularity Of the times was that al
marriages were performed by justices
of the peace, and 1t was not until about
1880 that ministers of the gospel begar
making marriage returns.
The first marriage return was as fol.
lows:
IT do hereby certify that the marriage
, contract was this day solemnized be-
. tween John Andrews and Mary Anr
, McClelland, March IA, 1909, Jane.
Leonard, ]. P.
!, The next return was that Of Davit
Clay and Catherine Harter, February 4
1909.
, Among the earlier ministers who per
formed wedding ceremonies was Joshua
, Beer, who affixed v. d. M, to his name
; working in little latin abbreviation
Then there was ]. ]. Fast, Peter Her
: bruck, George Schlosser, George Hoke
T.. M. Hopkins, Christian Yoder anC
: Henry Melsheimer.
Some Of the marriages were performed
by the clerk of courts at that time, al
+, shown by the returns.
, A noticeable feature Of these old re
, cords is the writing. Some Of 1t is al
most as perfect as copper plate, and l
is all good, though done with quill pens
The writing is still clear and distinct
showing that good quality Of ink an,
= paper were used.
A SURPRISING REPORT.