The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-07-19


debt OF considerable sum under
which it was sold by the sheriff, which
was certainly very unfortunate end
ing of his career financially, consider
ing that he was, so far as the records
disclose, the only lawyer residing in
the county for number of years.
Doubtless the competition of the breth-
rem from the counties to the east
proved too much for him.
The next name of a resident lawyer,
have been able to find, is that of
JAMES w. LATHROP,
first appearing upon the records in
1916. Mr.. Lathrop must have been a
man of very considerable ability, and
a number of our older citizens remem-
Der him as such. / believe that he
is the same Lathrop, who was sent to
the legislature many years after, and
was prominently connected with the
legislation for the establishment of a
free school system in our state. He
diec at Columbus during his term of
service, and not many years since DIR.
Lewis Slusser, who was acqainted with
his history, raised fund for a removal
of his remains from Columbus to West
lawn cemetery, feeling that the county
owed a debt of gratitude to their de-
ceased representative, which could
then be recognized only by the re-inter-
ment Of his remains at his former home
and the erection of modest monu-
ment.
From that time until 1926 find no
additional name of a local attorney,
but in that year the firm of Loomis
& Metcalf appears and thereafter with
great frequency. They both resided at
ana both of them Ibelieve later re-
moved to Pittsburg.
In the same year appears the name of
Samuel Van Renseller, who was ap-
pointed post master by General jack
son, but whose career in that Office
prove unfortunate.
In 1925 also first appeared man who
was destined to become quite famous
in the county, and who held for long
time leading place at the bar,
DAVID A. STARKWEATHER.
He lived into my time, but had long
ceased to practice, but from the ac-
counts he must have been man of
brilliant attainments and certainly en-
joyed the reputation of being a strong
jury lawyer, and frequently i have
heard the old citizens tell how the 'peo-
pie crowded the court house when 1t
was known that Little Stark" as he
was called, was to plea. He was man
of popular manners and loved fox
and other athletic pursuits. In
politics he was a Democrat, and was
sent to congress in the early forties,
hIlf lafaofaI fn,. al -.
eral Samuel Lahm, who ran as an in
dependent candidate.
Franklin Pierce was member of the
same congress with Starkweather, and
upon his election to the presidency
appointed Mr.. Starkweather our min
lister to Chilli. After his return he be-
ing advanced in years, took but little
interest in politics, and believe never
ogain practiced.
In 1882 first appears the name of
Dwight Jarvis, leading lawyer of his
day, who resided and practiced in Mas
sillon.
In the same year appear the names
of Hiram Griswold, John Harris and
George w. Belden, all strong men and
leaders of the bar for a generation.
Hiram Griswold was the leader of the
Wings for many years. John Harris
was also Whig, and Belden was a
leading Democrat. Mr. Griswold was
politically, but the district
being Democratic, his aspirations
WE'RE DISAPPOINTED.
He afterwards removed to Cleveland.
ana his friends prophesied a brilliant
political career there, but that did not
follow, and thereafter he removed to
Lcavenworth, Kansas, where he died.
l remember John Harris very well,
seeing him pass my fathers door daily
for many years when i was child.
He had retired from active practice te-
fore l began to frequent the court
house, but / remember him as a tall,
dignifed man of imposing presence.
Mr.. Archibald McGregor tells me that
when boy residing In Medina county
he went to the county seat to hear
John Harris try murder case, which
had been removed from Wayne county
to Medina for trial. He describes Har-
ris as man Of polished and gracious
manner, and exceedingly acute and sue
cessful in the examination or witness
es.
In 1882 first appears the name of
Almon Sortwell, who practiced here a
number Of years, and is always spoken
of by the older citizens as the lame
lawyer.
Judge Belden lived well into my time,
and came to know him Immediately
before he left the bar. He was man
OF distinguished appearance and man
ner, very courtly in his bearing, and a
great power before the juries of the
county. He becan a Judge at very
early age, and remember we'll the ac-
counts he gave me of the attempts
of members of the bar in different
parts Of the circuit to presume upon
his supposed inexperience when he first
appeared upon the bench, because of
hts very youthful appearance. He was
appointed United States district at
torney for the northern district OF this