party in 1852, at which Franklin Pierce was nominated for the presidency. Mr. Starkweather died at Cleveland, Ohio. The firm of Starkweather & Jarvis continued until 1842, when Alexander Bierce was taken into the firm, the style of the firm being Starkweather, Jarvis & Bierce.

Gen. Dwight Jarvis finished his legal studies at Canton about 1822, located for a time at Athens, Ohio, but returned to Canton in 1831 when he and Starkweather went into partnership as heretofore mentioned. On the dissolution of the firm of Starkweather, Jarvis & Bierce, Mr. Jarvis moved to Massillon, where he continued to reside until the time of his death.

While a resident of Massillon he was elected major-general of the sixth division of the Ohio militia, having theretofore been brigadierinspector. In politics he was a federalist and admirer of Jay, Hamilton and the Federal leaders; and earnest in his dislike of the Republican leaders of the Jeffersonian school.

Hiram Griswold, who had taken his legal course of study in the office of Hon. V. R. Humphrey, of Hudson, Ohio, after his admission to the bar at Bucyrus in 1829, located in Canton, and immediately acquired a large and lucrative practice. He enjoyed the complete confidence of the people of the county by whom it has been said, had he remained there, he could have had any political preferment from the county or congressional district. He removed to the city of Cleveland about 1852, where he at once was elected to the state senate, shortly thereafter removing to the state of Kansas, locating at Leavenworth. While Hon. Hiram Griswold resided at Canton he served for six years as reporter for the Supreme Court of the state. He compiled Volumes 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the Ohio Reports. At the time of the election of Hon. Benjamin F. Wade to the United States Senate, Mr. Griswold came within one or two votes of securing the election over Wade to the office.

Alexander Bierce, of whom mention has been made, was a native of Massachusetts, located first at Massillon where he practiced for about three years before coming to Canton to enter into partnership with Starkweather and Jarvis, and upon the dissolution of the firm, Mr. Bierce entered into partnership with the Hon. Anson Pease, of Massillon, which continued until Mr. Bierce's death, a period of about twenty-four years. It is said of him that few men who practiced in the courts of the state, commanded more attention than did Alexander Bierce. Of fine analytical mind, strictest integrity, with a thorough knowledge of the law, he was seldom over-ruled in the court of last resort. It was said of him by one who knew him well, "he was a lawyer."

The opening of the Ohio canal, making it an artery of trade with the Great Lakes, gave great impetus to the town of Massillon as a business and commercial center, and for a long period there were perhaps as many practitioners of the bar of the county located at that town as at the county seat. Among the lawyers of that thriving city who took a prominent place at that bar was the Hon. Samuel Pease, who opened an office in 1831 and continued in active practice until his death in 1867. Not a strong advocate in the trial of jury cases, but as an office lawyer and counsellor, he had few equals.

Prior to 1840, Hon. James D. Brown came from the state of New

York, and, as before noted, formed a partnership with Hon. John Harris at Canton. He frequently served the county as prosecuting attorney, was prominent in his profession, and about the beginning of the Civil War moved to the city of Omaha, where he resided until his decease in the year 1880.

Hon. Samuel Lahm, born at Leitersburg, Md., a graduate of Washington college, Pennsylvania, completed his legal course at Hagerstown, Md., and located in Canton about 1834. As the law of the state required one year's residence before admission to the bar, Mr. Lahm spent the year in the office of Almon Sortwell, attorney, familiarizing himself with the statutes of the state, and modes of legal procedure. On his admission to the bar of the state, he immediately acquired a large practice, had all the business he could handle, and generally appeared on one side or the other of every prominent case in the court. Well grounded in the law, a most eloquent orator, of fine appearance, logical, forcible and persuasive, he was regarded as one of the most able lawyers at the bar, the most popular stump-orator in the district and among the best in the state. His voice was strong, and from much outdoor speaking became much impaired and caused him to retire from public speaking and politics. The following incident occurred in the court, which gained wide publicity in the press of the day: A witness was presented to the clerk to be sworn and inquired of: "How do you swear?" meaning, do you swear or affirm; to which the witness replied: "I swear by Sam Lahm."

He had a strong taste for military matters and was chosen brigadier-general. He served as prosecuting attorney of the county, three terms in the legislature-one in the house and two in the senate. He was defeated for a third term in the senate by the treachery of his pretended political friends; but forming a political coalition with the Whig party, was subsequently elected a member of the lower house of Congress, as an independent candidate against Hon. D. A. Starkweather, the regular nominee of the Democratic party. His course in Congress was not such as to meet with the approval of the Whig element that had contributed to his election, and being regularly nominated by the Democratic convention in 1856 for a second term, he was defeated by the opposition supported by the so-called Know-nothings. Gen. Lahm continued to be a Democrat of the radical kind, supported Breckenridge as against Douglas, and was bitter in denunciation against the abolitionists. At a largely attended union mass meeting held in the county in 1861, addressed by Hon. Luther Day, of Ravenna, who had previous to the war been a Democrat of the Douglas branch of the party as opposed to the Breckenridge following, but who on the breaking out of the war threw all his influence and powers in defense of the Union, Judge Day in the course of his address was interrupted by Gen. Lahm with the taunting remark, "The abolitionists caused the war." Without attempting to discuss the statement, Judge Day argued that the duty to preserve the Union was none the less imperative. “If my friend, General Lahm, returning to his home some evening, discovers fire breaking out in his neighbor's house, does he walk by without giving his aid, saying, 'Let the old thing burn; I didn't set it on fire?'"

The answer was effective, and General Lahm became a much changed man in his political attitude from that day to the end of his life, which closed in 1876. For some years before his death he had

gone to farming, owning a large tract of land west of the city of Canton, and where the growing town of Reedurban is now located.

General Lahm had a brother some years his junior, John Lahm, who practiced at the bar for many years, served as mayor of Canton, and as clerk of the court of the county, and who was of opposite politics from the general.

Among the early practitioners of the Stark county bar, and who came from Leitersburg, Md., was the Hon. Benjamin F. Leiter, born in the year 1813. Without a collegiate education, but of bright intellect, and widely read on many subjects, Mr. Leiter before coming to the county had been engaged for a short time in teaching school. Shortly after taking up a residence at Canton, he taught school in an adjoining district, and when the free school system went into operation was engaged as the first teacher in Canton under it. He soon made his entry into politics, was elected clerk of the township, and served as justice of the peace; read law under Hon. D. A. Starkweather, and after his admission to the bar, entered into partnership with Hon. G. W. Belden. During his practice at the bar he was a member of the firms of Belden & Leiter; Leiter & Pool; Leiter & Treat. Joseph Pool, after some years of practice, moved to Cleveland, went into the army, and later located in the City of New York and engaged in the business of banking. Mr. Leiter served two terms in the legislature, was speaker of the house during his second term, the contest for which was long and bitter. Mr. Leiter obtained possession of the chair by a coup de main, held possession during the day and a night, having his meals brought to him by a page, and after considerable filibustering was declared elected. It is said he became a popular presiding officer, being well versed in parliamentary law and procedure. In 1850 he was a candidate for the state senate, but met with defeat, the balance of the Democratic ticket being elected. Becoming much dissatisfied with his party, for some years he held aloof from his party's councils, joined the Know-nothing party, which formed an alliance with the dissatisfied elements of the Democrats, and was elected to the thirty-fourth Congress, at the close of which term, having won the approbation of the new Republican party, he was renominated and elected over his opponent, General Sam Lahm. It has been remarked that no congressman from the district was more thoughtful in remembering his constituents by the free distribution of documents and seeds.

Seraphim Meyer, mention of whom has already been made, was a native of Alsace, France, and the father and family came to Massillon about 1828, remaining but a few days before removing to Canton. He was admitted to the bar in 1838, had a long career as a barrister, and, as before mentioned, served as judge of both the probate and common pleas courts of the county.

He was well read in the law, a master of both the French and German languages, and versed in the best literature. Judge Meyer during his practice was a member of the firm of Dunbar & Meyer. Brown & Meyer: Meyer & Manderson, and Meyer & Piero. On the breaking out of the war, in 1861, Mr. Meyer and his two sons, Edward S. and C. Turenne, entered the army, the father as colonel of the 107th Regiment, O. V. I., with the son, Edward S. belonging to the same regiment. Col. Meyer was compelled to resign from the army on account of severe illness, in 1864.

The son, Edward S., a brave and fearless soldier, was severely wounded in the battle of Chancellorsville, won an enviable military record, and was brevetted brigadier general. After the close of the war, he located in Cleveland, was United States district attorney under the Garfield administration, and later he had a large practice. He died but a few years since. The other son, C. Turenne, practiced for a time at Canton after his military service, moved to Wichita, Kan., but later returned to Canton, where he formed a partnership with W. J. Piero.

General Charles F. Manderson, a native of Pennsylvania, born in the city of Philadelphia, was admitted to the bar in 1860, after the necessary studies under his preceptors, Lewis Schaeffer, and William K. Upham. He began the practice of law in Canton. Entering the army shortly after the beginning of the war, as lieutenant in Company A, 19th Regiment, O. V. I., his services continued until 1865, he having greatly distinguished himself through his valor and bravery. He was promoted through the different grades, and was brevetted brigadier general of volunteers. At the close of his military career he again resumed the practice, was elected prosecuting attorney of the county, and moved to the city of Omaha about 1869, where he had a long and honorable career both as a lawyer and public official. He served as general counsel for the Burlington & Quincy R. R. lines west of the Missouri river, was United States senator from Nebraska for several terms, and during his last term was president pro tem of that body. General Manderson's wife was a daughter of Hon. James D. Brown, and a granddaughter of Hon. John Harris. He died about two years. since, aboard ship, while on his return from a European trip.

David K. Carter, a native of Jefferson county, N. Y., began life for himself as an apprentice in the printing office of Thurlow Weed, at Rochester, in that state. After the necessary preparation for his admission to the bar, he, after being admitted to practice, hung out his shingle in Rochester, but after several years, not having met with the success anticipated, came west to Ohio, locating for several years at Akron, and about 1845 settled at Massillon, where he formed a partnership with Hon. H. B. Hurlbut, the firm name being Carter & Hurlbut, which lasted until his election to the National House of Representatives in 1848.

He had aspired to congressional honor while a resident of Akron, but the district not being Democratic, it was charged by his political opponents that he had removed to Stark county (which was a rockribbed Democratic district) merely for the purpose of securing political honors. He took an active part in the councils of the Democratic party, was prominent in its conventions and one of its most popular speakers. In appearance he was commanding, his face marked with smallpox, a voice coarse, his manners at times somewhat rough, his language not always chaste and pure, and with an impediment of speech which it is said rather emphasized than detracted from the force of his oratory. He was always referred to as D. K. Carter, and the Whigs, by whom he was always feared, wrote him in their papers as "Decay" Carter. He served two terms, withdrew from politics, shortly thereafter removing to the city of Cleveland. On the organization of the Republican party he affiliated with that party, taking an active part in its affairs, and was delegated from the Cleveland district to the Republican national

convention at Chicago in 1860. He claimed the honor of Lincoln's nomination as the party's candidate. Whether true or not, he was recognized by an appointment as minister to Bolivia, but the office not being to his taste, he resigned, came back home, and received the appointment as chief justice of the supreme court of the District of Columbia, serving through all the exciting and trying times of the Civil War and the reconstruction period, when new and important ques tions were arising before the court. He had a judicial mind, a keen perception of the basic elements of the law, which he was ever ready to apply with peculiar aptness, and with strong will and courage undaunted, he cut through the entangling difficulties, reaching satisfactory conclusions. He made his impress upon the judicial proceedings of that court. In after life, it is said, he much regretted his rather coarse and brusque style in the trials of his causes when in his early practice at the bar. One who knew him has said that "had he been more of a student in his early life and had the suavity and culture of his contemporary, Chase, he would have been one of the foremost judges of the federal bench." Judge Carter died in 1887.

Among the practitioners at the bar in the first half of the last century may be mentioned the following, who resided at Canton: William Bryce, who had been a stone mason before coming to the bar. He had helped in building the Ohio canal; studied law and was admitted to the practice. He served one term as county recorder. Hon. Elijah P. Grant, an accomplished scholar and lawyer; a man of many genial qualities, and a believer and advocate of socialistic doctrines. Zerubbabel Snow, who was at the bar in 1848, and said to be a close relative of Erastus Snow and Lorenzo Snow, both of whom were prominently connected with the Mormon church; the first being one of the advance party sent out by Brigham Young to spy out the land at Salt Lake, where Young and his band of followers located after crossing the plains the other, traveling for some years as a missionary of the Mormon church in Europe, and later founding the town of Brigham, Utah.

No history of the bar of Stark county would be complete without some reference to the Hon. William K. Upham, who was regarded as one of the ablest lawyers of his day. He was a native of the state of Vermont, and a son of Hon. William Upham, who represented that state in the Senate of the United States.

He

William K. Upham first located at New Lisbon, where he practiced for about three years, coming to Canton about 1848, where he continued in active practice, not only at the bar of Stark county, but throughout eastern Ohio, until his death in 1867 at Canfield, the then county seat of Mahoning county, where he was attending court. was a contemporary of Stanton, and met with the distinguished lawyers of his day in the trial of many important cases before the courts. He possessed the faculty of being able to cite the volume and page of most every case in the Reports of the State, as well as the legal principle involved in the court's decision. When the question of the constitutionality of the organization of the state of West Virginia came before President Lincoln, the president called in Stanton for a legal opinion on the subject. Stanton is said to have remarked to the president. "There is a lawyer out in Ohio whose opinion I would suggest you should get, Mr. President." "Who is he?" queried the president. "William K. Upham, of Canton," was Stanton's reply.