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A Sketch of the Supreme Court of Ohio.

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for three years. Was elected prosecuting He was four years Chief Justice of the attorney of the county in 1843. In 1845 Supreme Court, and Chief Justice of the he was married to Miss Emily Swift Spald Commission one year. His opinions, writ ing, daughter of Judge R. P. Spalding. ten while on the bench of the Supreme Judge Spalding having moved to Akron Court, are found in fifteen volumes of the in 1840, Judge Day went there and formed Ohio State Reports. a partnership with him, remaining about a JOHN WELCH was born in Harrison year, when he returned to Ravenna, be- County, Ohio, Oct. 28, 1805. He was ad caused of his wife's ill health at Akron. mitted to the bar in 1833, and started in

He was again elected practice at Athens, prosecuting attorney acquiring an exten of Portage County in sive clientele from the beginning, and was 1849. He was the Democratic candi successful and active date in his district for throughout his pro member of Congress fessional career. in 1850, but the dis Judge Welch was fav trict having a large ored in his younger Whig majority, he days of practice by was beaten. In 1851 being thrown in con he was elected judge tact with men emi of the Common Pleas nent in the law, Court. which necessarily gave him rare oppor In 1862 Governor tunities. Libraries Tod appointed him were not of any mag Judge Advocate Gen nitude in the localities eral on his staff, with where he practiced, the rank of Colonel, and he was compelled but he soon resigned to depend very on account of his prolargely upon his own fe s s i o n a 1 business. mental resources and In 1863 he was reasoning. The WILLIAM T. SPEAR. elected, as a Repub training which his lican, to a seat in the Senate of the State, and in 1864 he mind received in this manner eminently was elected judge of the Supreme Court qualified him for the duties which he was of Ohio, and thereupon resigned his seat in called upon to perform later in life. The the Senate. In 1869 he was elected a legal mind, must of necessity be the strong second time to a place on the Supreme er when trained by self-reasoning rather Court bench, but in 1874 the State went than when solely dependent upon case Democratic, and he with his party was law. He was called upon to fill a number beaten. In 1875 the Legislature created a of honorable positions, namely State senator, commission to revise the statutes of the member of Congress, judge of the Court of State, and Governor Allen appointed Judge Common Pleas, and last, judge of the Day a member of that commission. In Supreme Court, the latter of which he held 1876 Governer Hayes appointed him a for thirteen years. His opinions while on member of the Supreme Court Commission. the bench of the Supreme Court are models