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A Sketch of the Supreme Court of Ohio. school at Canton; read law with John Harris of Canton, was admitted to the bar on the 10th of October, 1842. Removed to Wooster in 1843, and began the practice of law. He continued to make Wooster his home until his death, which event took place on the twenty-ninth day of March, 1879. He served as prosecuting attorney of Wayne County for four years. Was elected to

the State Senate from the Wayne Holmes District, in October, 1851 . Was made president pro tern, of that body. Was again elected to the office of prosecu tor of Wayne County, in 18 5 9, and re-elected in 186 1. In August, 1864, he was ap pointed prosecuting attorney, to fill a vacancy. Again elected to the State Senate in 1867, when the district was com posed of the Counties of Wayne, Holmes, Knox, and Morrow. He was a great friend of the common school FRANKL1N J. system, and rendered much valuable aid in its establishment. Governor Allen appointed him a judge of the Supreme Court of the State, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge Stone, in September, 1874; at the October election of the same year he was elected for the unexpired term of Judge Stone, serving until the 9th of Feb ruary, 1877. He declined to be a candidate for re-election in 1876. The labors of the bench had seriously affected his health; and although he re-entered the active practice of law, he never recovered his usual health. He was a public spirited man, and was pos-

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sessed of strong convictions, and was ever fearless in the discharge of his duties both private and public. William J. Gilmore was born in Liberty, Bedford County, Virginia, April 24, 1821, and came to Ohio with his parents in 1825, settling in Preble County. His education was obtained from such sources as were afforded in that early day in the log schoolhouse; and in Westfield and Hopewell Academies, the latter being then in charge of Rev. Samuel W. Mc Cracken, who pre viously had been pro fessor of mathematics in Miami University. Judge Gilmore began his study of the law under Thomas Milliken of Hamilton, and was admitted to the bar in Columbus in 1847.' He first began the practice of his profession in Hamilton, in partner ship with Col. Thomas Moore, but a year later removed to Eaton and opened IMCKMAN. an office. In 1852 he was elected prose cuting attorney of Preble County, which office he held two terms, notwithstand ing the fact that the political majority of the county was largely against him. In 1857 he began his judicial career, being elected to fill the vacancy made by the resignation of Judge James Clark upon the Common Pleas bench, which posi tion he resigned in 1874, when he was elected a judge of the Supreme Court. After leav ing the bench in 1880 he opened an office in the City of Columbus, where he continues to reside and is actively engaged in the