Ohio County. Indiana
Courts
Ohio county owes its
existence to a county seat fight, which had been waged in Dearborn
county for many years prior to 1844, when Ohio county was formally
organized by an act of the Legislature. There can be no question but
that Ohio county was the direct result of the three-cornered struggle
between Lawrenceburg, Wilmington and Rising Sun for the honor of being
the county seat of Dearborn county. The final outcome of the struggle
resulted in an act of the Legislature, passed January 15, 1844,
establishing Ohio county, with Rising Sun as its county seat.
The first term of court
in Ohio county convened on the second Monday of December, 1844, at
which time Asaph Buck was the only resident member of the Ohio county
bar. At this first court Miles C. Eggleston was the President Judge,
and Samuel Fulton and Thomas H. Gilmore were the Associate Judges.
ASSOCIATE
JUDGES.
Samuel Fulton May 11,
1844, to serve seven years from date.
Thomas H. Gilmore May 11,
1844, to serve seven years from date.
John Hall August 18,
1847, to serve seven years from May 11, 1844.
William Patterson August
21, 1850, to serve seven years from May 11, 1851.
Martin Stewart August 21,
1850, to serve seven years from May 11, 1851.
PROBATE
JUDGES.
Samuel Jelley May 11,
1844, to serve seven years from date.
Thomas W. Pate August 26,
1850, to serve seven years from May 11, 1851.
COMMON
PLEAS JUDGES.
Robert Drummond 1852-58,
died in office.
Scott Carter Appointed
August 18, 1858-November 2, 1858.
John Z. Hayden 1858-60.
Francis Adkinson 1860-64.
Robert N. Lamb 1864-68.
Scott Carter 1868-73.
DISTRICT
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
Carter Gaziay 1852-53,
resigned.
Henry A. Downey Appointed
October 20, 1853-54.
James A. Works 1854-58.
Richard Gregg 1858-59.
William S.
Schroyer—1859-60.
John Barber 1860-62.
Solon Russell 1862-64.
William D. Wilson 1864-66.
Albert B. Goden 1866-67.
William P. Adkinson—
Appointed December 7, 1867-68.
Hugh D. McMullen 1868-70.
Isaac M. Dunn 1870-73.
PRESIDENT
JUDGES.
At the time of its
organization, March 1, 1844, Ohio county was placed in the Third
circuit, on which Miles C. Eggleston was then serving as Judge. He
remained in office until December 18. 1844. when he was succeeded by
Courtland Gushing, who resigned August 9, 1850. Alexander C. Downey was
appointed August 9, 1850, as successor of Cushing and he filled the
office until the adoption of the new Constitution in 1852.
CIRCUIT
JUDGES.
Alexander C.
Downey—October 12, 1852; resigned, August 1, 1858. First circuit.
John W. Spencer Appointed
August 9, 1858-October 26, 1858.
Joseph W. Chapman—
October 26, 1858-October 29, 1864.
John G. Berkshire October
29, 1864-April 22, 1869.
The act of April 22, 1869, put Ohio in the Twenty-sixth.
Robert N. Lamb Appointed
April 28, 1869-October 24, 1870.
Henry C. Hanna October
24, 1870-March 6, 1873.
The act of March 6, 1873, put Ohio in the Seventh.
Omar F. Roberts Appointed
March 29, 1873-October 21, 1879.
Noah S. Givan October 21,
1879-October 21, 1885.
William H. Bainbrldge-
October 21, 1885-October 21, 1891.
Alexander C. Downey -
October 21. 1891-October 21, 1897.
The act of February 24,
1897, constituted Ohio and Dearborn the Seventh, where they have since
remained.
Noah S. Givan October 21,
1897-October 21, 1903.
George E. Downey October
21, 1903; resigned in May, 1913.
Warren N. Hauck Appointed
May 10, 1913; term expires November 17, 1920.
PROSECUTING
ATTORNEYS.
John Dumont March 1,
1844-December 15, 1848. Third circuit.
James Y. Allison August
16, 1851-October 12, 1852.
Robert P. Moore October
12, 1852-November 7, 1854. First circuit.
Daniel Kelso November 7,
1854-November 7, 1856.
Francis Adkinson November
7, 1856-November 7, 1858.
George W. Richardson-
November 7. 1858-November 7, 1862.
James M. Myers
November 7, 1862; resigned, June 16, 1864.
Benjamin F. Lewis
Appointed June 16, 1864-November 1, 1865.
John A. Miller Appointed
November 1, 1865-November 3, 1868
John Denton November 3,
1868-April 22. 1869.
The act of April 22, 1869, put Ohio in the Twenty-sixth.
William Wirt Kelley
Appointed April 28, 1869-October 24, 1870.
Addison Williams October
26, 1878; died December 21, 1878.
Rodman L. Davis Appointed
December 31, 1878-November 17, 1882.
Robert E. Stahr November
17, 1882-November 17, 1886.
Edward H. McGrew November
17, 1886-November 17, 1888.
Rodman L. Davis November
17, 1888-November 17, 1896.
Harry R. McMullen
November 17, 1898-January 1, 1903.
The act of February 24, 1897, constituted Ohio and Dearborn the
Seventh, where they have since remained.
Theodore J. Wulber
January 1, 1903-January 1, 1905.
Frank B. Johnson January
1, 1905-January 1, 1907.
John H. Russe January 1,
1907-January 1, 1915.
Willard M. Dean January
1, 1915; term expires January 1, 1917.
Source: Courts and Lawyers of IndianaBy Leander John Monks, Logan
Esarey, Ernest Vivian Shockley
