RETURN JONATHAN MEIGS, JR., OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

Among the most eminent men in the early history of the state was Return Jonathan Meigs, Jr. Of strong and graceful physique and striking

presence, he was a marked figure in every assemblage. His father, Return Johnathan Meigs, of Middletown, Connecticut, was a colonel in the War of the Revolution and did much toward achieving the independence of the colonies. Thrown frequently in the company of George Washington and his generals and advisers, he became closely identified with the early history of the republic following the struggle for liberty.

The younger Meigs was born in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1765, and as a youth witnessed and participated in the great revolutionary struggle. He graduated from Yale at the age of 21 and was admitted to the practice of law in his native town. The elder Meigs removed with his family to Marietta, at the time of the settlement of that place in 1788, and the young barriste: came with him, and that was his home to the date of his death, March 29, 1825. He entered upon his public career in 1803, when he was chosen chief justice

of the supreme court of the state by the legislature, Samuel Huntington and William Sprigg being his associates on the bench. In political belief he was a Democrat of rather conservative tendencies, favoring the new state movement, but opposed to pushing it forward with undue haste. His father, also a Democrat, of still more conservative type, was inclined to support the attitude of Governor St. Clair on the question of statehood, and this probably influenced the younger man.

In December, 1804, President Jefferson appointed him to the command of the United States troops in the Upper Louisiana district, and shortly after commissioned him as one of the United States judges of Louisiana territory. In 1806 he returned to Ohio and took a conspicuous part in the overthrow

of the Burr-Blennerhassett conspiracy, under the direction of Governor Tiffin and the legislature, and in conjunction with Gene al Gano.

He then returned to Louisiana territory for a short time, in the execution of a special mission pertaining to the military and civil organization of the district, intrusted to him by President Jefferson. Thence he went to Missouri territory on a similar mission. He returned to Ohio in 1807, where

a commission from the president making him a United States judge for the territory of Michigan awaited him.

This commission he declined, to become a candidate for governor of the state at the October election of that year. On the 8th of December, 1807, the two houses of the legislature canvassed the vote cast at the preceding October election, from which it appeared that Return Jonathan Meigs, Jr., had received 6,050 votes and Nathaniel Massie 4,757. Both the candidates were Democrats, and the two houses of the legislature were almost solidly Democratic.

Mr. Massie gave notice of contest on the ground that Judge Meigs was not eligible to the governorship under the third section of the second article of the constitution, which provided that no person should be eligible to the office unless he was 30 years of age, a citizen of the United States and "an inhabitant of the state for four years next preceding the election." Mr. Massie set up the absence of Judge Meigs in Louisiana and Missouri from 1804 to 1807 as constituting a constitutional ineligibility.

Judge Meigs admitted the absence, setting up that it was owing to the proper discharge of official duties for and in behalf of the United States government and for the government of the state of Ohio; that it did not make him a nonresident of the state within the meaning of the constitution, and that he had, in fact, been an inhabitant, a resident and citizen of the state for more than thirteen years previous to the day of the election.

An act was passed by the legislature providing for the trial of the contest before the two houses in joint assembly. The hearing of the case was upon the above agreed statement of facts, and argument of counsel. The vote in joint assembly was 24 in favor of sustaining the contest and 20 against. The vote of the senate was 5 to sustain and 9 opposed, and in the house, to sustain 19, opposed 11. Speaker Thomas Kirker of the senate, who was interested in the result of the contest, did not vote.

While Meigs lost the governorship, Massie did not gain it, the legislature declaring by a joint resolution that there had been a failure to elect and that the office was vacant, to be filled as directed by the constitution. Accordingly Thomas Kirker, speaker of the senate, became acting governor. At the same session of the legislature Judge Meigs was again elected as one of the supreme judges of the state.

On the 10th of December, 1808, the legislature elected him to the United States senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Smith, and also to the full term of six years. During his brief service in the senate he brought the new and growing empire of the west effectively to th« attention of the congress and the cabinet.

On the second Tuesday of October, 1810, he was elected governor of the state, receiving 9,924 votes to 7,731 for Thomas Worthington. In 1812 he was re-elected governor, receiving 11,859 votes, while his opponent, Thomas Scott, received 7,903. On both occasions his opponents were Democrats like himself.

During his four years (nearly) as governor, he acted with great prompt ness and energy in organizing and equipping the military forces of the state in the War of 1812. His state papers and public addresses were models of diction, patriotism and eloquence, and had the effect of calling Ohioans to arms, and her which he received the grateful acknowledgments of the national administration.

On the 4th of March, 1814, upon being appointed postmaster general by President Monroe, in recognition of his great abilities and his signal public services, he resigned the office of governor, and was succeeded by Othniel Looker, speaker of the senate, as acting governor.

He continued as postmaster general from March 17, 1814, to June 26, 1823, when he resigned because of impaired health, and was succeeded by John McLean of Ohio. Two years later he died at Marietta, aged 60, having spent 21 years continuously in the public service.

STANLEY GRISWOLD OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.

Mr. Griswold was born at Torrington, Conn., Nov. 14, 1763, and died at Shawneetown, Ills, Aug. 21, 1815. During his youth he worked on his father's farm, after which he entered Yale college, from which he graduated in 1786. Shortly after his graduation he was ordained as a minister. Being an ardent Jeffersonian Democrat, he attended a Democratic jubilee meeting at Wallingford, Conn., in 1801, and delivered a most remarkable sermo. on politics and religion.

He was immediately charged with heresy and retired from the ministry and was admitted to the practice of the law, remaining at Walpole, N. H.. where he edited a Democratic newspaper until President Thomas Jeffersor appointed him as secretary of the territory of Michigan, in 1805. Failing to agree with Governor Hull, who subsequently surrendered Detroit in the War of 1812, he resigned and came to Ohio.

In July, 1809, Governor Samuel Huntington appointed him to the vacancy in the United States senate, caused by the resignation of Edward Tiffin, his term being less than four months, and his actual service but a few days. In 1810 he was appointed United States judge for the Northwest territory by President Madison, and he was discharging the duties of that office at the time of his decease.

ALEXANDER CAMPBELL OF BROWN COUNTY.

Alexander Campbell was chosen by the legislature on the 12th of Decem ber, 1809, to fill out the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Edward Tiffin. He was at the time a member of the house of representatives, had been chosen speaker pro tempore on the 4th of December, and would have been made the permanent speaker. On the 12th of December, when elected senator, he resigned his office, and was succeeded as speaker by Edward Tiffin, whom he succeeded as senator.

While credited to Brown county he was a resident of Adams at the time of and previous to his election to the United States senate, but in that portion from which Brown was subsequently erected. In 1807-1808-1809 he represented Adams and Scioto in the popular branch of the legislature. His services in the United States senate extended from December 12, 1809, to March 4, 1813. In 1819 he again entered the legislature, being a member of the house in 1819-1820 and 1832-1833, and of the senate in 1822-1824. He was chosen a presidential elector in 1820, and cast his vote for James Monroe for president, as did his colleagues, William Henry Harrison, Robert Lucas, James Kilbourne, Jeremiah Morrow, James Caldwell, John McLaughlin and Lewis Dille.

Senator Campbell was of Virginia descent, and his early political affiliations were Democratic. He became a Whig when Henry Clay became conspicuous in public life. He settled at Ripley in early life, and his residence was the first courthouse in Brown county, and continued as such until the county seat was permanently fixed at Georgetown. He was born in Greenbriar county, Va., in 1774, and was educated as a physician and practiced medicine the most of his life. He was mayor of Ripley after having served in the United States senate. From Virginia he first migrated to Lexington, Ky., but shortly after removed to Ripley, O., and began the practice of medicine. He died Nov. 5, 1857.