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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 417
William (f. Lane, the Common Pleas judge, Avas a son of Judge
Ebenezer Lane. On his retirement from the bench in 1876 he was folloAved
in immediate succession by Cooper K. Watson, John Mackey and
James L. DeWitt in the order named. Of this active list E. B. Sadler
had been a judge under the first constitution in 1845 to 1851, and S. F.
Taylor, a Common Pleas judge from 1853 to 1867. Among this list
Homer GoodAvin, Cooper K. Watson, E. B. Sadler, S. F. Taylor and
John Mackey Avere the leaders; Lucas S. Beecher had been a shining
light, but in 1875 Avas failing, though he appeared in the trial of cases
for some time after 1875. Mr. Beecher Avas a commanding figure, a
fluent talker and a A'ersatile reasoner. Of those AVIIO dug among the
precedents of the past for legal ammunition Homer GoodAA'in Avas far
and away the ablest hiAA'yer at this bar and held a leading position from
before 1850 to his death in 1895. He was a graduate of Western Reserve
University, then located at Hudson, Ohio. He came here as a teacher
in the public schools, read laAV while teaching, and Avas soon admitted
and began practice and devoted himself Avholly to his profession to the
hour of his death. His manner in the trial of cases provoked antagonisms
with opposing counsel and the bench, but he Avas able, fearless,
untiring and honorable. Among all the laAvyers of Ohio Avhom I have
knoAvn in the last forty-five years none had a higher standard of professional
ethics. The men named above, Judges Sadler, Taylor, Watson
and Mackey, as colleagues or opponents were Avorthy of his or any lawyer's
best, efforts; all Avere upstanding men of the highest character.
The notable difference betAveen them and Homer GoodAvin Avas in his
habit and disposition for Avork.
It is easier to say Avho were the lawyers at a fixed date, as in 1875,
than to say Avho have come to our bar in the forty years since that time.
Grayson Mills came to the bar in 1878, served two terms as prosecuting
attorney, and in 1891 was appointed and served a little more than one
year as Common Pleas judge, in which position he succeeded James
Lloyd DeWitt, accidentally killed. In December, 1892, Malcolm Kelly
of Port Clinton succeeded Judge Mills by an election and served until
February, 1897, since Avhich time Judge Kelly has lived in Sandusky, a
respected citizen and able and successful laAvyer.
Lynn W. Hull came to the bar about 1883 and immediately succeeded
to a good practice. In 1896 he Avas elected Common Pleas judge and
served from February, 1897, to October, 1899, when he resigned to
accept the appointment as judge of the Circuit Court, which latter position
he ably filled until his death in November, 1905.
Upon the resignation of Judge Hull, Hon. Charles S. Reed, who
came to Sandusky from Kansas in 1897, Avas appointed Common Pleas
judge. He served under this appointment and tAVO successive elections
to October, 1911, when he resigned, moved to Cleveland, and is HOAV
successfully engaged in professional Avork in that city. Judge Reed Avas
succeeded by Hon. Scott Stahl of Port Clinton, AATIO served until February,
1914, Avhen he resigned to enter the practice at Port Clinton and
Toledo, and Avas succeeded by John Duff of Oak Harbor, and in the
Vol. I —27