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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 427
returned. The folloAving advertisement from the first issue of the Clarion
April 24, 1822, is indicative of the character of the man:
TO THE PUBLIC
"Having observed from the random and indefinite applications
that have frequently been made to me for professional aid and counsel
that very common and mistaken opinions prevail in regard to
what I deem the essential qualities of a retainer: and having sometimes
found myself in a disagreeable dilemma arising from the misconstruction
among suitors of their commonplace conversations which result from
such uinvarranted applications equivocal in themselves and unseasoned
by the virtues of a 'quid pro quo' I deem it my duty in order as far as
possible to prevent future misunderstandings in similar cases publicly to
repeat what I have ever uniformly declared in private that I will pay no
attention to the body of such pretended retainers without the soul—to
the shadoAv without the substance: and that I will never consider myself
bound to render my professional services in any case (except when they
may be dictated by charity or friendship) without being first specially
and effectively engaged—specially by a written retainer signed by a client
and effectively by salving that retainer with * * * * * * CASH
or its equivalent.
"ELEUTHEROS COOKE
"Attorney and Counsellor at Law
"and Solicitor in Chancery"
It would not have been a half bad notion if his successors at the bar
had adhered to the same rule.
The second laAvyer AVIIO came to Sandusky was Frank D. Parish, AVIIO
came to Sandusky in May, 1822, which Avas his place of residence for
more than half a century. He died in April, 1886, at the age of nearly
ninety years, in Oberlin, Avhere he lived at the time of his death. When
he first came to Sandusky his office was in the Portland Hotel for nearly
seven years. He had no library except the statutes, and had as competitors
Eleutheros Cooke and Ebenezer Lane, later judge of the Supreme
Court.
Francis Drake Parish Avas born in Naples, then Middletown, NeAV
York, December 20, 1796. He Avas the second son of Elisha and Lois
Wilder Parish. During his early infancy his parents removed to a neAV
farm in the central part of South Bristol, the town next north of Naples,
in the same county. Upon this farm he greAV to manhood, assisting in
its improvement and cultivation.
In the spring of 1820 he emigrated to Columbus, Ohio, and entered
the laAV office of a near relative, in Avhich he read la.AV for two years. In
May, 1822, he Avas admitted to the bar, and in the same month he settled
and opened a law office in Sandusky, then in Huron, but noAV in Erie
County. Sandusky was his place of residence for more than hal p a century,
during the greater portion of Avhich time he Avas engaged in the
practice of his profession. In 1852 he retired from practice on account