Joseph H. West

As printed in 1882

JOSEPH H. WEST (deceased). Mr. West was a most prominent attorney of the Clinton County bar for many years. He was born in this county November 22, 1822, and was the second of eleven children of Peyton West and Sarah Hadley. Peyton West was a native of Pittsylvania County, Va., and by occupation a surveyor. In 1807, he emigrated to Ohio, settling in Clinton County, on the East Fork of the Little Miami River, where he died August 22, 1870. He was identified with the growth of Clinton County, taking a prominent part in all enterprises of public moment. Peyton West was one of the first surveyors of Clinton County, discharging the duties of that office for about twenty-five years. For several years he was Collector of Taxes for his county. Sarah (Hadley) West was a native of Guilford County, N. C., and daughter of James Hadley, an early pioneer of Highland County, Ohio, locating there in 1804. The subject of this sketch was bred to a life of industry and morality, under the best of home influences. He was employed at farm work until he reached manhood. His education had been so meager that up to this time he could scarcely read. The spur of ambition impelled him to seek means to improve his mind, and fit himself for a life of usefulness. In 1843, he walked barefooted to Wilmington, a distance of twelve miles. Here he attended school for about one year, doing any honest work the while that would enable him to pay his board. He improved his time so well that he secured a teacher’s certificate, and immediately took charge of a school in Clinton County. He remained in this position, discharging his duty faithfully, reading law and cultivating his mind generally, for one year, when he returned to Wilmington and pursued his law studies for six months. In November, 1845, he went to Cincinnati, and for the next six months was employed as salesman in a wholesale dry goods house. In 1846, he enlisted as a private in Company B, Ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, and started for Mexico. He went with the regiment as far as New Orleans to be mustered into the service. In consequence of a disabled shoulder, he was unable to pass muster, and was therefore honorably discharged. He found himself away from home and without money. He worked his way on a steamboat up to Vicksburg, where he remained a few weeks, and then went up the Yazoo River to engage in lumber rating. After being thus employed for several months, he landed with his raft at New Orleans, June 29, 1847, en route for home. From New Orleans, he took passage for Cincinnati, where he obtained employment as a salesman in a wholesale grocery house. He remained in this situation until November, 1848, when he took a stock of goods and opened a store for his firm at Williamstown, Grant Co., Ky. In this way, he conducted business for the firm until September, 1851, when the latter failed. By the failure of his principals, he lost what money he had, and was obliged to borrow money from a friend in order to reach Martinsville, in this county. In January of 1852, he was employed as the driver of a notion wagon, but one month of such employment sufficed to turn him to other pursuits. In 1853, he located again at Martinsville, and resumed reading law. July 14, 1854, he was admitted to the bar at Xenia, Ohio, and immediately opened a law office at Wilmington. Six months after his admission to the bar, he was engaged as attorney to the Cincinnati, Wilmington & Zanesville Railroad Company, holding that position until 1860. In the meantime, he had been admitted to practice in the United States Courts. In October, 1860, he was elected Probate Judge of Clinton County, and was re-elected in 1863, discharging the duties of that position for about six years. From 1866 to the time of his death, he was actively engaged in the management of a large legal practice. He was an ardent Republican from the organization of that party, and a delegate to the National Republican Convention in 1864. He was a man of forcible character, affable demeanor and highly respected by all with whom he had acquaintanceship. September 19, 1850, he married Henrietta Stroud, a native of Williamstown, Grant Co., Ky. Edward J. West, his eldest son, was born at Blanchester, Marion Township, December 8, 1851. He passed his boyhood on a farm, and received a liberal education at the Wilmington High School. He commenced reading law at the age of sixteen, and pursued his studies with great diligence. For two years he taught school, devoting his leisure hours to his law books. January 29, 1873, he was admitted to the bar. In 1875, he was brought out by his fellow-citizens, and elected Prosecuting Attorney of Clinton County. He has been twice re-elected (third term commencing January 2, 1882), and is probably the youngest man in the State filling such a position. Before he was of age, Mr. West had made a reputation as a newspaper correspondent, and was prominent as a lawyer. He is a member of Royal Arcanum, M. E. Church, and especially known to the people of his county as a vigorous and enthusiastic temperance lecturer and Sunday school worker, having been sent as the representative of Clinton County to the Ohio State Sunday School Conventions of 1872-73-74-75. Mr. West has thus far displayed great energy in the practice of his profession, and his popularity bids fair to rank with that of his revered father. He was united in marriage, January 3, 1878, to Katherine E. Bowshier, a native of Circleville, Ohio. They have two daughters — Winnifred C. and Kathleen C.

As printed in The history of Clinton County, Ohio (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.