The purpose of this chapter is to present a brief review of the personnel of the Henry county bar, with incidental reference to the organization of the local courts and notices of leading jurists and attorneys that gave character and prestige to the same.
Although created by act of the legislature passed in 1820, Henry county remained attached to Wood county until 1824, on February 2nd of which year it was attached to the county of Williams for judicial purposes, with the seat of justice at Defiance.
Prominent among the early circuit riders who practiced in the courts of Henry county were Andrew Coffinberry and John C. Spink, both characterized by a high order of legal talent.
Der Deutsche Demokrat - The history of this aggressive and influential paper dates from the 26th of June, 1885, at which time it was established by C. W. Bente & Company, under the name of Der Henry County Demokrat.
In 1881, the Holgate Times was established in the town of Holgate. The newspaper was a five-column quarto with patent insides under the business management and editorial control of William Johnson.
The Liberty Press was the name of a small, six-column folio started at the village of Liberty Center, in the month of November, 1881, by Rev. J. L. Bushbridge.
The history of the press in Henry county covers a period of about sixty years, the first attempt at starting a paper having been made as early as 1845 by one Martin Shrunk, who issued at Napoleon a small sheet which he called the Journal.
September 8, 1852, is the date on which journalism became a permanent fact in Henry county, that being the time when the first number of the North-West made its appearance at Napoleon.
In 1865 the Republican party in Henry county had gained sufficient strength and influence to justify the establishment of a permanent political organ; accordingly, on September 10, 1865 the first number of the Signal greeted the public, under the manageme
Owing to the destruction of the original records in the burning of the Henry County court house in 1847, and the loss of not a few since that time, it is impossible to furnish a complete roster of county officials.
The settlement and development of Henry county for various reasons were considerably retarded and for a period of fourteen years the public affairs of the people residing within its territory were under the jurisdiction of the neighboring counties of Wood
Although explored by French traders and Jesuit missionaries as early perhaps as 1680, it was not until after 1800 that permanent settlers began to locate in the valley of the Maumee.