The biographical encyclopœdia of Ohio of the nineteenth century:

BIOGRAPIIICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.
and is careful in the preparation and management of the A
cases intrusted to him. Hle is greatly esteemed for his
social as well as professional qualities, and for the support
he has given to works of a public character. In I864 his
first wife was removed by death, and in 1873 he was again e or
married to Elizabeth H. Parmlee, of Brooklyn, New York.
and impelled him toe a life of more the bar, an usual activity.oon
afThough seldom a can didatic e foin Spri offie ce, here e has takever sincen a
remained, having acquired an extensive practice and high
standing at the bar. H-e has been a constant sufferer from
the injuries received in his youth, bout the great vitality of
his nature and the energy o~f his character h-ave sustained
and impelled him to a life of mnore than usual activity.
Though seldom a candidate for office, he has taken.a
prominent part in politics. -In I86o he was a delegate to
the National Democratic Convention at Charleston, and,
after the adjournment to Baltimore, sustained the Northern
wing ill the nomination of Douglas. He was also a delegate to the Chicago Convention that nominated McClellan
and Pendleton, in 1864. I-Ie has frequently been a member
of the State Convention, and active on the Committee on
Resolutions. In I865 he was the Democratic candidate
for Treasurer of State, but with the whole of his party sustained defeat. His influence illn mun icipal affairs has been
very considerable. I-Ie has been seven years in the City
Council, and his name has been ide)tified with every
measure loolkinig to the improvement of the place. He
was the principal projector of the Springfield street railway,
and has been President of the company since it was organized. He is largely interested in real estate, and has a fine
home in the western part of the city, on a farm of about
forty acres, surrounded by a park of native oaks of four
acres. He was married on July 3oth, 1855, to E. Jane
Edmondson,i of Dayton, Ohio, by whom he has had two
children; but one, George E. Spence, about fourteen years
of age, is living.
NOWLES, SAMUEL S., Lawyer, was born in
Athens, Athens county, Ohio, August 25th, 1825.
- He is of Scotch-Irish extraction. His grand father, a Highlander, was-a soldier and an active
participant ill the Revolutionary conflict. His
grandmother was a native of Ireland. His earlier
education was acquired at the Ohio University, located in
his native place. At the conclusion of his course of studies
in this institution he began the reading of law under the
instructions of Hon. L. L. Smith and L. Jewett, of Athens,
Ohio. He was admitted to the bar in I852, and from I852
to I856 officiated as Prosecuting Attorney of the same
county, having been twice elected to that position. In the
spring of I86I he removed to Marietta, Ohio, where he has
since resided, engag ed in successful and pr ofessional labors.
From May to October, I864, he acted as Captain of a compaley of infantry in th e I48th Regiment of OlDio National
Guards, stationed at Bermuda Hundreds. Hew as subsequently mus tered out of the service. For four years, from
I862 to I866, he presided as Mayor of Marietta, and for
two years, from January, i866, served in the Ohio Senate
from the counties of Noble, Washington and Morgan. In
October, I875, he was elected Judge of the Court of Com-'
mon Pleas of the Third Subdivision of the Seventh Judicial
District of Ohio, and entered at once upon the discharge
of his office, in which capacity he is now serving, He
was married, June 23d, i852.
~~OSBROOK, JOHN L., son of Daniel and Eunice
(C~d ^1 (Bates) Hosbrook, was born, November I5th,
l 817, in Sycamore township, Hamilton county,
. C[~ Ohio, on the farm adjoining his present resi dence. He was the fifth of a family of ten
children. His father was a native of New Jersey, and although following through life the occupation of
farming he was at the same time a skilful surveyor. He
became one of the earliest settlers of hlamilton county, and
united in promoting the best interests of the place. He
was the first Sheriff of that county, and was several times
elected a member of the State Legislature. His death occurred in 1868. John's mother was also a native of New
Jersey. Her son was early taught the principles of labor,
at the same time receiving a liberal education at the common schools; afterwards improving himself by teaching
and reading. At the age of eighteen he began life as a
carpenter, and remained at this occupation about one year,
relying on his own exertions for support. Having, by persevering industry, fitted himself for surveying, he now
entered on the duties of this profession, which he has contintted ever since, at the same time superintending his farm
and taking contracts for'building. He is thoroughly versed
2 PENCE, GEORGE, Lawyer, was born in Clarke
cd ounty, May 22d, 1828. His par ents were Wil eliam and Elizabeth (Wones) Spence, both natives
of Yorkshire, Eng,land, who came to this country
abo ut i8i6 and sett led o n government la nd in
Clarke county. George was the seventh son in a
family of thirtee n children. He received the most of hi s
education at the public schools, working on his father's
farml duringi the summer and attending school in the winter.
At the age of seventeen he sustained very severe personal
injuries, having both legs and orne arm broken in a threshinig machine, which unfitted him for the heavy manual
labor of the farm, and probably had some influence in determining his career. He was sent for a short time to the
old Springfield Academy, and in 1848 began the study of
law with the distinguished firm of Rodgers & White. On
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