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The growth, population, wealth, importance and influence of the Forest City is marvelous.  It is believed that Cleveland is larger in population than Cincinnati, and there is every ground for the faith, that having the lead, she will maintain it in all future time.

The wealth of Cleveland as a whole, and the business activities of its rich men, assure this.  The coal and iron trade, the shipping and ship building, the carrying business, internal and foreign commerce put Cleveland ahead in the race between the two cities.  In casually looking at her increased population it is surprising how the rural districts feed the city in all lines of professions and business callings.

The leading men today in Cleveland are not natives of the city or of the county of Cuyahoga.  The time was when Columbiana County and the little old town of New Lisbon gave of her sturdy men and good women a great deal to Cleveland, and continues to give, but our old home county has contributed also.

Less than forty years ago, Amos Townsend, was a country merchant in Mansfield.  He removed to Cleveland, energy and business capacity he brought with him;  that was all, no money.  In turn he became one of the leading merchants of the Forest City, president of the city council and a legislator in the congress of the United States, representing more directly the city of Cleveland.

Within the last year he passed away, leaving a large estate and much lamented by the people.

Back in the early days of old Richland, James Coffinberry was born, a son to the old "Count", the first law student in Mansfield.  He, the son, became a citizen of Cleveland, was elevated to the bench and was very highly regarded as man, lawyer and judge.  He too has gone to the unseen country, but, dying, he left behind him a great character, and his work when in life is by all highly spoken of.

When appointed to the United States district bench for the northern district of Ohio Charles T. Sherman and family removed here.  Here he died.  Here also his son, Henry S. Sherman, a brilliant young lawyer, lived all his active professional life.

Here also came Zalmon S. Stocking, who still has business interests in Mansfield, in managing the property of his wife here located.  In my younger years, Mr. Stocking was a druggist in Mansfield, and and excellent business man.

Here also a leader -- I may make it stronger -- the leader of the Cleveland bar some years ago, came Judge M.R. Dickey, after having served the people of Richland on the common pleas bench.  His has been a very active life.  When a boy on his father's farm, south of Mansfield, in 1846, his ear caught the bugle blast which sounded out over the hills and through the valleys of Ohio, that soldiers were needed by the United States for the war with Mexico, and he enlisted and served out the period of his enlistment in the 3rd. Ohio, commanded by Samuel F. Curtis.  Two full companies of Richland county men were in that regiment and I am told that Judge Dickey is one of less than a half dozen survivors of all.  When the Mexican War was over he traveled overland to California, enduring the hardships of such a journey and the dangers as well.  In the war of the rebellion he commanded the 15th. Ohio, but it is as a scholar and a lawyer that his fame is very bright here in Cleveland.  As a bible scholar he is probably without an equal outside the lines of the clergy.  It affords a Mansfield citizen of today pleasure to know that Judge Dickey is so greatly appreciated by lawyers and laymen in the Forest City.

Then too from the old county came here John S. Henderson, son of Dr. James P. Henderson.  He is of the firm of Henderson & Kline, a good law firm.

Senator A.M. Burns, who was a young lawyer when the war in 1861 occurred, and who gave his early years to the service and in defense of the flag, who later was our state senator, we find him here practicing his profession.  He ranks well among Cleveland lawyers, and last fall was much spoken of as a suitable man for the bench.  He is prosperous, and I often see him when in the city.

There is still another, one who was once mayor of Mansfield, the Hon. A. Shutz.  Several years ago he removed here and here he dwells.

A.G. Carpenter, Esq., son of our William B. Carpenter, established himself here in practice and ranks well among the younger men of the legal profession.

Then Shelby is well represented in the person of James Dempsey, son of Colonel Dempsey.  He is associated in the firm of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, a law firm having few superiors.

I fear I will trespass on your space if I further particularize.  There are men and other young limbs of the law in this city whose birth spots and early homes were in old Richland.  Hills of Plymouth, McMillen of Shelby, Boals of Springfield and Farber of Perry, these are young physicians, ministers, merchants, machinists and others, and all believe that they have bettered their fortunes by leaving the land of the Mohican and making new homes in the city of the lakes.

I must not omit the superintendent of C.A. & C. Railroad, James Barrett.  He was a little boy in our public schools in the days when J.H. Reed was superintendent of the Mansfield Schools and Col. Burns, Judge Myers and Henry C. Hedges were the board of education, a little Irish boy, and I remember that it was against a combination that Jimmy was kept in the public schools and not compelled to attend the parochial school.  He honored Mansfield by his capacity and energy.

As I close I see approaching the hotel "Burk", who aforetime was your editor, who for a time after his resignation was at Springfield, Mo., and now is here on the Leader.  You see the old county is well represented.  -- H.C.H.

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