Judge Thomas Cherrington

Thomas Cherrington Lawrence County, Ohio Circuit Judge 1885 – 1911

Ironton Register, March 15, 1888 – Circuit Court.

Researched by Sharon M. Kouns

Thomas Cherrington was born on a farm in Gallia county on March 29, 1837. It is now in session, with Judges Bradbury, Clark, and Cherrington on the bench.  Three cases were decided to press:  Fink vs. Iron Railway for the defendant, Hellebush vs. McClure for the defendant, and Currington vs. Boldman for the defendant.  There are eight cases, all told, on the docket.

IR June 30, 1892 – Penel Cherrington, son of Judge Cherrington, graduated from Delaware college last week.  The Judge was there to rejoice over the event.

Ironton Register, August 18, 1892 – Judge Cherrington attended the Ross county fair.  He says it was amazing to see the extent and excellence of the exhibition.  He says there were 25,000 people there, and the general exhibit was worthy of attendance.  The county fairs everywhere have been good, indicating a revival of interest in fairs.  Gallipolis and Portsmouth had fine shows.

Ironton Register, August 01, 1895 – The Portland Oregonian of the 25th ult. Contains an account of an excursion to Astoria and the names of Judge Cherrington, Professor Tuttle, and B. Seeley among the guests.

Obituary Judge Thomas Cherrington

Daily Register, Thursday, May 16, 1912 –Summoned Before the Bar of the Highest Tribunal – To Give An Accounting Of His Stewardship – Judge Thomas Cherrington, Honored and Revered, Passed From Life At A Late Hour Wednesday Night.  The Funeral is on Saturday.

Judge Thomas Cherrington, citizen, soldier, and jurist, died at about 11 p.m. Wednesday at his apartments in the home of Captain and Mrs. William Bay at 140 south Sixth street. At the same time, his family and closest friends were aware of the seriousness and his condition, the general public received the news of his death with no little surprise and consequent grief.

Judge Cherrington had been ill but a few days.  Last Saturday night at 1 o’clock, the venerable judge was suddenly attacked by an illness with all the appearances and symptoms of acute bronchitis.  He was given immediate attention, but Mrs. Cherrington, the household members, and the physicians knew that a crisis had been reached and that Judge Cherrington’s condition would grow more serious rather than improve. The outcome has only verified their earlier fears.

From the inception of his illness until the end, there was but little if any hope for the stricken judge, and while, in a measure, his loved ones and friends were prepared for the coming of death. The real fact brought with it surprise, grief, and pain.  Pneumonia, which attacked both lungs, quickly followed the initial illness. The judge, while strong and rugged because of his age, could not withstand or successfully combat or resist the rapid inroads made by the disease.  His death came at about 11 o’clock last night, and everywhere the lamented jurist was known, there would be surprise and grief.

Thomas Cherrington was born on a farm in Gallia county on March 29, 1837, and his boyhood was spent on the farm and in school at Gallipolis.  He was a student at the Gallipolis Academy and thus laid the foundation for higher education that the young man desired.  He concluded a course at the academy and then entered Delaware College.  While a student at Delaware, the great Civil War became a reality, and Thomas Cherrington left his books for the field and exchanged his pen for a sword.

He was one of the first to answer the call to arms and enlisted in an Ohio regiment.  Promotion after promotion followed quickly, with meritorious behavior on the field and a peculiar fitness to lead men, bringing the young soldier to the notice of his superiors. He rapidly advanced to the major position, and in this capacity, he served with honor, credit, and distinction until the close of the war.  But few knew Judge Cherrington was a soldier, for he did not prate of his deeds or his service, but his rapid advancement from the ranks to the honored commission of Major is a record of which any man might be proud.

At the close of the war, Judge Cherrington returned to Delaware, where he received his degree.  With two proud achievements to his credit, his military record and his graduation from law school, the young man went to Gallipolis, where soon after his graduation, he was united in marriage to Miss Landon, a most estimable young lady.  Soon after his marriage, they came to Ironton.  This was in 1868, and from that time to the present, the Judge has been a continuous resident of Ironton.  One son resulted from the union of Judge Cherrington and Miss Landon, Pennel, and he was born in this city on the present site of the Christ Episcopal church.

Like his honored father, Pennel Cherrington took up law study and graduated with high honors.  He is now a United States District Attorney practicing in Salt Lake City, Utah.  He has been notified of the death of his distinguished father and will come here to attend the funeral.  Union, something of a definite nature is known of his arrival here the arrangements for the funeral cannot be announced with any degree of certainty.

In addition to his son, Judge Cherrington is survived by four sisters, Mrs. Eliza Bailey, Mrs. Charles Bailey, Misses Jeanette, and Letitia Cherrington, all residents of Gallipolis.  They will probably attend the funeral.

Upon Judge Cherrington’s arrival in Ironton in 1868, he took up a law practice and met with exceptional success.  He was twice chosen as prosecuting attorney of Lawrence County, Ohio, and his service capacity, like all his public service, was distinguished for its peculiar excellence.  Upon retiring from this office, he formed a partnership with the late General William H. Enochs, and the new firm of young lawyers was singularly successful.

After a few years, Judge Cherrington joined forces with the late Henry S. Neal, and again success attended him for this law firm after a few years, was recognized as one of the best in the state.  Judge Cherrington continued the practice of law after his distinguished partner and co-worker, Mr. Neal, had retired to accept U. S. Diplomatic service abroad and to enter the Halls of Congress.  Judge Cherrington continued the name of Neal and Cherrington until he quit the practice to accept the ermine.

Judge Cherrington was an unsuccessful candidate for the Common Pleas Bench in this district.  An error of the election officials of either Ross or Pike county caused his defeat.  They neglected to print his name on the ballot, and a few votes defeated him, Judge Martin Crane.

In 1885 the Circuit Court was formed in this state, and the district, which included Lawrence county, was not slow in recognizing Judge Cherrington, an ideal candidate.  He was offered and elected by a large majority, which in Ohio is not acquainted with his brilliant record on the bench.  He served continuously for 26 years and, in January 1911, voluntarily retired to enjoy in quiet life the fruits of his labor and the rest so richly won and deserved.

No Ohio man had a better bench record than Judge Cherrington.  He was indistinctively a jurist, clear, calm, dignified, forceful, and able.  His poise was admirable, his legal acumen the equal of any man n the state.  He was a judge of nice discrimination, was upright, fair, and impartial, and his motives were never impugned in a single instance.  His strict honesty, absolute fearlessness, and knowledge of the law made him an ideal official.

About fourteen years ago, Judge Cherrington and Miss Virginia Gartrell of Ashland were united in marriage.  Their life has been ideal, and the loss of her husband and companion will be a grievous blow to the sorrowing widow.

Since the above was written, a telegram has been received from Pennel Cherrington, and he informs the recipients that he cannot possibly reach Ironton before Monday night Given this fact and fearing possible delays, the funeral services for Judge Cherrington will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at home on south Sixth street.  The body will rest in the vault at Woodland Cemetery until the son’s arrival.  It will then be interred privately with brief exercises.

Judge Cherrington was a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Loyal Legion.  His lapel bore no other insignia than the modest little button of the Loyal Legion.  This city, district, and State will long mourn the loss of this citizen and jurist.

Daily Register, Friday, May 17, 1912 – BAR – Will Attend Funeral Services – Of Judge Thomas Cherrington Saturday Afternoon.  Committees Were Named This Morning At A Meeting of the Attorneys.

• The Lawrence County Bar Association held a meeting this forenoon to arrange for the funeral of the late Judge Cherrington.
• J. L. Anderson was chosen Chairman, and O. E. Irish, Secretary of the meeting.
• A committee to draw up suitable resolutions on the demise of Judge Cherrington was appointed.  The committee comprises attorneys J. L. Anderson, E. E. Corn, and T. N. Ross.
• A committee to meet the different trains and care for visiting Attorneys was named.  Its members are E. E. Stewart, A. R. Johnson, and A. J. Layne.
• A committee to arrange for flowers was named.
• The Bar will meet at the courthouse at 2 p.m. Saturday and attend the funeral services as an organization.
• Daily Register, Friday, May 17, 1912 – Funeral of Judge Cherrington Saturday.

The funeral of Judge Thomas Cherrington will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at home on South Sixth Street, and friends of the deceased jurist will be welcome at the services.  The burial, however, will be private.  Rev. Lee, pastor of the Presbyterian church, will conduct the services, and Rev. George Pendleton Scott, a close friend of the family, will be here from Dyersville, Tenn., and will assist Rev. Lee. The Presbyterian church’s choir, under Mrs. Bixby’s leadership, will be in charge of the music.

Daily Register, Saturday, May 18, 1912 – Funeral of Judge Thomas Cherrington Today.  Many Friends From Abroad Came To Pay Their Last Respects To The Memory Of The Dead Jurist.  Son Arrives Monday.

Solemn and appropriate services were held today for Judge Thomas Cherrington, and many friends of the dead jurist were in attendance.  The services were held at the Bay residence on south Sixth Street and were conducted by Rev. Lee, pastor of the Presbyterian church, assisted by Rev. George Pendleton Scott of Tennessee, a friend of the family.  Under Mrs. Bixby’s direction, the Presbyterian choir sang several beautiful selections.

The pallbearers were:  Messrs. F. A. Bixby, George Bay, E. W. Bixby, E. L. Culbertson, W. H. Nigh, and J. A. Rogers.  The consignment of the body to the vault was private.

Pennel Cherrington, son of the deceased, will not arrive here from Salt Lake City until Monday night or Tuesday.  After his arrival, the remains will be interred in the family lot in Woodland Cemetery.

Among the many out-of-town persons at the funeral were his former associates on the bench, Judges Jones of Jackson and Walters of Circleville; his successor Judge Sayre of Athens, Hon. W. B. Cherrington of Jackson, Attorney and Mrs. Oscar Newman, Judge Holcomb, Judge James, and others from Portsmouth.

Quite a few friends and relatives of the deceased came from Gallipolis, Catlettsburg, and Ashland to attend the funeral. The Lawrence County Bar Association members attended the services as an organization. There was a wealth of flowers.

Daily Register, Monday,  May 20, 1912 – Remains of Judge Cherrington Were Interred Today.

The remains of the late Judge Cherrington, which had been reposing in the vault at Woodland Cemetery since Saturday afternoon, were interred this afternoon at 3 o’clock.  The judge’s son, Pennel, arrived from Salt Lake City, accompanied by his wife and son, who were present at the interment.  The original pallbearers officiated this afternoon.

Morning Irontonian, Saturday, May 23, 1914 – Death of son. – Son of Late Judge Cherrington Died From Effects of Fall – Mr. Ethelbert Gartrell, of Clyffeside Place, Ashland, Ky, received a message Friday announcing the death of Pen Cherrington, of Salt Lake City, Utah, resulting from the effects of a fall.  Mr. Cherrington was the son of this city’s late Judge Thomas Cherrington.