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     By the constitution of 1851 the office of Probate Judge was created and made elective by the voters, the term being three years.  The followiug following named persons have been elected to that office:

     THOMAS H. WILKINS was a brother-in-law of John Woods.  He was originally a staunch Whig in politics.  Subsequently he abandoned that party and became identified with the Democratic party.  Shortly afterward, in 1852, he was elected Probate Judge, serving until late in 1855, when he resigned and went to St. Louis, where he died a number of years ago.

     WILLIAM R. KINDER was born near Franklin, Ohio, on Dec. 17, 1826.  He graduated from the Ohio Farmers' college at College Hill with high honors in 1848.  He studied law under John B. Weller.  He joined the Boundary Survey Expedition in 1849, and went to southern California, with a view of restoring his physical condition.  He was ailing with

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pulmonary bronchial disease.  In 1849 his health was much improved and he began the practice of law in San Francisco, as a partner of his old preceptor, Governor John B. Weller.  In 1850 he visited China in quest of his failing health where he remained four months, when he returned to Hamilton.  In 1854 he purchased the Telegraph and continued as editor and proprietor until June 13, 1854, selling out to Barker & McCormick.  In October, 1854, he was elected to the office of Probate Judge, having served a portion of Thomas H. Wilkins' unexpired term, being re-elected as fast as his term expired.  On Dec. 21, 1859, his disease took a more serious form.  He died Feb. 9, 1860.  He was a gentleman of the highest personal integrity, and was universally esteemed by the citizens of Butler county.  Judge Kinder's intellectual powers were of a high order.  As a writer he hewed to the line and wielded a trenchent pen.  He will long be remembered for his many excellent qualities of mind and heart, and his integrity and probity.

     DAVID W. McCLUNG [See Superintendents.]

     Z. W. SELBY was born on Brown's run, in Madison township, this county.  He learned the plastering trade and followed it for several years.  In 1850 he came to Hamilton and began studying law with Isaac Robertson as his preceptor.  He was admitted to the bar and practiced his chosen profession for a short time.  In October, 1855, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney, and re-elected in 1858.  Two years after his official term expired, he was elected Probate Judge serving two terms, from 1861 to 1867.  He married a daughter of Elias Simpson, who was proprietor of the old City hotel, situated on the south west corner of Third and Court streets.  Judge Selby was an excellent mixer, fat, jovial and a good conversationalist, as the result of his campaigns proved.  He was noted for his executive ability and sterling honor, and possessed the esteem and confidence of the citizens of Butler county.  He died in 1896.

     JOSEPH TRABER was born in Adams county, Ohio, in March, 1822.  He first attended a subscription school, held in

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an old unfinished log meeting house, about two miles from his home.  This building was only used for school purposes during the summer and fall months.  It contained no windows, doors or fire-place.  The preceptor of this school was Moses Thompson, a man of very ordinary education.  Subsequently Mr. Traber attended public school held in a log cabin.  The window openings were strips of wood covered with oiled paper.  This school was taught by Jackman Cooper, of Pennsylvania.  It was at this school that Mr. Traber received his principal schooling.  He afterward attended school taught by Master Moore, Samuel Thorman and Rev. David Dire Burgess, the latter instructor taking great interest in Mr. Traber, who afterward taught in the same building.  In 1840 or 41, he came to Hamilton and entered the employment of the firm of Traber & Beckett who kept a general store.  A few years afterward he engaged in business for himself in the room formerly occupied by John O. Brown, the druggist.  This room was in the old Straub house building at the west end of the Miami bridge, and now known as the Gordon building.  About this time he married a daughter of Alexander Ogle, of Reiley township.  He afterward moved his store to the Dr. Robert B. Millikin building.  In 1850 he was elected by the legislature as one of the associate judges of the Court of Common Pleas of this county, and held the same until the adoption of the constitution.  His wife having died, he disposed of his business in Rossville and moved to Cincinnati, and entered the employ of Traber & Aubury.  In 1857 he married the daughter of Henry David, a prominent Cincinnatian.  After his marriage he returned to Hamilton and re-purchased his old business, the firm name being O. & J. Traber, which afterward conducted a prosperous dry goods store.  From 1860 to 1868 he was a member of the city council, and it was during this time that the suspension bridge was erected and new fire engines and buildings pur chased.  He was elected Probate Judge in 1868, and held the office for two terms.  During the famous Morgan raid he organized a company and was elected captain.  He was a member of the Board of Education from 1864 to 1872, and was

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president of the board for five years.  It was through his work and untiring zeal that our schools began to attain a high grade.  Judge Traber was a man of excellent qualities, popular in his business and no man ever doubted his integrity.  In politics he was a conservative Democrat, but never carried his political views into personal matters.  Judge Traber was special favorite with everybody, but it was in his home where his great social qualities made the domestic circle just what the Creator designed it should be.  In religion he was a great worker in the Episcopal church, being a vestryman for years.  He was a Past Grand of Harmony lodge, No. 14, I. O. O. F., a member of Butler Encampment, No. 7, and a member of the Grand Encampmeut Encampment of Ohio.  Toward the latter part of his life he studied law and was admitted to the bar.  He was just beginning to build up a lucrative practice when he was suddenly taken sick on a Tuesday and died on Friday, Aug. 16, 1878.  Thus a life was ended that had always endeavored to do what it could to elevate its fellowman.  He was greatly esteemed in both bnsiness business and social circles, and no more capable and accomplished man was to be found in this community.

     WILLIAM R. COCHRAN was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, Mar. 17, 1811.  In 1814 his father came west and settled near Glendale.  In 1825 Mr. Cochran removed to Millville, and in 1826 entered Miami university, and graduated therefrom in 1831.  He studied law with John Woods and was subsequently admitted to the bar, but failing health made him abandon his profession.  He returned to Hanover township and superintended the farm.  He was justice of the peace and clerk of the township for a number of years.  He was elected Probate Judge in 1873, serving until 1876.  Mr. Cochran was secretary of the Butler County Agricultural society for sixteen years.  These were the palmy days of the fair.   His administration was one of marked ability.  He was prompt, energetic and reliable and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all classes.  He conducted all his business, both public and private, upon the lines of promptitude, liberality and integrity.

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     BENJAMIN F. THOMAS, ex-Probate Judge of Butler county, was born on a farm seven miles east of Chillicothe, Ross county, Feb. 19, 1830.  His education was limited to the merest rudiments of a common school education till he reached the age of twenty-one years.  On arrival at this age he resolved to acquire, at least, a liberal education.  Starting out with no one to help him, and with but five dollars in his pocket, he walked forty miles to the town of Albany, Athens county, Ohio, where he found work at a trade he had previously learned, and at the same time began study in the Albany academy.  Here he continued for about one year, to work and prosecute his studies in English grammar, arithmetic and algebra.  From here, he went to Oxford in April, 1852, where, after a term of three months spent in a private school, taught by Professor Hatch, and three months spent in teaching his first school, in a district west of Oxford, he entered the sub-freshman class in Miami university, in January, 1853.  By extra study in Latin during the summer vacation of 1853, he was passed into the freshman class at the opening of college in September following, in a class of forty-two.  Of this number, more than one-half fell by the wayside before the close of the senior year.   But the subject of this sketch, by dint of hard work at his trade, and close application to his studies, was enabled to maintain his place in the class, and graduate with it in June, 1857, maintaining a grade above the average.  During his whole course of study, from the time he left home, in April, 1851, till he received his diploma of A. B. in 1857, ne never received a dollar of help outside of his own earnings.  On leaving college, he engaged in the occupation of teaching until 1866.  He read law in the meantime with Judge Crane, and was admitted to the Butler county bar in April, 1866, after which he followed his profession until the fall of 1875, when he was elected Probate Judge, by a majority of 3,200.  He was re-elected to the same office in 1878, closing his second term Feb. 9, 1882.  Judge Thomas served as school examiner of Butler county from 1863 to 1868.  At this writing he is still engaged in the law practice (with his office in the old Hamilton house.  He is a man of push

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and excellent business ability and enjoys an enviable reputation in the community alike as an attorney and citizen.

W. H. HARR

     W. H. HARR was born Jan. 31, 1851, in Fairfield township, this county.  He followed farming until nineteen years of age.  Afterward he taught school for several years, and subsequently attended the Lebanon Normal school for three years.  On leaving this institution he taught school for one year.  He commenced studying law under Judge S. Z. Gard; attended the Cincinnati law school; and was admitted to the Butler county bar Apr.26, 1876. He was in the same class with Nelson Williams and C. J. Smith.  In 1881 Mr. Harr was elected Probate Judge, and re-elected in 1884, making two terms.  After being installed in office he visited Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus and made a thorough examination as to the manner in which these offices were conducted.  Taking them as an index, Judge Harr inaugurated several much needed departures from the "old way" of transacting the business of the office.  He established the real estate docket and assignment docket, which had never been in use prior to his term of office.  He has ever been an active supporter of all measures conducive to the benefit and welfare of the city and county.  After retiring from office he formed a partnership with John C. Slayback under the firm name of Slayback & Harr.  This firm is a talented and able one, having a vast practical experience at its command in the legal line.

P. G. BERRY

     PHILLIP G. BERRY who was Probate Judge from January, 1888 to January 1894, was born Nov. 5, 1850.  After attending the public schools of this city, he graduated from Miami university in 1871.  Subsequently he studied law and for four years practiced in Terre Haute, Ind.  In 1877 he returned to this city and had remaimed remained here ever since.  In 1893 he was the nominee of the Democratic party of this judicial district for Common Pleas Judge, but owing to the hard times, he was defeated by Montgomery county, which gave that year a Republican majority of 1900, instead of its usual eight or nine hundred Democratic majority.  Judge Berry submitted grace

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fully to the will of the people and served out his term in the Probate Court with his usual affability and attention to business.  Upon retiring from the bench, where he had served two terms with honor and credit to himself and his party, Judge Berry opened a law office in the room formerly occupied by Hon. James E. Neal.  He died Apr. 20, 1896.  As a lawyer he had a large and lucrative practice.  He had always been a consistent and ardent Democrat, and while not taking an active part in politics, still firmly adhered to the principles of his party.  He was an energetic and enterprising attorney, possessed of marked talent and executive ability, and he combined qualities which at once represented intelligence, integrity and worth.

CLARENCE MURPHY

     CLARENCE MURPHY son of Peter Murphy and Cyrene (Vangordon) Murphy, the youngest of six children living, was born Sept. 13, 1S62, on a farm near Princeton.  He attended district schools until 1879; taught school in the winter of 1880-1881.  He entered the Ohio Wesleyan university, at Delaware, Ohio, where he remained until Nov. 1, 1885.  He was suspended from this institution for attending a theater in which Frederick Ward played Richard III.  Subsequently the faculty requested Mr. Murphy to return; this he declined to do.  He entered the senior class of DePauw university, at Greencastle, Ind., in January, 1886, after submitting to examinations, and graduated therefrom in June, 1886.  He was editor of the Transcript, the college paper, at Delaware, when tests. suspended, and represented literary societies in oratorical contests.  He was one of ten speakers out of a class of seventy five selected to represent the class on graduation day at DePauw university.  In October, 1887, he commenced studying law with Judge Hume.  He graduated from the Cincinnati Law school in May, 1889, which carried with it admission to the bar.  He opened a law office in Hamilton, in January, 1890.  Mr. Murphy was nominated for Probate Judge by the Democratic party in the spring of 1890.  He received a majority of 1,197 over the highest competitor, and a majority of 716 over all.  Judge Murphy was married Oct. 19, 1892, to Miss

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Lutie Sohngen, second daughter of Louis Sohngen, deceased, and Elizabeth (Schmitt) Sohngen.  He is a young man of legal and business experience, capacity and ability, with whom it is always a pleasure to transact business.
     Judge Clarence Murphy has been appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the Union Central L,ife Insurance Co., of Cincinnati.  Judge Murphy succeeded his father, Hon. Peter Murphy, who was one of the men who helped organize the Union Central Life Insurance Co. in 1867, and held the position of director from that time until his death, a few months ago.
     The many friends of Judge Murphy were glad to learn of his election to the directorship and are fervent in their expressions of good will and good wishes for his success.