NOBLE COUNTY OHIO - BIO: BELFORD, Jabez *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Tina Hursh frog158@juno.com November 4, 1999 *********************************************************************** >From the The Ohio Biographies Project http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/mnpg.html a part of The U.S. Biographies Project http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray/usbios/usbiog.html JABEZ BELFORD, an early and prominent lawyer of Noble County, was born in Malaga, Monroe County, O., in 1820. He was brought up to hard work and had but limited opportunities for obtaining an education. His youth was spent in Hoskinsville and vicinity. He learned the blacksmith’s trade when young, but not being satisfied with it he sought to improve his mind by reading and study, and finally began the study of law in the office of Virtulon Rich, of McConnelsville, and was admitted to the bar in 1851. He first began practice in Sharon, but removed to Sarahsville a few years after the organization of the county. He served as the first prosecuting attorney of Noble County, and in that position achieved such success that he at once rose to prominence as a lawyer. He was afterwards elected to the same position. For several years he was the law partner of Hon. Isaac Parrish, and afterward he sustained the same relation to William C. Okey, Esq. He was a skilled and eloquent advocate, a successful lawyer and a good citizen. He removed from Sarahsville to Caldwell, where he served as the first postmaster of the village. During the war he was elected as draft commissioner of the county. He was a Democrat and a partisan, but he never permitted politics to estrange friendship. He died in Caldwell, October 22, 1882 One of the local papers in an obituary, said: "* * * Without the advantage of a classical education in youth, he has long been recognized by those who knew him best, as a gentleman not only learned in the law, but possessed of a vast fund of accurate knowledge of science, history, and general literature. He was especially fond of biological research and natural history. Seen in the court-room he appeared cold, practical and severe, but his heart was full of generous warmth and noble impulses." At a meeting of the Noble county bar, highly eulogistic resolutions were passed, at which time Hon. W.H. Frazier said: "He was one who always did what he believed to be right, without prejudice or favor." W.C. Okey, who perhaps knew him more intimately than anyone else, said: "I saw him more and knew him better than others. As a lawyer he was greatly above the average. Often when in consultation respecting the merits of a case, “Is this right as between men, let this test settle the question," as soon as thus satisfied, he became invincible in his convictions. During his last years his life seemed to be growing more symmetrical with his extensive reading and reflection." In 1843 he was married to Miss Clarrissa, daughter of Lebbens Fordyce. She was to him a valuable aid in his early struggles with poverty; while he was engaged in his law studies she supported the family through her own efforts. Ten children were born to them, six of whom are living. Cyrus, the eldest son, is a farmer; Irwin is an attorney, residing in Toledo, O.; Richelieu follows the trade of his father; Ethan A. is a physician in Nevada; Dora married Reuben McGlashen; Lebbens, the youngest, is a dentist. History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887 The Legal Profession Transcribed by Deb Murray <debmurray@worldnet.att.net>