the government, Judge Burnett, together again became a judge of the Supreme with Richard Baldwin, was selected to de Court, but failed of re-election to succeed fend him. himself; but in 1845 he was again put on Peter Hitchcock was born October the Supreme Court bench where he served 19, 1781, at Cheshire, New Haven County, as Chief Justice until 1852, when he retired Connecticut, and died March 4, 1854, at,from public life at the age of seventy years, Painesville, Lake County, Ohio. He at having spent more than forty (40) years as tended the common schools until he a law-maker and an expounder of law. reached the age of seventeen, when he He was a delegate to the Constitutional entered Yale College. His father being Convention of 1850, and took a leading part poor, young Hitchcock was compelled to in all of the proceedings of that body. Many earn the greater part of the money neces of his suggestions were incorporated into sary to defray the expense of his educa what is now the fundamental law of Ohio. tion; he did this by teaching school dur Judge Hitchcock will always be regarded ing vacation and also during a part of the as one of the great men of his day, and, in college term. After leaving college he be fact, it will not be saying too much to state gan the study of law, and was duly admitted that none greater have occupied the bench to practice in March, 1804. He opened an since his time. As a judge he shirked no office in ' Cheshire, where he practiced labor, but was always found willing to give for two years. In 1806 he decided to the greatest attention to the duties of the go west, and accordingly came to Ohio, important trusts placed in his hands. It is settling at Burton, Geauga County, tak said of him that, " Rarely if ever in a hurry, ing up a farm which he retained as his he was always full of business." Being pos home while he lived. He found life a weary sessed of a strong physical frame, he was, struggle as he was compelled to teach during the greater part of his life, blessed school, practice law, and clear and culti with the best of health. No mental strain vate his farm. But his fame grew, and it was seemed too great for him, and by constant not long until he was looked upon as the lead study his strong mental faculties had been ing lawyer of that section of Ohio. In 18 10 brought up to a very high standard indeed. he was elected a member of the Legislature "When the last call came for him it found from his county; in 181 2 he was sent to the him ready to respond with his case well in State Senate, and re-elected in 18 14. A hand, and all the records made up in such a portion of the latter term he was the presid way that there is little reason to doubt the ing officer of that body. He took a leading final result. Full of that love for man which position both in House and Senate, and in is only another name for love of God, it is the fall of 18 1 6 he was elected a member certain that such souls will be well received of the Congress of the United States, where by that God which we are told in the good he entered upon his duties as a membar the good Book ' is all love.'" following year. "Who lives to nature rarely can be poor, Before the termination of his term he was O what a patrimony this! a being Of such inherent strength and majesty, elected, by the General Assembly of Ohio, Not worlds possest can raise it; worlds destroyed a judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio, for can't injure." a term of seven years. In February, 1826, Judge Hitchcock was said to have been a he was again elected for a similar term. In 1833 and 1835 he again sat as a member of most diligent student of the statute law; the State Senate, and presided over that frequently lawyers read from a whole body during one session. In 1835 he table-full of English and American authori
