HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY  183

    The succession in the presiding judgeship of the circuit court, under
both the old and the new constitutions, from John Ewing down to the
present is as follows: W. Johnson, Amory Kinney, Elisha Huntington,
William Bryant, John Law, Samuel B. Gookins, Delaney R. Eckles,
James Hughes, James M. Hanna, Solomon Claypool, William M. Frank-
lin (elected 1870), Solon Turman (elected 1878), Silas D. Coffey (elected
1882), Samuel M. McGregor (elected in 1888, re-elected in 1894), Pres-
ley 0. Colliver (elected 1900 ), John M. Rawley (elected 1906). James
M. Hanna was appointed to the supreme court judgeship, December 12,
1857, to fill vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Samuel B. Gookins,
when Solomon Claypool, of Terre Haute, was appointed to fill out
Hanna’s unexpired term of the circuit judgeship. On the death of Judge
Turman, in the month of March, 1881, Governor Porter, on the 25th day
of the month, appointed Judge S. D. Coffey to the vacancy, who was
afterward elected to the full term.
    With the adoption of the new constitution, the probate court was
abolished and the common pleas court established by statute. The judges
of this court presiding in this county were William M. Franklin, Fred T.
Brown and Harrison Burns, within whose term of service this court was
abolished.
REPRESENTATION IN LEGISLATION.


    Although organized in 1825, Clay county was not constituted a sep-
arate legislative district until 1830. Under the apportionment of 1825,
Greene, Owen, Morgan and Clay composed one district, which was rep-
resented at the session of 1821 by John Sims, of county. In 1826
Putnam and Clay counties constituted one district and so continued up
to and including 1830, represented, successively, by George Pearcy, 1826
and 1827; Joseph Orr, 1828; John McNary, 1829 and 1830, who were
from Putnam county.
    Under the old constitution members of the house of representatives
or lower branch of the general assembly, were elected annually. Under
the new constitution, since 1852, they are elected biennially, in the even
years, the legislative sessions taking place in the odd years. The succes-
sion in membership of this branch of our law-making body from Clay
county, beginning with the election of 1830, is as follows: 1830, Jared
Peyton; 1831, Jared Peyton; 1832, William Yocum; 1833, Daniel Harris;
1834, Daniel Harris; 1835, Jesse J. Burton; 1836, Samuel H. Smydth;
1837, Samuel H. Smydth; 1838, John Osborn; 1839, Jesse J. Burton;
1840, Francis B. Yocum; 1841, John B. Nees; 1842, John B. Nees; 1843,
Allen T. Rose; 1844, Francis B. Yocum; 1845, John Lewis; 1846, Elias
Bolin; 1847, John T. Alexander; 1848, Francis B. Yocum; 1849, Delaney
Williamson; 1850, Oliver Cromwell and George Donham; 1852, Daniel
Dunlavy; 1854, William H. Gifford; 1856, George W. Duncan and James
W. Modesitt; 1858, Lewis Row; 1860, Elias Cooprider; 1862, Adam C.
Veach; 1864, Adam C. Veach; 1866, John Hungate; 1868, John C. Mc-
Gregor; 1870, John D. Walker; 1872, William H. Gifford; 1874, George
W. Bence; 1876, Isaac M. Compton; 1878, Isaac M. Compton; 1880,
George D. Teter; 1882, James M. Price; 1884, Charles W. Bailey; 1886,
William Connely; 1888, Samuel Anderson; 1890, James T. Moss; 1892,
Felix G. Thornton; 1894, Elmer G. O’Brien; 1896, Felix G. Thornton;
1898, Edward Cutty; 1900, John A. Trout; 1902, Robert Salmon; 1904,
William H. Guirl; 1906, M. B. Frump; 1908, George J. Kayser.