PIKE COUNTY OHIO - BIO: MCLAUGHLIN, Stephen D. (published 1925)
***************************************************************************
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.
***************************************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Gina M. Reasoner
AUPQ38A@prodigy.com 
January 29, 1999
***************************************************************************

HISTORY OF OHIO - The American Historical Society Inc., 1925
Volume 5, page 145

        STEPHEN D. MCLAUGHLIN. Admitted to the bar more than thirty-five
years ago, Stephen D. McLaughlin is one of the senior members of the Pike
county bar, and has rendered a long and notable service in his profession
and in public affairs in that section of the state.
        He was born in Jackson County, Ohio, December 22, 1858, son of
Aaron and Hiley Ann (Corn) McLaughlin. Both his father and mother were left
orphans when children, and his mother was reared in Ohio by a family named
Grabill. Aaron McLaughlin was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, of a family that
first located in New England, and some of them remained there, while others
went into Virginia and North Carolina. Aaron McLaughlin was born August 15,
1818, in Greenbrier County, Virginia, and was left an orphan when five
years old. The public authorities had to find homes for the several
children, and Aaron was taken into the family of a German named Jacob
Molar. Jacob Molar finally moved out of North Carolina to Ohio, bringing
with him his family, his live stock, his grain and even seeds for apple
trees, so that he was completely equipped for establishing a new farm. He
located in Jackson County, where he acquired a large acreage and developed
a very fine estate. Aaron McLaughlin was reared with the Molars, was always
treated as one of the family, and while Mr. Molar was a strict,
hard-working man he was exceedingly honest. On reaching his majority Aaron
McLaughlin left home and took a contract for getting out cord wood for the
Charcoal Furnace. After being away a short time Mr. Molar hunted him up and
requested that he return, since he found it impossible to get along without
the young man's assistance. He offered Aaron McLaughlin $100 a year and his
clothes and washing, bed and board, terms which were accepted. Aaron
McLaughlin then returned and took charge of the farm for Mr. Molar, bought
some land adjoining, and also some from Mr. Molar himself, and remained
with the later until after his marriage and after he had built a home of
his own. Finally the Molars, husband and wife, came to live wiht him and he
took care of them until their death. In the course of time he acquired the
Molar homestead and became a man of great good fortune. Mr. Molar was a
wagon maker, and had the distinction of building the first wagon in Jackson
County. Aaron McLaughlin was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He
and his wife had ten children, and from the name he bestowed upon some of
his sons he was evidently a staunch democrat. These children were: William
A., James K., Andrew Jackson, Minerva, Selelda, Franklin Pierce, Aaron E.,
Stephen D., Charles and Oscar. Aaron McLaughlin was very active in public
affairs, and was once a candidate for state representative.
        Stephen D. McLaughlin grew up at the old homestead, attended the
district schools, and as a youth secured a certificate and for seven years
taught in rural districts. He began the study of law under John T. Moore,
and after examination was admitted to the bar in 1886. For a number of
years he has held qualifications for practice in the Federal District
courts and the United States Supreme Court. He began practice in Pike
County, and in the fall of 1887 was elected prosecuting attorney and by
reelection served two terms. In 1893 he was elected mayor of Waverly and
served two terms of two years each. He also became candidate for Congress,
and was a member of the Ohio College of Electors who cast the vote of the
state for President Wilson. Mr. McLaughlin prosecuted one very notable
criminal case, against a man who deliberately shot his companion to secure
$300 or $400 possessed by him, made his escape, was captured after a long
hunt, brought back and Mr. McLaughlin secured his conviction and sentence
to be hanged. The criminal secured a reprieve, and finally a change of his
sentence to life and finally a complete pardon, all this occurring within
five years from the date of murder.
        On the 21st of August, 1924, Stephen D. McLaughlin was appointed by
Governor Donahey Judge of the Common Pleas Court for Pike County to fill
the vacancy caused by the death of Judge L. G. Dill, and he is now serving
in that capacity.
        Mr. McLaughlin in April, 1888, in Jackson County, married Miss
Julia A. Alexander, daughter of Caleb and Mary (Callahan) Alexander. Her
father lived to the age on ninety-six and her mother to ninety-three. There
were eight children in the Alexander family: John C., William, Monroe,
Sarah, Elizabeth, Jennie, Mrs. McLaughlin and Orpha. Mr. and Mrs.
McLaughlin have three sons: Arthur, in the insurance business at Waverly;
Harold D., a practicing attorney at Portsmouth; and James E., who is still
in school; and also two daughters, the eldest, Edna, the wife of Levi
Maxwell, who resides at Epworth, Iowa, and Mabel, who married Robert Wynn,
of Piketon, who is the present representative from Pike County in the
Legislature. Two grandchildren bless the homes of each of these daughters.
Mr. McLaughlin is president of the official board of the Waverly Methodist
Episcopal Church. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge, the Knights of Pythias
and Modern Woodmen of America, and the Pike County Bar Association.


==== OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ====