History of Perryton, (Licking County) Ohio United States of America

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Milton I. Southard, Lawyer and Member of Congress, was born on the 20th of October, 1836, at Perryton, Licking county, Ohio. He comes of ancestry identified with the early history of the country. His grandfather was born near Trenton, New Jersey, and was related to Senator Samuel L. Southard of that State. He removed from New Jersey to Washington county, Pennsylvania, where was born the father of Milton, and eventually removed again with his family to Ohio, settling in Licking county in 1805. On the mother's side Milton I. Southard is descended from the Parnells of Baltimore. He obtained the elements of his education at the common schools of Licking county, and when he had reached a proper age he entered the more advanced institutions of learning, and finally passed through the course of study at Dennison University, at Granville, Ohio. He graduated from this institution in the year 1861. Immediately after leaving college he commenced the study of law, which profession he had decided to adopt. He concluded his reading in the office of Follett & Follett, at Newark, Ohio. In the year 1863 he finished his course of legal study with the firm mentioned and was admitted a member of the bar. He at once prepared to enter upon the practice of his profession, and formed a professional partnership with Mr. Wm. H. Ingraham. The new firm established themselves in practice in Toledo, under the firm-name of Southard & Ingraham. They continued to practise there together until 1866, when the leading member of the firm removed to Zinesville, where he has ever since resided. Shortly after locating in Zanesville he formed a law partnership with his brother, Frank H. Southard, under the firm-name of Southard & Southard. The firm still continues, and he has practised without interruption, except so far as interruption came in the shape of the duties of public office. He has been active in political affairs, and has always been identified with the Democratic party. In the year 1867 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Muskingum County. In 1869 he was re-elected to the same position, and was reelected a second time in 1871. While serving his third term in this position he was nominated by his party to represent the Thirteenth District of Ohio in Congress. He was elected at the October election of 1872, and in March, 1873, he resigned the office of Prosecuting Attorney to take his seat in the national legislature. He served with ability and distinction in the Forty-third Congress. He was appointed a member of the Committee on Mines and Mining, and also of the Committee on Expenditures of the Treasury Department. He took an active part in the House debates on the currency question, and in a speech made on that issue he reviewed the President's veto of the Senate Currency bill. He was also active in opposition to the Civil Rights bill, and to the measure that was popularly known as the Force bill. The course taken by him during his Congressional term was so satisfactory to his constituents that he was renominated for the Forty-fourth Congress, and at the election of 1874 he was triumphantly re-elected. In the Forty-fourth Congress he has been appointed Chairman of the Committee on Territories, and also a member of the Committee on Revision of Laws of the United States. A man of integrity as well as of ability, of strong will and of honorable purposes, he is fitted not only to adorn but to honor public life, and in these days such men are worth seeking far to find.

From: The Biographical Encyclopedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century. Columbus, OH, USA: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1876.

History of Perryton, (Licking County) Ohio

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