John H. S. Trainer
Hon. John H. S. Trainer, formerly a member of the law firm of Trainer & Son, at Steubenville, O., was a prominent attorney of this city for many years, devoting a long life to his profession without turning his brilliant gifts in any other direction. He was born in Lancaster, Pa., January 22, 1826, and died at Steubenville. May 11, 1901.
John H. S. Trainer was ten years old when his parents settled on a farm in Springfield Township, Jefferson county, Ohio, and until he was seventeen years old he assisted his father and secured what educational training he could in the district schools. This meager knowledge did not satisfy him and he finally prevailed on his father to send him to an academy at New Hagerstown, and when he completed his course there, in 1845, he commenced to teach school. He is remembered as an efficient teacher through Harrison County, where his energies in the educational field were expended for two years, but this profession was merely a means to another end, his decision having already been made in favor of the law. It is recalled of him that he made his law books his inseparable companions and the director of his reading, Hon. T. L. Jewett, had no more apt or interested a student. He was admitted to the bar at Steubenville, April 7, 1848. Close attention to his studies together with his performance of duties as a teacher, for so long a period, had somewhat undermined his health, and after six months of practice, with Judge Stewart, he was obliged to take a season of rest. Later, for two years he was associated with Judge Belden, at Canton, and then opened an office of his own at Wellsville, where he continued until he came to Steubenville, in 1853. Here he was subsequently associated with the leading men of the legal profession, including up to November 1, 1868, such prominent attorneys as: Hon. George W. Mason, Robert Martin, J. P. Daton and Milton Taggart. In 1873 he entered into partnership with Hon. John M. Cook, and this connection continued until Mr. Cook retired, in 1878, in order to assume the duties of prosecuting attorney. Mr. Trainer in the following year admitted one of his students, James F. Bigger, to partnership, and the firm of Trainer & Bigger continued until 1884, when Mr. Trainer formed a partnership with his son, John W. Trainer, the firm name becoming Trainer & Son, which remained during the rest of the life of the senior member. In his death it was generally recognized that the Steubenville bar had lost one of its ablest members, one possessed of all those qualities which go to the making of a successful lawyer. He cherished no political aspirations, his profession and his family embodying all for which he had enthusiasm.
Mr. Trainer was survived by a widow, who died January 5, 1910, a daughter and two sons—Mary C. who resides with her mother in the beautiful family home which is situated at No. 627 North Fourth Street, Steubenville; William M.. who is engaged in an insurance and real estate business, and is also clerk of the city council of Steubenville; and John W., who is an assistant attorney in the Department of Justice, Washington, D. C.
From 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910