Thomas McBride
Thomas McBride was born in the valley of the Mohican, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and read law in Mansfield. When admitted to the bar he removed to a western county in Ohio, but after an interval of years returned to the county of old Richland and practiced his profession with great ability and industry. His was strong will power, intense likes and dislikes, fairly cultured, more logical power than rhetoric, he made of life a success. He was a close student of the law, but not of letters or literature generally, and thereby he lacked something of the skill and power he might have attained had he been more broadly educated. He was not a polished advocate but a vigorous one, and in invective not surpassed by any of his contemporaries. He was a skillful cross-examiner of both classes of witnesses, those determined not to tell that which they knew and those eager to tell all and more than they know. His special ability was made manifest in examination of witnesses and cross-examination. Possibly he o'er-leaped the line of prudence and propriety often and so made enemies of friends, but never made friends of enemies. He did not seem to broadly weigh the duties and responsibilities of counselor and advocate. But once retained on a special case his every effort was put forth to gain this cause, irrespective of all other considerations. As a general practitioner this was not good policy. One may be absolutely true and most efficient for his client and yet not antagonize opponents' friends personally. Still he was very much of a man, and gained distinction as a trial lawyer and counselor. He was devoted to the church of his choice, the Presbyterian, and was an official member thereof. More than a score years ago a most dread disease developed and, hoping and fearing -- hopeful of recovery and fearing the worst -- he passed the weary years. Work, work, was the only relief and he gave himself to it as though brain and bone would never grow weary, but the fell destroyer was also at work and gained the mastery, and Thomas McBride was numbered with the great majority in our greater city -- the city of the dead.
From the Richland Shield & Banner: December 22, 1894, Vol. LXXVII, No. 32