Louisa Hilton Storms Insanity Hearings
To the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Sandusky County.
We the undersigned do hereby notify you that we have been informed the wife of one RICHARD STORMS of Madison township, Sandusky County has become Insane and is in a suffering condition for food [?] and rainment and is considered dangerous to be at liberty and we consider it our duty to inform you that you may proceed according to law.
In proceeding in this case we think it proper you should summons Wm. WOLCOTT, MOSES N. HOLCOMB, JAMES TAFT, RICHARD STORMS.
February the 12 A.D. 1846
Trustees} GEORGE SAMPSEL
GEORGE LIGHTNER
DANIEL Mc INTOSH
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State of Ohio
Sandusky County S.S.} To the Sheriff of Sandusky County, Greetings:
We command you that you summons
WILLIAM WOLCOTT, MOSES M. HOLCOMB, JAMES TAFT, RICHARD STORMS, AUGUSTUS H. BREWER [?], L.A. Q. RAWSON if they be found in your bailiwick, to appear before JESSE S. OLMSTEAD Associate Judge of our Court of Common Pleas at 1 o’clock at the courthouse in the town of Lower Sandusky, on the 21st day of Feb. to testify concerning the wife of RICHARD STORMS.
Hereof fail not, but of this writ and our service make due return
Witness, L.A. Q. RAWSON, Clerk of our said Court of Common Pleas this 16 day of Feb. A.D. 1846
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The State of Ohio
Sandusky County S.S.} To the Sheriff of Sandusky
Whereas complaint has been made to us in writing by GEORGE SAMPSEL, GEORGE LIGHTNER, DANIEL McINTOSH trustees of Madison township that the wife of RICHARD STORMS of said county is Insane you are therefore hereby commanded to give notice to and causes [?] the said wife of said RICHARD STORMS if her condition will admit of it to be brought before me at the courthouse of said county on Saturday the 21st inst. At 1 o’clock pm. Also that you summon five discreet disinterested freeholders of the county who are not residents of the township of Madison to appear before me at the same time and place to enquire into said case and that you have then and there this writ with the manner in which you have executed the same.
Given under my hand this 16th day of Feb. A.D. 1846
JESSE S. OLMSTEAD
Associate Judge
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By virtue of the writ hereto attached to me directed on the 21st day of Feb. 1846 summoned by C.J. PETTIBONE, J.R. GLENN, JOHN P. HAINES, JAMES JUSTICE & AUSTIN B. TAYLOR to hold an inquest as commanded in said writ at the courthouse in said county on the 21st day of Feb. 1846, an I have taken MRS. STORMS as commanded.
DAVID BURGER Sheriff
B. JUSTIN BOSSET [?] Deputy
By order of Judge OLMSTEAD
C.J. PETTIBONE was excused and ROBERT SMITH cast in his place
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We the [?] Jurors [?].. & swore to enquire into the case of LOUISA STORMS wife of RICHARD STORMS of Sandusky County, do find that she is Insane. The disease appears to have existed about two years and five months and in our judgment it has been clearly proven that it would be dangerous to the peace and safety of the community for her to go at large. We are also satisfied that she and her husband are without property and it has been established by legal and proper testimony before us that the said LOUISA STORMS has been a resident citizen of the State of Ohio for the period of one year next immediately proceeding the date of this application.
Witness our hands the 21st day of Feb 1846
JAMES JUSTICE - JOHN P. HAYNES - ??? - A.B. TAYLOR - ROBERT SMITH
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The State of Ohio
Sandusky County S.S.} To the sheriff of said County
Whereas upon application of GEORGE SAMPSEL, GEORGE LIGHTNER and DANIEL W.
McINTOSH trustees of Madison township it hath been made to appear to me JESSE S.
OLMSTEAD one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said county
after full hearing that LOUISA STORMS of said county is a lunatic or insane
person and is entitled to admission into the Ohio Lunatic Asylum. These are
therefore in the name of the State of Ohio to command you to take the said
LOUISA STORMS into your custody and her convey to the said asylum and deliver
her to the Superintendent thereof and of this warrant make due return to the
clerk of the said county of Common Pleas with the manner in
which you have executed the same.
Given under my hand and seal this 26th day of Oct. 1846
JESSE S. OLMSTEAD
Received the above named the 28th day of Oct. 1846.
WILLIAM M. AWL, Superintendent
Source: "Early Court Cases, LG 1, Ohio vs. Storms, 1846" ; Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library - Fremont, Ohio