Levin Belt
was a practicing lawyer in Chillicothe, under the Territorial Government. He was born in England, but the date of his birth has not been preserved. He was admitted to practice law, and took the oath of office at Washington, Adams County, March 2, 1802. He was the first prosecuting attorney of Ross County, and was allowed from $15 to $50 per term for his services. In June, 1804, he was elected presiding judge of the second circuit, in place of Wylliss Silliman, resigned. He served until February, 1805, when Robert F. Slaughter was elected to succeed him. On January 9, 1807, Robert F. Slaughter was removed by impeachment, and Levin Belt was elected and succeeded him February 7, 1807. He served until February 10, 1810, when he was succeeded by John Thompson. It is said he was a reasonably good and satisfactory judge of the common pleas, but that he failed as a practitioner at the bar. From the bench he descended to the mayoralty of Chillicothe, and in that office and that of justice of the peace, he served many years. While he was a justice of the peace, there was a statute in force forbidding licensed attorneys to appear before justices of the peace. Soon after this, Mr. Richard Douglas, an attorney of Chillicothe, appeared before him to argue a motion to dismiss a case. Squire Belt said, "Dick, Dick, don't you know the law? You must not appear before me. Get behind me and make your speech." Douglas complied with his order, and got behind the justice and made his speech.
Mr. Belt was tall, broad-shouldered, muscular, without surplus flesh, dark brown hair sprinkled only with gray, and somewhat ruddy of complexion. His presence as a justice in the exercise of his office. was awe-inspiring. He removed from Chillicothe to Washington City in 1828, and died there soon after. The first case submitted to him in Muskingum County in 1804 was Samuel Connar, plaintiff, against James Sprague, defendant, in slander. Damages claimed, $500. Verdict for the plaintiff, $300.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900