|
The law firm of Newcomer,
Shaffer, Spangler & Breininger is the successor to a country law office
founded by M.M. Boothman, a veteran of the American Civil War.
Mr. Boothman lost a leg in the Battle of Jonesboro near Atlanta,
Georgia. Upon returning to
Williams County, he served as County Auditor and was later elected to
serve in the United States Congress.
Commencing in the later
1890’s, Chauncey L. Newcomer began to “read law” in the office of Mr.
Boothman. After studying in
that law office for several years, Mr. Newcomer took the bar exam and
was admitted to the practice of law.
A few years later, he became associated with A.L. Gebhard in a
law firm called Newcomer & Gebhard.
In the 1920’s, Mr. Newcomer was elected Common Pleas Judge of Williams
County. After serving one
term in that office, he returned to the firm.
In 1939, Arthur S. Newcomer became associated with the firm, but
shortly afterward, he was called to serve his country in the U.S.
military.
Following World War II,
Arthur S. Newcomer returned to Bryan to practice law with his father,
Chauncey, under the name of Newcomer & Newcomer.
In 1949, Wayne E. Shaffer joined the firm and a year later it
became known as Newcomer, Newcomer & Shaffer.
With the addition of J. Robert Geesey and James A. Hutton, the
firm’s name became Newcomer, Shaffer, Geesey & Hutton.
David C. Newcomer joined the firm in 1972.
Several changes took place in the 1980’s.
John S. Shaffer became a member of the firm in 1981.
With the retirement of J. Robert Geesey, the tragic death of
James A. Hutton in an airplane crash, and two more lawyers, Steven R.
Bird and Michael W. Spangler joined the firm, the name of the law office
became Newcomer, Shaffer, Bird & Spangler.
Michael A. Shaffer joined the firm in 1990.
The name remained Newcomer, Shaffer, Bird & Spangler until 1997,
when Steven R. Bird was elected Williams County Probate Judge.
Ryan S. Breininger joined the firm in 1998 and in 2004 the name
was changed to the present Newcomer, Shaffer, Spangler & Breininger.
The five partners, David C.
Newcomer, John S. Shaffer, Michael W. Spangler, Michael A. Shaffer, and
Ryan S. Breininger, continue to practice today.
The firm has gradually grown
to become one of the largest and most diversified law firms in Northwest
Ohio. From its beginning, the
firm engaged in general civil and
criminal trial practice, including personal injury, wrongful death,
commercial litigation, workers’ compensation, family law, and criminal
defense. The firm continues to
provide quality legal services to a wide cross-section of people in
Williams and surrounding counties.
The attorneys are active in civic and Ohio State Bar Association
activities. |
