| Isaiah Pillars | |
| Order: | 14th |
| Office: | Ohio Attorney General |
| Term Start: | January 14, 1878 |
| Term End: | January 12, 1880 |
| Governor: | Richard M. Bishop |
| Preceded: | John Little |
| Succeeded: | George K. Nash |
| State House2: | Ohio |
| District2: | Allen County |
| Term Start2: | January 1, 1872 |
| Term End2: | January 4, 1874 |
| Preceded2: | William Armstrong |
| Succeeded2: | Thomas M. Robb |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Birth Date: | 17 March 1833 |
| Birth Place: | Jefferson County, Ohio |
| Death Place: | Lima, Ohio |
| Restingplace: | Old Lima Cemetery |
| Spouse: | Susan Fickle |
| Children: | four |
| Alma Mater: | Heidelberg College |
| Allegiance: | United States |
| Branch: | Union Army |
| Commands: | Camp Lima |
| Rank: | Colonel |
Isaiah Pillars (March 17, 1833 - September 13, 1895)[1] [2] was a lawyer in the U.S. state of Ohio who served in the Ohio House of Representatives and was Ohio Attorney General 1878-1880.
Isaiah Pillars was born March 17, 1833, in Jefferson County, Ohio, and spent part of his youth in Carroll County before being moved to Risden (now Fostoria) in Seneca County, where his mother died when he was eight years old.[3] At age sixteen, he began teaching school, and attended the Seneca County Academy and Heidelberg College in Tiffin. He read law in the office of his brother James Pillars. He was admitted to the bar at age 21 and commenced practice at Lima, Ohio, in 1855. In 1862 he was made commandant of Camp Lima by Governor Tod with rank Colonel, and organized the 99th, 118th and 81st Ohio Infantry regiments.[3]
In 1866 Pillars was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Allen County, and was elected as a Democrat to the Ohio House of representatives in 1871 for the 60th General Assembly, 1872-1873.[4] He vigorously opposed a tax to support railroad construction, and was vindicated when the Ohio Supreme Court found the tax unconstitutional. He also authored a minority report in favor of abolishing capital punishment, with a summary of arguments:[3]
In 1877, Pillars was elected Ohio Attorney General, defeating Republican George K. Nash. He lost to Nash for re-election in 1879. Pillars had been a Republican until 1864, but became a Democrat at that time.[3]
Pillars married Susan Fickle of Lima in February 1866,[3] or perhaps 1856.,[1] and she died in 1870. He had two sons and two daughters, one of whom died in early childhood. He was a believer in the doctrine of Emanuel Swedenborg, writing a small book about his life and doctrines.
Pillars died at Lima, Ohio September 13, 1895.[2] [5]