John Fetch was appointed to replace Emery D. Potter, who declined to serve in 1836. The following year. Fetch was elected to his first and only term as Prosecuting Attorney by the citizens of Lucas County.

Born in New York state to the descendants of the American revolution, Fetch became a school teacher despite the lack of a university education. After reading the law, he became a licensed attorney in the state of New York, before moving to Toledo in 1836. Shortly thereafter, he received the appointment as Lucas County's third Prosecuting Attorney, to which he was elected in his own right the following year.

As a Prosecutor, it was said that Fetch was a "keen skillful lawyer...[who]... left no loopholes for escape." Following his term as Prosecuting Attorney, he developed an active and successful law practice. In 1855, he was elected to the Lucas County Common Pleas Court, where he served with great distinction for 15 years, retiring in 1870. He remained a prominent elder of the legal community until his death in 1889 at the age of 89 years.

At his death the Lucas County Bar Association eulogized Judge Fetch:

His decisions have been considerate, and so thoroughly well based upon right reason and sound principles of law, that...in only forty-three cases the judgments have been disturbed. These facts reveal more clearly than words of ours could set forth, with what conscientious integrity, clear judgment and rare legal ability Judge Fetch has devoted himself to the discharge of the high duties of his office. [Memoirs of Lucas County, Scribner, at p.434].

Lucas County was indeed fortunate to have John Fetch as its third, and first elected prosecutor to serve, which he did for his entire career with great distinction.