A history of Columbia County, Pennsylvania. From the earliest times., Part 10

Author: Freeze, John G. (John Gosse), 1825-1913
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Bloomsburg, Pa. : Elwell & Bittenbender
Number of Pages: 594


USA > Pennsylvania > Columbia County > A history of Columbia County, Pennsylvania. From the earliest times. > Part 10


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SAMUEL ROGERS, from Orange county, New York, settled in what is now Benton township, on a farm next south of the one now occupied by William Hulme.


WILLIAM EAGER, from the same place, settled on the Hulme farm.


JOHN KEELER, another Orange county man, occupied the farm next north of and adjoining Eager.


DANIEL JACKSON came from Jersey in the spring of 1792 or 1793, and located upon, cleared and occupied the farm upon which the


118


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


town of Benton now stands. The whole number of families in what is now Benton township, was in 1799 about fifteen or six- teen.


COLESCREEK.


COLESCREEK, in Sugarloaf township, at the forks of Colescreek and Fishing creek, is a post town, with store, grist mill, smith shop &c. St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, and a number of dwell- ing houses are located there in the midst of romantic scenery. In relation to its early settlers I have been able to glean the following particulars.


WILLIAM HESS, the elder, settled in what is now Sugarloaf town- ship in or about the year 1792. He came from Northampton county with a family of eleven sons, and a number of comely daughters. He improved a farm in the warrantce name of Jane Boyd, and which is now occupied by Andrew Laubach. Ezekiel Cole, son- in-law to William Hess, came at the same time and settled on the south end of the same tract. Mr. Cole built the first grist mill on Fishingcreck that did any business worth mentioning. Fishing- creek at that time included the whole north end of the county, and as far south as to the Nob Mountain.


JOHN KILE, senior, another son-in-law of William Hess, came from Bucks county, between the years 1793 and 1799, and settled on the same Jane Boyd tract of land, on what is now occupied by Joseph O. Hess. William Hess and his sons and his family con- nections in 1799 occupied all the land on both sides of the Fish- ingcreek, from the North Mountain to the south line of what is now Sugarloaf township.


PHILIP FRITZ, senior, a nephew of William Hess, senior, came into the neighborhood about the year 1797, and settled on the hill northeast of his uncle. He was the first school master and Justice of the Peace in the north east corner of Columbia county.


CHRISTIAN LAUBACH, senior, also a relative of William Hess, senior, came into the county in the year 1790 and settled on the hill south east of him. The last four family names are still among the most extensive and respected in that region of the county in which they originally settled ; and it is matter of regret that not more full and specific family history has been recovered.


119


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


JONATHAN COLLEY settled at an early day on the east side of Fishingcreek, south of Ezekiel Cole. His son Alexander came in the year 1799. He represented the county in the legislature in 1822 and 1823. What is now Sugarloaf township, contained in 1799, only about six families.


ESPYTOWN.


ESPYTOWN is also in Scott township, and is located east from Bloomsburg about three miles. It has some fine and pleasant residences, fine stores, shops, churches and school houses, one tavern, a large steam grist mill, and is a depot for the Lacka- wanna & Bloomsburg railroad. George Espy was the proprietor and in early times it was noted for its shad fishery and its race ground, "Webb's lane."


Espy was for a long time better known as the residence of Mr. Frederick B. Swaby than for any thing else; and he was in many respects a conspicuous man. He died at the residence of his son, Frederick J. Swaby, in Seneca Falls, at the age of 85 years.


Mr. Swaby was born in the island of Jamaica, in the year 1791. He was educated in England, and during the years 1805 and 1806 was a scholar at the school near Barnet Castle, in York- shire, which has since been rendered celebrated by being describ- ed in a vein of very broad but amusing caricature by Dickens in his novel "Nicholas Nickleby," under the name of "Dotheboys hall," and Mr. Swaby was perhaps, the last survivor of that institu- tion. He came to this country in company. with his father-in- law, Capt. John Haigh of the British army, in 1821, and settled at the village of Espy, Columbia county, Pa., where he resided until 1846, surrounded by many warm friends, for whom he, to the last, cherished the kindest recollection and regard. In that year he removed to Seneca Falls, where he resided with his


sons. His father, Joseph Swaby, died in Jamaica in the year 1811; he was born in 1727; the lives of the father and son con- sequently extended through a period of 148 years During the nearly thirty years' residence of Mr. Swaby in Seneca Falls, he was little in public life, being rather retiring in disposition, but in the home circle and among those whose acquaintance with him became intimate, he was highly prized. He possessed the keenest sense of honor, which was always manifest in his inter-


120


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


course with the world, and the probity of his character was ever conspicuous. He was a communicant of the church of England, and always maintained the highest standard of a devout Christian. His genial and cheerful temperament rendered him peculiarly a favorite among the young. It was while participating with them in their innocent amusements, that he received injuries from a fall, which hastened his death. His memory will remain as a precious legacy to those to whom he was a loved companion for years.


THE HALF WAY HOUSE.


THE HALF WAY HOUSE, in Centre township, now no longer a hotel, was years ago in the days of stages, a well known place. Stonytown, at the ferry, is now the stopping place for travel- lers, and the glory of the old stage office has departed, which Samuel Harman made famous.


COL. SAMUEL KNORR was born in Centre township, December 24, 1836. He read law with Wm. G. Hurley, Esq. and was ad- mitted to the Bar in 1863.


He entered the army with the Iron Guards April 22, 1861, at Bloomsburg. The Company became Co. A. 6th Penna. Reserves and he served as Sergeant until Oct. 23, 1861, when he was pro- moted to 2d. Lieut. and was honorably discharged Oct. 25, 1862, on account of physical disability. July 4, 1863, he was commis- sioned Major of the 35th Regt. Penna. Militia, and mustered into the service of the United States, and ' discharged from ser- vice August 7, 1863. Was commissioned captain of the 19th Regt. U. S. colored troops, Nov, 30, 1863, as Major, Sept. 29, 1864, Lieut. Colonel Feby. 27, 1865, and on January 6, 1866 hon- orably discharged, on resignation. His successive and rapid pro- motions prove his merit and standing as an officer. He was Pres- idential Elector in 1868, and collector of Internal Revenue for the 13th District of Penna. from April 5, 1869 to May 30, 1873.


MIFFLINVILLE.


MIFFLINVILLE is a staid and ancient village nine miles east of Bloomsburg, on the east bank of the Susquehanna, contains about thirty dwellings, a couple of stores, a tavern, shops, churches and school houses, and a couple of grist mills. The North & West Branch railroad runs through the village.


121


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


MAINVILLE.


MAINVILLE is in Main township, about six miles south-east from Bloomsburg, has fifteen to twenty houses, tavern, stores, grist mill, forge, &c., and is situated on Catawissa creek, and on the Read- ing, and Sunbury, Hazleton & Wilkesbarre Railway.


BEAVER VALLEY.


BEAVER VALLEY, twelve miles south-east of Bloomsburg, has a tavern, a store, half a dozen dwellings, and a depot for the Read- ing railroad.


CENTRALIA BOROUGH.


CENTRALIA BOROUGH, situate in Conyngham township, south-east from Bloomsburg about twenty miles, in the midst of a coal min- ing district, and has within and about it several hundred dwelling houses, a number of stores, and hotels and drinking houses innu- merable. It has a beautiful and tasteful place of worship, "Holy Trinity Church," belonging to the Episcopalians, also one belong- ing to the Romanists, one to the Presbyterians and one to the Methodists.


NUMIDIA AND SLABTOWN.


NUMIDIA and SLABTOWN, lying in Locust township, respectively thirteen and eleven miles south-east from Bloomsburg, have each ten to fifteen dwellings; store, tavern, shops, &c. The village of Slabtown, whose post-office name is Roaringcreek, is on the stream of that name, which drives a grist mill there located.


122


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


CHAPTER XVI.


THE COURTS.


COLUMBIA COUNTY COURT HOUSE.


By the Act of Assembly erecting Columbia county, it was pro- vided; "That from and after the first Monday of March, one thous- and eight hundred and fourteen, the several courts in and for the said county of Columbia, shall be opened and held at each house as is hereinafter provided for in the said county of Columbia,


123


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


until a Court House shall be erected in and for said county as hereinafter directed, and shall be then held at said Court House."


The sheriff, coroner and other officers of the county of North- umberland were to continue to exercise the duties of their respec- tive offices within the county of Columbia until similar officers were appointed within said county.


The county was annexed to the middle district of the Supreme Court, and to the eighth judicial district of the Courts of Common Pleas, comprising the counties of Northumberland, Union and Lycoming ; and the Courts were to be holden in and for the county of Columbia on the first Mondays in January, April, August and November. In districting the state under the amended constitution we were put into the 11th district with Lu- zerne and Wyoming; and subsequently into the 26th with Sullivan and Wyoming, and under the constitution of 1872 Sullivan and Wyoming were erected into a separate district and Montour annexed to Columbia, in which connection we are now, 1882. To this chapter is appended a list of the officers and personnel of the Court since the establishment of the county. This is not the place, or we might add much matter to this division, of personal history and anecdote, of gentlemen who upon the Bench or at the Bar, have given to our county a solid and honorable reputation at home and abroad. Of Robert Cooper Grier, who began the prac- tice of the law in Bloomsburg, and rose to be an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court-of William G. Hurley, for more than forty years identified honorably with the Bar of this county-of John G. Montgomery, a man of great power and elo- quence, elected to the legislature and subsequently to Congress, and who perished in the National Hotel disaster-of John Cooper, himself an eccentric and brilliant man, the son of Judge Thomas Cooper, renowned in the old world as well as here-of George A. Frick, second to none as a man, and as a lawyer of extensive and solid attainments-of Robert F. Clark and Morrison E. Jackson, who among the younger members of the Bar, achieved and main- tained a position at the head of the profession in the county. Nor would it be difficult to select from among the living, names whose sounds will long linger in the memories ef the young men of the Bar, and whose courtesy, learning and chaste professional honor it would be safe to follow, and ennobling to emulate.


124


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


PRESIDENT JUDGES.


Names. Appointed from. Date of Commission. July 11, 1811


Seth Chapman, Bucks,


Resigned October, 10-1833.


Ellis Lewis,


Lycoming,


October, 14, 1833.


Died in Philadelphia, March 19-1871.


Charles G. Donnel, Northumberland, January, 14, 1843.


Died March, 18-1884.


Joseph B. Anthony, Lycoming, Died January 10th, 1851.


March, 1844.


James Pollock, Northumberland, January 16, 1851.


John N. Conyngham. Luzerne, November 5, 1851.


Died April 23, 1871.


Warren J. Woodward, Luzerne, May 19, 1856.


Died September 23, 1879.


Aaron K. Peckham, Wyoming, December 10, 1861.


Died March 22, 1865.


William Elwell,


Bradford, November 3, 1862.


William Elwell,


Columbia November 6, 1872.


William Elwell,


January, 1883.


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ASSOCIATE JUDGES.


John Murray,


appointed


October 11, 1813.


William Montgomery,


August 5, 1815.


Leonard Rupert,


June 27, 1816.


William Donaldson,


March 26, 1840.


George Mack,


March 27, 1840.


Samuel Oakes,


March 6, 1845.


Stephen Baldy,


March 11, 1845.


March 12, 1850.


George H Willits, John Covanhovan,


March 12, 1850.


Leonard B. Rupert,


elected


Nov. 10, 1851.


George H. Willits,


66


Nov. 10, 1851.


Peter Kline,


66


Nov. 12, 1856.


Jacob Evans,


6€


Nov. 12, 1856.


Stephen Baldy,


appointed


Jan. 12, 1861.


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


125


John McReynolds, elected


Stephen Baldy,


Peter K. Herbein,


Nov. 23, 1861. Nov. 23, 1861. Nov. 8, 1866.


Died in office April 1, 1869.


Iram Derr, elected


Nov. 8, 1866.


James Kester,


appointed


April 23, 1869.


Charles F. Mann,


elected


Nov. 26, 1869.


Died in office, January 24, 1870.


Isaac S. Monroe,


appointed


Feb. 1, 1870.


Isaac S. Monroe,


elected


Nov. 9, 1870.


Iram Derr,


Nov. 17, 1871.


George Scott, 66


Dec. 3, 1875


Died in office, April 10, 1876.


Mayberry G. Hughes,


appointed


April 26, 1876.


Franklin L. Shuman,


elected


Dec. 8, 1876.


Isaac K. Krickbaum,


Dec. 8, 1876.


Franklin L. Shuman,


Dec. 8, 1881.


James Lake,


66


Dec. 8, 1881.


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PROTHONOTARY AND CLERK.


George A. Frick,


appointed


1813.


Dr. David Petrikin,


March 15, 1821.


John Russel,


66


January 14, 1824.


Jacob Eyerly,


66


January 19, 1830.


James Donaldson,


January 8, 1836.


May 1, 1838.


66


January 10, 1839.


Valentine Best,


January 18, 1839.


Jacob Eyerly,


elected


December 1, 1839.


..


66


66


1842.


.6


1845.


66


66


.


1848.


1851.


66


1854.


66


1857.


.6


66


66


1860.


Jesse Coleman.


66


December 1, 1863.


126


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


Wellington H. Ent, elected December 1, 1869. General Ent, died Nov. 5, 1871.


1871.


B. F. Zarr,


elected


December 1, 1872.


December 1, 1875.


William Krickbaum,


66


1878.


1881.


SHERIFFS.


Henry Alward,


commissioned


January 13, 1814.


Joseph Prutzman,


John Underwood,


commissioned


October 19, 1816. October 18, 1819.


Wm. Robison,


to fill vacancy


September 16, 1822.


Andrew McReynolds, commissioned


October 14, 1822,


John Rhoads,


66


October 22, 1825.


William Kitchen,


66


October 22, 1828·


Isaiah Reed,


October 24, 1831.


Isaiah Salmon,


66


October 25, 1834.


William Kitchen,


October 18, 1837.


John Fruit,


October 30, 1840.


Iram Derr,


1843.


Benjamin Hayman,


66


November 5, 1846.


Peter Billmeyer,


October 24, 1849.


John Snyder,


1852.


Stephen H. Miller,


1855.


John Snyder, 66


1858


Josiah H. Furman,


1861.


Samuel Snyder,


1864.


Mordecai Millard,


1867.


Aaron Smith, 66


1870.


Michael Grover,


1873.


Died in office April 3, 1876.


Charles G. Murphy, Coroner


1876.


Was sworn in April 5, 1876, to 5 May, 1876.


Charles S. Fornwald,


1876.


Appointed by Gov. May 5, 1876, to January, 1877.


Died in office.


R. H. Ringler, appointed


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


127


John W. Hoffman, Uzal H. Ent, John Mourey,


elected Nov. 1876,


1877.


66


1879,


1880.


1882,


1883.


-0-


REGISTER & RECORDER.


Josiah McClure


appointed


1814


Ellis Hughes


1821


Rudolph Sechler


66


1824


John Cooper


1830


Alexander Best


1836


Philip Billmeyer


18 January


1839


66


elected


1 December


1839


Charles Conner


1842


Jesse G. Clark


66


1848


Daniel Lee


66


1854


John G. Freeze


1863


Williamson H. Jacoby


1869


George W. Sterner


"


1 January


1882


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ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW.


Robert C. Grier


Bloomsburg


Deceased


William G. Hurley


66


James Pleasants


Catawissa


Samuel F. Headley


Berwick 66


66


LeGrand Bancroft


Bloomsburg


B. K. Rhodes


Left the county


Charles R. Buckalew


Practising


Robert F. Clark


Deceased


Reuben W. Weaver


Deceased


John G. Freeze


66


Practising


Elisha C. Thomson Franklin Stewart


Berwick


Practising


Ephram H. Little


Bloomsburg


Alexander J. Frick


66


Practising Left the county Practising Deceased


Oliver C. Kahler


Wesley Wirt


Deceased


Morrison E. Jackson


128


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


Agib Ricketts


Robert S. Howell W. A. Peck


Bloomsburg Espy Berwick


Bloomsburg


Samuel Knorr


Hervy H. Grotz


66 Catawissa


William H. Abbott


Charles B. Brockway


Bloomsburg


Wellington H. Ent


M. M. Traugh


Berwick


James K. Brugler


Bloomsburg


Peter S. Rishel


Michael Whitmoyer


66 Centralia


66


.6


Russel R. Pealer


Bloomsburg


Practising 66


George S. Coleman


66


Deceased


J. B. Robison


66


Practising Left the county


66


M. E. Walker


Bloomsburg


O. B. Melick


Lightstreet


James Bryson


Centralia


66


Milton Stiles


Berwick


LeRoy Thompson


John M. Clark


Bloomsburg


Practising Practising


B. Frank Zarr


66


Left the county


H. E. Smith


66


Practising Left the county


Warren J. Buckalew


66


Deceased


George E. Elwell


66


Practising 66


Robert R. Little


Nevin U. Funk


William L. Eyerly


Catawissa


66


Charles B. Jackson


Berwick


Frank P. Billmeyer


Bloomsburg


66


Levi E. Waller


T. J. Vanderslice


Left the county Practising Left the county Practising Practising Retired Left the county Practising Deceased


Left the county Left the county Left the county 66


M. M. L'Velle


Elijah R. Ikeler


Charles W. Miller


66


J. H. James


Centralia


A. C. Smith


John A. Opp


Charles G. Barkley


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


129


H. C. Bittenbender W. H. Rhawn William Bryson


Bloomsburg, Catawissa Centralia Bloomsburg


Left the county Practising


66


Paul E. Wirt


Robert Buckingham L. S. Wintersteen A. L. Fritz 66


Andrew K. Oswald


Jacob H. Maize


C. C. Peacock


Heister V. White


66


A. E. Chapin John C. Yocum David Leche


Catawissa Bloomsburg


Left the county Practising Left the county Practising


Guy Jacoby


Wm. Chrisman


66


W. H. Snyder


Wm. E. Smith


Orangeville Berwick


0


MONTOUR COUNTY.


Alem Marr


Danville


Deceased 6.


George A. Frick


66


John Cooper


66


66


John G. Montgomery


66


Arthur W. Frick


Edward H. Baldy


Oscar F. Moore


John D. Colt


Paul Leidy


66


B. K. Rhodes


66


W. C. Johnston


66


Isaac X. Grier


Geo. D. Butler


66


John C. Montgomery


H. M. Hinckley


66


66


H. Vincent


W. J. Baldy


66


James Scarlet


66


F. C. Angle


66


Ed. S. Gearhart


66


Joshua W. Comly


Retired Deceased Practising Retired


Deceased Deceased Practising -


66


L. K. Mourer


Berwick Bloomsburg


:


130


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


CHAPTER XVII.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PRESIDENT JUDGES. SETH CHAPMAN


Of Judge Chapman I have been able to gather but very slight quemorials. He was a resident of Bucks county, and was appoint- ed President Judge of the Northumberland District July 11th, 1811. George A. Frick Esq., writes to mc as follows, under date of Nov. 29, 1871.


"Judge Chapman had not the brilliant talents of many of the attor- neys who practised in the Northumberland courts -- to wit, Thomas Duncan, David Watts, Charles Huston, Charles Hall, Ebenezer Greenough and Hugh Bellas ; but was a better judge than many others we had in Pennsylvania. When Columbia county was formed out of part of Northumberland in 1813, Chapman became President Judge of our Courts, and held his first court for the couuty in Danville, in January 1814.


I was appointed prothonotary of the Common Pleas of Colum- bia county in 1813, and continued until 1821. Both Judge Chap- man and myself were appointed by Gov. Snyder. My last ap- pointment was by Gov. Finley."


Judge Chapman resigucd October 10th, 1833.


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ELLIS LEWIS.


BY MRS. JULIET H. L. CAMPBELL.


ELLIS LEWIS was born, May 16th, 1798, in Lewisburg, Penna., a town named in honor of his father, Eli Lewis, Esq. This gen- tleman, who was a person of means, influence and literary tastes, died when the subject of this memoir was four years of age. During a long minority, his inheritance was dissipated by mis- management, and he was early thrown upon his own resources.


131


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


He became a good practical printer and editor; studied law, and was admitted to the bar, at twenty-five years of age. At this time, he married Miss Josephine Wallis, daugliter of Joseph Wal- lis, Esq., civil engineer. Two years later, he was appointed Dep- uty Attorney-General for Lycoming county. In 1832 he was elect- ed to the Legislature of Pennsylvania. The question of internal improvements was then an absorbing one, and placed on a special committee on this subject he rendered his usual efficient service.


On a committee to visit the prisons of the state, he found in the debtor's department of county prisons, persons detained for sums less than five dollars. He drew up a bill and report con- cerning imprisonment for debt, which was the first step toward the abolition of this then popular custom.


His conspicuous talents attracting the attention of Gov. Wolfe he was by him appointed Attorney-General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1833 and later, in the same ycar, became Presi- dent Judge of the Eighth Judicial District, comprising the counties of Columbia, Northumberland, Lycoming and Union. The old citi- zens, and more especially the members of the legal profession, re- member the marked ability and acumen with which for ten years he expounded the laws. In 1843 he became President Judge of the Second District (Lancaster county) and in 1851 was elected Justice of the Supreme Court of the State.


In 1855 he became Chief Justice. The opinions delivered by him in this capacity arc remarkable for profound legal learning, sound equity and research, and are considered valuable contribu- tions to the records of his time. In 1857 he declined the unani- mous nomination of the Democratic convention for re-election to the Supreme Court, and retired to private life. In 1858 he was again solicited to render public service, and became one of three commissioners to revise the criminal code of Pennsylvania.


Outside of his official labors, which are a valuable legacy to the legal profession, Judge Lewis published a volume entitled, "An Abridgement of the Criminal Law of the United States," and made occasional contributions to the literature of the day. The honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred on him because of his especial study of Medical Jurisprudence, and he received from Jefferson College and other universities the degree of Doctor of Laws. He was a ripe scholar, a profound thinker, a


132


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


large hearted and publie spirited man. He died March 19th 1871, deeply mourned by a large eircle of friends to whom he was endeared by his brilliant and genial qualities.


Judge Lewis was by birth-right a Quaker, but his residenee cutting him off from intereourse with the Society of Friends, he attached himself to the Episeopal ehureh. He died in an express- ed hope and trust in the love and merey of his Saviour.


-


CHARLES G. DONNEL.


JUDGE DONNEL was the son of Henry and Margaret Donnel, and was born March the 14th, 1801.


On the 14th of January 1843 he was commissioned by Gov. David R. Porter, President Judge of the Eighth Judicial Distriet, then composed of the counties of Northumberland, Union, Lyeom- ing and Columbia. He was sworn into offiee on the 16th of Jan- uary and entered upon its duties. His first term in his own county began April 3, 1843. He presided with great dignity and urban- ity, and would undoubtedly have beeome eminent as a jurist, had he been spared to develop his powers. He died on the 18th of March 1844, aged forty-three years and four days, having held the office of President Judge fourteen months and four days.


Judge Donnel peculiarly illustrated the saying, that the life of the suceessful lawyer is an uneventful one. Immersed in, and de- voted to his profession, neither polities nor general business at- traeted him. The excitements of forensie battles were enough for him, the delights of unravelling tangled threads of evidence oe- eupied his quieter hours, while his leisure was given to exercise, to literature and to fietion. Hard facts are the business of a lawyer, works of the imagination his recreation. Judge Donnel was a member of the Episcopal church.


- -0


JOSEPH BILES ANTHONY.


JOSEPH BILES ANTHONY was born in the city of Philadelphia, on the 19th of June, 1795. He fitted himself for the profession of law, and was admitted to practice at Williamsport in 1818, and in 1821 he married Miss Catharine Grafius, who survived him.


133


HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


Rising rapidly in his profession, and becoming somewhat active in politics, the democrats of his senatorial district elected him to the State Senate in 1830. He served his term so much to the sat- isfaction of his constituents, that at the end of it, in 1834, he was elected to Congress, and re-elected in 1836, by an unprecedented majority.


In 1843 Governor Porter appointed him judge of the court for the adjustment of the Nicholson claims, in which position he dis- played sound legal learning and discrimination. In March 1844, Governor Porter appointed him President Judge of the Eighth Ju- dicial District, composed of the counties of Lycoming, Northum- berland and Columbia He presided in the courts with great ac- ceptability, disposing of many cases of considerable importance and turning on nice legal questions.


He died at Williamsport, of heart disease, on the 10th of Jan- uary 1851, at the comparatively early age of fifty-six years. He left to survive him, a widow, and one son and six daughters.


In politics Judge Anthony was a democrat of the old school; as a citizen he was social and benevolent; as a lawyer honorable and talented; as a representative attentive and faithful, and as a judge penetrating, prudent and conscientious. All had confidence in his integrity, and his death was a source of unusual sorrow.




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