A history of Columbia County, Pennsylvania. From the earliest times., Part 11

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 11


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The following lines were written by Hon. Joseph B. Anthony, during the trial, before him, of an indictment, at the Jan- uary sessions of the court in Danville, 1846, against a man for shooting a valuable setter dog, called Logan, the property of a Mr. Mercer, of that place. While the trial was in progress, the lines were thrown down on the counsel table, by the Judge, for the amusement of the bar. One of the members of the bar has had the lines in his possession ever since, and now offers them to the public.


Poor Logan's dead, no more he'll howl, And rend the air with deafening cries, No more he'll set for man the fowl, In death's cold lap he lowly lies.


How fondly would he hunt the game, How closely would he scent the air, A setter known full well to fame, The huntsman's friend ! his master's care.


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From day to day, from year to year, He roamed the wood, he scour'd the field ; From every vicious practice clear, In faithfulness, to none he'd yield.


A watchful, trusty, peaceful friend, From quarrel, strife and bickering free ; He never failed his aid to lend,


But true to huntsman's call was he.


In canine veins no drop of blood, Of "Logan" courses -- all his race Is now extinct, -in wicked mood, Man sent him to his resting place.


JAMES POLLOCK.


JAMES POLLOCK, was born in the Borough of Milton, North- umberland county, Pa., on September 11th, 1810. His father William Pollock, was an American by birth, as also his mother Sarah Pollock. She was the daughter of Fleming Wilson, and was born in Chester county, Penna., in October 1771. His paternal and maternal ancestors emigrated from the north of Ireland to America at least as early as 1760. They settled in Chester county Penna., and were the open and avowed friends of American inde- pendence during the war of the Revolution. One branch of the family settled in North Carolina, and some of its members were intimately connected with, if not prime movers in, the first declar- ation of Independence at Mechlenberg, North Carolina. They were known in that state by the name of Pol'k, an abbreviation of "Pollock," the original family name.


His father, William Pollock, died in May 1817, leaving to sur- vive him a widow and seven children,-four sons,-of which James was the youngest,-and three daughters. The widow and mother, with an energy and determination that characterized her life, as- sumed at once the responsible duties of educating her children, and training them up in the "way they should go." She was a woman of strong intellect, of great moral courage, and marked religious character; qualities that aided in forming and moulding the character of those she loved, and for whose temporal and


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eternal welfare she labored and prayed. She died in Milton, Pa. February 19th, 1865, in the ninety-fourth year of her age.


The boyhood of the subject of this sketch, was passed principally at school. His first teacher was the late Hon Joseph B. Anthony, afterward President Judge of the 8th Judicial District of Penn- sylvania, of whom he became the successor in the same office in the year 1850. He remained in the school of Mr. Anthony but a short time, and, soon after leaving, entered the Milton Classical Acad- emy, under the care of Rev. David Kirkpatrick. He herc pre- pared for, and entered the Junior Class in the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, and graduated as Bachelor of Arts, with the highest honors of his class, in Sept. 1831. In 1835 he received in course the degree of A. M. and in 1855 his Alma Mater confered upon him the honorary degree of L. L. D. and in 1857, the Trustees of Jefferson College, Pa., conferred the same honorary degree upon him.


After his graduation he entered as a student of law the office of Samuel Hepburn, Esq., a gentleman of eminent legal learning, in his native town, and was admitted to practice in the several courts of Northumberland county, in November 1833, and sub- sequently in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. In April 1834 he opened an office in Milton, Pa. and was successful in the prac- tice of his profession. In 1835 he was appointed District Attor- ney for Northumberland county, which office he held for three years.


He was married on the 19th day of December 1837 to Miss Sarah Ann, daughter of Samuel Hepburn, Esq.


He held a number of important civil offices. He was a whig in politics, but notwithstanding tliis, he was, in 1844 elected a mem- ber of Congress from the 13th Congressional District of Pennsylvania then strongly Democratic; and subsequently twice re-elected from the same District, holding the office for three terms, or six years. He was thus a member of the 28th, 29th and 30tli Congresses. As a member of some of the most important committees he con- tributed largely to the general work of legislation. In the 28th Congress he was a member of the Committee on "claims," and his numerous reports attest the extent and quality of his labors. In the 29th Congress he was on the Committee on Territories, of which the late Hon. Stephen A. Douglas was chairman. To


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this Committee was referred all bills relating to the organization of new Territories, and the question of excluding slavery from the Territories of the United States was often presented, warmly debated, and generally determined in favor of exclusion. It was evident from the tone and temper of the discussions in Committee and in Congress, that a crisis was approaching. The reports from this Committee gave direction and force to public sentiment. The discussions increased in warmth and bitterness, and finally culminated in attempted secession, revolution and war, the se- quel to all which was the triumph of the right and the abolition of slavery. During the 30th Congress he was an active member of the Committee of Ways and Means, of which the Hon. Sam- uel F. Vinton, of Ohio, was chairman. The country was then en- gaged in the Mexican war, and in consequence, the business of the Committee was greatly increased. The duties of the place were onerous and responsible, but were fully and faithfully dis- charged.


On the 23d of June 1848, (30th Congress) he offered a resolu- tion for the appointment of a special committee to inquire into the necessity and practicability of constructing a railroad to the Pacific. As chairman of that committee he made a report to the House in favor of the construction of such a road.


The report will be found in the 3d volume of the Journal of the House of Representatives for the 1st session of the 30th Congress, No. 733. This was the first favorable official act on this subject, on the part of the Congress of the United States.


The report discusses the question in its international and do- mestic aspects, its feasibility and probable results, but only the opening sentences can be quoted here:


"The proposition at first view is a startling one. The magni- tude of the work itself, and the still greater and more magnificent results promised by its accomplishment-that of revolutionizing morally and commercially, if not politically, a greater part of the habitable globe, and making the vast commerce of the world trib- utary to us-almost overwhelm the mind. But your committee, on examination, find it a subject as simple as it is vast and mag- nificent, and see no insurmountable difficulties in the way of its successful accomplishment."


A bill accompanied the report, and was referred to the commit-


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tee of the Whole, but no further action was taken on it at that time, and Mr. Pollock soon after left Congress. In the fall of 1848, however, he delivered a lecture on the Pacific Railroad, by invitation, to a crowded house, at Lewisburg, Union county, Pa., closing with the following remark :


"At the risk of being considered insane, I will venture the pre- diction, that in less than twenty-five years from this evening, a railroad will be completed and in operation between New York and San Francisco, California; that a line of steamships will be estab- lished between San Francisco, Japan and China; and there are now in my audience, ladies who will, before the expiration of the period named, drink tea brought from China and Japan, by this route, to their own doors !"


This prophetic announcement was received by the audience with a smile of good-natured incredulity ; but some of those very ladies, during the year 1869, were able to sip their favorite bev- erage in exact accordance with the terms of the speaker's predic- tion !


On the 10th of May, 1869, the last rail was laid, the last spike driven, and the great Pacific Railway, so long in embryo, became an accomplished fact.


The subjects of special interest during his Congressional term of service, were the annexation of Texas, the Mexican war, the acquisition of California, the repeal of the Tariff Act of 1842, and the "Wilmot Proviso" in its application to the newly acquir- ed Territories of the United States. In all the discussions on these exciting topics he took an active part. His speeches and votes clearly disclosed his views on all those subjects.


In 1850 he was appointed President Judge of the 8th Judicial District of Pennsylvania, composed of the counties of Northumber- land, Montour, Columbia, Lycoming and Sullivan. He held the office until the amendment of the Constitution, requiring the election of Judges by the people, came into operation. He declined a nom- ination for the position, left the Bench, and resumed the prac- tice of the law. On his retiring from the Bench, the members of the Bar of the respective counties, unanimously passed resolutions highly complimentary to him as a man and Judge.


In 1854 he was nominated and elected by a large majority, Governor of Pennsylvania, and was inaugurated in January 1855.


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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.


He held the office for one ' term, having refused to permit his name to be used as a candidate for re-nomination.


At the expiration of his official term, he resumed the duties of his profession. The principal measures of his administration were the adoption of means by which the reduction of the public debt was commenced, and nearly two million dollars of it paid; the sale of the main line of the Public works to the Pennsylvania Central R. R. Co. for $7,500,000, which sum was made applicable to the payment and reduction of the debt of the Commonwealth, and which, added to the sum actually paid, reduced the debt prac- tically nearly $10,000,000 :- a series of acts by which increased vigor and efficiency were given to the system of common schools; retrenchment and reform in the various Departments, and econ- omy in the general administration of the Government.


In the Fall of 1857, occurred a financial crisis which led to the suspension of specic payments by the Banks of the State, and threatened every branch of industry with serious derangement and injury. To avert impending evils, an extra session of the Legislature was called, which convened in October of that year. On his recommendation, the suspension of specie payments was legalized for a definite period, the forfeiture of the charters of the respective Banks prevented, and other measures adopted which allayed the public apprehension, saved the credit of the State, and removed the dangers to which the general prosperity had been exposed.


He was appointed in 1860, by Governor Curtin, a delegate to the Peace Conference (or Congress) which was held in Washington, D. C. in February and March 1861. The object of this assemblage was to consider, and if practicable to adjust the differences and dissensions existing between the North and the South on the much vexed question of slavery. He took an active part in the deliberations of that body. The conference failed to secure a favorable result. In May 1861 he was appoint- ed by President Lincoln, Director of the United States Mint at Philadelphia, and held the office until October 1st 1866, when he resigned, unwilling to sustain the "Policy" of Andrew John- son, by even a seeming acquiescence, in holding office under him.


By his efforts, seconded by the approval of Hon. S. P. Chase, then Secretary of the Treasury, the motto "In God we trust."


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was placed upon our National coins, a motto of deep significance, and alike honorable to the people and Government of the United States. He was re-appointed, in 1869, by President Grant, Direc- tor of the U. S. Mint, which office he held until 1879, when he was appointed Naval officer, which position he still holds, 1882.


During the War for the Union his sympathies, efforts and la- bors were all for his Country, for Union and Liberty. Rebellion found no advocate in him-treason no friend. True to the Union he was ever ready to aid in its defence; true to liberty and hu- manity, he was always their advocate; true to his country, he re- joiced in the overthrow of her encmies, and in the triumph of those great and essential principles of liberty and free govern- nient that make the United States the first and best of Earth's Empires.


-0- ---


JOHN NESBIT CONYNGHAM.


JOHN NESBIT CONYNGHAM was born in the city of Philadelphia December 17, 1798, and graduated with high honor at the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, in 1816. He studied law in the office of the Hon. Joseph R Ingersoll, and upon being admitted to the bar, resolved to settle in Wyoming valley, and came to Wilkes- barre in 1820. Shortly afterwards he married Miss Butler, a grand daughter of Col. Butler, of revolutionary fame. His at- tention to the practice of his profession was unremitting. In the year 1838 his severe forensic efforts produced a bronchial affection which compelled him to retire from active practice. In 1839, his friends irrespective of party, urged upon him the acceptance of the commission of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of his District. For thirty years he presided on the bench, with the dignity and urbanity of a gentleman of the old school.


He came upon the Bench of Columbia county under a commis- sion dated 5th of November, 1851, and remained there until the formation of the twenty-sixth district, composed of the counties of Columbia,. Sullivan and Wyoming, for which district Warren J. Woodward was commissioned on the 19th of May, 1856.


Judge Conyngham resigned from the Bench in 1870, upon which occasion he was honored with a banquet, attended by the


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whole Bar of Luzerne county, to testify their appreciation of his legal learning and unswerving purity and integrity of character.


But eminent as he was upon the Bencli and in his profession, it was not his only, and by no means his highest claim to public con- fidence and respect He was the grandson of Redmond Conyng- ham, and the son of David H. Conyngham of the old and honored firm of "Conyngham & Nesbitt," eminent in revolutionary finan- cial history. In politics he was a firm and consistent Democrat, and his voice and influence were always on the side of his coun- try.


Under the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Claxton, Judge Conyng- ham received the rite of confirmation in St. Stephen's Church in Wilkes Barre, at the hands of Bishop H. U. Onderdonk, in the year 1841, and during a long life he adorned himself with all the christian virtues. He was a vestryman in Saint Stephen's from Easter 1821, until his death, a period of almost fifty years. He was elected to the Diocesan Convention for the first time in 1826 and in 1850 he was elected a Deputy to the General Convention of the Church, and re-elected to every subsequent one, except one. In 1862 he was a member of the committee on Canons, with Judge Chambers of Maryland, Murray Hoffman of New York, and Rob- ert C. Winthrop of Massachusetts. In October 1868 he was elect- ed President of the American Church Missionary Society.


His judgment was sound and eminently conservative. He was not a radical, either in law, politics or theology. He was a pol- ished gentleman, a thorough lawyer, an upright Judge, an humble christian.


The circumstances of the death of Judge Conyngham were pe- culiarly distressing. Accompanied by Mr. W. L. Congnyham, he was on a visit to another son, living in Mississippi. They arrived at Magnolia, in that State, about nine o'clock in the evening of Thursday, April 23, 1871, where the train stopped for the passen- gers to take supper. While they were thus engaged their train was taken away from the place they left it and another came up, and when they returned they went into one of the cars, to find, however, that it did not belong to their train, and very naturally they turned to leave it. The train was slowly starting, and they did so with some haste, Mr. W. L. Conyngham and Mr. Hender- son alighting without trouble, except a harmless fall on the part


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of the latter. The Judge was not so fortunate, as in stepping off the ear steps to the platform of the depot, which was rather low, he stumbled and fell, with his legs between the platform and the cars of the train, and when they had passed it was found that his legs, below the knees, were crushed in a terrible manner, the whole of the hind trucks having passed over both of them. He was taken to the hotel and medieal aid immediately summoned, and everything possible was done for his eomfort. He did not realize the extent of his injury at first, no pain attended it, and he even made an attempt to get up, before he was removed from the platform, saying, "No matter, I am not hurt ; I will get up in a few moments." He lived two hours, and toward the last, when reaction seemed to be taking place, and he began to feel some pain, and was told how serious his injury was, he desired amputa- tion to be performed. Injeetions of morphia were made to allay the pain, while preparations were making for the amputation, but under the effects of the morphia he seemed to decline, and not a great while after, dissolution took place. His last words were, "I know that my Redeemer liveth." His remains reached Wilkes- Barre on the first of March, and were interred on the third, attend- ed to their last resting plaee by an immense coneourse of friends and admirers. He left a widow, and four sons and two daugh- ters.


-0 ---


WARREN J. WOODWARD.


Upon the formation of the 26th Judicial District, composed of the counties of Columbia, Sullivan and Wyoming, this estimable gentleman was appointed President Judge by Governor Polloek, upon the recommendation of the members of the Bar of the sever- al counties composing the district, his service commencing in June of that year, and continuing under the executive appoint- ment until the first Monday of Deeember following. In the mean- time, at the general election in October of that year, he was elect- ed without opposition as the President Judge, for the constitu- tional term of ten years. He commenced with the expiration of his term under his prior appointment, and served until the first Monday of December, A. D. 1861. In the latter year upon the retirement of the Hon. J. Pringle Jones from the office of Presi-


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dent Judge of Berks county, Judge Woodward was elected to succeed him, resigned his office of President Judge of the 26th district, and removed to the city of Reading. At the end of ten years' service he was re-elected President Judge of Berks county without opposition, and continued to serve upon the Bench of that county, until his election as a Judge of the Supreme Court under the new constitution at the general election in 1874.


Taking his seat upon the Bench of the Supreme Court on the first Monday of January 1875, he served in that Court for a period of over four years and six months, until the time of his death, which occurred at his summer residence, near Hamden, Delaware county, in the state of New York, Tuesday, September 23rd 1879. At the time of his death he was within one day of sixty years of age. The immediate cause of the Judge's death was nervous ex- haustion accompanied by an enlargement of the liver. For twen- ty years he had been subject to recurring bilious attacks, which with over-work appear to have caused his final sickness, and death.


Judge Woodward was born near Bethany, Wayne county, in this State, secured in his youth an academic education at Wilkes Barre, taught school several terms in his native county, entered the printing office of the Wayne county Herald, at Bethany, and conducted that newspaper for a time in the absence of its proprie- tor, and was then for about two years connected with the Penn- sylvanian at Philadelphia in an editorial capacity.


He next studied law at Wilkes-Barre, and then practiced for about fifteen years with eminent success, holding at the time of his appointment to a judgeship, the leading practice at the Lu- zerne bar.


He had the habits and tastes of a student, and was one of the most laborious of men, always disposed to master difficulties and go to the bottom of a subject. A conscientious performance of judicial duty involves much of concentrated attention and effort, quite unknown to the outer world because performed mostly in private. Even in the long run results only become evident; it comes to be known that the faithful Judge is a great or accom- plished lawyer-that his work is correctly and promptly perform- ed-that sound law is pronounced and impartial justice adminis- tered by him-but little is known by the general public of the days or weeks or years of potent toil, and of self-discipline


HON. WARREN J. WOODWARD.


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which have made him what he is-an accomplished minister of justice.


Judge Woodward was never a candidate for political office, in the ordinary sense of that term, but by devotion to his profes- sion of the law he qualified himself for high judicial positions and obtained them without personal solicitations or effort. Upon the bench he exhibited great ability and impartiality, united with a faithful devotion to the duties of his office. All business before him was promptly disposed of and the intrusion of political feel- ings or other sinister influence into his courts was sternly pre- vented. He brought to the bench a mind which had received its training and discipline under Judge Conyngham of Luzerne county, before whom his professional life at the bar had been passed. His qualities, constituting high qualifications for a judge, were great integrity of purpose, great industry, and a most sincere, unassuming devotion to justice. And in social intercourse off the bench, his temper was genial and kindly, and his friendship was considered a proper object of just and honorable effort.


His walk was remarkably erect, his limbs and face clothed with little flesh ; but his frame was of fair size, his body substantial, and his head showed intellectual development and power. His eye was kindly and kindled in familiar discourse; his conversa- tion was emphatic, without violence, and had the charms of earn- estness and variety in intercourse with friends. He read much of general literature, and obtained larger views of mankind and af- fairs than those of the mere lawyer or plodding judge. But of all his characteristics, conscientiousness was, perhaps, the most commanding and constant; this was the spur to labor and study throughout his career, carrying him with tireless activity through all the obscurities and difficulties of every case, and presenting to him at all times a wholesome apprehension that some man's right or some principle of justice might be overlooked or neglected.


From notices which were published at the time of his death, in leading journals of the State, it plainly appears that the great abilities and high character of Judge Woodward had come to be known and appreciated generally by the legal profession and by the people of the whole state, and most sincere regrets were ex- pressed at the loss which the administration of justice had sus- tained by his death. His opinions, to be found in the books of re-


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ports, will remain to bear evidence of his ability, and their lan- guage and composition to gratify all readers of sound taste and judgment.


At the opening of the session of the Supreme Court in Pitts- burg, on the first Monday of October, 1879, W. D. Moore, Esq., of the Allegheny county bar, called attention to the death of Judge Woodward, in some well considered and complimentary remarks. They will be found in the opening pages of the 10th volume of Norris' Reports.


Chief Justice Sharswood replied as follows :-


To all that has been said to the character, attainments and qualifications of our lamented brother, we add our cordial concur- rence. The community has suffered a loss in his early removal from us which it is difficult properly to estimate. To thorough mastery of the general principles of law, intimate acquaintance with practice and precedents in all their details, he added a sound judgment, inflexible integrity and untiring industry. He always stood by the ancient landmarks, and it was with him a matter of conscience not to make but to administer the laws as settled by adjudged cases. We may be permitted as our especial testimony, to mention his unvarying gentleness, courtesy, amiability and for- bearance, which endeared him to his colleagues and made them all his personal friends. In the whole period of their association with him no instance of unpleasant collision can be recalled. His fame as a judge will rest upon opinions exhibiting inde- pendent research, expressed in a clear and forcible style, without pretensions to eloquence, models of judicial composition. His memory will long be cherished by all who knew him, and all who know how to appreciate the character and services of a faithful and learned judge.




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