Armstrong County, Pennsylvania her people past and present, embracing a history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 16

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 618


USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Armstrong County, Pennsylvania her people past and present, embracing a history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I > Part 16


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96


The present representatives are Harry HI. Irwin, of Laneville, South Buffalo township, and Ehmer B. Latshaw, of Kittanning.


PRESIDENT JUDGES


John Young, Westmoreland county ; Thomas White, Indiana county ; Jeremiah M. Burrell, Westmoreland county : John C. Knox, Tioga county; Joseph Buffington. Armstrong county; James A. Logan, Westmoreland county ; John V. Painter. Armstrong county ; Jackson Boggs, Allegheny county; James B. Neale, Calvin Rayburn. W. D. Patton and John H. Painter. Armstrong county. J. W. King, the newly elected judge, will take his seat in 1914.


ASSOCIATE JUDGES


Robert Orr, Sr .. James Barr. George Ross, Joseph Rankin, Robert Orr, Jr., Charles G.


63


64


HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


Snowden, John Calhoun, Andrew Arnold, Thomas Montgomery, Thomas Herron, Wm. Hugh Bingham, Robert Woodward, Michael Buffington, Brice Henderson and Owen Hand- Cochran, George F. Keener, John Woods, Josiah E. Stevenson, H. A. S. D. Dudley, John F. Nulton, Robert M. Beatty, James M. Stev- enson. The new constitution of 1874 abol- ished the position of associate justice.


DEPUTY ATTORNEYS GENERAL


Thos. Blair, Wm. F. Johnston, Michael Gal- lagher, J. B. Musser, John B. Alexander, John Reed, Geo. W. Smith, John S. Rhey, Thos. T. Torney, Daniel "Stanard, Hugh H. Brady, Ephraim Carpenter, J. G. Barclay, John W. Rohrer, James Stewart. Deputy attorneys- general were appointed by the attorney-gen- eral until, by act of May 3, 1850, the name was changed to district attorneys, one of whom was thereafter to be elected by the voters of each county.


DISTRICT ATTORNEYS


John W. Rohrer, Franklin Mechling. Wil- liam Blakeley, Henry F. Phelps, John V. Painter, John O. Barrett, Jefferson Reynolds, Joseph R. Henderson, M. F. Leason, R. S. Martin, D. B. Heiner, H. N. Snyder, Rush Fullerton, J. P. Culbertson, M. F. Leason, C. O. Morris.


COUNTY COMMISSIONERS


cock, Lewis W. Corbett, John Murphy, James White, John E. Alward, T. V. McKee, William C. Bailey, D. W. Hawk, Darwin E. Phelps, Stewart Donaldson, P. C. Fiscus, J. M. Flem- ing. S. E. Sloan, W. C. Storey, John L. Kron, F. M. King, H. J. Hays, James B. B. Douglass, Andrew Gallagher, John Black, Charles E. Meals, Alexander Montgomery, W. H. Jack, Will A. Heckman, Israel Shafer.


SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS


J. A. Campbell, Robert W. Smith, John A. Calhoun, James Richey, William Davis, Hugh McCandless, Samuel Murphy, A. D. Glenn, D. C. Stockdill, W. M. Jackson, W. A. Patton.


DEPUTY SURVEYORS GENERAL


Robert Richards, J. E. Meredith, Jackson Boggs.


TREASURERS


Appointed annually by the county com- missioners, as provided by acts of April II, 1799. and April 15, 1834: Adam Elliott, Rob- ert Brown, Samuel Matthews, Guy Hiccox, Thomas Hamilton, James Pinks, Alexander Colwell, David Johnston, Jonathan H. Sloan, Samuel McKee, Andrew Arnold, James Douglass, Samuel Hutchinson, John F. Nul- ton. Some of them were reappointed once or twice.


The act of 1841 provided for the election of the treasurers, and the following served terms of two years, until 1874, when the term was made three years: John F. Nulton, George Beck, James McCullough, Sr., Absa- lom Reynolds, Henry J. Arnold, Alexander Henry, Thomas McMasters, Andrew J. Faulk, Samuel Crawford, Robert Anderson, William Brown, William McClelland, George Kron (unexpired term of McClelland), J. N. Mc- Leod, Samuel McLeod (unexpired term of J. N.), Samuel W. Hamilton, Samuel C. Davis, John E. Alward, James Piper, James


Appointed : James Sloan, James Matthews, Alexander Walker. Elected: Jonathan King, Adam Ewing, Jas. Jackson, Thos. Johnston, John Henery, George Long, Alex. McCain, John Davidson, David Johnston, Philip Clover. Isaac Wagle, David Reynolds, Joseph Rankin, Joseph Waugh, Daniel Reichert, Philip Tem- pleton, Sr., Joseph Shields, Hugh Reid, James Barr, George Williams, John Patton, Samuel Matthews, James Green, Job Johnson, Jacob Allshouse, James Reichert, Alex. A. Lowry, John R. Johnston, William Curll; Jacob Beck, George W. Brodhead, Lindley Patterson, James Stitt, Joseph Bullman, William Coulter, Amos Mercer, Philip Hutchinson, John Boyd, Robert McIntosh, vArthur Fleming, Andrew Roulston, John Shoop, William McIntosh, Archibald Glenn, Wilson Todd, Thos. H. H. Monroe, T. J. Elwood, John C. Walters. Caldwell, James Douglass, David Beatty, Three year terms-William W. Fiscus, George W. McNees, G. Hays Foster. W. B. Bailey, Frank Mast, Israel Shafer, S. F. Booher, E. J. Ash, J. O. Crum. George B. Sloan, William W. Hastings, John M. Patton, Wm. H. Jack, James Blair, Thomas Templeton, James Barr, Daniel Slagle, George H. Smith, Augustus T. Pon- The present treasurer, J. W. Simpson, has tius, Peter Heilman, William P. Lowry, a four-year term, the first since the law


65


HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


went into effect lengthening the terms of sev- Jackson, county examiner, banking depart- eral of the county officers.


PROTHONOTARIES


Paul Morrow, James Sloan, George Hickox, Eben S. Kelly, James E. Brown, Frederick Rohrer, Simon Torney, W. W. Gibson, James Douglass, Jonathan E. Meredith, Samuel Owens, Simon Truby, Jr., James S. Quig- ley, John G. Parr, James G. Henry, A. H. Stitt, Boyd S. Henry, Joel Crawford, J. M. Williams, James H. McFarland, I. T. Camp- bell. Until 1821 the offices of prothonotary, clerk of the courts, and register and recorder were held by one person.


REGISTERS AND RECORDERS


Paul Morrow, James Sloan, George Hickox, Eben S. Kelly, David Johnston, Philip Mech- ling. Frederick Rohrer, John Croll, John Mechling, John R. Johnston, Joseph Bullman, William Miller, David C. Boggs, Philip K. Bowman, William R. Milliron, James H. Chambers, H. J. Hays, Irwin T. Campbell, Harry B. Henderson. Mr. Henderson has been elected four consecutive terms.


SHERIFFS


John Orr, Jonathan King, James McCor- mick, Joseph Brown, Philip Mechling, Robert Robinson, Thos. McConnell. Jacob Mechling, Jas. Douglass, Chambers Orr, Samuel Hutch- inson, Job Truby, George Smith, John Mech- ling, William G. Watson, Joseph Clark, Ham- ilton Kelly, George B. Sloan, Jonathan Myers, Robert M. Kirkadden, George W. Cook (ap- pointed vice Kirkadden, deceased). David J. Reed, Alexander J. Montgomery, John B. Boyd, George A. Williams, James G. Henry, James H. Chambers, Alexander Montgomery. William W. Fiscus, George W. McNees, S. F. Booher, James S. Gallaher, W. C. Bailey. Erwin E. Cochran, Chambers Frick. Thomas J. Shaner.


COUNTY SURVEYORS


James Stewart, Robert S. Slaymaker, John Steele. Robert H. Wilson, Thomas W. Wil- liams. Wade H. Mast.


ment ; S. S. Blyholder, vice president State board of agriculture.


VOTING LIST, ARMSTRONG COUNTY


The number of qualified voters in the county in 1913 as shown by the official rec- ords was as follows :


Applewold 80


Madison 577


Apollo, 1st Ward .. 415


Mahoning, East. 165


Apollo, 2d Ward ... 365


Mahoning, West 281


Atwood


35


Manor, North 466


Manor, South 325


Manorville 122


North Buffalo-


West 230


Brady's Bend, No.2.163


Burrell


200


Cowanshannock-


East 204


West 375


Sagamore 359


Parks-North Van-


Dayton 210


dergrift 147


East Franklin. 500


Perry 200


Pine 206


Plumcreek 400


Rayburn 278


Red Bank 321


Rural Valley 184


South Bend


200


Kiskiminetas


South Bethlehem 127


South Buffalo 302


Sugarcreek 226


Valley 114


Kittanning-


Washington


342


2d Ward 714


West Franklin 210


Township 315


West Kittanning. 166


Laneville


120


Wickboro 676


Leechburg


787


Worthington 112


Total.


15,876


REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS


The number of residents of Armstrong county who fought in the Revolutionary war and against the Indians was probably large, but there is no method of ascertaining their exact names and location. Below will be found the names of the applicants for annu- ities from the State between 1812 and 1844, as veterans of the wars or widows of veterans.


George Buyers, Eve Daugherty, widow of Patrick ; William McConnell. John Vasey. Henry Zerfoss, William Harbison, William Guthrie, Elizabeth Sloan, widow of James ; John Lemon, Mary Lemmonton, widow of Timothy ; John Davis, William Stitt, Massey Harbison, widow of John; Abraham Fiscus, John Smith, Elizabeth Guthrie, widow of Wil- liam ; Daniel Yount. Mary McKee. John


In addition to the above, the following citi- zens of Armstrong county have held posi- tions in the public service of Pennsylvania : A. D. Glenn, deputy superintendent of public education : F. C. Beecher, examiner of state- ments in the insurance department ; Frank W. Brown, John Fulton, John Hawk, Church 5


Bethel 216


Boggs


229


Brady's Bend, Kay- lor 187


East 65


Oak Ridge 167


Parker, 1st Ward ... 163


Parker, 2d Ward ... 160


Parks, West


92


Elderton 75


Freeport 600


Ford City 731


Gilpin 375


Ilovey


61


Johnétta


100


North 156


West


377


South 170


318


1st Ward 415


Wayne


66


HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


Smith, Jacob Willard, Daniel Davies, Alexan- der Lowry, Margaret Laughery, James Mc- Cain, John Sipes, Daniel Gould, Thomas Tay- lor, Michael Truby, Isaac Steele, William Hill, Henry Haller, Gideon Gibson, Eleanor Ray- burn, Joseph Everett, Hugh Callan, James Walker, Martha Sloan, John Wilson, Adah Anderson, Archibald Jameson, James Scott, John King, Elizabeth Painter, Catharine Fis- cus, Elizabeth Rasher, John Boney, Robert Simpson, Mary Davis, Peter Yungst, David Shields, Thomas Meredith, James McCaine, James Buchanan, Samuel Austin, Manasseh McFadden, Joseph McDonald, Samuel Mur- phy, Andrew Daugherty. Killian Briney, Michael Hartman, Robert Patrick, Sr.


OLD-TIME COMPANIES


A military company, bearing the name of Crooked Creek Rangers, was organized shortly after the settlement of the county. It consisted of about fifty or sixty men residing along Crooked creek and its vicinity, from across the Indiana county line down toward its mouth. The uniform consisted of a homemade linen hunting shirt, dyed in a color like that of tan-bark juice, buckskin breeches, and a cap surmounted with a coon's, fox's or deer's tail, and each member of the company, at least each private, was armed with a rifle.


Others of the old-time military companies were the Wayne Artillery and the Pine Creek Infantry, organized about 1830 in the town- ships of those names.


As far as can be ascertained, the following is the list of companies formed after the above (late, some of them having been merged into the Pennsylvania regiments during the Civil war :


Armstrong Rifles, Charleston Guards, Dun- can Karns Rifles, Freeport Artillery Company, Freeport Blues, Freeport and Leechburg Dra- goons, Freeport Zouaves, German Yagers, In- dependent Blues, Washington Blues, Wash- ington Guards.


WAR OF 1812


During the war of 1812 a company of sol- diers was organized by Capt. James Alexander, the editor of the Western Eagle, and was ordered to Black Rock, N. Y. Another com- pany was drafted and assigned to the army of the northwest. John Banuckman was its captain. The terms of the members expired before they reached the fort and a number of them returned. Gen. Robert Orr, then a major, volunteered with two hundred men to


go to Fort Meigs as private soldiers. They were accepted and after the arrival of the expected reinforcements from Kentucky, were honorably discharged with official commenda- tion for their patriotic action.


MEXICAN WAR


The only soldiers from Armstrong county serving in the Mexican war, whose names can be ascertained from the records, were: Sam- uel Jordan, William A. Logan, Samuel Walker and Frederick Haines. The latter is still liv- ing.


During the Mexican war a company from this county offered their services, but were not accepted. Probably but a scant half dozen citizens of Armstrong county served in this war.


THIE CIVIL WAR RECORD OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY


When the first call was made for volun- teers by President Lincoln this county at once answered. On April 18, 1861, Colonel Sir- well left Kittanning with a company of 114 men for the seat of war. and four days later another company from Apollo, under Capt. S. M. Jackson, followed.


Camp Orr was established at the fair grounds above Kittanning, where the 78th and 103d regiments were recruited and drilled. The 78th, commanded by Col. William Sirwell, left camp on Oct. 14, 1861. and the 103d, under Col. T. F. Lehman, departed on Feb. 4, 1862.


Citizens of Armstrong county also served in the 8th, 9th and 11th Pennsylvania Reserves. the 2d Cavalry and the 62d, 139th. 155th, 159th (14th Cavalry), and 204th (5th Artillery) regiments, Pennsylvania Volunteers. The county was also represented in forty-five other regiments of this State. According to careful calculations this county furnished 3.652 men to the Union armies during the war. Over $57,000 was paid from the county treasury for the relief of the families of sol- diers and $33,000 was paid for bounties.


The Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society of Kit- tanning was formed in 1863. and during the Civil war disbursed over $1.500 in relief for the soldiers and supplies of newspapers and clothing. Mrs. Catherine Buffington was presi- dent ; and the different treasurers were Misses Margaret McElhenny, Alice Colwell and Fannie E. Orr.


SURVIVING VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR


Apollo-Daniel Jack. Casper Kettering. James Salsgiver, R. E. McAuley, T. A. Coch-


67


HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


ran, D. B. Coulter, John Marshall, S. F. Hilde- brand, S. A. Alms, William Dickey, Joseph McGuire, J. M. Fiscus, W. K. Findley, J. M. Olinger, James Rumbaugh, A. L. Zimmerman, J. W. Ross, J. M. Walker. D. B. Freetley, Samuel M. West, J. A. Bair.


Freeport-Herman II. Schweitering, John Drake, James G. Stewart, George Heck, George Treisch, Alex. Burkett, Simeon Pettit, Albert H. Clawson, Elijah Myers, Nelson McCracken, George McCracken, Robert Shields, Joseph Beckett, Timothy Gowen, George Call. William Haines, Barton Robin- son, Samuel Steele, H. L. Sourwine, H. S. Smith, Peter Redfox, Henry Petsinger, Frank Maxler. John Shirley. R. B. McKee. Joseph Weinel, Simon Hawley.


Dayton-G. F. Currie. J. A. Glenn, W. F. Allen, D. L. Coleman, A. K. Goodhart, J. H. Wadding, D. S. Cochran, J. S. Snyder, J. T. Matthews, F. P. Hinkley. R. L. McGaughey, Oliver Henry, J. A. Foreman, M. L. Thoun- hurst, J. B. Schall. C. A. Logan, T. M. Allen, Samuel Borland, Henry Hallman, G. H. Jewart. R. C. Ellenberger. Jackson Schrecken- gost. Samuel Brumbaugh, G. H. Clever, Jona- than Farster. J. M. Silvis, G. W. Hankey, Eli Fox. Solomon Long, Frederick Haines.


Kittanning-Scott W. Furnee, John Pee- cook, James McDaniels. D. W. Schaeffer, Simon Rupert, Benjamin S. Cook, David Schreckengost, W. R. Bowser. M. E. Shaw, G. W. Frazier, C. M. King, Shilo Walthour, Geo. A. Ritchie, John Marshall, James Baker, A. D. Glenn, Daniel Cogley, A. B. Enty, C. A. Flower, John H. Heiner, Ab. S. Gibson, D. WV. Schweigart, Joseph McGregor, France Boyd. John Paine, D. A. Comman, G. W. Campbell, A. R. Lloyd, William Whited, J. P. Reichert. B. H. Hankey, Chas. McClay, Cavit McCain, G. W. Steffey, Benjamin S. Cook, Michael Rosenberger. Henry Shaffer. William French. Samuel II. Sowers.


Parker's Landing-W. E. Allen, T. H. Bowser, Joseph Bullman. James Billingsley, S. C. Burkholder, J. H. Boyles, William Crooks. Jacob Diehl, James Harrison, Dr. A. M. Hoover, S. H. McNaughton, Rev. John Leisher, W. B. Ramsey. Wesley Verner. H. Say, A. Shidemantle. George Shaw. Charles Miller, W. J. Riddle, George Parker, J. Arm- strong.


The posts of the Grand Army of the Re-


public in Armstrong county are : John F. Croll, No. 156, Kittanning; John A. Hunter, No. 123, Leechburg; Henry A. Weaver, No. 32, Freeport ; Charles S. Whitworth, No. 89. Apollo; J. E. Turk, No. 321, Dayton; C. .. Craig, No. 75, Parker's Landing; Anderson, No. 149, Rural Valley.


SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR


The record of Armstrong county in the war with Spain was too short for the accomplish- ment of any deeds of valor individual or col- lective, but during the few months that the members of Company D were in service they were enabled to view the seat of war, although not engaged in active service. Company D, 16th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infan- try, of the First Brigade, First Division, First Army Corps, First Battalion, was recruited in the northern part of the county and borough of Kittanning principally, although many of the members came from Leechburg and Apollo. It was mustered in on July 13. 1898, under Colonel Willis Hulings of Oil City, and after a short stay at Chickamauga was sent to San Juan, Porto Rico, but did not land on the island. The company was mustered out Dec. 28, 1898.


The company roster is as follows: Austin Clark, captain; Frank W. Jackson, first lieu- tenant ; Harry W. Bolar, second lieutenant ; James W. Thompson, first sergeant ; Grant B. Townsend, quartermaster sergeant. Ser- geants : John S. Schaul, William L. McBryar, Phillip A. Roller. G. F. Stivanson.


Corporals: Alfred Thompson, Fred Stull, Carl L. Henderson, Andrew F. McCormick, Fred. E. Weinel. Jacob F. Carnahan, William H. Morrow, Clarence S. Coller, John H. Croll, Edward S. Golden, Edwin T. Mercer, John A. Woffington. Musicians. Milton S. Jack. Jacob O. Rhodes : wagoner. William R. Clark : company clerk, David B. Williams.


Privates-Harry P. Allen, Craig N. An- thony. Lafe Blose. Harry A. Powers. David S. Bowser. Wood M. Bowser. William Bruner. Richard A. Butler. Homar C. Church, Patrick J. Curley. William R. Clark, Amos W. Clever. Edward E. Cline, Harry H. Cline, William D. Collins, Arthur N. Cunningham, Lon C. Dale. William H. Dickey. Peter D. Dunkle. Joseph K. Dunmire. Wilson M. Edwards. Rosswell D. Fickthorn, William S. Fitzgerald. Edward J. Flesher. Joseph Forney, Harvey J. Frantz. William T. Gamble, Alexander Gil- lies. James T. Glenn. John M. Grafton, Charles W. Gray. Edward K. Gray, Marlin E. Gray,


68


HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


Delbert S. Gutherie, Michael Galentine, John Henry Hare, Clark W. Hazlett, Wil- liam E. Himes, Clew C. Hunter, Alfred Jewell, Golden H. Keener, Evan J. Ken- muir, Charles A. Kinnard, Thomas A. Kline, Samuel T. Klingensmith, Harry A. Lambing, George H. Long, Wallace A. Lud- wig, Irvin E. McDermott, William P. Mc- Dowell, Kelly P. McMillen, Harry V. Matthews, Archibald M. Mulholland, Frank J. Mulholland, Silas E. Myers, Frank M. Newingham, Thomas R. Newmann, Henry B. Orr, Jerome C. O'Donnell, James C. Reesman, Ellsworth Reighert, Lewis Ruby, Harry B. Rumbaugh, Alton C. Say, James L. Schall, Harry J. Schumaker, Thomas


E. Shearer, Samuel T. Shepherd, Joseph R. Smith, Edward F. Stein, Thomas Stennett, William J. Stewart, Charles A. Stitt, Henry A. Stull, William A. Swauger, John N. Thompson, Elias O. Truby, Ward W. Whited, Hayes Weinel, James R. Wilson, Samuel R. Wilson, David M. Wolfe, Zeph Yockey, Frank Zurney.


Besides the members of Company D, the following Armstrong county men were en- gaged in this war, being members of different companies, recruited at varying periods : Frank Jecency, Matthew O'Neal, Charles Shall, Harry Shall, James Kain, Robert Shall, Edward Lawhead, William Kipp, Archie Lyle, John Truby.


CHAPTER X


BENCH AND BAR HISTORY OF THE COUNTY


DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS-WAR RECORDS-JOURNALISM-HISTORY-POLITICS-FAMOUS PLEAD- ERS-OBITUARY-LIST OF 1913 MEMBERS


The task of preparing a sketch of the bar of Armstrong county is a difficult one, inas- much as it is an old and historic section of the State, with many long-treasured traditions and records, the securing of which is a work of much difficulty and research. To properly present the facts, and give an unbiased esti- mate of the character and merits of an indi- vidual in such a manner as to show the real man, the writer must not be guided by his own judgment alone, but rather by the consensus of opinion of the writers of the past or those who were acquainted personally with the sub- ject of the sketch.


The life work of a lawyer is different from that of other citizens. While he digs and delves into the very foundations of social life, while his influence has shaped and modified civil government, while he has been the great champion of human liberty and constitutional law, his power has been manifested more in a general way through his profession. When we try to measure what the lawyer has done for the race, in the development of civiliza- tion and good government, we are lost in ad- miration and amazement. When we, however, try to trace the results to individual effort we are surprised to see how completely, in most cases, the life work of the individual is merged in the great work of the profession. While we know that each individual may have contributed something towards the develop- ment of jurisprudence, we are impressed with


the difficulty of being able to point our finger to some particular effort and say : Here is Lord Mansfield, here Patrick Henry, here Daniel Webster, here Gibson or Black, here Marshall or Meredith, here Buffington or Golden, here Gilpin or Neale.


This is particularly true when we study a local county bar. While it may have produced quite a number of thorough lawyers, it must have had its failures. From the nature of its situation and environment, by reason of its limited opportunities, it must have had many more members of splendid ability than could come to the front and occupy positions of prominence. So in this sketch many members deserving of greater recognition may be passed over with scant recognition of their abilities. because opportunity failed to open to them the door of development.


DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS


The Armstrong county bar has given the public its fair share of men who distinguished themselves in law, politics and commerce. In the law, it gave James Thompson, a chief jus- tice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ; Joseph Buffington (the younger), district judge of the United States; Joseph Buffington (the elder), John V. Painter. Jackson Boggs, James B. Neale, Calvin Rayburn, Willis D. Patton and John H. Painter, judges of the Common Pleas courts, and D. B. Heiner,


69


HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


United States district attorney ; as also J. W. Samuel Roberts, the president judge: Sam- King, judge elect at this writing.


In politics it gave William F. Johnston, governor of Pennsylvania; Andrew J. Faulk, governor of the Dakota territory; Samuel S. Harrison, Joseph Buffington, Sr., Darwin Phelps, David Barclay and Daniel B. Heiner, Congressmen ; Eben S. Kelly, William F. John- ston, State Senators; William F. Johnston, John S. Rhey. J. Alexander Fulton, Darwin Phelps, John K. Calhoun, Franklin Mechling and Samuel B. Cochran, members of the Legis- lature; John Gilpin, member of the constitu- tional convention of 1873, and John F. Whitworth, corporation clerk, auditor gener- al's office, Harrisburg. Outside of law and politics a number of the members of our bar have been very successful. In journalism, John W. Rohrer. J. Alex. Fulton, James B. Neale, R. W. Smith, Graves S. Crosby, Walter Guth- rie and O. S. Marshall. In commerce and manufacturing, James E. Brown, William F. Johnston, Robert E. Brown, James B. Neale, John Gilpin, Orr Buffington and John H. Painter. In banking, James E. Brown, James B. Neale. W. D. Patton, Ross Reynolds, M. F. John H. Painter. Leason and James H. McCain.


uel Massey, who was the first lawyer located in Kittanning; Samuel Guthrie, George Arm- strong, John B. Alexander and William Ayers. At that time, amid those primitive surround- ings, the Armstrong county bar may be said to have come into existence. Of these orig- inal members nothing can now be ascertained, as there are no records available and none of their descendants are now connected with the bar. At this time, the judicial district consisted of Armstrong, Cambria, Somerset, Indiana and Westmoreland counties, and doubtless most of these earlier members were residents of those counties outside of Arm- strong.


Judges who presided over our courts who were not residents of this county were: John Young of Greensburg, Thomas White of In- diana, Jeremiah M. Burrell of Greensburg, John C. Knox of Tioga county, and James .A. Logan of Greensburg. Our native judges upon the bench were: Joseph Buffington, Sr., John V. Painter, Jackson Boggs, James B. Neale, Calvin Rayburn, Willis D. Patton and


Before the act of 1850 the following mem-


The bar has also contributed its share of bers were appointed deputy attorney general men to the army. Larry S. Cantwell, Frank- or prosecuting attorney: Thomas Blair, Wik lin Mechling. T. J. VanGeisen, William Blakeley, Jefferson Reynolds, Graves S. and Samuel Crosby, Theodore Barrett, Charles G. Barclay. James C. Golden, James B. Neale. James B. Gates and Joseph R. Henderson took part in the War of the Rebellion, and Austin Clark and Charles G. Harrington in the war with Spain. Robert G. Heiner gave up the law for a career in the regular army. liam F. Johnston, Michael Gallagher, J. B. Musser, John B. Alexander, John Reed, George W. Smith, John S. Rhey, Thomas T. Torney, Daniel Stannard, Hugh H. Brady, Ephraim Carpenter, J. G. Barclay, John W. Rhorer, and James Stewart. The act of 1850 made the office elective and changed the name, after which the following members were elected district attorney; John W. Rohrer, Franklin Mechling, William Blakeley, Henry F. Phelps, John V. Painter, John O. Barrett, Jefferson Reynolds, Joseph R. Henderson, Mirven F. Leason, Robert S. Martin, D. B. Heiner. Harvey N. Snyder, Rush Fullerton and J. P. Culbertson.




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