Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 34

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1526

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > Butler > Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th > Part 34

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William G. Thompson was a native of Brady Township, Butler County, and a brother of the late Colonel John M. Thomp- son, of Butler. He read law under William Timblin, of Butler, and was admitted to the bar November 15, 1853. He moved to Iowa shortly afterward, settling in Linn County. During the Civil War he served as major of an Iowa regiment, and later represented his district in the Forty-sev- enth and Forty-eighth Congresses.

Colonel William Blakeley was a native of Butler County, and was admitted to the bar March 24, 1856. He removed to Kit-

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tanning the same year and was elected dis- trict attorney of Armstrong County in 1859. In 1862 he resigned his office to be- come lieutenant colonel of the Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and in 1865 was brevetted brigadier general in recognition of his services. The same year he formed a law partnership with his brother, Col. Archibald Blakeley at Franklin, and in 1868 he removed to Pittsburg, where he be- came a leading member of the bar of that city. His death occurred in Butler October 2, 1899.

Hon. John H. Mitchell was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, where he was born June 22, 1835. When he was two years old his parents removed to But- ler County, where young Mitchell grew to manhood. Completing his literary educa- tion at Witherspoon Institute, · Butler, he entered the law office of Purviance and Thompson and was admitted to the bar March 22, 1858. In 1860 he went to the Pacific Coast and located in California. After a brief sojourn in that state he lo- cated permanently at Portland, Oregon, and soon took rank among the leaders of the bar of the northwest. He filled many important offices, and was a member of the United State Senate at the time of his death in 1905.

John H. Negley was a son of the pioneer John Negley and was born in Butler Bor- ough February 7, 1823. He was educated at the old Butler Academy and at Wash- ington College, Washington, Pennsylvania, and in 1843 he began the study of law in the office of Hon. John Bredin. He was admitted to the bar March 25, 1845, and three years later was appointed deputy at- torney general for Butler County, and un- der the new constitution was elected dis- trict attorney in 1850. In 1855 he entered the field of journalism as editor of the Her- ald. In 1861 he was appointed enrolling officer of Butler County and in 1863 was elected a member of the legislature and was reëlected in 1864 and 1865. He was en-

gaged in law practice from 1866 to April, 1869, when he resumed journalism as edi- tor of the Citizen. In 1870 and 1871 he was assistant assessor of internal revenue for this county, which was the last official po- sition he held. He retained editorial con- trol of the Citizen until 1888, when his son, William F. Negley, became owner. After his retirement from newspaper work Mr. Negley resumed the practice of law, which he continued until a short time before his death, which occurred June 17, 1908.

Thomas Robinson was born in County Armagh, Ireland, July 4, 1825. Accom- panied by his parents he came to America in 1832, and to Penn Township, Butler County, in 1835. He entered the office of George W. Smith of Butler as a student of law and was admitted to the bar Septem- ber 25, 1855. Mr. Robinson was by nature a politician more than a lawyer and the greater part of his life was devoted to pol- itics. At first a Whig, he afterwards be- came a Republican and was a delegate from Butler County to the first state convention of the Republican party in 1855. In 1860 he was elected to the legislature and for more than forty years was one of the local leaders of his party. In 1863 Mr. Robinson and Major Cyrus E. Anderson established the American Citizen, of which Mr. Robin- son was political editor, and in 1870 he was one of the organizers and directors of a company that established the Butler Eagle. In 1871 Mr. Robinson became sole owner of the Eagle and remained in control until 1879, when he sold the paper to his son, Eli D. Robinson. He was appointed state printer at Harrisburg in 1893, a position which he resigned on account of ill health. Upon his retirement Mr. Robinson re- turned to Butler and took up the practice of law, which he continued until his death in 1907.

Col. John M. Thompson was born in Brady Township, Butler County, January 4, 1830, and was the eldest son of William H. and Jane (McCandless) Thompson.

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After completing an academic course at Witherspoon Institute he read law in the office of Hon. Samuel A. Purviance and was admitted to the bar February 24, 1854. He became a partner in the office of Pur- viance and Sullivan and soon developed marked forensic ability and took a leading position in the bar. He was elected to the legislature on the Republican ticket in 1858, and reëlected in 1859, serving as speaker pro tem. of the house at the latter session. He entered the army in 1862 as major of the 134th Pennsylvania ' Volunteers, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He re- signed his commission in the army in 1863 and returned to Butler to resume the prac- tice of law. He was delegate to the Repub- lican national convention at Chicago in 1868, which nominated General Grant for the presidency, and he was one of the pres- idential electors of Pennsylvania in 1872. In 1875 he was elected to Congress from this district to filll a vacancy caused by the resignation of Hon. E. McJunkin, and he was again elected in 1876, for a full term of two years. Colonel Thompson was one of the ablest members of the Butler bar, and enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. His death occurred in Butler September 8, 1903.

John B. Gibson, who was one of the early attorneys of Butler Borough, registering here in 1804, was afterwards appointed to the supreme court bench of the state and became chief justice.

trict and was its president judge at the time of his death.

Hon. Alfred Gilmore was a native of Butler Borough and a son of John Gil- more. He read law in the office of Samuel A. Gilmore, and was admitted to the bar March 15, 1836. He was elected to Con- gress from this district in 1849 and served four years. At the expiration of his term he became a citizen of Massachusetts, and afterwards of Scranton, Penna., where he died in 1890 or 1891.

John H. Hopkins was admitted to the Butler Bar October 10, 1822, and after- wards gave up the law for the ministry. He entered the Episcopal Church and at the time of his death was bishop of Ver- mont.

Moses Hampton, who practiced in But- ler in 1846, removed to Pittsburg and be- came one of the judges of the district.

Jedediah Jack, who was admitted to the Butler bar in 1840, and was a well- known citizen of the town, went to Illi- nois and was there killed.

James W. Kirker, a native of Butler County, was admitted to the bar in 1856. He served one term as district attorney of the county, beginning in 1859, and was afterwards removed to Pittsburg, where he died in 1893. He was commissioned provost marshal of the Twenty-third Dis- trict of Pennsylvania by President Lin- coln, with the rank of captain of cavalry on the 18th of April, 1863, and served as such until the first of October, 1865, when he was mustered out of service by reason of the close of the war.

Hon. Samuel A. Gilmore, who was born in Butler Borough, January 21, 1806, and died in 1873, was the son of John Gilmore and was admitted to the bar in January, James Potts, a native of Butler, was ad- mitted to practice law on the 11th of June, 1850, and afterwards removed to Johns- town, Cambria County, where he became president judge of the independent judi- cial district of which Johnstown was the center. 1828. He was elected to the legislature from Butler County in 1836 and 1837, and filled the position of secretary of the Con- stitutional Convention of 1838. He was appointed judge of the district composed of Washington, Fayette, and Green Coun- ties in 1845, by Gov. Shunk, and when that Alexander McBride, a native of Middle- office became elective, he carried the dis- sex Township, Butler County, was admit-

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ted to the Butler Bar September 15, 1841. He was considered a young man of culture and talent, but after he left Butler little was known about him.

Eugene Ferrero read law in Col. Thomp- son's office and was admitted to the bar in 'September, 1855. He was elected dis- trict attorney in 1857, and county superin- tendent of the common schools in 1860. He then practiced law in Venango County for some time, after which he removed to Cincinnati. Mr. Ferrero was a gentleman of culture and scholarly attainments.

Walter L. Graham was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1831. He was educated at the old Butler Academy, With- erspoon Institute, and Jefferson College, graduating from the latter institution in 1854. He read law with Samuel A. Pur- viance and Charles C. Sullivan, and was admitted to the Butler County Bar in 1855. With the exception of a few years that he spent in California and a short time in Pittsburg, Mr. Graham continued the practice in Butler until the time of his death, November 1, 1900. He was a Republican in politics and was a delegate to the National Convention in 1860 that nominated Lincoln for President. During his lifetime he took a deep interest in local affairs, served several terms as president of the borough council, and held other of- fices of trust in the community. Mr. Gra- ham enlisted in Company G, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Militia, that went out to as- sist in repelling Lee's invasion.

Robert M. McClure was a native of Pros- pect, Butler County, and read law with the late Louis Z. Mitchell. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1856, and his death oc- curred about 1882. Mr. McClure was a gentleman of culture and considerable na- tive talent, but a brilliant career was ruined by an unfortunate taste for liquor, which he could not control. His death oc- curred under sad circumstances in Butler, and caused universal regret among his ac- quaintances.

Samuel P. Irvin, a native of Adams Township, Butler County, was admitted to the bar in January, 1858. Previous to his admission to the bar he followed school teaching for a number of years, and for many years he was one of the prominent characters in the oil country.

Edwin Lyon was born in Middlesex Township, Butler County, and was a son of T. H. Lyon of that township. He read law with Col. John M. Thompson and in 1862 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and became captain of Company K. He was wounded at the Battle of Fredericks- burg, and was discharged for physical dis- ability March 16, 1863. After his return home he took up literature and became quite a humorous writer. His health hav- ing become impaired, he accepted the con- sulship to a Mexican city, where he re- mained for a short time only to return home and die.

Isaac Ash, a native of Forward Town- ship, read law in the office of Col. John M. Thompson, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1859. He practiced for some time in Butler and afterward located in Oil City, Venango. County, where he con- tinued in the practice of his profession un- til his death. Mr. Ash was a lawyer pure and simple and attained a leading rank in his profession in Venango County.

John Q. Sullivan was born in Prospect, Butler County, April 2, 1839. He was edu- cated at Jefferson College and was admit- ted to the Butler bar in June, 1861. He was afterwards admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He was actively engaged in the practice of his profession for about twenty-five years, but has now retired and is living in Winfield Township.

Lewis K. Purviance, a native of Butler, read law with his uncle, John M. Purvi- ance, and was admitted to the bar in Sep- tember, 1875. He removed to Bradford, Pennsylvania, where he is now practicing.

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Hugh C. Graham, a native of Connoque- nessing Township, Butler County, read law with Col. John M. Thompson, and was ad- mitted to the bar in March, 1861. The same year he formed a law partnership with Hon. Chas. McCandless, which continued until August, 1863, when he enlisted in Company G, 137th Regiment, Pennsylva- nia Volunteers, and was mustered out with his regiment in 1863. After his return from the army Mr. Graham removed to Oil City, where he resumed the practice of law and became eminently successful in his chosen profession.

Thomas H. Lyon, a native of Middlesex Township, Butler County commenced the study of law with Col. John M. Thompson, of Butler and completed it with William G. Thompson (a brother of Col. John M. Thompson) of Lynn County, Iowa, where he was admitted to the bar in 1868. Re- turning to his native state he was admitted as a member of the Butler County bar in July, 1882, and practiced in Butler until 1895, when he removed to Middlesex Town- ship, where he is now residing.

George A. Black, a native of Butler County, read law with Gen. John N. Pur- viance, and was admitted to the Butler bar in September, 1865. After practicing his profession in Butler for some time he re- moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he practiced for several years, finally return- ing to Butler, where he died of consump- tion.

Moses Sullivan, a brother of Charles A. Sullivan, and a son of Charles Craven Sul- livan, who was a distinguished member of the Butler bar, read law with Hon. E. Mc- Junkin, and was admitted to the bar on the 14th of June, 1869. He commenced the practice of his profession in Butler, but af- terwards moved to Bradford, Pennsylva- nia, where he is now one of the leading members of the Mckean County bar.

Samuel H. Pearsol was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. After acquiring a classical and scientific education at

Mount Union College, Ohio, he read law with Hon. Ebenezer McJunkin and was admitted to the bar in Butler June 14, 1869. He was also admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court, Pennsylvania. Mr. Pearsol continued his practice in Butler until about 1899, when he removed to Pitts- burg, where his death occurred in 1901.

Charles A. Sullivan, the eldest son of Hon. C. C. Sullivan, was born in Butler and received his primary education in the public schools of his native town, and later took a classical course at West Ches- ter, Pennsylvania. He read law with Hon. James Bredin and was admitted to the bar March 15, 1870. He practiced in Butler until 1880, when he removed to Pittsburg.

Joseph Mitchell, a son of Louis Z. Mitchell, read law with his father and was admitted to the bar in June, 1870. He was a young man of good qualities, and at an early date death closed his career.

Harvey Snyder, a native of Brady Township, Butler County, was admitted to practice at the Butler bar from the 10th of June, 1870. He afterwards removed to Kittanning and became district attorney of Armstrong County for one term.

A. J. McCafferty was born in Fairview Township, Butler County, August 15, 1846. He was educated in Witherspoon Institute, Edinborough State Normal School and Allegheny College at Meadville, and was admitted to the bar in 1870. He was a young man of promise, but died of consumption 1876.

Michael McBride was the son of John McBride, one of the early settlers of Clear- field Township. He read law with Hon. E. McJunkin and was admitted to the bar in 1871. Subsequently he attended a course of lectures in the University of Michigan and from there went to Chicago, Ill., where he practiced until the great fire of Octo- ber, 1871, which destroyed his library and effects and caused him to change his loca- tion to Paxton, that state. He returned to Butler County in 1874 and located at Chi-

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BUTLER COUNTY COURT HOUSE, BUILT IN 1807

PRESENT

BUTLER COUNTY COURT

HOUSE

M. E. CHURCH, BUTLER

NIXON

HOTEL NIXON, BUTLER

Y. M. C. A., BUTLER

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cora, where he continued in practice until his death.

S. S. Avery was admitted to practice at the Butler bar on the 14th of June, 1872. He was a victim of consumption and died a few years later.

Walter G. Crawford, a native of Alle- gheny County, read law in Butler with his uncle, Walter L. Graham, and was admit- ted to the bar in January, 1874. He is now practicing law in the city of Pittsburg.

R. L. Maxwell was born in Butler Coun- ty and was admitted to the bar on the 12th of January, 1874. He gave evidence of good legal attainments and was building up a fine practice when his death occurred from consumption.

Albert C. Johnson, a native of Adams Township, Butler County, read law with Hon. Charles McCandless, and was ad- mitted to practice in the several courts of Butler County in March, 1874. He re- moved to Pittsburg in 1876 and has resided there ever since.

D. J. Kyle, son of Thompson Kyle, of Harrisville, was admitted to practice at the Butler bar in December, 1878.

John H. Thompson read law with Col. John M. Thompson, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1879. He is now prac- ticing in Pittsburg.

Kennedy Marshall was born in Adams Township July 21, 1834. He graduated from Jefferson College in the fall of 1857, and the same year entered the law office of Marshall and Brown in Pittsburg, as a student of law. He was admitted to the Allegheny County bar in 1859, and in October, 1860, he was elected to represent Allegheny County in the state legislature and served one term. He was subse- quently employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; his office was in Bos- ton, Mass., and in 1872 he removed to Butler, where he became a member of the Butler bar. In 1904 he removed to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he is now residing.

James M. Denny, of Winfield Township,

read law in the office of Col. John M. Thompson, and was admitted to the bar March 2, 1880.

John K. Kelley, son of Patrick Kelley, Esq., an early settler of Butler, read law in the office of Miller Brothers, and was admitted on the 2nd of March, 1880.

William M. Cornelius, a native of Worth Township, was admitted to prac- tice at the Butler bar, March, 1880. He soon afterward located in Nebraska, where he still resides.

D. H. Jack, son of Joseph Jack of But- ler, was admitted to the bar June 1, 1880. He is now in Bradford, Pennsylvania.

Joseph T. Timmony studied law under Hon. Charles McCandless, and was ad- mitted to practice in April, 1874. After following his profession for several years in Butler he removed to St. Joe, where he has since resided.

L. G. Linn, a native of Butler County, and a son of Dr. George Linn, of West Sunbury, read law with Hon. Charles Mc- Candless and was admitted to the bar on the 4th of December, 1874. After prac- ticing in Butler for a number of years he moved to the west where he engaged in mining.

Edward McSweeney, who became prom- inent in legal circles in Mckean County, read law in Butler with Louis Z. Mitchell and was admitted to the Butler bar on the 4th of November, 1875. During the oil excitement at Karns City and Petrolia he had an office at the latter place, and about 1880 he removed to Bradford.

Erman B. Mitchell was admitted to practice law in the Butler bar, October, 1875. He went west.

John M. Roth, of Prospect, was ad- mitted to the practice of law at the Butler bar in November, 1875.

L. J. Clevis read law with Col. John M. Thompson, and was admitted to the bar June 13, 1876. He went to Colorado the same year.

Eugene G. Miller, a native of Butler,

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read law with his brother, John M. Miller, and was admitted to the Butler bar in October, 1876. After practicing a few years in Butler he removed to Bradford, McKean County.

G. D. Hamer read law with Hon. Louis Z. Mitchell and was admitted to the bar June 6, 1876.

Frank S. Purviance, a son of Gen. John N. Purviance, read law with his father in Butler and was admitted to the bar March 19, 1878. He is now practicing in Phila- delphia.

A. M. Cunningham, a native of Butler County and a son of Rev. Alexander Cun- ningham, deceased, read law with Miller Brothers, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1878. He was elected district attor- ney of Butler County in 1880, and after serving his term of office located in the west.

Samuel B. Snyder, a native of North Liberty, Mercer County, read law with Hon. J. D. McJunkin, and was admitted to the bar March 3, 1882. He was elected district attorney of Butler County, and after serving a term went to the west, locating in Omaha, Nebraska.

Charles A. McPherrin, a native of But- ler County, was admitted to the bar March, 1883. He was elected district at- torney in 1886, serving one term. In 1890 he removed to Pittsburg, where he prac- ticed for a few years and then went west.

Capt. George W. Fleeger was born in Center Township, Butler County, March 13, 1839, and was the son of Peter and Mary (Rider) Fleeger. After honorable service in the Civil War as a member of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserve, he entered the office of Col. John M. Thomp- son as law student and was admitted to the bar in 1866. He was associated in practice with George A. Black until 1869, and from 1887 to 1889 was in partnership with James M. Moore. He was elected to the legislature in 1871 on the Republican ticket, was chairman of the Republican

County Committee in 1874, and was the delegate to the State Convention in 1882 and 1890. He was also Deputy Revenue Collector of this district in 1869. In 1884 Captain Fleeger was elected to the United States House of Representatives and served in the Forty-ninth Congress. His death occurred in Butler on June 28, 1904.

Newton Black, son of James and Nancy A. (Russell) Black, was born in Marion Township, Butler County, November 22, 1844, and died in Butler in 1902. He read law with the late Charles McCandless and Hon. John M. Greer, and was admitted to the bar in 1876. In March, 1864, he en- listed in Company I, 112th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. He was severely wounded in the head in the engagement at Fort Harrison, September 29, 1864, and this wound was the ultimate cause of his death. Mr. Black won his way to a leading rank in his pro- fession and was one of the popular mem- bers of the bar. He was twice the choice of the Republicans of the county for Con- gress, but failed to get the nomination in the district conference.

William A. Forquer was born in Wash- ington Township, Butler County, March 19, 1845, and was the son of William and Margaret (Murrin) Forquer. He began reading law in the office of Col. John M. Thompson in 1872. He was admitted to the bar in 1874, and in 1877 he was elected district attorney, a position he held for three years. A Democrat in politics he took an active part in the councils of his party and was county chairman in 1875. He was a delegate from this district to the National Democratic Convention at St. Louis in 1888 that nominated Cleveland and Thurman and was president of the Democratic Club of Butler in 1892. He was a member of the Town Council from 1889 to 1892 and was city. solicitor for several terms. Mr. Forquer was attorney for the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg railroad and secured the right of way for

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the company when the road was built through Butler County. He made the ex- ceptional record of transacting the im- mense amount of legal business required without involving the railroad company in a single law suit in the Butler County courts. His death occurred April 9, 1902.

J. B. Clark, who was admitted to prac- tice at the Butler bar in 1864, removed to Seattle, Washington, where he died March 3, 1907.

W. H. Colbert, a son of William S. Col- bert, of Butler, read law with Hon. John M. Greer and was admitted to practice October 25, 1879. His death occurred in Butler in 1885.

Henry N. Marshall, a native of Porters- ville, Butler County, read law with his brother, John D. Marshall, of Butler, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1888. He practiced in Butler and Ellwood City, and in the latter part of the nineties went to Colorado.

Leslie Q. Maxwell, a native of Butler Township, was admitted to the Butler bar in 1878. He removed to Lincoln, Ne- braska, about 1880 and he is now in Seattle, Washington.

O. G. McCandless read law with Hon. James M. Galbreath and was admitted to the bar in February, 1900. He did not follow his profession but engaged in farm- ing in Clay Township.

A. B. C. McFarland was born in Bellaire, Ohio, June 20, 1852, and was the son of Andrew and Margaret (Marshall) Mc- Farland. He was educated at Westmin- ster College, New Wilmington, Penna., and at Monmouth College, Illinois, gradu- ating from the latter institution in 1875. He then attended Allegheny Theological Seminary, Allegheny City, graduating in 1878. The same year he was ordained and installed pastor of the United Presbyte- rian church at Fairview, Butler County, by the Butler Presbytery. He remained pastor of the Fairview church until 1889, when he entered the law office of Hon.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 34

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1526

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1526