USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of contemporary biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. I > Part 49
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
the county was largely Democratic. In 1865 he took as partner in his law business Henry W. Palmer, a promising student of his, who subsequently rose to eminence at the bar and became Attorney General of Pennsylvania. This connection was maintained until 1870, when, on his fortieth birthday, Mr. Harding received from Governor Geary, the appoint- ment as President-Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District, to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna- tion of the Hon. John N. Conyngham. In the fall of the same year, this office was one of those the people were called upon to fill by election, and Mr. Harding was nominated for it by the Republican County Convention. His opponent in this canvas was the late George W. Woodward, ex-Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and it was a magnificent attestation of the popular appreciation of Mr. Harding's ability and general fitness for the position that he was elected to fill it by a majority of two thousand three hundred and sixty-five votes. "On the bench Judge Harding displayed those ac- tive qualities which had been a distinguishing feature of his life, and the promptness with which he dis- patched business, the constant attention he gave to the duties demanded, the fearless methods that he employed, all linked with an integrity of purpose that was undeviating, gained for him the highest respect of the bar, and the wide plaudits of the people." Satisfied that he had faithfully and fully discharged his duty to the public, and had earned the right to retire from official life and devote him- self to his personal interests, Judge Harding, in the fall of 1879, tendered his resignation as President- Judge, to take effect on the first of January fol- lowing. Being assured that it was; the Judge's sin- cere desire to retire from the bench, Governor Hoyt reluctantly accepted his resignation and appointed Stanley Woodward, Esq., to fill the vacancy. Upon laying aside the ermine he at once resumed the practice of his profession, and is still absorbed in its duties. In connection with Judge Harding's judi- cial career, there occurred an incident of such an extraordinary nature as to make a reference to it pertinent in this place. This was an attempt at his impeachment, which had its origin evidently in per- sonal malice, and which, as the fullest investigation proved to the entire satisfaction of his friends and the general public, was without a shadow of foun- dation in fact. It was made in the early part of 1879, and was a complete surprise to the communi- ty, and not less so to his political opponents than to the members of his own party. In justice to the former it should be recorded that they viewed the attempt with disgust and contempt. Nearly every paper of importance in the State criticised the
236
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
movement severely, the editors of the great metro- politan journals joining with those of the provincial sheets in a universal condemnation of it. The pe- tition for impeachment, to judge from the signatures appended to it, emanated from a totally irresponsible quarter, for a prominent member of the Luzerne County bar, well known for his just and impartial historical writing (George B. Kulp, Esq.,) alludes to it as follows : "The petition did not contain the name of a single member of the bar of either Lu- zerne or Lackawanna County, nor is there to be found on it the name of a single man of prominence, and with the exception of a very few which were familiar by reason of having been before him (Judge Harding) in the Court of Quarter Sessions, the names were not recognized as those of residents in this section." It is scarcely necessary to comment further. As may be imagined, the lawyer employed to act as prosecutor had great difficulty in getting the petition before the Legislature, as no member of either party from Luzerne County would even touch it. In the opinion of those before whom it was finally brought, " it bore upon its face the open evidence of malignity ; " and not a few believed it constituted ample ground for a charge of criminal libel against those who presented it. Judge Harding courted the fullest investigation, and personally ad- dressed the General Judiciary Committee of the Legislature, requesting that his accuser be given "the widest possible latitude for investigation." This was done, but no one could be brought forward to swear that the charges of the petition were true. A local journal remarked at the time : " Not a sin- gle one of the charges preferred against Judge Harding * was established. Such an utter, * * complete, absolute failure was never before wit- nessed anywhere in a proceeding aspiring to a dig- nity beyond that of broad farce." The Legislative Committee's report was a full and complete vindi- cation of Judge Harding. In his personal appear- ance Judge Harding is a man of striking propor- tions, carrying in his physique the fullest evidences of good health and sound mentality. In private life he is generous and charitable, devoted to his family and to his books; a faithful friend and an outspoken opponent. He is one of the incorporators of the "Wyoming Commemorative Association," and took an active and prominent part in the proceedings marking the one hundredth anniversary of the Bat- tle and Massacre of Wyoming, held in Luzerne County in 1878. On October 12, 1852, he married Maria M. Slosson, daughter of Mr. John W. Slosson, of Kent, Litchfield County, Conn. Mrs. Harding died January 27, 1867. John Slosson Harding, the eldest son, is now a practicing member of the Penn-
sylvania bar. Harry Harding, the younger son, re- cently graduated at Yale College and is now in business at Wilkes-Barre. The only other and eldest child, a daughter, is the wife of William W. Curtin, Esq., only son of the Hon. Andrew G. Curtin, the famous " War Governor " of Pennsylvania.
HUBBARD B. PAYNE.
HON. HUBBARD BESTER PAYNE was born in Kingston, Luzerne County, Pa .- where he now resides-July 20, 1839. A carefully prepared bio- graphical sketch of Mr. Payne will be found in the Luzerne Legal Register, volume 13, by George B. Kulp, Esq., from which the information here given is largely taken. His parents were Bester and Polly Payne, and he is the only one of their chil- dren now living. Upon his father's side Mr. Payne is the eighth generation in direct descent from Stephen Payne, of Great Ellingham, near Attleburg, County Norfolk, Eng., who came to New England in 1668. Upon his mother's side he is a direct de- scendant of the Pierce family, North of England, and the Cargells of Scotland, who came to New York State in 1778. Until the age of eightecn Mr. Payne lived at home, working for his father in his lead pipe factory or by the day for the farmers of his neighborhood, or attending the schools of Kingston. He prepared for college at the Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, and in August, 1857, entered the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn. There his life struggle really commenced. The means of his parents being limited he sought to aid them, and, during his college course taught a dis- trict school for three successive winter terms of eighteen weeks each, at Rocky Hill, Conn., keeping up his studies and maintaining his stand in his class at the same time. In college he took an active part in the literary societies and all college matters. He was a member of the Psi Upsilon Secret Society, and its delegate to its annual convention at Dart- mouth College, Hanover, N. H. He was President of The Reading Room Association, the only position in college depending for its choice upon the whole college, and was a member of the Pythologean Public Society, and was chosen by the Faculty a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. In June, 1861, he graduated number four in his class. In August following he entered, as a law student, the office of the late Hon. Charles Denison, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (afterwards member of Congress for three terms). While pursuing his studies he taught a dis- trict school during the winter of 1861-2, in Cinder
Hubbard B. Payne
WOW HUBBARD B PATUR
237
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Alley, Wilkes-Barre, and a public school of boys in a store room of Hillard Block, in the same city, dur- ing the winter of 1862-3. He was admitted to the bar of Luzerne County August 20, 1863. Since then for years he has been a member of the bar in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and the District and Circuit Courts of the United States for the Western District of Pennsylvania. When first admitted lie secured an office and remained many years with the late Hon. Winthrop W. Kitcham, then Solicitor of United States Court of Claims, afterward member of Congress and District Judge of United States Court. Here Mr. Payne entered upon that struggle known only to a young lawyer, who, without means or in- fluential friends, attempts to build up a practice in an old town and among lawyers of great reputation. The struggle was a long and hard one. With the closest attention to business and a strong determin- ation to deserve success, industry, integrity, and frugality finally prevailed with Mr. Payne as they always do, and in a few years it became a question with him not how to get business but how to attend to what he had, and from then until now his prac- tice has been most successful and lucrative. By reason of his own experience Mr. Payne has always had a special feeling of sympathy for and interest in young men. Many young men have since studied law with him and to-day rank among the growing lawyers of the bar. Politically Mr. Payne has been from the first an active, decided, outspoken, un- changing Republican. Beginning with the Presi- dential campaign of 1864, he has since taken an active part for his party in local and general elec- tions, working on committees and publicly address- ing the people. In 1874 he was nominated without opposition for the State Senate in the Twenty-first Senatorial District, and elected by a majority of 1,045. During his term he was active in the busi- ness of the session, serving on the committees of the Judiciary General, Judiciary Local, Mines and Mining and New Counties, being Chairman of the last two named. During his service he introduced and secured the passage of a number of bills, of great benefit and accommodation to the courts and the people. It is not too much to say that no Sena- tor was more active in his work, and no one spent more time in attending to his duties and caring for his people than did Mr. Payne. In 1876 he was nominated without opposition for Congress in the Twelfth District of Pennsylvania, and at the time of his canvass had every prospect of election. E. L. Merriman was his opponent, but dicd during the campaign, and Hon. H. B. Wright was then en- dorsed by both the Democratic and Greenback parties, and Mr. Payne was defeated. In 1880 he
was nominated, without opposition again, for one of the Law Judges of Luzerne County, but was de- feated, together with the whole Republican ticket. For many years Mr. Payne has been an active mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church of Kingston, having served twenty-one years as Superintendent of its Sabbath-school, twenty years as Trustec, and ten years as Ruling Elder. He has also been an active Free Mason, being now a Past Master by service, and member of Lodge No. 61, Wilkes-Barre, also having served several years as District Deputy Grand Master. In 1883 he was one of the Vice-Pres- idents, and afterward Treasurer of the Pennsylvania State Sunday-school Association. For three years he was one of the examiners of students for admis- sion to the Luzerne County bar. For many years he has been one of the directors of the Miners' Sav- ings Bank of Wilkes-Barre, and is now one of the Trustces of the Ousterhout Free Library. On Feb- ruary 22, 1865, Mr. Payne married Miss Elizabeth Lee Smith, daughter of Draper Smith, Esq., of Ply- mouth, Pa. From this union four children have been born, three of whom are now living : a daugh- ter, Louise S., and two sons, Hubbard B., Jr., and Paul D. His oldest son, Charles B., when about nine years old, was killed during Mr. Payne's campaign for Congress, by falling from a tree. In his legal profession Mr. Payne has secured a marked success in every department. Careful and conscientious in the preparation of his causes, he has been able to present them to the court clearly in their relation to law and equity, and, when necessary, to the jury plainly and eloquently. His religious training and sympathy for the conscientious struggler have often found expression in helpful effort and Christian en- couragement, and have likewise served to keep him ever one of the people, who in turn have appreciated and honored him by election to the State Senate, and, subsequently, by pressing his claims earnestly for a seat in Congress, and on the judicial bench. That he was not chosen to the latter positions was not due to his lacking the elements of popularity, but solely to the fact that a majority of his county thought differently politically. The contest in each case turned on political issues alone. He served his fellow citizens most acceptably when elected, and would doubtless have filled the latter positions equally well had a majority of the voters been of his mind politically. At present he is in full practice as a lawyer, in the prime of life, in good health, seeking or aspiring for no office, helping his party and its candidates in every way opportunity offers, satisfied and content to live in the enjoyment of the esteem and confidence of his neighbors and friends.
238
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
HARRY HAKES.
HON. HARRY HAKES, M.D., of Wilkes-Barre, ex-member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, and for many years a prominent member of the Luzerne County bar, was born at Harpersfield, Delaware County, N. Y., June 10, 1825. His family is of English extraction and springs from the earliest Puritan stock. From the admirably arranged and very full genealogy of the Hakes family, compiled by the subject of this sketch and published by him, for private distribution, at Wilkes-Barre, in 1886, it appears that the founder of the American branch of the family was Solomon Hakes, who was living in Westerly, Rhode Island, in April, 1709. " The
Record of the Town Meeting, held in that month, shows that Solomon Hakes and some others were propounded to be made freemen, and at the next mceting Solomon was admitted a freeman and was allotted 100 acres of the vacant land the same as the other freemen. In November, 1709, Richard Chap- man, of Stonington, Conn., deeded to Solomon Hakes, of Westerly, a tract of land lying in what is now known as North Stonington. There is also a deed of land in Stonington made by Chapman, also, in 1710, and another in 1711 to Solomon Hakes, of Stonington. This indicates that between Novem- ber, 1709, and February 1, 1710, Solomon Hakes moved from Westerly to Stonington. Another fact to establish this is a memorandum in the Stonington Records, 'that the town meeting of Stonington in January, 1710, prescribed an ear mark for the stock of Solomon Hakes.' From these facts it is reason- able to assume that in 1709 Solomon Hakes was not less than twenty-one years old, so that he was born not later than 1688, and was a man of liberal means for that period." The name Hakes, belonging to Solomon and his descendants, has for two hundred years entirely escaped corruption or variation. That the name is derived from Hake, with the possessive "s" added, is very certain, such terminals being very common among American names. Solomon Hakes married Anna Billings, born at Stonington, Conn., October 7, 1681. She was the daughter of Ebenezer Billings, the second child of William Billings, who came from England about 1640, and settled at Ston- ington. The genealogy of the Billings family, com- piled by the Hon. Charles Billings, of Billingsbridge, Ontario, Canada, makes mention of this fact and clearly traces the family back to A.D. 1420. George Hakes, a son of Solomon and Anna, named above, was born in Stonington, Conn., in 1719. He mar- ried Joanna, or Hannah, Jones, May 15, 1739. His fifth child, George S. Hakes, born January 27, 1751, left Stonington about the time he arrived of age, and
settled in Berkshire Co., Mass., where his seven children were born. His wife was Zurvia Church, a descendant of a Captain Church, of Massachusetts. In 1793 he removed to Herkimer Co., New York, and died there about 1826. The Hon. Lyman Hakes, Judge of the Courts of Delaware County, and father of the subject of this sketch, was the seventh child of George and Zurvia Hakes. Born at Hancock, Berkshire Co., Mass., he removed to New York with his parents, at the age of five years. During the War of 1812 he was drafted into the American army and was stationed at New York, where he served faithfully until his honorable dis- charge from the service. Like all his comrades in the army at that day, he provided his own arms and accoutrements. Bounties were unknown then and, as for pay, he returned to his home without so much as a shilling in his pocket. Many years after- wards, in 1870, the National Government awarded him a pension of $100 a year, which it was his inva- riable habit to give away as soon as received. After the War of 1812 he took an active interest in local affairs and was for several years Supervisor of the town of Harpersfield, Delaware Co., N. Y. He dis- tinguished himself in the cause of education, work- ing hard to build schools, establish libraries and foster debating societies among the young men. "He was the leading spirit in favor of good roads, and in the construction of a turnpike through Dela- ware and Schoharie counties, about 1836. In 1841 he was commissioned by Governor W. H. Seward, Judge of the Courts of Delaware County. It was during his term that the anti-rent insurrection broke out, making much business for the courts." He married twice. His first wife, the mother of his eight children, was Nancy Dayton, of Watertown, Litchfield Co., Conn., whom he married September 21, 1813. This lady's father was Lyman Dayton, a soldier of the Revolution. Her mother was Abiah Matthews, who was a daughter of Stephen Mat- thews, also a Revolutionary soldier; a grand- daughter of Thomas Matthews, a magistrate of Watertown, Conn., for forty years; and a great- granddaughter of William Matthews, who emigrated from Wales to Connecticut, in 1671. Such is the ancestry of Harry Hakes. His male progenitors in a direct line from the founder of the family were all farmers, and though called to other duties they never wholly abandoned their primitive occupation. Harry's youth was marked by no striking events. He, too, grew up upon the parental acres, and being a sturdy boy found the ordinary work of the farm rather congenial than otherwise. He had only the advantage of the district schools, but he made good use of them, and having a taste for reading and
239
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
study, went far beyond the ordinary lads of his ac- quaintance in his search for knowledge, and suc- ceeded in acquiring a very thorough English educa- tion. Desiring to enter the medical profession, he left the plow while still a youth and entered the Castleton Medical College in Vermont, where he took the full course of study and was graduated as Doctor in Medicine in 1846. Immediately upon ob- taining his degree " he opened an office at Daven- port Centre, N. Y., which soon became the centre of attraction for a large population needing medical help, and in which he remained for three years with gratifying financial success to himself and more than equally gratifying good to his patients." The year 1850 was devoted to close study in the hospitals and medical schools in New York city. He then opened an office in the growing village of Nanticoke, Luzernc Co., Pa , where he practiced without inter- mission until 1854, when he visited Europe and de- voted another year to study and observation in the great medical institutions of London and Paris. On his return to America he resumed practice at Nanticoke, devoting his leisure to the care and cul- tivation of his fine farm in the vicinity. Notwith- standing that he was a successful and popular prac- titioner of medicine, and appeared to be firmly es- tablished in the profession, circumstances were at work which culminated in his changing his voca- tion. His father was a law-giver of considerable distinction, and two of his brothers were lawyers by profession, the elder Lyman Hakes, Jr., being then in active practice at Wilkes-Barre, and the younger, Harlo, at Hornellsville, N. Y. That an aptitude for the profession ran in the family is proved by the career of these two, for both attained to high distinction at the bar. Harlo, the survivor, is at this writing Judge of the Courts of Steuben County, N. Y. Yielding to influences operating from within and without Dr. Hakes took up the study of law in the office of his brother Lyman, in 1857, and, having fully qualified himself and duly passed the required examinations, he was admitted to the bar January 25, 1860. He was an earnest Democrat in political faith and was elected to the Legisture from Luzerne Co. on that ticket in 1864, and re-elected at the expiration of his first term. His legislative career was marked by many notable successes. During his terms he secured an appro- priation of $2,500 each year for the Home for Friend- less Children, at Wilkes-Barre. He served on the Judiciary Local, Judiciary General, Ways and
Means, Corporations, Federal Relations, and Estates and Escheat Committees, and was the author of the bill for the extension of the Lehigh Valley Railroad from Wilkes-Barre to Waverly, N. Y., that for the
collection of debts against townships, and that to prevent persons from carrying concealed deadly weapons, all of which passed. Although giving his time and attention to his law practicc, Dr. Hakes man- agcs to keep up close relations with his brethren in the medical profession. He is a member of the Luzerne County Medical Society and may often be found taking an active part in its debates and discussions. On a number of occasions lie has been a delegate from this society to other medical bodies. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania State Society, and of the American Medical Association. His in- terest in all public questions is constant and intelli- gent, and he is frequently called upon to make speeches on medical, agricultural and other scien- tific subjects. His sympathies and sentiments lean toward the Methodist Church, although he is not a member of any of its organized bodies. His interest in local history and tradition is very great and led him to take an active part in founding "The Wyoming Commemorative Association," of which he was an incorporator and also the Treas- urer. In the work of this Association, viz: com- memorating the one hundredth anniversary of the Wyoming battle and massacre, he took a prominent part, serving on the executive and other leading committees. In addition to being a speaker of force and eloquence he is a writer of no mean ability, his productions showing great painstaking and a mas- tery of the subject treated. The genealogy of the Hakes family, previously mentioned, is a striking illustration of the latter fact. He regards as one of the chief pleasures of his eventful life the tracing of the history of his family, and placing a copy, at his own labor and expense, in the hands of every mem- ber, and establishing an annual family reunion. The doctor is also a sportsman of no mean skill, and with
rod and creel or dog and gun has explored many
out-of-the-way haunts of gamey members of the finny, feathered and furry tribes. He has been twice married. His first wife, whom he wedded in June, 1849, was Maria E. Dana, eldest daughter of Anderson Dana, Jr., of Wilkes-Barre. This lovely and accomplished young woman died in the month of December following. About six years later, August 29, 1855, upon his return from Europe, Dr. Hakes married his present wife, born Harriet L. Lape, and the daughter of Adam and Elizabeth Lape, both natives of Luzerne County. Two chil- dren were born to this marriage, but both died in
infancy. George B. Kulp, Esq., author of "Fami- lies of the Wyoming Valley," and of a number of biographies of the leading members of the bench and bar of Luzernc County, gives an effective word- picture of Dr. Hakes, whom he has had ample op-
240
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
portunity of knowing, in the following language :
" Dr. Hakes is a genial friend, a kind neighbor and a public spirited citizen. Over six feet in height, he unites with a large frame a large heart, and a grasp, a vigor, and an independence of mind which renders empiricism and the small art and details of professional life distasteful, but especially qualifies him to subject every question, whether in medicine, law or theology, to the rigid test of principle, and to that measure and amount of proof of which it is reasonably susceptible."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.