USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 41
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History of Beaver County
well as all that is past, into the narrow compass of our earthly existence." To this same point is the Apostle's injunction when he says, "Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." This, it seems to me, is the proper idea of this week's celebration. We have not come here to inflate ourselves with pride, or to settle in satisfied self-felicitation after a review of the past; but, on the other hand we have to confront ourselves with the memories of our pre- decessors, and to stimulate ourselves never to rest satisfied whilst the efforts of the past are more numerous or more glorious than those of the present.
Commemoration days like these are to be cherished as the blossoms of the century-plant, so rare are they, so fragrant with the aroma of the past, so full of suggestive interest; what loyal son of worthy sires is not still quickened to his heart's depth as he thinks of kindred and ancestry? What citizen of Beaver County is not thrilled with pardonable pride as he realizes, through the events and scenes of this week, his vital connec- tion with the transactions and achievements of the days of long ago? Time, in his advance of a century, has cast behind him a deep shadow, covering many a name, many a scene, many an event inseparably inter- mingled with the fortunes of the present and the hopes of the future. With old Mortality, the wandering religious enthusiast of Scottish ro- mance, we consider that we are fulfilling a sacred duty while renewing to the eye of posterity the zeal and sufferings of the forefathers.
In this spirit of veneration for a brave and godly ancestry, we say to the orators of this week, "Take the antiquarian's torch, penetrate the dark corners, search out the hidden things of our history, sweep the dust from honored names, tear away the moss from the record of their deeds, retrace the fading lines, that we may have the distincter knowledge and appreciation of our goodly history."
Happy are we in our glorious history which we can contemplate, and these ancestors. Happy are we in the lessons which we may learn from this contemplation. Happy are we in the day itself,-the bridal of earth and sky. It is a day for the doxology, and one to remember Him from whom came all these blessings. I think we cannot better express the sentiment of our common heart than by uniting hearts and voices in that glorious old doxology which our fathers sung; after which the Rev. Dr. Ramsay will invoke the Divine presence and blessing.
After the opening address had been delivered and received with merited and prolonged applause, the Chorus and the au- dience united in singing the Long Meter Doxology, after which Rev. James S. Ramsay, D.D., pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Beaver, invoked the Divine blessing on the proceedings, and all united again in singing the grand old Seventy-eighth Psalm, First Part, Watts's version, the words of which as sung we think it appropriate to give here in full, as follows:
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History of Beaver County
Let chikiren hear the mighty deeds Which God performed of old; Which is our younger years we saw, And which our fathers told.
He bids us make His glories known , His works of power and grace, And we'll convey His wonders down, Through every rising race.
Our lips shall tell them to our sons, And they again to theirs, That generations yet unborn May teach them to their heirs.
Thus shall they learn, in God alone Their hope securely stands, That they may ne'er forget His works, But practise His commands.
After the Psalm the President of the day, John M. Buchanan, Esq., introduced the Hon. Henry Hice of Beaver, late judge of the several courts of the county of Beaver, who delivered the following address on "The Bench and the Bar":
Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen:
There are occasions in the life of every man when it seems especially appropriate that he should pause and take a retrospect of what has marked his progress. In doing so he will recall much that his mind dwells upon with pleasure and satisfaction, duties that have been well and conscientiously discharged; difficulties that have been met and heroically overcome; acts that have added to his own material prosper- ity, increasing his stores, his comforts and enjoyments, or that have aided his fellow-man, promoting his material interests and welfare, or uplifting him morally, socially, or spiritually; experiences that have broadened and strengthened himself and his power and influence with his fellows.
On the other hand, if his retrospection is honest and conscientious, he will recall some things that stir a feeling of regret-things which have not been promotive of his own true interests or beneficial to his neigh- bors or his race. And all this is a profitable exercise for the individual, -the pleasure that thrills his heart as he dwells upon the success that has attended his efforts, the benefits that have resulted to himself or to others in whose welfare he is interested, is a strong incentive, spurring him on to higher and nobler action; or if he feels a sense of regret at mistakes made, or the sting of remorse because of opportunities unim- proved, it serves as a warning for the future.
As with the individual, so with people in their collective capacity, as States, counties, or other municipalities, which are but individuals more or less intimately connected and acting together for certain purposes to
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History of Beaver County
The entire population of the territory now embraced within the Limits of Bearer County was then less than one-half the passet poput tion claimed for New Brighton borough. Today, with a population soon to be accurately ascertained by the cenou enumeracores, but carterly not less than sixty thousand, with our flourishing towns, our beautiful and productive farms, comfortable, and in mmy instances hexicion homes, with our railroads, street railways, telegraph telephones, and Electric liches, our numerous man factories, and industrial institutions our churches, colleges, and schools of all kinds, and the mmy other con- veniences and advantages that time forbids to mention, all contributing to our case, our comfort, and welfare, the contrast is so great that it is almost impossible for us, so far removed in point of time, to grap and realize it .
The first settlers were largely of Scotch-Irish stock, strong, sturdy. and courageous, possessed of brawn and brain, and all those character- intic traits that have always marked the race wherever they have cast their lot and by their sterling good sense, intelligence, love of justice and liberty, left their impress for good upon the society and the institutions, political, social, and religious, which they helped to establish; while their strong arms wielded the axe, and they applied themselves assiduously to the laborious task of subduing the forest, establishing horne4, and fitting the land for the support of themselves and their descendants; thus providing for the physical wants, they were not forgetful that some- thing more was necessary, that to make those institutions permanent, and preserve the blessings that would flow therefrom to their posterity. that posterity must be intelligent, must have a profound sense of the importance and value of those institutions, and know how best to pro- tect and perpetuate them. This required proper training of the intel- lect and heart, required education; and hence we find that they early. earnestly and continuously sought the facilities for education, and the church and school soon began to appear, and under the fostering care of our ancestors have kept pace with the progress, with the improvements and advancements of each neighborhood, spreading their benign influence over the whole county.
To this rapid and continuous march of progress all have contributed. The farmer, the mechanic, the merchant, the miner, the ordinary laborer, the capitalist, the minister of the gospel, the teacher, the physician, the lawyer, and those in the many other callings; all have borne their part: and to each and all are we of to-day indebted in greater or less degree for the abundant prosperity, and the advanced position we have attained.
Time forbids that we attempt to recount how well each class has performed the part it has played in this great drama. It is safe, however, to assume that to every citizen the institution of his county that stands out most prominent, that which he regards, and which is of first im- portance, and in which centers more that makes more for the general weal than in any other is that pertaining to the administration of justice, its courts with their judges, attorneys and officers, the Bench and Bar.
To secure justice is the end of government, the purpose for which
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History of Beaver County
civil society exists; but without law, without those rules established for the regulation of men's actions with the sanctions necessary for their enforcement, justice cannot be secured. To apply those rules and regulations to the conduct of man in all the various relations of life, and enforce their observance, is the purpose and duty of courts. Hence these men who have from time to time constituted court of the county have more than any others come in close touch with the citizens of the county generally. To them have been committed matters of the highest importance to every individual; his property, his safety, his reputation, his liberty, his life itself have been entrusted to their care; and as a necessary consequence of this relation, these men in the past have had a great, and often a controlling influence, in the directing and molding of all matters pertaining to the general welfare of the county.
It is not inappropriate, therefore, that we should call to mind on this occasion, the names of some of those who in years gone by have con- stituted the courts of the county. In doing this we must not be under- stood as ignoring or forgetting the services of the many others, who, in the different walks of life, have contributed their full share to produce the magnificent results we behold to-day.
By Act of Assembly, approved March 12th, 1800, the counties of Beaver, Butler, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Warren, Venango, and Arm- strong were erected out of the territory then embraced in the counties of Allegheny, Washington, Westmoreland, and Lycoming; Allegheny and Washington contributing the territory to constitute the county of Beaver. As then established, its dimensions were about 34 miles in length by 19 miles in breadth, embracing nearly 650 square miles; but in 1849, by the erection of Lawrence County, part of the territory of which was taken from Beaver County, the area of our county was reduced to about 452 square miles, or about 290,000 acres.
Although established and its boundaries defined by the Act of 1800, it was not organized for judicial purposes until the passage of the Act of April 2, 1803; and the first court was held on the first Monday of Feburary, 1804, of which court Jesse Moore was President Judge, John H. Reddick, John Caldwell, and Abner Lacock, Associate Judges; William Henry was Sheriff, and David Johnston Prothonotary of the Common Pleas, and Clerk of the Oyer and Terminer and Quarter Sessions. Juries were necessary adjuncts to courts then, as now; and it may be interesting to some who may be present on this occasion, descendants of those early settlers, to recall the names of some of those who did duty as Grand or Petit Jurors in the first years of the century. Time will permit mention of but a few. Among the first jurors were David Drennan, David Mitchell, George Mckean, Thomas Ross, Robert Young, John McCul- lough, Michael Baker, Benjamin Townsend, Evan Pugh, Alexander Culberson, Jonathan Coulter, James Kennedy, Thomas Kennedy, John Beaver, John Clark, John Dilworth, Francis Porter, Samuel Harper, Samuel Lawrence, John Niblock, Samuel Caughey, and Samuel Carothers.
At the first term of the courts quite an assemblage of attorneys from adjoining counties were present, attracted by curiosity, doubtless, and a
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History of Braver County
time. These with Airmanter tittium. Commas Culin Send Sample
nings. William Wilkins A Faster james blism r Tim fimm 2. David Bestick Falar Campbell Car Fax : + Laapie Summe Johnston Hear; Kaltern mar Yan James Komutan. Z. Name William tys a V . Carl a way i zien Iu det by my w if like number In the four her I m. Of
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'ya il sanguevai / July. Wilkins. Charles Shaler was appointed his sussex, and iemailed in the courts of the county until 1835, when be resigned, and estasquently in that became Associate Judge of the Dis- trist Court of Allegheny C'samty.
Judge thales was früherwest by Hon. John Bredin. of Butter, who for many years, until 1451, discharged the duties of the office with great ability, fidelity, and as saptanon to the people. He and all who preceded him in the office have passed to " the undiscovered country from whose tiene i traveler returns" Of them all it can be truthfully said, they were men of marked ability, of sterling integrity, who acted well their part, sustaining the honor and dignity of their profession, and of the high offire they filled, and it well becomes us of to-day to make full recognition of them merits and services, and cherish their memories.
After the death of Judge Bredin, Hon. Daniel Agnew was in July. 18;1, appointed and commissioned President Judge of the 17th Judicial District of the State, then comprising the counties of Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence, he was elected by the people of the District in October, ter, but the term fixed by the Constitution, ten years, re-elected in this for another term, without opposition, and continued as President Judge of the county until elected in 1863 one of the Supreme Judges of the State, and served the full constitutional term of fifteen years, the last six years thereof as Chief Justice, his entire continuous term of Het vice on the Beach in the lower and the Supreme Court being almost twenty eight years Born January 5th, 1800, he still survives, in the ninety second year of his age. For over seventy years he has resided
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History of Beaver County
in the county-seat; for more than sixty years he was one of the most active citizens of the county, not only in the line of his profession as a lawyer, but, with true public and patriotic spirit, active in advancing all measures that commended themselves to his judgment as promotive of the best interests of his county. It would perhaps be inappropriate for me at this time to dwell upon his character, ability, and services; and to do so to this assemblage is unnecessary, as they are known and ap- preciated by all.
Hon. L. L. McGuffin, of New Castle, Lawrence County, succeeded Judge Agnew as President Judge of the 17th Judicial District, and pre- sided over the courts of our county until 1866, when by the Act of Assem- bly of the 23d January of that year, the 27th Judicial District was created, consisting of the counties of Washington and Beaver; and Judge Mc- Guffin's connection with our courts terminated. He continued, how- ever, as President Judge of the 17th Judicial District, as then constituted, until 1874.
On the formation of the 27th Judicial District, Hon. B. B. Cham- berlin, of New Brighton, was commissioned as President Judge of its courts, and filled the office until 1867; Judge Chamberlin is yet well remembered by many here to-day. He was an earnest, hard worker, devoted to his profession, a kind-hearted, worthy, and much respected citizen. Much enfeebled by disease for some years, his death on the 23d of March, 1891, closed a useful and upright life.
Hon. A. W. Acheson, of Washington, was elected President Judge of the 27th Judicial District in October, 1866, and presided over the courts of this county until 1874, when under the new Constitution of the State, and the Act of Assembly of April 9, 1874, Beaver County became a separate judicial district, numbered the 36th, and as such entitled to a President Judge of its courts, unconnected with any other county. Judge Acheson, however, continued as President Judge of Washington County, then constituting the 27th District, until the end of the term for which he had been elected. He was a man of somewhat feeble health, but withal of great intellectual power, a learned and upright judge. He died a number of years since. Although not a resident of our county, he had, by his genial manners and excellent qualities endeared himself to many of our citizens, who revere his memory to-day.
On the creation of the 36th Judicial District, Henry Hice was ap- pointed and commissioned as President Judge thereof, April 30th, 1874, was subsequently elected, and continued until January Ist, 1885, when Hon. J. J. Wickham, who had been duly elected and commissioned, took his seat, was re-elected in 1894, and continued to preside over the courts of the county until elevated to the Superior Court of the State, of which he became a member by appointment on its creation by the Act of June 24th, 1895; he was subsequently elected thereto for the full term of ten years beginning the first Monday of January, 1896, and continued a member of that court until his death, June 18th, 1898, after a very brief illness. Judge Wickham resided in our town practically all his life, receiving his academic and legal education here. His ability as a lawyer
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History of Beaver County
and a judge was known and acknowledged by all who met him at the bar, or who submitted their causes to his consideration and decision on the bench: and his brethren on the Superior Bench who were in a position to know him best, in their recorded minute of his death, say of him: "The Commonwealth has lost a learned able, conscientious, and useful Judge, and in his death we have in addition lost a friend whose genial companionship and wise counsel we shall miss greatly."
Upon the appointment of Judge Wickham to the Superior Bench, Hon. X. F. Meckiem, of Rochester, was appointed and commissioned to fill the vacancy, and held the office until the first Monday of January, 1896, when Hon. J. Sharp Wilson, the present incumbent, who had been elected to the office the preceding November. took his seat.
We have thus, as it were, called the roll, and sketched in the briefest outline, the men who have, during the century, presided over the courts of Beaver County, and discharged the important duties of that high office.
The office of Associate Judge in our county was abolished by the Constitution of 1873. Prior thereto, the men who filled that office were in addition to those already mentioned as sitting in the first court in 1804. Thomas Henry, Joseph Hemphill, John Nesbit, Benjamin Adams, David Drennan, John Carothers, Joseph Irvin, William Cairns, John Scott, Dr. Milton Lawrence, Agnew Duff, Joseph C. Wilson,-all men of high stand- ing and prominence in the county, in their day. All are now deceased.
Under our system for the administration of justice no court is com- pletely constituted without attorneys; men who, as officers of the court, are charged with the duty of properly preparing and presenting causes for the consideration and determination of the judges. These may not be regarded very favorably, as a class, by some who, in this, as in many other cases, measure the entire class by a few of the most indifferent and worst specimens. But such should remember that if they are an evil, it is, like the court itself in all its parts, one rendered necessary by the perverseness and proneness to evil of mankind generally.
There have been about three hundred and fifty men admitted as attorneys to the bar of the county, since its organization. Of this number, less than one-half have been residents, the others being from the bars of other counties of this State and of other States, and mostly admitted with reference to some particular case. As prominent among those admitted since the first term in 1804, and who have passed from the scenes and struggles of trials, in these courts, to appear themselves as suitors in that higher Court whose judgments irreversibly fix their destiny throughout eternity, we may briefly mention a few, and this only of those who have been resident and regular practitioners in the county.
Hon. Thomas Cunningham, who for many years was an active practi- tioner, a man of learning, thoroughly versed in the law, an able and sutecessful advocate, is remembered by many here to-day, not only as a grent lawyer, but as a high-minded, patriotic citizen, who in the hour of his country's peril rose above all party trammels, and gave his voice and influence for its protection and preservation.
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History of Beaver County
N. P. Fetterman, was an honorable, upright lawyer, a man of in- tellectual power and great legal acumen. He practised not only in the courts of Beaver, but also those of Butler, Mercer, and other counties in western Pennsylvania, and subsequently in Pittsburg, to which city he removed in 1849. He was held in high esteem by the people, and by his fellow-members in the profession.
Colonel Richard P. Roberts, who came to the bar in 1848, was a man of great natural ability, strengthened and broadened by study, research, and observation. Few men rose more rapidly than he in his profession, or reached a higher position therein in the short space of fifteen years, from his admission till his death; and few possessed in a higher degree the confidence, respect, and esteem of his fellow-men. Public spirited and patriotic in the highest degree, he was earnest, eloquent, and indefatig- able in his efforts for the safety and preservation of the Union, and he sealed his patriotism and devotion to duty by laying down his life at the head of his regiment, on the bloody field of Gettysburg, on the ad day of July, 1863. As briefly portraying his character and the estimation in which he was held, we quote one of the resolutions adopted by a meeting of his fellow-members of the bar at their meeting on the 16th day of July, 1863. "Resolved, That in all the relations of life, whether public or private, social or official, as a gentleman of sterling integrity and ability, Colonel Roberts has secured for himself the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, and held a high position as a brave, eloquent, energetic, generous and kind-hearted man."
Lewis Taylor, who was admitted to the bar in 1843, began the prac- tice of law in Beaver County, but after the erection of Lawrence County, removed to New Castle, the county-seat of that county. He was scholarly, possessed of a keen and analytical mind, pleasing voice and manners, and was a lawyer of great power before court or jury.
Col. Joseph H. Wilson came to the bar in 1850; a warm-hearted, generous man of pleasing address, he soon made many warm friends; studious, careful, and alert in the interests of his clients, he soon acquired a fair practice. Loyalty to his country prompted him at an early day 'to enter the ranks of her defenders. He entered the service in 1861, became Colonel of the One Hundred and First Regiment of his State, and was a good officer; but he soon became a victim to the fever-breeding swamps of the Peninsula, and died of typhoid fever, near Roper's Church, Virginia, on the 30th of May, 1862.
Samuel B. Wilson, having completed his preparatory studies, became a student at law under the direction of one of Pennsylvania's ablest lawyers, Jeremiah S. Black, and was admitted to the bar of Beaver County in 1850. Endowed with intellectual faculties of a high order, industrious and persevering, he soon rose to a prominent position, ac- quired an extensive practice, and for many years was a recognized leader of the bar of his county. A man of kind heart, a good neighbor, a worthy citizen. In his death, January 17th, 1889, at the age of sixty-four, the bar lost one of its ablest members, the county and the country a useful and honored citizen.
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History of Beaver County
of an energy and ambition supporting his physical powers, having served
there is banen afable and overens = mener homes and honorable the regard and craftbest of his brethren at the bar, and the people of the comety. But his panical powers yielded to the too great strain, and his early death, February 22. Indy, at the age of chirty-nine years, was regretted by all who knew him
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