History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 128

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 967

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 128
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 128
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 128

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).

chased the paper, and is the present owner and editor. He is a gentleman well fitted for the position, and the Democrat is prosperous under his management. The paper has always been well conducted and liberally supported.

THE FULTON REPUBLICAN.

The first number of this journal appeared on the 17th of January, 1851. It was established by a stock company, but gradually merged into private property-the shareholders taking out the value of their stock in subscriptions and ad- vertising. There are but few copies of the early issues of the paper in existence. No. 2 of the first volume, bearing date January 24, 1851, has been shown to the writer. The Repub- lican was then of the same size as at present. It contained miscellaneous matter and general news in considerable variety, but there were very few items relating to local affairs. Five and a half columns comprised all the advertise- ments. Among these appeared three profes- sional cards-those of S. E. Duffield, M.D., and William Baker and D. F. Robinson, attorneys. In other issues of the same year, we find nearly all the third and fourth pages devoted to adver- tising. The first numbers of the Republican were under the editorship of John McCurdy.

The poem given below first appeared in the Fulton Republican. While the gifted author was editor of that journal, he was suddenly stricken with blindness. On the morning after this affliction overtook him, he was led to his office, and groping his way to a case, composed and set up these lines, which found their way into most of the newspapers of the country. The poet and editor, George D. Prentice, pro- nounced the poem " worthy the muse of Milton." Mr. McCurdy has written several other poems of high merit. After leaving McConnellsburg, he went to Shippensburg and recovered his eye- sight. He was a representative to the legisla- ture from Cumberland county two terms, and for some time occupied the position of superin- tendent of state printing.

ON BECOMING BLIND, BY JOHN MCCURDY.

Fair, lovely earth ! shall I no more Behold thee clad in robes of green ? Shall not these eyes trace landscapes o'er That they in boyhood's days have seen ? Thy fertile plains, thy wooded vales, Thy rivers and thy mountains high, Thy occans with their myriad snils, All now to me in darkness lie.

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Shall yonder sun's resplendent light Fall on the diamond dews of morn, And deck each flower with spangles bright, And every blade of grass adorn- And shall it pour its golden ray Deep into every glossy stream. Where sports the trout the livelong day, And I not see its brilliant beam ?

When mem'ry turns to childhood's hour, And fancy paints its'scenes anew, When ev'ry brook and ev'ry flower Rise up familiar to the view ; And when the haunts where oft I strayed, In gleeful mood, in days of yore,

Appear, with all their sun and shade, I think : Shall I ne'er see them more ?

Oh, what is life, e'en when we're blest With sight and health and use of limb, 'Tis but a dreary day at best, Of sorrows deep and pleasures dim :-

A billow rude, on which must glide Hope's fair and often fragile bark ; A tempest wild, where sorrows ride Upon its breast, at midnight dark.

"Tis hard to stem the tide of life In darkness and in poverty-

' Gainst adverse waves, when storms are rife, Upon life's rough, uncertain sea. The stoutest often fail to steer Their bark right onward, but are lost; Then how shall mine in darkness drear In safety reach life's distant coast ?

But why despond? Can He who took Not render back the sight anew ? Can He not open out the book Of nature's beauties to our view ? And should He not, 'tis His to know Why He withholds the light He gave; His purpose may be but to throw A light to lead beyond the grave.

Mr. McCurdy's editorial connection with the paper was very brief. In Vol. I, No. 17, May 16, 1851, John T. Owen appears as proprietor, and Josiah E. Barclay as editor. During this year the Republican hoisted a flag at the head of the editorial columns, with the name of Winfield Scott as presidential candidate for 1852 upon it. On the first page we find this peculiar motto : "We claim as large a charter as the wind." During 1852 John H. Filler * assumed editorial charge, Mr. Owen continuing as proprietor. January 21, 1853, Owen gives notice that he has transferred the entire control of the paper to Filler.

We find no other copies of the paper earlier than those for the year 1855. J. A. Hyssong and W. W. Sellers were then proprietors, and Mr. Sellers t had editorial charge. They bought

the paper, when its fortunes were at a low ebb, from Wilson Evans, who was its proprietor for a short time, succeeding Owen. The Repub- lican continued under this management until January 1, 1863, when M. Edgar King became editor and proprietor. In July, 1865, he sold ont to E. Benjamin Bierman. A month or two later D. K. and J. C. Wagner succeeded to the ownership. They ran the paper until 1867, D. K. Wagner being . chief editor. William J. Campbell was given charge of the local columns in 1863, and edited them, with a short inter- mission, as long as the Wagners owned the paper. James Pott next purchased the Repub- lican, and conducted it from March 28, 1867, until May 7, 1868.

In .1868 Harry E. Shafer became editor and proprietor. He managed the paper until 1872, except a short intermission, March to June, 1870, when H. B. Jeffries had charge. W. Scott Alexander became editor and proprietor June 27, 1872. During the following year another change took place, the Republican passing into the hands of its present editor and proprietor, J. Z. Over. At that time the paper had but a small list of subscribers compared with its pres- ent circulation. Prudent management has placed it on a prosperous basis, and the Repub- lican now has the support of nearly every republican voter in Fulton county.

The citizens of Fulton county have reason to be proud of the journals which are devoted to their interests. Both papers are more than worthy of the liberal patronage they now receive.

CHAPTER LXXXIII.

THE BAR OF FULTON COUNTY.

List of Attorneys admitted to Practice since the Organization of the County - Personal Mention of Hon. William P. Schell, John J. Bonnett, William C. Logan, T. W. B. McFadden,; Charles M. Barton, Geo. A. Smith and others - Biographical Sketches - S. M. Woodcock -J. Nelson Sipes - John A. Rob- inson - W. Scott Alexander-Capt. George W. Skinner - William B. Skinner -John P. Sipes - Attorneys who have been Journalists, etc.

SINCE the organization of Fulton, the fol- lowing attorneys have been admitted to practice in the several courts of the county : January 13, 1851, William P. Schell, of Fulton county, was sworn and admitted as an attorney- at-law, and also as district attorney of Fulton county. Upon his motion, the following gentle-

* Mr. Filler is a brilliant and successful journalist. He was chief editor of the Harrisburg Patriot for several years, and is now on the editorial staff of the Philadelphia Record. In 1861 he was captain of Co. G, 13th regt. Penn. Vols.

t Mr. Sellers was a member of the Pennsylvania house of representatives in 1862. After leaving McConnellsburg he went to Illinois, and became editor and publisher of the Tazewell Republican, at Pekin. He was also postmaster of the city. He died in that city.

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men were admitted to practice in the courts of the county : William Lyon, John Mower, John A. Blodgett, Samuel L. Russell, Samuel H. Tate, Joseph F. Loy and Oliver E. Shannon, of Bed- ford county ; Josiah E. Barclay, of Fulton coun- ty ; Andrew J. Cline, of Blair county ; David F. Robinson, William Baker, of Franklin county ; and Sam'l M. Barclay, of Bedford county. April 7, 1851, Geo. W. Brewer, Wilson Reiley, of Frank- lin county ; Wm. Dorris, Jr., of Huntingdon county ; James M. Russell, Alex. King, of Bed- ford county. August 4, 1851, Job Mann, John Cessna, of Bedford county; John R. Edie, Fran- cis M. Kimmell, of Somerset county; David H. Hofius, of Blair county. October 20, 1851, Enoch G. Day, of Montgomery county, Maryland; John H. Filler, John J. Bonnett, of Bedford county. January 13, 1852, William M. Hall, of Bed- ford county. August 2, 1852, Andrew N. Rankin, Washington Crooks, - Ayres. April 4, 1853, Jas. B. Boggs, of Franklin county. August 1, 1853, John P. Reed. August. 3, 1853, Solomon Mason. January 9, 1854, Jos. W. Tate, Thos. M. Carlisle. January 12, 1854, John S. Robinson. April 4, 1854, T. W. B. McFadden. August 7, 1854, James Nill,

of Franklin county.

January 8, 1855, Jos.

C. Rhodes, of Fulton county. April 9, 1856, John W. Lingenfelter, of Fulton county.

. August 4, 1856, Col. Alex. K. McClure, of Franklin county. October 20, 1856, Geo. W. Reges. January 12, 1857, Geo. W. Welch. August 3, 1857, F. S. Stambaugh. October 19, 1857, Wm. S. Everett. January 11, 1858, Wm. C. Logan, J. McDowell Sharpe, Chas. M. Barton. October 19, 1858, Sam'l Lyon. August 4, 1850, G. A. Smith. October 24, 1860, RORS Forward. April 5, 1861, J. Nelson Sipes. April 8, 1862, Jas. B. Sansom. April 8, 1863, J. H. McCauley. January 17, 1868, J. W. Dickinson, J. B. Cessna. August 7, 1868, H. E. Shaffer. January 11, 1870, Wm. Adams. April 5, 1870, J. R. Durborrow, of Bedford county; John A. Hyssong, of Franklin county. April -, 1870, John A. Robinson. October 19, 1870, W. Scott Alexander. April 5, 1871, M. A. Points. April 7, 1871, H. D. Tate. August 10, 1871, Col. G. W. Z. Black, of Fred- erick City, Maryland. April 7, 1874, D. S. Elliott. October 5, 1875, Jas. M. Weakley, of Cumberland county ; Chas. A. Barnet, of Perry county. October 6, 1875, W. Lee Woodcock. January 11, 1876, John C. Graham. April 10,

1877, W. H. Sechler. June 11, 1877, John A. McKey, Wm. B. Skinner. October 8, 1878, John C. Alexander. . October 9, 1878, Dwight Marcy, of Rockville, Connecticut. June 9, 1879, Wm. McGovern, Geo. W. Skinner. June -, 1879, Thomas F. Sloan. October 9, 1879, John P. Sipes. October 21, 1879, W. Rush Gillan. April 11, 1882, W. J. Zacharias, of Chambersburg. October, 1883, F. McNaughton Johnston.

William P. Schell, the first admitted attorney of Fulton county, as well as the first district attorney, practiced at this bar two or three years. He returned to Bedford, where he had formerly practiced. He was elected to the legis- lature and the state senate. He served as speaker of the Pennsylvania house in 1853. In 1877 he was elected auditor-general of Pennsyl- vania.

John J. Bonnett, a native of Bedford county, was admitted to the Fulton bar in January, 1852. On January 18, 1853, he died in McConnells- burg in the twenty-third year of his age.

William C. Logan was born in Fulton county. He went to St. Louis when young, and subse- quently returned to Bedford, where he was admitted to the bar. In 1858 he became a member of the Fulton bar. He resided and practiced in the county until 1861, when he removed to Philadelphia.

T. W. B. McFadden, a member of the bar and prothonotary of Fulton county for one term, died in Schellsburg, Bedford county, April 14, 1858. He was a young man of bright promise, and as a county officer discharged his duties most satisfactorily.

Charles M. Barton, who for about five years was engaged in the practice of law at this bar, was a native of Bedford county. In 1858 he was admitted to practice, and the same year he was chosen district attorney of Fulton county. During the later years of his practice here Hon. John Cessna, of Bedford, was his law partner. Mr. Barton left McConnellsburg for the west and settled at Fort Wayne, Indiana. He served as city treasurer of Fort Wayne five terms. In 1883 he removed to Northern Alabama, where he is superintendent of an iron mine.

George A. Smith, one of the ablest members of the Fulton bar, was admitted to practice in the courts of this county in 1859. He resided in McConnellsburg until 1877, when he moved to Tennessee, his present home, though he con-

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tinnes to practice at this bar. Mr. Smith was a member of the legislature from this county in 1872.

Henry G. Smith, editor and attorney in Mc- Connellsburg, 1861-4, afterward conducted the Lancaster Intelligencer ten years or more. He removed to Tennessee and died there. He was an able lawyer and a successful journalist.

John R. Donehoo practiced in this county from about 1865 to 1870, and during the time was twice elected district attorney. He re- moved to West Virginia in 1870.

S. M. Woodcock was born in Wells township, Fulton county, in 1835 ; read law in the office of Maj. Samuel H. Tate, in Bedford ; admitted to the Bedford bar in 1858 ; practiced in Fulton county until September, 1860. He then located in Altoona, his present residence. Mr. Wood- cock has served as city solicitor of Altoona two terms.

Samuel Lyon was admitted to the Fulton bar in 1858, and practiced in McConnellsburg until the breaking out of the war. In February, 1862, he entered the service as first lieutenant in Co. H, 107th regt. Penn. Vols. He was subsequently commissioned quartermaster of the regiment, and in 1865, captain of Co. A, in the same regi- ment. After the war he removed to Indiana, Pennsylvania.

J. Nelson Sipes was born in Licking Creek township, Fulton county, April 23, 1837. He was educated in the common schools and at a private school at Hancock, Maryland, and at Juniata Academy, Shirleysburg, Pennsylvania. He read law under William C. Logan, and Cessna & Barton, in McConnellsburg, and was admitted to practice in the courts of the county April 5, 1861. Mr. Sipes was the first native of the county who received his law education within the county to be admitted to the Fulton bar. He began practice in 1872, and has been eminently successful. Mr. Sipes served one term as district attorney.

John A. Robinson was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, December 29, 1837. He was edu- cated in the common schools and at Marshall Collegiate Institute ; read law under George A. Smith, in McConnellsburg, and was admitted to the bar in 1870. He became a partner of his preceptor, and so continued until 1877, the style of the firm being Smith & Robinson. He then formed a law partnership with Hon. J. Mc- Dowell Sharpe, late of Franklin county, which

continued until the death of Mr. Sharpe in 1883. Mr. Robinson was twice elected prothonotary of Fulton county before his admission to the bar. He was chosen district attorney in 1870, and served one term. From June, 1872, to June, 1876, he was editor and proprietor of the Fulton Democrat.

Walter Scott Alexander was born March 13, 1847, in Broad Top township, Bedford county- now Wells township, Fulton county. He re- ceived a good common-school education, and afterward attended the Tuscarora Academy in Juniata county. He then entered the printing- office of the Huntingdon Globe; but being compelled to abandon the business on account of ill health, he engaged in teaching. Mr. Alexander was principal teacher of the White Hall State Soldiers' Orphans' School for one year, principal of the high school at Metamora, Ohio, for one year, and principal of the McCon- nellsburg schools for three years. He read law with Hon. John Cessna, of Bedford, and was admitted to the Fulton bar October 19, 1870. He practiced in Ohio one year, then returned to McConnellsburg, where he has since pur- sued his profession. He has devoted consider- able attention to journalism and politics, and in 1872-3, was editor and proprietor of the Fulton Republican. He was elected district attorney November 7, 1876, being the first republican ever chosen to the office in the county.

Capt. George W. Skinner was born near Dry run, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 13, 1846. He was educated in the common schools, Milnwood Academy, and Washington and Jefferson College. In 1862, when a little over sixteen years of age, he ran away from col- lege, and enlisted as a private, in the 77th regt. Penn. Vols. After almost four years of service, he returned as captain of Co. A, in the same regiment, having passed successively through the grades of sergeant and first lieutenant. In the election of 1867, having received the demo- cratic nomination, he was elected treasurer of Franklin county, in the face of an adverse ma- jority. In 1870, and again in 1871, he was chosen a member of the state legislature, from Franklin county, and served upon the most important committees of the house. He mainly distinguished himself by his earnest advocacy of the payment of the " Border Raid Claims." In 1872, Capt. Skinner became a resident of Fulton county. In 1875 and 1876 he filled the

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position of journal clerk, in the Pennsylvania house of representatives. Having studied law in the interval of other duties, he was admitted to the practice of the law in 1879. Since that time, he has been engaged, principally, in the tanning and mercantile business, although attending to such legal business as is con- fided to his care. From 1876 to 1880 he was connected with the Fulton Democrat, as one of its publishers, and as its principal editorial writer. An ardent democrat, for many years he has been in the habit of appearing upon the stump, in advocacy of the principles of that party. Since hisresidence in Fulton county, he has filled almost continuously the office of school director, and takes a deep interest in local affairs. Capt. Skinner was married in 1872, to the only daughter of Jas. H. Parker, Esq., one of the leading manufacturers of Ful- ton county.

William B. Skinner was born near Dry run, Franklin county, in 1856. He was educated in the common schools and at the Chambersburg Academy, and is a graduate of the Shippensburg State Normal School. In 1876 Mr. Skinner be- came associated with his brother, Capt. George W. Skinner, in the publication of the Fulton Democrat. In the fall of 1879 he left the news- paper business, to accept the office of district attorney of Fulton county, to which he had just been elected. His admission to the bar took place a little over a year before his election to this office. In the spring of 1883, after his duties as district attorney had terminated, he moved with his wife, a daughter of J. A. Great- head, to Mount Vernon, Lawrence county, Mis- souri, where he is successfully established in the practice of his chosen profession.

John P. Sipes was born in Licking Creek township, Fulton county, January 25, 1857. He was educated in the common schools and at Shippensburg Normal School, and for six years taught in the public schools of Fulton county. After reading law under G. H. Spang, Bedford, and Sharpe & Robinson, McConnellsburg, he was admitted to the bar October 9, 1879, and entered upon practice the following May. In 1882 he was elected district attorney, which office he still holds.

Among those who have combined the practice of law with the profession of journalism in this county have been James B. Sansom, John R. Donehoo, Henry G. Smith, C. A. Gaither, John

A. Robinson and William B. Skinner, of the Fulton Democrat; Josiah E. Barclay, John H. Filler, M. Edgar King, Harry E. Shafer and W. Scott Alexander, of the Republican. See chapter devoted to the press.

CHAPTER LXXXIV. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

First Practitioners - The First Settled Physician - Dr. George Denig - His Long Practice in the County - Two of His Sons also Physicians -Dr. 8. E. Duffield - His Career and Public Services-Dr. William F. Trout -Dr. Nevin B. Shade - Physi- cians of Warfordsburg - Dr. William Carl - Dr. W. L. Mc- Kibbin, of Union township - Dr. H. 8. Wishart, Harrison- ville.

W "E find no evidence that the present terri- tory of Fulton county contained any resident physician prior to the beginning of the present century. The nearest practitioners were ten, twenty and thirty miles distant, and could only be reached by traversing difficult roads leading over mountains. It is probable that the people of these valleys made few demands for their services and got along with as little physic as possible.

As late as 1818, according to the personal recollection of Adam McConnell, of whom men- tion is made elsewhere, there was no settled physician in McConnellsburg or any other part of the county. Dr. Mcclellan, of Franklin county, made occasional visits to the town, fur- nishing advice and medicine where it was needed. Very soon afterward and probably not later than 1815, Dr. George Denig came from Chambersburg and began practice in McCon- nellsburg. During his long residence here he led a very busy life and gained a reputation for sound judgment, prudence and skill which his faithful labors well merited. Dr. Denig studied medicine in Chambersburg, under the tuition of Dr. Culbertson. He attended one course of medical lectures, but did not graduate. Not- withstanding his lack of school education, his self-exertion, aided by a practical mind and keen perception, made him a thoroughly safe and competent medical adviser. He was assiduous in the performance of his duties, and devoted his time and energy unreservedly to his practice, which extended over all the territory of Fulton county, and even beyond. He was especially noted for skill in surgery, and wrote a book on midwifery which embodied much valuable in-

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formation. Dr. Denig practiced in McConnells- burg until about 1844, then removed to Colum- bus, Ohio, where he died over ninety years of age. He had two sons, George aud Robert M., who became physicians, and a third, John M., who has achieved some reputation as a writer of poetry. Drs. George and Robert M. Denig studied medicine under their father and gradu- ated from a medical college. Dr. George Denig, Jr., practiced about five years in McConnells- burg, in partnership with his father, then went to Peoria, Illinois. Dr. Robert M., after complet- ing his studies, practiced with his father until the latter removed to Ohio, and continued to reside and practice in McConnellsburg until 1849, when he also removed to Columbus, Ohio, where he now lives and has an extensive practice. During the time that Dr. Denig, the elder, was in McConnellsburg, two physicians, Dr. David- son and Dr. Hamilton, each resided for a short time in the town, but did not remain long enough to establish themselves well in practice.

Dr. Samuel Elliott Duffeld, whose talents have given him prominence both in public and private life, is the best known man in Fulton county and stands in the foremost rank of her honored and public-spirited citizens. He was born in McConnellsburg, May 13, 1820. After receiving a classical education at Bedford Academy, under the instruction of Rev. B. R. Hall, he studied medicine in Philadelphia, in the office of Dr. W. W. Gerhard, then one of the leading physicians of the city. Taking a three years' course at the University of Penn- sylvania, he received the degree of M. D. from that institution in 1843. He at once began the practice of his profession in McConnellsburg, where he continued in active practice until 1875. As a physician he was successful in the highest degree, and during his long term of practice led a busy and useful life. For several years he was the only physician in the county, with the exception of Dr.

Dr. Duffield was formerly a whig, and has been identified with the republican party since its birth. For years he has been its recognized leader in Fulton county. He was tendered the nomination for congress in 1860, but resigned in favor of Hon. Edward McPherson. In 1862, he was a candidate for the office of state sen- stor in the district composed of Adams, Frank- lin and Fulton, which at that time was strongly democratic. From 1861 until 1874, when he

resigned the position, he was superintendent of the document room of the house of representa- tives and resided in Washington during the sessions of congress. Concerning this portion of his career we quote the words of the New York Daily Graphic, of April 12, 1875 :

Among the remarkable men at Washington is Dr. S. E. Duffield, the genial and accomplished chief of the document room in the house of representatives. * * * Dr. Duffield became a whig of the candid and active kind, and as whig and republican gained a strong hold upon the affections of politicians. He was always a student, and to this day has kept him- self thoroughly informed in the history of political questions and persons. In 1861 he was appointed superintendent of the document room of the house, which position he has since filled to everybody's entire satisfaction. The document room is a very important department. The officials there require an extensive knowledge of current affairs as well as ex- perience in all matters pertaining to the legislation of past congresses. Millions of documents are received, registered and filed during each congress, and the ag- gregate number is, of course, rapidly increasing year by year. No office in the capitol is more deservedly popular under its present management. Dr. Duf- field as chief, and Warren S. Young, of Ohio, as assistant, make the document rooms of the house exactly what they should be.

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 128

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 967

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 967