USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 14
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Dobre Ml, Preer.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
farm, and at the same time receiving his early oduea. tion in the common schools of his township, his teach- ers being the best of that day, among whom were Cyrus E. Anderson. R. J. Boggs and William McMillen; from the latter he received his first lessons in Latin and higher mathematics. He continued to labor on the farm and attend school in the winter until the fall of the year 1851, when he engaged to teach his first school at the old Bassenheim Furnace, in Beaver County of this State, and afterward taught school at Hillsburg, Cranberry Township, and the Weir School in Buffalo Township, in this county.
In 1853, he entered the Butler Academy, at which he remained during the summer sessions of 1853 and 1854. In March. IS51, he was enrolled as a student at law, and one year thereafter he went into the law office of his brother, Col. Archibakl Blakeley, and was ad- mitted to the bar in March, 1856. On the 27th of May, 1856, he was married to Esther Louisa Brown, of Brownsdale. this county, daughter of Joseph and Mary Marshall Brown. On the 26th of Angust in the same year, he commenced the practice of law at Kittanning, Penn., and was elected District Attorney on the Republican ticket in 1859, which position he filled with ability and credit until September, 1862, when ho resigned his office, and entered the army as Lieutenant Colonel of the Stanton Cavalry, which was afterward mustered into the service of the United States as the Fourteenth Regiment of Cavalry. Ho remained in the service until after the close of the war in 1865, when he received the appointment of Brigadier General of Volunteers by brevet for gallant and meritorious services during the war. Ho par- ticipated in the battles of Antietam, Gettysburg, and the campaigns of Kelley, Averill. Hunter. Sigel and Sheridan, of the Sheuendoah Valley.
In the fall of 1865, he entered into a law partner- ship with his brother. Col. Archibald Blakeley, at Franklin, Venango Co., Penn,, and in March, 1868, he removed to Pittsburgh, Penn., where he has ever since pursued his profession, ranking creditably as a member of the bar of that county.
His early religious training was in the Covenanter (new school) and United Presbyterian Churches, under the Rev. Thomas C. Guthrie, D. D., and Rov. Isaiah Niblock, D. D. He was present at the birth of the Republican party at Lafayette Hall, in the city of Pittsburgh, in 1855, and has always taken an active part in the politics of the county.
Thomas M. Marshall, of the Pittsburgh bar, was raised from his childhood to mature years in Butler County, where his parents lived and died. He is one of the ablest criminal lawyers in the State. The people of Butler County regard him as belonging to them.
Adam M. Brown was born and raised in Butler County, but he read law in Pittsburgh with his uncle. Thomas M. Marshall; he has reached eminence in his profession, and is in the enjoyment of a herative practice. He was one of the leading candidates for the Republican nomination for Supreme Judge in the State Convention of 1882.
William McNair, son of Robert McNair, was a nativo of Butler County, and a nephew of Hon. William Beatty. He was admitted to practice law on the 24th of March, 1856. He is now practicing in Venango County, Penn., residing in Oil City.
J. W Kirker was born in Connoquenessing (now Lancaster; Township, on the 20th of September. 1832. He spent his youthful days on his father's farm, assisting his parents and embracing spare time in attending the district school, both public and select. He finally secured a classical and scientific education in Allegheny College, at Meadville, Penn. He entered as a student of law the office of Smith & Mitchell, at Butler, Penn., in June, 1851, and was admitted to the Butler bar in September, 1856. While pursning the study of the law. Mr. Kirker taught school and followed surveying occasionally as a means of support.
He was elected District Attorney for Butler County in the fall of 1859, and filled that office acceptably for three years. He was commissioned Provost Mar- shal of the Twenty-third District of Pennsylvania, by President Lincoln, with the rank of Captain of Cavalry, on the 18th of April, 1863, and served as such until the 1st of October, 1565, when he was mustered out of service by reason of the close of the war. He was at once admitted to the Pittsburgh bar, where he has practiced successfully ever since. Before leaving Butler, he was married to a Miss Brodin, a cousin of Judge Bredin. Mr. Kirker stands well in the profession, and has a good practice.
Robert M. MeLuse is a native of Butler County. Ho read law with L. Z. Mitchell, Esq., and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1856. He is a gentleman of good culture and considerable native talent.
James Potts, a native of Butler, was admitted to practice law on the 11th of June, 1850. He afterward became a Judge in Cambria County.
John H. Mitchell was born on the 22d day of June, A. D. 1835, near the town of Bentleyville, on Pigeon Creek. in Washington County, Penn. When about two years old, his father and mother moved to Butler County, and settled on a farm about two miles northeast of Butler in the Millinger neighborhood. They lived here about two years, when they moved to the farm in the Albert neighborhood, about seven miles northwest of Butler, where they remained until within a few years Here the subject of this article
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was raised to maturity. He had attended school for many years at what was known as the old " Albert Schoolhouse." a log structure, with benches made of split saplings, split side up, with " lngs" fastened by anger holes. Here the " hero of our tale" was taught by his father for quite a number of seasons, his father bring the teacher employed in his own district school. Subsequently, this studious youth was taught by Will- iam G. Thompson, formerly of this county, now a Member of Congress from Towa. Later, he attended a high school in West Sanbury, and still later the Butler Academy, then under the control of Rev. Will. iam White, and for some years afterward was a student of the Witherspoon Institute in Butler. On conclud- ing his literary studies, he commenced the study of the law with Purviance & Thompson (both members of the firm have in turn been Members of Congress) He was admitted to the bar on the 22d day of March, A. D. 1858, and immediately formed a partnership with Hon. John M. Thompson, Mr. Purviance having removed to Pittsburgh. He continued to practice his profession at the Butler bar with marked success until the spring of 1860. The name of Mr. Mitchell's father was John Hipple. His mother's maiden name was Jemima Mitchell. While yet a law student. he married a neighbor's daughter, with whom he lived several years; three children were the fruits of this union. The marriage proved to be a very unhappy one. and after several years of unsuccessful effort, he abandoned all hope of reaching a state of domestic happiness, and quietly took his leave of home and friends, taking with him his oldest child, a daughter. On reaching Pittsburgh. he wrote a letter to his partner. Col. Thompson, annonneing his purpose, authorizing him to settle up all their partnership accounts, and promising to let him hear from him later. His wife finally got a divorce on the grounds of desertion. To this, of course, he had no objection. For the pur- pose of avoiding any further trouble of a domestic nature, on leaving home he determined to change his name. In doing this, however, he only transposed the one he had. The name of his youth was John Mitchell Hipple: this he simply transposed into John Hipple Mitchell. his signature being John H. Mitchell.
Having "drawn anchor." John Hipple Mitchell turns his face toward the setting sun, and in a short time turns up in California. Here he remained but a few weeks. His next objective point was Oregon. where he soon arrived, reaching Portland in that State on the 4th of July of the same year (1560). Here he at once opened a law office, having been first admitted to the bar after an examination in open court. He soon took a prominent place in his profession, and was in March. 1861, elected attorney for the city of Portland by the Mayor and Common Council of
that city, which position he held until after his election to the State Sonate in June, 1862. when he resigned it. He was elected to the Senate for a term of four years. He had received the unanimous nomination of his party (Republican), and was elected by a large majority. He took his seat in the State Sonate in September, 1562, and served his full term of four years. He was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee during his whole term. At the opening of the session of 1864, ho was elected Lieutenant Governor of the State and presiding officer of the Senate. This position he hold until the end of his torm in 1866. On the meeting of the Repub. lican State Convention of Oregon in the spring of 1866, Senator Mitchell was urged by the friends and leaders of the party to permit the use of his name either for the office of Congressman or for Justice of the Supreme Court. He was urged to ac- cept either of these positions, but he declined both; but in the fall of the same year he permitted his friends to use his name as a candidato for United States Senator. His competitor in his own party was Hon. A. C. Gibbs, then Governor of the State, and had been during the war. One Republican State Senator declined for a time to go into caucus, and the vote in eaucus for three several evenings was a tie between the two candidates. At the next meeting of the cauens, the State Senator who had remained out heretofore attended the cauens and cast his vote for Gov. Gibbs, giving him a majority of one. Strange to say. this same State Senator on the next day went into the Senate, and declined to give his vote to the nominee of the caneus made the nominee by his vote, and con- tinned vigorously to oppose his election. The vote between the two parties was so close that the with. holding of his vote prevented an election, and the Republicans finally settled on Hon. H. W. Corbett, and elected him.
In the same year ( 1866). he was elected Professor of Medieal Jurisprudence for the Willamette Univer- sity at Salem, Oregon, by the faculty, which position ho filled four years, delivering some fifty lectures on that subject at each session. In 1869, he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States. In the fall of 1872, Mr. Mitchell was again a candi- date for the United States Senate, and received the party nomination in canens by a vote of three to one. and was on the 25th of September elected, receiving all the Republican votes in the Legislature Ho took his seat in the Senate ou the 4th of March, 1873, and remained a member of that body until the 4th of March. 1879. While a member of the Senate, he was always found serving most industriously on some of the most important committees, serving on the committee of commerce, and during his
John Ho. Mitchel.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
whole term serving on the committees of privileges and elections, on railroads, on transportation routes to the seaboard and on claims. For two years, he was Chairman of the Committee on Transportation Routes to the Seaboard. and the last two years of his service was also Chairman of the Committee on Rail- roads. During the continuance of the Presidential controversy of 1877. resulting in the adoption of the electoral commission, he was acting chairman of the Committee on Privileges and Elections, composed as it then was of fifteen Senators-nine Republicans and six Democrats. This resulted from the fact that Senator Morton, of Indiana, who was its Chairman, was elected a member of the Electoral Commission. It was Mr. Mitchell that wrote the report of the com. mitter on the electoral vote of Oregon: he also pre- sented the Republican side of the Oregon controversy before the Electoral Commission, having been chosen manager of that case by the Republicans of the Sonate, the Democratic side being presented by his coltegue in the Senate, Hon. James K. Ketly. It has atready appeared that Mr. Mitchell has had a remarkably successful career politically for one of his years: his snecess as a lawyer has been equally satisfatory.
In 1862. Mr Mitchell associated with him as a law partner Joseph M. Dotph, a young man from Havana, N. Y .. who remained with him for seven years, until after his (Mitchett's) election to the United States Senate. At that time their practice was worth $30,000 a year, and had been for some years previous. Since his retirement from the Senate, he has been actively engaged in the praeties of his pro- fession, still having his office in Portland, Oregon. with Ralph M Dement as partner. He is yet in his early prime, with a large legal practice and with bright prospects before him.
Charles McCandless was born in Conter Town- ship, Butler County, on the 28th day of November, 1534: he was the son of Hon. John McCandless. at one time an Associate Judge in our courts, and in life and at death a highly esteemed citizen. The elder MeCandless was married to a Miss Sullivan, a sister of Hon. C. C. Sullivan, so long a leading light of the Butler bar. The subject of this notice remained at home with his parents on the farm until he reached maturity, going to school in the winter and farming in the summer. He then manifested a disposition to acquire more knowledge than could be acquired at his country home: he became a student of the Wither- spoon Institute, and finally read law with his uncle. Hon. C. C. Sullivan, in Butler and was admitted to the bar on the 14th day of June, 185S. He was an industrious student: he had for his room and school mate during a part of the time devoted to his aca demic studies. John M. Hipple (afterward Hon. John
H. Mitchell). He brought to his professional pur snits the same industry that had thus far marked his life.
In 1562, he was nominated by the Republicans of his eoanty for Stato Senator: ho received the district nomination and was elected. He served in that body three years with great acceptability, never, however, retinqnishing his hohl on his professional duties.
At the termination of his Senatoriat career, he emtimed his profession with even greater energy than ever, soon gaining that recognition that talent and industry are sure to command.
He soon after gained prominence as a financier, and finally became President of the First National Bank of Butler, an institution that had quite a sue- cessful career for some time, though afterward, through severe losses, it was compelled to close.
In 1871, he received the appointment of President Judge of the several courts of the county, by Gov. Hartranft. He afterward received the Republican nomination in the district, composed of the counties of Butler and Lawrence, having for his Associate on the ticket Hon. L. L. MeGutlin. of Lawrence County. 1 bott took place in the Republican Convention of But- ler County, and a combination was effected between the friends of E. MeJunkin, Esq., and James Bredin. Esq., the former one of the competitors with Me. Candless for the Republican nomination, and the other one of the Democratic nominees. The combi- nation was successful. MeJunkin and Bredin were both elected, distancing their opponents. They were both citizens of Butler, and brothers-in-law.
Judge MeCandless continued to practice taw in the district until the spring of 1877, when he was ap. pointed by President Hayes Chief Justice of New Mexico. This position he finally resigned to resume the practice of his profession in his native county, where he still remains in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice, one of the leaders of the bar.
S. P. Irvin was born in Adams Township. Butler County: he acquired such an education as home in- stitutions afforded, and followed school teaching for a number of years: ho read law, and was admitted on the 14th of January. 1858.
Edwin Lyon was born in Middlesex Township. Butler County, Penn. ; he was the son of T. H. Lyon. Esq., and one of the most respected and seful mom bers of society in his neighborhood and beyond.
The subject of this notice was a gifted young man. the hope of his parents. He was exceedingly fond of books from a child, and had a mind well stored with the gems of literature He read law with Cot. Thompson. He enlisted, in 1962. in the One Hundred and Thirty fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and became Captain. He was seriously twe might
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
say fatally) wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, a musket ball passing through his lung. After months of prostration. he reenperated sufficiently to return home: he partially recovered from the injury. but never wholly so. He renewed his relations with literature, and became quite a humorous writer. Hoping to improve his health, he accepted a Consul- ship to a Mexican city, where he remained for a time. only to return home to die. He was a gifted, gener- ous-hearted fellow. a favorite with all who knew him. He was married to Miss Elvira Bredin.
Isaac Ash was born in Forward Township, Butler County, Penn. : is the son of Isaac Ash, Sr., recently deceased. He acquired an academic education and read law in the office of Col. Thompson. He was ad- mitted to the bar January 5, 1859, and practiced for some time in Butler. He afterward located in Oil City, Venango County, where he still resides. He never sought political position, preferring to be a lawyer, pure and simple. He has followed his profes- sion with success. He married a Miss Martin, of Allentown, a daughter of Dr. Martin.
Amasa Brewster was born in Butler County; he read law and was admitted on the 5th day of January, 1859: he went West.
A. J. Rebstock followed school teaching for some time: he afterward road law, and was admitted to the practice of the law on the 21th of December, 1960.
John Q. Sullivan was born April 2, A. D. 1839. at Prospect, Butler Co., Penn. He was educated at Jefferson College, read law and was admitted to the bar June 10, 1861: admitted afterward to practice in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He is married to a daughter of Judge MeClure, of Pittsburgh, now dead. He is still actively engaged in the practice of his profession.
Lewis K. Purviance, read law with his uncle. Gen. Purviance was admitted on the 6th day of Sep- tember, 1875: is now in Bradford, MeKean County.
Frank Fielding was a son of Zachariah Fielding, an early citizen of Slippery-rock Township: be read law in Butler, and was admitted to the bar on the 28th of September, 1863; he has siner practiced law in Clearfield, Penn .. a portion of the time in the office of Hon. William A. Wallace, United States Senator from Pennsylvania. He was a gentleman of good attainments and excellent character.
Hugh C. Graham was born in what in now Con- cord Township. Butler County, Penn., June 25. 1832; he was the fifth child of a family of eleven children, who all grew to maturity, nine of whom are still living. His brothers, William L. and David H., are dead. the latter from the effects of fever con- tracted while in the war of 1861. His father's name was Edward Graham, Sr .. a well-to-do farmer. The
subject of this notice remained with his father, assist- ing him with his farm work. until he was about twenty years of age; during this time, he had the ad- vantages of such schooling as the country district school would allow. which was very limited. When he determined to secure a more liberal education, he commenced attending the Witherspoon Institute. in Butler. Poun. He acquired what might be called an academic education.
In the spring of 1859, he was entered as a student of law in the office of Hon. John M. Thompson, and was admitted to the bar on the 25th day of March, 1861. In December of the same year, lie formed a partnership with Hon. Charles MeCandless.
In response to one of the calls of the President for volunteers, Mr. Graham, in Angust, 1862, enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Regi- ment. Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was mustered out with his regiment in June, 1863.
On the Ilthi of October, 1864. H. C. Graham took unto himself a wife-Miss Augusta Carnahan, third daughter of Robert Carnahan, Esq., late of Butler, Penn., deceased. Mr. Graham removed to Oil City. Venango County, Penn., where he has been eminently successful in his chosen profession.
J. David MeJunkin was born in Centro Township. Butler County, Penn .. September 3, 1839, and, until about sixteen years of age, performed the duties usually impose i upon a farmer's son during the busy seasons, and attended the public schools in winter. He then became a student of the Butler Academy and Witherspoon Institute for two years, and of the West Sunbury Academy for two additional years. Read
ing law with his uncle, Judge Ebenezer MeJunkin, he was admitted to the bar of Butler County June S. 1863. The following year, he became a resident of Franklin. Venango Co., Penn., where he continued until the spring of 1873, when the extensive opera- tions in the Butter County petroleum fields, the con- sequent great increase of law cases and demand for legal talent, indneed him to return to Butler, his present place of residence. In the fall of 1869, he was elected by the Republicans to represent Venango County in the State Legislature, and was re elected to the same office in 1870 and again in 1871. serving till 1872. He was the choice of the Butler County Republicans for Congressional candidate in 1880 and again in 1832, but failed to obtain the nomination in the district, which is composed of Butler, Crawford and Mercer Counties. Mr. MeJunkin enjoys a lucra- tive law practice, and is a grandson of David McJun- kin, one of the earliest settlers in Butler County. See history of Centre Township.
T H. Lyon, born in Middlesex Township, Butler County, Penn., July 23, 1846 was a student of the
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Witherspoon Institute, Butler, Penn., and Eller Ridge Academy, in Indiana County, of the same State. He commeneed the study of law with Col. John M. Thompson, of Butler, and completed the same with William G. Thompson (brother of John M. ), of Linn Connty, Iowa. where he was admitted to the bar in 1868. Returning eastward, he was admitted as a inember of the Butler County bar, July, 1882.
George W. Fleeger was born in Clay Township, Butler County. He received a common-school educa- tion in the schools of the township, and an academic course at the high school at West Sunbury; he com- meneed life as a school teacher: he early developed rare gifts as a public speaker. At the outbreak of the war. he abandoned his schoolroom and joined Com- pany D, of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Regiment of Volunteers; he became First Lientenant of the com- pany, and, on the resignation of Capt. Landen, he became Captain. From the time his regiment was mnstered into the service, in 1861. until the end of that sanguinary conflict, the history of the Army of the Potomae became his history. He shared its marches, its hardships, its disasters and its victories. When " smiling peace " onee more blessed the land, he returned to the " home of his childhood " and soon thereafter became a student of law in the office of Gen. John N. Purviance. On the 18th day of April, 1866, he was admitted to the practice of his profes- sion; his industry and integrity soon gained for him hosts of friends and a good practice. In 1870, he was nominated as a candidate for the Assembly by his party (Republiean), and was elected. The following year, he was again nominated and also re-elected. He was an honest, active member of the House, and at the termination of his second term he returned to his professional duties with renewed vigor. From that day to the present, he has been constantly en- gaged in his profession. He is quiet and unobtrusive in his manners, obliging in his disposition and faith- ful in the discharge of every duty. He is yet in his prime, and his friends anticipate for him a yet more prominent future.
William H. H. Riddle was born in Butler County in 1840; he was educated at the public schools of the county, and acquired his academie course at Harris- ville, Butler County. He studied law in the office of Col. Thompson, and was admitted to the bar in 1864; he was eleeted District Attorney in the fall of 1865, filling the office three years; he is still in the prae- tice of his profession; he has one of the best selected libraries in the town. He also takes great delight in the cultivation of flowers.
J. B. Clark was born in Plain Grove Township, Lawrence County, Penn .; ho was educated at the Witherspoon Institute, read law with Col. Thompson
and was admitted to the bar in September, IS6l. He served in the Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers during the war, and was elected Prothonotary of But ler County afterward; he is at present a citizen of Kansas, located in Stockton, Brooks County: he is the Superintendent of Public Instruction for said county : is permanently engaged in the work of educa- tion.
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