USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 13
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1830. Peter Levergood, Whig. 363; John Gephart, D., 82; Samuel Statler. D .. 365; Michael Dan Magehan, Whig, 251.
1831. John Gephart, D., 317; Daniel Weyand, D., 364; John Matthews, Whig, 537; Peter Levergood. Whig, 315.
1832. Norman M. Bruce, D., 257; Bernard Conley, Jr., D., 255; John Matthews, W., 682; Daniel Weyand, D., 543.
1833. Bernard Conley, Jr., D., 230; Peter Will, D., 216; Henry Fox. W .. 448; William Philson, D., 444.
1834. Joseph Imhoff, D., 556; Joshua F. Cox, D., 349; Moses Canan. W., 538; David Lavan, D., 446.
1835. Joshua F. Cox. D., 707; John Gephart, D., 633; Rob- ert P. Linton, D., 699; David Lavan, D., 574.
Act of June 16. 1836, P. L. 794. The district still continued as Cambria and Somerset counties, with two members there- from. The ratio was 3057; 100 members:
1836. George Mowery, W., 561; Joseph Chamberlain, W.,
585; William A. Smith. D., 435; Jacob G. Miller, D., 444.
1837. Joseph Chamberlain, W., 532; Jonas Keim, W., 510; John Kean, D., 602; Joseph Cummins, W., 582.
1838. Jonas Keim, W., 837; Joshua F. Cox, D., 761; Solo- mon Baer, D., 834; John Williams, 781.
1839. Jonas Keim, W., 470; Frederick Neff, D., 713; Wil- liam Todd, 768; Michael Dan Magehan, W. 569.
1840. John Hanna, W .. 374; Joshua F. Cox, D., 393; Michael Dan Magehan, W., 1117 ; Solomon Baer, D., 894.
1841. John Royer, W., 917; John Hanna, W., 874.
1842. John Linton, W., 922; Tobias Musser, Ind., 491; Jonathan Knepper, Ind., 474; John Will, 388.
Act of April 14, 1843, P. L. 251. Under this act Cambria county was made a separate district, with one member. The ratio was 3876, with 100 members in the House.
1843. John Linton, W., 817; David Somerville, D., 691; John Francis, Ind., 113.
1844. Michael Dan Magehan, W., 872; Joseph McDonald,
D., 804; George Murray, Ind., 404.
1845. Michael Dan Magehan, W., 1016; George Murray, D .. 828.
1846. Michael Hasson, D., 600; Michael Dan Magehan, W., 559; John Bell, Ind., 306.
1847. John Kean, D., 1116; George W. Kern, W., 975.
1848. John Fenlon, W., 1307; John Kean, D., 1202.
1849. William A. Smith. D., 1282; John Fenlon, W., 1202. Act of May 15, 1850, P. L. 777. This act changed the dis- trict to Bedford and Cambria counties, with two members of the House. The ratio was 4865 with 100 members.
Fulton county was organized April 19, 1850, and was at-
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
tached to Bedford and Cambria district. It formerly formed a part of Bedford county.
1850. John Cessna, D., 1404; elected speaker; John Lin- ton, W., 1387; William A. Smith, D., 931; Samuel J. Castner, W., 944.
1851. John Kean, D., 1753; William P. Schell, D., 1706; John Linton, W., 1198; Aaron Barnhart, W., 1121.
1852. Thomas Collins, D., 1767; William P. Schell, D., 1791; Daniel Litzinger, W., 1280; J. E. Satterfield, W., 1137.
1853. Thomas Collins, D., 1526; W. T. Dougherty, D., 1581; Abraham Kopelin, W., 1250; J. H. Wilkinson, W., 1180. 1854. George S. King, W., 1760; William T. Dougherty, D., 2506; William A. Smith, D., 1511; Peter Schell, W., 436. 1855. George Nelson Smith, D., 2076; Joseph Bernard, D., 2084; R. S. Alexander, W., 1422; William W. Kirk, W., 1425.
1856. George Nelson Smith, D., 2778; William C. Reamer, D., 2778; William W. Sellers, Rep., 1548; John Pringle, Rep., 1549.
Act of 20 May, 1857, P. L. 622, made Cambria a separate district with one member. There were 100 members, with a ratio of 5796.
1857. George Nelson Smith, D., 2035; William Palmer, R., 1549.
1858. Thomas H. Porter, D., 2091; Richard J. Proudfoot, R., 1779. 1859. Richard J. Proudfoot, R., 1849; Daniel Litzinger, D., 1590.
1860. A. C. Mullen, R., 1542; George Nelson Smith, D., 1172: James Potts, D., 1107; Michael Dan Magehan, D., 900.
1861. Cyrus L. Pershing, D., 2369; Abraham Kopelin, R., 1235.
1862. Cyrus L. Pershing, D., 2750; James Cooper, R., 1537.
1863. Cyrus L. Pershing, D., 3024; James Carroll, R., 2106. Act of 5 May, 1864, P. L. 260, made no change in Cambria. 1864. Cyrus L. Pershing, D., 2688; Evan Roberts, R., 1863. 1865. Cyrus L. Pershing, D., 2739; James Conrad, R., 1934.
1866. John P. Linton, D., 3375; John J. Glass, R., 2565. 1867. John P. Linton, D., 3031; Samuel Singleton, R., 1971.
1868. John Porter, D., 3504; James Morley, R., 2854. 1869. John Porter, D., 3172; F. M. Flanagan, R., 2434.
1870. W. Horace Rose, D., 2909; Henry D. Woodruff, Ind. D., 2707. Removal issue.
Act of 6 May, 1871, P. L. 252, did not change the situation.
1871. Samuel Henry, R., 2912; W. Horace Rose, D., 2545. 1872. Samuel Henry, R., 3426; John Hannan, D., 2952. 1873. Samnel Henry, R., 3171; Henry Scanlon, D., 2825.
136
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
The apportionment of 19 May, 1874, P. L. 197, continued the district as separate, and gave Cambria two members. 201 members in the house.
1874. John Hannan, D., 3293; John Buck, D., 3097; Thomas H. Lapsley, R., 2491; John C. Gates, R., 2393.
1876. James J. Thomas, D., 4243; John Downey, 3985; John H. Brown, R., 3240; W. H. Sloan, R., 3154.
1878. L. D. Woodruff, D., 3228; John Fenlon, D., 3136; Alexander Kennedy, R., 2197; D. M. Kratzer, R., 1801.
1880. L. D. Woodruff, D., 4551; John Fenlon, D., 4307; S. A. Criste, 4130; John W. Seigh, G .- R., 4078.
1882. Nathaniel Horne, D., 4384; Joseph McDonald, D., 4298; Samuel P. Morrell, R., 3602; W. W. McAteer, R., 3346.
1884. Nathaniel Horne, D., 5009; John C. Gates, R., 4868; William H. Sechler, D., 4791; James Cooper, R., 4169.
1886. John S. Rhey, D., 4909; Daniel Mclaughlin, D., 4365; Emanuel James, R., 4066; Joseph Masters, R., 3833.
1888. John S. Rhey, D., 5848; John M. Rose, R., 5762; Daniel MeLaughlin, D., 5645; David K. Wilhelm, R., 5611.
1890. Edward T. McNeelis, D., 5447; Michael Fitzharris, D., 5224; Samuel D. Patterson, R., 4506.
1892. J. C. Stineman, R., 6224; James J. Thomas, D., 6169; Slater W. Allen, D., 6112; John C. Gates, R., 5994.
1894. Samuel D. Patterson, R., 6870; J. C. Stineman, R., 6836; John B. Denny, D., 5145; John Ricketts, D., 4958.
1896. S. D. Patterson, R., 8549; William P. Reese, R., 8485; Thomas J. Itell, D., 6796; C. F. Frazer, D., 6662. 1898. Thomas T. Sheridan, D., 6568; W. C. Lingle, D., 6379; Harry L. Rodgers, R., 6144; J. Swan Taylor, R., 6067.
1900. Thomas Davis, R., 9830; James M. Shumaker, R., 9770; Thomas T. Sheridan, D., 7719; W. C. Lingle, D., 7517.
1902. Thomas Davis, R., 9098; E. E. Hohmann, R., 8798; Harry Somerville, D., 8403; Thomas J. Itell, D., 8321.
1904. Edmund James, R. 10,661; E. E. Hohmann, R., 10,543; John P. Bracken, D., 7878; W. C. Hubbard, D., 7481.
The apportionment of 15th February, 1906, P. L. 24, gave Cambria three members-one from the city of Johnstown, and two from the other parts of the county. There are 207 mem- bers in the house.
1906. First District, City of Johnstown: F. P. Barnhart, Rep., 2757; T. J. Itell, Dem., 1865; W. C. Wilson, Pro., 272; Charles H. Stroup, Lincoln, 233.
Second District, two from the county: Alvine Sherbine, Rep., 4873; Edmund James, Rep., 4730; A. C. Strittmatter, Dem., 3905; W. C. Hubbard. Dem., 3340; David Irvine, W. C .- Lin., 2106; Edward Fisher, W. C .- Lin., 1657.
137
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
SHERIFFS OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
It will be observed that the act creating Cambria county directed that two persons be elected to the office of sheriff. This was an old Colonial practice and applied to every county, but only one was commissioned. The two having the highest votes submitted their names to the governor, who had the discretion to select one of the two. This custom prevailed until the con- stitution of 1838, which provided that one person should be elected for sheriff, and one for coroner.
The first named was commissioned or elected.
1807. James Meloy. 1810. Fed., 107. 1
Philip Noon, R. D., 109; William R. Williams,
1813. James Meloy, R. D., 156; Michael Skelly, Fed., 101.
1816. 3 John Murray, R-D., 198; John Keepers, Fed., 177. 1819. Owen McDonald, R-D., 188; Samuel McAnulty, Fed., 157. 1822. John Murray, R-D., 251; Henry J. McGuire, Fed., 222.
1825. John McGough, R-D., 375; John Mathews, 292.
1828. Fleetwood Benson, D., 306; William Pryer, 202. 1831. Robert P. Linton, D., 452; John Anderson, Whig, 134.
1834. William Rainey, D., 422. There were nine candi- dates-Daniel Huber, W., 410; Francis Christy, 267; William Scott, 140; William Todd, 68; Paul Benshoff, 23; Thomas Priestly, 10; Richard Lewis, 8; Charles Litzinger, 8; 158 re- turned for a scattering vote.
1837. Robert P. Linton, D., 638. There were sixteen can- didates, in addition to the scattered vote: Daniel Huber, W., 487; Paul Benshoff, 57; Hiram Craver, 56; William Benson, 18; Charles Litzinger, 18; William Todd, 18; Christian Horner, 15; John Lucket, 14; Thomas D. McGough, 12; Jacob Luther, 10; Fleetwood Benson, 10; Charles Dillon, 8; Thomas Priestly, 7; John Williams and John Fels, 5 each.
1840. William Todd, D., 834; David Davis, W., 727.
1843. James Murray, D., 620; David Davis, W., 582; Au- gustine Durbin, Ind., 451.
1846. Jesse Patterson, D., 1055; Henry Glass, W., 426. 1849. John Brawley, D., 1444; Robert B. Gogeby, W., 1065.
1852. Augustine Durbin, D., 2048; Alexander McVicker, W., 1062. 1855. John Roberts, D., 2107; Joseph Campbell, W., 1399. Robert P. Linton, 2176; James Myers, 1754. 1858. 1861. John Buck, D., 2242; James D. Hamilton, R., 1339. 1864. James Myers, D., 2670; George Engelbach, R., 1593.
138
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
1867. 1870.
R., 2112. 1873.
John A. Blair, D., 3031; Samuel Singleton, R., 1971. William B. Bonacker, D., 3545; Francis Craver,
Herman Baumer, D., 2978; John T. Harris, R., 2765. 1876. 1879.
John Ryan, D., 3692; Thomas Davis, R., 3481. Thomas Griffith, R., 3072; Michael J. Nagle, D.,
2588. 1882. R., 3923. 1885. 1888.
Demetrius A. Luther, D., 3975; D. H. Kinkead,
Joseph A. Gray, D., 3740; J. C. Stineman, R., 3469. J. C. Stineman, R., 6111; John J. Kinney, D., 5421.
1891. J. M. Shumaker, R., 6235; Joseph A. Gray, D., 5664. D. W. Coulter, R., 6909; Robert H. Nixon, D., 5236.
1894.
1897. Geo. M. Wertz, R., 6831; Herman Baumer, D., 6594.
1900. Elmer E. Davis, R., 9638; John H. Waters, D., 7973.
1903. Samuel Lenhart, D., 8898; John L. Sechler, R., 8283.
1906. Webster Griffith, R., 8189; W. H. Strauss, D., 7159.
THE PROTHONOTARY.
When the county was organized, the prothonotary of the courts was appointed by the governor, but under the constitu- tion of 1838 the office became elective. In addition to his duties as they exist at present, he was also register of wills, recorder of deeds and clerk of the orphans' court, which so continued until 1854.
1808. Edward V. James.
1809. James C. McGuire.
1821. Cornelius McDonald.
1823. Philip Noon.
1833. Adam Bausman.
1836. David T. Storm, W., removed by Gov. Porter.
1839. William A. Smith, D., appointed by Gov. Porter.
1839. William A. Smith, D., 753; Edward Shoemaker, W., 528. 1842. William A. Smith, D., 734; George J. Rodgers,
W., 647.
1845. Joseph McDonald, D., 863; John Linton, W., 732; George Burgoon, 190; Michael Hay, 96.
1848.
William Kittell, D., 1552; Edwin A. Vickroy, Robert L. Johnston, W., 1569; William Kittell,
W., 998. 1851. D., 1381.
1854. Milton Roberts, W., 1818; Geo. C. K. Zahm, D., 1411. Joseph McDonald, D., 2756; Howard J. Roberts, 1856. R., 1556. 1859. Joseph McDonald, D., 1906; Howard J. Roberts, R., 1683.
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
1862. Joseph McDonald, D., 2738; William K. Carr,
R., 1531.
1865. Geo. C. K. Zahm, D., 2764; Edward F. Lytle, R., 1909.
1868. Josiah K. Hite, D., 3650; J. M. Christy, R., 2753.
1871. Josiah K. Hite, D., 3186; Charles C. Teeter, 2175.
1874. Bernard McColgan, D., 3005; D. H. Kinkead, R., 2629.
1877. Charles F. O'Donnell, D., 2475; William A. McDer- mitt, R., 1051; Emery West, G., 1252; Nathaniel Horne, Ind., 583. 1880. John C. Gates, R., 4356; Charles A. Langbein, D., 4242.
1883. Harry A. Shoemaker, D., 4064; John C. Gates, R., 3751.
1886. Harry A. Shoemaker, D., 5031; Clark H. Laughry, R., 3838. 1889. James C. Darby, D., 4546; Charles E. Troxell, R., 4187.
James C. Darby, D., 6255; Abraham A. Stutzman,
1892. R., 6012. 1895. Samuel W. Davis, R., 5915; William S. O'Brien, D., 4969. 1898. Samuel W. Davis, R., 6660; H. A. Shoemaker, D., 6491.
1901. Charles E. Troxell, R., 9215; R. L. Boner, D., 8409.
1904. Charles E. Troxell, R., 11005; John T. Long, D., 7667 ; H. O. Winslow, Pro., 593.
RECORDER OF DEEDS, REGISTER OF WILLS, AND CLERK OF ORPHANS' COURT.
1854. William C. Barbour, W., 1692; James J. Will, D., 1478.
1857. Michael Hasson, D., 1802; George C. K. Zalım, D-R., 1715.
1860. Edward S. Lytle, R., 1459; James Griffin, D., 1429; Albert M. Gregg, B-D., 1117; Robert H. Canan, Ind., 692.
1863. James Griffin, D., 3014; Robert Litzinger. R., 2138.
1866. James Griffin, D., 3288; William A. MeDermitt, R., 2640.
1869. George W. Oatman, D., 3088; Samuel W. Davis, R., 2526.
1872. James M. Singer, D., 3495; S. A. Kephart, R., 2905. 1875. James M. Singer, D., 3180; B. P. Anderson, R., 2649. 1878. Jolm G. Lake, D., 2963; Israel W. Watterman, R., 2240; W. W. Saupp, G., 1364; William A. Noel, Ind., 45.
1880. John H. Brown, R., appointed vice John G. Lake, deceased. 1880. 1883.
1886.
John H. Brown, R., 4652; Michael Sweeney, D., 3959. John H. Brown, R., 3933; Hugh MeMonigal, D., 3848. Celestine J. Blair, D., 4864; John H. Brown, R., 4001.
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY
1889. Celestine J. Blair, D., 4538; D. H. Kinkead, R., 4186.
1892. Daniel McGough, D., 6237; Samuel W. Davis, R., 6013.
1895. F. B. Jones, R., 5870: Daniel A. McGough, D., 4997.
1898. F. B. Jones, R., 6683; Dr. George E. Conrad, D., 6619.
1901. William H. Strauss, D .. 9418; Charles C. Linton, R., 8334
1904. Arthur Griffith, R .. 10179; Wm. H. Strauss, D., 8899; Alex. McDowell, Pro., 466.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
Where a judicial district consisted of more than one county, each of them was entitled to have two associate judges to sit with the president judge, who until 1851 were appointed by the governor. For Cambria county they were:
1807. Abraham Hildebrand and George Roberts.
1826. George Roberts and John Murray.
1838. John Murray and Richard Lewis.
1843. John Murray and Philip Noon. Judge Lewis was appointed by Governor Ritner, and Governor Porter desired to appoint Judge Noon, but Lewis refused to resign, when he was removed.
1851. Harrison Kinkead, D., 1610; Evan Roberts, W., 1451; George W. Easly, D., 1417 ; Michael Levy, W., 1294. Judge Rob- erts resigned September 3, 1855, and Governor Pollock ap- pointed Moses Canan to fill the unexpired term.
1855. Harrison Kinkead and Moses Canan.
1856. George W. Easly, D., 2742; Richard Jones, Jr., D., 2710; Stephen Lloyd, Rep., 1537; Moses Canan, Rep., 1590.
1861. George W. Easly, D., 2304; Henry C. Devine, D., 2239; Isaac Evans, Rep., 1279; James Purse, Rep., 1272.
1866. George W. Easly, D., 3307; James Murray, D., 3281; John Williams, R .. 2605; Charles B. Ellis, R., 2485.
1871. Rees J. Lloyd, D., 3057; John Flanagan, D., 3051; Daniel J. Jones, R., 2367 ; David Hamilton, R., 2287.
1876. John Flanagan, D., 4283; John D. Thomas, D., 4135; Richard Jones, R., 3020; Irvin Rutledge, R., 2950.
1881. Joseph Masters, R., 3840; John Flanagan, D., 3433; Richard Elder, R., 3165; James Myers. D., 3120.
The December court, 1886, was the last one to sit where as- sociate judges sat.
J. Frank Condon was appointed court reporter on June 8, 1880, by Judge Dean, and died at Altoona, April 25, 1901. Mr. Condon was succeeded by F. C. Sharbaugh, of Ebensburg.
141
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
Prior to the act of 1850, the prosecuting officer for the county was the attorney general for the state, who appointed a deputy attorney general in each county, or wherever he deemed it neces- sary; after that date the office of district attorney was made elective. The following are the attorney generals and their deputies :
1808. Joseph M. McKean.
1809-1810. Walter Franklin.
William R. Smith.
1811. Richard Rush.
1812 to 1816. Jared Ingersoll.
William R. Smith.
1817 and 1818. Amos Ellmaker. Moses Canan.
1819 and 1820. Thomas Sergeant. Henry Shippen.
1821, '22 and '23. Thomas Elder. William R. Smith.
1823-1826. Frederick Smith. Carpenter.
1828-29. Amos Ellmaker.
1829. Philip S. Markley.
1830-32. Samuel Douglass.
1833. Ellis Lewis.
1834-35. George M. Dallas.
1836-37. James Todd.
1838. William B. Reed.
1839-44. Ovid F. Johnson.
1845. John K. Kane.
1846. John M. Reed.
1847-'48. Benjamin Champneys. Michael Hasson.
1849-1850. Cornelius Darrah.
Carpenter.
Michael Dan Magehan.
L. G. Pearce and Carpenter. Michael Dan Magehan.
Moses Canan.
Thomas C. McDowell.
Michael Hasson.
Michael Hasson.
Edward Hutchinson and T. H. Heyer.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
This office became elective in 1850.
1850. Edward Hutchinson, Jr., W., 1175; Michael Hasson, D., 1081. 1853. T. L. Heyer, D., 1675; Geo. M. Reade, W., 1046.
1856. T. L. Hever, D., 2755; Charles W. Wingard, R., 1500.
1859. Philip S. Noon, D., 1838; Joseph H. Campbell, R., 1660.
1862. Philip S. Noon, D., 2773; John H. Fisher, R., 1455.
1865. John F. Barnes, D., 2715; Samuel Singleton, R., 1946. 1868. Francis P. Tierney, D., 3293 ; Joseph McDonald, 3037. 1871. William H. Sechler, D., 3107; Thomas W. Dick, R., 2253.
1874. W. Horace Rose, D., 3480; E. G. Kerr, R., 2082. 1877. W. Horace Rose, D., 3192; James C. Easly, D., 1577. 1880. William H. Sechler, D., 4460; no opposition.
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
1883.
Harry G. Rose, D., 4281; no opposition.
1886. Harry G. Rose, 5070; T. F. Zimmerman, R., 3907.
1889. John Fenlon, appointed vice Harry G. Rose, de- ceased. 1889. Francis J. O'Connor, D., 4619; Henry Wilson Storey, R., 4061. 1892. Robert S. Murphy, R., 6334; Francis J. O'Connor,
D., 6032. 1895. Robert S. Murphy, R., 5924; James M. Walters, D., 5019. 1898. M. B. Stephens, R., 7039; Francis P. Martin, D., 6450.
1901. M. B. Stephens, R., 9580; Horace R. Rose, D., 8228. 190.4. J. W. Leech, R., 10951; Edward T. McNeelis, D., 8376.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE JUDICIAL DISTRICT-JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS, AND LEGISLA- TION-SPECIAL ACTS, THE JUDGES AND LAWYERS-INCIDENTS.
The first legislative act of the colony of Pennsylvania in establishing courts was that of 22 May, 1722 (1 Smith, 131). At that time the territory now in Cambria was a part of Chester county, and the courts convened "on the third day of the week called Tuesday" in February, May, August and November, and the court of quarter sessions of the peace was to continue for two days.
In 1722 the supreme court was established, to consist of three judges, of whom David Lloyd was the chief justice. By the Act of 8th of April, 1826 (9 Smith, 179), it was increased to five members, and by the constitution of 1873 it was again increased to seven justices. The Western District was established at Pitts- burg in 1806, to continue for one week.
Our county court was held in Lancaster from 1729 to 1749, in Carlisle, Cumberland county, the county capital, until Bed- ford was created in 1771, and then followed Somerset in 1795.
The Act of 13 April, 1791 (3 Smith, 29), created the Fourth Circuit Court District, consisting of Bedford, Cumberland, Franklin, Huntingdon and Mifflin counties. Our county court was then in Bedford.
The Tenth Judicial District was created by the Act of 24 February, 1806 (4 Smith, 270), and was composed of Armstrong, Cambria, Indiana, Somerset and Westmoreland counties, with Judge Young of Greensburg, as president judge, at a salary of $1,600 per annum. There were also two associate judges for each county.
The Act of 14 April, 1834, P. L., 344, authorized any two of these judges "to hear and determine all causes, matters and things cognizable therein." Our records show that the associate judges frequently held court in the absence of the president judge,. when they tried civil and criminal causes, charging the jury and entering judgment.
Under the last mentioned act the return days for our court of common pleas were "on the Mondays following the fourth
144
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Monday in March. June, September and December" and con- tinned for one week. The special Act of February 27, 1873, P. L. 169, provides for other return days than those mentioned.
The Twenty-fourth Judicial District was created by the Act of 5 April, 1849, P. L. 368, composed of Blair, Cambria and Huntingdon counties. Our court convened on the first Mondays of January, April, July and October; however, the Act of 1 May, 1852. P. L. 508, changed the regular terms to the first Mondays of March. June, September and December and to continue for two weeks. This act has never been changed.
The constitution of 1873 provided that when any county had a population of 40,000 or over it should be entitled to its own court and judge, and the office of associate judge should be abolished. The census of 1880 gave Cambria over that number, whereupon the. Assembly authorized and created the Forty- seventh Judicial District, by the Act of 7 August, 1883, pub- lished in the laws of 1885, P. L. 323.
FIRST JUDGES OF BEDFORD COUNTY.
At the time Bedford county was formed we were a part of it, as has been noted. On March 11, 1771, Lieutenant Governor John Penn appointed the following named persons as justices of the court of general quarter sessions of the peace and of the county court of common pleas for the county, and a commission was ac- cordingly bestowed upon each of them.
There were fifteen in the entire county, namely: John Frazer, Barnard Dougherty, Arthur St. Clair, William Creaford, James Milligan, Thomas Gist, Dorsey Pentacost, Alexander Mc- Kee, William Proctor, Junior, John Hanna, William Lochry, John Wilson, Robert Cluggage, William McConnell and George Woods. A dedimus potestatem was directed to John Frazer, Barnard Dougherty and Arthur St. Clair, which means in sub- stance they should administer the oaths of office and allegiance to the Proprietors of Pennsylvania.
At that period all the territory west of the mountains was in Bedford county, and these judges must have been located at various places therein for the convenience of the people. Judge Hanna was the first judge of Westmoreland, and held court at Hannastown; William Lochry was a resident of that portion of the county also.
The first court in Bedford county was held 16 April, 1771, and the judges present and sitting were: William Proctor, Rob-
145
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
ert Cluggage, Robert (John) Hanna, George (John) Wilson, William Lochry and William MeConnell.
This was the judicial system until after the Declaration of Independence and until the adoption of the constitution of 1790. Under that instrument Governor Mifflin appointel James Mar- tin, Barnard Dougherty and George Woods, who served alter- nately as the president judge. This system was, however, changed by the Act of 13 April, 1791, when in the following Au- gust the governor appointed Thomas Smith of Bedford, presi- dent judge of the fourth district, which included Bedford, Cum- berland, Franklin, Huntingdon and Mifflin counties, and four as- sociates for Bedford county, namely : George Woods, first asso- ciate: James Martin, seeond; Hugh Barclay, third, and Peter Hopkins fourth. Judge Smith served until 31 January, 1794, when he was appointed an associate judge of the supreme court. and James Riddle of Chambersburg succeeded him in Bedford county, who continued to preside until November, 1804, when he was succeeded by Thomas Cooper.
On March 1, 1806, Jonathan H. Walker succeeded Cooper. Judge Walker was the father of Robert J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury of the United States under President Polk, and was the author of the Walker tariff bill of 1846, which only passed with the deciding vote of Vice President Dallas of Penn- sylvania.
The county of Somerset was taken from Bedford county by the Act of 17 April, 1795, and the first term of court was held in Somerset on Christmas day of that year. The president judge was Alexander Addison, of the fifth judicial district, with James Wells, Abraham Cable and Ebenezer Griffith as his associates. Judge Addison was the author of "Addison's Re- port for the County Courts of the Fifth Distriet and the High Court of Errors and Appeals." The fifth district or circuit con- sisted of Westmoreland, Fayette, Washington and Allegheny counties. Judge Riddle and Judge Cooper succeeded Addison, who were respectively, the judges of the fourth district, until 12 May, 1806, when Judge Young became the president judge of our district. Judge Addison served twelve years as president judge. He was eminent in his profession, an accomplished scholar and his integrity was beyond reproach, but on January 1, 1803, through political raneor he was impeached. After his death on November 24, 1807, when it was too late to remove the
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
stigma that had been cast upon his character, it was the prevail- ing opinion that a great wrong had been done him.
Judge Young was the first judge for Cambria. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, July 12, 1762, died in Greensburg, Octo- ber 6, 1840, and is interred in the St. Clair cemetery in that town. His father was a merchant of Glasgow, and at the time of his death his son John was a clerk for the father of Sir Wal- ter Scott.
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