USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 26
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James B. Marr, another old-time lawyer and a man of excellent family connections, became a member of the Clearfield bar about the year 1839. His brother, Phineas, is remembered as a prominent Presbyterian clergyman at Lewisburg, Pa. James B. Marr read law in the office of James F. Linn, esq., of Lewisburg, and was admitted to practice at that place. He came to Clear- field with a letter of introduction, written by Mr. Linn and addressed to George R., afterward Judge Barrett, recommending the bearer as a competent person as a lawyer, and suggesting the formation of a partnership if agreeable to Mr. Barrett. The partnership was never formed, as business was not sufficiently lucrative to bear a division. Mr. Marr practiced here several years with mod- erate success. He died here, leaving no family. He was the fifth resident lawyer in the county.
Daniel G. Fenton came, a single man, from New Jersey, and was admitted to practice at the courts of the county. He came here about 1830, and left somewhat hurriedly in 1836. The circumstances of his leaving were about as follows : He had became considerably involved with debts variously contracted, and, in order to escape from his creditors, sold his law books to John R. Bloom, a merchant of the town, and in the night time decamped, using the proceeds of the sale of his library to take him away. He went to Iowa, where he after- ward died. Mr. Fenton was a weak lawyer, but very popular in the town.
Elmer S. Dundy read law in Clearfield, and was admitted here, but never practiced at the courts of the county. He migrated westward and settled at Falls City, Neb., where he was appointed justice of the United States Supreme Court.
Lewis J. Krans first started in business as a merchant at Curwensville, but became involved and failed. His failure embarrassed his brother of Philadel- phia, who had made advances to him, and he also failed. After that, Lewis read law in the office of Joseph S. Frantz, of Clearfield, and was admitted to practice. He remained here six or seven years and then went to Philadel- phia. He stayed there a short time and moved to Concordia, Kan.
Isaac G. Gordon was a native of Union county. He read law in the office of James F. Linn, of Lewisburg, Pa., and was admitted to the bar in 1843.
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From there he came to Clearfield, armed with a letter of introduction to Mr. Barrett, with a request that he be taken as a partner. Mr. Barrett at that time did not see fit to take a partner. Mr. Gordon remained in Clearfield until the next spring, when, at the suggestion of Mr. Barrett, he went to Erie with a view of locating there, but remained there only four weeks and then returned to Clearfield county and established an office at Curwens- ville. In February of the next year he came to the county seat to attend a term of court. Here he again met Mr. Barrett and informed him that he (Gordon) had made just three dollars as the result of his winter's practice at Curwensville. A partnership was then formed and Mr. Gordon again located at Clearfield. Their association continued for about three years. Mr. Gordon could prepare a case ably, but as a trial lawyer he was not a success; he, in fact, disliked to try causes, and avoided that part of the practice as much as possible. In the mean time Mr. Barrett had an extensive and growing practice in Jefferson county, and at last suggested that Mr. Gordon should locate there and take charge of that branch of the business in an equal partnership. This Mr. Gordon assented to, and moved to Brookville. After a short time Mr. Heath (afterward Judge Heath) was taken into the firm, under the name and style of Barrett, Heath & Gordon. Upon the advancement of Mr. Barrett to the bench, he surrendered his interest to his partners. Mr. Gordon is an up- right, conscientious, modest gentleman ; a lawyer of ability and sound learn- ing. He is now on the bench of the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth.
James Harvey Larrimer was born in Centre county ; he read law in the office of Judge James Burnside, and was admitted to practice at the bar of Centre county. In the spring of 1854 he came to Clearfield and took up his residence. He practiced until 1858, when he became associated with R. F. Ward, jr., as editors and publishers of the Clearfield Republican, and so con- tinued until the spring of 1860, when he retired from its management and re- sumed the practice of law. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he was appointed first lieutenant of a company under Captain Loraine, of the Fifth Pennsylvania Reserves. Before arriving at the front he was elected captain of a company in the same regiment. Subsequently he was promoted to the office of major, and transferred to the staff of General Samuel W. Crawford. Major Larrimer was killed by guerrillas near Collett's Station, Va., February 14, 1863. His remains were brought home and buried in the Clearfield Cemetery. Larrimer Post, G. A. R., was so named in honor of Major James Harvey Larrimer.
Joseph S. Frantz came to Clearfield from Kittanning, Armstrong county, about the year 1850. He practiced law here about three or four years and then went west.
J. Biddle Gordon, son of Judge Gordon, of Reading, Pa., located in Clear- field as a lawyer about the year 1853. Mr. Gordon was a highly educated man and possessed great ability as a lawyer, but his inclinations and habits led 32
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him sadly astray. He was wild, reckless, and dissipated. In one of his ad- ventures he spent a large sum of money that he had collected for a client, and when a demand for it was made of him he promised to settle the next day. The same evening, however, he poisoned himself and died in a few hours. J. Biddle Gordon was not, in any manner, related to either Isaac G. Gordon or Cyrus Gordon, of the Clearfield bar.
Israel Test was born in Philipsburg, Centre county, Pa., September 28, 1831. At the age of sixteen he commenced teaching school, and by economy and industry accumulated sufficient means to enable him to attend Dickinson Seminary at Williamsport. In 1854 he entered the law office of J. M. Carlisle, esq., at Chambersburg, Franklin county, and in June, 1856, he was admitted to the bar. Mr. Test came to Clearfield in 1858, and resided and practiced here until the time of his death, August 12, 1886. Israel Test was a peculiar and eccentric person. During his many years of practice in the courts of the county, he was always known as the " wag of the bar." This peculiar faculty ·often stood him well, as many a case he has laughed out of court and suc- ceeded in gaining when his side possessed doubtful merit. In later years his associates, and especially the younger persons, named him "Father " Test. Mr. Test, notwithstanding his eccentricities, was a good lawyer and advocate ; a man of ability and thorough knowledge of the law, and more than that, a man universally respected by his fellow men.
Thomas J. Mccullough was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on the 10th day of July, 1828. In the year 1840, he came with the family of his father, an itiner- ant preacher of the Methodist Protestant Church, to Clearfield county and located at New Washington, in Burnside township. Here Thomas received such elementary education as the schools of the vicinity afforded. About the year 1851, he came to Clearfield and entered the office of Hon. George R. Barrett, where he read law until his admission to the bar some few years later. In 1868-9 he represented the county in the State Legislature. After his term of office expired Mr. Mccullough went into the oil fields of Pennsylvania and operated for a time with indifferent success. He returned to the county after about ten years in the oil regions and established an office for the practice of his profession at Philipsburg, Centre county, still making his home with his family at Clearfield. Thomas J. Mccullough died at Philipsburg, December 27, 1885.
John H. Fulford was born in Bedford, Bedford county, February II, 1838. While residing in Bedford he read law in the office of Frank Gordon, esq., but left there before completing his studies and came to Clearfield, where he entered the office of Joseph B. McEnally, esq. During his course of study with Mr. McEnally, Mr. Fulford was chosen principal of the school at Clear- field, held in the old town hall, an office that he filled very acceptably for some time. After completing his law course, Mr. Fulford was admitted to practice,
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about the year 1860. As a lawyer, he was honorable, conscientious, and thorough ; as a politician, he was a staunch, shrewd and uncompromising Republican. John H. Fulford died June 27, 1877. He was a prominent member of the Masonic order, the lodge, and the bar as well, attending the funeral in a body.
William Miller Mccullough, a brother of Thomas J. Mccullough herein- before mentioned, was a native of Beaver county, Pa., born on the Ist day of October, 1837, and came to this county with his father's family. William received but little education prior to the time of commencing the study of law. He entered the office of H. B. Swoope, esq., who instructed him in the elemen- tary school branches as well as those branches appertaining to legal practice. He was admitted to practice prior to 1856, and subsequently became one of the brightest and ablest lawyers of the county. He was twice chosen District Attorney of the county. In later years failing health forced him to retire from active practice and he went to the Southern States and died at Thomasville, Georgia, on the 26th day of January, 1884.
Robert Wallace was born in Barony Omagh, county Tyrone, Ireland, on the 13th day of March, 1792. He came to America and settled in Mifflin county, Pa., in the year 1819, where he taught school. He read law with Ephraim Banks, esq., at Lewiston, and was admitted to the bar in 1824. Mr. Wallace soon after his admission moved to Huntingdon, where he practiced law about a year, when he came to Clearfield in the year 1825. After staying here about a year he returned to Huntingdon and resumed practice, still re- taining his practice at Clearfield. In the year 1826, Mr. Wallace married and resided in Huntingdon until the year 1836. He held the office of Deputy Attorney-general of Huntingdon county for three years. During the year 1836 Mr. W. with his family moved to Clearfield and engaged in active practice up to the year 1847, when he moved to Holidaysburg, Blair county, where he lived until 1854. He then returned to Clearfield to live, but did not engage actively in practice. Robert Wallace died at Wallaceton, Clearfield county, January 2, 1875.
Henry Bucher Swoope was born in Huntingdon, Huntingdon county, Pa., in the year 1831. He was the son of William Swoope, M. D. of that town. He was educated at the academy at Academia, Pa., and read law in the office of John Scott, esq., of Huntingdon, and was admitted to the bar of Huntingdon county in 1852. After residing and practicing there about a year, Mr. Swoope came to Clearfield, where he lived and practiced until 1869, when he was ap- pointed, by President Grant, to the office of United States district attorney for the western district of Pennsylvania. Mr. Swoope then located at Pittsburgh and fulfilled the duties of the office until the time of his death in 1874. H. Bucher Swoope was one of the best criminal lawyers in this section of the State ; as an orator, he was eloquent and brilliant and one of the most successful political speakers in the Middle States.
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James Hepburn came to Clearfield from Philadelphia, and was admitted to the bar of the county in 1822. No accurate information is obtainable concern- ing Mr. Hepburn, but he continued to practice here until his death, many years ago.
James Peterkin also appears as one of the old practitioners at the bar in early days.
Frederick O'Leary Buck, an Englishman by birth, practiced in Clearfield. At one time he was associated in business with William McCullough.
Alfred A. Graham was born in Clearfield, February 3, 1845. He read law by himself and was admitted to the bar. He practiced for a time in partner- ship with William McCullough. Mr. Graham also read with William A. Wallace. At the time of his death, February 23, 1880, he resided at Du Bois.
Robert J. Wallace, another member of the old bar of the county, was born in Clearfield. He was a brother of William A. Wallace and read law in his office. Robert was admitted to practice and was at one time district attorney of the county. He died many years ago.
Samuel M. Green came to Clearfield from Centre county on the occasion of the organization of the courts in October, 1822. He was admitted to the bar of the county on that memorable occasion and was appointed Deputy Attorney-general for Clearfield county at that term. He stayed in the county several years.
An organization was formed about twelve years ago known as the Clear- field Bar Association. Officers were elected and meetings occasionally held. At one time J. B. McEnally was president. The association, however, came to grief through the sudden departure of the treasurer with the records and funds, and no trace of his whereabouts was ever discovered. Since that time the association have rarely held meetings, but it is believed that Mr. McEnally is still president. Of late an effort has been made to revive the organization, but as yet without success.
THE PRESENT CLEARFIELD BAR.
William A. Wallace was born in Huntingdon, November 27, 1827. Dur- ing his youth he was educated liberally and with a desire to train his mind to that branch of education that would tend to fit him for the legal profession. He studied law in his father's office and was admitted to the bar in September, 1847, in Clearfield county, where he had lived since 1836, having come here at that time with his father's family. In 1862 Mr. Wallace was elected to the State Senate representing the counties of Clearfield, Cambria and Blair. He was re-elected in 1865,'68,'71 and '74, serving fifteen consecutive years therein. In 1871 he was elected speaker of the Senate. He was chosen chairman of the Democratic State Committee in 1865, and held the position during 1866- 7-8, and again in 1871. In 1875 he was the successful candidate in the
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Legislature for the office of United States Senator, and succeeded Hon. John Scott. During later years Mr. Wallace has retired from active professional and political life and devotes his time to business pursuits. He has extensive coal interests in the county and large mining interests in the Western States which demand constant attention.
Joseph Benson McEnally, born January 25, 1825, admitted to the bar in 1849. (See sketch in preceding portion of this chapter).
John F. Weaver was admitted to the bar in 1844, after a course of study in the office of James Burnside, of Centre county. Mr. Weaver came to Clear- field in 1845 ; was made deputy attorney-general of Clearfield county in 1848 and served three years, after which he retired from practice and engaged mainly in the lumber business.
Walter Barrett was born in Clearfield, August 2, 1839; attended the com- mon schools at Clearfield, and entered the University of Pennsylvania, at Phil- adelphia. He remained at the university but a short time, and in the fall of 1853, received an appointment as midshipman in the navy and stationed at Annapolis, Md. In the spring of 1855 he attended the Moravian boarding- school at Nazareth, Northampton county, and remained nearly two years, after which he again entered the university at Philadelphia. He spent one year as civil engineer on the Philadelphia Railroad, after which he returned home and resumed the study of law, having previously studied during vacation time with his father, Hon. George R. Barrett. In 1859, Walter was admitted to the bar and commenced practice. At the breaking out of the war Walter Barrett was the first man that left Clearfield county to enter the service. He was appointed major of the Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers. Colonel William G. Murray, regimental commander, was killed at Winchester, and the command devolved upon Major Barrett, and so continued until the battle at Fort Re- public, when he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. After the battle at Cloud's Mills Colonel Barrett was injured by the falling of a bridge, his horse falling on him in the accident, and he was compelled to leave the service and return home in the early part of 1862. Colonel Barrett, although an active participant in legal and political life, never held any office. He was a candi- date for judicial honors against Judge Krebs, but was defeated by the latter in the nominating convention.
Joseph W. Parker has been a practitioner in the courts of the State for about thirty years, but is not an old member of the Clearfield bar, having located here within the last five years. Mr. Parker was born in Mifflin county, Pa., read law and was admitted to the bar there. He lived in Virginia five years, practicing law and engaging in politics. During his residence there he served in the State Legislature three years. On his return to Pennsylvania he was elected to the Legislature and served one term.
Frank Fielding was born at Slippery Rock, Butler county, Pa. He was
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educated at Saint Francis College, at Loretta, Pa., and at Saint Vincent's, at Latrobe, Pa., but was not a graduate from either. He received further in- struction from Rev. W. T. Hamilton, of Mobile, Ala., while the reverend pro- fessor was in the Northern States. Mr. Fielding studied law with Hon. Wm. P. Hill, at Marshall, Texas ; continued his course with John N. Thompson, of Butler, Pa., and finished in the office of Hon. James Bredin, of Butler, now of Pittsburgh, Pa. In 1864, Mr. Fielding came to Clearfield to practice. He became a member of the law firm of Wallace, Bigler & Fielding. The firm was afterward changed to Wallace & Fielding, and still later to Fielding, Big- ler & Wilson. Of late years, however, Mr. Fielding has practiced without a partner. He was elected to the office of District Attorney and served one term.
William Dock Bigler is a native of Clearfield, and was born September 17, 1841. He received a preparatory course of study at the West Jersey Acad- emy at Bridgton, N. J., remaining there about two years. In 1859 he entered Princeton College and left in 1861. Mr. Bigler read law with William A. Wallace from 1862 to 1866, but did not give his exclusive attention to law studies during that time. He was admitted to the bar in 1866. The law firm of Wallace, Bigler & Fielding was soon formed and Mr. Bigler became a mem- ber of it. Their firm relations continued about three years. Since 1870 Mr. Bigler has given his attention mainly to business interests outside the profes- sion. He is now engaged in lumbering and the manufacture of fire brick, and is also a member of the firm of Bigler, Reed & Co.
Thomas Holt Murray was born in Girard township, Clearfield county, on the 5th day of April, 1845. His early education was somewhat limited, being confined to such branches as were taught at the " country schools." In 1862 he entered Dickinson Seminary at Williamsport, but was soon afterward com- pelled to leave on account of a severe illness. From this time until 1864 he remained at home, teaching school and working on the farm, when he returned to the seminary. During his course of study at the college Mr. Murray read law under the direction of Robert Fleming, esq. He graduated in 1867. In the month of May, 1868, he entered the office of H. B. Swoope, esq., at Clearfield, where he completed his legal course, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1869. The firm of Murray & Gordon, of which Thomas H. Murray is a member, was formed in September, 1874.
David S. Herron was born in Center township, Indiana county, Pa., April, 24, 1844. He received an academic education, and afterward entered the Ohio University, at Athens, O., from which he graduated with the class of 1866; read law with Hugh W. Weir, esq., at Indiana, for two years, and was admitted to practice at the Indiana county bar in June, 1868. He then lo- cated in Clarion county and practiced until 1876, at which time he embarked in the mercantile and oil business. In 1883 he came to Du Bois, Clearfield
Thos. It Murray
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county, and resumed the practice of his profession. In 1874 Mr. Herron was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and in the year following was admited to practice in the District and Circuit Courts of the United States. Since 1874 Mr. Herron has held the office of United States Commissioner for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
David Luther Krebs, born October 5, 1846. (See ante, Bench of the county).
Hurxthal W. Smith was born in Clearfield county and was a son of Josiah W. Smith, one of the pioneer lawyers of the county. H. W. Smith read law in the office of Hon. William A. Wallace, and was admitted to the bar in 1869.
Alonzo A. Adams was born in Boggs township, Clearfield county, Decem- ber 3, 1847. He read law in the office of H. Bucher Swoope, esq., and after a four years' course of study was admitted to the bar at the June term of court, 1869.
From the alumni record of the Pennsylvania State College the following record is taken relating to Cyrus Gordon, B. S., LL. B. Born December I, 1846, near Hecla Furnace, Centre county, Pa ; 1864, entered sophomore class, Agricultural College; 1866, graduated and returned to college as tutor and post-graduate; 1867-9, studied law at Michigan University ; 1869, admitted to the bar of Centre county, Pa .; 1870, removed to Clearfield and began the practice of law ; 1876, elected alumni trustee, State College, for one year ; 1877, re-elected for full term of three years ; 1880, re-elected alumni trustee. In explanation of the foregoing record it may be well to state that Mr. Gor- don read law with Judge Samuel Linn, in Centre county, and that upon com- ing to Clearfield he was in the office of McEnally & McCurdy about one year prior to his partnership with T. H. Murray, esq.
Daniel W. McCurdy was born in Charleston township, Chester county, August 30, 1841. He received a preparatory education at Freeland Seminary, Montgomery county, and entered Dickinson College in 1858. After a full collegiate course Mr. McCurdy graduated with the class of 1862. He then taught school in Luzerne county about two years, and then came to Clear- field where he continued teaching until the early part of the year 1865. He then entered the office of Joseph B. McEnally and studied law until 1868, when he was admitted to the bar of the county. In 1872 the law firm of McEnally & McCurdy was formed.
Aaron G. Kramer was born in Centre county, August 10, 1844. He came to Clearfield in the spring of 1866, and entered the office of Israel Test, esq., as a student at law; was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county in Septem- ber, 1871, and has since practiced in the county. In the fall of 1886, Mr. Kramer was elected member of Assembly to represent Clearfield county.
John Lever Cuttle was born in Lancashire, England, June 22, 1809, and came to this country in the year 1823, and to Clearfield county in 1839. He
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was entered as a student at law with George R. Barrett, and read in connec- tion with his labors as a machinist until 1853, when he was admitted to prac- tice. In 1845 he was elected justice of the peace and served one term; in 1852 county surveyor, and served two terms; in 1859 prothonotary, and served one term; in 1882 became associate judge and served one term.
Harry Frank Wallace was born August 8, 1852, in Clearfield borough. He was educated at Lawrenceville, N. J., entering school there in 1867 and graduated in 1869; entered Princeton College in 1869 and graduated with the class of '73. He then returned home and read law in the office of Wallace & Krebs until 1875 ; then entered Harvard Law School and attended lectures one year; was admitted to the Clearfield bar in 1876. Mr. Wallace then be- came a member of the firm of Wallace & Krebs, and so continued until the election of Mr. Krebs to the office of president judge. The firm then became Wallace Bros., Harry F. and William E. Wallace constituting the firm.
William E. Wallace was born in Clearfield, February 24, 1855. After attending the common schools at Clearfield he entered Lawrenceville High School, from which he graduated in 1873 ; attended Harvard Law School two years ; read law with Wallace & Krebs three years, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1876. Mr. Wallace is now one of the members of the law firm of Wallace Bros., successors to Wallace & Krebs.
Oscar Mitchell was a native of Lawrence township, born February 28, 1849. He was educated at the State Normal School at Millersville, Lancaster county, Pa., but did not graduate from there. In 1874 he commenced the study of law with Frank Fielding, esq., and was admitted to the Clearfield bar in June, 1876.
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