History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 90

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650

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Henry fo liuson

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tion of Abraham Lincoln and the permanence of the Union. the legislative record of 1863, page 60, records on June 22d that Mr. Johnson read in place, "a joint reso- lution proposing an amendment to the Constitution, extending the right of suffrage to citizens in actual military service." Subsequent proceedings show that it was adopted by both Houses. At the next session he again introduced the amendment, it being necessary by the Constitution to be passed unchanged by two successive legislatures, and it was again adopted by both Houses. He also prepared, and on June 6, 1864, introduced another bill, submitting this amendment to a vote by the people, providing for a special election in July of that year. An adjourned session to receive the returns and announce the vote was provided for to be held in August, 1864. The election was duly held and the people by a very large majority adopted the amendment. The following brief extract from his speech on "The soldiers' amendment bill," furnishes full explanation of its object and necessity, in these words: "It simply contemplates incorporating into the Constitution of the State a great measure of remedial justice, to our patriotic and brave soldiers in the field." February 29, 1864, in order to render the amendment effectual, he introduced "An Act to regulate the election by soldiers in active military service." This was passed at the special session in August, 1864, and the amendment thus made effective secured the re-election of Lincoln and the final triumph of the Union cause. His official acts constitute a record of patriotism, ability, and zeal in the public service, which will endure as long as the Constitution itself; for, in the new and present Constitution, the soldiers' voting provision is retained, as originally proposed by him, and the law regulating the mode of voting thereunder, as framed by him, remains on the statute book, and neither is likely to be materi- ally changed. Mr. Johnson was a member of Company K. Fourteenth Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia, refusing any higher position than a private; this was during his senatorial term, and he was under command of General Rey- nolds, at and around Hagerstown, Williamsport on the Potomac, and other Southern places, in response to Governor Curtin's call at the Antietam campaign. He is a member of Muncy Lodge, No. 299, F. and A. M., and of Post No. 66, G. A. R.

The family records show on his paternal side an ancestry extending from 1505, when one Gasper Johnson, a colonel of infantry and a Huguenot in religion, was compelled to flee from France on account of religious persecution; he subsequently emigrated to America. Several of the Johnson family served in the Revolution and the War of 1812. His mother, as before stated, was a granddaughter of Daniel Brodhead, who was a deputy from Berks county to a Provincial Assembly convened in Philadelphia, July 15, 1774, and as a member of the appointed committee, recom - mended a Continental Congress and acts of non-importation, which were among the first steps toward the Revolution which followed. He was selected by General Washington to command the Western department at Fort Pitt and performed valu- able services during the war, and at its close was active in forming the "Society of the Cincinnati." Among the invaluable relics in the possession of the family which they delight to exhibit is a miniature portrait set in gold of General Brodhead, which in 1809 was bequeathed to his granddaughter, Mrs. Rebecca J. Johnson. This painting, although now much over a century old, is as perfect as when it was painted for his family, previous to the then Colonel's entry into the Revolutionary war.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

The oldest sister of Henry Johnson married Col. H. L. Cummings, and their eldest son, Henry, was colonel in the war of the rebellion and afterwards a member of Congress from Iowa. His sister, Laura, married the late Dr. Thomas Wood, of Muncy. His oldest daughter, Rebecca, is the wife of County Superintendent Charles Lose; another daughter is the wife of Emerson Collins, attorney at law, and another daughter recently married Herman L. Collins, now on the editorial staff of the Philadelphia Record; his youngest daughter died recently, and his four other daughters remain at home.

GEORGE W. YOUNGMAN, lawyer, was born at Youngmanstown, now Mifflinburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1819, and is the eldest son in a family of thirteen children. His ancestors on both sides came from the same place in Hol- land, and settled for a time in Philadelphia. Later, at the instance of the Penns, they settled on what is known as the Falkner claim of the Penn lands in Mont- gomery county. Here Henry Antes erected a grist mill on Swamp creek; he dedi- cated the proceeds from the same, together with the income from his farm, to the support of the Moravian school, which he employed John G. Youngman and Anna, his wife, to teach. This school was one of the first if not the first Moravian school in Pennsylvania. It soon became so large that Mr. Antes purchased land on which the school of Bethlehem was established. The descendants of Antes removed to Nippenose township, Lycoming county, and the Youngmans to Union county, and George W. Youngman is the first offspring from a union of these two families. The parents of George W. were Elias P. and Amelia (Antes) Youngman. The father died at his residence in Nippenose township, August 30, 1864. The mother was a daughter of John Henry Antes, a son of Col. John Henry Antes, who erected Antes Fort, near the mouth of Nippenose creek, and served in the Revolution. In April, 1831, his parents moved to Nippenose township, took charge of the farm and grist mill of Colonel Antes, and our subject was put to work on the farm and in the mill. In 1835 his parents removed to the farm and fulling mill on Antes creek, now the site of the Nippenose woolen mills. In 1838 Elias P. Youngman was appointed by Governor Porter register and recorder of Lycoming county, and after the adoption of the Constitution he was the first man elected to that office. He appointed our subject deputy recorder, and while serving in that capacity he attended the Latin school kept by Rev. J. P. Hudson and read law with Hon. Anson V. Par- sons. He was admitted to the bar in August. 1842, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. After his admission he was appointed county attorney, and served three years in that office. Mr. Youngman's experience in the orphans' court, and in recording and investigating land titles, together with his knowledge of the German language rapidly brought him a lucrative business. On the 26th of March, 1844, he was married to Ann E., daughter of Samuel Ludwig, of White Deer valley, Lycoming county. This year (1844) he purchased the prop- erty now known as Youngman's Block on Pine street, and in 1857 he erected the present brick building, which has since borne his name. In the latter year he bought a farm of 200 acres, situated west of Lycoming creek, and laid out about forty acres in town lots, kuowu as Youngman's addition to the Seventh ward. After the death of his father in 1864 he purchased the shares of the balance of the family in the homestead property on Antes creek. He built a saw mill thereon, and organ-

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ized a company which erected the Nippenose woolen mills at an expense of about $125,000. He was the principal stockholder and president of the company, which was dissolved after the panic of 1873. He then purchased the entire property, retired from its active management, and has since leased the mill. He resided for twenty-five years on his Pine street property, in Williamsport, when, to meet the demands for business locations, he erected his present residence on his farm west of Lycoming creek. Mr. Youngman served as school director for six years, and has filled various other minor offices. He is one of the original stockholders of the Will- iamsport Bridge Company and of the Williamsport Water Company, and was one of the leading spirits in the organization of the Wildwood Cemetery Associatiou and in the purchase of the land and laying out of the cemetery. He organized the society of the Independent Order of Good Templars, and passed through the sev- eral grades of that society.

Mr. Youngman has always been bold and fearless in his political opinions. Reared a Democrat, he left that party to espouse the cause of the abolition of slav- ery and protection to American industry. He is at present nominally a Republican, but expects to vote hereafter independent of party affiliations. He has been a stanch supporter of the Greenback currency and interconvertible bond monetary system, and, believing these to be the most vital issues before the people, will support the party upholding them regardless of name. He never was a candidate before the people for any political office, and never had any ambition for political preferment. Honest, active, energetic, and far-sighted in business, and frugal in his habits, he has justly earned the competence he has acquired, as well as the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens. To George W. and Ann E. Youngman were born nine chil- dren, seven of whom are living, as follows: Alonzo, a farmer of Newberry; Samuel L., a lawyer of Williamsport; George W., a manufacturer of Newberry; William, a merchant of New York City; James, an attorney of Williamsport; Mary, widow of James Mahaffey, and Dr. Charles W., of Williamsport.

SAMUEL L. YOUNGMAN, attorney at law, was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, August 24, 1846, and is a son of George W. Youngman. He received his educa- tion in the public schools and at Dickinson Seminary. He read law with his father, and was admitted to the bar, April 22, 1868. He began practice the same year, and has ever since been engaged in the active duties of his profession. He served as one of the Emergency Men during the rebellion. A Republican in politics, he was for some years an active member of the party, but latterly has taken very little interest in political affairs. Besides attending to the calls of his profession, he is also engaged in the real estate business. Mr. Youngman was married, February 22, 1871, to Margaret Louisa, daughter of Henry Rissell, of Lycoming county, and has a family of five children: William Sterling; Mary V .; Julia Ross; Amanda Louise, and Samuel Antes. He and wife are members of the Second Presbyterian church.

JAMES M. YOUNGMAN, attorney at law, was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, "September 2, 1852, and is a son of George W. Youngman. He was educated at the public schools, and in Dickinson Seminary and Williamsport Commercial Col- lege. He read law with his father and his brother, Samuel L. Youngman, and was admitted to practice in 1876. He was married in 1884 to Ella M., daughter of John R. Hinkle, of Williamsport, and has two children: Florence and Adaline.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

He and wife are members of Grace Methodist Episcopal church, and he is secretary of the board of trustees of that organization. He was one of the organizers of the Nippono Park Association, and is secretary thereof. In politics he is a Democrat.'

ANSON V. PARSONS was born in Granville, Massachusetts, in 1798. After a thorough course in the schools of that day, he entered the law school at Litchfield, Connecticut, from which he was graduated with high honors. He spent some time in the law office of Andrew Porter at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and in 1824 he located at Jersey Shore, Lycoming county, where he opened the first law office in that place. By close attention to his profession, Mr. Parsons soon acquired a good practice and built up a fine reputation as a lawyer. No one at the Williams- port bar could gain the attention of the jury more quickly, or retain it more success- fully, than Mr. Parsons. He studied the evidence in his cases thoroughly before they came to trial, and he was prepared to make masterly arguments to secure the admission of his own evidence and the rejection of much that was offered by his opponents. January 22, 1843, he was appointed Secretary of the Common- wealth by Governor Porter, and served until February 16, 1844. Subsequently he was elected State Senator, but before the expiration of his term he was appointed president judge of the judicial district composed of Dauphin, Lebanon, and Schuylkill counties. He was afterwards appointed associate judge of the court of common pleas in Philadelphia, and at the close of this term he resumed his practice in that city. During his residence there he collected and published two volumes of very valuable equity decisions entitled "Parsous's Equity Cases." Judge Parsons was married to Mary, daughter of James Hepburn, of Northum- berland county. Mrs. Parsons died in 1853, and Mr. Parsons never married again; he continued to reside in Philadelphia, where he died in September, 1882.

HENRY C. PARSONS, lawyer, and president of the West Branch National Bank, was born, February 10, 1834, at Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, son of Anson V. Parsons. He comes from a highly respected New England family, dating back to the early settlement of the country, of which many members have attained to distinguished prominence in the State that gave them birth, and many more to eminence in other States to which, obeying the colonizing instinct of their race, they removed in quest of opportunity and fortune. He removed with his parents to Williamsport when a few months old, and was subsequently prepared for college in the high school of that city. In 1851 he entered the Sophomore class of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, from which he was gradu- ated in 1854. His tastes and opportunities led him to embrace the profession of law, and after a thorough course of study in the office of his father, then prac- ticing in Philadelphia, he was admitted to the bar in 1857. Returning to his native county in the fall of that year he opened a law office in Williamsport, and has since practiced, and has attained prominence among the ablest lawyers of Pennsylvania. He enlisted in 1861 and served as sergeant of Company A, Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and in 1864 he made a second campaign as captain of Company B, One Hundred and Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was elected in 1873-74, a member of the Constitutional Convention of Penn- sylvania, an honor he shared with the most distinguished talent of the State. He was elected mayor of Williamsport iu 1881, and his administration, covering the

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years 1882 and 1883, was marked by business-like conduct of the city's affairs and its perfect cleanness. When he left the chief magistracy of the city, he carried with him the thanks and best wishes of his fellow-citizens irrespective of party. Since 1882 he has been president of the West Branch Bank of Williamsport, and is vice-president of the Savings Institution of the same city. Mr. Parsons is a Republican, and belongs to Reno Post, G. A. R. He was married, October 15. 1865, to Martha, daughter of Dr. William Hepburn, an esteemed and deceased physician, and to this union have been born five children.

HON. JAMES GAMBLE enjoyed a long, varied, and honorable professional and offi- cial career, and when he retired from the office of president judge of the Twenty-ninth judicial district, he bore with him the respect and confidence of the people whom he had served. He was born on the homestead farm, a short distance east of Jersey Shore, January 28, 1809, and was a son of James Gamble, who came from Centre couuty to Lycoming in 1803. He was educated at the Jersey Shore Academy, under the tuition of Rev. John H. Grier and Dr. Hugh Montgomery. The death of his father prevented him from receiving a collegiate education, as was contemplated, and he then concluded to learn a trade. He carried out his intentions by serving three and a half years at the tanning business. At the expiration of his apprentice- ship, through the advice and assistance of his brother John, he resumed his books, and finally studied law with Hon. Anson V. Parsons, who was then a resident of Jersey Shore. He was admitted to the bar of Lycoming county at the December term, 1833, but did not at once enter upon the practice of his profession. In Janu- ary, 1834, he was appointed county treasurer, and served in that office for two years. In 1836 he began the practice of the law at Jersey Shore, and soon built up a lucra- tive business. In 1841 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the legislature, and was re-elected in 1842. He devoted close attention to the work of legislation and retired with credit at the end of his second term. In 1850 he was nominated by his party for Congress in the old Eleventh district, composed of the counties of Lycoming, Clinton, Sullivan, Union, and Northumberland, and redeemed the district from the Whigs, which party had carried it the three preceding elections. He was re-elected in 1852, and during his four years in Congress he became intimately acquainted with the eminent men of the nation. On retiring from Congress in 1855, Mr. Gamble resumed the practice of his profession at Jersey Shore, and followed it without interruption for fourteen years.

In 1868 he was nominated for president judge of the Lycoming judicial district, and was elected by a handsome majority. He removed to Williamsport, and resided in that city the balance of his life. Judge Gamble served his full term of ten years, and during this long period he was fortunate in securing and maintaining the respect of the bar. When he retired from the bench, the bar held a meeting at which complimentary addresses were delivered, and a record of the proceedings duly made. The testimonials and resolutions were a fine tribute to the retiring judge, and were not only gratifying to him but to his many friends outside of the pro- fession. The judicial experience of Judge Gamble embraced every phase and variety of the administration of equity and law, civil and criminal. Eight persons were tried for homicide during his term, and four were convicted of murder in the first degree, and sentenced to suffer the penalty of death. So far as these trials were reviewed by the Supreme court, they were all approved.

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Judge Gamble married Miss Elizabeth Breneman, of Columbia, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and two sons and two daughters were the fruits of this union, as follows: John A., of Williamsport; James M., deceased; Barbara, who married William H. Trump of Philadelphia, and died many years ago, and Elizabeth, wife of Hon. O. H. Reighard of Williamsport. From early life Judge Gamble was a member of the Presbyterian church, and took an active interest in everything per- taining to church affairs. He filled a number of offices in the First Presbyterian church of Williamsport, and was noted for his strict devotion to the cause of religion .. When he closed his judicial term in 1878, he lived a retired life, surrounded by his family and friends, until his death, February 22, 1883. His aged widow resides in the old homestead on Fourth street, in the enjoyment of the comforts which his wisdom and foresight provided.

HON. HUGH HART CUMMIN, late president judge of the Twenty-ninth judicial district, was born at Liverpool, Perry county, Pennsylvania, May 25, 1841, and was a son of Dr. William and Mary (Hart) Cummin. His father was born in Ireland in 1804, and commenced the study of medicine at the Belfast Medical College, in the- City of Belfast, Ireland. In early manhood he came to the United States, and con- tinued his studies in Philadelphia at Jefferson Medical College, where he was graduated. He died at Liverpool, Pennsylvania, in 1846, where he had practiced his profession many years. His mother was a daughter of Hugh Hart, a farmer of Tuscarora valley, Juniata connty, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Henry W. Watson of Williamsport, in May, 1890. The subject of this sketch was thrown upon his own resources in boyhood, by the early death of his father, but, glowing with enthusiasm, indomitable pluck, and courage, which are marked characteristics of the Celtic race, he applied himself so assiduously during his school days that he began teaching ere reaching his majority. He subsequently attended York Com- mercial College, and acquired a thorough knowledge of bookkeeping. In 1862 he removed from Liverpool to Williamsport, and entered the law office of the late George White, Esq., then one of the active members of the bar. His legal studies occupied two years, during which time he supported himself by doing clerical work in the several county offices. He was finally admitted to the bar of Lycoming county in August, 1864, and at once began the practice of his profession in Will- iamsport, where he continued in the active duties thereof up to his death. In 1869 he married Charlotte, eldest daughter of John White of Williamsport, and of the two children born to this union, cne, John White Cummin, a graduate of Harvard University, survives, to solace and comfort his widowed mother.

Mr. Cummin was a painstaking, methodical, and energetic lawyer, and every case intrusted to his care was conscientiously prosecuted. He gradually built up a large and lucrative practice, and won his way to the front rank of his profession. In 1878 a formal letter containing over 2,000 names, and embracing the majority of the bar and advocates of every shade of political opinion, was presented to Mr. Cummin, requesting him to allow the use of his name for judicial preferment. The tone of this letter was highly complimentary, and he consented to be a candi- date for the bench. He was accordingly nominated for president judge of the Twenty-ninth judicial district, and was elected to that responsible position by a plu- rality of 305 votes, November 5, 1878. Judge Cummin distinguished himself by the-

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prompt manner in which he discharged all judicial business, and the same exactness of method and scrupulous regard for duty which had marked his career at the bar were conspicuous throughout his term of ten years on the bench. With a view to preventing needless expenditure or waste of the public money, Judge Cummin kept accurate statistics of all trials and the expenses of trials, and was thus enabled to institute many needed reforms. While on the bench he disposed of 5,878 cases, which had been regularly set down for trial. Many of these cases were of great impor- tance. One of them, which excited deep interest throughout the country, partien- larly in Catholic circles, was that between Father Stack and Bishop O'Hara, concerning the ownership of the old Annunciation church property. Judge Cummin, irrespective of his predecessor's decision, decided the case against Father Stack's claim to the church property, and this decision was affirmed by the higher courts. Judge Cummin's judicial career was characterized by high moral courage, a keen sense of justice, and a calm, firm, and dignified deportment, and he discharged his duties without fear or favor, faithfully redeeming his pledges.

After leaving the bench he devoted himself to professional labors, and was in the enjoyment of a very lucrative practice, when he responded to the call of Governor Beaver and went to Johnstown on an errand of mercy to assist in mitigating the sufferings of his fellow-man in that flood-swept city. While engaged in this work of philanthrophy and self-sacrifice, he was stricken with the disease which ended in his death at Cresson, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, Angust 11, 1889. Judge Cummin was a member of Christ Protestant Episcopal church, a comrade of Reno Post, No. 64, G. A. R., and a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. His courtly manners, his ready mother wit, his generous nature, his unbounded charity, and his inflexible honesty could not fail to make him hosts of friends in both church and society, as well as in every part of the West Branch valley.

HON. ROBERT P. ALLEN was the youngest son of Charles and Rachel Allen, and was born on the Allen homestead in Armstrong township, Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania, February 6, 1835. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm, and he obtained a good education in the public schools of Williamsport. He after- wards attended Dickinson Seminary, from which institution he graduated in 1852, and then entered Lafayette College and was there graduated in 1855. Upon his return from college he commenced the study of law in the office of Gen. Robert Fleming, with whom he spent a year and a half, and completed his legal studies at the Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Returning to Williamsport he was admitted to the bar of Lycoming county in January, 1858, and at once began the active practice of his profession. He applied himself to his duties with characteristic energy, and soon won an enviable reputation among his professional brethren. He first associated himself with James M. Gamble, and the firm of Allen & Gamble enjoyed a lucrative practice for several years. Mr. Gamble then retired, because of failing health, and Mr. Allen practiced alone for a short time, and then took into partnership John G. Reading, Jr. Allen & Reading was one of the best known and most successful law firms of Williamsport up to the death of Mr. Allen, December 6, 1890. He won a high reputation in his profession, and accumulated through the passing years a handsome competence. As a lawyer he possessed great legal learning and strength, was a man of unswerving integrity, and was always

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 90

Author: edited by John F. Meginness Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1650

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650