USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of Perry County, Pennsylvania, including descriptions of Indians and pioneer life from the time of earliest settlement, sketches of its noted men and women and many professional men > Part 49
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123
REGISTERS AND RECORDERS.
1820 -- Benjamin Leas. A. Fulweiler. 1875-Geo. S. Briner.
1878-Geo. S. Briner.
1824-Jacob Fritz.
1881-Josiah W. Rice.
1830-John McKeehan.
1884-Joseph S. Smith.
1836-Jere. Madden.
1887-Nathaniel Adams.
1839-John Souder.
1800-Nathaniel Adams.
1842-John Souder.
1893-James W. McKee.
1848-Geo. W. Crane.
1851-Robert Kelley.
1902-J. C. Lightner.
1854-John Campbell.
1905-Chas. L. Darlington.
1857-George Spahr.
1008-Chas. L. Darlington.
1860-Samuel Roth.
1911-Chas. L. Depugh.
1866-William Grier.
Wm. F. Swartz .*
1869-Thos. J. Sheibley.
1872-Joseph S. Smith.
1919-Wm. F. Swartz.
*Chas. L. Depugh died in office, and was succeeded by Wm. F. Swartz.
1845-Geo. W. Crane.
1896-James W. McKee.
1899-J. C. Lightner.
1863-William Grier.
1915-Chas. L. Depugh .*
1921-Wm. A. Meiser.
453
THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC OFFICIALS
SHERIFFS.
1820-Daniel Stambaugh.
1871-D. M. Rhinesmith.
1823-Jesse Miller.
1877-James A. Gray.
1826-John Hipple.
1880-J. W. Beers.
1829-Josiah Roddy.
1883-H. C. Shearer.
1832-Wm. Lackey.
1886-Jerome B. Lahr.
1835-M. Stambaugh.
1889-George M. Ritter.
1841-Alexander Magee.
1895-Charles L. Johnson.
1844-Henry Cooper.
1808-William H. Kough.
1847-Hugh Campbell.
1901-Charles L. Johnson.
1850-Samuel Huggins.
1904-Abram L. Long.
1853-Benj. F. Miller.
1007-E. T. Charles.
1850-Benj. F. Miller.
1911-James M. Baer.
1862-John Sheibly.
1919-Paul Fluric.
1868-Jere Rhinchart.
* PROTHONOTARIES. The dates given are the dates of election.
1820-Wm. B. Mitchell.
1876-David Mickey.
1821-Henry Miller.
1882-Alex. B. Grosh.
1824-Wm. B. Mitchell.
1885-Jacob E. Bonsall.
1829-George Stroop.
1888-Jacob F. Bonsall.
1835-John Boden.
1801-S. S. Willard.
1839-Alex. Topley.
1894-S. S. Willard.
1842-Alex. Topley.
1897-J. Wesley Stephens.
1845-Joseph Miller.
1900-J. Wesley Stephens."
1848-Peter Orwan.1
1902-G. Warren Stephens.2
1851-James L. Diven.
1905-G. Warren Stephens.3 Grafton Junkin.3
1857-David Mickey.
1906-George B. Shull.
1863-John C. Lindsay.
1909-George B. Shull.
1864-David Mickey.
1013-Harry W. Robinson.
1867-Charles H. Smiley.
1917-Harry W. Robinson.
1870- J. J. Spoonenberger.
1873-J. J. Spoonenberger.
*The prothonotary was clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, Court of Quarter Sessions, Court of Oyer and Terminer, and the Orphans' Court. About 1843 the Orphans' Court was placed in charge of the register and recorder.
1John A. Baker was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Peter Orwan.
2J. Wesley Stephens died in office, November, 1900, and was succeeded by his son, G. Warren Stephens, his deputy.
3G. Warren Stephens died in office, November 15, 1905, and was suc- ceeded by Grafton Junkin.
COUNTY TREASURERS. Showing date of election.
1820-William Power. 1823-R. H. McClelland. 1838-David Deardorff.
1827-Geo. Stroop. 1830-John Wilson. 1832-Robert Kelley.
1835-David Lupfer.
1841-Wm. Lackey.
1844-Henry Rice.
1847-David Lupfer.
1838-Joseph Shuler.
1892-Joseph A. Rice.
1856-James Woods.
1015-D. 1. Kistler.
1865-John F. Miller.
1921- 11. Russell Campbell.
1854-James 1,. Diven.
1860-James G. Turbett.
1879-Alex. B. Grosh.
1874-J. W. Williamson.
454
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1849-Jonas Ickes.
1878-Win. Rice.
1851-George Spahr.
1884-Wm. A. Lightner.
1853-Thomas Clark.
1887-Thomas J. Clark.
1857-H. D. Woodruff.
1890-John W. Kell.
1859-David J. Rice.
1861-John H. Sheibley.
1896-H. C. Gantt.
1863-James McElheny.
1865-Samuel Smith.
1902-Lawrence F. Smith.
1867-James McElhaney.
1905-D. C. Kell.
1869-Wm. Tressler.
1908-Lawrence F. Smith.
1871-Isaac N. Shatto.
1911-Robert A. McClure.
1873-Geo. W. Spahr.
1915-Charles S. Brunner.
1875-John R. Boden.
1919-James A. Noel.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
The dates preceding the names of the members of the different boards are the dates upon which they assumed office.
1820-Thomas Adams. 1857-James B. Cooper.
1820-Jacob Huggins.
1858-Thomas Campbell.
1820-Robert Mitchell.
1859-Henry P. Grubb.
1821-Robert Elliott.
1860-Henry Foulk.
1822-Samuel Linn.
1861-William Kough.
1823-John Maxwell .*
1824-Robert Mitchell.
1864-Perry Kreamer.
1825-Abraham Bower.
1865-John Wright.
1826-John Owen.
1866-William Hays.
1827-George Mitchell.
1867-George S. Bruner.
1828-Solomon Bower.
1868-John Stephens.
1829-John Junkin.
1869-Zachariah Rice.
1830-Jacob Kumbler.
1870 J. A. Leinawever.
1831-Alex. Bryan.
1871-W. B. Stambaugh.
1832-Frederick Orwan.
1833-Jacob Kumbler.
1834-George Beaver. Andrew Shuman.
1875-Joseph Ulsh.
1835-Cadwalader Jones.
1875-David Smith.
1836-George Beaver.
1876-J. Wesley Gantt. Solomon Bower. George Campbell.
1838-Wm. White.
1879-J. Wesley Gantt.
1839-M. Donally.
1840-Geo. Charles, Sr.
1841-Robert Adams.
1842-Robert Kelly.
1843-T. P. Cochran. Isaac Kirkpatrick.
1885-U. H. Rumbaugh. Aaron Shreffler.
1845-Nicholas Hench.
Edward Hull.
1846-John Patterson.
1847-Geo. Titzell.
1888-Silas W. Snyder. John Martin. George W. Burd.
1848-Thomas Adams.
1849-Jacob Sheibley.
1850-Fenlow McCowen.
1851-Chas. C. Brandt.
1852-George Stroup.
1853-John Myers.
1854-William Power.
Isaiah Mitchell.
1855-Jacob Bixler.
1897-Aaron Shreffler. A. K. Bryner.
1856-Lawrence Gross.
1882-James B. Black. Samuel Barner. Daniel Shaffer.
1844-Wm. Messinger.
1872-George W. Bretz.t
1873-William Brooks.
1874-James Whitner.
1837-C. Wright. J. Zimmerman.
John W. Charles. Henry Shumaker.
1891-William B. Gray. William Kumler. Wilson D. Adams.
1894-Josiah Clay. D. P. Lightner.
1881-Ephraim B. Weise.
1855 -- John R. Shuler.
1893-L. H. C. Flickinger.
1899-Wilson D. Messimer.
1862-William Wright.
1863-J. Kochenderfer.
1825-Abraham Adams.
455
THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC OFFICIALS
1879-Wm. B. Gutshall.
McClellan Woods. William H. Smith.
1900-Thomas F. Martin.
James Rhinesmith. Jacob Fleisher.
1912-Reuben Beers.
Jonathan Snyder. William H. Lyter.
1903 -- William R. Dum. James K. Adair. Abraham Bistline.
1906-J. B. Jackson. W. H. Leonard. John S. Bitner.
1909-Clark M. Bower.
1920-W. C. Smith. M. C. Woods. G. W. Meck.
*In May, 1825, Col. John Maxwell died, and the court appointed Abra- ham Bower to fill the vacancy. Mr. Bower was then elected to the full term in October, 1825, and Abraham Adams was elected to fill the unex- pired term of one year of the Maxwell term.
George W. Bretz died during his term, February 16, 1874.
COMMISSIONERS' CLERKS.
While not an elective office, the list of clerks to the board of county commissioners is given here, as much of the work of the board was, entrusted to these men between the meetings of the board. The list :
1820-23-Jesse Miller.
1865-70-Jno. R. Shuler.
1824-29-Josiah Roddy. 1871-75-Wm. N. Seibert.
1830-36-N. Eby. 1876-81-Calvin Nelson.
1837-53-William Wilson.
1882-84-C. W. Rhinesmith.
1854-57-H. G. Milans.
1885-90-James W. McKee.
1858 -A. C. Kling.
1891-99-Wm. B. Anderson.
1859 -Lewis Orwan.
1900-02-James S. Cameron.
1860-62-Benjamin Belford.
1903-13-D. H. Meck .*
1863-64-B. P. McIntire.
1913-21-Charles J. Swartz .*
1865 -Wm. Wright. 1921 -D. C. Kell.
*D. H. Meck, appointed Sealer of Weights and Measures, resigned, and Charles J. Swartz was appointed. Mr. Swartz died in 1921, and was suc- ceeded by D. C. Kell.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
Prior to 1850 the office of district attorney was an appointive one. In that year it became an elective one. The incumbents of the office with date of election until the present time, have been :
1850-Benj. F. Junkin. 1887-J. C. McAlister.
1853-C. J. T. McIntire. 1890-Lewis Potter.
1856-J. B. McAlister. 1893-Luke Baker.
1859-F. Rush Roddy. 1896-W. H. Kell.
1899-James M. Sharon.
1862-Ephraim C. Long. 1866-Lewis Potter. 1869-Benj. P. McIntire.
1902-James M. McKee.
1872-Jacob Bailey.
1908-Walter W. Rice.
1911-James M. McKee.
1875-J. C. McAlister. 1878-J. C. Wallace.
1915 -- James M. McKee.
1919-James M. McKee.
1881-Jas. W. Shull. 1884-Richard W. Stewart.
1905-James M. McKee.
1916-J. C. Hench. Jonathan Snyder. Allen R. Thompson.
456
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CORONERS.
There is so little business for that official in Perry County that the office has continually gone unsought. Those elected to that office have been :
1841-Michael Steever.
1867-Cyrus Clemson. 1870-Joseph Swartz.
1845-Dr. Jonas Ickes.
1846-Jacob Steele. 1871-Dr. Geo. N. Reutter.
1847-John Mckenzie.
1872-Dr. Geo. W. Eppley.
1848-James R. Gilmore. 1873-Geo. W. Zinn.
1851-Wm. L. Stephens.
1874-Geo. W. Zinn. 1879-Samuel Stites.
1853-James R. Gilmore.
1854-John Bretz.
1882-Andrew Traver.
1855-James H. Case.
1885-George Shrom.
1856-James H. Case.
1880-J. H. Bleistein.
1859-Philip Ebert.
1893-C. E. Gregg.
1861-Patrick McMorris.
1896-\V. S. Groninger.
1862-Jacob M. Miller.
1809-W. R. Brothers.
1863-B. P. Hooke.
1901-H. M. Smiley.
1864-James Crawford.
19II-George W. Gault .*
1865-Samuel Stiles.
1919-Geo. W. Gault.
1866-Dr. James B. Eby.
*In the interim between 1911 and 1919, no nominations made by either party for this office.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
This office, once considered of importance, is now unsought. Until 1850 it was appointive, but in that year it became an elective office. The incumbents, with date of election :
1850-James Woods. 1886-Wm. A. Meminger. 1889-Silas Wright.
1856-James B. Hackett.
1859-Samuel Arnold. 1892-James A. Wright.
1862 -- Daniel Rife.
1895-Silas Wright.
1865-M. B. Holman.
1808-Silas Wright.
1871-Samuel Galbreath.
1901-Silas Wright.
1874-James Bell. 1904-Silas Wright.
1877-David Mitchell. 1907-J. L. L .. Bucke.
1880-John Rynard. 1910-Gard C. Palm.
1883-Wm. J. Stewart, Jr. 1919-J. I. I .. Bucke .*
*In the interim between 1910 and 1919, no nominations by either party for this office.
COUNTY AUDITORS.
1820-Wm. Smiley. A. Fulweiler. Alexander Magee.
1821-Robert Kelly. 1830-Jonas Ickes.
1822-John Purcell. 1831-Wm. Adams.
1823-George Mitchell.
1832-Samuel Beaver.
1824 John West.
1833-Jacob Bloom.
1825-Henry Fetter. 1826-John Junkin. David Stewart.
1835-Alex. F. Topley. 1836-Robert Adams. -S. Darlington.
1827-William Wilson.
1828-William Roberts.
1820-William Cook.
1834-M. Donelly.
1837-D. G. Reed.
1888-George A. Ickes.
1860-Joseph Eby.
457
THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC OFFICIALS
1837-H. R. Wilson.
1875-John F. Stouffer.
1870-James C. Hill.
1838-John Charters. 1839-Hugh Campbell.
1840-Jesse Beaver.
1841-Thomas McKee. 1842-Hugh Campbell.
1843-Michael Steever.
1844-J. B. Zimmerman.
1845-James B. Hackett. T. M. Graham. 1846-James L. Diven. Peter Sheibley. 1847-John Witherow. Martin Motzer. 1848-Francis Mickey.
1849-W. J. Graham.
1850-W. S. Mitchell.
1851-D. Kochenderfer.
1852-John Wright. 1853-Robert Dunbar. 1854-W. Bosserman.
1855-Robert C. Boden.
1856-W. A. Morrison.
1857-Francis English.
1858-Joseph W. Frank.
1859 -- A. Mckenzie.
1860-Geo. A. Shuman.
1861-Samuel Beaver.
1863-Philip Huston.
1864-Alex. G. White.
1865-Geo. W. Bretz.
1866-Simon H. Fry.
1868-George H. Hench.
1869-Jonathan Michener.
1870-John English.
S. M. Shuler.
1871-S. H. Baker.
H. R. Campbell.
1872-Wm. A. Meminger.
1010-S. M. Shuler.
1873-David Messinger.
1874-G. Sheibley.
Nelson 1. Zeigler. C'loyd F. Wolf.
DIRECTORS OF THE POOR.
The following men have been members of the different boards which have had charge of the county home and the supervision of aid to the outside poor.
The record starts with 1839, the county home having been burned that year, and previous records destroyed.
1839-John Tressler. 1853-Samuel Arnold.
1840-Samuel Hench.
1854-Samuel Milligan.
1841-Jacob Bixler. 1855-James McChire.
1842-Lewis Mickey. 1856-William Kerr.
1843-John Ritter.
1857-Henry Rhinesmith.
1844-Jacob Weibley.
1858-Jacob Bernheisel.
1845-None appears elected. 1859-John Gensler.
1846-Charles Wright. 1860-William Kell. 1861-John Stephens.
1847-Peter Hench.
1848-Robert Hackett.
1862-John Ritter.
1849 -- Thomas Black.
1863-John Weldon.
1850-Moses Uttley.
1864-John Arnold.
1851- George Titzell.
1865-Peter Shaffer.
1852-Henry Lackey.
1866-John Dum.
1881-Geo. A. Sheibley. 1884-Chester I .. Steele. David Boyd. WVm. H. Jackson. 1887-Wm. Adams. John H. Murray. Sam'l E. Arnold. 1800-Jas. C. Bistline. C'has. S. Henderson. Wm. H. Gelbaugh.
1803-H. I .. Stephens. C. S. Henderson. Jno. A. Rhea. 1806-S. L. MeKeehan. Cyrus Smith. F. S. Gibson.
1899-S. I .. McKeehan. MeClellan Woods. Chas. L. Kline.
1902-Harry E. Wilt. MeClellan Woods. Chas. E. Zerfing.
1905-S. L. McKeehan. C. A. Smith. . Jacob Wolf. 1908-D. R. Kane. C. A. Smith. Jacob Wolf.
1911-D. R. Kane. S. M. Shuler. Jacob Wolf.
1915-D. R. Kane.
458
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1867-Geo. Hoobaugh.
1894-John Wilt.
1868-John Flickinger.
1896-George D. Taylor.
1869-John Newcomer.
1897-James S. Peck.
1870-John S. Ritter.
1898-Darius J. Long.
1871-John Patterson.
1899-I. B. Free.
1872-Samuel Dunkelberger.
1900-Zach M. Dock.
1873-Wm. J. Graham.
1901-D. M. Hench.
1874-John Swartz.
1902-I. B. Free.
1876-Samuel Sigler.
1904-D. M. Hench.
1878-John D. Stewart.
1906-S. S. Orris.
1879-Geo. C. Snyder.
1907 -- Samuel M. Rice.
1880-Isaac Hollenbaugh.
1908-James A. Wright.
1881-Benj. Bistline.
1909-W. A. Lightner.
1882-O. S. Green.
1883-John Acker.
19II-E. R. Loy.
1884-Jos. Flickinger.
1911-S. S. Orris.
1885-John Garman.
1886-John Wilt.
1887-John Freeland.
1915-S. A. Shope.
1889-John Swartz.
1917-Geo. W. Dunkle.
1890-John Freeland.
1919-S. A. Shope.
1891-George I. Rice.
1919-E. M. Wilt.
1892-Benjamin H. Inhoff.
1921-Geo. W. Dunkle.
1893-George D. Taylor.
COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.
1854-Rev. Adam R. Height.
1887 -- E. U. Aumiller.
1857-Rev. T. P. Bucher.1
1890-E. U. Aumiller.
1859-Lewis B. Kerr.4
1893-Joseph M. Arnold.
1860-Lewis B. Kerr.
1896-Joseph M. Arnold.3
1863-Jacob Gantt.
1896-E. H. Bryner.4
1866-Silas Wright.
1899-E. H. Bryner.
1869-Lewis B. Kerr.
1902-E. H. Bryner.
1872 -- Geo. C. Welker.2
1905-E. H. Bryner.3
1873-Silas Wright.4
1908-D. A. Kline.
1875-Silas Wright.
19II-D. A. Kline.
1878-S. B. Fahnestock.
1914-D. A. Kline.
1881 -- J. R. Flickinger.
1918-D. A. Kline.
1884-E. U. Aumiller.
1922-D. A. Kline.
1Resigned September 1, 1859.
2Died March II, 1873.
3 Resigned.
4 Appointed by governor to fill vacancy.
1875-Abraham Long.
1903-Zach M. Dock.
1877-Benj. F. Bealor.
1905-James A. Wright.
1911-S. S. Orris.
1913-W. Harry Smith.
1915-E. R. Loy.
1888-Jacob W. Wagner.
1895-Darius J. Long.
1906-S. S. Willard.4
CHAPTER XXVII.
THIE BENCH AND BAR.
W ITH the land grant to William Penn of the territory com- prising Pennsylvania, Charles II conferred the power of establishing courts and appointing judges. The Orphans' Court was modeled after the Orphans' Court of London. There is also a Common Pleas Court, a Court of Quarter Sessions, and Oyer and Terminer, all of which are convened and held simul- taneously by the same judge or judges. The decisions of the judge or judges are subject to appeal and review by the Superior and Supreme Courts, the highest courts of the commonwealth. The state is divided into judicial districts, some of which are comprised of two or more counties. Where a judicial district is comprised of two or more countes, there are elected in each county of the district, two associates. These are usually termed lay judges and are not required to be learned in the law. Perry County is in this class and, with Juniata County, comprises the Forty-First Judicial District, according to the Act of April 9, 1874. Prior to this, by the Act of April 11, 1835, Cumberland, Juniata and Perry com- prised the Ninth Judicial District. The Act of Assembly of 1722 is a codification of the prior acts into one general law. Under the Constitution of 1776 and the conventions of 1790, 1836 and 1873 the system was revised and strengthened.
At the time of the formation of Perry County as a political unit there were no resident attorneys within its confines, conse- quently it was the bar of the "mother county"-Cumberland-that furnished the legal staff for the institution of the local courts. At that time Judge John Reed, originally a Westmoreland County man, was president judge of Cumberland County, and upon him was conferred the honor of instituting the courts of the new county. Landisburg was selected as the temporary county seat, and in a log building, fully described in the chapter entitled "Perry County Established," the first courts were held. In early days, the county being yet in its pioneering period, the principal business of the attorneys was with trials pertaining to land titles. Some- times almost the entire period of the courts' sessions were devoted to such litigation. The attorneys who specialized along this line were known as "land lawyers," and a number of members of the Carlisle bar were men who had thus attained fame. Among these . were David Watts, Thomas Duncan, Andrew Carothers, and oth-
459
460
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ers. As far west as the Allegheny Mountains these men were re- tained in legal contests of this nature.
After the discovery of coal in Schuylkill County the fact that many of the mountains there, which were underlaid with coal, ex- tended westwardly across the Susquehanna River, where there was also supposed to be coal, caused capitalists from Philadelphia and elsewhere ( about 1796) to warrant the mountain lands and have them surveyed, even before the fertile valley lands were claimed.
BENJAMIN JUNKIN, First Judge Flected from Perry County.
Without any geological knowledge whatever these men went ahead and took up mountain tracts which were even devoid of timber, let alone coal. Overlapping surveys and encroachments were fought ont in the courts with as much avidity as if the lands had been underlaid with diamonds. The lawyers were equally ignorant of the fact that the mountains of this section were barren of coal and naturally fought with all the skill and ability which they pos- sessed, with the result that there has been built up in the courts of the state a land system as perfect as any in existence to this day, and one which has established precedents that are now followed by
461
THE BENCH AND BAR
many other states. The fact that Perry County was then in its formative period in many ways, drew the talent of men such as these to the county.
During the first year of the county's existence-in fact, at the very first session of the courts-John D. Creigh and M. Wads- worth were admitted to practice at the Perry County bar. De- scendants of Mr. Creigh are prominent to this day in Perry County. In 1821 Alexander Mahon, a man of distinguished ora- torical power : William McClure, Geo. A. Lyon, Alexander A. Anderson, John Williamson, Samuel Riddle, and Charles B. Pen- rose came over from Cumberland County and were admitted to practice in the Perry County courts. In 1822-23 Andrew G. Mil- ler, Robert Wilson, Thomas McDonald, Baldwin Campbell, and Samuel Douglas followed. Of these latter named men no knowl- edge was handed down to posterity, in so far as the records avail- able show.
In 1824, however, came men who were heard and known, some even intimately, by such men as B. F. Junkin, once a member of the United States Congress, and long a member of the Perry County bar, former judge of the courts, and known personally to many who will read these words. To the recorded descriptions of Judge Junkin we are indebted for much of our material along this line.
Of these lawyers Frederick Watts probably stood at the head of the list, but we shall let Judge Junkin describe him: "We re- member with pleasure his admirable method of addressing a jury. When we first came to the bar, and indeed always, it was a treat to listen to his pleading, and we never lost one word he uttered, for no one moved or spoke or withdrew attention until he closed." About the same time came Samuel Alexander, described as a logi- cal reasoner, preeminent for knowledge and skill, genial, witty, a musician and scientist, with a wonderfully developed sense of humor. In 1825 Benjamin Melntire was admitted. He located here and practiced law in Perry County practically all his life, dying in 1882. The same year came Richard P. Creigh, E. B. Leonard, and William D. Ramsey, but they did not practice steadily.
In the years of 1827-28 came William Ayres, Charles B. Power, Charles MeClure, Hugh Gallagher, N. Smith, and Moses McClain. all living out of the county and being only engaged in special cases, except Charles B. Power. Andrew Carothers, a crippled man from Carlisle, also came over to practice and sat in a chair while addressing a jury. John R. McClintock was admitted in 1829 and practiced during his lifetime, to 1874. From 1840 to 1845 Joseph Casey lived here and practiced the profession. He was quite suc- cessful, but left to locate in Union County. He was afterwards
.
462
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
elected to Congress, became state reporter, and finally chief justice of the Court of Claims of the United States, 1863 to 1870. From 1842 to 1851 James McFarlane lived here and practiced success- fully. He then removed to Bradford, where he was wed, and while still practicing his profession he wrote the article on "Coal Formations" for Appleton's Encyclopedia, which gave him na- tional fame.
Admitted to the bar in 1848, Wm. A. Sponsler was one of the older school of attorneys, the colleague of McIntire, Junkin, Pot- ter and others of the period before and after the War between the States. He was born January 28, 1827, in Cumberland County, and removed with his parents to Perry County when but six years old. He studied in the offices of Benjamin McIntire and was ad- mitted to practice in 1848. He possessed a thorough knowledge of the law, and as a pleader before the bar was unexcelled. He died January 15, 1897.
Benjamin MeIntire, son of Thomas McIntire, was born in Cum- berland County in 1798, and studied law at Carlisle with Charles B. Penrose, locating at Landisburg, and moving to New Bloom- field, when the county seat was moved there. He was once deputy attorney general for Perry County and also was a member of the draft board for Perry, Cumberland and York Counties during the Sectional War.
Charles J. T. MeIntire was a son of Benjamin McIntire, and was born January 3, 1830, in New Bloomfield. He graduated at Dickinson College in 1847, and studied law in his father's offices. He was admitted to the bar in 1851. He was twice elected district attorney and served in the State Senate in 1868-70, when the dis- trict was composed of the counties of Perry, Juniata, Mifflin, Hunt- ingdon, Blair, and Center. He died in 1886.
Charles H. Smiley was born at Shermansdale, Perry County. on May 9, 1844. He served in the War between the States, and after his return was elected prothonotary of the county, serving from 1867 to 1870. Concurrently he was a law student in the office of Charles A. Barnett, and was admitted to the bar in 1872. From 1881-84 he served the district composed of the counties of Perry, Juniata, and Mifflin in the State Senate. During the last quarter of the last century Mr. Smiley was one of the leading attorneys at the county bar. He was a forceful speaker and had a thorough knowledge of the law. He died March IS, 1912.
Lewis Potter, a native of Buffalo Township, was a noted pen- sion attorney after the Sectional War.
Of later attorneys admitted to the bar who left Perry County, W. D. Ard is now located at Washington, D. C .; W. H. Kell resides at Steelton, Pennsylvania; R. B. Gibson located at Erie ; Grafton Junkin is at Rome, Georgia; Arthur C. Lackey is in New
THE BENCH AND BAR
463
York; James R. Magee, in the government service, few being in active practice. J. J. Kintner is located and practicing at Lock Ilaven, Pennsylvania. In 1914 and in 1919 he was an unsuc- cessful candidate for the nomination for judge of the Supreme Court. In 1919 he was elected district attorney of Clinton County by "stickers," his name not appearing on the ballot. George R. Barnett and Scott S. Leiby retain their residence in the county, but have their offices at Harrisburg. George Black Roddy, James M. Sharon, D. L. Detra, William S. Seibert, and J. R. Flickinger are dead, the latter having long been principal of the Central State Normal School at Lock Haven. William S. Snyder practices at Harrisburg.
Following is a list of the attorneys who have practiced at the Perry County bar, since the county's organization, in 1820:
ATTORNEYS AT THE PERRY COUNTY BAR.
Name.
Preceptor. Date Admitted.
John D. Creigh
December, 1820
Fred'k M. Wadsworth
December, 1820
Charles D. Davis
September, 1821
Benjamin McIntire
Charles B. Penrose January, 1825
Richard M. Creigh
John D. Creigh
January, 1825
Edward B. Leonard
Andrew Caruthers January, 1825
Charles B. Power
April, 1825
Samuel Creigh
January, 1829
J. R. McClintock
Charles B. Power
January, 1829
Abner C. Harding
January, 1830
Joseph Casey
C. B. Penrose and Judge Reed January, 1839
Henry C. Hickok
April, 1841
Samuel G. Morrison
November, 1842
Paul Corrigan
B. McIntire
August, 1843
Daniel Gantt
Joseph Casey
August, 1843
James McFarlane
August, 1843
George W. Power
August, 1843
Mitchell Steever
Daniel Gantt
April, 1844
John L. Gallatin
Samuel G. Morrison
April, 1844
Benjamin F. Junkin
Samuel Hepburn
April, 1845
A. B. Anderson
Benjamin McIntire
April, 1846
C. J. T. McIntire
Benjamin McIntire
January, 1852
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.