History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 23

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1454

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H. L. BALDWIN was born September 29, 1845, at Medina, Ohio, and was educated at Franklin Industrial Institute, Cooperstown, New York, and at the State Normal School at Mansfield. From 1871 to 1878 he taught school at Lawrence- ville and Tioga. After reading law under the preceptorship of Frederick E. Smith, of the latter place, he was admitted to the bar in 1880. He located at Tioga, where he is still practicing his profession.

JOHN T. GEAR was born at Pittsford, Monroe county, New York, October 4, 1854, and is a son of John and Mary A. (White) Gear, natives of England. His parents came to the United States about 1844, and located in Monroe county, New York, where his father had charge of the hot houses of Daniel Iles, a prominent

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florist of that county, for several years. He later engaged in farming near Friend- ship, Allegany county, New York, where he still resides, practically retired, though overseeing the duties of his farm. The subject of this sketch received an academical education at Friendship, New York. In 1873 he located in Potter county, Penn- sylvania, where he was engaged four summers in the cheese business, and taught school during the winter seasons. In 1879 he began the study of law in the office of L. H. Cobb, Esq., of Coudersport, and was admitted to the Potter county bar in June, 1881, and to the bar of Tioga county at the December term of the same year. In 1881 he located at Knoxville, Tioga county, where he has since been engaged in the active duties of his profession. Mr. Gear was married September 14, 1877, to Eva Darling, a daughter of Thaddeus and Amelia (Nelson) Darling, of Allegheny township, Potter county, Pennsylvania, and has one son, T. Fay. In politics, Mr. Gear is a Republican, takes an active interest in political affairs, and has held various local offices in Knoxville, including two terms as burgess of the borough.

ROBERT KENNEDY YOUNG, eldest son of Hon. Hugh Young, the well-known bank examiner, was born in Wellsboro, June 11, 1861. Ile was educated in the schools of his native town and at a private school in Concord, New Hampshire. Returning home he read law with Major George W. Merrick, and was admitted to the bar in August, 1884. Soon after his admission he visited Europe and spent some time in England, Ireland, Scotland and France. Ile remained for a period at Killyleagh, County Down, Ireland, the birthplace of his father, engaged in visiting relatives. On his return to Wellsboro Mr. Young resumed his professional duties and has since become well known over the county as a member of the law firm of Merrick & Young. Mr. Young was married October 23, 1890, to Emma Van Mater, of Red Bank, New Jersey. In politics he is a Republican. In October, 1890, he was appointed a justice of the peace to fill a vacancy, and the following spring he was elected for a full term. He resigned in the spring of 1896, and was subse- quently chosen as one of the Republican candidates for the legislature, to which position he was elected by a handsome majority. Mr. Young was one of the five original promoters and first directors of the Wellsborough Electric Company and has acted as counsel and business manager of the enterprise since its inception.

ALFRED JONES SHATTUCK was born in Corning, New York, October 2, 1859, a son of Levi H. and Sarah (Pack) Shattuck, who came to Tioga county in 1866 and located in Blossburg. After obtaining a common school education, Alfred .J. en- tered the State Normal School at Mansfield, graduating from that institution in 1877, and from Lafayette College in 1881. He then accepted a position as paymaster on the Arnot and Pine Creek railroad, which he occupied a year and a half. In the fall of 1882 he entered the law office of Elliott & Watrous, of Wellsboro, and after diligent study was admitted to practice August 26, 1884, and opened his present office January 1, 1885. Mr. Shattuck is a staunch Republican, and was elected borough clerk in March, 1889, which position he has filled continuously up to the present. Ifc has been a notary public since March 11, 1885, and was chairman of the Republican county committee for the year 1891. On January 6, 1886, Mr. Shattuck married Emma M. Purple, a daughter of E. J. and Rachel .\. Purple, and has one son, Levi II.

AARON R. NILES, eldest son of Gen. Jerome B. Niles, was born in Middlebury

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township, October 3, 1860. He received his education in the High School of Wells- boro, and then spent a year at Lafayette College. He read law under the direction of his father, and was admitted to the bar in 1884. Mr. Niles married a daughter of the late Gov. Thomas L. Young, of Cincinnati, Ohio. He resides in Wellsboro and is associated with his father in the practice of his profession. In March, 1897, Mr. Niles was appointed a member of the board of trustees of the Cottage State Hos- pital, at Blossburg.

B. M. POTTER, a son of Jerome B. Potter, was born at Cherry Flats, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1862, and was educated in the Wellsboro High School, from which he graduated in 1876, and Cook Academy, Havana, New York, graduating in 1879. In 1882 he began studying law under Jerome B. Niles, and completed his studies with Mitchell & Cameron. He was admitted to practice in 1884. From 1891 to 1894 he resided and practiced in Washington, D. C., since which time he has pursued his profession in Wellsboro. He was elected a justice of the peace in February, 1896.

HARVEY B. LEACH is the only child of Myron and Emeline (Colgrove) Leach, and was born in Chatham township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1860. His paternal grandfather, Dr. Harvey Leach, was one of the early settlers and pioneer physicians of Chatham township. He located at Shortsville early in the thirties, and practiced medicine until his death in 1862. His practice was an extensive one, both in Tioga and Potter counties, and he was recognized as one of the leading phy- sicians of this section of Pennsylvania. Myron Leach died October 18, 1895. His widow resides on the homestead farm in Chatham township. Harvey B. passed the first twenty years of his life on the old homestead. During this period he received the rudiments of an English education in the common schools and gained a practical knowledge of agriculture by assisting in the work of the farm. In the summer of 1880 he went to Monroe county, New York, and worked several months on a farm. During the winter of 1880-81 he attended the Wellsboro Academy. In September, 1881, he became a student of the State Normal School, at Mansfield, from which he graduated in the spring of 1883. He taught the graded school at Little Marsh dur- ing the winter months. In the summer of 1884 he began the study of law in the office of Henry Sherwood & Son, of Wellsboro. He was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1886, and immediately began practice by entering into partnership with Harvey Blackburn, of Wellsboro, the firm being Blackburn & Leach. At the end of six months the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent, and September 20, 1886, Mr. Leach removed to Blossburg and began practice for himself. In the intervening years, by close application and successful work in the courts, he has built up a lucra- tive practice, and achieved deserved recognition at the bar of Tioga county. In No- vember, 1889, he was elected district attorney, and acceptably discharged the duties of that office for three years. He has also served as a member of Blossburg school board. In March, 1897, he returned to Wellsboro, where he expects to find a wider field for the prosecution of his profession. Mr. Leach was married November 16, 1886, to Irene L. Wheeler, a daughter of Julius C. and Emily E. Wheeler, of Wells- boro. To this union three children have been born, viz: Earl, Myrtle, deceased, and Walter. In politics Mr. Leach is an ardent Republican, and has labored earnestly for the success of the principles and doctrines of that party.

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HON. WALTER T. MERRICK, a son of Jacob B. Merrick, a grandson of Isaac Merrick and great grandson of Israel Merrick, Sr., was born in Charleston township, Tioga county, June 12, 1859. During the residence of his parents in the various places where his father practiced dentistry, Walter T. attended the public schools. He graduated from Grammar school, No. 2, Elmira, New York, in 1876, and subse- quently took a course at the Elmira Free Academy, and the State Normal School at Mansfield. After his father's death he adopted dentistry as his profession, removing to Blossburg and practicing there with his brother, D. O. Merrick. In 1881 he went to Tioga and began reading law in the office of Charles H. Seymour, but his studies were interrupted by the death of his perceptor, and he embarked in the real estate business, in which he continued until 1885. From February, 1884, to October, 1885, he filled the secretaryship of Tioga borough. In the latter vear he went to Wellsboro and there resumed the reading of law in the office of Merrick & Young. He was admitted to the bar in 1886, and immediately returned to Blossburg and began the practice of his profession. In 1892 he received the Republican nomination for the legislature, and was elected to that position, leading the ticket, and was re-elected in 1894. During the last session of the legislature, he served on the following im- portant committees: Appropriations, agriculture, congressional apportionment, corporations, and education, and was recognized as an able and efficient member in the committee room, and one of the leaders on the floor of the House. Mr. Merrick served in the Republican State Convention of 1894, voted for Hastings for governor, and seconded the nomination of Jack Robinson for lieutenant governor. Though a comparatively young man, Mr. Merrick is recognized as one of the leading spirits of the Republican party in Tioga county. Believing in the principles of his party, he has worked earnestly to secure their success at the polls. As a legislator he has en- deavored to serve not only the people of his county, but of the entire State, and that the popularity he enjoys is not confined to Tioga county was manifested in April, 1896, when he received the nomination for state senator without opposition in his native county. The following August, at the fourth meeting of the senatorial con- ference, at Coudersport, he was unanimously nominated, and on November 3d was elected by a gratifying majority.

HENRY A. ASIITON was born in Livingston county, New York, August 27, 1860, and is the youngest son of Norman A. Ashton. He was four years old when his parents came to Tioga county, and he obtained his education in the common district school of Chatham township, graded school of Elkland, and public school of Wellsboro. He taught a term of school and then entered the store of Justus Dear- man, of Knoxville, Pennsylvania, after whose death he clerked for Albert Dearman until April, 1883, when he opened a store at Little Marsh, in partnership with C. E. Philbrick, which continued until the following September. His partner's interest was then purchased by Joseph HI. Ferris, and the firm of Ashton & Ferris continued until 1885, when Mr. Ferris was elected sheriff of Tioga county. The store was then sold and our subject began the study of law with Peck & Seovill, of Coudersport. Ile was admitted to the bar in September, 1887, and to the Tioga county bar in De- cember following, since which time he has been located at Knoxville. Mr. Ashton was married May 22, 1883, to Minnie L. Hopkins, a daughter of Chester and Mary E. (Blackman) Hopkins, of Knoxville, and has one son, Chester HI. He is one of the

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leading Democrats of his locality, and in 1889 was the nominee of his party for dis- trict attorney, and received a full party vote. On October 31, 1893, he was ap- pointed by President Cleveland postmaster of Knoxville, which office he still holds, but also continues the practice of law. He has served as assessor of Knoxville for six years, auditor three years, and town clerk and borough counsel for eight years. Mr. Ashton has been a member of the Democratic county committee for several years, was chairman of that body in 1895 and 1896, and still holds the position.

W. L. SHEARER, the editor of the Republican Advocate, Wellsboro, was admitted to practice in 1886. After practicing a few months he engaged in the newspaper business to which he has since devoted his entire attention.

JAMES H. MATSON, a son of Edwin Matson, Sr., of Delmar, was admitted to the bar May, 4, 1880, practiced in Wellsboro for a period, and was district attorney three years. He was also associated with W. L. Shearer in the publication of the Repub- lican Advocate, of which he was editor from 1886 to 1891. He died in New Haven, Connecticut, March 14, 1897.

D. C. HARROWER, a son of Hon. G. T. Harrower, of Lawrenceville, was admitted November 30, 1887, and practiced in Lawrenceville until 1894, when he removed to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

EDWARD HOWLAND OWLETT, youngest son of Gilbert B. Owlett, Sr., was born in Chatham township, Tioga county, November 22, 1859. His early life was passed upon his father's farm, and his primary education was obtained in the neighboring district school. Later he spent a year at the State Normal School, Mansfield, and was graduated from the Central State Normal School, at Lock Haven, in 1883. The three succeeding years were spent in teaching, after which he went to Wellsboro and entered the office of Hon. Henry Sherwood & Son, as a law student. He was admitted to the bar of Tioga county in April, 1888, and in December, of the same year, formed the present partnership of Sherwood & Owlett. Mr. Owlett was married Septem- ber 8, 1891, to Miss Ida Wells, a daughter of Charles E. Wells, of Ulster, Pennsyl- vania, and has two children, Gilbert M. and Cora. In politics, he is a Republican, was elected to the office of district attorney in 1892, and filled the position a full term of three years. He is one of the well-known and popular members of the bar, and the firm of Sherwood & Owlett enjoys a good practice and an honorable place among the legal fraternity.

FREDERICK BIGELOW SMITH was born in Tioga borough, Tioga county, Penn- sylvania, April 3, 1863. He was educated in the High School, Tioga; Kinney and Cascidilla preparatory schools, Ithaca, New York, and Cornell University. He studied law in Tioga under his father, Frederick E. Smith, entered the law depart- ment of Columbia College, New York City, in 1886, and graduated in 1888, with the degree of A. B. He was admitted to the bar of Tioga county in 1888, and the State Supreme Court in 1893. In October, 1889, he began the practice of his profession in Tioga, where he still resides. Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics and is popular with the people of the county. In November, 1896, he was elected one of the rep- resentatives of the county in the state legislature.

ANDREW B. DUNSMORE was born in Morris Run, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, January 4, 1866, and is the seventh in a family of thirteen children, eight of whom are living. His father, John Dunsmore, a native of Carnbrae, Lanarkshire, Scot-

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land, came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1852, where he married Janet Baird. He followed his previous occupation of a coal miner, and was superintendent of mines at Arnot, Tioga county, for the Blossburg Coal Company, from its organization until 1876, when he purchased a farm in Covington township and followed agricul- ture four years. He then accepted his former position with the Blossburg Coal Company, which he held until 1885, when he returned to his farm in Covington. Two years later he accepted the position of general superintendent for the Bloom- ington Mining Company, at Glen Richey, Pennsylvania, where he died March 30, 1895. Andrew B. was educated in the common schools of Blossburg, later attended the State Normal School at Mansfield, and graduated in the class of 1884. The following year he took a scientific course in the same institution. He next served eighteen months as principal of the Arnot public schools, and then spent two years on his father's farm. In the winter of 1887 he entered the law office of Mitchell & Cameron, of Wellsboro, where he applied himself diligently to the study of law, and was admitted to the bar of Tioga county in November, 1889. He practiced with David Cameron until the fall of 1893, when he opened his present office. Mr. Dunsmore was married May 17, 1894, to Miss Sadie E. Ball, of Honesdale, Pennsyl- vania. Politically, he is a Republican, and was a delegate to the Republican State Convention in 1893, and the State Republican League the same year. In 1894 he was chairman of the Republican county committee, and is one of the most active workers in the party. In November, 1895, Mr. Dunsmore was elected district attorney without opposition, and is now filling that office.

FRANK H. ROCKWELL was born at Cherry Flats, Tioga county, March 3, 1865, and is the only son of Silas S. Rockwell. He was educated in the public schools of his native township and the Wellsboro High School, and later taught for several terms in Tioga county. In the fall of 1889 he entered the law office of Elliott & Watrous, was admitted to practice in January, 1891, and opened an office in Wells- boro, where he has since devoted his attention to his professional duties. On November 18, 1891, he was appointed a notary public, and still acts in that capacity. Mr. Rockwell married Lucy B. Bailey, a daughter of J. M. Bailey, of Charleston township, Tioga county, and has two children, Emory B. and Lora M. Mr. and Mrs. Rockwell are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, he is a Republican.

ALFRED J. NILES, second son of Gen. Jerome B. Niles, is a native of Wellsboro, and was born November 27, 1866. After receiving his preparatory education in the schools of his native town, he commenced reading law in his father's office. He was graduated from Harvard Law School in 1891, and admitted to the bar in 1892. Receiving the appointment of assistant state bank examiner under Colonel Gilkeson, he located in Pittsburg in 1894. In November, 1895, he was appointed assistant solicitor for Pittsburg, and is now a resident of that city.

JOHN II. PUTNAM, son of Jonas G. and Sophia Putnam, was born in Essex county. New York. November 28, 1842, and was two years old when his parents settled in Tioga. Here he grew to maturity and received a good English education, studied Inw under IIon. John W. Guernsey, of Tioga, and was admitted to the bar of Tioga county in 1892. He at once commenced practice, opening an office in Tioga

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borough, and has since built up a lucrative business. In 1871 Mr. Putnam married Sophia Guernsey, a daughter of Hon. John W. and Susan Marriott (Morris) Guern- sey. Her father was a well-known citizen of Tioga, and her mother was a daughter of Judge Samuel Wells Morris, a pioneer of Wellsboro. They are the parents of two children, viz: Morris Havens and Wistar Guernsey. In politics Mr. Putnam is a staunch Republican, and has served as secretary of the borough of Tioga, and also as a justice of the peace from 1885 to 1890. He is a member of Tioga River Lodge, No. 797, I. O. O. F. Both he and his wife are adherents of St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal church, and he is recognized as one of the representative citizens of the borough.

CHARLES N. KIMBALL was born September 20, 1872, in Parkville, Platte county, Missouri. He received his education in the common schools, when he com- menced reading law under the direction of Elliott & Watrous, Wellsboro, in August, 1891, and was admitted to the bar March 30, 1893. Mr. Kimball was twenty years and six months old when he was admitted to practice, and so far as known is the youngest man ever admitted to the bar of Tioga county. He has temporarily given up practice and is now attending college.

H. F. MARSH, a previous member of the bar, has recently given up journalism and returned to Wellsboro, where he is associated with Elliott & Watrous in the prac- tice of law.

LEON SEWELL CHANNELL was born in Canton, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1868. He graduated from the Canton High School in 1890, came to Wellsboro, read law with his brother, S. F. Channell, and was admitted to practice in June, 1893. In February, 1895, he located in Mansfield, where he has since practiced his pro- fession.

DOUGLAS H. GRIFFIN came from Canton in April, 1895, and formed a partner- ship with Leon S. Channell, at Mansfield, which continued until Mr. Griffin's death, from accidental shooting, in October of the same year. He was a bright and prom- ising young lawyer.

LEON B. FERRY was born in Middlebury township, Tioga county, Pennsyl- vania, August 3, 1867, and was educated in the common schools and the State Normal School at Mansfield. In 1893 he began studying law under Elliott & Watrous, and was admitted to practice in June, 1895. His office is with S. F. Channell, Wellsboro.

Ernest W. Gleckler, who was admitted in April, 1895, practiced for about six months. Assuming the duties of cashier of the Wellsborough National Bank, he has given his entire time to them, to the exclusion of the law.

HARRY N. SHERWOOD, son of Walter Sherwood, and grandson of the late Hon. Henry Sherwood, was born in Wellsboro, January 1, 1871, and was educated in the Wellsboro High School. In 1890 he entered the office of Sherwood & Owlett as a clerk, and in 1894 became a law student in the same office. In May, 1896, he was admitted to practice, thus giving, until the death of his grandfather, three genera- tions of the Sherwood family living representatives in the Tioga county bar.

WILLIAM M. KEHLER was born in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, October 7, 1864, and was educated at Williamsport Commercial College, graduating in 1882, and the State Normal School at Mansfield, from which he graduated in June, 1893. In

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April, 1894, he became a law student in the office of Sherwood & Owlett, Wellsboro, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1896.

CHARLES L. FELLOWS was born June 14, 1871, in Canton, Pennsylvania, and was educated in the common and in the high schools of his native town. He also took a course in the commercial college at Elmira. After reading law with J. W. Stone, of Canton, he was admitted to the Bradford county bar February 10, 1896. On No- vember 7, 1896, he formed a partnership with the Hon. Walter T. Merrick, of Bloss- burg, and on the 24th of the same month was admitted to the Tioga county bar.

CHARLES H. CORNELIUS, who was admitted to practice December 24, 1896, is the youngest member of the Tioga county bar. He is a son of the late Joseph Cornelius, of Elkland, and prepared himself for admission in the office of Merrick & Young, making an excellent record as a student.

In addition to the foregoing, the following named persons have been admitted to practice in Tioga county: Newell F. Higgins, who came from Chenango county, New York, practiced in Lawrenceville from 1829 to 1831, and then removed to Williamsport. Norman H. Purple, a student of Higgins, practiced in Lawrenceville until 1837, removed to Peoria, Illinois, and was afterward elected to the circuit court bench. E. W. Hazard, the first lawyer to locate in Mansfield, was there before 1840, and remained several years. Victor A. Elliott began practice in Mansfield, but removed to Denver, Colorado, where he has since served on the circuit court bench and on the bench of the Supreme Court. A. J. Webster practiced in Mansfield from 1870 to 1873, and B. J. Coskey from 1890 to 1894. Daniel W. Baldwin, a rising young lawyer, was admitted to the bar April 5, 1886, and practices his profession at Westfield, as does John T. McNeil, who is also a justice of the peace in that borough. W. IT. Smith, a former member of the bar, is a practicing attorney in Hastings, Nebraska. J. C. Strang, who served as judge at Larned, Kansas, and is now a resi- dent of Takoma, Washington, and James H. Shaw, now a resident of Canton, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, were formerly members of the Tioga county bar.

The following named persons, though admitted to the bar, did not engage in active practice: Robert C. Simpson, deceased, of Wellsboro; Charles L. Pattison, deceased, of Elkland: Simon B. Elliott, formerly of Mansfield, and Hugh Young, the veteran bank examiner.

The following are the names of the present members of the Tioga county har: J. W. Adams, Thomas Allen, Henry A. Ashton, John N. Bache, D. W. Baldwin, H. L. Baldwin, Clark W. Beach, A. S. Brewster, David Cameron, Leon S. Channell, S. F. Channell, F. W. Clark, Charles H. Cornelius, D. L. Deane, A. B. Dunsmore, Mortimer l'. Elliott, Charles L. Fellows, Leon B. Ferry, H. M. Foote, Ernest W. Gleekler, John T. Gear, Jefferson Harrison, Charles N. Kimball, S. E. Kirkendall, William M. Kehler, Harvey B. Leach, H. F. Marsh, J. W. Mather, John T. McNeil, George W. Merrick, Walter T. Merrick, Jerome B. Niles, Aaron R. Niles, Alfred J. Niles, Edward IL. Owlett, Horace B. Packer. Burt M. Potter, John H. Putnam, A. Redfield. Frank H. Rockwell, Norman H. Ryan, John S. Ryon. Wallace P. Ryon, Frank D. Sulph, Alfred J. Shattuck, W. J. Shearer, Walter Sherwood, Harry N. Sherwood, F. B. Smith, Charles Tubbs, Stephen F' Wilson, R. T. Wood, Ezra B. Young and Hugh Young.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 23

Author: Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown Number of Pages: 1454

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1454