History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 162

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 1438

USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 162
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 162
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 162

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Having completed his preliminary education under these and other like faithful instructors, young Dreher, at the early age of about nine- teen years, entered his name as a student-at-law in the office of Hon. M. M. Dimmick, the sub- ject of the preceding sketch. A fellow-student in the same office was Nathan Huston, who was examined and admitted at the same time with young Dreher, to wit : at May Term, 1846. While still a student-at-law, Mr. Dreher clerked for some time in the office of the prothonotary and register and recorder, and thus obtained a practical insight into the details pertaining to those offices, which was of great service to him afterwards in his practice as a lawyer.

Immediately after his admission to the bar young Mr. Drcher entered into partnership with his former preceptor, Mr. Dimmick, under the firm-name of Dimmick & Dreher, an association which continued until the removal of Mr. Dim- mick to Mauch Chunk, in 1854. During this interval, also, Mr. Dreher served two terms as district attorney, and after the dissolution of the firm of Dimmick & Dreher the latter continued the practice alone until his election, in the fall of 1870, as president judge of the old Twenty- second Judicial District, composed of the countics of Wayne, Pike, Monroe and Carbon.

Prior to his election to the bench Mr. Dreher had acquired an extensive practice, more par- ticularly in the three counties last above named, and wherever known, whether as lawyer or judge, his name has ever been a synonym for unspotted integrity and probity of character, coupled with great legal acumen and an habitual

courtesy and kindliness of heart and disposition inseparable from the man's nature, which made him the friend of all, high and low, rich and poor alike.

By act of 8th April, 1874, the old judicial district was cut in two, Wayne and Pike com- posing a separate district and retaining the old number, twenty-two, and Monroe and Carbon composing a new district known as the Forty- third. Judge Dreher's first term having expired in 1880, he was re-elected in the fall of that year, and we trust the judge has many years of future usefulness before him in a position he is so well calculated to adorn.

On the 21st of December, 1848, Judge Dreher married Sallie Phillips, a lady of Stroudsburg, by whom he has had five children, all of whom, together with several grandchildren, are still living, viz. : Anna (intermarried with Joseph Matlack, a hardware merchant of Philadelphia), Oscar (who is now teller in the First National Bank, Stroudsburg), Lizzie (intermarried with A. A. Dinsmore, Esq., of Stroudsburg), How- ard (of Fontana, Kan.) and Addie W. (inter- married with Dr. J. P. Mutchler, of Strouds- burg).

In politics, Judge Dreher has always been a Democrat, as have been his father and brothers. In early life the judge was a warm and active partisan and always popular on the stump, and, although in later life, and particularly since going on the bench, he has kept aloof from active politics, at heart he is still true to his original political affiliations. In religion the judge is a Methodist, and has been for many years a mem- ber and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Stroudsburg.

HON. WILLIAM DAVIS .- The subject of this sketch may be truly denominated the father of the Monroe County bar.

With one exception, the first lawyer to locate in the county, Mr. Davis retained his health and faculties in undiminished vigor until a few years ago, when advancing years and a most assiduous devotion to that most exacting of all professions-the law-began to tell upon his iron constitution. Although he has now re- tired from practice in court, owing mainly to his impaired hearing, he is daily to be seen in

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his office and on the street, his well-known figur as erect, if not as aetive, as of yore.

Mr. Davis was born in Easton, Pa., February 17, 1813, and was the youngest of seven ehil- dren of Moses Davis, intermarried with Mary Miller, both of whom resided for many years in Easton, and died there. On his father's side Mr. Davis is of Welsh extraetion, and on his mother's of German.

His parents were members of the Episcopal Chureh at Easton, in the organization of which, and in the ereetion of the ehureh edifice, his father took a very aetive part, and the subjeet of this sketeh has always adhered to the faith of his father. Mr. Davis received his prelim- inary edueation in the sehools of Easton, Allen- town and Philadelphia, and entered Washington College, Hartford, Conn., but graduated from Union College, N. Y., in the elass of 1833. After graduating, young Davis entered, as a student, the law-office of Hon. Joel Jones, at Easton, and upon the appointment of the latter as one of the judges of the District Court at Philadelphia, continued the study of his chosen profession under Hon. Hopewell Hepburn, also of Easton, where he was admitted to the bar April 20, 1836.

In December, 1837, the young lawyer moved permanently to Stroudsburg, the county-seat of the (then) new county of Monroe, and he " eame to stay."

Peter Wyekoff, Esq., had loeated here ahead of him, but with that exception there was no other resident lawyer in the county. After being here some time Mr. Wyekoff offered to sell out his praetiee to the new-eomer, but the sturdy reply was that he thought the field was wide enough for two lawyers, and he didn't wish to buy. The field in territorial extent was, indeed, a wide one, but sparsely populated, a good part of the county being, doubtless, at that early day, a wilderness. Although, in the course of years, other lawyers eame in from other counties, and others still sprang up indig- enous to the soil, the talents and industry of Mr. Davis speedily gave him a leading position at the bar, which he never relinquished until bodily infirmities compelled him to abandon his practice.

As a lawyer he has, during his whole pro- fessional career, been noted for the most ex haustive preparation of his cases and the most unflagging zeal in their presentation to eourt and jury. No adjudicated ease, however remote its bearing upon the question at bar, eseaped him ; there was no legal prineiple available that he did not quiekly seize upon and turn it to his advantage. He always seemed to delight in his professional work for the work's sake, and the amount of time and labor expended in a eause was very frequently out of all proportion to the

12 Dann's

pecuniary importance of the ease or the amount of fees aecruing from it. The triumph of the legal principle, the establishment of the faets contended for-thesc were the prime objeets, and to their aeeomplishment he enthusiastieally devoted unwearied days and nights of researel, and seeured the reports of the judicial decisions of both hemispheres.

As a cross-examiner, Mr. Davis was always particularly strong and searching. It was sometimes almost like putting a witness into a ehemieal retort and resolving him into his eon- stituent clements, and woe to the man in whom the analysis disclosed the slightest falsehood or

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

prevarication ! Witnesses sometimes fainted under the ordeal.

Apropos to this is a story that Mr. Davis has often told himself, with much gusto, of a case in which his peculiar talent for cross-examina- tion received due recognition. The case oe- curred in Pike County, where he was attending court, being concerned in other cases, but not having been originally concerned in this one. There were numerous defendants, and each had his own separate counsel, but one of the defend- ants, at the last moment before the case was called, retained Mr. Davis specially to " cross- examine ten dollars' worth," as the man put it. He did cross-examine, and the defendants were all acquitted.

Mr. Davis was very fond of attending the courts of Pike County, which he did for many years, scarcely missing a term. He had many friends there, and very often speaks in high terms of the kindness and hospitality of " little Pike."

When off duty, and in social intercourse, hc was always one of the most interesting and hos- pitable of men, and his home was for many years the centre of the gayety and fashion of the town. When a young man Mr. Davis was appointed deputy attorney-general for the county, and in later life he served several terms as chief burgess of Stroudsburg. In 1868 he was one of the Presidential electors, and was a delegate-at-large to the Constitutional Conven- tion of Pennsylvania, in 1872-73.

In politics he was originally a Whig, and continued with that party until it became merged in the Republican party, since which time he has always remained a stanch Re- publican. He was a delegate to the Chicago Convention in 1860, and aided in procuring the nomination of Abraham Lincoln.

Mr. Davis was married, on the 17th of May, 1838, in the city of Philadelphia, to Miss Sophia Heckman, of that city, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Joshua Rogers, then pastor of Trinity Church, Easton, Pa. Four children were born to them, two of whom died in infancy. Of the two surviving children, one is Dr. Arthur H. Davis, a practicing physician of Philadelphia, and the other, Mary Alice,

intermarried with Rev. Theophilus Heilig, a clergyman of the Lutheran Church, resident in Stroudsburg.

HON. JAMES H. WALTON was born in Stroudsburg, Monroe County, Pa., where he re- ceived his preliminary as well as professional education. He studied law under Peter Wyckoff and William Davis, Esq., and was ad- mitted about 1840. He soon acquired an extensive and lucrative practice, and was for many years closely identified with the business, political and social affairs of the county. Pos- sessed of an easy address and popular manners, a fluent speaker, and of hospitable and genial nature, Mr. Walton was a favorite among the people, and a ready and effective political cam- paigner.

Having already filled several minor county offices, and one or more terms as State Senator, he was, in the year 1857, appointed by Presi- dent Buchanan as treasurer of the United States Mint, in Philadelphia, and soon there- after he removed with his family to that city. He continued to discharge the duties of his ap- pointment with fidelity, until a change of administration brought in his successor, when he opened a broker's office, in South Third Street, in partnership with a Mr. Yost, under the firm- name of Walton & Yost. They did a large business for some years. About the year 1869 Mr. Walton returned to Stroudsburg and re- sumed the practice of his profession, which he continued up to the time of his death, in the year 1875.

Mr. Walton belonged to a large and in- fluential family, being a son of Dr. William D. Walton, whose numerous descendants still live in and around Stroudsburg, although the im- mediate family of the subject of this sketch is broken' up"and scattered, his wife having died a few years after her husband, and his children being now settled in Philadelphia and elsewhere His youngest son, Harry, is a rising young law- yer of Philadelphia, giving much promise of a successful career.

HON. CHARLTON BURNETT was born in Stroudsburg, Pa., on August 31, 1826. He received an academic education, and for some years was engaged in teaching in Pennsylvania.

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and New Jersey, subsequent to which he was engaged as a book-keeper in Newbern, N. C. On his return North, in the year 1846, he began reading law with the Hon. William Davis, in Stroudsburg, and pursued his studies under Mr. Davis for the period of four years, and was admitted to the bar of Monroe County in the year 1850. Subsequently he held the office of district attorney and county treasurer of the county of Monroe.

In 1866 he was elected a member of the Senate of Pennsylvania for the term of three years.

In 1875 he was again elected to the State Senate, serving as a member of that body dur- ing the years '76, '77 and '78.

On the expiration of his second term in the Senate he resumed his practice of the law, which he has pursued to the present time.

ROGERS L. BURNETT, a son of Hon. Charlton Burnett, was born in Stroudsburg, Pa., on October 25, 1856. He received a mili- tary education at the United States Academy at West Point, having been appointed a cadet at this institution, in the year 1874, by the Hon. John B. Storm, member of Congress from this district.

Upon leaving West Point, in the year 1878 he began reading law in the office of his father, and on February 28, 1882, was admitted to practice in the several courts of Monroe County.

In November, [1884, he was elected district attorney of Monroe County, which office he now holds.

STEPHEN HOLMES was born near the village of Alfred, the county-seat of York County, Maine, May 16, 1836, and was the youngest of the four children of Stephen and Nancy (Meserve) Holmes. He received a thorough English ed- ucation in the common schools of his native place, supplemented by an academic course at Alfred and at Limerick, in the same county, and at Yarmouth, near Portland, Maine, and at the age of cighteen, having completed his edu- cation, came to Pennsylvania. The next three years were spent in teaching school at different points in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and acting as clerk and book-keeper for different concerns. In May, 1858, he accepted the posi-

tion of principal of the public schools of Strouds- burg, and, with the exception of one year, has since resided at that place. In the fall of 1858 he entered the office of Hon. S. S. Dreher, then one of the leading practitioners of Monroe County, as a student of law, still continuing to hold his position in connection with the public schools until the spring of 1861. At December Term, 1860, having previously passed a satisfactory examination before a committee, composed of William Davis, Esq., of Monroe, Lucius Barnes, Esq., of Pike, and Max Goepp, Esq., of Northampton Counties, he was ad- mitted to practice in the several courts of Monroe County. While engaged in super- intending the schools of the borough, and pur- suing his studies, he also devoted himself quite extensively to literary work as contributor to various periodicals. In the fall of 1861 he en- tered upon the practice of his profession at As- bury, Warren County, New Jersey, but the field not proving a promising one, he returned to Stroudsburg in the fall of 1862, and the year following was elected district attorney of Mon- roe County, continuing to fill that position for three successive terms, until the fall of 1872. In the fall of 1869 he was admitted to prac- tice in the Supreme Court of the State, and at the present time is in the enjoyment of an extended practice in Monroe and adjoining counties.

As a lawyer Mr. Holmes has taken high rank in his profession, having been thoroughly fitted by his course of preparatory training for the attainment of its highest rewards. His eareer as district attorney first manifested to the public the possession of that acumen and fertility of resource so necessary in the incumbent of that office, and displayed to the fullest extent a per- sistency and determination of character that has sinee marked his career. He is a close and in- dustrious student, preparing his cases with care and system, and neglecting no point that can be brought to bear in behalf of his client's inter- ests. He is a good speaker, putting his points with force and cogency, and seldom failing to interest and hold the attention of the jury. He also occupies a prominent place as a man in the community in which he resides, and freely sup-

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

ports and lends his encouragement to all move- ments of a progressive or elevating character. He is a useful member and clder of the Strouds- burg Presbyterian Church, a member of the board of directors of the Stroudsburg Bank, of which institution he is counsel, and also counsel for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company. In politics he is an earnest

ried, in 1864, Miss Georgiana Blair, formerly of Hope, N. J., but more recently of Strouds- burg, Pa., and has three children, namely, Edith May, Frank Blair and Norman Meserve Holmes.

HON. JOHN B. STORM .- Foremost among the favorite children of old Monroe, of the present generation, we may place the subject of

Holmes

supporter of the principles and purposes of the Democratic party, and an influential member of the party organization in Monroe County. He is held in universal respect by the commu- nity with which he has identified himself, and whose confidence he enjoys, and having accom- plished what he has at so early a time in life, has a promising future before him. He mar-

this sketch. Born in Hamilton township, in the year 1838, a farmer's son, his early years were passed in the occupations incident to his position, and presented meagre opportunities for mental culture. By sheer determination and force of character he pressed his way through the preparatory schools, and finally graduated from Dickinson College in the year 1861.

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MONROE COUNTY.

Immediately after graduating Mr. Storm commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. S. S. Dreher, and was admitted to practice in the year 1863. He had before this received the appointment of county superin- tendent of common schools, to fill a vacancy ; and at the next election for that office was elected for the full term of three years, and subsequently re-elected. In the year 1870 he received the Democratic nomination for Con- gress, which was followed by his election to the Forty-second and two years later to the Forty- third Congresses. After serving four years as a member of these bodies he returned to the practice of his profession, which he pursued with great vigor and success until the year 1882, when he was again nominated over dis- tinguished competitors for the Forty-eighth Congress. This nomination was again followed by his election, 'and again by his re-election in 1884, so that he may now be classed as a veteran in Congress.

The course of Mr. Storm in Congress has been conservative and judicious, and although he has not continually thrust himself upon pub- lic attention, his voice, whenever it has been raised on important questions, has commanded respectful consideration. As a public speaker Mr. Storm is possessed of more than ordinary ability, and in debate his efforts will compare favorably with the best of his contemporaries. As a lawyer he has acquired a large and lucra- tive practice and is noted for the zeal and suc- cess with which he conducts trials at the bar.

In politics he is an active and enthusiastic Democrat, laboring constantly for the success of his party. He has long been chairman of the Democratic County Committee.

As in secular concerns, so Mr. Storm carries the same spirit and vigor into religious matters and the interests of the church. He has long been a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Stroudsburg, and occasionally supplies its pulpit-always with great acceptance.

He was married, in 1865, to Miss Harriet Brown, a daughter of Robert Brown, of East Stroudsburg, by whom he has had four chil- dren, three of whom-a daughter and two sons-survive.

LEWIS M. BURSON, born July 28, 1822, in Stroud township, Northampton County (now Monroe), received an academic education, com- menced the study of law under John D. Mor- ris, August, 1840, and in September, 1843, was admitted to practice. In June, 1849, he sailed from New York around Cape Horn to Califor- nia and arrived in San Francisco December 20, 1849. While in California he was located most of the time in Humbold County, where he served several terms as district attorney and represented that county in the Legislature in the year 1860. In 1866 he went to Helena, Montana Territory, where he remained about two years and then re- turned to California. In the fall of 1870 he re- turned to Stroudsburg, where he has since resided.

THOMAS McFALL MCILHANEY (1823-85), born in Lower Mount Bethel township, North- ampton County, Pa., after serving the county as deputy prothonotary from 1854-57 and pro- thonotary from 1860 to 1878, late in life read law with Hon. Charlton Burnett, of Stroudsburg, and was admitted to practice as an attorney-at-law in 1880. He soon acquired con- siderable practice on account of his large ac- quaintance and the implicit confidence reposed in him by his many friends, and continued to labor successfully in his profession until his sudden decease. An extended sketch may be found of him in another chapter.

DAVID S. LEE was born in Monroe County, Pa., August 19, 1840; engaged in teaching school at the age of seventeen years ; October 16, 1862, enlisted in the army ; was orderly sergeant of Company H, One Hundred and Seventy-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volun- teers, and was honorably discharged October 17, 1863, by reason of expiration of term; was vice-principal of the Mauch Chunk Academy, Carbon County, in the latter part of 1863, and in 1864-65. In 1865 commenced the reading of law at Mauch Chunk, under Hon. M. M. Dimmick. In the latter part of the same year he removed to Stroudsburg, and became prin- cipal of Stroudsburg Academy, which position he held for two years, at the same time continu- ing his legal studies under Hon. C. Burnett. He was admitted to the bar of Monroe County February 28, 1867.

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

In 1872 Mr. Lee was elected district attor- niey over numerous competitors, after a spirited canvass, and was subsequently twice re-elected, serving until the fall of 1881.

CHARLES B. STAPLES was born at Strouds- burg, Pa., November 24, 1853, the son of Rich- ard S. and Mary A. Staples ; was educated in common and select schools, and fitted for col- lege under a private tutor ; entered Dickinson College in 1870, and graduated in 1874, the second in his class in rank, and bearing the honor of class prophet, and anniversarian of the Belles-Lettres Literary Society. Hc studied law under William Davis, Esq., and was ad- mitted to practice May 26, 1876. In 1880 Mr. Staples was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention, held in Cincinnati. In 1881 he was elected school director of the bor- ough of Stroudsburg, which office, however, lie resigned after serving one ycar. In 1882 he was a member of the Democratic State Central Committee. On May 14, 1885, he was ap- pointed collector of internal revenue of the Twelfth Pennsylvania District by President Cleveland, and assumed the duties of the office June 8, 1885.

ARCHIBALD A. DINSMORE is the third child of Thomas H. and Elizabeth M. Dinsmore. He was born at West Point, Lee County, Iowa, October 30, 1851. In the spring of 1853 his parents removed to Washington, Washington County, Iowa, where they resided until the spring of 1859, and lived subsequently at Van Rensselaer, Mo., and at other points in that State and in Kansas, where the subject of this sketchi received an academic and collegiate edu- cation.

In September, 1873, he came to Stroudsburg and taught in the public school until June, 1874, when he became assistant book-keeper for the Tanite Company, where he remained over a year, and then commenced the study of law under Hon. C. Burnett ; was admitted to the bar May 26, 1876.

In 1877 Mr. Dinsmore was commissioned county superintendent of common schools to fill a vacancy. The following ycar he was elected for the term of three years, and has been since twice re-elected. He was married No-

vember 15, 1877, to Elizabeth, second daughter of Hon. Samuel S. Dreher, by whom he has had two children, a son and a daughter.

JOHN B. WILLIAMS is the oldest son of Jeremiah and Susan Ruth Williams, born at South Sterling, Wayne County, Pa., June 21, 1854; educated in common schools, Hollister- ville Academy, at Hollisterville, and in the State Normal School, at Trenton, N. J .; com- menced life as a school-teacher, then served several years as a book-keeper and correspond- ent for a glass manufacturing company. He then registered as a student-at-law under A. A. Dinsmore, Esq., and was admitted to practice in December, 1884. He has given some attention to military affairs, and is now captain of Com- pany F, Thirteenth Regiment Pennsylvania National Guards.

HENRY J. KOTZ, born at New Village (now Bangor), Northampton County, Pa., March 4, 1846, is the eldest son of Jeremiah Kotz. He received an academic education at the Mo- ravian School, at Nazareth, Pa., and afterwards graduated at Eastman Commercial College ; studied law under Hon. J. B. Storm, and was admitted to the bar December 16, 1879; was elected district attorney in 1881 and served one term.

Jos. H. SHULL, born August 17, 1848, a son of Elias Shull, of Northampton County, Pa., was educated at Lafayette College, Easton, Pa. ; read law under Hon. Charlton Burnett, and was admitted to the bar in the year 1878.

CICERO GEARHART, is a son of S. Rees Gear- hart, of Chestnut Hill township, Monroe County, Pa. ; cducated at Franklin and Mar- shall College, Lancaster, Pa. ; read law under A. A. Dinsmore, Esq., and was admitted to the bar October 2, 1885.

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History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 162

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co. Number of Pages: 1438

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 1438