USA > Pennsylvania > Juniata County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 51
USA > Pennsylvania > Mifflin County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 51
USA > Pennsylvania > Snyder County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 51
USA > Pennsylvania > Union County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 51
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 51
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Having such an extensive trade in the coal regions, where they demand the best and will have it, and Pennsylvania flour being of a low grade (of low reputation at least), and the roller-miller system now taking the lead, the judge began to examine into the different sys- tems of roller-mills. He spent some time in
doing this; his practical knowledge of the business, his large experience and thorough training and method enabled him to select the very best of all that was offered. Having as- sociated himself with several other well-known business men of means, in 1883 a mill was built at Lewisburgh by the company, under the name of the Buffalo Milling Company, under the' management and superintendence of the judge, with a capacity of three hundred and fifty barrels daily, and putting upon the market a flour of such a quality, under the name of "Oriole," that the demand for it is equal to the supply. A more particular description of the mill is given in another place. The judge's rare good judgment in choosing his associates and in seizing the opportunity, his ability to thoroughly master all the details of the busi- ness personally-the manufacturing as well as the financial-his pluck and firm hold, which is always supported by a knowledge of the situation, have made him a successful man, and insures the success of his business. With that same appreciation of ability, he has an old friend, in the person of A. H. Steninger, as his accountant and book-keeper, whose clean sheets are as much the pride of the manager as his clean-working mill.
In the township of Kelly the judge was elected for thirteen successive years as school director, and in 1871 he was elected associate judge (himself a Democrat in politics) in a county of a Republican majority ranging from seven to eight hundred, and when he retired, bench, bar and community joined in a testi- monial of respect. It has not so happened to any judge, president or associate, retiring from the bench, although all who were there were men of mark and behaved well in their office. There was a meeting of the bar on the 27th of February, 1877, Judge Bucher in the chair, and a committee, consisting of Messrs. Vangezer, Linn and Dill, reported resolutions, saying in substance that in his retiring he carried with him the profound respect and esteem of every member of the bar, for his amiable and gentle- manly deportment on the bench, and the integ- rity, impartiality and fidelity with which he had discharged his duties. With a keen sense of
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Grs Hoffa
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right and wrong, with a well-balanced mind, a well-trained intellect, with good judgment and tet, and, at the same time, a firmness that is julge has met his duties and filled his place in the community. His quiet, continned and policious acts of benevolence he would not wish is In mentioned.
WILLIAM FORSTER WILSON is the son of John Forster Wilson, of Hartley township, Union County, who died April 6, 1859, aged sixty-six years. His mother was Agnes Boal, a dangh- ter of John Boal, a noted man in the county, of Seoteh-Irish descent, living at the farm (now) of the HIon. George F. Miller, and had the ferry there, whose wife was a Sawyer, and whose other daughters were married,-Elizabeth to Matthew Laird ; Mary to John Reznor; Sophia to Samuel Woods. John Boal was the fore- man of the first grand jury at the first court in Union County, at Mifflinburg, at February term, 1814, and died in 1819. Mrs. Agnes Wilson, the judge's mother, died at Williamsport, March 14, 1875, at the age of seventy-four, being the youngest of John Boal's daughters. There were eight of the family,-John, now in Miffhn County ; James, deceased ; Sophia, who died in Williamsport; William F., the judge; Jane Margaret; Monzez, living in Williamsport ; David, a captain in the United States army; add Harriet, married to Dr. Weiriek, living in Washington County, Ill. The judge was born in Hartleton, Union County, Pa., on the 7th of March, 1832, and received his education at the common schools of the place. The family were refined and well abreast with the education that is current in families of the kind, in which there is an atmosphere the breathing of which makes intelligent.
The judge was elected a justice of the peace in 1870, and continued in that office until 1876, when he was elected associate justice of the County Court, serving five years, since which
time he has lived as a quiet citizen of Hartle- ton.
GEORGE MYERS ROYER was born in Kelly immovable and a courage that never falters, the ! township, Union County, Penna. (on the old Giddy Smith place), on August 2, 1830-son of Isaac Royer, born 1803, living vet in Nebraska. His mother (born July 9, 1809; died May 9, 18SI, in Nebraska) was He had four daughters and two sons by his first marriage,-Regina, Carrie R., Hattie A., May E., John and Robert A. His first wife lied August 24, 1872. His second marriage was on the 16th of December, 1880, to Eliza- leth R. Angle, a daughter of J. J. Angle. Lavina (Myers) Moyer, daughter of George Myers, who came from Lancaster County in 1827 or 1828, and his father, Joel Royer, pur- chased that place of Young in 1829. In 1815 his father moved to West Buffalo, the Struble place, near Rocky's mill. The judge was married, March 22, 1853, to Caroline Kleckner, daughter of Eli Klockner. He learned the blacksmithing trade with Daniel Bogemecf, and worked at it up to the year 1865, and then bought Eli Kleckner's old farm, and went to farming, and has lived there ever since. He was elected associate judge in November, 1880, and served the term of five years in a manner very acceptable to the people.
JAMES LEPLEY was the son of George Lepley and Anna (Youngman) Lepley, who were natives of Northumberland County. The for- mer died January 14, 1874, and the latter January 7, 1871, leaving a family of five chil- dren. James was born in Beaver . township, Union County, Pa., and, after going to the common schools, was a teacher himself, and attended the Union Seminary at New Berlin. Ile taught school for a number of years, down to 1871, making fence and working in the summer-time, and for several years farming. In 1873 he moved to East Buffalo township, and engaged in the sale of farming implements and machinery, and followed threshing. In 1877 he became agent for the Champion Reaper Company, and worked for them four years, and on the Ist of January, 1882, became agent of the Central Manufacturing Company of Lewisburgh, and remains in that business. Ilis business, thus taking him far and near over the county, made him well acquainted with the people,-their wants and wishes and needs, -- and with his fair abilities and diligent self-cul- ture he came to be very competent to fill his place upon the bench as associate judge, to
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which position he was elected in November, 1881, for five years. He was married, De. cember 17, 1863, to Mary Fox, daughter of Daniel Fox, of Hartley township, and has a family of five girls and two boys.
MORRIS WESLEY CREAMER was born in 1821, in Union township, in the county of Union. His father's name was Samuel S. Creamer, and his mother's Mary Parks, a sister of Mrs. Adam Gundy. While young his parents removed to Ohio, where he began teaching, at the age of seventeen. After teaching for eleven years he moved to Boone County, Ill., where he resmined his profes- i sion. In 1851 he came to Pennsylvania, and the county of Union, mainly as an assistant in the University Academy, or in the Boys'! Grammar in the graded schools of Lewisburgh. He was one who made teaching a profession, not a stepping-stone to something else, or to fill the interval between bricklaying and plast- ering, but devoted his whole life to it. Nor did he discharge his duties in a perfunctory way, but put them on that higher plane which in all professions is far above making it a mere means of making a living-he cultivated his profession, cared for it and loved it. He is also a man whose reading is wide, takes an interest in all affairs of life, polities, religion and reform, and has pronounced, though court cous, opinions on all these subjects.
LAWYERS.
HON. JOSEPH C. CASEY's father was born in Ireland, came to this country at an early day, and commenced teaching school. The judge was born in Ringgold Manor, Wash- ington, Ma., December 17, 1811. Some time after, his father removed to Newville, Pa., and opened a school there. The judge also taught a school several years near Newville, Pa., before he commenced to read law. He read law with Charles W. Penrose, Esq., and a while with Judge Reed; was admitted to the bar in 1838; practiced in Cumberland and Perry Counties until April, 1844, when he moved to New Berlin. He was married in June, IS.JO, to Mary Anne Knettle, of Carlisle, by whom he had three children, who are all
dead. His wife still survives him and is living in Washington, D. C. He was elected to Con- gress in 1818, and when he left for the seat of government, he associated with himself in prac- tice Charles Merrill.
He was a candidate for president judge of the district in October, 1851, against the Hon. A. S. Wilson, but was unsuccessful.
James Hepburn had been appointed re- porter of the decisions of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania by Governor Pollock. The first one hundred and eighty two pages of the first volume had been prepared by Mr. Hepburn, when he died, and Mr. Casey was appointed and issued the first volmine of Casey's Reports, he has ever since been engaged in teaching in May 1, 1856, and the twelve volumes contain much quoted law, ably reported from 1855 to 1860.
Hle was appointed judge of the Court of Claims May 23, 1861, and on the reorgani- zation of the court, by which the judges were increased to five, he was appointed the first chief justice, March 13, 1863. He resigned in November, 1870, to engage in private prac- tice, and died suddenly in Washington City, February 10, 1879, at the age of sixty four.
DEPUTY ATTORNEYS-GENERAL APPOINTED.
From the venerable bodies of advocates and sergeants, in England, some were usually select- ed to be llis Majesty's counsel learned in the law, the two principal, of whom were called his attorney-general and solictor general, but the attorney-general was created by letters patent and had a salary. Penn's first Council or his first Governor, Captain Blackwell, named an attorney-general first in 1688, and from that time on the governor has named his attorney- general in this State, the act of April 21, 1857, only defining the office. It is his place to exhibit informations, and prosecute for the commonwealth, and to file bills for the com- monwealth in matters of revenue, and as to all matters of the rights of the commonwealth against, and franchises granted, by the com- monwealth in the hands of citizens. Ile appointed deputies for each county. The act of May 3, 1850, changed the name to district attorney, made the office elective for
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the term of three years and their duties are I-fined as those of the deputy attorneys-general.
WILLIAM IRWIN was the first sworn in, on the 13th of February, 1814. He came from Harrisburg ; never resided in the county.
JOHN LASHELLS was the next, taking office in 1815, and continuing until 1818. He came to this county from Adams, was admitted to the bar on the 14th of February, 1811, at Mifflinburgh, and removed to New Berlin when it became the county-seat, and practiced at his profession until he died, May 18, 1847. He was buried at Buffalo Cross-Roads, in the Presbyterian grave- yard, on the 20th, his remains being followed by the judges of the court and a large number of the bar from this and Northumberland County. He died at one o'clock in the morn- ing, after a long and protracted illness, brought on a good deal by his incessant labor in his profession.
It was remarked by Judge Wilson, in taking notice of his death, that the records of the court furnish evidence not only of the industry and labor with which he pursued his profes- sion, but of the confidence reposed in his high Mail attainments as a lawyer, as a correct and honorable practitioner,-not a page and scarcely an action registered in the dockets of the county, from the time he commenced until his health declined-a period of thirty years-that lo not present his name as counsel for one or the other of the litigant parties. He was among the most active and conspicuous mem- bers of the bar, sustaining the character of an able, honorable and conscientious advocate. He was noted for his courtesy and candor in his intercourse with the members of the bar, and was held in high esteem by the court. IIe 1 .- ft a son (John), who died, and a daughter, who married Absalom Swineford, a member of the bar; she is still living at New Berlin.
M. MCKINNEY, JR., was deputy attorney- general from 1818 to 1821.
JAMES MERRILL was born at Peacham, Vt., May 8, 1790, the eldest son of Jesse and Pris- cilla (Kimball). He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1812, in the same class with Hon. John Blanchard, a year or two before Thaddeus Stevens, who graduated from the same place
in 1814. He and Blanchard came to Pennsyl- vania together ; he went to York, Pa., where he taught in the county academy, which Stevens succeeded to ; studied law under David Cassatt, Esq., of York. In the year 1816 he came to Lewisburgh, while the bridge was building, and stopped at the house of John Lawshe, Jr., keeper of the " Black Horse."
HIe intended to settle at Lewisburgh, but Lawshe advised him to go to New Berlin-the connty-seat-and took him over. He had not enough money to pay his bill and his fare over, but Lawshe told him to never mind that-it was paid afterwards; but James Merrill was always John Lawshe's great pride. His sign appeared at Maurer's, opposite the New Berlin Hotel. In May, 1817, he was the postmaster ; 1821-1824, deputy attorney-general of the county. He takes an active part in the poli - tics of the day, being a delegate with Hon. George Kremer, and, with Rev. Fries, turning out in Masonic regalia and addressing them.
In 1826, October 16th, he was married, by the Rev. Thomas Hood, to Miss Sarah Hepburn, by whom he had two children-Charles and Mary. Ile was married, a second, time, to Mrs. Sarah Hepburn, a daughter of John Cowden, by whom he had one son (George) ; and, a third time, to Miss Sarah B. Lewis, by whom were born General Lewis Merrill, U.S.A., and Jesse Merrill, Esq., of Lock Haven. There was not anything of a social, political or legal char- acter in which he did not appear to have some part. His reading was wide and extensive, his manners very genial and popular and he was an eloquent and learned lawyer. The place where his talents, learning and industry were displayed was in the convention to pro- pose amendments to the Constitution of Penn- sylvania, where he was a senatorial delegate, with Wm. P. Maclay, Wm. L. Harris and John Cumings as his confreres. There he was prominent, able and effective. His antagonists were such men as Ingersoll and Woodward and Dunlop. In learning and ability he was their peer.
His various speeches show a wide range of learning, and his illustrations were drawn from historical and economical works, which showed
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his large acquaintance with books. A lawyer's reputation is but of the day in which he lives, -necessarily ephemeral. And it must be in some other line of effort that he wins a name that goes down with the ages. More than to any man in the convention, the people of Pensyl- vania are indebted to him for the admirable shape the Constitution of 1836 took, and its pro-slavery taint was against his carnest en- deavor. He loved his profession, he loved the State of Pennsylvania and he had a high reverenee and love for the Presbyterian Church. In the convention his brilliant and solid powers were exercised, especially in the discussion of the judiciary. To a flippant remark of some one, that the difficulties in the committee arose from the fact that there were too many lawyers in it, he broke out,-
" What was the objection the gentleman urged against. lawyers? That they looked to precedent and respected authority ! that they looked to those opinions, principles and institutions, which in times past, have preserved the property and secured the liberties of mankind ! This is what the gentleman denounces as a departure from com- mon sense and common honesty !"
He was so far conservative that he had voted against the calling of a convention, and when there he
" thought because we had been so long happy and pros- perons under this instrument, we should touch it with tender hands. It had been urged that because we have had a Constitution for forty years or more, it should be changed ; that it stood in need of being remodeled to keep up with the spirit of the times. Was this the rule which gentlemen desired to have established ? Are we never to have settled institutions ? Never any rule by which we holl our property ? Is the Constitution ever to be sub- jeet to mutation and change ? What was the objection to the government of the people, among foreign nations ? That the people did not protect the rights of the peo- ple. To show a popular government to advantage to the world, you must show that it does protect the rights of the people. I wish the people to govern in all coun- tries and that we set. an example, which, if followed, would lead to this desirable result." 1
His old friend, Thaddeus Stevens, moved that a committee be appointed on the subject of scoret societies and extra judicial oaths. Mr. Merrill characteristically supported this-any proposition that would give them light and information as to their duties as members of
the convention ; they were sent by the peo- ple ; their whole strength was to be developed in order to perform their anty, and when a committee was raised on any given subject, they should be hampered with no instructions or restrictions, but left free, and even re- quired to report. His idea was that the con- vention was not sent to re-ennet the Constitution of 1790, nor to make a new one, but to amend the old. He followed Ingersoll in his great speech on the judiciary. He defended the Pennsylvania legal system with great force; he had a great admiration of it, and had imbibed our peculiar horror of a Chancery. He said it was the best in the world. In no country was justice administered with greater impartiality, and in no country was the law business so nearly even with the current business of the people. He said, in apologizing for so often entering the lists in its defense, " that, whenever any gentleman goes out of his way to have a fling at the judiciary, it is the duty of some other gentleman to reply." He defended the learning and wisdom of the men who framed the Constitution of 1790, exclaiming against any innovation on it. He boldly avowed his opinion that a colored man (if free and otherwise qualified according by the Constitution of Pennsylvania) had the right to vote, and thereexisted no power to prevent him, and he hoped the word "white" would not be inserted as the qualification of a voter. IIe was strenuous in support of resi- denee as a qualification, and hoped to see the day when a registry law would be passed. Purity and the freedom of cleetions the people required of them. He, like Stevens, felt the tide of Southern influenee, and resisted it- standing by the Constitution of 1790, framed in the air of pure liberty ; resisted anything novel when no evil could be demonstrated in the pracuce of the old ; objected to short terms and frequent elections, especially of those offices which had no political influence or patronage, and the appointment of sneh he believed should be in the people. His object was to break up the influence of great central political power, by which public opinion was created, controlled and perpetuated.
His speech on the distribution of power is
1 Deb. Pa. Con. 1., 153,
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a fine specimen of his mode of argument. By a succession of questions he wrought up step by step until, when the last question was thunder- ed forth, there was no answer-it was con- viction. Speaking of the remedial power of the Legislature, he said : " Who will say they (the laws) are wrong? Ought the power to remedy such evils exist ? What are laws worth if we cannot secure the due administration of them?
"If this great remedial power ought to exist, where can it be so safely lodged as with the representatives of the people ?"
He was just as learned and just as full of information on the subject of banks and paper circulation. He argued, -
1st. That bank paper circulation was necessary :
2d. That it was favorable to popular rights and free institutions. His speech which may be found in Deb. Pa. Con., vol. vi. 320 et seq., is one of the most learned political economic dis- courses that ever fell from the lips of any man. It showed an acquaintance with the history of money very remarkable and had a great deal of curious learning in it. His conclusion was that a circulating medium entirely of precious metals was impracticable ; that such a medium increased its price or interest, and the poorer classes were ground to the dust .- " To abandon the credit system is to fall back into barbar- ism." (¿d. 339.)
"In regard to the insertion of " white free- men," he was of the opinion that the Constitu- tion of 1776 breathed the pure air-" All freemen having a sufficient common interest with and an attachment to the community had a right to elect officers." He endeavored to have a provision inserted in the Constitution for the colored race, that upon showing to a judge his ability to demand the right of suffrage in writing, written in a legible and intelligible manner by himself, and his ability to under- stand the contents of common books, together with residence, would permit him to vote. " These people are here in our midst. They have the right to have their persons and prop- erty protected as others have-by being allowed to vote for those who made the laws and ad- ministered them."
But the color line was being marked. Led by such men as Woodward, the men of the convention saw not yet that this yielding to the dominancy of Southern oligarchy would have to be recovered, and onr State made to breathe the free air of 1776 only after much blood was shed.
The members of the Constitutional Convention having signed the amended Constitution on the 22d day of February, 1838, adjourned sine die on that same day. There remained but three years of his life, for he died at the early age of fifty-two on the 29th of October, 1841. The latter year was passed in great suffering. He was an excessive smoker, and his leisure hours were passed with a pile of literature on one side and a barrel of cigars on the other. A broken tooth irritated the side of his mouth, which rapidly developed into cancer, which consumed the great part of his face,-causing most excruciating pain, and was exceedingly offensive ; which to one so fond, of friends and family added very much to the pain of his exist- ence. Hehad been trained in the Congregational Church by an upright fathor and a piously devoted mother. His life showed the influence of his training; he seemed to have a repug- nance to uniting with any church until he could get a Presbyterian Church in New Berlin, which was done in 1840-41-when he united with the church and was made an elder, but before the next communion season came around he was gathered to his fathers. He had a grand equipoise of character, -- was cour- teous, refined, engaging in conversation ; the widow, the orphan and the poor found in him an advocate. He and the great commoner were fast friends. Stevens' blue-gray eye softened when ho spoke of him and, as it seemed to him, his early death. Had James Merrill lived to Stevens' great ago, he would have been one of the men of mark. Judge Black said of Stevens, that he was clearly great; but religiously, his mind was a waste, howling wilderness. James Merrill, amid great and excruciating pain-with articulation almost destroyed by his fell disease, with clear, unwaver- ing mind until death relieved him, with faith unshaken-to a friend said, " I die a Christian."
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JOHN MUMMA, who was deputy attorney- general from 1824 to 1826, came to New Berlin about the year 1821. He boarded at Seebold's Hotel a few years, and then took rooms with a widow, Mrs. Grossman, who kept a hotel on Water Street, whom he afterwards married. She was a lively, attractive woman, about forty years of age, some fifteen years his senior. He died February, 1826, and is interred in the New Ber- lin Cemetery. He was buried by the Masons, the Hon. Alexander Jordan officiating at his funeral. He left no children.
C. A. BRADFORD was deputy attorney-gen- eral from 1826, to February, 1828.
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