USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > History of the city of Altoona and Blair County : including sketches of the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. > Part 3
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The four entrance doorways are provided with handsomely pan- elled walnut doors. The three doors facing Union street open into a vestibule 12x38 feet. At each end of this vestibule are stairways to the second story. The tiling for the floors was imported and furn- ished by Sharpless & Watts, of Philadelphia.
Opening from the corridors are the various county offices. Com-
28
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
LOOK!
W. J. MEINSLING,
Cor. Sth Avenue and 11th Street,
ALTOONA, PA.
YOU CAN GET DRY GOODS,
YOU CAN GET NOTIONS,
YOU CAN GET GROCERIES,
YOU CAN GET QUEENSWARE,
YOU CAN GET CARPETS AND OIL CLOTHS,
YOU CAN GET WOOD AND WILLOW-WARE, YOU CAN GET FLOUR AND FEED,
YOU CAN GET COUNTRY PRODUCE,
YOU CAN GET ANYTHING KEPT IN A FIRST- CLASS STORE AND ALWAYS AT THE VERY LOWEST PRICES.
Please Call and be Convinced
OF THE BARGAINS WE WILL GIVE YOU.
29
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
missioners' room, 19 feet 5 inches by 24 feet, with a connecting private room 12 feet by 13 feet 4 inches; Treasurer's office, 25 feet by 19 feet 5 inches; Sheriff's office, 14 feet by 19 feet 5 inches; Prothono- tary's office (divided into two parts), is included in a space of 20 feet by 50 feet; Recorder's office, 20 feet by 27 feet, etc. The last two offices mentioned are fire proof, so that the records be safe. All offices are neatly fitted up with necessary furniture and conveniences. In addition to the offices there is an arbitration room on the first floor 19 by 35 feet. The stairways are all iron except the hand rail.
The court room is in the second story, approached through three vestibules, two front and one rear. Access to the court room is had by four pairs of large folding doors. The Judges' bench is placed in a recess formed under the main tower. This recess has a pannelled Gothic arched ceiling twenty-five feet high and finely finished. The ceiling of the court room is pannelled, executed in ash and yellow pine. The benches for the audience, the bar railing, the Judges' chairs and bench, Clerk's desk, the jury and witness boxes, the tables and other furniture of the court room, also the fittings of the various offices, are all made of ash, designed to correspond with the architec- ture of the building. The acoustic properties of the courtroom are excellent.
In the rear building on the second floor are a conversation room 153 by 29 feet ; a retiring room for the Judges; rooms for the grand and petit juries; and separate rooms for male and female witnesses- all of good size and fifteen feet high in the clear. The third story is twelve feet high in the clear and contains several large rooms, to be used for storage, etc. Rooms containing water closets are conveni- ently located in several parts of the building. The drainage is excel. lent. The walls of all the halls and rooms are wainscotted. The carpenter work was well executed by Mr. George A. Cochran, of Pittsburg. Mr. G. A. Gibson, of Philadelphia, did the glazing of the windows with stained glass of pleasing design, in cathedral tints, and set in lead work.
The walls of all vestibules, halls, corridors and rooms, and all plas- tered ceilings throughout, are painted in colors. Although high colors are employed, the general effect is that of a quiet and perfect. harmony. Messrs. Carlisle & Joy, of Philadelphia, did this work, which is highly creditable to these artists.
There is a cellar under the entire building, with the exception of the front vestibules, thoroughly lighted and ventilated by large windows.
The building is heated by steam. As the heated air is delivered
30
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
into the rooms through the warm air registers, the coll and vitiated air is drawn off through ventilating registers placed next the floor. These open into flues, which connect with duets, passing under the cellar floor, all of which discharge into a ventilating shaft. Thus, while fresh air is admitted through the warm air registers, the viti- ated air is carried off through others.
The gas fixtures are made from original designs by Messrs. Cor- nelius & Co., of Philadelphia, and are in character with the building -very rich and unique in design.
On May 3, 1877, the following order of court was issued :
" And now, May 3, 1877, in open court, on the second Monday of April term, it appearing to the Conrt that the new court house, the erection of which was commenced at April term, 1875, will be com- pleted and ready for occupancy on July 2, 1877, at Argument Court, and that, in view of the magnitude of the undertaking, the character of the building, its importance to the county in view of its increasing population, and its largely increasing judicial business, the completion of so important a publie work should be marked by proper notice; therefore, it is ordered that A. S. Landis, Samuel Calvin, Thaddeus Banks, B. L. Hewit, D. J. Neff, Il. HI. Herr and A. A. Stephens, esqs., be a committee to prepare a suitable programme of ceremonies and make such arrangements for dedicating the building to public use, on the day aforesaid, as may be deemed proper.
"By the Court.
" JOHN DEAN, President Judge."
Agreebly to this order the committee appointed prepared the fol- lowing order of exercises :
Court called at 11 A. M. (adjourned session.)
Adjournment of court on motion of Hon. S. S. Blair. .
Meeting of the Bars of the District, organized with Hon. Thad. Banks, President. Prayer by Rev. D. H. Barron. Music.
Historical address by Hon. John Dean, President Judge. Music. Address by Hon. Samuel Calvin. Address by Hon. Jeremiah S. Black. Music. Addresses by Col. R. A. MeMurtrie, and others.
Court convened at 11 o'clock. Hon. S. S. Blair moved the adjourn- ment of court. Immediately after its adjournment, Mr. Landis, chair- man of the committee of arrangements, stated that the following officers had been selected for the occasion :
President, Hon. Thad. Banks; Vice Presidents, Gen. John Wil- liamson, of Huntingdon, and John Fenton, esq., of Cambria.
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HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
After they had taken their places, Mr. Landis addressed the com- mittee of arrangements, congratulating them upon the happy orca- sion which had assembled them together.
Hon. Thad. Banks, the chairman, then made a few remarks, return- ing thanks for the position assigned him, and making complimentary allusions to JJudges Black, Taylor and Dean.
After prayer by Rev. D. H. Barron, pastor of the Presbyterian church, and music by the band. the chairman introduced Judge Dean, whose remarks we would like to publish in full. Unable to do so, on account of our space being limited, we present a brief synopsis of its principal historical points, consoling ourselves with the reflection that thousands who were unable to hear it enjoyed the pleasure of reading it, as it was published in full after its delivery.
In his introductory Judge Dean referred to the progress made toward the enforcement of the perfect law : "Do unto others as You would have others do unto you,"-so marked within the compara- tively short period of the last fifty years, as to be a matter of exulta- tion to every true lawyer.
In referring to the first two JJudges of Blair county ( Black and Taylor), Judge Dean said: "The moral sensibilities of these two distinguished JJudges were in no wise dull. Keenly alive to the wrongs of suitors, filled with a perfect hatred of all unfairness, over- reaching and all unconscionable conduct, possessing great learning and ability, under their eyes the judgment- of the Court were entered."
" At the time of the erection of Blair county, " continued the speak- er, "Judge Black was the President JJudge of the Sixteenth Judicial District, composed of the counties of Franklin, Bedford, Somerset and Fulton, and in the act erecting the county it was provided that it should form part of this district. Thus Judge Black became our first Judge. The original act (see P. L. 1846, p. 64) provided that the first court should be held on the fourth Monday of July, 1846. From that time np to and including March term. 1849. Judge Black pre- sided. By this act the terms of the courts were to commence on the fourth Mondays of March, July, October and December, but a supple- ment (sec P. L. 1846, p. 398) directed that after the first court the summer session should commence the second Monday of June. Judge Black held twelve terms of the court, when the Legislature, by the aet of April 5, 1849, making a general reorganization of the judicial districts of the State, declared the counties of Huntingdon, Blair and Cambria should compose the Twenty-fourth JJudicial District, thus detaching this county from the Sixteenth, Judge Black'> district.
32
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
WE ARE PREPARED
To show yon the largest stoek of Dry Goods, Carpets, Notions and Fancy Goods in Blair county. We are constantly receiving new goods in all departments. Our Dry Goods Department is complete at all times in all standard makes of Muslins,, Ginghams, Calicoes, Tickings, and we sell them all at the lowest possible price.
DRESS GOODS DEPARTMENT.
We make a specialty of this department and at all times yon will be sure to find' a complete assortment of fancy and plain dress fabrics, We would eall special attention to our Black and Colored Cashmeres and would invite comparison with samples from New York or Philadelphia. Our Silks are always up to the standard ;; purchasers will find it to their advantage to examine our Silks. Samples sent when requested.
TRIMMING DEPARTMENT.
We would ask an inspection of this department. We are confident that we can show you the largest and finest stock of Black and Colored Silk Velvets, Buttons, Braids, and. all the latest Novelties in Trimming. We are always up to the times in this department.
NOTIONS AND FANCY GOODS DEPART- MENT.
Yon will be sure to find a large stock in this department. We make a specialty of these goods; buying in large quantities we can sell them more reasonably than any other house in the fancy goods business. A full stock of Laces, Ribbons, Ties .. Edgings, Hamburg Embroidery, Nainsook and Swiss Trimming.
CARPET DEPARTMENT.
We occupy all the second floor of our building for this department and can show yon the largest line of Carpets in Central Pennsylvania. We buy in large quanti- ties and sell them rapidly at a slight advance for cash. You are cordially invited to call and examine our stock and learn our prices. We always keep up to the times at " No. 1317," and we shall spare no pains to make it to your advantage to deal with us as you will always find the latest goods in the market and at Eastern prices.
WM. MURRAY, NO .* 13170
Eleventh Avenue, Altoona, Pa.
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
[Here follows a highly complimentary allusion to Judge Black. ] we have seen, on April 5, 1849, the Twenty-fourth District was ere- ated. George Taylor, then a young, but able lawyer of the Hunting- don bar, was appointed by Governor Johnston President Judge. He held his first court in this county on the second Monday of July, 1849, the summer term having been again changed back from June to July. Under this appointment he continued to hold court until October term, 1851. In the meantime the amendment to the Constitution had been adopted (called amendment of 1850) which provided for the election of the Judges of all the courts ; that their terms should be ten years; that the terms of all Judges then in office should expire on the first Monday of December following the adoption of the amend- ment, and that the terms of those elected should commence at the same time. The first election after the adoption of the amendment was held in 1851, so that Judge Taylor's commission by appointment expired on the first Monday of December, 1851 ; but at the election previous, having been nominated by the Whigs, he was elected for the term of ten years. His opponent was the Democratic candidate, Thomas P. Campbell, of Huntingdon. Under this election he served his term of ten years, and at the end of it was re-elected without op- position. At the end of this term he ran as an Independent candi- date but failed of an election. He died of paralysis in November, 1871, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. [Following a eulogy upon Judge Taylor, Judge Dean continues : ] I was elected Judge in 1871. The first Associate Judges of the court were George R. McFarlane and Daniel McConnell, Democrats, appointed by Governor Shunk, June 8, 1846, to hold until the next session of the Senate of Pennsyl- vania. Judge MeFarlane was re-appointed and confirmed by the Senate on March 11, 1847. The other vacaney was filled by the ap- pointment of Davis Brooke on January 28, 1848. James Gardner was appointed by the Governor April 10, 1851, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge Geo. R. McFarlane and was elected for the full term the following October, with Levi Slingluff, of Martinsburg. Both resigned before the expiration of their terms. These are about the only examples of resignation by Judges within my knowledge. James D. Rea, Democrat, was appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge Gardner on July 25, 1854, and James L. Gwin to fill that occasioned by resignation of Judge Slingluff in March, 1855. Judges Rea and Gwin held office until October, 1855, when David Caldwell and John Penn Jones were elected each for the full term of five years; in 1860 Adam Moses
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HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
and Samuel Dean were elected ; in 1865 Judge Moses was re-elected with B. F. Rose, of Altoona ; in 1870 George W. Patton and Joseph Irwin were elected ; and in 1875 the present associates, Charles J. Mann and Samuel Smith. With the exceptions of Judges McFarlane, McConnell and Brooke, appointed by Governor Shunk, and Judge Rea, appointed by Governor Bigler, all these officers have been Whigs or Republicans. Whatever may have been their politics, it has been the united testimony of the bar that, one and all, they performed faithfully and impartially their duty. Of those dead, honor and re- spect followed them during life ; of those living, no blot touches their integrity. They have the respect and good wishes of a profession which learns, as no other one does, to appreciate unblemished official life.
" From the fourth Monday, July 27, 1846, until April 30, 1877, the last term of court, exactly two hundred lawyers have been sworn to the bar. Of these only seventy-two have been resident within the county. On the first day of the court, JJuly 27, 1846, there were forty-eight admissions, commencing with Hon. Moses Canan, of Cambria county, and ending with Andrew G., afterward Governor Curtin, of Centre county; and during that term of the court there were fifty-one admissions. Out of these, however, there were only twelve resident of the county and they all in Hollidaysburg-Calvin, Cline, J. M. Bell, Kemp, Coffey, Brotherline, Lowrie, T. Banks, Cress- well, Blair, MeMurtrie and Hofius. At October term following, Robt. Wallace, father of the present United States Senator Wallace, was admitted and opened an office. Major Williams was admitted the December following. Up to March 21, 1855, when I was admitted, nearly nine years after the organization of the county, only twenty- two resident practicing lawyers had been sworn to the bar, and of these eight had retired from practice or removed from the county, leaving fourteen. There are now in active practice forty-one. Among the names of those admitted from other counties who either were, or afterwards became prominent in the law or in politics, I notice Eph- raim Banks, father of our chairman, Auditor General of the State; Judge Alexander King, Judge Kimmell, John G. Miles, Senator Scott, Judge Hale, Governor Curtin, Francis Jordan, Charles Shaler, R. L. Johnson, John Cessna, Ross Forward, Judge Pershing, Gon. John Williamson, Judge Hall, Judge JJohn P. Blair, Harry White, Samuel T. Brown, Charles J. Faulkner and Randolph Tucker, of Virginia, Thadeus Stephens, Judge White, Judge Pettis, Hon. R. M. Speer, Judge Thatcher, John M. Bailey, Thomas M. Marshall,
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HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
Joshua F. Cox, and a number of others. Among them was John Blodgett, of Bedford, noted for his acquirements in general literature, his poetical tastes, and wit. There was also admitted during the first year of the court a lawyer noted in the whole profession along the Juniata Valley, Mr. Isaac Fisher, of Huntingdon.
" Of the cases tried and suits entered in the thirty years since the organization of the county, when compared with the population, the aggregate seems enormous. In the Common Pleas, including judg- ment bills, appeals and certioraris, there have been entered 39,205 cases ; in the Quarter Sessions, 2,619 cases; in the Over and Ter- miner, 99 cases, making altogether 41,923. In this are not included the large number of estates partitioned or appraised in the Orphans' Court, nor the trust accounts of assignees and other trustees, settled in the Common Pleas. There have passed through the Orphans' Court, for confirmation and allowance, 1,770 accounts of executors and administrators, many of them involving protracted litigation be- fore auditors and on exceptions to auditors' reports.
" Judge Black took forty-four verdicts, Judge Taylor eight hun- dred and seventy-eight ; and there have been taken since four hundred and ninety-five. Of course this, as every lawyer knows, does not show the extent of actual work done in the trial of causes; for many of them, after hours, and sometimes days of trial, "go off," either by non suit or settlement of the parties.
" By the act of Assembly erecting the county, all undetermined issues between parties resident on the territory out of which it was formed, were to be transferred to the records of the new county.
"The first suit in the Common Pleas is one to No. 43, August term, 1826, of Huntingdon county, transferred. It is an action of debt by John Wilson and Rachael Buchanan, executors of Dr. John E. Buchanan, deceased, against William Smith, executor of John Steel, deceased. When it was brought, in 1826, Judges Burnside, Adams and MeCune were on the bench in Huntingdon county. Smith is marked attorney for plaintiff and Allison and Steel for defendant. As appears from the record, more than seventy continuances were. marked during the twenty years it stood on the Huntingdon county docket, and five after its transfer to Blair.
" The first case brought originally in this county, is a libel for divorce ; subpoena issued June 23, 1846, by Mary Armstrong against her husband, John Armstrong. T. J. Coffey is attorney for libellant. John Cox, esq., was appointed commissioner to take testimony, and
36
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
HARRY SZINCK,
- DEALER IN -
GROCERIES, FLOURAND FEED, Corner 6th Avenue and 8th Street.
THE VERY BEST GOODS AT LOWEST PRICES.
E. S. MILLER, M. D.,
OFFICE: Corner Sixteenth Street.and Eleventh Avenue, Altoona, Pa.
OFFICE HOURS: 7109a. m. 1 to 3 p. m. 6 to 8 p. m.
CONSULTATIONS IN ENGLISH OR GERMAN.
THOMAS W. JACKSON, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW, - AND -
DISTRICT ATTORNEY, No. 1010 Twelfth Street, Altoona, Pa.
D. F. BEEGLE, EAST SIDE JEWELER,
12th Street, bet. 8th and 9th Avenues.
COMPLETE STOCK-BEST GOODS-LOWEST PRICES. REPAIRING PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO.
37
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
a divorce was decreed thereon by Judge Black, March 25, 1847. The entire costs were $7.75. Divorces have become more costly since.
" In the first year of the court 661 cases were entered in the Con- mon Pleas, including original writs, certioraris and appeals. In 1856, ten years later, 1,090; in 1866, ten years later, 1,100; in 1876, ten years later, 2,717. Many of the cases included in this last number are judgments on building association bonds; but still, the natural in- crease in legal business, the last ten, has been much greater than in any preceding ten years.
[We cannot find room for the cases tried in the Supreme Court, to which Judge Dean makes reference. ]
" There have been tried in the Over and Terminer thirty cases of homicide. Of these eleven were found not guilty ; three, Alexander Hutchinson, James Shirley and David McKim, were found guilty of murder in the first degree. The first, Hutchinson, was tried in 1850. After sentence his friends induced the Legislature to interfere by at- tempting legislation to relieve him from the death penalty. Nothing effective was done; but the warrant for his execution was withheld until Governor Johnston, during whose administration he was con- victed, was out of office. Governor Bigler declined to issue it because, as he alleged, it was a duty of his predecessor which he was not bound to perform. Hutchinson remained in jail until 1853, when he escaped. Shirley was tried at March term, 1853, for the murder of his wife, and executed in August of that year. McKim was tried at April term, 1857, for the murder of Norcross, and executed in July following. The other convictions in the Over and Terminer were either of murder in the second degree or manslaughter.
"There were two hearings on habeas corpus in the case of alleged fugitive slaves ; one before Judge McFarlane, in 1849, and one before Judge Moses, in March, 1862. In each case the detained persons were discharged. In 1855 a man named Parsons, from Virginia, who attempted to seize a colored man in Gaysport, on the claim that he was a fugitive slave, was indicted for abduction. John Randolph Tucker and Charles J. Faulkner came here to defend him; a true bill was found, but a nolle pros. was entered by the district attorney, Mr. Hammond.
"There are quite a large number of cases, both civil and criminal, a notice of which would be interesting to the lawyers, and many non- professional people, but I cannot undertake to refer to them in a short address. Those mentioned will suggest the general nature and amount of litigation carried on in the several courts since its organization.
4
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HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
" The first district attorney was Col. Cresswell, appointed by Gov- ernor Shunk. He was succeeded by Mr. Hofius, appointed by Gov- ernor Johnston, who filled the office until 1851, when the office was elective. Mr. Kemp was elected by the Whigs; but his health failing soon after, George A. Coffey performed the duties of the office until 1854, when Essington Hammond was elected. At the expiration of his term, Mr. Hewit filled the office two terms; then John H. Keatly almost two terms. He resigned the last year of the second term, and I was appointed to the vacancy until next election ; was then elected and served one term. Milton Alexander was then elected and served one term ; then James F. Milliken was elected. [Then the present district attorney, Thomas W. Jackson .- ED.]
" The office of prothonotary of Common Pleas, clerk of the Orphans" Court, Quarter Sessions and Over and Terminer, filled by the same officer, has not had many incumbents. First, Jeremiah Cunningham was appointed in June, 1846, to serve until the next December. At the October election of that year Joseph Smith was elected and served a term of three years; then George W. Johnston a term of three years; then Hugh MeNeal one term; then Joseph Baldrige two terms, or six years ; then A. S. Morrow four terms, or twelve years ; then James: P. Stewart, present officer, was elected.
" The office of register of wills and recorder of deeds was first filled by appointment of John M. Gibbony, to hold until December, 1846, or until his successor be qualified. At the election in October of that year, Eph. Galbraith was the Whig candidate and Samuel Smith the Democratic. Galbraith died the day of the election, before the votes were nearly all polled. Smith claimed the office on the grounds that he had a majority of the votes cast for a living man, although a major- ity of the people voted for Galbraith. Judge Black declined to decide in his favor, and Gibbony held the office until the next election, when: L. H. Williams was elected. He held the office nine years; was sue- ceeded by H. A. Caldwell, who held it for six years ; and he by D. M. Jones, who held the office for nine years, when A. Lingenfelter was elected.
" The first sheriff was Jeremiah Betts, appointed by Governor Shunk. Then, follow him, in order, Samuel Royer, Thomas Reese, William Reed, George Port, James Funk, Samuel McCamant, Martin Bechtel, John MeKeage, Henry B. Huff, Alexander Bobb, James M. Stiffler.
" The territory in the original act, and over which the court had jurisdiction, embraced Greenfield and North Woodberry townships, of
39
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
Bedford county ; Allegheny, Antis, Blair, Huston, Tyrone and Wood- berry townships, in Huntingdon county; also, that part of Morris township, in Huntingdon county, west of a line run by William Reed, surveyor, to be called Catharine township. Hollidaysburg and Mar- tinsburg had already been incorporated as boroughs. The townships formed since the organization, are Juniata, out of Greenfickl, in . 1847 ; Logan, out of Allegheny and Antis, in 1850; Taylor, out of North Woodberry and Huston, in 1855; Freedom, out of Juniata, in 1857. Altoona was incorporated as a borough in 1854, and came under a city charter in 1871. Tyrone became a borough in 1857; East Tyrone in 1873; Newry in 1876. Eleven constables made returns the first day of the court, twenty-three now.
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