USA > Pennsylvania > The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume I > Part 12
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On November 10, 1896, Mr. Reber was united in matrimonial bonds with Mary Catherine Levan, a woman of many estima- ble traits of character, and a daughter of the late Joim Klein Levan, who was exten- sively engaged in the tanning business at
Kutztown, Pa. Their happy union was blessed with one child, Levan Reber. Mr. Reber's death, which occurred November 11, 1901, cast a gloom over the whole commu- nity. He is survived by his widow and only child.
Christian Henry Ruhl was born at Car- lisle, Cumberland county, August 7, 1853, to Jesse and Mary Ann (Gladfelter) Ruhl. He received his education in the high school at Carlisle, and afterwards entered Dickinson college, from which he graduated in 1874. He studied law in the offices of Charles G. Mclaughlin, of Carlisle, and in August of the same year was admitted to the bar. He began the practice of his profession in his native town, and remained there until the following April, when he removed to Read- ing and opened an office, where he has since remained in active practice. In 1886 he formed a partnership with Hon. Daniel Er- mentrout, under the firm name of Ermen- trout & Ruhl.
The following is a list of lawyers admitted to the Berks county bar from the beginning of the records till the present time. Those whose names are followed by an asterisk (*) are now alive in more or less active prac- tice in Reading :
James Read; James Biddle; David Hen- derson; James Whitehead, Jr .; Edward Bid- dle; Daniel Levan, Jr., November 11, 1769; Collinson Read, August 13, 1772; James Potts, August 1, 1773; Daniel Clymer, May 4, 1776; Alexander Graydon, May 14, 1779; Edward Scull, August 17, 1779; Nathaniel Potts, August 14, 1781; Jacob Hubley, No- vember 14, 1786; George Eckert, February 19, 1787; James Scull, February 19, 1787; . Joseph Hubley, August 14, 1787; John Spayd, February 14. 1788; Peter Hoofnagle, February 14, 1788; Marks John Biddle, De- cember 9, 1788; Jacob R. Howell, February 11, 1789; Charles Evans, August 9, 1791: William Witman, August 20, 1793; Freder- ick Smith, August 4, 1795; Levi Pawling,
C. II. RUHL.
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BERKS COUNTY
August 18, 1796; Bird Wilson, May 14, 1798 ; Andrew Graff, Jr., April 9, 1798; John S. Hiester, August 6, 1798; William S. Biddle, June 2, 1801; Fred. John Haller, November 4, 1801; William Morris, August 9, 1804; An- thony Morris, November 6, 1804; Samuel D. Franks, August 10, 1805; James B. Hubley, April 4, 1809; William Clymer, 1809; Jolm Spayd, April 2, 1810; Samuel Baird, Jr., April 10, 1810; William Morris, Jr., Noven- ber 8, 1810; Thomas B. Smith, July 4, 1814; James Biddle, August 9, 1815; Franeis S. Muhlenberg, May 8, 1816; Nathaniel P. Ho- bart, January 13, 1818; Charles Davis, Au- gust 4, 1818; Charles Whitman, August 9, 1818; William Darling, November 13, 1818; Alexander L. King, April 3, 1820; Edward B. Hubley, April 5, 1820; James L. Dunn, November 10, 1821; W. C. Leavenworth, Au- gust 18, 1822; Daniel J. Hiester, August 4, 1823; Lloyd Wharton, Mareh 26, 1824; Law- renee S. Lardner, April 8, 1824; David F. Gordon, August 6, 1824; Thomas Morris, No- vember 1, 1824; Wmn. Fullerton Dunean, Jan- uary 3, 1825; David Evans, January 5, 1825; Henry W. Smith, January 5, 1825; John S. Wharton, Mareh 4, 1825; Edward P. Pear- son, May 23, 1825; Charles J. Jaek, August 1, 1825; Robert M. Brooke, August 2, 1825; John H. Sheetz, August 3, 1825; Joseph W. Roland, August 20, 1825; George M. Keim, August 11, 1826; Joseph HI. Spayd, Novem- ber 8, 1826; Philip Kendall, January 1, 1827; Elijah Dechert, January 4, 1827; Levi B. Smith, January 10, 1827; William M. Biddle, April 4, 1827; Andrew L. King, No- vember 5, 1827; John S. Gibbons, Au- gust 4, 1828; Jaeob Hoffman, Novem- ber 10, 1829; Robert M. Barr, January 3, 1831; Peter Filbert, January 6, 1831; John Mayer January 8, 1831; Henry Rhoads, April 3, 1832; William Strong, November 8, 1832; George S. Wharton, August 15, 1832; James Pawling, November 7, 1833; Franeis Aurand, November 13, 1833; William Betz, January 10, 1834; George G. Barelay, April
10, 1835; Newton D. Strong, August 3, 1835; Augustus F. Boas, August 4, 1835; J. Prin- gle Jones, November 2, 1835; Anthony F. Miller, August 15, 1836; Franklin B. Schoe- ner, January 3, 1837; John S. Richards, April 4, 1837; Garriek Mallery, August 14, 1837; Dennis W. O'Brien, August 7, 1838; Jeremiah D. Bitting, August 8, 1838; An- drew M. Sallade, August 11, 1838; Jason H. Sherman, August 7, 1839; William M. Hies- ter, January 7, 1840; Peter Shearer, April 7, 1840; Matthias Mengel," April 8, 1840; George E. Ludwig, November 3, 1840; James Donagan, December 22. 1841; Samuel Soll, April 5, 1842; Jeremiah Hagenman,* April 7, 1842; J. Dundas Biddle, May 17, 1842; Charles Wierman, May 17, 1842; George W. Arms, Mareh 8, 1843; John K. Longneeker, November 6, 1843; Henry Van Reed, April 5, 1844; William M. Baird, April 12, 1844; Henry A. Muhlenberg, July 5, 1844; Isaac High Keim, July 5, 1844; Robert Frazer, July 5, 1844; Franklin B. Miller, Deeember 14, 1844; Jaeob S. Livingood,* January 7, 1845; J. Glaney Jones, January 7, 1845; Silas E. Buzard, April 8, 1845; Edward W. Seudder, August 4, 1845; Edward M. Cly- mer, August 4, 1845; J. Bowman Bell, Jan- uary 5, 1846; J. Lawrenee Getz, August 6, 1846; John K. Hamlin, August 6, 1846; Wil- liam B. Sehoener, August 15, 1846; J. De Puy Davis, January 5, 1847; James May Jones, January 5, 1847: John Banks, April 7, 1847 ; Samuel L. Young, August 10, 1847; A. Lueius Hennershotz, November 11, 1847 ; J. Biddle Gordon, January 6, 1848; James A. Banks, February 21. 1848; J. Bright Smith. April 5, 1848; William F. Filbert, August 9, 1848: A. Jordan Swartz, September 28. 1848; Joel B. Wanner, January 13, 1849: Jacob M. Sallade, April 6, 1849; John A. Banks, April 6, 1849; Hiester Clymer, April 6, 1849; Charles B. Weaver, November 8. 1850; Jacob K. MeKenty, April 7, 1851; Henry C. Kutz, April 24, 1851; Wm. Edmund Banks, April 25, 1851; Wm. S. Marx, August 4, 1851; Al-
6
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THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA
bert G. Green, November 11, 1851; Edmund L. Smith, November 11, 1851; George De B. Keim, April 8, 1852; Charles K. Robeson, April 8, 1852; E. R. Zimmerman, April 8, 1852; Carl O. Wagner, November 5, 1852; Michael P. Boyer, August 8, 1853; Wharton Morris, November 15, 1854: Frederiek L. Smith, November 10, 1855; Amos B. Wanner, January 12, 1857; B. Frank Boyer, Mareh 15, 1857 ; Daniel R. Clymer, August 20, 1857; James B. Bechtel, April 14, 1857; Wm. K. Loose, April 14, 1858; Chas. Ph. Muhlenberg, November 8, 1859; Daniel Ermentrout, Au- gust 3, 1859; Wm. H. Livingood,* January 19, 1860; Hiram H. Schwartz, July 14, 1860; Jesse G. Hawley, September 20, 1860; Thomas S. Brenholtz, September 20, 1860; J. George Seltzer, February 5, 1861; Abner K. Stauffer,* April 15, 1861; Edward H. Shearer,* April 15, 1861; John Ralston, Au- gust 14, 1862; Frank R. Sehumucker, Au- gust 25, 1862; Wm. P. Bard, February 9, 1863; Chas. Henry Jones, April 14, 1863; Richmond L. Jones,* April 14, 1863; Daniel E. Sehrocder,* April 23, 1863; Chas. A. Leo- pold, April 23, 1863; J. Warren Tryon, No- vember 14, 1863; J. Howard Jacobs, Novem- ber 14, 1863; Augustus S. Sassaman, January 9, 1864; Israel C. Beeker,* January 28, 1864; Franeis M. Banks, May 21, 1864; Horaee H. Yundt,* August 9, 1864; Charles H. Schaeffer,* August 9, 1864; Franklin B. Laueks, August 13, 1864; Wm. M. Good- man,* August 13, 1864; Edwin Shalter, Au- gust 13, 1864; Louis Richards,* January 16, 1865; Irenaeus Shalter, January 16, 1865; J. Ross Miller,* August 7, 1865: J. Dallas Sehoener, August 7, 1865; Henry May Keim, August 7, 1865; Harrison Maltzberger, August 7, 1865; Peter D. Wanner,* Novem- ber 4, 1865; Llewellyn Wanner, August, 1866; Wm. M. Rightmyer, January 21, 1867 ; Geo. M. Ermentrout,* November 27, 1867; James N. Ermentrout, November 27, 1867; Geo. F. Baer, January 22, 1868; Chas. F. Evans, April 28, 1868; T. H. Garrigues, Au-
gust 10, 1868; Ben B. Laucks, January 11, 1869; II. Willis Bland, April 12, 1869; Henry C. G. Reber, April 12, 1870; Cyrus G. Derr,* August 12, 1870; Wmn. L. Guinther, Novem- ber 14, 1870; Morton L. Montgomery,* Au- gust 28, 1871; Garrett B. Stevens,* August 12, 1872; Horace Roland,* August 12, 1872; Edgar M. Levan, August 17, 1872: Frank R. Sehell, September 16, 1872; Edwin White Moore, September 30, 1872; James A. O'Reil- ly, January 13, 1873; Stephen M. Meredith,* August 11, 1873; Daniel H. Wingerd, Sep- tember 29, 1873: Hiram Y. Kaufman, No- vember 9, 1874; John C. K. Heine, April 12, 1875; B. Frank Dettra,* April 12. 1875; B. F. Y. Shearer," April 12, 1875; C. H. Ruhl,* April 15, 1875; B. F. McAtee, April 15, 1875; Jno. F. Smith, August 9, 1875; Jefferson Snyder,* August 9, 1875; John B. Damp- man, November 8, 1875; Henry A. Muhlen- berg,* November 8, 1875; Daniel B. Young, January 10, 1876; Adam II. Schmehl,* Janu- ary 10, 1876; Edwin B. Wiegand, January 18, 1876; Wesley D. Horning, April 17, 1876; Gustav A. Endlich, November 12, 1877; Simon P. O'Reilly, January 14, 1877; Wayne Hayman, January 14, 1877; Henry A. Zie- ber, April 10, 1878; Isaae Hiester,* August 13, 1878; J. H. Marx,* August 13, 1878; Jere- miah K. Grant,# November 11, 1878; Walter B. Craig,* November 12, 1878; D. Nieholas Schaeffer,* November 12, 1878; M. Brayton MeKnight, November 12, 1878; Israel C. Beeker,* December 12, 1878; Daniel G. Gul- din, January 20, 1879; Warren Woodward, January 20, 1879; Chas. P. Sherman, August 11, 1879; Frank S. Livingood," August 11, 1879; John W. Apple, August 11, 1879; Henry D. Green,* November 10, 1879; Wil- liam C. Heaeoek, April 12, 1880; William O. Miller,* April 12, 1880; Chas. M. Plank,* November 22, 1880; William J. Rourke,* No- vember 22, 1880; Albert R. Heilig, November 22, 1880; Alonzo E. Ream, November 22, 1880; George F. Hagenman,* January 24, 1881; Israel H. Rothermel,* August 20, 1881 ;
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BERKS COUNTY
John H. Rothermel,# Angust 20, 1881; Dan- iel F. Westley, November 14, 1881; Charles C. Kehr, November 14, 1881; Henry Maltz- berger,* November 14, 1881; George J. Gross, Jr.,* November 14, 1881; Henry O. Schrader, November 14, 1882; I. Comley Fet- ter, November 13, 1882; James B. Baker,* November 13, 1882; Adam B. Rieser,* No- vember 13, 1882; Ellwood HI. Deysher,* No- vember 13, 1882; Richard HI. Koeh, Novem- ber 12, 1883; Henry P. Keiser,“ November 12, 1883; J. Ed. Miller,# November 12, 1883; Felix P. Kremp,* November 12, 1883; Charles H. Tyson,* November 10, 1884; Wil- liam B. Beehtel,* November 10, 1884; Frank K. Flood .* November 10, 1884; Philip S. Zie- ber,* November 10. 1884; Wm. Kerper Ste- vens,* November 10, 1884; Howard P. Wan- ner, November 9, 1885; William P. Schell, March 13, 1886; James L. Sehaadt, March 19, 1886; Daniel F. Ancona, November 8, 1886; Caleb J. Bieber,* November 8, 1886; Edwin S. Sassaman, March 21, 1887; David Levan,* November 14, 1887; Morris H. Schaeefer,* November 14, 1887; Ammon S. Strunk,* November 14, 1887; Herbert R. Green,* January 21, 1888; Ira P. Rother- mel,* January 21, 1888; George R. Van Reed, January 21, 1888: E. Clinton Rhoads, Octo- ber 27, 1888; Samuel N. Potteiger,* Novem- ber 24, 1888; Abram H. Rothermel,* Novem- ber 24, 1888; Edward S. Kremp,* November 23, 1889; David F. Mauger,* November 23, 1889; John H. Zweizig,* November 23, 1889; John J. Kutz,* November 10, 1890; George W. Wagner,* November 10, 1890; William J. Young,* November 10, 1890; Fitz Daniel Ermentrout,* November 7, 1892; J. Fred Hartgen,* November 6, 1893; Ralph II. Men- gel,* November 6, 1893 ; Silas R. Rothermel,* November 6, 1893, Howard L. Greenawalt,* November 12, 1894; Harvey F. Heinly,* No- vember 12, 1894; Louis A. Sassaman,* No- vember 12, 1894; Walter S. Young,* Novem- ber 12, 1894; Hiester A. Bowers,* November 11, 1895; Sherman H. Hoverter,* November
11, 1895; Christian C. Kestner, November 11, 1895; John H. Millholland, November 11, 1895; Frederick W. Nicolls,* November 11, 1895; Robert P. Schick,* November 11, 1895 ; Wilson Ferguson," November 9, 1896; S. Leo Donavan,* November 9, 1896; J. P. Long, November 9, 1896; William Rick,* Novem- ber 9, 1896; Ira G. Kutz,* November 8, 1897; Thomas K. Leidy,* November 8, 1897 ; William H. Hope, May 21, 1898; George D. Humbert,* November 14, 1898; George M. Jones,* November 14, 1898; Harry F. Kant- ner,* November 14, 1898; Milton F. Milton,* November 14, 1898; Paul H. Price,* Novem- ber 14, 1898; Harry H. Schaeffer,* November 14,1898 ; H. Seidel Throm,* November 14, 1898 ; B. Morris Stranss,* November 22, 1898; Allen S. Hottenstein,* Deeember 13, 1898; Harry J. Dumm,* January 3, 1899; Samuel E. Bertolette,* November 13, 1899; Joseph R. Dickinson,* November 13, 1899; Edwin W. Kalbach, November 13, 1899; Edwin S. Livingood,# November 13, 1899; W. H. Sad- ler,* November 13, 1899; Edward D. Trex- ler,* November 13, 1899; Charles S. Shal- ters,* Deeember 23, 1899; Garrett Stevens,* December 23, 1899; Foster S. Biehl,* Novem- ber 12, 1900: Charles K. Derr,* November 12, 1900; John M. Frame,* November 12, 1900; Walter B. Freed,* November 12, 1900: Earl I. Koch,* November 12, 1900; Oliver G. Imtz,* November 12, 1900; Frederick A. Marx,# November 12, 1900; Charles G. Mover,* November 12, 1900; Wilson S. Roth- ermel,* November 12, 1900; Charles R. Wan- ner,* January 7, 1901; J. Bennett Nolan,* November 18, 1901.
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Note .- The writer wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Morton C. Montgomery's "History of Berks County," and also to ex- press his thanks to the numerous friends who have kindly given him information upon the subject of this history, especially to Al- fred S. JJones, of the Reading Eagle, whose antiquarian researches have been invaluable.
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THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA
BEDFORD COUNTY
From the organization of Bedford county, in April, 1771, until the adoption of the state constitution of 1790, the justices of the peace presided over all courts held in the county. The first term of court convened on the 16th day of April, 1771, and there were then pres- ent as justices, William Proctor, Robert Clug- gage, Robert Hanna, George Wilson, William Lochrey and William McConnell.
The first business to occupy the attention of the court was to divide the county, then embracing the entire south-west quarter of the province, into sixteen townships, as fol- lows: Air, Bedford, Barree, Cumberland, Valley, Dublin, Colerain, Brother's Valley, Fairfield, Mount Pleasant, Hempfield, Pitt, Tyrone, Springhill, Ross Straver, Armstrong and Tullileague. Robert Magaw, Phillip Pendleton, Robert Galbraith, David Sample and James Wilson were admitted and en- rolled as attorneys of Bedford county. The next term of court convened at Bedford on the 16th day of July, 1771, there being pres -. ent as justices, John Fraser, Robert Hanna, William Lochrey, William Proctor, George Wilson, Robert Cluggage, William McCon- nell and George Woods. At this term David Grier, David Espy and George Brent were admitted as attorneys.
During the October sessions of 1771 much time was occupied in receiving petitions for roads and in appointing commissioners to at- tend to the laying out and opening of the same. At the October term, 1772, the court was petitioned to lay out a road over the North mountain to Daniel Rogers' mill. The court appointed a commission and the road
was laid out prior to the October sessions of 1773. Regular sessions were held during the ycar 1775. There was no court held from April, 1776, until a court of Petty Sessions, which was held in the house of Henry Wertz, in Bedford. on the 27th day of September, 1777. At the October term, which convened October 14th, 1777, the expression "The Commonwealth vs." A. B. was first em- ployed. After appointing constables for the several townships, this court adjourned. Of- fenders of the established laws continued to be punished according to the old regime, even after the British yoke had been thrown off and the most extraordinary sentence inade a matter of record in those days in Bed- ford county was enunciated during the Octo- ber term of 1782, before James Martin, Presi- dent Judge. Daniel Palmer was found guilty of horse-stealing and sentenced to receive thirty-nine lashes at the whipping post, and afterwards to stand in the pillory for one hour and have his cars cut off, besides paying a fine of fifteen pounds and costs attending the prosecution. In 1787, one Brice Me Whin- ney was tried for the same offence and sen- teneed to the same punishment as Palmer.
After the Declaration of American Inde- pendence, and until the adoption of the con- stitution of 1790, James Martin, Barnard Dougherty and George Woods were commis- sioned, and served alternately, as presidents of the County Courts.
The second section of the act of April 13, 1791, provided for the division of the state into five judicial districts, and the third sec- tion of the same act further provided that a
1
85
BEDFORD COUNTY
president judge should be appointed by the governor for each district, and not less than three nor more than four associate judges should be appointed for each county. Hence, Governor Mifflin, on August 20, 1791, ap- pointed Thomas Smith, of Bedford, president judge of the Fourth judicial district, which was then composed of the counties of Cum- berland, Franklin, Bedford, Huntingdon and Mifflin.
Judge Smith continued to serve as presi- dent judge of this district until January 31, 1794, when he was appointed one of the asso- ciate judges of the Supreme Court of the state. His successor was Hon. James Riddle, of Chambersburg, who first visited Bedford as judge during the April sessions of 1794, and continued on until November term of 1804. Then came Hon. Thomas Cooper, who presided over the district composed of Bed- ford, Huntington, Mifflin and Centre coun- ties, from the beginning of the November sessions, 1804, until the close of the Novem- ber sessions, 1805.
Hon. Jonathan H. Walker, father of Hon. Robert J. Walker, secretary of the United States treasury in Polk's administration, was appointed on March 1, 1806, president judge of the district vacated by Cooper. He re- sided in the building now known as the Union Hotel, Bedford, and continued to pre- side over the courts of the fourth district until the close of the April term in 1818.
Hon. Charles Huston then became the suc- cessor of Judge Walker, and beginning with the August term of 1818, continued until the termination of April sessions, 1824.
Hon. John Tod succeeded Judge Huston to the presidency of the Sixteenth judicial dis- trict, the territory then embraced by Frank- lin, Bedford and Somerset counties, upon the appointment of the latter to the Supreme Court bench. Judge Tod came to Bedford from the State of Connecticut about the year 1800. He was admitted to practice in the courts of Bedford county during the August
term of 1802. Subsequently he represented this district in the Assembly and Senate of the State and in the National House of Rep- resentatives. His commission as presiding officer of the courts of the sixteenth district bore the date of June 8, 1824. He held his first term of court in Bedford during August and September, 1824, and continued to pre- side in the district mentioned until the ter- mination of the April sessions, 1827, when he, too, was appointed one of the associate justices of the Supreme Court of the State, his appointment as such bearing the date of May 25, 1827. At an early period he served as postmaster of the town, and in 1806 and 1807 was clerk for the county commissioners. In 1812 he was speaker of the General As- sembly of the state, and in 1815 he presided over the deliberations of the State Senate. In 1820 he was elected to the national House of Representatives, and was re-elected in 1822 and served through the 17th and 18th Congresses. He died April 27, 1830, at the age of fifty-one years.
Hon. Alexander Thomson, of Bedford, was the successor of Judge Tod. Judge Thomson had been a teacher in the Bedford academy. Studied law in the office of Samuel Riddle, and was admitted to practice in the courts of Bedford county during the October term of 1816. His first term of court at Bedford began during August, 1827, and he con- tinucd his duties as the president judge of this district until the end of the January ses- sions of 1842. By the provisions of the con- stitution of 1838, the terms of the judges then in commission were all shortened, and therefore the president judges were nomin- . ated by the governor, with the consent of the Senate to hold for ten years, and the as- sociate judges to hold for five years.
Judge Thomson was born in Franklin county, Pa., January 12, 1788. His parents both died while he was a lad, and after facing many difficulties in obtaining an edu- cation, he finally took charge of the academy
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THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA
in Bedford, and eommeneed the study of law with Judge Riddle, and after his admission to the bar he soon attained public confidence. He was elected to the House of Representa- tives in the State Legislature, and after- wards represented the district in Congress from 1823 to 1827. In the diseharge of his duties, he displayed untiring industry and serupulous fidelity. About the end of his congressional eareer, he was appointed by the governor to a judgeship in the city of Lancaster. He held the offiee but a short time before he was appointed, for life, presi- dent judge of the judicial distriet composed of Somerset, Bedford and Franklin counties. He removed from Bedford to Chambersburg and held his offiee until his term expired under the limited tenure of the amended constitution of 1838. He was succeeded in the judgeship by Hon. Jeremiah S. Blaek, before whom he practiced suecessfully, at- tending the courts of all the counties and being engaged in many important cases. He continued the practice of his profession until his death, which oceurred suddenly from paralysis, August 2, 1848.
Besides his professional labors in the courts, he filled a professorship in the law sehool connected with Marshall eollege. To his pupils he gave diligent attention, and by his valuable instruction and almost paternal eare, won their highest esteem and lasting gratitude.
Hon. Jeremiah S. Black, of Somerset, ap- peared at Bedford as the president judge of the Sixteenth judicial.district, at the begin- ning of the April sessions, 1842, and con- . tinued (though Hon. George M. Taylor and Hon. Samuel A. Gilmore had each held eourt here in 1850, by an arrangement with Judge Black) until the close of the November term, in 1851. By an amendment to the constitu- tion of 1850, the office of all judges was then made eleetive.
Hon. Francis M. Kimmel, of Somerset, was elected president judge of the Sixteenth dis-
triet, embracing the counties of Franklin, Fulton, Bedford and Somerset, to succeed Judge Blaek, in October, 1851. He held his first court in Bedford in February, 1852, and continued to perform the duties of his office for the full term of ten years.
Judge James Nill, of Chambersburg, was eleeted for the succeeding term in October, 1861. He died November 27, 1864.
Hon. Alexander King, of Bedford, was ap- pointed June 4, 1864, to fill the vaeancy eaused by the death of Judge Nill. Judge King was born in Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania, September 27, 1805. His literary studies were completed in the Bedford aead- cmy. Subsequently he read law in the office of John Johnson, of Huntingdon, and on the 26th of November, 1833, he was admitted to the bar of Bedford county. In 1840 he re- moved to St. Louis, where he practiced law for two years, then returned to Bedford and continued as a resident of that town during the remainder of his life. Seven years later he was elected to represent the eounties of Bedford, Blair and Huntingdon in the state senate, and was re-elected to the same posi- tion in 1850. On the 4th of June, 1864, he was appointed president judge of the Six- teenth judicial distriet to fill the vaeaney caused by the death of Judge James Nill. In October of the same year he was elected to the same position for a term of ten years, but died before the close of his term, Jan- uary 10, 1871, and Judge Hall was appointed to fill the vaeaney.
William Maclay Hall was born at Lewis- town, Pennsylvania, on November 3, 1828. He was the son of Rev. William Maclay Hall and Ellen Williams Hall. His grandfather was Dr. Henry Hall, a physician of Harris- burg. Dr. Hall married Hester Maclay, the daughter of William Maclay of Harrisburg, an officer in the Ameriean army in the war of the Revolution, and afterwards the senior United States Senator from Pennsylvania in the first Senate. Judge Hall's father was in
HE Camper Jr L Nur UL. Hall
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BEDFORD COUNTY
early life a lawyer, and subsequently joined the ministry of the Presbyterian church, his last pastorate being at Bedford in 1844, where as a young man Judge Hall prepared for college, entered Marshall college at Mer- cersburg, and graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1846. He subsequently read law with William Lyon, Esq., at Bedford, and was admitted to the bar in August, 1849. He followed the pursuit of land surveyor, in addition to his professional work, with a great deal of success and enthusiasm. In those days this was a very important matter in the affairs of the people, and a large amount of litigation of central Pennsylvania arose from disputed land titles. He became a good land lawyer and had much business in this and other branches of litigation; he was an active, energetic and careful prac- tioner; an earnest and successful advocate before a jury. He was rejected from the service in the army of the United States in the war of the Rebellion, by reason of severe asthmatic affection. At the close of the war, he became, by appointment, judge advocate and inspector of military prisons and camps, and was engaged under Secre- tary Stanton for some time in examining military prisoners with the view to clearing the prisons and reporting the proper cases for pardon. In 1868 he served as a member of a commission appointed by the state of Pennsylvania to revise the criminal statutes of the state; associated with him were Judge Derrickson and the Hon. Wayne McVeagh. On the death of Judge King in 1871, he was appointed by Governor Geary president judge of the Sixteenth judicial district, com- posed of the counties of Bedford, Somerset, Franklin and Fulton, and in the fall of that year he was chosen at the election by the people to fill the office for a term of ten years. Coming to the bench at a time when the district was very large and the business considerable, he had an extensive field of labor, and during his termn was known as a
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