The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume I, Part 13

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago, H. C. Cooper, jr., bro. & co.
Number of Pages: 1102

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careful, able judge, whose decisions were seldom reversed by the higher courts. At the close of his term in 1882, he retired from the bench and thereafter continued in the practice until his death, never confining him- self closely to it, however. He was a careful, thorough and methodical student of the law and literature; he possessed a very retentive memory, great energy and sound reasoning faculties. He was an eloquent speaker, clear, foreible and convincing in his arguments; he was of large stature and distinguished personal appearance. From early manhood until death he was an active member of the Presbyterian church.

In 1859 he married Ellen Rowan Cramer, of Cumberland, Maryland; Mrs. Hall and six children survived him. To them he had been a devoted husband and father, providing by diligence and energy for the comfort of all after his death.

Hon. William J. Baer, of Somerset, was elected to succeed Judge Hall in November, 1881.

Hon. J. H. Longenecker, of Bedford, was elected in 1891 for a term of ten years to succeed Judge Baer. Judge Longenecker was born near Martinsburg, Blair eounty, Penn- sylvania, September, 17, 1839 .* When four years of age, his parents, Jolın and Elizabeth (Holsinger) Longenecker, removed to a farm near Woodbury, Bedford county, where he lived until he reached the age of sixteen. He then entered the Allegheny seminary at Rainsburg, where he pursued an academic 1 course. In September, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company D, One Hundred and First regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and on the 20th of the following January he was promoted to sergeant major of the regiment. May 1, 1863, he was commissioned sec- ond lieutenant of Company D. On the 26th of the following July he was pro- moted to the rank of adjutant of the One Hundred and First regiment. While the army was lying on the Chickahominy he con-

THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

tracted a fever and was sent to the Bellevue hospital, New York. A month sufficed for his recovery and he then re-joined the regi- ment. He served with the regiment until it was captured at Plymouth, North Carolina, on April 20, 1864. After being confined in the prisons at Macon and Savannah, Georgia, and at Charleston, South Carolina, they were taken to Camp Sorghum, south of Columbia, South Carolina. Early in February, 1865, when Sherman was approaching the city, they were removed to Charlotte, North Caro- lina, and on the eve of their arrival, Adjutant Longenecker made his escape. Two weeks later he was captured in the mountains of western North Carolina and carried back to Charlotte, and thence to Salisbury, North Carolina, where he received his liberty March 2, 1865, in the exchange of prisoners, and on March 14 he was honorably dis- charged from the service.

In April, 1865, Mr. Longenecker became a law student in the office of Hon. S. S. Blair, of Hollidaysburg, and in September of the same year entered the law department of 'Albany, N. Y., University, graduating from this institution May 25, 1866, with the degree of bachelor of laws.

On May 5, 1866, he was admitted to prac- tice in the Supreme Court of the state of New York. The following month he entered the office of Hon. S. L. Russell, of Bedford, to prepare further for entering upon the pro- fession by the study of Pennsylvania statutes and practice. September 3, 1866, he was ad- mitted to the bar of Bedford county. April 1, 1867, Mr. Longenecker was taken into partnership with Hon. S. L. Russell; thence- forth, sharing the large practice of the latter, he quickly rose to professional prominence.

At the October election, 1868, he was chosen a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The following year he was re-clected, and served during a second term. Thenceforth he confined his attention almost wholly to the extensive law business

of the firm of Russell & Longenecker, until 1882, when at the earnest request of his party he accepted the Republican nomination for the office of State Senator. During the legislative session that succeeded, he had positions on several important committees and throughout this and the stormy extra session following, his conduct was charac- terized by such prudence and sagacity as won for him well deserved prominence. During the regular session Mr. Longenecker was a member of the judiciary, general, con- stitutional, reform and congressional and legislative apportionment committees and chairman of the committee on banks. He also served on the conference committee of the two houses, on senatorial and representa- tive apportionment. In the extra session he was made chairman of the committee on sen- atorial apportionment and prepared the bill supported by Republican senators.

From January, 1887, to January, 1891, he was connected with Gov. James A. Beaver's cabinet; first, as deputy secretary of the commonwealth, and finally as secretary of the commonwealth. In November, 1891, he was elected president judge of the Sixteenth judicial district, composed of Bedford and Somerset counties, and served in that capac- ity for a term of ten ycars; since which time he has resumed the practice of law.

Hon. John M. Bailey, of Huntingdon, is the present incumbent.

Andrew J. Kline and William Lyon were prominent as attorneys many years ago, and are still well remembered by many of the oldest inhabitants of Bedford.

John Mower was born in the town of Bed- ford, February 22, 1808. He was educated in the Bedford academy, read law in the office of the Hon. George Burd, and after his admission to the bar, which occurred April 28, 1829, became the partner of his law preceptor. Mr. Mower always resided in Bedford. His deccasc occurred March 19, 1883.

BEDFORD COUNTY

Hon. George Burd was another distin- guislied representative of the Bedford county bar. Besides holding many other positions of trust and honor, he represented this distriet in Congress from 1831-35. He was a son of General Burd, who was a ean- didate in 1807 for some important office in the state legislature.

Samuel H. Tate was born June 4, 1820, at Bloody Run, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, was edueated in the village schools and Bed- ford academy, studied law with Alexander Shampson, completing his course at the law. school of Chambersburg, was admitted to the bar in 1841, and in the same year was appointed distriet attorney by Governor Por- ter. He died October 1, 1862.

John Cessna was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, June 29, 1821. Ilis great- grandfather, whose name was also John, was a member of the convention which framed the constitution of 1776. In 1842, John Cessna, Jr., was graduated from Marshall eollege at Mercersburg, Pa. After reading law in the office of Hon. Samuel M. Barelay of Bedford, he was admitted to the bar, June 25, 1845, after which he continued in active praetiee in Bedford and adjoining counties, and showed marked ability and integrity as a lawyer. In 1848 he was a member of the revenue board of Pennsylvania by appoint- ment of Judge Blaek. He served as a mem- ber of the Pennsylvania House of Representa- tives in 1850, 1851, 1862 and 1863; was speaker of the same legislative body in 1851 and 1863. He was elected to the Forty-first Congress in 1868, and again in 1872 to the Forty-third Congress. During the memor- able and important eontest over the eivil rights bill, Speaker Blaine deputized him to take the chair, which he oeeupied through a whole night, and on all the many oeeasions of sueh serviee, no appeal was ever taken from his decision. He attended the Repub- lican conventions held in 1856 at Cineinnati, at Charleston and Baltimore in 1860, at Chi-

cago in 1868, in Cincinnati in 1876, and at Chieago in 1880. The many volumes of Pennsylvania State Reports are also a mnonu- ment to Mr. Cessna's skill and ability as a lawyer.

Besides having attended most assiduously to his professional duties and the many pub- lic trusts imposed upon him, Mr. Cessna also devoted much attention to the develop- ment of the resourecs of his native county and the building of needed avenues of eom- merce. In brief, his record as a eitizen, law- yer and publie official sufficiently indicated, ·even to the most negligent observer of pass- ing events, that he was a gentleman possess- ing superior ability and an untarnished repu- tation. His decease occurred December 14, 1893.

William P. Schell was born in Sehellsburg, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1822; a graduate of Marshall college of Mer- cersburg, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, he was admitted to the bar of Bedford county October 8, 1845. Subsequently he became a resident of McConnellsburg, Pa. In 1850 he was elected as the first distriet attorney of Fulton county. He represented this district in the Pennsylvania House of Representa- tives in 1852-3, and again in 1877-8, serving as speaker of the House in 1853. In 1857 he was elceted State Senator from the district composed of Bedford, Somerset and Hunt- ingdon counties, and served three years. Elected as state auditor general in 1877, he served as such during the years 1878, 1879 and 1880.

Edward F. Kerr was born in West Provi- dence township, February 15, 1841. He was cdueated at Allegheny seminary and Frank- lin high school. He read law with Hon. John Cessna and O. E. Shannon, then the law firm of Cessna & Shannon; was admitted to the bar February 15, 1865; was appointed county attorney soon after admission to the bar, and in February, 1867, was appointed district attorney for the county of Bedford

THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

to fill a vacancy. He was elected district at- torney in 1867, and again in 1870, serving nearly seven years in that office. In May, 1878, he was appointed corporation clerk by Auditor General William P. Sehell, and served in that office until May, 1881.

J. Boon Cessna was born on March 24, 1840, in Bedford eounty, Pennsylvania. His early cdueation was obtained in a log school- house near by ; he subsequently went to the Allegheny seminary at Rainsburg, a village one and a half miles from his carly. home. He entered Franklin and Marshall college in Laneaster in September, 1861, as a mem- ber of the sophomore class, and was grad- uated in July, 1864. He studied law with his brother, Hon. John Cessna, at Bedford. and was admitted to the bar February 15. 1865. In 1868 he moved to McConnellsburg, Pa., and there remained for three years. In 1871 he returned to Bedford, and subse- quently moved to Nebraska.

David H. Hofius, son of Dr. John II. Hofius, was born in Bedford, Pa. He was endowed with great literary ability, a liberal education, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1842. He subsequently beeame one of the most prominent members of the Blair county, Pennsylvania, bar, and died at Hollidaysburg.

John P. Reed was born in the town of Schellsburg, Bedford eounty, Pennsylvania, a son of Hon. Michael Reed, where he was educated. He has resided in Bedford since the fall of 1888, at which time he was elected prothonotary. register and recorder and elerk of the court. He was re-elected in 1869. On the 9th of February, 1852, he was ad- mitted to the bar and has since practiced his profession in the town of Bedford.

Samuel Ake was born in Union township, Bedford eounty, Pennsylvania, August 14, 1826. He read law in the offices of Hon. Thaddeus Banks of Hollidaysburg, and Oliver E. Shannon, of Bedford, Pa., and was admitted to the bar February 13, 1852. Dur-

ing the war of the Rebellion he served in Company H, First regiment Iowa infantry (three-months' volunteers), from May 14 to August 20, 1861, and in Company H, Twen- ty-second regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry from February 23, 1864, to August 14, 1865. Since the war, besides practicing his profes- sion, he has served as clerk in the state sur- veyor-general's office (from May 2, 1856, to May 2, 1872) as surveyor and civil engineer.

Joseph W. Tate was born at Bloody Run, now known as Everett, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1819. He ob- tained his education at the village schools and studied surveying. He read law in the office of Samuel H. Tate, and was admitted to the bar November 21, 1853.

George H. Spang was born at Roaring Springs, February 16, 1830. When about fifteen years of age he entered the prepara- tory department of Marshall college; after- wards attended the Pennsylvania college at Gettysburg, from which institution he was graduated in September, 1852. On the 30th day of September, 1853, he entered the law office of Hon. Job Mann, at Bedford, and on May 3, 1854, was admitted to the bar of Bedford county. On May 9, 1856, he was appointed district attorney for the county, and in October of the same year he was eleeted to that office, and on October 11, 1859, was re-elected. On November 3, 1874, he was elected to represent his distriet in the state Legislature, and in November, 1876, was re-elected. His decease oceurred June, 1897.

Moses A. Points was born in Bedford township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, May 7, 1839. He finished his literary studies at Dickinson eollege, Carlisle, Pa., where the degree of A. B. was conferred upon him in 1864, and of A. M. in 1867. His law studies were pursued in the office of Hon. John Cessna, and on the 23d of November, 1864, he was admitted to the bar of Bedford eounty.

BEDFORD COUNTY

David Stewart Elliott was born at Bedford, Pa., December 23, 1843. He was educated in the public schools of his native county. On the 25th of April, 1861, he enlisted as private in the Thirteenth regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and six weeks later he was mus- tered into the service as private in Company E, Seventy-sixth regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until honorably dis- charged November 28, 1864. He studied law in the office of Durborrow & Lutz, at Bed- ford, and was admitted to the bar February 10, 1869. After a long and honorable carcer in the National Guards of Pennsylvania, he was finally killed in the line of military duty in the Philippines, February 28, 1899.

Alexander King, Jr., a son of Judge Alex- ander King, was born in Bedford, Pa., May 19, 1847. He was educated at Bedford and at the Albany (N. Y.) law school, and was admitted to the bar July 20, 1869. He re- moved to Alabama, where he is now in prac- tice.

John M. Reynolds was born in Lancaster county, March 5, 1848. He graduated from the Millersville state normal school in 1867; studied law in the office of John W. Dicker- son at Bedford, and was admitted to the bar February 15, 1870. In 1872 and again in 1873 he was elected to the state Legislature and served through the sessions of 1873 and 1874. In 1875 he was elected district attorney and served in that capacity for three years, and is still in active practice in Bedford.

H. D. Tate was born in Bedford, in 1848. After his graduation in the Lafayette college he studied law with John Mower, and was admitted to practice December 14, 1870. In 1873 he was elected district attorney, which position he filled until his election as pro- thonotary and clerk of the court in 1875; he was re-elected in 1878, and again in 1881.

William C. Smith was born in Bedford, Pa., June 2, 1845. He was educated in the public schools of Bedford and the state nor- mal school at Millersville, Pa. He studied

law in the office of John W. Lingenfelter, and was admitted to the bar December 14, 1870.

John H. Jordan was born in Bedford, JJuly 13, 1848. His literary studies were com- pleted at Mount Union college, Ohio. Studied law in the office of Messrs. Russell & Long- enecker, and was admitted to the bar Sep- tember 7, 1871.

James C. Russell was born in Bedford, January 12, 1850. He attended the Bedford Classical institute and Elder's Ridge acad- emy, Indiana county, and Lafayette college, graduating from the latter institution in 1869. He studied law in the office of Messrs. Russell & Longenecker, and was admitted to the bar March 31, 1873.

Frank Fletcher was born in Monroe town- ship, Bedford county, April 23, 1852. He read law with Hon. George II. Spang and John M. Reynolds, and on December 3, 1877, was admitted to the bar.

Thomas M. Armstrong was born in Frost- burg, Maryland, March 15, 1846; was edu- cated in the schools of his native town, and on December 2, 1878, was admitted to the bar of Bedford county. He died April 30, 1902.

Nicholas L. McGirr was born in Bedford, Pa., April 19, 1857. He studied law in the office of Hon. John Cessna, and was admitted to the bar of Bedford county, July 19, 1880. Died March 17, 1893.

J. Frank Minnich was born in Bedford, July 18, 1852. He studied law in the office of J. B. Cessna, and was admitted to the bar July 19, 1880. His death occurred Jan- uary 29, 1890.

Samuel M. Barclay, the youngest son of Hugh and Hetty Barclay, was born in Bed- ford, October 17, 1802. He was educated at the Bedford academy, and for a time un- dertook the cultivation of a small farm. Hc commenced to devote himself to literary and legal studies in the office of his brother, Josialı. He became a successful pleader, and

THE BENCHI AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

to fill a vacancy. Ile was elected district at- torney in 1867, and again in 1870, serving nearly seven years in that office. In May, 1878, he was appointed corporation clerk by Auditor General William P. Schell, and served in that office until May, 1881.

J. Boon Cessna was born on March 24, 1840, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. His early education was obtained in a log school- house near by ; he subsequently went to the Allegheny seminary at Rainsburg, a village one and a half miles from his early. home. He entered Franklin and Marshall college in Lancaster in September, 1861, as a mem- ber of the sophomore class, and was grad- uated in July, 1864. He studied law with his brother, Hon. John Cessna, at Bedford, and was admitted to the bar February 15 1865. In 1868 he moved to McConnellsburg. Pa., and there remained for three years. In 1871 he returned to Bedford, and subse- quently moved to Nebraska.

David H. Hofius, son of Dr. John II. Hofius, was born in Bedford, Pa. He was endowed with great literary ability, a liberal education, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1842. He subsequently became one of the most prominent members of the Blair county, Pennsylvania, bar, and died at Hollidaysburg.

John P. Reed was born in the town of Schellsburg, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, a son of Hon. Michael Reed, where he was educated. He has resided in Bedford since the fall of 1888, at which time he was elected prothonotary, register and recorder and clerk of the court. He was re-elected in 1869. On the 9th of February, 1852, he was ad- mitted to the bar and has since practiced his profession in the town of Bedford.

Samuel Ake was born in Union township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, August 14, 1826. He read law in the offices of Hon. Thaddeus Banks of Hollidaysburg, and Oliver E. Shannon, of Bedford, Pa., and was admitted to the bar February 13, 1852. Dur-

George H. Spang was born at Roaring Springs, February 16, 1830. When about fifteen years of age he entered the prepara- tory department of Marshall college; after- wards attended the Pennsylvania college at Gettysburg, from which institution he was graduated in September, 1852. On the 30tlı day of September, 1853, he entered the law office of Hon. Job Mann, at Bedford, and on May 3, 1854, was admitted to the bar of Bedford county. On May 9, 1856, he was appointed district attorney for the county, and in October of the same year he was elected to that office, and on October 11, 1859, was re-elected. On November 3, 1874, he was elected to represent his district in the state Legislature, and in November, 1876, was re-elected. His decease occurred June, 1897.

Moses A. Points was born in Bedford township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, May 7, 1839. He finished his literary studies at Dickinson college, Carlisle, Pa., where the degree of A. B. was conferred upon him in 1864, and of A. M. in 1867. His law studies were pursued in the office of Hon. John Cessna, and on the 23d of November, 1864, he was admitted to the bar of Bedford county.

BEDFORD COUNTY

David Stewart Elliott was born at Bedford, Pa., December 23, 1843. He was cdueated in the public sehools of his native county. On the 25th of April, 1861, he enlisted as private in the Thirteenth regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and six weeks later he was mus- tered into the serviee as private in Company E, Seventy-sixth regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until honorably dis- charged November 28, 1864. He studied law in the office of Durborrow & Lutz, at Bed- ford, and was admitted to the bar February 10, 1869. After a long and honorable eareer in the National Guards of Pennsylvania, he was finally killed in the line of military duty in the Philippines, February 28, 1899.

Alexander King, Jr., a son of Judge Alex- ander King, was born in Bedford, Pa., May 19, 1847. He was edueated at Bedford and at the Albany (N. Y.) law sehool, and was admitted to the bar July 20, 1869. He re- moved to Alabama, where he is now in prae- tiee.

John M. Reynolds was born in Laneaster county, Mareh 5, 1848. He graduated from the Millersville state normal sehool in 1867; studied law in the office of John W. Dieker- son at Bedford, and was admitted to the bar February 15, 1870. In 1872 and again in 1873 he was elected to the state Legislature and served through the sessions of 1873 and 1874. In 1875 he was elected distriet attorney and served in that capacity for three years, and is still in active practice in Bedford.

H. D. Tate was born in Bedford, in 1848. After his graduation in the Lafayette eollege he studied law with John Mower, and was admitted to praetiee December 14, 1870. In 1873 he was elected district attorney, which position he filled until his elcetion as pro- thonotary and clerk of the court in 1875; he was re-elected in 1878, and again in 1881.

William C. Smith was born in Bedford, Pa., June 2, 1845. He was edueated in the publie schools of Bedford and the state nor- mal school at Millersville, Pa. He studied

law in the office of John W. Lingenfelter, and was admitted to the bar December 14, 1870.

John H. Jordan was born in Bedford, July 13, 1848. His literary studies were com- pleted at Mount Union college, Ohio. Studied law in the office of Messrs. Russell & Long- enccker, and was admitted to the bar Sep- tember 7, 1871.

James C. Russell was born in Bedford, January 12, 1850. He attended the Bedford Classieal institute and Elder's Ridge aead- emy, Indiana county, and Lafayette college, graduating from the latter institution in 1869. He studied law in the office of Messrs. Russell & Longenecker, and was admitted to the bar March 31, 1873.

Frank Fletcher was born in Monroe town- ship, Bedford county, April 23, 1852. He read law with Hon. George H. Spang and John M. Reynolds, and on December 3, 1877, was admitted to the bar.

Thomas M. Armstrong was born in Frost- burg, Maryland, March 15, 1846; was edu- eated in the schools of his native town, and on Deeember 2, 1878, was admitted to the bar of Bedford county. He died April 30, 1902.

Nicholas L. McGirr was born in Bedford, Pa., April 19, 1857. He studied law in the office of Hon. John Cessna, and was admitted to the bar of Bedford county, July 19, 1880. Died March 17, 1893.

J. Frank Minnich was born in Bedford, July 18, 1852. He studied law in the office of J. B. Cessna, and was admitted to the bar July 19, 1880. His death occurred Jan- uary 29, 1890.

Samuel M. Barclay, the youngest son of Hugh and Hetty Barclay, was born in Bed- ford, October 17, 1802. He was educated at the Bedford academy, and for a time un- dertook the eultivation of a small farm. He commeneed to devote himself to literary and legal studies in the office of his brother, Josiah. He became a successful pleader, and

THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

finally reached the head of his profession at the Bedford bar. He was a man of dig- nity and ability and mingled with inen around him, studied their character with familiar intereourse, felt deeply the secret springs which aets upon their rational voli- tions, touched these with a master hand in his addresses to the jury, seized with eon- summate taet only a few strong points of his case, adroitly shoving all the rest out of sight.

Hon. James McPherson Russell, son of Alexander Russell, was born November 10, 1786, in York, Pa. He read law in the office of his uncle, Hon. James Riddle, in Cham- bersburg, Pa., and was admitted to the bar of Franklin eounty, November 10, 1807. On the 17th of March, 1808, he settled in the town of Bedford, and for more than three seore years thereafter, he was widely known as one of the most prominent and respeeted eitizens. At the first court after his arrival in Bedford county in 1808, he was admitted to that bar and soon aequired a large prae- tice. He was a member of the constitutional convention of Pennsylvania which framed the instrument known as the constitution of 1838. In 1840 he was elected a member of the Twenty-seventh Congress of the United States and served during the years 1841 and 1843. He died in Bedford, on the 14th day of May, 1870.

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The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume I, Part 13

Author: Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago, H. C. Cooper, jr., bro. & co. Number of Pages: 1102

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago, H. C. Cooper, jr., bro. & co.
Number of Pages: 1102