USA > Pennsylvania > The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume I > Part 23
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Thomas Nesbitt, September, 1797; John Si- minson, March, 1798; William Bannells, June, 1798; Parker Campbell, June, 1798; Thomas Meason, September, 1798; David Hays, September, 1798; John Kennedy, Sep- tember, 1798; C. S. Semple, December, 1798; Samuel Deemer, March, 1799; William Ay- ers, March, 1799; Robert Callender, March, 1799; Robert Allison, September, 1800; Ralph Martin, March, 1801; Samuel Harri- son, June, 1801; Joseph Park, September, 1801; Joseph Weigley, December, 1801; Alex Foster, December, 1801; William N. Irwinc, June, 1802; Jonath R. Reddick, March, 1804; Othro Srader, March, 1804; Henry Haslet, March, 1804; Meshack Sexton, June, 1804; Henry Baldwin, September, 1804; William Ward, Jr., September, 1804 ; J. B. Alexander, December, 1804; Samuel Guthrie, December, 1804; Samuel Selby, March, 1806; James M. Biddle, December, 1806; Walter Forward, December, 1806; Charles Wilkins, March, 1808; Samuel Mas- sey, March, 1808; John Reed, November, 1808; H. M. Brackenridge, May, 1809; James Wells, September, 1809; John L. Farr, Sep- tember, 1809; Magnus M. Murray, Decem- ber, 1809; Daniel Stannard, February, 1810; James M. Kelly, February, 1810; Richard William Lain, May, 1810; Robert Findley, May, 1810; Neville B. Craig, August, 1810; Guy Hicox, August, 1810; John H. Chaplain, Angust, 1810; John M. Austin, August, 1810; Richard Coulter, March, 1811; James Carson, August, 1811; Samuel Douglass, February, 1812; John McDonald, May, 1812; John Dawson, February, 1814; Josepli Beck- ett, May, 1814; Samuel Kingston, May, 1814; Charles Shaler, December, 1814; John A. T. Kilgore, February, 1815; John Carpen- ter, February, 1815; Obadiah Jennings, Au- gust, 1815; Calvin Mason, October, 1815; Samuel Alexander, May, 1816; Edward J. Roberts, November, 1816; Jacob M. Wise, February, 1817; S. V. R. Forward, Febru- ary, 1817 ; H. M. Campbell, May, 1818; James
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THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA
Hlall, May, 1818; Andrew Stewart, May, 1818; Josiah E. Barelay, August, 1818; W. HI. Brackenridge, August, 1818; Ephraim Carpenter, August, 1818; A. Braekenridge, August, 1819; John Bouvier, August, 1819; Jolin S. Brady, September, 1819; John. Y. Barclay, November, 1819; Thomas Blair, February, 1820; Sylvester Dunham, May, 1820; James MeGee, May, 1820; Chauneey Forward, August, 1820; Gasper IIill, Jr., August, 1820; H. G. Herron, April, 1822; Charles Ogle, April, 1822; Joseph Williams, April, 1822; II. N. Weigley, April, 1822; W. W. Fetterman, May, 1822; John Riddell, Au- gust, 1822; Thomas White, November, 1822; Thomas R. Peters, February, 1823; A. S. T. . Mountain, February, 1823; John H. Hopkins, May, 1823; Joseph H. Kuhns, August, 1823; Richard Biddle, May, 1824; James S. Craft, May, 1824; James Findlay, August, 1824; William Snowden, February, 1825; John Armstrong, February, 1825; John J. Hender- son, May, 1825; Michael Gallagher, May, 1825; Hugh Gallagher, August, 1825; Rich- ard Bard, November, - 1825; William Pos- tlethwaite, November, 1826; John Glenn, February, 1827; Thomas Struthers, August, 1827; R. B. McCabe, May, 1827; Daniel C. Morris, November, 1827; John H. Wells, February, 1828; Thomas Williams, August, 1828; Alfred Patterson, November, 1828; James Nichols, May, 1828; George Shaw, May, 1828; William F. Johnston, May, 1829 ; II. D. Foster, August, 1829; M. D. Magehan, May, 1830; Robert Burk, August, 1830; Jo- seph J. Young, November, 1830; William P. Wells, November, 1831; Thomas L. Shields, November, 1832; A. G. Marchand, February, 1833; John F. Beaver, February, 1833; A. W. Foster, Jr., November, 1833; John H. Deford, May, 1834; William B. Conway, May, 1835; J. M. Burrell, May, 1835; Augustus Drum, May, 1836; J. Armstrong, Jr., February, 1840; H. C. Marehand, May, 1840; J. F. Woods, May, 1840; Casper Harrold, Febru- ary, 1842; Edgar Cowan, February, 1842;
James Armstrong, February, 1842; H. P. Laird, May, 1842; John Creswell, May, 1842; C. S. Eyster, May, 1842; Andrew Ross, No- vember, 1842; Daniel Wyandt, May, 1843, Amos Steck, May, 1843; Alex L. Hamilton, Angust, 1843; Alex HI. Miller, August, 1843; J. Sewell Stewart, August, 1843; John C. Gilehrist, August, 1843; Wilson Riley, No- vember, 1843; J. N. Nesbit, May, 1844; Francis Flanagen, May, 1844; Bernard Con- nyn, May, 1844; J. M. Carpenter, May, 1844 ; Edward Scull, May, 1844; Alcx MeKinny, August, 1844; Thomas J. Barclay, August, 1844; James Donnelly, November, 1844; John Kerr, November, 1844; William J. Will- iams, February, 1845; Thomas Donnelly, May, 1845; John Potter, August, 1845; Thomas J. Keenan, August, 1845; P. C. Shannon, August, 1845; George W. Bonnin, February, 1846; John Alexander Coulter, February, 1846; James C. Clarke, February, 1846; S. B. MeCormick, August, 1846; Will- iam A. Campbell, Angust, 1846; William H. Markle, August, 1847; William A. Cook, Au- gust, 1847 ; L. T. Cantwell, November, 1847; Franeis Egan, May, 1848; John Campbell, August, 1848; John C. P. Smith, August, 1848; * Richard Coulter, Jr., February, 1849 ; H. Byers Kuhns, February, 1849; George W. Clark, February, 1849; Samuel Sherwell, May, 1849; Jacob Turney, May, 1849; John Penny, November, 1849; S. P. Ross, Febru- ary, 1850; W. J. Sutton, November, 1850; James Trees, August, 1851; H. S. Magraw, Angst, 1851; John E. Fleming, August, 1852: Thomas G. Taylor, August, 1852; J. Freetly, August, 1853; Thomas Armstrong, August, 1853; James Todd, Angust, 1853; J. M. Underwood, May, 1855; A. A. Stewart, May, 1857; * James C. Snodgrass, May, 1857 ; John H. Hoopes, August, 1857; Thomas Fen- lon, August, 1858; James A. Hunter, August, 1858; Judge Kelly, November, 1858; John D. McClarren. November, 1858; * John Latta, November, 1859; John I. Case, November, 1860; Andrew M. Fulton, November, 1860;
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY
M. A. Canders, November, 1860; W. R. Boyer, May, 1861; Jacob Beaumont, Novem- ber, 1861; W. H. Stewart, February, 1862; W. M. Given, May, 1862; R. B. Patterson, May, 1862; Albert Daun, November, 1862; J. H. Hampton, November, 1862; John V. Painter, February, 1863; James A. Logan, May, 1863; James A. Blair, May, 1863; J. H. Calhoun, August, 1865; E. J. Keenan, No- vember, 1863; Michael Sarver, November, 1863; B. G. Childs, November, 1863; B. H. Lucas, November, 1863; W. C. Moorland, November, 1863; T. R. Dulley; May, 1864; .John A. Marehand, May, 1864; J. J. Hazlett, May, 1864; J. M. Brown, November, 1864; WV. G. L. Totten, November, 1864; W. M. Moffett, May, 1865; W. H. Lowrie, May. 1865; A. Wiedman, August, 1865; * Cyrus P. Long, August, 1865; * Frank Cowan, August, 1865; S. P. Fulton, February, 1866; Samuel Palmer, February, 1866; H. H. MeCormiek, February, 1866; William D. Moore, Febru- ary, 1866; James R. MeAfee, August, 1866; Alex J. Walker, August, 1866; Henry U. Brumer, August, 1866; J. Trainor King, Au- gust, 1866; George R. Cochran, August, 1866; J. B. Sampson, November, 1866; John Blair, . November, 1866; George E. Wallace, Febru- ary, 1867 ; Thomas P. Diek, November, 1867; William M. Blackburn, May, 1868; * John Y. Woods, May, 1868; * Silas MeCormiek, May, 1868; * John F. Wentling, May, 1868; George D. Budd, May, 1868; Daniel MeLaughlin, November, 1868; John W. Rohrer, Febru- ary, 1869; * D. S. Atkinson, February, 1869; T. J. Weddell, February, 1869; * David T. Harvey, February, 1869; G. D. Albert, Febru- ary, 1869; Samuel Singleton, May, 1869; W. D. Todd, May, 1869; William T. Haines, May, 1870; D. F. Tyranny, May, 1870; G. W. Minor, May, 1870; * Silas A. Kline, May, 1870; Frederiek S. Roek, May, 1870; * James S. Moorhead, May, 1870; James F. Gildea, November, 1870; W. H. Klingensmith, No- vember, 1870; * John D. Gill, August, 1871; Irwin W. Tarr, August, 1871; M. H. Todd,
February, 1872; Samuel Lyon, February, 1872; James G. Franeis, February, 1872; Welty MeCullough, May, 1872; D. Porter, August, 1872; * Joseph J. Johnston, Febru- ary, 1873; John H. Mccullough, May, 1873; *George Shiras, February, 1874; * W. HI. Walkinshaw, February, 1877; * A. D. MeCon- nell, May, 1877; W. H. Young, August, 1877; * V. E. Williams, May, 1878; John M. Peoples, May, 1878; * Alex M. Sloan, Novem- ber, 1879; * Alex. Eieher, May, 1880; * J. T. Marchand, August, 1880; * John B. Head, August, 1880; * Lueien W. Doty, May, 1881; *J. A. C. Ruffner, May 15, 1873; * P. H. Gaither, 1875; * J. W. Taylor, September 29, 1879; * Jno. N. Boueher, September 29, 1879; *D. C. Ogden, October 1, 1880; J. II. Ryck- man, September 30, 1882; Giffen Culbertson, January 19, 1884; * Jas. S. Beaeon, January 19, 1884; * A. H. Bell, April 8, 1884; * E. E. Robbins, April 8, 1884; * J. B. Keenan, June 6, 1885 ; I. E. Lauffer, August 31, 1885; M. L. Baer, August 31, 1885; * Wm. C. Peoples, August 31, 1885; * D. A. Miller, August 31, 1885 ; * O. R. Snyder, August 31, 1885; * G. E. Kuhns, August 31, 1885; * J. A. McCurdy, August 31, 1885; Jno. G. Ogle, February 25, 1886; * J. R. Smith, April 24, 1886; * J. W. Sarver, July 31, 1886; * C. H. Hunter, May 9. 1887; * \V. S. Byers, May 9, 1887 ; * E. E. Alls- house, December 17, 1887; * J. E. Keenan, December 17, 1887; * N. M. McGeary, Deeem- ber 17, 1887; * Jno. E. Kunkle, December 17, 1887; Jno. C. Robinson, December 17, 1887 ; J. R. Spiegel, December 17, 1887; * Jno. M. Jamison, August 4, 1888; * Curtis H. Gregg, August 4, 1888; * David L. Newill, August 4, 1888; * Sidney J. Potts, February 2, 1889; *Edward B. McCormick, Deeember 13, 1889; "George W. Flowers, Deeember 14, 1889: Joseph E. Kinney, November 13, 1890; *George S. Rumbaugh, November 13, 1890: *George B. Ferguson, September 8, 1891; J. F. McNaul, September 8, 1891; Walter J. Guthrie, November 12, 1891; * J. S. Whit- worth, February 1, 1892; * J. B. Owens, Feb-
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ruary 4, 1893; * W. T. Cline, November 28, 1885; * C. E. Allshouse, September 26, 1893: F. H. Guffey ; G. D. Hamor; * II. C. Durbin, January 30, 1892; * E. F. Nipple, January 30, 1892; * Frank B. Hargrave, February 1, 1892; *J. P. Pinkerton, January 30, 1892; * J. L. Kennedy, January 30, 1892; * W. F. Wegley, January 30, 1892; * G. B. Shaw, March 3, 1893; * N. A. Cort, February 20, 1893; * Chas. C. Crowell, February 20, 1893; * J. E. B. Cun- ningham, September 26, 1893; * Riehard Coulter, Jr., May 7, 1894; * C. M. Jamison, February 2, 1895; * J. C. Shields, September 26, 1893; * C. K. MeCreary, September 26, 1893; * Thomas Barelay, February 2, 1895; *H. H. Dinsmore, May 7, 1894; * J. R. Silvis, September 26, 1893; * C. E. Whitten, Novem- ber 4, 1893; * C. E. Woods, May 11, 1895; "Luke Lonergan, May 7, 1894; * H. H. Fisher, February 4, 1895; * G. H. Hugus, May 7, 1894; * T. M. O'Halloran, January 30, 1897; E. C. Given, April 18, 1896; John. Q. Coehran, October 24, 1896; * J. S. Kimmel, May 7, 1894 ; *W. L. Ulery, May 11, 1895; * Frank Good, May 11, 1895; * S. W. Bierer, May 11, 1895; Andrew Banks, November 13, 1895; * B. F. Seanlon, May 11, 1895; * A. C. Snively, Jan- uary 25, 1896; Charles Rugh, January 25, 1896; * B. A. Wirtner, January 25, 1896; * C. D. Copeland, April 18, 1896; * D. J. Snyder,
October 24, 1896; * H. N. Yont, October 24, 1896; * H. E. Marker, October 24, 1896; * J. C. Silsley, October 24, 1896; * C. B. Hollings- worth, October 24, 1896; * W. T. Dom, Jr., October 24, 1896; * C. W. Eieher, October 24, 1896; * B. R. Kline, January 30, 1897; M. J. Hosaek, June 26, 1897; * Jno. S. Lighteap, June 26, 1897 ; * R. K. Portser, June 26, 1897 : *Z. T. Silvis, November 15, 1897; * Jno. F. Wentling, Jr., April 23, 1898; * R. D. Laird, April 23, 1898; * Eugene Warden, April 30, 1898; F. B. Folk, April 30, 1898; * P. K. Shaner, April 29, 1899; * H. C. Beistel, June 24, 1899; * J. C. Blackburn, April 28, 1900: *John MeFadyen, November 3, 1900: * Robt. W. Smith, November 3, 1900; * J. C. Lauffer, November 3, 1900: * R. D. Hurst, November 3, 1900; * Rabe F. Marsh, November 3, 1900: *L. C. Walkinshaw, November 3, 1900; * H. E. Blank, November 3, 1900; * Win. S. Rial, May 12, 1901; * C. L. Kerr, May 19, 1901; *Henry S. Gill, Deeember 21, 1901; * Law- renee Monahan, November 18, 1901; * A. M. Wyant, May 5, 1902; * John T. Moore, No- vember 18, 1901; * C. E. Heller, May 5, 1902 : *Edw. P. Doran, November 9, 1901; * John MeC. Kennedy, May 5, 1902: * James B. Weaver, May 5, 1902; * Alex. Eicher, Jr., May 5, 1902; * George E. Barron, November 9, 1901.
157
ADAMS COUNTY
ADAMS COUNTY
BY WILLIAM F. DILL
Adams county, formerly a part of York county, was settled principally by the Scoteh-Irish, and what is now York county chiefly by the Germans. These two nation- alities, at the first eounty eleetion held, in 1749, in York eame to blows by reason of the Scoteh-Irish interfering with the voting, and the result was that these two peoples, speaking different languages, with their racial differences and prejudiees, never af- terward lived together on the most friendly terms. But it was not until 1790 that a divi- sion of the county was seriously discussed. A few of the reasons advanced for separa- tion were, the large and rapidly growing population in what is now Adams county, and the great distance (as much as fifty miles) to York, where the courts and elec- tions were held. Finally the necessity for separation beeame so apparent that Adams county was created by the Act of January 22, 1800, and named by the Seotch-Irish, who were ardent federalists, in honor of John Adams, then president.
A few months later, on June 9th, the first court in Adams county was held in Gettys- burg in Getty's Tavern (rear of Globe hotel). William Gilliland, John Agnew and William Scott, associate judges, presided. The first business to occupy the attention of this court was the application of ten attorneys for admission to the Adams county bar, all of whom-Ralph Bowie, John Clark, James Kelly, Daniel Cassat, William Ross, William Barber, William Maxwell, George Smith, Robert Hayes and Riehard Brook-were ad- mitted. The same year six more admissions were made: Andrew Dunlop, James Orbison, John Shippen, James Brotherton, William
M. Brown, Ralph Marlin and Jonathan Haight. The latter, it seems eame to stay and settled in Gettysburg for a number of years; the others were members of the bars in the adjoining counties.
The first law judge to preside over the courts of this eounty, was John Joseph ' Henry (1800-'05), who had fought with Arnold at Quebee and was taken prisoner there. Previous to his appointment, Judge llenry had been president judge of Dauphin county. His home was in Lancaster, where he died in 1810.
Francis Scott Key, of "Star Spangled Banner" fame was admitted in 1802. His home at that time was in Frederick, Md. In 1831. seventeen years after he wrote "land of the free and home of the brave," Mr. Key, who then resided in Washington, brought to Gettysburg and emancipated a slave belonging to himself, a record of which is on file here.
James Dobbin (1801), Samuel Riddle (1802), William Montgomery (1804), George Metzgar (1805), and James Riddle (1805), were admitted during Judge Henry's term.
The second judge of Adams county, which with Cumberland and Franklin counties comprised the Ninth Judicial Distriet, was James Hamilton, a native of Ireland, where he practiced law before coming to America. In 1781 he was admitted to the Cumberland county bar and acquired a large practice. He was appointed judge in 1805 and served until 1819. It was during Judge Hamilton's term that the character of the Adams county bar changed from the "circuit rider" to the resident attorney.
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THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA
Thaddeus Stevens .- Of the members of the bar admitted about this time one man stands out boldly-Thaddeus Stevens (see Laneaster county). He settled here in 1816. For a time, it is said, he nearly starved for want of business. A man of such bril- liant attainments eould not, however, long remain at any bar before his unusual ability be recognized, and soon he was regarded as the leader of this bar. One of his first important cases and one that gave him an opportunity to display his legal acumen was in the trial of one Taylor charged with the murder of a man by the name of Blue- baugh. The homicide, it seems, occurred near Arendtsville at a shooting-match and was the ending of a quarrel. The common- wealth, at the trial of the case, attempted to show that Taylor immediately after the shooting had boastingly said, "By God, I shot him." On cross examination, Mr. Ste- vens who defended Taylor, asked whether Taylor had not said, "My God, I shot him." The commonwealth's witnesses, after Mr. Stevens' clever examination, were not quite certain what Taylor had actually said. Any- way Taylor was acquitted and he owed his life to his distinguished defender who turned the minds of the jury from murder to an un- avoidable accident. Thaddeus Stevens rep- resented Adams county in the legislatures of 1828, '33, '34, '35, '37, '38 and '41. It was while a representative from Adams county that he worked so heroically for the establishment of the common school system in Pennsylvania. Mr. Stevens was always ready to help the weak and assist in matters for the public benefit. On a visit to Balti- more for the purpose of buying law-books, Mr. Stevens spent his savings for two slaves, parent and child, which were about to be separated on the auction-block, and returned to Gettysburg withont the law-books. From here, he waged his bitter and relentless warfare against free-masonry, and suc- ceeded in closing the lodge of that order
here. His private life was a mass of contra- dictions. In 1841, Mr. Stevens, by long odds tlc ablest member ever admitted to this bar, removed to Lancaster, heavily in debt by reason of embarking in the iron business, which turned out disastrously for him.
The other admissions during Hamilton's term were, William Reed (1806), John Mc- Conaughy (1806), the father of David Mc- Conaughy, Moses McClean (1806), an uncle of Moses McClean admitted in 1826, James M. Russel (1807), Upton S. Reed (1808), David Snively (1808), Thomas S. McCul- lough (1808), Thomas Hartley Crawford (1809), James Gilliland (1810), Samuel Ramsey (1816), Geo. W. King (1817), and James G. McNeely (1819).
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Charles Smith, the next judge of the county, presided during the years 1819 and '20. Judge Smith, who was an eminent land lawyer, revised and framed, under the authority of the legislature, a new compi- lation of the laws of this state, known to-day as "Smith's Laws of Pennsylvania." He died in his native city-Philadelphia-in 1840.
John Reed, the fourth judge of this dis- trict, was born in what is now Adams county, read law in Gettysburg, and was admitted to the bar in 1808. He removed to Westmoreland county and practiced law there. In 1815. he was elected from that county to the State Senate. Five years later, he was commissioned Judge of the Ninth Judicial District and held the office until his commission expired in 1839. He then resumed the practice of law in Car- lisle, and at the same time, he had charge of the Law Department of Dickinson col- lege, until his death in 1850.
James Buchanan, the fifteenth president, was admitted here in 1822, and Xerxes H. Cashman in 1823.
Moses McClean, the distinguished father of Ex-Judge William McClean, was admitted in 1826; he served as district attorney,
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ADAMS COUNTY
represented Adams and York counties in the twenty-ninth Congress and in 1854 was elected to the Legislature from this county. HIe acquired a large law praetiee, became one of the leaders of the bar and exerted considerable influence on this community. He died in 1870.
Daniel M. Smyser, was another prominent member admitted about this time. He served in the Legislatures of 1839 and '40. He was nominated in 1851 by the Whigs of Bucks and Montgomery counties for the judgeship of that district and was elected by reason of there being two opposing Demo- cratie candidates in that strong Democratic district for the same offiee.
James Cooper, who stands next to Thad- deus Stevens in the long line of attorneys admitted to this bar, at least so far as honors go, was admitted in 1834. IIe represented this district in Congress in 1834 and '40; Adams eounty in the Legislature during the years 1843, '44, '46 and '48. He was speaker of the House and Attorney General of this state, and eleeted United States Senator in 1849. In 1857, he removed to Frederick where he resumed the practice of law suc- cessfully. At the outbreak of the Civil war, he was commissioned brigadier-general. He died from an atack of pneumonia at Colum- bus, Ohio, in 1863. Mr. Cooper was about six feet two inehes in height, of pleasing manners, a fluent speaker and a brilliant, successful politieian of the higher order.
Two men, Gotleib S. Orth and Conrad Baker, admitted in 1839, and whose after- lives were elosely associated, both settled in Indiana. The former was the Republican candidate for Governor of that state but was defeated; the latter was successively eleeted Lieutenant-Governor and Governor of Indi- ana.
In 1835. Adams county was placed in the Nineteenth Distriet with York county. The first judge of this new distriet was Daniel Durkee, a native of Vermont, who located
in York. He presided from 1835 until '46 when he resigned; but he was later re-ap- pointed. Three attorneys admitted about this time subsequently beeame prominent in poli- ties or law.
William McSherry (1842) was very popu- lar and highly respected. He served in the Legislatures of 1847, '49, and '50 and in the State Senate in 1862 and '71. He died in 1899.
Robert G. McCreary (1844) by faithful, persistent work aided by a logical, analyt- ical mind, became the leader of the bar. His death occured in 1883.
David McConaughy .- The history of the Adams county bar would be noticeably in- complete were it not to contain, at least, a brief sketeh of the life of David Mc- Conaughy who was admitted to the bar in 1844, and who was in active practice for more than a half century. He was graduated from Washington and Jefferson college in 1840. In 1865 he was elected to the State Senate. For a number of years he had a large law practice, and was regarded as a suceessful lawyer. He was president of the Battlefield Memorial Association for ten years and did considerable toward preserv- ing and restoring the battlefield of Gettys- burg. His personal characteristics rather than his career as a lawyer stamped David McConaughy as a remarkable man. IIe was always affable and courteous, dignified and neat in his personal appearance, self- composed-truly a gentleman of the "old sehool." Ile never complained or spoke of his troubles and he had more than his share; rarely lost his temper and seldom hurried no matter how busy. He possessed a marvelous fund of loeal and general infor- mation and was a fluent, entertaining eon- versationalist. Probably, his strongest ehar- acteristic was his ability to throw off busi- ness cares as easily as his coat. He died in 1901.
William N. Irvine was appointed judge of
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THE BENCHI AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA
this district in 1846. Impeachment proceed- ings were instituted against him, however, because of his deficient legal ability. He resigned after serving three years. Judge Durkee was re-appointed and served until 1851 when the constitutional amendment made the judgeship an elective office.
Robert J. Fisher was the first judge elected in the Adams-York district. He was twice re-elected and served from 1851 until '74 when Adams county was constituted the Forty-second Judieial District.
The names of attorneys admitted during Judge Fisher's terms follow : David Willsand William McClean, admitted in 1854, were subsequently judges of Adams county and sketches of their lives are given hereafter. D. A. Buehler, a native of Gettysburg, was graduated from Pennsylvania college in 1843 and admitted to the bar in 1856. He was an able elear-headed lawyer, but de- voted more of his time to editing what is now the Star and Sentinel of Gettysburg, than he did to law work.
J. C. Neely was also a native of Adams county and a graduate of Pennsylvania col- lege. He came to the bar in 1859. Twice he was elected to the distriet-attorneyship. His very aggressive, positive manner, cou- pled with the painstaking care and thor- oughness in the preparation of his cases, made him a dangerous opponent before a jury. For a number of years before his death, which occurred in 1894, Mr. Neely was one of the leaders of the bar and en- joyed a lucrative practice.
William A. Duncan, admitted the same .vear, was also a native of this eounty. He was graduated from Franklin and Marshall college in 1857 as valedictorian of his elass. He aequired a large practice and became a very successful practitioner. In 1882 he was elected to the Forty-eighth Congress, but died before the expiration of his term.
J. A. Kitzmiller, probably the most popu- lar attorney who ever practiced law in
Adams county, was born in Gettysburg. He lost an arm at the battle of Spottsylvania Court House in 1864. The next year he was elected prothonotary of Adams county and was postmaster of Gettysburg during Grant's administrations. He began the prac- tice of law in 1871 and died in 1894. His winning personality, business ability and good judgment drew him a large clientage, and for a number of years before his death he largely ' controlled the Orphans' Conrt business of this county. He was one of the subjects of the famous Curtis-Kitzmiller let- ter during the Blaine-Cleveland campaign.
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