USA > Pennsylvania > The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume I > Part 35
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George M. Watson .- Prominently practic- ing at the Lackawanna bar is George M. Watson, of whom it may well be said: He is the architect of his own fortune. He is a native of Philadelphia, born May 15, 1855, of Thomas J. and Marion (Leonard) Watson. He was educated at the publie schools and at Belmont Grammar school, Philadelphia. Early in life he came to Wayne county, where he continued his studies in the public schools. Arriving at manhood, he removed to Seranton and became a student at law in the office of Frederick Fuller. He was ad- mitted to the bar of Lackawanna county March 9, 1886. Hle became a partner with William A. Wileox in 1889. In 1893 he en- tered into partnership with R. A. Zimmer- man, which eontinned for five years. He has figured sueeessfully and made his mark as a trial lawyer. In 1900 he was nominated by the Republican party for judge of the court of common pleas, and received a highly complimentary vote. In 1901 he was ap- pointed city solicitor of Seranton, and per- formed the duties of the office with com- mendable ability. He has been engaged in a number of very important eases. Mr. Wat- son is a married man.
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James K. Gearhart is a son of W. H. Gear- hart, whose sketch will be found elsewhere, and Mary E. (Kipp) Gearhart. He was born in Scranton on the 20th of May, 1876. Hc received his education in the schools of Scranton, and graduated at Lafayette col- lege, Easton, Pa. He read law in the office of W. H. Gearhart and with John M. Harris. He became a member of the Lackawanna bar in September, 1899. He is in partnership with his father and brother, under the firm name of Gearhart & Gearhart. They are active in several business enterprises. Mr. Gearhart is a notary public.
John P. Quinnan .- There is no man in Lackawanna county that has attained more notoriety as a Democratic political speaker than John P. Quinnan. He was born in Scranton on the 18th of April, 1859, of James and Catharine (Moyles) Quinnan. He was educated in the Scranton high school and graduated with honor in 1877. He followed teaching for a number of years, at which he was considered among the best. He was reg- istered as a student at law with Judge Stanton and subsequently with Stokes & Hoban. He became a member of the Lacka- wanna county bar in 1894, and has since been conducting a successful business. Mr. Quinnan is a speaker of unusual force, log- ical and convincing. In 1892 he was elected a member of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, but has since confined him- self more particularly to the duties of his profession.
James J. H. Hamilton .- This gentleman was a native of Juniata, Pa., born November 9, 1863, of Rev. J. J. and Kate (Hoffmeier) Hamilton. He received his education at Orangeville academy and graduated at La- fayette college, Easton, in the class of 1891. He engaged as a teacher for a time, then entered the law department of the Indiana university and received the degree of LL. B. in 1893. He was admitted to the bar in Indiana and settled in Scranton in January,
1894. Soon thereafter he was admitted in Lackawanna county. He attained consider- able notoriety as a Republican speaker in political campaigns. He died about five years ago.
Edwin W. Gearhart, one of the firm of Gearhart & Gearhart, was born in Scranton July 17, 1871. His parents are W. H. and Mary E. (Kipp) Gearhart. He was educated in the Scranton public schools, the school of the Lackawanna and Lafayette college, Eas- ton, Pa. He read law in the office of W. H. Gearhart and was admitted a member of the Lackawanna county bar, February 22, 1896. He is devoting his attention principally to corporations and business enterprises. On October 26, 1898, he was married in New York to Cathryn G. Wheeler.
Patrick E. Timlin was born at Scranton, March 27, 1872. In 1877 his parents moved to Jermyn, Pa. He was educated at St. Bonaventure's college, Allegheny, N. Y., and at St. Mary's seminary, Baltimore, Md. He read law at Scranton, and was admitted to the bar of Lackawanna county in January, 1897. He is engaged in practicing law. Mr. Timlin is Democratic in politics, and was elected to the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania from the Fourth district of Lackawanna county in November. 1898. He is a married man.
C. Reynolds Bedford. - Mr. Bedford's grandfather was Dr. Andrew Bedford, late of Waverly, now Lackawanna county, a prominent and well known citizen in his day. The subject of this sketch was born Novem- ber 22, 1872, of Theodore W. and Elizabeth M. (Blackburn) Bedford. He graduated with the degree of bachelor of laws from the law department of the university of Mary- land at Baltimore, Md., whence he came to Scranton and was admitted to the bar of Lackawanna county, July 3, 1896. He is en- gaged in general practice. On the 7th of May, 1901, he was appointed a member of the board of law examiners for Lackawanna
.
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county. He is connected with a number of business enterprises.
Henry R. Van Deusen is a son of Henry N. and Mary J. (Porter) Van Deusen, born on the 2nd of June, 1872. He graduated at the Wesleyan university in 1894, and received the degree of LL. B. in the law department of the university of Pennsylvania in 1899. Hc entered the office of John J. Reardon at Williamsport, Pa., and became a member of the Lycoming bar in January, 1898. He was admitted in Lackawanna county in March, 1900. He has practiced in Philadelphia, but now has his office at Scranton, and is as- sistant solicitor for the city.
William J. Fitzgerald was born in Lacka- wanna county on the 19th of November, 1877, of Daniel H. and Margaret J. (Kelly) Fitzgerald. He is a graduate of Georgetown university of the class of 1898. He read law with his uncle, the Hon. John P. Kelly, and became a member of the bar of Lackawanna county February 15, 1901. For four years he was principal of Scranton public school No. 2. He is now in the law office with O'Brien & Martin.
Fred C. Hanyen is a son of C. B. and Jen- nic E. (Reynolds) Hanyen, born December 15, 1864. He was educated in the Mansfield normal school and in the university of New York. He became a student in the law of- fice of A. A: Vosburg in Scranton, and was admitted to the Lackawanna bar September 13, 1897. He married Minnic E. Roberts June 16, 1891, and has three children.
The following deceased members of the bar were practitioners in the Lackawanna valley. Sufficient data for sketches has not been obtainable :
Hon. Peter Byrne, who practiced at Car- bondale, was a prominent lawyer, and at one time represented Luzerne county in the Legislature.
Wharton Dickinson, who became a mem- ber of the bar April 24, 1877.
A. S. Hattenstein, who was admitted to the mayor's court of Scranton, September term, 1877.
Anthony Bauman, admitted to the bar May 12, 1880.
C. E. Royce, admitted to the mayor's court September term, 1868.
Martin Canavan, who became a member of the mayor's court October 1, 1866.
Corydon H. Wells, admitted to the mayor's court October 1, 1866.
Cyrus N. Hartley, admitted to the mayor's court May term, 1869.
Albert Chamberlain, a very excellent law- yer, who came from Susquehanna county and was admitted to the mayor's court Feb- ruary term, 1871.
W. S. Wilmarth, admitted at the May term, 1871.
The following is a list of lawyers who have offices in the county, but have failed to send in the necessary data :
Walter S. Bevan, John H. Bonner, Richard J. Bourke, Frank E. Boyle, W. M. Bunnell, H. D. Carey, A. J. Colburn, E. H. Connell, Chas. W. Dawson, Russell Dimmick, Thos. J. Duggan, Salomon Foster, Levi T. Griffin, Henry H. Harris, Richard H. Holgate, H. C. Hubler, Thos. J. Jennings, John L. Kem- merer, Selden H. Kingsbury, Raphael L. Levy, Wm. R. Lewis, F. M. Lynch, John J. Manning, Frank C. McAndrew, Jolın G. Mc- Askic, Jas. W. McDonald, Gco. M. Okell, J. J. O'Neill, Thos. F. Penman, Wm. H. Roe, WVm. E. Schimff, Evan Thomas, W. G. Thom- as, John J. Touhey, Wm. J. Torrey, Fred K. Tracey, Wm. Vokolek, C. H. Vonstorch, T. C. Vonstorch, John W. Wagner, James M. Walker, James E. Watkins, Palmer L. Wil- liams, Geo. C. Yocum, R. D. Stuart, Henry Mulholland.
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CRAWFORD COUNTY
BY JOSHUA DOUGLASS
On the 12th of March, 1800, the Legisla- ture passed an act erecting the counties of Beaver, Butler, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Warren and Venango from territory previ- ously included in Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington, and Lycoming counties. Craw- ford county was taken from Allegheny county for judicial purposes. It was pro- vided in the same act that the counties of Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Warren and Erie should form one district, under the namie of Crawford County District.
The first court in Crawford county was. organized at Meadville, July 7, 1800, Hon. David Mead and Hon. John Kelso, associate judges, officiating. The court continued its session for several days. and at one of these early sessions Edward Work, Henry Bald- win, Steel Sample, George Armstrong, and Thomas Collins were admitted and qualified as attorneys.
A second session of the court was held in October, 1800, Hon. Alexander Addison pre- siding. The first grand jury met and was charged by the judge, found and returned seven indictments-one for larceny, two for assault and battery, one for forcible entry and detainer, and three for riot. These fairly demonstrate that the early pioneers mainly took the adjustment of their contro- versies into their own hands. In fact, dur- ing the first few years after the organization of Crawford county, the records show that a great majority of the cases tried in the early courts were those in which physical prowess predominated. At this carly time disputes, hot and fierce, often would and did happen. These were sometimes settled by the
old-time methods of trial, by "wager of bat- tle," and some cases were submitted to the first persons the disputants would meet, by amicable arbitration. An instance of this has frequently been narrated. Hon. William Miles, of Erie county, on his first visit to Meadville, and a companion, were traveling on foot, each carrying a heavy knapsack. At the outskirts of the village they met two men in hot contention about a cornfield which one had agreed to cultivate for the other. Being unable to agrec, the dispu- tants immediately referred the case to the two strangers for their decision. They at once unstrung their knapsacks, made use of them as "wool sacks," heard the parties and their allegations, considered the matter, ren- dercd judgment and resumed their journey. The judgment must have been just, for both the belligerents were satisfied with it and re- sumed their work in accordance with the de- cision of the referees.
The first trial by jury in Crawford county occurred on the 6th of January, 1801, Hon. Alexander Addison presiding; this case was the Commonwealth vs. Hugh Johnson, in- dicted by the grand inquest held in October, 1800. After a trial of great length the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
In the early times legal science flourished - with remarkable vigor. The bench and bar contained many men of learning and elo- quence. In those days the practice of law was very different from what it is now. The country was thinly settled, the people poor and the fees small. Lawyers were obliged to practice in several counties to make a livelihood. They traveled from one county
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scat to another, usually on horseback, with their legal papers and a few books in a sack across their saddle.
The several courts in this district were held by a judge learned in the law and two associate judges, not required to be learned . in the law; any two of these judges were authorized to hold the courts. The follow- ing persons have served as presiding judges over the several districts in which Crawford county has been incorporated :
Alexander Addison, commissioned in the Pittsburgh District, 1791, in the Crawford District, 1800 to 1803: Jesse Moore, 1803 to 1825; Henry Shippen, 1825 to 1839; Nathan- iel B. Eldred, 1839 to 1843; Gaylord Church, 1843 to 1851; John Galbraith, 1851 to 1860; Rasselas Brown, appointed to fill a vacaney caused by the death of Judge Galbraith in 1860; Samuel P. Johnson, 1860 to 1870; Walter HI. Lowrie, 1870 to 1876; S. Newton Pettis, appointed to fill vacaney caused by the death of Judge Lowrie, 1876 to 1878; Pearson Church, 1878 to 1888; John J. Hen- derson, 1888 to 1898; Frank J. Thomas, 1898 to - -.
Additional Law Judges-David Derickson, 1856 to 1866; John P. Vineent, 1866 to 1873; James Thompson, District Court, 1836 to 1842.
Among the most prominent lawyers who attended the eourts in Crawford county dur- ing the pioneer days were Henry Baldwin, Patrick Farrelly, Ralph Martin, Alexander W. Foster, George Selden, John B. Wallaee, John Stuart Riddle, and David Deriekson, of Meadville; Steel Sample, Wm. Wilkins, John Woods, Parker Campbell, Geo. Arm- strong, Thomas Collins, and James Ross, of Pittsburgh; Samnel B. Foster, John Brooks, and John J. Pearson, of Mereer; Thomas H. Sill and John Galbraith, of Venango, later of Erie; later Hon. Hiram L. Richmond and Hon. Darwin A. Finney, both of Meadville. Several and most of these subsequently rose to high official distinction.
In addition to the regular courts, the Leg-
islature on the 23d of March, 1839, author- ized an additional court for Erie, Crawford, and Venango, styled the District Court, to be held four times a year in cach of the counties, and to have concurrent jurisdic- tion with the Court of Common Pleas of the respective counties for trial of eivil cases. In May, 1839, the governor appointed Hon. James Thompson, of Venango, president judge of this court. He entered at once upon the discharge of his appointment and continued his work with eminent ability and impartiality until May, 1845, the close of his term and the Distriet Court.
Hon. Alexander Addison was an eminent lawyer in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was appointed president judge of the Fifth judicial dis- triet in 1791 and presided in the several eourts in that and adjacent districts with great ability. His sketeh appears elsewhere in this volume.
Hon. Jesse Moore was a native of Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania, and while praetieing law at Pittsburgh was appointed president judge of the Sixth judicial dis- triet, his commission bearing date of April 5, 1893. He immediately came to Meadville and assumed the aetive duties of that re- sponsible position in the several eourts of that distriet and continued in this work until his death, in December, 1824, in the fifty-ninth year of his age.
Hon. Henry Shippen was born in Laneas- ter, Pa., December 28, 1788. He graduated from Dickinson college in 1808, read law in the office of Judge Hopkins, of Laneaster, and was admitted to the bar in 1811. On the 24th of January, 1825, he was appointed judge of the Sixth judicial district, then composed of the counties of Erie, Crawford, Venango, and Mercer, and immediately thereafter removed to Meadville. Judge Shippen presided over the several eourts of this district with distinguished ability until his death in Meadville in Mareh, 1839. More extended notiee appears in Warren county.
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Hon. Nathaniel B. Eldred succeeded Hon. « was the Democratic candidate for the same Henry Shippen for the judgeship. (See Wayne county history for sketch.)
Hon. Gaylord Church was born at Oswego, N. Y., August 11, 1811; removed with his
1816; attended the Mercer academy, studied law in the office of the Hon. John J. Pearson in Mercer, was admitted to practice in 1834, and came to Meadville the same year. In 1837 he was appointed deputy attorney gen- eral of the Crawford county district, was elected to the Legislature in 1840, and subse- quently re-elected to same position. He was appointed president judge of the Sixth judi- cial district in 1843, and served with ability until October, 1851, when the office became eleetive. In October, 1858, he was appointed one of the justices of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of one of the judges. Judge Church was a most diligent student, an able lawyer, and a most efficient and learned judge. He died in Meadville in September, 1869, leaving a wife and seven ehildren. The eldest son, Pearson, was clected president judge of the Thirtieth district in 1877 and served the full term of ten years.
Hon. John Galbraith was born in Hunting- ton, Pa., in 1794. He studied law with Gen- eral William Ayres, of Butler, and was ad- mitted to the bar at the age of twenty-four. His first official position was as a member of the Assembly, to which he was thrice elected. He was elected to Congress as a Demoerat in 1832-34-38, serving on important commit- tees. On retiring from Congress he prac- ticed law until the fall of 1851, when he was elected president judge of the Sixth judicial district. (See sketch in Erie county.).
Hon. Rasselas Brown, son of George Brown, a native of Pennsylvania, was in 1860 appointed president judge of the Sixth judicial district of Pennsylvania, to fill the vacancy occasionad by the death of Hon. John Galbraith. At the ensuing election he
office, and also Democratic candidate for the office in 1870-1880, but was defeated cach time. (Sce sketch in Warren county.)
Hon. S. Newton Pettis was born October parents to Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in . 10, 1827, at Lenox, Ashtabula county, Ohio. From 1842 to 1845 he taught public school in his native county. In 1846 he began the study of law with Hon. Joshua R. Giddings, a prominent lawyer and noted anti-slavery leader at Jefferson, Ohio, and continued there for two years. He then came to Mead- ville and completed his preparatory legal studies with Hon. Hiram L. Richmond, and was admitted to the bar November 14, 1848, and entered aetively into the practice of his profession. In 1856-7 he entered into partnership with Hon. James Thompson, who subsequently became chief justice of the Su- preme Court of Pennsylvania. He was a dele- gate to the Republican national convention at Chicago in 1860, and was influential in the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for presi- dent. In 1861 President Lincoln appointed him one of the judges of the United States Court for the territory of Colorado. He re- signed this position in 1863 and returned to Meadville and formed a partnership with Myron Park Davis, Esq., in the practice of their professions in Meadville. In 1869 he was elected to Congress to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Hon. Darwin A. Finney. On the death of Hon. Walter H. Lowrie, president judge, Mr. Pettis was ap- pointed by Governor Hartranft president judge in this district, to fill the vaeancy until after the next election. President Hayes during his administration appointed Judge Pettis United States minister to Bolivia. He performed the duties of that office for sev- eral years and at the close of his sojourn at the court in Bolivia returned to Meadville and resumed the practice of his profession. He subsequently removed his practice to the city of Washington and devoted his time to the practice before the Court of Claims. He
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died at Meadville in December, 1900. Judge Pettis, during much of his career, was active in politics, made many acquaintances, and formed strong and enduring friendship with many influential and prominent men throughout the country.
Hon. John J. Henderson was born in Al- legheny county, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1843, son of Rev. William C. Henderson, an eminent clergyman of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and Eliza Fawcett Henderson. After leaving the public schools he com- pleted his education at the Meadville acad- emy and Allegheny college. He entered the military service of the United States in 1862 and continued in the service, filling several responsible positions until honorably dis- charged in June, 1865. Returning to Mcad- ville, he took up the study of law under his older brother, Harry Henderson, Esq., and was admitted to the bar August 27, 1867. In 1872 he was elected district attorney of Crawford county and served in that office with marked ability for three years. In the fall of 1887 he was. elected president judge of the Thirtieth judicial district . and served in that capacity with distinguished ability for the full term of ten years. After the close of his term he resumed the prac- tice of the law, with marvelous success. In March, 1903, Judge Henderson was ap- pointed by the governor to fill a vacancy on the bench of the Superior Court of Penn- sylvania, which position he now occupies. Judge Henderson is the most cloquent and attractive public speaker in western Penn- sylvania. His splendid abilities, fine educa- tion, brilliant attainments, and familiar ac- quaintance with the people places him in the front rank as a lawyer and jurist.
Hon. Frank J. Thomas, son of Darius Thomas and Margaret Thomas, was born Oc- tober 13, 1859, in Woodeock township, Crawford county, Pa. He attended district school and the high school at Cambridge and entered Allegheny college in the fall of 1881
and graduated therefrom in June, 1885. Prior to entering college Mr. Thomas taught select high schools in Woodcockboro and Saegertown for three years and upwards. In 1885 he registered as a law student with Hon. John J. Ilenderson. After Mr. Hender- son was elected judge Mr. Thomas pursued his studies with Hon. HI. J. Humes and was admitted to the bar in May, 1889. After this he aceepted the position of principal in the classical sehool at Tuscola, Ill. At the close of his term with this school he returned to Meadville and entered into partnership with Hon. H. J. Humes, and resumed the practice of law with marked success. In the fall of 1897 he was elected on the Democratic and Populistic ticket president judge of the Thirtieth judicial district and entered upon the discharge of the duties of that exalted office in January, 1898, and continues his in- portant work with fine ability, impartiality and credit with the profession and the peo- ple generally.
Hon. David Derickson .- About 1855 the business of the district became so great that the Legislature by act of April 17, 1856, cre- ated the office of additional law judge, which was filled by the clection in the fall of 1856 by Mr. Derickson, of Meadville, who served in that capacity with distinction for a term of ten years. He was born in Cum- berland county, Pennsylvania, in 1798, grad- uated from Allegheny college in 1821, in the first graduating elass of that institution, studied law at Meadville and was admitted to practice there in November, 1823, and in Warren the following year. Soon after his admission Mr. Derickson was appointed dep -. uty attorney general for the district, then composed of the counties of Eric, Crawford and Warren, and served in that office six years. In 1824 President Monroe appointed him collector of internal revenue for the same district. He possessed a shrewd and well balaneed judicial mind, was an inde- fatigable student recognized everywhere as
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a learned and efficient judge. At the close of his judicial term he resumed practice with abundant success. He died at Meadville August 13, 1884.
Mr. Derickson was succeeded in this office by Hon. John P. Vincent of Erie. (See Mr. Vincent's sketch in Erie county.)
Hon. Samuel P. Johnson was elected presi- dent judge of the Sixth judicial district, composed of the counties of Erie, Crawford and Warren, to which Elk county was sub- sequently added. He took his seat on the bench in December, 1860, and served the full term of ten years.
Judge Johnson was succeeded by Hon. Lansing D. Wetmore, who served a full term, part of the time in the Sixth district and the remainder in the new Thirty-seventh, which was created by act of April 9, 1874, and was then composed of the counties of Warren, Forest and Elk.
John P. Vincent, of Erie, was elected addi- tional law judge of the Sixth judicial dis- triet of Pennsylvania in 1866. (See sketch in Erie county.)
Hon. Pearson Church, son of Gaylord Church, was born at Mercer, Pa., in March, 1838; came to Meadville with his parents soon after his birth and resided here contin- ually until his death, on June 13, 1898. He entered Allegheny college in 1853 and grad- uated therefrom in the class of 1858. He was admitted to the bar of this county in February, 1858, after having completed a thorough course of study in the office of his father : a part of this course was concurrent with his work in college. He rose rapidly in his profession, was elected a delegate to the constitutional convention of 1873 and took an active part in the deliberations of that body. In the fall of 1877 Mr. Church was elected president judge of the Thirtieth judi- cial district and filled the position with abil- ity for the full term of ten years.
David Mead, who, with John Kelso, organ- ized the first court in Crawford county, was
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