USA > Pennsylvania > The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume I > Part 49
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It was impossible that such a man should not be greatly beloved by all who knew him. But, alas: The golden bowl is broken.
Mr. Trunkey "is gone
Out of this room into the next;
We, too, shall go in a minute-
What time have we, then, to be vexed ?"
[The above sketeh was furnished by a member of the family.]
332
THE BENCHI AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA
VENANGO COUNTY
BY FREDERIC O. DUFFIELD
Venango was organized into a county by an act of Assembly passed on the 12th day of Mareh, 1800. The territory of which it was comprised was taken from the counties of Allegheny and Lyeoming, that portion west of the Allegheny river being taken from the former and that east of it being taken from the latter.
The act organizing the county appointed three trustees, George Fowler, Alexander MeDowell and James MeClaran, whose duty it was to superintend its affairs and transaet certain publie business until the election of a board of commissioners in 1805.
The first justice of the peaee was Alex- ander McDowell, appointed in 1796.
From the year 1800 to 1805, Venango county was attached to Crawford county for judicial purposes, being only a "provisional county." During this period the judicial distriet was composed of the eounties of Venango, Warren, Erie, Crawford, Mereer and Butler, with the seat of justice at Mead- ville. Judge Addison presided.
An aet to organize the provisional eounty of Venango passed April 1, 1805, and granted the inhabitants thereof full powers and privileges and provided for the election of offieers.
By the judieiary act passed February 24, 1806, the counties of Venango, Erie, Craw- ford, Mercer and Butler were formed into the sixth distriet.
The first townships formed in 1806 were: Allegheny, Frenchereek, Irwin, Richland, Sugarereck and Scrubgrass.
The following judges have been appointed and elected since the organization of the eounty in 1805:
1805, Jesse Moore, Venango eounty; 1825, Henry Shippen, resided at Meadville, Craw- ford county; 1839, N. B. Eldred, Betheny, Wayne county ; 1839, Gaylord Chureh, Mead- ville ; 1839, Alexander MeCalmont, Frank- lin; 1849, Joseph Buffington, Kittanning; 1849, John C. Knox, Franklin; 1853, John S. McCalmont, Franklin; 1861, Glenni W. Scofield, Warren; 1861, James Campbell, Clarion ; 1866, Isaae G. Gordon, Brookville; 1877, Charles E. Taylor, Franklin (appointed and elected; re-elected) ; 1895, C. E. Taylor (resigned) ; 1895, Judge Criswell, appointed; 1895, Judge Criswell, eleeted.
Associate judges :
1805, John Irwin, appointed; 1805, Thom- as McKee, appointed; 1805, James G. Her- ron, appointed; 1838, Riehard Irwin, ap- pointed; 1840, Robert Mitchell, appointed; 1843, A. B. Plumer, appointed; 1848, A. B. Plumer, appointed; 1851, A. B. Plumer, ap- pointed; 1845, James Kinnera, appointed; 1850, Alexander Holeman, appointed; 1851, Robert Cross, eleeted; 1856, John H. Smiley, appointed; 1856, Samuel Hayes, elected; 1856, David Phipps, elected; 1857, W. W. Davidson, appointed; 1858, W. W. David- son, elected; 1861, Josiah Davis, elected; 1862, William Connelly, appointed; 1862, Robert Lamberton, elected; 1866, R. S. Me- Cormick, appointed; 1866, R. S. MeCormick, eleeted; 1871, R. S. McCormick, eleeted; 1867, James L. Connelly, eleeted; 1872, James L. Connelly, eleeted.
The first judge appointed for this district was Jesse Moore. He held office until 1825, and was succeeded by Henry Shippen. Judge Eldred held the office but a short time, and was removed by appointment to Lebanon
333
VENANGO COUNTY
distriet. Judge Church was then appointed for the sixth distriet in place of Eldred and held the court at Franklin until the expira- tion of his term in 1850. Judge Alexander MeCalmont was president judge of the eighteenth distriet. Venango was not in his distriet until the elose of his term. Just prior to 1849 Venango county was strieken off the Sixth Judicial distriet and ineluded in the Eighteenth Judicial distriet. Judge Buffington was appointed to the Eighteenthi Judicial distriet by Governor Johnston in 1849, and Judge Knox was elected president judge of the tenth distriet. Judge Knox was appointed a supreme judge to fill the vaeaney occasioned by the deeease of Judge Gibson. Judge Seofield was appointed by Governor Curtain in 1861 to fill the vaeaney oeeasioned by the resignation of Judge John S. MeCalmont, and in the fall election, in 1861, Judge Campbell was elected in his. place. In 1866 the Legislature ereated a new distriet out of Mereer and Venango counties. Judge Gordon was appointed by the governor and held the office until the sue- eeeding December, when Judge Trunkey, who was elected by the people, took his place. In 1877, Judge Trunkey having been eleeted a supreme judge, at the election in 1876, Judge Taylor was appointed to fill the vacaney in January, 1877. Taylor was twiee eleeted to the office and resigned in 1895. Judge Criswell was appointed in and elected the same year. He is the present ineumbent, his term expiring in 1905.
Jesse Moore, the first judge of Venango county, was born in Montgomery county, Pa., in 1783, and died in Meadville in 1824, being in his fifty-ninth year. His eommis- sion as judge was dated April 5, 1803.
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Nathaniel B. Eldred presided over the eourts of Venan'go county from 1839 to 1843. He was a politician of considerable influenee and was in the Legislature several times.
Gaylord Church, who succeeded Judge El- dred, was a native of Oswego, N. Y., born on
August 11, 1811. He was admitted to the bar in 1834 and shortly afterwards removed to Meadville. He was a politieian, was at- torney general for the state and was in the Legislature several times. He was ap- pointed judge in 1843 and served until 1849. On October 22, 1858, he was appointed to the supreme court beneli and served for a short time. Ile died in Meadville September 29, 1869, after a most useful life ..
Alexander McCalmont, one of the pioneer lawyers of Franklin, was next in sueeession. He was born in Mifflin county October 23, 1785. After receiving a common sehool ed- ucation he became a teacher. Later he read law and was admitted to the bar in 1820. He served on the beneh for ten years and was one of the most learned men of the times. He died August 10, 1857.
Joseph Buffington was the next judge. He came to the beneh in 1849 and served until 1851. He was a native of Armstrong eoun- ty, but read law in Butler. As an attorney and jurist Judge Buffington ranked among the best in the state. He was a man of pleasant and affable manners and well liked by all. He was a member of Congress from Pennsylvania for two terms, and lived to a ripe old age.
John C. Knox was elected judge in Oeto- ber, 1851, and was noted for the effieieney and dispatel with which he disposed of cases. He arrived at eonelusions with but little apparent deliberation and possessed a quiek diseerning intelleet. In May, 1853, he was appointed to fill a vaeaney on the su- preme beneh. He served five years and then became attorney general of Pennsylvania. At the time of the Missouri compromise he withdrew from the Demoeratie ranks and be- came an active Republiean. He retired from publie life and entered the praetiee of law in Philadelphia. While arguing an im- portant ease for Philadelphia in the Harris- burg eourts he was strieken with apoplexy and never recovered.
334
TIIE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA
John McCalmont, the eldest son of Alex- ander MeCalmont, was elected in 1853. When fifteen years of age he entered Allegheny college, and after remaining there two years was appointed to a eadetship in West Point. He graduated at the latter place in 1842 and served in the army in Florida until July, 1843, when he resigned to pursue the study of the law, which he had previously eom- meneed under the tuition of his father. He was admitted to praetiee in Franklin No- vember, 1844. He located in Clarion in 1845, as a partner of Amos Myers, and was married in 1848. He was elected to the Legislature for the session of 1840-50, and beeaine speaker of the house. He was the most youthful judge that ever presided over the eighteenth distriet, being only twenty- nine years old when he went on the beneh and had been in praetiee only seven years. Notwithstanding his youth his administra- tion was ereditable and satisfactory. Judge MeCalmont was tall, thin and striking in ap- pearanee, with an ereet, military bearing, which he brought with him from West Point, and always retained. IIe resided with his family at Clarion during the time he oeeu- pied the beneh until 1856, when he removed to Franklin. In 1861 he resigned his seat to take the command of the Tenth Pennsyl- vania Reserves, which he held till May, 1862, and was then honorably discharged. He re- sumed the praetiee of the law at Franklin and continued it until appointed Commis- sioner of Customs at Washington, D. C.
Glenni W. Scofield sueeeeded Judge Me- Cahont. He was appointed by Governor Curtain and filled the vaeaney eaused by the resignation of the former judge, until his sneeessor was eleeted in the following au- tumn.
James Campbell, of Clarion county, sue- ceeded Judge Seofield, being eleeted on the 11th day of October, 1861. He was a native of Mifflin eounty, but removed to Clarion, where he beeame one of the leading members
of the bar. Judge Campbell's administra- tion realized the most sanguine expectation of his friends.
Isaac Gordon .- In 1866 the Legislature ereated a new distriet out of Venango and Mereer counties, and Isaae Gordon was ap- pointed judge by the governor. He held the position until the autumn of that year, when his suceessor was duly eleeted. Judge Gor- don was a resident of Brookville, Jefferson county, and a lawyer of marked ability. In October, 1873, he was commissioned a justiee of the supreme court and beeame chief jus- tiee on July 14, 1887. He retired from the benelt in 1888.
Hon. Charles E. Taylor, whose death oe- curred on February 19, 1901, was for a long time recognized as one of the ablest and brightest lawyers in the state, possessing as he did a naturally quiek intuition that sel- dom failed to grasp the most intricate points at issue, a gift which won for him prosperity and honor from the time he eommeneed read- ing law in the office of Messrs. MeCormiek & Kerr, in Franklin, in 1856. He required only two years to obtain suffieient knowledge of the law to pass a rigid examination, and was in consequence admitted to the bar on April 27, 1858. The next year he was elected to the office of distriet attorney, which he filled until the war broke out, when he immediate- ly set out in the interests of his eountry and raised a company for the Fourth Pennsyl- vania Cavalry, and was soon after made eap- tain, but owing to severe wounds received in front of Richmond he was totally disabled, and on October 4, 1862, honorably dis- charged from serviee and returned to Frank- lin. He resumed, as soon as he was physie- ally able to do so, his original reputation at the bar and soon eommanded a wide eli- entage, which he continued until September, 1877, when he was appointed judge to fill the vaeaney eaused by the resignation of Judge Trunkey, and on- November 5, 1878, he was regularly eleeted to the judgeship of the
Charlie E. Taylor
335
VENANGO COUNTY
Twenty-eighth Judicial district, and re- elected as his own sueeessor in November, 1888, by the largest majority ever given in the district, but resigned the position in Mareh, 1895, owing to the infirmities of age brought about principally by wounds re- ceived in the service of his country.
Judge Taylor was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, September 4, 1826, and his early education which led up to his fame as a lawyer was obtained in the com- mon schools of his native town. July 18, 1853, he married Susan J., daughter of the late Charles W. Maekey, of this city, who still survives him ; and much of his sueeess in life was because of the devotion and energy of this excellent woman.
At the resignation of Judge Taylor, Hon. George Criswell, in March, 1895, became the president judge. He was elected to the po- sition by the Republican party in the fall of the same year. He is the present incumbent.
Judge Thompson was one of the most dis- tinguished jurists of Pennsylvania and a man of more than state reputation. Ile was born in Butler county in 1805 and in early life learned the printing trade. He was ad- mitted to the bar on February 23, 1829. In 1832 he was elected to the state Legislature, and was twiee re-elected and chosen speaker . of the house. In 1857 he was elected to the supreme court, where he served fifteen years, the last five of which he was chief justice.
Associate justiees filled the position from the organization of the county until that law was abolished by the state constitution, in 1873.
Prominent among the early lawyers of Venango county were several of prominence. The first one of which there is any record was David Irvine, who eame to the county in 1806. He died in Franklin in 1827. He was a painstaking, methodical man and well versed in the law.
David La Fever eame a few years later. Ile was a good attorney and built up a nice
practice. He was the second resident law- yer of Franklin. He left the eity many years ago and none knew where he went or when he answered the final summons.
John Galbraith was an early lawyer, who eame from Butler. He was admitted to the Franklin bar in February, 1819. His death occurred on June 15, 1860.
Alexander McCalmont was the next attor- ney. We have mentioned his name in pre- eeding pages.
John J. Pearson was one of the foremost lawyers of the early days. He was born in Delaware county on October 25, 1800; ad- mitted to the bar in August, 1822; died in the spring of 1888.
John W. Howe also appears on the records of the county in frequent litigations. He was born in Maine in 1801, and died in 1873.
James Ross Snowden, LL. D., was an early attorney. He died in Philadelphia on March 21, 1878.
Samuel Porter Johnson was a well-known attorney. Born in Venango county in 1809, and last heard of him was some years ago in Warren.
Thomas Espy came to Franklin in the early thirties. He praetieed here many years and went to Iowa.
William Stewart, born in Mercer in 1810. Practieed law in Venango eounty for years; died in Mereer in 1876.
James S. Myers was one of the ablest jur- ists in Pennsylvania. Born on June 9, 1813; died October 20, 1885.
Other attorneys of prominence were: N. R. Bushnell, John S. MeCalmont, Robert S. McCormick, Samuel Riddle, Francis D. Kin- near, Gen. Alferd B. MeCalmont, S. P. Me- Calmont, William H. Lamberton and L. D. Rogers.
In addition to those mentioned, the fol- lowing attorneys were members of the Ve- mango eounty bar, and some of them prae- ticed in this county before their death, or removal therefrom: T. R. Ridgway, ad-
336
THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA
mitted February, 1847; Sidney McGuire, March, 1848; James Knox, August, 1853; T. B. Hoover, Dceember, 1859; Charles F. Has- son, August, 1861; E. Ferero, April, 1864; Archibald Blakeley, April, 1864; S. P. Ir- win, November, 1864; F. E. Felton, Deeem- ber, 1864; H. P. Montgomery, December, 1864; Isaac Myers, January, 1865; W. S. Crawford, January, 1865; HI. C. Johns, Jan- uary, 1865; W. T. Bell, January, 1865; Henry G. Smith, April, 1865; A. G. Riec, April, 1865; · Malcom Hay, afterwards assistant postmaster general, April, 1865; James Flynn, April, 1865; William Blakeley, Au- gust, 1865; George S. Daugherty, August, 1865; William R. Diekerson, August, 1865; W. V. Perrine, August, 1865; T. S. Zuver, August, 1865; C. S. Andrews, September, 1865: J. G. Elliott, November, 1865; T. C. Spencer, January, 1865; G. W. Andrews, 1866; C. O. Bowen, January, 1866; H. T. Birdsley, November, 1866; F. W. Hastings, December, 1866: Jacob A. Vroman, Samuel D. Irwin, January, 1867; H. B. Plumer, April, 1867; Henry A. Miller, 1867; John P. Park, March, 1868; W. T. Graham, April, 1868; Frederick L. Seely, April, 1868; R. Maewood, April, 1868; John McKissick, Sep- tember, 1868; John MeMiller, December, 1868: G. B. MeCalmont, January, 1869: M. D. Christy, March, 1869; S. P. Newell, April, 1869; William A. Given, April, 1869; N. H. McCormick, March, 1870; James H. Don- nelly, May, 1870; A. W. Coville, October, 1870: J. H. Bowen, January, 1871; J. C. Boyce, April, 1872; Henry Strong, Dceem- ber. 1872: Samuel P. Brigham, Apri 1873: S. S. Avery, May, 1873; W. N. Miles March, 1874: William M. Francis, March, 274; J. WV. Osborne, April, 1874: William . . Selby, April, 1875 : John T. Selby, May, 1875; T. A. Morrison, November, 1875; Herbert Donald- son, John K. Wilson, July, 1876; Jacob Odell, James W. Shaw, August, 1876; C. L. Poor, September, 1876: N. P. Bryden, March, 1876; W. W. Dale, August, 1877 ; E. L. Davis,
November, 1877; E. S. MeCalmont, August, 1880; L. R. Freeman, September, 1880; Wil- mot Hard, August, 1883; C. W. Benedict, August, 1884; E. E. Smith, December, 1884.
Hon. George Stewart Criswell, a native of Venango county, Pa., the subject of this sketch, was born April 7, 1850, and is the son of Robert Chesney and IIannah (Niekle) Criswell, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation, and moved from Mifflin, his native county, to Venango county at an carly day and settled on a farm, where he died in 1897. His mother died in 1893; she was of Scotch-Irish deseent and traced her ancestry to Ireland.
George passed his boyhood on his father's farm and had the usual experiences of a farmer boy. He attended the district schools while not engaged in farm work, later studied in the local academy, and for a number of terms taught district school.
He pursued his law studies in the office of Mr. Henry A. Miller, now of Pittsburgh. On September 30, 1875, young Criswell was ad- mitted to the bar at Franklin, and, at once opening an office for practice, conducted it in his own name until 1887, establishing a local reputation as an able and successful practi- tioner. On August 1, 1887, the firm of Lee, Criswell & Hastings was formed, composed of Mr. J. W. Lec, our subject and Mr. F. W. Hastings, who was located at Bradford. Sev- cral years later, Mr. Hastings withdrawing, the firm name changed to Lee & Criswell, and so continued till April 1, 1894, when Mr. Lee removed to Pittsburgh, where he is now in practice and prominently identified with the Independent Oil Refining and Pipe Line company.
Mr. Criswell gave his attention almost ex- elusively to a general civil practice, and be- fore his promotion to the bench was justly regarded as one of the foremost lawyers practicing at the bar of Venango county. While his firm were together there were few noted cases in the courts of Venango county
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GEORGE S. CRISWELL.
336
THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA
mitted February: 1847. Sidney McGuire, March, 1848: James Knox, August. 1853; T. B. Hloover, Decouber 1:59 ; Charles F. Hlas- son, August. 1561 . E. Ferero, April. 1864; Archibald Blakeley. April, 1864: S. P. Ir- win, November, 1864: F. E. Felton. Decem- ber, 1864, H. P. Montgomery. December. 1864; Isaac Myers, January, 1865; W. S. Crawford, Jannary, 1865; H. C. Johns, Jan. nary, 1865; W. T. Bell, January, 1865; Henry G. Smith, April, 1865; A. G. Rice, April. 1865; Malcom Hay, afterwirds assistant postmaster general, April, 1865; James Flynn, April, 1865. William Blakeley, An- gust, 1865; George S. Daugherty, August, 1865: William R. Dickerson, August, 1865; W. V. Perrine,. August, 1865; T. S. Zuver. August, 1865; C. S. Andrews, September. 1865; J. G. Elliott, November, 1865: T. (' Spencer, January, 1865; G. W. Andrews 1866; C. O. Bowen, January. 1896- H. T Birdsley, November, 1866; F. W. Hłastings December, 1866: Jacob A. Vroman, Samuel D. Irwin, January, 1867; HI B. Plumer. April, 1867 : Henry A. Miller, 1-67; John P Park, March, 1868; W. T. Graham, April. 1868: Frederick L. Scely, April, 1868; R. Macwood, April, 1868; John Mekissick, Sep- tember, 1868; John McMiller .. December, 1868; G. B. MeCalmont, January, 1869: M. D. Christy, March, 1869; S. P. Newell, April. 1869: William A. Given, April, 1869; N H. McCormick, March, 1870; James H. Don- nelly, May, 1870: A. W. Coville, October, 1870; J. II. Bowen, 'Jannary, 1871: + C. Boyce, April, 1872: Henry Strong. Dem- her. 1872; Samuel P. Brigham, Apri. 173: S. S. Avery, May. 1873; W. N. Miles Mals h. 1874: William M. Francis, March. 74 J. W. Osborne. April. 1874: William April. 1875; John T. Selby, May, 1875; 4 1 Morrison, November. 1875; Herbert Dons! sont. John K. Wilson, July, 1876: J .. . Odell. James W. Shaw, August, 1876: C 1. Poor, September, 1876; N. P. Bryden, Mare 1876; W. W. Dale, August, 1877 ; E. L. Davis
November, 1877; E. S. Mecalmont. August, 1880; L. R Freeman, September, 1880; Wil- mot Hard, August, 1883: (. W. Benedict, August, 1884; E. E. Smith. December, 1884.
Hon. George Stewart Criswell, a native of Venango conuty, Pa., the subject of this sketch, was born April 7, 1850, and is the son of Robert Chesney and Hannah (Nickle) Criswell, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation, and moved from Mifflin, his native county, to. Vonngo county at an carly day and settled Mah farm, where he died in 1897. His . cher died in 1893; she was of Scotch-Irish bent and traced her ancestry to, Ireland. Large passed has boyhood on his father's md had the nsnal experiences of a Be handed the district . while not igas d in farm work, sor stodod in the best academy, and for a moriber of termis taught district school.
He pursued his law studies in the office of [. Henry A. Miller, now of Pittsburgh. On september 30. 1875, young Criswell was ad- mitted to the bar at Franklin, and, at once "pening an office for practice, conducted it in His own name until 1887, establishing a local reputation as an able and successful practi- tioner. On August 1, 1887, the firm of Lee, Criswell & Hastings was formed, composed of Mr. J. W. Lee, our subject and Mr. F. W. Hastings, who was located at Bradford. Sev- eral years later, Mr. Hastings withdrawing, the firm name changed lo Lee & Criswell, and so continned till April 1 1894. when Mr. Lee removed to Pittsburgh, where he is now in practice and pro montly identified with the Independent Oil Renning and Pipe Line company.
Mr. Criswell gave his attention almost ex- elusively to a general civil practice. and be- fore his promotion to the bench was justly regarded as one of the foremost lawyers practicing at the bar of Venango county. While his firm were together there were few noted cases in the courts of Venango county
GEORGE S. CRISWELL.
337
VENANGO COUNTY
in which they were not retained on one or the other side.
He is a Republican and has held several minor local offices. Besides he served two years, 1885 and 1887, as a member of the state Legislature, and on March 7, 1895, was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by thic resignation of County Judge Charles E. Tay- lor, and at the ensuing election was elected president judge of Venango county for a term of ten years.
Judge Criswell is a member of the Ma- sonic order and an elder in the Presbyterian church. He was married in 1879 and his family consists of his wife and four chil- dren, all boys.
Special District Courts .- The courts of common pleas in this district were held by the president judge, aided by two associate judges, until May, 1839, when a special dis- trict was created for the purpose of dispos- ing of the accumulated business of Venan- go, Crawford, Erie and Mercer counties. James Thompson, of Franklin, was ap- pointed to the district judgeship and filled the position until May, 1845. The term was originally for five years, but it was ex- tended for one year by request of the bar.
Bryan H. Osborne comes of Revolutionary stock, and traces his ancestry back to early colonial days. 'He is a native of Franklin, Venango county, Pa., and was born August 10, 1858, the son of Rev. David C. and Arvilla (Hill) Osborne, both of whom are natives of New York. His father is a prominent and influential minister of the Methodist Episco- pal denomination.
Bryan received his early education in the public schools of Titusville, Pa., Akron and Cleveland, Ohio; was graduated from Cleve- land high school in 1876 and then attended the Delaware (Ohio) university, class of 1880.
He studied law in the office of Messrs. S. P. McCalmont, and J. W. Osborne, at Franklin, and there was admitted to the bar in 1881.
Beginning his practice with the firm of his preceptors, he continued with them, the firm name remaining MeCalmont & Osborne, and the individual members being our subject and Mr. John O. MeCalmont. The practice of the firm, general in character, extends to all the state and Federal courts and cm- braces a large number of important cases of more than local note.
Mr. Osborne is an ardent Republican, and although actively engaged in the practice of law has taken considerable interest in local and state political affairs. He was delegate to the Republican state convention in 1894; served two terms in the city council of city of Franklin; was mayor in 1896, and was elected a member of the House of Represen- tatives in 1903-04, where he was placed on judiciary, general and other important com- mittees. He is an active member of the Masonic fraternity, also a Knight Templar, and a member of the Mystic Shrine, and be- sides belongs to several beneficiary fraternal orders.
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