USA > Pennsylvania > The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume I > Part 53
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Mr. McConahy's practice has always been of a general character and has involved a vast amount of litigation in Lawrence coun- ty, embracing many important cases of local note. He has had quite an extensive criminal practice in which, as in other branches of law, he has achieved gratifying success.
Mr. McConahy, until the last few years, always took an active interest in political matters, and although a Democrat, in a strong Republican community, has held nu- merous local offices. He was elected district attorney in 1878 for a term of three years, also has served as a member of the city coun- cil, and for six years was attorney for the board of county commissioners. In 1882, and again in 1896, he was a Democratic nominee for congressman, but his district being strongly Republican, he failed of an election.
Our subject belongs to the Masonic frater- nity, Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World and Modern Woodmen of America. In 1889, he married Miss Elizabeth L. Duf- ford, daughter of Mr. John J. Dufford, of Newcastle, and they have two sons, Edward E. and John G., Jr.
Oscar Lawrence Jackson, Newcastle. - The subject of this sketch is a descendant from Scotch-Irish ancestry who settled in Pennsylvania at an early day. His maternal grandparents were natives of the north of Ireland, and those on his father's side com- ing from Scotland. John C. Stewart, who laid out the town of Newcastle in 1798, was a brother of his paternal great-grandmother, Janet Stewart Jackson.
Oscar was born in Lawrence county, on September 2, 1840, and is a son of Samuel S. and Nancy (Mitchell) Jackson, his father being a farmer by occupation, and also a cabinetmaker and a merchant. He received his preliminary education in the common schools of Lawrence county, later attended select school at Tansy Hill, and finished his schooling at Darlington academy.
At the opening of the war of the Rebellion young Jackson was teaching school near Logan, Hocking county, Ohio, and on the call of President Lincoln for troops, he him- self volunteered, and recruited a company which, with him as captain, entered the ser- vice as Company H, Sixty-third regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. At the end of three years the regiment re-enlisted and served till the close of the war in 1865. He was promoted to the rank of major, then to that of lieutenant colonel of his regiment, and commanded it the latter part of its ser- vice. Later he was, by the president, made colonel of U. S. Volunteers by a brevet com- mission. He participated in many of the hard-fought battles of the war, was severely wounded in battle of Corinth, was with General Sherman during his famous Atlanta campaign, and "marched to the sea." On
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his return from the war, he resumed study of law and became a student at Newcastle, in the office and under the direction of S. W. Dana, and in December, 1866, passed exanı- ination and was admitted to the bar. Mr. Jackson began his practice at Newcastle, where he has continued to carry it on, estab- lishing a large clientage and gaining an en- viable reputation as a successful and honor- able lawyer, both as a counselor and advo- cate. During the carly years of his practice, he was called in many criminal cases, but afterwards devoted himself for the most part to the civil branch of the law. He has had much experience in the settlement of estates and for twenty years has been largely en- gaged in railroad litigation and law, having been during that time attorney for the Penn- sylvania and other railroad lines.
Mr. Jackson was early brought into local prominence, which led to his preferment for political honors. In 1868, as a Republican he was elected district attorney, serving till 1871. From 1874 to 1880 he served as coun- ty solicitor, and in 1877 and 1878 acted as one of the commissioners appointed by the governor to codify the laws of Pennsylvania. In 1884 Mr. Jackson was elected to Congress from the Twenty-fourth Congressional dis- trict, comprising the counties of Beaver, Lawrence and Washington, by the largest majority ever given any candidate in the district and by re-election served in that body to March 4, 1889. In Congress he served on the Public Lands Committee and was active in advocating a protective tariff, public improvements and the disposing of lands to actual settlers by the Government. He was selected to deliver a memorial address in Congress on the life and services of John A. Logan.
Col. Jackson is a prominent citizen of his community, and is respected as a skillful and successful lawyer and an upright, high- minded man.
Davis B. Kurtz was born in Chester county,
Pennsylvania, July 6, 1826. His parents were Isaac, a native of Chester county, Penn- sylvania, and Rachel (Longacre) Kurtz, of Montgomery county. His father, a farmer, for many years a resident of Chester county, removed in 1840 to Juniata county, where he purchased a large tract of land and lived until he was seventy years old, when he moved to Illinois, where he died at the age of ninety-three years.
Davis was educated in the public schools, and the Mifflinburg academy, taking a course in Latin, Greek and natural sciences. His health failing, he returned to Juniata county and commenced reading Blackstone, which was loaned him by Edward S. Doty. The following winter he entered the law office of Mr. Doty and studied one year, finishing in the office of Joseph Leasey (afterwards judge of the Court of Claims, Washington, D. C.). He was admitted to the Union county bar in February, 1849. On March 20, 1849, the act was passed creating the county of Lawrence with the county seat of Newcastle, at which place Mr. Kurtz located in April following, to practice his profession, where he has re- mained ever since. He is now the only sur- vivor of the then resident members admitted to the bar of that county at the first term of its several courts held on the first Monday of January, 1850. This court was held in the Methodist Episcopal church, which build- ing continued to be occupied for each term of court, until the first court house was built on a lot donated by Mr. Kurtz. He early acquired a large practice, which, by his con- tinuous and persistent study and labor, and by his fidelity to the courts and to his clients, he has retained to the present. In all these years of practice, he has been in attendance upon every session of court held in Lawrence county except one, when in 1888, he was engaged before the Supreme court of Dakota.
In addition to his attendance at the courts of his own county, his practice has extended to the courts of adjoining and other counties
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of this state and the state of Ohio, to the supreme courts of this state and Ohio, the United States distriet and eireuit eourts for the Western distriets of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and the supreme court of the United States. An immense amount of important litigation has passed through his hands, and seldom has a point been raised in a trial that he has eondueted that he had not anticipated and prepared for. One of his many impor- tant eases was a six hundred thousand dollar equity ease, with President Garfield as asso- eiate. His many other associates have eom- prised many of the noted attorneys of the Keystone state. He and his present partner, his son, Louis T., a graduate of the Columbia eollege, of New York City, have been eoun- sel in the organization and operation of mnost of the manufacturing corporations of New- eastle, and loeal counsel for some of the rail- roads entering that eity.
Although a Democrat in polities, Mr. Kurtz has never been active in publie affairs, and has held no public offiee but that of school director, which office he filled for seventeen eonsecutive years. Ile has devoted his time and attention almost exclusively to his pro- fession, though he was one of the promoters and directors of the Neweastle & Beaver Valley Railway company, the first railroad eonstrueted to Newcastle, a stoekholder in and attorney for the Newcastle & Frank- lin R. R. Company, a stoekholder and direet- or in the Newcastle Iron Company, and for the past twenty-four years director, and at present, viee-president of the National Bank of Lawrenee eounty.
In 1853 Mr. Kurtz married Miss Julia M. Wilder, the daughter of a prominent iron manufacturer of Neweastle. They have five children, three sons and two daughters.
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INDIANA COUNTY
BY SAMUEL A. DOUGLASS
Indiana county was established provision- ally for judicial purposes. By Act of the General Assembly of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania passed March 30, 1803, William Jack, James Parr and John Pumroy were designated as trustees for the county, and authorized to receive proposals for the grant- ing and conveying of lands for the purpose of crecting the necessary public buildings. By the Act of the 25th of March, 1805, Charles Campbell, Randil Laughlin and John Wilson were appointed to survey a grant by George Clymer of two hundred and fifty acres of land given for the purposes afore- said, a portion of which was set apart for public buildings and residue laid out in town lots, now the borough of Indiana, the seat of justice. The counties of Indiana, Westmore- land, Cambria and Armstrong formed the Tenth judicial district, over which John Young of Greensburg, Westmoreland county, presided.
Extract from Record. - December Term, 1806. Pleas returnable to the County Court of Common Pleas, held at Indiana, on the second Monday of December, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and six. By virtue of an Act of Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, passed the 10th day of March, 1806. Before John Young, Esq., and Charles Campbell, associate judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the Coun- ty of Indiana aforesaid, George Armstrong, John B. Alexander, Samuel S. Harrison, James M. Riddle, Samuel Massey and Samuel Guthry, were sworn and admitted as attor- neys of said court.
From the organization of the court until 1850, no record evidence of the admission of
attorneys could be found. The courts of Indiana county were then held on the second Mondays of March, June, September and December, "and as then was the customs," were attended by members of the bar from the several counties of the district as well as from adjoining counties, and were gen- erally admitted on motion, and a minute thereof made. The minutes of the court dur- ing this time have been misplaced or lost. In the local history of the county is reported a role of attorneys up until 1859, giving names of resident members of the bar, as well as sketches of some members of the bar in the past, and from which are now given some of those who attended the several courts, as well as what has been said of some of the resident members of the bar in its early history.
Judge John Young, of Greensburg, who presided over the courts of the Tenth judicial district, was a native of Scotland; he was tall and of a commanding and dignified ap- pearance, a polished gentleman of the old school, and filled the position some thirty ycars. He resigned in 1836. After his resig- nation, Thomas White, of Indiana, was ap- pointed to fill the vacancy, which office he filled for the period described by the con- stitution of the state. In 1847 Jeremiah M. Burrell, of Greensburg, was appointed, and presided over the courts until 1848, when John C. Knox, of Tioga county, was appoint- ed and filled the office of president judge until December, 1851, when Jeremiah M. Burrell again filled the position until 1855, when he resigned to accept the appointment of Judge of the territorial district of Kan- sas, and Joseph Buffington, of Kittanning,
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INDIANA COUNTY
was appointed to fill the vaeaney; and in the fall of 1856, was elected to fill the posi- tion to which he had been appointed for a term of ten years, and was re-elected and filled the position until 1871, when he re- signed, and James A. Logan was appointed, and was afterwards eleeted and filled the offiee of president judge until 1879, when he resigned to aeeept the appointment of assist- ant solieitor general of the Pennsylvania railroad, and subsequently was appointed the solieitor general of the company. He died October 29, 1902.
Under the new constitution of Pennsylva- nia, which was in effeet in January, 1874, and by whiel Indiana eounty was made a separate judicial distriet, John P. Blair, of Indiana, was the first eleeted judge of the eounty, now the Fortieth judicial distriet, and served the term until January 1, 1885. In 1884 Harry White of Indiana was elected judge of the distriet and served the term until January, 1885, and was re-elected in 1894, and is now serving his second term.
The non-resident members of the bar, as reported in the role of members of the bar until 1859, are names familiar in western Pennsylvania, and some of whom are prom- inent in state and national life.
Daniel Stanard, the first resident attor- ney, was born in 1784, near Bennington, Vt., and located in Indiana in 1807. He was a well known attorney in western Pennsyl- vania, and was engaged in the praetiee of his profession some thirty years. He retired from praetiee in 1836 and died at Indiana, Marelı 4, 1867.
James M. Kelly was a native of Indiana eounty, and read law with George Arm- strong, of Greensburg, Westmoreland eounty. After his admission to the bar he returned to Indiana and engaged in the praetiee of his profession. He and Daniel Stanard were among those named as trustees by the Aet of the 28th of March, 1814, ineorporating Indiana academy. Mr. Kelly was a member
of the State Legislature, was prominent in the profession, and had a brilliant but brief career. He died in 1820.
James M. Riddle, of Pittsburgh, it would appear, was for some time a resident attor- ney.
In 1817 Thomas Blair's name appears as prosecuting attorney, and in 1819, W. H. Braekinridge and Henry Shippen, as deputy attorney general for the county.
Ephraim Carpenter was born at Sharron, Vt., in 1788. When a young man he taught the academy at Greensburg, and while thus engaged read law and was admitted to the bar. Ile located in Indiana in 1819. In 1824 he was appointed deputy attorney general for the county, and held the office eontinu- ally until 1836, and for a number of years afterwards at different times until 1848. He was also a praetieal surveyor and was en- gaged in the practice of law until his death, June 10, 1860.
Richard B. McCabe was born in Perry eounty. He was for a number of years en- gaged in elerking and as manager of an iron works. In 1820 he went to Harrisburg, where he was employed in the office of the seeretary of state, and while thus engaged read law and was admitted to the bar; after- wards he removed to Huntingdon, where he eommeneed to praetiee, subsequently remov- ing to Blairsville, Indiana eounty, where he continued the praetiee of his profession and enjoyed, the most of his time, a luerative praetiee. Mr. MeCabe served one term as prothonotary of the county; in 1846 he was editor and publisher of "The Apalachian," an independent politieal journal. His his- torieal artieles found a place among the standard writings of his times, and his repu- tation as such beeame national. He died in 1860.
Thomas White studied law in the office of William Ranley, of Philadelphia, and in 1821 eommeneed the praetiee of law in Indiana. He was then aged about twenty-one years,
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and was very soon in successful practice. He was agent of George Clymer, who owned a large quantity of land in the county. From 1836 until 1847 Mr. White was president judge of the Tenth judicial district, and pre- sided with distinguished ability. Early in the Rebellion he served as one of the com- missioners on what was called the "Penn. Convention" which met at Washington City. He was one of the main projectors and sup- porters of the Indiana Agricultural society ; and was the president of the society from its origin until his death. He devoted consider- able time to agricultural pursuits, the raising of sheep, blooded cattle, etc. Most undoubt- edly Indiana county is much indebted to him for its improved stock and modes of farm- ing. Judge Thomas White died on the 23d day of July, 1866, aged sixty-seven years.
Hugh Brady, a native of Indiana county, read law with Daniel Stanard, and was ad- mitted to the bar June 27, 1820.
William Banks was a native of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, and studied law in the office of his brother, Hon. John Banks, of Mercer, Pa. He commenced the practice of law at Indiana in 1825, and for many years was the leading member of the bar. He was naturally sensitive and diffident, and only commeneed to argue cases before the jury when circumstances compelled him, and at times was eloquent. He was fond of scientific studies and was very conversant with the Scriptures. He was prothonotary of the county from 1828 to 1833; was a member of the Legislature, and was by ap- pointment deputy attorney general of the county in 1836. He was in active practice of his profession until his death, August 10, 1871.
Joseph J. Young was born at Greensburg, Westmoreland county. He was a son of Judge John Young, and was admitted to the bar and located in Indiana in 1833, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession for some years. Mr. Young was agent and
owner of a large body of land in Indiana county ; he retired from the practice of law and died at Indiana.
John Myers was a native of Somerset coun- ty, Pennsylvania. He located in Indiana in 1835 and engaged in the practice of law; he served one term as prothonotary of the coun- ty, afterwards continued the practice of his profession until his death.
William M. Stewart was born at Franks- town, Huntingdon county, in 1817; he was a graduate of Jefferson college; read law with Judge Reed, of Carlisle, and was ad- mitted to the bar of Indiana county in 1839. Mr. Stewart soon became prominent in his profession, acquiring a large and lucrative practice. He was engaged in the banking firm of Sutton & Stewart, at Indiana, from 1854 to 1864. At the latter date, at the organization of the First National bank of Indiana, he was a stockholder, director, and subsequently president of the bank, and in 1869, at the organization of the Indiana County Deposit bank, he was a stockholder, director and first president of that institu- tion, and likewise president of the Saltsburg bank, of Indiana county. In 1873 he re- moved to Philadelphia and became associ- ated in the banking firm of B. K. Jamison & Co., and continued in the practice of his profession until his decease.
A. W. Taylor was born at Indiana on the 22d day of March, 1815; he was educated at Indiana academy and Jefferson college. He left college in 1836 to fill an appointment as clerk in the office of his father, Hon. John Taylor, surveyor general of Pennsylvania. Mr. Taylor held the appointment for three years and then entered the law school at Carlisle, afterwards continuing his law studies in the office of Judge Thomas White; he was admitted to the bar in 1841 and en- tered immediately upon the practice of his profession. Mr. Taylor served two terms as prothonotary of the county, took an active part in politics in the organization of the
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Republican party, was a member of the Legislature in 1859 and '60, served five years as president of the Indiana County Agricul- tural society, and in 1873 was elected one of the trustees of the Agricultural college of Pennsylvania. In 1872 he was elected a rep- resentative in the Forty-third Congress, served on the committee of railways and canals and continued in the praetiee of his profession until his death, May 7, 1893.
Thomas Sutton was born in Indiana, and was there admitted to the bar; he was ap- pointed deputy attorney general of the coun- ty in 1843, subsequently removed to Clarion, Clarion eounty, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession until his decease.
John Potter was admitted to the bar on the 24th of March, 1845, on presentation to the court of his eommission as deputy attor- ney general of the county of Indiana, and was sworn aeeordingly.
Pliny Kelly was born in Indiana county, read law with Judge Thomas White and was admitted to the bar in 1843; he commeneed the practice of his profession, afterwards enlisted as a private and served during the Mexican war. After his discharge he re- sumed the praetiec at Indiana, and in 1849 went to California, and while there, during the Civil war, again enlisted.
William A. Todd was born in Indiana county, read law with Judge Thomas White and was admitted to the bar, afterwards removing to Ebensburg, Cambria county, where he was associated with Edward IIntchison in the practice, and while there enlisted and served during the Mexican war. After his discharge Mr. Todd located in Indiana and resumed the practice of his pro- fession, which he continued until his death in 1860.
G. P. Reed, a native of Indiana county and member of the bar, was admitted in 1847. Ile was associate editor of the "Indiana Reg- ister" in 1846, and in which he was engaged until 1852, and afterwards elected a justiee
of the peace of the borough of Indiana, which office he held for several terms and until his demise.
James W. Johnston, a native of Indiana county, a member of the bar for some years, practiced for a time in Indiana county, and afterward removed to Tennessee.
Alexander Taylor was born at Indiana about 1822; he was a graduate of Jefferson college; read law and was admitted to the bar. In 1848 he was appointed deputy attor- ney general for the county, and was in prac- tice in Indiana for a number of years. Later he removed to Pittsburgh, where he engaged in practice for a time, subsequently return- ing to Indiana, and had retired from praetiee for many years prior to his death, July 10, 1893.
Edmund Page was born near Dartmouth, Devonshire, England, in 1820. He eame to Indiana county in 1831, was admitted to the bar and commeneed the practice of law. He was engaged in surveying for a number of years. In 1851 he was elected district attor- ney for the county, serving two terms, also served several terms as eounty surveyor, and was in practice at the time of his death.
Stewart Steel, a member of the bar, for many years a resident of Blairsville, Indiana county, was consul at Dundee, Scotland, from 1845 to 1849.
Samuel S. Blair was born at Indiana in 1821. Hle read law with Judge Thomas White and was admitted to the bar. He removed to Hollidaysburg, Blair county, and continued in the practice of law until his death. (See Blair County.)
Matthew Taylor was born at Indiana. He was a member of the bar, but removed to Erie, where he practiced his profession.
Levi McElhose was a native of Indiana county and a member of the bar.
John Stanard was born at Indiana, read law with the Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, was admitted to the bar, returned to Indiana and commenced the practice of his profession,
.
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which he continued for a number of years. In 1856 he removed to Pittsburgh and was associated with Augustus Drum in the prac- tiee. Subsequently he removed to Wiehita, Kan., and is now deceased.
William Houston was born at Indiana, read law with Augustus Drum, was admitted to the bar, praeticed in Indiana a few years and removed to Tennessee.
Robert Sutton, a member of the bar, was educated in Indiana academy and at Prince- ton ; after being in practice a short time, lie removed to Clarion, Clarion county, and was there engaged in practice for a time. Sub- sequently Mr. Sutton removed to Newcastle, Pa .. and afterwards entered the ministry.
Titian J. Coffey, a resident of Indiana for a number of years, was associated with Judge Thomas White, and practiced law under the firm name of White & Coffey. He was elected State Senator in 1856, and was deputy attorney general of the United States from 1861 to 1865. He was a popular advo- cate at the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Samuel A. Douglass was born at Indiana in 1827: he was educated at the common schools and at Indiana academy, read law with William M. Stewart, and admitted in September, 1851. He was for a few years engaged in teaching and clerking, and in 1855 commenced the practice of his profes- sion, and in 1856 was appointed clerk of the councils of the borough of Indiana, which position he held excepting the years '57 and '61 and parts of '63 and '64, and continu- ously as clerk and solicitor of the borough from 1864 to 1895, and deputy colleetor of internal revenue of the Twenty-first district of Pennsylvania, for the years 1869, '70 and '71. In 1863 Mr. Douglass enlisted in Com- pany I, transferred to Company H. Second Battalion Independent Pennsylvania Volun- teers. After his discharge he resumed the practice of his ehosen profession.
Hugh W. Weir was born in Indiana coun- ty, read law with Augustus Drum, and was admitted to the bar at the December term, 1851. He commenced the practice of his profession at Saltsburg, Indiana county, which he continued for a time, then removed to Indiana, where he was engaged in the practice for a number of years, then to Pitts- burgh, where he was associated with Robert Gibson, under the firmi name of Weir & Gib- son. Mr. Weir afterwards received the ap- pointment of chief justice of Idaho, but re- signed and resumed the practice of his pro- fession. He is now deceased.
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