USA > Pennsylvania > The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II > Part 12
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He was elected one of the first county commissioners in 1772, and held that office for several years.
Hon. Frederick Antes was from Philadel- phia county, which he represented in the Pro- vineial conferences of June, 1775, and June, 1776. He was commissioned as president of the courts on November 18, 1780. In the same year he was appointed commissioner to re- ceive forage and supplies at Sunbury and Wyoming. In February, 1782, he became treasurer of the county, which office he filled almost continuously until 1801. He was elected to the assembly in 1784, 1785 and 1786. Died in Lancaster September 20, 1801.
Hon. William Montgomery was one of the most prominent citizens of old Northumber- land county. Born in Chester county August 3, 1736, lie entered publie life as a delegate to the Provincial conventions of January and June, 1775, serving also in the conference of June, 1776. He was colonel of the Fourth Battalion of Chester county militia, which he commanded at the Battle of Long Island in 1776. Was elected to the assembly in 1779, 1780, 1781 and 1782, and became a member of the Council of Censors in 1783. In 1784 the assembly elected him to Con-
gress, but he resigned in the following year, and on April 7, 1785, was commissioned as president of the courts of Northumberland county, retiring from his office in 1791. On July 18, 1801, he was elected associate judge of Northumberland county, serving until 1813. In 1790 he was elected to the first sen- ate of Pennsylvania. Died at Danville May 1,1816.
Hon. Jacob Rush was the first judge for Northumberland county "learned in the law." He was born in Byberry township, Philadelphia county, in 1746, and was a de- scendant of John Rush, a captain in Crom- well's army. He was left an orphan at the age of seven years, but a moderate inheritance enabled him to obtain a liberal education. Graduated at Prineeton in 1765. Was in ac- tive service in several campaigns during the Revolutionary war. In September, 1777, he was admitted to the bar at Philadelphia. He was a member of the Provincial convention held at Philadelphia in January, 1775, and represented Philadelphia county in the as- sembly in 1779 and 1780. On February 26, 1784, he was commissioned a justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; he also served as a member of the High Court of Errors and Appeals prior to the adoption of the Constitution of 1790. In 1791 he was ap- pointed president of the court of the Third judicial district and presided over the Quar- ter Sessions at Sunbury for the first time, November 21, 1791. IIe continued to per- form his duties in that eapaeity until Janu- ary 1, 1806, when he was commissioned presi- dent judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Philadelphia county. In this position he re- mained until his death, January 5, 1820.
Hon. Thomas Cooper was commissioned president judge of the Eighth district March 1, 1806. He was a native of England, born in London in 1759, and educated at the univer- sity of Oxford. Studied law and was ad- mitted to the bar at November sessions, 1795, in Northumberland county. He was the firm
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friend of freedom, and his bold pen caused his imprisonment under the alien and sedi- tion laws. After his liberation Governor McKean appointed him one of the commis- sioners to carry into effect the compromising law of 1799 and its supplements. To his energetic action were due the quiet and har- mony that speedily ensued in this long trou- bled and unhappy country. On July 16, 1803, he was commissioned deputy attorney gen- cral for Northumberland county and took the oath of office on the following 22d of August. Less than three years later a change in the boundaries of the district having re- sulted in the transfer of Judge Rush to Philadelphia, he was elevated to the bench and presided at Sunbury for the first time at April sessions, 1806.
Judge Cooper experienced many trying ordeals in his legal profession, having been tried for impeachment, etc., finally dropped the profession and took up the professorship of chemistry in the Dickinson college at Car- lisle. His death occurred in May, 1840.
Hon. Seth Chapman, the next president judge of the courts of Northumberland coun- ty, filled that position longer than any other of its incumbents. Born in Bucks county Jan- uary 23, 1771. Nothing is known of his edu- cation or legal preparation. He was admitted to the bar of Bucks county in 1791, and was, therefore, a lawyer of twenty years' experi- ence at the time of his elevation to the bench. On July 11, 1811, he was commissioned presi- dent judge of the Eighth judicial district. and on the 25th of the same month took the affirmation necessary to a due performance of his duties. Lived in Northumberland.
Judge Chapman also met with many dif- ficulties while on the bench, many of his de- cisions being opposed, until finally popular discontent culminated in a trial for his im- peachment by the house of representatives at the session of 1826. The trial before the senate began on February 7, and on the 18th of the same month he was acquitted. He
continued on the bench after this for seven years, but, unfortunately, his administration was still distinguished by vacillation and de- lay, and in 1833 petitions from various parts of the district were presented to the senate praying for his removal or the appointment of an additional law judge, which resulted in his resignation on the 10th day of October, 1833. He continued to reside at Northum- berland until his death, December 4, 1835.
Hon. Ellis Lewis was commissioned presi- dent judge of the counties of Northumber- land, Lycoming, Union and Columbia, Octo- ber 14, 1833, and took the oath of office on the following 4th of November. (See sketch in Lycoming county.)
Hon. Charles G. Donnel was commissioned president judge of the Eighth district Janu- ary 14, 1843, and took the oath of office two days later. He was born March 14, 1801, at Williamsport, Pa. Read law with Ebenezer Greenough and was admitted to the bar of Northumberland county in April, 1822. He became deputy attorney general in 1829, serving four years. His judicial incumbency was terminated but little more than a year after his appointment by his death March 16, 1844. He resided at Sunbury.
Hon. Joseph B. Anthony succeeded Judge Donnel on the bench in 1843, and served until his death, January 10, 1851. (See sketch in Lycoming county.)
Hon. James Pollock was the last judge to preside over the courts of the Eighth judicial district by appointment of the governor, suc- ceeding Judge Anthony on January 16, 1851, his judicial incumbency expiring, by the terms of his commission, December 1. 1851. (See sketch in Union county.)
Hon. Alexander Jordan was elected in Oc- tober, 1851, as president judge of the Eighth judicial district. He was born at Jaysburg. Lycoming county, May 19. 1798. He obtained most of his education in Milton, Pa .. and after a clerkship of several years in a store at that place. he entered the employ of Hugh
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Bellas, prothonotary of the county, as dep- uty clerk. Studied law with Mr. Bellas and was admitted to the bar April 19, 1820. Six years later he was commissioned prothono- tary of the Supreme Court for the Middle district, and when the judiciary beeame elec- tive in Pennsylvania and the choice of judges was transferred from the executive to the people, his high professional standing and qualifications for the beneh secured his eleetion on the Demoeratie tieket, by a large majority. Took the oath of office on No- vember 28, 1851; was re-elected in 1861 and served until 1871, a period of twenty years. lle died on October 5, 1878.
Hon. William M. Rockefeller, who succeed- ed Judge Jordan in 1871, was born at Sun- bury August 18, 1830. He was a son of David Rockefeller, a native of Rush township and a surveyor by profession.
The judge was brought up in his native county and obtained most of his education in Sunbury ; studied law in the office of John B. Packer, and continued under Alexander Jordan when Mr. Packer was elected to the legislature. He was admitted to the bar August 6, 1850, prior to his twentieth birth- day, then went to Minersville, Pa., where he practiced for a time, and returned to Sun- bury, where he has sinec resided.
On September 9, 1871, he was nominated for the judgeship and elected the following October, and took the oath of offiee on De- cember 4, 1871. In 1881 he was re-elected for another term of ten years.
Hon. C. R. Savidge, judge of the Eighth judicial district, residing in Sunbury, North- umberland county, is an indefatigable work- er, of a legal turn of mind, which, coupled with superior executive ability, made him a successful attorney and now makes him an exeellent judge. He carries with him into the chamber of justice the energy and busi- ness push so characteristic of the man, which enable him to dispose of as mueh le- gal business, perhaps. as any judge in the
state, in the same length of time. He is pleasing and affable, good conversationalist, was an able advocate and is now a distin- guished jurist.
Judge Savidge was born January 19, 1851, in Trevorton, Northumberland county, and is a son of Samuel K. and Ella (Campbell) Savidge. He is of Scotch-Irish deseent.
Samuel K. Savidge, father of our subject, was born in Rush township, Northumberland county, and was a mason and bricklayer by trade. He was united in marriage with Ellen Campbell, and to whom were born the following children: C. R., subjeet of this sketch; Harmon C., manager of Whitmer & Sons Lumber Company, in West Virginia, and Lizzie A., wife of Willard Robinson, of West Virginia.
Judge Savidge's parents were both mem- bers of the Episcopal church and died, re- spectively, in 1853 and 1882. The judge ob- tained his early education in the public schools, having from early childhood evineed a fondness for books and study. At the age of fourteen years he began teaching in the district sehools of Northumberland eounty, and tanght for four years. In 1867 and 1870 he taught in the public schools of Danville, Pa., after which he entered eollege at Prinee- ton, N. J., graduating therefrom in 1874. He was a classmate of Hon. Henry M. Hinekley and James Scarlett, well-known eitizens of Riverside and Danville, respectively. Sub- sequently, in 1874, he read law with Hon. S. P. Wolverton, of Sunbury, and in February, 1877, he was admitted to the bar of Nortli- umberland county. Immediately after his admission he actively and energetically en- tered into the praetiee of the law and soon took a high rank as an able and thorough- going lawyer.
A Demoerat in polities, in 1880 he was eleeted by his party to the office of district attorney by a majority of 1,066 votes. In 1891 he was elected judge of the Eighth ju- dieial district, and is now filling that office,
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In July, 1901, he received the nomination for re-election and on November 5 was elect- ed to succeed himself for ten years.
On December 31, 1875, Mr. Savidge was united in marriage with Louise Essick, of Montour county, Pennsylvania, and to this union seven children have been born-Harry W., a graduate from Dickinson Law school, of Carlisle, Pa .; Albert C., Ralplı W. E., Preston M., Louise, Lucile and one deceased.
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The whole family are willing workers in the Baptist faith. Socially, the judge is a valued member of the Blue Lodge, F. and A. M., of Conclave and Knights of the Golden Eagle.
Hon. Voris Auten, associate law judge of Northumberland county, was born July 8, 1856, in Chillisquaque township, where the family had resided for three generations. He was educated in the common schools of the district, Lewisburg academy and Bucknell university and then taught school for many years, the last six years in the borough of Sunbury, during which time he took up the study of law with Frank S. Marr, then a practicing attorney, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1881. At the close of the school term in 1881, he removed to Mount Carmel and devoted all of his time to the practice of the law, taking an active part in Democratic politics; he was elected district attorney in 1889 and re-elected in 1892, dis- charging the duties of that office in a most careful and satisfactory manner and winning universal confidence and estecm by absolute fairness and patient attention which he gave to every litigant.
He soon became counsel for nearly all the larger local interests, including banks, water company and electric railway. and acquired a large general law practicc.
In 1901 the legislature passed an act. giv- ing to this county two law judges, and Mr. Anten became the candidate for that office, receiving the highest poll at the Democratic primaries and being elected in the fall by
the largest Democratic majority ever given a candidate for judge in this county. He carried with him to the bench the same char- acteristics which marked his career as dis- trict attorney and gives the most painstaking and exhaustive rescarch to every problem brought before him.
The following is a list of associate judges from 1791:
John Macpherson, Thomas Strawbridge, William Wilson, Samuel Maclay, William Cooke, James Strawbridge, William Mont- gomery, Andrew Albright, Jacob Gearhart. Henry Shaffer, Peter Martz, George Weiser, John Montgomery, George C. Welker, John F. Dentler, George Weiser, William Turner, Casper Scholl, Abraham Shipman, Isaac Beidelpach. George C. Welker, Joseph Nicely.
THE BAR.
Casper Weitzel was the first resident prac- ticing attorney of Northumberland county, born at Lancaster in 1748 and died in Sun- bury in 1782, after a patriotic career.
Stephen Chambers is mentioned as "a law- ver-serious, civil and sociable." Admitted as carly as 1774 and resided at Sunbury the greater part of his life; was one of the first resident attorneys of the county. Died at Lancaster on May 16, 1789, from wounds of a duel.
Charles Smith admitted in Northumber- land county in 1786; afterwards served as president judge of the Lancaster District Court in 1819. and died in Philadelphia in 1840.
Thomas Duncan and David Watts were admitted, the former at Sunbury in 1783, and the latter in 1790. Mr. Duncan was appoint- ed justice of the Supreme Court in 1817. Mr. Watts was the father of Frederick Watts, president judge in Cumberland county, from 1848 to 1851. Both were prominent attor- neys of their day.
Jonathan Hoge Walker was admitted in
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1790. In 1806 he was appointed president judge of the Fourth judicial district and re- moved to Bellefonte, Centre county. In 1818 he was appointed by President Monroc as judge of the United States Court for the western district, which position he occupied until his death, in 1824.
Daniel Levy was admitted at May term, 1791. Died in 1844.
Charles Hall was admitted in 1791. Died in 1821.
Evan Rice Evans was a practicing attor- ney at Sunbury as early as 1800. (See sketch in Lycoming county.)
Jesse Moore was admitted in 1796. While practicing at Sunbury he was appointed president judge of the Sixth judicial district and held the position until his death, Deccm- ber 21, 1824.
Daniel Smith was admitted to the bar at Sunbury about 1795. He was an cloquent speaker. He died at Milton, Pa., April 6, 1810.
Enoch Smith was a brother of Daniel. Ad- mitted in 1798 and died in 1817.
Samuel Roberts, a practicing attorney of Sunbury in the year 1800, was commissioned president judge of the Fifth district, which office he held until his death, in 1820.
Samuel Hepburn was another attorney of Sunbury in 1800. He died in Lock Haven in 1865.
Hugh Bellas, after some struggling for an education, finally became a brilliant lawyer. He was born in Ireland in 1780 and came to America nine years later. Studied law, was admitted to the bar and in 1809 was appoint- ed prothonotary of Northumberland county in which capacity he served until 1818. Prac- ticed in Sunbury until his death, October 26, 1863.
Ebenezer Greenough was born in Massa- chusetts December 11, 1783. He graduated from Harvard university in 1804, and came to Pennsylvania within a short time there- after; immediately upon his arrival at Wilkes-Barre he accepted the principalship
of the academy at that place, and during his connection with this institution began the study of law with Ebenezer Bowman. In the latter part of 1806 he came to Sunbury, com- pleted his professional preparation under Charles Hall and was admitted to the bar of Northumberland county January 19, 1808. Endowed with intellectual qualities of a high order, his educational advantages had been superior to those of the generality of lawyers in that day, and his ability in the profession placed him, within a few years, at the head of the loeal bar, a position which he sue- cessfully maintained until his death, Deeem- ber 25, 1847. Thoroughly familiar with the land laws of Pennsylvania, he particularly excelled in the trial of cjectment cases for the determination of titles under conflicting surveys, and, while he was concerned in nearly every important case of this nature in Northumberland and the adjoining coun- ties of Pennsylvania during the period of his professional career, he did not confine him- self to this particular class of litigation, but was as frequently employed and equally suc- cessful in civil and criminal cases of a gen- eral character .. In argument he was clear, logical and forcible, and in the latter years of his life frequently assisted attorneys from other counties in the Northern district in the presentation of their cases before the Su- preme Court. His self-possession was re- markable; in the most exciting controversy lic remained calm and collected, and never permitted his attention to be distracted from what he regarded as the essential princi- ples involved in a cause. Hc possessed great skill in cross-examination, and seldom failed to elicit the testimony desired from the most obstinate witnesses. In addressing a jury he invariably appealed to the judgment rather than the feelings, and so simple and method- ical was his manner of presenting a case that his position could scarcely be misapprehend- ed. He was a Whig in politics, and was clected to the legislature in 1831, his only
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official position, devoting his entire attention to his profession in which he was a great suc- cess.
Hon. Simon P. Wolverton was born on the 28th of January, 1837, in Rush township, Northumberland county, the son of Joseph and Charity (Kase) Wolverton. He worked on his father's farm until the age of seven- teen, receiving the education of the common schools of the district. He then became a teacher, attending the Danville academy as a pupil in the summer and fall and teach- ing through the winter. Entered Bucknell university in 1857, but during his sophomore year was compelled to resort to teaching to secure money to carry himself through col- lege. He did the work of the junior and se- nior years in one year and carried off second honors in the class of 1860. Ile then went to Sunbury as principal of the Sunbury academy and studied law with Hon. Alex- ander Jordan, who was elected president judge in the last year of Mr. Wolverton's clerkship in his office. In September of that year he raised a company of emergency men in the Eighteenth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. In June, 1863, he was made captain of Company F. Thirty-sixth Penn- sylvania Volunteers.
Immediately after his muster out he re- sumed the practice of the law and pursued it without interruption until chosen to the state senate in 1878 as a Democrat in a district with a Republican majority of 1,200. He was re-elected from the same district in 1880 and 1884. The last two elections taking place during Presidential canvas, his majority was a tribute to his sterling worth.
He was easily the leader of the Democratic side of the state senate during his term and was honored with their votes for the United States senate and for the presidency of the senate. He was instrumental in the passage of many laws of very great merit, conspicu- ous among them the first married woman's property act.
ln 1890 he was elected to Congress from the Seventeenth district of Pennsylva- nia and re-elected in 1892. During all of this time his law practice had grown to such an extent that at the end of his second Con- gressional terin it became necessary for him to retire from all political life, and since that time he has devoted all of his energies to the practice of the law.
Mr. Wolverton is a man of commanding personality, with marvelous physique and an iron constitution. For the first twenty- five years of his professional life, he aver- aged sixteen hours a day in his office. He came to the bar before the land titles of cen- tral Pennsylvania had been settled and by diligent application became the foremost ejectment lawyer of the state and has been of counsel in all of the ejectment cases in- volving valuable tracts of land in Northum- berland and the adjoining counties. -
The stepping stone to his professional ca- reer was his defense and acquittal of two persons charged with murder, in both trials ·being pitted against the leaders of the bar. among them General J. K. Clement, consid- ered the foremost criminal lawyer of this section.
When the Philadelphia & Reading Rail- way Company first began to acquire prop- erty interests in Northumberland county it selected him as its solicitor, a position he continues to fill, and he has been that com- pany's representative in very many of its most important legal contests.
Of a great public spirit, he has contributed largely to the growth and improvement of Sunbury and was instrumental in the con- struction of the Danville, Hazelton & Wilkes- Barre Railroad, the Shamokin. Sunbury & Lewisburg Railroad and a number of other public enterprises.
He first appears in the State Supreme Court Reports in the case of Rhoads vs. the Commonwealth, 48 Pa., page 396, 1864, and from that time to the present has been con-
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cerned in every important case that has gone front Northumberland county to the courts of Appeal.
At the commencement of his career, Mr. Wolverton engaged in the general practice of the law, and for many years was as much at home in the criminal as in the civil courts and was also concerned in the settlement of several very large estates. The exacting de- mands of his many clients have compelled him to largely concentrate his energies to matters of real estate and corporation law, and in all questions which affect rights of property or the liabilities or duties of cor- porations he is a recognized authority. Not- withstanding the exacting pressure of his professional duties, he has also remained easily accessible and most considerate of younger members of the bar. There are few of those now practicing law in Northumber- land county who are not indebted to him for kindly advice and valued assistance in many forms.
For many years Mr. Wolverton has served as one of the trustees of his alma mater and takes an active interest in the affairs of that institution.
Samuel J. Packer was born in Howard township, Centre county, Pennsylvania, March 23, 1799. Received his education at a local school of the Society of Friends, un- der the superintendence of his father, and learned the trade of printer at Bellefonte. Subsequently he was engaged in a journalis- tie capacity at Harrisburg, where he report- cd the proceedings of the legislature and formed the acquaintance of Simon Cameron. In 1820 he came to Sunbury and established the "Publick Inquirer," which he continued for several years. During this period he en- gaged in the study of law under Hugh Bellas and was admitted to the bar of Northumber- land county on August 23, 1823. He at once entered upon the practice of his profession at Sunbury, and by assiduous attention to its duties, early attained a leading position
among the leading members of the bar. Thor- oughness and care in the preparation of his canses and a closely argumentative style uniformly characterized his work. As a pub- lic speaker, particularly upon political occa- sions, he attained considerable distinction, and possessed in large measure the faculty of converting others to his views. From the time he came to Northumberland county un- til his death. Mr. Packer was a prominent figure in her political history. On January 27, 1824, he was commissioned as prothono- tary, holding that office until 1829, and on April 20, of the latter year, he was elected deputy attorney general, serving until the following November. In 1830 he was elected to the state senate for the term of four years, and, although the youngest member of that body, he took a leading part in the discussion of many of the public measures which re- ceived its consideration. His legislative in- cumbency was marked by great activity. In 1834 he was the Whig candidate for Con- gress from Northumberland county, but died on October 20, of that year, at the age of thirty-five, .thus terminating a brilliant ca- reer.
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