USA > Pennsylvania > The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II > Part 22
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Washington Lee was born in Harrisburg, Pa., June 18, 1786. IIc attended school there and afterwards studied law in the office of George Fisher. On March 3, 1806, he was admitted to the bar. Ile however decided upon a military career. and with the influ- ence of Judge John J. Henry he secured a commission in the United States army as second lieutenant, May 3, 1808. He served in the army until 1816, when he withdrew and moved to Nanticoke, Pa., where he pur- chased a farm of one thousand acres, which he afterwards sold for $1,250,000.
He lived until September 10, 1871, when he died in Wilkesbarre, Pa.
Abner Wickersham was admitted May term, 1806, and Egle's History of Dauphin County says that he lived at Harrisburg, and was admitted on motion of George Fisher. Beyond that there is nothing that has been discovered concerning him. and no biogra- phy found.
William N. Irvine was admitted, at May term, 1807, and was, according to Egle's History, adjutant of the court. Beyond that fact nothing has been learned of him or his professional life.
Walter Reed, whose residence seems to have been Harrisburg, was admitted at Au- gust term, 1807; but his history is obscure.
George K. Kutz .- Nothing is known ex- cept that Dr. Egle assigns him to a residence in Harrisburg, and he was admitted at March term, 1809.
John Fisher was admitted at September term, 1811, on motion of George Fisher, his uncle, with whom he studied law. He died when a young man.
Abiathar Hopkins was admitted at May term, 1812, and all that is at hand conceru- ing him is the sketch of George W. Harris contained in Egle's History. Mr. Harris says : "He was from one of the New Eng-
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DAUPHIN COUNTY
land states, and for several years taught a female seminary in Harrisburg. He then studied law, and after being admitted prac- ticed with credit for several years. After an absence from home for a number of years he went on a visit to his family in New Eng- land, and about the time he reached home took sick and died. He was possessed of. excellent character, gentlemanly manners, and was much respected here."
John Roberts was born about where the village of Rockville, Dauphin county, Penn- sylvania, now stands, in the year 1788. He was admitted to the bar February 5, 1812, but he practiced little, having turned his attention to military affairs. In 1813 he became a private in the Harrisburg Volun- teers, and in 1814 he enlisted in the United States service. He was promoted from time to time in the war of 1812. After the war he still identified himself with the militia until 1828. Colonel Roberts was at the time of his death the oldest member of the bar of the county. He was a quiet, unassuming man, popular with all classes, and interested in the welfare of the community.
John Montgomery Foster, son of Colonel Thomas Foster, was born June 21, 1789, in Paxton, this county. His youth was passed partly at Harrisburg and partly at Erie, where his father went in 1799. He studied law with his uncle, Samuel Laird, at Harris- burg, and was admitted to the bar on motion of his preceptor, at May term, 1814. In the same year, however, he marched with the volunteers for Baltimore as a colonel in command of a regiment. After his return he practiced law at Harrisburg and on the circuit, and was deputy attorney general. When General Lafayette visited Harrisburg he commanded the militia. He was presi. dent of the Branch Bank of Pennsylvania at. Harrisburg until it was discontinued. In 1844 he represented this district on the board of revenue commissioners to equalize the taxation between the several counties of
the state, and was secretary of the board in 1847 and in 1850. In 1846 he was com- missioned by Governor Shunk president judge of Chester and Delaware counties, which position he held only a few months. Ile died in Harrisburg, September 21, 1858.
Francis Rawn Shunk was born August 7, 1788, in Montgomery county, of poor par- ents, who were unable to furnish him withi the means for proper education. He labored and studied until at the age of fifteen he became a teacher in the school of his native village. He continued at that vocation until 1812, teaching about three months in the year, and working in agricultural pursuits the balance of the time, all the while con- tinuing his studies. In 1812 he was selected by Andrew Porter, surveyor general, to a clerkship in his department, and thereupon moved to Harrisburg, where he studied law with Thomas Elder. He was admitted to the bar, on motion of his preceptor, Septem- ber 10, 1816. For many years, beginning about the time of his admission to the bar, he was clerk of the house of representatives. IIe was also secretary of the board of canal commissioners, and these duties interfered with the practice of his profession. In 1838 he was chosen as secretary of state by Governor Porter, and on retiring from that office he removed to Pittsburgh and began the practice of his profession. He was elected governor in 1844, and was re-elected, but owing to ill health resigned in 1848. He was rather a public than a professional man, though his activity in office showed famil- iarity with the law and its principles.
Mordecai Mckinney was born near Car- lisle, Cumberland county, in 1796. Il. studied law under Judge Duncan at Car- lisle, and was admitted to this bar at May term, 1817. He was appointed district at- torney of Union county and served from 1821 to 1824, when he was chosen clerk to the county commissioners. In 1827 he was appointed associate judge of the county, and
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THE BENCHI AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA
was perhaps the only lawyer who filled that office during its existence. He resigned that office in 1832. He published thereafter several law books, among them "McKin- ney's Digest," "Our Government," "Penn- sylvania Tax Laws," "Mckinney's Justice" and others. He was a religious, modest, honest gentleman, a good citizen, but never seems to have acquired a large or lucrative practice, and spent all his years in com- parative poverty. He married Rachel, daughter of William Graydon, and died December 17, 1867, as the result of a street car accident received three days previous.
Nicolas Baylis Wood, a native of Ver- mont, was born April 2, 1792. He came to Harrisburg about 1809, taught school, and in the meantime studied law and was ad- mitted, on motion of his preceptor, Abiathar Hopkins, in October, 1818. He acquired a good practice. In 1824 he was appointed by Governor Shulze deputy attorney gen- cral for Dauphin county, and served until January, 1827. He died at Harrisburg Sep- tember 1, 1832, aged thirty-nine years. He had great ability, and was held in much es- tecm and confidence in the county.
John Adams Fisher was born in the city of Harrisburg, December 28, 1799. He was admitted to the bar in December, 1820, be- fore he attained his majority, and during the lifetime of his father, George Fisher, who enjoyed a considerable practice and with whom he was associated. He laborcd assiduously in his profession, and his prac- tice became extensive and lucrative as his fame increased from year to year. He was generally employed in ejectment cases and real property suits. He drafted the act of March, 1860, for the incorporation of the city of Harrisburg, which measure is clear evidence of his ability and industry. He was a large man physically, of vigorous con- stitution and great strengtlı and power of endurance. He died in July, 1864, aged sixty-five years and six months. His law
library was one of the finest in earlier Penn- sylvania, and was purchased by Dauphin county as a nucleus for the present Dauphin county law library.
Samuel Douglas was admitted at March term, 1819. He came from Pittsburgh, as is said, because "there was an opening here for a lawyer of Democratic politics." He was appointed attorney general by Gov- ernor Wolf in his firm term. He was an earnest and ready speaker, of decided and positive manner, and was an excellent crim- inal lawyer, though he does not seem to have been regarded as strong in other branches of the law. He died about 1840.
William McClure was admitted to the bar December, 1820, on motion of Thomas Elder. He died August 17, 1852. He was a practi- tioner of considerable prominence. Though not an orator, he had a good legal mind, and was a safe counselor. He was at one time a member of the house of representatives. He had a good memory, was a reader of wide range, and possessed considerable il- formation outside of the law.
George Washington Harris was born June 23, 1798, in the old ferry house that stood on the site of the Harris Park schoolhouse. He was a grandson of John Harris, the founder of Harrisburg. His early educa- tion was received at the Harrisburg acad- emy, and later at Dickinson and Jefferson colleges and the university of Pennsylvania, where he graduated. He studied law and was admitted to the Dauphin county bar, on motion of Amos Ellmaker, in 1820. He was in his early practice deputy attorney general for Dauphin county. Several years after his admission he moved to Philadel- phia, where he entered into partnership with Calvin Blythe, afterwards judge in this district. He returned to Harrisburg and resumed his practice and was appointed rc- porter for the Supreme Court, publishing volumes 13 to 24, inclusive, of the Pennsyl- vania State Reports. The most important
J. ADAMS FISHER.
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litigation he was concerned in was that growing out of the will of George Frey, es- tablishing the Emans Orphan home.
He was secretary of the library committee of the United States Senate for a number of years, and also edited the journal of Wil- liam Maelay, one of Pennsylvania's first Senators. Mr. Harris was not active as a lawyer. His talents and time were more devoted to literature; and he wrote an in- teresting reminiseenee of beneh and bar of Dauphin county, part of which is found in Egle's History. IIe died at Harrisburg, August 13, 1882.
Adam Henry Orth was born at Harris- burg in 1798. He studied law and was ad- mitted to the bar, on motion of Thomas Elder, at November term, 1822. He was distriet attorney for Dauphin eounty in 1827 and in 1828, and for several years he was transeribing elerk of the house of rep- resentatives. He died October 15, 1833, too early to have developed the ability at the bar of which he gave promise.
William McClay Hall was born in Harris- burg, February 16, 1801. He was educated in the Harrisburg academy and at Prineeton college. He read law with Franeis R. Shuek, and was admitted to the bar at April term, 1822. IIe soon moved to Lewistown, where he praetieed for a while; but later entered the Presbyterian ministry. He died at Bedford, Pa., August 28, 1851.
David Krause, a native of Lebanon county, was a leading member of the bar here from 1828 or 1829. He was private secretary of Governor Shultze, and was ad- mitted August 15, 1825. He was appointed deputy attorney general in August, 1826, and reappointed in 1829. He was assoeiat- ed with General Simon Cameron in publish- ing the Pennsylvania Intelligencer. He was a member of the house of representatives in 1835 and 1836. In 1837 he formed a part- nership with Frederiek K. Boas, known as Krause & Boas, which lasted until he was
appointed to the bench. In 1845 he was appointed by Governor Porter judge of the Norristown district, and he removed to Nor- ristown, where he died in 1871.
Herman Alricks was born in Juniata eounty in 1804. In 1814 his father's family moved to Harrisburg, where he received his education in the Harrisburg academy, read- ing law with Thomas Elder. He was ad- mitted to the bar, on the motion of his pre- eeptor, November 24, 1825, and soon ac- quired a lucrative praetiee. Mr. Alrieks was of quiet manner, and naturally his legal taste ran to the quieter side of a lawyer's life found in the Orphans' Court and real estate praetiee. He was fond of loeal his- tory and genealogy and family traditions. He was averse to holding offiee, and the ex- perienee of the only offiee ever held by him tended to strengthen that aversion, that be- ing an appointment as deputy attorney general in 1829, made by Amos Ellmaker, whiel for some reason roused sueh a polit- ieal disturbanee that it is said to have eaused the resignation both of Mr. Ellmaker and Mr. Alrieks. He was a tall, ereet and im- posing-looking gentleman. He died in Harrisburg, February, 1874.
William Ayres was born December 14, 1788, at the eastern base of Peters moun- tain, Dauphin county. In 1816 he eame to Harrisburg, and was employed by a mer- chant, remaining two years, during which time he was married. He returned to the place of his birth, where he kept a hotel and assisted in conducting the farm, and be- eame justiee of the peace in 1819. Looking to the law as his future profession, he re- turned to Harrisburg in 1824, and resided above the borough, where he aeted as jux- tiee of the peace for the borough and for the lower Paxton and Susquehanna town- ships, at the same time studying law under Samuel Douglas, Esq. He was admitted to praetiee May 3, 1826, and was successful. Defending a elient by the name of MeEl-
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henny for murder and acquitting him won him distinction. He was attorney for vari- ous county officers and turnpike companies. In the sessions of 1833-34 and 1834-35 he was a member of the legislature. He was a co-worker of Thaddeus Stevens in the cs- tablishment of the common school system, and the two men were inseparable through life. In 1839 Mr. Ayres was elected to the town council, and he was vigorous for the improvement of the borough. Through his efforts water was introduced for Harrisburg from the Susquehanna river. He was a di- reetor of the United States bank in Phila- delphia. He tried hard to secure a free bridge, and was largely instrumental in se- curing a new prison. A gas company for lighting the borough was also due to his vigorous energy. In later years he became interested in railway enterprises, and in consequence had to relinquish his law prac- tice. He died May 26, 1856.
James McCormick was born near Silver Spring, Cumberland county, in 1801. He was graduated from Princeton college, and studied law in Carlisle, Pa., being admitted to the bar of Cumberland county in 1823, and to that of Dauphin county in 1825. He had his office in the first story of the build- ing now used as the offices of the McCor- mick estate. His career at the bar was most successful, and he was regarded as one of the legal giants. His practice was very large. He was very modest and quiet, but withal he was possessed of great logical powers and was an effective speaker. He was not in robust health, and lost his sight which necessarily retired him from active professional life, though even after that mis- fortune he was frequently called on for counsel. After his disability he continued to give attention to his large business af- fairs. He was a member of the town coun- cil, which seems to have been the only public office he ever held, having declined all of- fers of the highest honors of his profession.
IIe was the leading spirit of the Dauphin Deposit bank, president of the Harrisburg cemetery, of the Harrisburg Bridge com- pany, a trustce of the Pine Street Presbyte- rian church, and the owner of a large estate consisting of rolling mills, grist mills and farms. He died at Harrisburg, January 18, 1870.
Charles Coatsworth Rawn was born in the city of Washington in 1801, and, his father dying when he was seven years of age, his mother moved with her family to Delaware county, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the Westchester academy, and in 1826 he came to Harrisburg. He studied law with Francis R. Shunk, being admitted to the bar of Dauphin county January 18, 1831. He was principally known as a great and suc- cessful pleader at the bar, and he had a large commercial practice. He was of good address, of great energy, indefatigable in attention to professional duties, and a fluent speaker. He died December 18, 1865, at Harrisburg.
John Joseph Clendenin is mentioned in Egle's History as having been admitted September 4, 1835, on motion of Charles C. Rawn, and as living in Harrisburg; but no further mention is made of him.
John Hanna Briggs was born in 1815 at Silver Springs, Cumberland county, Penn- sylvania. He graduated at Rudger's co !- lege, New Jersey, and returning to Harris- burg, where his parents then resided, began the study of the law with James McCormick. He was admitted to the bar April 13, 1837, on motion of his preceptor. Mr. Briggs took a prominent part at the bar, though he was not much of an active trial lawyer. He was recognized as a fair and impartial man and an active and patriotic and public- spirited citizen. He was a member of the city council, a director of the Harrisburg bank, of the Harrisburg Bridge company and president of the First National bank. He died March 29, 1872.
Dasmormeck
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Frederick Krause Boas, in later years fa- miliarly known as Colonel Boas, was one of the interesting eharaeters of the Dauphin county bar, of whom many aneedotes are told. He was born in Harrisburg, Pa., April 5, 1815, and attended the borough schools until he was sixteen years old. From Au- gust, 1832, to April, 1838, he was a elerk in the Harrisburg postoffiee, and afterwards assistant postmaster till 1843. He studied law with David Krause, and was admitted to the bar August 22, 1837, on motion of his preceptor. After that time until his death, February 15, 1891, he praetieed his profession industriously. He was a genial character, who by his stories and droll ehar- aeter furnished mueh amusement for his professional brethren. He acquired eonsid- erable practice and boasted of always being ready for the trial or argument. of a ease when ealled.
He was appointed by Governor Porter aid on his staff, with the rank of eolonel. He was a member of the school board and of the borough eouneil.
James Cameron, a brother of General Simon Cameron, was born at Maytown, Laneaster county, Pennsylvania, May 1, 1801. He received his early education at the village sehool, and at the age of nine- teen entered the printing office of his brother, Simon Cameron, at Harrisburg. In 1827 he went to Laneaster and assumed the editorship of the "Politieal Sentinel," in the meantime studying law with James Bu- ehanan, afterwards president of the United States. He was admitted to the Lancaster bar, and was admitted to the Dauphin bar August 21, 1838, where he praetieed for a short time. During the Mexican war he served under General Scott, and at its elose settled in retirement on a farm near Milton, Pa., where he was at the opening of the Rebellion. He entered that war as a eolonc of the Seventy-ninth New York, and was
wounded at the first battle of Bull Run, June 21, 1861, dying on the field.
Leander N. Ott, son of Nicholas and Mar- garet K. Ott, was born in the city of Harris- burg, Dauphin eounty, Pennsylvania, on February 11, 1814. His parents both died while he was quite young. He learned the saddlery and trunk-making trade, and was afterwards engaged for several years in the engineer eorps under the state government, in surveys in the western part of Pennsyl- vania. He afterwards took a partial course at Washington and Jefferson eollege, Can- onsburg, Pa. Upon his return to Harris- burg he was employed as a elerk in the pro- thonotary's office of Dauphin eounty for several years, during which time he studied law, being admitted to the bar of Dauphin eounty on April 27, 1840. He quit the prac- tiee of the law, on aeeount of his health, some time in 1848, and went into the lumber business as the partner of his brother-in- laiv, Jacob Doek. From 1850 to 1860 they carried on their business at Camden, N. J. He returned to Dauphin county in the spring of 1860, and after a short time re- moved to his farm in Susquehanna town- ship, where he spent the remainder of his life. Ile engaged in legal business to some extent after his return, but gave most of his time and attention to farming. He died on February 8, 1897. Frederick M. Ott, a mem- ber of the Dauphin eounty bar, is his son.
David Fleming was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, July 17, 1812, and in the same year his father moved to Dauphin county. He spent his boyhood on a farm, and received his education in the Harris- burg academy. He taught school in Dau- phin eounty and in Baltimore county, Mary- land. He was then a elerk till 1838, when he returned to Harrisburg and became a newspaper correspondent, and afterwards he edited a loeal paper for several years. In 1839 he began the study of law in the
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THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA
office of William MeClure, and was admit- ted to the bar November 17, 1841. From that time to the time of his death Mr. Fleming was in continuous and aetive prac- tice. He was a successful and skilful law- yer, and was coneerned in much important litigation and in many cases in the appel- late eourts. He was associated in praetiee from 1870 to the time of his death, January 12, 1890, with Mr. S. J. M. MeCarrell, under the name of Fleming & MeCarrell. In 1847 he was chief elerk of the house of represent- atives. In 1854 he was elected distriet at- torney, served three years and declined re- eleetion. In 1854 he was elected to the state senate, was chairman of the judiciary committee in his seeond year, was speaker in the third.
Mr. Fleming was identified with various business enterprises, being one of the orig- inal organizers of the Harrisburg Car eom- pany, and subsequently its president; was president and director of the Harrisburg Foundry and Machine company, a direetor of the Loehiel Iron company and the Lochie] Rolling Mill company, of the Harrisburg National bank, and was largely interested in the First National Bank, the Harrisburg Gas company, the Harrisburg City Railway company, for many of which he was also their counsel. Mr. Fleming's extensive praetiee and his faithful devotion to it en- abled him to aeeumulate considerable prop- erty and aequire interests in many indus- tries.
Thomas Jefferson Jordan was born. at Walnut Hill, Dauphin county, Pa., Deeem- ber 3, 1821. He received a good elassieal education, studied law with George W. Harris, and was admitted to the bar of Dauphin county, February 6, 1843. He re- mained in praetiee until the Civil war. On the day of the firing on Fort Sumter, he was mustered into serviee as an aide, with rank of major. He served in many eapaeities, and his bravery and meritorious service was
recognized by various promotions until he reached the rank of brigadier general.
After being mustered out of service, July 18, 1865, he returned to Harrisburg and re- sumed his practice, but soon thereafter en- gaged in the lumber business at Williams- port and later went to Philadelphia, where for a while he held positions in the post- office and in the United States mint. He died in Philadelphia, April 2, 1895.
He was a man of ability and acquired eon- siderable praetiee while at the bar in Dau- phin eounty.
Hamilton Alricks, born June 1, 1806; died July 16, 1893 .- Ilamilton Alrieks, a lineal deseendant of Pieter Alrieks, who was the last deputy governor of the Dutch colonies on the Delaware under the States General of Holland, was the second son of James Alricks and Martha, his wife (daughter of Captain John Hamilton, of Harris' Ferry, now Harrisburg), and was born at Oakland Mills farm, in Lost Creek valley, now within one mile of MeAllisterville, Juniata county, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1806. When he was about eight years of age his father removed to Harrisburg, where his two sons, Herman and Hamilton, finished their education at the Harrisburg academy. At eighteen years of age he began the study of the law under Samuel Douglas, afterwards attorney general of the commonwealth, and was ad- mitted to the bar of Dauphin county, Janu- ary 22, 1828. From that time until Janu- ary, 1893, the beginning of his last illness, Mr. Alrieks was in continuous praetiee, and tried many important eivil eases.
In his early praetiee Mr. Alrieks tried some eases as often as five times, one having been passed on by the Supreme Court three times before it was finally determined in favor of his elient. The ejeetment ease of Harris vs. Pennsylvania Canal Company was one of the important eauses tried in the last years of his life, and it was always a pleas- ure to him that he and his colleague won
Hamilton Sticks
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DAUPHIN COUNTY
the case in the Supreme Court, reversing the first judgment of the lower court.
In 1836 Mr. Alricks was elected as a Democrat by the voters of Dauphin county to the house of representatives of the com- monwealth, a distinction accorded to few of his political belief. The journal shows that he was an active and useful inember. Before 1850 he had three times declined to accept appointments as president judge of Common Pleas eourts, tendered him by the governor of the state.
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