USA > Pennsylvania > The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II > Part 24
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William Wallace Hays was born October 23, 1836, in Harrisburg. He was educated in the public schools, in the Harrisburg academy and at Jefferson college, Canons- burg, where he graduated in 1856. He then taught school in Texas for two years, after which he returned and studied law with Robert A. Lamberton. He was admitted 10 the bar December 16, 1859. He continued to practice until 1861, when he was appoint- ed by Governor Curtin chief clerk in the office of the secretary of the commonwealth, which office he retained until the close of Governor Curtin's administration. He then
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resumed the practice of his profession. In 1868 he was nominated by the Republicans as a candidate for mayor of the city of Harrisburg and was elected. He died in office, March 31, 1870, in his thirty-fourth year, and a life that promised a brilliant career in his profession was ended too soon. He was a man with a strong sense of justice and religion.
William McClure was born in Pabtany township, Dauphin county, Pa. He received his education at Jefferson college, Washing- ton, Pa., graduating in 1818 with high honors. Ile studied law under Thomas Elder and was admitted at the December term, 1820. HIe was one of the strong men at the bar and acquired a large practice. He died at Harrisburg, August 17, 1852.
David Pool was one of the strong men of his day. He acquired his schooling in the public schools of the period. After a course of study under James McCormick he was admitted to the bar on motion of Mr. Me- Cormick, April 18, 1837. He was district attorney for one term and acquired consid- erable practice. He was of short, stout build, and was full of fun and always ready for a joke, which he sometimes got off even at the expense of the court.
About the beginning of the Civil war he moved to Washington, D. C., where he also engaged in practice until he died.
Joseph Cummins Wallace was born in Har- risburg. He was the son of Joseph Wallace, a prominent merchant and business man. He was educated at Mercersburg. After a course of study with Hamilton Alricks, he was admitted to the bar, November 21, 1841. At the outbreak of the Mexican war he enlisted and went to Mexico, where he was killed.
Richard Cox McAllister, son of Captain John Carson McAllister and his wife, Frances Harris Hanna, of Fort Hunter, Dauphin county, Pa., was born at Fort Hunter in 1819; graduated at Dickinson college, Carlisle, Pa., and went from there to Savanah, Ga., to
enter the law offices of Matthew Hall Mc- Allister, a distinguished jurist of that state, who established the Court of Errors; was state senator for seventeen years and United States district attorney. He returned to Har- risburg about 1840, and finished his law studies with Hon. Hamilton Alricks, and was admitted to the bar November 21, 1841. In 1845 he was appointed deputy attorney gen- eral under Governor Francis Rawn Shunk's administration. Ile moved west and located in Keokuk, Iowa, and, as business was dull, he went to Kansas with Governor Geary, who had been appointed territorial governor by President Buchanan. He was Governor Geary's consulting attorney during the in- surrection there between the slave holders and free soilers. On his return to Pennsyl- vania he was made fugitive slave commis- sioner at Harrisburg, and received much abuse, and at one time his office, which stood where the postoffice now stands, was oiled and prepared for burning by some unknown but rabid abolitionist. He was a candidate for the nomination on the Democratic ticket to the Thirty-fifth Congress, but was defeat- ed by Dr. Lewis J. Heck, who was in turn defeated by John C. Kunkle, Republican. In 1861 he was appointed depot commissary to General Grant, in the department of the Mississippi with headquarters at Cairo, Ill. IIe served three years, and in 1864 removed to Washington, D. C., where he practiced his profession in the United States Court of Claims. He died in Washington in 1887, and was buried there.
William Thomas Bishop was born August 29, 1809, at Baltimore, Md. His education was received at Washington college, Chester- town, Md. He came to Harrisburg from Baltimore, Md., about 1840. He studied law under Benjamin Parke, Esq., and was ad- mitted to the bar August 20, 1850. He re- mained in active practice for a number of years, and was a practitioner of prominence. He died at Harrisburg February 5, 1885.
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John C. Nissley was born near Hummels- town, Dauphin county, Pa., February 8, 1856. Ilis primary education was had in the public schools. He taught school in Dauphin county for four years and then entered the state normal school at Shippensburg, and afterwards went to the state normal school at Indiana, Pa. In 1879 he entered Bucknell eollege, where he graduated in 1883. After his graduation he studied law in the office of Mumma & Shopp, and was admitted to the Dauphin county bar in 1886.
Mr. Nissley is one of the old county families. As a practitioner he is a careful observer of the ethies of the profession. In polities he is an ardent Republican. Mr. Nissley is prominent in the counsels of the Baptist church, of which he is a member.
Oscar K. Brightbill was born in Harris- burg, December 9, 1865. His schooling was all acquired in the public schools of Harris- burg, and he was graduated from the high sehool in 1885. After one year of clerical work, he entered the law office of C. H. Berg- ner, Esq., as a student. He was admitted to the Dauphin county bar October 9, 1888. In 1894 he was a candidate for county solicitor, but was defeated by Albert Millar, Esq. Mr. Brightbill was a young man of prom- ise. He was possessed of a good vocabulary, strong voice and was forceful. He was taken with cold, which developed into consumption, of which he died. In politics he was a Republican.
Howard L. Calder was born June 16, 1864. He was a son of Rev. James Calder, D. D., who was well known in the loeality of Har- risburg. Mr. Calder finished his education at Bueknell college, where he graduated in 1887. Mr. Calder registered as a law student with Hon. Robert Snodgrass, and was ad- mitted to the Dauphin county bar Oeto- ber 8, 1889. About the year 1893 he formed a partnership with A. Wilson Nor- ris, which continued until shortly before Mr. Norris's death. In 1900 Mr. Calder was
nominated by the Republican party and elect- ed a member of the state legislature from the city of Harrisburg. He died suddenly, April 29, 1901. Mr. Calder was interested in mili- tary affairs. Ile was an aide-de-camp, with the rank of eaptain, on the staff of Brigadier General J. P. S. Gobin, and was captain of a company in the Spanish-Ameriean war. He was of good address, and was a public speaker of ability.
James A. Stranahan was born March 7, 1839, in Philadelphia, where he lived until 1851, when his parent's moved to Mercer eounty. He completed his education in the common schools and at Mercer Union sehool and Westminster college at New Wil- mington, Pa., where he graduated. He began the study of law under Hon. John Trunkey, late justice of the supreme court, and was admitted to the Mereer county bar in 1864, where he praetieed until 1891, when he was appointed deputy attorney general by Gov- ernor Pattison, which office he filled with credit.
Sinee his retirement from office he has prac- ticed at the Dauphin county bar, where he was admitted January 27, 1891, and has been coneerned in important litigation. Mr. Stran- ahan enlisted as a private in the war of the Rebellion, but was second lieutenant and post adjutant at Cumberland, Md., during his term of service. In 1873 he was a mem- ber of the legislature. In 1884 he was chair- man of the Democratic state central com- mittee.
Harry Edwin Buffington was born at Lykens, Dauphin county, May 2, 1867. At an early age he worked in the mines and by industry he acquired enough to enable him to aequire sehooling, first at the Lykens high school, then at Berrysburg seminary and at Waynesburg college, Greene county, Pa., where he graduated in 1891. In the same year he registered as a law student with J. C. MeAlamey, Esq., and was admitted to the Dauphin eounty bar October 19, 1893. He
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immediately opened an office at Lykens, where he has since been in active praetiee.
Michael E. Stroup was born August 16, 1873, at Elizabethville, Dauphin county, Pa. He graduated at Franklin & Marshall eol- lege at Lancaster, Pa., in 1895, and after the usual course of study under Hon. James A. Stranahan he was admitted to the Dauphin county bar January 31, 1898. He opened an offiee at Elizabethville. In 1902 he was eleeted on the Republican tieket as a member of the state legislature.
Benjamin F. Umberger was born July 11, 1875, in Harrisburg; was edueated in the publie schools and by private study. He was admitted to the Dauphin eounty bar January 28, 1898, and to the Supreme court June 2, 1902. He is Republican in polities, and was eleeted to seleet council of the eity of Harris- burg, February, 1902. He is greatly inter- ested in municipal government.
Homer Shoemaker, son of Rev. Elisha Shoemaker, was educated at Diekinson eol- lege; read law with the late A. B. Sharpe, Esq., of Carlisle, Pa. Admitted to the bar of Cumberland county in 1892; admitted to the bar of Dauphin eounty March 29, 1893.
Herbert F. Harris was born in Laeka- wanna eounty, June 30, 1876. He was grad- uated at Bueknell eollege in 1896, and was registered as a law student in the office of H. C. and S. T. McCormick at Williamsport, Pa. In 1889 he graduated at Columbian Law school and in the same year was admitted to the bar of Lyeoming eounty. On December 6, 1901, he was admitted to the bar of Dau- phin county, and is associated with W. C. Farnsworth, Esq., at Harrisburg.
Andrew S. McCreath, Jr., was born at Harrisburg, February 5, 1880. He was edu- cated at the Harrisburg academy, 1891-97; at St. Paul's school, Coneord, N. H., 1897, and was for two years at Yale in the elass of 1901. He studied law with the Hon. M. W. Jacobs, and was admitted to the bar of Dauphin eounty, June 29, 1903.
Sumner S. Bowman was born in Millers- burg, Dauphin county, Pa., February 9, 1867, is the son of Simon S. Bowman, a mem- ber of the bar. He was graduated at the Millersburg high school at the age of sixteen, and is a graduate of Dickinson seminary at Williamsport, Pa. He entered the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania law school, and was graduated in 1891. He was admitted to the Philadelphia bar and also to the Supreme court of Pennsylvania, and to the bar of Dauphin eounty April 19, 1902. In the fall of 1892 he went to Watertown, N. Y., and was admitted to the bar there. He returned to Dauphin county in 1894 and opened a law office in Williamstown, and was also editor of The Williamstown Times. Desiring to enter a larger field he moved to New York eity in November, 1900, and opened an offiee at 80 Broadway, where he is now practicing.
John R. Geyer was born in Londonderry township, Dauphin eounty, Pa., August 18, 1878. He was edueated at the Middletown high school, graduating in 1894, and at Leb- anon Valley eollege, Annville, Pa., where he received the degree A. B. in 1898; and two years later M. A. After having spent several years in teaching he began the study of law in the office of Senator Jno. E. Fox, in Har- risburg, Pa., and was admitted to the Dau- phin eounty bar June 19, 1903.
Leonidas J. Durbin was born in Williams- town, Dauphin eounty, Pa., June 23, 1874. He was educated in the publie sehools, and graduated at Millersville normal sehool in 1893. In 1899 he graduated in the elassieal course at Yale university, and in 1902 from the Yale law sehool. He was admitted to the Dauphin eounty bar June 29, 1903, and is located in Harrisburg.
D. L. Kaufman was born in Highspire, Dauphin county, where he still lives. He was cducated in the publie sehools and at the Millersburg state normal school. After grad- uation he entered into business, eondueting a stationery and book store in Chambers-
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burg, Pa., and in Middletown. He studied law with H. L. Nissley, Esq., and was ad- mitted to the Dauphin county bar, July 13, 1891. Mr. Kaufman is a stanch Republican, and has his office in the city of Harrisburg.
Eugene Snyder was born October 23, 1836, in the very house where he now has his office and where he has always lived. He attended the public schools until ten years of age, when he was taken to St. Louis, Mo., and then to Galena, Ill., with an uncle, who sent him to sehool at Sinsiwawa Mound, Grant county, Wisconsin territory, where he rc- mained until 1849, when he went to St. Louis and thence home. Later, attended school at Plainfield, Cumberland county, and at White Hall, Cumberland county. In 1852 he went to Dubuque, Iowa, and in the fall of the same year to Mt. Morris seminary, Ogle county, Ill. In 1854 he received an appointment to West Point, but was taken ill with typhoid fever, which left him in such poor health that he was compelled to deeline it, and Gen- eral Horace Porter, now United States am- bassador to Franee, was appointed in his stead. IIe attended Dickinson seminary, where he graduated in 1856. After a course of legal study with B. F. Etter and at the Dane Law school, now Harvard Law school, where he graduated in 1860, he was admitted to the bar January 19, 1860, and has since been practieing.
Mr. Snyder is an extremely unassuming man, of mild temperament. He does not like notoriety, has never been a candidate for or held office, and prefers the quiet office prac- tiee to the more spectacular work of the court. He has a fair share of office and commercial legal business. He is a genial companion, with stories and reminiscenees at hand. He is a charter member of the Dauphin county bar association, and has since its organization been its treasurer. Mr. Snyder has never been married.
John Joseph Curtin McAlarney was the oldest son of John McAlarney and Catherine
(Wilson) McAlarney, being born in Chill- isquakuc, Northumberland county, Pa. July 14, 1833. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, his father having come to the United States while a young man, from County Longford, Parish of Strect, Ireland. The family name is a modification of the name "MaeGloiarn" (afterward MacGlor- ney, MacAlarney and MeAlarney), derived from an ancestry of Cullain chiefs (the bar- ony of Kells, County Kilkenny).
Mr. McAlarney received his education at the "Old" academy in Mifflinburg, Union county, Pa., whither his parents had re- moved while he was a child. After he was graduated he entered the law office of Charles Hower at Selin's Grove, Pa., where he was prepared for his bar examina- tions, being admitted with honors to the bar of Snyder eounty in 1860. On Nov. 22d of the same year he was admitted to the Dau- phin county bar and established a law office in Gratztown, Dauphin county, removing in the spring of 1861 to Lykens, where he continued the praetiee of law until 1864. In that year he removed to Harrisburg, and formed a legal partnership with the late Gen. William H. Miller, who had been chosen a representative to Congress, the partner- ship lasting until the death of Gen. Miller in 1870, after which time Mr. McAlarney continued the practice of law alone.
As an attorney Mr. MeAlarney enjoyed an enviable reputation, and was perhaps best known for his ability as a pleader of causes, in which he was pre-eminently successful, in his methods elcaving closely at all times to an observanec of the ethics of a profes- sion of which he was proud. He was a Dem- ocrat in politics and was a widely known speaker throughout the state during the campaigns incident to a presidential elec- tion. As a platform orator he was forceful and magnetie but never vindictive. In 1874 he was the Democratic candidate for district attorney of Dauphin county, failing to carry
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that Republican stronghold by less than two hundred majority. He ran a second time for the same offiec and was again defeated.
Mr. McAlarney was a member of Graee Methodist Episcopal Church on West State Street from the time he came to Harrisburg until his death, which oceurred September 23, 1896. Ile was a brother of the late Ma- thias Wilson MeAlarney, editor of the Har- risburg Telegraph, and of Charles Wesley McAlarney of the Luzerne county bar.
Robert Snodgrass, was born in East Han- over Township, Dauphin county, October 12, 1836. In 1843 his parents removed to Shippensburg, Cumberland county, where he received his early education. He afterwards attended Milnwood academy, Shade Gap, Huntington county, Pa., and entered the sophomore elass at Lafayette college, Easton, Pa., in 1854. He was graduated with honors in 1857. After teaching in private families in Maryland and Virginia for two years, Mr. Snodgrass removed to Moorefield, Va., now West Virginia.
In 1860 he was appointed deputy elerk of the county court of Hardy county, which position he held until 1862, and in the mean time read law under direction of J. W. Allen, then judge of the Circuit Court of Hardy county. He came to Harrisburg in 1862 and renewed his studies under J. W. Simon- ton, afterwards judge. He was admitted to the bar of Dauphin county May 5, 1863. From January 1867 to November 1870 he was United States commissioner and re- signed to become prothonotary of the Su- preme Court of Pennsylvania for the Middle district, which offiee he held from November 1870 to January 1882. From January 1882 to May 1887 he was attorney general of the commonwealth, in which position he ren- dered conspicuous service and gave many important opinions upon questions confront- ing the department in dealing with eorpora- tions.
Mr. Snodgrass was one of the charter
members of the state bar association and of the Dauphin county bar association. For a number of years he has been chairman of the Committee on legal cdueation, of the former and from its organization until Feb- ruary 1903 was president of the latter.
In 1902 the Supreme Court of the state created a state board for law examinations, consisting of five members, leading lawyers of the state, of whom Mr. Snodgrass is one.
He has been for years a member of the board of examiners of the Dauphin eounty bar, and since 1899 its president.
A careful painstaking lawyer, he is always alert in the preparation and trial of eauses and little that is valuable to his eause es- capes him. He has had large experience in the equity side of the court. Mr. Snodgrass is a foreeful speaker, his arguments upon questions of law are logical, eonvineing and pointed. He takes great interest in the bar associations, in the advancement of legal education and in everything that looks to the elevation of the bar. He is largely identified with the movement for the eivie improvement of Harrisburg, being president of the Municipal League. He served one term as president of the board of trade and is interested in a number of manufactur- ing enterprises.
In polities he is a Republican, with inde- pendent tendeneies.
John E. Heller, was born in 1834, in Rush township, Dauphin county. His early edu- cation was limited, and at the age of thir- teen he was a printers' apprentice in Sun- bury. Later he was foreman in a printing offiee in Pottsville. He studied law and was admitted to the Dauphin eounty bar, August, 30, 1865, and located at Harrisburg. He died, however, suddenly, soon after at his father's residence in Rush township, January 30, 1866.
He was of exemplary habits, industrious and had a bright future before him.
Simon S. Bowman was born in Elizabeth-
Na Het noagrass.
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ville, Pa., October 10, 1842. Ile is the son of John J. and Margaret Bowman. His family moved to Millersburg in 1848. He attended the borough schools of that place until lie was sixteen, when he entered Dickinson sem- inary at Williamsport, at which institution he graduated in 1863 and in the same year he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and later was de- tailed for duty under Colonel Sallada, paymaster of the United States Army. Hle was stationed in Washington, D. C., until February, 1866. During his stay in Washington he attended the Columbia Law school. He had been previously regis- tered in the office of Hon. A. J. Herr of Har- risburg. He was admitted to the bar of Dauphin county on the 26th of April, 1866, having passed an examination before a com- mittee composed of Hon. John J. Pearson, Hon. John C. Kunkel, David Fleming and Jolin S. Detweiler. He opened an office in Millersburg and has been practicing law there since his admission. Mr. Bowman is a Republican in politics and filled every local office in his town, covering a period of twenty-six years, and is now closing his ninth year as school director. He was twice presi- dent of Dauphin county's school directors association. Mr. Bowman was admitted to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, United States Courts and all the bars of the adjoin- ing counties.
Frank S. Bowman, born January 24, 1844. at Loyaltou, Dauphin county, received a good classical education, after which he read law with Hon. Robert A. Lamberton. He was admitted to the Dauphin county bar, April 26, 1866.
Mr. Bowman has been for a number of years engaged in newspaper work, having in 1884 established the Millersburg Sentinel, which is a successful and influential paper. As a consequence he has not devoted himself to practice and is rarely seen in the courts. He is a Democrat, and was the postmaster
of Millersburg under President Cleveland's second administration.
Samuel J. M. McCarrell was born in Buf- falo township, Washington county, Pa., and received his early education in the common schools of the neighborhood. When old enough he worked in a store in a village near by, and while thus engaged fitted him- self for college. IIe entered Washington college in 1860, and graduated as first, honor man of his class in 1864. After graduation he taught school as the assistant principal of the Wheeling Institute, W. Va., and at the same time studied law. In 1865 he came to Harrisburg and completed his legal studies with Hon. David Fleming. He was admitted to the bar November 19, 1866, and soon after entered into partnership with his preceptor, under the firm name of Fleming & McCarrell. From 1881 to 1887 he served with ability as district attorney. In 1892 he was elected state senator and served in that body with great distinction. Upon the organization of the United States Courts for the middle dis- trict of Pennsylvania, Senator McCarrell was appointed United States district attor- ney, which office he still holds.
Mr. MeCarrell is of genial disposition, even temper and pleasing address. He is a very ready, fluent and eloquent speaker, an ex- peditious worker, and a good lawyer in whatever class of litigation he is placed. His wide acquaintance and his oratorical achievements make him a strong trial law- yer, while his knowledge of the law and his ability to present logically the legal argu- ments make him equally formidable before the court. He always has been an ardent Re- publiean, and was a delegate to the National convention which nominated Benjamin Har- rison for president. Mr. McCarrell is a nienl- ber of the board of examiners of the Dauphin county bar, and a member of both the local and state bar associations.
Mathias Wilson McAlarney, was born June 7, 1846, in Mifflinburg, Union county,
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Pa., and was edueated in Bueknell univer- sity. He learned printing in Lewisburg, and for six years published the Potter Journal, in Cowdersport, Potter county. During the war he was provost marshal of the eight- eenth Pennsylvania distriet. He studied law with the Hon. Isaae Benson of Pot- ter eounty, and was admitted to the Pot- ter eounty bar, February 27, 1867, and to the Dauphin eounty bar May 7, 1867, at which time he located in Harrisburg. Here he eontinned his praetiee without being hin- dered by other interests until 1874, when he · beeame engaged in editorial work on the Harrisburg Telegraph, and in 1883 he be- came the editor of that paper and manager of the corporation owning it. In 1868 he was appointed elerk to the commission to scttle border elaims of the Rebellion, and in 1871 was attorney for the common- wealth in connection with the same work in Cumberland county. In 1874 he was can- didate for district attorney in prospeet of success, when during the eampaign he was appointed postmaster, which offiee he held until 1887, and subsequently for one term. After aequiring control of the Telegraph he gradually relinquished his praetiee of law, and did little or nothing in recent years. In politics he was an ardent Republiean. He died in Harrisburg December 5, 1900.
Levi B. Alricks, the fourth ehild and only son of Hamilton Alrieks, was born at Har- risburg, August 15, 1843, and was edueated at the public schools, the Harrisburg aead- emy, and attended Yale college (class of 1866) for a short time. On the 6th day of September 1865 he was admitted to the bar of Dauphin county, since which time he has been in continuous practice of his profession, always preferring the practice within his home eounty.
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