The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II, Part 27

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago, H. C. Cooper, jr., bro. & co.
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > Pennsylvania > The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II > Part 27

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John Gustavus Gilbert was born February 26, 1868, at Savannah, Ga., to David MeCon- aughy Gilbert, D. D., of Gettysburg, Pa., and Mary Rutledge Falligant, of Savannah, Ga. He was educated at the Shenandoah Valley academy at Winehester, Va., and for seven years oeeupied elerieal positions in the Shenandoah Valley National bank of that place and in the Meehanies' bank of Harrisburg, Pa. Studied law with Charles H. Bergner, Esq., and was admitted to the

Dauphin county bar Oct. 19, 1893. Two years later to practice in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. At the outbreak of the Span- ish-American war enrolled as private in Com- pany D, Eighth regiment Pennsylvania Vol- unteers Infantry, April 28, 1898. Appointed regimental sergeant major and mustered into the United States service May 12, 1898. Com- missioned first lieutenant and adjutant of regiment September 15, 1898. Mustered out with regiment at Augusta, Ga., March 7, 1899, and, returning to Harrisburg, Pa., re- sumed the praetiee of law.

Robert Stucker was born at Harrisburg, Dauphin county, Pa., May 22, 1873, to Peter Stueker, deeeased, and Elizabeth Stucker. His eommon school education was received in the publie sehools of Harrisburg; gradu- ated from Eastman college, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1895; studied law at Diekinson School of Law, Carlisle, Pa., where he was graduated June 7, 1898, and was admitted to the bar of Cumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, June 8, 1900. Admitted to the bar of Dauphin eounty July 14, 1900, on motion of Hon. James A. Stranahan; admitted to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania June 2, 1900.

William S. Snyder was born at Millers- town, Perry county, Pa., October 11, 1870. He was graduated from Millerstown High sehool in 1887, Millersville Normal sehool in 1888, Diekinson eollege in 1894; studied law under preceptorship of Hon. James A. Stranahan, Harrisburg, Pa., three years; passed examination of Dauphin eounty law examining board July 5, 1901, and was ad- mitted to the Dauphin eounty bar July 8, 1901; was principal of Duneannon sehools from the fall of 1894 to the summer of 1898.

Roger Sherman Care was born January 12, 1860, at Linglestown, Dauphin eounty, Pa. He received his education at the Cumberland Valley institute, Meehaniesburg, Pa .; the Diekinson seminary, Williamsport, Pa., and graduated at Diekinson eollege, Carlisle, Pa., in 1882. He afterwards read law with the

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DAUPHIN COUNTY

Hon. Lyman D. Gilbert and John A. Herman, Esq., and was admitted to the bar of Dau- phin county in 1884. He was elected county solicitor Jannary, 1899, which office he is still holding.

William C. Farnsworth was born January 1, 1864, at Sunbury, Pa. He read law with IIon. John B. Packer and was admitted to the Northumberland eounty bar September 7, 1886. He removed to Harrisburg March 18, 1892, and was admitted to the Dauphin county bar March 21, 1893. He is also a member of the Philadelphia and the New York bars. May 20, 1895, he was appointed by Governor Hastings to the position of cor- poration clerk in the state department, where he remained for seven years, when he re- signed to take up the practice of corporation law. He has met with great success, and is to-day one of the best-known corporation lawyers in Pennsylvania. He also maintains an office in New York City and is a director in one of the largest trust companies in New York, where he is also well known as a cor- poration lawyer enjoying a large practice.

Lewis M. Neiffer was born near Elizabeth- ville, Dauphin county, August 15, 1858. His parents moved to Wiconisco, where he at- tended public school. During 1877 and 1878 he was a student at the Waynesburg college. Ile taught school at Wiconisco for a period of seven years, occupying the position succes- sively of primary teacher, grammar school teacher and finally as principal of the same. During the first term of President Cleve- land's administration Mr. Neiffer was ap- pointed postmaster of his town, which office he held till 1888. IIe studied law with the late Robert L. Muench, Esq., and was ad- mitted to the bar of Dauphin county De- cember 6, 1882. In 1888 he removed to Har- risburg, where he has since been engaged in a general law practice. His time is devoted mainly to Orphans' Court practice, in which he has a large clientage. He has been en- gaged in many large and important estates.

Harry M. Bretz was born November 17, 1866, at West Fairview, Cumberland county, Pa. Ile attended the public schools and had the advantage of Normal school training. During the year 1884 he attended the Cen- tral State Normal school at Lock Haven, Pa., and in 1885 graduated from the Cum- berland Valley State Normal school at Ship- pensburg, Pa. He taught in the public schools for a period of six years. He re- moved to Harrisburg, Pa., in 1894 and read law with Hon. Thomas S. Hargest and was admitted to the bar of Dauphin county Janu- ary 28, 1898. He is also a member of the Cumberland county bar and has an office in West Fairview, Pa.

Frank B. Wickersham was born on a farm in Newberry township, York county, Pa., April 7, 1863, and made that farm his home for the first twenty-two years of his life. He acquired his preliminary education at Be- shore's school in said township and at home, assisted by his sister. When eighteen years of age he began teaching school, and fol- lowed that profession for seven years there- after. He entered Shippensburg Normal school March 23, 1883, and graduated from that institution with the class of 1884, and afterwards pursued a course in Latin, his- tory, etc., under private instructors. He was registered as a law student under the preceptorship of the Hon. Samuel J. M. Mc- Carrell December 12, 1885, and pursued his legal studies while he taught school in the borough of Steelton. He passed the bar June 19, 1888, and practiced law twelve years in the borough of Steelton and the last three years in the city of Harrisburg. He served eight years as a member of the Steelton school board, one year as president of the Dauphin County School Directors' associa- tion and one year as secretary of the State Association of School Directors; has served as borough solicitor of Steelton for the past fourteen years.

William M. Hain, Esq., was born Septem-

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THE BENCHI AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

ber 9, 1863, in Lower Paxton township, Dau- phin county. He lived with his parents, at- tended the district school and worked on his father's farm. He entered Muhlenberg col- lege at Allentown, Pa., at the age of six- teen and returned home after two years' study. Taught school until he was twenty- one years old. He afterwards entered Leb- anon Valley college and was graduated with high honors in 1888. He then studied law at Harrisburg in the offices of Messrs. Weiss & Gilbert and John A. Herman, Esq., and was admitted to the bar of Dauphin county October 7, 1890. He was the Demo- eratic candidate for distriet attorney in 1892 and also the Demoeratie candidate for ad- ditional law judge of Dauphin county in 1903. He has a large elientage and a lucra- tive praetiee.

Alexander Wilson Norris was born June 6, 1872, at Salona, Clinton county, Pa., and was the nephew of Colonel A. Wilson Norris, a prominent figure in Pennsylvania politics, who raised him, owing to the death of his father, when he was a lad of tender years. He was educated in private schools and at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1890 he was registered as a law student with Messrs. Weiss & Gilbert and on June 27, 1893, was admitted to the bar of Dauphin county, when just of age. Shortly there- after he formed a partnership with Colonel Howard L. Calder, which continued several years. Mr. Norris was gifted with oratorieal ability and had a fine voiee. He was ener- getie in politics and was recognized as a politieian of promise. He was twiee elected vice-president of the Republican League of elubs of Pennsylvania. He also took great interest in national guard affairs, and was an aide-de-eamp on the staff of General J. P. S. Gobin, with the rank of eaptain, and upon the outbreak of the Spanish war he enlisted, still maintaining his rank, but before his term of service was over he died suddenly at Harrisburg when home on a furlough ..

James Fox, the third son of George Fox and Elizabeth Eshenour, his wife, was born at Hummelstown, Dauphin county, Pa., in 1820, and died at Harrisburg, on February 28, 1858. His early and preliminary educa- tion was obtained in the common sehools at Hummelstown, and at Lititz, in Lancaster county. In 1834, when fourteen years old, he entered, along with John C. Kunkel, the freshman class of Pennsylvania eollege at Gettysburg. He did not remain there very long, but went from there to Washington & Jefferson college, and afterwards to Lafay- ette college, at Easton, Pa. Immediately on leaving college he entered, as a student, the law office of John Evans, the then leading lawyer of York, Pa., where he remained until his admission to the bar of that county, in 1843. In the summer of 1844 he came to Harrisburg, and on August 19 of that year was admitted to praetiee as an attorney-at- law at the bar of Dauphin county. Nathaniel B. Eldred was then the president judge of this district, between whom and Mr. Fox there grew a very strong, close and lasting friendship. Mr. Fox had an unusually aeute, analytical and logical mind, was familiar and fluent with both the English and German languages, was a fine speaker and eonver- sationalist, as well as a close and eonvineing reasoner, and whether in private conversa- tion or making a publie speeeh, abounded in wit and humor, and eould always entertain his audience without any diminution of in- terest. His efforts at the bar were so effec- tive and his manner and intercourse with others so pleasing and entertaining that he soon had a large and Iuerative clientage, which he maintained until disabled by his last illness. As a member of the bar he stood in the front rank with the then praetieing attorneys of the Dauphin eounty bar, and was so recognized by all.

In polities he was a Whig, the then dom- inant party of the county, and was twice elected to the house of representatives, first

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in 1846, and re-elected, without opposition, in 1847. As a legislator he was quite sueccss- ful. When William F. Johnston, who was speaker of the Senate in 1848, sueeeeded Francis R. Shunk as governor of the state, he, on July 31, 1848, commissioned James Cooper his attorney-general. Mr. Cooper in turn appointed James Fox district attorney for Dauphin county, and it was while aeting as such under this appointment that the office of president judge of this distriet beeame vacant. Mr. Fox did more than any other member of the bar to have John J. Pearson commissioned, April 7, 1849, to fill the vacancy. The other leading members of the bar were nearly unanimous in their opposi- tion to it. The offieers of judge and distriet attorney were shortly afterwards made eleet- ive, when both Judge Pearson and Mr. Fox were nominated by the Whig party, and on October 14, 1851, elected to fill their respeet- ive offices. Mr. Fox was elected a direetor of the Meehanies' bank of Harrisburg at its organization in 1853, and so eontinued by subsequent eleetions to the time of his death. Mr. Fox largely contributed to the location and erection of the Pennsylvania Lunatie hos- pital at its present site. The legislature in 1845 appointed certain persons commissioners for the ercetion of an hospital to be located within two miles of the eity of Harrisburg. These commissioners, however, took no action in the matter, when by a subsequent aet, passed April 11, 1848, Aaron Bombaugh, James A. Weir and James Fox were appoint- ed additional commissioners. The commis- sioners thus appointed then proceeded, stimulated by the energy and activity of the youngest member, Mr. Fox, bought one hundred and thirty aeres of land one and a half miles north of Harrisburg, had the building started in the summer of 1848, the cornerstone laid April 7, 1849, and the build- ing finished and delivered to the eommis- sioners June 19, 1851. Mr. Fox was never married .- Written by Hon. B. F. Etter.

Frederick M. Ott, son of Leander N. Ott, a former member of the bar, was born in Harrisburg, Pa., April 4, 1850. ITis primary education was received at the public schools and at the Harrisburg academy from 1862 to 1866. In 1866 he entered the Pennsylva- nia college at Gettysburg, Pa., and gradu- ated in the class of 1870, after which he studied law with his father. He was admit- ted to the Dauphin county bar May 13, 1873, and has been in aetive praetiee sinee then. Mr. Ott is a Republican and served as eounty solicitor for six years. Captain Ott was see- ond lieutenant of the governor's troop of cavalry in the Pennsylvania national guard when it was organized in 1888, and was eleet- cd captain of that organization in 1891 and has since served as such. At the outbreak of the Spanish-Ameriean war he took his company into the service, retaining his rank of captain, being mustered into the serviee May 13, 1898, and participated in the Porto Rican expedition.

Casper S. Bigler was born in Harrisburg, Pa., June 17, 1846. He was educated at Professor Seiler's school and afterwards at the Harrisburg academy when Professor Seiler took charge. He was in the elass of 1867 at Yale university, but remained only three years. After coming from college he engaged in mercantile pursuits and about 1879 began the study of law with F. M. Ott, Esq. He was admitted to the bar May 24, 1881, and has since been in practice. Mr. Bigler has for a number of years been en- gaged in the manufacture of bricks under the firm name of S. L. Bigler & Co.

Albert Millar was born March 16, 1860, at Gap, Laneaster eounty, Pa. His parents came to Harrisburg in 1867, and he attended the publie schools of the city of Harrisburg, graduating from the high school in 1876. He worked at the jewelry trade for several years, then he became a elerk for the Jackson Manufacturing company, serving several years at Harrisburg and one year at Pitts-

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THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

burgh. About 1882 he returned to Harrisburg and entered the law office of Joshua M. Wiestling. Ile was admitted to the Dauphin county bar, February 13, 1884. Shortly after his admission to the bar he was elected coun- ty solicitor, which office he held until he was elected district attorney in 1898, which office he now holds. For a number of years, he was associated in practice with Hon. George Kunkel, under the firm name of Kunkel & Millar, which relation was dissolved in 1898, when Mr. Millar was elected district attor- ney. Mr. Millar has been recognized for some years as one of the leaders of the Republican party in Dauphin county.

John E. Fox was born in Hummelstown, Dauphin county, Pa., November 27, 1861. He received his primary education in his native place and finished his schooling at Lafayette college, where he graduated in the class of 1885. After graduation he taught the gram- mar school at Hummelstown for two years. He was registered as a law student under Messrs. Weiss & Gilbert. He was admitted to the Dauphin county bar July 23, 1888, and has been in continuous practice since then. Ile has a large and lucrative practice and represents some important corporations. Mr. Fox has been an active Republican, and in 1900 was elected to the state senate. In 1892 he was a delegate to the national Republican convention of Minneapolis. He has traveled extensively, and before admission to the bar he made a foreign tour. In 1889 he traveled over the United States; in 1891 he made a complete circuit of the globe, and has crossed the Atlantie twice since then. He is inter- ested in a large number of industries and other corporations. As a speaker he is earn- est and forceful and his services are in de- mand in political campaigns.

Benjamin Matthias Nead was born in Antrim township, Franklin county, Pa., July 14, 1847, and in the following year his parents moved to Chambersburg. His preliminary education was begun in Chambersburg acad-

emy and continued under private tutelage. He also attended the New Haven Hopkins Grammar school, and graduated at Yale university in 1870. Ile returned to Cham- bersburg and studied law in the office of Hon. Francis M. Kimmil, ex-judge of the district, and was admitted to practice in the courts of Franklin county June 4, 1872. In 1875 he was appointed to take charge of the state tax desk in the office of the auditor general of the commonwealth, which posi- tion he held until May, 1881, when he re- sumed the practice of his profession in the city of Harrisburg, having been admitted to the Dauphin county bar January 22, 1880. Mr. Mead made a specialty of state tax and corporation matters, and his practice largely follows that line. He has been concerned in important litigation. Ile was a member of the commission appointed to revise the rev- enue laws of the commonwealth, and report a new system of taxation in 1883, and was also a member of the commission appointed under the act of 1883 by Governor Pattison to devise a new system of keeping the ac- counts of the state. During Gov. Pattison's terms Mr. Nead was state financial agent for Pennsylvania, at Washington. In 1894 he was appointed receiver of the defunct na- tional bank of Middletown, Pa. He was later appointed one of the receivers of the Ray- mond & Campbell Manufacturing company of the same place. In politics Mr. Nead is a Democrat, and has been active in party affairs. In literature he has attained an enviable reputation. He was in earlier years a correspondent at Harrisburg for a number of papers and later was editor in chief of the Daily Patriot, and in 1888-89 in connec- tion with his brother, Dr. D. W. Nead, owned and edited the Morning Call. He is extreme- ly interested in historical and geneological matters. Mr. Nead is an unassuming gentle- man of quiet, polished manners. He makes no pretensions to forensic efforts, though as a lecturer on historical matters he is highly

John &. Fox

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DAUPHIN COUNTY

esteemed. His legal practice has not brought him largely into jury trials, but his appear- ance in court has been confined principally to argument of legal propositions to the court, which he does with care, conciseness and skill.

George R. Fleming, son of David Fleming, for many years a prominent member of the bar, was born in Harrisburg, Pa., September 13, 1860. He received his early education in the local schools and was prepared for col- lege at the Phillips academy, Andover, Mass. HIe was graduated from Princeton college in 1883 and read law with his father and Hon. S. J. M. McCarrell. He was admitted to the bar May 12, 1886. He was connected with many important business interests of the city. The date of Mr. Fleming's death is unknown.

Clayton Hershey Backenstoe was born in West Hanover township, Dauphin county, Pa. He attended school in his native place and in Derry township, where his parents located when he was nine years of age. He graduated at Lebanon Valley college in 1887, after which he registered as a law student with Fleming & McCarrell. He was admitted to practice October 8, 1889, and has been in active practice since. Several years ago he was appointed receiver of the Susquehanna Mutual Fire Insurance company, and has rendered skilful service in that capacity. He is a Republican in politics and a speaker of ability on the stump.

William K. Meyers was born in Bedford county, Pa., September 27, 1867, and is the son of Benjamin F. Meyers, prominent for many years in the city of Harrisburg. Mr. Meyers was educated in the public schools, graduating from the high school in the class of 1886. He studied law with Mumma & Shopp, and was admitted to the Dauphin county bar October 7, 1890. After that, how- ever, he pursued a course of legal study at the Yale Law school, graduating there with the degree of LL. B. in 1891. He then took

up the practice of law at Harrisburg, where he still continues. He is a Democrat in poli- ties and is active in party affairs.

Milton M. Lemer was born at Harrisburg January 21, 1865. IIe was educated at the public schools, graduating from the high „school in 1882, and from the Harrisburg academy in 1884. Ile then attended Yale university, where he was graduated in 1889. Ile studied law with James I. Chamberlin, and was admitted to the Dauphin county bar March 29, 1892, and is still in practice.

Joshua W. Swartz was born June 9, 1867, in Lower Swatara township, Dauphin coun- ty, Pa. His primary education was received in the township schools. He learned the trade of carpenter and stair builder, at which he worked four years and afterward pursued his studies at the Lebanon Valley college and the Williamsport Business college. He was registered as a law student with John A. Herman, Esq., and also graduated from Dick- inson Law school in 1892. He was admitted to the Cumberland county bar June 7, 1892, and to the Dauphin county bar July 12, 1892. He is associated in practice with his broth- ers, I. B. and E. G. under the firm name of Swartz Bros. Mr. Swartz is a Republican in politics,

Charles B. McConkey was born at Harris- burg, December 29, 1869. He was a student of the Harrisburg academy and later entered Yale college, from which he was graduated in the class of 1888. He studied one year in the Yale Law school and read law with Messrs. Weiss & Gilbert. He was admitted to the Dauphin county bar January 27, 1891, and has since then been in active practice. Ile is a Democrat in politics, and in 1902 was appointed highway commissioner of the city of Harrisburg.

Samuel H. Zimmerman was born in Lower Swatara township. Dauphin county, Pa., November 23, 1869. After schooling received in the township schools he entered and was

THE BENCHI AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

graduated from the Steelton high school; spent two years at Bucknell university, and was graduated from the Ohio Normal univer- sity with the class of 1891. He studied law at the same place for one year. In 1893 he registered as a student with John C. Nissley, Esq., and while reading law, taught school . in Highspire and elsewhere. He was admitted to the Dauphin county bar March 4, 1895, and has since remained in active practice.

Donald C. Haldeman was born July 29, 1871, at Harrisburg, Pa. He received his education in the private schools of Harris- burg and at Phillips academy, Andover, Mass. In 1889 he entered Yale university and was graduated in 1893. He was at once registered as a law student in the office of Weiss & Gilbert, and after the usual course of study was admitted to the Dauphin county bar June 24, 1895. Mr. Haldeman is a Repub- lican in politics and identified with numerous business interests.

Henry Shellenberger was born in Harris- burg, Pa., April 17, 1834, and died August 22, 1883. He was educated in the public schools, completing his edneation at Gettysburg col- lege about the year 1855. He was for awhile engaged as assistant at the Harrisburg aead- emy when he was elected principal of the South Ward high school, from which he re- signed about 1860 to enter the mercantile business. He continued in business until 1868, when he retired for the purpose of entering the law, for which he was prepared under the late John C. Kunkel. He was ad- mitted to practice in the Dauphin county courts December 2, 1868, and was afterward elected city solicitor, which office he filled with credit for a number of years, both to the city and himself.

William F. Darby was born in Parksburg, Chester county, Pa., February 2, 1861. Dur- ing his infancy the family removed to Harris- burg, where he received his education in the public schools, graduating with the high

school class of 1878. He was registered a law student with John W. Young, Esq., now deceased. Subsequently he was employed as a clerk in the office of Hon. Robert Snod- grass. He was admitted to the bar of Dau- phin county September 8, 1884. He has also been admitted to practice in Cumberland and Lebanon counties and is a member of the bar of the Supreme court. In 1890 he removed to Steelton, where he has since maintained his office and his home. For a number of years he has been the local solicitor for the Pennsylvania Steel company.

Thomas McCamant was born July 29, 1840, at Antis Forge, in Antis township, Blair county, Pa. He was educated at the Tusca- rora academy, in Juniata county, and at La Fayette college, at Easton. being a graduate of the latter institution in the class of 1861. He served as lieutenant in the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers in the late Civil war. He read law with Messrs. Blair & Dean, at Hollidays- burg, and was admitted to practice in the several courts of Blair county on October 31, 1864. He was chief clerk in the office of secretary of commonwealth of Pennsylvania from January 22, 1867, to May 3, 1881, ex- cept seven months, and he served as deputy secretary of the commonwealth at the close of Governor Hartranft's second administra- tion. He was chief clerk in the office of the auditor general of Pennsylvania from May 3, 1881, to May 26, 1888; auditor general of Pennsylvania from May 26, 1888, to May 3, 1892. He was admitted to practice in the several courts of Dauphin county May 12, 1892, and has since continued in active prac- tiee.

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The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II, Part 27

Author: Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago, H. C. Cooper, jr., bro. & co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago, H. C. Cooper, jr., bro. & co.
Number of Pages: 1180