USA > Pennsylvania > The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II > Part 30
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On November 12, 1803, Thomas MeKean, governor of the commonwealth, commis- sioned Mr. Ayres prothonotary, reeorder of deeds, register of wills and clerk of the courts of Butler county. He removed to. Butler, taking with him as clerk Henry M. Brackenridge, son of his preceptor. He dis- charged the duties of his offices until April 19, 1809, when, on motion of Steele Semn- ple, he was admitted to practice in the courts of Butler county. He spent the re- mainder of a long and useful life at Butler, and died there April 4, 1843. Is now buried in the North cemetery at Butler. He was a member of the convention that framed the State constitution of 1838. General Ayres, as he was familiarly called, stood at the head of his profession and became the mentor and preceptor of a generation of lawyers distinguished in the profession.
Alexander William Foster, son of Rev. William and Hannah (Blair) Foster, was born at Westchester, Pa., his mother being a daughter of Rev. Samuel Blair, D. D. He received a classical education, studied law and was admitted to the Chester county bar in 1793. Soon after admission he re- moved to Meadville, Pa., where he acted with his brother, Samuel B., in the agency of the Holland Land Company, and also engaged in the practice of law.
Mr. Foster was admitted to the Allegheny county bar, December 7, 1798. He removed from Meadville to Greensburg and after- wards to Pittsburgh, where he practiced for many years and then removed to Mercer, where he practiced until his death, which occurred there March 3, 1843. His death was announeed to the courts of Allegheny county March 6, 1843. He was buried at Mercer.
Samuel Duncan was admitted March S, 1799.
Robert Callender was graduated from Dickinson eollege with the elass of 1792. He was admitted March 8, 1799.
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THE BENCHI AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA
John Kennedy was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Dickinson eollege with the class of 1795. He studied law and was admitted to the Cumberland county bar and then removed to Fayette county and was admitted there in September, 1798, and to the bar of Al- legheny county, September 3, /1799. He practiced in Pittsburgh for many years. but continued to reside in Uniontown. Mr. Kennedy was commissioned a justiee of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, November 19, 1830, and served to the time of his - death, which occurred in the city of Phila- delphia, August 26, 1846. He was buried at Uniontown, Pa.
Thomas G. Johnston was admitted Sep- tember 3, 1799.
Robert Allison was admitted September 22, 1800.
Elias W. Hale was admitted September 22, 1800.
Isaac Kerr was admitted in Washington county, August, 1800, and to the Allegheny county bar Deeeniber 25, 1800, on motion of Parker Campbell.
Robert Whitehill was admitted to the Washington county bar in October, 1797, and to the Allegheny county bar December 25, 1800, on motion of Thomas Collins. He was speaker of the Pennsylvania Senate in 1804, and was elected to Congress in 1804, 1806, 1808 and 1810, serving from March 4, 1805, to March 4, 1813. He died soon after the expiration of his Congressional service.
Andrew Graff was admitted December 25, 1800, on motion of William Ayres.
Ralph Marlin was admitted March 23, 1801, on motion of Robert Callender.
Sampson Smith King was admitted March 26, 1801, on motion of Cunningham S. Semple.
William Wallace was admitted March 27, 1801, on motion of Steele Semple.
Henry Baldwin, LL. D., was born in New Haven, Conn., in 1779, and was graduated
from Yale with the class of 1797. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, set- tled at Pittsburgh and admitted to the Allegheny County bar April 30, 1801, on motion of Steele Semple. Mr. Baldwin was eleeted to Congress from the Pittsburgh distriet in 1816, 1818, 1820, but resigned in 1822, before the completion of his term. He was commissioned a justiee of the Supreme Court of the United States January 6, 1830, and discharged the duties of that office until his death, which oceurred at Philadelphia, April 21, 1844. His death was announced to our courts April 29, 1844, by Wilson MeCandless.
The degree of doetor of laws was con- ferred upon Judge Baldwin by Yale College in 1830 and by Jefferson college in 1843. He was author of "A general view of the origin and nature of the Constitution and Govern- ment of the United States," published in 1837.
Judge Baldwin was a profound lawyer, an elegant and impressive speaker, with a presenee that commanded admiration and respect wherever he went. His opinions while on the bench were marvels of clear statement, logie, learning and skill.
Samuel Smith Harrison was born in Mary- land and removed to Pennsylvania, loeating at Kittanning, where he resided and prae- tieed. He was admitted to the Allegheny county bar June 25, 1801, on motion of James Ross. He was elected to Congress in 1832 and re-elected in 1834.
John Hunter was admitted September 28, 1801, on motion of Thomas Collins.
John Gilmore was born March, 1780, in Bedford, now Somerset county, Pennsylva- nia. Soon after his birth the family removed to Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he was educated and read law with David Bradford and admitted there in August, 1801.
Removed to Pittsburgh and admitted here September 28, 1801.
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Removed to Butler county, where he spent the remainder of his life.
William Wilkins was born December 20, 1779, at Carlisle, Pa. His father was Cap- tain John Wilkins, Sr. He was graduated from Dickinson college, read law at Carlisle with David Watts, and admitted to the bar there.
Mr. Wilkins removed to Pittsburgh in 1800, and was admitted to practice in the courts of Allegheny county December 28, 1801, on motion of Robert Callender. He was president of the Common Couneil of the city of Pittsburgh in 1816, 1817 and 1818, and was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1819. On De- cember 18, 1820, he was commissioned presi- dent judge of the Fifth Judicial District, which included Allegheny county, but re- signed on May 25, 1824, to aceept commis- sion as judge of the District Court of the United States for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Judge Wilkins was elected to Congress in 1828, but declined. He was eleeted to the United States Senate in 1831, resigned his commission as judge and served in the Senate from December 5, 1831, to June 30, 1834, when he resigned to accept an appointment as minister to Russia. He remained in Russia one year, when he re- signed and came home. Elected to Congress in 1842, he served until February, 1844, when he resigned to accept an appointment as Secretary of War, which high office he filled from February 15, 1844, to March 4, 1845. In 1855 he was elected to the Penn- sylvania Senate and served three years, the full term.
Judge Wilkins was the first president of the Bank of Pittsburgh. He died at Home- wood, his country residence, near Pitts- burgh, June 23, 1865, and was buried in the Allegheny cemetery, Pittsburgh, but after- wards removed to Homewood cemetery. Wilkinsburg and Wilkins township, Alle- gheny county, were so named in his honor.
His death was announced to the courts June 24, 1865, by Robert B. Carnahan.
It needs no more than the above recital to show the greatness of Judge Wilkins as a lawyer, judge, statesman and citizen. We may add, however, that the last years of his remarkable life were spent in rallying troops to fight for the nation he loved and served, in its struggle to crush secession and rebellion. On his death bed, with tearful eyes and throbbing heart, he thanked God that his life had been spared to see the flag of his country floating proudly over the United States of America.
James Mountain was born, educated and admitted to the bar in the north of Ireland. Emigrating to America, he taught the classics for a while with great success, notably at the Canonsburg academy, Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania. He was ad- initted to the Allegheny county bar, December 28, 1801, on motion of Joseph Pentecost, after which his life was spent in the practice of law in Allegheny and other counties of Western Pennsylvania, until his death at his home in Pittsburgh, September 13, 1813. He was buried in the churchyard of the First Presbyterian Church of Pitts- burgh. May 13, 1880, his remains were removed to the Allegheny cemetery, Pitts- burgh.
James Mountain earried his scholarly traits into the profession. He walked on a high plane. A close, logical reasoner, with the characteristic eloquence of his race, bespoke for him a brilliant and successful career at the bar. Short as it was, none stood higher or better than he did in all the essential elements of the great and good lawyer, when death suddenly called him from time to eternity.
Robert Moore, son of Dr. Henry Moore, an Irish surgeon, was born and educated in Washington county, Pennsylvania. He studied law and was admitted to the Waslı- ington county bar in August, 1801, and in
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Allegheny county, March 25, 1802, on mo- tion of William Ayres. Soon after his ad- mission he removed to Beaver, where he spent the balance of his life, mainly devoted to the practice of the law. He was elected to Congress in 1816 and re-elected in 1818.
James Allison was born in Cecil county, Maryland, October 4, 1772. Commenced the study of law at Washington, Pa., with David Bradford, but completed it with Henry Purviance. He was admitted to the Washington county bar in January, 1796. In 1802, on the organization of Beaver county, he removed to Beaver. He was admitted to the Allegheny county bar June 29, 1802, on motion of Parker Campbell. Mr. Allison was elected to Congress in 1822 and re-elected in 1824, but deelined to serve a second term on account of ill-health. His Congressional distriet consisted of Alle- gheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler and Mercer counties. He retired from practice in 1846, having practiced fifty years, and died at Beaver in June, 1854.
James E. Heron was admitted March 29, 1803, on motion of Thomas Collins. Ae- cording to the record, he was the first lawyer admitted in Allegheny county upon examination here.
William N. Irwin was admitted Marel 30, 1803, on motion of William Wilkins.
Isaac Meason, Jr., was admitted August 16, 1803, on motion of James Ross.
John Bannister Gibson, LL. D., son of George and Aune (West) Gibson, was born November 8, 1780, and admitted to the Alle- gheny county bar September 26, 1803. A detailed sketeh appears in Cumberland county elsewhere in this history.
Josiah Espy was admitted September 26, 1803, on motion of John Woods. He was of the Espy family of Bedford, and was com- missioned prothonotary, clerk of courts, and register and recorder of Somerset county, April 17, 1795, being the first person com- missioned to those offices in the county. He
was admitted to the bar of Somerset county September 5, 1803.
Henry H. Hazlett was admitted Sep- tember 27, 1803.
Jonathan Redick was admitted to the Washington county bar in November, 1803. and to the Allegheny county bar December 28, 1803, on motion of William Wilkins.
John Stark Edwards was admitted December 31, 1803, on motion of Henry Baldwin.
Obadiah Jennings was born near Basken. ridge, New Jersey, December 13, 1778. edueated at Canonsburg and studied law with John Simonson at Washington, Pa .. and admitted to the bar there November, 1801. He was admitted to the Allegheny county bar March 26, 1805. Later he studied theology and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Ohio in 1816. He died at Nashville, Tenn., January 12, 1832. A short time before his death the College of New Jersey conferred upon him the degree of D. D.
Joseph Douglass was admitted June 24, 1805, on motion of Alexander Addison.
Joseph Weigley was admitted June 25, 1805, on motion of William Wilkins.
John Purviance, born December 28, 1871, in Washington, Pa. Edueated at Washing- ton ; read law there with Parker Campbell, and admitted February, 1805. Admitted to the Allegheny county bar June 25, 1805, on motion of Parker Campbell. Removed to Butler county the same year.
William Ward was admitted September 25, 1805, on motion of Joseph Weigley.
Alexander Johnston was admitted Marelı 28, 1806, on motion of John Woods.
Thomas Butler was admitted March 28, 1806, on motion of James Ross.
John Purdon was admitted March 28, 1806, on motion of James Ross.
Henry Morgan Brackenridge, son of Hugh Henry Brackenridge, was born in Pitts- burgh, May 11, 1786 .. Six months at the
CCCilean du Candless)
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Pittsburgh academy and six months at Jef- ferson college comprised his attendance at school and college. Ile was taught by his father and teachers selected by him. At seven years of age he was sent to Louisiana to learn the French language; when he returned at ten he had mastered the French but had forgotten all English. He read law with his father at Pittsburgh, and was admitted November 12, 1806, on motion of James Ross. IIe removed to Baltimore, but soon returned to Somerset, Pa., where he was admitted and practiced for a short. time. Removing to upper Louisiana in 1810, he commenced to practice, and in 1811 descended the river in a keel-boat to New Orleans, and within two months after his arrival was appointed deputy attorney general for the territory of Louisiana. When the territory became a state, he was, at the age of twenty-three years, appointed United States judge for the distriet of Louisiana. In 1817 and 1818 was secretary to the commissioners to South America.
After the purchase of Florida, when Gen- eral Jackson went as commissioner and governor to take charge of it, Brackenridge accompanied him as counsel and secretary, and in May, 1821, was commissioned district judge of the United States for the Western District of Florida, which position he heid for ten years. In 1832 he removed to Taren- tum, Allegheny county, where he resided until his death. He was elected to Congress from Allegheny county to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Richard Bid- dle, and served from December 10, 1840, to March 4, 1841.
Was appointed by the President one of the commissioners to negotiate a treaty with Mexico in 1841. Hle wrote a "History of the War of 1812," and a "Letter by an Ameri- can to President Monroe on the question of the acknowledgment of the Independence of the South American Republics;" also "A Voyage to South America," "Recollections
of Persons and Places of the West," and "A History of the Whiskey Insurrection." IIe died in the city of Pittsburgh, January 18, 1871, and was buried at Tarentum, Alle- gheny county.
II. M. Brackenridge, practically from his cradle to his grave, was a seeker after truth and knowledge. From the versatile life he led one would suppose his search was in vain; but not so. Ile seemed to conquer and assimilate all the subjects he investi- gated. He was a well grounded lawyer and was a good judge. His writings are master- pieces of clear statement and unexception- able dietion. Ilis life was good, pure, noble and manly.
Walter Forward was born at Hartford, Conn., in 1786; he received an academic education, came to Pittsburgh in 1803, read law with Henry Baldwin and was admitted to the Allegheny county bar November 12, 1806, on motion of James Ross. He prac- ticed with great success until 1822, when he was elected to Congress to succeed Henry Baldwin, resigned, and was re-elected to the succeeding Congress, serving in all from December 2, 1822, to March 4, 1825. He was a delegate to the convention that framed our state constitution in 1838, and was appointed by President William Henry Harrison, first comptroller of the United States treasury, April 6, 1841, serving until he was appointed by President Tyler, secre- tary of the treasury, September 13, 1841. IIe served as secretary of the treasury to February 28, 1843. when he resigned and resumed the practice of his profession.
Mr. Forward was appointed by President Taylor charge d'affaires to Denmark, serv- ing from November 8, 1849, to October 10, 1851, when he resigned to accept the office of president judge of the District Court of Allegheny county, to which he had been elected at the election of that year. He assumed the duties of that office and served until November 24, 1852, when he died sud-
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THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA
denly in Pittsburgh, and was buried in the Allegheny cemetery, Pittsburgh. His death was announced to the courts on the day of its occurrence, by Charles Shaler.
A distinguished contemporary has truth- fully said of Judge Forward that "Ilis eloquence was of that stirring and earnest caste which bore down all opposition, and convinced the hearer that the speaker hin- self felt the truth of every word he uttered." That he was a profound lawyer, a wise statesman, a gifted orator, a just man, a good citizen, all admit. A township in Alle- gheny and one in Butler county were named "Forward" in his honor.
Charles Cecil was admitted November 12, 1806, on motion of William Wilkins.
John B. Alexander came to the bar in Westmoreland county, resided and prac- ticed there. Admitted to the Allegheny county bar January 12, 1807, on motion of James Ross.
Charley Wilkins, son of General John Wilkins, was born November 29, 1784, and was admitted November 10, 1807, on motion of James Ross. He died at Pittsburgh, August 28, 1818.
John McDonald, son of John and (Noble) MeDonald, was born in Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania. He was gradu- ated from Jefferson college with the class of 1804, and was admitted to the bar on No- vember 10, 1807, on motion of James Ross. IIe died at Pittsburgh, Pa., May 20, 1831. His death was announced to the courts on the day of its occurrence by James Ross.
The records of the court show that Mr. McDonald was a very busy man in his day. He was in nearly all the important cases, as well as a participant in the general busi- ness of the court.
James Wills, Jr., son of James and Mary (Lawson) Wills, was born at Monoghan, Ireland, in 1784. He was graduated from Jefferson college with the class of 1805, and admitted November 10, 1807, on motion of
William Wilkins. He died in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in October, 1822.
James C. Gilleland was admitted January 16, 1808, on motion of James Mountain. His death was announced to the court by Richard Biddle, November 18, 1836.
John Marshall was admitted April 6, 1808, on motion of Parker Campbell.
Morgan Neville, son of General Presley Neville and Mary Morgan, daughter of Gel- eral Daniel Morgan, was born December 25, 1783, at Pittsburgh, Pa. He was admitted November 15, 180S, on motion of James Ross, and died March 1, 1840, at Cincinnati, Ohio.
James Armstrong Graham was admitted November 15, 1808, on motion of Steele Semple.
John H. Chaplin was born in Vermont in 1782. He removed to Pittsburgh and was admitted to the Allegheny county bar No- vember 15, 1808. on motion of Henry Bald- win. He removed to Pensacola, Fla., in 1820, and died there in 1822.
Guy Hicox was admitted August 16, 1809, on certificate from the court of Hartford county, Connecticut.
Mangus M. Murray, son of Commander Alexander Murray, U. S. N., was born Feb- ruary 22, 1787. He was admitted November 13, 1809, on motion of William Wilkins. Mr. Murray was mayor of Pittsburgh, 1828, 1829, 1831, and died there March 3, 1838.
James Root was admitted November 14, 1809, on motion of James Ross.
John Morse Austin, son of Eliphalet and Isabella (Dudley) Austin, was born at Hart- ford, Conn., in 1784. He was graduated from Yale with the class of 1807 and from the Yale law school in 1809. He read law in Pittsburgh with Henry Baldwin, and on his motion was admitted August 13, 1810. Later he removed to Uniontown, where he held a large and successful practice until his death, which occurred there April 8, 1864.
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Neville B. Craig, son of Major Isaac and Amelia (Neville) Craig, was born March 29, 1787, in Colonel Boquet's redoubt, Fort Pitt, now Pittsburgh. His mother was a daughter of Gen. John Neville. Mr. Craig was edu- cated at the Pittsburgh academy and Princeton college, and was admitted to the Allegheny county bar August 13, 1810, on motion of Henry Baldwin. Ile was solicitor for the city of Pittsburgh, 1812 to 1825, and edited the Pittsburgh Gazette from 1829 to 1841. Mr. Craig was the author of "The Olden Time," two volumes, 1846 and 1847; "Ilistory of Pittsburgh," 1851; "Life and Service of Major Isaac Craig," 1854, "Memoir of Major Robert Stobo of the Virginia Regiment," 1854; "Exposure of a few of the many misstatements in II. H. Brackenridge's 'History of the Whiskey Insurrection,' "' 1859; and shortly before his death, "An Index of the Bible for an Analysis of the Scriptures." He died at his residence, Oakland, Pittsburgh, March 3, 1863, and was buried in Allegheny ceme- tery, Pittsburgh.
Benjamin Evans was admitted January 14, 1811, on motion of John A. Chaplin.
Richard William Lane was admitted August 12, 1811, on motion of James Ross. Matthew I. Magee was admitted August 13, 1811, on motion of Thomas Collins.
Hugh Picknoll was admitted January 16, 1812, on motion of James Mountain.
Robert Findley was admitted October 3, 1812. from Somerset county.
Samuel Kingston was admitted August 10, 1813. IIe lost his life in the great fire at Pittsburgh, April 10, 1845.
John Irwin Scull, son of John and Mary (Irwin) Seull, was born in 1790, at Pitts- burgh, Pa. He was educated and graduated from Duquesne college, Pittsburgh, Pa., read law with James Ross, and was admitted to the bar September 11, 1813. His father was the founder of the Pittsburgh Gazette.
From his admission until 1818, he prae-
ticed at Pittsburgh, and with Morgan Ne- ville edited and published the Pittsburgh Gazette. In June, 1818, he removed to Brush Ilill in Westmoreland county, where his grandfather, Col. John Irwin, gave him a valuable estate. Mr. Seull was an elocu- tionist of marked ability and devoted to literary pursuits, dividing his time between these and the management of his estate. IIe died June 21, 1827, and was buried in "Long Run" churchyard, near his home. .
Samuel Douglass was admitted November 8, 1813. Ile was attorney general for the commonwealth from February 10, 1830, to January 29, 1833.
Charles Shaler was born in Connecticut and educated at Yale college. He was admitted to the bar at Ravenna, Ohio, then removed to Pittsburgh and was admitted here in 1813. Ile was recorder of the Mayor's Court of Pittsburgh from 1818 to 1821, and was president judge of the courts. of Allegheny county from June 5, 1824, to May 4, 1835, when he resigned; was asso- ciate law judge of the District Court of Allegheny county from May 6, 1841, to May 20, 1844, when he resigned; and was United States attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, under the administration of President Pierce.
Judge Shaler died in Newark, N. J., March 5, 1869, at the house of his son-in-law, the Rev. D. II. Hodges, aged eighty-one years and seven months. He was buried in the Allegheny cemetery, Pittsburgh.
There is no record of the admission of Judge Shaler to the bar of Allegheny county. It is, however, established beyond question that he commenced the practice of the law here in 1813, therefore we have noted his admission as in that year, without other date. His death was announced to the courts March 8, 1869, by Thomas McConnell and Peter C. Shannon.
It was the pleasure and good fortune of the writer to hear Judge Shaler in several
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important cases, on the politieal rostrum and in the councils of the Episcopal church, to- wards the elose of his career, yet his eye was undimmed and his foree unabated. He was tall, with a grace and attractive pres- ence that commanded attention and respect. His hair was cut short, combed back, and a long, full white beard covered his breast, giving him an appearance venerable and patriarchal. In his arguments to the court he was clear, cogent, brief and character- istically deferential. Before the jury he was florid, eloquent, strong, respectful to coun- sel, with an occasional stroke of wit or sar- casm which fell with marked effect on his victim. His reputation as a judge and law- yer was great, and he had clearly and safely won it. As a political speaker on the stump, he was a wonderful power. In the councils of the church he was conservative, calm, earnest in debate, yielding to the solemnity of the place, and the unbroken decorum of the ancient church in which he had been born, baptized and lived a long, earnest, Christian, useful life.
Aquilla M. Bolton was admitted June 27, 1814, on motion of A. W. Foster.
Felix Brunot, son of Dr. Felix and Eliza- beth (Kreider) Brunot, was born in Phila- delphia, Pa .. June 4, 1793, and was admitted August 13, 1814, on motion of Samuel Long. He was deputy attorney general for Allegheny county. He removed to Baton Rouge, La., and died in August, 1827, near Saint Francisville at Woodruff's plantation. Bayou Sara, where he is supposed to have been buried.
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