The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II, Part 33

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

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Mr. Loomis was a member of the Pennsyl- vania electoral college in the presidential eleetion of 1848. He was a eousin of Orlando Metealf, with whom he was long associated as a student and afterwards in the praetiee of law. Ilis death was announeed to the courts August 26, 1873, by George Shiras. He ranked high in his profession, as he also did in all the walks of life.

Collins Stephenson was admitted January 24. 1831, on motion of Ross Wilkins.

William Bruce Clarke, son of William and Agnes (Shields) Clarke, was born in Oeto- ber, 1804, in Beaver, Beaver county, Pa. He was educated at Jefferson college, read law at Beaver with Robert Moore, and was admitted to the Beaver county bar in April, 1827. IIe was admitted to the Alle- gheny county bar January 25, 1831, on mo- tion of Samuel Gormly.

AIr. Clarke resided at Beaver, and prae- tieed in Beaver, Butler and Mereer counties

until 1865, when he removed to Allegheny county and practieed until 1880, when he retired.

John Henry Wells, son of John and Jane (Coulter) Wells, was born at Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pa., August 26, 1804. He spent two years at Dickinson college and completed his educational course at Jefferson college. Ile studied law with George Armstrong at Greensburg and was admitted to the bar of Westmoreland eounty January 29, 1828, on motion of Ross Wilkins ; was admitted to the bar of Fayette county, October 29. 1829, and to that of Allegheny county on January 25, 1831, on- motion of Ross Wilkins. Mr. Wells removed to Waynesburg. Greene county, Pa., in January, 1842, and admitted there Mareh 12, 1842, on motion of L. L. Minor, and devoted himself to the praetiee of the law in that county until his death, which oeeurred at Waynes- burg, October 4, 1889. He was buried in Green Mount cemetery, Waynesburg, Pa.

John Y. Barclay was admitted January 31, 1831, on motion of W. W. Fetterman.

Samuel G. Bailey was admitted in Somer- set eounty August 27, 1822, and to the Alle- gheny county bar February 23, 1831, on mo- tion of Walter Forward.

Horatio Roberts was admitted Mareh 10, 1831, on motion of Walter Forward. Preeep- tor, Edward J. Roberts.

Frederick S. Eckard was admitted March 10, 1831. on motion of Travanion B. Dallas.

Horatio N. Weigley was admitted in Som- erset eounty May 27, 1832, in Bedford eoun- ty August, 1824, and in Allegheny county April 18, 1831, on motion of Samuel Kings- ton.

Wilson McCandless, LL.D., son of William and Mary (Eliott) MeCandless, was born June 19, 1810. in the eity of Pittsburgh. He was graduated from the Western University of Pennsylvania with the class of 1826. He was admitted June 15, 1831, on motion of Walter Forward, being the first admission

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in the county on the report of a standing committee of examination. Preceptor, George Selden.

Mr. McCandless was a member of the Pennsylvania electoral college in the presi- dential elections of 1844, 1852, 1856, and was twiee president of the college. He was chair- man of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Democratic national convention at Baltimore in 1848, and was appointed judge of the Dis- triet court of the United States for the West- ern District of Pennsylvania, February 8. 1859. By an Aet of Congress of June 2, 1876, he was permitted to retire on full pay, although he had not attained his seventieth year, the age preseribed by general statute for the retirement of judges of the national courts. Judge MeCandless received the de- gree of LL. D. from Union college, New York, in 1862. He died at his home in Pitts- burgh, June 30, 1882, and was buried in the Allegheny cemetery. For many years before his death Judge MeCandless was a mem- ber and vestryman of Trinity (Episcopal) church, Pittsburgh. His death was an- nonneed to the courts July 1, 1882, by William D. Moore, William 1. Stone and George C. Wilson.

Wilson McCandless was a distinguished personality from his cradle to his grave. Physically and meutally he was cast in a large mould. Although an apparent aristo- crat in dress, appearance and intercourse with the people, he had a personal follow- ing at all times far ont-numbering any of his local cotemporaries. There was a mag- netism in him that made him practically in- vineible before courts, juries and popular assemblies. Originally a Whig, he changed to the Democratic party in the presidential campaign of 1840. ITis forcible arguments and impassioned eloquenee on the stump brought calls from all parts of the country, and uo man responded quicker or rendered more important or effective service. His devotion to the cause of his clieuts was

equally great, true and sincere. When he entered the temple of justice, the ways and means of the politician were cast aside, and he came panoplied in the garb of the lawyer to battle for his client's cause under the laws of the forum. He was a model lawyer at the bar and was a model judge on the bench. The genial eye of Judge MeCandless told of his kindly heart. In all social functions of the people or the bar Judge MeCandless was the eentral figure, and without him they were as the play of "Hamlet" with "Hamlet" left out.

In the national Democratie convention of 1852 there was a protracted contest for the presidential nomination. James Buchanan of Pennsylvania, Lewis Cass of Michigan, Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois and other distinguished men of the party were voted for, but none could get the required two- thirds vote necessary to nominate.

At last a committee was appointed to pre- sent a name on which all could unite. In the final meeting of that committee Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire was selected by one vote over Col. Wilson MeCandless of Pennsylvania.

On the report of the committee General Pierce was nominated and afterwards elected.

Darwin Phelps was born April 17, 1807. in East Granby, Hartford county, Conn. Ilis father and mother both died before he was nine years old. In the fall of 1818 he went to reside with Samuel Forward, his maternal grandfather, at Aurora, Portage county, Ohio. Later he removed to Pitts- burgh and entered the Western University of Pennsylvania, from which he was gradu- ated with the class of 1827. Hle read law with his uncle, Walter Forward, and was admitted to the bar on August 25, 1831. on motion of Robert Burke. He practiced in Pittsburgh until 1835, then made a tour of the Southern states, and, returning, located at Kittanning in the spring of 1835.

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THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

Mr. Phelps was a member of the legisla- ture in 1856. In the same year he was the candidate of the Whig party for auditor general of the state, but was defeated. He was a member of the National Republieal: convention of 1860, that nominated Abraham Lincoln for president of the United States. He was a member of the Forty-first Congress, serving from Mareh 4, 1869, to March 4. 1871. Mr. Phelps died at Kittanning, De- cember 8, 1879, and was buried there.

Thomas Leet Shields, son of David and Elizabethi (Leet) Shields, was born April 30. 1809, at Washington, and edueated at Washington eollege, Pennsylvania. He also studied law there with T. M. T. MeKennan and was admitted to the Washington county bar in October, 1831, and to the Allegheny county bar November 3, 1831, on motion of Henry M. Watts. Mr. Shields later removed to Batavia, Clermont eounty, Ohio, where he practiced until 1850, when he removed to his farm in Leet township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where he spent the balance of his life and died there Mareh 9, 1879. He was buried in the family enelosure at Shields.

George W. Acheson was admitted in Wash- ington eounty December, 1830, and to the bar of Allegheny eounty November 30, 1831, on motion of W. W. Fetterman.

William Allen Rogers, son of Robert and Effie (Allen) Rogers, was born near Hanover. Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, Deeember ?, 1808. Ile was graduated from Jefferson college with the elass of 1829, read law with John Kennedy and W. W. Fetterman, Pitts- burgh, Pa., and admitted January 2. 1832, on motion of W. W. Fetterman. Removing to Mifflin eounty, Pennsylvania, he was ap- pointed deputy attorney general. After- wards he removed to Ohio, where he served for a time as judge of the Common Pleas. Mr. Rogers died at Springfield, Ohio, May 20, 1855. The degree of A. M. was eonferred upon him by Jefferson eollege in 1848.

John M. Harger was admitted January 20,

1832, on motion of his preceptor, George Selden.

Robert McClelland, son of Dr. John and Sidney (Mccullough) McClelland, was born August 1, 1807, at Greencastle, Franklin county, Pa. He was graduated from Diekinson college with the class of 1829, studied law with Thomas Grubb Mc- Cullough of Greencastle and was admitted to the Franklin county bar in 1831. Remov- ing to Pittsburgh, he was admitted to the Allegheny county bar June 18, 1832, on motion of A. W. Foster. Here he practiced law about one year, when he removed to the territory of Michigan and located at Monroe. In 1835 he was a member of the convention that framed the constitution for the pro- posed state of Michigan. Mr. McClelland was appointed the first bank commissioner of the state by Governor Mason, and also tendered the office of attorney general, both of which he declined. He was a member of the state House of Representatives from 1838 to 1843, and served the last year as speaker. In the last named year he was eleeted to the National House of Represent- atives and re-elected for three suceessive terms, serving from Mareh 4, 1843, to March 4, 1849. In 1850 he was a member of the convention to revise the state constitution. In 1851 the new constitution took effeet, and to prevent an interregnum in the office of governor, it beeame necessary to eleet that offieer for one year. Mr. MeClelland was eleeted and served one year and then re- eleeted for a term of two years from the first of January, 1853. He resigned in Mareh, 1853. to enter the cabinet of Presi- dent Pierce as seeretary of the interior, in which offiee he served from March 4, 1853, to Mareh 4, 1857. After he retired from the office of seeretary of the interior, Mr. Me- Clelland removed to Detroit and resumed practice. In 1867 he was again a member of a convention ealled to revise the eonsti- tution of the state. In 1870 he made the

Alle Burgun

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ALLEGIIENY COUNTY

tour of Europe. He was a member of the National Democratic conventions of 1848, 1852 and 1868. Hle died at his residence in Detroit, August 30, 1880, and was buried in Elmwood cemetery, Detroit.

James H. Stewart was admitted October 24, 1832, on motion of Walter Forward, his preceptor.

John Duncan Mahon was born at Carlisle, l'a., and was graduated from Dickinson col- lege with the class of 1814, and was admitted to the Allegheny county bar, November 13, 1832, on motion of Henry M. Watts. He died in Pittsburgh, July 3, 1861, aged sixty-four years seven months and twenty-eight days. His death was announced to the courts July 6, 1861, by Charles Shaler. Ile was buried in the Allegheny cemetery, Pittsburgh.

All who knew Mr. Mahon speak in high praise of the man and of his ability in the profession.

Rufus Paine Spalding was born May 3, 1798, at West Tisburg, Mass. Ile graduated from Yale with the class of 1817, and was admitted December 10, 1832, on motion of Orlando Metcalf. Mr. Spalding commenced practice in Trumbull county, Ohio. He was a member of the Ohio Legislature in 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, serving as speaker during his last term. He was judge of the Ohio Supreme Court from 1849 to the adoption of the new constitution, when he resumed prac- tice at Cleveland. He was elected to Con- gress in 1862, 1864, 1866, serving from March 4, 1863, to March 4, 1869.

Benjamin Patton, Jr., son of Benjamin: and Phoebe ( Wheeler) Patton, was born July 21, 1810, at Bellefonte, Center county, Pa. He was graduated from Dickinson col- lege with the class of 1828, studied law at Carlisle, Pa., with Andrew Carothers, and while a student at law served one term as secretary to Commodore Elliott, who com- manded a United States naval squadron to the gulf of Mexico. After his return Mr. Patton was admitted to the Cumberland

county bar and then spent a few months at Nashville, Tenn., with a view of locating there, but returned to Pennsylvania and set- tled at Lewistown in Mifflin county, where he was appointed deputy attorney general for that county by Samuel Douglass, the attorney general for the commonwealth.

In 1832 President Andrew Jackson ap- pointed Mr. Patton United States attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, when he removed to Pittsburgh and was admitted to the Allegheny county bar. Jan- mary 2, 1833, on metion of Henry M. Watts. Mr. Patton discharged the duties of his office and engaged in the general practice of the law at Pittsburgh until July 1, 1839, when he was commissioned president judge of the courts of Allegheny county by Governor David R. Porter, in which office he served until January 31, 1850, when he was sue- ceeded by William B. MeChuire. After his retirement from the bench he was appointed clerk and commissioner of the Circuit court, of the United States for the Eastern District, of Pennsylvania by Robert C. Grier, one of the judges of the Supreme Court of the United States. After twelve years' service under this appointment at Philadelphia, he removed to his farm, named "Fontland," near Hicksville, Defiance county, Ohio.

Ile was a member of the Ohio state House of Representatives in 1880-81. He contin- ued his residence at Fontland and died there February 10, 1897, and was buried in Forest Home cemetery, Hicksville, Ohio.

Andrew Burke was graduated from the Western University of Pennsylvania with the class of 1829. He was admitted March 25, 1833, on motion of his preceptor, Robert Burke.

Alexander William Foster, Jr., was ad- mitted March 25, 1833, on motion of Orlando Metcalf. Preceptor, A. W. Foster. He was solicitor for the city of Pittsburgh in 1857, 1858, 1859.

John Scott Peyton was admitted March

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THE BENCIL AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

26, 1833, on motion of Trevanion B. Dallas.

Charles G. Smith was born at Newberg, N. J. He was admitted April 2, 1833, on motion of Walter Forward. Mr. Smith died in Manchester (now eity of Allegheny) November 3, 1870, aged sixty-one years. II: was buried in Allegheny cemetery, Pitts- burgh, Pa.

Charles Cramer Sullivan, son of Charles and Susanna (Johnston) Sullivan, born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1807, was graduated from Jefferson college, Pennsylvania, with the class of 1829. He read law and was admitted in Butler in 1830 and to the Allegheny county bar April 6, 1833, on motion of Henry M. Watts. He continued to reside and praetiee in Butler county until his death.

Hugh Toner was admitted April 8, 1833, on motion of A. W. Foster. His preceptor was Robert Burke. Mr. Toner died October 4, 1850, aged fifty years, and was buried in Saint Mary's cemetery, Pittsburgh. He was a native of Ireland.

William George Hawkins was born Janu- ary 25, 1799, in Fayette county, Pa. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in Greene county in 1822. He was elected to the State Senate from the district of which Greene county was a part and served six years, from 1826 to 1832; he was speaker of the Senate in 1830, 1831, 1832. Mr. Hawkins removed to Pittsburgh in 1832 and was ad- mitted to the Allegheny county bar April 8, 1833, on motion of Benjamin Patton, Jr. He died April 11, 1876, and was buried in Alle- gheny cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pa. His death was announeed to the eonrts April 11, 1876, by Marshall Swartzwelder.

Frew was registered as a law student at Pittsburgh, with Walter Forward and Wil. liam Wilkins. Ile was admitted to the bar on May 15, 1833, on motion of Walter For- ward. He was a member of the state House of Representatives from Allegheny county in 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837; was also prothon- otary of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Mr. Frew died at Pittsburgh, April 30, 1861, and was buried at Elizabeth, Allegheny county.

H. Gold Rogers was admitted September 16, 1833, on motion of W. W. Fetterman. IIe was a member of the convention which framed the state constitution of 1838. Mr. Rogers was commissioned charge d'affaires to Sardinia, June 30, 1840, and left Sardinia on his return home November 22, 1841.

William B. Conway was admitted Novem- ber 21, 1833. Preceptor, W. W. Fetterman.

James J. Marks was admitted in 1833. Preceptors, Charles Shaler and Walter For- ward.

James Veech, LL.D., son of David and Elizabethı (Parker; Veech, was born in Menallen township, Fayette eonty, Pa., September 18, 1808. His early life was spent with his family on a farm in Greene county. Pa. He was graduated from Jefferson col- lege with the elass of 1828, and the same institution afterward conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. Mr. Veech studied law at Uniontown, Fayette county, with James Todd, and was admitted to the Fayette county bar in 1832. He. removed to Pitts- burgh in 1834, where he was admitted Jan- mary 24 of that year, and practiced until 1838, when he returned to Uniontown. While in Allegheny county he served as deputy at- torney general under an appointment from his preceptor, Janics Todd, who had become attorney general for the commonwealth. Mr. Veech was the candidate of the Republican party for judge of the Supreme Court in was paymaster in the United States army in

Samuel Frew, son of Alexander and Eliza- beth (Wilson) Frew, was born at Newcastle, then Mereer, now Lawrence county, Penn- sylvania, December 22, 1806. While quite young the family removed to Allegheny county. After a thorough training in the . 1857, but was defeated by Judge Strong. He best schools and colleges in the country, Mr.

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ALLEGHENY COUNTY

1861-62, but resigned in 1862 and located in Allegheny county, where he practiced his profession until 1872, when he retired and removed to his country house at Emsworth, on the Ohio river below Allegheny City, where he died December 11, 1879. He was buried at Uniontown, Pa.

Mr. Vecch was the author of a history of "Mason and Dixon's Line," and many other historical, literary, scientifie and professional works of marked ability. ITis death was announced to the courts the day of its oc- currence by Marshall Swartzwelder and Sol- omon Schover, Jr.

Robert M. Montgomery was admitted March 19, 1834.

Thomas J. Gass was admitted March 29, 1834, on motion of Walter II. Lowrie.

Thomas J. Dunham was admitted April 13, 1834. Preceptor, E. W. Withington.

Thompson Campbell, son of James and Margaret (Colgen) Campbell, was born at Kennet Square, Chester county, Pennsylva- nia. Ile removed with his family to Lancas- ter eounty in 1811, and then in 1818 to Alle- gheny county, Pa., then to Middlesex town- ship, Butler county, Pa., in 1828. He was edueated at Jefferson college, and admitted June 17, 1834, on motion of Richard Biddle. Preceptor, W. W. Fetterman. Later on Mr. Campbell removed to Galena, Ill. He was secretary of the state of Illinois for one term and was elected to Congress from the Galena district in 1850. In 1852 he was eommis- sioned, by the president of the United States, a member of the board of land commissioners for California. After serving for a time on that commission, he resigned and practiced in San Francisco. He was a member of the legislature of California at the breaking out of the rebellion, and introduced the cele- brated "Union resolutions," which he ad- vocated with such marked ability that they were carried. Mr. Campbell died December 6. 1868, in San Francisco, and was buried at Lone Mountain cemetery, in that city.

William W. McNair was admitted June 17, 1834, on motion of Richard Biddle. Pre- ceptor, A. W. Foster.

Evan Reese Evans was born at Lancaster, Pa. He was admitted April 3, 1835, on mo- tion of Henry M. Watts. Later he removed to Texas, and died there.

William Croghan was born at Louisville, Ky. He was admitted May 20, 1835, on motion of Henry M. Watts. He died in Collins township, Allegheny county, Penn- sylvania, September 24, 1850, aged fifty-five years eight months and twenty-two days.

David Ritchie, son of Craig Ritchie, was born August 19, 1812, at Canonsburg, Pa., and was graduated from Jefferson eollege with the class of 1829. Hle was admitted June 16, 1835, on motion of Charles Shaler ; preceptor, Walter Forward. Mr. Ritehie was a member of the National House of Representatives from the Pittsburgh district from March 4, 1853. to March 4, 1859. He was associate law judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny eounty from May 22, 1862, to the first Monday of De- cember, 1862. Judge Ritehie died at Pitts- burgh, January 24, 1867, and was buried in the Allegheny cemetery. His death was announeed to the courts January 25, 1867, by James I. Kuhn and Thomas M. Mar- shall. The degree of Juris Utriusque Doctor was conferred upon him by the University of Heidelberg, Germany, in January, 1837.

James Caldwell was admitted June 16, 1835, on motion of Charles Shaler. Pre- ceptor, Samuel Colwell.

William O'Hara Robinson was born Oeto- ber 7, 1813, in Allegheny City, and was the second son of Gen. William Robinson of that place. He was graduated from the Western University of Pennsylvania with the elass of 1830, and from Harvard with the class of 1831. He studied law at Pitts- burgh with W. W. Fetterman, and was admitted September 24, 1835, on motion of Charles Shaler. Mr. Robinson was attorney

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THE BENCIL AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

for the United States for the Western Dis- trict of Pennsylvania; was solicitor of the borough of Allegheny at the time the borough beeame the city of Allegheny, and served as solieitor for the city of Allegheny for some time thereafter. He practieed his profession in Allegheny county until his death, which occurred February 6, 1855. Mr. Robinson was buried at Pittsburgh, in the Allegheny cemetery. His death was announeed to the courts February 7, 1855, by Charles Shaler and Wilson McCandless.

Thomas Liggett, Jr., was graduated from the Western University of Pennsylvania with the class of 1830. Ile was admitted September 25, 1835, on motion of Charles Shaler. Preceptor, Riehard Biddle. Mr. Liggett was prothonotary of Allegheny county in 1838-39. His death was an- nonneed to the eourts November 19, 1851, by Charles Shaler.

Alfred W. Marks was admitted October 28, 1835, on motion of Charles Shaler. Hc died April 2, 1863, aged fifty years, and was buried in Allegheny cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pa. Preceptor, Trevanion B. Dallas.

Abner Lacock Pentland was admitted October 28, 1835, on motion of Charles Shaler; prceeptor, Walter Forward. Mr. Pentland was prothonotary of the Supreme Court for several years and resigned April 1, 1845.

Zantzinger McDonald, son of John and Mary (Morrow) MeDonald, was born at Pittsburgh, Pa., September 4, 1812. He was graduated from Jefferson eollege with the class of 1832 and admitted October 28, 1835, on motion of Charles Shaler; preceptor, Samuel Colwell. He died at Pittsburgh, Pa., July 16, 1838.

Henry Hanna was admitted December 22, 1835, on motion of Walter H. Lowrie; pre- ecptor, Samuel Colwell.

James Findley was admitted January 26, 1836, on motion of Charles Shaler. He was secretary of the commonwealth from De-

cember 17, 1833, to December 15, 1835, and solicitor for the city of Pittsburgh in 1837- 38-39. Ilis death was announced to the courts June 23, 1843, by James Dunlop.

James R. Struthers was admitted October 8, 1830, on motion of Walter H. Lowric.

Ebenezer McIlvaine was admitted October 25, 1836, on motion of Charles S. Bradford, on ecrtificate from Cumberland county.

Henry W. Van Amringe was admitted January 5, 1837, on motion of Charles S. Bradford.

John Nelson Purviance was born Septem- ber 27, 1810, at Butler, Pa., read law there with John Bredin, and was admitted in 1832. He was admitted to the Allegheny county bar December 31, 1836, on motion of Walter Howard. He spent his life at Butler.

Perez Jonas Avery was admitted January 16, 1837, on motion of Charles Shaler.

Jonathan H. Smith was admitted January 28, 1837, on motion of Percz Jonas Avery, on certificate from Cambria county.

Robert Woods was born February 19, 1814, at Washington, Pa., and was gradu- ated from Washington college, Pennsylvania, with the class of 1834. After graduation he taught an academy at Pittston, Pa., and read law there with N. P. Hobert, completing his eourse with Walter H. Lowrie, of Pittsburgh, Pa. He registered November 23, 1836, and was admitted April 1, 1837. IIe was solieitor for the eity of Pittsburgh in 1844. He died at the family residenec in Union township, Allegheny eounty, Pennsylvania, November 30, 1879, and his death was announced to the courts Deeember 1, 1879, by John S. Ferguson and David D. Bruce.

Mr. Woods, although a good and remark- ably suceessful "all-round" lawyer, won high rank at the bar in the trial of land eascs. But few ejeetments were tried while he was in practiee without his being on one side or the other, and his side was usually the winner.

Andrew Wylie was born February 25,

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The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II, Part 33

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