The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II, Part 36

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

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professional and social life, like the deep clear water of a river, calin, strong, quiet, persistently passing on to the ocean, does its work, so he did his. Always cheerful, al- ways ready to help a faltering brother, al- ways prompted by the highest impulse of honorable effort, his life was a grand suc- cess. Without an enemy, his work finished, an immense eoneourse of neighbors, clients and friends united with his weeping wife and children in committing his body to the dust in the sacred precincts of Saint Mary's cemetery. Pittsburgh.

James M. Christy was born July 14, 1818, at Pittsburgh, Pa., son of Robert and Annie (Gilehrist) Christy. He was educated at the Western University of Pennsylvania, regis- tered Mareh 16, 1840, and was admitted March 11, 1843, on motion of his preceptor, Robert Woods. Mr. Christy died Novem- ber 19, 1896, and was buried in Allegheny cemetery, Pittsburgh.

Daniel M. Curry was admitted March 11, 1843, on motion of Christian S. Eyster.

Joseph M. Ewing registered September 11, 1839, and was admitted May 3, 1843, on motion of William E. Austin. Preceptor, Ebenezer MeIlwaine.

Thomas Howard was born August 28, 1818, at Rome, N. Y. In 1828 his family re- moved to Crawford county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Howard was educated at country sehools and by private tutors. At nineteen years of age he eame to Pittsburgh and read law with John Williamson. He registered April 1, 1841, and was admitted July 17, 1843, on motion of L. C. Judson.

In 1861 Mr. Howard was appointed eoun- sel to San Juan del Sud, in Niearagua. Af- ter seven months'serviee he resigned and re- sumed his law praetiee. In 1869 he was eleeted to the Pennsylvania Senate to fill the unexpired term of Russell Errett. He was also a member from Allegheny county to the state convention that framed the eonsti- tution of 1874. Later, Mr. Howard retired

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ALLEGHENY COUNTY

from practice and removed to Philadelphia.

Alexander L. Hamilton registered July 11, 1841, and was admitted July 24, 1843, on mo- tion of his preceptor, Henry S. Magraw.

James Callen registered December 10, 1840. Hle was admitted July 24, 1843, on motion of William E. Austin. Preceptor, Thomas Hamilton. Mr. Callen died Septem- ber 15, 1854. His death was announeed to the Supreme Court September 15, 1854, by Wilson McCandless.

Michael McBride registered September 8, 1841, and was admitted October 5, 1843, on motion of Henry W. Van Amringe. Precep- tor, Charles Shaler. Mr. McBride was born and died in Pittsburgh. He was a tragedian of marked ability, and was also an alderman of the Third ward, Pittsburgh. He was bur- ied in Saint Mary's cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pa., March 5, 1864, having died aged forty- seven years.

Lewis D. Champlin registered Septem- ber 2, 1841, and was admitted October 14, 1843, on motion of Alexander HI. Miller. Pre- ceptors, Moses Hampton and Alexander H. Miller.

Robert Patterson, son of the Rev. Robert and Jean (Canon) Patterson, was born Oc- tober 17, 1821, in Pittsburgh, Pa. He re- ceived his preliminary education at the West- ern University of Pennsylvania and was graduated from Jefferson college with the class of 1840. He registered October 1, 1840, and was admitted October 19, 1843, on mo- tion of Thomas II. Baird, his preceptor. He practiced with his father-in-law, Thomas HI. Baird, in Pittsburgh until 1845. Mr. Pat- terson was principal of Gustavus academy, Ohio, from 1845 to 1846, and of Snow Hill academy, Maryland, from 1846 to 1847, and of Pendleton academy in the parish of St. Mary's Louisiana, from 1849 to 1850. He was professor of mathematics at Jefferson college from 1850 to 1854, and in Oakland college, Mississippi, from 1854 to 1858, and in Centre college, Danville, Ky., from 1858

to 1864. From 1864 until his death he was associated with Rev. James Allison, D. D. in the publication of the Presbyterian Banner at Pittsburgh, Pa. Mr. Patterson died at his residence in Sewiekley, Allegheny county, Pa., November 29, 1889, of paralysis. He was buried in the Allegheny cemetery, Pitts- burgh, Pa.

Robert Bowman, Jr., registered October 1, 1840, and was admitted October 19, 1843. Preceptor, Thomas II. Baird.

William Dickson Tassey, son of John and Mary (Dickson) Tassey, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, October 11, 1816. HIe emi- grated to the United States in 1820 and was graduated from Jefferson college with the class of 1838. He registered October 12, 1837, and was admitted October 26, 1843, on motion of Moses Hampton. Preceptor, Wal- ter Forward. Mr. Tassey died at Memphis, Tenn., August 5, 1858.

George Laughe Robinson, son of William and Mary A. (Wilkins) Robinson, was born June 4, 1820, in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was graduated from Union college, Schenectady, N. Y., registered October 11, 1841, and was admitted October 26, 1843, on motion of Moses Hampton. Preceptor, Charles Sha- ler. Mr. Robinson died May 5, 1864, and was buried in the Allegheny cemetery, Pitts- burgh.

William Joseph Richart registered Novem- ber 11, 1840, and was admitted November 7, 1843. Preceptor, Moses Hampton.

John B. Perkins registered September 14, 1841. He was admitted November 11, 1843, on motion of James Dunlop. Preceptor George F. Gilmore.

William Willson registered November 17, 1841; was admitted November 22, 1843, on motion of James M. Reed. Preceptor, Thomas H. Baird.

A. Kirk Lewis registered August 7, 1840, and was admitted December 23, 1843, on motion of C. S. Eyster. Preceptor, Charles Shaler. Mr. Lewis died November 10, 1860,

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THE BENCHI AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

aged forty-five years. He was buried in the Allegheny cemetery, Pittsburgh.

Clarence Shaler, son of Charles Shaler, registered September 1, 1841. He was ad- mitted December 23, 1843, on motion of Christian S. Eyster.

Cyrus Orlando Loomis registered June 27, 1842, and was admitted January 2, 1844, on motion of Orlando Metcalf, by special order on certificate of examining committee. Ilis preceptor was Andrew W. Loomis. Mr. C. O. Loomis was solicitor of the eity of Pitts- burgh in 1847 and 1848. Later he removed to Coldwater, Mich. He served in the war of the rebellion as captain of Battery A, First Regiment Michigan Light Artillery and as eolonel of that regiment and as chief of artillery of the Army of the Cumberland. He was in all the leading battles of that army and on June 20, 1865, was brevetted briga- dier general of volunteers for gallant and meritorious services rendered in that war. The severe campaigns and hard military fights in which Mr. Loomis participated pro- duced softening of the brain, and he was sent to the government hospital for the insane at Washington, D. C., where he died Septem- ber 4, 1872. His body was expressed to Coldwater, Mich., for burial, but the ear and the body were burned in a wreek on the Michigan Central railroad. Such remains as could be found of the body were gathered up by old comrades and friends and buried at Detroit.

George Shattuck Selden, son of George and Sophie Louise (Shattuck) Selden, was born December 3, 1822, at Meadville, Pa. He was edueated at Allegheny college, Mead- ville and studied law there with David Der- rickson and was admitted to the Crawford county bar Deeember 17, 1843. He then re- moved to Pittsburgh and was admitted to the Allegheny county bar January 17, 1844, on motion of William B. McClure. Mr. Sel- den practiced in Allegheny county until 1861, when he returned to Meadville. In 1867 he

removed to Philadelphia. The date of his death is unknown.

William Wilkins Dallas registered April 14, 1841 ; admitted February 22, 1844, on mo- tion of Charles S. Bradford, his preceptor.

John P. Bailey registered February 24, 1842, and was admitted February 26, 1844, on motion of his preceptor, Henry W. Van Amringe.

J. Noble Nisbet was admitted March 20, 1844, on motion of Henry W. Van Amringe.

Thomas Donnelly was born at Blairsville, Indiana county, Pa. He registered April 1, 1842, and was admitted April 9, 1844, on mo- tion of Wilson MeCandless. Ilis preceptor was Charles Shaler. Mr. Donnelly in a short while retired from praetiee and went into business. He was president of the Fourth National Bank, Pittsburgh, from June 14, 1865, until his death, which oeeurred April 15, 1886, at Pittsburgh, Pa., in his eighty- fourth year. He was buried at Pittsburgh, in St. Mary's cemetery.

Alexander M. Burns was admitted April 11, 1844, on motion of Wilson MeCandless, and removed to Manhattan, Kan.

Charles McClure Hays was admitted April 13, 1844, on motion of James Dunlop. Mr. Hays served in the national army in the war of the rebellion in the Second Regiment of West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, and in Captain Young's Ileavy Artillery stationed at Fort Delaware. He died at Harrisburg, Pa., about the close of that war. Mr. Hays was the nephew of Hon. William B. McClure of the Allegheny county beneh.

Francis P. Thompson registered December 25, 1841; was admitted June 19, 1844, on mno- tion of his preceptor, Walter H. Lowrie.

William Oliver Leslie, son of James and Mary (Galbreath) Leslie, was born at Tar- entum, Allegheny county, Pa., in 1816, and was edueated in the schools and academies of the county. He registered September 16, 1843, and was admitted July 20, 1844, on motion of his preceptor, Walter Forward.

Am Blakeley

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ALLEGHENY COUNTY

Mr. Leslie praetieed his profession in Pitts- burgh until August, 1864, when he retired and moved to Philadelphia. He died at his resi- denee in Philadelphia, May 13, 1890, and was buried there in the North Laurel Hill eene- tery.

Augustus Findley Washington was born in 1812, at Chambersburg, Pa., son of Reade and Elizabeth Sterrett (Crawford) Wash- ington. He was edueated at Chambersburg, and registered November 5, 1841, and was admitted August 24, 1844. Preceptor, Reade Washington. A. F. Washington died October 8, 1859, at Pittsburgh, Pa., and was buried in Laurel Hill cemetery, Philadelphia. His death was announeed in court, October 8, 1859, by Charles Shaler.

James I. Kuhn, son of Adam and Mary Kuhn, was born in 1810, in Versailles town- ship, Allegheny county, Pa. He was grad- uated from Jefferson eollege with the elass of 1832. He was professor of Greek and Latin in Lafayette eollege from 1832 to 1837, and was a tutor in Georgia from 1837 to 1840; he was also a professor in Ohio univer- sity from 1840 to 1844. Mr. Kuhn read law in Ohio and was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1844, and to the Allegheny eounty bar, Au- gust 31, 1844, after which he praetieed here. He was solieitor for the eity of Pittsburgh in 1850, 1851, 1854. He died at Pittsburgh, Pa., July 2, 1885, and was buried in the Al- legheny cemetery, Pittsburgh.

Mr. Kuhn was really a well read lawyer before he took steps for admission. His proe- ess of studying was peculiar. He would not take a book and read it through. His plan was to grasp and learn the great and leading principles of the law and hang them up, as it were, on hooks until he had all the main ones, saying to the writer onee, that he had his room full of them, and a name for each. Then he would take up a principle and run it down through all known authori- ties, noting changes, limitations or enlarge- ments in its application. When one was

completed, he took another and so on. Whether he had the best plan we will not stop to consider; suffiee to say that he be- eame one of the soundest and best lawyers at our bar. Ile was not a ready speaker and his best efforts were to the courts on the law of the ease.

Orville H. Brown registered February 13, 1844, and was admitted September 14, 1844, on motion of his preceptor, Wilson MeCand- less.

Ernst G. A. Heidelberg was admitted No- vember 18, 1844, on motion of Wilson Me- Candless.

John Wilkins Robinson, son of William and Mary A. (Wilkins) Robinson, was born July 20, 1821, at Pittsburgh, Pa. He regis- tered November 12, 1842, and was admitted November 21, 1844, on motion of his preeep- tor, Charles Shaler. Mr. Robinson died April 30, 1850, and was buried in the Al- legheny cemetery, Pittsburgh. His mother was a sister of William Wilkins of the Al- legheny eounty bar.

Andrew McMasters was born Deeember 25, 1818, at Pittsburgh, Pa. He was grad- uated from the Western University of Penn- sylvania with the elass of 1837, and regis- tered November 1, 1841 ; he was admitted to the bar November 21, 1844, on motion of George P. Hamilton. His preceptor was Thomas IIamilton. Mr. MeMasters died De- eember 4, 1863. Thomas 'M. Marshall an- nouneed his death to the courts on the day of its oeeurrenee.

George E. Appleton registered August 11, 1842, and was admitted November 22, 1844, on motion of William E. Austin ; preceptor. Cornelius Darragh. Mr. Appleton was a member of the State House of Representa- tives in 1852 and 1853.

John S. Hamilton, son of James and Naney (Dinsmore) Hamilton, was born August 29. 1822, in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was graduated from the Western University of Pennsyl- vania with the class of 1840; registered Oe-

852

THE BENCHI AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

aged forty-five years. He was buried in the Allegheny cemetery, Pittsburgh.

Clarence Shaler, son of Charles Shaler, registered September 1, 1841. He was ad- mitted December 23, 1843, on motion of Christian S. Eyster.

Cyrus Orlando Loomis registered June 27, 1842, and was admitted January 2, 1844, on motion of Orlando Metcalf, by special order on certificate of examining committee. His preceptor was Andrew W. Loomis. Mr. C. O. Loomis was solicitor of the city of Pitts- burgh in 1847 and 1848. Later he removed to Coldwater, Mich. He served in the war of the rebellion as captain of Battery A, First Regiment Michigan Light Artillery and as colonel of that regiment and as chief of artillery of the Army of the Cumberland. He was in all the leading battles of that army and on June 20, 1865, was brevetted briga- dier general of volunteers for gallant and meritorious services rendered in that war. The severe campaigns and hard military fights in which Mr. Loomis participated pro- duced softening of the brain, and he was sent to the government hospital for the insane at Washington, D. C., where he died Septent- ber 4. 1872. His body was expressed to Coldwater, Mich., for burial, but the car and the body were burned in a wreck on the Michigan Central railroad. Such remains as could be found of the body were gathered up by old comrades and friends and buried at Detroit.

George Shattuck Selden, son of George and Sophie Louise (Shattuck) Selden, was born December 3, 1822, at Meadville, Pa. He was educated at Allegheny college, Mead- ville and studied law there with David Der- rickson and was admitted to the Crawford county bar December 17, 1843. He then re- moved to Pittsburgh and was admitted to the Allegheny county bar January 17, 1844, on motion of William B. McClure. Mr. Sel- den practiced in Allegheny county until 1861, when he returned to Meadville. In 1867 he

removed to Philadelphia. The date of his death is unknown.

William Wilkins Dallas registered April 14, 1841 ; admitted February 22, 1844, on mo- tion of Charles S. Bradford, his preceptor.

John P. Bailey registered February 24, 1842, and was admitted February 26, 1844, on motion of his preceptor, Henry W. Van Amringe.

J. Noble Nisbet was admitted March 20, 1844, on motion of Henry W. Van Amringe.

Thomas Donnelly was born at Blairsville, Indiana county, Pa. He registered April 1, 1842, and was admitted April 9, 1844, on mo- tion of Wilson McCandless. His preceptor was Charles Shaler. Mr. Donnelly in a short while retired from practice and went into business. He was president of the Fourth National Bank, Pittsburgh, from June 14, 1865, until his death, which occurred April 15, 1886, at Pittsburgh, Pa., in his eighty- fourth year. He was buried at Pittsburgh, in St. Mary's cemetery.

Alexander M. Burns was admitted April 11, 1844, on motion of Wilson MeCandless, and removed to Manhattan, Kan.

Charles Mcclure Hays was admitted April 13, 1844, on motion of James Dunlop. Mr. Hays served in the national army in the war of the rebellion in the Second Regiment of West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, and in Captain Young's Heavy Artillery stationed at Fort Delaware. IIe died at .Harrisburg, Pa., about the close of that war. Mr. Hays was the nephew of Hon. William B. McClure of the Allegheny county bench.

Francis P. Thompson registered December 25, 1841; was admitted June 19, 1844, on mo- tion of his preceptor, Walter II. Lowrie.

William Oliver Leslie, son of James and Mary (Galbreath) Leslie, was born at Tar- entum, Allegheny county, Pa., in 1816, and was educated in the schools and academies of the county. He registered September 16, 1843, and was admitted July 20, 1844, on motion of his preceptor, Walter Forward.

ImmBlackeley

853

ALLEGHENY COUNTY

Mr. Leslie practiced his profession in Pitts- burgh until August, 1864, when he retired and moved to Philadelphia. He died at his resi- denee in Philadelphia, May 13, 1890, and was buried there in the North Laurel Hill eeme- tery.

James I. Kuhn, son of Adam and Mary Kuhn, was born in 1810, in Versailles town- ship, Allegheny county, Pa. He was grad- uated from Jefferson college with the elass of 1832. He was professor of Greek and Latin in Lafayette college from 1832 to 1837, and was a tutor in Georgia from 1837 to 1840 ; he was also a professor in Ohio univer- sity from 1840 to 1844. Mr. Kuhn read law in Ohio and was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1844, and to the Allegheny county bar, Au- gust 31, 1844, after which he praetieed here. He was solicitor for the eity of Pittsburgh in 1850, 1851, 1854. He died at Pittsburgh, Pa., July 2, 1885, and was buried in the Al- legheny cemetery, Pittsburgh.

Mr. Kuhn was really a well read lawyer before he took steps for admission. His proc- ess of studying was peculiar. He would not take a book and read it through. His plan was to grasp and learn the great and leading principles of the law and hang them up, as it were, on hooks until he had all the main ones, saying to the writer onee, that he had his room full of them, and a name for each. Then he would take up a principle and run it down through all known authori- ties, noting changes, limitations or enlarge- ments in its application. When one was

completed, another and so on. Whether he had the best plan we will not stop to consider; suffiee to say that he be- came one of the soundest and best lawyers at our bar. Ile was not a ready speaker and his best efforts were to the courts on the law of the ease.

Orville H. Brown registered February 13, 1844, and was admitted September 14, 1844, on motion of his preceptor, Wilson MeCand- less.

Ernst G. A. Heidelberg was admitted No- vember 18, 1844, on motion of Wilson Me- Candless.

Andrew McMasters was born December 25, 1818, at Pittsburgh, Pa. He was grad- uated from the Western University of Penn- sylvania with the elass of 1837, and regis- tered November 1, 1841; he was admitted to the bar November 21, 1844, on motion of George P. Hamilton. His preceptor was Thomas Hamilton. Mr. MeMasters died De- cember 4, 1863. Thomas 'M. Marshall an- nouneed his death to the courts on the day of its oceurrenee.

George E. Appleton registered August 11, 1842, and was admitted November 22, 1844, on motion of William E. Austin; preceptor. Cornelius Darragh. Mr. Appleton was a member of the State House of Representa- tives in 1852 and 1853.

John S. Hamilton, son of James and Nancy (Dinsmore) Hamilton, was born August 29, 1822, in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was graduated from the Western University of Pennsyl- vania with the class of 1840; registered Oc-

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THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

tober 30, 1841; admitted November 23, 1844, on motion of his preceptor, John D. Mahon. Mr. Hamilton was a member of the Pennsyl- vania State House of Representatives in 1854. He removed to Fort Madison, Iowa, in 1855, and was a member of the Iowa Leg- islature in 1856, special session. He died at Fort Madison, November, 1856, from injuries received from the bursting of a cannon which he fired in honor of the election of James Buchanan to the presidency of the United States. Mr. Hamilton served in the United States army in the war with Mexico.

John D. Robinson registered January 1, 1842, and was admitted December 2, 1844, on motion of Reade Washington. His precep- tor was William O'Hara Robinson. John D. Robinson was a son of General William Rob- inson of Allegheny City, and he was born and died in that city. His death occurred on November 23, 1873, at the age of fifty-one years, eight months and twenty-five days. He was buried in the Allegheny cemetery, Pittsburgh.

J. W. F. White, LL. D., son of the Rev. John and Elizabeth (James) White, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, January 19, 1821. He was educated at Al- legheny college, Meadville, which institution afterwards conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. His law studies were pursued at Washington, Pa., with T. M. T. McKennan, and he was admitted to the Washington county bar in July, 1844, and to the Al- legheny county bar, December 10, 1844, on motion of Thomas Williams. Mr. White re- moved to Allegheny county in March, 1851. He was a member of the convention which framed the constitution of 1874, and was elected a judge of the District Court of Al- legheny county in 1873. His commission was read and he was sworn into office December 1, 1873.

By the Constitution of 1874, the District Court became the Court of Common Pleas No. 2, and the judges of the District Court

were continued as the judges of the Common Pleas Court No. 2 for the terms for which they had been elected, respectively. In 1883 Judge White was re-elected to sneceed hin- self for another term of ten years, and again re-elected in 1893. The honorable Thomas Ewing, president judge of the common Pleas No. 2, having died May 9, 1897, Judge White was commissioned president judge of the said court, May 13, 1897, and served until his death. He died at his home in Sewickley, Allegheny county, Pa., November 5, 1900, and was buried in the Sewickley cemetery.

Judge White's full name was John Wil- liam Fletcher, but he used and was known by the initials as written at the head of this article. He came of an ancestry noted for longevity and devotion to Wesleyan theol- ogy. In his younger days he was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church, and always took an active part and deep in- terest in its affairs, temporal and spiritual. In church, on the political rostrum and at the bar, he was an intelligent, interesting, in- structive and eloquent speaker.

When Judge White came to the bench, his charges were models of clear statements, eas- ily understood by the common mind. Jur- ors often complain that after hearing the charge of the court they know little or noth- ing of the real issue left to them. Com- plaints of that kind could not have been truthfully made of Judge White's charges. Notwithstanding his admitted ability, he had some traits or ideas which provoked remark and criticism, the principal one of which was his tenacity. He frequently jumped ac- knowledged precedents to reach a result which head and heart told him was law and justice. In the administration of affairs in his own court, he would trample down, usage, custom and precedent when he deemed them obstructions in the pathway of justice. He had a perfect abhorrence of ex- pert testimony and let no proper opportu- nity pass without giving his reasons for it.

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In. SeWhite

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ALLEGHENY COUNTY

When on the bench of the Criminal Court, he would accept pleas of guilty and sentence, although the ease had not been before the grand jury. Possibly no one could legally object, except the defendants, and perhaps they were estopped by their own action. In any event, no ease of the kind was taken to a Superior Court, and the result was a vast saving of expense to the county and the par- ties.

The writer called upon him a few days be- fore his death to get a bill sealed on a re- fusal to take off a judgment of non-suit. He protested that it was not necessary, as the appeal carried all questions squarely before the Supreme Court. On being shown a case wherein the Supreme Court had decided otherwise, he said, "Well, I never expected to live to see the Supreme Court of Pennsyl- vania come down to nonsense of that kind, but I must not predjudice the case." He took a pen and wrote the refusal sealing a bill, which was most likely the last time he wrote his name.

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The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II, Part 36

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