The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II, Part 63

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

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There was no equity practice till 1865. Sinee that time there have been filed 256 bills, of which the greatest number-28- were filed in 1893. The increased litigation has compelled longer sessions of court, and during the last two years the court has sat about 140 days in each year.

There have been but five judges since the organization of the county. Judge J. S. Blaek was the first to occupy the beneh. He was succeeded by George Taylor and he by John Dean for two consecutive terms. In March, 1892, he was elected a justice of the supreme court and was succeeded in the court by A. L. Landis, who served till the election of the present incumbent, Martin Bell. Mr. Bell was the district attorney from January, 1887, to January, 1890.

The question then with the judge was, who had the honor of being the father of the bar ? It lay between Banks, Calvin and McMur- trie, but these three prominent names have since disappeared from the roll. It is proper now to determine who is the father of the bar: and by virtue of my position as its latest historian, I may be allowed the right of de- cision, and henceforth my brethren are law- fully authorized to award that distinguished recognition to Brother Daniel J. Neff.

In March, 1890, Mr. Calvin died, and he

was followed by Mr. S. M. Woodcock in February, Mr. H. II. Herr in October, and Mr. S. S. Blair in December of the same year. This was regarded as an unusual mortality. Mr. Banks and Mr. McMurtrie both died in 1880, whilst Mr. Cresswell, their contempo- rary, died in 1882, and Mr. Brotherline in 1879.

Mr. Hewit died after a very short illness in March, 1894, and Mr. Baldrige died sud- denly in March, 1895.

Both Mr. Hewit and Mr. Baldrige were prominent members of the bar, and enjoyed the publie confidenee to a large degree.

Mr. Ilewit was a gentleman of great politi- cal ambition. He was district attorney for two terms, and was a member of the legis- lature in 1871, 1879. 1881 and 1893, and speaker of the house in 1881. He was sue- ceeded in his office by his son, Oliver H. Hewit.

L. W. Hall was for many years an active practitioner at this bar, and whilst here was elected to the senate, of which body he was speaker in 1867. Ile since removed to Harris- burg, where he practiced until his deeease. Ile was the resident attorney of the Penn- sylvania Railroad company in Dauphin county.

J. F. Milliken was colonel of the Fifth Regiment and distriet attorney of the county from 1874 to 1877. It was during his term that the extraordinarily large number of prosecutions was brought for violation of the liquor law. The railroad rioters were prose- ented during the last year of his term. He afterwards went to Egypt.

Mr. Alexander was the distriet attorney who preceded him. He was long known as the senior partner in the law firm of Alex- ander & Herr. Within the last year he re- moved to Lancaster.

Thomas McCamant became the auditor general of the state in 1888 and now resides in Harrisburg.

Edmund Shaw, a prominent member of the

James. Blair

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bar, and a union soldier in the late war, was a member of the legislature for the terms of 1885 and 1887.

Mr. G. H. Spang removed to this county from Bedford in 1883. He was elected to the legislature from that county in 1875 and 1877.

J. D. Hicks came to the bar in 1873, after the close of the war, in which he served as a union soldier. He was district attorney from 1880 till 1886. In the fall of 1892 he was elected a member of congress from this con- gressional district, and re-elected in 1894.

J. K. Patterson was elected to the legis- lature in 1894.

The other older and prominent members of the bar are: Andrew J. Riley, one of the solicitors of the Pennsylvania Railroad com- pany : Thomas HI. Greevy, N. P. Mervine, J. S. Leisenring. E. II. Flick, W. L. Woodcock, W. I. Woodcock, A. A. Stevens, A. V. Dively, W. L. Hieks and W. L. Pascoe.

I eould with pleasure name other bright and rising members of the bar, but time will not permit, and besides I will be pardoned for grouping here a few only of those who are best known by their long and active pro- fessional services and residence in the county.

Thus I have endeavored to recall some of the persons and incidents of the past. The retrospect is a changeful one. The faces and voices which make up one period, gradually pass to give way to another: and those ever- changing series, like a relentless fate, destroy the familiar past, and replace it with the new and strange present.

But it must be so. This bar will grow with the county's growth. Increasing pros- perity will be accompanied by increasing population, and the public business will be manifested in the courts.

The younger members of the bar to-day will impose upon themselves the industry and zeal of those who have preceded them. As there have been lustrious names in the past, there shall be more in the future. If

to any extent the bar of the past has sought to maintain the highest grade of learning and integrity; so the future bar should jealously refuse to lower that standard. The entrance way to its privileges and powers is controlled by the membership, and when the unworthy or the ignorant seek to set their feet within these preeinets-which are traditionally sacred to those only who have education, mind and learning, with high pro- fessional pride and honor-both court and bar will interpose their steadfast prohibition.

The perpetuation of a bar which is meas- ured by such standard will not only add to its own high character and adornment, but will win the confidence of the great public, who intrust freely to the honest and capable law- yers that vast variety of intricate questions which constantly arise to affect their lives, their property and their liberty.

Gentlemen of the present bar-animated by such ennobling aims, what shall be said of us and those who follow us fifty years from to-day ?- From the Address of IIon. Aug. S. Landis.

Hon. Augustus S. Landis was a native of Pennington, New Jersey, and was born on June 4, 1834. His death occurred on the 25th of April, 1897, and was the cause of universal sorrow to a wide circle of friends. The bar of Blair county, where he held a place of commanding influence among his profes- sional brethren, suffered a great loss.

His father, Dr. Joseph A. Landis, an able physician of many years standing, settled with his family at Hollidaysburg in 1837.

After closing a thorough common school and academic edneation, Augustus, in 1851. entered Jefferson College at Canonsburg, where he was graduated in 1853. On his return from college, he was appointed prin- cipal of the Hollidaysburg Academy, but re- signed the position in 1854, and entering the office of Hon. Samuel Calvin, one of the pio- neer lawyers of Hollidaysburg. began the study of law. A careful and conscientious

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THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

student, he laid broad and deep the founda- tions of his profession and in 1857, passed his examination and was admitted to the bar. The following summer he opened his office for practice, and like that of most young lawyers, his rise in his profession was gradual, but he was energetic and conscien- tions in his work, and in March 1860, was chosen for the office of treasurer and city solicitor of Hollidaysburg, which he filled for thirty-three years with great credit to himself and satisfaction of the public. Mr. Landis was elected a member of the school board of the borough in 1868, and filled that office some twenty years. Ile was a member of the board of managers of the state In- dustrial Reformatory at Huntingdon for a number of years. He was a Democrat in political sentiment, and in 1872 was chosen as Democratic delegate to represent the Twenty-first Congressional district in the Constitutional convention which met at Philadelphia in 1873, and framed the state constitution. The other representa- tives from this district, which comprised Blair, Bedford, Somerset and Fulton coun- ties, were Hon. Samuel L. Russell, and IIon. J. W. Curry, of Altoona, and at his death, Hon. Samuel Calvin.

Mr. Landis was a ruling elder in the First Presbyterian church of Hollidaysburg, his membership dating from January, 1864. In 1865 Mr. Landis married Miss Eleanor Por- ter, a daughter of the late John Porter, of Huntingdon county.

Mr. Landis was appointed by Governor Pattison to fill the unexpired term of Judge Dean, who was elected justice of the supreme court. For one year he discharged the du- ties of his office in a most able and satisfac- tory manner, proving himself a worthy suc- cessor of Judge Dean, but was defeated in the following campaign of 1893 by Martin Bell, Esq., on account of his Democratic principles. He was, in the highest sense of the word, a

Chritian gentleman, an able lawyer, a just judge.

Hon. Benjamin L. Hewit, who for many years was an active and influential member of the Blair county bar, was born at Peters- burg, Huntingdon county, Pa., on June 4, 1833, to Nicholas and Mary (Murphy ) Hewit. He was of German and Scotch-Irish lineage tracing his paternal ancestry through his great-grandfather Nicholas Hewit to a still earlier progenitor who emigrated from the fatherland in early colonial times and set- tled in the then province of Pennsylvania. Nicholas Hewit, the great-grandfather served in the Revolutionay war from Berks county, afterwards settled in West town- ship, Huntingdon county, and there died in 1837, his remains being interred in Manor Hill cemetery. Our subject's grandfather, David Hewit, married Elizabeth Graffins, a descendant of Martin Nicholas Graffins, a noted pioneer, who was born May 2, 1722, and died May 20, 1790. They were among the early settlers of Juniata Valley. Their son, Nicholas, our subject's father, was born July 24, 1809, and died February 19, 1883. He was a man of commanding influenee, an old time Whig and an intimate friend of Thaddeus Stephens. During the administra- tion of Governor Ritner, he superintended the building of the old Pennsylvania canal between Hollidaysburg and Huntingdon. He was a man of strong convictions, a thorough business man and able politician and always zealous in the interests of his party.

Our subject's maternal grandparents, Murphy, who lived to an advanced age, were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, and with others of their class, played an important part in the early history of central and western Pennsylvania. Their daughter Mary, our subject's mother, died April 30, 1871, in her fifty-ninth year.

Benjamin, who was an only child, pre- pared for college at Tuscarora Academy un-

B. L. HEWIT.

BLAIR COUNTY

1035

der Prof. David Wilson, and later under Prof. D. Williams, at Hollidaysburg. Ite was graduated from Princeton College with the class of 1854. He received his legal training under Hon. S. S. Blair, was admitted to the bar in October, 1856, and soon rose to an influential place in his profession.

He was somewhat active in political af- fairs, and in 1857 was elected district attor- ney, and re-elected in 1860. After the close of his second term. in 1863. he enlisted as a private in Company A, Twenty-third Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, At the expiration of his term of enlistment. he served for a time as a private in Company A, Independent Battalion, and during 1864 and part of 1865 was field paymaster with the rank of major of cavalry. U'pon his dis- charge, in 1865, he resumed the active prac- fice of his profession at Hollidaysburg.

In 1870, 1871. 1872, 1878, 1879, 1880 and 1881 Mr. Hewit, by successive elections, rep- resented his county in the General Assembly of the state. serving as chairman of the judi- ciary committee during the sessions of 1878 and 1879. and was Speaker of the House in 1881. During all this time he was fish com- missioner, being appointed by Governor Hartranft in 1873, and serving until 1882.

As a legislator. Mr. Howit was fearless in the support of every commendable measure, and on account of his factfulness as a parli- mentarian and readiness as a debater. he wielded a great influence in the law-making body of the state. He served as chairman of the committee that in 1873 presented an elaborate report on the revision of the civil code, and of the committee that had in charge the noted George O. Evans war claim : and in 1879. with his associates. Messrs. Wolf and Napes, prevented the passage of the Riot bill which would have taken from the state treasury $4.000.000. Whether before a jury. or on the stump or in the hall of legislation. Mr. Howit was always an enter- taining and convincing speaker, having a

fine command of language, sound logie, a pleasing manner and ready wit. Added to these were his well known probity, sincerity of purpose, and strength of character, all of which combined to make him the power that he was.

Mr. Howit was twice married. On Jone 18, 1857, he married Miss Lilly Davis, daugh- ter of Judge Davis, of Bedford, deceased. Mrs. Hewit died on March 25, 1873, leaving two sons, Oliver II. and Harry D. On De- comber 4. 1874, Mr. Hewit married Mrs. Mary W. Smith, daughter of the late Joseph Smith, of Hollidaysburg. Mr. Howit's death occurred in March, 1894.

Hon. John Dean, Hollidaysburg, the sub- jeet of this sketch, whose abilities have raised him from the ranks of his fittingly chosen profession to an honored place on the su- preme bench of his state, is a native of Wil- liamsburg. Pa .. and was born on February 15. 1835. Hle is a son of Matthew Dean, whose father, John Dean. of Water street, in Huntingdon county. was a son of Matthew Dean, one of the pioneer settlers of Pennsyl- vania during the stormy times of Indian troubles and warfare.

Our subject after leaving the public schools, attended the Williamsburg Academy and then spent a year at Washington Col- logo, Pennsylvania. After leaving college. he engaged in teaching school and at the same time devoted his spare moments to the study of law under the direction of Mr. James M. Bell, and Mr. D. H. Hofins. of Hollidaysburg, where, after his admission to the bar on March 21. 1x55. he opened his first office. He was admitted to the Hunting- don bar August 16. 1x61 and in May 1871. to the bar of the supreme court.

In May. 1-57. young Bean was alerted superintendent of schools of Blair county. but resigned the office in 1-59, and formed with Hon. S. S. Blair, a co-partnership which continued until 1×64. Mr. Blair serving. during that time, two terms in Congress. In

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October, 1867, Mr. Dean was appointed dis- triet attorney, vice John 11. Keatly resigned, and the following October was elected to the same office for a term of three years, without opposition.

In 1871 he was elected on the Republican ticket president judge of the Twenty-fourth judicial district, comprising Huntingdon, Blair and Cambria counties, and after serv- ing a term of ten years, was re-elected with- out opposition to the same high office. At the expiration of a second term in 1891 he was again re-elected and then in 1892, Judge Dean was elected to the supreme bench of Pennsylvania for a term of twenty-one years.

Throughout his busy life Judge Dean has held a high place in the esteem of his breth- ren and associates on the bench, and wher- ever known is honored and beloved as an able lawyer, a wise and just judge, and a good man.

William S. Hammond, of Altoona, is a native of Catherine township, Blair county, Pa., born on February 24, 1851, to Henry K. and Jane (Davis) Hammond. His grand- father, William Hammond, Jr., who was a native of Virginia, was one of the pioneer settlers of Blair county, and a forgeman by occupation, though in later years he was en- gaged in farming. He was a man of con- siderable influence in his community, a Re- publican in political opinion and lived to be seventy-one years old. His decease occurred in 1871. Our subject's father, also a native of Virginia, was born in 1822, and after set- tling in Blair county, was for a time engaged in farming in Woodbury township. He was also for ten years manager of Franklin Forge and during the years 1855 and 1856 was engaged with Mr. Adolphus Patterson in mercantile business at Williamsburg. Since 1890 he has been a resident of Altoona. He is a Republican in politics, and in relig- ious affiliations is connected with the Pres- byterian denomination.

Our subject's mother, who was a native

of Blair county, died in 1866, in her forty- fourth year. She was a daughter of Mr. George Davis, who was one of the early set- thers of Blair county, whither he moved from his native county. Huntingdon. During the war of 1812 he served as a soldier in the American army on the northern frontier.

William S. spent his boyhood on his fath- er's farm, receiving his preliminary educa- tion in the public schools and later attending Williamsburg Academy and Dickinson Sem- inary, from which last named institution he was graduated in the classical course, in June, 1874. During the next three years young Hammond was employed as a clerk in the motive power department of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company at Altoona, at the same time devoting his spare hours to the study of law in the office of Messrs. Neff and Clark, who were the solicitors for the railroad company in that city. On finishing his course of law studies in March, 1877, he resigned his position with the railroad con- pany, passed his examination and was ad- mitted to the bar. Mr. Ilammond at once opened an office and began the practice of his profession. and with the exception of six years, 1884 to 1890, when he was in part- nership with Mr. W. P. Mervine, under the firm name of Mervine & Hammond, he has conducted his practice in his own name and became widely known as one of the success- ful and progressive lawyers of the Blair county bar.

Mr. Hammond, though in no sense a politi- cian. has been an earnest and loyal supporter of the Republican party, and in 1888 served as a delegate from the Twentieth Congres- sional district to the National Republican Convention at Chicago. which nominated Benjamin Harrison to the Presidency of the United States.

Ile was elected district attorney of Blair. his native county, in 1892, and was re-elected thereto in 1895 and retired therefrom in Jan- mary, 1899. His service during two full

In S. Nammondo.

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BLAIR COUNTY

terms was most acceptable, and won for him his position among the leaders of the bar of his state. At present he is giving special attention to corporation cases. He is solie- itor for the Altoona & Beech Creek Rail- road Company and for the National Bank of Altoona, Pa.

In religious faith Mr. Hammond is a Pres- byterian .. On June 20, 1875, Mr. Hammond married Miss Annie M. Hileman, of Altoona, by whom he has six sons and two daughters.

Allison W. Porter is a native of Mifflin county, being born at Lewistown, in Jan- uary, 1856. He was educated in the common schools and at the Lewistown academy. De- ciding upon the profession of law for his life's work, he entered the Columbia Law School at Washington, D. C. After graduat- ing from that institution, he entered the law office of Joseph Alexander, at Lewistown, Pa., and was admitted to the bar of that place in January, 1878. After practicing here for fifteen years, in 1893 he removed to Altoona where he has since been engaged in the gen- eral practice of his profession.

Mr. Porter is an active Republican and has takeu a prominent part in the councils of his party. He was elected district attorney of Mifflin county in 1884, and re-elected in 1887, serving altogether six years.

At Lewistown in 1881, Mr. Porter was married to Miss Sophie, daughter of Rev. Dr. McClean, by whom he has had two daughters.

Thomas H. Greevy, a native of Birming- ham. England, was born on April 4, 1850, to Luke and Mary (King) Greevy, both of whom were natives of county Roscommon, Ireland. After their marriage his parents, for business reasons, settled at Birmingham, England, whence, in 1856, they removed to the United States and settled at Williams- port, Pa. Here the father was employed in a mercantile house, being especially pro- ficient in that line of work. A Democrat in polities, he was honored with several borough

offices, and in his death which occurred in 1869 when he was fifty years old, his city lost a good citizen, and the Catholic church a devoted member. Thomas being six years old when his parents settled at Williamsport, received his education there in the public schools. After leaving school he engaged for a time in journalism, editing the "Legal Re- form Journal," a weekly paper devoted to labor interests.

In 1871 young Greevy elosed his editorial work, and entering the office of Mr. Samuel G. Morrison, of Williamsport, began the study of law. Hle finished his preliminary studies under the direction of Frank P. Tier- ney, of Altoona, and on January 29, 1874, was admitted to the Blair county bar.

Mr. Greevy at once engaged in practice at Altoona, which he has carried on un- interruptedly, with most gratifying success. attaining to a prominent and influential place among his professional associates, and being widely known as a conscientious, able and skillful lawyer.

Mr. Greevy has for many years been iden- tified with political movements and in 1877 was elected as a Democrat, city recorder of Altoona, filling that place until 1882. Dur- ing that time he served several times as a delegate to the Demoeratie State Convention, and in 1888 was a delegate to the National Convention that nominated Grover Cleveland for the Presideney. During that same year he was the nominee of his party for Con- gressman from the 20th Congressional dis- triet, but failed of an election, his Repub- liean opponent, Mr. Edward Seull, receiving a majority of only 4,200, while the average Republican majority of the district was 4,700. In 1890 Mr. Greevy was again the Demo- cratie nominee of the Twentieth Congres- sional district, comprising Cambria, Blair. Somerset and Bedford counties. The result of the contest which again decided in favor of Mr. Seull being close and involved in doubt Mr. Greevy took immediate steps to

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THE BENCHI AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

contest his opponent's seat in the Fifty-see- ond Congress.

Mr. Greevy is a man of broad sym- pathies, pleasing personality and possessing fine social qualities. And these added to his well-known ability as a lawyer, and high standing as a progressive and enterprising citizen, give him a far-reaching and well de- served popularity.

On November 3, 1874 Mr. Greevy married Miss Kate G. McNally, daughter of Mr. Peter McNally. formerly of Hollidaysburg. They have two children, Helen and Walter.

Daniel J. Neff, Altoona, ranks among the leading and influential members of the Blair county bar, a position to which he has at- tained by persistant and conscientious work along the line of his chosen profession.

Ile was born on January 3, 1831, in Hunt- ingdon county, Pa. and is a son of Daniel Neff. also a native of that place. He enjoyed good educational advantages in early life. being sent to Alexander to school at the age of eleven. and finishing his preparatory studies at Huntingdon academy. Later he attended Marshall College at Mercersburg. where he graduated with honors in 1851. In 1854 young Neff began his law studies in the office of Hon. S. S. Blair, of Hollidaysburg, and two years later entered the law school at Ponghkeepsie, New York, studying at the same time in the office of Mr. Ilomer A. Nel- son of that city. Ile was admitted to the bar in 1856, and after practicing a short time at Hollidaysburg, removed to Tyrone, whence, in 1860 he went to Altoona and opened an office with Mr. L. W. Hall, and laid the foundation of what has grown to be an extensive and lucrative practice. Since 1868 Mr. Neff has been solicitor for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and has come to be widely known as an anthority on all matters involving corporation interests. Ilis practice has been of a general charaeter outside of his specialty of corporation work and his name is connected with a vast num-

ber of cases in the supreme, state and federal courts.

Mr. Neff was one of the founders of the Blair county bar association, and has always taken an active interest in all movements looking to the elevation and betterment of the profession in which he has always found ample scope for the gratification of his am- bitions.

Samuel S. Blair, Hollidaysburg, the sub- ject of this sketch. now deeeased,was for many years an honored member of the Blair county bar, and one of Hollidaysburg's most respected citizens. His death occurred in December, 1890.

Ile was a native of Indiana county, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish lineage, and was born on December 5, 1821, to the Reverend David and Margaret (Steel) Blair. He was one of a family of ten children, one of his brothers being Hon. John P. Blair, president judge of the Indiana district. His father, who was a na- tive of county Antrim. Ireland. emigrated to the United States about the beginning of the nineteenth century, and in 1816 settled in Indiana county where he lived until his de- cease in 1882, as pastor of the United Pres- byterian church. His wife was the daughter of Mr. Samuel Steel, a Seotehman.

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The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II, Part 63

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