USA > Pennsylvania > The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II > Part 87
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George R. Scull was born at Somerset in 1856. He attended the public schools here, and Shoemaker's academy at Chambersburg, Pa. He studied law with Hon. William H. Koontz and was admitted to the bar in 1879. The following year he was elected district attorney and completed his term of office. He has been connected with the Somerset Herald. as one of its editors sinee his youth. He took a leading part in the organization of the First National Bank of Somerset, and the Somerset Trust Company, both of which in- stitutions he is president. IIe was married to Carrie Baer, daughter of Herman L. Baer, Esq., of the Somerset bar. He is a son of Hon. Edward Scull and brother of Edward B. Scull, Esq .. former members of the local bar.
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Ernest O. Kooser was born at the town of Somerset, May 31, 1871; was a pupil in the public schools, and graduated from the high school of that borough; afterwards attended York Collegiate institute, and Washington and Jefferson college at Washington, Pa. He graduated at the latter college in 1890, and immediately began reading law in the office of his father, Judge Francis J. Kooser. He was admitted to the bar May 31, 1892; formed a law partnership with his father at that time which continued until the latter's elevation to the bench. He was one of the number who organized the volunteer com- pany I, Fifth Volunteer Infantry, at Somer- set, at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war; was commissioned captain, and served with his company until the muster out of the regiment. To the present time he has con- tinned in the practice of law at Somerset.
Harvey Frank Yost, son of Jacob Yost. was born December 26, 1869, near Forward, Somerset county, Pa. Having completed a eourse at Loek Haven state normal school, he pursued the profession of teaching in his na- tive and Westmoreland counties, after which he read law in the office of Coffroth & Ruppel, and was admitted to the bar Octo- ber 19, 1903.
Virgil Ross Saylor, son of Alexander Say- lor, was born in Somerset township, Somer- set eounty, Pa., January 31, 1870. He at- tended the public sehools until the age of nine years, at which time he entered the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, at Loysville, Per- ry eounty, Pa., from which institution he graduated at the age of sixteen years. Ile taught school in Cambria and Somerset conn- ties, and entered Pennsylvania eollege (Get- tysburg), graduating from said college with the degree of A. B. in June, 1893. The de- gree of A. M. was eonferred upon him by the same institution in 1896. He was assistant principal of the sehools of Somerset, Pa., for three years and principal of the Salisbury borough sehools for five years. Ile entered
the law office of Coffroth & Ruppel in Som- erset, Pa., as a student, October 1, 1901, and was admitted to the practice of the law in the several courts of Somerset county, Octo- ber 19, 1903.
Henry B. Woods came to Somerset from Gettysburg, Pa., where he had been admitted to the bar. He was admitted at Somerset, June 13, 1852, and practiced law here for three or four years. While here he married Kate Row, who was a daughter of Jonathan Row, editor of the Somerset Herald. After leaving here he located at Reading, Pa., where he continued his law practice until his death, which occurred some years after he left Somerset.
John H. Uhl was born at Wellersburg, Som- erset county, Pa., May 22, 1832. He was educated in the public and private schools and came to the town of Somerset in Febru- ary, 1857. He soon afterwards began to study law with Hon. A. H. Coffroth. He was admitted to the bar March 12, 1861; and has been constantly in practice here since that time. For a short period he held the office of deputy collector of Internal Revenue. He was one of the organizers and secretary of the Somerset & Mineral Point Railroad Company; also of the Somerset County National Bank, of which latter in- stitution he has been solieitor since its form- ation. He is prominent in Odd Fellowship. and has instituted a large number of new lodges in that order. He has a great deal of real estate about the town of Somerset, and has constructed a number of business and other buildings, notably the Mammoth Block, on the Diamond at Somerset, which was ereeted under his management. Much of his practice has been in the Orphans' court and commercial law. Mr. Uhl's eonstant and elose application to business, and prompt and diligent methods have brought him the large and profitable business he has for many years enjoyed.
Ross R. Scott was born at Somerset, May
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15, 1879. He graduated from the public schools of Somerset borough, and from the university of Indianapolis, Ind. Read law with his father, John R. Scott, Esq., of the Somerset bar, and, on December 19, 1903, was admitted to practice in the several courts of Somerset county.
Hon. Edward Scull, well known for many years as a journalist and revenue officer, is a grandson of the founder of the Pittsburgh Gazette-first newspaper to be published west of the Alleghenics-and is a descendant of Nicholas Scull, who came to Pennsylvania from England in 1685, and was surveyor general of the province of Pennsylvania from 1748 to 1761. Edward Scull was born at Pittsburgh, February 5,1818. After availing himself of such educational advantages as the town of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Steuben- ville, Ohio, afforded, he began the study of law in the office of John F. and Edward Cowan, at Greensburg, and was admitted to practice about the year 1843. In 1846 he located in the town of Somerset, where he continued to reside until his death in 1900. During the year of his arrival here, he es- tablished the Somerset Whig, afterwards consolidated with the Herald, under which latter name he remained editor of the paper until the time of his death. He was elected prothonotary of Somerset county in 1857. When the revenue laws first went into effect he was appointed by President Lincoln, col- lector of the Sixteenth district of Pennsyl- vania. During the first term of General Grant as president, he was appointed both assessor and collector of internal revenue and remained in that position until in the eighties. From the time of the Civil war until his death he was a leader in Repub- lican politics in his county. He represented this district in the Fiftieth, Fifty-first and Fifty-second Congresses. He was the first president of the First National Bank of Som- erset, Pa., remaining in that position until his death. He was married to Louisa Ogle.
Two of his sons, viz., Edward B. and George R. Scull, were admitted to the bar of Somer- set county, the latter still practicing law here.
Mr. Scull was more deeply concerned and best known in the greater part of his career as a journalist, political and business inter- ests; and during the latter years of his life he retired from the practice of the law.
Louis C. Colborn, a son of Hon. A. J. Col- born, was born at Harnedsville, Somerset county, Pa., February 20, 1850, and came to Somerset with his father's family in 1854. He attended the public schools and high school at Somerset, and afterwards took a course in the Millersville, and West Chester state normal schools. He taught in the pub- lic schools of Somerset county, and during the years of 1870-73 was principal of the schools of Somerset borough. Mr. Colborn was appointed United States commissioner in 1872 and served for ten years. He read law in the office of his father and was admit- ted to the bar on May 7, 1874. He was elect- cd and served as burgess of Somerset borough, for the years 1884 and 1885, and served as school director in 1887 to 1890. He was elected district attorney in 1888 for three years. After his admission to the bar he and his father entered into a law part- nership which continued until the death of his father, August 6, 1901. They enjoyed a lucrative practice and have the full con- fidence of a large clientage. Notwithstand- ing his father's death he still continues their practice under the name of Colborn & Col- born. During Mr. Colborn's term as district attorney, the Nicely brothers were executed and the famous Moonshine murderers were tried and convicted. He also took part in the Roddy, and in the Meyers murder cases. Mr. Colborn followed in the footsteps of his father as a surveyor and engineer in connec- tion with his practice. The special training in that business has proven helpful in the trial of many cases. For the past fifteen
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years Mr. Colborn has been solieitor for the board of directors of the poor of the county, and connected with the associated charities of the state and national associations; and he is particularly zealous and sympathetic in all charitable work. To him is due the credit to a large extent of the present fine home for the poor and hospital for the insane of Somerset eounty.
Mr. Colborn was married May 4, 1875, to Mary E. Knable, daughter of Major John Knable; one of their children, John A., now being in the employ of the United States government in the war department. Mr. Colborn is a consistent member of the Chris- tian church, and has always taken an active part in church work. He is also a leading Mason, and Odd Fellow, and a member of the Royal Areanum.
. Hon. Alexander H. Coffroth was born at Somerset, Pa., May 18, 1828. His father was of Teutonie deseent, a native of Hagerstown. MId. Hlis mother was born in Franklin eounty, Pennsylvania. They came to Somer- set in 1808. General Coffroth has spent all his life in this place. He attended the pub- lie sehools, and the Somerset academy and taught several terms. He began the study of law at age in the office of Judge Jeremiah S. Blaek. He was admitted to the bar in 1851, and soon beeanie one of its leaders. For many years he has been recognized as one of the strongest attorneys of the county. He has been president of the Somerset coun- ty Bar Association sinee its organization.
General Coffroth's power before a jury is unusual. He has the strength of statement and forcible eonvineing manner that seldom fails to bring out to the full extent the pos- sibilities of his eause. He was in partner- ship with Samuel Gaither, Esq., at one time, under the law firm name of Gaither & Cof- froth. Later he formed a partnership with Hon. A. J. Colborn; and, in about 1872 formed with William H. Ruppel, the present firin of Coffroth & Ruppel. During General
Coffroth's long career at the bar he has been engaged in many, perhaps most, of the im- portant cases heard before the court of Som- erset county, and carried from there to the higher tribunals. He has been recognized as an advocate who could eope with the best, and as an opponent who could overthrow any cause that had not the merits of law and faet absolutely on its side. A man of powerful physique, he seemed to add that foree to the strength of his argument, and his speech was fortified with the additional impetus of great bodily power. It is not thought to be within the seope of this sketeh to enumerate the noted eases with which he was connected; and, suffice it to say, they range through all the departments of lega! praetiee, including many capital cases, civil trials involving large property interests and appeals. Before the Civil war Mr. Coffroth was major general of volunteers, and he is usually, and by nearly all of his neighbors and acquaintances, affectionately addressed by his military title. His wife Nora, was a sister of Judge F. M. Kimmel, and John O. Kimmel, Esq. One son, Briee Coffroth, was admitted to the bar at Somerset, and is now practieing law at Pittsburgh. None of his other children are living.
General Coffroth has been conspicuous as a tower of strength among the Demoerats of Pennsylvania, sinee the sixties. His organ- ization faeulties and ability as a public speaker, were made effective to a high de- gree in this avenue of activity. His firm convietion that the principles of his party are the true and just ones, upon which the American government was founded, and ex- ists, and his strongly avowed allegiance to those beliefs through many years and hard fought politieal battles, has caused him to be regarded as the " Chief Corner Stone" of the demoeraey of his eounty.
In 1862 he was elected by his party as rep- resentative in Congress for the distriet com- posed of the counties of Somerset, Bedford,
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Fulton, Franklin and Adams. His opponent was the Hon. Edward MePherson, who was candidate for re-election for a second term. Mr. Coffroth reduced the Republican ma- jority of 1800, in his own county, to 700, and was elected by a majority of 560 votes in a distriet usually Republiean by 3,000. He was the youngest member of the house. At the expiration of his term he was re-elected, and deelined a third nomination for the duties of his profession. In 1878 he again returned to Congress, after changing the normal Re- publiean majority of his district from several thousand. He served on a number of impor- tant committees during his terms as eon- gressman; among others, chairman of the committee on pensions, aeting chairman of the committee on enrolled bills and an aetive member of the committee for the examina- tion of the aeeounts of the treasury depart- ment.
He took an active part in Congress in the diseussions of the Civil war. And the events of time have proven that his party should have more elosely followed his leadership. His position on the constitutional amend- ments and other important issues was per- haps more just and judieious than partisan ; but the Demoeraey, as the lapse of time has proven, might well have more fully heark- ened to his words.
General Coffroth's memorial address in Congress on the life and eharaeter of Rush Clark, and his eulogy on the death of Fer- nando Wood, may be mentioned as typieal of his work. He was appointed from Con- gress as one of the pall-bearers at the funeral of President Lineoln, and is said to be the only surviving one of the distinguished men who were selected from the several branches of the federal government for that duty.
As a man, General Coffroth has always had a large retinue of friends. He is publie- spirited, jovial and very unassuming in man- ner. His hand has always been open for the relief of distress or need, and his liberality
may perhaps truthfully be said to have extended almost to the point of a fault. While in conduet of business before the court he has the appearance of one about to devour his enemies, when the contest is over, win or lose, he is the most ready to wipe off the old scores from the slate.
Joshua F. Cox was a native of the state of Ohio, and his first residenee in Somerset eounty was at the town of Salisbury as a merehant. He soon located at Somerset. studied law under Chauncey Forward and Charles Ogle, Esqs., and was admitted to the bar here in 1832. He was afterwards elected a member of the legislature of this district for several terms. He was a strong speaker and an industrious business man. He was a man of good judgment, of marked natural ability and of firm determination. In the trial of ejeetment eases he met and proved himself the peer of the strongest lawyers of the state. He had what might be ealled the "fighting qualities" of an advocate to such an extent as made his antagonism very dan- gerous to the gentlemen on either side of the ease.
Because of the Masonie affiliation of Henry Clay, he refused to support that gen- tleman when a candidate for the presideney in 1844; and from that time forth beeame a staneh Demoerat. He was taken siek and died suddenly when in attendance at eourt at Bedford in 1850, and was buried at Somerset.
Charles H. Heyer was a son of the Rev. C. F. Heyer of the Lutheran church of this county. He read law with Hon. Jeremiah S. Blaek, and was admitted to the bar at Somerset in 1842. He soon removed to Ebensburg, Cambria eounty. He remained there in praetiee up until the time of his death, probably in the sixties.
John G. Ogle was born at the town of Somerset, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, March 25, 1851, his parents being Hon. A. J. Ogle and wife, Harriet Forward. He at-
A. HI. COFFROTH.
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tended the publie schools, State Normal school at Millersville, and Bethany eollege. West Virginia; and during his boyhood was a page in the House of Representatives at Washington for three sessions, and elerk in the postoffice at Somerset for about ten years. He read law in the office of his brother-in- law, Judge F. J. Kooser, was admitted to the bar in 1873, and has uninterruptedly prae- ticed his profession from then until the present time. In 1875 he was married to Cora Baer, daughter of Judge William J. Baer. During the years 1886 to 1889 he opened a law office at Latrobe, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. In 1889 he formed a partnership at Somerset with John R. Seott, Esq., which continued until 1894, when, with General Koontz, the present firm of Koontz & Ogle was established. This partnership has one of the most extensive law practices at the bar of Somerset, and it represents very large railroad and other interests. Mr. Ogle was eonneeted as attorney with the South Pennsylvania Railroad Company when the location and construction of that road was in progress through this county. He has been several times chairman of the Repub- lican party of his county, and is known as one of the best public speakers in its ranks.
Dennis Meyers was born September 26, 1842, at Meyersdale, Somerset eounty, Penn- sylvania. His father, Peter Meyers, was the founder of that town. Dennis Meyers was edueated in the public sehools and at Monon- galia academy, Morgantown, W. Va., and at the State Normal school at Millersville, Pa. He eame to Somerset in 1863 as deputy pro- thonotary with his brother, Cyrus Meyers, and remained in the office for many years. He was prothonotary and elerk of eourts one term, and appointed deputy prothonotary four terms afterward; and, in fact, was considered to be the supervisor of that offiee until the time of his death. He was married in December, 1867, to Mary Edie, daughter of Col. and Mrs. John R. Edie. His son
Rufus E. Meyers is one of the present mem- bers of the bar.
Rufus E. Meyers was born at the town of Somerset December 17, 1868. His father was Dennis Meyers, a sketch of whose life as one of the members of this bar appears in this chapter. His mother was Mary Edie, a daughter of Col. and Mrs. John R. Edie. Rufus E. Meyers graduated in the public and high schools of Somerset borough, and taught in the public schools at the town of Friedens, in this county, for one term. Ile was deputy prothonotary under Capt. Wil- liam H. Sanner and Hon. Daniel J. Horner for six years; read law with Coffroth & Ruppel, Esqs., and has practiced his profes- sion at Somerset sinee his admission to the bar. In November, 1898, he was elected dis- trict attorney, and in three years succeeded himself to the term following, which he now fills. As district attorney he has made an excellent record, and has dispatched the largely increased business of that office in good order and to the satisfaction of his constituents.
Frederick W. Biesecker was born in Jenner township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He is a son of John Bieseeker and wife, Joanna, formerly Joanna Winters. The Bie- secker family is one of the original settlers of that community. Frederick W. Biesecker, Esq., after having been a pupil in the publie schools at home, completed the course of study at Franklin and Marshall college, Lan- easter, Pa., where he graduated in the class of 1880. He began reading law in the office of Hon. William H. Koontz in the following fall, and was admitted to practice in August, 1882. He was married in 1886 to Mary Ogle Scull, a daughter of Hon. Edward Scull. He has been an active member of the Republican party, and served six years as eounty chair- man. He was elected distriet attorney and filled that offiee for two succeeding terms. Among other important trials under his ad- ministration were those of the common-
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wealth vs. Joseph and David Nicely, con- victed for the murder of Herman Umberger; also the prosecution against the so-called MeClelland Town Gang for various robberies and burglaries committed in Somerset county. He has suceeeded in establishing a very large practice at Somerset, where he has resided since his admission to the bar.
Simon Gebhart was born at Gebhartsburg, Milford township, Somerset county, Penn- sylvania, August 16, 1816. IIe attended the public sehools and the academy at Somerset. He was made clerk to the prothonotary upon the appointment of Moses Hampton to that office, and continued his clerkship through- out the term of William H. Postlethwait, Esq., who succeeded Mr. Hampton. Hle studied law with Franeis M. Kimmell under the direction of Judge Black, and the two students were admitted to the bar at Somer- set together, March 19, 1839. He immedi- ately formed a law partnership with Judge Black that continued until the latter's ap- pointment to the beneh, in 1841. After that he retained the old office of the firm on the northwest corner of the Diamond in this town for two or three years. He then went into partnership with Ross Forward, Esq., and this partnership lasted until his removal from Somerset to Dayton, Ohio, in 1847. Simon Gebhart dealt extensively in real estate in this county, and the records show that he had title during his residence here to many acres of land. After leaving Somerset Mr. Gebhart engaged in flour mill- ing and the manufacture of linseed oil, and is at present superintendent of the Gebhart Linseed Oil Works at Dayton. He is the oldest living member of the Somerset bar, and, notwithstanding his long absenee from Somerset, he still claims "that he eould walk up to the old courthouse on the hill, with Blackstone's Commentaries under one arm and Purdon's Digest under the other, and plead his client's cause."
Alexander Stutzman was born at the town of Salisbury, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. brother of Joseph J. and B. Frank Stutzman, other members of this bar. He came to Somerset as a law student with Ilon. John R. Edie. After his admission to the bar in 1853 he practieed law some years. In 1862 and 1866, two terms, he was elected to the state senate. He formed a law partnership with Col. John R. Edie, that continued for a number of years, under the name of Edie & Stutzman. He was actively interested in many business enterprises looking toward the development of the resources of his county. He was one of the promoters of the Somerset and Mineral Point Railroad and one of the owners of the Somerset Mechan- ical Works. He died in 1901 at Somerset. He had not practiced law for the last twenty years of his life.
Valentine Hay is a son of Peter Hay and Elizabeth Walker, and was born in Brothers- valley township, Somerset county, Pennsyl- vania, October 18, 1834. His great-grand- father was Simon Hay, a native of Germany, who first came to Hagerstown, Md., and from there located in Somerset county in 1763. He was one of the first pioneers to establish a residence in the territory now known as Somerset county, and was the progenitor of the Hay family, which is one of the largest in this county. Valentine Hay was educated in the public sehools, at Berlin academy, taught three years, completed the course at Heidelburg college, Tiffin, Ohio, graduating in the class of 1857. He immediately read law in the office of Baer & Baer, and was admitted to the bar in 1858. About one year afterward he formed a law partnership with Daniel Weyand, Esq., which continued for three years. In 1898 another partnership was formed with his nephew, Albert L. G. Hay, Esq., under the name of Hay & Hay, still in existence and active practice at this bar. Valentine Hay edited the Somerset Democrat from January, 1863, to July, 1867 ;
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was vice president of the First National Bank of Somerset from its incorporation in 1889 until 1901. With Mr. Hay, industry and diligence seem as natural and necessary as meat and drink. Ile has been very she- cessful in his profession, and he has town lots or traets of land situated in almost every borough and township in the county.
Harvey M. Berkley's native place is Sum- mit township, Somerset county, Pennsylva- nia. His father was Peter Berkley, and his mother Sally Meyers, both of old families who have been part of the citizenship of that distriet since its earliest days. Mr. Berkley was a pupil in the publie sehools of his home and afterwards attended and graduated at
Lafayette college, Easton, Pa. He then read law in the office of Rodney A. Mereur, Esq .. at Towanda, Pa., and was admitted to the bar of Bradford county. Soon after his ad- mission to the bar at Somerset in 1889 he accepted a position as cashier of the First National Bank of Somerset, which office he still holds. He has continued his law prac- tiee in connection with his duties at the bank. and has built up an extensive practice. In 1900 he received the endorsement of the Republican party of his county as a candi- date for Congress.
A great deal of the above matter was taken from the history of Bedford, Fulton and Somerset counties by Mr. Kooser.
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