The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II, Part 9

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

USA > Pennsylvania > The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II > Part 9

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In the case of Smith vs. Carroll, he was associated with Hon. W. H. Jessup on ap- peal from Common Pleas to Supreme Court.

Three other important cases in which he was engaged were Commonwealth vs. Drink- er, in which he appeared as district attor- ney. And the cases of Commonwealth vs. Waltz and Commonwealth vs. Seabring, rep- resenting the defense. In the former case the Commonwealth pressed with great de- termination, assisted by able private coun- sel, for a verdict of murder in the first de- gree, on the theory that the deceased was shot while asleep. The defense was suicide, and the verdict was second degree, which was so inconsistent with the theory of the Commonwealth that the defendant after- ward obtained a pardon. In the Seabring case the defendant was acquitted by the jury.

Mr. Safford has been an active worker for

the Democratic party, and in 1883 was elect- ed district attorney, serving three years.

For several years he has been an active member of the First Presbyterian church.

Angust 25, 1881, Mr. Safford was mar- ried to Miss Bertha Summers of Franklin Forks township, Susquehanna county, and they have one daughter. His grandfather, Elisha Safford, was born in Connecticut and moved into Susquehanna county in 1813, being one of the first white settlers in the county.

He served as a volunteer in the war of 1812.

Capt. W. D. B. Ainey was born April 18, 1864, in New Milford, Pa. His education was acquired at the public school, Mansfield State Normal sehool and Lehigh university. After completing the freshman year at the university he 'discontinued his studies and entered the law office of Blakeslee & Davis at Montrose, and was admitted to the bar of Susquehanna county in August, 1887, and became a partner with his uncle, the late E. L. Blakeslee, then a well-known criminal lawyer of great ability. Upon the death of Mr. Blakeslee in 1893, Mr. Ainey continued alone in the practice of law in Montrose. where by his application and close attention to business he soon obtained a good client- age, being employed in many prominent criminal and civil cases, prominent among his criminal victories being the case of the Commonwealth against Shew and Eagan, charged with the murder of Jackson Pepper. in which Mr. Ainey secured the conviction of the defendants for murder in the first do- gree .. As attorney for the bank in the case of States vs. the First National bank, he won out after a hard fought legal contest in the Superior and Supreme courts of the state.

Mr. Ainey was elected district attorney of Susquehanna county in 1892, and re-elected in 1895.

In 1893 he was elected chairman of the

666

THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

Republican county committee, which posi- tion he held until 1899, when he declined the re-election.

For a number of years Mr. Ainey has been prominent in military circles, and in May, 1891, organized a local company at Mont- rose, of which he was made captain, and served with the company at Homestead dur- ing the strike troubles of July, 1892.

Since August, 1895, Mr. Ainey has been one of the editors and owners of the Mont- rose Independent Republican.

October 10, 1888, Mr. Ainey was mar- ried to Emma, daughter of Theo A. and Eliza Lyons, of Montrose, and to them were born children, as follows: David C., Cath- leen E., and William T., deceased.

With him in business is associated his brother, Charles H. Ainey, who was born at New Milford, Pa., May 31, 1870. His edu- cation was acquired at the public schools of New Milford, and at Wyoming seminary at Kingston, Pa. He read law in the office of his brother, Captain Ainey, and was admit- ted to practice in April, 1897, and entered upon the practice of his profession with his brother.

He was engaged in various business en- terprises, one of which was the Globe Hard- ware company, of Montrose, one of the best equipped hardware establishments in north- crn Pennsylvania. Mr. Charles Ainey is a most popular and genial man and has met with merited success in his business and pro- fessional career.

In 1896, he was elected county auditor, and under the Mckinley administration was appointed supervisor of the census for the district comprising the counties of Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne, Sullivan and Wyo- ming.

On January 25, 1893, Mr. Ainey was married to Harriett E. McCollum of New Milford, and to them has been born one child, Everett Garratt.

Alexander H. McCollum (brother of Chief .

Justice J. B. McCollum) was born May 11, 1836, in Bridgewater township, Sus- quehanna county. His boyhood time was occupied between attendance at the district school and working on the farm.

At a banquet given by the Susquehanna county bar December 2, 1888, in honor of the election of Judge McCollum to the Su- preme bench of the state, and of D. W. Searle as president judge of Susquehanna county, Judge Williams in the course of his remarks thus referred to the boyhood of the two McCollum brothers :

"As I have been sitting here this even- ing, my thoughts have been traveling back through the years that are gone and they specially dwelt upon a period some forty years ago, when one winter I was engaged as a teacher in the Kennard district, about three miles from this place. I was in re- ceipt of the munificent salary of fifteen dol- lars per month, and 'boarded round,' as was the custom in those days. I may say now that is not in vogue, and I believe, if put to vote now upon its claims for restoration, it would be defeated by a tremendous major- ity. Among other pupils who came to my school were two boys; one a sober, thought- ful youth, who was familiarly called 'Bruce,' and the other, the younger, who was as full of innocent mischief as an egg is popularly supposed to be full of meat, they called 'Alec.' Between the elder of these boys and myself there sprang up a friendship and intimacy, such as the dis- parity in our positions in life and ages would permit, he being the pupil and I the master, and his age being only sixteen, while I was eighteen."

Mr. McCollum completed his education at the Harford academy, under the instruc- tion of Lyman Richardson, and soon after entered the law office of his brother J. B. McCollum and was admitted to the Susque- hanna county bar at the August term, 1869.

In 1871 he formed a law partnership with

667

SUSQUEIIANNA COUNTY

his brother, which continued until the lat- ter's election as judge of the courts of Sus- quehanna county in 1878. On January 1, 1879, he formed a partnership with the Hon. W. W. Watson, which was continued until May 1, 1883, when Mr. Watson retired, and the new firm of McCollum, Searle & Smith was formed.

In 1888, upon Mr. Searle being elected president judge of Susquehanna county, and retired from the firm, it continued as McCollum & Smith, and has so remained until the present.

A thorough and industrious student, he is an exceptionally fine business lawyer, and since his admission to the bar has devoted himself to the practice of his profession, and has not permitted himself to be drawn into politics or business enterprises any further than is prompted by good citizenship.

He has been prompt and faithful in caring for the business entrusted to him, and has acquired an extensive practice, in which he has met with merited success, and is consid- ered one of the best lawyers at the Susque- hanna county bar.

Ile has been engaged in many of the most important cases that have come before the courts of this county for trial, and was one of the attorneys for the commonwealth in the cases of John Kelly for the murder of Leon Gage in 1896; the Commonwealth against James Eagan and Cornelius Shew for the murder of Jackson Pepper in 1897, as well as a large number of important civil cases.

November 14, 1855, Mr. McCollum was married to Fidelia L. Underwood, a daugh- ter of Riley Underwood, a native of Connec- ticut. To this union one child, Hugh McCol- lum, was born, in 1867. The son received a liberal education; studied law with his fath- er, and was admitted to the bar and estab- lished himself in the practice of law at Mont- rose. He was a bright, frank and very promising young man of cheerful and win-

ning disposition. He served as deputy U. S. revenue collector, and was an enthu- siastic Democrat. He married Miss Irene, daughter of John R. Raynsford of Montrose. IIe died. November 18, 1894, at the age of twenty-seven years, leaving a widow but no children.

George P. Little, a son of Ralph B. Little, Sr., and now one of the oldest living mem- bers of the Susquehanna county bar, was born in Montrose April, 15, 1842.

He read law in the office of Little & Post, of which firm his father was the senior mem- ber, and was admitted to the bar at the April term, 1863, and immediately there- after beeame a partner of his father, and upon the death of his father, became asso- ciated in practice with E. L. Blakeslee and M. S. Allen.

Mr. Little has zealously and diligently pursued the practice of law from his boy- hood, among the people, who hold him in high esteem and regard. He has made a specialty of equity cases, and for the many years past has been connected with the trial of many important cases of this class.

He is identified with the order of Odd Fel- lows and Masonry. In his political views he is a Democrat, and a loyal worker for his party's interests.

On December 24, 1864, Mr. Little was mar- ried to Mary A., daughter of Nelson C. War- ner, of Montrose, and to their union were born Ralph B., George P., Jr., since de- ceased ; and Phila Ann.

Ralph B. Little, Jr., born in Montrose, November 8, 1865, was reared in his na- tive village and received his carly educa- tion in the public schools of that town. He furthered his education in Keystone acad- emy at Factoryville, Pa., remaining one year; and in 1885 entered the freshman class of Bucknell university, where he passed two years, withdrawing from the college course at the close of his sophomore year to take up the study of law with his father. He was

668

THE BENCHI AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

admitted to the Susquehanna county bar in January, 1889, and has since been in active practice, and won his way to the front rank of the younger attorneys by his close appli- cation, tireless energy and natural legal talent.

In 1898 he was elected district attorney of Susquehanna county, and was again elected in 1902.

In January, 1899, he was elected chairman of the Republican county committee in Sus- quehanna county, and has served as such to the present time.

March 13, 1889, Mr. Little was married to Agnes J., a daughter of E. P. and Sarah Pope, of Montrose, and the following chil- dren have been born to them: Ralph B., Edward P. and George P., Jr.

John M. Kelly, who during his nineteen years' practice, has attained a high emi- nence in his profession, especially as a crim- inal lawyer of unquestionable ability; was born June 24, 1861, in Owego, Tioga county, New York, a son of Nicholas T. and Johanna (Condon) Kelly.

On August 6, 1866, our subject removed with his parents to Rush township, Susque- hanna county, Pennsylvania, the family set- tling upon the farm where the parents still reside. There he grew to manhood, assist- ing his father upon the farm, and acquiring his education in part at the public schools and from his father (who was a man of cul- ture and literary attainments) ; from Prof. B. E. James and other private instruction.

During his early manhood he taught sev- eral successful terms of school, and also be- came apprenticed to and learned the carpen- ter's trade, which he followed for some time.

October 18, 1881, he entered the law office of McCollum & Watson, of Montrose, Pa., as a student of law. Upon Mr. Watson's retir- ing, the firm became MeCollum. Searle & Smith, Mr. Searle subsequently withdrawing from the firm to go upon the bench.

He was admitted to the bar of Susquehan-

na county April 14, 1884, and immediately entered upon the practice of his profession in Montrose: and early attracted the atten- tion of Dr. E. L. Blakeslee, one of the most brilliant attorneys of northern Pennsylvania and well known throughout the state, and became associated with him in the trial of many important criminal and civil cases; and was thus afforded the advantages of Mr. Blakeslee's broad experience and knowledge of the law, and given an opportunity of ad- vancement that seldom falls to the lot of a young lawyer. During this association, Mr. Kelly developed a desire for criminal law practice, and to which he afterwards devoted special attention.

His first great effort in criminal practice was his defense of James Welsh, charged with first degree murder, and who was ac- quitted at the November term of court, 1889. after a long and hard fought battle. His plea to the jury in this case attracted much at- tention, and was referred to in one of the city dailies as follows:

"In his defense of the prisoner, J. M. Kelly has clearly demonstrated that he pos- sesses professional abilities that a much older practitioner might envy. Those who listened to his address to the jury on Satur- day evening spoke of it as being one of the most eloquent and convincing arguments delivered in the court house in a long time."

In November, 1890, he defended George Mattey, also indicted for murder in the first degree, securing his acquittal after a long and stubborn contest, which gave him a firm standing as a criminal lawyer. From one of the many complimentary notices in the press of the county the following extract is taken :

"J. M. Kelly represented the prisoner and conducted the case with marked ability. He closed with one of the most eloquent and affecting pleas ever delivered in the county."

At the August term of court, 1894, he de- fended and secured the acquittal, in the face

John M. Kelly

669.

SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY

of strong public sentiment, of Bart Sebring, charged with the murder of his own infant by drowning.

At the April term, 1897, assisted by the IIon. John A. Sittser, our subject defended Michael and John Kelly, both charged with murder in the first degree, sccuring the ac- quittal of Michael, and the conviction of John for the crime of manslaughter only. This was perhaps his greatest forensic tri- umph.

It was not until after the conviction at August term, 1897, that Mr. Kelly was called in to obtain a new trial for John Waltz, con- victed of second degree murder.

Mr. Kelly was also retained on the part of the commonwealth in the two cases against James Eagan and Cornelius Shew, who were convicted and executed for the murder of Jackson Pepper.

Mr. Kelly has also been admitted as a reg- ular practitioner in the counties of Bradford and Lackawanna, as well as in the supreme and superior courts of tlic state of Pennsyl- vania, and also in the United States courts, as well as being retained in a number of cases in the adjoining counties.

As an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, Mr. Kelly takes an active and promi- nent part in political matters, having served as secretary of the Democratic organizations of his town, as secretary of the Democratic county committee, as well as chairman of the Democratic county committee for the past four terms.

On April 29, 1896. he represented his county as delegate to the state convention at Allentown, Pa., and was also chairman of the congressional conference of the counties of Wayne, Wyoming, Bradford and Susque- hanna. It was mainly through his efforts as county chairman that . B. B. Buffum was elected register and recorder of Susque- hanna county, the first Democrat to hold that position since the formation of the Re- publican party.

In 1893 he organized the Montrose Gun club for the protection and preservation of fish and game, of which lie was elected president, and was also appointed by the. State Sportsmen's association as one of the committee to draft new laws for the protec- tion and preservation of fish and game.

On November 30, 1887, Mr. Kelly was mar- ried to Ella V. Quailcy, of Forest Lake town- ship, to whom were born two children, Ella Evangeline, who died August 21, 1898, and Althea L., who died May 29, 1893. The mother's death oceurred May 4, 1898.

As a trial lawyer, Mr. Kelly is practical. methodical and far-sighted in the prepara- tion of his cases; clear, accurate and com- preliensive in their presentation ; alert, vigi- lant and strenuous in their trial, and logical, direct and eloquent in argument. He com- mands the respect and confidence of the pro- fession and of the public generally, and is recognized as one of the leaders of his pro- fession.

Ralph B. Little, Sr., who for many years was one of the ablest lawyers at the Susque- hanna county bar, was born in Delaware county, N. Y., January 16, 1816. He had the benefit of such school privileges as the surroundings of his youth afforded, and by private instruction under Dr. Strong and Rev. Alexander Campbell. While still very young, he began the study of law in Bethany, Pa., under the direction of Earl Wheeler; which he furthered at Montrose in the office of B. T. Case, and was admitted to the bar of this county in 1836. During the early practice of his profession, he was associated with Franklin Lusk, Esq., which firm was later dissolved, and Mr. Little be- came the partner of Hon. William M. Post. On April 14. 1840, he was married to Phila Ann Post, and to them were born the follow- ing children: George P., David P. and Mary E.

Bending all his energies to achieve suc- cess as a lawyer, he became eminent in the

670

TIIE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

profession, and was the leader of the bar at Montrose, in his time, and commanded the attention of the supreme court whenever he advocated a ease before it.

His death oceurred at his home in Mon- trose, on January 26, 1877, at the age of sixty-one years.

Richard J. Manning was born in Lenox township, Susquehanna eounty, Pennsyl- vania, on the 24th day of August, 1860. He eommeneed his education in the district schools of Lenox, and afterwards attended Keystone academy at Factoryville, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1882; he then at- tended the Madison university at Hamilton, N. Y., for two years, after which he entered St. Laurent college, of Montreal, where he was on his last year's course for degree A. B., but was compelled to leave school on ae- count of illness, and returned to his home in Lenox.

He commenced the study of law with Lem- uel Ammerman, of Scranton, afterwards completing the course in the office of Miller S. Allen, of Montrose, Pa. He was admitted to the bar of Susquehanna county on Jan- uary 22, 1887, and immediately eommeneed the practice of law in Susquehanna, Pa. In 1893, Mr. Manning entered into partnership with John D. Miller, Esq., which partnership was dissolved at the end of the year, and Mr. Manning continued his practice alone.

Mr. Manning is thoroughly versed in the law, and a man of deep research and careful investigation, and by his skill and ability has won for himself a liberal patronage.

In politics Mr. Manning is a Demoerat, and for many years he has been a prominent worker and a hearty supporter of that party.

On December 24, 1893, Mr. Manning was married to Miss Carrie L. Brady, of Susque- hanna, and to them has been born one child. J. Harold Manning.

Since Mr. Manning's admission to the bar in 1887, he has been engaged in the trial of

many important cases before the eourts, in which he manifested great skill and ability as a trial lawyer. He is a eapable and bril- liant lawyer, and thoroughly equipped for the practice of his profession.

William A. Skinner, a talented young at- torney of Susquehanna, Susquehanna coun- ty, Pennsylvania, is rapidly making his way to the front rank in his profession, his sue- eess in general practiee having already won him a high reputation. Even as a student he displayed unustal aptitude for legal work, and he enjoys the distinction of holding the fast certificate as bachelor of laws ever granted by the New York law school to a candidate who had only attended that insti- trtion one year, a special permit being re- njnod from the state board of regents be- Pro he was allowed to take the examina- tion.

Mr. Skinner was born June 23, 1875, at Ctarzucca, Da., a son of James and Eliza " inmer. When he was eleven years of age his parents moved to Suspichanna. Pa .. where William attended the high school, from which he was graduated in 1890.

In 1895 he enrolled as a student of law in the New York law school, from which he graduated at the end of one year with the degree of bachelor of laws, and immediately afterward was admitted to the bar of Sus- quehanna county and began the practice of law in Susquehanna, Pa., where he met with gratifying recognition from the start, and by his strict attention to business and thor- ough knowledge of the law, soon won for himself a liberal clientage, and has figured in the trial of many prominent cases before the eourts of Susquehanna county.

Mr. Skinner is a member of the local board of trade, and is also active in politic affairs as a steadfast and enthusiastic adherent of the Republican party.

Socially he is popular, and belongs to the I. O. O. F., Starrucea lodge, No. 423, at Sus- quehanna, of which he is presiding officer.

671

SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY

On April 30, 1902, Mr. Skinner was mar- ried to Miss Graee Burrhus, a resident of Susquehanna.

John D. Miller, a praetieing attorney of Susquehanna, Susquehanna county, Pennsyl- vania, though making his residence at Thom- son, Pa., was born Deeember 6, 1856, in Greene county, New York, and received his edueation in the publie sehools of that eounty.

At the age of sixteen he eommeneed his business eareer as elerk in a mereantile store in Medusa, Albany eounty, New York, where he remained three years, and then came to Susquehanna eounty, as a bookkeeper for a lumber firm in Harmony township, with which he was connected until his removal to Thomson, in 1879.

He was engaged in the hardware busi- ness with Hiram Lake until the spring of 1882, and was later interested in the mer- eantile business with his father-in-law, until 1888, when he eommeneed the study of law with R. J. Manning, of Susquehanna, re- maining with him until his admission to the bar in 1891. He engaged in practice with Mr. Manning, at Seranton, Pa., until the fall of 1893, and then opened an offiee in Susque- hanna, where he now enjoys a large and lucrative practiee. He is a well read lawyer, and transaets business in an earnest, careful and thorough manner, and his relations with the court, his brother lawyers and with his elients are always of the most pleasant nature. Mr. Miller has handled many important eases, the trial of which has been conducted with marked abil- ity.

At Thomson, on January 21, 1882, Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Jennie M. Blandon, who was born in that plaee in February, 1858, an only ehild of George P. and Catharine Blandin. Our sub- jeet and his wife have had four ehildren, as follows: Harry G. (now deceased), Allan D.,

born August 13, 1884; Myron B., born Oeto- ber 14, 1887, and Walter L., born Deeem- ber 29, 1896.

Mr. Miller is a prominent member of Thomson lodge, No. 866, I. O. O. F .; Mount Hermon lodge, No. 472, F. & A. M .; Susque- hanna chapter, No. 276, R. A. M., and St. Andrew's commandery, No. 76, K. T. Polit- ically Mr. Miller is a stauneh and aetive Demoerat, and has rendered mueh valuable service to his ehosen party.

Hon. William M. Post, a son of David and Minerva (Scott) Post, was born February 10, 1825, at Montrose, Pa. He was reared in the village of his birth, attending the Mont- rose academy, and assisted in the work upon his father's farm. When twenty years of age, having received a fair academie education, he eommeneed the study of law, which for a time was interrupted by busi- ness interests. Several years later, he re- sumed his studies with his brother-in-law, Ralph B. Little. He was admitted to the bar in 1856 and beeame associated in prae- tice with his former prceeptor, under the firm name of Little & Post. Soon after this Mr. Post removed to Susquehanna, Pa., and there opened a law offiee.

In 1880 he returned to Montrose and took up his residenee at the old homestead, where he has sinee resided.

During the administration of President Johnson Mr. Post held the office of United States assessor for the Twelfth distriet, eom- posed of Susquehanna and Luzerne eounties. The office was one which required great la- bor, requiring the aid of ten or more assist- ants. Mr. Post assumed the duties of the of- fiee and discharged them efficiently, to the entire satisfaction of all eoneerned and with credit to himself.

In 1886 he was the nominee of the Dem- oeratic party for state senator from the dis- triet composed of Susquehanna and Wayne counties. The district being largely Repub-

672

THE BENCH AND BAR OF PENNSYLVANIA

lican, Mr. Post was defeated, although such was his popularity that he ran six hundred votes ahead of his tieket.

As a lawyer, Mr. Post is spoken of in the History of Susquehanna County, by R. M. Stocker, its editor, as follows:

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II, Part 9

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