USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 20
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About 1889, S. C. and J. P. Watts es- tablished a Prohibition paper at Clearfield, under the name of "The Monitor." In 1905 this paper was purchased by R. M. Butler, formerly the local editor of the Curwensville "Mountaineer." Subsequent-
ly, the "Karthans Times," which had been started by Dr. Neveling a few years before, was consolidated with the "Monitor," and these papers are now known as the "Times- Monitor."
In 1905 Mr. Butler started a daily paper called "The Evening Herald." Both papers are now published by S. V. Border and are independent in politics.
In closing this list of papers published at the county seat some mention must be made of the "Multum in Parvo," a most ec- centric little paper published by Dr. Swee- ney about 1883. After a stormy, if brief career, during which time its editor was sued for libel, this paper ceased to appear.
Previous to 1872 the county seat enjoyed the honor of publishing the only newspa- pers in this county. But during the sum- mer of that year a stock company, the mem- bers of which were W. and Z. McNaul, E. A. Irvin, Samuel Arnold, A. H. Irvin, W. C. Arnold, Faust & Goodwin, John P. Irvin, John Patton, T. W. Fleming, N. E. Arnold, J. R. Jenkins, Edward Livingston, J. F. Ir- win and L. B. V. Soper, was formed for the purpose of founding a weekly newspaper, in Curwensville. This paper was called the "Clearfield County Times," and was pub- lished by Tolbert J. Robison. Daniel Faust, WV. C. Arnold, J. P. Irvin, John Patton, Jr., and Edward Livingston comprised the cdi- torial committee. The "Times" proved a great success as a strong Republican paper during the Grant-Greeley campaign.
The next year R. H. Brainard bought the "Times" and became its editor. He contin- ued as such for the next nine years. Whit- taker and Fee were the next publishers, and on account of political differences
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edited a paper neutral as to party. After became a partner of Mr. Johnston, and two several changes in its ownership John P. Bard purchased the "Times" in 1885, and renamed it "The Curwensville Herald." It now became a successful Republican paper once more, but this success soon failed, for in a year's time the "Herald" passed into other hands and abruptly ceased to be pub- lished.
Curwensville's second attempt at a pa- per was a musical publication. called "The Ancillia" established and edited by Profes- sor C. C. McDonald, in 1881. A year later Professor McDonald changed the "Ancil- lia" to a sixteen page monthly, under the name of "The County Review." This pa- per was bought in 1884, by R. H. Brainard, who became its editor, and continued as such until the time of his death in 1905. The paper was then purchased by V. King Pifer, who published it several years, after which it ceased to exist.
On April 28, 1903, a four page weekly newspaper under the title of "The Moun- taineer" was established in Curwensville by Roland D. Swoope, Esq. and S. Arnold Helmbold. Five years later Mr. Helmbold sold his interest in this paper to Roland D. Swoope, Jr., who has since been its editor and publisher. Since its beginning the "Mountaineer" has been devoted to the cause of Republicanism, and is recognized as one of the foremost county papers in the state.
"The DuBois Courier" first appeared in 1879, under the management of Butler and Horton. Three years later J. A. Johnston became its manager, enlarging and improv- ing it so that it became one of the leading papers in the county. In 1884 E. W. Gray
years after, the "Courier" was sold to R. L. Earle, who conducted it as a radical Repub- lican paper. Later the paper was again ac- quired by E. S. and E. W. Gray, who have since published it as a Republican daily paper. under the name of "The DuBois Morning Courier." For several years a weekly edition of the "Courier" was pub- lished, but this has been discontinued.
In 1883. H. C. Wilson. B. S. Hoag and Frank McMichael started an independent paper under the name of the "Du Bois Ex- press." Later the members of the company were J. P. Wilson, C. A. Read. H. C. Wil- son and Frank McMichael. This firm was called the "Express Publishing Company." Still later, David Reams became the pro- prietor, but in a few years was succeeded by D. C. Whitehill, who remained its pub- lisher until 1909. Next A. E. Hasbrook assumed its control, and it is now published as an evening paper, ranking high among the independent papers of the state.
Though scarcely a newspaper "The En- terprise" published in DuBois about 1875 by P. S. Weber, is of interest in discussing the press of the county. This unique pub- lication consisted mainly of advertisements, and was issued gratis. Needless to say, this experiment did not last long, and was abandoned after three or four issues.
The year 1904 marked the birth of an- other daily paper in the Metropolis of Clearfield county. "The Du Bois Morning Journal" made its first appearance at that time, under the supervision of W. J. and N. D. Hines. They are still its publishers, under the firm name of "The DuBois Print- ing and Publishing Company." The "Jour-
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nal" has also a Sunday edition. This paper owes its allegiance to the Republican party.
In 1881 in the enterprising town of Houtzdale a weekly newspaper was started by the "Observer Publishing Company," under the name of the "Houtzdale Ob- server." After many changes in its man- agement this paper was absorbed by the "Houtzdale Citizen," which is now owned and published by Hon. Harry Boulton and Ralph Richards. The "Citizen" is recog- nized as a loyal Republican weekly.
In 1873 a newspaper was started in Os- ceola by George M. Brisbin and his two brothers. This paper was called the "Os- ceola Reveille," and was strictly independ- ent regarding politics. After three years the Brisbin brothers retired, and the "Re- veille" became "The Independent World," managed by O. E. McFadden. Less than a year later its name was changed to the "Campaign World," and then again to the original title-"Reveille," by J. B. McFad- den, who was manager until 1880, when it was discontinued. In 1888 J. B. McFad- den established the "Leader," and, pur- chasing the "Courier" three years later, he gave the paper the name of the "Leader- Courier," which it still retains. Strictly
neutral in politics this paper under Mr. McFadden's editorship has come to fill an indispensable place in the homes of the thrifty and industrious people of the Os- ceola section.
Coalport was the fourth town to attempt a county publication. In 1885 G. P. Penne- aker started a small paper, which he called "Coalport Siftings." This proved such a success that Mr. Pennebaker enlarged the paper, changed its name to the "Coalport Standard" and started to publish a first- class weekly. The present publisher of this independent Republican weekly is Ezra Westover, who issues a clean and newsy four-page sheet.
Synonymous with the progressive town of Madera is its recently established weekly publication, known as "The Hustler." This paper was founded in 1909 by B. F. Rhine- hart and promises to advance with the steady growth of that busy region. The "Hustler" is classed as a Republican paper.
This completes our list of the newspapers of Clearfield county, of which there are now fourteen. Five of these are published daily, and the remainder weekly. Of the total number, seven are Republican, three Dem- ocratic and four Independent.
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CHAPTER XI
THE BENCH OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
Clearfield County's Judicial Connection with Centre County Previous to 1822-The Act of 1822 Providing for the Holding of Courts in Clearfield County-Population at That Time-Provision for Keeping Prisoners-Sketch of Hon. Charles Huston-Hon. Thomas Burnside, Hon. W. George Woodward, Hon. Robert G. White, Hon. John C. Knox, Hon. James T. Hale-The Twenty-fifth District Formed-Sketch of Hon. James Burnside- Hon. James Gamble-Judge Linn-Hon. Joseph B. McEnally-Hon. Charles A. Mayer- Act of 1874 Providing for an Additional Law Judge-Hon. John H. Orvis Appointed- Clearfield County Created a Separate Judicial District-Hon. David L. Krebs-Hon. Cyrus Gordon-Hon. Allison O. Smith.
Although Clearfield county was organized by an act of the General Assembly approved March 26th, 1804, it was attached to Centre county for judicial purposes by the provisions of said act, and for all such matters it was prac- tically a part of that county, until 1822, despite the fact that by an act approved April 4th, 1805 (Chapter 2598) the Legislature had ap- pointed Commissioners to fix the seat of jus- tice for the county and the same was estab- lished on the lands of Abraham Witmer at Chingleclamouche, and a town laid out and called Clearfield : yet it was not until the 29th of January, 1822, that the General Assembly passed a law making the county a part of the Fourth Judicial District and providing that the President Judge of said district should be the President Judge of the Courts of Clearfield county. Said act also provided for the hold- ing of Courts in Clearfield county, commenc- ing on the third Mondays of October, Decem-
ber and March and the first Mondays of July in each year, which courts the act wisely pro- vided should each "continue one week if nec- essary" and that, in case the public business did not in the opinion of the judges of said court require the summoning of a jury to at- tend all the terms of Court, the Judges might dispense with juries not exceeding two terms in any one year. The act further provided that the first term of Court should be held "at the Court House now erected in Clearfield town in said county of Clearfield." At this time the county had, according to the last U. S. census, a population of 2342 and a taxable population according to the state census of 1821 of 584. No deaf and dumb persons and no slaves. The act of 1822 also made provision for the transfer to Clearfield county of all ac- tions in which both parties were residents of Clearfield county at the time of the passing of said act, and also for the making of copies of
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all docket entries relating to such actions which with all the pleadings therein were trans- ferred to the Prothonotary of Clearfield county from Centre county. It seems there was in 1822 no jail in Clearfield county as the act pro- vides for the keeping of prisoners in the Cen- tre county jail until a jail should be erected in Clearfield.
Pursuant to said act of Assembly the first Court was held at Clearfield on the third Mon- day of October, 1822, and was presided over by Hon. Charles Huston.
Charles Huston was born in Bucks County, Pa., on the 16th of January, 1771. He re- ceived his education at private schools and at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1789. He taught school to maintain himself while he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in August, 1795. He first located at Wil- liamsport, Pa., but removed to Bellefonte, Pa., in 1807 where he resided and practiced law at the time of his appointment as President Judge of the Courts of the Fourth Judicial District. Judge Huston served as President Judge of the district until 1826 when he was appointed one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the state and served as such until 1845, when he retired. His death occurred November Ioth, 1849. Judge Huston was unusually well equipped to fill the important duties of the ju- dicial office. He had the attributes of integ- rity, legal learning, sound understanding, and that habit of thought that enabled him to view the legal questions before him without bias or prejudice. As a judge of the Fourth judicial district he became unusually well versed in the intricacies of the land titles in the state, and after his retirement from the bench he prepared and published a valuable work, en-
titled "History and Nature of Original Titles to Land in the Province and State of Penn- sylvania."
Hon. Thomas Burnside was appointed in 1826 to succeed Judge Huston. Thomas Burnside was a native of Ireland and was born July 22, 1782. He came to this country in 1782 with his parents and his early youth was spent in Philadelphia. He read law with Hon. Robert Porter of Philadelphia and was ad- mitted to practice in 1804 and shortly there- after he located in Bellefonte, Pa. He took an active interest in politics and in 181I was chosen as state senator and in 1815 was elected to Congress. In 1816 he was appoint- ed President Judge of Luzerne County, but re- signed in 1818. In 1823 he was again elected to the State Senate. He presided over the Courts of the Fourth Judicial district until 1841, when he was appointed President Judge of the Seventh Judicial district, where he served until 1845, when he was promoted to the Su- preme Court of the state. He died March 25th, 1857. Judge Burnside, while an able jurist and a man of more than ordinary ability in many lines, was noted for his eccentricities, and his fondness for a joke regardless of who might suffer.
Hon. George W. Woodward succeeded Judge Burnside and served a full term and was afterwards made Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the state. He was noted for his extreme courtesy and affability as well as for his legal learning and strict im- partiality. He was firm and final in his decisions upon legal questions, yet because it was always believed that he was strictly just as he recognized justice, he became one of the most popular judges in the state. Judge Woodward served on the Supreme
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Court Bench until 1867, when he retired by ing the passage of said act. Governor reason of the expiration of his term. He died about 1868.
Hon. Robert G. White was the next President Judge. Judge White came from Tioga County, Pa., and by reason of a change in the judicial districts that was made by the Legislature, he only served as the Judge of this county for the period of one year.
Hon. John C. Knox was the successor of Judge White. He served for a few months, when he was appointed as one of the Judges of the Supreme Court. He also served a term as Attorney General of the State. In the latter years of his life his mind became impaired and he died in an asylum for the insane.
Hon. James T. Hale succeeded Judge Knox as President Judge in April, 1851. Judge Hale was born in Bradford County, Pa .. October 14th, 1810. He was admitted to the Bar in 1832 and located in Bellefonte in 1835. He served as President Judge un- til April, 1853. After his retirement from the bench he practiced law for a number of years, but devoted most of his attention to business pursuits and to the development of the lumber and coal industries in Clear- field and Centre counties and to the build- ing of the Tyrone and Clearfield railroad. He died in April, 1865.
By an act of the General Assembly ap- proved April 9th, 1853. P. L. page 355. the counties of Centre, Clearfield and Clinton were erected into a separate judicial district to be called the Twenty-fifth District and the Governor was empowered to appoint a president judge of said district to serve until the first day of the December follow-
William Bigler on the 20th of April, 1853, appointed Hon. James Burnside to be the president judge of the new district. All of the judges up to this date had been ap- pointed by the Governors, but by reason of an amendment to the Constitution of the state, which had been submitted to and adopted by the people, all judges afterwards commissioned were elected by the voters of the state for terms of ten years in case of Common Pleas judges and fifteen years for judges of the Supreme Court. Judge Burnside was elected at the October elec- tion of 1853 without opposition and pre- sided over the Courts of the twenty-fifth district until his death on July 1, 1859, by being thrown from a buggy in a runaway. Judge James Burnside was generally known as Judge Burnside the younger, to distin- guish him from his father, Judge Thomas Burnside.
James Burnside was the eldest son of Thomas Burnside and was born at Belle- fonte, Pa., on February 22nd, 1807. He studied law in his father's office and was ad- mitted to the Bar in November, 1830. In 1844 he was elected to the state Legislature and served two terms, having been re- elected in 1846. He was a man of force and a good legal education and made a fine record as a jurist.
During the few months intervening be- tween the death of Judge James Burnside and the election of Judge Linn, Hon. James Gamble presided over the Courts of the twenty-fifth district. He was an able lawyer and worthily filled the important position, but owing to the brief period of his service in this county, he did not have
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an opportunity to do much toward becom- ing acquainted with its people. At the Octo- ber election of 1859 Samuel Linn was elected President Judge of the district and served until 1868, when he resigned.
Judge Linn was born in February, 1820, and was twenty-four years of age before he commenced to prepare himself for the legal profession. He was admitted to the Bar in 1847 and practiced law in partnership with James T. Hale, until 1851, when Mr. Hale was appointed to the Bench, and Mr. Linn then formed a partnership with W. P. Wilson which continued until Judge Linn's election as president Judge. After his re- tirement from the bench Judge Linn prac- ticed law until his death. Judge Linn tried many important cases in Clearfield county and some of his decisions on the questions of land titles were the foundations of sta- bility that settled disputed lines of boun- daries and interfering surveys that had proven a continual source of annoyance and litigation for years prior thereto.
Hon. Joseph B. McEnally was appointed as the successor to Judge Linn in 1868 by the Governor and was the first citizen of Clearfield county to preside over the Courts of the county as president judge. Judge McEnally served until December, 1868, when he was succeeded by Charles A. Mayer, the latter having defeated Judge McEnally at the October election, at which Judge McEnally was the Republican and Charles A. Mayer the Democratic candi- date. The district at that time being strongly democratic McEnally was de- feated, although he polled a large compli- mentary vote. Judge McEnally was born in Lycoming county on January 25th, 1825.
He was educated at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., having been graduated in the class of 1845. He was admitted to the Bar in 1849. Shortly after being admitted to practice he came to Clearfield county and resided there until his death which oc- curred at the ripe old age of eighty-five. Judge McEnally was a man of beautiful character, sterling integrity and as a land lawyer he probably had no equal in Penn- sylvania.
Hon. Charles A. Mayer, who succeeded Judge McEnally as president Judge, was born in York Co., Pa., December 15th, 1830. At the age of twenty-three he was admitted to the Bar of Clinton County, Pa. He served as District Attorney of Clinton county for two terms. At the expiration of his term as president judge he was again a candidate and was re-elected in 1878. After Clearfield county became a separate judicial district in 1883 Judge Mayer be- came by virtue of the rearrangement of judicial districts made by the Legislature, the President Judge of the new twenty-fifth district comprising the counties of Clinton, Cameron and Elk, and held that office up to the time of his death. Judge Mayer was one of the best lawyers who ever occupied the bench in this county and his decisions were seldom reversed by the appellate courts.
By the act of the General Assembly ap- proved the 9th day of April, 1874, which was passed to carry out the directions of the new state Constitution the Twenty-fifth Judicial District was entitled to an addi- tional law judge to be appointed by the Governor to serve until such additional law judge should be elected at the next general
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election. Pursuant to the authority con- tained in that act, Governor Hartranft on April roth, 1874, appointed Hon. John H. Orvis to be additional law judge of said district, and at the general election follow- ing he was elected to said office for the full term of ten years. Judge Orvis was born in Sullivan township, Tioga county, Pa., on February 24th, 1835. In February, 1856, he was admitted to the Clinton county Bar, and in December, 1862, he moved to Bellefonte, Pa. Judge Orvis resigned in 1868 and resumed the practice of the law in which he was actively and successfully engaged up to the time of his death. Judge Orvis was possessed of a fine intellect and a wonderfully retentive memory. In the trial of a case he seldom took any notes and yet when he came to charge the jury he could give every important item of testi- mony with exactness from his memory. His ability as a lawyer was very much against his success as a judge. He could grasp the very essence of a case, so much more quickly than the ordinary lawyer, and he was so impatient of technicalities and de- lays, and so anxious that right should pre- vail, that he sometimes ran afoul of the red tape that hedges in the legal procedure, for the purpose of preventing a too hasty judg- ment, but his career on the bench and as a lawyer reflected great credit upon the pro- fession which he honored. He was partic- ularly kind to young lawyers and it was his delight to aid and assist them wherever he could and as a consequence he made many warm friends among the junior members of the bar.
In the year 1883 Clearfield county by virtue of having acquired the necessary population
of over 40,000, was in obedience to the Con- stitution created a separate judicial district, and became entitled to elect its own president judge. The first judge to be so elected was Hon. David L. Krebs, who was the Democratic candidate for the office at the November elec- tion of 1883, but was supported by many Re- publicans who believed that the judicial office should be non-partisan. Judge Krebs served a full term of ten years and was a candidate for re-election, but was defeated by Hon. Cyrus Gordon, Republican, after a spirited canvass.
David Luther Krebs was born in Ferguson township, Centre Co., Pa., on Oct. 5th, 1846. In the fall of 1864 he came to Clearfield county and taught school while preparing for the bar with the late Hon. William A. Wallace. About this time his elder brother was drafted to serve in the war of the Rebellion and David offered to take his place, which he did and served in the 98th Pa. Vols. until mustered out. in 1865. In 1867 he returned to Centre Coun- ty and read law with the late Adam Hoy and was admitted to the Centre County bar in 1869 and in June of the same year located in Clear- field, Pa. Upon the appointment by President Grant of the late Hon. H. Bucher Swoope as United States Attorney, in 1870, Judge Krebs in connection with John P. Irvin succeeded to his practice. In 1873 Judge Krebs became a partner with Hon. W. A. Wallace, which part- nership continued up to the time of his election to the bench. Since the expiration of his ju- dicial term Judge Krebs has been engaged in the practice of law at Clearfield and enjoys a large and lucrative practice and is recognized as one of the leading lawyers of the county.
Hon. Cyrus Gordon, who succeeded Judge Krebs in January, 1894, served also a full term of ten years and was also a candidate for
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re-election, but was defeated by the present in- cumbent of the office, Hon. Allison O. Smith, after what was probably the most bitter polit- ical contest the county has ever known.
Judge Gordon was born December 1, 1846, near Hecla Furnace, Centre County, Pa. He was educated at Pennsylvania State College in 1866, studied law at the law school of the Michigan University, and in 1869 was admitted to the bar of Centre County, Pa. In 1870 he removed to Clearfield and began the practice of law. In 1874 he became a partner of Hon. Thomas H. Murray and this connection con- tinued until Judge Gordon's election to the bench. Since 1894 Judge Gordon has been engaged in the practice of law at Clearfield.
and also holds the position of general counsel to the Pure Food Department of Pennsylvania.
Hon. Allison O. Smith, who succeeded Judge Gordon and who is the present presiding judge of the county, assumed the duties of the office in January, 1894. Judge Smith was born Oc- tober 23rd, 1857, in Montour County, Pa., was educated at the University of Pennsylvania and was admitted to the bar of Philadelphia in June, 1882, and located in Clearfield in Sep- tember of that year. After Judge Gordon was elected to the bench, Judge Smith became a partner of Hon. T. H. Murray and was prac- ticing law in connection with him when elected judge.
CHAPTER XII
THE BAR OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY-FORMER MEMBERS
Character of the Clearfield County Bar-First Court-First Resident Member of the Bar- Sketches of the Leading Members of the Bar in Former Days.
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