BIO: J. Wesley GEPHART, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  J. WESLEY GEPHART, general superintendent of the Central Railroad of 
Pennsylvania, and for a decade one of the foremost lawyers at the 
Centre County Bar, is the son of John P. and Mary M. (Swartz) Gephart, 
the former an honored citizen of Bellefonte, a notice of whom, with 
that of his ancestors, appears elsewhere in this volume.
  J. Wesley Gephart was born at Millheim, May 25, 1853. The foundation 
for his education was laid in his native town, and in the schools of 
Bellefonte; he was prepared for college at the Bellefonte Academy, and 
was graduated from Princeton in 1874. He read law in the office and 
under the direction of Gen. James A. Beaver, of Bellefonte, since 
Governor of Pennsylvania, and now one of the judges of the Superior 
Court of the Commonwealth. Young Gephart was admitted to the Bar 
December 13, 1876, and, at the time, the press thus noticed the event: 
"Our young friend, Mr. J. W. Gephart, was admitted to practice law in 
the several courts of Centre county, on Wednesday last. Mr. Gephart's 
admission is the first that has occurred under the new rule of the 
Court appointing a permanent board of examiners, who are guided by a 
certain set of rules in the examination of applicants. Mr. Gephart is 
said to have given complete satisfaction to the board, who complimented 
him highly. He is a very diligent young man, of much natural ability, 
and his reading has been quite extensive. He has a logical mind, and a 
retentive memory, and his future promises brilliant things. We 
congratulate him." Less than two years afterward the press again 
remarked that: "Mr. Gephart, though young, is an exceedingly fine 
speaker, and gives promise of becoming a brilliant orator." 
  After his admission to the Bar, Mr. Gephart became a partner of his 
preceptor, Gen. Beaver, which partnership continued until in November, 
1893, when he retired in order to give his entire time to the Valentine 
Iron Company, with which he was connected from January 1, 1891, to 
November 1, 1895, and the new Central Railroad of Pennsylvania, of 
which he had been made the general superintendent. Ten years after his 
admission to the Bar the press said: "The distinguished law firm of 
Beaver & Gephart has added a new man to its membership in the person of 
John M. Dale, one of its former students. Up to 1873 the firm was 
McAllister & Beaver, and was continued under that name until January 7, 
1877, when J. W. Gephart, son of Hon. J. P. Gephart, was taken into 
partnership. Just ten years later the firm became as above stated. The 
new member of the firm is a graduate of the State College, and about a 
year ago was admitted as a practitioner to the several courts of 
Clinton and Centre counties. Since then he has spent the major portion 
of his time in the office of Beaver & Gephart, with whom he read law. 
He is a young man of excellent qualities, and is well prepared for the 
profession upon which he so conspicuously entered. Both sides are to be 
congratulated - the firm in securing so able a young man, and the new 
member in becoming associated with so popular a firm. Mr. Gephart, a 
graduate from Princeton, made a right record during the first ten 
years." This firm enjoyed an extensive practice, and owing to the 
senior member's absence much of the time in his relations to the public 
affairs of the Commonwealth, a great deal of work fell upon the junior 
members, who, however, always proved themselves equal to the task. Mr. 
Gephart has ever had the reputation of a close student, and is an 
indefatigable worker, and whatever he has taken hold of moved. Through 
the inspiration that his youth, energy, and ability gave to one of the 
languishing industries of Bellefonte, it became a success, and he is 
the president of the company. He is a successful man. He stood 
deservedly high at the Bar, both as a counselor and as an advocate. He 
is an eloquent and forcible speaker. He has always been found on the 
side of right on all questions, and in all movements tending to the 
elevation of mankind. His influence has been felt in the cause of 
temperance, and for years he has been an active worker in the 
Presbyterian Church, and the superintendent of its Sabbath-school. 
Being a man of letters, and possessing the qualities of a leader, 
capable and willing, he adorns citizenship.
  In 1888 Mr. Gephart supported Harrison for President. He had been 
educated a Democrat. Commenting on a letter he had written expressing 
his views on the tariff question, and in justification of his intention 
of voting with the Repub-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  459

licans, the press said: "Never was so powerful a political bomb thrown 
into the Democratic camp of Centre county, as the able letter written 
by J. W. Gephart, Esq., and published in last week's issue of the 
Gazette. Everybody has read the letter - Protectionists, irrespective 
of politics, heartily endorse it, and Cleveland Freetrade Democrats are 
unable to refute or explain any part of it. They are simply 
dumbfounded, and know not where to look for relief. No one ventures to 
express the least doubt about Mr. Gephart's Democracy, for everybody 
knows that he has always stood by the Democrats through thick and thin. 
No one can raise the cry of disgruntled politician, for Mr. Gephart has 
never sought any office either large or small. No one can say aught 
against his professional or business qualifications, for he stands far 
above reproach in any capacity of department you choose to take him. So 
then Mr. Gephart cannot be attacked personally, politically or 
professionally. What are the Freetraders going to do about it? 
Inquiries have been received by mail, telegraph and personally for 
copies of the Gazette, containing the letter. A large number of extra 
copies of this week's issue were run off, and yet they were all gone 
before night of Friday last. A large addition of Gazette supplements 
containing the Gephart letter is now in print."
  In October, 1879, Mr. Gephart was married to Miss Ella Hayes, and the 
Watchman remarked on the occasion: "He is, beside being a lawyer and a 
capable one, an accomplished printer, having learned his trade in the 
Watchman office, and to a great extent secured his college education by 
working at the business in Princeton, N.J. His bride is the 
accomplished Miss Ella Hayes (daughter of W. W. Hayes, Esq., formerly 
of this place, but now of Washington, D.C.), who almost since her 
childhood has been an inmate of the family of W. P. Wilson, deceased, 
on High street, a modest, excellent girl, with a fair chare of personal 
attractions, who will make 'Wes' a faithful, good and loving wife. The 
marriage took place in the church, being solemnized by Rev. Mr. Laurie, 
in the presence of a dense congregation of people. The bridal pair were 
attended by six ushers, and as they advanced up the aisle they were 
greeted by looks of eager anticipation and delight-so susceptible are 
the multitude to the charms of a nuptial ceremony. Excellent music was 
rendered, and the floral decorations of the church were admirable. 
After the performance of the marriage rite the happy pair returned to 
the residence of Mr. Wilson, where they viewed the handsome gifts 
presented to them, among which were $140 silver service as a compliment 
from the members of the Bar, and $150 in pure gold." 
  The children of this marriage are: Wallace, Wilson and Elizabeth. 
Mrs. Mary M. Gephart, the mother of our subject, was the granddaughter 
of George Swartz (I), who built one of the first sawmills on Elk creek 
in Penn township. He was a leading member of the Evangelical Church, 
and of his eleven children, George was the father of Mrs. Gephart. The 
latter's death occurred on December 14, 1874. "She was a quiet, 
unpretentious, good woman, with a heart overflowing with kindness and 
sympathy toward every one, and with a hand always ready to assist and 
comfort in every time of distress. As a neighbor none could be better, 
and the families who lived near her all bear testimony to the exceeding 
loveliness of her character. Her nature was all womanly, tender, 
charitable, forbearing and sympathetic. She won the love and the esteem 
of all with whom she was thrown in contact. It was her own family, 
however, where her worth was best known and appreciated, and there will 
her loss be most grievously felt. It was her hand that managed, her eye 
that saw, her heart that felt for each member of that little circle. 
The father, the son and the daughter all drew their comfort from her. 
For them the fires were bright, the room cheerful, the table invitingly 
spread. For them there was peace and quietness and domesticity in every 
department, and no happier family ever assembled around the 
hearthstone. She was the wife and mother in the fullest sense of those 
significant and tender words, and in her intercourse with her family 
she was careful to order her walk and conversation in accordance with 
the injunction of the law of her God and Master. She had been a member 
of the M. E. Church from her childhood."