BIO: Hon. James T. HALE, Centre County, Pennsylvania

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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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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, pages 26-27

HON. JAMES T. HALE (deceased), formerly of Bellefonte, was one of Centre 
county's able men.  He was a native of Bradford county, Penn., born October 14, 
1810, and lived with his parents on a farm, working thereon, and at intervals 
attending the schools of the neighborhood, until he was about fifteen years of 
age, when his father died, and, he being the eldest son, the support of the 
family was chiefly thrown upon him.  Some time after the death of his father, he 
became the clerk in the prothonotary's office at Towanda.  He then entered upon 
the study of the law under the direction of his uncle, Elias W. Hale, of 
Lewistown, Penn., and on February 28, 1832, was admitted to the Bar at that 
place.  In 1835 he removed to Bellefonte, where on May 6 of that year, he 
married Miss Jane W. Huston, daughter of Hon. Charles Huston, associate justice 
of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.  He continued his practice in the courts 
of Mifflin county, and also attended the courts in the counties of Clearfield 
and Clinton.  He was engaged in the trial of all the principal causes tried in 
the several courts for many years, until April 10, 1851, when a vacancy occurred 
in what afterward became the Twenty-fifth Judicial District, whereof he was 
appointed president judge by Gov. Johnston.  He presided in the several courts 
of the district until December 1, 1851, when his commission expired, and he was 
succeeded by the Hon. Alexander Jordan.  He occupied the Bench but a short time, 
but during that brief period discharged the arduous duties of president judge 
with such promptness, dispatch, ability, and impartiality, that he achieved such 
popularity and renown as a clear-headed and excellent judge as is rarely 
attained by men who occupy the Bench for longer terms.  After retiring from the 
Bench he resumed his profession, in which he continued until about 1856, when he 
had become so 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD - 27

largely engaged in other enterprises that he was, to a great extent, obliged to 
abandon the active duties of the profession.  Having become interested as part 
owner in a large body of timber and coal lands in the counties of Cambria, 
Centre and Clearfield, known as the Philips estate, whose value, development and 
availability depended chiefly upon railroad communication, he embarked his 
means, industry, energy and financial skill in the building of the Tyrone & 
Clearfield railroad.  In 1856, he was elected president of the company, and 
continued in that position until 1860.  During that period, notwithstanding the 
financial crisis of 1857, through his indomitable energy and enterprise, 
industry and financial ability, and the application of his own means, the road 
was, through much difficulty and many embarrassments, graded and so far advanced 
toward completion that it was in a year or two afterward finished and equipped 
and put in running order; and that important branch and feeder of the 
Pennsylvania Central railroad opened up and made available the rich timber and 
mineral wealth of parts of Cambria, Centre and Clearfield counties.
  In politics Judge Hale was an ardent Whig and high-tariff man.  When the Whig 
party passed out of existence he united with the Republican party, and in 1858 
was elected to the XXXVIth Congress from the Eighteenth District, composed of 
the counties of Mifflin, Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, Potter and Tioga.  He was 
re-elected in 1860, from the same district, to the XXXVIIth Congress.  In 1862 
he ran as an independent candidate, and was again elected over his competitor, 
the Hon. Wm. H. Armstrong, the regular Republican nominee.  At the close of the 
session on March 4, 1865, he took his family to Philadelphia, where, after 
attending to some private business, he left them, and returned to Bellefonte, 
and at once engaged in professional work, tried several cases at a special court 
held by his honor, Judge Pearson, and, though not being well, he argued a cause 
with great force and ability on March 31.  The day following he was quite sick, 
and continued growing worse until the following Thursday evening, April 6, 1865, 
when he died.
  Judge Hale was an upright man, kind friend and generous neighbor.  From his 
first entry into Centre county, he was a consistent friend of the temperance 
cause, and the first to advocate publicly the passage of laws to prohibit the 
manufacture and sale of liquor as a beverage.  He possessed a bright intellect, 
a remarkably tenacious memory (never forgot a legal principle or a reported case 
he had read), and an intuitive knowledge of the law, was quick in his perceptive 
power, always ready, and as it has been said of him, "was a lawyer without a 
book or an office."  In the trial of causes he was cool and calm, amiable and 
scarcely ever ruffled in temper, or disconcerted by any turn the case might 
take, and by his commanding presence, pleasing address, persuasive manner, 
simple but forcible diction, and, withal, sound argument, he was sure to carry 
the court and jury with him.  He was a member and vestryman and prominent in the 
councils of the Episcopal Church.  His wife and five children survive him.  The 
widow and three sons, Capt. Charles Huston, James T., Jr., and George Natt have 
all since died.  His daughter Lucy, intermarried with Rev. George G. Field, and 
Ellen, intermarried with N. H. Stone, still survive and reside at Coatsville, in 
Chester county.