Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Landis, Augustus S. June 4, 1834 - ????
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Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892.
Author: Samuel T. Wiley

AUG. S. LANDIS,
who for thirty-five years has been a leading member of the Blair county bar,
and for more than a quarter of a century the treasurer and solicitor of
Hollidaysburg borough, is a son of Dr. Joseph A. and Maria L. (Holcomb)
Landis, and was born June 4, 1834, at Pennington, New Jersey. The Landis
family is of original German descent, having been planted in America at a
very early day by one of the name who came from Prussia and settled in
Hunterdon county, New Jersey. There Henry Landis (grandfather) was born and
reared, but while yet young man removed to Montgomery county, Pennsylvania,
where he married a daughter of David Cumming, a Scotch Quaker, who was among
the earliest pioneers of that county, coming from Inverness, Scotland. At one
time Henry Landis was a saddler in Philadelphia, and later a hotel keeper in
Baltimore. He died about 1860, in Baltimore, but his wife survived him twenty
years, dying in 1880, aged ninety-two.
     Joseph A. Landis (father) received an academic education, and in 1825
began the study of medicine with Dr. Nathaniel Potter, a professor of the
theory and practice of medicine in the University of Maryland. He graduated
from that institution in 1828, and began practice at Pennington, New Jersey.
In 1836 he went to Alexandria, Louisiana, where he practiced one year, and
then, at the solicitation of Dr. Bramwell, who was retiring, came to
Hollidaysburg and took charge of his large practice. From 1837 to 1868 Dr.
Landis continued to practice in this city and surrounding country. In the
latter years he removed to Philadelphia, where he was engaged in hius
profession for six years, and then returned to Hollidaysburg. He was one of
the original founders of the Blair County Medical society, a member of the
Philadelphia Medical society while living in that city, and after his return
here served as president of the Blair county society. He was frequently sent
as delegate to the State Medical society, and served for many years as
physician to the county prison. In 1861 he served as a volunteer surgeon at
Mount Pleasant hospital, Washington, District of Columbia. He was one of the
county poor directors at the time of the erection of county alms house, and
served five years as physician of that charity. He was prominent in the
organization of the Hollidaysburg Gas Company, and for several years its
president. In October, 1831, Dr. Landis married Maria L., daughter of Jacob
Holcomb, of Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and this couple lived to celebrate
their golden wedding in October, 1881. To them was born a family of two sons
and three daughters. Dr. Landis died November 20, 1886, at his home in
Hollidaysburg, being then in his eighty-second year. His wife died August 27,
1884 on her eighty-fourth birthday.
      Augustus S. Landis came to Hollidaysburg with his father's family when
only three years of age, was reared and received a common school and academic
education in this city. In 1851 he centered the sophomore class at Jefferson
college, Cannonsburg, from which institution he was graduated with the class
of 1853. Upon his return home from college he was appointed principal of the
Hollidaysburg academy, but resigned in the following year to begin reading
law with the Hon. Samuel Calvin, one of the pioneer jurists of Hollidaysburg.
At the April term, 1857, Mr. Landis was admitted to the bar, and the following
summer opened a law office in Hollidaysburg. Incident to his law practice he
was for some years associated editorially with the Hollidaysburg 'Standard'
during which he rendered valuable services to that journal with his trenchant
and versatile pen. His writing was generally commended for its force and
vigor, while his keen insight and sound judgment enabled him to lead public
opinion and exert great influence.
      In the spring of 1860, at the solicitation of friends, Mr. Landis
became a candidate for the office of treasurer and solicitor of
Hollidaysburg, and was elected at the ensuing election. He has been annually
reelected ever since. No better evidence could be offered of his zeal and
fidelity in the discharge of official duty. In 1868 he became a member of the
Hollidaysburg school board, and by reelection has remained connected with it
to the present time. In October, 1872, he was elected a delegate from the
Twenty-first Senatorial district to the constitutional convention which sat
in Philadelphia the following year, and framed the present constitution of
Pennsylvania. The district was composed of the counties of Blair, Bedford,
Somerset and Fulton. His colleagues were Hon. Samuel L. Russell, of Bedford,
and Hon. J. W. Curry, of Altoona. His law preceptor, Hon. Samuel Calvin, was
elected during the session of the constitutional convention to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Hon H. N. McAllister, of Bellefonte. In the
work of the convention Mr. Landis took and active and important part. In 1884
he was the delegate from this district to the National democratic convention
at Cincinnati, that nominated General W. S. Hancock to the presidency of the
United States. On the death of Judge Clark, of the supreme bench, the bar of
this and adjoining counties urged Governor Pattison to appoint Mr. Landis to
the vacant seat, but the appointment was given to C. H. Heydrick, of Venango
county. Among other important services rendered to his party, Mr. Landis has
several times represented this county in State democratic conventions.
      He was one of the original projectors of the enterprise which resulted
in giving Hollidaysburg its present water supply. From the inception of the
plan to the final completion of the water works he devoted his energies with
untiring zeal to promoting its progress, and its success is justly considered
as very largely due to his efforts. He has for years been prominently
identified with various leading enterprises, notably the Hollidaysburg and
Gap Iron Works Company, the Hollidaysburg Gas Company, and Hollidaysburg &
Bedford Plank Road Company. He is an able advocate and active promoter of
every movement calculated to advance the interests or develop the resources
of his town and county, and has done much to leave his impress on the history
of this section.
      In November, 1865, Mr. Landis was united in marriage to Eleanor Porter,
youngest daughter of the late John Porter, of Alexandria, Huntingdon county,
of which county Mr. Porter was one of the best and most widely honored
citizens.
      In January, 1864, Mr. Landis became a member of the First Presbyterian
church of Hollidaysburg and was chosen a ruling elder in January, 1868. In
October, 1869, he was elected superintendent of the Sabbath school connected
with this church, and continued in that position till 1888, when he resigned.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Annie Whiteman  Annie2ws@aol.com

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