Early Courts—Famous Judges—Leading Lawyers.
[p. 148] Lawrence County, erected out of parts of Beaver and Butler Counties by act approved March 20, 1849, lay within the jurisdiction of the Seventeenth Judicial District of Pennsylvania, which had been formed in 1831, with John Bredin as presiding judge under appointment by the Governor, made April 1, 1831. At the first sitting of court in Lawrence County, the following attorneys from the county were admitted and sworn: Jonathan Ayres, J. K. Boyd, David Craig, David C. Cossett, John M. Crawford, John Hoffman, James W. Johnston, Davis B. Kurtz, L. L. McGuffin, John N. McGuffin, James Pollock, Lewis Taylor and George W. Watson. Daniel Agnew, Thomas Cunningham, B. B. Chamberlin, S. P. Fetterman and John R. Shannon were admitted from Beaver County. John Negley and C. C. Sullivan, from Butler County, were admitted, and also William Maxell, William M. Stewart, William Stevenson and Johnston Pearson, of Mercer County.
The following, regarding the history of the judiciary of Lawrence County, is taken almost verbatim from a paper read by S. W. Dana, now Nestor of the Lawrence County Bar, at the celebration of the semi-centennial of the holding of the first court in the county:
"Upon the formation of the Seventeenth District, John Bredin, of Butler, was appointed by Governor George Wolf, presiding judge, and he was commissioned during good behavior. By the amended constitution of 1838, his term of office was reduced from good behavior to ten years, and his term made to expire on February 27, 1842. He was re-appointed by Governor David R. Porter in 1842, and his term would have expired, under the amendment of the constitution of 1851, on the 1st day of December, 1852. He died suddenly on May 21, 1851.
"It appears by the record of the court here that a meeting of this bar was held upon the occasion of his death, the minutes of which were at the next sitting of the court, presented, and after an eloquent eulogy upon the deceased by L. L. McGuffin, ordered by the court to be enrolled. It is here recorded that the bar united in their tribute of affectionate regard for him, who had so long and with so distinguished ability, presided in the district. The minutes further say of him that he had a strong discriminating mind, a retentive memory, indefatigable industry and unwearied attention; that he was frank, generous and kind, always willing to suffer personal inconvenience for the benefit of a friend."
At the time Judge Bredin put on the robes of his high office, his successor was a mere youth, just admitted to the bar of Beaver County. He had barely passed his majority. He was the son of an eminent physician who had long practiced his profession in the city of Pittsburg; was graduated from the Western University of [p. 149] Pennsylvania; was a law student under Walter Forward; and upon his admission to the bar in 1829, entered upon the profession at Beaver. This was Daniel Agnew, who, twenty-two years afterwards, was appointed by Governor William F. Johnston president in the district in the place of John Bredin, deceased.
"He was elected at the next annual election. At the end of his term in 1861, he was re-elected by the unanimous vote of all parties. Two years afterwards he was elected one of the judges of the Supreme Court. For almost thirteen years, from the spring of 1851 to December, 1863, he administered the law within his jurisdiction. There were no railroads connecting the places where the courts were held. He passed the long distances from Beaver to Butler, and thence to Mercer, and thence to New Castle, over the roughest roads, in all sorts of weather, riding or driving his own horse. He had a physical constitution of great vigor and endurance. His mind, naturally quick and acute, had by long training in the law, so mastered its principles, and become so familiar with statutes, rules and precedents, that the most difficult and complicated cases were easily resolved, and were presented by him so plainly and clearly that both parties were satisfied. Rarely were appeals taken from his decisions.
"In February, 1854, he had completed with great care the rules of practice for the district, and they have been continued, with but slight alterations, to the present time. When the oldest of us commenced practice, many of our clients had been his clients, and we know with what confidence they relied upon his opinion. The community felt the same confidence in his judicial sentences.
"I will not attempt to follow him during his career of fifteen years on the Supreme bench. It is a part of the judicial history of the State. His lucid opinions are contained in forty-three volumes of the State reports, from 46 to 88, inclusive. There they will ever remain, like the fixed stars, lighting the way of the generations of our profession who come after us.
"Lawrence L. McGuffin, of the Lawrence County Bar, was appointed upon the resignation of Daniel Agnew by Governor Andrew G. Curtin, to fill the vacancy until next annual election. He was elected in 1864 and his term would have expired in December, 1874, but was prolonged by the new constitution of 1873, to the first Monday of January, 1875. After the judicial appointment in April, 1874, providing an additional law judge for the Seventeenth District, Charles McCandless, of Butler, was appointed by Governor J. F. Hartraft and held the office, with L. L. McGuffin as president judge, until the first Monday of January following.
"At the annual election in 1874, Ebenezer McJunkin and James Bredin, both of Butler, were elected, and upon lots cast, McJunkin became president judge and Bredin additional law judge. James Bredin was the son of John Bredin, the first president of the district. In 1884, John McMichael and Aaron L. Hazen, both of the Lawrence bar, were elected, and, by lot, Hazen drew the presidency and McMichael the additional judgeship.
"Judge McMichael died on April 17, 1892. J. Norman Martin, of the Lawrence bar was appointed to the vacancy by Governor Robert E. Pattison. At the annual election of the same year, John M. Greer of Butler, was elected and was commissioned for a full term, from the first Monday of January, 1893, an additional law judge.
"By the act of April 28, 1893, making Lawrence County a separate district, the Fifty-first, Judge Hazen became its president judge, and Judge Greer the president judge of Butler County. Judge Hazen continued president judge here until the expiration of his commission on the first Monday of January, 1895, when he was succeeded by William D. Wallace.
"Judge McMichael was admitted here in December, 1861, and thence to his eleva-[p. 150] tion to the bench received his culture and training exclusively within this court, and under the influence of this bar. He was upon the bench here only seven years; and in this short period, he came to be justly regarded as one of the ablest judges in this part of the State.
"Judge McGuffin was a student of John D. Pearson, afterwards the distinguished judge of the Dauphin County district. He was admitted to the bar in 1843, and was in practice at New Castle for ten years before the new county was formed. He was one of the most zealous and enthusiastic promoters of the project. The day we celebrate, the day of the first court at New Castle, what a glorious day it must have been to him! He became the leader of the new bar and continued such until his elevation to the bench. He magnified our profession; he magnified the judicial office. He took great pleasure and pride in the success of us all. His ambition to attain success as a lawyer and judge was unbounded. He would attain to it by industry and high endeavor. But long before the end of his judicial term, his health began to decline and he gave us a high example of patience and fortitude. Looking back to that first court, it would seem to me that the most prominent personage there was Lawrence L. McGuffin."
William D. Wallace was succeeded as president judge by William Ellis Porter, who was selected in November, 1904, and is the present incumbent of that high office.
Below appear a few facts concerning many of those who have graced the Lawrence County bar:
HON. WILLIAM D. WALLACE, attorney-at-law of New Castle and formerly judge of the Fifty-first Judicial District of Pennsylvania, was born in New Castle, May 15, 1857. After graduation from Westminster College in 1881, he studied law under the direction and in the office of Dana & Long at New Castle. It was largely through his activity that Lawrence County was set aside as a separate judicial district, and as recognition of his services in that direction he was elected to the judgeship thus created, on November 6, 1894. Since leaving the bench he has engaged in active practice in his native city.
HON. WILLIAM ELLIS PORTER, president judge of the Fifty-third Judicial District of Pennsylvania, was born in Wilmington Township, Mercer County, December 15, 1867. He graduated from Westminster College in 1889, then after teaching two years, read law under the preceptorship of James A. Gardner and James M. Martin. He was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County, January 23, 1893, and immediately opened an office for practice in New Castle. He was secretary of the People's Mutual Building and Loan Association of New Castle, from 1894 until 1904; member of the City Council from the Third Ward, from 1900 to 1904, serving two years as president of that body; and in November, 1904, was elected president judge of the Fifty-third Judicial District, in which capacity he now serves.
C. W. FENTON, of New Castle, has been engaged in the practice of law in this city since 1898. He was born in Lawrence County in 1870, and received his educational training in the public schools of New Castle, Slippery Rock State Normal and Hiram College, graduating from the last named in 1892. He then engaged in teaching for six years and in the meantime prosecuted the study of law; in 1898, he was graduated from the law department of the Ohio Northern University at Ada, Ohio. During the Spanish-American War he served one year as a member of Company E, Fifteenth P. V. I., with the rank of corporal. After his return from the front he was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County, and became associated in practice with Charles H. Young, now prosecuting attorney.
W. K. HUGUS has been engaged in the practice of law at New Castle since 1896. He was born in Venango County, Pennsylvania, in October, 1868; was graduated from Grove City College in 1893, and from the law department of the University of [p. 151] Michigan in 1895. He was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County the following year.
CHARLES H. YOUNG, prosecuting attorney of Lawrence County, was born in Beaver Township January 16, 1876. He attended the district schools and later engaged as an instructor some four years. He read law under the tutelage of Judge Martin, of New Castle, and attended Slippery Rock Normal School, graduating in the law department in October, 1897. He was admitted to the bar in that year, and has since been in continuous practice at New Castle since, except for the period he served in the army during the Spanish-American War. He bore the rank of sergeant. Mr. Young has been very active in Republican politics.
S. JAMES CALLAHAN, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce of New Castle, has been engaged in the practice of law in this city since his admission to the bar in April, 1907. He was born in Lycoming County, in 1868; was educated in Wellsboro High School, Cook Academy and Hillsdale College, after which he taught school for a time. He acquired a knowledge of shorthand and typewriting in Pratt's College at Williamsport, after which he read law in the office of C. E. Sprout, of Williamsport, in the meantime acting as general agent for the Connecticut Mutual Insurance Company for that district. He continued with that company for six years after his removal to New Castle, then became general agent for the New York Life, a position he now fills. At New Castle he continued the study of law under the direction of Attorney McCaslin, and was admitted to the bar in 1907. He is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
A. MARTIN GRAHAM has been in practice of the law at New Castle since 1897. He was born in Washington Township, Lawrence County, in 1873, and received his education in Volant Academy, Scio Collage and Mt. Union University. Then, after teaching school several years he read law under the direction of his uncle, Hon. J. Norman Martin, and was admitted to the bar in 1897. During the Spanish-American War he was in the service as a member of Company B, Sixteenth Regiment, P. V. I., and participated in the Porto [sic] Rico campaign. He is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association; he has been secretary of the Democratic County Committee throughout his residence in New Castle.
CAPT. J. V. CUNNINGHAM, a member of the bar of New Castle, and captain of Cavalry Troop F, N. G. P., was born in Wayne Township, Lawrence County Pennsylvania. After receiving a thorough classical education in different collegiate institutions, he took a law course at Ohio Northern University of Ada, Ohio, graduating in 1895; he then read law in the office of Dana & Long, in New Castle, one year, and in 1896 was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County. He has since engaged in practice in this city except for such periods as his military duties called him from home. In 1898 he was elected captain of Company B, Sixteenth Regiment, P. V. I., and was in command of his company throughout the campaign in Porto Rico. In 1899 he was appointed by President McKinley as captain of Company F, Forty-second Regiment, U. S. Volunteers, and served in the Philippine Islands until 1901. He was made captain of Troop F, N. G. P., May 11, 1904. He was elected district attorney of Lawrence County, serving from 1903 to 1906.
ROBERT L. WALLACE has been engaged in, the practice of law in New York continuously since his admission to the bar, December 2, 1902. He was born in Pulaski Township, Lawrence County, in 1876, and received his educational training in the old seminary at Poland, Ohio, and Grove City College, from which he was graduated in 1899. He then taught one year in Griersville Academy, and a like period in Enon Valley High School, after which he read law under the preceptorship of Judge Martin of New Castle. He is at present Republican [p. 152] nominee for the State Legislature.
WYLIE McCASLIN has been in practice in New Castle for a period of fourteen years. He was born in Scott Township, Lawrence County, in 1869; was graduated from Grove City College in 1892; read law under the direction of Hon. J. Norman Martin, and was admitted to the bar in 1894. He is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
HON. J. NORMAN MARTIN, a prominent member of the bar of Lawrence County, was born at Neshannock Falls, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, October 30, 1859. After graduation from Westminster College in 1881, he went west to Leavenworth, Kansas, and there read law in the office of Hon. Lucius Baker, a member of the United States Senate. On account of ill health, he returned East and continued his legal studies while also filling the chair of mathematics in the McElaine Institute. He completed his legal preparation in the office of D. B. and E. T. Kurtz, of New Castle, and was admitted to the bar in 1863. He was then for three years senior member of the firm of Martin & McCracken, since which time he has practiced alone. He was appointed to the bench in 1892, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge John McMichael. He served as a member of the City Council from 1885 to 1889, and of the Select Council from 1890 to 1892. He was a stockholder in the first electric light company of the city, and is a director of the Citizens' National Bank and of the National Bank of Lawrence County.
SCOTT D. LONG has been engaged in the practice of his profession in New Castle continuously since 1869. He was born on a farm near New Castle February 27, 1847, and received his educational training in the public schools of this city and in the State Normal School. He read law in an office in New Castle and was admitted to the bar in May, 1869. He formed a partnership with Mr. S. W. Dana, which continued until 1907, and was recognized as one of the strongest law firms in this section of the State. Mr. Long is now practicing alone and maintains offices at No. 36 North Hill street.
S. L. McCRACKEN has been a resident of New Castle since 1881. He was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in 1856, and received his intellectual training in the school at Edinburg, and in Grove City College. He engaged in teaching for several years in Lawrence and Mercer Counties, then read law in the office of D. B. & E. F. Kurtz of New Castle. After his admission to the bar in September, 1883, he engaged in practice as a partner to J. Norman Martin, with whom he continued until 1886. He was in the fall of 1885 elected to the office of district attorney of Lawrence County, in which capacity he served one term. He is an active member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
WILLIAM J. MOFFATT, whose law offices are in the Lawrence Savings and Trust Building, New Castle, was born in Hickory Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1867 but was practically reared in New Castle, where he attended the graded and high schools. He attended Wooster University for a time, then studied law in the office of Dana & Long; he was admitted to the bar in March, 1894, and has been in active practice in New Castle since. He was elected to a three-year term as City Controller in February, 1896, but in January, 1898, resigned that office to enter upon the duties of district attorney, having been elected as such on the Republican ticket in 1897. At the expiration of one term he resumed private practice. He is a member and vice-president of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
WILLIAM WILBERT STEVENSON, a member of the bar of Lawrence County, with office in the Dean Building, at New Castle, was born in Scott Township, Lawrence County, July 25, 1867. His early education was obtained in the Old Fort schoolhouse, and supplemented by courses in Rose Point Academy, Slippery Rock State Normal School, and Grove City College. He began teaching in 1889, and continued that profession a number of years. He read law [p. 153] under the preceptorship of H. K. Gregory, and in July, 1900, was admitted to the bar of the county. He has since been in active practice.
J. M. MARTIN, who has been in practice in New Castle for a period of forty-one years, was born in Lawrence County in 1843. He attended Witherspoon Institute at Butler and the State Normal School at Edinboro, after which he taught school one term. In November, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Fifty-seventh Regiment, P. V. I., and during his service of three years was with the Army of the Potomac. He was taken prisoner at Fredericksburg, but was paroled after one month of imprisonment. In 1866 he entered the Ohio State and Union Law College, and was graduated in 1867, being admitted to the bar in September following. He has been in continuous practice in New Castle since. Mr. Martin is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
CLYDE GIBSON, attorney-at-law of New Castle, was born in Wilmington Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania; was graduated from Westminster College in 1902, and then attended lectures in the law department of the University of Pennsylvania one year. He continued his preparation for his profession under the preceptorship of Judge Hazen, and was admitted to the bar on July 2, 1906. He has since practiced in New Castle and has an office in the Lawrence Savings and Trust Building. He is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
HON. WILLIAM M. BROWN, formerly lieutenant-governor of Pennsylvania, and for some years a prominent member of the State Senate, is a lawyer by training and engaged in practice during earlier years, but since his retirement from public life has given his time largely to electric railroad contracting. He was born at Greenville, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in 1850. He read law under Judge John McMichael, and after his admission to the bar in 1876, engaged in practice. He was elected to the State Senate in 1896, and in 1902 to the office of lieutenant-governor. Mr. Brown is a director of the Lawrence Savings & Trust Company of New Castle.
EDWIN M. UNDERWOOD, attorney-at-law and referee in bankruptcy at New Castle, was born in the eastern part of the State of North Carolina, in 1868; he was educated in the schools of his native State, and at Swarthmore College, of which he is a graduate. He was admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania in 1893, and in Ohio in 1894. Since 1900 he has filled the office of referee in bankrutcy. Mr. Underwood is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
JAMES A. CHAMBERS, who has been in practice at New Castle since 1903, is a member of the firm of Akens, Wilkison, Lockhart & Chambers. He was born in Lawrence County in 1877; was graduated from Westminster College in 1900, and then prepared himself for his profession in the office of Judge A. L. Hazen. He was admitted to the bar in 1903, and for a few months retained his desk in the office of Judge Hazen, then accepted the office of secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, the duties of which he discharged in connection with his practice for one year. He subsequently was associated with Mr. W. Moffatt for two years, at the end of which time he became a member of the firm of which he is now a member. He is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
C. H. AKENS, senior member of the law firm of Akens, Wilkison, Lockhart & Chambers, was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, in September, 1855; was graduated from the State Normal at Edinburg in 1880; read law under B. A. Winternitz and John G. McConahy, and was admitted to the bar on May 4, 1884. He engaged in practice at New Castle and continued alone until April, 1907, when he formed his present connection. He is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
H. A. WILKISON, of the well known firm of Akens, Wilkison, Lockhart & Chambers, [p. 154] was born in Shenango Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, in 1872. He attended Volant Academy and Slippery Rock State Normal School, and subsequently entered upon the study of law in the office of his uncle, C. H. Akens. He was admitted to the bar in March, 1898, and has since engaged in practice.
ROBERT K. AIKEN, who has been in practice at New Castle since 1891, was born at Portersville, Butler County, Pennsylvania. After graduation from Westminster College he read law in the office of Mr. D. S. Morris, and was admitted to the bar in 1891. He was elected district attorney in 1894, and served efficiently as such for three years. He was a member of the Select Council of New Castle from 1898 to 1902, and in 1906 was the candidate of his party for member of Congress. He is a member of the Lawrence County and Pennsylvania State Bar Associations.
CHARLES E. MEHARD, with office at No. 9 in the Dean Block, has been in the practice of law in New Castle since December, 1893, at which time he was admitted to the bar. He was born in New Wilmington, Lawrence County, May 30, 1868; was graduated from Westminster College, from which he received the degree of A. B. in 1889, and read law in New Castle. In January, 1901, he was elected district attorney and served as such three years.
JOHN P. LOCKHART, of the prominent law firm of Akens, Wilkison, Lockhart & Chambers, was born in Hickory Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, in 1877; he attended an academy at Alliance three years and Westminster College four years, graduating from the latter in 1899. He read law under the direction of Judge Hazen at New Castle, and was admitted to the bar on September 1, 1902. He practiced alone until April, 1907, when the firm of which he is now a member was formed. He is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
L. M. UBER was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County August 16, 1895, and has since engaged in practice at New Castle, being now member of the firm of Uber & McKinley. He was born in Mercer County, Ohio, in 1870; was graduated from Grove City College, and then studied law in the office of Judge J. N. Martin. He practiced alone until 1907, when he formed a partnership with Rufus Cole McKinley and W. J. Uber. He is a director and stockholder in the Standard Wire Company and the Union National Bank.
THOMAS F. DICKEY, a member of the firm of Gregory & Dickey, with offices in the Lawrence Savings and Trust Building, in New Castle, was born in this city, November 6, 1877. He was graduated from the New Castle High School in 1897, and during the two years following attended the law department of the University of Pennsylvania. He finished his studies with Attorney Gregory, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1902. He then formed a partnership with Harry K. Gregory, under the name and style of Gregory & Dickey. He is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
CLYDE V. AILEY, of the Lawrence County bar, has been in practice in New Castle since December, 1901, at which time he was admitted to the bar. He was born in Big Beaver Township, Lawrence County, in 1874, and in 1899 was graduated from Grove City College. He read law in the office of Col. O. L. Jackson. He is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
CHARLES G. MARTIN, whose entire professional career thus far has been spent in New Castle, was born in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, in 1867. He attended Grove City College, and Ohio Northern University, from which he graduated in 1890, and then read law under Attorneys Winternitz and McConahy. He was admitted to the bar in 1895, and is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
SAMUEL P. EMERY, who has been in the practice of law in New Castle for nearly a score of years, was born in this city September 30, 1864. He was graduated from [p. 157]Geneva College at Beaver Falls in 1887, then read law with the firm of Dana and Long. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1889, and has since been in active practice. He served one term of three years as district attorney, and has also served the city as a member of the council.
JAMES A. GARDNER, city attorney of New Castle, was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, just across the Lawrence County line. He enlisted July 21, 1861, as a private in Battery B., First Regiment of Artillery, Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps, known as Cooper's Battery. He served with distinction until June 9, 1865, when he was mustered out with the rank of first lieutenant. Upon his return from the front, he engaged in mercantile business at Princeton, Pa., six years, and in the meantime served as justice of the peace. In 1874 he entered the study of law under Judge John McMichael and J. M. Martin at New Castle, and was admitted to the bar in 1876. He was elected city attorney in 1883 and was re-elected in 1884, 1885, in 1896 and at every succeeding election since the last date mentioned. He served eight years on the school board, and was president of that body four years.
DAVID S. MORRIS has been engaged in the practice of law since 1854, and has achieved success also in various branches of business. He was born at Meadville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, in 1824; was graduated from Allegheny College in 1845, and was then variously engaged until he entered the legal profession. In 1847 he organized the Croton glass manufacturing business at New Castle, the first plant of the kind in the city.
JOSEPH WILLIAM HUMPHREY, of the Lawrence County bar, has been in practice in Ellwood City since 1896; he was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1868. He was graduated from Grove City College in 1893, after which he was instructor in the Butler High School one year. He then entered upon the study of law in the office of John Marshall at Butler, and in the spring of 1896 was admitted to the bar in Butler and Lawrence Counties. He located at Ellwood City in that year.
HON. ELMER I. PHILLIPS, president of the New Castle Dollar Bank, is a member of the bar of Lawrence County. He was born in this city in 1861, and in 1884 was graduated from the university at Butler, Ind. He returned to New Castle, and in 1885 was admitted to the bar; he practiced here for some ten years. In 1896 he was elected to the State Senate from the district then made up of Lawrence and Butler Counties and served one term. He was for some years an official of the Norris Glass Company, and in 1897 became secretary and general sales agent of the American Glass Company; in 1899 he became identified with the American Window Glass Company, in the same capacity. He is a member of the board of directors of the Lawrence Savings & Trust Company.
COL. ROBERT B. McCOMB, who died at Sandy Lake, Pa., September 22, 1907, in his eighty-seventh year, was a distinguished member of the bar of Lawrence County, to which he was admitted in 1853. He was in that year elected to the State Legislature, and re-elected in 1855 and in 1856. In 1862 he went to the front as colonel of the Fourteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and later was commissioned colonel of the Fifty-fifth Regiment. He was a personal friend of Governor Pollock, and served as a member of his staff.
HARRY KNIGHT GREGORY, M. A., of the law firm of Gregory & Dickey, New Castle, was born December 4, 1865, in Selimsgrove, Snyder County, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the public schools and at Missionary Institute, Selimsgrove. He subsequently obtained his M. A. degree from Muhlenburg College at Allentown, Pa. He then taught school in Selimsgrove and at Rouse's Point, N. Y. He read law in the office of A. C. Sampson & Son, of Selimsgrove and completed his legal studies in the office of Charles P. Ulrich, of that place. He was admitted to the Snyder County [p. 158] bar in September, 1892, and to the bar of Lawrence County, upon the motion of D. B. Kurtz, in December, 1892. Mr. Gregory practiced his profession alone until January, 1892, when he formed his present partnership with Thomas W. Dickey, which has proved a winning combination of legal talent. He is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association, of which he has served as president.
ARCHIE W. GARDNER, county solicitor of Lawrence County, was born in Slippery Rock Township, of that county, August 6, 1861; he was educated in the public schools and at Grove City College, after which he read law with the firm of Martin & Gardner, being admitted to the bar November 10, 1890. He was city solicitor of New Castle one term, 1894-1896, and in 1902 was elected county solicitor, being now on his second term.
HON. W. S. REYNOLDS, who has served two terms in the Pennsylvania State Legislature and is at the present time Republican nominee for that office, was born in Lawrence County, and received his educational training in Grove City College. He was admitted to the bar on September 8, 1896.
JAMES W. RHODES, a native of Lawrence County, was admitted to the bar here on October 3, 1904.
WILLIAM J. UBER, of the firm of Uber & McKinley, at New Castle, was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County on July 10, 1907.
BENJAMIN A. WINTERNITZ was born in New Castle, and after completing the prescribed course in the public schools attended a commercial college in Pittsburg. He read law with Hon. John McMichael, and was admitted to practice January 10, 1873.
CHESTER W. WALLACE was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County on December 19, 1892.
HON. GEORGE T. WEINGARTNER, one of the best representatives Lawrence County has ever had in the State Legislature, is a native of the county. He read law with Robert K. Aiken and was admitted to the bar here March 15, 1899. He served two terms in the State Legislature, and was nominated for the State Senate by the Republican party in 1908.
ROBERT S. BRECKENRIDGE, deceased, who practiced before the courts of Lawrence County some years, was educated in the common schools of Shenango Township, Lawrence County, and in Beaver Academy. He was admitted to the bar on February 10, 1868.
FRANK A. BLACKSTONE, who was admitted to the Lawrence bar on June 18, 1883, was a native of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. He was graduated from Westminster College, and read law under the preceptorship of Oscar L. Jackson, of New Castle.
WILLIAM T. BURNS was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County June 18, 1883, and engaged in practice in New Castle for a time.
E. N. BAER, a member of the Lawrence County bar, was born in Edinburg, Lawrence County, and received his professional training in the law department of the University of Michigan. He was admitted to the bar in 1885, and is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
JOHN H. BITTNER, who was admitted to the bar of the county on June 8, 1897, was educated at Volant, receiving a common school and academic education.
J. SMITH DUSHANE, who is now retired from the practice of law, was a member of the One Hundredth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War, and was seriously wounded at James Island, S. C. After his admission to the bar of the county, he served one term as district attorney.
SAMUEL W. DANA, Nestor of the bar of Lawrence County and a man who has attained high distinction in the profession, was born in the state of Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard University, with the class of 1847, and read law with Hon. Samuel P. Johnston. of Warren, Pa. He was admitted to the bar on September [p. 159] 5, 1853, and immediately after formed a partnership with Maj. James W. Johnston. The firm of Johnston & Dana continued until 1862, when the senior member of the firm was appointed paymaster in the United States Army. Mr. Dana then continued alone until he became associated with Mr. Scott D. Long, under the firm name of Dana & Long, a firm which enjoyed an enviable prestige throughout this part of Pennsylvania. The partnership was dissolved in 1907, and Mr. Dana formed a partnership with his son, Richard Falls Dana.
RICHARD FALLS DANA, son of Samuel W. Dana, with whom he is associated in practice, was born in the city of New Castle. After completing his common school education, he entered Harvard University, of which he is a graduate. With his father, he formed the firm of Dana & Dana in 1907.
J. ALVIN EWER, deceased, was born in what is now Lawrence County, and was graduated from Jefferson College with the class of 1854. He read law with Hon. John McMichael, and was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County on September 12, 1865.
SAMUEL PLUMMER EMERY, of the Lawrence bar, was born in Lawrence County, and received his education in Geneva College at Beaver Falls. He was admitted to the bar June 3, 1889, and served one term as district attorney of Lawrence County.
WALLACE H. FALLS of New Castle was born in Lawrence County, and received a preliminary education in the schools of this city. He attended Lafayette College, after which he took up the study of law under Hon. John McMichael. He was admitted to the bar on August 4, 1879.
ROBERT GILLILAND, a native of Lawrence County, was admitted to the bar and engaged in practice here several years prior to the Civil War.
A. W. GARDNER, a member of the Lawrence bar and a practitioner at New Castle, was born in Lawrence County.
H. WORTHINGTON GRIGSBY, who represented Lawrence County one term in the State Legislature of Pennsylvania, died in Colorado. He was born in Lawrence County, educated in the public schools and Bethany College, in West Virginia. He was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County March 3, 1897.
LEECH A. GROVE, an attorney, located at Ellwood City, was admitted to the bar Jannary 2, 1900.
JUSTUS CLYDE GILFILLAN, an attorney of New Castle, is a native of Lawrence County and was admitted to the bar February 25, 1907.
HON. AARON L. HAZEN, formerly judge of the Fifty-first Judicial District of Pennsylvania, was born in Shenango Township, of what is now Lawrence County; he received his education in the district schools, the public schools of New Castle, Beaver Academy and Jefferson College, graduating from that institution in 1861. He was admitted to the bar September 12, 1865. He was elected and served two terms as district attorney of Lawrence County, one term as city solicitor, and was president judge for ten years, having been elected to that office in 1884.
FRANK S. HILL, who is not now in practice, was admitted to the bar of the county July 6, 1887. He is a native of Lawrence County.
FRANK L. A. HOOVER, a native of Lawrence County, was admitted to the bar on March 18, 1894.
WILLIAM C. HAUS, deceased, was a native of Lawrence County, and was admitted to practice June 15, 1874.
EDWIN F. G. HARPER, a native of Butler, Pa., was admitted to the Lawrence bar in 1897.
ROY WATSON HAZEN, of the law firm of Hazen & Jamison, at New Castle, was born in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, but has spent most of his life thus far in Lawrence County. He is a graduate of Allegheny College at Meadville, and read law under Aaron L. Hazen. He was admitted to the bar July 10, 1907.
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ROY MILLS JAMISON, of the firm of Hazen
& Jamison, was born in Lawrence County,
Pensylvania, and was there admitted to the
bar on July 10, 1907.
JAMES JOSEPH IGOE, a native of Lawrence County, received a common school education, then read law under D. B. Kurtz. He was admitted to practice on September 6, 1899.
OSCAR L. JACKSON, a lawyer of prominence at New Castle, was reared in what is now Lawrence County; he is a man of educational attainments, and has been a member of the Lawrence bar since December, 1866.
DAVID JAMESON, cashier of the Citizens' National Bank of New Castle, was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County November 7, 1883, and engaged in practice for a time.
EDWARD T. KURTZ was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County in May, 1865, and for a number of years was in partnership with his brother, Davis B. Kurtz. He became one of the leading members of the bar here.
DAVIS B. KURTZ, for many years regarded as Nestor of the Lawrence County bar and one of the most prominent men of the profession in this part of Pennsylvania, was admitted January 7, 1850, the first day court was held in Lawrence County. He was identified on one side or the other in much of the important litigation in the courts here, in his day.
LEWIS TAYLOR KURTZ, deceased, was born in New Castle, and was a son of Davis B. Kurtz; he was educated in the public schools and the University of New York. He read law with his father, and after admission to the bar, September 16, 1886, formed a partnership with him. They were associated in practice, and with a high degree of success, until the death of Lewis T. Kurtz, who was then in the prime of life.
DAVID M. KEAST, who was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County January 22, 1891, was born in Lawrence County.
THOMAS B. MORGAN, deceased, was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and was engaged in practice in the courts of Lawrence County for many years.
GEORGE C. MORGAN, deceased, was a son of Thomas B. Morgan, and was admitted to practice in Lawrence County January 19, 1891. He was a native of New Castle.
JOHN LAW MORGAN, deceased, also a native of New Castle and a son of Thomas B. Morgan, was admitted to the bar May 4, 1891.
HARVEY E. MARTIN was admitted to practice in Lawrence County December 7, 1898.
HON. JOHN McMICHAEL, deceased, was elected to the bench in the Seventeenth Judicial District in 1884, and commissioned additional law judge. He served with characteristic ability until his death in April, 1892. Judge McMichael was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and was educated at Westminster College at New Wilmington. He read law with H. A. Richmond, of Meadville, and was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County December 18, 1861.
JOHN G. McCONAHY, deceased, was a native of Lawrence County, and was admitted to the bar on September 18, 1872.
MALCOLM McCONNELL, deceased, who ranked among the foremost practitioners at the bar of Lawrence County, was reared in the county and educated in the common schools. He read law with his uncle, R. B. McComb, and was admitted to the bar December 14, 1874. He served one term as district attorney of Lawrence County, and represented his district two terms in the Pennsylvania Legislature.
JOHN L. McCLELLAND, who is now employed in Panama, on work connected with the Panama Canal, was born in Lawrence County; read law with Col. R. B. McComb and was admitted to the bar September 27, 1883.
RUFUS COLE McKINLEY, of the firm of Uber & McKinley, at New Castle, was educated in Westminster College, and was admitted to the bar on July 1, 1894.
WILLIAM ELWEE JR., was born in New Wilmington, Lawrence County, and was admitted to the bar September 4, 1905.
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JAMES C. NORRIS, a native of Lawrence
County, was educated in the public schools
of New Castle, after which he read law
and was admitted to practice March 4,
1895. He has made rapid advancement in
the profession.
A. L. PORTER, a native of Lawrence County, was admitted to the bar January 22, 1885, and served one term as district attorney of the county.
NAMES OF THOSE PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN ADMITTED TO THE BAR OF LAWRENCE COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA.
Agnew, Hon. Daniel, January 7, 1850; Ayres, Jonathan, January 7, 1850; Akens, C. H., April 15, 1884; Aiken, Robert K., September 7, 1891; Allsworth, B. W., September, 1874; Ailey, Clyde V., December 23, 1901; Boyd, J. K., January 7, 1850; Blair, Hon. John P., 1858; Blackstone, Frank A.; Brown, William M., January 18, 1883; Breckenridge, Robert S., February, 1868; Buchanan, William P.; Bates, Arthur L., June 14, 1900; Brown, F. N., October 13, 1888; Baer, E. N., September 16, 1888; Butler, J. T., 1875; Bitner, John H., June 8, 1897; Burnes, W. T.; Cossitt, D. C., January 7, 1850; Chamberlain, Hon. B. B., January 7, 1850; Craig, Hon. David, January 7, 1850; Crawford, John M., January 7, 1850; Cunningham, Hon. Thomas., January 7, 1850; Cunningham, S. W., September, 1875; Cunningham, J. V., January 9, 1897; Chambers, James A., 1893; Cochran, W. W.; Dana, Samuel W., September 5, 1853; DuShane, J. Smith, September, 1864; Drake, Homer C.; Dana, Richard F., June 9, 1897; Dickey, Thomas W., January 6, 1902; Davis, Charles R., January 17, 1902; Dalzell, Hon. John; Ewer, J. Alvin, September 12, 1865; Emery, Samuel P., June 3, 1889; Elliott, James G.; Fetterman, N. L., January 7, 1855; Foltz, Samuel, 1872; Falls, Wallace H. August 4, 1879; Fenton, Clifford W., July 1, 1889; Gilliland, Robert, January 7, 1850; Gardner, James A., December 16, 1876; Gordon, Quincy A., April 24, 1889; Gardner, A. W., November 10, 1890; Graham, A. Martin, September 10, 1899; Gregory, H. K., March 3, 1897; Grove, Leach A., January 2, 1900; Gardner, John M., July 1, 1899; Garfield, Hon. James A.; Hoffman, John, January 7, 1850; Hazen, Hon. Aaron L., September 12, 1865; Harbison, Albert W.; Hegdenk, Hon. Charles; Henry, Maj. Thomas; Holestine, Samuel, January 7, 1850; Haus, W. C., June 15, 1874; Humphrey, Joseph W., June 3, 1896; Hugus, W. K., April 6, 1896; Harper, E. F. G., March 6, 1896; Hoover, Frank A., March 19, 1894; Igo, James J., September 6, 1899; Johnston, Maj. James W., January 7, 1850; Jackson, Col. Oscar L., 1866; Jamison, David, November 7, 1883; Jones, Hon. Asa W., February 24, 1897; Kurtz, Davis B., January 7, 1850; Kissinger, D. M., 1869; Kurtz, E. T., May, 1865; Kurtz, Lewis T., September 16, 1886; Keast, David N., January 22, 1891; Kinston, Gilbert D., 1870; Lee, Hon. J. W.; Long, Scott D., May 7, 1869; Lowry, Porter W., May 7, 1891; Love, W. H., November 17, 1894; Lockhart, John P., September 1, 1902; Maxwell, Col. William, January 7, 1850; Morgan, Hon. Thomas B., 1856; Martin, James M., September 11, 1867; Morris, David S.; Morrison, Hon. Ellis; Martin, Hon. J. Norman, September 27, 1883; Morgan, George C., January 19, 1891; Morgan, John Law, May 4, 1891; Mehard, Charles E., December 13, 1893; Moffatt, William J., March 12, 1894; Marshall, Hon. Thomas M.; Markwood, Robert, 1875; Martin, Charles G., March 4, 1893; Miller, Hon. Samuel; Muse, George W., December 9, 1897; Martin, Harry E., December 7, 1898; McGuffin, Hon. L. L., January 7, 1850; McGuffin, John; McMichael, Hon. John, December 18, 1861; McGlathery, Hon. Milo; McClain, George B., 1884; McKinley, J. W., September 27, 1883, McClelland, John L., September 27, 1883; McCrackin, L. S., September 27, 1883; McKean, H. W., December 30, 1884; McClelland, W. B., Jul 2, 1886; McCaslin, Wylie, November 17, 1894; McComb, Hon. Robert B., February 15, 1853; McConnell, Hon. Malcom, December 14, 1874; McConahy, John G., September 18, 1872; McElrath, A. H., September 15, 1899; McCandless, Hon. Charles; McDermott, Hon. Arcus; Negley, Hon. John H., January 7, 1850; Norris, James C., March 4, 1899; Nelson, John W., December 6, 1897; Pollack, James, January 7, 1850; Pearson, Johnston, January 7, 1850; Pickett, B. B., 1850; Phillips, Hon. E. E., November 10, 1886; Porter, A. L., January 22, 1885; Porter, W. E., January 23, 1893; Richmond, Hon. A. B.; Reis, James W., September 3, 1888; Reynolds, Hon. W. S., September 8, 1896; Sanderson, Col. Thomas W.; Stewart, Hon. William, January 7, 1850; Stevenson, William, January 7, 1850; Sword, James M., September 16, 1886; Sullivan Hon. C. C., January 7, 1852; Shannon, Hon. John R.; Stranahan, James A.; Taylor, Lewis, Jannary 7, 1850; Treadwell, George E., 1869; Uber, L. M., August 12, 1895; Underwood, E. M. June 4, 1884; Wilson, Samuel B., January 7, 1850; Watson, George W., January 7, 1850; Winternitz, Benjamin A., January 10, 1873; Wallace, J. K., 1872; Wallace, Chester W.; Wallace, Hon. William D., September 25, 1882; Whitta, James P., November 11, 1890; Wasson, H. G., January 25, 1892; Williams, Hon. A. W., December 9, 1892; Wilkison, W. A., June 3, 1898; Wintergartner, Hon. George T., March 15, 1899; Wigand, Edwin S., December 9, 1899; Wallace, Robert S., December 1, 1902; White, J. G., 1878; Young, Charles H., July 1, 1899.
Besides the lawyers of whom mention has already been made, there were others who flourished for a longer or shorter period in New Castle previous to the organization of the county, or soon after, and of whom it is unnecessary to make special or extended mention. The first to practice in New Castle was George P. Shaw, who was for a time engaged in the publication of a newspaper in association with David Crawford. This was about 1826 or 1827. He was followed soon after by others, many of whom remained here but a short time and then removed to other localities, while some among them, after practicing law a while, took up other occupations. Most of them have long since passed away, and they are remembered now only by a few of the older members of the bar.
Among the more prominent members were Jonathan Ayres and Lewis Taylor, who were associated in practice from 1850, under the style of Ayres & Taylor, and who were able and successful lawyers; J. Naff McGuffin, admitted in 1847, who was associated with his brother, L. L. McGuffin; David Craig, who came to New Castle in 1849, who was elected district attorney, and was twice elected to the Legislature, and who died in 1873, while serving as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention; Davis B. Kurtz, who came to New Castle in 1849, in which year he was admitted to the bar in Union County, and who enjoyed a long and honorable career at the Lawrence County bar; Samuel Holstein, who was admitted to the bar of Lawrence County at its organization, having previously been a member of the Mercer bar; Samuel W. Dana, a native of Massachusetts, who came to New Castle in the early fifties and practiced in partnership with J. W. Johnston and afterwards with Scott D. Long; George E. Treadwell, who came to New Castle in 1869 and established a good reputation; and Samuel Foltz, who commenced practice here in 1872 in partnership with George Treadwell.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
Chapter IX | Table of Contents | Chapter XI
Explanation/Caution | Lawrence Co. Maps | Lawrence Co. Histories
Updated: 11 Oct 2001