Democratic watchman. (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1855-1940, June 07, 1895, Image 3

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dental discharge of his gun while deer
hunting on the Alleghenies. Seth
Yocum was & polished gentleman, bril-
liant in conversation and of a literary
turn of mind. He became very promi-
nent in this section in the campaign
of 1878, when, as a Greenback can-
didate, he defeated the late ex-Governor
A. G. Curtin for Congressman from this
district.
Several years after hisreturn from
Washington he retired from the prac-
tice of law and moved to Johnson City,
Tean., where he superintended the
operations of a large tannery, owned
by his father-in-law, the wealthy John
Horton, whose son is now vice presi-
dent of the U. S. Leather Co. His
health failed while living in Tennessee,
and he moved thence to Passadena
where he has led a retired life ever
since,
Deceased was about 60 years old and
leaves a widow with flve children, three
of whom are at home. Two sons,
Charles and John, both being located
in New York, where they are em-
ployed by the U. S. Leather Co.
HON. CHARLES HUSTON.
Was of Scotch-Irish descent, his grand-
father being one of the early emigrants
to Pennsylvania. He was the eldest son
of Thomas and Jane Huston, whose
maiden name was Walker, and was born
in Plumstead township, Bucks county,
Jan. 16, 1771. A mere lad during the
Revolution, many of its incidents were
indelibly impressed upon his memory.
He was educated at Dickinson College,
Carlisle, where he graduated in 1789
with the honors of his class. During the
year 1790 and 1791 he taught a select
school at Carlisle meanwhile studying
law with Thomas Duncan, Esq., with
whom he was afterwards associated on
the bench of the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania. In 1792-93 he was em-
ployed by the trustees of the college as
tutor of the languages. Among his pu-
ple was the late Chicf Justice R. B.
aney, of the Supreme Court of the
United States. In his autobiography
the chief justice says of him, “I need
not speak of his character and capacity,
for he afterwards became one of the first
jurists of the country. He was an ac-
complished Latin and Greek scholar,
and happy in his mode of instruction,
And when he saw that a boy was dis-
posed to study, his manner to him was
that of a companion and friend, aiding
him in his difficulties. The whole school
under his care was much attached to
him,”
In October, 1794, Gen. Washington
came through Carlisle on his way to
quell the Whiskey Insurrection. Mr.
Huston joined the expedition, and his
vivid description of its various incidents
will long be remembered by the many
who had the good fortune to number
him among their acquaintances.
In those days lawyers traveled the
circuits on horseback, and there remains
a description of Mr. Huston’s costume :
slouched hat, drab three-caped overcoat,
green flannel leggins tied around the
legs with black tape, homespun dress
coat. Thus attired, with boots and leg-
gins covered with mud, for want of time
to change his dress, he was compelled to
enter the Supreme Court, sitting in
Philadelphia, where to the astonishment
of the bar he delivered one of the ablest
arguments they ever listened to.
In the spring of 1807 he removed to
Bellefonte, attending faithfully to an
enormous practice until his appointment
by Governor Findlay to the presidency
of the courts of this district. He was a
powerful advocate before a jury, and
the memory of the remarkable speech be
made in the Barber and Kelly case in
court at Bellefonte still lingers, a tradi-
tionary witness for his forensic ability.
Judge Huston presided over the
Fourth District for eight years with dis-
tinguished ability. Such was his influ-
ence with the jury that in the course of
those whole eight years he granted but
two new trials.
1n 1826 he was appointed by Govern-
or Shulze one of the justices of the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, in the
arduous and responsible duties of which
he continued until the expiration of his
commission in 1845. How ably he dis-
charged these duties will be best learned
from his numerous opinions in full thirty
five volumes of reports.
The last four years of his life were
spent in the compilation of his work en-
titled ‘An essay on the History and Na-
ture of Original Titles to Land in the
Province and State of Pennsylvania.”
His wife, his only son, and two daught-
ers he had followed to the grave, and
these afflictions weaned his thoughts
from this world and he looked for a bet-
ter. He was a communicant in the
Presbyterian church, and died as he had
lived, a firm believer in the truths of
Christianity. His death took place Nov,
10, 1849, in the eightieth year of his age.
JUDGE JAMES BURNSIDE.
Hon. James Burnside, was born in
Bellefonte, Feb. 22, 1807. He was the
eldest son of Hon. Thomae Burnside.
In 1824, he was a student at the Belle-
fonte academy, and in 1828, graduated
with the highest honors at Dickinson
College. His study of law was prose-
cuted in his father’s office. He was ad-
mitted in November, 1830, by the court
over which his father presided, and at
once commenced the practice of his
profession under the same stern and
impartial regime.
In October, 1844, he was elected
member of the Assembly, and re-elec-
ted in 1845. While in this position he
gave proof of great ability, His speech,
Feb. 3, 1846, upon an amendment
which he proposed to the State Consti-
tution in favor of biennial sessions of
the Legislature was a particularly able
effort.
He wae married June 2, 1846, to
Rachel, daughter of Hon. Simon
Cameron.
When the Twenty-fifth Judicial Dis-
trict was formed, Governor Bigler com:
Andrew Gregg Curtin.—Born at Bellefonte, Pa., April 22,
1815; began the practice of law in 1837; a presidential elector 1n
1848 and 1852;
sia in 1865; a liberal Republican in 1872;
elected Governor in 1860 and 1864; Minister to Rus-
member of constitutional
convention 1872-3; defeated for Congress in 1878; elected to Con-
gress as Democrat two times 1880 to 1887; died Sunday, Oct. 7th, 1894.
missioned him its first judge, April 20,
1853, and in October he was elected
without opposition to the same high
position. He was eminently distin-
guished upon the bench for his calm
impartiality, yet off of it he wasa leni-
ent citizen and indulgent friend. In
his private relations he displayed many
qualities of head and heart which en-
deared him to his friends and the peo-
ple. Had he lived higher honors were
apparently in store for him, but with
only half of bis years of usefulness
expended he was called suddenly away.
He was instantly killed by being thronw
from a buggy, July 1, 1859, leaving a
widow, since deceased, a daughter,
and two sons, S. Cameron and Thomas.
JUDGE JOHN H. ORVIS.
Hon. John H. Orvis was of puritan
descent ; his ancestors being among the
emigrants in the second vessel that
landed on the shores of New England.
He was born in Sullivan township,
Tioga county, Pa., February 24th,
1835.
While yet a boy of twelve years, he
came to reside in Howard, Centre
county ; attended the common schools
and at the early age of fifteen years
(1850-1851) became a school teacher in
Curtin township, and as such assisted
in the organization of the ‘teachers
institute of Centre county” (October 1,
1850) at Oak Hall. In 1851; he went
to Baltimore where he learned the art
of printing, From thence he went to
Chester county where he worked at his
trade and attended a term at the New
London academy. Returning to Clio-
ton county, he followed his trade of
printing, also teaching school ; notably
one term 1853-1854, at Rock Hill
school house, in Harris township,
Centre county. He read law under
the tuition of N. L. Atwood, Ezq., at
Lock Haven, and was admitted to the
bar of Clinton county in February
1856.
He practiced his profession at Lock
Haven until in December 1862, he was
admitted to the bar of Centre county
and removed to Bellefonte, where he
resided until his death. He was elec-
ted a member of the Legislature in the
fall of 1872 and re-elected in I873. In
the Legislature none exceeded him in
ability ; be was marked by great ac-
tivity of intellect, and there has seldom
been met with in any onea clearer
comprehension of the subjects of legis-
lation.
He first began the practice of law in
this county as a partner in the firm of
Orvis & Alexander of which the late
ex-State Senator Cyrus T. Alexander
was the junior member. This partoer-
ship lasted until he took his seat on
the bench and after his retirement
from the judiciary he took C. M.
Bower, Esq., and his only son, Eliis L.
Orvis, into the firm of Orvie, Bower,
& Orvis, which since 1884, has flour-
ished as one of the leading law firms
of the State.
The office of, additional law judge
for the 25th District was created by the
act of April 9th, 1874, and John H.
Orvis was appointed thereto, while still
a member of the Legislature, by Gov.
John F. Hartrantt. This graceful act,
as coming from a political opponent,
was appreciated by the people of Cen-
tre county, and Judge Orvis was elec-
ted in November 1874, for the full
term of ten years. Under the act of
August Tth, 1883, he became president
judge but, soon after resigned his posi-
tion and resumed the practice of his
profession.
Judge Orvis, died at his home
Monday morning, November 6th, 1893.
JUDGE ADAM HOY, ESQ.
Was born Sept. 6, 1827, in Spring
township, Centre county. He is a grand-
son of George Hoy, of Miles township,
and eon of Albert and Magdala (Weck-
erly) Hoy. His first schoolmaster was
George Padget, a noted teacher for sixty
years in Buffalo and Penn’s valleys.
When but four years of age Mr. Hoy
was sent to his school, then kept in the
Swartz school house in Spring township,
on the Eckenrode place. In 1851-52 he
attended the’ Mifflinburg Academy, and
from there went to Airy View, near
Perryville, to the academy kept by
David Wilson. In the fall of 1854 he
entered the sophomore class in Pennsyl-
vania College, Gettysburg, and gradu-
ated in 1859.
Mr. Hoy read law with the late Hon.
H. N. McAllister, and was admitted
April 27,1858. Upon the invitation of
the late Judge J. T. Hale, Mr. Hoy oc-
cupied a room in his law office, and be-
came more or less associated with the
judge in his extensive business up to
the death of the latter, He was
married Dec. 26, 1865, to Miss Louisa
M., daughter of the late James D Har-
ris.
He was appointed President Judge of
this district by Gov. Pattison in 1883,
which position he held with great credit
until January, 1885, when he was suc-
ceeded by Judge Furst.
During the war Judge Hoy acted
with the Republicans, but shortly after
its termination joined the Democrats,
and up to the time of his death was an
active and influential member of that
organization. In 1893, and again in
1876, he was a candidate for the Senate,
but failed to make the nomination. In
1884 he was the Democratic nominee for
President Judge, but was defeated in
consequence of local dissensions and po-
litical complications in the Congression-
al district. He borekis defeat manfully,
and the faithful and earnest manner in
which he fulfilled the duties of chairman
of the Democratic county committee, to
which he was elected the year following
his defeat, proved how devoted he was
to the principles he espoused and how
true to the cause he advocated.
He died August 23rd, 1887, of kidney
trouble, leaving a widow with seven
children.
EX-JUDGE A. O. FURST,
Hon. A. O. Furst, whose term of of-
fice as President Judge of the district
composed of Centre and Huntingdon
counties expired last December and who
is the sole survivor of the many illustri-
ous men who have presided over the
courts of this district, was born in
Lamar township, Clinton county, in
1835. His early education was acquired
in the schools of his native township,
after which he entered Dickinson Semi-
nary, Williamsport, from which institu-
tion he graduated two years subsequent-
ly with the honors of his class. In the
fall of 1853 he entered the junior class
of Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Five
years later he commenced the study of
the law in the office of Kline G. Furst,
at Lock Haven and in September, 1860,
was admitted to the bar of Clinton
county. Soon afterward he located in
Bellefonte and it was upon the motion
made by the late Hon. H. N. McAllis-
ter that be was admitted to practice law
in the several courts of Centre county.
He proved himself of ability and readi-
ly acquired an extensive practice, at-
taining a position in his profession
among the leaders. In the summer of
1884 he was nominated for the judge-
ship by the Republicans of this district
and in November ot that year was elec-
ted with the handsome majority of 600.
He was commissioned Jan. 1st, 1885,
and held the office until 1894 when after
a bitter fight for a renomination he was
defeated by Hon. John G. Love, and
is now practicing at the Centre county
courts, where he is one of the ablest at-
torneys.
JUDGE JOHN G. LOVE.
Judge John G. Love, Hsq., was born
in the village of Stormstown, Centre
county, Dec. 18, 1843. His early edu-
cation was that acquired at the public
school about two and one-half miles
from his home. In the fall of 1860 he
went to Dickinson Seminary in Wil-
liamsport. He attended several terms
at this well-known institution. When
the war broke out he enlisted and served
nine months as a member of Twenty-
he entered the law office ot E.
Blanchard, in Bellefonte, and in the
fall of 1866 began a course of law in the
university at Albany, New York. He
was a class mate of Governor McKinley
and is to-day & warm personal friend of
that illustrious gentleman.
Mr. Love graduated from the law
university in June, 1867, and was ad-
mitted to the supreme court of New
York state. In August of the same
year he was admitted to the several
courts of Centre county and ranks as
one of the leading and most able law-
yers practicing at this bar. Having de-
feated Judge A. O. Furst for his party’s
nomination for honors in the summer of
1894 he secured the endorsement of
Huntingdon county, after a long con-
test with Hon. John Lovell, of that
county, and was elected in November
over C. M. Bower, Esq., Democrat.
His majority in the district was 1074.
JOHN BLAIR LINN.
John Blair Linn was born at Lewis-
burg, Urion Ce., Pa, Oct. 15, 1831,
and inherited his inclination to genealo-
gy and local history from his father,
James F. Linn, Esq., (deceased), whose
memoranda and newspaper files were
the sources from which much of what-
ever is valuable in the ‘Annals of Buf-
falo Valley” was derived. He was pre-
pared for college at the Lewisburg
Academy by John Robison, Esq., now
of the Philadelphia bar, and entered
Marshall College at Mercersburg, Pa.,
in May, 1846, where he graduated in
1848, with the Hon. Charles A. Mayer,
later judge of Centre, Clinton and
Clearfield counties,
He read law in his father’s office at
Lewisburg, and was admitted to the
bar of Union county, Sept. 16, 185L.
In 1852 and 1853 he practiced in Sulli.
van county, Pa., where he was elected
district attorney, but returned to Lewis-
burg in 1854, where he practiced, law
until hie removal to Centre county in
April, 1871. April 10, 1873, he was
second Pennsylvania Cavalry. In 1865
From 1789, his name is connected
with the land ‘titles of Centre County.
He married, June 15, 1790, Ann,
daugher of Col. James Dunlop, and re-
moved to Spring Creek in 1795, in
which vear in connection with his
father-in-law he laid out the town of
Bellefonte. He was a State senator
from Mifflin County, and the firet post-
master at Bellefonte. After the erec-
tion of the county he was senator from
1800-8.
James Harris died Dec. 2, 1826, in
the seventy-first year of bisage; his
wife, April 8, 1844, aged seventy-seven,
Of their children, were Jane, married
Rev. James Lewis ; John Harris, M.
D., late United States consul at Vien-
na , Eliza G. married Dr. Daniel Dob-
bins ; James Dunlop Harris, the cele:
brated civil engineer ; William Har-
rie, county treasurer at Howard, and
Andrew Harris. .
Mrs. Ann Harris, who survived her
husband eighteen years, was a woman
of more than ordinary mental powers,
and had talents for philosophical in-
vestigation, which she improved by
study and converse with the able
theologians of her day.
Andrew Harris married Ann Bella
Johnston, by whom he had one son,
Dr. Lucian Harris ; all are deceased.
SENATOR 8. T. SHUGERT.
Hon. S. T. Shugert was born in Belle-
fonte, Feb. 1809. During his early life
he became active in county affairs and
influential in the councils of his party.
Under the administration of President
Buchanan, he was made chief clerk in
the Patent office and on the death of the
(Commissioner of Patents, was appointed
to fill that position, the duties of
which he performed from 1859 to 1861.
He was elected State Senator from the
Centre, Blair, Huntingdon, Mifflin,
Juniata and Perry district in 1867 and
HON. CYRUS T. ALEXANDER.
Jobn Alexander and Margaret Glas-
son Alexander, the ancestors of Mr. Al-
exander, were originally from Glasgow,
Scotland, whence they removed to the
county of Armah, Ireland, and thence
to America in 1836, settling in Notting-
ham, on the banks of the Octorara.
Their second son, James, born about
the year 1726, married Rosey Reed, a
daughter of Robert Reed, of Lurgan
township, Cumberland (now Franklin)
county, and settled in Kishacoquillas
valley, being the pioneer settler of its
western portion. Their son, "Robert
Alexander, born in October, 1756, mar-
ried April 8,1790, to Ehzabeth Mec-
Clure, settled upon a part of his father’s
place, and died there in 1843. In 1823
he was elected to the Legislature by the
largest Democratic majority ever given
in his district, yet he refused to be again
a candidate.
James Alexander (son of Robert)
married Ann Lewis, Nov. 27, 1821, and
their son, Cyrus T., was bora Sept. 10,
1836, in Mifflin county. He was educa- |
ted at Dickinson Seminary, and graduat-
ed in 1843.
admitted to the bar of Centre county in
August, 1859, and engaged in the ac-
tive practice of the legal profession elev-
en years as law partner of ‘Hon. J. H.
Orvis, then for years was theSenior part-
ner of the law firm of Alexander & Bow-
er, of Bellefonte. During part of the years
1861 and 1862 Mr. Alexander was part
owner of the Democratic WATCHMAN
and edited its columns. In 1864-65, Mr.
Alexander represented Centre county in
the House of Dr contatives at Harris-
burg, and in November, 1878, was elec-
ted to the Senate for four years.
As a Representative and Senator he
served the people well and faithfully,
carrying into these positions the same
principles of honesty, integrity and up-
rightness that guided every act of his
life. As a citizen none could have
been more popular or command to a
greater extent the general confidence
and esteem of the public,
Senator Alexander died at Aiken, S.
James Addams Beaver.—Born Oct. 21st, 1837, at Millerstown, ed-
ucated at Pine Grove Mills academy and old Jefferson College at Cannons-
burg; admitted to bar at Bellefonte 1859 ; mustered into the service 1861;
served with distinction during entire war ; refused the Republican nomination
for Governor in 1869 ; delegate to National convention in 1880 ; defeated for
Governor in 1882 ; elected Governor in 1886 ; practicing law in Bellefonte.
==(., Friday morning, March 18,
1887. He had gone there with
the hopeof recovering from a
throat affection.
SENATOR HENRY PETRIKIN.
Senator Henry Petrikin, died at
the Merchants’ Hotel in Phila.
delphia, Nov. 8, 1849. He was
the first white child born in
Bellefonte, in the year 1793, a
printer by profession, and for
many years editor of the Belle-
fonte Patriot. He was a mem-
ber of the House in 1828-30,
State Senator in 1826 for Judge
Burnside’s unexpired term, and
Senator 1831-35. He was Depu-
ty Secretary of the Common-
wealth from 1839-42 and from
1845-48. At the close of his life
he was superintendent of the rail-
road around the Inclined Plane.
He was buried at Harrisburg, ac-
cording to his own request.
He Wasn't Working for the Lord:
A good Methodist parsonjwho
| had charge of the congregation
in this placenot a very long time
ago had occasion to call on a
Logan street family of his little
flock. It was Monday morning
when he called and the mother
ot thehouese was busy over the
wash tub. She sent her eldest
son “into the room” to enter-
tain the parson until she could
make her appearance more pre-
sentable. The boy sidled into
the presence of the awelinspiring
minister who noticed his embar-
rassment at once and to relieve
it began the following conver:
sation.
“Well my young man, are
you working for the Lord?”
Imagine the shock when he re
ceived the following reply : “No
sir. I'm drivin’ bus for Brandon
appointed by Hon. M. S. Quay Deputy
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Governor Hartranft in his annual
message, Jan. 7, 1874, having recom.
mended the publication of a second se-
ries of Pennsylvania Archives, Mr. Linn
and W. H. Egle, M. D., were appoint-
en editors, and under Hon. M. S.
Quay’s supervision twelve volumes
were issued. In 1887, Mr. Linn pub-
lished his **Annals of Buffalo Valley”
(six hundred and twenty pages), a lo-
cal work embracing the history of Un-
ion county mainly. May 15, 1878, up-
on the resignation of Col. Quay, Mr.
Linn was commissioned by Governor
Hartranft Secretary of the Common-
wealth, and under his direction the vol-
ume entitled ‘Duke of York's Laws,
1776-82, and Laws of the Province,
1682-1700,” was compiled and edited by
Stoughton George, Benjamin M. Nead,
Esq., and Hon. Thomas McCamant.
To Hon. John Blair Linn the people of
Centre and Clinton counties owe an ob-
ligation which can never be paid. In
his masterful compilation of the history
of these counties be has rendered a ser-
vice to posterity which will live longer
in the minds of men than any shaft of
marble or bronze that could ever be
built to his memory. The true value of
his work will never be fully apprecia-
ted until it becomes more of history.
then, as years roll on, the great work of
This life will shine out in all its effect-
iveness.
‘We acknowledge our indebtedness to
his history for valuable assistance in the
compilation of this work.
SENATOR JAMES HARRIS.
James Harris, Esq., was the son of
John Harris, who emigrated from
Donegal, Ireland, to Lancaster County
in 1752. James was born on the
Swatara in 1755, but his father remov-
ed afterwards to the Juniata, and built
a fine house on the site of Mifflintown,
and laid out that town in 1790. Here
with ample means and a good library
his son James received his early train:
ing. He adopted the occupation of a
surveyor, and April 19, 1785, was ap-
pointed deputy surveyor of Cumber-
land County, and Nov. 19, 1789, was
appointed for all of Mifflin County. In
September, 1787, he laid out the road
from Frankstown to the Conemaugh
River.
filled the position during the session of
1868. After along and expensive con-
test the seat was awarded to John J.
Robinson, of Juniata county. He was
chosen as Representative in the Legis-
lator during the sessions of
still resides in Bellefonte,
1875-76. He | merchant of the place.
where at the | has proven of so much value for colds,
down at the Brockerhoff House.”
—«Many of the citizens of Rains.
: ville, Indiana, are never without a bottle
of Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy in the
house,’ says Jacob Brown, the leading
This Remedy
advanced age of 86 he commands the croup and whooping cough in children
respect and esteem of the entire com-
munity.
who know its worth
that few mothers
For sale
are willing to be without it.
by F. P. Green.
Daniel Hartman Hastings.—Born near Salona, Feb. 26th,
1849 ; principal of Bellefonte schools in 1867; admitted to the bar in
1875 ; paymaster of 5th Reg. N. G. P. in 1877 ; Adjutant General un-
der Beaver in 1886 ; candidate for Republican nomination for Gover-
nor in 1890.
Elected Governor in 1894.
Home in Bellefonte.
He studied law, and was
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