BIO: Hon. Joseph Benson McENALLY, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 487 & 488. _____________________________________________________________ HON. JOSEPH BENSON McENALLY, deceased. In the death of Judge McEnally, which occurred at his home in Clearfield, Pa., January 5, 1910, Clearfield lost the Nestor of her bar and the county a citizen of worth and high attainment. Judge McEnally was born in Columbia county, Pa., January 25, 1825, and was the youngest son of Rev. Peter and Margaret (Bloodhart) McEnally. The father was a traveling minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and was well known at Clearfield, having served as pastor here in 1831 and again in 1848-9. Joseph Benson McEnally attended the common schools until he secured a teacher's certificate and after that engaged in teaching until he had accumulated the means to pursue a higher course of study. In June, 1845, he was graduated from Dickinson College and then began the reading of law with Judge Jordan, at Sunbury, Pa., and in 1849 was admitted to the Northumberland county bar. His legal talent was very soon recognized and he was appointed deputy attorney general of the county, and in this office demonstrated his ability and won a position on the bar which he never lost. In 1868 he was appointed president judge of the Twenty-fifth Judicial District, which was made up of the counties of Clearfield, Center and Clinton, and during his term on the bench won an enviable record as a competent judge. After his judicial term was over he resumed his private practice and in 1872 formed a partnership with the late Daniel W. McCurdy, and after the latter's death was associated with Alexander Patterson. At different times in his career public office was tendered him, but his practice was so extensive and engrossing that possible high political position did not particularly attract him. Until within the closing years of his life he continued to be actively engaged in professional duties. In 1852 Judge McEnally was married to Miss Amelia Wright, whose death occurred June 30, 1895. One son, Wright McEnally, survives.