HISTORY: Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, PA, Roland D. Swoope, 1911, Chapter 13 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja and 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 chapters: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm ________________________________________________ TWENTIETH CENTURY HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS BY ROLAND D. SWOOPE, JR. PUBLISHED BY RICHMOND-ARNOLD PUBLISHING CO. F. J. Richmond, President C. R. Arnold, Secretary and Treasurer CHICAGO, ILL. CHAPTER XIII CLEARFIELD COUNTY BAR - PRESENT MEMBERS AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 193 Brief Biographical Notices of the Present Members of the Clearfield County Bar. Frank Fielding was born at Slippery Rock, Butler county, Pa. He was educated at Saint Francis College, at Loretto, Pa.; and at Saint Vincent's at Latrobe, Pa., but was not a graduate from either. He received further instruction from Rev. W. T. Hamilton, of Mobile, Ala., while the reverend professor was in the Northern States. Mr. Fielding studied law with Hon. Wm. P. Hill, at Marshall, Texas; continued his course with John N. Thompson, of Butler, Pa., and finished in the office of Hon. James Bredin, of Butler, now of Pittsburg, Pa. In 1864, Mr. Fielding came to Clearfield to practice. He became a member of the law firm of Wallace, Bigler & Fielding. The firm was afterward changed to Wallace & Fielding, and still later to Fielding, Bigler & Wilson. Of late years, however, Mr. Fielding has practiced without a partner. He was elected to the office of District Attorney and served one term. Thomas Holt Murray was born in Girard township, Clearfield county, on the 5th day of April, 1845. His early education was somewhat limited, being confined to such branches as were taught at the "country schools." In 1862 he entered Dickinson Seminary at Williamsport, but was soon afterward compelled to leave on account of a severe illness. From this time until 1864 he remained at home, teaching school and working on the farm, when he returned to the seminary. During his course of study at the college Mr. Murray read law under the direction of Robert Fleming, Esq. He graduated in 1867. In the month of May, 1868, he entered the office of H. B. Swoope, Esq., at Clearfield, where he completed his course, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1869. The firm of Murray & O'Laughlin of which Thomas H. Murray is a member, was formed a few years ago. David S. Herron was born in Center township, Indiana county, Pa., April 24, 1844. He received an academic education, and afterward entered the Ohio University, at Athens, O., from which he graduated with the class of 1866; read law with Hugh W. Weir, Esq., at Indiana, for two years, and was admitted to practice at the Indiana county bar in June, 1868. He then located in Clarion county and practiced until 1876, at which time he embarked in the mercantile and oil business. In 1883 he came to DuBois, Clearfield county, and resumed the practice of his profession. In 1874 Mr. Herron was admitted to practice in the Su- HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY 194 preme Court of Pennsylvania, and in the year following was admitted to practice in the District and Circuit Courts of the United States. Since 1874 Mr. Herron has held the office of United States Commissioner for the Western District of Pennsylvania. David Luther Krebs, born October 5, 1846. (See ante, Bench of the county.) Hurxthal W. Smith was born in Clearfield county and was a son of Josiah W. Smith, one of the pioneer lawyers of the county. H. W. Smith read law in the office of Hon. William A. Wallace, and was admitted to the bar in 1869. Cyrus Gordon was born December 1, 1846, near Hecla Furnace, Centre County, Pa. (See Ante Bench of the County.) Aaron G. Kramer was born in Centre county, August 10, 1844. He came to Clearfield in the spring of 1866, and entered the office of Israel Test, Esq., as a student at law; was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county in September, 1871, and has since practiced in the county. In the fall of 1886, Mr. Kramer was elected member of Assembly to represent Clearfield county. Harry Frank Wallace was born August 8, 1852, in Clearfield borough. He was educated at Lawrenceville, N. J., entering school there in 1867 and graduated in 1869; entered Princeton College in 1869 and graduated with the class of '73. He then returned home and read law in the office of Wallace & Krebs until 1875; then entered Harvard Law School and attended lectures one year; was admitted to the Clearfield bar in 1876. Mr. Wallace then a member of the firm of Wallace & Krebs, and so continued until the election of Mr. Krebs to the office of president judge. The firm then became Wallace Bros., Harry F. and William E. Wallace constituting the firm. William E. Wallace was born in Clearfield, February 24, 1855. After attending the common schools at Clearfield he entered Lawrenceville High School, from which he graduated in 1873; attended Harvard Law School two years; read law with Wallace & Krebs three years, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1876. Mr. Wallace is now one of the members of the law firm of Wallace Bros., successors to Wallace & Krebs. Oscar Mitchell is a native of Lawrence township, born February 28, 1849. He was educated at the State Normal School at Millersville, Lancaster county, Pa., but did not graduate from there. In 1874 he commenced the study of law with Frank Fielding, Esq., and was admitted to the Clearfield bar in June, 1876. Smith Van Valzah Wilson was born in Clearfield, November 21, 1853. He attended the Clearfield school and afterwards took a two years' preparatory course at Lawrenceville High School. From there he returned home and read law with Hon. William A. Wallace nearly a year, when he concluded to attend college. In the fall of 1871 he entered Lehigh University for the regular classical course, and graduated in 1874. Mr. Wilson then resumed his law studies with Senator Wallace, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1877. Smith V. Wilson was elected district attorney in November, 1885, and served one term. Frank Graham Harris was born in Karthaus township, this county, November 6, 1845. In the month of September, 1876, he commenced the study of law in the office AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 195 of Murray & Gordon, Esqs., and continued until 1879, when on June 14th of that year he was admitted to the Clearfield bar. He was elected Representative in the State Legislature and served two terms. He was elected State Treasurer on the Republican ticket in 1901 and served one term. William H. Patterson was born near Warrior's Mark, Huntingdon county, Pa., November 14, 1851, read law with H. M. Baldridge, Esq., of Hollidaysburg, Blair county, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1878. Mr. Patterson came to Houtzdale, Clearfield county, in May, 1878, and has since practiced law at that place. Also at Clearfield and DuBois in connection with James Gleason, under the firm name of Patterson & Gleason. Roland D. Swoope, eldest son of Hon. H. Bucher Swoope, was born in Curwensville, Pa., August 26, 1856. He was educated at the Clearfield Academy, Hill School, Pottstown, Pa., Phillips Academy, at Andover, Mass., and at the Western University, Pittsburg, Pa., read law in the office of Murray & Gordon, Esqs., at Clearfield, and was admitted to the bar September, 1878. Mr. Swoope was chairman of the Republican County Committee for a number of years. William A. Chase was born in Knox township, Clearfield county, July 24, 1847, was educated at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and graduated with the class of 1877, and admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Michigan in March, 1877. Mr. Chase was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county in 1879, and commenced practice at Houtzdale, where he remained till 1886. He then moved to Jeffries, this county, and later Clearfield. John Franklin Snyder was born in Clearfield borough, June 23, 1855. He was educated at the common schools and at the Leonard Graded School of Clearfield, and when not at school worked with his father, Henry E. Snyder, in a blacksmith shop. In 1876 he graduated from school and then resumed his place in the shop. He entered the law office of Hon. Augustus Landis, at Holidaysburg, Blair county, and studied law until 1878, when he was admitted to the bar. Mr. Snyder practiced alone until January 1, 1884, when he associated with Hon. John H. Orvis, and established an office at Clearfield under the firm name and style of Orvis & Snyder. After the death of Judge Orvis, Mr. Snyder removed to New York City where he now resides. William Alexander Hagerty was born in Glen Hope, this county, January 22, 1857. He attended the Free School at Lumber City, the academy and Leonard Graded School at Clearfield, and the Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, Pa. He read law in the office of McEnally & McCurdy, and, after a course of study for three years was admitted to the bar in 1879. Arthur LeRoy Cole was born in Potter county, Pa., December 24, 1857, read law with Olmsted & Larrabee, Esqs., at Coudersport, Potter county, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1881. Mr. Cole located at DuBois in October, 1881. Allison O. Smith, born October 23, 1857, in Montour county, Pa. (See Ante Bench of Clearfield county.) W. Clarence Pentz was born in Brady township, Clearfield county, May 9, 1858; HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY 196 read law with Frank Fielding, Esq., of Clearfield, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1882. Mr. Pentz began practice at DuBois, August 15, 1883. Martin Luther McQuown was born in Indiana county, January 18, 1852; read law in the office of Murray & Gordon, Esqs., of Clearfield, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1883. Mr. McQuown was elected county superintendent in 1878, and re-elected in 1881. He was chosen chairman of the Republican County Committee in 1886, and is now editor of the Raftsman's Journal of Clearfield, Pa., and was elected State Senator in 1895 and served four years. James Horton Kelley was born in Bell township, Clearfield county, October 4, 1852. He attended the Dayton Union Academy in Armstrong county, and the Tuscarora Academy in Juniata county; read law in the office of Wallace & Fielding, and afterward with Frank Fielding, Esq., and was admitted to the bar in January, 1884. Mr. Kelley is the present District Attorney of the County. Singleton Bell, a grandson of the first white male child born in the county, was born in Ferguson township, February 12, 1862; read law in the office of Wallace & Krebs, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1884. Mr. Bell is senior member of the firm of Bell & Hartswick. Americus Hodge Woodward, born in Luzerne county, Pa., May 1, 1859; graduated from the State Normal School at Millersburg in July, 1878; entered the University of Michigan in 1881, and graduated in 1882; read law in 1882 in the office of McEnally & McCurdy, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1883. Mr. Woodward served two terms as District Attorney. George W. Zeigler, was born at Marklesburg, Huntingdon county, Pa., August 23, 1861; read law with George B. Orlady, Esq, and B. G. Zeigler, Esq., and was admitted to the bar of Huntingdon county April, 1883. In 1884 he was admitted to the Clearfield bar. After three months at Clearfield he removed to Houtzdale, where he practiced a number of years. He is at present located at Philipsburg, Pa. George M. Bilger was born at Curwensville, Clearfield county, September 15, 1861; was entered as a law student with William C. Arnold, Esq., of Curwensville, in 1883, while attending Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., and was admitted to the bar of the county March 22, 1886. William I. Swoope was born in Clearfield in 1862; educated at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., and at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. He read law in the office of Roland D. Swoope, Esq., and was admitted to the bar at Clearfield in December, 1886. He was twice elected District Attorney of the County. Alexander Patterson was born in Airdire, Scotland, December 19, 1857; came to this country in 1874; entered the office of McEnally & McCurdy in 1884, and was admitted to practice in 1887. Howard B. Hartswick was born at Clearfield, Pa., on the 14th day of August, 1865. He read law with Murray & Gordon and was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county September 5, 1887. He is a member of the firm of Bell & Hartswick. William Clark Miller was born in Centre county on September 28th, 1864, was educated at the common schools of Unionville, Centre county, and the Lock Haven State Normal School. Read law with McEnally & McCurdy AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 197 and was admitted to the bar January 14, 1889. Mr. Miller served as County solicitor for seven years and is at present Referee in Bankruptcy. George M. Fulford was born at Clearfield, Pa., on the 2d day of January, 1870, and was admitted to the bar May 25th, 1891. Benjamin F. Chase was born in Woodward township, Clearfield county, February 1, 1869. He was educated at the public schools, Clearfield High School and at the Law School of Michigan University, and was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county September 28, 1891. George R. Bigler was born at Clearfield, Pa. He was educated at the public schools; read law with his father, W. D. Bigler, and was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county, May 24, 1893. Frederick G. Betts was born at Clearfield, Pa. He was educated at the public schools and at Princeton, and was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county August 27, 1892. Alfred M. Liveright was born at Philadelphia, Pa. He was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county November 8, 1894. Mr. Liveright is at present County Solicitor and a member of the firm of Krebs & Liveright. Harry Byers was born in Bell township on February 21, 1865. He was educated at the public schools and was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county December 8, 1896. John M. Urey was born August 27, 1870, in Banks township, Indiana county, Pa. He graduated from the State Normal School at Indiana, Pa., in the class of 1891, and was valedictorian of his class. He was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county September 7, 1896. 1896. Hazard A. Murray was born at Clearfield, Pa. He was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county on September 5, 1899, and is a member of the firm of Murray & O'Laughlin. James P. O'Laughlin was born at Renovo, Pa. He was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county on September 20, 1900, and is a member of the firm of Murray & O'Laughlin. Leno W. Edwards was born at Smith's Mills, Clearfield county, Pa., and was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county on July 1, 1901. John W. McCracken was born in Ferguson township, Clearfield county, Pa., September 17, 1873. He was educated in the public schools, at Bucknell University from which institution he graduated with the class of 1902, received the Degree of Bachelor of Arts. He took a post graduate course and received the Degree of Master of Arts in 1903. After graduation he was a teacher in the University Law Department. He read law with E. F. Bower, Esq., at Lewisburg, Pa., and was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county on the 14th day of November, 1904. J. K. Horton was admitted to the bar November 28, 1904; practiced a short time at Clearfield, Pa., and is now located at Philipsburg, Pa. Walter Welch was born at Plymouth, Pa., March 7, 1875. He read law with Murray & O'Laughlin and was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county, April 5, 1907. John C. Forsyth was born at Houtzdale, Pa., May 31, 1885. He was educated in the public schools and at Dickinson Law School and was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county, September, 1909. He is at present Republican County Chairman. A. R. Chase was born in Boggs township, Clearfield county, April 2, 1883. He was educated in the common schools and at Dickinson HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY 198 Law School. He was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county September 14, 1909. Harry Boulton was born in West Hartle Pool, England, October 2, 1872. He was educated at the public schools and was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county September 6, 1894. Mr. Boulton served two terms in the Legislature as one of the Representatives of Clearfield county, also as Chairman of the Republican County Committee for several years. Mr. Boulton resides at Houtzdale, Pa., and is a member of the firm of Gordon & Boulton. John B. McGrath was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county on December 4, 1899. Mr. McGrath resides at Houtzdale, Pa. Frank Hutton was born in Burnside township, Clearfield county, December 26, 1862. He was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county on February 2, 1891. Mr. Hutton resides in DuBois, Pa. George A. Lukehart was born in Indiana county, Pa. He was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county in 1890. Mr. Lukehart resides in DuBois, Pa. Herbert A. Moore was born at Luthersburg, Pa. He was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county February 23, 1891. Mr. Moore resides in DuBois, Pa. Fred R. Scofield was born in Huston township, Clearfield county. He was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county on September 3, 1894. Mr. Scofield resides at DuBois, Pa. Mr. Scofield served two terms in the State Legislature. Louis E. Boyer was born at DuBois, Pa. He was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county November 6, 1899. Mr. Boyer resides at DuBois, Pa. W. L. Calkins was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county September 27, 1904. Mr. Calkins resides at DuBois, Pa., and is a member of the firm of Pentz & Calkins. James A. Gleason was born at Houtzdale, Pa. He was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county on September 6, 1897. Mr. Gleason resides at DuBois, Pa., and is a member of the firm of Patterson & Gleason. Earl G. Boose was born in Union township, Clearfield county, March 10, 1878. He was educated in the public schools, and read law with D. S. Herron and S. V. Wilson, Esqs.; was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county, February 5, 1908. Mr. Boose practices at DuBois, Pa.