Biographical Sketch of Edwin M. ABBOTT; Philadelphia Co., PA

Contributed to the PAGenWeb Archives by Diana Smith 
[christillavalley@comcast.net] 

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"Philadelphia, A History of the City and its People; A Record of 225 Years"
Publisher:  S. H. Clark; Philadelphia; 1912.     Vol. 3, page 15
Author, Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer
 
EDWIN M. ABBOTT

     The constantly increasing law practice of Edwin M. Abbott leaves him little 
leisure and yet there is in him a literary tendency that has found expression in 
attractive verses and the words for many songs. His interests cover a wide range 
of thought and activity, as do those of all progressive men, bringing him into 
close touch with many of the vital forces of the present day. He was born in 
Philadelphia, June 4, 1817. His father was Theodore Abbott, a well known 
manufacturer now deceased. His mother is a sister of the celebrated composer, A. 
H. Rosewig, Mus. Doc. He attended public school through the various grades until 
he became a pupil in the Central high school of Philadelphia. He won his 
Bachelor of Law degree on the completion of a course of study in the University 
of Pennsylvania and was admitted to the bar June 7, 1896, only three days after 
attaining the age of nineteen, making him the youngest man ever admitted to 
practice in any court on record so far as is known. While in his teens he became 
special correspondent for various newspapers of Philadelphia and elsewhere and 
for over ten years was connected with the Philadelphia Press in that capacity, 
continuing therewith long after he was admitted to the bar, and only abandoning 
that work when required to do so by the demands of his increasing law practice. 
He is one of the most prominent of the young men among the practitioners of 
criminal law in this state and he also has a wide practice in other branches. He 
has won notable forensic victories in over thirty-seven homicide cases, 
especially in the trial of Bridget Carey in 1907, Henry Hazzard in 1906, William 
Roberts in 1907, Blanche Elliott
in 1906 and John L. Fisher and Frank Taylor in 1909.
     In politics Mr. Abbott is an independent republican and has been a delegate 
to many republican conventions. He has never held office but was a candidate on 
the city party for clerk of the quarterly sessions in 1907. He is at present a 
candidate for the state legislature from the sixteenth legislative district, he 
is living at Pine Road, Fox Chase.

     On the 9th of November, 1905, at "Lawnhurst," Fox Chase, Philadelphia, Mr. 
Abbott was married to Miss Florence Heulings Wilson, a daughter of Thomas H. and 
Sallie E. Wilson. Her father is a well known cloth manufacturer and prominent 
bank director. Her mother is treasurer of the Philadelphia branch of the Foreign 
Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal church.  Mr. and Mrs. Abbott have 
one daughter, Emilie Ferry. They hold membership in the Presbyterian church and 
Mr. Abbott is a member of the Artisans, O.M.P.  He belongs to the Lawyers Club, 
the Law Association, the Law Academy, the National Bar Association and the 
Pennsylvania State Bar Association, while in organizations of a less 
professional character he is also well known, holding membership in the Sagamore 
Club, the Belfield Country Club, Elberon Country Club, the Young Republicans, 
Director of the Century Automobile Club, Director State Motor Federation, 
National Geographic Society, the University of Pennsylvania Alumni Association, 
the National Civil Service Association, Historian of the Veteran Athletes of 
Philadelphia and the Children's Playground Association. He is much interested in 
many of those questions which have engrossed the public attention, especially 
the economic and sociological questions, and is thinking out broadly along those 
lines. While in college he was greatly interested in athletics and is a 
supporter of all manly outdoor sports. He is identified as an official with all 
the prominent track games, serving for years as clerk of the course at the relay 
races of the University of Pennsylvania, the intercollegiate games and the 4th 
of July games given by  the city of Philadelphia. He is the composer of the 
words of various songs including "Again," "Before," "Since Then." "Jane," 
"Adele," "Flossie," and others, and is the writer of a number of poems including 
"The Actor," which is dedicated to Henry Miller, "The Author," "The Advocate," 
"Ad Vitam," and "At Close of Day." There is a remarkably strong literary trend 
to his nature which, however, constitutes no bias from the keen analysis and 
inductive reasoning so necessary to the successful lawyer.