Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-10-07
nON.JOsEPH BURLINGTON.
Whig Candidate for the Supreme
Bench,

ough of Westchestcr, Chester county, in
the year 1904 or 5. When quite young
his father removed from that county to
the county of Allegheny, in the vicinity
of Pittsburg, where he was engaged in
farming till the subject Of this sketch ar
rived at the age Of about seventeen. He
was put to grammar school in Allegh-
cny Town, (now city, under the care and
instruction of the Rev. Joseph Stockton,
who bears, justly acquired, high repu-
tation as classical teacher. In this in
stitution he remained between two and
three years, during which time he was in
structed in the elements of the Latin and
Greek languages and mathematics. When
he had finished his course here, he enter
ed the Western University Of Pennsylva-
MIA, then under the charge of the Rev.
Drs. Bruce and Black, where he complet-
ed his education.
Shortly after that ne removed to the
borough of Butler, and entered as stu
dent Of law in the office Of the late Genl.
William Ayres, and at one ensuing term
was Admitted to the bar. In 1927 he
removed to Armstrong county,-where he
still resideS--and commenced the practice.
At that time the bar OF Armstrong was
unusually strong, beth in resident and
visitaut counsel, including the names Of
some of the most distinguished lawyers
in Western Pennsylvania. As usually
happens to young men who are strangers
and without friends or patronage, just en-
tering upon the arduous and responsible
duties Of professional life, without exper-
ience and, Of course, with very limited
knowledge of the great and complicated
science Of the law, he had to struggle with
uncommon diligence, patience and energy
to force his way into business amidst the
array of experienced and talented counsel
that surrounded the bar. He had, how
ever, the quickening influence of ambition
on the one hand, and very limited pecuni-
airy means on the other, to urge him for
ward; and these incentives, aided by pat
lent industry and sincere desire to make
himself master of his profession, carried
him through the severe ordeal of a pro-
fessional debut, and in short time into
the confidence of the public, and into a
remuneratory and profitable practice
In short time, as his experience in
creased, he extended his pratice into the
counties of Jefferson and Indiana, and
was occasionally called to other counties;
and on the organization of Clarion county
extended his regular practice to that place
During all this time he was a regular
practitioner in the Supreme Court of the
State, as the books of the Reports will a
bundantly testify, and occasionally in the
Circuit and District Courts Of the United
States.
On the apportionment of members of
Congress among the different counties of
the State, consequent upon the census of
1910; the county of Armstrong fell into
the "a district, composed of the counties
Of Butler, Armstrong, Indiana and Clear
field. This was a Democratic district, as
shown by the returns of elections prcvi-
Gus to that time, and by the returns of
the general elections afterwards. The
Wings throughout the district, by spon-
taneous and general movement, without
the formality of nomination, called up
on Mr. Burlington as their candidate.--
The Democratic party had nominated
popular and very worthy gentleman of
Clearfeld county, and the chances seemed
extremely doubtful But being thus cal
led by the almost unanimous voice Of his
friends, he consented, and was elected
with the highly fattering majority Of 997
votes. His course in the first session Of
the 28th Congress, in which many ques-
tons of a complicated and troublesome
nature were discussed and passed upon,
met the entire appreciation of his friends
in this district, and he was again brought
forward by general consent as the candi-
date of the Wings at the very warmly
contested election in the fall Of 1874,
when Skunk and Markle were candidates
for Governor, and Polk and Clay candi-
dates for President The animation and
even bitterness Of that contest IS still
frosl, in 4he recolIections of the peoDle.--