Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-11-02

ent, coined at the mint, was made to each, in
testimony Of his remembrance of their skill
and care. Judge Burnside made no parade,
nor called in requisition the services of
trumpetcr when doing the promptngs of his
noble heart. None but those who were recip-
tents of his kindness, knew its source, and
sometimes they were ignorant of it. We have
heard from one who one of his ssboard of
health" that when disease was preying upon
him and he deemed it prudent to forsake his
practice at Lewistown and travel, he was re-
quested by Mr.. Burnside te spend few weeks
at Bedford Springs. Finding that his stay was
improving his health, he continued there until
he supposed that his bill would nearly consume
his available means. He then called upon the
proprietor of the hotel and asked that the bill
might be made out, when he informed by
his host that he could hot hear to his leaving
until his health was restored, telling him at
the same time that he should make himself
perfectly easy abaat the pay, if that was troub-
ling him. When leaving, no pay would be re-
ceived-Judge Burdside had arranged that
before.
Whilst his political friend, David R. Rorter,
was Governor, vacancy occurred in the dis
trict composed of Bucks and Montgomery
counties. He accepted the appointment for
that, rather than risk re-appontment in this
district at the end of his term, which would
have occurred in few years. He was sue
ceeded by Judge Woodward, of whom we have
spoken. We know not that Judge Burnside
had any reason for If, but he pursued, with
bitter and unrelentng hostility, that amabe
gentleman. He had strong desire, even
whilst upon the Supreme Bench, to return to
this district and preside, and with this in view,
and believing that Judge Woodward would not
move into the district, he was instrumentalin
having introduced into the amendment TO the
constitution the clause which requires the
President Judge to reside in the district. In
January 1915, he accepted the appointment of
Judge of the Supreme Court, and continued
to act until the election of members of that
court took place. His debut on the Supreme
Bench created some sensation in the eastern
part of the State, and his eccentricities in
duced many in Philadelphia to drop into the
court house to see the stqueer judge When
he ceased from his labors, Centre county lost
an active, energetic, and ublic-spirited citi-
zen, who prided himself much on the prosper.
ity of the town where he resided in his adopt
ed country.
A-Whlst he practiced here, William J. Chris
ty lived in the town of Curwensvile. He was
man of fine parts, and his friends predicted
for him a brilliant future. That insidious
appetite which has desolated so mary fire.
sides, and blasted the prospects OF so many
promising intellects, proved his bane. His
constitution succumbed
''The chord is broken now,
Its music hushed.' yv.,-'-s ~
About the time of the organization of our
courts, Josiah W. Smith and his brother Lew
is occupied the land owned by Benjamin
Spackman. Until recently, the dilapidated
stone chimney, handy to the river road, mark
ed their residence. They were natives of
Philadelphia, sons of a wealthy importing
merchant engaged in the Canton trade. In
early life afiuence mnistered to their wants,
but reverse in business brought them to set
tie upon this tract OF land, which had been
saved from the wreck of their fathers fortune.
Here, lily fitted for such life, they toied for
their bread, and here Josiah conceived the
idea of engaging in the practice of law and
entered on his studies under the elder Judge
Burnside. He was admitted, and at Decem-
ber Sessions 1925 appointed Deputy Attorney
General. To fit himself for his duties, Josiah
went to Belletonte, where he copied entries,
writs, declarations and every thing that the
Prothonotary's Office contained, which would
throw light upon the duties of his or the pub
lie offices. He was undoubtedly the father of
the practice in this county. A peep at the
early records shows his pen to have moulded
all the dusty precedents. There was no part
of the machinery of the court which was not
influenced by hm-he was the balance wheel,
and long occupied the position of amlicus Gu
ri9 In matters affecting the public business,
for years his word was law In mis- case was
exemplifed the saying that circumstances
make the man. AS is too often the fact with
the sons OF men of wealth, he had enjoyed
advantages in youth but had not improved
them. He acquired limited knowledge of
his profession under unfavorable circumstan-
ces Little conversant with legal lore defec-
tive in those branches which are supposed to
prepare man for the Bar, and lacking the ac
ton and the language which engross the at
tention of an audience and sway jury in
other positions and under other circumstances
he might have sank, or, at best, attained to
mediocrity. Admitted to the Bar, he felt the
necessity for improvement, and embraced eV-
ery opportunity of adding to his store of
tnowledge. He became close student, and
GAINED ground only by dint of earnest and la
borious application. What he lacked In quick
ness. was amply compensated for by his indus