Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-03-30
VOL. 80, NO. l3.
Biographical Sketch Of Hon. andrew
c. Curtin,

Peoples party Tor G0verhor OF Psansrlvanla,
vas born the 22d Of April, 1917, 10 Bellefonte,
a beautiful village in the county Of Centre, SO
called because il lies 10 the very heart Of the
Commonwealth Tais county IS away from the
great routes between the North and the South,
| tue East aud the West, and thus il is not as
veil kaown as it ought 70 be that IT is exceed
ingly rich an4 lovely aboundIng in iron ores,
fertile valleys, and fne streams. The rare
facilities Of this region attracted tc i, at an
esrly day. lie energies ard tka residence Of
Roland Gaftin, who for forty years. was
leading ircl manufacturer ia Centre county,
aceHmulalcd Z cnnipgteDt estate, and has left
three sons; brothers CT AndreY, engaged in
the grea; sssple business of Pennsyivania,---
Andrew q. Gariia comes Of fIst-Tate Pena.
| sylvania stock. His father married daughter
| ot Andrew Gregg, who was one If the great
| men of Pennsylvania in the early part of this
century. lie Tas 4 representative from the
| interior Of the State Ia Gfss Congress under
! the Constitution, aud sat in the House Of Rep
reseutatiyes for eighteen successive years
| Then be was transferred to the United States
| Senate, and served term of six years
Andrew Gregg vas q steady supporter Of the
| administration Of tie carly Preaidepts, aud
| especially Of Jeffeison and Madison. lie Of
| fered in Congress the famous var resolutions
which preceded our last conflict with Great
Britain, and which elected the eioqaenca of
Henry Clay and John Randolph. After hi5
retirement from Congress, he acted as Secretary
of the Commonwealth during the AdmnistT-
tioa Of Governor Joseph Heister. Every
| Pennsylyaaian Of middle age viii remember
| ihe fierce aud decisive State canvass Of 1923,
waea the old Federal party, under the lead of
Andrew Gfegg their candidate for Governor,
made q last staud for victory aud existence, aud
were defeated Jy the old Pennsylvania Democ-
racy, under the lead os Joha Audrew Shnlza.
| There can be no doubt thar tie grau2sopi
Aaafeg Gregg CQrtia, staslagd bearer as he
is Of tie rea! Democracy or the State at this
day, will fare better tAan his grandfather.
The subject Of our skstcis w-4 eGaoated at
tha aeaGeMy If EAe Rsy. j. KnkpatricE, Ia
ai;lton, Northumberland e6aus5. as, ~4Assk-
patrick. stiil living in Allegheny county, was
one Of the old style of instructors. He ss;uru-
ed out' his boys thoroughly impsegnated With
the classics and Mathematics. 1t is quite a
concidence, that Gov. Jas. Pollock, President
of the late Slate Convention which nominated
Mr. Curtin, and Messrs. H4macl Calvin and
David Tacgsrt: both canidates for the nonli
nation, were educated bJ tia s.ns instructor.
These three gentlemen, IN their speeches to The
Convention, ludorsing It's non.inee, referrsd, in
most touching terms, to the happy memories oil
she sunny days When they were boys together
in the good old Milton Academy
After getting well uibued with as much Lat
in, Greek, ard mathematics as aHy Of our col
leg4s afford, the young Jartin s placed ia
the law school of Judge Reed, of Casl;sle.-
This school vas one of the departments OF
Dickinson College, and as long as its professor
lived, il fourished, and sent forth some of ths
best lawyers and public men of Pennsylvania.
Judge Reed was veil knows for bis s.Penn-
sylyania Blackstone cue OF the first attempts
ever made 10 adopt the Immortal -sCommenta-
rios'' to cur modern Law. He was frst rats
lawyer, and an adopt 10 teaching legal rriaci,
pies.
Andrew &. Curtin sas adn,!.tei to tle bar
10 1889, aud began the practice Of The law ia
his native lo8n. lie Immediately entered up-
OF large aud varied practices, aud has ever
since been constantly anu actively empioyed in
the courts Of the counties Of Centre, Clear
field, Miia and Clinton. His great iaforna-
ton, his vigorous mind, and ais oandor, recon-
monded hin 10 the couIts; his winning styls
m,de him powerful Si!h jaries. tts rapidly
became Gle Of the best kaowa ani moat rising
s m1n with tue gifts and temperameuts of
Andrew e. Curtin could not gAi! % be largely
interested aud concerned Ia p16lic affairs
Strikingly amiabe, genial, aud warm hearted
OF luminous, quick, aud extensive iutelEgeDe..
OF the most engaging address. endowed With
fueut, face,ioas and captivating elcqucnce,
and instinct with Old Pennsyiy0uil traditions
OF policy aud patriotism, he threw himself az
once Into those political controversies which,
as Burke tells US, are the nobicsl employsnents
Of the cultivated mau. He was aa ardent and
thoreugh going Wing, and in l8i0 be took Ga
active part in that enthusiasts camp4ign whieh
made Gvaer1l Harrison President OF the Uni.
TED States. In 1914 he was leseeat aiLer-
cut If The il u,tfious caudidste ss the Wings.
aud he siunpel all central PennsglFania for
Helry Clay aud protection to American Indus
try Ia that struggle, Mr.. Castu Grst acqai-
red his vide spread reprtatIou iof elective aud
reslstless popular eioquence. fnere Is not
county, from the oasqaehanaa to to the Aile-
ghenies, in which the naiae of Andrea G. Cor
tin ever sais 10 attract the very largest crowds,
who eagerly gather To enjoy tse leais Of wis
do,u aui Wit, of humor and path9s. Of poetry,
statistics. story, argument and Imagery, which
spsead out 10 hi, glowing aal Ialedioas pori-
DDS
In 1918, he was piaeei oa the Wing eleeto-
raj ticket aal again trAssssed AMY sections
Of tAe st4te IN behalf ot GsacF-l Zachary
Taylor. lie nas origiu i supporter of shs
nomination. of General WiGieid Ssott, aud IN
1862 he was again paced on the eicntoral tick
Ct sad worked with his usual zsal 10 carry tie
Stale lor tbs Hero OF she Valley Of Mexico.
Iedcej, Mr. Caftin vas AZ agi tisnss ;heroash
aud iatred Pennsylvania Wig, devoted 10