The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-09-12
OUR NOMINEES.


lican Dominee for Judge OF the Su-
preme Court, is a gentleman whose
eminent qualities both in private life
and as a public character are well
known and universally acknowledged.
Most of his professional life has been
spent in this county, where be has
built up an unassailable reputation for
those high qualities as a gentleman
and a jurist which fit him 10 an emin-
ent degree for the elevated position
which be now occupies and to which
be was renominated yesterday. He
is about ffty-fve years of age, having
been born in a neighboring county OF
this State, but having been long en-
gagged in practice at the bar Of this
county. lie was associated with
Hon. j. p. Penny for many years in
legal practice. In 1863 be was first
elected to the President Judgeship
of the Court of Common Pleas ofthis
county, nov the Common Pleas
Court No. l.. lie was re. elected to
the same position in 1872, and among
the high testimonials which have
been given to his enviahle reputation
as a Judge is the fact that the Dem.
ocracy then declined to put a candi-
date into the field against him. When
Judge Williams died, last spring.
Judge Sterrett was appointed By the
Governor to succeed to the vacancy
thus created on the Supreme Bench,
and be now receives the nomipation
without opposition. His high char
aeter and great legal abilities will in
sure his election by 40 overwhelming
majority, to which Allegheny county
will be sure to contribute more than
her full quota o. votes.
CAPT. W. B. HART.
Capt. ". B. Hart was born 10
Montgomery county, Pennsylvania,
on the 18th day of March, lS42, and
was educated st common schools.
At the age of fourteen be commenced
to earn his own livelihood by his own
seeking as q farm hand. Upon ar
irving at the age of seventeen be was
apprenticed at the briek.laying bust
ness for four years, having served
two and one-half years when the call
for the three months troops was made
by the General Government 10 1861.
Enlisted as a private 10 Co, "F."5ls
Penn'a Vols. for three years serv=
ed with great gsllantry in the east
and southwest, participating in all
the battles in which his command
was engaged. His many qualities
aud soldierly bearing attracted the
attention of General Hartranft, who
recommended him in a highly latter-
ing manner 10 Hon. Il. NJ. Stanton,
Secretary of War, for appointment as
an Assistant Adiutant General of
Vols. with the rank Of captain upon
this recommendation and after pass
ing a creditable examination, be was
Immediately appointed and served
witn General HartranfI's permanent
command until the close OF the war,
being mustered out of service as a
volunteer officer under War Depart
ment orders dated September 10, 1865.
In February, 1871, Captain Hart re-
ceiVed en- appointment to q clerkship
in the Treasury Department, was
promoted to the responsible position
of Cashier in 1877, succeeding the
Hon. Thomas Nicholson, whose con-
idence and friendship Captain Hart
enjoyed to the END Of his predeoessor's
life. The following extract from a
private letter, written in October,
1874, by Mr.. Nicholson, (after Cap
tain Hart bad accepted the clerkship)
will serve to illustrate the confidence
enjoyed by representative me1 even
at that time: with bis pleasing aan-
ner, great qualifications, strict integ-
rety, be ought TO succeed, be must
succeed" He is thoroughly acquaint-
ed witt snd qualified for the duties
of the position, and 10 bis official in
tercourse has merely eoDkrEae9 Q pre-
viously established reputation for
courtesy and integrity not surpass-
ed.