The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-05-31

In 's64, ana TO the sey mour Convention in 1885, In
lsG9 an additional Judgeshlp was created In the
Bucks and Montgomery districts a nd h. was elect
ed TO the position by an Overwhelming majority. In
ISL upon the sdecllnatlon OF Judge Chapman from
the judicial Presidency of the district, Judge Ross
succeeded him. The new Constitution created two
districts out OF the seventh and Judge Ross was
elected to preside In the Montgomery county one.
He moved to Norrlstown, where he now resides. In
is7i he was before the lemocracy OF the state as
candidate for the position for which he has Just been
His defeat then was caused ~ combi
nation OF all the candidates againgt HIM The fol-
lowing year he wasa candidate before the Erie Con.
yentIon, but was beaten By sudden move In favor
ofJadge Pershing while decisive ballot was being
had.
JOHN FERrfo.
Hon, joan Fertig, nominated for Lieutenant GOV
ernor was born In Venlngo county, this state
March Is, 1891 After receiving On ordinary common
school education he at the age OF eighteen years be-
gan lie as sawyer In the numbering districts OF the
Susquehanna. After year or two at this work he
tlught district school, and took an academlcal
course. In 1860, when the oil fever broke out he be-
gan operations by leasing small tract OF territory
known as the Mcllhenny farm In this enterrise
in which he was associated with two other gentle
men, he invested every cent of his savlngs,and eked
out his proportion OF tue capital by working as a
u
lost every penny OF his Investment. After year
spent In sinking wells he accumulated enough capt.
Jal TO operations on his abandoned tract and
eventually reaped great success. Mr.. Forttg also
turned his attention real estate specuatlons and
he is, reputed to be the heaviest owner ia Titus
villc lie is extremely popular with his neighbors,
and In 1873, although Democrat was elected May
or OF Titusve, a Republican city, by the largest
majority ever given a candidate for the onice. In
1874 he was reelected. Mr.. Fertg is not only one OF
the weatbiest, but also Of the most liberal and
popular citizens of the oil regions.
!. SIMPSON AFRICA.
j. simpson Afrl n, who has b9en nominated for
the oce of secretary OF Internal Anarsis the pres
cnt Deputy Secretary and the real head OF the office
lie was born In the town OF Huntingdon and is now
In the 46th year of his age. He is descended from
Revolutionary stock through the simpsons, of Bucks
and Murrays OF Lancaster. lie educated at the
Huntingdon Academy, and after completingl his
studies there he adopted the profession OF surveyor
and civil engineer and has since then devoted his
entire time except when engaged In public dutles)
70 his profession and was first employed as civil
engineer In the locat of the Broad Top Railroad
In 1858 he was elected County Surveyor OF Hunting
don county on the Democratic ticket over the noni-
nee of the whig party, and served until 1851. He
served as on9 OF the clerks OF the senate during the
sessions OF 1859 and 1860. In october, 1859, he was
elected to the House OF Representatives from Hunt
| ngdon over the Republican nominee. lie was sew
eral times elected Burgess OF his native borough aud
| is Identified with the leading business enterprise
there In May, 1915, he was appointed by General
McCandess, Deputy Secretary OF Internal Affairs
| and upon him fell the labor OF organizing the new
Department OF Internal Affairs created by the Con-
5tiution OF 1873 Since his appointment he has CIV
| en- the Office his undivided attention.