The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-05-30
Biographical Sketch.
HENRY M, HOYT,

Henry M. Hoyt, the nominee for
chief magistrate, is a descendent of
one of the old families who were
among the early settlers of the Wyom-
ing valley. He was born in Luzerne
countyin 1880, and remained upon his
fathers farm until 1874, when he en-
tered the Wyoming Seminary, then
first opened by the Rev. DR.. Neelson.
Here he prepared for Williams Col
1ege, and graduated in 1S49. In 1850
he opened select schoolat Towando,
which he conducted for a year, and was
then elected professor of mathematics
in the Wyoming Seminary, which po-
sition he filled for two years. Subse-
quently he became student at law in
the office of Hon. George W. Wood
ward, at Wilkesbarre. In 1858 he
went to Memphis, where he taught
the graded school until recalled to
Pennsylvania by the death of his
father. He then entered the office of
Hon. W. J. Woodward, where he re-
mained until the election of Woodward
to the bench. After the Fremont
campaign in 1856, in which he took an
active part, he opened an office in
Wilkesbarre, and began the practice Of
law. During the year next following
his admission to the bar, General
Hoyt secured large and lucrative
practice, and devoted himself to its
demands assiduously, until the break
ing out of the war. In the summer
of 1861 he was active in raising the
Fifty-second regiment Pennsylva-
mia Volunteers, and in consideration
of his services was commissioned
as lieutenant colonel by Governor
Curtin. His regiment was in the brig
age of General Negley, and partici-
pated in the Peninsula campaign of
1862. Early in the winter of 1868 the
brigade, then under the command of
W. W. III. Davis, was sent to the de-
partment of the South, to cooperate
in the naval attack on Fort Sumpter.
1t participated, under General Gill
more, in the siege operations conducted
on Morris Island against Fort Wagner
and Fort Sumpter. In the summer
of 1864 night attack was organized
by Gen. Foster against Fort Johnson,
in Charleston harbor. 1t was made in
boats across the harbor. The fire boats,
commanded by Gen. Hoyt and the
~ "a nf !, SO
ceeded in reaching, surprising and en-
tering the fort, but the reinforcements
not arriving they found themselves
in the hands of the enemy, prisoner:
of war. After being confined at Ma
con, he was brought back with siA
hundred other officers to Charleston
Jail, where they were supposed to b'
under fire from Morris Island. Whil'
en- route from Macon to Charleston
Gen. Hoyt, with four other officers, es
caped from the cars. After severa
days and nights of fruitless efforts fo1
liberty, were recaptured by the enc
nv, with the aid of blood hounds, anC
placed in the Charleston Jail Upor
being exchanged he rejoined his regi
ment and remained with it until tn
close of the war. AT the expiration O
his term of service he returned t
Wilkesbarre, where he resumed tn
practice of his profession, During tn
year 1867, under appointment iron
Gov Geary, he discharged the dutie
of additional law judge of his judicia
district with an ability and faithful
ness which commended him to tn
bar and people of Luzerne. For si
years he was member of the schoo
board of Wilkesbarre. During thes
years the board reorganized tn
schools, constructed large and commc
dious buildings, and made the publ
schools second to none in the State. L
1875 he became the Chairman of tn
Republican Committee and conducte
the campaign of that and the followin
wear with success. These campaign
indicated the zeal, ability and leader
ship of General Hoyt. AS lawye
he stands in the front rank. He
truly man learned in the law. He
probably one of the best read men i
Pennsylvania, and his library col
tains the best books in all the depar
ments of literature. Among b
friends he is regarded as standard al
thority upon any question involvin
that sort of knowledge which COM
from perpetual study in the unusu
paths of learning. Personally, he
popular, of fine presence and pleasal
address.