Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-05-06
NO. 49,.
THE DENOCBIrIC CANDIDATES.
Sketches or their Private Lives and
Public Services.
rrsm the PhilAdslphia Times

ShtttHts oi IUtfT FTtfhte Iites hHu
Public Services.
Yrsm the Philadelphia Times
George Augustus jerks, the Demo
cratic candidate for Supreme Judge, is
only forty.four years OF age. lie WAS
born in Punxsatawney, Jefferson coun.
ty, Pa. March 20, 1896. and has resided
in Jefferson all his life. lie learned
the carpenter and ioiners' trade. but
quit the carpenters bench TO obtain a
collegiate education. While fitting
himself for college he taught school
and was thus engaged for eighteen
months. Entering Jefferson college he
rms graduated thence in August, 1858.
Choosing the Law as his profession he
studied privately and was admitted to
the bar February l6. 1859. Ever since
that date he has been engaged in active
practice and has attained high rank a.
a lawyer. Until 1874 be never held
any Office, except that he was School
Director and member of the Town
Council of BrookviIe. In that year he
was nominated and elected 10 Congress
as Democrat from the tRenty.fiith
district. composed of the counties of
Armstrong, Clarion, Forest, Indiana
and Jefferson. In this election he
received ,G2T votes against l.i09 for
General Harry White. Mr.. jerks, in "A
single term OF Congressional life, be-
came man Of mark, his sound com
mon sense and legal ability command.
ing almost immediate recognition.
When the Electoral Commission was
formed he was chosen by his Demo
cratic colleagues a. one Of the counsel
n represent the Tllden case before that
body and his argument was commended
as a model Of forensic eloquence, but
even more notable for compression Of
facts and deductions in small compass.
He spoke without note, but was
almost the only one OF the many
lawyers who addressed the commission
10 coniine himself stricily TO the small
time allotted and yet present com.
plete argument. Since he left Con-
gress, Mr. jerks has devoted himself
closely 10 the law, but was in 1878
strongly supported as candidate for
Governor in the convention which
nominated Andrew II. Dill. Mr.. jerks
Was married February 3, SEQ, TO Mary
A. Mabon. Politically. in his own
words. he has been "a Democrat since
birth, ss were my ancestors before me-"
ROBERT p. DEcHERT.
Colonel Robert Porter Dechert, the
Democratic nominee for Auditor Gen
eral. was born in Reading, August 16,
lSi2, his father being Elijah Decherl, a
lawyer of that city. Colonel Dechert is
q grandson of Judge Robert Porter,
whose two brothers were Ex-Governor
David X. Porter and J. Madison Porter.
Secretary of War under Tyler. Colonel
Dechcrt came to this city while in his
Central High School when eighteen
years Of age, and entered a course OF
law studies in the office Of his brother.
Henry NJ. Dechert. On the breaking
out OF the war OF the rebellion he enter.
ed the army as sergeant major of the
Twenty-ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania
Volunteers, Colonel John K. Murphy.
With his regiment he took part in the
campaign of the Shenandoah Valley,
and participated in many Of the battles
OF the Army of the Potomac. In the
famous "march TO the sea" Colonel
Dechert was assistant adiutsnt General
TO General Slocum, commanding the
Army OF Georgia. He was promoted
frequently for gallant services in the
field, and at the close Of the war had
reached the rank of Lieutenant colonel.
lie was admitted TO the bar in 1867, =
and in the following year was appoint.
ed assistant to District Attorney Fur.
man Sheppard. lie was elected in
1870 State Senator from the First Dis
trict for an unexpired term, overcoming
the usual heavy Republican majority of
the district On the expiration Of his
term as Senator he resumed his position
ts Assistant District Attorney. When
Mr.. Hagert was elected District Atior-
ney, Colonel Dechert declined . reap.
pointment, and has since devoted him.
self TO law practice. lie has taken
much interest in military matters, and
was last year elected colonel OF the
Second Regiment.