The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-05-07
AND DEMOCRAT, BLOOMSBURG COLUMBIA COT NTY, PA
The Candidates.

George Augustus jerks, the Democratic
candidate for supreme Judge, is only forty
four years of age lie was born in Punk
satawney, jefferson county Pa, March 26,
1886, and has resided in Jefferson all his
life. lie learned the carpenters and iduer's
trade and worked at it for three years, but
quit the carpenters bench to obtain cole
gate education. While fitting himself for
college he taught school and was thus engage
ed for eighteen months. Entering Jefferson
College he was graduated thence in August,
1858. Choosing the law as his profession he
studied privately and was admitted to the
bar February Ii, 1859 Ever since that
date he has been engaged in active practice
Until 1874 he never held any office, except
that he was School Director and member
of the Town Council of Brookville. In that
year he was nominated and elected to Con-
gress as Democrat from the Twenty fifth
district, composed of the counties of Arm
strong, Clarion, Forest, Indiana and Jetier-
son. In this election he received IL ,627
votes against II ,l09 for General Harry
White. Mr. jerks, in single term of Con-
gressional life, became man of mark, his
sound common sense and legal ability COM
mauding almost immediate recognition.
Wien the Electoral Commission was formed
he was chosen by his Democratic colleagues
as one of the counsel to represent the Til
den case before that body and his argument
was commended as a model of forensic elo-
quence, but even more notable for compress
sion of facts and deductions in small com
pass. He spoke without a note, but was al
most the only one of the many lawyers who
| ADDRESSED the commission to coufne himself
strictly to the small time allotted and yet
present a complete argument. Since he left
| Congress, Mr.. jerks has devoted himself
to the law, but was in 1878 strongly sup
ported as a candidate for Governor in the
convention which nominated Andrew II
Drll. Mr.. jerks was married January 8,
| 1860, to Mary A Mabon. Politically, in his
own words, he has been a Democrat since
birth, as were my ancestors before me"
ROBERT T.. DECHERT.
Col. Robert Porter Dechert, the Democrat
c nominee for Auditor General, was born in
Reading August l6, lS42 his father being
| Elijah Dechert lawyer of that city. Colo
mel Dechert is a grandson of Judge Robert
| Porter, whose two brothers were Ex. Govern
or David II. Porter and j. Madison Porter,
Secretary of War under Tyler. Col. Dechert
came TO this city while in his tenth year,
He graduated from the 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 break.
ing cut of the war Of the rebellion he en-.
tered the army rs Sergeant Major of the
Twenty Regiment, Pennsylvania Vol
unteers, Colonel John X. Murphy With
his regiment he took part in the campaign
of the Shenandoah Valley, and participated
in many battles of the Army of the Potomac.
In the famous march to the sea" Colonel
Dtchsrt was assistant sdjutant general to
General Slocum, commanding the Army of
Georgia. He was promoted repeatedly for
gallant stry ices in the field, and at the close
of the war had reached the rank of lieuten-
ant colonel. He was admitted to the bar
in 1867 and in the following year was sp.
pointed assistant to District Attorney Fur.
man Sheppard. He was elected IN 1870
State Senator from the First district tor an
unexpred Germ, overcoming the usual heavy
Republican majority of the district. On the
| expiration OF his term as Senator he resum-
ed his position as Assistant District Attor-
ney, When Mr.. Hsgert was elected Dis
trict Attorney Colonel Dechert declined a
reappointment, and has siuce devoted him
self to law practice. He has taken much in
terest in military matters, and was last year
elected Colonel of the Second Regiment,