The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-09-22
j. SIMPSON AFRICA.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR SECRETARY
OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR SECRETARY
OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
Hon. J. Simpson Africa, of Hunt.
ingdon, the Democratic nominee for
Secretary of Internal Affairs, was the
unanimous choice of the convention
aud of the Democratic party of the
State for that position upon the ticket
Public opinion has unerringy and I'm
mistakably pointed to him, since his
appointment by General McCandless
in 1875, as Deputy Secretary, as the
most competent person in the Com
monwealth for the Office Tor which he
was chosen as candidate. He had
become extensively and favorably
known through the public position
with which he had been entrusted and
through his profession as a surveyor
and engineer. His personal popular
ity and his reputation for ability and
Integrity are not only Of the highest
order among his friends and neigh
bors and in the portion of the State
where he resides, but are co-extensive
with the Commonwealth, and are not
confined to its limits. The truth of
this will be manifest when it is remem
bered that when elected to office by
the people, as has several times occurr
ed in his native county, it has been
against an adverse political majority,
which it was necessary for him to
overcome. Always, when a candidate,
has he run largely ahead of his ticket,
and always, when they have had the
opportunity, have the people expressed
their anreserved and unboundel con
| fidence in him.
| GENEALOGICAL.
Mr.. Africa is on the paternal side,
of German ancestry, his great-grand
father, Christopher Africa, having i'm
migrated from near Hanover and
settled at Germantown now part of
Philadelphia) Subsequently he re-
moved to Hanover, in York county.
He and his family were Lutherans, as
is shown by the records OF that church
at the latter place. He had two sons,
Michael and Jacob, the former Of
whom, the grandfather Of the subject
of this sketch, married Miss Catharine
Grafin at York, removed to Hunting
don in 1901, and purchased property
now owned and occupied by his grand
son. He was one of the founders of,
and an elder in, the Lutheran church
at that place. There Daniel Africa,
our candidates father, was born in
1894. He was man of prominence
and influence in the community, was
deputy surveyor for Huntingdon coun-
ty from 1924 to 1880, and was for
twenty-five years a justice of the
peace. His knowledge of the law was
much more thorough and extensive
than that usually possessed by magis-
trates. He was familiar with many OF
the English and American decisions,
especially with those of the Pennsyl-
vania courts, and kept book in which
he noted great number of important
cases. Many of these related to the
land laws His son was his constant
student and companion.
The great.graudfathcr Of our candi-
date on his mothers side was James
Murray, native of Scotland, who
came to America about the year 1880,
ut very early age, and settled in Pax
ton, Lancaster (now Dauphin) county,
and who was captain of one of the
Lancaster companies in the Revolution
AIRY war. A drughter married John
Simpson, of Bucks county, who also
saw service in the war for our inde
pendence. This couple were the
parents CT the wife of Daniel and
mother of j. Simpson Africa.
SURVEYOR AND CIVIL ENGINEER.
The latter was born in the town of
Huntingdon, on the 10th day of Sep
tember, 1882, and has therefore attain
ed his fiftieth year He was educated
in the public schools and the Hunting
don Academy, which afforded him all
the opportunities that were necessary
to fit him for his active and successful
business life He has, however, con.
tinued to be a student. as all must do
who are engaged in practical profess
ional pursuits After leaving school
he commenced the practice of survey.
ing and civil engineering with his
father and with his urcle, James
Simpson, the latter having been his
principal instructor, His first work,
after completing his studies, was with
Samuel w. Mitfiin, Esq, Chief Engi
neer on the Huntingdon and Broad
Top Railroad, in 1853. The locating
of the road was commenced in Jaru-
airy, but Mr.. Africa was called away
by other duties before the close of the
year. The intimate friendship then
formed between himself and Mr.
Mifilin remains uninterrupted unit
this day,
Mr., Africa's Distinguishing charac
terstic in his business, professional
and public life has been undertaking
carefulness and accuracy, Combined
with his conscientiousnes in this re
spect is his long experience as a sur
veyor, his field extending over tn,
State from New jersey almost to thu
Ohio line, So perfect is his familiar
ity with the land titles of Pennsylya
MIA, that no suits are tried in Hunting
don, and but few in neighbornl
counties, involving questions of title
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