The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-09-05

county met at the Court House to
consider what action should be
taken by them on the recent death
of jeremiah S. Black, who died on
the morning of the 18th inst. at
Brockie, near York. Pa.
On motion of Samuel Gather,
Esq, who is the oldest member of
the bar now living in Somerset coun-
ty, VIM. ]. Baer, the President
Judge Of this Judicial District, was
selected as President of the meeting,
Samuel Gather and John r. Edie,
Esqs. were made Vice Presidents,
and Ed B. Scull and II. S. Endsley
Esqs., Secretaries.
Isaac Hugus was requested to
state the object Of the meeting, which
he did, briefly. He also moved for
the appointment ola committee OF
five by the President, who should
prepare appropriate resolutions ex-
pressiye of the much regretted event,
and report the same in open Court
on the afternoon of Monday the
10Th inst, whereupon a committee
of five was appointed with Isaac
Hugus, Esq, as chairman. In pre-
senting the report of che COMMITTEES
Monday afternoon, Col. Hugus said;
Hay it piedse The Court:
The sad and painful duty has
been imposed on me of reporting to
this court certain resolutions pre-
pared by the committee appointed
at the preliminary meeting on Mon
day last by the members of the bar,
to express their feelings upon the
subject of Judge Blacks. sudden
death. am instructed by the COM
mittee to report the following pre-
amble and resolutions
WHEREAS, An all-wise Providence
in His infinite wisdom has seen fit
to take from this world jeremiah S.
Black, native of this county, for
many years a member of this bar,
and for ten years the President
Judge Of this Court, who during a
long and eventlul life occupied many
high official positions, in all of which
he was distinguished for great nat
ural endowments, vast learning, and
unquestioned integrity, therefore be
lit
1 Resolred, 1st. BY the members OF
the Somerset Bar, that we have
learned with unfeigned sorrow OF
1 the sudden death of that eminent
lawyer, iurist and statesman, Jere-
rniah S. Black, and that we tender
TO his bereaved widow and children
our deepest sympathy.
ID. That not only by the family
and friends of Judge Black will his
death be deplored and mourned, but
by thousands in all parts Of
our wide-extended country his
removal from amongst us will
be looked uponas an irreparable
loss. He will be missed not
only in the circles of the learned
and wealthy, but in the lowly haunts
and cottages of the poor.
Sd. That copy of these resolu-
tions be sent to the family of our
deeply lamented friend.
/ am instructed bv the Committee
to ask on the part of the Court for
the adoption of this preamble and
these resolutions. | do not know
that have anything to add par
ticularly in the way of eulogy to
Judge Black. He was known TO the
people of this county perhaps as
well as any man who was eyer born,
raised or lived here. That he was q
great Judge is admitted on all sides
greater as a Judge, perhaps, than
as lawyer, although as a lawyer ne
stood at the head of the bar. We
may say, with perhaps some conso-
lation, that he died in the fullness of
his fame, after having lived beyond
the time usually allotted TO man to
ive-more than three score years
and ten-and that he met death not
only as philosopher, but as a Chris
tian should meet the summons of
the grim monster, not
Driven like the quarry slave at night,
Scourged 10 his dungeon"
but sustained and soothed by an un-
faltering trust" he yielded up his
spirit to his Maker, Like one who
folds the drapery of his couch about
him, and lies down to pleasant
dreams"
| have then, in addition, if the
Court will hear me, a short history
of Judge Blacks official life.
Judge Black was born il Stony
creek township, Somerset county.
on the 10th day of January 1910,
on farm eight miles east of Somer-
set. Henry Black, his father, was
born, lived and died on tie same
farm. He was elected four times to
the Pennsylvania House of Repre-
sentatives, served afterwards as an
Associate Judge for twenty years.
and died member of Congress in
] liiS Cii lCf-. r..r....
Judge J. S. Black. on motion of
Charles Ogle, was called to the bar
on the Sd day of December, 1880.
He was sworn in as Deputy Attor-
ney General for Somerset county at
April term, 1881, which office he
held for some years with credit to
himself, and to the satisfaction of
his friends.
In January, 1912 he was appoint
ed by David r. Porter, then Gov
ernor, Judge OF the 10th Judicial
District, comprised of the counties
of franklin, Bedford and Somerset,
which office he held until he was
sworn in as Chief Justice of Penn
sylvania. As Judge, in the long
tlist of eminent men who graced
those high positions, he had no su-
perior and few equals. He had the
courage to reverse his own decisions
when convinced of his error, as he
did on two occasions-one in Som
erset county, the other on writ Of
error from Washington county. He
laid down the ermine on three sep
arate occasions as pure and STAIN
less as when he took it up. After a
few years of his second term as
Judge of the Supreme Court he was
called by President Buchanan to
I NEael,r,,tn,, ac Atsarpau Eanoral |