The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-08-19

worked on q farm up to the age OF four
teen wears After receiving common
school education, he entered the StSle
Normal School at Kutztown and was grad
uated in 1871, with the first honors OF MS
class. He taught school IN Lehigh and
Schuylkill counties till he was called to the
chair of Mathematics at his Alma Mater
For SIX years he filed that responsible posi-
tioA with great credit He then registered
witS Hon. f. w Hughes, at that time the
Nestor of the Schuylkill county bar, sno
Vrss admitted in 1881. He at once entered
,2pon the active practice OF law ano very
soon became conspicuous in the profession
In the campaign Of 1880 he took an active
part as a Republican stump speaker. AS
delegate to the Republican state conven'
ton and chairman of the county committee
be did still further service to his party
Mr. Koch took an active part in orgsnlz-
ing the Central Republican club OF Potts~
vi lie, one of the leading politiesl-social or
anizations of the state. For five years he
yVss its president
After serving term of three years, by
appointment, as first deputy in the District
Attorney in 1889, running 1900 ahead of
the ticket.
Mr.. Koch has pleasant home on West
Market street, Pottsville. A wife and three
children constitute bis family. In fra.
ternal matters he is one of the best known
| gentlemen in this section.
I Mr.. Koch disposes of from 600 to l 900
criminal cases per year. He has, it is stated
taken part in more homicide cases than any
other man of his age in legal practice in
the state, his first case which he tried with
excellent skill being homicide case He
is scholar and a fine lsEyer. His personal
popularity is great, and although usually
crowded with business he will stop on the
street to shake hands with some poor miner
or to speak pleasant word to a schoo! boy.
| he was for five years trustee on the part of
the state of the Keystone State Normal
School, and for seven years has been one Of
the directors of the Valley Forge Centen-
nisl and Memorial Association.
1t is worthy Of mention and we think
| remarkable o coincidence that during the
late war when the father of Mr.. Koch, who
is still living at the age of 76 year, land
wonderfully preserved gentleman he is at
his time Of life) resided with his family on
a farm at Auburn in 1868, when the war of
the Rebellion was al its height, Richard,
then only eleven years old, was the oldest
person on the farm his father, filed with
the spirit of patriotism, three brothers and
three uncles of the subject Of cur sketch,
all equally patriotic had responded to the
call OF their country, and joined the Union
army.
Our state had been invaded by an armed
foe who threatened its desolation and ruin.
and many instances of bravery are recorded
in the annals of Pennsylvania history,
where all the members of families who
were able to bear arms rushed to the de-
tense, but we doub. whether any Pennsyl-
vania family Can produce better record
than that Of Mr.. Kochs. Not only were
the seven only able bodied members of this
family in the ranks bearing muskets and
Drawing the dangers and hardships Of the
conflict, but the elder Mr. Koch was in.
strumental in enlisting in the cause up
wards of twenty five stalwart yeomen, all
alike in their military zeal and equally self
D"oAiii~iik anu bIhNt IN bub ueI6nce OF the
right History records no better incident
OF devotion to good cause. There may
be parallel cases, but none superior, in those
days when men we're wanted for q coun-
try's defence and TO sustain country's
glory. 1t reminds us Of the time when the
minute men of the Revolutionary war,
sturdy farmers like the Kochs, left their
DlOWs and 6raai1aa-thaip hoD,aa ,y;,,o. "a
little ones-and rushed to the defence Of
our soil and battled against an invading
army which threatened annihiation, when
obedience to unjust laws was impossible
without dishonor. Their glorious example
was here emulated by this patriotic family,
of which the gentleman, who is nominee
for the office of Judge this fall, is noble
soion.
Pure and Wholesome Quality