Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1894-10-12
EDWIN M. DUNHAM.


can candidate for President Judge
of the 44th Judicial District, was
born in Windham, Bradford county,
August 81, 1874. He was the young
est son of John l.. and Laura NJ.
Durham. His father was farmer
whose family formerly lived in Con-
pccticut. His mothers maiden name
was Laura M. Cheney, decending
from the we'll known Vermont
family of that name.
In July, 1856, John L. Durham
removed with his family to Laporte,
Sullivan county, and was engaged in
the lumber business until August,
1861, when he was accidently drown
ed in attempting to start q jam OF
logs, which were so dangerously
placed that Mr.. Dunham preferred
at attempting the perilous work
himself rather than call upon those
engaged with him to undertake it.
Edwin M. attended country school
at Windham and Laporte, and at
the latter place enjoyed the advan-
tages of four years in the high
school under Rev. Hallock Arm
strong. who then resided at Laporte
After finishing his course at this
school Edwin was employed as a
school teacher, at fast in Sullivan
county and afterwards in Towanda,
where he was principal Of the grad
ed school. From there he under
took a similar work In Orange coun-
ty, N. Y. In the meantime he had
registered as law student in the
office of Judge Ingham at Laporte,
and pursued his legal studies during
his vacations and at such times as
his duties permitted while engaged
as teacher.
In his 22d year Of age, May, 1866,
Mr.. Durham was admitted to the
bar in Sullivan county and entered
into partnership with Judge Ingham
continuing in this partnership until
73,when Mr.. Ingham went upon the
bench. Since 1866 Mr.. Durham has
been continuously and actively en-
gagged in the practice of his profession
for many years has been the leader
of his bar. He has been engaged on
every important case tried in the
county, in which he has been mark
edly successful. His first case in
the Supreme Court was the well
known case Of King VS. Forks town.
ship, in which a reversal of the dis
tinguished jurist, Judge Elwell, was
secured, Mr. Dunham alone repre-
senting the appealing litigant. Since
the trial Of that case Mr.. Dunham
has had continued practice in the
higher court Of the State, and is
known Ms one Of the ablest and most
successful lawyers at that bar from
his section Of the State.
Mr.. Dunham has teen emphatic
ally busy lawyer, an& Aas devoted
his time to his profession almost to
The exclusion of politics. He is,
however, and has always been, a
consistent believer in the principles
of the Republican party, and has
often publicly advocated his princi-
plies. On various occasions he has
been called upon to stand as the
candidate OF his party, and has sew
eral times filled elective offices in a
county which is more than two. thirds
Democratic. He was elected Dis
trict Attorney in 1870. and to the
Legislature in 1878. In 1882 and
again in 1886 he was the choice of
his county for Congress, failing of
nomination in the district confer
ence. In 1886 he lacked but one
vote of the nomination.
The family Of John i. Durham
consisted of three sons, Henry r.,
BENJAMIN NJ. and Edwin Nj. When
the war broke out the two oldest
boys enlisted in the volunteer ser
vice. Henry R. as first lieutenant
and Benjamin as q private in Go. K.
l4lst Regiment. Henry came out
of the army as captain, but with
broken health, and deid in Kansas a
few years later. BENJAMIN was kill.
ed at the battle of Charlottesville,
Va. Too young to enter the army,
Edwin remained at home with his
widowed mother, who lived with
him until her death last year. In
1912 Mr.. Durham was married to
Miss Hannah NJ. Crocker, a niece Of
the late Michael Meylert. Several
children were born to this union,
but one surviving. all invalid and
much loved daughter, Miss Ellen.
Mr.. Durham is an excellent ex-