The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-10-25
HONORS TO
THE DEAD
FUNERAL SERVICES OF THE HON.
WILLIAM ELWELL.


Hon. William Elwell, were held last
Friday morning at nine o'clock. The
members of the bar of Columbia and
Montour Counties assembled in the
Court room, and proceeded to his
late residence and escorted the remains
to St. Paul's Episcopal Church where
the services were conducted
by the Rector, Rev. d. N. Kirkby.
He paid glowing tribute to
the memory of Mr.. Elwell and urged
the audience to take his life
as an example for theirs, and so
live that their last end might be as
peaceful and honored as his mad been.
He said the "Town Council ex.
pressed it all, when they said in their
resolution of coincidence that he was
a good man, and a just Judge"
All the places Of business in TIE
town, as well as many Of the factories
were closed, thus showing to some
extent the high esteem in which he
was held by the community. After
the services at the church, the remains
we're taken to the ID. l.. & w. Rail
Road station, and the party left in a
special car for Towanda at Io.49,
where the interment was held. The
members of the bar re-conveyened in
the Court room with Hon. E. r. Ikeler
presiding. Upon motion ]. G.. Freeze,
]. b. Robson and w. H. Rhawn,
Esqs., were appointed committee
on resolutions. J. G. Freeze, ESQ.,,
who is President of the Bar Associa-
ton made the following remarks:
Mr.. PRESIDENT 1t is my sad duty
to announce to you the death of
Honorable William Elwell, for a
quarter of century the President
Judge of this Court. He passed from
life about four o'clock on the morn
ing of October IS, 1895, so peacefully
that the exact time of his departure
was not perceived by his family who
were about his bed. He was born on
the 9th day of October, 1903.
The death of William Elwell is an
event which ought not to be passed
over in silence. For more than fifty
years he has been conspicuous man
in the Commonwealth of Pennsyl-
vania, and in the line of his profession
the peer of any one of his contempt.
raries. He had been in active practice
for almost thirty years before he came
upon the Bench. during which time he
had been a member of the Legislature
of Pennsylvania, and chairman Of the
Judiciary Committee.
When he came to the Bar in 1888
there had been published but "a vol
umes of the decisions of the Supreme
Court, and now the official reporter is
busy at work upon the 235th volume.
When he came to the Bar John Ban
mister Gibson was Chief Justice and
George Mifflin Dallas was Attorney
General. And il we remember that
Judge Gibson was appointed to the
place in 1927 and has been dead now
well on to fifty years, and l venture
to say not more than two members o
the present bar of this county ever
saw him upon the Bench, we can
gather some appreciation ofthe changes
witnessed by man of the age o.
Judge Elwell.
Take another point from which tc
measure the march of time. Wher
Judge Elwell was born, George Ill
was king of Great Britain, and Bona
parte had fought his brilliant Italiar
campaign and been crowned Empero
of the French AT that time there
were but seventeen states IN thl
union-James Madison was president
of the United States and Thos. Nc
Kean was Governor of the State o
Pennsylvania.
need not in this presence speak o
his legal attainments. 1t will be anC
remain one of the great recollection
of our lives to remember his SUR
grasp and ready application OF lega
principles-his quick apprehension o
the point counsel were making, hi
keen insight into the pinch OF you
case. If in trial before him you ha'
case, you had the benefit OF all ther
was in it, and if you had none 1t wa
labor lost to endeavor to build 1t VI
under his scrutinizing eye.
The study of his character and tn
example of mis- life as a judge, as
lawyer, as citizen, as man and as
Christian will be and should be tn
incentive to the constantly higher ant
higher endeavor to reach the exalte'
plane on which he stood grandly ant
steadily.
And though his body be entombe'
in the sepulchre of mortality, hi
name and fame will grow brighter a
the days decline and the years pass OF
into eternity"
Judge keller then addressed tn
members of the Bar, and said;
GENTLEMEN or THE BAR Iron