The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-07-28
VOL. 33
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE JUDI.
OIARY OF THIS DISTRICT

Judges who have presided in the
courts of Columbia County since its
organization, are cleaned from
Freezes History of Columbia County,
and other sources, and may prove oi
interest at this time.
When this county was formed ou,
of part of Northumberland in 1919,
Seth Chapman became the President
Judge. He had been appointed
Judge of the Northumberland district
in 1871, and was a resident of Bucks
county when appointed. At that
time, and up to 1851. the Judges
were appointed by the Governor.
While Chapman had not the brilliant
talents of many attorneys at the Nor
thumberland bar, che was a better
Judge than many others we had in
Pennsylvania" He continued in
Office for 20 years, until 1888.
Ellis Lewis of Lewisburg, Union
county, was appointed Judge of the
Eighth Judicial District comprising
the counties of Columbia, N orthunl-
berland, Lycoming and Union, in
1888, by Governor Wolfe. He had
held the offices OF Deputy Attorney
General for Lycoming county, men,
Der of the legislature, and Attorney
General of the state. He was man
of great ability and was selected for
the Office OF President Judge because
of this ability, which he had exhibited
in numerous ways prior to his eleva-
tion to the bench. In 1843 he was
appointed Judge of Lancaster county,
outside of his district, and in 1881
was elected Justice of the Supreme
Court, becoming Chief Justice in
1855. When he came to the bench
of this county he was as much a
stranger here as though he had come
from outside the district, and having
had no practice in this county, he was
able to preside in I'll cases himself,
without calliug on another Judge to
sit for him.
In 1S43, when Judge Lewis was re.
moved 10 Lancaster county, Charles
G. Donnel was appointed to fill the
place, and continued in office for
fourteen months, when he died. He
resided in Northumberland county,
part of the district. But little seems
to be known of him except that he
was lawer of ability, and presided
with great dignity. He too came up
on the bench of this county with moth
ing to prevent him from performing
all the duties of his Office.
At the death of Judge Donnel, In
1874, Governor Porter appointed
Joseph B. Anthony of Williamsport,
President Judge OF the Eighth district,
still composed OF the four counties
above named. Prior to his appoint
ment he was distinguished lawyer,
and had held the office of State Sena-
tor one term, congressman two terms,
and Judge of tine court for the ad.
justment of the Nicholson claims, all
of which he filled with honor to him
self, and with satisfaction to the peo.
pie. He probably never tried case
in this county before he went on the
bench.
In 1850 James Pollock was ap-
pointed Judge of the Eighth District,
then consisting of Northumberland,
Montour, Columbia, Lycoming and
Sullivan. He resided in Milton. He
had held the Office of District At.
torney, congressman three terms, and
was graduate of Princeton College
with the highest honors of his class.
He held the Office of Judge until I 1854,
when the amendment to the constitu
tion requiring the election of Judges
by the people, came into operation
He declined nomination, and re-
sumed law practice. In 1854 he was
elected Governor and served one term
In 1860 he was appointed by Cover
ner Curtin a member of the Peace
Congress, and in 1861 was appointed
by President Lincoln, Director of the
U. S. Mint at Philadelphia.
In 1857 the Eleventh district wa.
formed, and consisted of the countie.
of Luzerne, Columbia, Wyoming anc
Sullivan. In October of that yea
John N. Conyngham of Luzerne coun
ty was elected President Judge OF tn,
district. He had been Presiden
Judge of the Luzerne district sine,
1889, and when that district wa
changed, and Columbia, Wyomin,
and Sullivan addeI, he was continued
in Office by the people because he wa
one of the best Judges the State eve
had. So far as this county was con
cerned it was the same as if it ha,
gone outside of the district, for it go
a Judge who had already been upol
the bench for twelve years, an uprigh
and able man, and one who had ha,