The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-06-22
JUDGE MESTREzAT's CAREER.

tdkc ilS scat vi tile supreme DenCn,lS
now the President Judge of the Fay
ette County Courts.
He was born on February 10, ISAS
in Mapletown, near the Monongahela
River, in Greene County, and is of
Huguenot ancestry. He was gradual
ed from Waynesburg College in 1869
and entered the law department of
Washineto and Lee University of
Virginia. where he was graduated IN
1871. The same year he was admit.
ted to the bar of Greene county, and
in December, 1879, was admitted to
practice in Fayette county. In Jan-
uary, 1873, he entered upon the prac.
tice of law at Uniontown.
In the spring of 1898 Mr.. Mestrez-
a, was nominated by the Democracy
of Fayette county for Judge of the
Fourteenth Judicial District, then
composed of Fayette and Greene
counties. President Judge of the dis.
trict James Inghram was nominated
for the same position by the Demo
cracy of Greene county. The con-
ferrees of the two candidates met in
conference, but were unable to agree.
Both gentlemen continued candidates
and were Voted for at the Fall election
in 1898. The Republicans of Fayette
county made nomination, as did al
SO the Republicans of Greene county,
The conferrees of these candidates
failed to agree and both withdrew from
the contest, leaving it between Judge
Inghram and Mr.. Metrezat. At the
November election in 1898 Mr.. Mes.
trezat was elected by large majority
over his competitor.
In 1895 the Legislature made
separate district of Greene county,
leaving Fayette county as the Four
teenth Judicial District, with two Law
Judges. In January, 1898, the term
of Nathaniel Ewing, President Judge
of the district expired, and Judge Mes
trezat became President Judge of the
district, which position he now holds.
Before his election to the bench
Judge Mestrezat was frequently chair
man of the Democratic County Com
mittee and delegate to Democratic
State Conventions. In 1892 he was
delegate from Pennsylvania to the
Democratic National Convention at
Chicago, and, with the majority of the
State delegation, supported Grover
Cleveland for President.
WILLIAM TRENTON GREASY.
William Trenton Greasy, Columbia
County, was born in 1856 in Cata-
wissa township, on the farm he now
occupies; was educated in the COM
mon schools, Catawissa Academy, and
graduated from the Bloomsbury State
Normal School. He taught school at
the age of I6 and followed it for 9 terms.
He is at present engaged liz farming
and fruit growing. He was mercan-
tile appraiser in 1898 and is serving
his fifth term as School Director of his
native township. He was a member
of the House of Representatives, ses-
sion of IS95,and re elected in IS96-'9S.
In the last two sessions of the Leg
islature Mr.. Greasy was the recogniz-
ed leader of the Democrats and the
nominee of his party for Speaker.
CHARLES J. REILLY.
Charles J. Reilly is native of
Philadelphia. He was born in the
Twentieth Ward of that city and re-
mained a resident of the Quaker City
until his 18th year, when he removed
to Williamsport. He attended the
public schools of Philadelphia until his
removal to Williamsport, where he
went to engage as shipping clerk for
a large manufacturing concern. Later
he attended commercial college from
which he graduated in 1876.
Later he devoted himself to the
mercantile business, giving his spare
time for a year and halt to the study
of medicine. He abandoned the idea
of medicine as a profession, and in
1882 entered the law Office of Candor
& Munson. He concluded his studies
in the Office of J. J. Metzgar, at pres
ent Judge of Lycoming County. He
was also member Of Chautauqua Col
lege, class of 1890.
He entered upon the active pract'
ice of law upon his admission to the
bar in 1884, and has devoted all of
the time since that date to his profes
sion. He was elected District Attorney
of Lycoming county in 1880 by the
largest majority ever given candl
date up to that time.
Mr.. Reilly has been an active Dem
ocrat since his majority, and served
his party as county chairman from
1884 to 1850. He was one OF the
electors on the Democratic ticket lr
1896. He has been admitted to the
circuit and district courts of the
United States and the Supreme anc
Superior courts of PENNSYLVANIA. He