Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1904-11-03

''ihSC 'hC haiIAuIC vi tuc fdSt ctu"
tury, the lawyer has been a promi.
nent factor in all affairs of private
concern and public importance. He
has been depended upon to conserve
the best and permanent interests Of
the people and is recognized power
in all the avenues Of activity In the
business world. He stands as the
protector of the rights and liberties
of his fellow men and is the repre-
sentative of profession whose fol-
lowers, if they would gain honor,
fame and success, must be men of
honor, fairness and ability. Such
one is the subject Of this sketch, who
for the past ten years has presided
over the courts ofSullivan and Wy
oming counties and has won the
highest commendation from all Sec
tions of northern Pennsylvania by
his fair, manly and impartial admin
istration of justice.
Judge Durham has spent aimost
his entire lite in this county. He
was the youngest of three brothers,
the only one now living, one hav.
ing died in early manhood and The
other having given his life to his
country upon one of the hattlefields
Of the Civil war. When but seven
teen years of age he was left by the
sudden death of his father, to make
his own way in the world by his
own labors unaided by aught save
willing hands, a strong and vigorous
mind and an honest and upright
character. But he made good use
of every opportunity. He worked
and studied with zeal and deter.ni-
nation. He looked confidently To
the future and used all his time and
energy in preparing himself for a
useful career. Having acquired pro-
fiency as q scholar he took up the
work of teaching and for severai
years was successfully engaged as un
instructor in the public schools.
Having decided To enter the legal
profession, he used his vacations aud
such spare time as, he could take
from other duties in preparing him
self for his chosen work. In 1866
he was admitted to the Sullivan
county bar and until his elevation to
the bench in 1894 he was actively
engaged in the practice Of his pro-
fession. As lawyer he has had
remarkably successful career, having
acquired reputation for legal learn
ing and skill that but few attorneys
in this section. of the state possess.
His election in the fall of 1904 as
President Judge Of this district, was
due to his high reputation as a man
of the strictest integrity, with high
sense of honor and past career
characterized by course of justice
to all and malice toward none. His
course upon tho bench has proven
him model judge. He possesses a
mind free from bias and he brings to
his work a thorough knowledge of
the law and of human nature and a
calm judicial mind He performs
his difficult duties conscientiOusly
and fearlessly and all who have bus.
iness in the courts know and feel
that he can always b depended up
on to follow the law and the dictates
of sound judgment and an approv.
ing conscience.
As IL citizen, neighbor and u
friend, Judge Durham stands with
out Il peer Possessed of n cheerful
and sunny disposition, he i: the sort
of man people like to meet and as
sociate with. He has kind word
for everybody and is never too busy
for ii hcalty hand shake and a pleas
ant greeting. Few men enjoy a
good story or bit of witticism bet.
ter than the Judge and during all
these years of labor and service, has
not lost his ability to look upon the
bright side of life aud thus carry
pleasure and sunshine wherever he
may go.
Judge Dunham' life abounds in
good deeds and kindly acts to his
felfowmen, He has a warm heart
and no one in distress has eyer been
turned away when it was within
his power SO help. He is not the
sort of man to proclaim his good
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