Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-05

to be the greatest and most enthusias-
tic gathering ever witnessed in Har-
risburg. The meeting will be called to
order promptly at o'clock. The
Bethlehem band will play patriotic
airs. The remarkable display of
patriotism by the thousands of men,
women and children-people in every
walk of life and of all classes-along
the entire route in the parade this aft
ernoon and on Capitol Hill was never
equalled in this city. The ovation ac-
corded Ambassador Gerard had a
deeper significance than welcome to
a popular statesman-hero; it was
manifestation of absolute allegiance
to the Federal Government. To the
accompaniment of inspiring oratory,
the blaring of martial music and the
waving of flags it spelled PATRIOT
ISM AND LOYALTY in unmistakable
terms.
Interesting Career
The family history and early career
of Mr.. Gerard make interesting read
ing He descends from an old New
York house of the most illustrious
lineage, and began life with heritage
OF honorable records and tasks we'll
done, that must certainly have proved
the source of inspiration. His paternal
ancestors were French. but departed
from their native land during the
troublous reign of Louis XVI, owing
10 prosecutions, political and religious. !
Iheir residence was then taken up in |
scotland, where the great grandfather |
OF this Jurist was born. He, William
Gerard, lived at Gibraltar, for a time, /
but emtgrated to the United States |
prior TO 1880. Joining his lot with the |
thrifty colonists of that day, who were |
soon to become the Fathers of q glori- |
Gus new Republic, he entered business |
and prospered About one year subse- |
quent to his arrival in New York he !
married Miss Christina Glass, the !
daughter of an old Southlandshire !
family whose father. John Hector
monroe, was Governor of the East |
Indies. The name is well known in !
connection with old New York history |
Seven children sprang from this |
union, the youngest of whom was the !
father of James Watson Gerard. He
was member of the Iron Grays, !
company organized for home defense |
in the War of 1872 After that conflict |
he studied law, was admitted to prac-
tice and won considerable distinction |
in his lifetime, both as barrister and |
as citizen, being identified with nu- |
merous important philanthropic and |
economic movements for the good of |
the community
Successful Lawyer
James Watson Gerard first saw the |
light of day at Geneseo, n. Y. in |
1867. He was intended for the law |
from the first and was accordingly en-
rolled as a student of the New York |
Law School, from which he graduated |
In 1892. He at once entered the office |
of Bowers & Sands, prominent firm |
OF the day. and set about acquiring a |
practical knowledge of a legal office (
Here continued For
to such good purpose that in 1899 he |
was admitted as a full partner.
AS practicing lawyer Mr.. Gerard |
was emlnently successful. He became |
counsellor to number of large hnan- !
cial and commercial institutions, in |
the defense of which and in the legal |
guidance of whose actions he rendered !
competent and able service. Many of
the cases in which he appeared were
justly famous and often involved mat |
ters of the most portentous weight In !
his career as barrister he appeared
often before the bar and was active |
in such a diversified and variegated
practice that he soon possessed a fund
OF experience unusually broad. How
ever he was always aligned with JUS
tice and never lent his talents to the
furtherance of promotions or opera
tions prejudicial to public welfare.
While still an attorney Mr.. Gerard
nsureu IN Nauonal Guard affairs. In |
1890 he enlisted in Company +,
Twelfth Infantry, as second lieutenant
becoming captain two years later. He
saw service in the Spanish American
war as aide-de-camp on the staff of
General McCoskry Butt, with the rank
of captain. For services rendered in |
that capacity he was made quarter
master with the grade of major of
the First Brigade. in June, 1900. He |
continued to hold that rank until his |
retirement.
For several years he was on the |
finance committee of Tammany Hail. |
He was also president of the Mexico |
Society of New York City after his re- |
tirement from the bench.
Mr.. Gerard was married to Miss
Mary DAILY. daughter of the late Mar
Gus Daily, of Butte. Mont. in 1901, and |
made his home In New York, city up
to the time OF his appointment us
to Germany.