the large buildings were designed by him, and being a practical carpenter his advice is often sought on the practical parts of the profession. He is a skilled botanist, and is the author of a work on that science, which pertains exclusively to the Flora of Pennsylvania. He professes a good knowledge of geology, and as an analytical chemist is competent He is learned to some degree in mineralogy.

F. LEE FARIES,

ARTIST AND LANDSCAPE PAINTER.

The importance of the coal region to the world of art, is one of more than trivial significance, and its advantages are daily becoming more appreciated. The illustrated periodicals of the age have already sent their best talent through these romantic valleys to pencil the striking scenes which here present themselves, and now comes the professional artist as a resident of Scranton, through whom its notoriety in the world of picture will be made known. Of the latter class is the name above, Mr. F. Lee Faries. He was born in Williamsport, Pa., in 1837. His father, Robert Faries, was one of the noted men of the State, and one of the old civil engineers who, fifty years ago, commenced and carried to completion the great works that connect the Metropolis of the State with the West. From that time until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1864, he was connected with all the improvements of any note, including both canal and railroads, in the middle and western. portions of Pennsylvania, holding the several positions of Chief Engineer of both State and private corporations, Superintendent and President of Railroads. His last great work was the completion of the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad, which he finished, after thirteen years of hard labor, thrce weeks before his death. The early education of the son of such a man, had

many rare advantages Following his father was his best school for studying nature, and in no State in the Union could he have found better discipline for studying nature than was given him in the Keystone State. He spent thirteen years in the Alleghanies, and it was with this contact of nature that he first became fond of studying her various moods; noticing the wild mountain scenery; the deep gorges; the rushing, tossing waterfalls, etc. His sojourn among the great fresh water lakes, was enlivened by natural sketches of fierce storms and beautiful sunsets. His ticket of admission to study in the Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, is dated January 28th, 1861. Previous to that time he had studied with Sandford W. Mason, now deceased, who was the oldest student of Peter F. Rothermel, justly celebrated as the finest figure painter in America. Messrs. Mason & Rothermel were the means of procuring our subject admittance into the academy. He was engaged subsequently by Mr. V Cresson, Chief Engineer of the Fairmount Park, to make oil sketches of the Schuylkill and the county around Wissahickon, for the purpose of beautifying the same and locating different buildings. During the year 1863, T. Moran, the celebrated landscape painter, came to Williamsport for the purpose of furnishing illustrations for Harper's Magazine, of scenery along the Catawissa Railroad. Mr. Faries had a studio in the place, and this was thrown open to the artist, with whom Mr. Faries studied during his sojourn there. He came to Scranton at the call of Mr. E. W. Weston, of the D. & H. Canal Company, to take a position under that corporation, his father's teachings having made him a Civil Engineer, but the general depression of business, since the failure of Jay Cooke & Co., has so shaped his ends that he falls back on art. His sketching around Scranton will be valuable to the city, as he is engaged in restoring many old landmarks on canvass.

22

Before the Borough of Scranton had been chartered as a city, its legal functions were performed at Wilkes-Barre, the county seat of Luzerne County. The first Mayor's Court, in and and for the city of Scranton, met October 1st, 1866, Hon. John N. Conyngham, Recorder, and E. S. M. Hill, Mayor. The court directed that Lewis Jones, esq., the senior member of the bar, be admitted to practice as an Attorney, and after being sworn, upon his motion others were admitted. The Mayor's Court was presided over by Judges Conyngham and Dana, until September Term, 1870, when, according to the decision of the Supreme Court of the State, Hon. Lewis Jones was appointed by the Governor until an election could be had, which, when accomplished, gave to the bench Hon. W. G. Ward.

We give herewith sketches of the Recorders, and in treating of the bar, present only resident (Scranton) Attorneys in the order in which they were admitted:

HON. LEWIS JONES

Was born in Exeter, Luzerne County, in the year 1807. After receiving his education he pursued the study of the law in the office of the Hon. Chester Butler, in Wilkes Barre. He was admitted to the Bar of Luzerne County, August 5th, 1834, and immediately commenced an active practice. He resided successively at Carbondale and Wilkes-Barre, until the year 1855, when he took up his residence in Scranton.

Upon the resignation of the late Hon John N. Conyngham, Mr. Jones was appointed, by Governor Geary, Recorder of the Mayor's Court

of the city of Scranton. This office he filled acceptably for a short time, and declining a nomination retired as well from general practice as from official position. His charge to the Grand Jury in 1870 was a powerful and exhaustivé effort, and administered a scathing rebuke to wrong-doers.

Taking an early advantage of the opportunity offered in the city of Scranton as well as the Lackawanna Valley for speculation, he acquired a large property. The Hon. D. N. Lathrope, late Recorder of the Mayor's Court of the city of Carbondale, and Judge Jones were partners in the practice of the law during nearly all of their professional career. Retiring from active practice at the same time in 1870, they each received their appointments as Recorder nearly simultaneously.

His interests calling him to New York city during his latter years, the vast estate known as the Fairlawn tract has not developed to the credit of the city in proportion to other additions in the hands of men who devote time and means solely to home matters.

HON. WALSINGHAM G. WARD.

The first Recorder elected by the suffrages of the people, to the position of Judge, was Hon. W. G. Ward. He was born October 7th, 1823, at Doon Plains, Dutchess County, N. Y. He had but limited educational advantages during his youth, his ability and acquirements having been obtained during man's estate.

His early life was one of toil upon the farm, and in the lumbering branch of business. He

came to Scranton in March, 1843, where he has remained until the present time. In the latter part of the year 1846, he volunteered as a private in Co. "I," 1st Reg't. Pa. Vols., for service in the Mexican war, and was honorably discharged at Vera Cruz, April 3d, 1847, in consequence of illness that incapacitated him for

service.

He read law with J. M. Alexander, esq.; was admitted to the bar November 10th, 1851. He opened an office in Scranton, and practiced law thereat until December 1st, 1870, when he was commissioned Recorder of the Mayor's Court for the city of Scranton, having been elected to that office at the previous October election. Judge Ward has always been held in high estimation as a great criminal lawyer, and his efforts before juries have been wonderfully successful. As a citizen he is upright and just, not given to amassing wealth, and in many cases displaying excellent philanthropic qualities. Judge Ward would do as much for his fellow-man, to save him from a fallen estate, as any man in northern Pennsylvania, who has ever occupied a public position. He is a strong advocate of temperance and morality, and is often called upon to address public assemblies in the interest of such reforms.

THE BAR OF SCRANTON.

As before stated the several members will be taken into consideration in the order in which they appear upon the Court records. At the first term of court before mentioned, there were admitted Messrs. Silkman, Hill, Ward, Canavan, Jessup, Willard, Hand, Hitchcock, W. Gibson Jones, Winton, Handley, Post, Loomis, Chase, Burns, Mahon, and Corydon H. Wells.

CHARLES H. SILKMAN, esq., ranks as one of the oldest practicing lawyers in the Lackawanna Valley. During late years his attention has been directed from the profession, and his health has caused him to abandon it forever.

E. S. M. HILL, esq., came to the coal region in its infancy, and locating at Providence soon won his way into a fair practice. His tastes were literary, and he abandoned Blackstone for the printing press. He was an editor of more than ordinary accuracy, and of the several papers which he started into existence, the Legal Observer was perhaps the most noted. He was the first Mayor ever elected in Scranton. He died of consumption in 1871.

MARTIN CANAVAN, esq., is an Irishman of considerable cul

ture, an apt scholar in the requisites which pertain to the gentlemen of the old school, but now declining in years does not follow practice in courts.

EDWARD N. WILLARD, esq., one of the prominent lawyers of the northern Anthracite region, was born at Madison, New Haven County, Conn., in 1836, the same town from which emanated the illustrious Scranton family. Like them, too, who have been noticed in prior pages, he was educated at Lee's Academy, and afterwards attended the Yale Law School. Following this he studied eighteen months in the office of Ralph D. Smith, esq., and was admitted to the bar in the county of New Haven, in 1856. Admitted in Luzerne County, at Wilkes-Barre, November 13th, 1857. He has been Register in Bankruptcy since 1857. He served in the army eighteen months as captain of colored troops, 127th Reg't. U. S. Inf'try. He also served on the staff of General Richard E. Jackson as Judge Advocate, until he was mustered out of the service after Lee's surrender.

ALFRED HAND, esq., was born at Honesdale, Pa., 1835. Read law with Hon. Wm. Jessup, of Montrose, Pa. Admitted to the bar in 1859. Has resided in Scranton since 1860. Is a graduate from Yale College, class of 1857, and now President of the Third National Bank of Scranton.

F. L. HITCHCOCK, esq, has entered merchandising, and is conducting one of the largest importing crockery and china establishments in the country.

W. GIBSON JONES, esq, is a son of Hon. Lewis Jones, whose biography has been given above.

A. H. WINTON, esq., is the son of W. W. Winton, whose life has been noticed at large in this work. He has built a large clientage and lucrative, and carries the reputation of being a shrewd lawyer.

ISAAC G. POST, esq., was born at Montrose, in 1837. Graduated from Yale College, class 1860, and thereafter com.menced the study of the law with Hon. Wm. Jessup, of Montrose, and was admitted to the bar in 1862. He has resided in Scranton since 1866. Mr. Post is a lawyer of marked professional features; thorough, liberal and self-possessed in weighty matters, he takes front rank in the profession. Confining himself strictly to study, and avoiding outside speculation, he is what might be denominated a thorough-bred law-lawyer.

F. E. LOOMIS, esq., comes from Susquehanna County, and has figured largely as a real estate agent. In this branch of business, happening here when the city was being pushed with a feverish impulse, he amassed some property. He excels as a writer for the journals of the day, and has produced one fine novel, founded on the history of Louis Kossuth, which was flatteringly received by the readers of both western and eastern provincial journals, which carried it as a serial. AARON A. CHASE, esq., hails from Benton township, and derived his start in the professional world as a claim agent, collecting bounties and pensions for the soldiers of the late He is at present editor-in-chief of the Daily Times. IRA H. BURNS, esq., is a Susquehanna County lawyer, and having received a common school education, and acted the pedagogue, is quite familiar with the English language. As a political writer he possesses clear ideas of party lines, and can wield a caustic pen in this branch of modern accomplishments.

war.

JAMES MAHON, esq., is of Irish descent, and was born in Carbondale. Studied law with D. Rankin, esq., formerly of Providence. He was the first District Attorney of the Mayor's Court of Scranton. CORYDON H. WELLS, esq., a lawyer on the Hyde Park side of the river, has, by a modest and honorable practice, accumulated considerable property; is esteemed by the community, and bears the flattering title bestowed by his neighbors of being an honest, upright man.

GEORGE SANDERSON, SR, is noticed elsewhere in a more comprehensive sketch.

At December Term, 1866, the following members of the Bar were sworn in as Attorneys of the Court: Messrs Collins, Du Pont Breck, and D. Hannah.

FRANCIS D. COLLINS, esq., was born in Saugerties, Ulster County, N. Y., in 1844. Removed to Scranton when quite young, whence he was sent to St. Joseph's College, Susquehanna County, and Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pa., to be educated. In 1869 was elected on the Democratic ticket, District Attorney of the Mayor's Court. Was nominated and elected State Senator for the Thirteenth Senatorial District, and served with credit to himself and constituents Was elected to Congress, to represent the Eleventh District, in 1874, receiving 7,190 majority, a district composed of the counties of Monroe, Columbia, Pike, Montrose, Carbon, and part of Luzerne. Mr. Collins is a young man of great energy, keen perceptions, and vigorous understanding. Few men of his age, in the nation's history, have been so successful in public life.

CHARLES DU PONT BRECK, esq., was born on the Brandywine, near Wilmington, Del., May 18th, 1840. He was graduated from Union College, in the class '59, and thereafter entered the law office of Victor Du Pont, in Wilmington. Before completing his studies he removed to Scranton, where he continued his studies in the office of Sanderson & Willard, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. Breck, while a polished scholar, exhibits the deportment of a true gentleman, and lives on a plane far above the petty tricks of too many of the profession. DANIEL HANNAH, esq., is from Susquehanna County, where he was born and educated. Following teaching, intermitting with his studies, he commenced the study of the law. For a time he was in the office of the late Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson, at Binghamton.

February Term, 1867. The only resident Attorney sworn in at this session, was Charles H. Welles, esq.

CHARLES H. WELLES, esq., was born in Dundaff, Susquehanna County, and studied law with Sherred & Hand and Hand & Post. He was elected Clerk of the Mayor's Court by the Republican party, and served one term.

December Term, 1867. Admitted this session, were Messrs. Campbell, Fuller, and Merrifield.

JAMES H. CAMPBELL, esq., came to Scranton from Danville, Montour County, and since his location in this city has managed to accumulate considerable property.

FREDERICK FULLER, esq., is a son of Hon. George Fuller, one of the old and respected citizens of this city. He was born at Montrose, Susquehanna County, and received an Academical education there. He came to Scranton in 1858. He first studied law in the office of Hon. F. B. Streeter, since elected Judge, then entered the office of Messrs. Sanderson & Willard, and during the last six months of study remained in the office of Earl Wheeler, esq., of Honesdale, Pa. He enlisted during the war, in the 52d Pa. Vols., for three years, and was commissioned as lieutenant. Served his full time in the army of the Potomac. Returning home he pursued his profession, when he was elected Alderman of the Eigth Ward in October, 1871. Mr. Fuller is regarded by all who know him,

as a young man of fixed principles, with clear convictions of right, and a steadfast practitioner in daily life [of what he professes.

EDWARD MERRIFIELD, esq., is a son of Hon. William Merrifield, who is noticed at some length in previous pages. He was raised in Scranton, and has always been identified with the best interests of the city.

February Term, 1868.

MILO J. WILSON, esq., was admitted at this term of court. He was born in Wyoming County, this State, January 31st, 1838. After receiving the usual county school advantages, and a course at the Waverly Academy, he repaired to the New York Central College, Cortland County, N. Y. Commenced reading law in 1858 with R. B. Little, esq., at Montrose. Entered the Union army in 1862 as a private in the 94th Ohio Infantry, and served in the Department of the Cumberland his full term. After leaving the service he traveled west and engaged one year in the grain business. Returning east he located at Scranton. As a citizen and lawyer, Mr. Wilson is a commendable representative of the profession. During the spring of 1875, the Republican party chose him as a candidate for Mayor on a purely upright record. The city being so largely Democratic, he was defeated only by about 500

votes.

May Term, 1868. Admitted Messrs Ranck, Butler, Unger, and Bunnell.

J. M. C. RANCK, esq., was born in Union County, Pa., ia 1831. He was educated at Milton Academy, Northumberland County, and at Lewisburg University. He came to Scranton, April 1st, 1868, after having practiced at Philadelphia, and New Berlin, Union County. He has been very successful in amassing property. He may be called the pioneer in the Building Associations of Luzerne County.

MESSRS. BUTLER and Unger, after being admitted, remained but a few months in the city.

L. M. BUNNELL, esq., came from Susquehanna County, where he had studied law at Montrose. He served in the Union Army, principally south of the James, in the Infantry arm of the service.

September Term, 1868. Admitted, Messrs. Stanton, Gunster, and Van Fleet.

WILLIAM H. STANTON, esq, originally from Archbald in this county, was educated at St. Joseph's College, Susquehanna County, Pa. He commenced practice in Scranton, and was the second editor of the Daily Times. Was elected District Attorney in the spring of 1872, and in the fall of 1874 was elected to the State Senate by the Democratic party.

FREDERICK W. GUNSTER, esq., was born in Lockweiler, Prussia, September 15th, 1845. Came to America with his parents and brothers in 1853. Was educated in the Scranton Schools, and for a time taught the Ward Street School, and the Grammar School. In 1864 he entered Sophomore Class at Williams College, and graduated in 1867 with a class of fifty with honors, the Faculty having assigned to him the Philosophical Oration. Returning home he entered the law office of Ward & Mahon. He served the city in the capacity of Assistant Clerk of the Commissioners and City Attorney, and in the fall of 1874 was elected to the Legislature. His deportment there is on record, and known to the public at large.

CHARLES G. VAN FLEET, esq., was born June 3d, 1847, in Benton Township. Was educated at Wyoming Seminary,, Kingston, and at the Clinton Liberal Institute, N. Y. He commenced reading law with Merriman & Lambert, of WilkesBarre, in 1866. Came to Scranton in 1867, and read with E. N. Willard, esq. Mr. Van Fleet is a young man of fine literary