Children:
William H. Kirkpatrick
Donald Morris Kirkpatrick
Sibling(s):
Viola Kirkpatrick
Morris Kirkpatrick |
Notes:
Easton Express, Thursday, November 3, 1932, page 1
Ex-Judge William S. Kirkpatrick Dies in 89th Year of his Age
Served as Attorney General, member of Congress, President Judge of this County and in other Posts.
William Sebring Kirkpatrick, former Attorney General of Pennsylvania, former member of Congress from this district and former President Judge of Northampton county, and the oldest member of the Northampton County bar, died at 1 o’clock this morning at his home 123 Reeder Street, College Hill, after an illness of about 10 days resulting from a general breakdown. He was in the 89th year of his age.
Mr. Kirkpatrick was born in Easton on April 21, 1844, and was a son of the late Newton and Susan Sebring Kirkpatrick. He obtained his early preparatory education in the Easton Public Schools and attended Lafayette College for three years as a member of the class of 1863. He received the degree of Master of Arts from Lafayette in 1892 and Washington & Jefferson College conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws upon him in1902.
After leaving College he began the study of law under the preceptorship of Judge Henry D. Maxwell, of the Third Judicial District of Pennsylvania, and on October 5, 1865, was admitted to the Northampton County Bar. From 1868 t 1869 he was a teacher in the Easton public Schools.
For several years during his early career at the bar, he was solicitor for the Borough of Easton, an office that brought him prominently before the people. Early in 1874 a vacancy occurring, he was appointed as President Judge of the Third Judicial District and served for one year.
Ever since attaining his majority Judge Kirkpatrick was an adherent of the Republican party. He was frequently a delegate to the State conventions of his party and in 1882 presided over the State convention at Harrisburg, as temporary chairman. He was a delegate to the National Republican convention in 1884, held in Chicago which nominated James G. Blaine for the Presidency by appointment of Governor James A. Beaver, he held the office of Attorney General of Pennsylvania from January 18, 1887 to January 1891.
Judge Kirkpatrick was the nominee of the Republican party for the Fifty-firth congress from the Eight Pennsylvania District in 1896, and although the district usually gave a large Democratic majority, he was elected by a majority of 329. He served one term and returned to this city to practice his profession.
He was a loyal alumnus of Lafayette College served as president of the alumni association was professor of elementary law and history of juris-prudence from 1875 to 1877, a member of the board of trustee of the college since 1890 and at the time of his death, honorary vice president of the board. During the year 1902-1903 he was acting president of Lafayette College, serving wile Dr. Ethlebert D. Warfield, president was in Europe.
Judge Kirkpatrick was a member of the American bar Association, the Pennsylvania State Bar Association, a member and president of the Northampton County Bar Association, a member of the Zeta Psi, fraternity. Lafayette College and a member of the Pomfret Club, this city, He was a member of Brainerd Presbyterian Church, was for many years a trustee of that congregation and at the time of his death a trustee emeritus.
On May 20, 1873, Judge Kirkpatrick married Miss Elizabeth Huntington Jones, Daughter of the late Matthew Hale and Mary Innes Jones. Mrs. Kirkpatrick died on March 18, 1918. He is survived by two sons, William Huntington Kirkpatrick judge of the United Stated District Court, Philadelphia, and Donald Morris Kirkpatrick of Haverford, pa., a prominent architect and member of the firm of Thomas, Martin & Kirkpatrick, Philadelphia, also a member of the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania. Judge Kirkpatrick also leaves two grandsons, William S. and Mile Kirkpatrick, son of Judge W. H. Kirkpatrick.
On October 5, 1915, Judge Kirkpatrick celebrated the 50 anniversary of his admission to the bar. He was presented with a loving cup at the Court house on that day by the members of the bar.
For many years, Judge Kirkpatrick was senior member of the law firm of Kirkpatrick and Maxwell, the junior member being Henry D. Maxwell, of this city. About 10 years ago Judge Kirkpatrick retired from active practice. He had a thorough knowledge of the law, was a careful advisor in legal and business matters and in the trial of cases before the court, was most aggressive. For many years he figured in most of the important cases on the trial list always attracted much attention by the masterly way in which he handled his side of controversies. In former years he was frequently called upon for political addresses in campaigns and was always ready to assist his party. He will be greatly missed by a wide circle of friends in Easton and Northampton County and throughout the State of Pennsylvania.
As a tribute to the memory of Judge Kirkpatrick, the flag at Lafayette College was hung at half mast today and a special announcement was made in chapel at noon concerning his death by Dr. William Mather Lewis, President
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