James I. Brownson (judge)
James Irwin Brownson Jr. (January 25, 1856 - January 1, 1939) was a judge in Pennsylvania.[1][2] He was born in Washington, Pennsylvania on January 25, 1856.[2]
James Irwin Brownson Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the Washington County Courts of Common Pleas | |
| In office 1918–1939 | |
| Preceded by | Robert W. Irwin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 25, 1856 |
| Died | January 1, 1939 Hillview Sanitarium |
| Alma mater | Washington and Jefferson College |
Biography
His father, Rev. Dr. James I. Brownson, served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Washington for fifty years and as interim President of Washington & Jefferson College twice.[2]
Brownson graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in 1875. He read law with the Alexander Wilson and was admitted to the Washington county bar in 1878.[2] He worked at the law firm of AW & MC Acheson until 1889.[2] He was in private practice from 1889 to 1902 before joining with partners to create Brownson, Donnan & Miller. He served as the solicitor of Washington County for 9 years.[2]
He served as vice president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association in 1917.[2] He was president of the board of trustees of Washington and Jefferson College.[2] He was a member of the board of managers of the Pennsylvania Training School at Morganza.[2]
He was appointed judge of Washington County Courts of Common Pleas on January 4, 1918; he was subsequently elected to a full term of ten years on November 1919.[2] He eventually rose to become president judge.[1]
He suffered a stroke in September 1938 while on the bench. He later died at the Hillview Sanitarium on January 1, 1939.[1]
Legacy
He had been involved Neighborhood House charity in Washington, purchasing the former Tyler Tube and Pipe Company for the charity's permanent location; upon his death, the charity was renamed Brownson House in his honor.[3] Upon his death, it was renamed the Brownson House in his honor.[3]
References
- "James I. Brownson, 82, Pennsylvania Jurist. Head of the Washington County Court Also a Civic Leader". The New York Times. January 2, 1939.
- Eastman, Frank Marshall (1922). "Twenty-sevenths Judicial District". Courts and lawyers of Pennsylvania: a history, 1623-1923. Vol. 3. American Historical Society, Inc. p. 726.
- "Brownson House 2002 - Youth Service". Washington–Greene County Chapter, Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2012.