Husband Paul Hugus Gaither 1 2 3
Born: 26 Mar 1852 - Beaver, Beaver Co, PA 2 3
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Father: Samuel Gaither (1806- ) 2 3
Mother: Lydia Hugus (1812- ) 2 3
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Other Spouse: Ida Steck ( -1921) 1 4
Wife Grace Gerhart 4
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Died: 24 May 1885 4
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Father: Dr. E. V. Gerhart ( - ) 4
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Children
1 F Margaretta Gaither 4
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Spouse: S. S. Lontos ( - ) 4
2 F Lydia H. Gaither 4
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Spouse: Dr. John C. Cope ( -Bef 1926) 4
3 M Paul Gaither, Jr. 4
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Spouse: Anna Graham ( - ) 4
General Notes: Husband - Paul Hugus Gaither
He was reared in Somerset, Pennsylvania, and studied law with his father. He began the practice of his profession in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1876, having been admitted to the bar of Westmoreland County. In February, 1886, he located for the practice of his profession in Greensburg, in partnership with J. A. Marchand, solicitor for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. For years his partner was the Hon. Cyrus E. Woods, recently American Ambassador to Japan. Next his partner was Hon. Charles E. Whitten, later a judge in the Common Pleas Court of Westmoreland County. His later partners were R. K. Portser and R. Kirk McConnell.
Mr. Gaither was for years among the foremost lawyers of Westmoreland County. His extensive corporation practice, his connection with the Pennsylvania Railroad, and his other associations served to distinguish his practice. In 1905 he was a candidate for judge, and his standing was such that he had no opposition for the nomination. As the county went Republican at the election, however, his defeat was inevitable. But he came from this contest with no bitterness of feeling and with his reputation as a lawyer and a citizen unassailed and admitted.
Mr. Gaither was associated with many important cases in the courts. One of these, Robb vs. Carnegie, reported 145, Pa. 324, involved very important legal questions; and also the case of the Case Manufacturing Company, plaintiff in error, vs. Peter H. Saxman et al., which was tried in the Circuit Court of the United States and on appeal was argued in the United States Supreme Court on January 16, 1891, reported in 138th United States Supreme Court Reports, page 431.
Mr. Gaither was of counsel for plaintiffs in the case of Mountain Water Supply Company, Pennsylvania Railroad Company et al. vs. Sagamore Coal Company et al., 281, Pa. 233. This was a case to restrain the defendants from permitting the flow of sulphur water from their mines into Indian Creek, which for years before defendants' operations started, had been the source of supply of water to seventy-five thousand people, as also the means of supply of good water to the railroad for locomotive purposes. By the decree of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the defendants were restrained, and an appeal from this decree by the defendants to the Supreme Court of the United States was refused.
Mr. Gaither was a lawyer of unusual versatility, and excelled in any branch of the profession in which he engaged. Like most lawyers bred to the profession outside of the great centers of population, he was not confined to one line of effort. He was seen at his best in corporate cases, when arguing questions of law, or upon a review of his cases on appeal. And as a jury lawyer he showed an ability approximating that of the ablest advocate of his time. It is significant of his professional standing that he was elected as president of the Pennsylvania State Bar Association, serving that body in 1921.
During the World War period, Mr. Gaither was in charge of a branch of the Young Men's Christian Association work at Camp Hancock, and he also did much "four-minute" speaking in the Liberty Bond drives. He was appointed by the governor of Pennsylvania as chairman of the Examining Board in Westmoreland County. He attended the London (England) convention as a member of the American Bar Association, and he was appointed by the president of this association as a member of and as chairman of the committee for the revision of Federal Statutes.
Mr. Gaither was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and he traveled extensively in Europe and Palestine. His addresses in non-denominational and non-professional work were notable.