Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Hewit, Hon. Benjamin L. June 4, 1833 - ???? ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Banja http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000757 December 12, 2024, 1:53 pm Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892. Author: Samuel T. Wiley HON. BENJAMIN L. HEWIT, ex-speaker of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, and a prominent and active member of the Blair County bar, is well and favorably known throughout the state as a man of ability and integrity, and has long been recognized by the Republican Party as one of its most safe and popular leaders. He is a son of Nicholas and Mary (Murphy) Hewit, and was born at Petersburg, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, June 4, 1833. He is of German and Scotch-Irish parentage, tracing his ancestry on his parental side through his great-grandfather, Nicholas Hewit, to an ancestor who left the Fatherland to settle in the providence of Penn, while his maternal grandparents, Murphy, who both died at an advanced age, were of that wonderful Scotch-Irish Presbyterian race so prominent in the early settlement and history of central and western Pennsylvania. Nicholas Hewit Sr., served in the Revolutionary War from Berks County, and afterward removed to West Township, Huntingdon County, where he died in 1837, and where his remains to-day sleep in Manor Hill Cemetery. His son, David Hewit (grandfather) married Elizabeth Graffius, a descendant of the famous pioneer, Martin Nicholas Graffius, who was born May 2, 1722 and died May 20, 1790. They were early settlers in the Juniata Valley, and of their children one was Nicholas Hewit (father), who ranked high as a businessman and public-spirited citizen. He was born July 24, 1809 and died February 19, 1883. He was an old-line Whig, an active politician, and intimate friend and compeer of Thaddeus Stevens from 1830 to 1850. Mr. Hewit was one of the leading citizens of his county, and under Governor Ritner's administration, built that part of the old Pennsylvania Canal between Hollidaysburg and Huntingdon. He never allowed his close attention to politics take any of his necessary time from his business affairs, as he regarded the prosperity of the citizen as the corner stone of the prosperity of the state. His political convictions were very strong and steadfastly maintained, and possessed a great capacity for work, he entered into every campaign of his party with energy and zest. He married Mary Murphy, who died April 30, 1871, when in the fifty-ninth year of her age. They had one child, Benjamin L. Hewit. Benjamin L. Hewit attended the common schools, and was prepared for college at Tuscarora Academy, under the guidance of Prof. David Wilson distinguished for scholarship, and by an additional course of training under the tutorship of Prof. D. Williams at Hollidaysburg. He entered Princeton College in 1851, and was graduated from that celebrated institution of learning in the unusually large class of 1854, with high rank in scholarship, and particularly in a literary point of view. Leaving college, he took a legal course of study under the tutorship of that distinguished scholar and lawyer, Hon. S. S. Blair, of Hollidaysburg, was admitted to the bar in October 1856, and soon won a liberal and lucrative clientage. He was elected district attorney in 1857, was honored by a reelection in 1860, and two years later left an excellent practice to enlist as a private in Co. A, 23 Pennsylvania Infantry. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he served for a short time as a private in Co. A, Independent Battalion, and during 1863 and 1864, and part of 1865, acted as field paymaster, with the rank of major of cavalry. As paymaster he was frequently assigned to special service on account of his familiarity with the organization of the army and the laws of the pay department. He was honorably discharged in September 1865, and returned to Hollidaysburg, where he resumed the active and successful practice of his profession and was thus engaged until 1870, when he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania. In 1871 and 1872 he was reelected, and during this session of his third term he was selected as chairman of the committee of ways and means, and during 1873 served as chairman of the house committee on the revision of the civil code. In 1878, 1879, 1880 and 1881 he was elected as a member of the house, and served efficiently and faithfully in the interests of his county and the state. During the session of 1878-1879 he was chosen as chairman of the general judiciary committee, and in 1881 was elected by a handsome and flattering majority as speaker of the house of representatives, receiving both the stalwart and independent republican vote, and one democrat vote. He presided with such fairness and impartiality over the sessions of the house that he received unusual commendatory notice from the press. Since 1882 Mr. Hewit has practiced his profession most assiduously and successfully at Hollidaysburg, and takes an active part in politics, being a stalwart republican, and at this writing is a candidate for the legislature. He owns a pleasant home at Hollidaysburg, and has considerable farming interests in Blair County and Dakota, which afford him recreation as well as profit. On June 18, 1857, Mr. Hewit was united in marriage with Miss Lilly Davis daughter of Judge Davis, deceased of Bedford, Pennsylvania and they have two sons living: Oliver H. Hewit, esq. of Duluth, Minnesota and Henry D. Hewit a farmer in Dakota, their mother dying March 25, 1873. On December 4, 1874, Mr. Hewit united in marriage with Miss Mary W. Smith a daughter of Joseph Smith, esq. late of Hollidaysburg, deceased. In 1873 Mr. Hewit was appointed by Governor Hartranft as fish commissioner and served until 1882. During which time he selected the different fishery sites and planned the Cory Hatching House, which was conceded at that time to be the best fish hatching establishment in the country, while it founder was regarded as one of the leading-practical fish culturalists of the day. He still takes an interest in fish culture, and frequently contributes interesting articles to the press on that subject. His political career as a legislator has been marked by his fearless and efficient support of every measure calculated for the best interests of his constituents and the welfare of the grand old Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On account of his parliamentary tact, readiness and ability as a debater, and through knowledge of all questions affecting the policy of his party or public interests, he was always recognized as one of the republican leaders of the house. He was chairman of the committee in 1873 that presented an able and elaborate report on the revision of the civil code, on which action was postponed by the advisement of the Supreme Court Judge of the state. He was also chairman of the celebrated George O. Evan's war claim. In 1879 he and his compeers, Wolf and Mapes, made state reputations by their prevention of the passage of the riot bill, whose provisions would have taken four million dollars from the state treasury for unjust purposes. During the great struggle in 1881, over the election of a United States senator from Pennsylvania, Mr. Hewit name was frequently mentioned in connection with that high office, for which on different ballot he received several votes. Mr. Hewit is an interesting and entertaining speaker, an attractive and convincing jury pleader, and an able and sound reasoner. He has a fine vocabulary, is apt in expression, an by ability, integrity and earnestness has won prominence and honor in the legislative history of Pennsylvania. Additional Comments: Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Janet Gray bmgray@dol.net This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/ File size: 8.1 Kb