Monday, July 04, 2016



"Kephart" was his second middle name, same county...

Fucking Wikipedia entry.

John W. Kephart

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John W. Kephart
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
In office
1936–1940
Preceded byRobert S. Frazer
Succeeded byWilliam I. Schaffer
Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
In office
1919–1936
Personal details
BornNovember 12, 1872
Wilmore, Pennsylvania
DiedAugust 6, 1944 (aged 71)
Warwick, Pennsylvania
Alma materDickinson School of Law(LL.B.)
John W. Kephart (November 12, 1872 – August 6, 1944) was a Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1936 and Chief Justice from 1936 to 1940.

Biography[edit]

John W. Kephart was born on November 12, 1872 in Wilmore, Pennsylvania, to Samuel H. and Henrietta Kephart. His father, a veteran of the American Civil War, died when John was two years old and he was enrolled in the Soldiers Orphan School in McAllisterville, Pennsylvania, graduating two years early as valedictorian of his class. He then attended Allegheny College after working as a telegraphist, but was forced to withdraw due to insufficient funds. After returning to work with the Pennsylvania Railroad to save money for his education, he enrolled at Dickinson School of Law and graduated in 1894.[1][2][3] He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta, joining in 1891.[4]
In 1913, after practicing law for several years and becoming Cambria County Solicitor, Kephart was elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania without the support of any major party in a race that attracted national attention. He was subsequently elected to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1918, serving as an Associate Justice from 1919 until 1936, when he became Chief Justice. He served as Chief Justice until his retirement from the court in January 1940. Kephart died on August 6, 1944, in Warwick, Pennsylvania.[2][3][5]

Died in 1944, the same year my Uncle Jack was killed. That is so weird...But he would have been on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court when Uncle Jack was born, presumably not residing in Ebensburg anymore. My grandfather had to have gotten to know him before...Well, duh...There is NO WAY that John W. (I don't know what the "W" stands for :o I don't think I ever knew) K.-as-in-Kephart Ranck of Barnesboro, Cambria County, Pennsylvania was NOT named for attorney/Justice John W. Kephart of Ebensburg, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Who kept the books of the South Fork Fishing & Hunting Club. Which caused the Johnstown Flood. Which flips me the fuck out. I have NEVER heard of any connection between my family and John W. Kephart. Manifestly, there was one, and a deep one. Which flips me the fuck out.