Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/485

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

and MutUour counties, in honor of the fiftyseventh anniversary o f his admission to the l>ar. Even then he was the “ N estor" of the Columbia county bar, its oldest member and for twenty years tlic president of tbc Bar Associalion. T h e legal fraternity o f both counties was well represented, and there were law yer guests from other counties present, as well as men prominent in business and other circles. It was an a >prcciation such as few men cx|)cricncc, am Colonel Freeze was deeply touched. A ny movement designed to improve mental or moral standards in the community, or which marked advancement, had his support, i f in­ deed he w as not a leader. Educational proj­ ects especially had his sympathetic interest and support. In 1866 he w as one of the group which organized the Bloomsburg Literary In­ stitute, which has since been merged into the Nornuil School, and from that time until his death he was almost continuously associated with the management of the institution, which has ])layc<l so large a part in the development of the liorough in more respects than one. He was one of the trustees in the early days, when the board was res{^nsible financially, its mem­ bers often advancing the money to settle bills in order to keqi the school running: and he was still holding that position at the time of his death. T o the end o f his days he was a trustee of the public library, which office he had filled for many years, and he had also been vice president o f its board o f directors. He was president o f (he Bloomsburg Bridge Company, president of the Rosemont Cem­ etery Comfxiny. With all his obligations Colonel Freeze found time to indulge his literary tastes and add to bis acquirements. At one time he w as one of the editors of the Columbian, be­ ing <|uaitfied by his intimate acquaintance with local |K>li(icaI conditions, as well as by his intellectual attainments, fo r that position. A s a local historian also he acquired considerable reputation, his history of Columbia county being undoubtedly the best written and con­ sidered the standard o f authority and an e x ­ haustive work o f reference on the subject. H is literary productions include a number o f graceful ]K)cms. and he published one or two collections of verses, his hrgcst work, “ A Royal Pastoral," being a volume of over three hundred pages. He also ]mblishcd the “ North American Book,” and a numtor o f panqihtcts on various subjects. He w as the historian of the Bloomsburg Centennial cele­

bration, held in 1902. He w as a member of the Pennsylvania Historical .Society. In religious connection Colonel Freeze was a member and vestryman o f S t. Paul's E p is­ copal Clturch, a member of the standing com­ mittee of the diocese o f Central Pennsylvania, and chancellor o f that body for twenty years or more, in that capacity (icing legal adviser to the bi»hop. The tower on St. Paul’s church is a monument to his litorality. In 1854 Colonel Freeze married M argaret Walker," o f I.ancaster county. Pa., daughter o f Kobcrt W alker, of I^ancastcr. She pre­ ceded him to the grave, as did also all of the five children born to this union. Mrs. Freeze was also a member o f St. Paul’s Clturch. .After a life o f singular usefulness, whose activities have proved a far-reaching influence in promoting the interests o f his fellow men, he passed aw ay Ju ly 8, 19 13 . A man o f unselhsh ambitions, his labors "not only brought honors to himself but ennobled the circles in which he moved.” H is death occurred at his home on Center and Third streets, Blooms­ burg. due to the infirmities of age. Short private services were held at the house for the relatives, and a public service at St. Pau l's Episcopal Church, Rev. Mr. Musser officiat­ ing. Interment was in Rosemont cemetery. C E N. W E L L IN G T O N H. E N T (de­ ceased) was serving a s prothonotary o f Co­ lumbia county at the time o f his death, and though he passed aw ay in his prime was one o f its well-known citizens. H is distinguished services in the C ivil w ar brought him high promotion and honors. General Ent w as bom Aug. t6, 1834, at Light Street. Colum­ bia county, son o f Peter and Sarah Knt, who had five sons, all of whom served in the Union am iy during the Civil w a r; only one was su r­ viving in I087. U zal H. Ent, o f Bloomsbury. Wellington H. Ent began his education in the common schools, later attended at W ill­ iamsport, Pa., and commenced reading law in Bloomsburg, afterw ards taking a b w course at the U niversity o f Albany, N. Y ., from which institution he w as graduated M ay 2 5 , ?86o, in the same class with Postmaster (Gen­ eral V ilas. .At that time Reuben A . W alworth was president, and Ira H arris, Am asa J . P a r ­ ker and Amos Dean instructors. M r. E n t w as admitted to (he bar o f his native county tn toptember, i860, and on Dec. 5th received the governor's appointment as notary public. However, his personal interests were soon for­ gotten fo r his country's need. In Ju n e, 18 6 1, he went to H arrisburg as first lieutenant o f