"SHSI Certificate of Recognition"
"Best on the Web"


Encyclopedia Dubuque

www.encyclopediadubuque.org

"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN

Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.




SHIRAS, George Jr.: Difference between revisions

From Encyclopedia Dubuque
Jump to navigationJump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 7: Line 7:
In 1881, Shiras refused an offer of election to the United States Senate from the Pennsylvania State Legislature. He served as a Presidential elector in 1888.  
In 1881, Shiras refused an offer of election to the United States Senate from the Pennsylvania State Legislature. He served as a Presidential elector in 1888.  


President Benjamin Harrison nominated Shiras to the Supreme Court of the United States on July 19, 1892 and Senate confirmed the appointment on July 26, 1892. Upon receiving the nomination, Shiras declared his intention to retire after ten years and he did so on February 23, 1903. At that time he was nominated, Shiras had 37 years of private legal practice, but had never judged a case. Shiras was the only Supreme Court justice, as of 2011, to have no record of public (political, governmental or judicial) service.  Two factors were critical in his selection: first, he was from the same geographic section as his predecessor on the Court; and second, he had demonstrated independence of the anti‐Harrison faction of the Pennsylvania Republican party.
President Benjamin Harrison nominated Shiras to the Supreme Court of the United States on July 19, 1892 and the Senate confirmed the appointment on July 26, 1892. Upon receiving the nomination, Shiras declared his intention to retire after ten years and he did so on February 23, 1903. At that time he was nominated, Shiras had 37 years of private legal practice, but had never judged a case. Shiras was the only Supreme Court justice, as of 2011, to have no record of public (political, governmental or judicial) service.  Two factors were critical in his selection: first, he was from the same geographic section as his predecessor on the Court; and second, he had demonstrated independence of the anti‐Harrison faction of the Pennsylvania Republican party.


Shiras sat on the Court for more than 10 years authoring 253 majority decisions and 14 dissents. He is noted for his votes on two landmark cases, ''Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co.'' (1895), and ''Plessy v. Ferguson'' (1896). In ''Pollock'', Shiras was condemned for switching his vote concerning the constitutionality of the income tax. When the first decision was issued, the Court was split 4-4 on the constitutionality of the federal income tax. On rehearing, dying Justice Howell Jackson attended oral argument and voted to uphold its constitutionality. Shiras changed his earlier vote, and voted with the majority to declare the income tax unconstitutional. There is some debate about whether Shiras was the pivotal member, but he has been blamed for necessitating the Sixteenth Amendment. The ruling in ''Pollock'' led to the need for a constitutional amendment to impose a federal income tax, and in 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified. Shiras also voted with the 7-1 majority in the infamous case ''Plessy v. Ferguson'', a case which upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the doctrine of separate but equal, and which was not overruled until 1954.
Shiras sat on the Court for more than 10 years authoring 253 majority decisions and 14 dissents. He is noted for his votes on two landmark cases, ''Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co.'' (1895), and ''Plessy v. Ferguson'' (1896). In ''Pollock'', Shiras was condemned for switching his vote concerning the constitutionality of the income tax. When the first decision was issued, the Court was split 4-4 on the constitutionality of the federal income tax. On rehearing, dying Justice Howell Jackson attended oral argument and voted to uphold its constitutionality. Shiras changed his earlier vote, and voted with the majority to declare the income tax unconstitutional. The ruling in ''Pollock'' led to the need for a constitutional amendment to impose a federal income tax, and in 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified. Shiras also voted with the 7-1 majority in the infamous case ''Plessy v. Ferguson'', a case which upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the doctrine of separate but equal, and which was not overruled until 1954.


[[SHIRAS, Oliver Perry|Oliver Perry SHIRAS]], George Shiras and [[HERRON, Francis J.|Francis J. Herron]] were second cousins.  Oliver & George Shiras's mother Eliza and Francis J. Herron where first cousins.
[[SHIRAS, Oliver Perry|Oliver Perry SHIRAS]], George Shiras and [[HERRON, Francis J.|Francis J. Herron]] were second cousins.  Oliver & George Shiras's mother Eliza and Francis J. Herron where first cousins.
Line 15: Line 15:
The Shiras and Herron brothers all came to Dubuque around 1855 from the Pittsburgh area.  George Shiras II (b.1806) married Elizabeth Perry Herron and had George Jr. (III) (b. 1832), Oliver Perry (b. 1833) and Francis Herron Shiras.  Eliza Herron's (b.1809) father was Francis J. Herron's (b. 1837) uncle Rev. Francis Herron (b. 1774).  Francis J. Herron's father was Francis Herron's brother and Francis J. Herron's uncle John Herron Jr. (b. 1792).  Elizabeth Herron Shiras and Francis J. Herron's grandfather was also named John Herron Sr.   
The Shiras and Herron brothers all came to Dubuque around 1855 from the Pittsburgh area.  George Shiras II (b.1806) married Elizabeth Perry Herron and had George Jr. (III) (b. 1832), Oliver Perry (b. 1833) and Francis Herron Shiras.  Eliza Herron's (b.1809) father was Francis J. Herron's (b. 1837) uncle Rev. Francis Herron (b. 1774).  Francis J. Herron's father was Francis Herron's brother and Francis J. Herron's uncle John Herron Jr. (b. 1792).  Elizabeth Herron Shiras and Francis J. Herron's grandfather was also named John Herron Sr.   


Francis J. Herron also had a brother, David R. Herron, Lieutenant in the 3rd Iowa Light Artillery Battery, also known as the Dubuque Battery, organized in Dubuque.  And besides Oliver P. Shiras serving as aid de camp to Br. Gen. Francis J. Herron during the Civil War, Herron had a nephew, James A. Herron, son of brother William A. Herron (b. 1821), who
Francis J. Herron also had a brother, David R. Herron, Lieutenant in the 3rd Iowa Light Artillery Battery, also known as the Dubuque Battery, organized in Dubuque.  And besides Oliver P. Shiras serving as aid de camp to Brig. Gen. [[HERRON, Francis J.|Francis J. HERRON]] during the [[CIVIL WAR]], Herron had a nephew, James A. Herron, son of brother William A. Herron (b. 1821), who served on his staff.   
served on his staff.   


It should also be noted U.S. Supreme Court Justice George Shiras, Jr. married Dubuque born Lillie E. Kennedy (b. 1842) daughter of Robert T. Kennedy (b. 1819). It appears Robert T. Kennedy and several of his children are buried in Dubuque.
It should also be noted U.S. Supreme Court Justice George Shiras, Jr. married Dubuque born Lillie E. Kennedy (b. 1842) daughter of Robert T. Kennedy (b. 1819). It appears Robert T. Kennedy and several of his children are buried in Dubuque.

Revision as of 00:49, 20 May 2019

Family History: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ja1506&id=I37517

Photo and article courtesy: John Pregler

SHIRAS, George, Jr. (Pittsburgh,PA, Jan. 26, 1832--Pittsburgh, PA, Aug. 2, 1924). The brother of Oliver Perry SHIRAS, George began his college education at Ohio University, and after two years transferred to Yale. He received his undergraduate degree in 1853. Shiras enrolled in Yale Law School, but soon left New Haven to read law in Pittsburgh. Shiras was admitted to the bar in 1855.

George entered practice with his brother in Dubuque from 1855 to 1858. He returned to Pittsburgh three years later and joined a law firm, where he specialized in railroad and corporate law. Shiras practiced law for thirty-seven years.

In 1881, Shiras refused an offer of election to the United States Senate from the Pennsylvania State Legislature. He served as a Presidential elector in 1888.

President Benjamin Harrison nominated Shiras to the Supreme Court of the United States on July 19, 1892 and the Senate confirmed the appointment on July 26, 1892. Upon receiving the nomination, Shiras declared his intention to retire after ten years and he did so on February 23, 1903. At that time he was nominated, Shiras had 37 years of private legal practice, but had never judged a case. Shiras was the only Supreme Court justice, as of 2011, to have no record of public (political, governmental or judicial) service. Two factors were critical in his selection: first, he was from the same geographic section as his predecessor on the Court; and second, he had demonstrated independence of the anti‐Harrison faction of the Pennsylvania Republican party.

Shiras sat on the Court for more than 10 years authoring 253 majority decisions and 14 dissents. He is noted for his votes on two landmark cases, Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co. (1895), and Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). In Pollock, Shiras was condemned for switching his vote concerning the constitutionality of the income tax. When the first decision was issued, the Court was split 4-4 on the constitutionality of the federal income tax. On rehearing, dying Justice Howell Jackson attended oral argument and voted to uphold its constitutionality. Shiras changed his earlier vote, and voted with the majority to declare the income tax unconstitutional. The ruling in Pollock led to the need for a constitutional amendment to impose a federal income tax, and in 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified. Shiras also voted with the 7-1 majority in the infamous case Plessy v. Ferguson, a case which upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the doctrine of separate but equal, and which was not overruled until 1954.

Oliver Perry SHIRAS, George Shiras and Francis J. Herron were second cousins. Oliver & George Shiras's mother Eliza and Francis J. Herron where first cousins.

The Shiras and Herron brothers all came to Dubuque around 1855 from the Pittsburgh area. George Shiras II (b.1806) married Elizabeth Perry Herron and had George Jr. (III) (b. 1832), Oliver Perry (b. 1833) and Francis Herron Shiras. Eliza Herron's (b.1809) father was Francis J. Herron's (b. 1837) uncle Rev. Francis Herron (b. 1774). Francis J. Herron's father was Francis Herron's brother and Francis J. Herron's uncle John Herron Jr. (b. 1792). Elizabeth Herron Shiras and Francis J. Herron's grandfather was also named John Herron Sr.

Francis J. Herron also had a brother, David R. Herron, Lieutenant in the 3rd Iowa Light Artillery Battery, also known as the Dubuque Battery, organized in Dubuque. And besides Oliver P. Shiras serving as aid de camp to Brig. Gen. Francis J. HERRON during the CIVIL WAR, Herron had a nephew, James A. Herron, son of brother William A. Herron (b. 1821), who served on his staff.

It should also be noted U.S. Supreme Court Justice George Shiras, Jr. married Dubuque born Lillie E. Kennedy (b. 1842) daughter of Robert T. Kennedy (b. 1819). It appears Robert T. Kennedy and several of his children are buried in Dubuque.

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/HERRON/2005-12/1135815989

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42719104

http://www.historycentral.com/Bio/rec/GeorgeShiras.html

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42678583

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=33811968

See: George SHIRAS, 3rd


Geneology research by John Pregler

---

Source:

George Shiras, Jr.--en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Shiras,_Jr.

George Shiras, Jr.--http://www.supremecourthistory.org/history-of-the-court/associate-justices/george-shiras-jr-1892-1903/

George Shiras, Jr.--www.nndb.com/people/885/000180345/www.michaelariens.com/ConLaw/justices/shiras.htm

History of the Federal Judiciary--http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/nGetInfo?jid=2181&cid=999&ctype=na&instate=na