Biography

08/10/1870 - 03/16/1937

Judge Donald Paxton McPherson, Sr. (R32) Cumberland and Adams Counties 1903-1906

Early Life:

Judge Donald Paxton McPherson, Sr., born August 10, 1870, Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania; son of Edward and Annie D. Crawford McPherson; Sigma Chi, Phi Beta Kappa, Gettysburg College, B.A., 1889; Harvard Law School, 1895; clerk, United States House of Representatives, 1890-1892; admitted, Adams County bar, 1896; attorney, McPherson and McPherson; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1901-1902, not a candidate for reelection, 1902; married, Elizabeth McLanahan McPherson, 1902, sons, Edward Johnston McPherson, Donald Paxton McPherson, Jr.; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1903-1906; elected, judge, 51st judicial district, Adams County, 1906-1916, 51st judicial district, president judge, Adams County, 1917-1937; director, Gettysburg National Bank; director, Gettysburg Water Company; director, Reaser Furniture Company; died, March 16, 1937, Coronary Thrombosis, Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania; interred, Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1901-1902, not a candidate for reelection, 1902.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 32nd district, Cumberland and Adams Counties, 1903-1906; standing committee assignments, Senate of Pennsylvania, extraordinary and regular session, Appropriations, Corporations, Education, Forestry (Chairman), Library, Public Grounds and Buildings, Public Roads and Highways, 1906.

Extraordinary session, legislation accomplished by the Senate, 1906, personal registration law, direct primary legislation, enacted; up until this legislation candidates were chosen at conventions.

Elected, judge, 51st judicial district, Adams County, 1906-1916, 51st judicial district, president judge, Adams County, 1917-1937.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Legacy:

Son, Donald Paxton McPherson Jr., Pennsylvania State Senate, 33rd district, Adams Franklin Counties, 1949-1956.

Donald Paxson McPherson Jr. - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members M". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1906). Cochran, T.B., (Editor) Miller, H.P. (Assistant Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 823, 829-834, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 804.

The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) March 16, 1937.

The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) March 18, 1937.

Donald Paxton McPherson (1870-1937) - Find a Grave Memorial