Rare books provide glimpse into past
Could you imagine paying an attorney $100 to handle a divorce, as compared to the thousands that some people pay today? In 1926, $100 was the flat fee charged by all lawyers, according to a fee book on display at the Fayette County Law Library on the second floor of the county courthouse.
The fee book – now an illegal concept in lawyering – is one of several old law books available for public viewing.
Librarian Elida Nicklow said the display, which includes a German Bible and a law book from the Meason family, are hand penned and kept in a glass case to ensure their preservation.
The Bible, printed in Germany in 1765, is one of the older historical items on display.
“Only prosperous families could afford to have one because of their value,” said Nicklow. “These particular books were hand stamped and considered a labor of love by any family that owned one.”
Each page of the Bible is covered with handwritten German words, on top of thick weathered pages. Nicklow described this Bible as a printed version of the original Gutenberg Bible, which was hand-written by the monks of that time.
Nicklow said that the books were cataloged last year so that they could be kept track of and not be accidentally sold. They were stored in acid-free boxes in the library and were brought out because they were considered a legal history of the area.
There are photocopies of the first pages in the book attached to the originals in order to keep the pages and covers from wearing.
Nicklow said she is unsure how the eight books on display made their way to the law library, noting they were there in 1992, when she started working there. Beyond that time, Nicklow said she has not been able to trace who donated the books.
The fee book on display is what each lawyer in 1926 used to charge clients for their services, since, at that time, every lawyer charged the same flat fee for a case.
For instance, in this book, a trial was listed as a charge of $10, an adoption was $35 and a divorce was $100.
Today these fees are illegal and each law firm must give out their own fees for each individual case. This particular fee book began recording fees in 1926 for Fayette County attorneys.
In the early 1970s these fees were deemed illegal and all lawyers were required to provide their own fees for cases.
Two Fayette County families’ possessions are also on display in the law library.
Thomas Meason and Daniel Sturgeon were accomplished lawyers and government officials during the late 1700s and the early 1800s, not only in Fayette County but also in Pennsylvania. Meason authored one of the books himself, and Sturgeon’s book was handed down from his father.
The Precedent book bears Meason’s name.
Nicklow said Meason wrote this book in May of 1797 and used during the years of his practice. It details cases of the times, including a citizen being tried for shooting a horse and others about debt, estates, and wills.
Meason studied law in Philadelphia in the early 1790s. He was admitted to practice as an attorney of Fayette County in 1798.
As his popularity began to grow in this region, he ran for a seat in Congress.
He ran on the Federalist ticket, and won the seat. During the winter of 1812-1813, he left his government practices to serve his country in the war against Great Britain.
As part of his travels, Meason rode from Uniontown to Washington D.C. on horseback. During this long journey, he was exposed to the fever, and died shortly after reaching the capital, said Nicklow. Meason was 37.
The law book from the Sturgeon is one given to him by his attorney-father, said Nicklow. It also details legal cases.
Sturgeon came to Uniontown in 1810, after practicing medicine in Washington County. He came into the political spotlight in 1819, when he represented Fayette County in the U.S. House of Representatives, said Nicklow.
From 1830 to 1853 he worked his way up in government positions, serving as a state senator and the state treasurer.
In 1854, President Franklin Pierce made him treasurer in Philadelphia of the United States Mint.
President James Buchanan offered him that same position, which he held until 1858, when he resigned to a private life.
Sturgeon was married to Nancy Gregg, daughter of James Gregg, an early merchant in the county. Sturgeon died in 1878, at 89.
Although anyone can stop in and view the books, Nicklow said they cannot be handled.
“We are trying our best to preserve all of these books for future generations” she said.
Since the books currently on display have been out since October 2001, Nicklow said she hopes to switch to other books in the near future because there are other interesting historical tomes yet to be displayed.