426
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
