Simon Peter Light

S. P. Light, dean of the Lebanon County Bar, president o[ the Bar Association for upwards of thirty years, and widely known in the state as well as in New York, passed away at 9:35 o'clock this morning at his home, Tenth and Maple Streets. He was in his 82nd year, and was the oldest lawyer connected with the local bar in point of years since his admission. He suffered a nervous breakdown eight years ago. Although he was at his office since then at times, his law practice was looked after by his son, Gideon R. Light, and for several years past the father was too feeble to engage in any active work. He was entirely confined to bed however, only during the past month, but for a week or more past was in a critical condition. Following his 70lh birthday anniversary he enjoyed widespread distinction for his display of vigor as he continued the practice of his profession long beyond the period usually allotted to one devoted so many years to mental strain. Although he met with a serious accident in 1926 and underwent under went an appendectomy in 1929, he overcame both these ordeals with a display of marvelous vitality. During the past two years, however, he was in feeble health, and retired from active practice of his profession some years ago, a career in which he achieved distinction not only here but in other sections of the state. A son of Gideon F., and Nancy (Witmeyer) Light, he was born August 30, 1861, and reared here and spent his entire lifetime in Lebanon. He graduated from the Lebanon High School and later from Lebanon Valley College. After instruction in legal procedure with John Adam Benson as his preceptor, he was admitted to the bar August 27, 1883. He attained popularity at the out start, and as he progressed in his profession achieved distinction as solicitor for some of the largest corporations doing business in this territory. Meanwhile, he became personally interested in various local public utilities, and through the medium of these attained interests in outside concerns of like kind. He was one of the founders of the Lebanon Street Railway Company and the local electric light company, both of which were later absorbed by larger concerns, together with the Annville and Myerstown branches of the street railway line which followed the city line. Incident to this activity he became one of the founders of the Shamokin & Mt. Carmel Street railway, and the Wyoming Street Railway, near Wilkes-Barre. Similar interests in the industrial field led to wide expansion. With his cousin, H. H. Light, he was instrumental in the founding of the Lebanon Iron Company, Hebron, for many years one of Lebanon's pillars in the iron market as it continued in operation through depressions and in other untoward economic conditions. He was also with the original concern known as the Lebanon Chain Works which achieved world-wide fame in the manufacture of the largest hand-made chain at that time. During that same period in the nineties when Lebanon was making its greatest strides, he was one of the pioneers of the Indepednet Telephone Company, a public utility operating in various parts of Eastern Pennsylvania until it was absorbed by the Bell System. He was associated with the local street railway however, long after it was absorbed by a larger corporation in Reading. Mr. Light, during his active carper was affiliated with a number of fraternal and civic bodies in which he was intensely popular. Aside of his presidency of the local bar Association, he was president of the Steitz Club for many years, and was also affiliated with the Pennsylvania Society of New York. As he was a member of the Pennsylvania appellate courts as well as the United States Supreme Court and appeared in all of them at different times, he had a wide acquaintanceship in his profession. To this was added an extensive acquaintanceship gained in political circles, as he was an ardent Democrat and represented his party in two national conventions, at Chicago in 1892 which nominated Grover Cleveland, and at Buffalo, in 1896 which nominated William Jennings Bryan, for the presidency. He maintained a deep interest in his alma mater, Lebanon Valley College, and is credited with having one time saved the Annville institution from disaster by support in a financial crisis, a deed which was said to have duplicated a similar grant by his father some years previously. Aside of college officials, few persons were acquainted with that affair and it was but one of a number of philanthropies and charitable acts of his career, all without fanfare or ostentation. The deceased was of the type characterized as "hail and well met" and enjoyed great popularity in the social as well as professional and industrial circles in which he frequented in his more active years. His wife, Ella Smith Light, did in May, 1928. He leaves five sons, Gideon R. Light, local attorney, and Simon P., Jr., also of this city; Donald and John, of Reading, and Lieut. Richard Light, a resident of Charlotte, N. C, before be entered the armed forces, and a daughter, Nancy, wife of Nathan Brown, of Cornwall. He leaves also eight grandchildren, including David Light Krause, now in the U. S. Navy and the following brothers and sisters: Gideon F. Light, Clara Light Boltz, and Elizabeth Light Triest, all of whom reside at the residence of their late father, Gideon Light, on Maple Street. [Lebanon Daily News, June 30, 1943, Page 1 & 3]