Person:Ferree Brinton (1)

Date of Import: Jul 14, 2004

In 1854, the Strasburg Railroad was purchased by the Pennsylvania Railroad. Most of the lines were profitable for the railroad companies, but the troubled Strasburg line turned into a white elephant for the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Strasburg Railroad was not a moneymaker, so the officers of the Pennsylvania Railroad decided to allow it to go to bankrupt. In 1861 the Strasburg Railroad was sold at a sheriff auction for only $13,000.
Ferree Brinton purchased the road in a trust for himself and 21 other men, including Thomas Franklin and Thaddeus Stevens. The original stockholders received only seven dollars for each $100 share owned. The partnership was eventually disolved as the trust sold their individual interest one by one to John and Cyrus Herr.

Brinton, Ferree, was elected Assistant Judge of Lancaster County, in 1856. He was re-elected in 1861, and served two terms with great satisfactionto his constituents. As a judge he was very upright and conscientious, and discharged his duties with great credit. A writer in the Daily Evening Express said of Judge Brinton, that he "was a gentleman in his manners and habits, and was the most intellectual looking non law-judge that I ever was on any bench, and he had more mind and information that any non law-judge I ever knew but one."

Ferree Brinton was among the several called for jury duty for the Christiana Riot Treason Trial. He did not serve. He appeared on a list in the above referenced book as follows: 9.Brinton, Ferree, Merchant, Belmont P.O., Lancaster co. Later associate judge; father-in-law of Judge Wiltbank of Philadelphia. Stood aside.