Hon. Pere L. Wickes

Hon. Pere L. Wickes, president judge of this district, was born August 14, 1837, in Chestertown, Kent Co., Md. He is the youngest son of Col. Joseph Wickes, who was a lawyer of distinction in Maryland and a nephew of the late Judge Chambers, who was for many years the chief justice of that State. Judge Wickes was educated at Princeton College, New Jersey, and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in June, 1856. Subsequently the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by the same institution. He studied law with his brother Judge Joseph A. Wickes, of Maryland, and afterward with the Hon. S. Teackle Wallis, of Baltimore, and was admitted to the bar of Kent County, Md., April 18, 1859. He continued to practice his profession in Chestertown, until 1866, when he removed to York. Judge Wickes, in a short time became the attorney for the Northern Central and Pennsylvania Railroad Companies at this point, and was in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice, when he was, in the fall of 1875, elected additional law judge of this judicial district. In January, 1882, at the close of the term of office of the Hon. Robert J. Fisher, Judge Wickes was commissioned president

Taken from the book, “History of York County, Illustrated 1886” by John Gibson, Historical Editor