By Helen Kull
Fisk. Alfred Reed. William M. Lanning. William Antheil. Each of these gentlemen was held in sufficient esteem to have Ewing schools named after them. But does such an honor ensure lasting name recognition?
While it is an honor to the namesake, it also requires a future commitment to keep that honor intact and recall the person so honored. So, the next few columns will be devoted to these citizens. If anyone (a descendant, perhaps?) has personal stories to tell about them, please email me so that I can share them!
Since I am personally indebted to the Honorable Judge William Lanning, I will begin with him.
William Mershon Lanning was the son of Elijah Lanning and Cornelia Mershon, and was born on a farm in Ewingville (near Pennington Road at Upper Ferry Road/Ewingville Road) on New Year’s Day in 1849. He was a direct descendant of Robert Lanning, one of three brothers from Wales who settled in central New Jersey in the late 1600s.
Lanning attended school at the Lawrenceville Academy, graduating at age 17, and soon began employment as a teacher at the Trenton Academy. In 1876 he became justice of the peace in Ewing, and began to study law in earnest. He was admitted to the bar in 1880, and was licensed as a counselor in 1883.
He was elected as the Trenton city solicitor in 1884, and first appointed judge of the city district court in 1887. He was known as an authority on court matters, and prepared books on township law and NJ statutes. In 1902 he was elected as the Republican Party candidate to the House of Representatives for the Fourth Congressional District (currently held by Rep. Chris Smith).
Lanning remained active in his law practice, and was subsequently named twice by presidential appointment to judgeships: first by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1904 as a U.S. district judge for the District of N.J.; and then in 1909 by President Taft as a U.S. circuit judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals, which he held until his death in Trenton in 1912. He received honorary doctor of laws degrees from both Washington and Jefferson College (1908) and Princeton University (1910). He is buried in the Ewing Church Cemetery.
His broad legal knowledge made him well-respected, but he was also highly regarded outside of legal circles. He was a board member of the Mechanics National Bank of Trenton, serving once as president of its board; he also was a manager of the Trenton Savings Fund Society.
He was involved in many education and charitable activities, serving as a trustee or other supporting member of the Lawrenceville School, the Trenton Free Public Library, the Princeton Theological Seminary, Mercer Hospital, and the General Assembly of the U.S. Presbyterian Church. He married Jennie Hemenway (1848-1935), with whom he had two sons: Kenneth, who became a lawyer in Trenton; and Robert, who moved to Providence, RI.
Lanning was also interested in history. He was a member of the Sons of the Revolution, tracing direct lineage to several Lannings who fought in the Revolution. Having attended the First Presbyterian Church of Ewing as a boy, he researched and wrote a lengthy history of the congregation in 1908 upon its 200th anniversary.
He highlighted that history at the grand celebration on Sept 15, 1908, and it was subsequently printed in the Daily State Gazette. As the co-chair of the congregation’s 300th anniversary a few years ago, I was personally profoundly grateful for Judge Lanning’s efforts in this regard, and frequently referred to his lengthy “Sketch”!
In 1914 an elementary school opened on Pennington Road, and was named Lanning School in honor of this esteemed Ewing native. Although no longer an elementary school, the building still bears his name —and now we know a little about the man behind the name.
Come join Ewing Historical Society members at the First Annual Sarah Moore Temple Tea on Sunday afternoon, June 2 at 2 p.m. at the Temple House on Federal City Road. The society will be honoring two members for their long-standing involvement with the society. Come celebrate with us!
Do you have a Ewing story to tell, a memory to share, or a suggested topic? Send it to Helen at ewingthenandnow@gmail.com.
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