This article originally appeared in a Wyoming County Historian's Office press release.
For many years, five massive oil paintings of past judges hung from the walls of the Wyoming County courthouse. The portraits, in ornate frames and measuring over 56" x 48", were taken down as a result of the new courthouse constructions. The current courthouse was dedicated on April 30, 1999. The portraits have been kept at the County Historian's Office since then.
In the summer of 2019, County Court Judge, Hon. Michael M. Mohun, contacted the County Historian's office to inquire about the whereabouts of the Judge's portraits. Cindy Amrhein, the County Historian, revealed that the five oil paintings had been stored at the Historian's office for the last twenty years. It was her goal to have all five portraits conserved and Judge Mohun was determined to help.
With the assistane of the Office of Court Administration, Eighth Judicial District, the finding necessary to restore the portraits, was secured. After a four-year process, all five of the paintings have been cleaned and repaired by Eileen Sullivan of Aurora Art Conservation.
Under the direction of the Eighth Judicial District Administrative Office, Administrative Judge, Hon. Kevin M. Carter, and District Executive, Tasha E. Moore, Esq., the project has been completed. The portraits now hang in the Conable Courtroom of the Wyoming County Courthouse.
Amrhein felt the untold story of who the artists were, was equally as important as the judges themselves and set out to find out who they were. Three of the portraits were painted by local artist, Carlos Stebbins of Pike, at the turn of the last century and were not among his known paintings. The fourth portrait is an undocumented work of Raphael Beck, a well-known Buffalo artist. The fifth is by a female artist, Jennie Loop, painted in an era when women were not taken seriously in the field of art, and is not listed in her known works.
An unveiling of the portraits will be held on November 21, 2023, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Wyoming County Court House, 147 N. Main St., Warsaw, NY. Free to the public. Light refreshments will be served, courtesy of the Wyoming County Bar Association.
CARLOS L. STEBBINS
Artist, 1824-1914
Carlos Leonardo Stebbins was born and educated in Pike, NY. In his regular occupations he was a surveyor and a banker for the firm of Blodgett & Stebbins. Although Carlos is primarily known for his portrait work, his talents extended to that of a district school teacher, mechanic, art teacher and inventor.
Portraits by Carlos Stebbins
Hon. Andrew J. Lorish—b. Nov. 8, 1832, d. Aug. 11, 1897. Term: Jan. 1, 1890 to Aug. 11, 1897. In May of 1859 he passed the Bar exam. Despite being exempt from service, he enlisted for duty in the Civil War on August 5, 1862. He mustered in as a private in the 130th New York Volunteer Regiment, later known as the 1st New York Dragoons, a cavalry regiment. During its service, the 1st New York Dragoons fought in 64 battles, and he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. He resumed his law practice upon his discharge and served as Attica Postmaster until 1887, when he was elected as Wyoming County Court Judge and Surrogate. Portrait painted, 1899.
Hon. Byron Healy—b. Jan. 10, 1830, d. Feb. 19, 1911. Term: Jan. 1, 1868 to Jan. 1, 1890. Admitted to the Bar in 1851. Throughout his career he served as a lawyer, Assemblyman, District Attorney, and elected as Wyoming County Judge and Surrogate in 1867. Portrait painted, 1891.
Hon. Marvin Trall—b. 1811, d. Dec. 1888. Term: Jan. 1, 1852 to Jan. 1, 1856. Admitted to the Bar in 1835. His career included Supreme Court Judge in Cattaraugus County, Town Clerk in Centerville, Master of Chancery in Allegany County, and elected Wyoming County Judge and Surrogate in 1851. After his retirement in 1856, he practiced law until his death. Portrait painted, 1904.
JENNETTE SHEPARD HARRISON LOOP
Artist, 1840-1909
Born to a prominent Connecticut family, she moved to New York City where she opened her own studio. She honed her skills under Henry Augustus Loop whom she eventually married. Traveling back and forth between Europe and New York her work became well known, and as one critic said, “it would be difficult to find her equal, even among the men…” The portrait of Judge Skinner was commissioned by his wife in 1872, and presented as a gift to the Wyoming County Court. It is signed inversely, “Jennie S. Loop.”
Portrait by Jennie S. Loop
Hon. John B. Skinner—b. Jul. 23, 1799, d. Jun. 6, 1871. Term: Jun. 8, 1846 to Jun. 21, 1847. Judge Skinner’s career spans from Warsaw to Buffalo, NY. He entered collage at 15 and studied law. He was admitted to the New York State Supreme Court at the young age of 22. He eventually settled in Middlebury where he opened a law firm. His life reveals his commitment to the public having served three years in the New York State Assembly, a Circuit Judge and Vice Chancellor, and appointed District Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Wyoming County. He later went on to serve as a US Attorney for the Northern District of New York. A philanthropist, he donated his time and funds to the State School for the Blind, both the Middlebury and Geneseo Academies, and the Board of Buffalo General Hospital.
RAPHAEL BECK
Artist, 1858- 1947
Raphael Beck was a well-known Western New York artist, maintaining studios in both Buffalo and Lockport. He worked in many mediums including oil, watercolor, stained glass, etchings and life masks of famous people. He was a painter, illustrator, sculptor—an artist in the true sense. He is responsible for designing logos that were recognized symbols of the day including the 1901 Pan American Exposition. He is credited with the last known likeness of President McKinley before he was shot. The same year he painted this portrait of Judge Norton he painted a mural of the opening of the Erie Canal which hangs in the Erie Canal Discovery Center in Lockport.
Hon. James E. Norton—b. Apr. 4, 1867, d. Sep. 5, 1950. Term: Jan. 1, 1899 to Jan 1, 1905, reelected 1910, 1916, 1922 and retired in 1937 at the mandated age of 70. Admitted to the Bar in June of 1890, he became Justice of the Peace in Attica in 1896 and was elected Wyoming County Judge two years later. After his retirement, he accepted an appointment as referee for the Appellate Division to “keep busy,” a position he held until he resigned in 1939.
For more information contact Cindy Amrhein, Wyoming County Historian.
