USA > Pennsylvania > A biographical album of prominent Pennsylvanians, v. 3 > Part 32
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G. D. H.
F. GLTEPUNST.
EDWIN S. STUART.
EDWIN SYDNEY STUART.
A MONG the young business men of Philadelphia whose career is a credit to the annals of that city there are none whose success has been more richly deserved than that of EDWIN S. STUART, bookseller, publisher and progressive man of affairs of a public as well as of a business character. Though gifted liberally by nature he was not favored with the possession of worldly goods, and very early in life found it necessary to rely upon his own energies for support. He was born in Philadelphia, December 28, 1853. He is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His father was Hugh Stuart, an industrious and respected mechanic, who came to this country from the north of Ireland when but a child with his father and mother, who brought with them a large family of children. After serving an indentured apprenticeship in Southwark he became a cabinet-maker, engaging in business for himself in the manufacture and sale of furniture. The boy whose life has been so successful and so marked with honorable achievement was the first son, born to the father by a second marriage. He attended the public schools of the city, and, after passing through the primary and secondary depart- ments of the Seventh Section, he entered the Southwest Grammar School, then located at Nineteenth and Addison streets, in the Seventh Ward, and passed through the various divisions of the same. He had then attained his fourteenth year, and bore the reputation of an attentive and receptive pupil. At that age, with the spirit of independence characteristic of his nature, he determined to enter upon some occupation which would yield a compensation sufficient to enable him to support himself. While deliberating this question he saw by an adver- tisement in the Public Ledger that a boy was wanted at Leary's Old Book Store, then located at the south-east corner of Fifth and Walnut streets. He at once applied for the place, and was engaged at a meagre stipend to perform the chores and do the errands for the establishment. W. A. Leary, Jr., was the proprietor then, although his father, W. A. Leary, Sr., the founder of the house, was con- stantly about and took a deep interest in the prosperity of the business.
No history of Philadelphia would be complete without an account of this noted establishment. It is one of the old landmarks of the city. Half a century ago it modestly nestled among the business houses of Second street, then an important thoroughfare, and was a point of attraction for many learned and dis- tinguished men. The late Hon. Alexander Henry, afterwards Mayor of the city ; Dr. Elisha Kent Kane, the Arctic explorer; Nicholas Biddle, the noted financier; David Paul Brown, the leading criminal lawyer of his day; Professor Samuel W. Gross, the elder; Dr. Joseph Pancoast; Hon. Charles Sumner; Sen- ator Justin S. Morrill, of Vermont; Henry Sharswood, father of the late Chief- Justice Sharswood, of this State; Rev. Mr. Mann, father of William B. Mann, who stood high in the ranks of the Methodist clergy of his day; Jacob Ridge-
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way, the elder; the celebrated actors William E. Burton, William Wood and Edwin Forrest; Watson, the author of Watson's "Annals of Philadelphia;" Judge Conrad, and scores of others of almost equal note, were wont to gather there to pore over the books and discuss the current affairs of their day. A biographical sketch of Edwin S. Stuart would be equally defective without a record of this noted establishment and his connection with it. Though the appearance of the place was anything but attractive to the eyes of boyhood, the associations and surroundings, to one of his nature, were congenial and satisfying. The conversation of distinguished men and communion with popular authors filled up in his mind and heart the place which a less earnest lad would have given to play and idleness.
Young Stuart continued with Mr. Leary until the latter's death, in 1874, though for three years prior to that event the impaired health of the proprietor placed upon the shoulders of the youthful clerk the burdens and cares of the active management of the concern. After the death of Mr. Leary, Mr. Stuart managed the business for two years for the benefit of the estate, and at the expiration of that time, in 1876, he purchased the business from W. A. Leary, Sr., who was the executor, and has since conducted it with a success and pros- perity far beyond his expectations or hopes.
The progress of this extensive establishment, like all other substantial enter- prises, was at first slow and regular, but it has of late years made rapid strides. For a long time the confined quarters at Fifth and Walnut streets had appeared ample for the business, but Mr. Stuart soon removed to his present store, at No. 9 South Ninth street, opposite the post-office, which property he purchased for its accommodation. When the building was first occupied by him it comprised only three floors. A fourth floor has since been added, with a capacious half- story attic, and the entire building lengthened by an addition of twenty-five feet ; and there are now over eleven thousand square feet of flooring in the building, three thousand square feet of shelving, and between two and three hundred thousand volumes in the stock, which embraces every description of literature, though more especially devoted to old, rare and curious books of every descrip- tion. It is the largest establishment of the kind in the United States, and probably equal in every respect to any in the world.
While Mr. Stuart has given but little attention to publishing he issues some few works, the most important of which are Watson's "Annals of Philadelphia " in three volumes. That standard work is an authority on the early history of Philadelphia, and is an exceedingly interesting and valuable publication, which is invariably consulted by the student of the history of the city founded by William Penn.
Some years ago literature and politics seemed to assimilate, and it is not sur- prising that in view of his surroundings Mr. Stuart early imbibed an interest in public affairs. As he advanced in years this inclination began to take practical shape, and in 1880, during the exciting campaign which resulted in the election
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of James A. Garfield to the Presidency, upon the formation of the Young Republicans of Philadelphia, which body contributed so largely towards bringing · about the Republican success of that year, he became prominent among the promoters of that organization, and was elected its Treasurer, Hampton L. Car- son, Esq., being made its president. In 1881 the members of the club were divided upon the question of duty in the State campaign. President Carson and a number of members wanted to support the Independent candidate for State Treasurer, Hon. Charles S. Wolfe, while the majority favored the regular party nominee, General Silas M. Baily. Thereupon Mr. Carson resigned the presi- dency of the body. At the subsequent annual meeting of the club, in January, 1882, Mr. Stuart was elected President over Mr. Carson, whose name was pre- sented and election demanded as a vindication. Mr. Stuart has been elected to the Presidency of the club annually ever since, and the great success and wide- spread influence which the organization has achieved is due, in a great measure, to his executive capacity and deep interest in the work. He was a delegate to the National Conventions of Republican League Clubs held in New York in December, 1887, and at Baltimore in March, 1889, and was elected President of the Pennsylvania State League of Republican Clubs by a unanimous vote of the Convention held at Lancaster in April, 1888. After serving one term in that capacity, during which his organizing ability and political tact aided the work of club labor materially, he was unanimously re-elected for another term at the club convention held at Pittsburgh in September, 1889. Hon. John Dalzell, in placing Mr. Stuart in nomination for the position, spoke as follows:
"I desire to present as a candidate for President a gentleman whose distinguished services in the last year speak more emphatically than can any word of mine as to his fitness for the place. He is a gentle- man whose uniform courtesy and kindness have brought him very near to the hearts of all his associates. A man whose zeal and well-directed enthusiasm towards true Republicanism make it conspicuously proper that he should be the leader of the Young Republicans of Pennsylvania."
Mr. Stuart's political labors have not been confined to his club work. He was an elector on the Blaine ticket in 1884, and received the largest majority of any one on the ticket in this State, which gave him the distinction of having the largest majority cast for any Blaine elector of any State in the Union. He has served frequently as a delegate to the State and city conventions of his party, and was Chairman of the convention which first nominated Charles F. Warwick for City Solicitor. In 1888 he was a delegate from the First Congressional Dis- trict of the State to the National Convention which nominated General Benjamin Harrison for the Presidency, and also served as member-at-large on the State Committee during the campaign which followed, and is still acting in that capacity. He served as a member of the Campaign Committee of the Union League in the Harrison-Cleveland contest, and was appointed by Governor Beaver, who was chief marshal of the inauguration parade, as Chief Marshal of the Pennsylvania Division at the inauguration of Harrison and Morton on March
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4, 1889. Upon that occasion he carried a handsome gold-mounted ebony baton, with an engraved inscription thereon, which was presented to him by the Young Republicans of Philadelphia, and which he highly prizes and treasures as a souvenir.
Mr. Stuart has been too busy a man to have spent much time in official life, and besides that has always been averse to running for office. Notwithstanding this disposition, he has often been brought forward for party compliments. In February, 1886, having been nominated by the Republicans of the Twenty-sixth Ward for Select Council, he was elected by the largest majority ever cast for a councilmanic candidate in the ward. In the spring of 1889 he was unanimously renominated by his party, and on account of his services and efforts in procuring permanent improvements for the ward, in which respect his record was extremely satisfactory, the Democrats also unanimously indorsed his candidacy, and he was elected unanimously by the people of his ward. In the body for which he was thus flatteringly chosen he is recognized as one of the most painstaking, con- scientious and conservative members. Always alert in the interest of the people, he is courageous in asserting their rights and supporting whatever measures promise public advantage.
In 1886, after the adoption of the new charter of Philadelphia, known as the " Bullitt Bill," there was developed on the part of the people a deep interest in the selection of a Mayor equal to the increased responsibilities and enlarged functions of the office. A large proportion of the Republicans turned their attention to Edwin S. Stuart, and, if the determination of the question had been left to the ordinary methods of political disposition, he would have been nomin- ated. In the opinion of a portion of the community there prevailed an idea that only the name of men of wide experience and advanced years should be pre- sented, from which the convention should select a candidate. Committees repre- senting the Union League, a citizens' committee, and certain Republicans who were looked upon as leaders of the party in the city, met in conference several times. After a number of meetings the name of Mr. Edwin H. Fitler was agreed upon as the one to be presented to the Republican Convention. Owing to the fact that the conference was not a representative body of the party at large, there was a strong disposition on the part of a large majority of the Republicans, par- ticularly those representing the younger element, to oppose the selection and favor the nomination of Mr. Stuart, and at a meeting of representatives of the various wards held on December 31st, prior to the assembling of the nominating convention, the following letter written by him was received and read, and was the cause of preventing his name from being placed before the convention :
" PHILADELPHIA, December 30, 1886.
" WILLIAM M. SMITH, EsQ., Chairman of the Committee of Thirty-one :
"My Dear Sir :- At a conference recently held Edwin H. Fitler, Esq., has been suggested as a proper candidate for the Republican nomination for Mayor of the city of Philadelphia, and, believing that the interests of the city are safest in the hands of the Republican party, I am determined that no act of mine
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shall imperil its success. Mr. Fitler is a gentleman of irreproachable character, a staunch Republican, and one who, in my opinion, will give the citizens of Philadelphia an honest, strong and satisfactory administration. I desire that every friend of mine shall co-operate with me by using all honorable means to secure his nomination and election. You will agree with me that to have the government of the city of Philadelphia fall into the hands of the Democrats at this time would be a misfortune to our party. I shall contribute nothing to a state of affairs which would render such an event probable or even possible, and am not willing to do anything that would injure the Republican party, or that will, in the remotest degree, jeopardize its success; but I am willing to subordinate entirely that which I believe to be my private right to that which I trust shall be for the public good.
" While to my friends, who have so strenuously advocated my cause, some other action on my part may have been desired, they will see that my determination is for the interests of the party, and I feel deeply grateful for their unselfish devotion, and take this occasion to express to them my gratitude for their loyal support. " Very truly yours,
" EDWIN S. STUART."
This action of his was commended by all the Republican papers of the city, and we quote the following editorial from the Philadelphia Press as embodying the spirit in which it was regarded :
"The action of Mr. Edwin S. Stuart concerning the nomination for Mayor is precisely what every- body who knows his sterling Republicanism and manly spirit expected. Recognizing the eminent worthiness of Mr. Fitler and the force of circumstances which have brought Republican agreement upon him, Mr. Stuart withdraws his own name and urges his friends to join in Mr. Fitler's nomination.
"The letter in which he gives this counsel breathes the patriotic spirit of the man. It is the utterance of a Republican who is ready to sink personal claims and aspirations for the common good, and who thinks more of his party's success than of his own advancement. Mr. Stuart's active and earnest service for the Republican cause has throughout been in harmony with this impulse. His own words are hon- orable to his manhood, and not less creditable is the loyal tribute of his friends. While acquiescing in his counsel, and cordially accepting the suggestion of Mr. Fitler's name, they testify their unabated devotion to their chief.
" Mr. Stuart comes out of the canvass with honor and with increased strength. As his friends sug- gest, both he and they can well bide their time."
In January, 1888, owing to a change having been determined upon in the chairmanship of the Republican City Committee, those leaders who were favor- able to reorganization settled upon Mr. Stuart as the proper man for the position. This suggestion struck a popular chord, and it was hailed with satisfaction by the great majority of the party at large. Mr. Stuart, however, upon mature deliberation, decided that he could not allow his name to be considered in con- nection with the chairmanship. While he admitted that it was a very honorable position, he felt that he was devoting as large a portion of his time to his duty as a member of Select Council as the demands of his private business would warrant. He informed those who importuned him to accept the place that he thought some one else could be found who would be quite as satisfactory, if not more so, to the various elements of the party, and, while he felt very highly com- plimented by the favorable consideration of his name in that connection, he felt · impelled to positively decline the honor. Notwithstanding this absolute refusal to accept the position, the desire of the party leaders for harmony led them to again urge him to accede to the request. Mayor Fitler, who was particularly 21
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desirous that some one should be selected who was acceptable to all factions, strongly pressed him to forego his determination, and in this was backed by nearly all the other ruling factors in the Republican organization ; but his reso- lution could not be shaken, and although his name was presented at a meeting of a majority of the members of the City Committee, held for the purpose of selecting the candidates for chairman, it was withdrawn upon the assurance of his friends that he would not under any circumstances accept the position. The two members of the committee from Mr. Stuart's own ward, acting in accordance with his wishes, cast their votes for Mr. Allan B. Rorke, who was elected.
Mr. Stuart's parents were members of the Fifteenth Presbyterian Church, for- merly located at Fifteenth and Lombard streets, from its organization, and Edwin S. was baptized there, was a member of the Sabbath-school attached thereto, and, during his youth, regularly attended the services of the church.
Mr. Stuart is unmarried, and lives with his mother and sister. He is a Past- Master of Keystone Lodge, No. 271, A. Y. M., and is the Grand Marshal of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. He is a member of Oriental R. A. Chapter, No. 183, and of Philadelphia Commandery, No. 2, Masonic Knights Templar. He is also a Past officer of Cadwalader Lodge, No. 353, I. O. O. F. Besides his con- nection with the Young Republicans of Philadelphia, already mentioned, he is an active member of the Union League, the Union Republican and other political organizations, as well as of the noted Clover Club and the Hibernia Society.
G. D. H.
1
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1
F, GI TEMUINST
ROBERT H. THOMAS.
ROBERT HORATIO THOMAS.
T HE wealth of a State is largely dependent upon the prosperity of its agricul- tural interests. Those who labor to promote the weal of the farmers, therefore, are contributing to the benefit of the whole people, for out of the ground comes the substance that nourishes and strengthens. Conspicuous among those in this State who have thus advantaged their kind is ROBERT H. THOMAS, of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland county, Secretary of the State Grange of Pennsylvania, Patrons of Husbandry, and editor and proprietor of the Far- mers' Friend and Grange Advocate of that town.
Colonel Thomas was born in the city of Philadelphia, January 28, 1834. His ancestry on his father's side were descended from Welsh-English, and on his mother's side from Scotch-Irish stock. He was educated in the public schools of Lancaster city, where his father, Rev. E. H. Thomas, had pastoral charge of a large congregation. At the age of fourteen years he apprenticed himself to the business of house and sign painting and wall decorating, which he followed during the summer months for some years, teaching school during the winter season. Impaired health finally caused him to relinquish this occupation, and he then turned his attention to mercantile pursuits. In 1851 he made his home in Mechanicsburg, where he has since resided.
In 1860 Colonel Thomas, with the view of better qualifying himself for busi- ness, entered as a student-at-law in the office of William A. Penrose, of Carlisle, and though after two years' reading he was amply qualified to practice the pro- fession, he never made application to the court for admission to the bar. In 1862 he was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fifteenth District of Pennsylvania, which office he filled until 1866. In 1870 he pur- chased the Valley Democrat, a local paper in Mechanicsburg, and changed its name to The Valley Independent. In 1872 he purchased the Cumberland Valley Journal, a competing weekly newspaper, and consolidated the two under the title of The Independent Journal. On January 1, 1874, he began the publica- tion of the Farmers' Friend and Grange Advocate, which is the recognized organ of the Patrons of Husbandry, and is as ably edited and enterprising as it is pros- perous and influential.
In the fall of 1872 the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry came into promi- nence in Pennsylvania. With a strong sympathy for agricultural laborers and a deep interest in the work, Colonel Thomas espoused the cause of this new or- ganization, and advocated it with characteristic zeal and ability in his newspaper. During the following summer he gave his attention to the organization of sub- ordinate granges, and succeeded in establishing a number of them throughout the State. Upon the organization of the State Grange at Reading, in 1873, he was elected Secretary, and has capably filled that position ever since. The du-
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ties of the office are manifold and exacting; but he has performed them with scrupulous care, accuracy and efficiency.
Impressed with the idea that there might be a better understanding between the farmers and the manufacturers of the country, Colonel Thomas, in 1874, originated and organized the Inter-State Picnic Exhibition, at Williams' Grove, Cumberland county, Pa. The original idea was to annually bring together those interested in the plan, with the view of cultivating acquaintanceship and consult- ing in regard to matters of mutual interest, thus combining business with pleas- ure. But it very soon spread beyond the limits originally marked out, and now every year reaches the proportions of a national exhibition, with contributions and delegates from nearly every State in the Union, while lectures, speeches and various methods of diversion and rational amusement are introduced. In fact, it has become a vast agricultural and mechanical institute.
During the civil war Colonel Thomas served on several occasions in differ- ent emergency regiments, and was able to do good service both in the field and in the important work of furnishing supplies to the troops. On June 30, 1863, upon the occasion of the invasion of the State by the Confederates under Gen- eral Lee, Colonel Thomas was appointed a Special Aide-de-camp by Governor Curtin, and was assigned to duty in the department commanded by General Smith, who at that time had headquarters at Fort Washington, near Harrisburg. When the Confederate forces were driven south of the Potomac, Colonel Thomas retired from military duty, and resumed his business pursuits. When danger presented itself he was ready to meet it manfully, but when the shadow passed and it seemed that he might best serve his country by attending to his civic duties, he returned to his work and business.
Colonel Thomas is an enthusiastic Freemason, having connected himself with that fraternity in 1859. In 1863 he became a member of the Grand Lodge, and a year later was appointed an officer of that body, and served for thirteen con- secutive years as District Deputy Grand Master. Having previously served as President of the Pennsylvania Editorial Association, Colonel Thomas was elected its Secretary some years ago. That he has met in this position the ex- pectations of his friends is proved by the fact that he has been unanimously elected annually ever since. He is also an officer of the International Editorial Association. He was the Commissioner from Pennsylvania to the World's In- dustrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, held at New Orleans during 1884 and 1885, and was likewise a Commissioner to the American Exposition held in London in May, 1887. In all the various positions he has been called upon to fill he has retained the full confidence of the general public, and won the esteem and respect of all with whom his official duties have brought him into contact.
In 1884 he was united in marriage to Miss Annetta, daughter of Henry Kim- mell, Esq., and Catharine Shaffer Kimmell, of Mechanicsburg, representing two of the old and prominent families of the Cumberland Valley. Two children, R. H. Thomas, Jr., editor of the Saturday fournal, and Miss Estella Thomas, a prolific and entertaining writer, are the results of this union. G. D. H.
+. GUTEKUNST.
ELIAS Z. WALLOWER.
ELIAS ZOLLINGER WALLOWER.
E LIAS Z. WALLOWER, one of the most active and successful of the young business men of Harrisburg, Pa., was born in that city October 4, 1854. His father, John Wallower, whose ancestors came from Germany and Switzer- land, was a man of enterprise and prominent in the business and politics of the State capital. He was the pioneer shipper or transporter, and the first man to run individual daily freight lines between Harrisburg, Philadelphia and New York, which business he continued to prosecute until it was absorbed by the Pennsylvania Railroad. His wife, the mother of Elias, was a daughter of Elias Zollinger, a highly respected and prominent gentleman, member of one of the oldest families in Central Pennsylvania, who, at the time of his death, held the office of County Commissioner. The son inherited to a great degree the busi- ness qualities which have characterized his father. His preliminary education was obtained in the public schools of his native city, and from the High School he went to Prof. Seiler's Academy. His general information is extensive and accurate, and he intuitively absorbs that which proves of advantage to him. After leaving Prof. Seiler's Academy, young Wallower, preferring a business career to a profession, made application to one of the daily papers of the city for employment as an apprentice, and was finally engaged on the State Fournal, a morning paper published by the late Benjamin Singerly. One year afterwards, the building in which the paper was published was destroyed by fire. Temporary quarters were obtained and towards the close of the following year Mr. Singerly concluded to rebuild, and young Wallower, though only a boy and an apprentice, was placed in charge of the construction of the six-story building, which important commission he discharged with entire satisfaction. When the building was completed he resumed his work in the printing office and passed through the several departments, including the composing room, the job room and other branches, until he was finally promoted to the counting room. Mr. Singerly's idea was to educate him thoroughly in the business and send him to New York to take charge of an office in that city. This plan was frustrated by the death of Mr. Singerly, which occurred just about the time the four years' term of apprenticeship had expired. At the time, the young man considered the 'death of his benefactor and friend a great personal misfortune, inasmuch as his : hopes and ambitions were predicated on the work and advancement which Mr. Singerly had contemplated for him. Deeply as he lamented the event, it did not prove as calamitous to him as he apprehended. In fact it threw him upon his own resources, brought out the latent forces within him and proved the turning point in his career.
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