USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > An historical catalogue of the St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia, with biographical sketches of deceased members > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
Mr. Pitcairn was a Mason of high degree, and was past grand commander of the Order of Knights Templar. He married Miss Elizabeth E. Rigg, of Altoona, who survived him.
Mr. Pitcairn was director of the Chamber of Commerce, vice-president of the Fidelity Title and Trust Company, vice- president of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company, of which he was one of the original subscribers, and director of many of the leading financial institutions of Pittsburgh, as well as trustee of the American Surety Company, of New York, and a trustee of the Carnegie Library and Institute.
The position held by him in which he took the deepest interest was purely an honorary one. This was the presi- dency of the Sinking Fund Commission. This commission
127
Biographies of Deceased Members
was created in 1901 under the new city charter, and Mr. Pitcairn was appointed a member and elected president that year.
ADAM RAMAGE, member 1813, Assistant 1815-30, and Treasurer from 1831 until he died, July 9, 1850. Mr. Ramage is shown by the Minutes to have been one of the most active and attentive members of The St. Andrew's Society for a period covering thirty-seven years.
He was a manufacturer of printing-presses, copper plate, book-binding machines, and printing-house furniture of all kinds. As early as 1804 he was located, in Carter's Alley, Philadelphia.
In 1817 he imported from Scotland a " Ruthven " press and here manufactured a number of them, and a year later patented the " Ramage " press, an improvement on the " Ruthven."
The North American and U. S. Gazette, in an editorial notice of his death, said :
We learn with sincere regret that Adam Ramage, Esq., a worthy citizen and one of the oldest connected with the business of press- making in this city, died yesterday at his residence in Lombard Street. He was a man of many excellent qualities, possessed of much intelligence in his profession, and was the inventor of several useful and ingenious improvements on the machinery of the press. In his death we lose an honest man and a valuable citizen.
A special meeting of The St. Andrew's Society was held July 13, 1850, to take action on the death of Mr. Ramage.
The resolutions presented by Dr. John K. Mitchell were unanimously adopted.
Resolved, That, by the death of our most estimable member and Treasurer, The St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia has sustained a loss deeply to be deplored, both by the Society of which he was a bright ornament and most faithful officer and by the Scottish emigrants of whom he was the true friend and an able assistant.
Resolved, That in the faithful, liberal, economical and assiduous discharge of his multifarious duties as an officer of the Society, Mr.
I28
ISAAC LAYTON REGISTER Life member 1881 Died September 29, 1913
Biographies of Deceased Members
Ramage has set an example worthy of all approbation and impressed upon its members the highest esteem for his virtues and the deepest sorrow for his departure.
Resolved, That, in the opinion of The St. Andrew's Society, Mr. Ramage, so useful within the limits of his official duty, did not circum- scribe his benevolence to that alone, but set a fine example of the virtues of both private and public life. As a husband and father he adored and delighted his domestic circle ; as a friend he was earnest and disinterested ; as a citizen public-spirited and liberal, and as an artist ingenious and successful.
Resolved, That there be a committee to express, to the family of our deceased friend and fellow-member, our sorrow for his loss and our kindest sympathies in their irremediable bereavement, as well as our entire approbation of his long and unwearied services.
Dr. J. K. Mitchell, William Primrose, George Young, and John Rea were named as such committee.
COLONEL JAMES REESIDE, member 1831. Colonel Ree- side died in Philadelphia, on Saturday, September 3, 1842, in the 52d year of his age.
The following editorial notice appeared in the United States Gazette, September 5, 1842:
We understand that James Reeside, Esq., died on Saturday, at his residence in the north part of the city. Mr. Reeside has been for some time in failing health, and yielded at length not so much to active disease, as to increased debility. Few men were more extensively known through the middle, western and southern States than Mr. R. For many years he was a contractor for carrying the mail on several important routes and was remarkable for the energy of his character and the success of his plans. Mr. Reeside was a sufferer by the arbitrary decisions of a former Postmaster General and had recently received judgment against him (officially) for a very large amount due from the Department. We hope that justice will be done the family which was so long denied to its head.
ISAAC LAYTON REGISTER, Life member 1881. Mr. Register was born in New Castle, Delaware, April 3, 1842. and died at his home, Ardmore, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1913.
After obtaining an elementary education in the district
I29
Biographies of Deceased Members
schools, Mr. Register, at the age of nineteen, located in Philadelphia and there entered the employ of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York as a clerk.
Two years later he became connected with the Equitable Life Assurance Company, and was rapidly promoted. When he died he was the oldest general agent and financial director of that company, his connection with it covering fifty years.
While Mr. Register's labors were devoted naturally to the interests of his own company, and in that he achieved success, he was also deeply interested in advancing the general interests of life insurance, and was one of the main factors in The National Association of Life Insurance Agents, of which he was President, and of the Philadelphia Association. He attended all their meetings and shared in the convention and committee work. He was of a genial personality and a pleasing and graceful speaker, and was always sure of an attentive audience.
Mr. Register was a member and an ex-President of the Sons of Delaware, a member of the Union League, Phila- delphia, Pa., a Past Master of Lodge No. 51 F. & A. M., Past Grand Commander, Cyrene Commandery Knights Templar of Camden, New Jersey, and a thirty-second degree Mason.
He is survived by a widow, who was Miss Emma Vol- mer, three sons, and a daughter, the wife of Matthew Baird, Jr.
The funeral services were held in the Second Presby- terian Church of which he had been many years an elder.
JOHN CONYNGHAM RICHARDSON, member 1809. Born in Scotland about 1788, and died in Mobile, Alabama, Sep- tember 2, 1820, while on his way from Philadelphia to New Orleans on a business trip. His death was reported in the Advertiser, October 10, 1820.
He was a merchant, and married, in Old St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia, January 5, 1811, Ann Nisbet, daugh-
130
CRAIG DORSEY RITCHIE, ESQ. Member 1859 President 1888-1889 Died December 10, 1910
Biographies of Deceased Members
ter of Hugh and Ann (Ferguson) Nisbet, both born in Scot- land. Mrs. Richardson was a sister of both Michael and John Nisbet (members 18II).
Mr. Richardson had three sons, John N., James E., and William C., and one daughter.
James Ebenezer Richardson (grandfather of our fellow member William Henry Hansell) was born in Philadelphia, May 10, 1816, and died June 30, 1850. He married Harriet Maclay, daughter of Reverend Archibald Maclay, D.D., who was for thirty years pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church in New York.
William C. Richardson married Catherine, daughter of George L. Oliver, who bequeathed a large sum, estimated between $400,000 and $500,000, to the Merchants' Fund of Philadelphia for the relief of widows and needy merchants.
CRAIG DORSEY RITCHIE, EsQ., Life member 1859.
Mr. Ritchie was born in Philadelphia, April 26, 1830, and died at his home in West Philadelphia, December 10, 1910.
His father, William Ritchie, was an old resident of Washington County, Pennsylvania, but came to this city before his son Craig was born. This son was named after his grandfather Craig Ritchie, of Glasgow, Scotland, and was educated in private schools in Philadelphia. He studied law, but followed the profession of a conveyancer and was a recognized expert on real estate and repeatedly appeared as such before the courts in important cases.
On December 1, 1864, he married Miss Charlotte Wieg- and, who survived him.
He was one of the incorporators of the Real Estate Title Insurance and Trust Company and was president of that company for some years, later serving as its vice-president.
He was president of the board of trustees, Arch Street Presbyterian Church, 1878-1905. He was a member of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution. He retired from active business several years before his death, on account of advancing years.
I3I
Biographies of Deceased Members
Mr. Ritchie's services to The St. Andrew's Society were invaluable. He was elected Secretary November 30, 1864, and at once proceeded to place the available books and records in proper order, many being missing, and he pre- pared the Catalogues of the Society for 1890 and 1896. He served on important committees and took pleasure in for- warding the interests of the Society in every manner possible.
In his will he bequeathed the sum of two thousand dollars to The St. Andrew's Society for general purposes. His valuable library was donated to the University of Pennsylvania.
It is due to his memory that the following resolutions, prepared by his close friend of long standing, Rev. Dr. Walter Q. Scott, be given in full.
Whereas, The St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia, in the provi- dence of God, has been bereaved of our brother Craig Dorsey Ritchie, who for more than half a century was an honored member of our organization :
Resolved, That we place upon record this testimonial in memory of a beloved friend and brother. He became a member of our Society in 1859. He served as Secretary from 1864 to 1885, as Vice-president in 1886-1887, and as President in 1888-1889. He was a Life member. His fidelity and loyalty, his efficiency in service and general companion- ship, his generosity and hospitality, his wisdom in counsel and constancy in friendship, we cherish in affectionate remembrance. His fourscore years reveal the strength of a brave, patient spirit who transformed infirmity into power and made his life a noble example. His industry and integrity achieved success, and his public spirit contributed his sound judgment and loyal service to the welfare of his fellow-citizens. His civic pride defended the honor and promoted the progress of Philadelphia. His patriotism was as active in peace as it was energetic in the Civil War. His Christian spirit pervaded his domestic life, made him a pillar of strength in his church, and extended through his citizen- ship into his philanthropy. His highly disciplined intellect, his love of literature and of art, his wise appreciation of the value of historic associations, united with his human sympathies to make his public service efficient and his companionship attractive. He made his home a shrine of fellowship to friends, and his left hand knew not what his right hand gave to the needy. The St Andrew's Society was dear to his heart, and his example will abide in our memory.
I32
CHARLES EDWARD RONALDSON Member 1869 Secretary 1911-1912 Died February 20, 1912
Biographies of Deceased Members
Resolved, That we extend to his bereaved family our deep sympathy in their sorrow.
Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to send a copy of these resolutions to Mrs. Ritchie.
(Signed) S. WEIR MITCHELL, M.D.,
President.
Attest : FREDERICK S. GIGER,
Secretary.
CHARLES EDWARD RONALDSON, member 1869, Secretary 1911-1912. Born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1846; died, February 20, 1912, at his home in Philadelphia.
He was the son of Archibald Ronaldson and Ellen Jemima Ogilvie. His mother was a granddaughter of the Rev. Andrew Ogilvie, of Linton, Roxburghshire, Scot- land. His father, born in Scotland, came to Pennsylvania, about 1835, and settled in Pottsville, where he followed civil and mining engineering.
A sketch of his great-uncle, James Ronaldson, type- founder, will be found in volume I, page 305, " Historical Catalogue of The St. Andrew's Society."
He entered the Episcopal Academy, Philadelphia, Sep- tember 2, 1861, and graduated June 30, 1864, after which he entered the University of Pennsylvania and left at the close of the Sophomore year. In 1866-1867 he studied at the Philadelphia Polytechnic College. For the purpose of taking a mechanical engineering course, he entered the Le- high University, where he graduated, with honor, with the degree of Mechanical Engineer. The University of Penn- sylvania conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1908, as of the Class of 1868, thus "restoring " him to her old Pennsylvania Class.
A few years before his death he organized a committee of his class for the purpose of planting a "'68 " Memorial Tree, the white oak in the campus in front of College Hall being the result of the labors of the committee.
As a mechanical engineer, among other engagements, he was connected with the Lehigh Valley Railroad, at
I33
Biographies of Deceased Members
Delano, Pennsylvania; with the United States agency for Siemens's patent metallurgical gas furnaces. For several years he was assistant to Major Hibbard, of the United States Army, in completing the United States Immigration Depot at Ellis Island, New York Harbor; also the New York representative, for many years, of the George V. Cresson shafting works at Philadelphia.
He was a member of St. James Protestant Episcopal Church, Philadelphia; a trustee of Lehigh University; a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers ; a member of the Board of Managers of the Franklin Institute ; for almost 40 years a member of Lodge No. 51, F.and A. M., Pennsylvania, and one of its stewards at the time of his death ; an honorary member of the Lehigh Alumni Associa- tion; at the University of Pennsylvania a member of the Philomathean Society and the Zeta Psi Fraternity; at one time president of the Zeta Psi Club of New York; treasurer of the John Bartram Memorial Association.
At a stated meeting of The St. Andrew's Society the following was adopted by a rising vote :
Charles Edward Ronaldson, who became a member of The St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia in 1869, and who became its Secretary in 1911, departed this life February 20, 1912. It is therefore eminently fitting and proper for us to place upon our records a minute testifying to our great regard for him as member and associate, as well as an officer. His intercourse was uniformly distinguished by that quiet re- finement and retiring gentleness which was the legitimate product and outgrowth of a long line of capable and cultured ancestors ; his scholarly attainments and ripe thought made his opinion sought for and valued ; his loving and lovable social habits made his company entertaining and instructive. He was absorbingly interested in our Society as a whole, as well as in its individual members, and was never happier than when engaged in its service or contributing to their happiness and comfort. He brought to the performance of his duties as Secretary the same ear- nestness, singular ability, good judgment, exhaustive painstaking and scrupulous attention to detail which challenged and received the admira- tion of all. We shall miss him here and elsewhere, where we were wont to meet and greet him, and remember him as one who was everything that a man should be and nothing he should not be.
I34
ALEXANDER WILSON RUSSELL Member 1895 Rear Admiral U. S. Navy Died November 26, 1908
Biographies of Deceased Members
Funeral services were held at St. Mary's Protestant Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, February 23. The church was filled by his friends, among whom were the officers and members of The St. Andrew's Society, members of col- lege fraternities, together with a large number of the breth- ren of Lodge No. 51, F. and A. M., Pennsylvania. He was interred in Woodlands Cemetery, Philadelphia. After church services at the grave a Masonic burial service fol- lowed.
ALEXANDER WILSON RUSSELL, Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy, member 1895. Born at Frederick City, Maryland, February 4, 1824; died at his home in Philadelphia, No- vember 26, 1908.
He was the son of Robert Greer Russell and Susan Wood Worthington, the former born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and the latter in Montgomery County, Maryland.
He was a grandson of Lieutenant Alexander Russell, of the Pennsylvania line, Revolutionary War, and a great- grandson of Colonel Robert McPherson, who served under General John Forbes in 1758 in the campaign to Western Pennsylvania against the French and Indians.
Young Russell first attended school in Gettysburg, later the Frederick City, Md., Academy, and in 1838 entered a law office in Frederick City. Four years later he entered the service of the United States as captain's clerk, U. S. Navy, in which service he was to have a long, varied, and remarkably interesting career.
His position carried him to the coast of Africa under Commodore M. C. Perry. After this he served in Company " C," Mounted Rifle Regiment, in the war with Mexico, and from 1858 to 1861 was clerk to the committee on Naval Affairs, United States Senate. He was nominated a pay- master in the navy, and confirmed by the U. S. Senate Feb- ruary 28, 1861 ; was assigned to U. S. ships Pocahontas and Savannah on the North and South Atlantic Blockade in 1861; to the frigate Colorado at the capture of the forts on
I35
Biographies of Deceased Members
the Mississippi River and of New Orleans; to the South Atlantic Squadron 1863-64. He was especially thanked by Admiral Rowan, in his official despatches, “for great zeal and ability in the command of powder and shell divi- sion; " was attached to receiving ship North Carolina, New York, 1864-5; to the Chattanooga, special service, 1866; to the steam sloop Sacramento, 1866-7, until wrecked in the Bay of Bengal, coast of India; to navy yard, Washington, 1868-70; navy pay office, Philadelphia, 1870-73; promoted to inspector March 3, 1871, and to director February 23, 1877; was at the navy yard, Philadelphia, 1873-74; navy pay office, 1874-1877 ; navy pay office, Baltimore, 1877-82, and that in Philadelphia, 1882-86.
He was retired under age limitation February 14, 1886, and on June 29, 1906, was advanced to the rank of rear- admiral for service during the Civil War.
One incident of his career in his early service occurred when the Sacramento was wrecked in the Bay of Bengal, coast of India. Two rafts were constructed, as life-boats could not be used in the heavy sea, and on one of these Paymaster Russell was ordered to go to procure relief. He had secured his most important books and papers carefully packed in tarpaulin bags, and he then voluntarily provided each of the officers and leading men of the crew with a lib- eral amount of money, that they might have funds in the event of their being separated after escaping from the wreck. By strenuous efforts and after much suffering he reached the British officials, obtained their assistance, and, returning to the wreck, brought out the safe containing some $30,000. The accounts were settled later without the loss of a dollar to either the paymaster or the government.
Admiral Russell was an ex-vice-commander and ex- treasurer of the Pennsylvania Commandery, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States; commander of Pennsylvania Commandery Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States ; a member of the Pennsylvania Society,
I36
Biographies of Deceased Members
Sons of the Revolution; member of the Society of Colonial Wars of Pennsylvania; president of the Pennsylvania Colo- nization Society, and a member of the Union League of Philadelphia.
He was a member of the Walnut Street Presbyterian Church, and was buried in the historic " Woodlands," once the home of the family of Andrew Hamilton.
Admiral Russell was a most genial and lovable man, full of sympathy for those in distress, and always ready to " lend a helping hand " to those who needed it. He was constantly doing kindly acts for others, and was never as happy as when he was thus occupied.
CAPTAIN JOHN AGNEW SCOT, member 1902. Born in Philadelphia, May 28, 1835; died at Atlantic City, N. J., November 25, 1908.
Captain Scot was educated in the public schools of Phila- delphia, and later graduated from the Philadelphia Poly- technic College.
He entered the naval service of the United States as third assistant engineer, October 3, 1861, passing through all the grades of the service until retired as chief engineer U. S. Navy, June 29, 1906, with the rank of captain.
He participated in the engagements at Forts Jackson and St. Philip on the Mississippi, the capture of New Orleans, the passage of the boats in front of Vicksburg, the capture and subsequent loss of Galveston, capture of Mobile Bay, and other important naval movements.
After the war he was assigned to important duties, in- cluding service on the Pacific coast, the Atlantic and Asiatic stations, and during the years 1894-1897 he was a member of the Naval Engineers' Retiring Board.
His service throughout, covering thirty-six years, was marked by a deep sense of fidelity to duty.
Captain Scot was descended from an old Scotch family. His grandfather, Robert Scot (member 1786), was ap-
137
Biographies of Deceased Members
pointed by President Washington as the first engraver of the United States Mint. The plate for the diploma of membership still in use by The St. Andrew's Society was engraved by him.
Captain Scot married, April 15, 1903, Miss Sara Dickin- son Shapley, of Germantown, Philadelphia.
He was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, of Post No. 2, Grand Army of the Republic, and a Master Mason of Lodge No. 121, F. and A. M.
CAPTAIN WALTER SIMS, member 1790. On charter of 1808. Captain Sims married a daughter of Captain John Green, of the Roberts farm, near Newportville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the first captain to carry the flag of the United States into China.
In 1798 Captain Sims purchased an estate covering 361 acres where the Bristol (Pa.) College now stands, for which he paid 10,706 pounds.
Later he removed to a plantation near Nashville, Ten- nessee, where he died, as noticed in Poulson's Advertiser of February 4, 1820, on the 8th of January in that year.
CAPTAIN STEPHEN C. SINGLETON, member 1817. Died at New York on Friday (September 16, 1825), Stephen C. Singleton of Philadelphia, in the 44th year of his age. He was an expert and distinguished navigator and in private life known for the ardor of his friendship and the unbounded generosity of his disposition.
[Poulson's Advertiser, September 19, 1825.]
DOCTOR WHARTON SINKLER, member 1886, Physician of the Society 1906, until he died. He was born in Phila- delphia, August 7, 1845. His father was Charles Sinkler, of Belvidere Plantation, St. John's Parish, South Carolina. His mother, Emily Sinkler, was a daughter of the late Thomas I. Wharton, of Philadelphia. Although born in
138
WHARTON SINKLER, M.D. Member 1886 Physician 1906-1910 Died March 16, 1910
Biographies of Deceased Members
Philadelphia, Dr. Sinkler came of a family which had resided in South Carolina for several generations. His home during his youth was with his father at Belvidere Plantation in South Carolina, and he considered himself as belonging to that State. His early education was received at the prepara- tory school of Kenyon College, at which latter institution his uncle, Dr. Francis Wharton, the distinguished jurist, was at the time professor of literature. Afterward he went to a school at Aiken, South Carolina, and then entered South Carolina College at Charleston. At the end of his freshman year the college closed on account of the outbreak of the Civil War, and in November, 1863, he entered the Charleston Light Dragoons, a troop of cavalry somewhat like the Phila- delphia City Troop, which had then been in existence for many years and still exists. He served with this troop for about a year, it being stationed near Charleston during that time and engaged in the defence of that city.
After the lapse of a year the Charleston Light Dragoons were ordered to active service in Virginia, but only the regu- lar number of the troop were allowed to accompany it, and preference was given to those who had served longest with it. Dr. Sinkler, being a comparatively recent member, was not selected, and he with about fifty others, members of the Light Dragoons, entered Company B of the Second South Carolina Cavalry in the autumn of 1864. The regiment remained about Charleston for a short time, and in Novem- ber, 1864. were ordered to the front. They were engaged in Virginia and North Carolina until the close of the war, being in active service and undergoing great privations and suffering. Dr. Sinkler's parole, dated May 26, 1865, was given by order of Brigadier-General John P. Hatch, pursuant to the agreement of peace entered into between General Joseph R. Johnston and General Sherman.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.