USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 37
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Mr. Jury was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Ida Shupe, a woman of many virtues, who is a daughter of John K. Shupe of Millersburg. This happy union has been blessed by the birth of one daughter, Olive A., who was born in Norristown, Pa., April 30, 1889. Socially Mr. Jury is a member of Van Camp Lodge, No. 140, I. O. O. F. His portrait is presented on a previous page in proximity to this.
OHN McELIECE settled in Shamokin, Coal township, in 1885, and was wel- comed as a valuable acquisition to the borough. He is a man of great personal magnetism and his influence and energy is felt in all public gatherings, where he is re- garded as an enterprising gentleman, well qualified to fill any position with honor and credit to himself and his employers. Thus we introduce to our readers the able and efficient superintendent of the Edison Electric Illumi- nating Company and also of the Shamokin Arc Light Company of Shamokin.
John McEliece was born in Dauphin Coun- ty, Pa., September 16, 1842, and is a son of George and Mary (Woodside) McEliece, and a grandson of John McEliece of Ireland. His maternal grandfather, Jonathan Woodside, was born at the old homestead in Dauphin County, where he led the active life of the early pioneers and was a very successful and progressive farmer, besides being of great val- ue to his country. He served throughout the War of 1812, and was a participant in the last great battle at New Orleans, where many lives were needlessly sacrificed. Just fifteen days after the making of the treaty at Ghent, De- cember 24, 1814, and before the news had reached this country that a treaty of peace had been concluded, Gens. Packenham and Gibbs made a desperate attack on New Or- leans, on January 8, 1815. But we had a Jackson at New Orleans, as previously we had a Washington at Yorktown, and later had a Scott at Mexico, a Grant at Richmond and a Dewey at Manila. With this signal victory at New Orleans, Jackson's name goes on the pages of history as one of the American he- roes and "fighting" generals.
George McEliece, father of our subject, was born in Ireland, February 22, 1819, and im- migrated to this country when nineteen years
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old, locating in Lykens Valley at the time the Lykens Valley R. R. was being constructed. Later in life he removed to Shamokin, where he soon became a citizen of much prominence. He endorsed the principles of Democracy and took a very active interest in politics. He was elected treasurer of Northumber- land County, which fact is sufficient proof of the esteem in which he was held by the people of his county. He served as county treasurer for two years, 1869 and 1870, faithfully dis- charging the duties incumbent on him. Sha- mokin Lodge, F. & A. M., honors him as one of its charter members. He was united in marriage with Mary Woodside, who bore him seven children, who were named as follows: Elizabeth; John, our subject; Mary, who be- came the wife of Anthony J. Gallagher of Wilkesbarre, Pa., both now deceased; Annie, wife of James J. Rigney, of Shamokin; Jane, who is the wife of John O'Keefe, a large ranch owner at Seattle, Washington; Isabella, wid- ow of Bryan Jennings, deceased; and Mag- gie, who died unmarried.
John McEliece, the subject of this sketch, received a practical education in the public schools of Shamokin and was among the first to enlist in the Union Army. In 1861, when but eighteen years old, he enlisted in Com- pany K, 46th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., and served in the Army of the Potomac and in the Army of the West a little over two years. He par- ticipated in the battle of Winchester, fought May 26, 1862, in which the Union Army was victorious; he was twice wounded in the bat- tle of Cedar Mountain, Va., where an engage- ment took place August 9, 1862, which re- sulted in heavy Union losses, our subject be- ing one of 400 taken prisoners by the Rebels. He was placed in a Confederate hospital at Staunton, Va., for about one month, after which he was taken to Libby Prison. He was
confined there and at Belle Island for about two months, when he was enabled to rejoin his regiment. He enlisted as a private, but received his discharge as a sergeant.
Returning from the war, Mr. McEliece en- gaged as brakeman on the Shamokin division of the Northern Central R. R. He received rapid promotion, first to fireman, then to en- gineer, all before the end of his first year of service. At the end of one and a half years' service on this road he resigned his position and accepted the very important and lucrative one, that of superintendent of Locust Gap Colliery, which position he retained for many years. Aside from the duties of superintend- ent, which he performed with regularity and exactness, he looked after many other inter- ests, and was justice of the peace for fifteen years.
There seemed to be a charm about military life that won favor with Mr. McEliece. He organized a military company in July, 1869. which was known as the "Washington Rifles" and was commissioned their captain, and served in that capacity for six years. This company was afterward merged into the State National Guard as Company A. 7th Regi- ment. His duties connected with the colliery compelled him to sever his connection with the company after he had completed its or- ganization. He remained in Locust Gap un- til 1885, at which time he accepted his present important position in Shamokin.
Our subject sought and won Ann Ellen Lukens, a daughter of Michael Lukens of Philadelphia, and she became his bride in Au- gust, 1866. Their family numbers seven chil- dren, viz: George W., a machinist by trade, who enlisted in Light Battery F., of the 5th U. S. Artillery and served five years, seeing active service during the Cuban War .- on October 6, 1898, he was detached and is now
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serving as clerk at the headquarters of Gen. Leonard Wood, whose war record needs no introduction to the people of the present day; Fred, a locomotive engineer; Leo, who is a member of Company K, 8th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., and who also saw active service in the Cuban War; Lloyd, a fireman for the electric light company of Shamokin; Isabella; Lillian; and Maggie.
Mr. McEliece is a devout Roman Catholic and a liberal supporter of his church; he is also a valued member of Lincoln Post, No. 140, G. A. R. His friends are unanimous in their opinion, that his success has come from steady purpose and constant industry, and no one covets the position of true worth and es- teem which he has obtained.
J OHN K. HAAS. Prominent among the active citizens of Shamokin was John K. Haas, who recently died, a successful business man, who since 1895 had been proprietor of the Shamokin Marble & Granite Works. Mr. Haas was born in Upper Mahanoy township, Northum- berland County, on the 66th anniver- sary of the independence of our country, July 4, 1842. He had exceptional educa- tional advantages, received his primary edu- cation in the public schools, after which he attended the academies of Freeburg, Allen- town, and Kutztown, also taking a course at Franklin and Marshall College, at Lancaster, Pa. After college life he followed teaching for eight or nine years, teaching in Lehigh. Schuylkill and Northumberland counties. In 1871 Mr. Haas engaged in mercantile busi- ness in Shamokin which he followed unin- terruptedly for a period of twenty-four years. In 1895 he sold out his mercantile interests
and engaged in the marble and granite busi- ness. Our subject was a son of Nathan and Eliza (Knorr) Haas, and a grandson of George and Elizabeth (Miller) Haas.
George Haas was a native of Oley, Pa., but when a young married man removed to Up- per Mahanoy township, Northumberland County, where he followed the occupation of a farmer and was one of the very early set- tlers in that section. After many years of suc- cessful farming he died there and his remains lie in the old churchyard in that vicinity. He was a lifelong Democrat. He was an active member of the Reformed Church. Elizabeth Miller became his wife and among their fam- ily were the following: Nathan, father of our subject; Henry; George; Levi, who died young; Hettie; Elizabeth; Salome; Kath- erine; Lydia; and Caroline.
Nathan Haas, father of our subject, was born in Lehigh County and was brought to Northumberland County by his parents, at the tender age of three years. He received the ordinary education of a farmer's boy and was reared on his father's farm. When grown to manhood he very naturally became a farm- er and followed that calling throughout his life, passing away in 1890. He possessed the same religious and political beliefs as his fath- er. He was united in marriage with Eliza Knorr, a native of Schuylkill County, Pa .. and their family consisted of twelve children : Catherine, now deceased, who was the wife of Samuel Paul; Lydia, also deceased, who was the wife of J. Daniel, and after his death be- came the wife of Nathan Stehle; Isaac, who died at the age of four years; John K., sub- ject of this review; Henry K., a prosperous farmer of Schuylkill County, Pa .; Joel K., a progressive farmer of Northumberland County; Mary, wife of A. A. Smith of Sham- okin; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Dunkelberg-
HON. ANDREW LUCIUS FRITZ.
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er, a farmer of Schuylkill County; Daniel K., a successful hotel-keeper in Snyder County, Pa .; Amelia, wife of George Paul of North- umberland County; Nathan and Milton, both of whom died in early childhood.
On March 31, 1868, John K. Haas was united in marriage with Mary Seiler, a sister of E. G. Seiler of Shamokin, whose sketch al- so appears in this book. Five daughters were born to them: Rosa M., now the wife of A. R. Brubacher, who graduated at Myerstown, Andover and Yale colleges, and is now pro- fessor of Greek and Latin in the seminary of East Hampton, Mass .; Flora Ellen, now re- siding at West Philadelphia, the wife of H. C. Shultz, a telegraph operator for the Pennsyl- vania Company; Sadie E., bookkeeper for the Shamokin cracker factory; Anna, who re- sides in Philadelphia and is engaged in clerk- ing in the great mercantile establishment of John Wanamaker; and Ruth Eveline. Our subject and his family had long been members of the Reformed Church; he had served in the office of elder, deacon and treasurer for many years. He enlisted in the Civil War, August 8, 1862, being a member of Company C, 13Ist Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., and served until February, 1863.
Mr. Haas was a stanch Democrat and served his party as delegate to county con- ventions, as town councilman, and asses- sor for a number of years. Socially he was a member of Eureka Lodge, No. 125, I. O. O. F., and Lincoln Post, No. 140, G. A. R.
ON. ANDREW LUCIUS FRITZ, of Bloomsburg, whose portrait is pre- sented on the opposite page, was born in Sugarloaf township, Columbia Coun- ty, Pennsylvania. His ancestors lived on
Chestnut street, Philadelphia, during the Revolutionary War. They took an active part in the scenes incident to that time. Ilis great-grandfather, Philip Fritz, moved with his son, our subject's grandfather, to northern Columbia County, and purchased a large tract of land. Philip Fritz was the first school teacher and justice of the peace of that part of the county. According to history he was "a great scholar and a local public charac- ter of more than ordinary influence."
Our subject's father, Jesse Fritz, was a far- mer and he purchased and lived upon the "old homestead," where he was a justice of the peace for a number of years. The subject of this sketch worked on the farm in the sum- mer and went to school in winter, for a num- ber of years, and began teaching school at the age of fifteen, following that profession for a period of six years. He went to several institutions of learning and acquired a thor- ough academic education. He has always been a laborious student. He studied law with ex-United States Senator C. R. Bucka- lew, and has been in active practice at Bloomsburg since his admission to the bar. He has a large practice in Columbia and ad- joining counties, and has been called to try cases before the Supreme and Superior Courts of his state. When a student-at-law, he was appointed as deputy by three sheriffs in suc- cession, and had charge of the sheriff's office of Columbia County in the absence of the sheriff until his practice compelled him to give up the position. He has been receiver of taxes, town auditor, solicitor of the Bloomsburg Poor District, and counsel for a number of municipalities, and he was secre- tary of the town council for a number of years until he resigned. Through these positions and by his kind and obliging disposition. he made many friends and became well-ac-
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quainted with the people of his section of the state.
In 1884, Mr. Fritz was elected to the Penn- sylvania House of Representatives, receiving the highest vote on the Democratic ticket. In 1886, he was renominated without oppo- sition and was elected, running ahead of his ticket at the general election. In 1891, he was elected as a member to the proposed con- stitutional convention from the senatorial district composed of the counties of Colum- bia, Montour, Lycoming, and Sullivan. He was again elected a inember of the House of Representatives to the session of 1893, and was renominated without opposition and re- elected in November, 1894, for a fourth term, which had never before been given to a person in this section of the state. Dur- ing his last term, he served on the ways and means, appropriation, and judiciary general committees, an honor given to no other mem- ber of that session, that of serving on the three most important committees of the House. He was a member of the judiciary general committee during his four terms of office. In the session of 1895 he was the Democratic caucus nominee for speaker of the House. In 1896 and also in 1898, he re- ceived the nomination for Congress from Columbia County; but at the congressional conference, composed of four counties, he was defeated for the district nomination on the claim that his county was not then entitled to the nomination.
Mr. Fritz is a good speaker and he carried into public life the same indomitable will, and honesty and industry that has character- ized him in private life. As a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, he has made a reputation that few have equaled. During the session of 1887, on a bill to "equalize tax- ation," Mr. Fritz made a lengthy speech, from
which we quote the following: "Mr. Speak- er, the equalization of taxation between all classes of persons and all classes of property is a subject worthy of the consideration of this House. Session after session of the Legisla- ture, petitions and memorials have been pre- sented from all parts of the state, and per- haps more requests have been made by the people of this Commonwealth for a change in our system of taxation than for any other ob- ject. The farmers and real estate owners in my section of the state are almost unani- mously in favor of some measure that will more equally divide the burdens of taxation. I therefore ask the indulgence of the House for a few minutes on this question. While it will be admitted that it is impossible to make an exact equalization of taxes upon persons and property, no one will deny that there should be a more equal division than our present tax laws give us.
"There is no subject before the Legislature that more directly and deeply interests the people than taxation. It cannot be denied that great inequalities exist. The burden of local taxation for county, school, poor and road purposes falls almost entirely upon real estate. Unequal taxation and other discrim- inations, have greatly depreciated the value of farm land and real estate in general in this Commonwealth. I have heard it said that if we do not exempt certain classes of per- sonal property and certain industries from taxation that they would be driven out of the state-I might say out of existence. But there is another class of taxpayers that these burdens fall heavily upon-more heavily than any other in the state, I mean the farmers and real estate owners. According to the Con- stitution of the state "all taxes shall be uni- form on the same class of subjects." The burdens of taxation should be equalized on
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
all classes of persons and all classes of prop- erty. The high and low, the rich and poor, should be taxed in proportion to the valua- tion of their property.
"The capital of the farmer and real estate owner is taxed four or five times as much as the capital of corporations. This is cer- tainly an unwarrantable and unjust discrimi- nation, oppressive to real estate, and con- trary to the spirit of the Constitution and na- tural equity. It should seem, if any distinc- tion were made, it would be in favor of that form of capital that is most productive- in favor of the hard working, laboring classes of this Commonwealth. But all that we ask is that there should be an equalization, as near as may be, of the burdens imposed on each form of property. The farm lands and real estate in general are suffering to-day from the onerous burdens of taxation, and the cry for its relief comes to us from a class in the community whose appeals should be carefully considered-the owners of homes and the til- lers of the soil. The irregularity is too great against the majority of tax-payers of this Commonwealth-the farmers and laborers- and a change must come sooner or later.
"Those who have made the subject a study are almost unanimous in the opinion that corporate and personal property has not and does not bear a fair share of the burdens of taxation. It is therefore our duty as rep- resentatives of the people of this great Com- monwealth, to give heed to the demand made by the great majority of citizens of this state -the largest class of property owners. They have been knocking at the doors of this Leg- islature, with petitions and memorials ever since the session opened. and they are still waiting to be heard on this question-hoping and expecting that some relief, at least, will be given them. Every unbiased student of our
financial policy will admit that there is an 1111 fair division of our taxes at the present time. This inequality is apparent to all. Now, sir, knowing these facts, is it not our duty as legislators to place upon the statute books some law which will make a more equal divi- sion of these burdens?
"The farm and the workshops should bear their share of the public burden; so should the corporations, the bonds, the stocks and other moneyed capital and personal property of the state. The practical operation of our pres- ent law is that the corporations and personal property pay but a small portion of our taxes, which adds to the burdens on real estate, while the latter is taxed without regard to the actual interest of the owner in it. This presents a proper subject for action, and the suggestion that real and personal property should be placed upon an equal footing, for all purposes of taxation, is worthy of most seri- ous consideration.
"Why, sir, Mr. Speaker, the farmers. the mechanics, the laborers, who own small homes, and all other classes who have the bulk of their money invested in real estate and who constitute more than four-fifths of the citizens of this Commonwealth, are ask- ing us to pass some law in reference to mak- ing a more equal division of these burdens. It cannot be denied that money owners do not pay one-fourth as much in proportion to the amount of property or income as the own- ers of real estate, which, in the present as in the past, bears the heavy burdens of munici- pal taxation. The property of a corporation is no more sacred than a farm or the small home of a laborer. Both are property and are protected by the laws which surround them. Should not each bear its share of the burdens of the state and local taxation in proportion to their value and income? Shall
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we throw aside and refuse to listen to the re- quests of three-fourths of the tax-payers of this state? It is our duty as representatives of the people, in passing laws, to treat all classes alike. The corporations, the farmer, the mechanic, the laborer, and all other classes of citizens should be put on an equal footing. Shall we throw the arms of protection around the corporations and the wealthy moneyed men, who constitute only a small portion of the citizens, and not heed to the wishes of all other classes? It is our duty to pass laws, not for one particular class of men, but in the interests of the whole people. Generally the corporations and other personal property make an annual net return of from five to twenty per cent. The farm and other real estate in Pennsylvania, after deducting insur- ance, taxes, improvements, repairs and hired labor incident to managing the same, does not yield a net return of more than two and one- half per cent, upon the amount invested.
"Now, Mr. Speaker, no one will deny that great inequalities exist and that some change should be made in our system of taxation, so that the burdens upon real estate will be somewhat removed. If the corporations and other personal property are paying at the present time one-fourth or one-fifth as much tax as the real estate, according to the valu- ation of each class of property, there should be no objections to the passage of a law that will make a more equal division. If the real estate is paying four or five dollars tax to every dollar paid by corporations and other personal property, and the valuation of the one class is about equal to the other, is it reasonable to object to a change in the system of taxation? Why, sir, some of our corporations are almost entirely free from taxation, while their net income is from two to ten times as great as the income derived
from real estate. Is it any wonder that real estate has been depreciating in value, and that the owners thereof are pressed down with the burdens of overtaxation and other dis- criminations? Where one class of property is compelled to not only bear its own burdens, but the burdens of all other classes, is it any wonder that there is a great depreciation in value?
"All classes of property should pay, as near as may be, its share of the taxes for all pur- poses of this Commonwealth; or, at least, our present system of taxation should be changed so that there will be, as near as possible, an equal division according to the income or value of the respective properties.
"I am not here to defend any particular class of property or persons, but I wish to treat all alike. When I see and know that there are unreasonable discriminations against certain classes, I feel it my duty to advocate some measure that will have a tendency to- ward removing the objectionable features from our present tax laws."
The following is an extract of a speech de- livered by Mr. Fritz in the House of Repre- sentatives in 1895, on the "Superior Court" Bill:
"Mr. Speaker, this is one of the most im- portant bills which has been before the Legis- lature for consideration during this session. Great changes are proposed in the judicial system of this state, which should be care- fully considered by every member of this House before the final vote is taken. The future rights of this great Commonwealth are at stake. The rights of property are in- volved. In taking this matter into consid- eration various questions arise. Will this change be for the best interests of the people of this state? Has the Supreme Court be- come so overburdened with work that it de-
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
mands relief from the present Legislature? relief is necessary, is this the best method to obtain it? Will the proposed court meet the requirements of the suitors for which it is intended? Will it not be cumbersome, dila- tory, expensive and not satisfactory?
"This bill provides that a court of interme- diate appeals shall be established, to be called the Superior Court, to be composed of judges learned in the law, whose terms of office shall be ten years. This court of appeals shall be a new Supreme Court. A Supreme Court for certain cases where the value of the real or personal property, or the amount of money in controversy, in any single action or claim is not greater than one-thousand dollars. If this bill should pass we would then have two Supreme Courts. Two courts whose deci- sions are intended to be final. The one for the poor suitors of this Commonwealth, which will be much less perfect and inferior to our present Supreme Court. Mr. Woodward, a judge of the Supreme Court of this state, in referring to this question said: 'I do not want to say to the poor man who has a five- hundred dollar law suit that he is not to have just as good a chance of litigation as the rich corporation and the rich millionaires among us. I do not want to include that in the law. It is ungracious. There is nothing in me that does not instinctively rebel against such sug- gestion.' The first question which we should ask ourselves is, are the people demanding a new court? Do they want it? Is it neces- sary that they should have it? Since this bill has been on the calendar I have been inquir- ing as to whether or not it is necessary, and whether it is the proper measure to relieve the Supreme Court, and I have found very few, not even among the judges themselves, who think it is necessary and who favor its passage. It would be expensive and would
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