USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Commemorative biographical encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania : containing sketches of prominent and representative citizens and many of the early Scotch-Irish and German settlers. Pt. 1 > Part 35
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The parents of Francis R. were not able to furnish the means or spare his time to se- cure in the ordinary way even the rudi- ments of an education. Much of his child- hood and youth was devoted to manual labor. At the early age of fifteen he became a teacher, and soon after the instructor of the school at the village where he was born. From that time until 1812 he seems to have been employed as a teacher during the few months of the year the school continued, and the rest of the time as a laborer in the pursuits of agriculture. The intervals of toil were devoted to the improvement of his mind in every useful branch of study. In 1812 he was selected by Andrew Porter, then surveyor general under the administration of Governor Snyder, to fill a elerkship in his department. While thus employed he com- menced and prosecuted the study of the law with Thomas Elder, of Harrisburg. In 1814 he marehed as a private, with many of his fellow-townsmen, to the defense of Baltimore. Soon after he was chosen first assistant, and then the principal clerk of the House of Representatives, and for many years per- formed with great fidelity the arduous duties of that offiee. He was subsequently elected seeretary of the board of canal commis- sioners, and served in that capacity during a period when the condition of our publie improvements called for the most eonstant and strenuous efforts on the part of the com- missioners, and rendered the situation of their secretary anything but a sinecure. In 1838 he was chosen by Governor Porter sec- retary of State. On retiring from that office he removed to Pittsburg, and engaged in the practice of the law. In 1844 he was called from his retirement by the voice of the people of the Commonwealth to fill the highest offiee in their gift. He so conducted his administration as their chief executive that he received from them the highest ex- pression of their confidence and regard by being re-elected with an increased majority, and that, too, against an opposing candidate of the most estimable character, whose ex- alted virtues and worth were acknowledged by all.
But he had scarcely entered upon the duties of his second term before he became the victim of a disease which in its early pro- gress excited apprehensions in the minds of his friends that it might prove fatal. The Governor himself, though conscious that his discase was deep-seated, yet seemed to cherish
with confidence the hope that the vigor of his constitution and the skill of his physician would eventually restore him to health. It was not until the morning of the 9th of July, 1848, when a severe and copious hemor- rhage from the lungs took place, that he gave up entirely the hope of life and felt that his days were indeed numbered. Upon that day, being Sunday. he wrote a letter of resignation-the last publie act of his life.
His professional attainments, especially in the more abstract principles of law, were large, and as a counselor he had few superiors. But he shrunk from the personal collision its practice in the courts involved, and re- tired from the bar to engage in employments and studies more congenial with his taste.
His administration as the chief magistrate of this Commonwealth shows that he was no novice in the great and fundamental princi- ples of government. His state papers indi- cate that he had deeply studied the ques- tions of policy involving the great interests of this Commonwealth and the country at large, that he had looked at their remote as well as immediate consequences, and con- templated their influence on the progress and advancement of the entire community under the fostering care of our free institu- tions as well as their adaptation to the mere accumulation of gain. The opinions which these papers contain commend themselves to our attention, not only for the candor with which they are expressed, but for the reasons by which they are sustained.
Our common school system had a deep hold on the affections of his heart. He knew it had many imperfections, particu- larly as it was carried into operation in some of the rural distriets ; he knew it was not accomplishing all that was desirable, but he believed it would yet work its way into the confidenee of the people, and be itself the . most efficient means of curing many of its defeets. He rejoiced in the good it had effected, and with a generous enthusiasm exulted in the good it would effeet.
We should do signal injustice to the ehar- aeter of Governor Shunk and omit one of the most important elements of his success in life if we did not refer to his moral as well as intellectual culture. He was a sin- cere, honest, upright man, pure in his pri- vate morals, and no less so in his publie character. The political principles and pol- iey avowed in his state papers were sincerely entertained. They were not set forth, as
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some who knew him not and did not agree with him may erroneously suppose, to please the popular taste. He never courted popu- lar favor at the expense of sincerity and truth. The proverbial honesty of Governor Shunk was one principal cause of his popu- larity, both in publicand private life. There were multitudes who did not properly esti- mate his intellectual worth, who did not adopt many of his political views, or did not. belong to his political party, who yet be- lieved him to be an honest, upright man in whom they could confide, and on that ac- , count gave him their support.
- SIMONTON, WILLIAM, son of Dr. William Simonton and his wife Jean Wiggins, was born in 1788, in Hanover township, Dauphin county, Pa., and died May 17, 1846, in Han- over. At the death of his father he was only twelve years of age. His early educa- tion was received under the direction of his mother, and consisted of the branches usu- ally taught in the country schools of that period. As he was inclined to the medical profession, he studied Latin under the tui- tion of the Rev. James R. Sharon, pastor of Derry and Paxtang churches. After the usual preliminary instruction under a pri- vate preceptor, he studied medicine with Dr. Samuel Meyrick, of Middletown, afterwards attending lectures of the Medical Depart- ment, University of Pennsylvania, in Phila- delphia, from which he received the degree of M. D. In the distribution of property re- sulting from his father's death, the farm "Antigua " was equally divided between him and his brother, John W. Simonton. The latter occupied the homestead until his death in 1824, which occurred a few days previous to the death of his mother. After the erec- tion of the necessary buildings in 1818, he took possession of his new home, where the remainder of his life was spent. While his time was devoted to the practice of medicine, the farming operations were carried on under his superintendence. He always took an interest in political affairs, and was accus- tomed to act with the Whigs in opposition to the Democrats, who had retained posses- sion of the National Government from the election of Andrew Jackson in 1824. He was elected county auditor in 1823, serving three years, and in 1838 he was nominated as a candidate for Congress from the district then composed of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon, and was elected by a large ma-
jority. He was re-elected in 1840. During the extra session of Congress, held in the summer of 1841, Dr. Simonton's health gave way. Having been accustomed to an active life and to exercise on horseback, strict attention to publie business, with con- finement to the atmosphere of Washington during the heated terin, so prostrated him physically that he was unable to attend re- gularly upon the sessions of 1842 and 1843. He never fully recovered his health, though he resumed his medical practice, which was continued nearly three years after the close of his congressional career. In person Dr. Simonton was five feet eleven inches in height, of good presence and proportions, with regular features and very black hair, which retained its color to the last. He was a modest, diffident man, bat of a genial and friendly disposition. For some years pre- vious to his death he was an elder of old Derry church, and while in Washington a member of the Congressional prayer-meet- ing. He was a decided Presbyterian in his faith, and ever took a deep interest in the affairs of the denomination to which he be- longed. " He was a strict observer of the Sabbath and of the services of the sanctuary. He maintained family worship, and was careful to give his children a religious train- ing. He acquired a good reputation as a physician, and for many years had an ex- tensive country practice. Dr. Simonton mar- ried Martha Davis Snodgrass, born 1790; died April, 1862; daughter of Rev. James Snodgrass, of Hanover.
- PORTER, GOV. DAVID RITTENHOUSE, the son of Andrew Porter, was born October 31, 17SS, near Norristown, Montgomery county, Pa. He received his early education at an academy in Norristown, where the branches of a good English education, mathematics and the elementary classical studies, were successfully taught. With his brothers George and James, he was here pursuing a course preparatory to entering Princeton College, when the buildings of that institu- tion were destroyed by fire, and the purpose of a collegiate course was abandoned. When the father was appointed surveyor general he took his son David with him to the seat of government as his assistant. While thus employed the son also studied law, with the intention of entering upon its practice at Harrisburg, but the labor and confinement of these double duties were too severe, and
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his health was so much impaired, as was difficult questions which then came up from thought, to preclude the possibility of his the county officers for decision. pursuing any sedentary employment. He decided, therefore, to seek more active occu- pation, and removed to the county of Hunt- ingdon, where he engaged in the manufac- ture of iron.
The Messrs. Dorsey then owned that mag- nificent estate known as the Barree Forges. Mr. Porter was first employed by them for a year as a clerk, and during the following year was made manager of their works. Having thus acquired an acquaintance with the business, he embarked in it on his own account, in partnership with Edward Patton, on Spruce creek, but so great was the depres- sion into which all branches of manufactures fell for some years succeeding the war of 1812 that their enterprise was not successful. He continued, however, through life to take a deep interest in all that related to the business.
He was in 1819 elected a member of the Assembly from IHuntingdon county, and was returned for the following year, having as a colleague John Scott, father of the present senator of the United States.
On retiring from the Legislature he was appointed by the governor prothonotary and clerk of the several courts of Huntingdon county, and to these were afterwards added the offices of recorder of deeds and register of wills. There was then little business in these offices, and the pecuniary returns were mea- ger. He had in 1820 married Josephine, daughter of William McDermott, who had emigrated from Scotland for the purpose of manufacturing steel by a new process and who was one of the pioneers in that art.
In 1836 he was elected a member of the State Senate from the district then composed of the counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juni- ata, Perry and Union. The soundness of his judgment and the readiness of his under- standing made him an acknowledged leader.
In 1838 Mr. Porter was elected governor of Pennsylvania, and in 1841 was re-elected by a majority almost four times as great as that given at his first election. His inaugu- ration as governor occurred on the 15th of January, 1839.
Governor Porter took much interest in the success of the system of common schools then in its infancy, and having appointed Francis R. Shank superintendent, devoted with him much time in resolving the numerous and
Ilis efforts to sustain the credit of the State and to secure the payment of interest on the public debt drew upon him national atten- tion, and were frequently noticed in Europe, where many of the obligations of the State were held. By his recommendation the act of 1840 was passed, requiring the interest on the State debt to be paid in specie or its equivalent. One of his last acts as governor was the suppression of the riots which oceur- red in Philadelphia in 1844, and the courage and decision displayed on his taking com- mand of the military in person were generally commended and long remembered by men of all parties. Both branches of the city coun- cil, then opposed to his administration, hon- ored him with au expression of their thanks, and a resolution unanimously passed by those bodies was presented to him in person, accompanied with an address by the mayor of the city.
Having completed, in 1845, the longest term as governor allowed by the new Consti- tution, he retired from public life and re- turned to his favorite pursuit of making iron. The adaptation of anthracite coal to the manufacture of this metal was then almost unknown, and having given much reflection to the subject and made many practical experiments, he erected at Harrisburg, at a large cost, the first anthracite furnace built in that portion of the State.
He was for many years the friend of the late President Buchanan, and the correspon- dence which they maintained for a long period shows how frequently that statesman consulted him on questions of national in- terest and how greatly he relied upon his judgment.
There was another public man with whom his intimacy was even closer, Gen. Sam. Houston, of Texas, whose career as a military commander, an executive officer, and effective orator is yet fresh in the public recollection.
Mr. Porter returned to his home in llarris- burg and contributed his influence to sustain the government in the fierce conflict which had commenced. Ile scouted the doctrine of secession. To encourage others he should- ered his musket at the age of more than seventy years, and with the young men of the town joined in military drill. He re- joiced greatly over the success of the Union arms.
During the winter of 1867, while attend-
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ing at night a meeting of his church, he con- tracted a severe cold. While others regarded the attack as light, he believed that it would prove fatal and began to prepare for the approaching change. During the succeeding summer he was able to walk out, but in the beginning of August his strength declined. With great composure and even cheerfulness he arranged several matters of business and conversed calmly of his approaching end. On the Gth of August, surrounded by several children and a devoted wife, his hands hav- ing been folded on his breast, he thanked those about him for their kindness and duti- fulness and composed himself as if to fall asleep. As one and another passage of Scripture was repeated he expressed his as- sent, until the pulse became still and the aged heart ceased to beat. He had passed away as gently as a child falls to sleep in its mother's arms. The public business was, at the request of the governor of the Common- wealtlı, generally suspended. Large num- bers of citizens came from every section of the State to pay to his memory the last sad tribute of their respect.
-AYRES, WILLIAM, son of John Ayres and Jane Lytle, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, was born December 14, 1788, at the eastern base of Peter's mountain, Dauphin county, where his grandfather (whose name he bore) had settled in October, 1773. The locality is noted as the commencement of the old road over the mountain. William was endowed with rare native energy and unfailing per- severance, but his opportunities for educa- tional improvement were meager indeed ; he was indeed self-educated. His first venture, apart from the business of his father's farm, was an engagement with James S. Espy, merchant at Harrisburg, in 1816. During his two years' residence there he married Mary Elizabeth, eldest daugliter of Hon. Jacob Bucher, May 6, 1817.
The next year he was induced to return to Peter's mountain, where he kept the hotel at the crossing, assisted in conducting the farm, and became justice of the peace Deceni- ber 13, 1819. He was elected major Second battalion of the Sixteenth regiment, and com- missioned February 22, 1822.
Looking forward, however, to making the law his profession, he removed to Harrisburg in 1824, and resided along the river, just above the town. Here he acted as a justice both for the borough of Harrisburg and for
Lower Paxtang and Susquehanna townships ; while at the same time he pursued his legal studies under Samuel Douglas, Esq., an eminent member of the Dauphin bar.
He was admitted to practice May 3, 1826, and his private docket shows him to have been successful from the start. He had a very large acquaintance in the " Upper End," was able to speak German, and otherwise possessed many qualifications then valued and essential to practice with profit. The celebrated McElhenny murder case, in which he saved his client from the gallows, gave him a marked prominence.
He was also attorney for various officers of the connty, turnpike companies, etc.
He was elected to the Legislature in 1833- 34, and again for the session of 1834-35. During this time he was the coadjutor of Thaddeus Stevens in his great conflict against the powers of darkness and ignorance for the establishment of the common school system of 1834. The friendship of Ayres and Stevens here begun lasted through life.
In 1839 William Ayres was elected to the town council, and the circumstance proved a fortunate one for Harrisburg. He at once brought his great energies to bear on a pro- ject for the introduction of Susquehanna water into the borough. The idea seemed so premature that it was deemed fanciful and impracticable. Nevertheless, he alone was the means of its accomplishment, which he did by borrowing funds from the United States Bank, of which he was then a director. Harrisburg received water in seven months' time from breaking ground, and this despite of much opposition from the old fogies.
His directorship in the United States Bank (at Philadelphia) was at the invitation of the famous Nicholas Biddle, who presented him with stock and had him elected ; hav- ing selected him as " a country gentleman to complete the board of directors."
Having thus embarked in pubic enter- prise, even to the great sacrifice of his legal practice, he next sought to obtain a free bridge over the river, but he could not ob- tain sufficient aid in subscriptions to buy out the old company. He was mainly in- strumental in getting up the new prison to replace the old jail.
He was an active supporter of General Harrison for President, and the Ilarrison letters, still preserved, show that William Ayres was his confidential friend at the cap-
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ital of Pennsylvania. He had been also the advocate of Governor Ritner, whose confi- dential correspondence is also preserved.
The successful introduction of water en- couraged him to attempt the formation of a gas company at Harrisburg, and having ob- tained an act of incorporation he went vig- orously to work, as was always his way, and Harrisburg was lighted with gas.
The incorporation of the Pennsylvania railroad, about 1846, was a project in which he was much interested, and he gave his time and services on the " Hill " gratuitously.
By this time there was not a man in Cen- tral Pennsylvania more widely known for his spirit, energy and capacity in matters of publie improvement. As a result he was en- gaged by the citizens of Huntingdon to lead a project in their coal region-the Hunting- don and Broad Top railroad. After securing the necessary legislation he was elected pres- ident January 10, 1853. He was obliged to spend so much of his time at Huntingdon that he could only give the road a good start, but he left his completion to others. He re- linguished his position with honor, the com- pany voluntarily presenting him two thou- sand dollars in cash and stock.
He immediately took up a more convenient enterprise, the Harrisburg and Hamburg railroad, a rival line to the Lebanon Valley railroad. He became president of the com- pany, obtained subscriptions and had the route surveyed, with the intention of begin- ning active operations in the spring of 1856. The winter of 1855-56 was devoted to office work by the engineers at Jonestown.
"But William Ayres' iron constitution was crumbling by the insidious action of heart disease. He was unable to give his own ae- tive duty or instill his own energy into others, and the railroad languished just when it should have progressed.
Mr. Ayres died, after some months' illness, May 26, 1856. His fellow-citizens united with his associates of the bar in attesting the loss of one in whom the capital of Pennsyl- vania found her most enterprising citizen, ever ready to sacrifice for the public good, and one who, having many opportunities to · have made himself rich, could never be tempted or bribed, proved unflinchingly honest and died poor.
FORSTER, JOHN MONTGOMERY, son of Col. Thomas Forster and his wife Sarah Pettit Montgomery, was born June 21, 1789, in
Paxtang ; d. September 21, 1858, at Harris- burg, Pa. He passed his youth partly at Harrisburg and partly at Erie, where his father removed about 1799. He studied law with his uncle, Samuel Laird, at Harrisburg, and was admitted to the bar of Dauphin county, at May term, .1814. He marched with the volunteers from this section of the State to Baltimore, in 1814, and was elected or appointed brigade major of the brigade commanded by his uncle, Gen. John Forster. After his return, he practiced law at Harris- burg, and was deputy attorney general for the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon, un- der the administration of Governor Iliester, Thomas Elder being attorney general. Upon the occasion of General Lafayette's visit to Harrisburg, he commanded the military. He was president of the Branch Bank of Penn- sylvania at Harrisburg, until it was discon- tinued. He represented this judicial district in the first Board of Revenue Commissioners, convened in 1844, to equalize taxation be- tween the several counties of the State, and was elected secretary of the board at the · session of 1847 and 1850. In 1846 he was commissioned by Governor Shunk as presi- dent judge of the counties of Chester and Delaware, and served for several months in this capacity. Major Forster married Jen- nette Wright, born 1790, in Paterson, N. J .; died July 30, 1880, at Harrisburg, Pa., daughter of John Wright and Rose Cham- bers.
"ALBRIGHT, MRS. FRANCES, daughter of Charles Gemberling, was born about 1789. Her father came to Harrisburg about 1793 and established himself in business. Frances received an excellent education and on July 20, 1809, married Lieut. Jacob W. Albright, of the U. S. army, who was then in the re- cruiting service at Harrisburg. Lieutenant Albright was appointed from Pennsylvania ensign of the First Infantry March 6, 1806; promoted second lientenant November, 1807; first lieutenant August 26, 1812; district paymaster September 4, 1813; disbanded June 15, 1815; appointed paymaster Second Infantry July 9, 1816; resigned May 13, 1823. He died at Erie about 1830. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Albright began teaching school, and until the estab- lishment of the common school system was quite successful. Subsequently she received the appointment of teacher in one of the public schools, where she remained until her
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advanced years compelled her to resign. Mrs. Albright was a conscientious and faith- ful teacher, and the writer of this brief sketch holds her memory in reverence as being his first tutor. Besides this, she was a strict Presbyterian of the old school, ex- emplary in her faith and belief. She died at Harrisburg, October 13, 1862, aged about seventy-three years.
HAYS, SAMUEL WALLACE, was born Octo- ber 30, 1790, at Newville, Cumberland county, Pa .; died May 18, 1855, at Harris- burg, Pa. He received the education so freely given by the Scotch-Irish to their children. He came to Harrisburg in 1821, where he resided until 1825, when he went to Philadelphia, returning to the former place in 1828, which from that period be- came his permanent home. Mr. Hays then began business, which he successfully carried on until a few years prior to his death. He was an earnest, laborious worker in his church (Presbyterian), of which he was one of the ruling elders from 1840 to his decease. For a period of twenty-seven years he was superintendent of the first infant Sunday- school, which he organized in 1828, in Har- risburg, and only relinquished its care when failing health compelled him to give up his charge. . The Rev. Dr. Robinson bears this testimony of him : " I remember him as a quiet, modest man and patient sufferer. The little I knew of him endeared him to ine. . He was a warm friend and lover of the young, kind and genial in his intercourse with them, and an admirable teacher." Mr. Hays married, September 2, 1834, Margaret Rebecca Moore, born August 7, 1806; died February S, 1851, at Harrisburg, Pa .; daugh- ter of Archibald Moore and Rebecca Junkin, of Locust Grove, Mifflin county, Pa.
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