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 42
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-SERGEANT, WILLIAM, son of Hon. John Sergeant, a distinguished jurist of Pennsyl- vania, was born 1829, in the city of Phila- delphia. He graduated from Princeton Col- lege in 1847; studied law under Benjamin
Francis Jordan
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Gerhard, and admitted to the Philadelphia bar in 1850; he held a prominent position at the bar, and was for a time a representa- tive in the State Legislature. On the break- ing out of the Rebellion he was commis- sioned captain of the Twelfth infantry, U. S. A .; afterwards colonel of the Two Hundred and Tenth regiment, Pennsylvania volun- teers; on March 31, 1865, he was wounded in his thigh by a ball while resisting an at- tack of the enemy on the White Oak road, near the Boynton plank-road, in front, of Petersburg, Va., from which he died on board of the hospital boat, while on his way home, April 11, 1865; he was a gentleman of marked ability and a gallant officer. Colonel Sergeant married, November 8, 18:3, Eliza Lawrence Espy, who survives, daugh- ter of James Snodgrass Espy and his wife Mary H. Pollard. Their children were Mary, Margaretta, married Alexander James Dallas Dixen, Louisa, married Jobn C. Kunkel, Jr., John, died in infancy, Sarah Haly, and Eliza, married William Heyward Meyers.
-BENT, LUTHER STEDMAN, son of Ebenezer and Nancy (Stedman) Bent, was born De- cember 6, 1829, at Quincy, Norfolk county, Mass. His ancestors were early settlers at Milton, that State. Luther S. attended the public schools until the age of twelve years, afterwards working on the farm until his fif- teenth year, when he went to Boston, where he served five years with the New England Glass Company, situate in East Cambridge, then one of the largest establishments of the country. From that period until the com- mencement of the Rebellion he was engaged in the glassware and crockery business in Boston. In May, 1861, he enlisted as a pri- vate in company H, Fourth regiment, Massa- chusetts volunteers, and participated in the battle of Big Bethel. Being mastered out at the end of his term of service at Boston, he re-enlisted as a private in company K of the Eighteenth regiment, Massachusetts vol- unteers, for three years, and served in all the grades of non-commissioned and commis- sioned officers to that of captain. He served through the various campaigns in which his regiment was engaged in the Army of the Potomac, and was wounded in the right hand in the second battle of Bull Run. He ro- mained with his command until their muster out, when he was detailed to take charge of a battalion of veterans and recruits. For meritorious services at Peebles' Farm he was
promoted brevet major, was afterwards, on the recommendation of General Griffin, com- missioned by President Lincoln as major in the United States army, at the same time by the State of Massachusetts a lieutenant colo- nel, on which commission he was never mus- tered. His battalion having become deci - mated in numbers it was consolidated with the Twenty-second Massachusetts, when at bis request he was mustered out as a super- numerary officer. He returned home, and shortly after made engagements with the officers of the Union Pacific railroad, and re- mained in their employ from the commence- ment to the completion of that great enter- prise, filling various positions. During the last two years he was one of the largest con- tractors for grading that road, comprising two hundred miles through Salt Lake Valley and the Promontory. He subsequently be- came engaged in cattle raising on the plains and was one of the pioneers in the business, being among the first to establish cattle ranches along the line of the railroad in Ne- braska. Here he remained three years. Re- turning to the East he married a daughter of S. M. Felton, Esq., of Philadelphia, which relations brought him into connection with the Pennsylvania Steel Company. In 18744 he took the superintendency of that immense establishment.
-HERR, ANDREW JACKSON, son of Daniel Herr (1795-1857) and Sarah Gilbert (1801- 1SS0), was born December 31, 1829, in Greencastle, Franklin county, Pa. He was educated at the Zane street grammar school and the high school at Philadelphia, from which latter institution he graduated in 1845. He shortly after commenced the study of law with James McCormick, and was admitted to the Dauphin county bar August 20, 1750, locating at Harrisburg in the practice of his profession. He served, by election, as district attorney nine years ; was counsel for county commissioners one year, and represented the county of Dauphin in the Legislature in 1868 and 1869; was member of the State Senate in 1875 and 1876, and in the latter year re-elected for full term of four years; elected president pro tem. of the Senate at the close of the ses- sion of 1878, and re-elected to that office in the session of 1879. In November, 1SSO, he was re-elected again for full term of four years. He served in that body with distinc- tive ability. After the close of his official
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term he returned to the duties of his profes- sional life. He died at Harrisburg March 16, 1894, and was there buried. Colonel Herr married, first, Martha Linn Coyle, daughter of Scott Coyle and Martha Linn; secondly, Nannie M. Coyle, and their chil- dren were: Daniel Coyle, a member of the Dauphin county bar, and Martha Coyle, d.s.p .; married, thirdly, Nannie Gillmor, daughter of James Gillmor and Eleanor Mckinney, and they had Eleanor Gillmor. It may be here stated that in his early years he was a frequent contributor to the Saturday Evening Post and Neal's Gazette, of Philadelphia. When fifteen years of age he published three novels, entitled "Maid of the Valley," "Story founded on the Revolution," and " The Corsair," founded on the revolt of St. Domingo. These books were published in England. A novel called " The Chain of Destiny," also appeared from his pen. As a criminal lawyer, however, Colonel Herr was the most brilliant and his career successful. He was highly respected by his professional brethren and his opinions had great weight, especially in that class of legal practice in which he was unexceptionably the leader at the Dauphin county bar.
- MCCORMICK, HENRY, son of James McCor- mick and his wife Eliza Buehler, was born March 10, 1831, in Harrisburg, Pa. He re- ceived his education at the Harrisburg Academy, Partridge's military institute, and graduated from Yale College in 1852. He commenced the study of law with his father, but his taste being for a more stirring pur- suit, he gave it up and learned the iron busi- ness at Reading furnace, now Robesonia, at the first opportunity purchasing an interest in the Henry Clay and Eagle furnaces, near Marietta, Lancaster county. In 1857 Paxtang furnace came under his management. and, in 1866, the nail-works at Fairview, Cumber- land county, at the mouth of the Conedo- guinet creek, which he condneted for twenty- five years. In J865, before a railway spanned the continent, he crossed the great plain and mountain range to the Pacific coast, return- ing by the Isthmus of Panama. In 1877 he visited Europe. Long before these journeys he had shown his devotion to his country. At the opening of the Rebellion he offered his life and services to the cause of patriot- ism, gathering a company of volunteers, company F, Lochiel Grays, of the Twenty- fifth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, in
the three months' service. In 1862 he was chosen colonel of the First regiment, Penn- sylvania militia, under Maj. Gen. John F. Reynolds and assigned to the command of the First brigade. The object of forming this division being accomplished by the con- test at Antietam, it was mustered out of ser- vice. Under the act relative to a new geo- logical survey of Pennsylvania, he was appointed by Governor Hartranft a commis- sioner, and by his colleagues its treasurer. filling these positions until the work was done. As a co-trustee of his father's estate, he has shown tact and judgment, and, in the pursuit of all the business in which he is engaged, great energy and success. To all benevolent objects he is a most generous giver, without ostentation or publicity. As an evidence of the esteem in which he is held, it may be stated that when a candidate for Congress in 1882, his majority in his native county was one hundred and fifty- nine, while his party was in a minority of nearly fifteen hundred on the vote for other offices. Colonel McCormick married, June 29, 1867, Annie Criswell, daughter of Jolm Vance Criswell and Hannah Dull.
-BECK, JULIUS AUGUSTUS, son of John and Joanna Beck. was born April 2, 1831, in Lititz, Lancaster county, Pa., and was edu- cated at the Lititz academy, of which his father, John Beck, was principal. In early life he devoted himself to the art of seulp- ture, and in 1855 visited Italy for the pur- pose of perfecting himself in that branch of the fine arts. In 1861 he turned his atten- tion to portrait and landscape painting. He married Miss Susan Maria Kepple, daughter of Henry and Catherine Kepple, of Lancas- ter, Pa., and their children are: Abraham Raphael, Catherine Augusta, Henry Kepple, John, Martin Augustus, Marion, Edith, Isa- bella, and Mary Alice.
-GEETY, WILLIAM WALLACE, was born in Harrisburg, December 4, 1831, and died at Dauphin, January 19, 1SS7. When he was quite young the family moved to Middle- town, but returned a few years later. Then Wallace, a lad eight years of age, was sent to the school of Jacob Eyster, who kept the boys under strict military drill and discipline. At twelve years of age he was put to Francis Wyeth to learn the book business, and at sixteen to Martin Lutz to acquirea knowledge of pharmacy. He had also learned some-
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thing of dentistry with Dr. Stough, practicing his profession and teaching school at inter- vals until 1858, when he removed to Coxes- town and taught school until the war broke out. He first enlisted as a private in the " Cameron Guards" for a term of three months. This ended, he returned and helped raise a company of forty men, which was assigned to Colonel Good's regiment (later Colonel Gobin's), with James Cases, of Perry county, as captain and himself as first lieutenant. He participated in the battles of Gainsville, St. John's Bluff and Pocotaligo, where he was severely wounded. A grape shot struck him between the eyes and passing to the left destroyed the eye, shattered the bones of the face, injuring the nerves and lodged near the carotic artery. While lying upon the field he was for a while given up for dead. When able to leave the hospital he returned to Harrisburg, received the rank of captain and was ap- pointed quartermaster, which position he held until the expiration of his term of service. After that he removed to Clark's Valley, but failing health compelled him to relinguish a small farm he had purchased, and in 1879 he settled in Dauphin until his death. Captain Geety was a member of the Veteran Association of Dauphin, and of Post 58, G. A. R., of Harrisburg, a staunch Re- publican, and for some years a member of the county committee. Captain Geety mar- ried, in 1858, Henrietta Thompson, who with four children survive.
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SEES, WILLIAM EDWARDS, eldest son of David and Ann Fell (Edwards) Sees, was born.in Harrisburg, February 3, 1832. His education was received in the common schools of his native place, and early in life commenced to learn the business of coach trimming with his father, who was a skilled workman, and became in time a good nie- chanic. He was a member and an officer of the old Friendship Fire Company, of Har- risburg, noted for his efficiency and daring, and twice came very near losing his life in endeavoring to save the property of others, once at a fire in the United States Hotel, and again at the cotton factory. When the war for the Union broke out, he enlisted as a private in the three months' service. In 1862 he was commissioned captain in the new Eleventh Pennsylvania, three years' service, but his health failing him, he was discharged on surgeon's certificate of dis-
ability. On' April 19, 1855, he married Mary Catherine Kunkel, of Baltimore, Md. She died on February 27, 1856, leaving one son, David. On September 13, 1857, he married Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Jonathan and Julia Ann (Mowrer) Chandler. Captain Sees died October 5, 1865, of consumption con- tracted in the army, and left one daughter by the second marriage, Catherine. The Rev. Charles A. Hay, D. D., pastor of Zion's Lutheran church, published a memoir of Captain Sees, detailing his religious life and experience, which is quite interesting.
- KEEFER, JOHN BRUA, son of Andrew and Catherine (Brua) Keefer, was born April 10, 1832, at Harrisburg, Pa. He received his education at the public schools of the bor- ough and at the Harrisburg Military Insti- tute, established by Capt. Alden Partridge in 1845. Subsequently he learned the trade of a machinist in the shops of the Philadel- phia & Reading Railroad Company, at Reading. From 1853 to 1864 he carried on a foundry and machine shop at Cressona, Schuylkill county, Pa. He then engaged in the oil trade in Venango county, and afterwards carried on the rolling-mill busi- ness at Allentown. From 1870 to 1877 he was engaged in the manufacture of fire- bricks at Harrisburg. On the 13th of Feb- ruary, 1877, he was commissioned by Presi- dent Grant, major and paymaster in the United States army, and at present in ac- tive service. Major Keefer married, Novem- ber 27, 1854, Catherine R. Boyer, of Read- ing. Their children were Horace A., Cath- erine A., who married Lieut. J. W. Duncan, U. S. A., Edith M., who married H. M. Paxton, Mary F., Frank R., and Caroline R.
-MCCORMICK, JAMES, second son of James McCormick and his wife, Eliza Buchler, was born October 31, 1832, in Harrisburg, Pa. He was educated in the common schools, Captain Partridge's military institute, the Harrisburg Academy, graduating from Yale College in 1853; studied law under his father ; was admitted to the bars of Dauphin and Cumberland counties, and practiced for several years. Upon the death of his father, he became one of the trustees of his estate, a charge that absorbed his time and atten- tion to such a degree that he abandoned his profession. The magnitude of this estate and the enterprises conducted under it re- quire caution, prudence and judgment in its
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management. Mr. MeCormick has shown all these qualities in the successful perform- ance of his duties. He has never held polit- ical office, but in the religious and charitable work of the day oeenpies a conspicuous posi- tion. Ile had been an elder in the Pine Street Presbyterian church from 1858 to 1894, a successful Sunday-school tutor, presi- dent and trustee of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association; in all the active work of his denomination a most efficient and liberal agent; a large contributor to the Home for the Friendless, Harrisburg ; to all charitable objects, and, from its opening, president of the Harrisburg Hospital-one of its most active, attentive and competent advisers. He married, May 26, 1859, at Harrisburg, Pa., Mary Wilson Atricks, born November 24, 1833; died Angust 5, 1SS1, at Harris- burg, Pa .; daughter of Herman Alricks and Mary Wilson Kerr.
JOHNSON, JOHN BUCHER, son of David M. Jolinson and Snsan Dorothy Bucher, daughter of Judge Jacob Bueher, was born Jamary 26, 1833, in Harrisburg, Pa. . He was educated in the public schools of the town: and in Cap- tain Partridge's military school, but com- pleted his education at Washington College, Pa., where he graduated in the class of 1852. He adopted civil engineering as his profes- sion, and until 1861 was engaged in several of the public improvements in this State. At the breaking ont of the Rebellion he entered the Eleventh Pennsylvania regimeni, Colo- nel Jarrett, and was appointed captain of a company from Pittston. On May 14, 1861, he was appointed by the Secretary of War, General Cameron, first lientenant in the Sixth cavalry of the regular army, and was subsequently made brevet major and lieu- tenant colonel for meritorious service. He became captain by regular promotion Feb- rmary 3, 1875. Ile served on the staff of General Hancock at Baltimore and at New Orleans, and was afterwards assigned to sev- eral stations in Texas. In April, 1870, he was obliged to leave Texas on account of failing health, and returned to his home at Harrisburg, where he died June 24, 1871.
" CHESTER, THOMAS MORRIS, son of George and Jane Maria (Russell) Chester, was born March 11, 1834, at Harrisburg, Pa. In Jan- ary, 1851, he entered the preparatory depart- ment of the Avery College, Allegheny City, where he remained until January, 1853, when
he sailed for Liberia, West Africa, in the ship " Banshee," arriving at Monrovia on the 3d of June, of the same year. At Monrovia he attended the Alexandria high school for one year, then returned to America, and in De- cember, 1854, entered the junior class of Thet- ford Academy, Vermont. He graduated from that institution in 1856. In January, 1857, he entered upon the duties of superintendent of recaptured Africans from American slave vessels at Cape Mount, Libcria, to instruct them in civilized customs. He published and edited the Star of Liberia, at Monrovia, and was the correspondent of the New York Herald at that point. In January, 1562, he returned to America on account of the eivil strife, and assisted in recruiting the Fifty- fourth and Fifty-fifth Massachusetts regi- ments, the first colored troops raised for the war. In 1867 he went to England, entered Middle Temple, one of the Inns of Conrt at London, for the study of law, and was called to the English bar in 1870. While in England he was appointed aide-de-camp to President Payne, of Liberia, with the-rank of major, and was intrusted with important missions to the courts of Russia and Belgium. In July, 1870, Avery College conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. On his return to the United States in 1871, he went to New Orleans, and received the appoint- ment of storekeeper in the custom service. In March, 1873, he was admitted to the prac- tice of law in the courts of Lonisiana, by being admitted to the Supreme Court of the Siate. Governor Kellogg the same year appointed him brigadier general of the First brigade of Louisiana militia. In 1875 he was appointed distriet superintendent of public education of the first division, com- prising seven parishes, including the white and colored sehools, and in 1876 superin- tendent of the fifth division, comprising thirteen parishes. In 1878 he was appointed United States commisioner for the district of Louisiana. On the 22d of June, 1SS1, he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and at the November terni, 1882, made his first appearance at the bar of his native eity and county.
-FINNEY, ISAAC S., son of George Washing- ton and Elspey (Smith) Finney, was born September 6, 1835, at Halifax, Dauphin county, l'a. He entered the navy as third assistant engineer in 1859, and joined the " Mystic," which was detailed for duty on the
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coast of Africa. On November 25, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of second assistant engineer. He afterwards joined the " Tus- carora," and was present during the engage- ment at Fort Fisher and while engaged in the pursuit of the "Alabama," and remained on her until 1864, when he was promoted to the rank of first assistant engincer and or- dered to shore duty, but this lasted only for a few days, for on June 23 he was ordered to join the frigate "Susquehanna," belonging to the North Atlantic squadron, and remained on her until June 25, 1866, when he went on shore duty at the Philadelphia and Ports- mouth navy yards for a brief period of time. On May 25, 1867, he joined the " Minnesota" and remained on her until January 31, 1868. On January 26, 1870, he joined the frigate " Colorado," fitting out for the Asiatic squad- ron, and remained on her until she went out of commission March 25, 1873. Upon his turn he received his promotion to chief en- gineer. During the "Virginius" excitement, and when a war with Spain appeared prob- able, he voluntarily relinguished the agree- able position he held of superintendent of construction of government machinery at Newburgh-on-the-Hudson, to join his old ship, the " Colorado." From the evil effects of his six months' sojourn on board that vessel off the coast of Cuba and Key West he never recovered, and died at Brooklyn, New York, November 19, 1874. He was in- terred in the family burial lot in the Harris- burg cemetery.
SEES, MAJ. OLIVER WASHINGTON, was born in the city of Philadelphia, on the 27th of October, 1835. He was the second son of David Sees and Ann Fell Edwards. His parents had removed from Harrisburg to Philadelphia in 1832, but returned to their old home on the 1st day of January, 1839. Oliver Sees did not have the advantages of a liberal education. When quite young, about twelve years of age, he became a messenger boy in the first magnetic telegraph office that was opened in Harrisburg after the wonderful discovery by Professor Morsc, the office being under the management of David Brooks. The latter became very much interested in the bright-eyed, yonth- ful messenger, and under his special care and teaching Oliver rapidly developed into an operator, and finally became one of the most expert and accomplished in the busi- ness. He was one of the first to learn to read
messages by sound. His interest was so great in the success of the laying of the At- lantic cable that when the news reached Harrisburg of its final accomplishment, he was chiefly instrumental in getting up a very enthusiastic demonstration to celebrate that event. Mr. Sees' knowledge and special fitness in his business were so marked that on the 23d day of December, 1861, Governor Curtin appointed him chief of telegraph, with the rank of major, and shortly afterwards added that of chief of transportation, two very important positions during the war. The duties of these combined offices he dis- charged with signal ability and entire satis- faction. In connection with this arduous work the General Government intrusted Major Sees with the key to the secret service cipher, used in the transmission of the most vital and important messages by the General Government in relation to matters at that critical period, and which could only be de- ciphered through a knowledge of this key. About this period he was appointed by Maj. Gen. D. N. Couch, who was directing military operations at this point, on his staff, and mustered into the United States service. Im- mediately after the battle of Gettysburg, Governor Curtin ordered Major Sees to the battlefield to assist in caring for the dead and wounded Pennsylvania soldiers who fell on that memorable occasion, a duty he performed well. On his way back to Har- risburg he was taken very sick at Carlisle, and died in this city on the 30th day of September, 1863, before he was twenty-eight.
The following is an extract from the re- port of Col. M. S. Quay to Gov. Andrew G. Curtin. Colonel Quay was the successor of Major Sees as chief of transportation.
" The invasion of the State, in June, 1863, by the army of General Lee, and your call for the militia forces which immediately fol- lowed, occasioned a large influx of business of pressing importance, which occupied the chief of the department, Major Sees, and his clerical force for weeks.
" The United States having assumed the payment of the expenses of the transporta- tion of the militia, Major Sees was placed temporarily in their service, and assigned a position on the staff of Major General Couch, commanding the Department of the Susque- hanna. He was relieved by General Couch, at his own request, and was immediately afterwards ordered to Gettysburg by you to look after our dead and wounded.
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" The extraordinary labors he found neces- sary during this period, extending at times through successive days and nights, with the exposure and fatigue sustained at Gettys- burg, undoubtedly produced illness through which your administration lost a faithful and competent officer, and his family a hus- band and father who was their only sup- port."
Major Sees was married to Caroline, daughter of Charles Buehler and Sarah Hoover, at Harrisburg, on the 22d day of September, 1857; the widow and one daugli- ter, Caroline, survived him.
LAWRENCE, SAMUEL M., son of Joseph and Maria (Bucher) Lawrence, was born in Wash- ington county, Pa., December 14, 1835. His father's death occurring when he was six years old his mother removed two years later to Harrisburg, her former home, where she continued to reside during the remainder of her life, and here Samuel received his principal education, although attending Jef- ferson College for a time. From boyhood he was a remarkable student, and had a perfect hunger for knowledge. At an early age he adopted the profession of civil en- gineering, and was engaged in the survey of the Sunbury & Erie (now Philadelphia & Erie) railroad, and continued on it until its completion in 1864. He was perfectly familiar with every part of the road, and had traveled it all on foot from Sunbury to Erie. He was one of the four original con- tractors who built the Oil Creek railroad, and also chief engineer of it. He was also engaged in the survey of the Warren and Franklin road at the time of his death. He was nominated by the Republican party in the counties of Clearfield, Mckean, Jefferson and Elk for the Legislature, and represented them in the session of 1860-61, thus spend- ing the winter in Harrisburg, his old home. He married, April 4, 1864, Hannah, daugh- ter of Hon. John Green. He resided in Warren the last three or four years of his life and died there October 17, 1864, in his twenty-ninth year. He is buried in Harris- burg.
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