USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Early Philadelphia; its people, life and progress > Part 16
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The first game of cricket in America, according to tra- dition, was played on the grounds of the Germantown Academy by British officers quartered nearby in 1777. The first real attempt to make cricket an American game was made at Haverford College about the year 1836. The gardener, William Carvill, was an Englishman and an enthusiast for the game and induced the students to play.
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CRICKET
Nine matches are recorded for that time at the Quaker College.
The English hosiery weavers in Germantown formed a club about 1842. They played in a field near Logan Station, on the Old York Road, and here William Rotch Wister began his cricket. Mr. Wister found a number of his fellow students at the University of Pennsylvania ready to form a club and so organized the Junior Cricket Club there. This was the first club of Americans formed in the United States and Mr. Wister was chosen its first President. He may be regarded as the father of American cricket and played actively and in many matches up to 1861. He was the chairman of the meeting which formed the Philadelphia Cricket Club, in 1854, and became its first Vice-President.
Though the total enrollment of the University was only 479 in 1843, yet the cricket club had a membership of forty, a coach, and a place to practise indoors during the winter months. This was at " Barrett's Gymnasium," in Chestnut Street about Sixth. Some of the original mem- bers were S. Weir Mitchell, John J. Borie, William S. Blight, George Harding, Hartman Kuhn, Jr., John Perot, Thomas Stewardson, Benjamin W. Richards, T. H. Bache and Frederick Klett. The first outside match was played with the Germantown Cricket Club at Mr. Coleman Fisher's place on Manheim Street, Germantown, in 1843, and from that time to this cricket has been played at the University.
The first Inter-Collegiate game in any branch of sport in this country was played at Haverford College, May 7, 1864, between a cricket eleven of the University of Penn- sylvania and one from Haverford College. It was won
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EARLY PHILADELPHIA
by Haverford, darkness coming on before the second inning was finished, and the game being therefore decided upon the result of the first inning. The umpires were: for Pennsylvania, Beauveau Borie, and for Haverford, Edward Starr. The score:
FIRST INNING OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
J. W. Hoffman, c. Garrett, b. Vail 0
William F. Armstrong, c. & b. Wister 7
Horace Magee, b. Vail 22
W. George Oakman, b. Ashbridge 2
Charles E. Morgan (Captain), b. Ashbridge 0
Cadwalader Evans, run out 3
S. Hays, b. Wistar 0
Frederick W. Beasley, Jr., b. Wistar
3
John Clark Sims, b. Ashbridge 4
John B. Morgan, c. Cooper, b. Vail 1
Thomas Mitchell, not out 4
Byes
5
Wides
9
Total
60
SECOND INNING
J. W. Hoffman, b. Wistar 1
William F. Armstrong, b. Ashbridge 3
Horace Magee, not out 5
W. George Oakman, not out 3
Cadwalader Evans, run out 2
Frederick W. Beasley, Jr., b. Ashbridge 9
John B. Morgan, l. b. w., b. Wistar 3
Thomas Mitchell, b. Wistar 0
Wides
1
Total
27
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CRICKET
HAVERFORD COLLEGE
Randolph Wood (Captain ), b. Hoffman 20
W. Ashbridge, run out 3
A. Haviland, b. Oakman 0
E. L. Scull, b. Oakman 0
A. Garrett, b. C. E. Morgan 7
M. Longstreth, b. C. E. Morgan 3
C. C. Wistar, b. Evans 24
B. A. Vail, c. Armstrong, b. Magee 2
George Smith, I. b. w., b. Evans 12
A. C. Thomas, b. Evans 0
H. M. Cooper, not out 5
Extras 13
Total 89
This was an achievement of note, and Haverford and Pennsylvania have played cricket together ever since with nothing but cordiality and mutual respect between them. In 1881 they founded the Inter-Collegiate Cricket Asso- ciation which has had a continuous career to the present day, and a membership in which the two founders have always been active with Harvard, Princeton, Cornell and Trinity among the other members at various times. The Haverford and Pennsylvania elevens have carried Phila- delphia cricket to England, Ireland, Canada and Bermuda, sharing this honour with numerous sides composed of the gentlemen of Philadelphia and club elevens.
The Germantown Club, relying upon the Wister fam- ily, was recruited from the eastern side of the village, with Duy's Lane as a rallying ground, while the " Young America," composed mostly of the younger brothers, off- set the Wister's with the Newhall family, which made of Manheim Street a rival cricket centre.
After the war the older club opened grounds at " Nice- town " and the " Young America " located near by at " Stenton." In 1889 they joined their forces at " Man-
225
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EARLY PHILADELPHIA
heim," taking the older name of the Germantown Cricket Club and the blue and white colours of the younger. The old club of 1854 played in William Wister's pasture lot at " Belfield " and at his homestead off Duy's Lane, now Wister Street, Germantown. The Young America Club pitched their crease at Thomas A. Newhall's back lawn at " Walnut Cottage " and his homestead between Man- heim and Hansberry Streets. From 1857 to 1879 they occupied the " Turnpike Bridge " ground of the Logan estate bordering on the Main Street at the railroad, then until the consolidation in 1889 they played at "Stenton," between the Main Street and the old Logan Mansion. The Germantown Club continued at Duy's Lane, now Wister and Baynton Streets, until 1860, when General Meade " opened " the "Nicetown Grounds," between Pulaski Avenue and Township Line, near "Fern Hill," the home of Henry Pratt McKean, who owned the prop- erty. Here they remained until 1889, when the union at " Manheim " was effected.
The Merion and Philadelphia Cricket Clubs are flour- ishing institutions and their grounds and equipment rival that of the Germantown Club at "Manheim." Many international matches have been played on these grounds with sides from England, Ireland, Canada and Bermuda and Philadelphia has produced in George S. Patterson and J. B. King two cricketers who rank with the best of the mother country.
No account of cricket in this country would be com- plete without mention of George M. Newhall, who stands for all that the game means in skill and good sportsmanship. Mr. Newhall played for the United States against England in 1860 and has been playing ever since, captaining the " Colts " against the gentlemen of Ireland as late as 1909. Is there any other game that can produce such an example?
THE BANK OF NORTH AMERICA
HE Bank of North America is an interesting institution from almost any angle of approach. Its title does not arise from that form of bumptiousness so frequently de- scribed in the records of some foreign visitors of a certain period. When it was organized it was the bank of North America, since it was the first bank chartered on the continent. Unlike others, it was organized not for private gain but from a patriotic desire to sustain the feeble credit of Con- gress, and its first transactions are most intimately con- nected with the financial operations of the National Gov- ernment. By its aid troops were levied, arms and ammu- nition obtained, supplies furnished the patriot army and the expenses of the Government paid. The granting of its charter raised the question of what implied powers were vested in Congress, the annulment of its State franchises by the Assembly raised the question of the capacity of a legislative assembly to take such action, and its operations brought forth the important discussion as to the propriety of encouraging or prohibiting a system of banking in this country. The gentlemen connected with the bank were the most prominent financiers of Revolutionary days.
The simplicity and economy with which both public and private business was conducted in Colonial days made a system of banking unnecessary. Merchants and men of means could generally furnish the loans required by the demands of the times. We have already seen how the markets and public buildings were so provided for and the part which lotteries played in early ventures. As early as 1763, however, the increased business of the port of
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EARLY PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia induced some of its principal merchants, Robert Morris among them, to seek the establishment of a bank, and negotiations were entered into in Europe to effect this purpose. Undoubtedly the project would have become a reality then had not the breaking out of the struggle for independence intervened. This, of course, changed all the conditions of commerce and Congress evolved many schemes for the support of the cause. Paper money, lotteries and loans soon brought an exhausted credit. It was then that Alexander Hamilton advised the plan already proposed by Robert Morris, but on a much vaster scale, so that it attracted little consideration. Mean- time the credit of Congress went from bad to worse and almost vanished. The army was in terrible distress. Under these circumstances a number of patriotic gentlemen in Philadelphia resolved to do something for the relief of the Government from their private fortunes and we must recall that splendid remark of Robert Morris: "The United States may command all that I have except my integrity." Associated with him in the undertaking were Blair McClenachan, Thomas Willing, John Nixon, James Wilson, George Clymer, William Bingham and a number of other national figures. A largely attended meeting was held in the Coffee House on June 8, 1780, and a sub- scription instantly set on foot. Within nine days there was paid in four hundred pounds in hard money and one hundred and one thousand three hundred and sixty pounds in Continental money. The loss of Charleston pressed for an immediate enlargement of the plan and a new one was accordingly adopted at a meeting in the City Tavern on June 17th. It was based on a subscription of £300,000 Pennsylvania currency in real money, the subscribers to execute bonds to the amount of their subscriptions, and
228
FIRST HOME OF THE BANK OF NORTH AMERICA
FHEL
Birch, 1799
THE CITY TAVERN AND BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA IN SOUTH SECOND STREET
THE BANK OF NORTH AMERICA
the whole amount to form the capital of a bank. Within a few days the list was completed, embracing ninety-two subscribers pledging themselves for amounts from one to ten thousand pounds.
An organization was at once effected under the name of the " Pennsylvania Bank " and Robert Morris, John M. Nesbitt, Blair McClenachan, Samuel Miles and Cad- walader Morris were elected Inspectors; John Nixon and George Clymer, Directors; and Tench Francis, Factor. The directors were authorized to borrow money on the credit of the bank for six months or for less time, and to limit notes bearing interest at the rate of six per cent. They were to apply all money borrowed or received from Congress for the sole purpose of purchasing provisions and rum for the use of the Continental Army, to trans- portation, and to discharging the notes and expenses of the bank. When the whole amount laid out had been returned by Congress, the notes were to be paid off, the accounts settled, and the bank wound up.
On June 21st Congress was officially advised of the organization of the institution and at once appointed a committee to confer with the subscribers. Its report was so satisfactory that the offer was accepted with a deep appreciation of the " distinguished proof of the patriotism of the subscribers." The faith of the United States was pledged, bills of exchange to the amount of £15,000 de- posited and more offered as it could be spared from other services.
On July 27th the bank began business in Front Street two doors above Walnut Street, where it continued for nearly a year and a half, supplying three millions of rations and three hundred barrels of rum to the army. The last installment of the subscriptions was called November 15,
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EARLY PHILADELPHIA
1780, and the bank's affairs finally wound up towards the close of the year 1784.
The year 1781 saw the lowest ebb of the country's credit and on February 20th Robert Morris was elected Superintendent of Finance. Wearied by the mistakes and delays of boards and committees, Congress at last turned for relief to that energetic, reliable person whose experi- ence and business talents qualified him better than any man in America to direct its financial affairs. He spared neither labour, time nor thought in the work and no sacri- fice was too great for him to make for the service of his country.
On the 17th of May, 1781, Morris presented to Con- gress his plan for the establishment of the Bank of North America. It contemplated a subscription of $400,000 in shares of $400 each, payable in gold or silver. On every week day evening the directors were to deliver to the Superintendent of Finance an accurate account of the day's business and he was to have the right at all times to examine into the bank's affairs. Congress referred the matter to Mr. Witherspoon of New Jersey, Mr. Sullivan of New Hampshire, Mr. Smith of Virginia and Mr. Clymer of Pennsylvania, who reported in favor of the plan. Madison led the opposition but the plan was adopted, Massachusetts alone voting in the negative. Morris sought in vain to interest the citizens of other States than Pennsylvania. The gentlemen who had been most prominent in the Pennsylvania Bank became identified at once with the new institution, however, and with other Philadelphians paid in $70,000 by November. An oppor- tune remittance from France of $470,000 in specie enabled the National Treasury to lodge this considerable sum in the vaults of the bank, and an organization was resolved
230
THE BANK OF NORTH AMERICA
upon. On November 1, 1781, a meeting was convened at the City Tavern and the following board of directors chosen: Thomas Willing, Thomas Fitzimmons, John Maxwell Nesbitt, James Wilson, Henry Hill, Samuel Osgood, Cadwalader Morris, Andrew Caldwell, Samuel Ingles, Samuel Meredith, William Bingham and Timothy Matlack. The next day these chose Thomas Willing, President, and Tench Francis, Cashier. Thomas Willing was a partner of Robert Morris, fifty years old and a leading man in the State and Nation. He had been Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Mayor of Phila- delphia, Member of the Colonial Assembly and President of the Provincial Congress. He was privately and pub- licly beloved and had many of the qualities of Washington in influence and wisdom.
On the 7th of January, 1782, the Bank began its opera- tions in a commodious store belonging to its cashier, Tench Francis, situated on the north side of Chestnut Street west of Third, where it still remains. The banking hours were from ten to one in the morning and from three to five in the afternoon. There were six employees and the accounts were kept in Mexican dollars.
In spite of early difficulties on account of large de- mands to meet the necessities of the country and the depre- ciation of its notes, the bank forged ahead under Morris' skillful management and other States began to acknowl- edge its existence and accept its notes. It would be too long a story to recount here the services it rendered to State and Nation. Soon those who had lacked the courage of the original subscribers became anxious to participate in the bank's prosperity and new subscriptions were opened in 1784 to satisfy them, so that by June 13th the capital was found to amount to $830,000. This settled the fear
231
EARLY PHILADELPHIA
of a rival institution, but a new contest was soon forced upon the directors in the paper money scheme. Those of us who have witnessed recent attacks upon the banking interests of the country will be interested to note that a committee was appoined in the Assembly as early as 1785 " to inquire whether the bank established at Philadelphia was compatible with the public safety and that equality which ought ever to prevail between individuals of a re- public." All the arguments we have known in our day were advanced to secure the repeal of the bank's charter and it answered that " It would be a marvellous thing to prohibit the use of water because some people choose to drown themselves." The Assembly, however, was un- friendly and after a long struggle the bank as a State institution ceased to exist on September 13, 1785. This affected the stock, but by the close of the year its wealth was estimated at $900,000 (silver dollars).
The directors sought and obtained a charter from the State of Delaware and contemplated the removal of the bank to that State, but by continued petition to the Penn- sylvania Assembly they once more secured a charter at home. Four other banks now sprang into existence-at New York, Boston, Providence, and Baltimore-and the banking system of the United States, through the instru- mentality of the Bank of North America at Philadelphia, had obtained a foothold.
Thomas Willing died in 1792 and was succeeded by John Nixon, an almost equally well-known citizen, who is chiefly famous now for having been the first to publicly read the Declaration of Independence. The yellow fever outbreak of 1798 caused the bank to remove to the Ger- mantown Academy, where its transactions were carried on for nearly two months, returning to town on Novem-
232
Birch, 1799
BANK OF THE UNITED STATES IN THIRD STREET, ONCE THE SITE OF NORRIS' GARDENS AND NOW THE GIRARD NATIONAL BANK
THE BANK OF NORTH AMERICA
ber 2nd. Under the presidency of John Morton the bank afforded great assistance to the Government during the War of 1812 and again in 1861, when civil strife rent the Nation, it, with Thomas Smith as president, rendered important public service. Although chartered under the " National Bank Act " in 1864, the Bank of North Amer- ica has retained its original name and is the only national bank in the United States which does not have the word " National " in its title.
THE PENNSYLVANIA COMPANY FOR INSURANCES ON LIVES AND GRANTING ANNUITIES
EFORE the railroad and telegraph had disturbed the leisurely spirit in which business was conducted, men of affairs gathered at the noon dinner hour at the Merchants' Coffee House on Second Street, corner of Gold, where now stand the Bonded Ware- houses of the United States. The doorway was shaded by a large awning under which the men of business would congregate for conversation before going in to dine. It became an exchange and to be on hand at the mid-day hour was a token of standing in the community as a man of affairs.
Here on a day in December, 1809, was born the first Trust Company in the United States, formed by a group of business men for the insurance of lives and granting annuities. The group must have presented a more out- wardly interesting appearance than similar gatherings of to-day, if we may judge from the portraits of the gentle- men of that period which hang in Philadelphia galleries. Coats of blue, drab or brown, with broad high collars which clasped in the ruffled neckcloth; waistcoats of a gayer pat- tern of silk or satin; knee breeches and buckled gaiters; wigs or queues; broad brimmed hats and Malacca canes,- these, with clean shaven chins and lips, were their quaint characteristics; and gravity of bearing was a universal trait.
William Jones, Patrick Gernon, John Warder, John Welsh, Augustine Bousquet, William Newbold and Jacob Shoemaker were appointed a committee or temporary
234
THE PENNSYLVANIA COMPANY
Board of Directors for drafting Articles of Association, organizing the company and reporting to a meeting of the subscribers. The name was to be The Pennsylvania Com- pany for Insurances on Lives and Granting Annuities and the stock $5000. Fire and marine insurance, private underwriting and much business now transacted by Trust Companies had been done before this, the latter by indi- vidual gentlemen of integrity, but the growth of the city's business and the increase of private fortunes sought a larger and broader instrument for investment. Soon the stock was all subscribed and a Board of Directors chosen. The Legislature withheld the charter until 1812 and some of the subscribers accordingly withdrew, but the rest re- mained and upon receipt of favourable news met at the Merchants' Coffee House on March 17th and chose Joseph Ball president. He had been president of the Society since 1809 and was a man of sterling worth, who came from Berks County to amass a fortune in the Batsto iron works in New Jersey but lost it in sustaining the public credit with Robert Morris. He was a Director of the Bank of the United States and successively president of the Insur- ance Company of North America and the Union Insurance Company. His country seat was at Port Richmond, where he died in 1825, leaving his name to be commemorated by the street which bears it.
Jacob Shoemaker, an eminent Friend, was chosen Act- uary and this completed the company's clerical force! James Paul soon succeeded the busy Mr. Ball as president. He came of good old Colonial stock, was a member of the Society of Friends and a merchant of note. In 1813 Samuel Hodgdon succeeded as president and had to assist him as Directors James Paul, Patrick Gernon, Joseph Peace, Israel Whelen, John Bohlen, Samuel Yorke, Lewis
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EARLY PHILADELPHIA
D. Carpenter, John Clayton, Joshua Longstreth, Jere- miah Warder, Jr., Cadwallader Evans and Joseph Hud- dell. Mr. Hodgdon had quite a military career, beginning upon a frigate of war in 1776. He became a Captain of Artillery, Commissary of Military Stores, member of the Board of War and Commissary General. He was a per- sonal friend of General Washington, who was his guest upon several occasions. The new president was a man of action as his record would indicate and he at once set about to locate the company. Jacob Shoemaker's house was chosen and a strong box secured for papers, to be kept in the Philadelphia Bank. At Shoemaker's house the first annuities were sold and insurance effected on June 10, 1813. Within the year larger quarters were needed and the front and back parlours of 72 South Second Street were occupied, the rest of the house being reserved for Mr. Shoemaker. The number is now 112 and here the first dividend was declared on July 3, 1815. Between 1815 and 1817 the plain looking house at 509 Chestnut Street was secured as was a fire-proof safe. Here the company grew for seven years, when it removed to Third and Wal- nut Streets. Third Street was a busy thoroughfare in those days with the Post Office, Commercial Exchange, Girard Bank, newspapers and the offices of brokers in every line known to trade. Samuel Yorke became presi- dent in 1814, Condy Raguet in 1816, Jacob Sperry in 1819 and Dr. Robert M. Patterson in 1822. The last was the son of Robert Patterson, LL.D., president of the American Philosophical Society, Professor of Mathematics and Vice-Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, and a brigade major in the Revolutionary War. The son was a professor in the University of Virginia and later Director
236
THE PENNSYLVANIA COMPANY
of the United States Mint. He was the youngest member of the Philosophical Society when admitted.
In 1831 the Directors recommended that the company engage in the new business of accepting trusts. Although the stockholders agreed in this, the careful deliberation of the Quakers seems to have gripped this as well as many other enterprises and it was not until 1836 that a supple- ment to its charter was granted giving it the new authority. John Wagner's house at 138 South Third Street was se- cured and the prosperous organization went on under good management to a rich harvest in its widened field.
The upbuilding of the trust department came under the care of Hyman Gratz, who from 1837 presided over the affairs of the company for twenty momentous years, or until the time of his death.
The vacated home of the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society on Walnut above Third Street, now Number 304, was leased and the front embellished. By 1859 business had increased to such an extent that the company pur- chased the property and erected a building of their own. Between the perilous years of 1863 and 1866 the company had made an extraordinary distribution of surplus and increased dividends, an indication of the soundness of con- ditions in the North, even after so critical a test had been put upon it. By March, 1873, this active concern was on the move again and had another new building finished at 431 Chestnut Street. The insurance business had now been entirely discontinued and a department of safe de- posits added. Under Lindley Smyth, a capable financier and patriot, the company had twenty years of great pros- perity and remarkable dividends. It was inevitable then that another move should be made and the American Hotel, opposite the State House on Chestnut Street, was
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EARLY PHILADELPHIA
purchased for the new building, where the business now remains. Born in an inn, it continues its career upon the site of taverns from the earliest settlement, as has already been related. Clarke's Inn, the Coach and Horses, the Half-Moon, the State House Inn, the American House, by whatever name the hostelry went, were busy places, but no frequenter could ever have imagined the vast structure which contains one of the largest banking rooms in the world.
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