USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Vol. III > Part 21
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Major William Sproat-Ancestry: Third child of Rev. James Sproat, D. D. (see above). Personal: Born 1757, Guilford, Connecticut ; of medium height, dark eyes, light handsome figure, easy in movements, pleasant manners, of few words, prudent
and careful in remarks. A merchant at Philadelphia. An original member of the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsyl- vania. During the Revolution was a ser- geant, Kent County, Maryland, Company of Associators of Freemen of Maryland, under compact of July 26th, 1775; ensign Maryland Associators ; first lieutenant 4th Regiment Pennsylvania Line, January 3rd, 1777 ; captain-lieutenant 4th Regiment Penn- sylvania Line, 17th April, 1779; captain 4th Regiment Pennsylvania Line, 17th April, 1779; captain 3rd Regiment Pennsylvania Line, January 17th, 1781. Retired January Ist, 1783. Brevet major under Act of Con- gress. In battles at Valley Forge, Brandy- wine, Germantown and Monmouth. (Refer- ences, viz .: Maryland Archives, vol. xi, page 298; Penna. Archives, 2nd series, vol. IO, pages 490-491-451). Died October 11th, 1793, Philadelphia, in 36th year, of yellow fever ; buried Laurel Hill Cemetery, Phila- delphia.
Married, October 11th, 1792, Maria (died Oct. 17th, 1793), daughter of Colonel John B. Thompson, of Maryland. (Reference, viz .: Matrons of the Revolution, by Dr. Eagle). Issue-One child, James William Sproat (see below).
Colonel James William Sproat-Ances- try: Only child of William Sproat (see above). Personal: Born Philadelphia, July 3rd, 1793. Member of the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania, in right of his father. Business, merchant. Military history: In defence of Philadelphia, Sep- tember 8th, 1814, to January 2nd, 1815. Captain of Germantown Blues, a light in- fantry company attached to 2nd Brigade, Ist Division, Pennsylvania Militia, stationed at Marcus Hook. Commissioned by Gov- ernor Findlay to be colonel of 47th Regi- ment of Militia, in 2nd Brigade of the Ist Division, and commissioned by Governor Snyder, captain of Germantown Blues, Sep- tember 8th, 1814. (From Official Records. See also Watson's Annals of Philadelphia, vol. i, page 330 (ed. of 1877).) Died Au-
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gust 15th, 1821, in 29th year, Philadelphia; buried Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.
Married, September 24th, 1812, Margaret Statira Lindsay, of Pictou, Nova Scotia, died April 30th, 1828, in 31st year ; buried Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia. Issue -Three children, viz: Ist, Harris Lind- say Sproat (see below). 2nd, Dr. William Sproat, born August 31st, 1814, died Au- gust 21st, 1840; graduate of Princeton, N. J., also Medical Department of the Penn- sylvania College; married; no issue. 3rd, Spencer Sheepshanks Sproat, born Septem- ber 8th, 1815, died July 4th, 1841 ; single ; graduate of Princeton, N. J .; attorney-at- law.
Harris Lindsay Sproat, Esquire-Ances- try: Eldest child of James William Sproat (see above). Personal: Born August 7th, 1813, Philadelphia. Educated at Lawrence- ville Academy, New Jersey; graduated at Princeton, New Jersey, at age of seventeen years. Graduated at Yale College Law School. Studied law in the office of John Sergeant, Esq., of Philadelphia. Admitted to the Philadelphia bar, June 26th, 1852. Practiced law in St. Louis, Missouri, and in Philadelphia. Member of the Presby- terian church, Philadelphia; member of Lodge No. 51, F. and A. M., Pennsylvania. Member of the State Society of the Cincin- nati of Pennsylvania, in right of descent from his grandfather, and vice-president of the Society. Died January 19th, 1872, Philadelphia ; buried Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.
Married, July 21st, 1845, to Caroline Hutchins, born May Ist, 1821, Philadelphia, died September 20th, 1876, Philadelphia, daughter of William Sheepshanks and Ann Spencer. Issue-Ist, Harris Elric Sproat (see below). 2nd, Olive Elrica Sproat, married Charles W. Sparhawk, Philadel- phia. 3rd, William Sheepshanks Sproat, died single. 4th, Caroline Sproat, married Henry Darrach, Esq., Philadelphia.
Harris Elric Sproat-Ancestry: Eldest child of Harris Lindsay Sproat (see above). Personal: Born Philadelphia. In 1876 re-
moved to Chester county, Pennsylvania. A graduate of civil engineering. Elder, super- intendent of Sabbath school, and treasurer Presbyterian Church at Dilworthtown, Penn- sylvania, thirty-one years. Member of the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsyl- vania, in right of descent from great-grand- father. President of said Society. Ex- governor of the Pennsylvania Society of the Order of Founders and Patriots of Amer- ica. Member of the Society Sons of the Revolution. Director Musical Fund Soci- ety of Philadelphia. Member and on board of directors of Pennsylvania Society of the War of 1812. Member Pennsylvania His- torical Society, Philadelphia. Member of the Historical Society of Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Married Eudora Maria Heylin, daughter 'of the late Isaiah B. Heylin, and Maria B. Stevenson, both of Philadelphia. Issue-Six children, all living, viz. :
Ist, Harris Lindsay Sproat, born Philadelphia. Educated West Chester State Normal School. Admitted to Philadelphia bar, November 12th, 1900; to Chester county bar, 1902. Appointed, 1905, Assistant District Attorney of Chester county, and served in that capacity for six years until elected in 1911 the District Attorney of said county. Married Eleanor Brinton Ramsey, daughter of Samuel Dickey Ramsey, attorney at law, of West Chester, Pennsylvania. Issue: Harris Elric Sproat (2nd).
2nd, Mildred Sproat, born Chester county, Pennsylvania: married Hon. William Butler Jr., of Chester county, Pennsylvania. Issue: Ist, William Butler (3rd); 2nd, Caroline Butler.
3rd, Eudora Adele Sproat, born Chester county, Pennsylvania; married Theodore Fassitt Fur- ness, of Philadelphia.
4th, Elric Sparhawk Sproat, born Chester county, Pennsylvania.
5th, Caroline Darrach Sproat, born Chester county, Pennsylvania.
6th, Ronald Sheepshanks Sproat, born Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania.
KELLY, Edward,
Financier.
Pittsburgh owes no small measure of her preëminence to her citizens of Irish birth and parentage. Their versatile genius and
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Edward Kelly for
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indomitable energy have been felt as vital- izing and expanding forces in every one of the essential interests of their adopted city, inparting impetus to their progress and breadth to the scope of their transactions. Conspicuous among those who, during the last forty years, have represented the real estate interests of the Iron City, was the late Edward Kelly, junior, at one time presi- dent of the City Insurance Company, and for many years vice-president of the Wash- ington Trust Company. Mr. Kelly was for nearly half a century a valued citizen of Pittsburgh and was intimately associated with her political, religious and social life.
Edward Kelly was born October 26, 1845, in county Galway, Ireland, a son of Michael and Anne (Reilley) Kelly. At the age of twenty-eight he emigrated to the United States and settled in the old Fifth Ward of Pittsburgh. He immediately associated him- self with an uncle in the real estate business, and was thenceforth continuously identified with that line of endeavor. He was for many years in business for himself in the downtown section of the city, and was one of the best known real estate men in Pitts- burgh. Few were held in higher honor- none, indeed, could be, for his integrity was absolutely unimpeachable and every agree- ment which he made, whether verbal or written, was invariably carried out to the letter. About ten years before his death he retired from active business and was thence- forth chiefly engaged in looking after his private interests which included large real estate holdings throughout the city.
As a progressive and at the same time wisely conservative business man, Mr. Kelly was regarded as a safe adviser and his in- fluence in all boards upon which he served was potent. For six years he was president of the City Insurance Company, retiring during the last year of his life, and at the time of his death he was one of its directors, a position which he had held for a long period. He was one of the founders of the old Washington National Bank which was
taken over by the present Washington Trust Company, and of the latter organization he was for many years vice-president. In all concerns relative to the city's welfare Mr. Kelly's interest was deep and sincere and wherever substantial aid would further pub- lic progress it was freely given. During his carlier life he was active in politics and for some time served as treasurer of the school board of the old Fifth Ward. Widely but unostentatiously charitable, no good work done in the name of philanthropy or religion sought his cooperation in vain. From the time of his coming to Pittsburgh to the close of his life he was a member of St. Paul's (Roman Catholic) Cathedral, and for a number of years previous to his death served on the church committee. He also belonged to the committees in charge of St. Paul's Orphan Asylum and St. Joseph's Protectory, being deeply interested in all forms of church work and enterprise.
The fine, open, strongly-marked counte- nance of Mr. Kelly, lighted by a pair of keen blue eyes, showed him to be what he was-a splendid type of the alert, energetic, progressive business man with whom ob- stacles serve rather as an impetus to re- newed labor than as a bar to progress. A man of action rather than words, he demon- strated his public spirit by actual achieve- ments which advanced the prosperity and wealth of the community. To whatever he undertook he gave his whole soul, allowing none of the many interests intrusted to him to suffer for want of close and able atten- tion and industry. His many estimable qualities of head and heart surrounded him, in private as well as in public life, with a large circle of influential and warmly- attached friends. He was an exemplary citizen and a true gentleman.
Mr. Kelly married, November 26, 1884, Clementine, daughter of Willis and Ellen (Staton) Hodgson, and they became the parents of the following children : Edward, a priest of the Sacred Heart Roman Cath- olic Church, of Pittsburgh ; Willis M., John
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C., Helen A., Nanna L., Clementine B., Hilda M., Clare A., and Madeline M. Mrs. Kelly, a woman of rare wifely qualities and admirably fitted by her excellent practical mind to be a helpmate to her husband in his aspirations and ambitions, is a most accom- plished home-maker, and Mr. Kelly, the rul- ing motive of whose life was love for his family, ever found at his own fireside a refuge from the storm and stress of the arena of business.
In the death of Mr. Kelly, which occurred March 20, 1913, Pittsburgh sustained the loss of a business man of marked force whose career well exemplified the power of constant labor well applied, especially when the effort is joined with personal qualities which command the esteem and respect of our fellow men. Such men are indeed rare, and, whenever found, are an honor to the community in which they reside. Among the many tributes to the character and work of Mr. Kelly was the following resolution adopted by the Washington Trust Com- pany :
Resolved, That in the death of Edward Kelly, junior, the Washington Trust Company has met with a loss which it most keenly feels, and the vacancy caused by his demise will be difficult to fill. Modest and retiring, a man of few words, he was nevertheless a man of action and energy. He could be depended upon to perform the task assigned to him with thoroughness and fidelity. It was these qualities, as well as his ripe judg- ment, which made him such a valuable official to this institution. He was a kind husband, a de- voted father, a sincere friend and a real God- fearing man.
To words such as these what could be added? Are they not the highest eulogy ?
MURRIN, James B., Lawyer, Public Official.
The present mayor of Carbondale, Mr. James B. Murrin, is an eminent lawyer of that place, where he has been practicing his profession along general lines for more than half a score of years. He is a native of this city, where he was born November 30, 1874,
being the son of John Murrin, now de- ceased, who was an extensive coal operator here some years ago.
Mayor Murrin was a student at the Car- bondale High School, and after completing his studies there entered upon a three-year collegiate course at Georgetown University, Washington, D. C. At the conclusion of the latter course he entered the law office of James E. Burr, where he remained for eighteen months; he was then admitted to the bar, and has since engaged in the active practice of the law in this city. His admis- sion to the bar covered all the courts, State and Federal, from the United States Su- preme Court down; and he has appeared with great success before all. He has ob- tained most enviable recognition in his prac- tice, and is a member of various legal soci- eties and other important organizations. He belongs to the Pennsylvania State, Lacka- wanna County, and Carbondale Bar Asso- ciations ; and is a member of the board of directors of the Liberty Bank of Carbon- dale, of which he is also counsel.
Mr. Murrin has for many years been prominent in Democratic political circles in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and has been delegate to various conventions ; he is now vice-chairman of the Democratic Central Committee. In the year 1911 he was elected mayor of Carbondale, and so far has proved a most able and efficient administrator of municipal affairs. His prompt action in re- moving from office the Carbondale Board of Health when, during the outbreak of small- pox in August, 1912, that body proved by its dilatory and ineffectual methods that it was incapable of dealing with the emer- gency or of checking and controlling the situation, won for him the very high regard of the community and the country at large. Mayor Murrin took entire charge of the matter ; he closed the churches, schools, theatres, and all other places of public as- semblage, and called in the State author- ities. This action quieted the dread appre- hension of the public in Carbondale and
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surrounding towns, and met with the hearty approval of the press and high medical au- thorities.
Mayor Murrin is unmarried, devoting all of his interests to his high office and the active practice of the law. He has exten- sive real estate holdings and other financial investments, outside of the estate of his father, which is still being conducted in its entirety. He is a man in the prime of life and the full vigor of his faculties; and the outlook for an even more distinguished career in the future, with fuller and more ambitious service in the affairs of his coun- try, is a brilliant one. He has the courage of his convictions, is prompt, strong, and independent, and has made a wise and able executive. The people of the city whose interests he has so well upheld and pro- tected, owe him a debt of gratitude and affection which they are ready and willing to repay.
Mayor Murrin is one of a family of five brilliant brothers. Dr. Joseph S. Murrin, one of the best known of these, after hav- ing graduated at the High School and taken the course in the Medical Department of Georgetown University, has become suc- cessively a member of the staff of George- town Hospital; the Episcopal Hospital and the Children's Hospital, both at Washing- ton, D. C .; and the New York Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital. Mr. Frank Murrin, also a graduate of Carbondale High School, is now general manager of the Mur- rin mining interests. Mr. John Murrin, graduating at Carbondale High School and the School of the Lackawanna at Scranton, entered Harvard University, where he was graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1907, completing a four-year course in three years ; he is now a registered law student in the office of his brother, the mayor. Mr. Hugh Murrin is now a student in the Col- legiate Department of Georgetown Univer- sity, having graduated, like his brothers, from Carbondale High School; he shows promise also of a bright future.
WHITLOCK, Sidney Berry,
Glass Manufacturer.
The Whitlock family, from whom Sid- ney Berry Whitlock is descended, is of New England extraction. Frederick Whitlock, his uncle, enlisted in a volunteer regiment of Connecticut Infantry during the Civil War, and died in a military hospital. His brother, Walter Whitlock, enlisted from Woodbury, Connecticut, in another volun- teer infantry regiment to serve in the same war; and Edward Whitlock, another brother, father of Sidney Berry Whit- lock, was a sea captain during the earlier years of his life, but retired to New Mil- ford, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming and manufac- turing. He was born in 1835, in Brooklyn, New York, and died in 1903, at his home in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He married Ellen Maria Boyle, daughter of James and Maria Boyle, at New Milford, Pennsylvania. They had issue four children, namely: 1. Sidney Berry Whitlock, of whom see following. 2. James Boyle Whitlock, born in New Mil- ford, Pennsylvania, in 1863. 3. Edward P. Whitlock, born in 1869, in New Milford, Pennsylvania ; married Mildred Gibson, in Philadelphia ; issue of this marriage, Elea- nor Jeaneatt Whitlock. 4. Lillian Phyfe Whitlock, married Albert W. Porter, of New York City.
Sidney Berry Whitlock, son of Edward and Ellen Maria (Boyle) Whitlock, was born April 1, 1860, at New Milford, Sus- quehanna county, Pennsylvania. He re- ceived such education as was afforded by the public schools of New Milford; was then employed by the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company, at Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he remained for several years. He then became associated with the Scranton Glass Company and represented them in Philadelphia until 1896. Meanwhile he en- gaged in the glass manufacturing business at Baltimore, Maryland, and later became financially interested in the Hazel-Atlas
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Glass Company of Wheeling, West Vir- ginia. He represents the last mentioned company with offices at 256 Broadway, New York City.
In politics he is a Republican, but does not take an active part in partisan politics. He is a member of the Fort Henry Club of Wheeling, West Virginia ; the Pennsyl- vania Society of New York; the Hardware Club of New York City; the Indian River Club of Delaware; the Mastigouche Fish and Game Club of Canada; the Atlantic Yacht Club of Sea Gate; and the New York Athletic Club. Prior to his removal from Pennsylvania, he served about five years as a member of the 13th Infantry Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard.
He married Mae Gaige, daughter of Henry L. and Mary D. Gaige, in 1888, at Moscow, Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania. No children as issue of this marriage.
McCLUNG, William H.,
Lawyer, Professional Instructor.
William H. McClung was born Novem- ber 22, 1854, in Plum township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of the Rev. Samuel M. and Nancy Cowan (Gil- christ ) McClung. The Rev. Mr. McClung was one of the prominent divines of his day.
William H. McClung received his pre- liminary education in public schools, and after graduating from the Pittsburgh High School he entered the office of his brother, Samuel Alfred McClung, a prominent at- torney of Pittsburgh, afterwards for many years judge of Common Pleas Court No. 3, of Allegheny county. He was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar December 16, 1876. Immediately after his admission to the bar his preceptor took Mr. McClung into part- nership, and the two continued for a num- ber of years. His next partnership was formed with the Hon. J. A. Evans, and the two conducted their business under the firm name of McClung & Evans. This partner- ship lasted for a considerable time, and
then Mr. McClung became a member of the firm of Chantler, McGill & McClung. The firm is known now as Chantler & McClung. From 1895 to 1905 Mr. McClung served as one of the lecturers at the Pittsburgh Law School. The University of Pittsburgh con- ferred upon him in 1895 the degree of LL. B. In politics he is a Republican, and he is a member of the Duquesne, Union, University and Oakmont Country clubs.
LENTZ, La Fayette, Retired Railroad Builder and Mine Oper- ator.
La Fayette Lentz, who is a prominent factor in the business and social circles of Carbon county, Pennsylvania, has always displayed the enterprise and progressive spirit which has made him a typical Amer- ican. By constant exertion and good judg- ment, he has raised himself to a prominent position, has the friendship of many, and the respect of all who know him.
Conrad Lentz, his grandfather, who set- tled in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, prior to the Revolutionary War, was a school teacher by profession, and died at an early age.
John, son of Conrad Lentz, was born in Whitehall . township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, in 1795, and died in Mauch Chunk, in 1875. A shoemaker by occupa- tion, he abandoned what was in those days a profitable calling and started as a hotel proprietor at Mauch Chunk. Later he re- moved to Weissport, where he also con- ducted a hotel, returned to Mauch Chunk for a time, and finally settled at Lehighton. In the meantime he had also been engaged in contract work on an extensive scale, being closely associated with Asa Packer, and upon the completion of the Lehigh canal they were the first to run a boat upon it. He was a leading spirit in the move- ment which resulted in the division of Northampton county into the counties of Monroe, Lehigh, Carbon and Northampton.
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L'afayette Lentz
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He served as Associate Judge of the Car- bon County Court, and was later elected to the office of sheriff by a large majority. During the War of 1812 he was commis- sioned a colonel, and thereafter he was always known as Colonel Lentz. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was one of the first to volunteer his services, but they were refused because of his advanced age. At the age of seventy he organized a company of Reserves at Lehighton, Pennsylvania, and as their captain led them to Harrisburg in defence of the Union. He was a mem- ber of the Lutheran church, in which he had frequently held official position, and was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity. Colonel Lentz married (first) Mary Lacer, who bore him six children, all of whom are deceased with the exception of La Fayette, whose name heads this sketch. He married (second) Julia Winter Barnet, widow of John Barnet, and had a daughter who is now the widow of William C. Morris. He married (third) Elizabeth (High) Metzgar, also a widow when he married her, by whom he had: John S .; Alice, deceased ; Franklin P.
La Fayette, son of Colonel John and Mary (Lacer) Lentz, was born at Lehigh Gap, Carbon county, Pennsylvania, Febru- ary 29, 1828. His education was the usual one for a boy in those days, and his first business position was as clerk in a store in Parryville, Pennsylvania. Later he devoted his time and attention to railroad contract- ing, becoming one of the original con- tractors of the Lehigh Valley railroad. Im- portant sections of the Morris & Essex, the North Pennsylvania, and the Easton & Am- boy railroads were also constructed under his direction, and he was the builder of the Vosburg tunnel in Wyoming county. Coal mining commenced to engage the attention of Mr. Lentz in 1868, and since that time he has been very successful as an operator in this field near Mahanoy City, Pennsyl- vania. He became senior member of the firm of Lentz & Company, a prominent
company conducting its operations at Park Place, Pennsylvania. Recently Mr. Lentz has disposed of his coal mining interests and has withdrawn from active participation in business matters. This does not, however, mean that he is leading a life of retirement. On the contrary, it is just as full as ever of activity, only this is of another kind. Al- ways a lover of nature, and natural sports, Mr. Lentz now devotes much of his time to hunting and fishing, with an ardor which cannot be surpassed by men much his juniors in point of years. He is also as enthusiastic as ever in the matter of ball playing, and while he no longer actively in- dulges in this, he takes the keenest pleasure in it as a spectator. He maintains a fine suite of rooms at the American Hotel, Mauch Chunk, and delights in taking long and frequent tramps through the beautiful country near him.
Mr. Lentz married Mary Swartz, who died in 1879. She was a daughter of John Swartz, a farmer and hotel proprietor of Northampton county. They had children : John, James and La Fayette, who died in infancy ; William O., who has succeeded his father in the latter's business operations; Horace De Y., an attorney-at-law.
LENTZ, Horace De Y.,
Lawyer.
Horace De Y. Lentz, attorney and coun- sellor-at-law in Carbon county, Pennsyl- vania, has long been recognized as a force- ful factor in the community interests. Few men are more widely known in Mauch Chunk, for he has taken a leading part in professional, political and social circles. He is public-spirited, and thoroughly interested in whatever tends to advance the welfare of his city, and his connection with its affairs has proven of far-reaching and bene- ficial effect. The early history of his fam- ily will be found in detail in the sketch of his father, La Fayette Lentz.
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