USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Vol. III > Part 45
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the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. After the death of Edward Brooke the different properties were organized into two com- panies, the E. & G. Brooke Iron Company and the E. & G. Brooke Land Company, none of the property changing hands, how- ever, and George Brooke becoming presi- dent of both companies.
George Brooke, outside of the above mentioned affairs, identified himself with numerous other Berks county interests, and was also active in public and municipal affairs. He and his brother were among the originators of the First National Bank of Reading, of which George Brooke was president for many years and until his death; he was one of the founders of the Pennsylvania Trust Company of Reading, of which he was also president ; was a direc- tor of the Wilmington and Northern Rail- way Company and the Schuylkill Naviga- tion Company; treasurer of the Keystone Coal Company of West Virginia ; president of the Birdsboro Steel Foundry and Ma- chine Company; the latter moved from Pottsville to Birdsboro in 1885, having for- merly been known as the Diamond Drill and Machine Company. From a small con- cern it has grown to immense size and is one of the largest machine shops in East- ern Pennsylvania, comprising shops, iron and steel foundries. George Brooke was also the father of the Birdsboro water sup- ply system, which consists of large reser- voirs built in the hills south of the town, filled with purest water from mountain streams and borough to the borough through two large mains. This department of his business was for its better conduct sepa- rated from the E. & G. Brooke Iron Com- pany and transferred to a separate com- pany, the Birdsboro Water Company.
In 1837 the Brookes opened a store in the old Bird mansion, soon afterward moving to a regular store building at the Canal Lock. In 1875 they erected a fine store building, which was burned when nearing completion. It was at once rebuilt, and not
only is a spacious store, but contains the large auditorium, Brooke Hall, which occu- pies the third story. George Brooke was also one of the founders of the Birdsboro National Bank, served as its president for a time, and was then succeeded by his son Edward. He served repeatedly in the bor- ough council, and for several years was president of this body. He served also on the school board, as director of the library, and was influential in the Episcopal church, serving as vestryman, and being a pillar of strength to every legitimate enterprise, re- ligious, philanthropic or charitable. He was fond of travel, visited every State in the Union, and toured Europe. Fond of out- door life, he was proficient in all kinds of sports in his early life, and always encour- aged them. When past his ninetieth year he was virtually overseer of his vast busi- ness interests, found time to assist in the advising of other operations, and main- tained complete control of the details inci- dent to the management of his large private fortune.
This wonderful nonogenarian was a courteous, affable, gentleman, a type of the best American citizenship, active and useful in every enterprise with which he was con- nected, and serving his fellowmen while also promoting his own interest. He was held in almost reverence in Birdsboro, and regarded with filial affection by the people among whom his entire life was spent. Al- though he had a winter home in Philadel- phia, where he occasionally passed a few months, his beautiful mansion overlooking Birdsboro was seldom unoccupied. He vir- tually lived in three generations, outlived the friends of his boyhood, saw many of the second generation fade and die, and a third take their places and come to years of maturity. His was a wonderful life, filled with varying experiences, but one well spent and brought to full fruition. The vast in- terests he created were well founded, and exist to-day, many of them under the im- mediate direction of his two capable sons.
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George Brooke married, in 1862, Mary Baldwin Irwin, daughter of John H. Irwin, and granddaughter of Captain Stephen Baldwin, a shipowner and merchant of Phil- adelphia. John H. Irwin was a maternal grandson of Frederick Augustus Muhlen- berg, first speaker of the House of Repre- sentatives. Two sons were born to George and Mary B. (Irwin) Brooke-Edward and George.
BROOKE, Edward, Manufacturer, Financier.
Edward Brooke, son of George and Mary Baldwin (Irwin) Brooke, was born at Philadelphia, June 4, 1863. He was edu- cated at the well-known Brown School, now called the Delancey, and was also a mem- ber of the class of 1886 of the University of Pennsylvania. Subsequently Mr. Brooke became identified with his father in the iron and steel business and other interests. He inherited to a marked degree, business abil- ity and working capacity, and is now the capable president of the E. & G. Brooke Iron Company, at Birdsboro; the First Na- tional Bank, of Birdsboro; the E. & G. Brooke Land Company, of Birdsboro; the Pennsylvania Trust Company of Reading. He is a director in a number of important industries, including the Birdsboro Steel Foundry and Machine Company. Birds- boro; the Birdsboro Water Company; Wil- mington and Northern Railway Company.
Mr. Brooke married, October 12, 1887, A. Louise Clingan, a daughter of Dr. Charles M. and Maria T. (Brooke) Clin- gan, natives of Philadelphia. Children: 1. George, third of the name, born at Birds- boro, July 7, 1888; was graduated from the Delancey School in 1908, and from the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania in 1912. 2. Ed- ward Jr., born January 10, 1890; was grad- uated from the Delancey School. 3. Charles, born January 24, 1892 ; was graduated from the Delancey School in 1911. 4. Mary B. I., born October 16, 1897; still a student at
the school of Miss Irwin, in Philadelphia. The family still maintains a residence at Birdsboro, and at Philadelphia, and are members of the Episcopal church. Mr. Brooke is a member of the following named clubs : The Philadelphia Club, Philadelphia Country Club, and the Philadelphia Four- in-Hand Club. He is very fond of out- door sports, has figured prominently in coaching circles, and maintains a well equip- ped stable of horses and carriages, as well as his up-to-date garage. As is character- istic of his family, Mr. Brooke is the em- bodiment of culture and refinement, and enjoys the confidence, respect and honor of his workmen, associates, townsmen and a large circle of friends. He also exhibits a fine artistic temperament and, like his father, has well developed and practical ideas of architectural beauty and proportion, as ex- emplified in the new addition to his house at Birdsboro, which he planned and super- vised personally, working out the details with an economy of space and exhibition of practical skill that would do credit to the experienced builder.
Charles M. Clingan, M. D., father of Mrs. Edward Brooke, was born in Chester coun- ty, Pennsylvania, March 18, 1820. His father, William Clingan, was the owner of Laurel Iron Works, Chester county, Penn- sylvania, where he died before reaching his thirtieth year. His grandfather, William Clingan, was a native of Ireland, and came to this country in order to establish a mer- cantile business which, combined with agri- cultural pursuits. he carried on in the south- ern portion of Chester county. He, with Robert Morris, Daniel Roberdean, I. Bay- ard Smith and Joseph Reed, represented Pennsylvania in the framing of the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union be- tween the States, which were ratified at Philadelphia on July 22, 1778. His grand- mother was a granddaughter of Colonel Thomas Bull, of Revolutionary fame. After the completion of a preparatory course, Dr. Clingan began the study of medicine, being
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graduated from the Jefferson Medical Col- lege, in Philadelphia, in 1840. He followed his profession in Chester county four years, but finding an active business life more to his taste, abandoned medical practice in order to embark in the manufacture of iron at Rock Furnace, Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania. He was married, March 14, 1843, by Rev. Levi Bull, rector of St. Mary's Church, Warwick, Pennsylvania, to Maria T., daughter of Clement Brooke, of Hope- well Furnace. Of their eight children but one is now living. Of the other children, Charles B. died October 4, 1903, A. Hunter died March 10, 1905, and Anne Louise, now the wife of Edward Brooke. After his marriage Dr. Clingan assumed charge of the Hopewell Furnace, which was the property of his father-in-law. He also, until his death, devoted much time to the manage- ment of the Hopewell estate, comprising 5,000 acres of land situated in the southern portion of Berks county and the northern portion of Chester county. In 1859 he re- moved to Philadelphia and became engaged in the mercantile and banking business. He was a prominent member of the Commercial Exchange, and president of the Keystone National Bank. On March 27, 1875, Dr. Clingan was stricken with a sudden and fatal illness. His widow, Maria T. Brooke, died May 17, 1904.
BROOKE, George, Jr., Manufacturer, Financier.
George Brooke Jr., younger son of George and Mary Baldwin ( Irwin) Brooke, has from boyhood been familiar and from early inanhood connected with the important Brooke iron and steel interests, located at and around Birdsboro, Berks county, Penn- sylvania. His great-grandfather, Matthew Brooke, was the pioneer in this family to engage in iron manufacture there, his busi- ness being developed by his grandsons, Ed- ward and George, as told elsewhere, and still further developed and expanded by George
Brooke, the first, and when he died, in his ninety-third year, he was succeeded by his son, George, the second of the name, at which time the business had so increased in magnitude, that it had been divided into two corporations-the E. & G. Brooke Iron Company, and the E. & G. Brooke Land Company, owning steel plants, mines, ma- chine shops, machine building mills, fac- tories, holding large interests in banks, etc. To this business George Brooke Jr. came, a young college graduate, beginning in the mills, passing through the office department, and rising to the presidency of some of the adjunct companies prior to the death of his father, whom he succeeded. There is that in the Brooke blood which makes for com- petency, and the career of the George Brooke of this sketch is but another exempli- fication of the fact.
George Brooke was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, obtaining his education in private schools and preparing therein for college. He entered the University of Pennsylvania, and after a thorough course was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. From the University he accepted a position with the E. & G. Brooke Iron Company at Birdsboro, first working in the rolling mills and mastering the de- tails of the business from that angle. He then passed to the offices, and was in time elected secretary of the company, and later a director. Prior to the death of his honored father, his sons had taken much of the burden from the latter's shoulders, George Brooke, the second, being president of the Birdsboro Electric Company, director of the Pennsylvania Trust Company, director of the Farmers' National Bank ( both of Read- ing, Pennsylvania), director and acting vice- president of the First National Bank of Reading, vice-president of the First Na- tional Bank of Birdsboro (his brother Ed- ward being president), secretary of the E. & G. Brooke Iron Company. After the death of his father, he and his brother suc- ceeded him in many of his official positions,
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George Brooke becoming president of the First National Bank of Reading.
Mr. Brooke is a thoroughly capable man of affairs, and administers the trusts re- posed in him wisely. He manifests the same lively regard for the welfare of Birdsboro and her interests that has ever distinguished his family, has for fifteen years served as a member of the borough council, makes that town his permanent home, although maintaining a fine town residence in Phila- delphia. He is a Republican in political opinion, and has served on the staff of Gov- ernor Stewart, with the rank of lieutenant- colonel. He is an extensive traveler, has toured Europe several times, and has visited all parts of his native country. He is a member of the Sons of the Revolution, the Society of Colonial Wars, and the Episcopal church. Fond of all outdoor sports, he be- longs to the Wyonessing Club of Reading ; Berkshire Country Club; and in Philadel- phia, to the Philadelphia Club, the Ritten- house Racquet Club and the Philadelphia Country Club.
URE, Walter, Physician and Surgeon.
Among the prominent physicians of the "Iron City" is Dr. Walter Ure. Dr. Ure, who is a native of Scotland, his ancestors being people of sterling character and high repute in Scottish annals, has been a resi- dent of Pittsburgh for many years.
Dr. Ure's paternal grandfather, Walter Ure, of Belfron, Scotland, was a farmer of prominence in his day and a member of the Presbyterian church. He had four sons : James, Robert, Alexander and John. Alex- ander became a leading lawyer in Glasgow, where he married and reared two children. His daughter Isabella became wife of John Elder, a prominent marine engineer, mem- ber of the great ship building firm of Ran- dolph & Elder, on the river Clyde. During his life John Elder amassed great wealth, all of which was given to charity, his wife
carrying on his philanthropic work after his death.
Robert Ure, son of Walter Ure, was born in Scotland and lived there until past mid- dle age. In 1838, accompanied by his wife and children, he emigrated to America, locat- ing in Columbus, Ohio. A short time after- ward he removed to Springfield, Ohio, and thence in 1841 to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he remained until his death in 1849, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Mickleham, died in 1855. Both were deeply religious and members of the Associated Presbyterian church, bringing up their family of six sons and two daughters in the same faith. Among their children were: James, of Denver, Colorado; William, of Omaha, Nebraska ; Walter (see forward) : Rev. David M., de- ceased.
Dr. Walter Ure, son of Robert and Jane (Mickleham) Ure, was born September 5. 1832, in Stirlingshire, Scotland. He was a lad of six years when he crossed the At- lantic with his parents. He subsequently obtained his early education in the public schools of Ohio and Iowa, also receiving instruction from an older sister. In the fall of 1855 he entered Miami University, from which he was graduated in 1859. Coming then to Allegheny City (now the North- side, Pittsburgh), he studied theology and medicine until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he was made assistant surgeon of United States Volunteers, a special rank to which he was appointed by President Lincoln, his appointment being confirmed by the Senate. After serving in the army he completed his medical studies at the School of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. Since that time Dr. Ure has been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in Pittsburgh, where he has gained a wide reputation for skill and built up an extensive patronage. In politics he is an ardent Republican, and while he has never allowed himself to ac- cept office, his opinions are often asked in
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matters political. He has never sought nor looked after popularity, but anyone who has met him in social life can bear testimony to the charm and affability of the man, and anyone who has ever sat at his hospitable board would pronounce him the incompara- ble host. A man of much force of character and strong individuality, his pleasant, social manner has won him a host of warm friends.
Dr. Ure married, March 15, 1887, Miss Margaret Grove, daughter of Frederick and Mary (Ray) Grove. Children of Dr. and Mrs. Ure : Mary Ray ; Frances ; David M., deceased; Catherine Hukill, deceased ; Wal- ter, deceased ; Elwood, deceased. The fam- ily are very popular in social and religious circles of the city, Mrs. Ure and Miss Mary Ray Ure being members of the Tourists' Literary and Musical Club of Pittsburgh and of the Tuesday Musical Club of Pitts- burgh. The family are members of the Fourth United Presbyterian Church.
A man of domestic tastes, Dr. Ure has been looked upon as one of the sterling citi- zens of Pittsburgh, who in every relation of life has stood as an upright, honorable man, advocating progressive interests, with a ready recognition of one's duties and ob- ligations to their fellows. His life has been crowned with merited success, its record being well worth preserving, and in it the coming generation will find much for in- struction and improvement.
GREEN, Henry D., Lawyer, Congressman, Journalist.
The record of this branch of the Green family in Berks county is one of continuous public service and usefulness from the ar- rival of the Quaker ancestor, William Green, from Ireland, in 1760, to his great- great-grandson, Henry D. Green, of Read- ing-lawyer, representative, State Senator, Congressman, soldier, publisher, and man of affairs.
Friends, came from county Cork, Ireland, in 1760, at the age of eighteen years, set- tling in Maxatawney township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, there conducting' a large mercantile business. In 1779 he located in Reading, and was its burgess in 1788 and its assessor in 1792, a merchant in 1808, and died in 1828. He married twice, and raised a large family, members of which in each generation have attained a high position in public and business life.
William Green (2nd), son of William Green, the founder, was born in Maiden- creek township, Berks county, in 1777, and located at Orwigsburg, then Berks (now Schuylkill) county. He was the first sheriff of that county, and assumed office in 1811. In 1799 he married Elizabeth Shomo, and had issue. He moved to Reading about 1813, and carried on a large mercantile business there.
John Green, son of William Green (2nd), was born in Manheim township, Schuylkill county, in 1800, and came to Reading with his father. He became a leading merchant ; was for years leader of the Democratic party for Berks county, and held the offices of register of wills and recorder of deeds. He married Catharine Bright, and left six sons and two daughters. David Green, a son, for thirty years was judge of the courts of Schuylkill county. George W. Green, a son, left for the Civil War with the first defenders, and died as a captain in the regular army in 1866, with three Con- gressional brevets-to captain and major for bravery in the field, and to lieutenant- colonel for general bravery. Erastus Green was United States marshal at St. Louis, and all three were educated at Yale. Na- thaniel Green, a son, graduated at Annap- olis, and died as a lieutenant-commander in the United States Navy, having served in the entire Civil War.
Albert G. Green, eldest son of John Green, was born in Reading, December 6, 1828. He graduated at Yale with the class
William Green, the American founder of the family, a member of the Society of of '49, and was a leading lawyer for over
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half a century at the Berks county bar, to which he was admitted November 11, 1851. He was a gentleman in the best sense of the word, and true to the strictest code of pro- fessional honor. In 1898 he was active in organizing the Historical Society of Berks County, and was elected its president, which position he held at the time of his death. In 1856 he married Rebecca, daughter of William P. Dickinson, and left three sons- Henry D., Herbert R., and George W .; and four daughters-Ella E., Elizabeth D., Anna B., and Julia R.
Henry D. Green, eldest son of Albert G. Green, was born at Reading, May 3, 1857. He graduated in 1872 at the Reading High School, and at Yale with the class of '77, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. No- vember 10, 1879, he was admitted to the Berks county bar; in 1880 to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania ; and in 1900 to the United States Supreme Court. In 1882 he began his public career as legislator, repre- senting the city of Reading in the sessions of 1883 and 1885. He became State Sena- tor in 1888, and held that position for eight years, being reëlected in 1892 with a major- ity of 8,454. He served as captain of Com- pany G, Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the war with Spain, until mustered out at the expiration of the service. In 1899 he was elected to Congress from the Berks- Lehigh District, and reëlected in 1901, serv- ing during the sessions of the Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh Congresses. His record of service rendered his party in the Legis- lature and Congress is shown by the posi- tions he held. He was three times chosen candidate for president pro tem of the Sen- ate; chairman of the Inauguration Com- mittee at Governor Patterson's last inaugu- ration; member representing Pennsylvania in the Democratic Congressional Commit- tee; delegate to the National Convention at Kansas City; and repeatedly delegate and officer at State, county and municipal con- ventions ; president of the Americus Club ;
city chairman, and county district repre- sentative.
The tangible benefits accruing to Berks county are in daily evidence, and Mr. Green is credited with much that Berks county en- joys from the building up and location of public institutions within its borders. He was the leading factor in securing in 1883 an appropriation of $30,000 from the State for the erection of the Reading Hospital, and frequent appropriations adding to its buildings, equipment and maintenance ; also appropriations through which the Homœo- pathic Hospital reached its high position. The Hospital for the Chronic Insane at Wernersville was located there mainly through his efforts. The Orphans' Court of Berks County, which was the only county under 150,000 population which was given by the Legislature an Orphans' Court, is due to liis aggressive work. The Keystone Nor- mal School at Kutztown, through appropria- tions obtained, was enlarged, added to, and made one of the best educational institutions in the State. He led the successful fight which gave to that institution an equal divi- sion of the maintenance funds appropriated by the State. He successfully conducted the fight by which cities of the third class obtained their extensive charter rights. While in Congress he secured the appro- priation which built the Allentown post- office.
After the war with Spain he was active in organizing the United Spanish War Vet- erans' organization, was the first depart- ment commander of Pennsylvania, and is president of the Spanish War Veterans' Home Association at Reading. After the expiration of his Congressional term in 1903, with his brother Herbert, he formed the Reading Telegram Publishing Company, purchased the evening daily "Reading Tele- gram," and carried on that newspaper for ten years. During this time he was presi- dent of the company, and its member in the Associated Press Association. These two
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brothers added the "Reading Times," and started the publication of that newspaper as a morning daily in connection with "The Telegram." The entire newspaper situa- tion in Reading was changed through the aggressive work they did upon these news- papers. From 1903 to 1913 Reading news- papers changed from being the poorest newspapers in the State to their present position among its best dailies.
Mr. Green was one of the organizers and president of the Reading Real Estate Ex- change, to which position after his election to Congress he was succeeded by his brother, Herbert R., who is the present manager of that corporation. This corporation has added largely to the number of Reading homes, and promoted real estate operations of benefit to the city.
Mr. Green is a member of the University and Pen and Pencil clubs of Philadelphia ; the Wyomissing, University and Press clubs of Reading, and is president of the Penn- sylvania Federation of Social Organiza- tions. During his whole life he has re- mained an active member of the Berks county bar, and is now an active practi- tioner. He was never married.
PLUMER, Lewis M., Lawyer, Man of Affairs.
Pittsburgh's supremacy among the steel cities of the world is based primarily upon her superior brain-power, not upon her muscle or her coal, and the great reservoir of that brain-power has always been found in the strength of her bench and bar. Promi- nent among the counsellors whose learning and ability now so ably maintain the prestige of the legal profession in the Iron City is Lewis Mytinger Plumer, officially and in- fluentially identified with a number of lead- ing industrial concerns and financial institu- tions. Mr. Plumer is a representative of an ancient family of New England a branch of which was transplanted about the middle of the eighteenth century to the province of
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