USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Vol. III > Part 52
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director, with place of business at No. 20 John street, New York City, where they have continued since that time.
Prosper Clust is identified with various business and social organizations. He is a member of the Commercial Traders Asso- ciation, the Protectors Association of Com- mercial Men, the Jewelers 24-Karat Club, the Central Branch of the Young Men's Christian Association of Brooklyn; of the Nautilus Boat Club of Brooklyn, Benson- hurst Yacht Club, and the Chicago Athletic Club. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Society of New York, the Order of Wood- men of the World, the Junior Order of Mechanics, the Foresters of America, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks; the Knights of Pythias ; Excelsior Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Brooklyn Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Clinton Commandery, Knights Templar ; and Kismet Temple, An- cient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In politics he is an Independent.
He married Anna Bisinger, daughter of Engelhart Bisinger, a native of Germany, who came to America in 1893, the Ist day of October, 1898, in Brooklyn, New York. She was born in Germany, January 27, 1872; and is the mother of one child, namely: Adelaide Clust, born April 29, 1901, in Brooklyn, New York.
MADDEN, William Jay,
Life Underwriter, Art Critic.
The Maddens of Dublin, Ireland, are probably descended from John Madden, of Bloxham Beauchamp, county Oxford, who was a son of Thomas Madden, of Bloxham Beauchamp in the time of Henry VIII., and said to be a descendant from the Sept of O'Madden. Said Thomas Madden die l May 23, 1635, having had two sons- Thomas Madden, of whom more hereafter ; Robert Madden, of Donore, county Dublin, who married (first) Jane Ward, daughter of J. Ward, of Kilmarta, county Roscom-
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mon, (second) Joyce, daughter of Edward Basset de Hince, of county Stafford, and was ancestor to the Maddens of Meades- brook, and in the female line, of Oliver Goldsmith.
Thomas Madden, the elder son, was of Baggotsrath, near Dublin, and was comp- troller to the Earl of Stafford, who was lord lieutenant of Ireland, and in 1639 a mem- ber of parliament for Dungannon. He mar- ried Elizabeth Pettiver, the only daughter of William Pettiver, of Middleton Cheney, county Northampton, and died January 30, 1640, leaving issue, namely: 1. John Mad- den, his heir. 2. William Madden. 3. Thomas Madden. 4. Mathew Madden, who left issue. 5. Manasses. Also daughters- Sarah Madden, who married John Ball, and Grace Madden. From this family sprang many later families of the name, and they belonged to the landed gentry since the seventeenth century. This particular family is noted for a long line of ministers and lawyers, who have honored the name gen- eration after generation.
William Jay Madden, grandfather of Wil- liam Jay Madden, whose record follows hereafter, lived in or near Dublin, Ireland. His son, William Madden, was born in 1810, and graduated as mechanical engineer from Dublin College. He came to America in 1845, settled in Philadelphia, and pursued his trade there, until his death in 1879, in Philadelphia. He married Margaret Wade, probably in England, before his arrival in America. She was the daughter of a ship owner and navigator whose ships plied the Thames for traffic, and was a forwarder of freights from London to Dublin; he had several brothers who served in the English army and two in America at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, one of whom, Colo- nel Wade, is reputed to be the first man killed in the battle of Bunker Hill. Issue of Mr. and Mrs. William Madden: I. Mary Madden, born in Dublin, Ireland, married William Early, of Philadelphia, was the mother of twelve children, and in
1913 was living in Philadelphia, aged sixty- five years. 2. Margaret Madden, born in Camden, New Jersey ; is the mother of eight children, and was living in 1913, aged sixty- two years. 3. William Jay Madden, of whom more hereafter.
William Jay Madden, son of William and Margaret (Wade) Madden, was born June 15, 1856, in Philadelphia. He attended the public and private schools of Philadelphia, including the Spring Garden Institute; graduated from the High School of Phila- delphia, and attended lectures at the Jeffer- son College of Philadelphia. He early de- veloped a natural talent for drawing, be- came an expert draftsman in outline designs for fresco paintings, and in time ripened into an art critic and connoisseur of rare paintings. During his youth he traveled for a time with Colonel Wade, of the United States Regular Army, as his assistant in land surveying on the Pacific coast in Cali- fornia. At nineteen years of age he engaged in life insurance business as a solicitor ; he was several years with the Equitable Life Assurance Society of New York, then went with the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, and has been local agent for that company some thirty years in New York City.
He married Matilda Legoria McCormick, on May 26, 1882, at Indianapolis, Indiana, the Rev. D. Myron W. Reed officiating. She is the daughter of Edward and Sarah Mc- Cormick, of Cleveland, Ohio, whose kinsman is of harvest reaper fame. She was born March 27, 1862, at Baltimore, Maryland. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Madden: I. Wil- liam Madden, born in June, 1883, at Cleve- land, Ohio, died during infancy. 2. Evelyn Sarah Madden, born at Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania, October 19, 1885; married Leonard Andrew Robinson, in 1906, and died April 23, 1912, without issue. 3. Jay Madden, born September 6, 1890, in New York City; at- tended the public schools of New York, and graduated from the high school in 1907. After leaving school he became a traveling
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salesman for the Parsons Trading Company of New York; traveled extensively in Eu- rope and the Far East for that company, and in 1912 was made resident agent in the Orient, with headquarters at Shanghai, China, where he still continues.
In religion, as in politics, Mr. Madden is very broad-minded, and in consequence, is a popular figure in the various social circles with which he is identified. He has traveled extensively in all the principal countries of the globe, and his mind is well stored with information drawn from his personal ex- perience and observation, and from the best of literature. He has been an active mem- ber of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion for more than thirty years; and is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Montauk Club and the Crescent Club of Brooklyn, New York ; and the Penn- sylvania Society.
MASTERS, Carson Willard, Hotel Proprietor.
There is to-day in Allentown no citizen more popular and at the same time more highly respected than Carson Willard Mas- ters, manager, and also one of the pro- prietors, of the Hotel Allen. For over twenty years Mr. Masters has been closely and prominently identified with many of the leading interests of his home city.
Henry Martin Masters, father of Carson Willard Masters, and son of John Masters, a native of Manchester, England, was born August 2, 1842, at Litiz, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. During the Civil War he en- listed in the One Hundred and Fiftieth Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteers, known as the "Buck Tails;" was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, and hon- orably mustered out August 17, 1863. Mr. Masters married Hannah Rebecca Snyder, born in Union county, daughter of Joseph Snyder, and their children were: Emma Jane; Carson Willard, whose name heads this sketch; Henry Ward Beecher; Katie
Irene, deceased. Mr. Masters died April 5, 1906, leaving an honorable record both as a soldier and a citizen. Mrs. Masters is still living (1913).
Carson Willard Masters, son of Henry Martin and Hannah Rebecca (Snyder) Masters, was born September 11, 1868, in Union county, Pennsylvania, and received his education in the public schools of his native county and in those of Columbia county. He engaged in the trade of paper- making, but after the mill was destroyed by fire Mr. Masters went to Milton and be- came employed in the Godcharles nail plate mill. After a short residence in Shamokin, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, he removed in August, 1888, to Allentown, and there accepted a position in the Hotel Allen. This was in 1890, since which time Mr. Masters has been the manager, and since 1906 one of the proprietors. A man of strongly marked social nature, Mr. Masters belongs to a number of clubs and fraternal organizations, including the Sons of Vet- erans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Goodwill Fire Company, the Clover Club, and he is first president of the Eagles. In politics he is a Progressive, and his religious affiliations are with the Lu- theran church.
Mr. Masters married, August 5, 1897, Minnie Elizabeth R., daughter of Edwin A. Young, of Allentown, who was at one time County Superintendent of Schools. Mr. and Mrs. Masters are the parents of the follow- ing children : Willard Harris, born Novem- ber 12, 1898, died August 5, 1903; Jean Elizabeth, born January 21, 1900; Carson Willard, born June 26, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Masters are popular in the social circles of Allentown.
Mr. Masters has proved himself a truly public-spirited citizen, sincerely interested in the welfare and progress of his home city and doing all in his power to promote it. It is such men as he who encourage and build up the best interests of their commun- ities.
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BROCK, John Penn,
Prominent Manufacturer.
John Penn Brock, a prominent represent- ative of the great iron and steel industry, vice-president of the American Iron and Steel Manufacturing Company, is a de- scendant in the eighth generation from John Brock who preceded William Penn in Penn- sylvania, coming from the county of Ches- ter, England. John Brock was one of the most prominent men of his day, filled vari- ous public offices, and was a member of the Society of Friends. His descendants con- fined themselves to agricultural life until the fifth generation, when the family entered upon broader fields.
John Brock, great-great-grandson of the immigrant, born in Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, January 24, 1792, on arriving at man- hood, engaged in a mercantile business in Doylestown, the county seat, remaining until 1818, when he removed to Philadel- phia and founded the firm of John Brock Sons & Company, one of the largest whole- sale grocery houses in the city, was one of the earliest purchasers of coal lands in Schuylkill county, and one of the promoters of the North Pennsylvania railroad. He was a lieutenant of State troops during the War of 1812-14. His sons, George E., Wil- liam Penn and Charles, were associated with him in business. Another son, Richard Stockton Brock, was a member of the bank- ing firm of W. H. Newbold's Sons & Com- pany.
John Penn Brock, third son of John Brock, was a lawyer. During the Mexican War he served as a second lieutenant in the Eleventh Regiment United States Infantry. He married Julia Watts, who came from a family having a distinguished Revolution- ary War record. His son,
Horace Brock was born in Philadelphia, April 15, 1854, and was educated at the school of Dr. Faires, and in other high class private institutions. In association with his brother, Arthur Brock, he engaged in the
iron business at the Lebanon furnaces, and became interested in other financial and busi- ness enterprises, among which was the First National Bank of Lebanon, where he re- sided for some years. His home is now in Philadelphia. He married Deborah Norris, daughter of Hon. George Dawson and Deb- orah (Brown) Coleman, of Lebanon.
John Penn Brock, only son of Horace and Deborah Norris (Coleman) Brock, was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1879. He was educated at Yale Univer- sity, from which he was graduated with the class of 1900, the year in which he attained his majority. He early became connected with the iron and steel industry. He is highly regarded throughout the country among iron and steel operators, and is vice- president of the American Iron and Steel Manufacturing Company.
Mr. Brock married Pauline Biddle, of Philadelphia, and they have three children -Anna Biddle Brock, born August 21, 1906; Horace Brock Jr., September 12, 1908; Deborah Norris Brock, November 30, 1909.
HAWLEY, Jesse G.,
Accomplished Journalist.
No eulogy of Jesse G. Hawley can too forcibly proclaim his merits, though none is needed in the city of Reading, his monu- ment being the newspaper he founded, and his eulogy every issue of the "Daily Eagle," published since January 28, 1868. To his fellow townsmen and his brethren of the newspaper world he was well known and held in high esteem. To the people of his State, this review of his career will be of interest, as the establishment of "The Eagle" marked an era, and its founder was a splen- did example of the power a good man can exert through his life and influence.
Jesse G. Hawley was born at Pughtown, Chester county, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1839, and died in Reading, April 19, 1903. He was a son of Jesse and Esther Trimble
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Jersey. Hawley.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
(Meredith) Hawley, his ancestors being early settlers of Eastern Pennsylvania. He began his education under the instruction of his maternal uncle, James M. Meredith, a teacher in the South Coventry public schools. He continued his studies at Green- wood Dell Boarding School, in West Brad- ford township, Jonathan Gause being the principal. Later he attended Millersville State Normal School, then entered the Na- tional Law School at Poughkeepsie, New York, having determined upon the law as his profession. His studies there were inter- rupted, and for a time he taught school, a vocation that has often been used by suc- cessful men. He taught in Amity township for a time, but continued his legal studies. In 1859 he made his appearance in Reading as a law student in the office of Major Sam- tiel L. Young. Completing his legal prepara- tion, he was admitted to the Berks county bar in September, 1860, and practiced his profession in Reading four years, taking rank as a strong and forcible advocate, and winning notable victories in jury trials.
But the law was not his true profession, he realizing that journalism offered a more congenial career. He formed a partnership with William S. Ritter (now deceased) on April 1, 1864, and purchased of Charles Kessler the "Readinger Adler," the oldest German newspaper in the United States, and the organ of the Democracy of Berks county. For four years this paper was con- tinued on the old lines, when Mr. Hawley determined upon entering a wider field of journalism. On January 28, 1868, the part- ners launched the "Reading Daily Eagle," a paper marking the transition period in Berks county between the day of the Ger- man newspaper and its successor, the Eng- lish daily. "The Eagle" was started as a four-page, six-column daily paper, the part- ners also purchasing the old "Gazette and Democrat," founded about 1840, and changed its name and published it as the "Weekly Eagle."
At this period Mr. Hawley was thirty years of age and possessed a fine physique, a brilliant mind, and the unerring journal- istic instinct of fathoming the needs of the public and the ability to satisfy that need. He was an able writer, had original ideas, and put them into practice. They were new, but they proved the foundation on which success was built. Life, energy and enthusiasm he infused into the work, and "The Eagle" soon attracted public attention. Mr. Hawley believed in fair play-that there were two sides to every question, and that both sides were entitled to a hearing, hence he opened his columns to both sides on all questions of public interest. He did not deduce or strive for leadership, but be- lieved in printing facts, and trusting to the intelligence of his readers to draw conclu- sions. He was perhaps the first American newspaper publisher to establish a complete system of rural correspondence, realizing the prime importance of local news. "The Eagle" continued Democratic until 1875, when party allegiance was abandoned and a policy of strict independence established. In February, 1877, Mr. Hawley became sole proprietor, establishing the "Sunday Eagle" and imbuing the papers as never before with his own virile personality. The independ- ence of "The Eagle" arose from the editor's belief that an independent paper could per- form a higher public service than a partisan one, and to this course he steadfastly ad- hered. Except on important occasions he abandoned the editorial column, allowing the intelligence of his readers to decide mat- ters, when given a true statement of facts upon which to base a conclusion. Yet there was no shrinking from responsibility on his part, for when the situation called for an expression of opinion from "The Eagle" he responded vigorously and without fear or favor. This policy was approved by the public and resulted in a large patronage, and this policy is strictly maintained by the pres- ent management in dealing with their more
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than twenty-one thousand daily subscribers, to whom they issue an eight-column paper of from twelve to twenty-four pages.
As the head of a great newspaper, Mr. Hawley wielded a power that he never used to advance his own interests, remaining an independent editor, neither asking nor re- ceiving favors from either party, nor using his influence to strike at organizations or individuals. Ever enterprising and pro- gressive in his own ideas, he used his news- paper to build up and advance the interests of his community, and privately was a con- tributor to every worthy object, although often his name was not made public as a donor. He valued the public school as the foundation of the true greatness of the State, and did all in his power to advance the cause of education. For years he offered prizes to the boys of the Reading High School for the best literary essay, and to the pupils in country schools prizes for meritorious work. For years he served on the board of control connected with the pub- lic school system of Reading, and labored in season and out for the good of the schools. His life was a splendid one, and left an impress on his day and generation that will not pass away. Mr. Hawley's suc- cess was largely due to the power of a strik- ing personality which was reflected in the originality of many "Eagle" features.
Mr. Hawley married, December 15, 1863, Kate E., daughter of Louis Ritter. She sur- vived her husband and became president of the Eagle Corporation, in which capacity she served until her death, June 1, 1906. Two daughters reside in Reading-Edith, wife of William Seyfert; and Helen, wife of Edwin A. Quier. Mr. Seyfert is presi- dent of the Eagle Corporation, and Mr. Quier, vice-president.
KELLY, Melville Clyde, Journalist, Congressman.
In the changes that were made in the Congressional seating when the Sixty-Third
Congress of the United States convened, there appeared among the representatives from the State of Pennsylvania one who there began his experience in national poli- tics, although as a member of the Assembly of his State he had proven rigid fealty to his party and had rendered valuable service in Allegheny county, Melville Clyde Kelly. Since 1901 Mr. Kelly has been a conspicu- ous figure in journalism, a position he re- tains to the present time as president of the Daily News Herald Company, and man- aging editor of the newspaper bearing that name.
Melville Clyde Kelly is a son of William Brandon and Mary (Clark) Kelly, his father a native of West Virginia, his mother born in Ohio. William Brandon and Mary (Clark) Kelly were the parents of: Clark William, business manager of the "News Herald"; Harry H., a student ; Maude, mar- ried Rev. J. G. C. Webster, of New York; and Melville Clyde, of whom further.
Melville Clyde Kelly was born in Bloom- field, Muskingum county, Ohio, August 4, 1883, and after attending the public schools took a course of study in Muskingum Col- lege, teaching school when his studies were completed. He then engaged in mercantile lines until 1901, when he began his associa- tion with journalism in Braddock, Pennsyl- vania, finally becoming city editor of the "Braddock Daily News." In 1904 he estab- lished the "Braddock Weekly Leader," the following year purchased the "Daily News" and consolidated th two as the Braddock Daily News Publishing Company, of which he became president and managing editor. In 1907 the "Braddock Evening Herald" was added to the property of the company, the periodical published being known as the "Daily News Herald," a paper that enjoys a successful and prosperous continuance, induced by a wide circulation. Under the competent direction of Mr. Kelly the sphere of influence of this journal has been ex- tended and its stronghold fortified until at the present time there are few papers in the
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Leung Historical Tue
form & Graham
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State for which public opinion has such great deference, and so carefully has this great power been wielded, so watchful the care exercised in the preparation of the issues of the paper, that its reputation as a sheet for universal reading is unexcelled. The political sympathy of the "News Herald" is Progressive, and the issues of campaigns and elections have been discussed in its pages with a boldness and truthfulness that, through the frankness and fearless- ness displayed, Mr. Kelly has gained strength as a political leader. In November, 1910, he was the successful candidate for the State Legislature, and two years later victory came to him in the contest for the Congressional election. As a member of the powerful rules committee of the House, he has taken part in the debate on every important measure before the Sixty-Third Congress.
Mr. Kelly's fraternal affiliations are with Valetta Commandery, Knights of Malta; Edgar Thompson Council, Royal Arcanum; Braddock Field Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Husband Lodge, Knights of Pythias; and Clan Robertson, Order of Scottish Clans. He serves the First United Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a member since residing in Braddock, as trustee.
GRAHAM, John C., Lawyer, Financier, Soldier.
When the present site of Butler, Pennsyl- vania, was virgin soil, the ancestors of John C. Graham came from the East (Dauphin county) and purchased a tract of three hun- dred acres ; this was in 1795. Recognizing the fitness of this tract, Robert Graham donated one hundred of his three hundred acres for a town site, and lived to see a flourishing village thereon. The prominent part he took in the early development of Butler was equalled by the useful activity of his son, John B. Graham, and his grandson, Walter L. Graham. The latter was one of
Butler's foremost citizens until his death, November 4, 1900. Besides his great inter- est and work for Butler, he was one of the founders of the Republican party, and it was one of his proudest memories that he sat in the convention of 1860 that nominated Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency. He aided the government in the prosecution of the war, with his influence and wealth, to the full extent of his ability, which was not inconsiderable. He was a leading lawyer of the county and no man stood higher in professional, public or private life. His widow, Margaret Zimmerman, survives him.
John C., son of Walter L. and Margaret (Zimmerman) Graham, was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, October 8, 1868, the fourth of his family line to help build a city worthy of the foresight of Robert Graham, the founder. He was educated in the public schools, graduating with the high school class of 1887 as salutatorian. At the age of eleven, he began to be a wage-earner, sell- ing newspapers, continuing all through his school life until graduation, and earning about $3,000, his father having met with severe financial reverses. Notwithstanding this handicap he was graduated with high honors. After graduating he kept books, was a reporter for Pittsburgh daily papers, and at the age of twenty years had suffi- cient capital accumulated to begin trading in real estate. His ambition was to succeed his father in his law business, and this ambition never slept or slumbered, although deprived of any assistance in obtaining a college education. He was successful in his real estate ventures, and in the fall of 1890 entered Lafayette College, remaining one year. He then began the study of law under his father's instruction, and in 1894 was admitted to the Butler county bar. He at once began practice with his father, con- tinuing until the death of the latter. Since then he has continued in practice alone, having been admitted to the State and Fed- eral courts of the district. His private enter-
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prise in the improvement of Butler has been along the line of the erection of homes of modern tasteful design in Butler, and de- veloping acreage in the suburban section. His public work has been in connection with the Butler Board of Trade, which he served as secretary for the seven years of Butler's greatest development, 1889 to 1906, when the population jumped from ten to twenty- five thousand.
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