USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Vol. VII > Part 22
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William N. Jennings, the second son of Paul Bishop Jennings, was born at Tut- tletown, Kingston, Pennsylvania (now Fortyfort), March 3, 1829. He was edu- cated in a public school and Wyoming Seminary, remaining his father's assistant until attaining his majority. He then de-
termined to see something of the world he had studied about in school, the gold fever then raging in the east determining him to go to California. That wonderful journey previously outlined ended in 1851 and brought him back to Pennsylvania, strong in his love for his native state. In 1851 he joined with his elder brother, Joseph T. Jennings, in the purchase of two thousand acres of timber lands at what is now Jenningsville, and in August, 1852, under the firm name of Jennings Brothers built a saw mill and for several years was engaged in converting his timber into manufactured lumber, market- ing his product at lower Susquehanna river towns, rafting it down the river. To avoid this expense he came to West Pittston to market his lumber and there resided eight years. In the fall of 1865 he moved to Wilkes-Barre, there continu- ing the same business, having for about three years Samuel H. Sturdevant as a partner. In the spring of 1871 he sus- tained a heavy loss by a cloud burst, which caused a flood that carried away several dams. He spent three years at Mehoopany repairing damages, returned to Wilkes-Barre in the fall of 1873 and there continued the sale of lumber with John Welles, as partner, until the spring of 1877. He spent a year at Tunkhan- nock, going in the spring of 1878 to Brad- ford, McKean county, Pennsylvania, the centre of the great oil boom. He was liv- ing there when Bradford was incorpo- rated a city, and there for three years was engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber. He returned to Wilkes-Barre in 1882, purchased a residence on West Union street which he has occupied until the present, save when on his many tours of travel, or at his summer home at Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania. His home is an ideal one in location, elegance and re finement, and was presided over by a gracious hostess, the devoted wife and
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mother ; host and hostess in former years particularly, there dispensing a charming hospitality to their host of friends by whom they were loved and respected.
William N. Jennings married, Septem- ber 13, 1853, Sarah A. Hicks, born June 16, 1830, died January 1, 1911, daughter of Daniel and Eleanor (Sutphin) Hicks, who died when she was quite young. Mr. and Mrs. Jennings celebrated their golden wedding in 1903 and each recurring year until the death of Mrs. Jennings brought them the felicitations of their many friends. Children and grandchildren have made that home merry and yet gather there, but the three sons, Cortez Hicks, Bishop Worth, William L., and the adopted daughter, have all married and founded homes of their own, at distant points. Cortez Hicks Jennings is a suc- cessful lumberman and national bank president at Grantsville, Maryland. Bishop Worth Jennings is president of the Hendricks National Bank at Hen- dricks, West Virginia, a successful lum- berman at Jenningston, Tucker county, that state, a town built and owned exclu- sively by himself and brother; he was a member of the State Legislature two terms, refusing renomination. William L. Jennings is engaged in business with his brother in Jenningston. Eleanor Hicks, the adopted daughter, married Dr. N. A. Rinebolt and resides at Athens, Pennsyl- vania.
WELLES, Theodore Ladd, Mining Engineer.
In both paternal and maternal lines the branch of the Welles family of which Theodore L. Welles, of Wilkes-Barre, is representative, traces to the Puritan, Lieu- tenant John Hollister. Thomas Welles, the American ancestor, was a lineal de- scendant of the Essex branch of the
Welles family in England, a family of "high rank in Normandy and England with royal intermarriages for several centuries." Thomas Welles came to New England in 1636, and became a man high in public position in Connecticut, holding every important position in the colony, was several times acting governor, deputy- governor, and governor, and at the time of his death, January 14, 1660, was deputy- governor and regarded as one of the wealthiest men in the colony. The line of descent is through Samuel Welles, fourth son of Governor Thomas Welles; his son, Captain Samuel Welles; his son, Thomas Welles; his son, John Welles; his son, George Welles, the pioneer of the family in northern Pennsylvania, 1798; his son, Charles Fisher Welles, a promi- nent man of his day; his son, Rev. Dr. Henry Hunter Welles, a minister of the Presbyterian church, father of Theodore L. Welles, of Wilkes-Barre.
George Welles married Prudence Tal- cott, a descendant of Lieutenant John Hollister, whose daughter, Elizabeth, married Samuel Welles, the two lines reuniting in the marriage of George Welles and Prudence Talcott. The Tal- cotts, Holyokes, and Pynchons were re- lated by marriage, these families all being among the earliest settlers of the Con- necticut Valley. George Welles, the Penn- sylvania ancestor, came in 1798, died in Athens, Pennsylvania, June 20, 1813. a man of influence, of strong and upright character. His second son, Charles Fisher Welles, born in Glastonbury, Connecticut, November 5, 1789, died at Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1866. He married Ellen Jones Hollenback, daugh- ter of Matthias and Sarah (Burritt) Hol- lenback. Charles F. Welles was prothono- tary, clerk of courts, register and recorder of Bradford county when it was first or- ganized, was active in politics, and part
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owner of the "Bradford Gazette." In his later years he devoted himself to farming and the management of his private estate.
Rev. Henry Hunter Welles, D. D., third son of Charles Fisher Welles, was born at Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, September 15, 1824, died at Fortyfort, Pennsylvania, September 24, 1902. He was a graduate of Princeton College, class of 1844, studied theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, and was ordained a minister of the gospel by the Presbytery of Susque- hanna, August 29, 1850. He was installed pastor of the Kingston Church, June 12, 1851, and for twenty years he was its spiritual head, the first and only pastorate he ever held. From 1871 he was active in ministerial work in various fields, where- ever duty called him, and during his active life of more than fifty years was never idle. Only three members of the large Presbytery of which he was so long a member exceeded him in length of serv- ice. He was the first stated clerk of the Presbytery of Lackawanna, founded the Sunday school from which sprang a pros- perous church, and was ever engaged in the Master's work. He was president of the Alumni Association of the Princeton Theological Seminary, a member of the Wyoming Historical and Geological So- ciety, and during his years, seventy-eight, was the manly gentleman and Christian, greatly beloved and highly honored. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was be- stowed upon him by Lafayette College in 1899. He married, October 12, 1849, Ellen Susanna, daughter of General Samuel G. Ladd, of Farmington, Maine. Children: Henry Hunter (2), a lawyer; Theodore Ladd, of further mention, and Charlotte Rose.
Theodore Ladd Welles, second son of Rev. Dr. Henry Hunter and Ellen Su- sanna (Ladd) Welles, was born at Forty- fort, Pennsylvania, November 2, 1862. He obtained his preparatory education in the
public schools, the Hill School, at Potts- town, and Wilkes-Barre Academy. He entered Princeton University, but with- drew to matriculate at Lafayette College, whence he was graduated mining engi- neer, class of '84. After graduation he entered the engineering office of Major Irving A. Stearns, continuing until Octo- ber I, 1885, then accepting an engineering position with the Lackawanna Coal and Iron Company. In July, 1886, he re- signed to become engineer with the Clear- field Bituminous Coal Company, remain- ing in Clearfield until 1890, then returned to Wilkes-Barre as mining engineer for the Hollenback Coal Company, remain- ing in that employ tor nine years, during four of which he was also superintendent of the Kidder Coal Company. In 1899 he became superintendent of the New Mexico Fuel Company, with headquarters at Capitan, New Mexico, but after one year he returned to Clearfield as manager of the O'Shanter Coal Company, in 1901 be- coming superintendent of the United Ba- rium Company, of Niagara Falls, New York. During his stay at Clearfield Mr. Welles, in addition to his duties as man- ager of the O'Shanter mine, conducted a general engineering business and was engineer of the borough of Clearfield in 1901-02. On July 4, 1904, he began his partnership with H. S. Smith to engage in engineering operations, again locating in Wilkes-Barre, with offices in the Coal Exchange Building. Smith & Welles are well-known and highly rated as civil and mining engineers, transact a large busi- ness, and have performed a great deal of work highly creditable to their profes- sional ability. Mr. Welles is a member of the American Institute of Mining Engi- neers, the Engineering Society of Penn- sylvania, the National Geographical So- ciety, the Wyoming Historical and Geo- logical Society, Landmark Lodge, No. 442, Free and Accepted Masons, and the
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Westmoreland Club, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
He married, October 29, 1890, Katharine A., daughter of John F. and Rebecca (Reed) Weaver ; their children are : Theo- dore Ladd, Jr., born April 15, 1892, is a graduate of Cornell University, class of 1913, degree of Civil Engineer, and is now in the engineering department, State Board of Health, Harrisburg, Pennsylva- nia; Ellen R., born December 19, 1894; John W., born August 30, 1896; and Carol E., born December 29, 1898.
LOEB, August B., Financier, Philanthropist.
By far the greater part of the years of Mr. Loeb's valuable life was spent in Philadelphia, where he was known as the honorable upright banker, the open hand- ed philanthropist, the hospitable host and genial companion. For about a quarter of a century he was a member of the offi- cial board of the Tradesmen's National Bank, and as president of that institution was well and favorably known to the world of finance. For thirty-five years treasurer and director of the Jewish Hos- pital, he gave to that philanthropy valu- able, unselfish service ; how valuable and how unselfish may best be realized by a knowledge of the fact that it was largely through his efforts that several large ad- ditions to the group of buildings compris- ing the hospital were made possible. One of these buildings, the Mathilde Adler Loeb Dispensary, stands as a memorial to his wife, who died in 1875.
August B. Loeb, son of Benjamin and Babette Loeb, was born at Rhein Hassen. Germany, June 16, 1841, and died at his summer home, Ventnor, below Atlantic City, New Jersey, August 23, 1915. He became a resident of Philadelphia at an early age, there obtaining a good educa- tion in the public schools. He became
associated in business with his brother. Edward and Moses, and for several years prior to 1888 was engaged with them in the manufacture of cream of tartar in Jersey City, and in the wholesale leather business in Philadelphia, with offices on Arch street. He retired from active busi- ness about 1890. He was for many years the intimate friend of George H. Earle, Jr., the banker, and on his advice and suggestion Mr. Loeb in April, 1893, be- came a director of the Finance Company of Pennsylvania. In 1895 he became a director, and shortly thereafter vice-presi- dent of the Tradesmen's National Bank of Philadelphia, his life from that time forward being intimately connected with that and other financial institutions of his city.
It was the Tradesmen's National Bank, however, with which he was most closely connected, his service on the board of di- rectors extending over a period of twenty years, and as president from January, 1910, until his death. Other financial and business corporations that availed them- selves of his well demonstrated man- agerial ability, and with which he served as director were the Market Street Na- tional Bank, the Finance Company of Pennsylvania, the Real Estate Trust Company, and the South Chester Tube Company. He was a wise and capable banker, thoroughly understanding the laws governing finance, and closely fol- lowing those laws in all his banking oper- ations.
In 1906 he succeeded John M. Mack on the directorate of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company, serving as a member of that board until the fall of 1910, when he resigned six months after the retire- ment of his friend, George H. Earle, Jr., as municipal representative on the board.
Mr. Loeb's official connection with the Jewish Hospital began in 1878 as chair- man of the executive committee of the
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board of directors. In 1880 he was elect- ed treasurer, and in that office and as director he served most faithfully, his efforts in behalf of the institution termi- nating only with his death. He was able to accomplish a great deal for the benefit of the hospital, that perhaps being the public cause that lay nearest his heart, although he was interested in many other philanthropies. He was a Republican in politics ; his club, the Mercantile.
Mr. Loeb married, in Philadelphia, Au- gust 2, 1868, Mathilde Adler, who died July 7, 1875. The following children sur- vive: Mrs. S. Selig, Mrs. Albert Wolf, Oscar D. Loeb, and Howard A. Loeb.
LOEB, Howard A., Man of Affairs.
On August 27, 1915, Howard A. Loeb was elected president of the Tradesmen's National Bank, of Philadelphia, that office having been left vacant by the death of his father, August B. Loeb. Although one of Philadelphia's youngest bank presidents, Mr. Loeb is eminently quali- fied to fill this position, as he had been a member of the board of directors for sev- eral years, and served as vice-president for eight years previous to his election to the presidency.
Howard A. Loeb was born in Philadel- phia, July 25, 1873, son of August B. and Mathilde (Adler) Loeb. He was educated at the Friends' Central School until he entered the University of Pennsylvania. There, after a five years' course in me- chanical and electrical engineering, he was graduated with the class of 1893, re- ceiving the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1893 and that of Mechanical Engineer in 1894. Soon after graduation he was made a member of the firm of Francis Bros. & Jellett, consulting and construct- ing engineers, with whom he remained until 1907, at which time he took up the
duties of vice-president of the Trades- men's National Bank, and assisted his father in the management of that institu- tion, continuing as such until his election to the presidency, August 27, 1915.
Mr. Loeb has other important business connections. He is a director and mem- ber of the executive committee of the Se- curities Corporation General, chairman of the executive committee of the Kentucky Traction and Terminal Company, of Lex- ington, Kentucky, and of the Pennsyl- vania Lighting Company, of Shamokin, and is also a director in a number of in- dustrial corporations.
Mr. Loeb married, in Philadelphia, March 16, 1897, Hortense Fleisher.
STEGMAIER, George J., Prominent Business Man.
Prominently identified with the busi- ness and public life of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, during his entire mature life George J. Stegmaier left behind him the record of a most useful busy life. His business activity was shown in the many enterprises with which he was officially connected, and his public service in the important offices he held through the votes of his fellow citizens; while his social humane nature is best testified to by his connection with many social or- ganizations, the fire department, Mercy Hospital, and the fact that no call upon his sympathy was ever made in vain. He was one of the world's workers, and to the Stegmaiers, father and sons, Wilkes- Barre is indebted for much of her indus- trial prosperity.
George J. was a son of Charles Steg- maier, who was born in Gmund, Würt- temberg, Germany, October 7, 1821, died in Los Angeles, California, August II, 1906. At the age of fifteen years Charles Stegmaier was apprenticed to a brewer, became an expert, and until 1849 followed
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his calling in his native land. In the latter year he came to the United States, where he found employment with the brewing firm of Engle & Wolf, of Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania. He remained in Philadelphia until 1851, then engaged with John Reichard, who sent him to Wilkes-Barre, where he superintended the brewing of the first German lager made in the Wyoming Valley. Later he was in the employ of George Lauer in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, but in 1857 he returned to Wilkes-Barre, where he began business for himself in a small brewing plant on Hazel street. He was successful, and later formed a partnership with George C. Baer, under the firm name Baer & Steg- maier. The panic of 1873 brought about the financial downfall of the firm, but soon afterward Mr. Stegmaier resumed business with his son, Christian J., as partner, under the firm name of Steg- maier & Son. The former prosperity of the firm was soon regained, and the busi- ness so largely increased that in 1895 the Stegmaier Brewing Company was incor- porated with Charles Stegmaier as its first president, an office he held until his death. He was most progressive in his methods, and was not only a successful business man, but kindly hearted, charita- ble, and public-spirited. He loved the Fatherland, but he fully imbibed the spirit and principles of his adopted land, and was an American to the core. He had many business interests of importance, and at his death was a director of the First National Bank, of Wilkes-Barre. He married, February 4, 1852, at St. Mary's parsonage, Wilkes-Barre, Rever- end E. A. Shaughnessy officiating, Kath- leen Baer, who bore him five children: Charles J., Christian E., George J., Fred J. and Louise. Two of the sons survive, Charles J. and Christian E., both resi- dents of Wilkes-Barre. The daughter,
Louise, married Philip Forve, of Los An- geles, California.
George J., son of Charles and Kathleen (Baer) Stegmaier, was born in Wilkes- Barre, Pennsylvania, April 4, 1858, died in Karlsbad, Austria, May 20, 1910. He was educated in St. Nicholas' Parochial School, Wilkes-Barre, and at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, completing his stud- ies a graduate of the latter institution. He began his active business life as an apprentice in the Ashley shops of the New Jersey Central Railroad, and con- tinued in the shops of the Pennsylvania railroad at Altoona, but later abandoned mechanical work to become associated with his father, beginning as bookkeeper. Later he became a partner in the firm of C. Stegmaier & Son, and after the incor- poration of the Stegmaier Brewing Com- pany became secretary, a position he held at the time of his death. He was closely associated with his brothers in the many enterprises that have made the Stegmaier name noted and held in high esteem for liberality, public spirit, and many manly qualities. For a time he was half owner of the Wilkes-Barre "News ;" was a direc- tor of the First National Bank; director of the Susquehanna Brewing Company, president of the Stegmaier Realty Com- pany, director of the Fenwick Lumber Company, and a large stockholder in the Wales Adding Machine Company. With his brothers and Abram Nesbitt he suc- cessfully resisted the efforts to absorb the last company, and retained it as an inde- pendent plant for Wilkes-Barre. From early manhood Mr. Stegmaier took a deep interest in political affairs, became one of the local leaders of the Democratic party, and during the years 1888-89 represented his district in the Pennsylvania House of Assembly, serving on important commit- tees. He also served his city as treasurer, and was one of the strong, influential men of his party.
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For sixteen years he was an active member of the fire department, and for two years its efficient chief. He was one of the principal founders of the Wilkes- Barre Baseball Club, was a prominent figure in the Luzerne County Fair Asso- ciation, and for many years was president of the Wilkes-Barre Driving Club. Fra- ternally, he was connected with the Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Eagles, and was a member of the Press Club and the Concordia Society, of Wilkes-Barre. He was in poor health for some time, and in the spring of 1910, with his wife and children went to Karlsbad, Austria, in the hope of benefit, and there died. He was a member of St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church, a liberal and de- voted friend of that organization.
The following resolutions were adopted by the directors of the First National Bank, of Wilkes-Barre, and are a true ex- pression of the high regard in which Mr. Stegmaier was held:
Whereas, It has pleased the Almighty God to have removed from our midst the Honorable George J. Stegmaier, a member of our board of directors; it therefore becomes our sad duty to note his death upon our minutes as a tribute to his memory.
George J. Stegmair, who died at Karlsbad, Austria, May 20, 1910, was among the foremost of our townsmen. No man was more strongly wedded to the welfare of our city; to him Wilkes- Barre was the queen of cities and her people the choicest of citizens. Every deserving effort to enlarge the industries of his native city met with his heartiest support. He had a lovable disposi- tion, he was a great friend of the poor, he was a loyal husband and fond father, he was a good citizen and an honest man. He died in the prime of his life and in the midst of his usefulness. No man ever died in our city with more friends and less enemies, except, perhaps, his lamented father. Therefore be it
Resolved-First, That as members of this board we keenly appreciate the loss we have sustained in the death of Mr. Stegmaier-his judgment at the board was always wholesome and his kindly presence was ever greatly enjoyed.
Second, We sympathize sincerely and deeply with his grief-stricken wife and children and com- mend them to the care of their Heavenly Father, to whom they can and will look for consolation in their great sorrow.
Third, That a copy of this preamble and these resolutions be neatly engrossed and transmitted to the widow and children of the deceased.
WILLIAM S. MCLEAN, President.
Mr. Stegmaier married, January 1 1889, Mary Costello, daughter of Patrick and Mary (O'Malley) Costello, who survives him, a resident of Wilkes-Barre. Chil- dren : Kathleen, George J. (2), Christian E., and Edward C.
McCORMICK, Thomas,
Prominent Bridge Building Contractor.
An unknown young man when in 1867 he first came to Easton, now president of the Smith-McCormick Company, con- tractors, and a man of recognized stand- ing in his community, Mr. McCormick can review his long, energetic and honor- able life with that satisfaction which the self-made man alone may feel in his achievement.
Thomas McCormick, son of Hugh and Bridget (Corrigan) McCormick, was born in Ireland, March 12, 1844, and there obtained his education, learned his trade, and lived until twenty. Going to London, he was employed on important construc- tion work for three years, and then in 1867 he came to the United States, find- ing his way to Easton, where he secured employment with James Smith, a country- man who was then coming into promi- nence as a railroad contractor. Mr. Mc- Cormick was a skilled stone mason, and it was not long until he attracted the favorable attention of Mr. Smith, who promoted him foreman and entrusted him with responsible duty. In due time Mr. McCormick engaged in business for him- self, forming partnership with Peter Mon- ahan and Edward McHale, and as Mc-
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Cormick & Monahan, he was active in the construction of many important railroad structures.
Later he again became associated with Mr. Smith as a partner, and as Smith & McCormick they conducted important operations all over the Eastern and Mid- dle States. Bridges of their construction span the Susquehanna, Delaware, Rari- tan, Connecticut, and other rivers of the eastern part of the United States, while contracts for important construction have been carried to successful completion for all the important trunk lines east of the Mississippi. In later years they incorpo- rated as the Smith-McCormick Company, Mr. Smith retiring in favor of his sons, and Mr. McCormick becoming president of the company, founded on a business with which he has been identified for forty-eight years. The bridge of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western rail- road, spanning the Delaware river near the Delaware Water Gap, is one of the monuments to the skill and ability of the company, a work that at the time of its completion was one of the marvels of constructive engineering, as it was then the largest of its kind in the United States.
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