USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Vol. VII > Part 45
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Mr. Barbour married, October, 1857, Isabella Frackelton, daughter of William and Eliza J. (Dick) McKelvy, of Pitts- burgh. Mrs. Barbour died February 26, 1888. Children of John Baxter, Sr., and Isabella F. (McKelvy) Barbour: John Baxter, Jr., (see below); William Mc-
Kelvy; Margaret Baxter, married Ernest K. Barr, of Philadelphia ; Robert Wilson ; Frederick Prentice ; Isabella Fulton, married Frederic B. Black, of Franklin, Pennsylvania.
The death of Mr. Barbour occurred De- cember 28, 1894. His broad and liberal views rose above the prejudices of the hour, and he was earnest and unflinching in his maintenance of the right. He was solicitous for the welfare of others, and exhibited a commendable public spirit and enterprise.
John Baxter Barbour, Jr., son of the late John Baxter, Sr., and Isabella F. (McKelvy) Barbour, was born in Pitts- burgh, April 16, 1862. He acquired his education in the public schools of his native city, and was graduated from its high school in 1880. He supplemented this training with a comprehensive course in stenography, after which in the spring of 1881 he became bookkeeper for Thomas J. Watson, at that time the lead- ing oil broker in Pittsburgh. While the speculative craze in oil was at its height during 1882 and after this time, Mr. Bar- bour was at the head of the office affairs for Mr. Watson, and it is due to his clear- headed judgment that important enter- prises were carried to a successful issue. Subsequently he formed a connection with another broker, James S. McKelvy, with whom he remained until January I, 1890. He then became the local exchange representative of Rea Brothers & Com- pany, stock and grain brokers, and upon their retirement in 1892 Mr. Barbour succeeded to their business. The busi- ness was a general one in stocks, bonds and grain, and Mr. Barbour made a specialty of local and investment secur- ities. So pronounced and widely recog- nized was the business and executive ability of Mr. Barbour, that he was honored with election to membership in the old Oil Exchange when he was but
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nineteen years of age, and he is now one of the oldest members of the Pittsburgh Stock Exchange, of which he was one of the organizers and a charter member. He was its first secretary and treasurer and served one term as vice-president. Later Mr. Barbour served five successive terms as treasurer, and after that served three terms as vice-president and then became president in 1911, and later de- clined reelection on account of ill-health. He was for several years director and chairman of the two most important of its committees, namely, on securities and law and offenses, and on May 3, 1916, was again elected president. As a rep- resentative of James S. McKelvy at the time of the great Penn Bank Syndicate in 1883-84, Mr. Barbour was a member of the New York Petroleum Exchange. As treasurer of the Pittsburgh Petroleum, Stock and Metal Exchange he served two terms.
In political matters the dominant per- sonality of Mr. Barbour has also been beneficially felt. Until the Blaine cam- paign of 1884 Mr. Barbour was a staunch supporter of Democratic principles. At that time, however, he became convinced that the country was in better hands when the Republican party held the reins, and he transferred his allegiance, in which he has never wavered, to that party. He has served as delegate to a number of conventions. He has been a school director of the new Eleventh Ward for several years, and also served as treasurer of the board. He is also president of the Republican Association of his district and a school visitor, and is the treasurer of the City Republican Ex- ecutive Committee. He and his wife are members of the East Liberty Presby- terian Church. His fraternal affiliations are numerous, among them being: Dal- las Lodge, No. 508, Free and Accepted Masons; Shiloh Chapter, No. 257, Royal
Arch Masons; Tancred Commandery, No. 48, Knights Templar ; Syria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; East End Council, No. 275, Royal Arcanum. He is past archon in the Improved Order of Heptasophs, and was a deputy supreme archon. His club membership is in the Duquesne, Pittsburgh Athletic Association, Stanton Heights Golf Club and Americus Repub- lican clubs. In the latter he has held offices since 1887, was a trustee from 1889 to 1895, and served in the office of vice-president, 1895-96-97, and in Janu- ary, 1916, was elected major of the Americus Battalion, and member of the board of trustees. He was a charter member of the Pittsburgh Athletic Club, which he was largely instrumental in organizing in 1883, and has served three times as president and was manager of the baseball and football teams. He was also one of the original directors of the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, and re- signed owing to failing health.
Mr. Barbour married, December 22, 1887, Laura B., daughter of James E. and Sarah (Marshall) Rogers, and they have had children: Isabella McKelvy, and Marshall Rogers. Mrs. Barbour is a charming and amiable woman, and a companionable helpmate to her husband.
Mr. Barbour is as active in the social and civic world as he is in the business and financial worlds. He has been a director of the Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburgh for about twelve years, and is now the first vice-president of that body. His intelligent grasp of complicated situations have caused his counsel to be sought by men his seniors in point of years, and his quick and decisive methods have saved many a perilous situation. In all he is a plain, strong, dependable man, who has that indefinable something called personal magnetism that draws men to him.
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GLOEKLER, Bernard,
Manufacturer, Philanthropist.
For the space of more than a quarter of a century few names were more familiar to a large class of Pittsburghers than was that of the late Bernard Gloek- ler, head of the celebrated Bernard Gloekler Company. Mr. Gloekler was for the greater portion of his life a resident of the Iron City, and while he was iden- tified with many of her leading interests was associated in a special manner with various forms of her charities.
Bernard Gloekler was born August 7, 1839, in Hausen, Wurtemberg, Germany, and received his education in the schools of his native land. In 1853 he emigrated to the United States, settling in Pitts- burgh. In 1874 he purchased the entire business from John Wagner, who had for some years engaged in the manufacture of small butcher tools, sausage stuffers and meat rockers, such as were used in those days. Mr. Gloekler's foresight, thrift and energy brought this machine and tools to prominent use throughout the United States. Later on he added complete meat market equipments, manu- facturing refrigerators, counters, butcher blocks, etc., and got out many new and modern ideas, constructed along sanitary lines. These have been adopted quite extensively throughout the country. Later on he added the manufacture of special refrigerators for hotels and res- taurants and the manufacture of special extra heavy ranges, broilers, steam tables, vegetable steamers, soup kettles, etc. There is now practically nothing re- quired in hotel, restaurant or butcher shop that is not carried by this company.
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In consequence of the rapid increase of the business it was decided to form a stock company and incorporate the concern. In February, 1905, this was done under the laws of the State of Penn-
sylvania, the style becoming the Bernard Gloekler Company. This immense busi- ness was founded and for many years maintained by the capable management and unfaltering enterprise of Mr. Gloekler, in whom were united executive ability of a high order and an exceptional capacity for judging the motives and merits of men. This enabled him to fill the various branches of his establishment with assistants who sldom failed to meet his expectations. To associates and sub- ordinates alike he endeared himself by the strict justice and genuine kindliness which marked all his dealings with them.
In everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of his home city, Mr. Gloek- ler was keenly interested, and in the furtherance of these ends his aid and influence were never wanting. It is said of him that in a quiet way he bestowed nothing less than a fortune on the char- ities of Pittsburgh, including liberal assistance to the individual poor. He was accustomed to remark that he in- tended to make his gifts during his life- time in order that he might witness and enjoy the results they accomplished.
Strong mental endowments and incor- ruptible integrity were stamped upon Mr. Gloekler's countenance, and penetrating thought, together with keen insight, spoke in the glance of his searching eyes which yet held in their depths the glint of h' mor. The determined expression of his strong features was softened by an aspect of geniality which attracted all who approached him. Of fine appearance and cordial manner, dignified but never repelling, he was ardent in his friend- ships and few men have been more deeply respected and sincerely loved.
Mr. Gloekler married, September 25, 1861, Frances M., daughter of John and Margaret Nees. From this union there were nine children.
The death of Mr. Gloekler, which
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Bernard Alvekler
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occurred January 21, 1911, deprived Pittsburgh of a talented business man and a public-spirited and most benevolent citizen, one whose life was crowned with merited success-success which was en- tirely the product of his own natural forces and sterling honesty.
As a business man and citizen he is remembered with admiration and esteem, but it is chiefly as "one who loved his fellowmen" that his memory is cherished in the hearts of those who knew him.
SIBBALD, John, M. D., Prominent Physician.
Dr. John Sibbald, physician and promi- nent leading citizen, who died December 29, 1915, at his home in Fox Chase, was born July 1, 1852, and was the son of Dr. and Priscilla (Hoffman) Sibbald The father was from Edinburgh, Scot- land, and the mother from Canada.
Dr. John Sibbald was educated in the public school and Jefferson Medical Col- lege, graduating from the latter institu- tion with the class of 1875 and began general practice at North Wales, Penn- sylvania, where he remained for the period of two years, when he moved to Fox Chase, Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania, and there located permanently, building up a lucrative practice and gaining a large circle of friends.
A brother practitioner and classmate of Dr. John Sibbald in commenting on the loss of his lifelong friend looked back over the years, and told of how Dr. John Sibbald despite the handicap of an im- pediment of speech won for himself laurels in his profession, and became one of the leading physicians in that section of Philadelphia county, and for thirty years had been one of the leading and highly respected citizens of Fox Chase, Pennsylvania. Dr. John Sibbald was a director in the Fox Chase Bank for many
years. He also served as a member of the City Council, and was common coun- cilman from the Thirty-fifth Ward. He was a member of the County and State Medical associations.
Dr. John Sibbald married, in 1884, Mary A. Hallowell, daughter of Pember- ton and Rachel Jarrett Hallowell, repre- sentatives of prominent families and natives of Abington, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania.
Dr. John Sibbald died at his beautiful home at Fox Chase, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and it is recorded of him that his strongest asset was his love of his fellowman ; a practitioner who never thought of himself when some one was suffering. Besides his widow Dr. John Sibbald is survived by an only child, Agnes Hallowell Sibbald, who graduated from Swarthmore College.
HILLIARD, Clinton,
Progressive Business Man.
Clinton Hilliard, one of Easton's most prominent and progressive business men, was born February 5, 1854. He was the son of Edward and Sabina (Sandt) Hil- liard, natives of Northampton county.
Mr. Hilliard attended the public schools and high school of his native city, gradu- ating from the latter in the class of '70. He then entered Lafayette College and graduated as a civil engineer in 1874. He then entered Easton Business College, and after graduation served terms as bookkeeper for the Drinkhouse Foundry and the First National Bank of Easton, leaving the bank to form a partner- ship in 1880 with the late James R. Zearfoss, and engaged in the lumber business, under the firm name of Zear- foss & Hilliard. In 1903 the business was incorporated under the name of the Zear- foss-Hilliard Lumber Company, with J. R. Zearfoss as president, and Mr. Hilliard
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as secretary and treasurer. In 1906, after the death of Mr. Zearfoss, Mr. Hil- liard became president of the company. Under his able direction the business continued to prosper, and the company was recognized as a stable and progres- sive one in that section of the State. In addition to being at the head of a large lumber concern, Mr. Hilliard was vice- president of the Seitz Brewing Company, a director of the First National Bank and of the Northampton Trust Company, and secretary and treasurer of the Delaware Ice Company.
That Mr. Hilliard did not live unto himself can be evidenced in his service on the Board of Trade, his interest and support of various charitable organi- zations, and his keen interest and de- velopment of "Beautiful Eddyside," a choice location on the banks of the Delaware river, which Mr. Hilliard fitted up for public bathing, a favorite swim- ming place for Eastonians. The land now belongs to the Zearfoss-Hilliard Lumber Company with a frontage of 1500 feet along the North Delaware river road, and 1800 feet frontage along the river. The "Eddyside" soon won a place in the good opinions held by Eastonians, and thousands have enjoyed the fruits of Mr. Hilliard's labors in this direction.
As a Mason, Mr. Hilliard was very prominent. He was a member of Dallas Lodge, No. 396, Free and Accepted Masons : Easton Chapter, No. 173, Royal Arch Masons; Pomp Council, No. 20, Royal and Select Masters; Commandery No. 19, Knights Templar; and had the honor of being a past officer in each body. He was also a member of Lula Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Philadelphia; and Grand Conclave, No. 123, Order of Hep- tasophs. He was also an active member of the Pennsylvania Lumbermen's Asso- ciation, and belonged to the Pomfret
Club, Easton. He was a charter member of the Sigma Deutoron Chapter of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity of Lafay- ette College, and an active member of Christ Lutheran Church for many years. He was a Republican in politics, but never sought office.
Mr. Hilliard married, in 1882, Miss Marie Louise Thieleus, daughter of Ed- ward and Emma (Perrin) Thieleus, natives of Louvain and Paris respec- tively. They have two children : I. Clin- ton T., born 1884, a graduate of Lerch Preparatory School, Easton, and of Lafayette College, class of 1904, now president of the Zearfoss-Hilliard Lum- ber Company, and has generally assumed his late father's large interests and re- sponsibilities. 2. Marie Louise, born No- vember, 1896, graduated from Dana Hall.
Mr. Hilliard died at his home in Easton, August II, 1914, and is survived by his widow and two children.
LAW, William A., Head of First National Bank.
The First National Bank of Philadel- phia was not only the first national bank chartered in Philadelphia ; it was the first national bank chartered in the United States. It still holds in its possession the first authorization from the Treasury Department to begin business under the National Currency Act, and it issued the first national bank note ever issued in the United States. It was to facilitate the financial transactions connected with government operations that the First Na- tional Bank of Philadelphia was formed. Indeed, it was in the necessities of the government at this time that the whole national bank system had its origin. The first meeting of the board of directors was held May 29, 1863, and the original charter No. I was issued June 20, 1863,
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Clinton Hilliard,
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four months after the passage of the Na- tional Currency Act. Three weeks later the bank opened for business at the corner of Chestnut and South Third streets, South Third street at that time being the "Wall street" of Philadelphia. The site occupied by the bank at the corner of Chestnut and South Orianna streets since 1865 is one of the most his- toric corners in a city where every foot of ground is historical. Orianna street was in ancient times a branch of Dock creek. William Penn once lived farther east, near the shores of this creek, and the great Quaker no doubt propelled his boat past the spot on which the bank building now stands. Later Dock creek was turned into a canal-like sewer, and it was through this canal that the robbers came in a boat from the Delaware in their famous attempt to rob the Bank of Philadelphia. After Dock creek had been buried under pavement, the old Franklin Hotel was erected at the corner of Chest- nut and Orianna streets, which the First National selected for its permanent home, in the center not only of the financial district of Philadelphia, but of the most historic square mile of ground in the United States.
On South Orianna street, formerly called Franklin Place, Benjamin Frank- lin lived for many years. George Wash- ington, when he was President of the United States, lived only four squares away from the bank site, in the old Robert Morris mansion at Sixth and Market streets; and at 806 Market street Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. The first Supreme Court, the State, the Treasury, and other departments of the new born republic, also the first mint, were all near the bank site. The first bank in the United States and the first insurance company in America were established within two
squares of this spot. Independence Hall, "the cradle of liberty," is but a few hun- dred feet away, and still nearer is Car- penter's Hall, where the Continental Congress met. Within short distances stand Christ Church, where Washington had his pew; the church that shadows Franklin's grave; the house in which the first American flag was made; the old Stock Exchange; the building of the first bank of the United States; the Custom House, and a score or more of sacred landmarks, make the vicinity of the First National Bank, the Mecca of American patriots.
There are national banks larger than the First National, but none of steadier and more substantial growth. Chartered June 20, 1863, with a capital of $150,000, it now has a capital of $1,500,000, and aggregate resources of many million dol- lars. In its little over a half century of life, six men have presided over its destinies as executive head. The first president, O. H. Davis, began and ended his term in 1863; the second, Clarence H. Clark, served from 1863 until 1873; the third, George Philler, outranks all the others in length of service-June 24, 1873, to January 8, 1904. His successor, Mor- ton McMichael, Jr., served from January until March, 1904, being succeeded by J. Tatnall Lea, who served from April 22, 1904, until May 1, 1915, when at his own request he was relieved from active duty. On May 1, 1915, the sixth president, Wil- liam A. Law, assumed the duties of his high office, a young man according to the verdict of the calendar, but a veteran in the banking world, fully equipped for the management of this veteran financial in- stitution. Morton McMichael, Jr., served the bank as cashier from the date of or- ganization until April 22, 1902. He was succeeded by Kenton Warne, who on June 30, 1910, gave way to the present
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cashier, Thomas W. Andrew, and three assistant cashiers-Charles H. James, Freas B. Snyder, and Harry J. Haas.
The career of William A. Law as a financier has been a remarkable one, and a record of practical efficiency, broad vision and honorable achievement char- acteristically American. His banking life began a quarter of a century ago with the organization of a savings bank in a southern town. After two years as presi- * dent of the savings bank, he organized and became president of a national bank in the same town, and for ten years re- mained its executive head. He was then firmly established in the financial world, and he could easily have been content with the honors already won, his future task being simply to hold to that which was his. But his ambition was only properly aroused, not satisfied. Regard- ing his years of experience in high posi- tion as merely educational, he cast it all behind him, resigned his position, and came to Philadelphia to take a post dis- tinctly inferior in comparison to the one he had surrendered. It was a daring move and required courage, but demon- strates a selfreliant quality of character that is one of Mr. Law's greatest assets. His rise from assistant cashier in 1903 to the presidency of the premier organ- ization of the national banking system in 1915, proves that he placed the proper estimate upon his own powers when he adventured Philadelphia, the stronghold of conservatism.
William A. Law was born in Darling- ton county, South Carolina, December 26, 1864, but spent most of his early life in Spartanburg, the same State, where his father, Rev. Thomas H. Law, D. D., was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, now stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church South, succeeding in that position the father of President Woodrow Wilson. It was amid the surroundings of the
manse that Mr. Law developed qualities of vision, selfreliance and persistency, and that genius for attracting friends that is the birthright of every Southerner and a peculiar heritage of ministers' families. He prepared in Spartanburg schools and then entered Wofford College, whence he was graduated, class of '83. After leav- ing college he taught schools for a brief period in Wilmington, North Carolina, and in the meantime perfected himself in stenography, an art he had first taken up in college. He became an expert court reporter, and for seven years was the official stenographer of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of South Carolina.
In 1891 he entered the banking field as organizer of the Spartanburg Savings Bank, and its first president. Two years later he was elected president of the Cen- tral National Bank of Spartanburg, a position he held until 1903. Those twelve years had been years of constant develop- ment in the young man, who at the age of twenty-nine was a national bank presi- dent, and ten years later found himself, a strong selfcontained man of proven ability as a financier and executive. With his growth as a financier, that likable human touch of his nature, that friendli- ness, that interest in men as men, had also developed into a priceless asset, priceless because it cannot be cultivated for purely business reasons. In 1901 he effected the organization of the South Carolina Bankers' Association, and was elected its first president. But prominent as was the position he held in his native State as a banker, he deliberately sur- rendered position and honors he had fairly won and came north. On April 22, 1903, he became assistant cashier of the Merchants' National Bank of Philadel- phia ; on January 12, 1906, was elected cashier ; on January 15, 1909, vice-presi- dent ; and on January 10, 1910, president, having in seven years risen from the
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assistant cashier's desk to the president's chair. On July 2, 1910, the Merchants' National Bank merged with the First National Bank of Philadelphia, of which J. Tatnall Lea was president, William A. Law being chosen vice-president of the enlarged First National. On May 15, 1915, Mr. Lea retired from the presidency and was succeeded by Mr. Law.
In 1908 Mr. Law was elected a member of the executive council of the American Bankers' Association; two years later president of the Pennsylvania Bankers' Association ; in 1913 vice-president and in 1914 president of the American Bankers' Association, he being the second presi- dent of the First National to enjoy that honorable distinction. He is a director of the Fire Association of Philadelphia, and of the Central National Bank of Spartanburg of South Carolina, the in- stitution of which he was for ten years president before coming to Philadelphia.
This record of twenty-five years a banker is one that reflects nothing but honor upon its compiler. He came to Philadelphia unheralded, and began anew the making of a career among strangers and amid new surroundings. But the qualities of mind, the high ideals and the personality that made for success in Spartanburg was equaly potent in staid, conservative Philadelphia and the finan- cial institution of which he is the honored head, while proud of its past history, as a bank, is equally proud of the record of its executive as a banker, and faces the future with confidence.
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