USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Vol. X > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
Frederick Gaertner, father of Dr. Fred- erick Gaertner, of Pittsburgh, was a na- tive of Germany, and in 1848 emigrated to the United States, settling first in St. Louis, Missouri, but becoming, after a few years, a citizen of Illinois. He mar- ried Rebecca Elizabeth Bauer. Mr. Gaert- ner, who was a relative of the distin- guished anatomist of the same name, was a representative of an ancient and honor- able family entitled to display the follow- ing escutcheon :
Arms-Quarterly, one and four azure, an an- chor or in bend sinister two and three or, a bend gules charged with three fleurs-de-lis of the sec- ond, posed bendwise. Helmet ducally crowned.
Crest-Three lilies proper, slipped and leaved vert.
Mantling-Dexter, or and azure. Sinister, ar- gent and gules.
Frederick (2) Gaertner, son of Fred- erick (1) and Rebecca Elizabeth (Bauer) Gaertner, was born July 25, 1860, at Ed- wardsville, Madison county, Illinois, and received his earliest education in the pub- lic school at old Fort Russell, in his native county. Afterward he attended for a time, the St. Louis High School, and in 1875 entered Mound City College, St. Louis, graduating in 1879 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. The same year he matriculated in the medical department of Washington University, St. Louis, the late John T. Hodgen, the eminent sur- geon, being then at the head of the fac-
ulty. In 1882 the university conferred upon Dr. Gaertner the degree of Doctor of Medicine. His summer vacations were devoted to study, being spent in the of- fice of his preceptor, Dr. Joseph Pogue, of Edwardsville, Illinois, and he also re- ceived instruction and attended clinics at St. John's, Sisters' and St. Louis City Hospitals.
Immediately after his graduation Dr. Gaertner went abroad for further training in medicine, surgery and pathology, but especially for the purpose of gaining a thorough knowledge of the use of the microscope. He studied at the König- lichen-Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Berlin and took private and special courses with Professors Virchow, von Langenbeck, Schroder, Westphal, Martin, Fritsch, Du Bois Raymond, Liebrich, Guttman and others. With Professor von Langenbeck he studied surgery and sur- gical pathology, and from Virchow re- ceived instruction in microscopy, pathol- ogy and pathological histology. In the summer vacations he obtained from Pro- fessor Virchow special permits to work in his pathological and histological labora- tories, where he experimented upon living dogs, cats and rabbits. At Berlin he at- tended clinics at the Königlichen-Uni- versitäts-Klinikum and Chirurgischen- Klinikum ; also at the Königlichen-Char- ite-Krankenhaus.
During the years 1883 and 1884, at Vi- enna, Dr. Gaertner studied medicine, sur- gery and microscopy, taking private and special courses with Professors Billroth, Schenk, Kundrat, Bamberger, Schnitzler, Gruber, Ultzman, Dittle, Braun, Kaposi and others. With Professors Rokitansky, ·Kundrat and their assistants, Drs. Kolisco and Zemann, he studied gross pathology, pathologic histology, microscopy and the technique of post mortem examinations. At the Kaiserlichen, Allgemeinen-Krank-
281
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
enhaus and Allgemeinen Poliklinik and in dem Anatomischen Institute des Ehem- aligen Josephinums he received special permits to visit the wards regularly and treat the patients. From Vienna, Dr. Gaertner went to Strassburg to complete his studies with Professors von Reckling- hausen, Hoppe-Seyler, Schwalbe, Goltz, Jolly, Lucke, Schmiedberg, Freund, Kuss- maul, Laqueur and others. With Pro- fessor Hoppe-Seyler he studied histolog- ical and physiological-chemistry, and Pro- fessor von Recklinghausen permitted him to work with him in his private path- ological laboratory, also instructing him in pathology, pathological anatomy, path- ological histology, the technique of post mortem examinations and microscopy. It was under von Recklinghausen that Dr. Gaertner, by his original research work, made this remarkable discovery in pathology, viz .: "Ueber die Beziehung des Schwarzen Pigments in der Leber, Milz und Niere, zu den Kohlenstaubab- lagerungen," published at Strassburg in 1885, copied and republished all over the civilized countries as "Gaertner's Discov- ery." Dr. Gaertner also attended the re- markable clinics of Professors Kussmaul and Lucke, at the St. Stepan Hospital, Strassburg. Thence he went to Paris, where he visited the Hospital Generale de Paris and Pasteur's Inoculating Institu- tion, going thence to London and Dublin whence, after visiting the hospitals, he returned home.
The list of the degrees which Dr. Gaert- ner received from famous universities are very numerous; the most important in- clude the following : From the University of Vienna, in 1884, Doctor of Medicine, also honorary certificates of proficiency from all the professors at the university ; from the University of Strassburg, in 1885, Master of Arts ; and Doctor of Med- icine; from the University of Pennsyl-
vania, in 1886, a certificate of endorse- ment; from the Academie des Sciences, Paris, in 1889, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, and the same year the decoration of the Legion d'honneur for scientific original discoveries in pathol- ogy. He also received, in 1882, a cer- tificate from the Illinois State Board of Health.
On his return to the United States Dr. Gaertner settled in Pittsburgh, where he has since been continuously engaged in the practice of medicine, surgery and mi- croscopy, having attained in both to a position of well-merited distinction. He has a collection of six thousand slides of microscopic specimens, histological and pathological tissue, even embryonic tis- sue, which he values very highly as the result of his own labor. As a surgeon he is distinguished for boldness no less than skill, having successfully undertaken numerous capital operations, including laparotomies, and he was the first surgeon who successfully performed the first gas- trotomy (a resection of the pyloric end of the stomach) in the United States of America for cancer. He is a great advo- cate of the introduction of compressed air into the lungs, especially by the fanning process. He claims to have thus kept alive for days and hours patients in a con- dition of extreme weakness and even in a state of collapse. Several years ago Dr. Gaertner was offered by two different medical institutions the Chair of Path- ology and Pathological Histology, but in both instances declined the honor.
In politics Dr. Gaertner is a Republican. He belongs to the Pittsburgh Academy of Science and Art, the Iron City Micro- scopical Society, the American Society of Microscopists, and American Association for the Advancement of Science; honor- ary member of the German Society of Physicians and Surgeons of Vienna, Ber-
282
·
Semlinger
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
lin and Strassburg, and is also correspond- ing physician to the Strassburg Patho- logical Society. He was a member of the Presbyterian church; however, of late years, he became a devout Catholic.
As a writer, observer and investigator, Dr. Gaertner is famed in both hemi- spheres, all his work and original papers being based upon the highest scientific advancement and characterized by force and terseness of expression. He was ed- itor of several scientific magazines and journals and associate editor of the "Den- tal and Surgical Microcosm," the "Inter- national Journal of Microscopy and Nat- ural Science," and the "Observer," an- other microscopical journal of Portland, Connecticut. He was also collaborator of the "Bacteriological World," of Battle Creek, Michigan. He is the author of many scientific papers, the following be- ing the most important :
(I) "The Causes of the Deposits of Black Pigment in the Liver, Spleen and Kidneys." (II) "Concerning the Causes of Anthracotic Lymphadentis." (III) "Hyperplasia and Hyperthropic Lymph- adentis at the Base of the Lungs." (IV) "Anthracotic Metastasis (Gaertner)." (V) "How and by What Methods and Through What Channels Infectious Dis- eases are Contracted," 1890. (VI) "The Scientific Rules and the Application of the Haemometer," 1890-1893. (VII) "The Causes of Thrombosis and Embol- ism." (VIII) "The Result of Patholog- ical Changes in the Blood, called Syrupy- Stringy-Blood (Gaertner's)," 1892 and 1895. (IX) "Scientific Study and Inves- tigation of Puerperal-Pyaemia," 1901. (X) "The Causes and the Successful Treatment of Cancer," 1904. (XI) "The Causes of Dropsies, Its Cure," 1905. (XII) "Experimental Tests and the Phy- siological Action of Anasarcin," 1906.
(XIII) "The Origin of Man and His Des- tiny," 1907. (XIV-XV) "Lymphadentis due to the Absorption from the Tissues of the Lungs of Inorganic Foreign Sub- stances and its Deposition into the Lymph Nodes at the Hilus of the Lungs," 1889 and 1907. (XVI) "What is Syrupy- Stringy-Blood? (Gaertner)" 1907. (XVII). "Inorganic Metastasis of the Liver, Spleen and Kidneys, due to Deposits of Minute Particles of Iron and Steel Ore Dust, also Sand, Stone, Bone, Wood, Charcoal, Cin- ders, Coal-dust and Soot," 1908. (XVIII) "Experimental Investigations and Path- ological Researches on the Cause of Can- cer. (XIX) Its Intracellular Pathology in Cancer, produced by a nitrogenized auto- intoxicated lymph." (XX) "Cancer, in- cipiency, is a localized Chemico-Hyper- Stimulated toxic lymph process." (XXI) "Experimental and Vivisectional Re- searches, with Minute Chemical and Pathological Observations on Cancer." (XXII) "When and how does the Pre- cancerous state become Cancerous? Is it stimulation, degeneration or regenera- tion ?"
Recently Dr. Gaertner has written sev- eral articles of length, including the fol- lowing: "Concerning the Differentiation of Black Pigment in the Liver, Spleen and Kidneys from Coal-Dust Deposits." "Concerning the Rules and Application of Reichert's Haemometer." "The Mic- roscope the Principal Factor in Discrim- inating Medical, Medico-Legal and Legal Complications." "Vivisections" (Ameri- can Naturalist). "The Unavoidable Ap- plication of the Haemometer in the Dif- ferentiation of Surgical and Gynaecol- ogical Complications." "Hayes' Process of Generating and Applying Anæsthet- ics." "Koch's Discoveries and his Cure for Tuberculosis." "Asiatic Cholera-Its Causes and Its Preventive" (in the Inter-
283
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
national Medical Magazine of January, 1893. "The Grapho-Prism and Its Use." "The Microscope" (in the October Arena).
In recent years Dr. Gaertner has writ- ten regularly for special publication and his contributions to the magazines and scientific journals have been numerous, principally articles of a scientific nature, more especially treating on the character and application of the microscope in phys- iological and pathological-chemistry ; and his latest research work on tuberculosis; and especially in discovering the cause of cancer have startled the medical profes- sion the world over .*
Dr. Gaertner married, July 4, 1885, in Strassburg, Germany, Margaret, daughter of Johann and Anna Maria (Kneipp) Semlinger, and they are the parents of two children: Edith, born June 10, 1886;
*Bibliographical References .- "Eminent Amer- ican Physicians and Surgeons," Indianapolis, 1889; Herringshaw's "American Biography," 1909; ibid, "American National Library," Vol. II, 1909; "Who's Who in Pennsylvania," 1907; "General Alumni Catalogue of Washington University," St. Louis, Mo., 1917; Polk's "Medical and Surgical Directory of the United States and Canada;" and "United States Directory of the American Med- ical Association."
References as to scientific papers published by Dr. Gaertner: "Medical Record," New York ; Strassburg "Thesis;" "The Microscope Jour- nal;" "Arena;" "Dental and Surgical Microcosm;" "International Journal of Microscopy and Natural Science ;" "The Observer ;" "St. Louis Medical and Surgical Journal;" "Bacteriological World;" Strassburg "Pathological Journal;" "The Ameri- can Naturalist ;" "International Medical Maga- zine;" "Microscopical Journals;" "New York Medical Journal;" "St. Louis Medical Review ;" "Medical Herald;" "St. Louis Medical Journal;" "Virginia Medical Semi-Monthly;" "Buffalo Med- ical Journal;" "New Orleans Medical and Sur- gical Journal;" "High Tyde;" "North American Review ;" "American Medical Journal;" "Lancet- Clinic," Cincinnati. Many English, French, Ital- ian and German journals.
and Edward L., born July 23, 1891. The Semlingers, like the Gaertners, are an old and distinguished family, their escutcheon being as follows:
Arms-Or, a cross sable between four wyverns gules, the dexter claw raised. An escutcheon ar- gent charged with an eagle displayed sable, crowned or.
Crest-A winged dragon gules, vomiting flames. Mantling-Dexter or and gules. Sinister ar- gent and sable.
With his rare mental attributes Dr. Gaertner combines unusual force of char- acter, and this union of qualities is ex- pressed in his countenance. His aspect and manner show him to be a man of an- cient race who has consecrated his excep- tional powers to the advancement of science, and the betterment and higher education for the medical profession, plus one great object in view-the uplift of humanity. It is thus that he will be re- membered and that his name will be re- membered and inscribed in the medical annals of the civilized world, and known as the Right Hon. Dr. Frederick Gaert- ner.
VAUCLAIN, Samuel M., Manufacturer.
Among the well-known manufacturers of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania is Sam- uel M. Vauclain, senior vice-president and director of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, and identified with many other industrial and financial concerns. Pos- sessed of a natural bent for mechanics, and having had a long practical experi- ence in railroad shops, Mr. Vauclain en- tered the field of locomotive manufacture equipped with a comprehensive knowl- edge of every detail and requirement of locomotive construction. As a result of this thorough grounding and the execu-
284
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
tive ability which he has displayed, he has risen from the foreman of shops of the Baldwin Locomotive Works to his present position, in which capacity he is the head of the manufacturing and engi- neering departments of the corporation, and occupies an important place in the industrial world of the period.
Samuel M. Vauclain was born May 18, 1856, at Port Richmond, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, son of the late Andrew C. and Mary (Campbell) Vauclain. Through the paternal line of his ancestry he is of French, and through the maternal line, of Scotch-Irish descent. He was educated in the public schools of his city, and be- gan his active career at an early age, starting to work in 1872 in the Pennsyl- vania Railroad shops at Altoona, Penn- sylvania. His connection with the firm of Burnham, Parry, Williams & Com- pany, of Philadelphia, then proprietors of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, began July 1, 1883, when he took the position of foreman of the Seventeenth street shops. In November, 1885, he was promoted to be superintendent of equipment of plant, and on February II, 1886, was advanced to the position of general superintendent of the plant. He became a member of the firm on January 1, 1896, and remained a partner until the reorganization of Burn- ham, Parry, Williams & Company, which in 1909 was incorporated as the Baldwin Locomotive Works. Mr. Vauclain was made general superintendent and director of the corporation, July 1, 1911, and when the corporation was again changed to The Baldwin Locomotive Works, Mr. Vau- clain was made vice-president in charge of the engineering and manufacturing. In this office he continued to serve until 1917, when he assumed the title of senior vice- president.
wrought iron wheel centers for both truck and driving wheels, which have been manufactured by the Baldwin Company. He has designed and patented the four- cylinder type of locomotive, which in its economy of fuel and water and the effi- ciency in both passenger and freight serv- ice has led to its introduction on many leading railroads. The first locomotive of this type was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in October, 1889.
Mr. Vauclain is a director of the West- inghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, the Standard Steel Works, Philadelphia Trust Company, Midvale Steel and Ordnance Company, Cambria Steel Company, Philadelphia Manufac- turers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Philadelphia National Bank, and director and a large owner of Southwark Foundry and Machine Company. He is a member of the American Philosophical Society, American Society of Mechanical Engi- neers, American Society of Civil Engi- neers, American Society of Mining Engi- neers, Institution of Civil Engineers of London, England, Geographical Society, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Franklin Institute, Concrete Institute, American Railway Master Mechanics' Association, Travelling Engineers' Asso- ciation, Fairmount Park Art Association and others. He is president of the Bryn Mawr Hospital.
In 1906 Mr. Vauclain received the de- gree of Doctor of Science from the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, and in January, 1919, he was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor by the French Govern- ment, in recognition of his services to the allied nations during the World War. Politically he is a Republican, but has never held office. His clubs number the Union League, Bryn Mawr Polo, Engi- neers', Manufacturers' and Merion Cricket,
As an inventor Mr. Vauclain has won wide recognition. In 1889 he invented of Philadelphia ; the Railroad Club of New
285
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
York, and the Western Railroad Club of Chicago.
On April 17, 1879, Mr. Vauclain mar- ried Annie Kearney, daughter of James and Margaret Kearney, of Altoona, Penn- sylvania, and their children are: Samuel M., Jr., Mary A., Jacques L., Anne, Charles P., and Constance M.
EVANS, Powell, Man of Great Enterprise.
Powell Evans is president and direc- tor and one of the principal owners of Merchant & Evans Company and the Globe Automatic Sprinkler Company, of Philadelphia, and the Schuylkill Railway Company and the Schuylkill Electric Company, of Girardville, Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia. While an engineer by profession and identified with numerous other industrial, commercial and finan- cial organizations in addition to those named above he also has a record of ag- gressive activity in municipal and patri- otic enterprises.
He was born June 1, 1868, near Little Rock, in Marlboro county, South Caro- lina, the eldest son of Dr. James and Marie Antoinette (Powell) Evans. His early education was received at the pri- vate schools of Florence, South Caro- lina. In 1882 he won a scholarship at the Citadel (State) Military Academy of Charleston, which, however, on account of his early age and immature growth, the Governor refused to affirm. In 1884 he entered Hobart College, Geneva, New York, from which he graduated in 1888, third in his class, with the degree of Bach- elor of Arts and with the award of Phi Beta Kappa. His studies there included special courses in mathematics and engi- neering.
Immediately after graduation he se- cured a position with the Wickes Refrig-
erator Company, manufacturers of refrig- erator cars and structures, and shortly thereafter became its branch manager in Buffalo and later in Philadelphia. In 1892 he severed his connection with this firm and entered the employ of William Wharton, Jr., & Company, Inc., and shortly thereafter became its assistant sales-manager, in which position he was brought into close touch with the inten- sive development of electric railway transportation throughout this section of the country at that time. In 1894 he en- gaged independently in street railway, water power and electric light and power engineering in various enterprises in North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.
In 1898 he became identified with Mer- chant & Company, Inc., of Philadelphia, and in 1900 became its vice-president. Upon the death in 1904 of Mr. Clarke Merchant, founder of this extensive metal business, he financed its purchase from the estate and organized the Merchant & Evans Company, of which he has since been principal owner and president. Under his guidance this company has greatly increased the range and volume of its metal manufacturing and distribut- ing activities, and is now considered one of the most substantial enterprises in Philadelphia.
Mr. Evans is principal owner and pres- ident of the Schuylkill Railway Com- pany, which operates some forty miles of electric railways in Schuylkill county; and furnishes local transportation for nearly two-thirds of the county's popula- tion in its northern area, including Shen- andoah, Mahanoy City, Girardville, Ash- land and Frackville, with a connecting line constructed by him down to Potts- ville, the county seat. He is also princi- pal owner of the Schuylkill Electric Com- pany, a related activity supplying elec- tric light and power in a portion of the
286
Lewis Historical Fab die
Photo by Marcaau
Eng by & G.Withans & Bra NY
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
same community, which was initiated and developed by him.
For many years Mr. Evans has been deeply interested in fire prevention, and is recognized as one of the best posted authorities in the country upon fire pre- vention engineering. He was active in the preparation and enactment of the Pennsylvania State and Philadelphia City Fire Marshal Acts, was chairman of the former Philadelphia Fire Prevention Com- mission of the Department of Public Safety of Philadelphia-at which time he organized and presided over the first Na- tional Fire Prevention Convention held in Philadelphia in October, 1913,-and was for several years a member of the executive committee of the National Fire Protection Association. He has long been identified with the automatic sprink- ler industry, and his many inventions in this field are among the basic develop- ments of this art and cover a large pro- portion of the devices now used in this industry all over the world. In 1899 he was active in organizing the International Sprinkler Company and was its president for many years until the end of 1912- when he became an independent operator, and in 1905 was largely instrumental in organizing the Globe Automatic Sprink- ler Company, of which he is now the larg- est stockholder and president.
He was for many years a director and president of the Automobile Club of Philadelphia, during which period it grew to its present size and erected its large building. During this period he was actively interested in the early "Good Road" movement, and was chairman of the first touring board of the American Automobile Association, and twice repre- sented this National American Associa- tion in International Congresses, held at London in 1909 and at Geneva in 1911. In 1914 he was appointed on the United
States Assay Commission by President Wilson.
For a number of years he has been a director of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and for the past three years one of its vice-presidents. He is a direc- tor of the Tradesmen's National Bank and of the Commonwealth Title Insur- ance & Trust Company, both of Philadel- phia.
He is a member of Sigma Phi (Greek letter) fraternity, the Sons of the Revolu- tion, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Society of Automotive En- gineers. His clubs are the Rittenhouse, University, Racquet, Philadelphia Coun- try, Merion Cricket, and Corinthian Yacht of Philadelphia and Engineers' Club of New York.
In politics Mr. Evans is an indepen- dent Republican. He has for the past ten years been closely associated with the so-called reform element of this party in Philadelphia. In 1915 he was active in organizing and became chairman of the Citizens' Republican League; and the next year organized the Hughes Alli- ance of Pennsylvania and was its chair- man in support of the Presidential cam- paign of the Hon. Charles E. Hughes. He was active in the work of the Philadel- phia Charter Revision Committee of 1916- 17, and was chairman of the Good Gov- ernment Committee of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Legislative Committee of the Com- mittee of Seventy which endeavored to secure the enactment of these remedial measures in the 1917 Legislature.
He is at present a member, secretary, and chairman of the Publicity Commit- tee of the Philadelphia Charter Commit- tee, which is again seeking to secure the enactment during the current session of the Pennsylvania Legislature of statutes . providing more Home Rule and Good
287
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Government for Philadelphia-in the able Thomas and Jane Beverly (Daniel) form of an amendment of the Bullitt act.
Throughout the period of the Great War, Mr. Evans was a staunch advocate of "Preparedness," and was appointed by Governor Martin G. Brumbaugh a member of the Pennsylvania Committee on Public Safety, and in the latter half of 1917 was a bureau chief in the War In- dustries Board (Region No. 4), organiza- tion located in Philadelphia.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.