USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Vol. X > Part 8
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
His life work and the commanding position he attained at the bar and in the community where he lived, signify more plainly than words the measure of his abilities and the nobleness of his character. In stature he was tall, of massive frame and endowed with great strength and en- durance, dignified in bearing, yet gentle, genial and sincere in temperament; the grace of his presence and the charm of his manner impressed everyone who came within the range of their in- fluence
51
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Andrew Todd McClintock was united in marriage, May 11, 1841, with Augusta Cist, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Hol- lenback) Cist, and a native of Wilkes- Barre, born in the year 1817, and died September 24, 1895. Her family was very prominent during the early life of the city, and took an active part in its growth and development. Mr. and Mrs. McClintock were the parents of four chil- dren, as follows: Helen Grinnan, born January 19, 1846, at Wilkes-Barre, died January 14, 1894; Alice Mary, born Jan- uary 31, 1848, died October 12, 1900, became the wife of John Vaughan Darling ; Andrew Hamilton, mentioned below ; and Jean Hamilton, born February 22, 1855, died April 15, 1891.
Physically, a man of noble proportions, the gift of both paternal and maternal forebears, mentally highly endowed, with a heart that quickly responded to every appeal, Andrew Todd McClintock was a giant among men. He would have won eminence in any field of labor, but he chose the law, a most confining profes- sion and one which would seem to be ill- fitted to his physical characteristics which would appear to have been more at home in an active out-door environ- ment. His mind, however, was particu- larly well qualified for his chosen sub- ject, and he was deeply learned in the principles of common law. As an advo- cate he was especially strong and almost appeared to have an intuitive knowledge of the mental processes of those whom he addressed, a quality which made him ex- tremely effective before a jury. Wit, humor and pathos abounded in his speech, but he never descended to play upon the emotions to accomplish his end, but always had a background of keen and trenchant reason to support his every plea. He was most genial, open-handed and friendly, and his life was truly a suc-
cession of good deeds, and the number of his friends was legion.
Andrew Hamilton McClintock, only son of Andrew Todd and Augusta (Cist) McClintock, was born December 12, 1852, at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and has made this city his home and the scene of his active professional career ever since. The elementary portion of his education was received at the local schools, and later he entered Princeton College, and graduated from this institution with the class of 1872, when only nineteen years of age, taking the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1875 the honorary degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by his alma mater. It was very natural that, brought up as he was in his father's household, where he came in contact con- tinually with legal tradition and atmos- phere, that he should have selected the law as his profession, and accordingly he began the study of this subject in his father's office and also under the precep- torship of Edward P. and J. Vaughan Darling, the latter his brother-in-law. He pursued his studies to such good purpose that he was admitted to the bar in Lu- zerne county, January 20, 1876, and at once began his professional career in asso- ciation with his father. As time went on and young Mr. McClintock proved his eminent capacity to handle whatever legal matters were entrusted to him, Mr. McClintock, Sr., gradually withdrew more and more from active life and left it to his son to manage the great legal practice which he had built up. His large clientele, including many of the wealthi- est corporations of the region, remained faithful to him and the great legal busi- ness has rather increased than diminished with the course of time. Like his father, Mr. McClintock was quite unambitious for political preferment, and like him also he was a staunch member of the Demo-
52
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
cratic party. Outside of the limits of his profession he has affiliated himself with many of the largest and most im- portant institutions in the city, and may be considered a leader in most of the departments of the community's life. He is president of the Wyoming National Bank of Wilkes-Barre, a director of the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, the Lehigh & Luzerne Coal Company, the Honey Brook Water Company, the Hollenback Cemetery Association, the Miners' Savings Bank of Wilkes-Barre, a trustee and director of the Home for Friendless Children, and a trustee of the Osterhout Free Library of Wilkes-Barre. Mr. McClintock is a conspicuous figure in the club life of the community, and is a member of the Westmoreland Club, the Wyoming Valley Country Club of Wilkes-Barre, the Hazleton Country Club of Hazleton, of the Pennsylvania Society Sons of the American Revolution, and of the Wyoming Historical and Geo- logical Society, of which he was libra- rian from 1883 to 1885 and treasurer from 1886 to 1895. In his religious belief Mr. McClintock is a Presbyterian, and is a member and trustee of the First Church of that denomination in Wilkes-Barre. He is also the treasurer of this church at the present time, and is thus intimately connected with it as was his father, who for many years was an elder.
Andrew Hamilton McClintock was united in marriage, December 1, 1880, with Eleanor Welles, a daughter of Col- onel Charles F. Welles, Jr., and Elizabeth (LaPorte) Welles, his wife. Mrs. Mc- Clintock is descended on the maternal side of her family from Governor Thomas Welles, of Connecticut, who was the first treasurer of that colony, and on the ma- ternal side from Bartholomew LaPorte, a member of the French Refugee Colony at Asylum, Bradford county, Pennsyl-
vania. Mr. and Mrs. McClintock became the parents of two children, as follows: I. Gilbert Stuart, born December 27, 1886, and like his brother studied at and was graduated from the Harry Hill- man Academy at Wilkes-Barre; he then attended the Lawrenceville School at Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and from there entered Princeton University and was graduated with the class of 1908; he has followed in the steps of his father and grandfather in choosing the law as his profession, and pursued that subject at the law school connected with the University of Pennsylvania ; he is at the present time associated with his father in the practice of the law, and gives ample evidence of having inherited the brilliant qualities of his progenitors. 2. Andrew Todd, born January 21, 1889, and now one of the most prominent of the younger physicians of Wilkes-Barre ; he was grad- uated from the Harry Hillman Academy at Wilkes-Barre, with the class of 1903, and like his father entered Princeton Uni- versity ; he was graduated from Prince- ton with the class of 1907, and had in the meantime made up his mind to follow medicine as his career in life; accord- ingly he entered the medical school con- nected with the University of Pennsyl- vania, and received his medical degree from that institution in 1911; in the years 1912-13, both inclusive, he held the post of resident physician in the Wilkes-Barre City Hospital, and here gained much val- uable practical experience; in 1913 he went abroad and pursued his medical studies at Vienna for about a year; he returned in the autumn of 1914 to the United States, and at once took up the active practice of his profession in his native city; Dr. McClintock has already won a wide reputation for himself in the medical world, and is specializing to a large extent in the subject of internal medicine.
53
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
WHITMAN, Benjamin,
Man of Affairs, Litterateur.
No man in the city of Erie, Pennsyl- vania, was as well known as Bejamin Whitman, his speaking acquaintances numbering half the population of the city. A decade has passed since he was called to his reward, but his memory is green, and as long as the men of Erie admire public spirit, enlightened vision, civic pride and devotion to duty, so long will he be remembered. He was a high type of the self-made, home-loving American, who coupled with business sagacity and success an intellectual culture and a lit- erary taste that gave him a place in the life of the city peculiarly his own. Essen- tially a man of the people, a deep interest in their welfare was expressed in his acts, and he never ceased to be concerned for their well being, and he did a great deal to endear himself to his fellowmen. It is to his untiring energy and interest that Erie owes the magnificent public library which belongs to the humblest citizen and to the most exalted. He aroused the sen- timent which demanded such an institu- tion, was the author of the Pennsylvania Free Public Library Bill which made it possible, and it stands to-day a splendid and most fitting memorial to the life and services of Benjamin Whitman, journal- ist, publicist, man of affairs, anthor, scholar, traveler and public official. He was a native son of Pennsylvania, his parents, George F. and Mary (Demper- lay) Whitman, of Middletown, Dauphin county, he their first born son.
Benjamin Whitman was born in Mid- dletown, Pennsylvania, January 28, 1840, died in the City of Mexico, Old Mexico, March 14, 1908, he being at the time on a travel tour, as was his custom each spring. He attended public school in Middletown until eleven years of age,
then became an inmate of his uncle's home in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, there continuing school study until fifteen years of age, the stern business of life then beginning for the lad. He began learning the printer's trade in the offices of the Harrisburg "Telegraph," then the leading newspaper of the capital city. Three years later, and he was then only eighteen, he bought an interest in the Middletown "Journal," his home town paper, and became its editor. Just why does not appear, but he sold the "Journal" after six months' ownership, and until the winter of 1859 was engaged in journalis- tic work at Lancaster and Harrisburg. He taught school in Middletown, the winter of 1859-60, then located in Erie, Pennsylvania, a city which was ever afterward his home.
He did not accidentally stumble upon Erie as a location, but came upon invita- tion from Andrew Hopkins, then man- aging editor and owner of the Erie "Ob- server," who offered the young man of twenty the position of assistant-editor. This throws a strong light upon the jour- nalistic ability of Mr. Whitman, even at that early age. One year after his arrival in Erie he bought an interest in the "Observer," a weekly paper, and in Jan- uary, 1864, became sole owner and editor. Four fourteen years he retained control of the paper and its editorial policy, win- ning success from nine professional and financial points of view. He displayed splendid editorial ability, his views were sound and so well expressed that they won him friendships that only death dis- solved. He retired from active news- paper work, December 1, 1878, but all his life he was connected with some form of literary work and was an able writer whose contributions were welcome in any newspaper office. He was Erie's most successful newspaper editor and laid the
54
The
-
-
-
Am
Denja Whitman
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
foundation of his fortune while a jour- nalist. His business activities thereafter were chiefly in connection with real estate development and financiering and the fulfilling of public trusts. He had abounding faith in the future of Erie, and took pride in being a factor in its rapid growth. He encouraged workmen to become home owners, and through his advice and encouragement what was once a desolate part of the city became a sec- tion of neat homes, with sewers, pave- ments and every other improvement. His work in that section stamps him a pub- lic benefactor and will endure.
Mr. Whitman was a Democrat in poli- tics and a recognized leader, enjoying the confidence of those two strong national leaders, Senator Wallace and Congress- man Samuel J. Randall. He was a per- sonal and political friend of Governor Pattison, and largely through that friend- ship and Mr. Whitman's influence, Erie was chosen as the site for the Pennsyl- vania Soldiers' Home. Governor Patti- son appointed him executive chairman of Pennsylvania's World's Fair Commis- sion, and for some time he was chairman of the Democratic County Committee. He was a delegate to the National Conven- tion of 1884, which nominated Grover Cleveland for President of the United States, and was delegate to many State conventions of his party, also was a mem- ber of the State Central Committee. He was never an office seeker, in fact stead- fastly declined to allow his name to be used in connection with any office, city, county or State. But he did use his great political influence cheerfully in the city of Erie. In 1881, without any solici- tation on his own part, he was appointed by Judge Galbraith to a place upon the Erie Board of Water Commissioners, a position, non-political, which he held until 1887, his service to the city being
very valuable. In the World's Fair Com- mission he served as chairman until ill health compelled him to resign in the spring of 1893, but at the earnest solicita- tion of the other members he remained on the commission and helped to plan, fit up and equip the State building and State exhibits as well as preparing the report of the board.
Other public service rendered was as trustee of Erie Academy, and in his prep- aration of the "History of Erie County," published in 1884. In 1896 he compiled the State, county and local matter in Nel- son's Biographical Dictionary. He deliv- ered many political speeches and ad- dresses, and it was long his habit to make extended travel tours, and upon his return to Erie to give interesting and instructive travel talks on lectures on the wonders he had seen. Only a short time before his last tour he published a book describing his travels in the Holy Land, and to other famed historical localities. Cuba and the West Indies were visited, and in Old Mexico he was stricken with his fatal illness. While he was actively identified with every movement to make Erie a greater city, and his enthusiasm inspired others, there is one institution whom all agree is to be credited to his untiring energy and devoted interest, The Free Public Library. The following ex- tract from a resolution adopted by his associates of the board of trustees, fit- tingly expresses their regard for his work:
Mr. Whitman's interest in our Library-his loyalty to the Cause of Education-his liberality or catholicity of spirit-cannot be better ex- pressed than by using his own words. In his address as presiding officer of the day, at the dedication of the Library, February 16, 1899, among other things, he said: "This is the peo- ple's building-not for a favored few only. It was built by the people for the use of the people of all creeds, colors, races and conditions. There
55
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
must be no distinction here-no prejudice, no preferences. The poorest man and woman must be made to feel as welcome as the richest; the child of the humblest laboring man must receive as kind attention as the son or daughter of the grandest and the proudest." And in closing his address he said: "I congratulate you ladies and gentlemen upon the dawn of a new and better day for our city and country. The erection of this building will extend the fame of our city, far and wide, and the Library, if properly con- ducted, will improve the tone, the spirit and the sentiment of this entire section. You have cause to feel proud that Erie has been the first City in the Commonwealth to avail herself of the Free Library Act of 1895, and that she has done her part in a way that promises so much for the future."
Mr. Whitman was a member of the Erie Press Club, and an honorary mem- ber of the Erie Typographical Union. He was long affiliated with Perry Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and when the time came to lay him in Erie Ceme- tery the beautiful Masonic service was fully carried out at the grave. Memorial services were held at the lodge rooms in Masonic Temple and fitting eulogies were delivered. The Erie Board of Education also testified to his high character in res- olutions of respect, and the press of the State vied in their expressions of respect to his memory.
Mr. Whitman married, May 31, 1870, Mary Emma Teel, daughter of Silas E. and Julia A. Teel. Mrs. Whitman con- tinues her residence in Erie.
PAYNE, EDWARD F.,
Extensive Coal Operator.
Edward F. Payne comes of a family which for three generations has been prominent in the coal mining industry in Pennsylvania, and he was one of the most conspicuous figures in the development of this great business during his life. As a man Mr. Payne occupied a position in his community held but by few. The
worth of his citizenship was recognized by all his associates, and in whatever capacity he filled his work was done with the same high efficiency and conscien- tious devotion which marked his life as a whole. He was a man of strict integ- rity and lofty purpose, and he counted his friends among the high and the lowly, his friendship for them being always faith- ful and sure. He was possessed of a kindly heart and genial disposition, and was at all times very approachable, his outlook on life being fundamentally dem- ocratic. Mr. Payne's family was of Irish origin, and was founded in America by one Robert Payne, a native of Bally Com- mon, Kings county, Ireland, who with his wife, Mary A. (Chamberlain) Payne, came to America with their son Edward, and settled in Canada. Robert Payne's wife was a daughter of the Rev. William Chamberlain, a clergyman of the Estab- lished Church of England, resident at Bally Common. When Edward Payne, the son of the immigrant, had grown to young manhood, he came from Canada to the United States, and settling in Penn- sylvania he soon became interested in the coal business there, and eventually be- came a noted operator. He married Pris- cilla Standish, a young lady of English family, and made their home in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania.
Edward F. Payne, son of Edward and Priscilla (Standish) Payne, was born at his father's home in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, and passed the first few years of his childhood at his native place. While still young, however, he was sent to the public school at Jersey City, New Jersey, where he was a student for a num- ber of years. Upon completing his course at this institution, he returned to his native State and then engaged in the business in which his father had already made so notable a success. He held in
56
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
succession the positions of outside and inside foreman of the East Boston Mine at Wilkes-Barre, and was eventually made general superintendent of the col- liery. Sometime later he and his brother, William G. Payne, purchased the entire property from its former owners and suc- ceeded them in the great business which they had built up. The great organizing abilities of Mr. Payne rendered the suc- cess of their concern secure from the out- set, and the business steadily grew in size and importance up to the time of his retirement therefrom. He was recognized as one of the most energetic and capable managers in Luzerne county, and his works were unusually free from the labor disturbances which have proved so great a menace to the average colliery. This was undoubtedly due to the unusual kindness and consideration with which he treated his employees and all those who worked for him in any capacity. Indeed he won for himself a very enviable reputation in this connection throughout the region, so that he always had his pick of the best laborers thereabouts. His per- sonality was an unusually genial one, and he made friends easily in whatever class he happened to come in contact with. After many years of active management, Mr. Payne finally disposed of his inter- ests in the East Boston Coal Company, and retired from business. But although he no longer actively took part in the business world, he continued to hold extensive and valuable interests in soft coal properties in West Virginia, and these are still retained in his family. He . was also a director of the Miners' Bank of Wilkes-Barre, an office which he con- tinued to hold up to the time of his death. Mr. Payne was exceedingly prominent in the social life of Wilkes-Barre and its environs, and was a member of the West- moreland Club of that city. He was also
prominently affiliated with the Masonic order, and was a member of the lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; the chapter, Royal Arch Masons; the coun- cil, Royal and Select Masters, and the commandery, Knights Templar. In his religious belief Mr. Payne was a Presby- terian, and was a member of the First Church of that denomination at Wilkes- Barre.
Edward F. Payne was united in mar- riage, June 22, 1876, with Elsie Reith, a daughter of George and Ann (Esson) Reith, both of whom were natives of Scotland. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Payne, as follows: Edith. June 14, 1877; Edward, who died Octo- ber 22, 1884; Ellen Arline, born Septem- ber 28, 1885; and Bruce B., born April 27, 1889.
Mr. Payne was a man of strong indi- viduality, whose mind was capable of thinking clearly and originally and who was always independent in thought, word and action. This is well shown in his attitude toward politics, in which he always maintained a free and non-par- tisan judgment. He reserved the right to decide for himself upon all political issues and voted for that candidate which he honestly believed to be the best for the community, irrespective of the party name with which he was labeled. His death, which occurred on October 17, 1910, was felt as a severe loss by the entire community and there were many expres- sions of sorrow and regret as well as admiration for his past life and achieve- ments, from the most varied sources. The resolutions passed by the Miners' Bank of Wilkes-Barre, of which Mr. Payne had been director for so many years, deserve to be here quoted. They were as follows :
The Committee appointed to draft appropriate resolutions upon the death of Mr. Edward F. Payne submit the following :
57
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Resolved, That in the death of Mr. Edward F. Payne this board has lost a faithful and con- scientious member, who, both as director and sec- retary, has served it with characteristic earnest- ness and zealous devotion to duty.
Resolved, That we recognize the great interest he always took in the affairs of this institution, and that we deeply mourn for him as one in every way worthy of our esteem and regard, and one who from out intimate association with him on this board and because of his superior social and business qualities had become greatly endeared to us all.
Resolved, That we sincerely condole with his family in their bereavement and, that as a testi- monial of our sympathy and sorrow, a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to them, and that the same be entered in full upon our minutes and that we attend the funeral in a body.
Mr. Payne was a most public-spirited citizen and there were very few move- ments of any importance undertaken with the city's interests in view with which he was not identified. He was a man of strong, almost Puritanic virtues, but his fellows never felt any inconvenience from the somewhat stern tone of his morality, since it was only himself that he applied it to, only himself whom he insisted upon living up to his ideals. For every other man this was tempered with a large and wise tolerance, the tolerance of the phil- osopher who realizes that it is only him- self for whom he is responsible and that, although others may, and should be influ- enced in all ways possible in the direc- tion of the right, yet more than this is vain and that no one man has a right to formulate a code of ethics for his fellows. He was a man of deep sympathy for his fellows, especially all such as had suf- fered misfortune of any kind, and to these he was always ready to extend a helping hand. In his treatment of his fellows he was able to meet all men on a common ground, and his judgment of them was not influenced by any conditions of an exterior nature. All men were equal to him and it never occurred to him to ask
if they were rich or poor, high or low. This lack of respect for the accompani- ments of fortune is a quality greatly admired by all men, who feel an instinc- tive trust in those who possess it, and it was probably this as much as anything that accounted for the popularity which Mr. Payne enjoyed. In all the relations of life his conduct was irreproachable, and he might well be considered as a model of good citizenship and worthy manhood. Mr. Payne was a most loving father, a devoted husband and a friend of all men.
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.