USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Volume I > Part 46
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 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
Mr. Chalfant married, November 1I, 1868, Margaret Jane, daughter of George HI. and Margaret Jane (Vaughenbaugh) Bell, of Braddock, Pennsylvania, and the following children were born to them: William Lusk, deceased; Alice Isabella, wife of Harry Scott Calvert, of Pitts- burgh ; Rebecca Kirkpatrick, wife of Wil- bur Shenk, of Pittsburgh ; Charles Camp- bell, and Margaret Jane, wife of James C. Burt, M. D., of Pittsburgh. Mrs. Chal- fant is a woman not only of unusual sweetness and beauty of character, but intellectual, energetic and sagacious-in all respects an ideal helpmate, she caused her husband, who was devoted in his
316
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
family relations, to find his highest hap- piness at his own fireside.
In the prime of life and the full ma- turity of his powers, Mr. Chalfant died August 11, 1904, at Detroit, Michigan. The news was received in Pittsburgh with sincere and universal sorrow. All felt that the city had lost one whose pub- lic and private life were one rounded whole-two perfect parts of a symmetri- cal sphere. Honorable in purpose, fear- less in conduct, he stood for many years as one of the most eminent and valued citizens of Pittsburgh, never allowing questionable methods to form a part of his business career and never neglecting an opportunity to assist one less for- tunate than himself. A descendant of ancestors who helped to lay the founda- tions of the commonwealth of Pennsyl- vania, George Alexander Chalfant was nobly true to his traditions, and by his record both as a business man and a citi- zen added new lustre to an old and hon- ored name.
LONGENECKER, John Peck, Business Man, Public Official.
John Peck Longenecker, the present Mayor of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, is de- scended from a family whose original dwelling place was in Switzerland. The first member of this family in America emigrated in 1765.
The grandfather of Mr. Longenecker was one of the early preachers of the Gospel in Pennsylvania, and was a min- ister of the Old Mennonite Church.
The Mayor's father, the Rev. David S. Longenecker, born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1844, inher- ited his father's religious turn of mind and entered the ministry. In his young manhood he proved his sympathy with the Union, and his fidelity to the tradi- tions of the Swiss struggle for liberty by enlisting in the Civil War. His military
record was made while serving with the Thirty-sixth Regiment from Pennsyl- vania.
Mayor John Peck Longenecker is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Dauphin county, February 5, 1872. His education, begun in the Lebanon public schools, was completed at the Institute Commercial College of Reading, Penn- sylvania, where he studied bookkeeping. Taking up this line of work when he en- tered on a business career, he became bookkeeper for the Lebanon Stove Works, and in seventeen years of faith- ful service was advanced to the position of manager of the company. Mr. Longe- necker then started out independently, having bought his present business. From the first Mr. Longenecker has shown his interest in matters of public welfare. Politics and the administration of city affairs have received his co-oper- ation. The public appreciation of his efforts is shown by his election to vari- ous offices. By party sympathies, he is a Republican. As a county officer, director of the poor, he served two terms. On November 8, 1911, he was elected for a four-year term as Mayor of Lebanon, a high position to be held by so young a man, but one which he has gained through the many friends who admire his energetic character and the ability with which he handles executive busi- ness.
Other interests than politics have made Mr. Longenecker one of the board of governors of the Malta Home Associa- tion. He is also a member of many fra- ternal associations, namely, the Knights of the Mystic Chain and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and at various times has been an officer in the Knights of Malta, the Red Men, the Sons of Veterans and the Patriotic Order, Sons of America. In church relationship he belongs to the United Brethren.
His marriage to Sallie Marks occurred
317
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
on July 19, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. J. P. man the employ of the Pennsylvania Longenecker's only child was born No- vember 22, 1895, and is named Marks Longenecker.
REA, Samuel,
Railway Magnate.
Following a long line of distinguished incumbents of the high office of president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Samuel Rea was inducted into office Jan- uary 1, 1913. His administration is too young to be criticized either favorably or unfavorably, but certain it is that no man has had better preparation for the office, or more worthily won elevation to the highest position in the railroad world. Literally rising from the ranks, his ca- reer covers service in the engineering de- partment of the road since 1871, and from 1888 until the present he has been in the executive department. From rodman to president is the enviable record made by Mr. Rea in a business life of forty-two years.
Mr. Rea descends from Samuel Rea (his great-grandfather), who came from the North of Ireland to Pennsylvania in 1754 or 1755, settling in what is now Franklin county. Mr. Rea's grandfather, John Rea, of Chambersburg, Pennsyl- vania, was an officer of the Revolution, and represented a Pennsylvania district in the Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh and Thir- teenth Congresses. John Rea's son, James D. Rea, married Ruth, daughter of Thomas Blair Moore, of Blair county, Pennsylvania and resided in Hollidays- burg, Pennsylvania.
Samuel Rea, son of James and Ruth (Moore) Rea was born at Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, September 21, 1855. He attended public school and academy until he was fifteen years, for a time clerking in a store in Hollidaysburg, and in the spring of 1871 in a store at Port Royal. In 1871 he entered as chainman and rod-
Railroad on an engineering corps, of which James McCrea, afterward presi- dent of the company, was in charge. He remained with the company. until, the panic of 1873 stopping all engineering work, he entered the office of the Holli- daysburg Iron and Nail Company, early in 1874. In the spring of 1875 he re- entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in the engineering corps, and was stationed at Connellsville. From 1875 to 1877 he was assistant engi- neer in the construction of the chain sus- pension bridge over the Monongahela river in Pittsburgh, and upon its comple- tion was appointed assistant engineer of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Company, then in course of construction, with which he remained until the com- pletion of that road. In 1879 he returned to the Pennsylvania Railroad system in the capacity of assistant engineer in charge of the construction of the exten- sion of the Pittsburgh, Virginia & Charleston railroad. From 1879 to 1883, Mr. Rea was the engineer in charge of surveys in Westmoreland county, and of the rebuilding of the Western Pennsyl- vania railroad, to make it a low grade freight line. This work was under the direction of J. N. DuBarry, then assist- ant to the president, and afterward vice- president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. In 1883 he was transferred to Philadelphia as assistant to Vice-Pres- ident DuBarry, with the title of princi- pal assistant engineer, which he held until 1888, when he was made assistant to the second vice-president. This office he retained until 1889, when he resigned to go to Baltimore as vice-president of the Maryland Central Railway Company, and chief engineer of the Baltimore Belt Railroad Company. In 1891, on account of ill health, he resigned and left Balti- more, doing no active work for a year.
318
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Then he resumed the practice of his pro- railway ; Philadelphia, Baltimore & fession. Washington railroad ; and West Jersey & Seashore railroad companies; and is also a director of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and many other railroad cor- porations in the Pennsylvania system east and west of Pittsburgh. Incident to supervising the corporate work of the subsidiary companies of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company, east of Pitts- burgh, and of the promotion and con- struction of new lines, Mr. Rea, when vice-president, acted as president or vice- president of nearly all these companies.
After an absence of three years from the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, on May 25, 1892, Mr. Rea was chosen as- sistant to the president of that company. On the day of his appointment he left for London, where by direction of Presi- dent Roberts, of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company, he made an examination of the railways terminating in the Eng- lish metropolis, and of the underground railways then constructed and proposed, and subsequently he made a special re- port thereon. The result of this experi- ence was afterward put to good service on the New York tunnel extension of the Pennsylvania railroad After the death of Vice-President DuBarry in 1892, Mr. Rea was assigned to general construc- tion work then in progress, the acquisi- tion of right of way and real estate in that connection, the promotion of all new lines or branches, and the financial and corporate work incident thereto.
On February 10, 1897, he was ap- pointed first assistant to the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and on June 14, 1899, following the election of Mr. A. J. Cassatt as president to suc- ceed Mr. Frank Thomson, Mr. Rea was elected fourth vice-president of the com- pany. On October 10, 1905, he was ad- vanced to third vice-president, and March 24, 1909, to second vice-president. In addition to his former duties he was placed in charge of the engineering and accounting departments. On March 3, 1911, he was elected first vice-president, and on May 8, 1912, when the practice of designating the vice-presidents nu- merically was discontinued, he was elected vice-president. On November 13, 1912, Mr. Rea was elected president, ef- fective January 1, 1913, to succeed Mr. James McCrea, who resigned. Later he was elected president of the Pennsyl- vania Company; the Northern Central
For many years he was interested in the project to bridge the Hudson river from Hoboken to New York City, and thus establish in the metropolis a ter- minus for the railroads using ferries from the New Jersey side. He was one of the incorporators of the North River Bridge Company, chartered by an Act of Con- gress to build that bridge. When other railroad companies failed to join the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in the project to bridge the Hudson, and after a very careful examination and report on the entire project by engineering experts, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company de- termined to build its own tunnels under the Hudson and East rivers, with a large station in the heart of New York City. After this plan had been fully approved by President Cassatt and the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Mr. Rea was given direct charge of what is at present known as the most important piece of engineering work in this country, and has carried it out to a successful conclusion. In recog- nition of the scope of this great work and of its public utility, the University of Pennsylvania on February 27, 1910, con- ferred on him the degree of Doctor of Science. As a part of this project may .be considered the construction of the New York Connecting Railroad, jointly by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
319
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
and the New York, New Haven & Hart- ford Railroad Company, which, with the tunnel extension of the Pennsylvania rail- road, will form a through route for rail- road transportation between the South- ern, Western and New England States. Mr. Rea is the author of "The Railways Terminating in London," a comprehen- sive study based on laborious personal investigation of the physical and finan- cial condition of the English railway system.
In 1879, Mr. Rea married Mary M., daughter of George Black, of Pittsburgh. Mr. Rea is a member of many profes- sional, scientific and patriotic societies in both the United States and England, and social clubs in Philadelphia and New York City. He is a member of the Phila- delphia, Engineers' and Automobile Clubs of Philadelphia; Merion Cricket Club, Haverford; Union, Lawyers', Cen- tury Association and Economic Club of New York; Sleepy Hollow Country Club and Metropolitan Club of Washington ; Royal Auto Club of London; and is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers; Institution of Civil En- gineers, London ; Society of Naval Archi- tects and Marine Engineers; New York Chamber of Commerce; Pennsylvania Scotch-Irish Society; Pennsylvania So- ciety of Sons of Revolution; Society of War of 1812; Pennsylvania Society of New York; Fairmount Park Art Asso- ciation; Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) ; American Academy of Political and Social Science; American Railway Guild; University (of Pennsylvania) Museum; and Society of Arts (London).
ROBERTS, Steele Foster,
Manufacturing Jeweler.
most decided mistake to think of him exclusively in connection with this dis- tinguishing trait. He had gained a suc- cess in life which could not be measured by financial prosperity, but by the kindly amenities and congenial associations of life. For instance, instead of entertain- ing the envious feelings so often to be observed in business life, Mr. Roberts was in the habit of sending flowers to his business rivals upon the occasion of any joyful anniversary, and by this and similar acts of kindness and human sym- pathy he had won the affection of his fellow citizens. His devotion to the high- est purposes of life was in harmony with his commanding intellect and capacious heart. When he assumed charge of the enormous interests of which he was the head at the time of his death, his indus- try and energy, his fidelity to the highest business principles, formed a most prac- tical and interesting object lesson to all who served with and under him. This lesson could not fail of results which will influence the destiny of Pittsburgh for years to come.
His father, John M. Roberts, founded the firm which was later incorporated as E. P. Roberts & Sons, Incorporated, and for many years was one of the finest jewelry establishments in the city. He married Elizabeth Porter Steele, and they had children: Steele F., whose name heads this sketch ; Charles W., who is also a member of the firm; John M .; Mrs. Belinda Sellers; Mrs. Sarah W. Williams; Mrs. Elizabeth Follansbee. John M. Roberts is also a jeweler in Pittsburgh.
Steele F. Roberts was born in Pitts- burgh, June 11, 1850. His education was an excellent and practical one, and ter- minated with attendance at the Univer- sity of Pittsburgh, then the Western University of Pennsylvania. After the death of his father he engaged in busi-
While the late Steele F. Roberts was first and foremost a business man of the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it is a ness, and his progressive ideas were in-
320
Steele Y, Roberte
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
strumental in the further development of this concern, which is the finest in its line in Pittsburgh. In 1906 the business was incorporated, Mr. Roberts being chosen the first president of the corpor- ation, which retained the original name, known throughout the United States. In the jewelry business world Mr. Roberts was considered a tower of strength. As has been said, his ideas were eminently progressive, but they were tempered with a certain amount of conservatism w .! ich prevented him from advancing too rashly in any enterprise. He was constantly planning to improve conditions, not alone for those at the head of the trade in which he was a leader, but also for those engaged in the active details of the busi- ness, from the lowest to the highest rung of the ladder.
Mr. Roberts was one of the organizers of the American National Association of Jewelers, and was elected president of this body in 1910, an office he held until July, 1912. At the time of his death he was a member of the executive commit- tee of the association. He organized the Jewelers' Twenty-four Karat Club of Pittsburgh, and was president until his death. This club was an association of the jewelers of Pittsburgh, and when Mr. Roberts started out to launch the club it was claimed it would be an impossibil- ity ; but the club was born with a most healthy membership, and to Mr. Roberts The death of Mr. Roberts, which oc- curred February 9, 1913, was deeply and sincerely deplored in all classes of so- ciety, and in all branches of the business world. The death of such a man creates a void which can never be entirely filled, and every day brought new evidence of his activity. A movement has been started in Pittsburgh to collect a $50,000 fund from the jewelers in the United States, the interest to be used as a me- morial fund to Mr. Roberts' memory. It was said of him, by a friend: "Steele more than any other man in Pittsburgh belongs the credit of building up this organization, whose fame for doing things-for promoting fellowship and correct business principles-is known from coast to coast. Mr. Roberts began inculcating a spirit into business houses that brought the closest of friendship out of what was a chaotic state, and that good feeling has prevailed ever since. As one jeweler remarked: "Although Steele F. Roberts is dead, his name will be reverenced in jewelry circles for years F. Roberts was first of all a man and a
to come." He was a director of the Pitts- burgh Chamber of Commerce; a member of the Pennsylvania Jewelers' Associa- tion ; a trustee of Christ Methodist Epis- copal Church ; and a thirty-second degree Mason ; also a life member of the West- ern Pennsylvania Exposition Society. He had frequently been urged to accept pub- lic office, but thought he could best serve the community in which he resided by devoting his time and attention to in- creasing its business importance, and contented himself by giving his stanch support as a good citizen to the princi- ples of the Republican party. He was a member of the Oakmont, Country and Pennwood clubs, and was governor of the last named.
Mr. Roberts married (first) April 29, 1880, Martha Jane, daughter of Dennis and Jane Leonard, of Pittsburgh, and they became the parents of three chil- dren, one of whom survives, Jeane Eliza- beth, who has inherited the intellect and ability of her parents. Mr. Roberts mar- ried (second) September 17, 1904, Jean- nette B., daughter of Washington and Sophia (Gray) Bartley, of Pittsburgh, whose accomplishments and numerous amiable traits have well fitted her for the prominent place she occupies. Her prac- tical ideas and ambitions made her a charming helpmate to her gifted hus- band.
321
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
gentleman, with all the virtues that term implies, chief of which is love for one's fellows, and this virtue was truly exem- plified in his life."
Mr. Roberts was thoroughly unselfish and unostentatious. Notoriety of every kind was obnoxious to him, yet he was ever ready to contribute to the extent of his means and power toward any project which had for its object the improve- ment of any existing condition, or the in- troduction of a new idea which would help develop the city in any manner. His wit was nimble and his humor kindly, and his genial countenance was wel- comed everywhere. To those in his em- ploy he was a friend as well as employer, and they went to him in any difficulty which arose, feeling sure of a ready un- derstanding, and of help if it were need- ful. To leave such a record is indeed to have led a blessed life.
SOWERS, Joseph Asbury, Printer, Publisher.
Joseph Asbury Sowers, an influential and progressive business man of Leba- non, is one whose energy has contributed no small share to the development of Le- banon in recent years. He was born in Lebanon, March 3, 1858, son of John and Catherine Emily (Uhler) Sowers. John Sowers, a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, was born March 19, 1795; he served in the war of 1812, and lived to see the young republic take her place as a world power.
Joseph Asbury Sowers received an ex- cellent elementary education in the pub- lic schools of Lebanon, and later learned the printer's trade in the same town. Later he worked at the trade in Phila- delphia and in the Middle West. In 1871 he established at Hamburg, Iowa, and after two years, entered into an associa- tion with M. J. Stauffer and founded the
"Sidney (Iowa) Democrat." He was also associated at one time as business manager with the "Shenandoah (Iowa) Reporter." He returned in 1882 to Leb- anon and formed a partnership with his brother, Edwin U. Sowers, and founded the printing business which later de- veloped into the large interests of the Report Publishing Company. This com- pany owned and issued the newspaper known as the "Evening Report," and also the "Semi-Weekly Report," journals ably conducted and with a wide circula- tion and influence. The Report Publish- ing Company, under their management, was one of the largest and most fully equipped establishments of the kind in the central part of Pennsylvania. The development of this printing business forms an interesting story of success growing from small beginnings. Com- mencing under the ownership and man- agement of the Sowers Brothers, it was then merely a job printing office on the third floor of the Raber building. Under the style of Sowers & Brothers it lasted till 1890, the Report Publishing Company (Ltd.) being then formed and the Report paper first issued. The personnel of the partnership was made up with J. A. Sow- ers, president; E. U. Sowers, secretary and treasurer; Lee L. Grumbine, editor, and Dr. Ezra Grumbine. In 1890 the partnership was dissolved and the Re- port Publishing Company was incorpo- rated with J. A. Sowers, as president ; E. U. Sowers, secretary and treasurer, and upon the board of directors were John Peter Shindel Gobin, James Lord, J. M. Lemberger and Ira M. Rutter. To this list was later added the name of Silas S. Herr. The small room first oc- cupied by the business was later replaced by large and handsome quarters front- ing on the Philadelphia & Reading rail- road between Ninth and Tenth streets. The plant consists of eight cylinder
322
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
presses, three jobbers, one monotype and SOWERS, Edwin Uhler, three linotype machines' with a complete pamphlet bindery, five folding machines, three wire stitchers, and two power paper cutters, all of which is in addition to the other accessories of a complete job plant. All machinery is driven by electricity, each machine having its sep- arate power. The company handles a large amount of business sent by New York and Philadelphia publishers, be- sides making a specialty of religious and Sunday school publications. In 1905 the company removed to Scull street and Partridge avenue, building a needed ad- dition at the corner of Tenth and Scull streets. January 1, 1910, the newspaper interests were sold together with the corporate title, the business then tak- ing the style of the Sowers Printing Company, and of this corporation Mr. Joseph A. Sowers is the presi- dent.
It is a tenet of Mr. Sowers' political belief to vote for the man and not for the party, and he has never voted a straight party ticket in his life. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, is a trustee of the Centenary Church of Lebanon, and teacher of the Men's Organized Bible class in the Sunday school. He is a mem- ber of Mt. Gretna Council, Royal Arcanum.
Mr. Sowers married (first) May 21, 1879, at Sidney, Fremont county, Iowa, Mollie Eva, daughter of Enoch and Eliza (MacMillan) Alberson. He married (second) March 28, 1908, at Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, Minnie Ellen, daugh- ter of Levi Moore and Alice (Donges) Hertzler. By the first marriage there were five children: John Enoch, born May 7, 1880; Marmaduke, June 10, 1883; Mary Rebecca, April 6, 1885; Joseph As- bury, deceased, December 19, 1887; Cath- erine Emily, March 2, 1897.
Printer, Publisher.
Edwin Uhler Sowers, secretary and treasurer of the Sowers Printing Com- pany, which is the successor of the Re- port Publishing Company, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, son of John and Catherine Emily (Uhler) Sowers, and brother of Joseph A. Sowers, the president of the company, of which an account has been given in the foregoing sketch, was born in Lebanon, September 1, 1864.
Like his brother, Edwin U. Sowers was brought up in Lebanon, went to the pub- lic schools of the town and was appren- ticed to learn the trade of printing. He was only thirteen years old when he be- gan to work in the office of the "Pennsyl- vanier," a Pennsylvania-German paper under the ownership of John Young, the manager of whose job-printing depart- ment was Joseph H. Light, a well known figure in the publishing business; ill health, after he had served two years of his apprenticeship, compelled him to give up the work. He afterwards finished learning the trade with William Breslin, the publisher of the "Advertiser." For several years Mr. Sowers held a position in the store of Simon G. Boltz, but in 1882, was induced by his brother, Joseph A. Sowers, to embark in the printing business which later became known as the Report Publishing Company, and has recently taken the style of the Sowers Printing Company. When he entered the firm of Sowers & Brother as junior partner, in April, 1882, the enterprise was a small one occupying a room on the third floor of the Raber building. The later developments of the business have been briefly given in the foregoing sketch. Edwin U. Sowers is the secre- tary and treasurer of the newly organ- ized Sowers Printing Company.
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.