USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Volume I > Part 51
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Mr. Dyer built all the first street car lines and subsequently the extension of the lines to Trooper, and also to Chest-
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nut Hill. He put in the subway under tation. The firm known as the John T. the streets of Norristown, himself or- Dyer Company operated four great ganizing the company, furnishing the plants: the bluestone vein at Howell- ville, the trap rock at Birdsboro and at Marysville, near Harrisburg, and the granite rock at Lockley near West Chester. necessary funds, and looking to gain a profit only when all the wires use the conduits. He built for the Bell Tele- phone Company the subways in West Conshohocken and Royersford. Other railroad construction work for which he could claim credit were the Bay Ridge & Annapolis railroad; the Ohio River railroad south from Parkersburg, West Virginia; about fourteen miles on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad ; and the New York, New Haven & Hart- ford terminals at Waterbury, Connecti- cut. The personal integrity of the man was such that much of the work for the railroads was done simply on their or- ders, for which, when it was completed, he sent the bill; never once was such an accounting disputed.
Mr. Dyer's interests were not confined to the immediate concerns of the con- struction business. He spent money lavishly to assist enterprise that would help business in Norristown, nor ever begrudged the losses that sometimes fol- lowed these endeavors. He was an in- spector of the Montgomery county prison and was president of the Borough Elec- trie Light Commission. He was also president of the John T. Dyer Quarry Company, of the Merchants' Ice Com- pany, of the Wyoming Spinning Com- pany, of the Montgomery Subway Company, and of the Block & Tile Paving Company. He was a director of Rambo & Reger, incorporated; of R. S. New- bold & Son Company ; of the Montgom- ery National Bank, Gloucester Paper Mills Company, Chelsea Land & Im- provement Company, Banker Mining & Tunnel Company, of Colorado, and of a number of others. Mr. Dyer retained throughout life his interest in the quarry business wherein he had made his first venture. His quarries have a wide repu-
Mr. Dyer married, in 1879, Mary Frances, daughter of Dr. Cornelius and Elizabeth (Feaster) Baker. Dr. Baker, son of David Baker, and of English descent, was a graduate of Yale College and after following his profession in Churchville and Carlisle, Pennsylvania, had finally settled at Norristown and there had built up an extensive and successful practice. Mr. and Mrs. Dyer had five children : Elsie B., wife of William C. Frye, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin ; Caroline H., wife of Walter B. Alley, formerly of Easton, now of Howellville; Frederick Eugene Dyer, William Gordon Dyer, and Marian B. Dyer. The two sons had been associated in business with their father up to the time of his death.
STEELE, Henry J., Lawyer, Public Official.
Henry J. Steele, a practicing attorney of Easton, president of the Northampton Bar Association, and vice-president of the State Bar Association of Pennsylvania, was born in Easton, May 10, 1860, his parents being Joseph and Maria (Burt) Steele. His grandparents were John and Elizabeth (Unangst) Steele. In John Steele's family were four children : Mary, Elizabeth, Joseph and Andrew. He died at the age of sixty years, and his wife passed away previously.
Joseph Steele was born in Easton, in January, 1833, and pursued his education in the school conducted by Dr. Vande- veer in that city. He subsequently turned his attention to general merchan- dising, conducting a store in Easton up to the time of his death. He kept in
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touch with the advancement of the times improvement. He filled a position in in his business career and prospered in the City Council for three terms, and was a member of the School Board four terms. his undertakings. His political al- legiance was given to the Whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the Mr. Steele was married, in 1895, to Miss Blanche A. Leith, of Philadelphia, a daughter of S. A. Leith, and they have one child, Adele Steele. ranks of the new Republican party. Both he and his wife, Maria (Burt) Steele, were members of the Lutheran church. They were married in 1854, Mrs. Steele having been born in Easton, in 1832, her WANAMAKER, John, parents being John and Mary (Smith) Master Merchant, Distinguished Citizen. Burt, who were of Scotch ancestry. To Joseph and Maria Steele were born three children : Elizabeth, became the wife of George H. Derr, and died in 1884, leav- ing a daughter, Nellie, now the wife of Charles M. Laubach; John, the elder son of Joseph Steele, died in 1876, at the age of nineteen years; Henry J.
Henry J. Steele began his education in the public schools of Easton, and afterwards became a student in Stevens' Business College. While attending school, however, he was employed in mercantile pursuits and at bookkeeping, thus meeting the expenses of his more advanced educational training. Desirous of becoming a member of the bar, he took up the study of law under Hon. William Beidelman (then State Senator), and after a thorough and careful preparation was admitted to the bar in May, 1881. Immediately afterward he opened an of- fice in Easton, where he has gained an enviable position among the leading lawyers of the State. The position which Mr. Steele holds in the regard of the legal fraternity is indicated by the fact that he is now president of the Northampton County Bar Association, and vice-president of the State Bar As- sociation. He was one of the organizers and the first president of the Northamp- ton Trust Company, and is a director of the First National Bank. He belongs to the board of trustees of the Public Li- brary, and has been a co-operant factor in many measures for general progress and
John Wanamaker is a native of Penn- sylvania, born in Philadelphia, July 11, 1838. His parents were John Nelson and Elizabeth D. (Kockersperger) Wana- maker. In the maternal line he was of French Huguenot descent, the immigrant progenitor coming to America some years before the Revolutionary War.
He had meager educational advantages and left the public schools of his native city when only fourteen years old, to enter upon a life of self-support. At the age of twenty-three he began in the clothing business in Philadelphia. By diligent effort and close economy he con- quered success, and was able in 1875 to establish in that city a general store under his own name, John Wanamaker, the title which has been continued to the present time both in Philadelphia and New York City, where his great depart- ment stores are recognized as a substan- tial benefit to the purchasing public. He began with a system of his own, and after 1867 the business was conducted upon a partially cooperative basis. He subsequently acquired the business of the A. T. Stewart house in New York City, and developed it into the present im- mense department store known under his name, at the same time increasing the scope of his Philadelphia business.
Mr. Wanamaker early took a deep in- terest in public affairs, and soon found recognition as an earnest and influential Republican, but had little liking for offi-
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cial distinction. He declined a proffered nomination for representative in the Forty-eightlı Congress and also an inde- pendent candidacy for mayor of Philadel- phia in 1886. He was a close friend and earnest supporter of President Lincoln during the Civil War, and was among the principal organizers of the remark- ably useful Christian Commission which afforded aid to soldiers in the field and in the hospitals during that great strug- gle. In 1888 he was a Presidential Elec- tor on the Harrison and Morton ticket, and a member of the National Repub- lican Executive Committee. He was Postmaster-General in President Harri- son's Cabinet, 1889-1893, and greatly strengthened the postal service by wise innovations and a higher morale. He was among the leaders in formulating the plans for the great Centennial Exposition of 1876, in Philadelphia, and in carrying them to a splendid success, acting as chairman of the bureau of revenue and of the press committee-probably the two most important bodies acting in Ex- position interests. A Presbyterian in re- ligion, Mr. Wanamaker was founder of the Bethany Sunday School in Philadel- phia, in 1858, while yet a young man. He has ever been a steadfast friend of the Young Men's Christian Association of Philadelphia, and was its president from 1870 to 1883, a period of thirteen years. He is held in nation-wide honor as a most useful citizen, and illustrious ex- ponent of civic virtues. Years have not at all impaired his mental powers nor lessened his enthusiasm in aiding philan- thropic enterprises.
MORRIS, Effingham Buckley, Lawyer, Man of Affairs.
Effingham Buckley Morris, only child of Israel W. and Annie M. (Buckley) Morris, was born August 23, 1856, in the old family mansion at 225 Sonth Eightlı
street, Philadelphia. He received his pre- liminary education in the well-known school of Dr. J. W. Faires, entered the University of Pennsylvania, class of '75, and received his classical degree of Mas- ter of Arts in 1878, at the age of twenty- two. He immediately entered the Law Department of the University, and in 1878 received the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and was admitted to the Phila- delphia bar.
He was associated with his distin- guished cousin, Phineas Pemberton Morris, LL.D., in the practice of his pro- fession until the latter's death, and suc- ceeded him. He was for some years general attorney for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, and as receiver for the Schuylkill Navigation Company in 1888 materially assisted in the reorgani- zation of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company of that year. He filled the position of counsel for the Gi- rard Trust Company until 1887, and since that time has been its president. When the Girard Trust Company was made receiver of the Pennsylvania Steel Company in 1893, Mr. Morris was chair- man of the committee having charge of the tangled affairs of the company, and brought about its reorganization. He served for a time as its president and since then has been a member of the board of directors and chairman of its executive committee. He is also chair- man of the executive committee of the Cambria Steel Company, which gives em- ployment to twelve thousand men. He is a director of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company, and of the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society, Philadelphia Na- tional Bank, Franklin National Bank, Fourth Street National Bank, Pennsyl- vania Fire Insurance Company, and other corporations.
Mr. Morris was a member of Common Council from the Eighth Ward, 1880-81, being elected to that office during the
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John Taylor
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crusade of the Committee of One Hun- dred for better politics. He was director of the Union League Club for three years and is a life member ; is also a mem- ber of the Philadelphia Club, Rittenhouse Club, University Club, Racquet Club, Merion Cricket Club and others.
Effingham B. Morris married, Novem- ber 5, 1879, Miss Ellen Douglas Bur- roughs, daughter of Nelson Burroughs, of Philadelphia, which marriage resulted in issue as follows: I. Rhoda Fuller Morris, born November 5, 1880; married, February 12, 1901, George Clymer Brooke; had issue, namely : Rhoda Mor- ris Brooke, born November 12, 1901; George Clymer Brooke, Jr., born Octo- ber 29, 1905. 2. Eleanor Burroughs Mor- ris, born October 6, 1881 ; married Octo- ber 25, 1902, Stacy Barcroft Lloyd; had issue, namely : Ellen Douglas Lloyd, born August 7, 1903 ; Stacy B. Lloyd, Jr., born July 7, 1908. 3. Caroline Mitchell Morris, born November 6, 1886; married, December 6, 1905, John Frederie Byers, Esq .; had issue, namely : Carolyn Morris Byers, born November 11, 1906, died September 11, 1907; Alexander Mc- Burney Byers (3), born April 15, 1911. 4. Effingham Buckley Morris, Jr., born August 26, 1890.
TAYLOR, John, Lawyer, Merchant.
John Taylor, standing at the head of one of the leading enterprises of Allen- town as president and treasurer of the cor- poration doing business under the name of John Taylor & Company, has risen to his present prominence in commercial eireles through inherent force of charac- ter, the exercise of his native talent, and the utilization of opportunity; and his career illustrates the possibilities which are open to young men in a land where industrial activity forms the basis of suc- cess.
He was born in the village of Tarland, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, a son of James and Ann E. (Brebner) Taylor, whose family numbered seven children, as follows: Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Thompson; Robert, who is also married; James; David E., who wedded Mary MeDougall, of Pittston, Pennsyl- vania, and has two children, Gordon and Esson; William; Charles, who is mar- ried and resides in Scotland; and John. Of these, David E., William and John came to America.
In early life John Taylor attended the public schools of his native town, and afterwards went to Aberdeen, Scotland, in order to become familiar with mer- cantile systems and methods. He ac- cepted a clerkship in a drygoods store, in which he remained for three years, and then resolved to seek a home in America. In 1875 he sailed for the new world, locating in Scranton, Pennsyl- vania, where he secured employment as a salesman in the drygoods store of Lind- say & Liddel, continuing in that service for four years, at the end of which time he was made manager of their store in Pittston, Pennsylvania. He had charge of the latter establishment until 1883, when he went to Danville, Pennsylvania, and had charge of a drygoods store until 1886. The latter year witnessed the ar- rival of Mr. Taylor in Allentown, and since that time he has been a factor in the business life of the city. He joined John Clelland, John Simpson, and his brother, D. E. Taylor, in a drygoods en- terprise, beginning business at the south- east corner of the square in a small store with only about two thousand feet of floor space. The undertaking prospered, however, from the beginning, and the in- creasing trade soon necessitated larger quarters, so, after a brief period, they removed to a building owned by Charles Ruhe, and at this location they had six thousand feet of floor space. The con-
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tinued growth of the business soon justi- fied the utilization of the two buildings which gave them a corner situation, and here an extensive trade is now carried on, the large line of drygoods occupying four floors, or thirty-five thousand square feet, which shows an increase in their business almost seventeen fold. In 1896 Messrs. Clelland and Simpson retired, Mr. Taylor purchasing their interests, and the firm name was then changed to John Taylor & Company. This was con- tinued until 1903, when the business was incorporated, with Mr. Taylor as presi- dent and treasurer, the same firm title being retained. The growth and devel- opment of this large drygoods house is attributed in a great measure to his ef- forts and enterprise. He has wrought along lines of modern business develop- ment, and has found in each transition stage opportunity for greater effort and broader activity. His is another illustra- tion of the fact that some of the greatest merchants in America have developed from humble clerkships, and, while he does not control the trade of many of the leading business men of our great cities, he has nevertheless built up a mer- cantile concern of very desirable propor- tions, gaining success that many a man might well envy. The course that he has ever followed commends itself to all, for he has never incurred an obligation that he has not met, nor made engage- ments that he does not fulfill with strict fidelity.
Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Annie E. Miller, a daughter of James Wesley and Ellen Jane (Hittell) Miller. Her two younger sisters are Cora and Jean- ette. The former is the wife of Reginald Longnecker, and they have two children -Marjorie and Doris. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been born a son and daugh- ter-John Roderick and Elizabeth B. Tavlor.
(The Miller Line).
The first ancestor of the Miller family of whom there is definite information was John Miller, a native of England, where he spent his entire life. He was a man of integrity and honor, and reared his children to lives of usefulness and activ- ity.
Captain Sebastian Miller, son of Jolin Miller, was born February 6, 1758, in Yorkshire, England, died November II, 1842, in Montgomery county, Pennsyl- vania, while on a visit to his brother. He came to this country in early man- hood, locating first in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, then in Wilkes- Barre, and finally in what is now Hamil- ton township, Monroe county, Pennsyl- vania, where he gained for himself a reputation as a man of high character. He practiced medicine successfully, al- though he was not a graduate of any college. He served during the Revolu- tionary War in the Pennsylvania State militia, enlisting from Stroud township, and for his bravery and patriotism was advanced to the rank of captain, attain- ing great distinction. He married Susan Dillion (or Burdillion), a Quakeress, who was born in Scotland, died in Pennsyl- vania, July 25, 1834. Children : 1. Ann, born September 2, 1786, died December 16, 1865; married a Mr. Dungan. 2. William, born October 18, 1788. 3. Charles. 4. Margaret, born April 7, 1793; never married. 5. Mary, born February 13, 1795, died August 13, 1879, unmarried. 6. Hannah, born in Novem- ber, 1797. 7. Elizabeth, born April 23, 1799, died April 22, 1870; married a Mr. Houser. 8. John, born December 12, 1800, died November 17, 1874. 9. Sam- uel, born January 21, 1803, dicd August II, 1855. 10. Joseph, born February 7, 1805, died August 9, 1865. 11. Daniel, of whom further. 12. Violet, born Feb- ruary 15, 1808, died in Wilkes-Barre, Jan- uary 18, 1892 ; married a Mr. Kishbaugh.
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Jorge Mc Lundy N
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13. Sarah, born March 5, 1812, died Octo- ber 19, 1888; married Ezekiel De Reemer.
At the time of the death of Captain Sebastian Miller, the following obituary notice appeared in a leading Philadel- phia newspaper :
"Another Revolutionary Veteran Gone .- De- parted this life, on November 11, 1842, at the home of John Miller. Sebastian Miller, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. He had left his far- distant home to take a last leave of his aged and only brother, residing in Abington, Montgomery county. He had not seen his only brother for fourteen years. In the providence of God, he was to end his days beneath his roof, where he experienced every kindness. He was the father of a numerous offspring, most of whom are still living. Of his twelve children, who survive him, nine are professors of religion. Many of his grandchildren are pious, and his great-grandchil- dren are being trained in the way in which they should go. His children, including his sons and daughters-in-law, with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, number one hundred and sixteen. He lived during the Revolutionary War, and took an active part in securing the freedom of our country. He was an old man and full of years. His children entertained a good hope that he was prepared for his great change, for he was a prayerful man, and was often seen on his knees, reading over his precious Bible, which was his daily companion. His sufferings during his short illness were great, but his language was, in intervals of ease, 'How good it is to be af- flicted.' His last hours were peaceful. His re- mains were conveyed to the place where he re- sided and he was interred, surrounded by weep- ing relatives. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."
Daniel Miller, son of Captain Sebastian and Susan (Dillion) Miller, was born February 15, 1807, died June 3, 1874. During his active career he fulfilled the duties devolving upon him in an exem- plary manner, and won and retained the esteem of his fellowmen. He married Elizabeth Kishbaugh, born October 5, 1810, died March 6, 1893. Among their children was James Wesley, of whom further.
James Wesley Miller, son of Daniel
and Elizabeth (Kishbaugh) Miller, was born April 18, 1843. He is a man of influence in the community in which he resides, performing well his allotted tasks, and therefore meriting the appro- bation of all with whom he is brought in contact. He married Ellen Jane Hittell, born June 7, 1845, the ceremony being performed December 24, 1865. Chil- dren: Annie E., wife of John Taylor (see Taylor) ; Cora, wife of Reginald Longnecker, and they have two children : Marjorie and Doris; Jeanette.
MCCURDY, George,
Lawyer, Public Official.
A native born Pennsylvanian, but an adopted son of Philadelphia, Mr. McCurdy has since 1888 been much in the public eye, and has perhaps, as pres- ident of the Common Council for four- teen years, been the most important single factor in shaping Philadelphia leg- islation, and one of the best known of Philadelphia lawyers.
Mr. McCurdy descends paternally from Scotch ancestry, and maternally from a distinguished Huguenot progen- itor, whose descendants were among the first settlers in the West Branch Valley of the Susquehanna river, on Pine Creek, above Williamsport, where they located in 1772. Among Mr. McCurdy's ances- tors may be named his great-great-grand- father, Captain Alexander Hamilton, cap- tain of the Fourth Battalion, Northum- berland county militia, killed by the In- dians in September, 1782. Another great-great-grandfather was John Jack- son, also a Revolutionary patriot.
George McCurdy was born at Jersey Shore, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, May 29, 1862, son of Thomas McCurdy, a banker, and his wife, Anna A. Lawshe. He obtained his early education in the public schools and Jersey Shore Acad- emy, later entering Lafayette College,
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whence he was graduated A. B. and A. M., class of 1884. In his junior year he won the first prize in oratory, one of the highest honors obtainable at Lafay- ette. After leaving college Mr. McCurdy began the study of law under the pre- ceptorship of George W. Biddle, of the law firm Biddle & Ward, of Philadelphia. He was admitted to the Philadelphia bar in 1888, and is also a member of the Lycoming county bar. He at once be- gan the practice of his profession and quickly gained recognition as one of the allest among the younger members of the Philadelphia bar. As he gained in years and experience, his reputation kept pace until his standing was assured among the leaders. He carefully ana- lyzes and prepares his cases, and is a zealous, conscientious advocate. He has been admitted to practice in all State and Federal courts of his district, and in all has an extensive practice.
High as is his standing as a learned lawyer, and skillful practitioner, Mr. McCurdy is best known to the public through his long connection with the lower body of the Philadelphia legisla- ture. A Republican in politics, he was first elected a member of the Common Council in 1896, serving as representa- tive from the Tenth Ward. He made an honorable record, and two years later was re-elected, and so well has he repre- sented his district that he has been re- turned at each successive succeeding elec- tion. In January, 1900, he was elected president of Council to fill out the unex- pired term of Wencel Hartman. In April following he was elected for the full term, and re-elected each succeeding year except- ing April, 1906 to 1907, when he was not a candidate. As a parliamentarian he excels, and to quote a contemporary, "I have served under many presidents, and while Mr. McCurdy is the youngest of them all, he is the best we ever had, and the ablest parliamentarian who ever
handled a gavel." His rulings have been uniformly fair and impartial, and his in- fluence has been on the side of progress, improvement and city development. He has served a longer term as president than any other incumbent of that office, which in itself speaks volumes, as com- petition in public life is not feeble, and to hold one's political position requires not only marked superior ability, but cour- age, firmness and an unassailable integ- rity. Therefore, it must be conceded, Mr. McCurdy possesses all the qualities of leadership and the entire confidence of the body he has so long and so ably gov- erned. He has never wavered in his sup- port of the principles of the Republican party, and has in debate on the platformn, and in private life, rendered yeoman service in behalf of his party.
In addition to his legal practice and his duties as presiding officer, Mr. Mc- Curdy is a director of Girard College, the Wills Hospital, the Commercial Museum, Philadelphia Public Libraries, commis- sioner of Fairmount Park, and a mem- ber of the Board of City Trusts. In all his public capacities he has served his city well, and there is naught in his pub- lic career which needs explanation. He has been true to his own ideals, and stands for permanent improvement and advancement in civic affairs.
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