USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of contemporary biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. I > Part 51
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 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
Michael. vous
245
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
equal in his section of the State. With a mind well-stored by study, reading and travel, and en- riched by an cxperience varied, interesting and often exciting in the highest degree, it is not to be won- dered at that General Doster has the reputation of being one of the best of conversationalists. His accomplishments in other directions are of no mean order, for he draws and paints with rare skill, and is a fluent and most entertaining speaker and wri- ter. In the opinion of competent critics many of his unpublished poems are gems worthy of recog- nition and wide circulation. In June, 1888, General Doster married Miss Ruth, the youngest daughter of Major General Josiah Porter of New York.
RICHARD VAUX.
HON. RICHARD VAUX, a distinguished lawyer of Philadelphia, ex-Mayor and ex-Recorder of that city, and widely known as the leading penologist of the United States, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., December 19, 1816. He is a son of the late Hon. Roberts Vaux, formerly Judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas of Philadelphia. The latter, also a native of Philadelphia, occupied a leading place among his fellow citizens for nearly half a century. A philanthropist by nature, he made a close study of the needs of his native city, and devoted a large por- tion of his long and active life to the task of meeting them, winning deserved public esteem and high honor as the reward of his labors. He was one of the originators of the excellent public school system of Pennsylvania, and one of the founders of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, the Blind School and Asylum, the Philadelphia Savings Fund, and other benevolent and philanthropic institutions. In the work of founding and organizing the Historical Society of Pennsylvania he likewise took a leading part, and, as one of its principal officers for many years, carefully watched and fostered its develop- ment. He was a prominent member of the Philo- sophical Society of Pennsylvania, and an honorary and corresponding member of many other scientific and literary societies, American and European. The subjects of penal law and the government of prisons early engaged his attention and led to his making a close study of both. His knowledge in these departments was utilized by the State of Pennsylvania, through his appointment as one of the Commissioners "to adapt the laws of Pennsyl- vania to the separate system of imprisonment." He was one of the Commissioners entrusted with the building of the Eastern Penitentiary, and was
also called upon to serve as Inspector of this insti- tution when it went into operation. Judge Vaux was a man of broad culture. He had been thor- oughly trained in his youth according to the pre- vailing methods, but his mental development was largely the result of personal application to study after he was emancipated from the usual curricu- lum. He believed that the common incthods of teaching and training youth were faulty, and in order that his son might escape the narrowing effects of the ordinary system he personally under- took his education, carrying it on, in large part, at home under privatc tutors, who taught their charge under his immediate supervision. His son, Richard Vaux, is to-day a striking example of his wis- doin in this particular; and to it owes in no small degree the strong individuality which has placed him high among his fellows. Having completed the very thorough course marked out for him by his distinguished father, Richard Vaux, still follow- ing parental indications, began the study of law in the office of the late William M. Meredith, of Phila- delphia, one of the most accomplished lawyers of his time. A year before becoming of age he was admitted to the bar. Soon afterwards he sailed for Europe as confidential bearer of despatches from the Department of State to the Hon. Andrew Stev- enson, then United States Minister at the Court of St. James. The post of Secretary of Legation at this Embassy becoming vacant at the time of his arrival, through the transfer of its incumbent to Berlin, he was appointed to fill it and immediately entered upon his duties in this connection, which he discharged with rare tact and ability for the period of a year, when he was relieved by the Hon. Benjamin Rush. Although offered the post of Sec- retary of Legation at St. Petersburgh, he concluded to decline the honor in order to complete his pro- jected European tour. From London he journeyed to Brussels, accompanying thither the Hon. Mr. Maxey, charged with the organization of the Amer- ican Embassy at that capital. Thence he traveled to Paris, and afterwards visited Rome, Naples and other brilliant capitals of the Continent. Upon his return to London he was prevailed upon by Mr. Stevenson to accept the post of Private Secretary. During his stay of several months in the Englishi capital he had the entrée to court circles and made the acquaintance of a large number of the distin- guished men of the day. His sojourn abroad was of the highest value as a complement to his early education, affording him rare opportunities for per- fecting and polishing the innate courtesy of his nature. In 1839 Mr. Vaux returned to America. Up to this time he had taken no active part in poli-
246
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
tics, but his affiliations were with the Democratic party, and in the fall of the year mentioned liis fellow citizens of the same political faith, discerning in the highly educated and polished young lawyer certain characteristics which they believed would win him success in public life, nominated him for the lower house of the State Legislature. In the spring of 1840 he was chosen a delegate to the National Convention which re-nominated Martin Van Buren for the Presidency. In 1842 he was appointed Recorder of the city of Philadelphia. This most responsible position was ably filled by Mr. Vaux, who held it seven years, during which time no decision by him was ever reversed by a higher court. This fact in itself speaks volumes for his industry and legal knowledge. His decisions while in office were collected and published in book form, under the title of Vaux's Recorder's De- cisions, and immediately gave him a wide reputa- tion. The work itself is now rated as a legal treas- ure. In 1842 Mr. Vaux was honored by the Demo- cratic nomination for the Mayoralty of Philadelphia. His party was greatly in the minority and the elec- tion of its nominee was hardly to be hoped for. Nevertheless great reliance was placed upon Mr. Vaux's candidacy. He was known to be extremely popular and his talents were undeniable. As events proved, no better selection could have been made, for his candidature came very near extinguishing the usual majority of the opposition, actually reduc- ing it from five thousand to a few hundred. While holding the office of Recorder, Mr. Vaux was bur- dened with the cares of two other trusts of high importance, viz., Inspectorship of the Eastern State Penitentiary and Comptrollership of the Public Schools of Philadelphia, being appointed to the former by the Supreme Court of the State, and in the latter succeeding his worthy father, who had long and ably discharged the duties of the position. Mr. Vaux resigned the office of Recorder in 1847. His acceptance of it seven years previously was a matter of principle solely, for it had been deprived by legislative enactment of all emoluments. He now resumed the practice of law, in which he has continued with high success down to the present day, ranking with the most eminent members of the bar in the State. Subsequently Mr. Vaux was nom- inated a second time for the Mayoralty and was defeated. A third nomination was accepted by him upon the consolidation of the city of Philadelphia, in 1854, his opponent, who was successful, being Judge Robert T. Conrad. Later he was nominated a fourth time and made the canvass against Mr. Henry D. Moore, whom he defeated. When Mayor Vaux entered upon his official duties he found that
the organization of the city government, begun after the consolidation, had only been partly completed. He at once made a thorough study of the work and the system he introduced remained in operation unil the passing of the new city charter, in 1885. In his annual message to the City Council, as early as 1857, Mayor Vaux laid the first plan for the reform charter; and in 1885 he took a principal part in framing it, and was largely instrumental in securing its adoption. Mr. Vaux has been through life a devoted friend of the cause of public educa- tion, and both privately and officially has rendered it great assistance. In 1858 he was chosen one of the directors of Girard College, and in the follow- ing year was elected President of the Board. " While in this position he introduced in the man- agement a feature which excited much comment and approval. Finding many of the students inca- pable of pursuing efficiently the higher branches of a college curriculum, he secured the adoption of a provision requiring such pupils to learn some useful handicraft. This feature, however, was subse- quently abandoned." Mr. Vaux has been for some years a member of the Board of City Trusts, which has the management of Girard College and other trusts, having been appointed to this position by the Judges of Philadelphia. Since the close of his Mayoralty, Mr. Vaux has neither sought nor held any political office, although he has been thrice placed at the head of the Democratic Electoral ticket of Pennsylvania, and was for many years Chairman of the Democratic State Committee. He also received the nomination of Congressman-at- large from the Democratic State Convention, which was made in recognition of his high char- acter and eminent public and party services. Mr. Vaux has been prominently identified with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania for many years, and is still one of its most active and useful mem- bers. He is the author of several historical essays of deep interest, some of which he has read before that body, the most recent being on the life of Joseph Heister, one of the five "Dutch" Governors of Pennsylvania, under the State Constitution of 1790. He is a member of the American Philosoph- ical Society and of other associations of learned men, and is keenly interested in their work. In the Masonic Order he has been very prominent for many years; and in 1866 became, by election, Grand Master of the Order in the State of Pennsyl- vania. He has filled other responsible positions in the councils of the Order, notably that of Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence, and also of the Committee on Appeals. Mr. Vaux holds undisputed rank as the leading penologist of the
HurmanStephan
247
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
United States, and he has been a voluminous writer in this department. Among his published volumes are : Penal, an Element in Social Science; Crime Cause; The Convict and his Punishment; Short Talks on Crime Cause and Correct Punishment; The Convict; The Pennsylvania Prison System ; The State and the Prison; Locked Up; Inside Out : and The Ancient Prison Systems and their Effect on Society and the Criminal; also a Sketch of the Eastern State Penitentiary. His Reports of the Pen- itentiary aggregate nearly fifty volumes. In addi- tion to the productions enumerated, he has also delivered a large number of lectures and addresses, many of which have been printed, upon various political, social and literary topics, and, in fact, throughout his entire career has displayed an almost unexampled mental activity and fecundity, nourished and inspired by a wide range of reading and study on numerous branches of knowledge and culture. It is difficult to characterize in a few words an activity so fertile and many-sided; but if we were called upon to point out the quality which seems specially to distinguish Mr. Vaux, we would say that it was to be found in his free, bold and independent originality. This feature of personal individuality pervades his thought, spcech, action, manner and appearance. He is unlike others, as others are unlike him, and it may be said that his only parallel is himself. His thinking is not taken up from what is already current in literature or society, as a part of the common or traditional stock of belief, but is always freshly drawn from his own observations, reflections and criticisms. While from its novelty it may not always command imme- diate assent, it is, from its impressiveness, sure to be received with attentive respect. Indifferent, himself, to the present acceptance of his views, he is content to leave their vindication to the coming on of time. The same individuality marks his style and manner of expression. Free from literary formalism, and not over-mindful of literary conven- tionalism, the structure of his writings is, in these respects, a spontaneous reflex of the peculiarities of the writer. The style is the man, and the man, in his striking combination of mental, personal and social qualities and characteristics, and in his gen- eral being and doing, may be regarded as almost unique.
FURMAN SHEPPARD.
HON. FURMAN SHEPPARD was born at Bridge- ton, Cumberland Co., N. J., November 21, 1823. He graduated with distinction at Princeton, in 1845. After leaving college he devoted himself to
teaching the classics and mathematics in schools and private families for some time, and then commenced the study of law with Judge Garrick Mallery. He was admitted to the bar September 7, 1848, and remained for several years associated with Judge Mallery in the active management and conduct of the business of his office. His range of subsequent practice has included many cases of importance and responsibility in the Federal as well as the State courts, and the professional ability thierein displayed is conceded by the bar and has not been without frequent mention and recognition by the bench. His professional erudition is most marked and few men have at- tained his mastery of the science and principles of jurisprudence. He was nominated as the Democratic candidate for the office of District Attorney for the city of Philadelphia in 1868, and in October of that year was elected to the office for the term of three years. The entire city ticket was claimed to have been elected by the Democrats, but this being dis- puted a contest was entered upon by the Republi- cans and the matter went before the courts. A de- cision was rendered affirming the election of D. M. Fox as Mayor, but annulling that of the District Attorney, the Receiver of Taxes, and some others. Mr. Sheppard obtained a re-hearing of his case, in which it was shown that the court, in deciding against him, had committed an arithmetical error, and he was thereupon restored to the office as its rightful possessor. In the meantime, for about six months, it had been occupied by Charles Gibbons, the opposing candidate. An appeal from this latter decision was made and the case carried before the Supreme Court, where, on review the judgment of the inferior court was affirmed in the case of Mr. Sheppard, who thereupon resumed the dutics of the District Attorneyship, his administration being marked throughout by energy, the most careful preparation of important cases, and a high sense of responsibility. In 1871 lie was renominated, but by means of a local and special election law, which had been enacted in the meantime, he was defeated by a small majority. In 1874 he was unanimously nominated again by the Democratic County Con- vention, and endorsed by the Citizens' Municipal Reform Association. After a campaign almost un- exampled in its activity and earnestness, and which aroused more than a merely local interest, he was again elected by a vote nearly 6,000 above the aver- age of that received by the Democratic State ticket, while the vote of his opponent was reduced over 8,000 below that of the Republican State ticket. The term to which Mr. Sheppard was thus elected ex- pired on the 1st of January, 1878. Upon receiving
248
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
his third nomination for the District Attorneyship, in July, 1874, Mr. Sheppard addressed a letter to the Committee which notified him of the action of the Convention, which well illustrated his position relative to that office. The following is an extract :
" My occupation brings me in contact with per- sons of all shades of political opinion and of all classes of society, and I am constrained to say that the feeling which pervades the general body of citi- zens, as respects our municipal misgovernment, is one of mortification, disgust, and apprehension, to such an extent, indeed, that public spirit and local pride seem to languish in our city, good men shrink or are driven into retirement, and thus the manage- ment of public business is the more easily usurped or retained by knavery, mediocrity, and disrepute."
Mr. Sheppard paid especial attention to the des- patch of criminal business arising during the Cen- tennial summer, and by procuring the establishment of a Magistrate's Court on the Centennial grounds for the immediate hearing of criminal charges, and by other arrangements, he succeeded in most cases in having offenders indicted, tried, and sentenced within a few hours after the commission of the offense. This rapid proceeding was popularly des- ignated as "Sheppard's Railroad," and it, in con- nection with the vigilant co-operation of Mayor Stokely, entirely broke up the preparations of the criminal class for plundering our Centennial visitors. Having accomplished what he believed to be his duty in connection with that most important branch of the public service which was under his charge, he announced his determination in 1877 to decline a renomination, and to resume his private practice. This announcement was received by the public with a very reluctant acquiescence, and a re-consideration of it, although strongly urged, was firmly declined. Shortly prior to the meeting of the Democratic State Convention of 1877, a very general impression prc- vailed that the nomination for the then existing va- cancy in the Supreme Court would probably be con- ccded to Philadelphia, and Mr. Sheppard consented to the use of his name as an aspirant for the posi- tion. On the first ballot Mr. Sheppard received 64 votes to 73 for John Trunkey, of Venango, and 116 were scattered among seven other candidates. On the second ballot Mr. Sheppard led, with 103 votes, Trunkey having 100 only, with 48 scattering. Dur- ing the progress of the third ballot, which appeared to stand 125 for Trunkey to 124 for Sheppard, the excitement ran very high. The Chairman finally decided that the third ballot must be taken over, and the roll was again called. All the candidates were dropped but Trunkey and Sheppard, and the vote between them ran singularly even. They were not ten votes apart at any time; they were exactly even at 85, again at 90, again at 97, again at 100,
again at 107, again at 113, again at 117, again at 120, again at 122, and the roll closed with Trunkey 123 and Sheppard 123, with five not voting. Two more votes werc cast and it stood 124 to 124. Then the Chairman voted for Trunkey, and as the two other delegates were absent, Sheppard was defeated by one vote. Mr. Sheppard's defeat was brought about by a defection in the Philadelphia delegation. At the Democratic Convention in 1878, Mr. Sheppard was again a candidate for Supreme Court Judge, and again his chances for the nomination were sac- rificed by antagonism in the Philadelphia delegation, one-half of which voted for Judge Henry P. Ross, of Montgomery, who was nominated on the first ballot. Judge Ross received 162 votes, to 71 for Sheppard and 10 for Edward S. Golden, of Arm- strong. For several years after 1878 Mr. Sheppard devoted his energies entirely to the practice of his profession. However, on the 24th of January, 1884, having been unanimously nominated by the Demo- cratic Convention as a candidate for the office of City Solicitor, and endorsed by " The Citizens' Com- mittee of One Hundred," he again entered the polit- ical arena. His written acceptance of this nomina- tion, addressed to the Committee which acquainted him with the action of the Convention, was as fol- lows :
" Gentlemen :- In reply to the communication which you have just handed me, informing me of my nomination as City Solicitor, I may say at once that I accept it. Indeed, it has been tendered so unanimously and spontaneously that to do otherwise would be almost an act of rudeness. Should it be the pleasure of the citizens of Philadelphia to ratify your action, I shall earnestly endeavor to discharge the duties of the position with whatever of ability I may possess, and with a full sense of the double ob- ligation, professional and official, resting on me."
It may be truly said of Mr. Sheppard that his preparation for the trial of cases is exhaustive of the case and the facts involved. His labors in this di- rections are extraordinary. It is hardly possible to find a inore thorough examination of the questions, that by any contingency might be involved, than that Mr. Sheppard prepares. Notwithstanding the claims of a busy professional life, Mr. Sheppard's liberal taste has led him to devote spare time to the study of languages and literature. In the Vocabu- lary of the Philosophical Sciences, published by the late Rev. Charles P. Krauth, Vice-Provost of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, the author expresses his acknowledgment for friendly and useful sugges- tions, among other named persons "to Hon. Fur- man Sheppard, who, known to the world as one of our most distinguished jurists, is also one of our ripest philosophical scholars and thinkers." By ap- pointment of the Judges of the Supreme Court, Mr.
Benny A. Williams
249
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Sheppard was for several years, and, by appoint- ment of Gov. Pattison, is at present, an inspector of the Eastern Penitentiary, and his interest in matters of seience and literature has led to his eleetion as a trustee of the Jefferson Medical College at Philadel- phia, and to membership in the American Philo- sophieal Society. In the year 1855, for the purpose of introducing the systematic study of the principles of the Constitution of the United States as a branch of instruction in schools, he prepared a work, en- titled The Constitutional Text-Book, together with an abridgment of the same, entitled First Book of the Constitution. Each of these works was extensively eireulated, and largely used as a text-book in schools and colleges. As a student Mr. Sheppard is thor- ough. His devotion to Science, Philosophy, Law and Letters is the relief he seeks from the labor of his profession. The Greek and Latin elassies and the standard authorities in the European languages on these subjects are as familiar to him as the Eng- lish. It may be truly said of Furman Sheppard, that his learning is recognized as pre-eminent among scholars, and his ability is known as a predominant characteristic undoubted and unquestioned.
HENRY W. WILLIAMS.
HON. HENRY WARREN WILLIAMS, Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, was born in Harford, Susquehanna Co., Pa., on the 30th of July, 1830. Ilis father, Peter Williams, was a farmer in moderate circumstances, who, when a mere lad, came from Tolland Co., Conn., into the wilderness of Northern Peunsylvania, in search of employment. His mother, Sophia Guernsey, was born in Windsor, N. Y., but removed when quite youug, with her fath- er's family, to a farın in the township of Bridge- water, about four miles from Montrose, the county- seat of Susquehanna Co. The family of Peter Williams consisted of a daughter and seven sons, of whom the subject of this sketeh was the eldest. At the age of fourteen he began teaching, and con- tinued to teach each winter until he began the study of law after coming of age. The summer was spent in farm work for his father. In this way he was able to secure instruction at Franklin Academy, in Harford, during the spring and fall of each year, until nearly ready for admission to the sophomore elass in Amherst College, when he was taken seri- ously ill. Ilis siekness continued for several months and left him so much weakened that he was compelled to abandon his purpose to graduate. He began the study of the law early in 1852, under
the instruction of the Hon. John W. Guernsey, of Tioga, Pa., his mother's brother, was admitted in January, 1854, and at once began practice at Wells- boro, the county-seat of Tioga Co., where he has ever since continued to reside. He was married on the 1st of May, 1856, to Sarah E. Nichols, daughter of Hon. L. J. Nichols, of Wellsboro. His advancement in his profession was rapid, and his success as an advocate was especially marked. Ilis practice extended into the adjoining counties and into the Distriet and Circuit Courts of the United States. In March, 1865, he was ap- pointed by Gov. Curtin, Additional Law Judge for the 4th Judicial Distriet of Pennsylvania, then em- braeing the counties of Tioga, Potter, MeKean, Elk and Cameron. He was elected without opposition in the fall of the same year. Iu 1871 he was eleeted President-Judge of the same district, and in 1881 re-elected by the unanimous vote of the district, receiving the support of all parties. In August, 1887, he was nominated by the Republican State Convention of Pennsylvania, for Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, on the first ballot. He was then appointed by Governor Beaver to fill the vaeaney occasioned by the death of Chief Jus- tiee Mereur, and in November was elected by a majority of over forty thousand. IIe lias devoted himself wholly to the law, never having held a politieal office, yet he has taken an active interest in whatever affeets the public welfare. In 1868 he was a delegate to the Republican National Conven- tion that nominated Grant and Colfax. In 1876 he was appointed by Gen. Hartranft one of a commis- sion of seven to examine the provisions of the new Constitution of the State, and suggest necessary amendments and supplementary legislation, in order to secure its harmonious and effective working. In 1877 he was one of the lay representatives of the Presbyterian Church of this country, in the General or Pan Presbyterian Couneil held at Edinburgh, Seotland. IIis official and personal characteristics are well summed up in the address of the Hon. J. B. Niles, who nominated him, at the State Conven- tion in 1887, for his present position. We make the following extraets :
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.