USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of contemporary biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. I > Part 9
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facturer, but because lie believes that in that policy the welfare of the country can best be guaranteed. He holds that the whole country and all classes are benefitted by protective tariffs, the lawyer and doc- tor equally with the manufacturer, the farmer as well as the laborer; and has no sympathy with those so-called protectionists who desire protection for their products and low duties or free trade for their raw materials. He has always advocated and defeuded the interests and safety of the weakest as well as those industries that have grown strong. In a purely political sense he has done but little, although as may be inferred, he has had an abund- ance of opportunities for seeking and holding office; yet he has exerted a potent influence in shaping the policy of the Republican party and in upholding its standards. In 1884 he was a member of the Republican National Committee from Penn- sylvania, and after the nomination of Messrs. Blaiue and Logan in the Convention at Chicago in June, upon the re-organization of the National Committee he was elected its Chairman. It is doubtful if any other incumbent of this trying executive office had a tithe of the complications to contend with that arose before him while yet the cheers of the candi- dates' friends were ringing in his ears. The open defection of many valued leaders in the party, as well as their free advocacy of the claims of the chief opposition, cntailed upon every member of the National Committee responsibilities of an uuusually delicate character ; while to the Chairman the pecu- liar situation brought the necessity for a display of marked energy, skillful management and personal strength of character. It is claimed-and were it not that it illustrates the purity of his life and record, the incideut would be beneath the dignity of the present sketch-that after his election to the chairmanship, a number of Eastern newspapers, in the interest of the opposition, sent correspondents to Pittsburgh for the purpose of discovering some circumstances in his career, the wide-spread publi - cation of which would injure his personal reputa- tion as well as his party. They searched his record from childhood up with great miuuteness, but as nothing was ever heard of their conclusions it is fair to assume that their inquisitorial mission proved fruitless. In December, 1884, the American Irou and Steel Association honored itself by choos- ing Mr. Jones for its President, than whom it would be difficult to have selected a more technically ex- perienced or representative gentleman. Mr. Jones was married on May 20, 1850, to Miss Mary McMas- ters, daughter of John McMasters, Sr., oue of the best known and most respected citizens of Alle- gheny County, Pa., and iu his domestic relations he
1. History
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CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
has been as exemplary and happy as in his business career he has been upright and successful. He has dignified one of the Nation's greatest industries by his intelligent and progressive connection with it, and has added to the fame of the State and city by an inestimable example of works and conduct.
JAMES K. MOORHEAD.
GEN. JAMES KENNEDY MOORHEAD was born in 1806, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of William Moorhead, who came to this country from the North of Ireland in the year 1798, settled and married in Lancaster County, Pennsyl- vania, and in 1806 purchased a place on the banks of the Susquehanna River, twenty miles above Harrisburgh, long known as Moorhead's Ferry, and where the subject of this sketch was born. The elder Moorhead was an enthusiastic and successful farmer, and was also a refined and cultivated gen- tleman. He took an active part in the political movements of the day, and was appointed by Pres- ident Madison Collector of Internal Revenue for his district. In 1815 he removed with his family to Harrisburgh, where he died two years later, leaving a widow and six children, and with his affairs in a very unsettled condition. The widow, after closing up the estate, discovered the unfortunate fact that after all debts were paid nothing remained. She returned to the old farm at Moorhead's Ferry. The boy James, who was nine years old when his father moved to Harrisburgh, gained all the education which he received, during the two years or more of his residence in that city. From the age of eleven he never had a day of regular schooling. In fact, the knowledge which he obtained from the farmn, the tannery, the canal and the river answered to him for the education which is common among American boys. At fourteen years of age he had the chief management of the farm, and succeeded in gaining quite an agricultural reputation among the farmers of the neighborhood. He did not, low- ever, continue long in this vocation, but was apprenticed to a tanner in Lancaster County, com- pleting his apprenticeship in September, 1826. He now worked for some time at his trade as a journey- man, and two years later contemplated establishing a tannery with his brother-in-law. He, however, abandoned this intention, and took the contract to build the Susquehanna Division of the Pennsylvania Canal, which he completed successfully, and at its close found himself in possession of a small capital of three or four hundred dollars. In December,
1829, he married Miss Jane Logan, and took up his residence in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. During the next ten years Mr. Moorhead devoted himself to the interests of the canal which he had built, and particularly to establishing the Pioneer Line of packet boats, which proved to be a success beyond the most sanguine expectations of its originator. In 1836 he removed to Pittsburgh, and there estab- lished himself. In 1839 he took hold of the Monon- gahela Navigation Company, which had been incorporated three years before for the purpose of constructing locks and dams on the Monongahela River, thus furnishing navigation from the Virginia State line to Pittsburgh. He completed his work in this connection in 1841, but continued to hold an interest in the company, and in May, 1846, was elected President, in which capacity he served for thirty-eight consecutive years. His connection with this enterprise, however, was by no means the only one of the same character to which he devoted him- self; in fact he built locks, bridges, dams, reservoirs and other works of a similar nature in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Kentucky, and became eminent for this class of construction. In 1840 he united with two or three other gentlemen in establishing the Union Cotton Factory in Allegheny City, of which he was appointed chief manager, when he built himself a house and settled his family in that locality. He continued the management of this establishment until the spring of 1849, when the factory took fire, and was itself, in company with Gen. Moorhead's dwelling, burned to the ground. This was a severe blow, yet in the following year Gen. Moorhead had become a partner in the Novelty Works at Pitts- burgh, and built himself a new dwelling, which also, unfortunately, in 1853 was burned to the ground. Gen. Moorhead was among the earliest to interest himself in establishing telegraphic commu- nication between the Atlantic and Western cities. Largely under his direction lines were built between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh and Louisville, and Gen. Moorhead was for some years the President of the companies running these lines. As early as 1853 he was recognized as one of the leading spirits in telegraphic enterprise in this country. From the beginning of his residence in Pittsburgh he soon ranked as one of its most public spirited citizens. He was a diligent and successful man of business, concerned in important interests and active and enterprising in all of them. In early life Gen. Moorhead was a Democrat, but he aided in the birth of the Republican party, being a stanch protectionist, and in 1858 was nominated and elected by the Republican party Member of Congress from his district. On March 4, 1859, he took his seat in
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CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
the XXXVIth Congress, with such satisfactory re- sults that he was sent back there for four more con- secutive terms, and would have been elected a sixth time but for his decisive refusal to be a candidate. In Congress Gen. Moorhead was found invaluable on account of his large experience in business affairs, his thorough knowledge of public interests, his sterling integrity and his good common sense. He was Chairman of the Committee on Manufac- tures for three sessions and a member of the Com- mittees on Ways and Means and Naval Affairs. Our present tariff owes very much of its complexion to what was known as the Moorhead Tariff Bill. Be- sides his position in Congress Gen. Moorhead held at one time the office of Postmaster at Pittsburgh, and at another was Adjutant-General of the State of Pennsylvania. It is an interesting fact that Jere- miah S. Black owed his first appointment to the personal friendship of Gen. Moorhead, whose influ- ence was so great that he virtually controlled all the political patronage of the State Executive, under Gov. Porter, in that portion of the State west of the Alleghenies. During the Rebellion Gen. Moorhead's advice was frequently sought by Secretary Stanton, and even by Mr. Lincoln himself. It is related of him that he personally prevented the shipment of arms from the armory of Pittsburgh by Secretary of War Floyd for the benefit of the South. He was highly recommended by his colleagues to Gen. Grant for an appointment in the latter's first Cabinet. In 1869 and also in 1880 Gen. Moorhead was a promi- nent candidate for United States Senator from Pennsylvania. He was Chairman of the Republican County Committee of his county during the Gar- field campaign. Early in 1882, having been to Washington for a short visit, he returned feeling out of health, and took a trip for a few weeks to Old Point Comfort. Having been elected a dele- gate to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church he started in May for Saratoga, but suc- ceeded only in reaching Philadelphia, when his physician ordered his return, his condition having become serious. During that summer he remained in Pittsburgh in rather feeble health, and his last attempt to leave his own home occurred on the first Sunday of November, when he attended church. Early in 1883 it became evident that his last sick- ness was upon him, but this was protracted until March 6, 1884, when he died, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. At the time of his death Gen. Moorhead was President of the Chamber of Com- merce of Pittsburgh, President of the Monongahela Navigation Company, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the West Pennsylvania Hospital, trustee in the Western University, trustee in the
Western Theological Seminary, President of the Ohio River Commission, member of the Board of Trustees of the Pennsylvania Institute for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, trustee in the Peoples' Saving Bank of Pittsburgh, etc. Not only was Gen. Moorhead a prominent figure in public life, but he was none the less prominent in the religious world. He served the Third Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh long and faithfully as a ruling elder, and the leading clergymen of the city who made addresses on the occasion of his funeral one and all bore testimony to the nobility of his char- acter, his Christian charity and his unswerving integrity. The Chamber of Commerce of Pitts- burgh passed resolutions of regret. Among the remarks made on this occasion the following are significant : " He was a true citizen, a citizen who enjoyed the high prerogative of having few equals. True to his manhood and the principles he main- tained, he enjoyed a wide reputation. As a Na- tional representative he was faithful beyond chal- lenge. During a long time of service in the halls of Congress his conduct was beyond impeachment. Always faithful and true to the great industries he represented, his power and ability were shown on more than one occasion while supporting them. Many of the leading business industries of this city stand as great monuments to his name and fame. He never deviated from the high line of an irre- proachable life. He was also true as a philan- thropist. He gave with a liberal hand to all char- itable objects that commanded his respect. Many of the churches and charitable institutions of the city can acknowledge the generous hand now cold in death; and now it but remains for the Chamber of Commerce to pay a fitting tribute to his useful life. As a member of this body he was untiring in his efforts for its interests and ever zealous of its welfare. Next to the Church, the Chamber was the pride of his life. But his work is done. He has been a useful member to society and to his country, and has gone to his reward." All of the public institutions and corporations with which Gen. Moorhead was connected passed resolutions of respect and regret on the occasion of his death, while the press throughout the country united in expressions of admiration for his character and commendation of his remarkable ability. Said the National Republican of Washington : "He was a kind, charitable, generous gentleman, with the heart of a woman pulsating in the firm, stalwart man. He died amid the sorrow of his fellow-citi- zens, and will be buried with every manifestation of the affection of the community, to whose inter- ests he was always devoted." And the Monongahela
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Republican thus referred to him: "The breadth of his mind was only equaled by the breadth of his charity ; the strength of his judgment by the ten- derness of his emotions ; the earnestness of his zeal by the warmth of liis sympathies ; the energy of his will by the gentleness of his spirit; the faithfulness with which he adhered to his own convictions by the tolerance which he accorded to those of others."
JOHN HARPER.
JOHN HARPER was born in County Donegal, Ireland, December 5, 1811. He came of good English lineage. His ancestors were men of char- acter, and strong supporters of the English Church and throne. During the reign of James I. one of liis ancestors acquired by purchase at public sale in London one of the town-lands of the Manor of Hastings, which had belonged to the Earl of Tyrone, who had been attainted and executed for treason. It was named "Pullyarnon," and was held by the descendants of the purchaser till 1780, when Mr. Harper's great grandfather, Robert Harper, died at Castlederg, in County Tyrone. The property since that time passed to others. Mr. Harper was brought by his parents to this country in 1820. They located in Washington, D. C., whither some relatives of the family liad preceded them. His carly educa- tion was carefully superintended in that city by Alexander McCormick, Esq., a near relative, who is at this time (1888) still alive, upwards of ninety years of age and in full enjoyment of his mental faculties. Mr. McCormick says, concerning young Harper's promise at the period, that he was under his tutorage, that during the five years that he had charge of the boy's education lie found him gentle and obedient in and out of school, and he was always sure to study the lessons required of him before undertaking any other duty of the day. And what is rather unusual with most children, his apt, young scholar could not only recite word for word from his books, showing a wonderful clear- ness of memory (which, by the way, has never for- saken him), but always gave evidence that he fully comprehended their import. Mr. McCormick states further that young Harper was very domestic in his habits, singularly kind and affectionate to all of his family, fond of having his brothers and sister and mother near him and of reading aloud to tliem. Mr. Harper has jocosely remarked, when told of the report that Mr. McCormick gave of his early days, that liis dear old friend had forgotten to men- tion the rigor of his requirements in compelling a
memorization of Murray's Grammar, with all its verbose rules, and so thoroughly were they engraved into his young mind, that never, not even to this day, are they effaced, and can be repeated with wonderful accuracy. In the summer of 1826 his father, Hugh Harper, having died in 1821, his widowed mother, with her children, removed to Jefferson County, Ohio. (One of these children was Senator Lecky Harper, of Ohio, a brother of the subject of this sketch.) At the age of fifteen he entered a mercantile house of Steubenville in a minor position, but so won his way that at nineteen he was bookkeeper and confidential clerk. Having plenty of time to devote to reading, and being fond of his books, he acquired a habit of study that always clung to him, showing its fruit in his schol- arly attainments. It was during this period that Edwin M. Stanton was employed in a neighboring store, and between him and young Harper there grew up an intimacy that extended clear up to the great War Secretary's death. In 1831 Messrs. M. and A. Leech, one of the largest firms of Pittsburgh, Pa., at that time being in need of a bookkeeper, and hearing of Mr. Harper and his home reputation, made him an advantageous offer, which he accepted. A year later there occurred a vacancy in the Bank of Pittsburgh, occasioned by the death of its first Cashier, Alex. Johnston, Jr., and the election of John Snyder as his successor. This vacancy was filled by the choice of John Harper, who soon be- came principal clerk. The young man never ap- plied for the office, but was elected without his knowledge. The only other bank in the city at that time was the branch of the Bank of the United States. He entered upon what proved to be his life mission on September 19, 1832, wlien he was just three months under his majority. His readiness, keenness and ability so impressed his superiors, that after a few years of experience in the parent institution he was sent in 1837 as cashier to the branch bank at Beaver, Pa. In those days, the Cashier was the chief officer of the bank, and under the guidance of the directors controlled its financial operations, the President being the official head and not supposed to be an expert in the details of its working or policy. In a short time Mr. Harper was recalled from Beaver to fill the very responsible position of assistant to John Snyder, the Cashier. At a later period lie succeeded the venerable John Graham as President of the bank, which position lie continued to fill with credit to himself and honor to the institution itself. Mr. Harper's history and that of the Bank of Pittsburgh, for a period of fifty-six years, are closely identified. His master mind grasping the financial problems of the day, has
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guided the institution through its remarkable and honorable career with marked ability. The period of his connection with the bank includes its most eritical and its most prosperous history. Having entered it when the renewal of the charter of the Bank of the United States was being diseussed in Congress and the eurreney of the country greatly disturbed thereby, and when the most promising industries of Pittsburgh were threatened with dis- aster, he saw it through the dark days of '37, fol- lowing President Jackson's violent disturbanee of the National finanees; and the erisis which eame two years later through the depression caused by the excessive issue of eurreney; then eame the great fire of 1845, when over 1,000 houses-most of them oeeupied by merchants and manufacturers- were laid in ashes; and the general monetary crises of 1857, 1861 and 1873. He suggested their action at that memorable meeting of the direetors in December, 1861, whereupon they "Resolved, That the Bank of Pittsburgh should, as heretofore, meet its obligations in speeie, regardless of the aetion of other institutions." There is not an insti- tution in America to-day that ean show a eleaner and more honest reeord than this solid old Bank of Pittsburgh. There never was a defaleation in its aeeounts nor a misdemeanor eommitted by any of its offieers involving the loss of a dollar. Men of high standing and integrity have been and are in its directory. One remarkable thing in its reeord is that in the seventy odd years of its existenee, it has never failed to pay a semi-annual dividend. It was the first bank of issue established west of the Alle- gheny Mountains. During this long period, it has had only six presidents, ineluding the present in- eumbent. Mr. Harper has been a useful member of society in many ways besides his eonneetion with finanee. He has filled a number of positions of trust and responsibility. He was chosen President of the Pittsburgh Clearing House on its ereation, and has held the office uninterruptedly to the pres- ent day. He is president of the Western Pennsyl- vania Hospital, was one of its founders, and has, sinee its organization forty years ago, given much of his valuable time in the direction of its eharitable mission. He is President of the Pittsburgh & Alle- gheny Suspension Bridge Company; a director of the Monongahela Navigation Company; a trustee of the Western University of Pennsylvania ; a eor- porator and director of the Allegheny Cemetery ; a Commissioner of the Sinking Fund of Allegheny County and a member of many other associa- tions formed for the publie good. Of Mr. Harper's domestie life, it need only be said that he is a man fond of his own home, rarely venturing
from its sacred precinets, and always reluctant to absent himself even for needed recreation at any time. In June, 1836, John Harper was united by marriage with Lydia Eleeta Metcalf,* eldest daughter of Nathan W. Metcalf, of Otsego County, New York. The result of the Harper-Metcalf union was a family of five sons and one daughter. Mr. Harper afforded all his children that reached the years of youth a collegiate education. His son, Major Albert M., served his country for three years during the Rebellion, and returned home with honorable sears, nobly won on the field of battle. After a brief and brilliant career, he died of typhoid fever, lamented as few young men have ever been, by thousands of comrades and friends. His grave in the Allegheny Cemetery is annually the scene of loving floral tributes, while his comrades gather and commemorate his memory with pathetic ser- viees. The G. A. R. Post, No. 181, at Braddock, Penn., bears his name, and a beautiful granite shaft erected on the memorable field of the British Gen- eral's defeat, where the Father of our Country met his first baptism of fire, has recently been erected bearing Major Albert M. Harper's name in letters of bold relief. During the war Mr. Harper was chairman of the Local Finance Committee on Mili- tary Affairs and thus rendered patriotie serviees to his country. But the memory of his soldier-boy is cherished by him as the noblest serviee that he has
* NOTE .- The settler, Michael Metcalf, their ancestor, emi- grated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1637, bringing with him his wife, children and dependents. He had been a prominent citizen of Norwich, England, whence he was forced to escape, as stated by him in a letter still extant, by reason of the "religious tyranny " of Bishop Wren, of Norwich. Of his descendants was Arunah Metcalf, of New York-the father of Nathan above-who for many years filled public positions of honor and trust, as sheriff of his county and member both of State and National Legislatures ; and who was the friend of his fellow-townsmen, Cooper, the novelist, and of DeWitt Clinton, at whose obsequies he was pall-bearer. Hon. Arunah Metcalf intermarried, July 6, 1793, with Eunice Williams, youngest daughter of Veach Williams and Lucy Walsworth, daughter of William Walsworth, of Groton, by his first wife, Mary Avery, and granddaughter of William Walsworth and Mary Seaton, who came from England in 1689. The marriage of Veach Williams and Lucy Walsworth was a union that linked together several families of note in the early history of New England, some of which are traceable for a long era in the history of the mother country. One of the representa- tives of these two families was William Williams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, whose wife was Mary, daughter of Jonathan Trumbull, colonial Governor of Con- necticut, friend and comrade of Washington; while Mrs. Lucy, wife of Mr. Veach Williams, was sixth in lineal descent from Thomas Clinton, 3d, Earl of Lincoln, being grand- daughter of Susannah (Palmes) Avery, who was the grand- daughter of Lady Susan Clinton, daughter of Thomas, 3d, Earl of Lincoln, and the wife of General John Humfrey, Deputy Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
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rendered his adopted country in permitting the youth, when only nineteen years of age, to brave the dangers of war and camp-life in the noble cause for which he bled. Surrounded by the loviug mem- bers of his family, who have always revered his coun- sel as they love his character, he devotes himself to the enrichment of mind and culture of intellect as a close student in his library, where he lias gathered one of the largest collections of valuable books to be found in any home in Western Pennsylvania. Among the thousands of volumes on his shelves, there is scarcely one that Mr. Harper does not know so thoroughly as to be able to turn at once, without the use of an index, to the page where he desires to find any passage to which he has occasion to refer. In June, 1886, he celebrated his golden wedding, at which old and valued friends sat round the table to drink the health of the couple that had spent half a century of happy years together.
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