USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of contemporary biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 16
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
Judicial District, it having more than forty thou- sand population required by the Constitution. Jef- ferson County being contiguous and having less than forty thousand population, was attached to Clarion for judicial purposes, the two forming the Eighteenth Judicial District. Since then Jefferson County has received an imported population of about twenty thousand, and will likely be made a separate district after the next census. In the year 1881 an election for President-Judge was held in the Eighteenth District. In Clarion County the Democrats nominated James B. Knox, and the Re- publicans unanimously Theophilus S. Wilson; but as it was apparent to the political sagacity of Mr. Wilson that the Democratic nominee would cer- tainly be elected, he declined to be a candidate, and the result proved the wisdom of his judgment, for Judge Knox was elected, his majority in Clarion County being over seventeen hundred. He was commissioned and entered upon his duties January, 1882, and died December, 1884. A successor was then appointed by the Democratic Governor, Patti- son, and served during 1885. At the next election he obtained a plurality vote at the primary meeting, after a vigorous contest. Meanwhile Mr. Wilson's name was presented, with his consent, before the Republican primary. As soon as it was known that he was willing to run, no other name being offered, he received the whole party vote at the primary meetings in Clarion County and was unanimously declared the choice of the County Convention. In Jefferson County no name was publicly announced except his and when that County Convention as- sembled he was the only candidate. On the day preceding the State Convention the Judicial Dis- trict Convention met in Jefferson County and on the first ballot Mr. Wilson was made the nominee and was the unanimous and unopposed choice of his party. In regard to this, many of Mr. Wilson's friends considered the nomination an empty honor in view of the preponderating Democratic strength in the district. But Mr. Wilson, having entered the lists, was not there for defeat. Possessing remarka- ble political gifts, a skill in organization rarely equalled, and an energetic determination that filled his followers with enthusiasm-these qualities were at the service of his friends. The result was a cam- paign of masterly ability, which succeeded in turn- ing the vote to the extent of an average of fifty in every election district in Clarion County. The sit- uation was deemed so important that the State organizations took an active part in the campaign, State-Chairman Hensel sending Democratic speak- ers into the county, and State-Chairman Cooper and United States Senator Quay aiding the Repub-
76
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
lican side with cffective efforts. The returns sur- prised even the most sanguine supporters of the Republican candidate. Not only was Mr. Wilson elected, but, in a district frequently giving a Demo- cratic majority of three thousand stood a Republi- can majority of over four hundred-a phenomenal result that was a subject of the liveliest congratula- tion among the Republicans throughout the State. On the bench Judge Wilson continued to have the same success and to hold the same exalted reputa- tion that had accompanied him through all his professional experience. He soon became noted for the remarkable method and order which char- acterized his judicial work. His mind never wan- dered or was confused; his rulings of law were seldom questioned; his memory exhibited a rare tenacity ; his industry was unflagging. His opin- ions have been set before the rising lights of the bar of Pennsylvania as among the most luminous, exact, and sound in the history of jurisprudence. It is said of him that where formerly many writs of error were taken annually from the Clarion Courts to the Supreme Court and many decisions reversed, during the first two years of Judge Wilson's term only two writs were taken, one in each year, and in each case his decision was affirmed. One of the cases thus appealed was the celebrated King homi- cide case, of which the Supreme Court said, in affirming it : " The assignments of error must all be dismissed, for the charge of the learned and able Judge was full and complete on every point, and we do not see how a better one could be framed." A man of fine presence and address, Judge Wilson has been gifted with peculiar qualities for the ac- quisition and retention of the affection and esteem of those who know him. Genial and frank in his manner, he is yet possessed of a dignity which makes him an imposing figure in whatever society he enters. A thoroughly educated and highly cul- tured gentleman, he has also a bonhomie which ren- ders him strikingly attractive to his associates. This brief sketch of his life shows Judge Wilson as the man he is; competent in every position he has filled, and with the promise of equal ability to fill any position to which he may choose to aspire; a thorough American, manly, courteous, able, kindly, and the soul of honor.
THOMAS STRUTHERS.
JOHN STRUTHERS, the father of the subject of this sketcli, was of Scotch lineage, and imbued with the spirit of adventurous enterprise which characterizes that race, moved, with his father's
family, from the State of Maryland, and settled in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1776. He was a practical land-surveyor-in which capacity he became very useful to the new settlers then filling up that part of the State-and held the command of a company of Mounted Rangers, who rendered much service to the Government in the savage In- dian wars so relentlessly waged during and after the Revolution, in the West. He married a Miss Foster, of Irish descent, and, with a family of four children, moved to Trumbull County, Ohio, in the year 1798, where he settled upon lands he had selected in previous excursions as an Indian hunter. He was a first settler in the section known as the Connecticut Western Reserve, which became rapidly populated, from that date, by emigrants from the New England States and Western Penn- sylvania. Here he opened up a fine farm, built mills, and, in conjunction with Robert Montgom- ery, constructed a small blast-furnace, the product of which was moulded into pots, kettles, cauldrons, and such other articles of cast-iron ware as the ne- cessities of new settlers required. On this farm, in 1803, his son Thomas was born, and trained in the mysteries of farming. His common school educa- tion was not unattended to; but such times were selected for it as could be best spared from the farmwork, viz., the winter months, when, to make most of the opportunity, a competent teacher was employed by the month, a school-room furnished near the family residence, and the business of edu- cation made the attraction and the entertainment of the season. To the rudimental education thus ob- tained was added the usual academic course (in a school organized on the same plan) preparatory to college; and, at about seventeen years of age, he entered Jefferson College. In consequence of mis- fortune in business, his father could render him no assistance from this date, but, having resolved to perfect an education fitting him for professional life, the young man applied himself attentively to studying and teaching, and worked his way through college. He then entered the office of the late A. W. Foster, Esq., an eminent lawyer at Greens- bourgh, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, as a student; and, in January, 1827, was admitted to the bar. In December, 1828, he located himself in Warren, Pennsylvania, where he has ever since re- sided. He was induced to select this location, in part, by several important agencies tendered him by owners of large bodies of wild lands in this and ad- joining counties-but principally because he be- lieved the best thing a young man, without means, could do, was to cast his lot with the pioneers of a new settlement (there were only about five hundred
Enge by ROM ie"
T. STRUTHERE.
77
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
voters in the county at that time, and a still less | number in the counties east and south), and en- deavor to rise with the growth of improvements. He entered actively upon the practice of his pro- fession, and with much success, but found his land agencies most remunerative. His strict attention to the suits of clients, and fidelity to the interests of land proprietors intrusted to him, soon established for him a credit which served as capital for a large business. His first efforts were so successful in disposing of lands and introducing settlers, that he was encouraged to purchase large tracts on time, and pay for them by the proceeds of resales, at moderate advance. He found, however, a great difficulty in the way of drawing the attention of emigrants to these lands-the want of railroad facilities to reach them. Here was a broad expanse of almost unbroken forest-lands, partly in the State of New York and partly in the State of Pennsyl- vanía; probably one hundred and fifty miles north and south, by two hundred and fifty or three hun- dred miles east and west; not penetrated even by good wagon roads; and, in some directions, one hundred and fifty miles without any roads. And this, too, in the direct line between New York City and the West, and Philadelphia and Lake Erie. The State of Pennsylvania had left it intact by her line of canals and railroads on the south, whilst the Erie Canal passed around to the north. To secure the opening up of that great wilderness, first attrac- ted the attention of Struthers to the consideration of questions relating to railroad organizations and the construction of railways. Whilst he preferred a railroad from Philadelphia, by the route now oc- cupied by the Philadelphia and Erie (originally the Sunbury and Erie) Railway, and a branch by the Catawissa and Lehigh Valley to New York, he found the projectors of the New York and Erie Road first in the field, and hastened to give them all the encouragement he could, attending many of their primary meetings, held along the line, aiding to get the right necessary for them through Penn- sylvania, etc. In 1836 he hailed with delight the announcement, through the press, that Philadel- phia, beginning to realize the importance of reach- ing out, by the most direct route, for a share of the great trade of the Lakes, had resolved upon a convention to be held at Williamsport. As a delegate from Warren County, he met the other representatives in that convention. Here was pro- jected the scheme for the Sunbury aud Erie Rail- road, and Struthers, with others, appointed to lay the subject before the Legislature, and secure, if possible, the necessary legislation. A bill was ac- cordingly prepared, and introduced early in the
session of 1836-37. But the scheme was regarded as so chimerical and absurd that, at first, it met with no favor at the hands of a large majority in either housc. This opinion, so unfavorable, seemed to proceed, not from an anti-improvement feeling, but from a lack of knowledge of the character of that wilderness portion of the State and of the business on the Lakes. It was thought best, therefore, not to urge precipitate action on the bill, but take time and endeavor to educate and interest the southern and eastern members in the geography and natural wealth and resources of that great section and the importance and value of the lake trade, and thus gain their approval. Struthers, on account of his more intimate knowledge of the country and pro- posed route, as well as of his great zeal in the cause, was selected by the Philadelphia gentlemen who were acting with him for this service. He remained, and succeeded in securing the passage of the bill, although he did not dare to bring it to a vote until April, 1837. In the organization of the company Struthers was chosen a Director, the others being of Philadelphia and east of the mountains, with the accomplished financier and enlightened statesman, Nicholas Biddle, of the United States Bank, as Presi- dent. Elaborate surveys were made in 1838-'39, the line located, and the work of grading commenced in 1840, when a relapse of the financial distemper which had caused such wide-spread ruin in 1837 silenced the last palpitations of life in the United States Bank and many others, and thus crushed the hopes of a speedy prosecution of this great work. It languished and struggled for the next ten years, the Philadelphians deserting it in 1847, and trans- ferring their means and influence to the Pennsyl- vania Railroad project. But Struthers, and a few like spirits on the western part of the line, adhered to it through all these calamitous and discouraging times, and finally effected a resuscitation of the company and the work in 1851. Municipal sub- scriptions were made all along the line, and Phila- delphia again fell into rank. The eastern part of the work was put under contract and pushed with vigor ; and to prevent the subscriptions of the west from being taken to the east, Struthers associated a party at Warren-himself its principal-whilst a few enterprising gentlemen of Erie formed a like association, and took contracts covering eighty-six miles of the western division, receiving the muni- cipal bonds of their several localities and stock of the company for their principal pay, and a very small percentage in money. These were the parties of energy and efficiency in carrying through the work. They not only had to raise money on bonds and stocks for the major part of their own con-
78
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
tracts, but, whenever it became necessary to appeal to the Councils of the city of Pliiladelphia, and the Legislature, for assistance in carrying on the whole work, they were always summoned to the rescue, and rendered most efficient aid. The financial operations of the Warren party were managed alto- gether by Struthers ; and, whilst the prosecution of the work on the remainder of the line was sus- pended nearly two years for want of means, they went steadily forward on their job, trusting to events for that part of their pay which they were to receive in money-a misplaced confidence, as Struthers realized in a loss of more than all the profits of the contract. Still, under a new arrange- ment, he took an individual contract for the com- pletion of part of the work, and carried it through. The road was finally completed 1862. In addition to what is contained in the foregoing, prepared by another, a friend and former partner* of Mr. Struth- ers has furnished the following items in his history, and some views of his general character and char- acteristics from his own personal knowledge: The summer of 1834 found him in Warren, Pennsyl- vania, at the head of the legal profession, pursuing it with that persistent industry that characterized him through life and secured him success. He had then become enamored with land speculation (hav- ing previously purchased 25,000 acres), which soon became the ruling passion of his life, and mainly occupied his attention for the next twenty years or more. During this time lie bought and sold about half a million acres of wild land in the western part of Pennsylvania and New York. The writer formed a professional copartnership with him in 1834; but he became so absorbed in land operations that, in 1840, he entirely abandoned the practice of law, and never resumed it as an occupation. As one of the originators of the Sunbury and Erie Railroad scheme, he clung to it when all others despaired, procured the necessary legislation to keep its charter alive, and made frequent efforts to revive the interest of Philadelphians and others in its behalf. His faith in its ultimate success never failed, and actuated by that sentiment, about 1851, in company with A. S. Diven, of Elmira, he under- took to resuscitate and construct the Cattawissa Railroad, connecting with the Sunbury and Erie road at Milton, and running to Tamauqua. Con- siderable grading and bridging had been done on this road in 1835-'36, when the company became bankrupt, and the work was suspended for fifteen years. Struthers threw his energy and industry into it, and they completed the work in 1852 or '3, with funds raised entirely upon the credit of the road, as
a link in the line of the Sunbury and Erie Road, and an extension of the Williamsport and Elmira Road. This, at the time, was properly considered a great achievement under the discouragements that sur- rounded it. It was the resurrection of a defunct corporation that had died deeply insolvent many years before, and out of its decayed assets paying off its old debts, and constructing a first-class road of seventy miles, over one of the most rugged and mountainous parts of the State, with four tunnels, several higli trestle structures, and a bridge span- ning the Susquehanna River. Near the same time Mr. Struthers was connected with General Wilson in the construction of the first railroad in Califor- nia, from Sacramento to Folsome or Negro Bar. This, too, was an unendowed enterprise when he took hold of it, and, by his superior tact and financial ability, procured the rails and equipments complete for forty miles of road, in Boston, to be deliv- ered in San Francisco without money or other se- curities than the bonds of the company, and his own and Wilson's guarantee. Soon after this he embarked with others in the enterprise of con- structing street railways in the city of Cincinnati, procured a grant from the City Council for half the city, and subsequently sold out his interest. About the same time, in company with O'Reily, Brooks, and others, having procured an Act of the Iowa Legislature for the purpose, containing valuable land grants, he undertook the improvement of the Des Moines River for steamboat navigation; but after locating their dams and several towns and cities on the donated lands, the Legislature repudi- ated the grant. All this time Mr. Struthers, with but limited means at his control, was carrying large bodies of wild lands, seeking purchasers, and spending a great portion of his time in Philadel- phia, New York and Boston. His interest in the last heavy purchase of 130,000 acres from A. M. Jones, of Philadelphia, he finally disposed of in 1857, when he immediately became a large contrac- tor in the then Sunbury and Erie Railroad, as al- ready stated. Upon the completion of that job, in the settlement of which he was badly used by the company, he procured the passage of a law by the Pennsylvania Legislature, incorporating a company to construct a railroad from any point on the Sun- bury and Erie-then changed to the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad-in Warren, or Erie County, to Titusville, and down Oil Creek and the Alleghany River to Franklin. In 1862 he organized the com- pany, located the road from Corry to Titusville, twenty-eight miles, and then performed the extra- ordinary fcat of making the road build itself in the short space of one hundred and twenty working
* Hon. S. P. Johnson.
79
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
days, without subsidies from any quarter, and al- chased the farm of over four hundred acres, once owned by his father, and on which he was born, in Trumbull County, now Mahoning County, Ohio; and after his return from Europe in 1867, in company with two or three associates, erected on it the larg- est, best, and most successful furnace in the State -laid out and built up quite a village, called "Struthers," having a station on the Lawrence Railroad, post-office, saw-mill, church, hotel, store, and other appurtenances of a thriving village. In connection with this, he purchased a large interest in a valuable coal field, a few miles off, to which he, with others, constructed a railroad thirteen miles long, with the double purpose of supplying their furnaces and rolling mills, and those of others in their vicinity-thirteen in all-with cheaper fuel, and ultimately extending it to Lake Erie, at Paines- ville, or Ashtabula, and thereby greatly cheapen the transportation of their ore and metal. These fur- naces consume one thousand tons of coal per day and yield nearly half that amount in metal. The filial sentiment that induced him to purchase the place of his birth, and which his father had lost forty years before, has been amply rewarded by its greatly enhanced value since its purchase, and the monument which his industry and enterprise has there erected will perpetuate his memory for many generations. Immediately on his return from his foreign travels, in '67, he purchased a large interest for himself and son in a flourishing foundry and machine-shop in Warren; since which he greatly enlarged its buildings and increased its machinery. It is now known as Struthers' Iron Works. This is one of the most prosperous institutions in Western Pennsylvania, and its engines and mills can be found from Florida to Muskegan. Mr. Struthers has always been an earnest and active politician, of the Whig and Republican faith, and a zealous friend of a protective tariff system. In the sessions of 1857 and '58, he represented his district in the Legislature, and was generally recognized as one of its most able and upright members. He was one of three in that body who managed affairs so as to bring about the election of General Simon Cameron for the first time to the United States Senate. Mr. Cameron had previously been appointed by the Governor to fill the unexpired term of James Bu- chanan, who had been elected to the Presidency. When the time came to elect for the full term the Whig party on joint ballot was in the minority and lacked three votes to elect. It was through Mr. Struthers' energy in committee work that a suffi- cient number were drawn from the opposing side to secure the election of General Cameron. Dur- most without stock. At this time the oil develop- ments about Titusville and down Oil Creek were rapidly progressing, and there were several thou- sand teams engaged in transporting the oil to points on the river and railroads. Yet, so little confidence was felt in the enterprise or the permanence of the oil production, that no stock could be obtained on the route, or at either end. He and his assistant, Dr. Streater, of Cleveland, took nearly all the stock themselves, and then built and equipped the road upon its own bonds. This was the crowning suc- cess, the great winning venture of his long and la- borious life. In all his previous adventures, some of which were disastrous, he had only succeeded in acquiring a respectable subsistence for himself and family, and often carried heavy loads of indebted- ness. From the start this road was crowded be- yond its capacity, with both freight and passengers. For several years it had a monopoly of the business to and from the oil regions. Mr. Struthers re- mained its President and chief financial agent until 1866, realizing large profits from its earnings, when he sold out his interest, and with his entire family spent a year and a half in traveling through Europe, Asia and Egypt. Before this, however, in concert with Dean Richmond, he had come to appreciate the importance of forming a direct connection with the New York Central Road, and procured the legislative incorporation of a company to construct what was called the Cross Cut Railroad, connecting with the Oil Creek Road at Corry, and running north to the State line, then to connect with one in New York State, leading to Dunkirk. He organ- ized that company, became its President and a large stockholder, fought it through a lawsuit with the Philadelphia and Erie Road in the Supreme Court at Philadelphia, and made arrangements for its final completion during his absence in Europe. Both ends were finally completed and consolidated, when, having found a foreign field for his unabated enterprise, he resigned the Presidency. He had a peculiar affection for all railroad projects. Actu- ated by this feeling he spent considerable time at Harrisburg, and rendered valuable assistance to the New York and Erie Road in procuring the right of way through Pennsylvania, and at one time had se- cured their promise to run a branch of it down the Alleghany River, through Warren and Crawford Counties, into Ohio. While running the Oil Creek Road, he got up the Corry National Bank, of which he was President. A few years ago he severcd his connection with the bank. This is one of the most prosperous institutions of the kind in Western Pennsylvania. In 1863 he sought out and pur- | ing his legislative career he acquired the confidence
80
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
of his fellow-members and the people of the State, and the following year many of them insisted on his becoming their candidate for State Treasurer; to this he reluctantly consented, much against his per- sonal inclinations. During the canvas for a nomi- nation the following tribute to his worth, one of many published throughout the State, appeared in a paper more than a hundred miles distant from the district he represented :
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.