USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of contemporary biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 39
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* Life of Elisha Kent Kane, by William Elder.
Thomas L. Kane
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CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
this sketch completed his college training and sailed | help or sympathy. Even to those who were nearest for England to recruit his health. There he made a to him the knowledge of his good deeds came long stay in Norfolkshire with a wealthy kinsman against his will, but inevitably, by the self-revela-
who wished to make him his heir, but coupled with
the inheritance the condition that he should become a British subject and take the name of Morrison. To this neither young Kane's family pride nor his American loyalty would consent. The next few
after life. He was much in Paris, where, as an at- years were speut in studies which moulded all his
taché of the American legation, he was admitted in-
to the bourgeois Court of Louis Philippe. His pri-
vate letters introduced him also into the far more
exclusive coteries of the old noblesse. From this
youth a secretary of Robespierres. This old geutle- Abbé, his tutor, whose pride it was to have been in society it pleased him to turn to that of the old
man gave Kane a chance to mingle with the men of
that revolutionary element which is always ferment-
ing iu Paris. Kane embraced the opportunity with boyish fervor. His erratic appearances in such varying companionship attracted the attention of
the police. Much to his disgust, his apartments
were visited, and his papers seized on suspicion
that he was an emissary of Louis Napoleon. What- ever political views he did hold at the time, most certainly the police could find no trace of admiration
for that shabby rogue. The Chief of Police having
and work of those who were laboring unselfishly for inner life of Paris. But Kane found in the thoughts way of atonement many curious glimpses into the satisfied himself of his innocence, afforded him by
the benefit of humanity his most congenial occupa- tion. Whether they were earnest Roman Catholics,
Revolutionary patriots, Communists, or Humanitar- or Legitimists trying to bring back a lost ideal, or
ians, he recognized that their course, wide apart as their paths seemed to be, tended to the same object.
He plunged into the living, seething ocean of French thought and emerged an educated Philanthropist.
When he returned to his Philadelphia home he
brought with him the deepest love for his country, the most ardent desire for its welfare, and the strongest determination to fulfill the duty of a citi- governed himself, one sees that his life fulfilled its Recognizing what the motives were by which he zen, and upon these lines modeled all his life.
aim. He was a successful man, although with all his genius and all his industry he never gained wealth or renown. When he had money he gave lavishly,
but discriminatingly, or freely sacrificed it at what
he felt to be the call of duty. No one who knew
him as a polished gentleman in society, or a politi- cian in keen pursuit of his objects, realized that this man never knowingly passed by anyone needing his
tions of those whom he had helped. The prompti- tude with which he would abandon a cherished plan, when the test of its righteousness was applied, struck many a professing Christian as odd and Quix- otic. Yet the conviction of the absolute sincerity
appeal to him for counsel, and follow his advice in with which he acted made people in deep perplexity
the most trying passages of their lives. He never united with any religious denomiuation, but held au earnest, practical affection for the Saviour, as for one still living and to be followed and served. In apparent contrast with the unconventional ideas that he had imbibed in Frauce, and yet in truest
harmony with them, he found that his philanthropic
work brought him in closest sympathy with the quiet, formal Quakers of Philadelphia. On the 4th
of March, 1846, Kane was admitted to the bar of Philadelphia, but he early gave up practice from conscientious scruples. In the same year his inter- est was first aroused on behalf of the Mormons, then Washington as bearer of despatches to Gen. Kear- being driven from their homes. In *June he left ney, then commanding at Fort Leavenworth. His object was to iuduce the Mormons to accept certain Government offers which he considered to be for their benefit. He acted as an unpaid Commissioner with certaiu powers of protecting the Mormons, and was trusted in this capacity both by the President
and the Mormons. He spent some months in their
camps, and among the Indian tribes on the Platte.
He is spoken of as Colonel Kane at this time, and seems to have had the title officially. He became an authority on the subject of the Mormons from that time forth and was a faithful friend to them
throughout his life. His rare character, which won
the implicit confidence of the Mormons, made him also a trusted intermediary of Presidents Polk, Fill- more, Buchanan and Grant. He defended the Mor- mons from undeserved abuse, and incurred as a reward the accusation from their slanderers that lie was a Mormon himself. The best of the Mormons sought his advice, aud to some extent followed his counsels. He hoped by his influence with the leaders to have certain social experiments put into practice by a whole people. He thought that a new Puritan Commonwealth could be formed in the Far West, or rather he hoped to see the Christian princi- ple of co-operation carried out on a great scale by a simple pastoral community. But, like most re- formers and teachers whose genius and whose aims are very high, Kane was frequently disappointed."
* T. B. HI. Stenhouse' Rocky Mountain Saints, pp. 238 to 246.
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CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
many times a winter, and in the imperfect shelter of the barn-nearly killed them all. But the mill had to be stocked with timber in the winter, and none of the jobbers would stay in the woods if the General left. And after all, the mill burned down in early summer, just as it was in running order. In its drying kilu was consumed the newly seasoned lumber for his house, deferriug its completion for two more years. The story of Kane's disappoint- ments was that of all pioueers, but he was as perse- vering as a spider, aud like the spider he exhausted his life in his efforts. Ile opened roads, built rail- roads and brought in Swedish settlers, colonizing a large part of the hitherto unbroken forest regiou of Mckean aud Elk Counties. To do this he gave up the polished society of his earlier day, except wheu the exigencies of his business or his political or philanthropic work carried him away from home. His wife was his ouly companion, and for most of those years alteruately secretary and nurse, as fail- ing eyesight and broken health forced him to rest, or to give up plan after plan of useful work. Yet he accomplished much, fiuding his only relaxation in educating his children. For nearly ten years there was no doctor in the neighborhood, aud lie would drag himself out to set a broken limb, or dress the wounds that were so frequently received by the pioneer settlers. He laid out every road line and planned the farm and village settlements; and in spite of ridicule and abnse, carried out success- fully his resolution to restrain all purchasers from keeping places of vile resort, or for the sale of liquor. He was instrumental in organizing the Pennsylvania Board of State Charities, of which he was the first President. He hoped much good work would be done by this body, the social posi- tiou and high character of whose members were a guarantee against their mixing in politieal rings. But he resigned his office in a year's time, dis- gusted at their iuefficiency. In 1868 he published a pamphlet in support of the purchase of Alaska. He had taken a deep interest in the acquisition of this Territory, hoping that it would be the startiug point and base of supplies for thorough Arctic ex- ploration such as his brother Elisha had dreamed of. In the same year he was working to fuse to- gether certain elements in the Republican party, whose harmony he considered essential. Simon Cameron, Fraucis P. Blair, Sr., and U. S. Grant, coming separately, were to meet at his secluded home for conference. Mauy delays occurred, and the plan was only partially carried out that sum- mer; but in the following year the President with his family and General Cameron openly came to spend a week with Kane. Cameron was his old
hereditary friend, and Grant, though Kane was only slightly known to him, did him the honor to seek his friendship. That friendship remained un- broken through life, although during the campaign of 1872 General Kane worked and voted for Gree- ley. Kane and Greeley had been friends for a quarter of a century, and held almost identical po- litical views. Greeley's sorrowful death in the moment of defeat eaused Kane great pain. He was himself at the time iu severe physical suffering, being obliged to go on crutches from the effects of an operation on his foot, rendered necessary by one of his old war wonuds. His physician considered change of air to a milder climate essential to his recovery, and at the conclusion of the campaign he left Kane with his wife and two of his sons, passing the winter in St. George, a village on the boundary betweeu Southern Utah and Arizona. The soft, mild atmosphere did him good service, and restored him to comparative strength, enabling him also to dispense with crutches. He had not been idle dur- ing the winter, having it at heart to induce Brig- ham Young with his people, to sell out their Utah property aud emigrate to Mexico. Barring poly- gamy, he considered the Mormons an admirable peo- ple, models of industry aud frngality, whose thrift had made a garden of desolate wastes in Utah, and who eould replace the idle Mexican Indians in the fertile provinees of upper Mexico, to the general ad- vantage of humanity, and of the United States in particular. He did not succeed in carrying out his plan, though it occupied mauy of his thoughts sub- sequently. He thought that a large emigration of Swedish-Americans from the North would be ser- vieeable in the civilization of the Mexican border lands also, with a view to ultimate union between Mexico and the United States, and the present es- tablishment of iutimate commercial relations. The deaths of Brigham Young and Thomas A. Scott frustrated his plans, although he made a journey of inspection through a part of upper Mexico in 1876, accompanied by his sons and a couple of friends. It was an adventurous trip, but bore no further fruit than the delivery of a lecture before the American Philosophical Society in 1877 on "Coa- huila." From the time of his return to Kane in 1877 the care of his own property occupied much more of General Kane's time than he had ever an- ticipated. The discovery of oil and natural gas quickened settlement and brought new industries into the region : aud, almost in spite of himself, he found that he was growing rich. But his spring of hope and energy was exhausted, and he did not live to enjoy the smiling prosperity of his colony. He died on the 26th of December, 1883, and was
James Hoover
191
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
buried by his own request in front of the Presby- terian Church at Kane. This church was built as a memorial of his Leiper ancestors by his aunt, Mrs. Ann Gray Thomas, who had always shown him the devotion of a mother.
JAMES HOOVEN.
JAMES HOOVEN, a prominent and influential citizen of Norristown, and one of the principal iron manufacturers of the State, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1808. In his veins runs the blood of Dutch and Scottish ancestors, and in his character some of the best traits of these two sturdy races. His paternal ancestors emigrated from Amsterdam, Holland, to America, early in the last century, and settled in Pennsylvania, of which State his grandfather, Henry Hooven, was a native. The latter, who resided in Upper Merion township, Montgomery County, was an enterprising farmer. He married Elizabeth Bolton, of the place named. His son Benjamin was born in Montgomery County, learned the blacksmith's trade, and followed that vocation in Upper Merion township. Benjamin Hooven married Jane Ekron, who was of Scotch nativity, and through whom the subject of this sketch traces his descent from the Douglas family, famous in Scottish history. During the War of 1812, Benjamin Hooven patriotically took up arms in defense of his country, and lost his life in the ser- vice. He left four children, Philip, Helen, James and Elizabeth, who were tenderly cared for and well brought up by his widow, a woman of superior excellence and intelligence. James, the subject of this sketch, was of a studious disposition, and when he closed his course at the district schools he con- tinued his instruction under his mother's affection- ate and intelligent guidance. The satisfactory prog- ress he made encouraged him to hope for a literary career ; and there were indications even thus early, that he was well endowed mentally for successful labor in this field. Besides attaining to a high de- gree of proficiency in the English branches, he ac- quired a very thorough knowledge of German, aud became a skillful translator from that tongue. As in the case of many men, his life-work was deter- mined by circumstances over which he could exercise little, if any, control; but the qualities which have brought him success in the business world would undoubtedly have aided him in win- ning a name in literature, had he been permitted to follow his early inclinations. At the age of four- teen years he began to earn his living as a clerk in
a country store, at a place called " King of Prus- sia," in Montgomery County. At twenty, he had saved a little money, and, taking a partner, he em- barked in business on his own account, in the same locality. In 1830 this partnership was dissolved, and he removed to Norristown, and there engaged in mercantile business, having as partner Dr. George W. Thomas, with whom he remained asso- ciated seven years. During the period between 1837 and 1845 the business of lime-burning occupied his attention, but he gave it up in the latter year, to enter the broader field presented by the manufac- ture of iron; and in company with Mordecai R. Moore,-who retired from the business in 1854, leav- ing him its sole proprietor,-erected a rolling mill at Norristown, which is still standing and in suc- cessful operation, and which is widely known as the Norristown Iron Works. In 1869 Mr. Hooven built a blast furnace, and not long afterward added a pipe mill to his establishment. The works now are the largest industry in Norristown. They cover a ground area of four acres, fronting six hundred feet on Washington Strect, and extending thence to the Schuylkill river. They are operated by seven steam engines and twenty-three boilers, equal to seven hundred horse power. There are six double puddling and three heating furnaces in the works, and the force of men constantly employed numbers about two hundred and fifty. Mr. Hooven's large manufacturing interests have always had his per- sonal supervision ; and his great activity as a busi- ness man has not only brought him wealth and honor, but appears to have given him excellent health as well, for to-day, although nearing the close of his eighty-second year, he has every faculty unimpaired, and the physical vigor of a much youuger man. For a quarter of a century his name has been well known in financial circles, in which he holds a conspicuous position as President of the First National Bank of Norristown, an office he has filled since the organization of the institution in 1864. He has lent his valuable services and pecu- niary assistance to a number of important euter- prises for developing his section of the State, among others the Stony Creek Railroad Company, of which he was the first President. Although too deeply absorbed by his business cares to find time to enter the interesting field of politics, in which his ability, character and a strong backing of friend- ship would have ensured him success, he has al- ways been interested therein, aud noted for the clearness of his views, and the consistency with which he has supported them. Originally a Whig, he joined the Republican party at the time of its formation, and, although never an office-holder,
192
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
has always exercised considerable local weight in its affairs. He was among the carliest advocates of the doctrine of abolition, and the staunch protector and friend of the escaped slave, many of whom he was instrumental in assisting to a safe abiding place. To further the cause of the abolition of slavery, he contributed liberally from his mcans, and never hesitated to voice his opposition to what he always regarded as a blot upon the National es- cutcheon. Ilis consistent course in this respect made him some political enemies, but also won him many friends, and firmly entrenched him in the af- fections of his party. He was a delegate to the Na- tional Republican Convention in 1860, and aided by his vote in the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency, a fact of which he is justly proud. Mr. Hooven is not a member of any religious de- nomination, but believes in the right of everyone to worship according as conscience dictates, and as a Christian gentleman is as highly respected in one denomination as in another. Mr. Hooven has been twice married. His first wife, whom he married in 1833, was Miss Emeline Henry, of Evansburg, Pennsylvania, of English descent, into whosc family Governor John Penn was intermarried. They had four children : Joseph Ilenry, Alexander, Jeanette (Mrs. G. P. Denis), and Mary (Mrs. John W. Schall). In 1874 he married Miss Helen Cushman, of Norristown, a direct descendant from Robert Cushman, one of the leaders in establishing the Plymouth Rock Colony in 1620, and from the Rev- erend Mr. Robinson, who was the first Pastor of that colony, and of the gallant Captain Miles Stan- dish of historic renown.
JAMES YOUNG.
JAMES YOUNG, a prominent and wealthy citi- zen of Middletown, was born at Swatara Hill, near Middletown, Pennsylvania, July 25, 1820. On both sides he is descended from ancestors who were per- sons of means and prominence in pre-Revolutionary times. His paternal grandfather, who appears in colonial records as Peter Young, Gentleman, and who resided, during the Revolutionary War, near Sinking Springs, Berks County, Pennsylvania, was an ardent and active patriot, whose valuable ser- vices were publicly recognized by the Continental authorities. ' An acknowledged leader among the citizen soldiery of Pennsylvania, whose courageous devotion to the cause of liberty during the long struggle for Independence is well attested in the pages of history, he was commissioned, on Decem-
ber 14, 1776, as Second Lieutenant in the Third Battalion of Berks County Militia, the parchinen- conferring this rank being signed by David Ritten- house, Vice-President of the Council of Safety of Philadelphia. On May 17, 1777, he was commis- sioned by the Supreme Executive Council of Penn- sylvania, as Second Lieutenant in a company of foot, forming part of the Fourth Battalion of Berks County Militia ; and on May 10, 1780, he received from the same authority a commission as Lieuten- ant in the Sixth Battalion of the Berks County Militia. The maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was David Ettla, who came to America from Germany about the year 1756, settled at Middletown upon his arrival, and rose to promi- nence among the early residents of that borough. He took a great interest in religious work, and was one of the three Commissioners appointed by the King of England to raise the necessary funds for building St. Peter's Lutheran Church of Middle- town. It is related of him that in the discharge of his functions in this capacity, he on one occasion " walked from Middletown to Philadelphia through what was then a desolate and almost impassable section of the State." This worthy and religious man married Magdalena Oldweiler, also a native of Germany. Their family consisted of five chil- dren, the youngest of whom, named Sophia, mar- ried Peter Young, eldest son and namesake of the officer previously mentioned. Peter Young was born in Berks County in 1781, but during the greater part of his life resided in or near Middle- town. From 1820 to 1834 he kept the stage-house on Swatara Hill, and from 1835 until the time of his death-which occurred September 29, 1844-he had charge of the Washington House in Middletown. His son, James, the subject of this sketch, received a common school education, and then went to work helping his father in the task of hotel-keeping. He was a willing boy, and possessed great shrewdness and ambition, and the little money that he earned from time to time he carefully put aside, waiting until its amount and a good opportunity justified him in investing it. The first hundred dollars he had in the world he made by discharging the duties of hostler and boot-black, working daily, early and late, at his humble occupation. With his first hun- dred dollars he purchased a horse, and ran a hack between Hummelstown and Middletown. About this time excitement ran high in State politics, and, being bantered, young James wagered his horse and conveyance, and all that he had on the result of the Gubernatorial election, and won. At this stage of his memorable career he was able to own two horses and a hack, which he diligently used in
James
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400ng
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CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
193
the transportation of passengers and freight be- tween Middletown and Hummelstown. After ac- quiring several hundred dollars he went to Dickin- son College, at Carlisle, and applied for admission as a student, but soon found that it would exhaust all his funds, and more, to remain there until he graduated. Consequently, after two weeks at col-
lege, he relinquished his studies there, and returned to Middletown to assist his father. At the age of nineteen years he invested his savings in the pur- chase of a canal-boat, and employed a captain to run it; but this was not found to work well, and before the season closed the owner took charge in person, following the business with success, run- ning for nearly one year between Hollidaysburg
and Philadelphia. Upon quitting this enterprise he opened a lumber yard at Middletown, to which, a year or two later, he added a coal yard. In 1839,
those days, named John Dougherty, said to the while boating, a man of considerable wealth in
young boat captain : "You are too young and fine
a man to be boating," to which the reply was, " It
is the best I can do." Immediately a suggestion
"That would do very well, if I had the funds." was made to buy lumber. Mr. Young replied,
Said Mr. Dougherty, "How much can you raise by
selling your boat and trappings?" "Seven hun-
dred dollars," replied Mr. Young. Said Mr.
refused, and Mr. John Dougherty made good his will not help you, I will." The brother-in-law flatly Dougherty, (continuing :) "If your brother-in-law
promise. But this enterprise at first proved to be
up-hill work, and in addition to working in the
lumber yard, Mr. Young had to aid his father in the
hotel business in the old Washington House. But
this was not all. To use Mr. Young's own lan-
guage to a personal friend : " After I commenced
buying rafts mother called me one day, and said,
' James, your father is going to ask you where you
me into a room, and inquired about it, and I said does not.' Sure enough one day my father called get your money to buy lumber. I know, but father
the money advanced came from John Dougherty.
Said father 'I do not understand this. He has than he would give me; ' I replied that I thought given you two thousand dollars, and that is more
he had given it to me because he believed I would
pay it back soon." It was not long after engaging in the lumber business, that General Simon Camer-
on, the then banker of Middletown, said to Mr.
extend it." Not long after this General Cameron you want any aid at any time, I will cheerfully and you seem to be a prosperous young man. If Young, " I notice you have quite an accountin bank,
resumed the conversation, and said : "I infer that
you do not want anything. If you will go out to Mr. Nissley's sale, and buy ten shares of stock, I will make you a Director in our bank." This Mr. Young did, and was made a Director, and remained in that capacity for more than thirty years. These incidents illustrate that, although just entering manhood, he had a wise head on young shoulders, and he quickly perceived opportunities for making money, of which he as quickly availed himself. Mr. Young was married June 8, 1843, to Miss Eliza- beth A. Redsecker, of Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She is a grand-daughter of
George Redsecker, whose commission as First Lieutenant in the First Battalion of the Lancaster County Militia, dated July 1, 1777, is preserved by her as a treasured relic of her patriotic ancestor, and of the stirring times in which he fought for his country's freedom. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Young-five sons and two daugh- ters-of whom three sons and one daughter are liv-
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