USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of contemporary biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 43
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stuffed birds and animals being so well prepared as to excite the admiration of the most critical. With the distinguished naturalists Professor Lonis Agas- siz of Harvard College, and Professor Spencer F. Baird of the Smithsonian Institution, he exchanged an occasional communication ou matters pertaining to Natural History, and these distinguished savants kindly encouraged him in his studies, and compli- mented him on his achievements. Early in the spring of 1856 the young scientist was graduated at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy-the first in- stitution of its kind to be established in America- and after the expiration of that season he had. started on a lecturing tour through the section of the State wherein are located Norristown, Potts- ville, Shamokin and Altoona, in each of which towns he addressed large and attentive audiences. IIis lectures were interestingly illustrated by ex- periments iu the burning of ice, combustion of gases, the administration of " laughing-gas," etc. Toward the close of the year, after he had some- what worn off the novelty as a public lecturer on chemistry and uatural history, he opened a retail drug business iu the old district of Kensington, Philadelphia. Determined to become a master of his vocation, he continued to apply himself dili- gently to the study of the art and science of phar- macy, and the allied arts and sciences. He retained his connection with the College of Pharmacy, and his general acquirements were so highly respected by his associates that he was appointed one of the committee to revise the United States Pharmaco- pœia for 1860. In 1866 he removed his business to a wholesale drug store at 154 North Third Street, where he remained for ten years, and built up an excellent trade. The firm, then and since known as William R. Warner & Co., under his sole owner- ship, found it necessary, in 1876, to seek greater fa- cilities and accommodations. Accordingly, the property at 1228 Market Street was bought in that year, and in the large six-story building upon the site, the business was conducted during another decade with constantly increasing prosperity. In 1887 the fine presentation of its products made be- fore the International Medical Congress at Wash- ington, resulted in such au extraordinary draft upon the resources of the firm, that further facili- ties were found uecessary, and a site ou Wallace Street, running through from Broad Street to Pem- berton Street, fifty-six feet front by one hundred and thirty-two feet deep, was purchased soon after- wards, and the erection of a fine six-story and base- ment structure was begun in the spring of 1888, under the able architectural supervision of Mr. Charles Balderson, the contractors being Messrs.
G. F. Payne & Co., who successfully brought the work to completion in the spring of 1890. The edi- fice contains over one acre of floor space, uot in- cluding basement, or what is equal to an entire block of stores of four hundred feet front, one-story high, and one hundred and thirty-two feet deep. The building has columns and girders from base- ment to top story, in the strongest position, and is the best built and best lighted manufactory or com- mercial building in the district. It contains a fine hydraulic passenger elevator, of Stokes and Parrish build, which has the same perfection as those used in the best hotels ; also a freight elevator of large capacity. Both are furnished with the latest safety appliances. The building is amply provided with steam-power, and is heated throughout by steam. So perfect is the system of lighting by means of windows front and rear, and a "light-well " on the south wall, that ordinary printed matter can be read in the center of any floor of the building without the aid of artificial light. The engines, of two hun- dred horse-power, were built for the structure by Messrs. Hoff & Fontaine. The electric apparatus, comprising the dynamo and the other appliances for supplying light, were furnished by Mr. H. B. Cutter. The gas fixtures throughout the building are from the Thackara Manufacturing Co., and Messrs. G. W. Shaw & Co. The artistic embellish- ment of the exterior is heightened by a series of busts in bas-relief, placed on the front facade, rep- resentiug Darwin, Sir Humphrey Davy, Liebig, Humboldt, Morgan and Hinkle. These are the work of Mr. George F. Stephens of Philadelphia, and are regarded as wonderfully perfect original works of art. The interior decoration is simple, but artistic and effective. It is the work of Messrs. J. W. Ward & Co. In this admirably planned and finely located structure, the business of manufac- turing is chiefly conducted. When the building ·was completed everybody was struck with the ad- mirable proportions of the main hall, aud it was suggested that it be reserved for public uses. Ac- cordingly, after some deliberation, the proprietor resolved to permit its use for lectures, fairs, con- certs aud other pure and refined entertainments, aud at its formal opening, February 4, 1890, it was dedi- cated to such uses with appropriate ceremonies, the two hundred employces of the firm forming part of the audience assembled to assist at the cere- monies. In the business portion of this building the manufacturing of the firm is chiefly conducted. The building on Market Street is devoted to the of- fices and salesrooms of the firm ; and the upper por- tions to the manufacture, under the personal super- vision of Mr. Warner, of the pilular preparations for
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which his establishment has a world-wide renown. The success of the house of W. R. Warner & Co. is the direct and legitimate outcome and result of Mr. Warner's personal and indefatigable labors. Founded thirty-three years ago during a singularly infelicitions period, it successfully weathered the disastrous panic of 1857, and has moved by easy strides to its present representative position. The pioneer in the country in the manufacture of sugar- coated pills and other standard pharmaceutical preparations, this firm, by the great merit of its pro- ducts and the exercise of remarkable business tact, has won for itself a position second to no other in the trade. The skill and care exhibited in its manu- factures and the reliability of its preparations have duly earned their reward, and have established the products of the firm as standard in every quarter of the globe. The catalogue of the firm covering the specialty of sugar-coated pills alone, is probably nn- equaled in the number and variety of the drugs enumerated as presented in that form. Hundreds of thousands of pills were formerly demanded. To- day the output of the house reaches into the hun- dreds of millions. In 1879, Mr. Warner having con- ceived the idea that medicine administered in small and repeated doses, wonld act more efficaciously than in the form ordinarily employed, induced a number of educated medical men to ascertain as to the valne of his theory and also himself instituted a series of experiments. Chemical experience proved the scientific valne of his discovery, and a line of very small-sized pills, to which was given the name of "Parvules," was prepared. These parvules met with a warm welcome. They are now constantly prescribed by educated physicians with happy effect. Besides the articles mentioned, the firm makes specialties of many standard preparations, for which has been attained a solid reputation for quality, excellence and novelty. The house is known the world over by physicians and pharma- cists, for whom alone its products are prepared ; and the excellence of these products is attested by their almost universal adoption. It has established a large trade in Anstralia and in Europe, and in 1889 was represented at the Paris Exposition by an elaborate exhibit, to the display of which Mr. Warner gave his personal attention. The exhibits of the house at World's Fairs have secured ten first-class medals, and twenty highest medals and premiums from other sources. Branches of the honse of W. R. Warner & Co. have been established in New York and London-a step made necessary by the extraordinary growth of the foreign trade. For a number of years past Mr. Warner has had as- sociated with him his two sons, who, by reason of
their training and experience, are qualified to lift from the shoulders of their father much of the onerous labors consequent upon the conduct of a business of such magnitude. The eldest son, Mr. William R. Warner, Jr., manages the wholesale de- partment ; Mr. Charles Warner, the junior member, devotes his attention to the manufactory and labor- atory. The motto of the firm-Omnis Orbis-is no empty boast, as the products of its laboratories may be found in every part of the civilized world. Mr. Warner's high and unsullied reputation as a busi- ness man has led to his being chosen to fill a num- ber of offices in corporations. He is a member of the Board of Directors of several leading banks and trust companies, also of the Thirteenth and Fif- teenth Streets Passenger Railway Company. He is likewise one of the stockholders in the American Academy of Music in Philadelphia. Among the several foreign honors which have been bestowed upon him, he values most highly the Honorary Mem- bership in the Pharmaceutical Society of New South Wales, conferred upon him in recognition of his devoted labors in the interest of pharmaceutical science. A sincerely religious man, a Christian by deeds rather than words, he had the honor of tak- ing the initiative in Philadelphia in the matter of closing all stores on Good Friday. His regard for the interests of his employees has passed iuto a proverb, and this proverb bids fair to be crystal- lized as a sparkling gem of its kind, by his recent proposition to form a stock company in which his employees shall be interested, and to leave half a million dollars capital in the business for this pur- pose. When this proposition is given exercise Mr. Warner will be entitled to wear the mantle of the philanthropist. For the reasons amply set forth in the earlier part of this sketch, Mr. Warner has al- ways taken deep interest in everything having a his- torical bearing upon the life of the first President. He has in his possession more than one hundred portraits of him, gathered with the utmost care from every known source. He also has the por- traits of many distinguished physicians, surgeons, scientists and pharmaceutists, which, with a valua- ble assortment of unique china, gathered during ex- tensive foreign travel, and many rare paintings, make his home unusually attractive. Mr. Warner does not hesitate to attribute a large share of his snccess and prosperity to liberal but judicious ad- vertising. His ambitious and well-directed efforts in raising the manufacture of medicines to the highest degree of mechanical and scientific perfec- tion have been coupled with extraordinary execu- tive talent, and have brought him not only a princely fortune, but honor and esteem.
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WILLIAM W. GIBBS.
WILLIAM WARREN GIBBS, President of The United Gas Improvement Company of Philadelphia, -a corporation that controls the gas production of a large number of the cities of this country-was born in the village of Hope, Warren County, New Jersey, March 8, 1846. His father's ancestors were among the carly settlers of Rhode Island. His mother, Ellen Vanatta, was a sister of the late Hon. Jacob Vanatta, one of the leading lawyers of New Jersey, and at one time Attorney-General of that State. Mr. Gibbs obtained what education he could in the public schools of his native village before he was fourteen years old. Upon rcaehing that age he procured employment as clerk or " boy helper " in a grain, flour and feed store in Newark, New Jersey, where he remained a year, and then returned to his native village, where he secured a clerkship in a general country store. Here he was employed for two years, and then went to a larger store of a simi- lar kind at Hackettstown, New Jersey, where he continued for eight years ; the first two years with W. L. & G. W. Johnson, and thereafter with Jacob Welsh, Jr. It was here that he first displayed the possession of the financial abilities which have made him so successful. He was seventeen when he went there; at twenty-three he was a partner in the busi- ness with Welsh, and two years later, when his partner died, and the business was wound up, hc was ready to begin anew with a few thousand dol- lars cash capital of his own, the result of his own unaided efforts and economy. In 1871 Mr. Gibbs went to New York City, and with three friends started in the retail dry goods business at Eighth Avenue and Thirty-seventh Street, under the firm name of Miles, Gilman & Co. His partners failing to contribute the amount of capital they had agreed to furnish, he bought them out. The business, however, was so slow, plodding and unprofitable, that he soon tired of it, and at the end of two years sold out, being no better off than when he started. He then tried the wholesale grocery business at 146 Reade Street, New York. He got two partners, each having about the same capital as himself, and started under the firm name of Bauer, Gibbs & Co. With inadequate capital, however, it proved even less profitable than the dry goods business. It was not long, under the prevailing custom of giving credit to the small retail corner grocery stores, be- fore the bulk of the firm's assets were represented by several books filled with other people's small liabilities. It was a constant struggle to meet the firm's obligations. Mr. Gibbs at last decided to withdraw, and proposed to his partners that they
should call a meeting of the creditors, state the case to them, show them that two could run the busi- ness as well as three and with less expense, and agreed that if the other two would assume his share of the liabilities, he would surrender to them his interest. The proposition was accepted and Mr. Gibbs withdrew in 1875, practically penniless, his only capital being a first class character for reliabil- ity and integrity. Meantime, Mr. Gibbs had been thinking of new plans whereby to make money. Ile read up and investigated new inventions. IIe studied the scientific journals, absorbing and digest- ing everything he came across with a view to get- ting hold of something at which to make a living, and to which he eould devote his attention. About this time he became acquainted with a Mr. Ferdi- nand King, an inventor, who had a patent for making gas from petroleum-King's patent. Mr. Gibbs and Mr. King formed a corporation which they called the National Petroleum Gas Company of New York. They had no capital, but they had their patent, faith in its value and Mr. Gibbs' ability, te- nacity, shrewdness and untiring energy. He figured as President on the roll of officers, but he was in reality President, Secretary, Treasurer, General Manager, Solicitor, Corresponding Clerk, Traveling Agent and Board of Directors. His first contract was to build gas works in a small country town, introducing the company's patent process of manu- facturing gas. He succeeded in interesting Amos Paul, Esq., agent of the Swampscot Machine Com- pany, of South Newmarket, New Hampshire, and through him made an arrangement to build the works for their new system. This corporation fig- ured as the nominal contractors for the new works, but in reality they were only sub-contractors under Mr. Gibbs' company. In this way a start was made by the National Petroleum Gas Company of New York. The work was satisfactory and the gas was good. Mr. Gibbs had less trouble after that. He worked hard and studied hard. He got to building gas works for large manufacturing establishments, public buildings, and in the little towns where no gas works were before, and establishing rival and better gas works in larger towns that already boast- ed a gas supply. The whole burden of the work, the contracting, negotiating, traveling, etc., was done by himself. He did not aim too high. He made no contracts that he did not carry out exactly as he agreed. He tried to do no more than he was able. He was most conservative, yet most ener- getic, having built more than one hundred works in the first seven years in all parts of the country, from Maine to California. Four years after he withdrew from the grocery business he had accumulated
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$100,000. In another three years he had added thereto $150,000 more. By this time he had become thoroughly convinced of the wonderful possibilities of the business, if properly organized and backed with ample capital. His business so far had brought him, to some extent, in contact with the Standard Oil Company. His system of making gas involved the use of large quantities of petroleum, the pur- chase of which for the various works established by his company was almost entirely entrusted to him, and in this way he came to form the acquaintance of some of that great corporation's active officials and managers ; and after much effort he succeeded in interesting principally Mr. W. G. Warden, who was a large shareholder in the Standard, and was the principal manager of the Philadelphia interests of that corporation. Mr. Warden, after careful consideration, became convinced that Mr. Gibbs' proposed enterprise could be made a great success. What Mr. Gibbs had succeeded in accomplishing in the seven years that he had been in the business, with no capital to start with and everything to learn, was tangible testimony in the case. Besides, as an earnest of his faith in the matter, Mr. Gibbs was willing to put his entire accumulations into the ven- ture. As a result of his representations and efforts, the United Gas Improvement Company of Philadel- phia was formed in 1882, with Mr. Gibbs as Gener- al Manager and $1,000,000 in hard cash in its treas- ury. Among the Philadelphians who joined in the venture with Mr. Gibbs, were Messrs. W. G. War- den, Thomas Dolan, John Wanamaker, George Philler, President of the First National Bank, Henry C. Gibson, Henry Lewis, I. V. Williamson, S. A. Caldwell, H. H. Houston, James A. Wright, Wil- liam M. Singerly, W. T. Carter, and others. It was a strong combination, both as regards financial re- sponsibility and business capacity. It has grown rapidly since its organization. It has paid large dividends. Its capital stock is now $5,000,000, and sells at a large premium, while the actual assets will aggregate a much larger sum. The new corporation promptly acquired all the most improved methods for improving the quality and reducing the cost of producing gas ; competent engineers were secured, and a thorough business organization in every de- partment was perfected. The company is to-day the most extensive enterprise of the kind in the United States, already owning and controlling the gas works of about fifty important towns and cities, and is rapidly adding to the number and enlarging the field of its operations. Mr. Gibbs is largely in- terested in several other important enterprises. He is the moving and guiding spirit in a new railroad known as the Pennsylvania, Poughkeepsie and Bos-
ton Railroad, extending from Slatington on the Lehigh River, to Campbell Hall, New York, where connection is made with the Poughkeepsie Bridge system, whose western terminus is at that point. This road is being built with the view of connecting the coal fields of Pennsylvania with the New England market. It will be ninety-four miles in length, and will be completed at an early date. He also owns a large interest in the Poughkeepsie Bridge, of which he is a Director, and is one of the Trustees of the syndicate that controls the railroad in connection with the bridge, extending from Campbell Hall to Hartford, Connecticut, and Spring- field, Massachusetts. Early in the year 1886 Mr. Gibbs undertook the construction of the great Poughkeepsie Bridge. The charter of the company was granted by the Legislature of the State of New York in 1871, and amended in 1872 so as to permit the placing of four piers in the channel, not less than five hundred feet apart. The company is an independent corporation, and is required to grant to all railroad corporations that desire to use the bridge, cqual terms of accommodation, privileges, and facilities. The construction was begun in 1873, and the corner stone of one of the piers on Rey- nolds Hill, in the city of Poughkeepsie, was laid with ceremony on the 17th of December in that year. Further progress was interrupted by the financial troubles of the country till 1876, when the American Bridge Company, of Chicago, made a contract to build it, but only completed one pier and began a second, and then suspended. The project was then allowed to lie dormant till 1886. Early in 1886 Mr. Gibbs acquired all the right, title and in- terest in this charter and work, etc., previously done, and organized the Manhattan Bridge Building Company, subscribing and paying for its entire cap- ital stock. This Company made a contract with the Poughkeepsie Bridge Company to complete the bridge, and take what stock and bonds it was au- thorized to issue for the purpose in payment. A sub-contract was then made with the Union Bridge Company of New York, and the work was promptly started, but as seven million five hundred thousand dollars in cash at least was required to complete the bridge and connections, Mr. Gibbs set energeti- cally to work to secure the means. Somc three months were required to complete the syndicate for the first million. In the meantime the work was going on, and as the estimates came in on the 15th of each month, the money was advanced by him. Among the first that Mr. Gibbs succeeded in inter- esting in the enterprise was Mr. Henry C. Gibson, of Philadelphia, Arthur and Horace Brock, of Leba- non, Pennsylvania, and John W. and Robert C. H.
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Broek of Philadelphia. These gentlemen aided Mr. Gibbs in every possible way, and through their com- bined efforts the entire amount was raised, and the work was pushed energetically and without inter- mission from the day it started, and the great work accomplished in a little over two years. After the contracts were all made and soon after the work was well under way, Mr. Gibbs took the Presidency of the Bridge Company and remained at the head of it until the completion of the bridge, January 1, 1889. Not desiring to enter upon the practical management of the business of the bridge and rail- roads, and appreciating the importance of securing a man for the position who possessed large expe- rience, Mr. Gibbs determined to retire as soon as it was found that the services of such a man could be obtained. Mr. John S. Wilson, then General Freight and Traffic Manager of the Pennsylvania Railroad, possessed in a high degree every qualification nec- essary to manage the affairs of the company in the practical operation of its property. He had become much impressed with the merit and importance of the enterprise, and having been offered the post, decided to resign his position with the Pennsylvania Railroad and accept the Presidency of the Pough- kecpsie Bridge Company and connecting roads. The erection of the bridge is an achievement worthy of a place among the great successes of American engineering. Its accomplishment is largely due to the efforts of Mr. Gibbs, who naturally takes great pride and satisfaction in this monument to his ener- gy and perseverance. Mr. Gibbs was married on October 16, 1872, to Miss Frances A. Johnson, a daughter of George W. Johnson, one of his early employers. They have six children; four daughters and two sons, and reside in a handsome homc at 1216 Nortlı Broad Street, Philadelphia.
ALLEN B. RORKE.
ALLEN BEARLEY RORKE, a leading con- tractor and builder of Philadelphia, of late years prominent in politics, and for 1888 and 1889 Chair- man of the Republican City Committee, was born in that city March 21, 1846. He is of mixed Irish, Welsh and German descent. His paternal great- grandfather, John Rorke, was born in Dublin, Ire- land, but came to America in early manhood and took up his residence at Reading, Pennsylvania, where he married a wife of German extraction. At that time the country thereabouts was in a very primitive condition, and their first home in Reading was a log cabin. Their son John, grandfather of
Allen B., was born in that city and resided there all his life. He also took a wife from among the German-American families resident there, of the name of Bearley. Their son, James Rorke, father of Allen, was born in Reading, but when eighteen years of age went to Philadelphia and apprenticed himself to Robert Reeves, a well known builder in what was then known as the Spring Garden Dis- trict. James Rorke was a skilled mechanic and master of his trade, but being of a speculative turn was not successful in accumulating wealth. IIe is still living, a respected member of his craft, whosc opinion is of weight among his junior associates and co-laborers, owing to his large fund of experi- ence in matters relating to the trade. He married Rachel Kitchen, a daughter of James Kitchen, also a master builder of Philadelphia, although a native of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and for some time a resident of Wilmington, Delaware, where his daughter was born shortly before his removal to Philadelphia. It will thus be seen that the predi- lection for and skill in the vocation in which Allen B. Rorke has achieved fame.and fortune is to a large extent hereditary. After a short time at a well known private school in Philadelphia, Allen B. Rorke entered the public schools of that city, which he attended until he was fourteen years of age, when, following his natural bent and inclina- tion, he left school, and entering the employment of his father, thoroughly learned the trade of car- penter and builder, which in Philadelphia is the one whose members almost invariably contract for the erection of buildings, sub-letting to other tradesmen the work required in their various lines in such operations. He served a virtual appren- ticeship of seven years and thoroughly mastered the trade in all its branches. During this period he made good use of his leisure in devoting his spare hours to study, and so well did he show his aptitude for his chosen vocation that when but twenty-two years of age he was placed by the builder, by whom he was then employed, in complete charge of important work, and it was under his supervision that the Pardee Scientific School at Easton was constructed, a structure widely known for its archi- tectural grace, also the buildings of the Girard Estate, occupied for several years by the Board of Brokers on Stock Exchange Place, at the rear of the Girard Bank on South Third Street, and Horticultural Hall, erected in Fairmount Park for the Centennial Exhi- bition. About 1879 Mr. Rorke decided to engage in business on his own account. Comparatively young and unknown, and without influence, he set to work to make a reputation for himself, and in this he succeeded without adventitious aid of any
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