USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of contemporary biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 44
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Celle BRank
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CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
kind, by simply doing his work thoroughly and ful- filling his contracts to the letter. His promptness and faithfulness in carrying out his contracts and his disposition to do more rather than less than they strictly called for, soon attracted attention to him. Capitalists and others having business trans- actions with him were impressed with his energy, skill and honorable dealing; his work rapidly grew in volume, and when once he obtained the business of his patrons, they had neither desire nor cause to try elsewhere. Among the many structures he has erected since entering business on his own account may be mentioned the great cordage works of Ed- win H. Fitler & Co., at Bridesburg ; the extensive mills of Thomas Dolan & Co., at Oxford and Han- cock Streets and Columbia Avenue; the carpet mills of MacCallum, Crease and Sloane, at Wayne Junction ; the packing house, smoke house and sta- bles of John H. Mitchener & Co .; John T. Bailey & Co's cordage works; the armory of the State Fen- cibles on North Broad Street above Arch; the depo- and stables of the Second and Third Streets Rail- way Company ; Hensel, Colladay & Co's large building on Seventh Street below Arch ; Justice, Bateman & Co's warehouse on Gothic Street; the building of the Brush Electric Light Company on Johnson Street above Twentieth ; the office of the Traction Company, at 423 Walnut Street; the spice warehouse of O. S. Janney & Co., on Letitia Street ; the granite annex of the Bank of the North- ern Liberties; the Lennox Mills at Bridesburg; the Monitor Mills of Dornan Brothers & Co .; Leedom's Mills at Bristol, Pennsylvania ; Merchant & Co's new warehouse at 517 Arch Street ; the Fidelity Storage Warehouse on Market Street ; Building No. 8 at Girard College, the dining-room of which will seat one thousand boys, Building No. 9 and Build- ing No. 10 in the same grounds, which are the largest edifices constructed of white marble in the city of Philadelphia except the public buildings at Broad and Market Streets ; the massive looking and artistically designed edifice of the Western Savings Fund at Tenth and Walnut Streets; the unique and ornate home of the Manufacturers' Club on Walnut street west of Broad; the immense store building of the Girard Estate at the corner of Eleventh and Market Streets, which is occupied by Hood, Bon- bright & Co .; the six roomy stores which cover the rest of the block to Twelfth Street and are so de- signed and constructed as to give the appearance of but one building; the retort and purifying houses of the Twenty-fifth Ward Gas Works ; Marks Brothers' store at Eighth and Arch Streets ; the New Park Theatre at Broad Street and Fair- mount Avenue; Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church , and never abating his efforts for a single instant.
at Fifteenth and Mount Vernon Streets; the large factory buildings of the Hope Manufacturing Com- pany at Woodbury, New Jersey ; the annex of the Philadelphia Times Building now in course of con- struction on Sansom Street above Eighth ; the hand- some residence of Thomas Dolan on Walnut Street above Eighteenth, and that of John T. Bailey on Master Street above Fifteenth, both ranking with the finest private homes in the city. Mr. Rorke also secured the contract for the erection of the immense sugar refinery of Mr. Claus Spreckles at the foot of Reade Street in Philadelphia. This is the largest structure for business purposes ever crected in that city and is one of the largest of its kind in the world. No other building at all ap- proaching it in size was ever before completed in Philadelphia in so short a space of time-only twelve months. So well pleased was Mr. Spreckles with the manner in which the work was accomplished that he directed his engineers and superintendents to arrange the details with Mr. Rorke for the con- struction of the other buildings required to com- plete the plant, without the formality of bidding for the contract, which was accordingly done. Mr. Rorke had attracted the attention of that able, con- servative but practical body of gentlemen, the Board of City Trusts, who have charge of the Gi- rard Estate, and they decided to give him the con- tract for the erection of the immense building at the corner of Eleventh and Market Streets. The result confirmed their good judgment. Its con- struction was carried on and finally accomplished under unusually serious and annoying disadvan- tages and obstacles, which tested Mr. Rorke's capa- bilities to the very utmost. These difficulties were of such a nature as to attract general attention. They were widely commented upon at the time in the newspapers, with the result of winning for Mr. Rorke the sympathy of the public, which became heartily interested in the man and sincerely ap- plauded his heroic efforts to hold his own against adverse circumstances, which may be appreciated when it is understood that not only did his contract call for the erection of the colossal structure re- ferred to, but also for the demolition of nineteen buildings which occupied the site, the whole to be accomplished in one year. Prolonged spells of ex- ceedingly cold and very inclement weather kept back the work at the beginning, but a still more serious delay was occasioncd by a series of labor strikes which followed. With the resolution and determination, however, so characteristic of him from first to last in his career, Mr. Rorke adhered to his task, never permitting himself to lose courage
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As each obstacle arose it was unflinchingly met and eventually overcome ; and, to the gratification of himself and his friends and the amazement and confusion of those who had predicted his certain failure, he successfully completed his contract in the remarkably short period of nine months, faith- fully fulfilling every requirement of it down to the very smallest detail. To accomplish this involved more than ordinary ability and determination, and an amount of personal attention which but few would have been physically able to give, for during the greater portion of the time he virtually lived at the building. His achievement was warmly praised both in private letters to him and in press com- ments upon his successful work. He already stood high in the estimation of those who were familiar with his work, but the reputation he had previously acquired was greatly enhanced by the successful ac- complishment of this difficult undertaking. In 1887 there was a sharp competition in Philadelphia for the contract for the erection of the new building con- templated for the Western Savings Fund. Before submitting his bid Mr. Rorke quietly slipped over to the well known quarry in New England where the stone specified in the contract was obtained, and bargained for the output at a very low figure. Thus being in a position to enter a low bid he did so and it was accepted. The structure is one of the finest, architectually, in Philadelphia, and is at once a monument to his skill as a builder and acumen as a business man. A personal friend of Mr. Rorke's who knows him well writes as follows in a contemporary publication :
"Mr. Rorke's career is a splendid illustration of what skill and ability, backed by energy and cour- age, can accomplish. Although he has been in business for himself only about a decade he is un- questionably the most widely known and successful of the builders of Philadelphia. The rapid progress made by him and the energy displayed in complet- ing the various immense operations he has under- taken have made his name known and respected in all parts of the country. He is regarded by those engaged in the same vocation with himself as the embodiment of sagacity, courage and energy. It is seldom that he fails to obtain any contract which he specially desires to secure; nor has he ever neg- lected to promptly and honestly fulfill one that he has ever undertaken. Before engaging in any large piece of work he has a habit of taking a com- prehensive view of the whole case, weighing every detail of cost and figuring so closely that there is no room left for a shade of difference. Then he furnishes liis estimates. He proceeds, too, with a boldness and energy that astounds his more timid competitors. But his style of business is perfectly comprehensible if one stops to consider that he knows exactly what lie is about, and that he is safer and surer in his quick conclusions than less mathe- matically gifted men are in their slow and halting methods."
The case above referred to, regarding his course in obtaining the contract for the erection of the Western Savings Fund building, is a good illustra- tion of his method of action in business matters. Though Mr. Rorke has for several years taken a lively interest in politics it has only been of late that he became active in party management. Ilis prominence came to him unsought. Probably no man in the city was less ambitious of distinction in that field than this closely occupied business man. Attached from principle to the Republican party, sincerely and ardently outspoken in his political views, and possessed of that high degree of personal magnetism so necessary in a political leader, it was but natural that he should become an influence among the active men of the organization. Before he had any thought of accepting a position in the councils of the party he was a liberal and generous contributor to the funds necessary to carry on the campaigns and his advice was frequently sought as to men and measures. He has never been a secker for office or position, althoughi upon the election of Hon. Edwin H. Fitler as Mayor, and the inaugura- tion of the new system of city government, known as the Bullitt Bill Charter, he was strongly urged for the position of Director of Public Works by many prominent business men who appreciated his unusual executive ability and desired that the pub- lic should have the benefit of it, and, for a time, his appointment was under serious consideration. Prior to the February election of 1888, a majority of the Republican party evinced a dissatisfaction with the management of the City Committee and it was determined that the Chairman should be a business man of good repute and standing. Mr. Rorke at once became the unanimous choice of those members of the Campaign Committee who did not favor the re-election of the gentleman who had occupied the position for some years. It was believed that the success of the party was endan- gered by the jealousies which had been engendered by the ambitions of those at the heads of the differ- ent factions. Mr. Rorke was consequently elected Chairman by a large majority of the votes of the Committee, and the wisdom of the choice was demonstrated by the able manner in which he man- aged the affairs of the party in the city during his incumbency. When he took the helm the Commit- tee was in debt and factional fights so divided the party that its candidates for some of the most im- portant offices suffered defeat. At the fall election of that year the campaign was so ably conducted under Mr. Rorke's management that tlie entire Re- publican ticket was elected, notwithstanding the most determined opposition from the Democrats,
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assisted by the irreconcilables of the factions in the Republican ranks. Mr. Rorke was unanimously re-elected in the beginning of 1889, and served throughout the year, securing for Mr. Boyer, the Republican candidate for State Treasurer, the enor- mous majority of forty-five thousand, the largest majority ever given a candidate in Philadelphia. He declined a re-election in 1890 and left the posi- tion with the respect of his associates in the Com- mittee and the esteem of the rank and file of the party, with all bills paid and a full treasury for the use of his successor. No man ever left the position with a better reputation for probity or ability. A man of brains, possessed of clear vicws and having the courage of his convictions, he excr- cised great weight and influence among his col- leagues and successfully used every legitimate means to obtain harmonious action and bring about the best results. Mr. Rorke is an active member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he takes a lively and unselfish interest, having received nearly all the degrees of that Order. He was recently ap- pointed a Manager of the Masonic Art Association, but was obliged to resign owing to the pressure of his private business. He is a coutributor to the Masonic Home, and his benefactions to this and other deserving institutions in which he is inter- ested, reach very respectable proportions annually. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Legion of Honor, the Five O'Clock Club, the Union League and of a number of political clubs and organizations. When but twenty-one years of age Mr. Rorke was married to Miss Lizzie Maynard, who was born in Brooklyn, Long Island. Her father, Thomas Maynard, was a native of England, but came to America early in life and, after residing in Brooklyn for a short period, went to Philadelphia, where his daughter received her education. They have two promising sons, one of whom has reached his majority and the other has attained his seventeenth year. We can- not do better in closing this sketch than to again quote from the friend already referred to, who, in speaking at some length of Mr. Rorke's ability and characteristics, says :
" Although he has accomplished so much he is hardly yet in the full flower of his capabilities. A.s a business man he has earned a reputation second to none, and the conscientious fulfillment of his contracts has secured him the esteem, friendship, and indorsement of the leading business men of the city ; while socially he has many warm friends and a large personal acquaintance who thoroughly respect and admire his sterling and manly qualities of character."
LUTHER S. BENT.
MAJOR LUTHER STEDMAN BENT, President of the Steelton National Bank, the Steelton Flouring Mill Company, and of the Pennsylvania Steel Com- pany, and prominently identified with several other leading corporations of Pennsylvania, was born at Quincy, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, December 6, 1829. His ancestors were early settlers at Milton, Massachusetts, of which place his father, Ebenezer Bent, a farmer by occupation, was a native. At the age of twelve years Luther closed his atten- dance at the public schools of his native place, and for the next three years worked on a farm. When fifteen years old he went to Boston and entered the service of the New England Glass Company, whose manufacturing establishment, situated at East Cam- bridge, was then one of the most extensive in the United States. Here he remained five years, acquir- ing an excellent mercantile education, and a thor- ough knowledge of the glassware and crockery business. On coming of age he embarked in this business on his own account in Boston, and was thus engaged when the War of the Rebellion began. As spcedily as possible Mr. Bent arranged his busi- ness affairs, and in May, 1861, enlisted as a private soldier in Company "H," Fourth Regiment Massa- chusetts Volunteers, and with this command parti- cipated in the battle of Big Bethel. Duly mustered out at Boston upon the return of the regiment from the front, at the expiration of its term of service, he re-enlisted as a private soldier in Company " K" of the Eighteenth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, for three years, serving in it with distinction, and ris- ing through the various grades of non-commissioned officers to the rank of Second Lieutenant, as which he was commissioned July 30, 1862. On December 25, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of First Lieu- tenant, and on December 24, 1863, to the rank of Captain. He served in all the campaigns of the regiment, and participated in all the battles in which it was engaged, including Gaines' Mills, Second Bull Run, (in which he was wounded in the hand), Shepardston and Fredericksburg, in 1862, and Chan- cellorsville, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station and Mine Creek, in 1863. In the summer of 1864 Captain Bent was assigned to the command of the "Eigh- teenth Battalion," made up of men whose term of service would not expire with that of the regiment, and he gallantly led this command in the operations along the Weldon Railroad during the latter part of August, capturing on the 21st of that month fifty prisoners and a battle flag belonging to the Twenty- seventh South Carolina Regiment. In the advance of the Fifth Corps upon the enemy's works at Pee-
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bles Farm, Virginia, September 30, 1864, which re- sulted in the capture of a line of the cnemy's works, the Eighteenthi Battalion did good service, reflecting great credit upon its members, both rank and file. Captain Bent was appointed Major, United States Volunteers, by brevet, by the President, for "gal- lant and distinguished services" on that day, hc having command of the skirmishers. Shortly after- wards, on the recommendation of General Griffin, he was commissioned by President Lincoln, as Major in the United States Army, and at the same time by the State of Massachusetts, a Lientcuant-Colonel. The term of services of the officers having expired, the battalion, greatly reduecd in number, was con- solidated with the Thirty-second Massachusetts Regiment, and Major Bent, at his own request, was mustered out as a supernumerary officer. Shortly after his return home he cffected an engagement with the officers of the Union Pacific Railroad, and remained in their service from the commencement to the completion of that grcat enterprise, filling various responsible positions, and during the last two years of his connection with it being one of the largest contractors for grading the road, his operations in this work covering two hundred miles through Salt Lake Valley and the Promontory. At the close of his engineering labors he turned his at- tention to cattle-raising on the Plains. In this busi- ness, in which he remained three years, he was a pioneer, being among the first to establish cattle- ranches along the line of railroad in Nebraska. Upon his return to the East, he married Miss Felton, a daughter of the late S. M. Felton, Esq., a promi- nent business man of Philadelphia. Through his father-in-law he was brought into connection with the Pennsylvania Stcel Company, and, in 1874, was chosen Superintendent of its immense establish- ment. The borough of Steelton, where these estab- lishments were located, was incorporated in 1875. One of the most perplexing questions which arose in the borough was how to provide school facilities for its rapidly increasing population, that would be in keeping with the enterprising character of its citizens. The State laws regulating common schools contained provisions for their maintenance, but it was evident that these provisions would be entirely inadequate to mccting the needs of Steelton, where large sums would be required for several years in the purchase of sites and the erection of suitable buildings for school purposes, since the amount which could be legally raised by taxation would only suffice to provide the most meagre and unde- sirable accommodations. Major Bent clearly per- ceived the importance of settling this question satis- factorily, and when his fellow-citizens, seeking his
services in the borough's organization, asked him what office he preferred, he unhesitatingly expressed a desire to be chosen a School Director. Elected President of the School Board of Steelton in 1875, he has been annually re-elected to the same position, and his interest in education seems to grow morc and more intense each year. The difficult task of providing suitable accommodations at the start, was successfully met by him, without resorting to bur- densome taxation or imposing a licavy indebtedness upon the borongh. Picturing in its true light tlic great value of education in advancing the welfare and improving the moral and intellectual condition of those coming under its influences, and ably ad- vancing the theory that moral and intellectual citi- zens are desirable neighbors, and furnish a most reliable class of skilled labor, he succceded in secur- ing from the Pennsylvania Steel Company a large appropriation, which was amply sufficient to build and furnish one of the finest school structures in the State, thus allowing the money received from the usnal taxation to be devoted entirely to the cost of tnition-a method which has resulted in securing for the youtli of Steelton a very high standard of instruction. The wisdom of this course has been am- ply demonstrated, and furnishes a precedent which might be followed with great advantage in many other sections of the State, and also in other States. Major Bent's interest in the cause of education is unflagging. To the young, their schools and studies and instructors, he pays strict attention, watching their welfare with earnest solicitnde, and promoting it by every reasonable means. His justification for the heavy expenditures made by the great corpora- tion he represents, is founded in the belief that in a country where universal suffrage prevails, it is not only a plain duty, but also the highest wisdom, to advance the intellectual status of the people, since education makes them more discriminating, just, thoughtful and law abiding, and most efficient in the discharge of their several duties and vocations. In addition to his marked interest in the education- al welfare of the people of Steelton, Major Bent concerns himself in other directions, and always with advantage to the community in which he is so prominent and serviceable. In 1883 he was active in organizing tlie Steelton Flouring Mill Company, and was chosen its President. This important in- dnstry has flourished under his able administration, and now ranks as one of the largest and best known in the State. Perceiving the need of better banking facilities, Major Bent organized in 1883, the Steelton National Bank, and being elected its President, has been the chief factor in raising it to the high posi- tion it now occupies among the financial institutions
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of the country. In all that goes to make a citizen of high character, pure patriotism, and unselfish devotion to the public weal, Major Bent has few equals. The various stages of his life have been marked by great usefulness ; and viewed from the stand point of services to his fellow citizens, his career must be regarded as cminently successful, and one in every way deserving of unstinted praise and close emulation.
WILLIAM P. WAMPLER.
WILLIAM PENNY WAMPLER, a leading citi- zen of Mckeesport, and for more than twenty years actively identified with its business interests-more especially the trade in lumber-was born in that city August 19, 1844. His grandfather was Jacob Wam- pler, a native of Germany, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania. His father, the late Joseph Wampler, Esq., was a well known and highly respected citizen of Mckeesport, who combined with his trade of watch- maker, optician and jeweler, the professional duties of Justice of the Peace. Joseph Wampler, Esq., married Miss Mary Griggs, who was a native of New York State. Their family consisted of five chil- dren, of whom William, the subject of this sketch, alone survives. William attended the common schools in his native place until he was fifteen years of age, when he entered the service of his father as assistant in the watch-making and jewelry business, and as clerk in the preparation of deed, bonds, mort- gages and other legal documents. The opening of the Civil War found him engaged in these useful and peaceful occupations. Although but a mere boy, he was filled with patriotic ardor and had he not been under restraint would immediately have entered the service of his country. As it was he waited patiently until the arrival of his seventeenth birthday, August 19, 1861, when, with his parents' consent he enlisted in Company I, Sixty-third Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, with which he par- ticipated in all the engagements in which it took part, from the siege of Yorktown to the bombard- ment of Petersburg. His long term of service hav- ing expired, he was honorably discharged in Sep- tember, 1864; and having the confidence of his superior officers, he was appointed to prepare the muster-out rolls of his company and was made the bearer of them to headquarters for official approval. His active service in the field had inured him to labor and hardship, and upon his return home, a man physically if not quite so in years, he engaged
in out-door employment, principally in taking care of coal craft, and, in company with others, in float- ing and towing coal upon the Youghiogheny, Monon- gahela, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. In 1867 he engaged in the Inmber business in a subordinate capacity, but in the following year became book- keeper for his employer, Mr. James Neel of Mckees- port, and in 1872 that gentleman's partuer. Thus was founded the present firm of Neel and Wampler, proprietors of the original Mckeesport planing mill and lumber yard. The firm is now one of the larg- est and wealthiest iu its line of business in Al- leglieny Connty, and is widely known as one of the most reliable and enterprising in that section of the State. Mr. Wampler has always believed that it was the duty of every citizen to take an active part in political affairs, recognizing that the mal-adminis- tration of public business was largely dnc to the apathy or indifference of those who, having the com- forts and enjoyments springing from education and fortune, act, in this respect, as if the welfare of the State and their less fortunate fellow-citizens was no concern of theirs. From his earliest years he has displayed a most laudable public spirit and has taken an active part in all public movements. In 1872, without his seeking the honor, he was nomin- ated for Chief Burgess of the Borough of McKees- port. That he possessed the confidence and esteem of the public was clearly shown by his election to this office, the dnties of which he discharged with high satisfaction to the voters of the borough. In 1875 he was re-elected to the office and he conducted its affairs in such an able and business-like mauner that upon his retirement in April, 1876, he received a vote of thanks from the Conncil over which he pre- sided. In 1880 he was elected a member of the Board of Education and in this office, which he held for years, distinguished himself by his intelligent sup- port of important measures protecting and advanc- ing the interests of the local public schools. In 1881 he represented the Second Ward of Mckeesport in the Council and earned the thanks of the whole body of his fellow-citizens by his earnest advocacy and support of the project to establish water works in the borough. He was appointed a member of the committee vested with power to carry out this im- portant undertaking, and largely through his untir- ing efforts the works were practically established before the close of his term. His services on other committees, during this term, though less conspicu- ous than those rendered in connection with the in- ternal improvement uamed, were, neverthelesss, of great value to the well-being of his constituents and fellow-citizeus generally. Although living in a dis- trict strongly Republican, Mr. Wampler has never
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