USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of contemporary biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 48
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CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
AMOS GARTSIDE.
AMOS GARTSIDE, manufacturer, son of Benja- min and Elizabeth (Kershaw) Gartside, was boru in Rochdale, Lancashire, England, October 23, 1829, and came to the United States with his parents in 1831. His primary education was derived chiefly from attendauce at the common schools ; but was supplemented and completed by a valuable course of instruction at the old Germantown Academy. He finally left school at the age of eighteen, and at once entered his father's factory at Cardington, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and began to ac- quire a knowledge of the business of wool and weaving. Here he had an opportunity, of which he fully availed himself, of becoming practically and thoroughly acquainted with the business in all its details. When his father left Cardington to carry on his business in his new factory at Chester, Amos accompanied him, and continued in his cm- ployment until 1857, when, in company with his brother James, he was admitted iuto partnership. The same year. Mr. Gartside marricd Miss Emma, daughter of James Pierce, of Chester, whose children are : Elizabeth (Mrs. H. G. Pennell) and Albertha Gartside, who survive; and John, Georgie, Katie and Mary Ann, deceased. Few men have shown more public spirit or taken warmer or more useful interest in the town or city where their lot has been cast than has Mr. Gartside in the city of Chester. He has always manifested an active and increasing interest in the public af- fairs and has watched and aided with assiduity the growth of the city. He was for sixteen years con- secutively a member of the City Council and was President of that body, of which he is the oldest member, as far as term of service is concerned. Formerly a Whig in politics, he joined the Repub- lican party, and has always been active in advanc- ing his party principles. He represented the South Pennsylvania District as a Delegate to the National Republican Convention, held in Chicago in 1880. He has been for thirteen years and is still a mem- ber of the Board of Port Wardens of Philadelphia. He was the originator of many public works of utility and importance in Chester, among which may be mentioned, the Chester Water Works, of which he was President. These works were built by the South Ward of the city in 1867, but in 1886 new works were begun by the New Chester Water Company, and these were put in operation June 1, 1888. He was a Director in the Chester Improve- ment Company, also in the McCaffry Direct Steel Casting Company and the Eureka Steel Casting Company, holding office in all of these com-
panies since their organization, and being recently elected President and Treasurer of the latter com- pany. He served as President of the Chester Water Works while he remained a member of the City Council -- the charter of the Water Works Company requiring each of its officers to be member of that body. He afterwards acted as Treasurer of the Water Company until the purchase of the water works by the newly organized company. He has been for the past eight years a Director in the Chester Creek Railroad Company, and was largely instrumental in securing its terminus at Chester. He was also a Director of the Delaware River Rail- road Company. He has been a Director of the First National Bank of Chester, since 1885, when he was elected to the vacancy on the board caused by the death of his father, Benjamiu Gartside. Mr. Gartside's business qualities have always been characterized by a remarkable degree of judgment and general ability, which have resulted in placing him in the influential position in the commercial world which he now occupies.
ABRAM NESBITT.
ABRAM NESBITT, President of the Second National Bank of Wilkes-Barre, and Treasurer of the Spring Brook Water Company, was born in the township of Plymouth, Luzerne County, Pennsyl- vania, December 29, 1831. He is a great-grandson of James Nesbitt, a native of Connecticut, one of the original two hundred and eighteen persons who, in 1769, settled in the Wyoming Valley. This James Nesbitt participated in the bloody battle of Wyom- ing, and was one of the sixty survivors of the gal- lant little band of four hundred men massacred in cold blood by the brutal British tories aud their sav- age allies. His son Abram, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch and also a native of Connecti- cut, was a boy at the time of this cruel slaughter, and although at work in the fields, mauaged to escape the second and even more infamous massacre of the defenseless widows and orphans of the slain, with which the British celebrated their victory. James Nesbitt, Jr., son of the foregoing, was born in Plymouth township and was a farmer by occupa- tion. He was choseu Sheriff of Luzerne County iu 1832 and in that ycar moved to Wilkes-Barre and engaged in mercantile affairs and later in coal min- ing to some extent. In 1835 he was chosen a mem- ber of the State Legislature. He died in 1840. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Shupp, was a native of Northampton Couuty and the daughter of
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respectable and prosperous German parents who | is held in deserved esteem for his probity as a man had long resided therein. Abram Nesbitt, the sub- of affairs and his many excellent social qualities. IIe married, on September 2, 1862, Sara M. Good- win, daughter of Abram and Sara (Myers) Good- win of Kingston, Pennsylvania. By this marriage there have been four children, viz: George Frances, now preparing for admission to the bar, at Wilkes- Barre, Abram Goodwin, now conducting a prosper- ous real estate business at Los Angeles, California, and Sadie and Fred Nesbitt. ject of this sketch, was their child. His education was obtained at the Wyoming Seminary and at Dea- con Dana's Academy, at Wilkes-Barre, one of the most celebrated sehools of that section. At this lat- ter institution he took the High School course, in- cluding Latin and the higher mathematics. Ile utilized his mathematical knowledge in the study of surveying, for which he had a decided taste, and after carrying the chain under a competent instruc- tor until he had acquired the necessary proficiency, he engaged in the profession on his own responsibil- ity and for twenty years surveyed through the JAMES DUFFY. Wyoming Valley, conducting at the same time quite an extensive business in the purchase and sale COLONEL JAMES DUFFY, a distinguished eit- izen and business man of Marietta, largely engaged for some years in the transportation, inland, of gov- ernment supplies, more recently in extensive en- ginecring and railroad work in Pennsylvania, late President of the Marietta Hollow Ware and Enam- elling Company, and a Commissioner of Fisheries for Pennsylvania, was born at Marietta, Pennsylvania, September 16, 1818. He was a grandson of John Duffy, born at Newton, Cunningham, County Done- gal, Ireland. The latter was a leather dresser by occupation and married Miss Ann Bradley. James Duffy, the only son born to this marriage, was also a native of the township and county named above, where in adult life he carried on an extensive busi- ness as a contractor. He was a man of solid ac- quirements and the possessor of exceptional busi- ness eapacity. He was connected for some years with the military service, as a member of the Light Horse Cavalry. With his wife, before marriage Miss Catharine Sheridan, also a native of Donegal, he emigrated to America, in the year 1800. They settled first at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but in a short time removed from there to Marietta, in the same county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Soon after arriving in America, James Duffy re-engaged in the business which he had suc- cessfully carried on in Ireland, and was occupied for several years in engineering work on a scale of considerable magnitude. He constructed the Mari- etta and Lancaster Turnpike and also the turnpike from Elizabethtown to the Susquehanna river, and a large portion of the turnpike between Carlisle and Baltimore, via York Springs and Gettysburg. He also projected a portion of the borough of Marietta, and was concerned until his death in extensive land operations at that place. All of his operations were successfully conducted and brought him both honor and profit. He survived his wife sixteen years, and died in 1836, aged sixty-five years, widely known of farming and coal lands with profitable results. A portion of the property he acquired was at Kings- ton and Plymouth, and included anthracite coal lands, which he leased in the Wyoming Valley, and bituminous coal lands similarly acquired in Clear- field County. In 1884 he organized and became President of the Invona Coal Company, which en- gaged in mining bituminous coal on the property referred to in Chesterfield County. In 1863 lie joined with other prominent business men in organ- izing the Second National Bank of Wilkes-Barre, and became a member of its Board of Directors. In 1873 he was chosen Vice-President of the bank, and in 1878 was elected to the Presidency. Since the organization of the bank he has taken a leading part in its affairs and has exercised great influence over its financial policy. In many other directions also he has exerted a decided influence as a business man and financier. He is a Director in the Wyom- ing Valley Coal Company, Treasurer of the Sanson Cutlery Company of Wilkes-Barre, organized in 1887 and already one of the most promising local industries. In 1889, in connection with Mr. L. D. Shoemaker and other capitalists, he organized the Spring Brook Water Company, of which Mr. Shoe- maker became President and he the Treasurer. This company has a capital stock of $600,000 and has issued $300,000 in bonds. It has been formed to furnish the towns in the Wyoming Valley with a continuous supply of water, and bids fair to prove one of the greatest improvements ever made in that locality. Mr. Nesbitt has always been a warm friend of the cause of education, and has long taken a special interest in the Wyoming Seminary, of Kingston, of which he has been for many years a Life Trustee. As a liberal and public-spirited citi- zen he has few superiors in Wilkes-Barre, and his standing both in mercantile and financial eireles is of the highest. He has a wide circle of friends and
Duffy
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and universally respected. Of the twelve children of Mr. and Mrs. Duffy, seven grew to adult agc. James Duffy, the subject of this sketch, was the youngest of this family. He grew up in his native village, made the most of the school facilities it af- forded, and when of suitable age took employment as boatman on the Susquehanna river, an occupa- tion which, at that early day, was peculiarly invit- ing to adventurous and ambitious young men, as it presented opportunities for advancement and profit equalled by few others. Beginning as a " hand " he was soon promoted to be a steersman and finally at- tained the rank of pilot or captain. In 1846, he with- drew from this employment and visited Europe, where he spent the following year. Upon his return, in 1848, he established a line of coal boats between Pottsville and New York, in the interests of the Schuylkill Navigation Company, which he success- fully operated for several years. He next engaged in the lumber business, having as partner Mr. James Mehaffy, a son of his father's former friend and partner in his land operations at Marietta. He rc- tained his interest in the lumber business until 1865. In 1861 he joined with several enterprising men in organizing a company for the purpose of transport- ing government supplies to the forts in New Mexico and the West, including the Salt Lake region. This undertaking was one involving millions of dol- lars yearly and required the labor of large forces of men and some thirty thousand oxen. Colonel Duffy, whose title was thus earned, remained engaged in this work during the whole period of the Civil War and during the early years of the reconstruction period. In 1868 he retired from the business, and during the remainder of his life, a period of twenty years, devoted himself principally to the care and management of his property. He was at one time the largest grower of tobacco in Pennsylvania. As a capitalist he became concerned in several leading enterprises, one of the largest being the Marietta Hollow-Ware and Enamelling Company, in which he controlled half the capital stock, and of which he was the President from its organization until his death. In 1875 he was appointed by Governor Hartranft one of the Commissioners of Fisheries for Pennsylvania. He took a deep interest in this work and became one of the chief promoters of fish cul- ture in the State. The proprietor of extensive landed interests at Marietta, he devoted consider- able attention to building up and developing that place, and its present prosperous condition is largely the outcome of his wise and liberal efforts. Aside from caring for his private interests he has earnestly encouraged and liberally aided all works of public improvement, among them the building of
the Bald Eagle Valley Railroad, of which he was one of the original projectors and for many years a director. Colonel Duffy was a Democrat in poli- tics, and his labors in behalf of the party whose principles he sustained werc of great value to it as his influence was far-reaching and effective. He had a wide acquaintance with public men of both the leading parties, and was respected by all for his manliness and nobility of character, true patriotism and broad generosity. He never cared to assume the burdens and disquiet of official life, and reso- lutely declined to become the candidate for any of- ficc either elective or appointivc. He conscien- tiously adhered to the Roman Catholic faith, the creed of his fathers for centuries, but neither in re- ligion or politics was he the victim of bigotry or prejudice. His home at Marietta was the centre of a liberal and gracious hospitality which was en- joyed by a circle of friends made up wholly irre- spective of creed or party lines. His nature was a generous one and his sympathies went out with happy results to all worthy charities without re- gard to denomination, nationality or color. Amoug his friends he numbered many of the most eminent men of the time, and by them, as well as by the humblest workmen in the employ of the companies he directed or controlled, he was held in affectionate estecm. He was a man without guile aud in every respect oue of nature's noble men. His death was widely regretted, and was referred to in the public prints in terms of the warmest eulogy. The Hon. Charles A. Dana, "The Nestor of the American press," in an editorial in the New York Sun, of which he is the editor, said of his old friend Colonel James Duffy :
" James Duffy is to be buried to-day at his late home in Marietta, Pennsylvania, and we cannot let the sad occasion pass without a word of tribute to his memory. No man was ever worthier of esteem and love. To a large and generous heart he added a sound intellect, extensive knowledge of men and affairs, great energy and a genial humor, which made the world always brighter for his being in it. Of Irish origin, Catholic faith and Democratic poli- tics, his friends were counted among men of every name and every party. Madc rich through his own ability and industry, no one ever envied him his good fortune, or depreciated the admirable quali- ties of his character. He lived to be seventy years of age, but his mind retaincd its elasticity, and his affections were young to the last. His friends used to say in jest, sometimes, that he was descended from a line of old Irish kings; and, as he is laid in the last resting place, we can truly declare that any race of kings might be proud of such a descendant !"
Commenting upon this teuder expression of feel- ing, on the part of Mr. Dana, Mr. George W. Childs, the distinguished proprietor and editor of the Phil- adelphia Public Ledger, said :
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"The foregoing is the thoughtful, affectionate tribute of an old friend, Mr. Charles A. Dana, the editor of the Sun, to the character of Colonel Duffy, whom he thoroughly knew, and justly appreciated. It was the large, generous nature of the late Colo- nel Duffy which won for him so many and such genuinely attached friends. The bounty of it was as decp as the sea; the sincerity of it as strong. His noble Catholicism was not in his religion only ; it was part of his heart and mind. His truthful- ness was robust, stalwart; his charity of thought and act manly, direct, helpful. Those who knew him at all knew Colonel Duffy as one who through all the chances and rubs of a long life had not cre- ated enmities or discords, but as one who had de- stroyed them, who had waved them away from his own life, and the lives of others. Hc was a gentle, genial, kindly-natured man, of noble integrity and helpful, gracious ways. His nature was opulent ; it gave freely to others of its own healthy, vigorous friendliness, good will and good humor. Mr. Dana is right to say that a race of kings might have been proud of such a descendant ; his bounty, courage, honor, truth made him a kingly man."
Colonel Duffy married, on September 8, 1863, Miss Martha Park, daughter of John Park, of Mari- etta. Ten children were the offspring of this mar- riage, viz .: Josephine, Catharine (deceased), James, Donald, Cameron, Thomas Bayard (deceased), John Park (deceased), Martha Park, John Park 2d, (deceased), and one who died in infancy.
AMOS BOWMAN.
AMOS BOWMAN a leading business man and financier of Marietta, identified for upwards of forty years with banking interests in Pennsylvania, and now Vice-President of the First National Bank of Marietta, and President of the Marietta Hollow-Ware and Enameling Company, was born in Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1837. His father, Joseph Bowman, now a farmer in Lick- ing County, Ohio, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1810, and was Prothonotary of that county from 1856 to 1859. His mother, Elizabeth Parker Bowman, also a native of Lancaster County, was a daughter of William Parker. Mr. Bowman was educated at the common schools in the district in which he was born, and at the age of fifteen be- gan business life as clerk in the Farmers' Bank at Lancaster, in which institution he remained eleven years. In 1863, being then in his twenty-sixth year, he removed to Marietta, to accept the position of Cashier of the First National Bank of Marietta. He remained in this position until January 1, 1889, when he was elected to the Vice-Presidency. The Marietta Bank has a capital of $100,000, and a sur- plus of equal amount. Organized in 1863, shortly
after the passage of the National Banking Act, it was the twenty-fifth banking institution to receive a charter from the Government. It was the first Government depository in Lancaster County, and disposed of over one million dollars worth of United States bonds during the period they were offered for subscription. Since its organization it has regu- larly paid an annual dividend of ten per cent. and has passed unscathed and without failure through cvery financial panic. This splendid record is largely due to the financial skill and unwearied de- votion to its interests displayed by Mr. Bowman, upon whom, as cashier, a large share of responsi- bility of management and direction rested. In 1888, upon the death of Colonel James Duffy, one of the most prominent and wealthy citizens of Lancaster County, Mr. Bowman, who had been his close friend for twenty years, was named executor of his estate and was relieved of bonds by a provision in the will. On January 1, he was elected to the Presidency of the Marietta Hollow-Ware and Enameling Company, with the affairs of which he was fully conversant through long association and intimacy with its foun- der, Colonel Duffy. This industry is the principal one in the place and gives steady employment to a large portion of the population of the village, who are noted for their industry, thrift and intelligence. Mr. Bowman has been a Republican in politics since the organization of the party, but has never sought or cared for office. In local matters he has been prominent and active, serving with credit on the School Board of Marietta for many years, and also in other local positions where his talents could be of advantage to his fellow citizens. In all the posi- tions he has held, whether private or public, he has discharged his duties well and has earned the esteem and good will of all who know him. On March 8, 1860, he married Miss Rachel Davis, daughter of John Davis, of Chester County, Penn- sylvania. Of the six children born to this mar- riage, two, Joseph and Mary, are living. The former, a young man, is associated in business with his father. Mrs. Bowman and her daughter, Mary, are devoted adherents of the Methodist Church, and are very active in local charitable and religious work.
EDWARD M. PAXSON.
HON. EDWARD M. PAXSON, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, was born at Buckingham, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Septem- ber 3, 1824. His paternal ancestors were English and came to Pennsylvania about the year 1682, in .
EdwarM Parson
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the wave of emigration that attended the founding of that colony by William Penn. The American Paxsons trace their descent directly back to this an- cestry and across the seas to Bycot House, Buck- ingham, Bucks County, England, where the family has been domiciled since the days of William the Conqueror. A branch of the family still occupies this English ancestral seat. The father of Judge Paxson was Thomas Paxson of Buckingham, Bucks Connty, Pennsylvania. His mother, whose maiden name was Ann Johnson, was a descendant of Professor Wm. Johnson, of a North of Ireland family of that name, who came to America prior to the Revolution, and settled temporarily in New Jer- sey, afterwards removing to South Carolina, where he became eminent as an instructor in one of the colleges of that State. Thomas and Ann Paxson ad- hered to the religious tenets of the Society of Friends to which their ancestors had belonged, and brought up their children in accordance with their belief. Edward, the subject of this sketch, thus re- ceived his education in the schools conducted by the Society of Friends, which, though not osten- tatiously styled academies and colleges, were at that day hardly inferior to the best of these in either their curriculum or methods of teaching. His train- ing was especially thorough in thic English branches and he excelled in composition. A signal proof of this is the fact that when but fifteen years of age, being still at school, he was successful over many competitors in winning a prize consisting of a com- plete copy, in library form, of the "Waverly Novels," offered by the editor of the Saturday Courier, for the best essay or tale. About the time his school studies terminatcd, he conceived the idea of establishing a newspaper in his native county. To prepare himself for the successful conduct of such an enterprise, hc first mastercd the practical part of the business-the art of printing-and then founded the Newtown Journal, which he brought out at Newtown, Bucks County, in 1842. It was edited and managed with much more than ordinary ability and at once attracted attention, securing commen- dation and support not only where published but also in the outlying counties. The foundation of this enterprise was a printing establishment which was successfully conducted by Mr. Paxson until 1847, when he sold it, together with the Journal, and removing to Philadelphia, founded in that city a paper called the Daily News. After editing and managing this journal a twelve month, he disposed of it to Mr. John P. Sanderson and turned his atten- tion to the study of law, having concluded, after mature deliberation, that he had a true vocation in that profession. By a thorough course of legal
study under the Hon. Henry Chapman of Doyles- town, Pennsylvania, he prepared himself for the bar, and on April 24, 1850, he was formally admit- ted to practice at the place named. Opening an of- ficc there, he devoted himself earnestly to profes- sional work. His success from the beginning was flattering and assured, and his removal to Phila- delphia, in 1850, was a step counselled by excellent judgment. For two years or more he labored as- siduously before the courts and in the Council chamber, turning neither to the right nor to the left, but pressing his way steadily onward. His per- sistence and earnestness brought their legitimate reward in the shape of the confidence of the com- munity and a large and profitable practice. When the Civil War broke out Mr. Paxson was occupying an enviable position at the bar, and was in receipt of a splendid income from his profession. He un- hesitatingly espoused the Union cause and labored with enthusiastic ardor in support of the National Government. A staunch Republican, he believed that in the perpetuation of that party in power lay the only salvation for the Union, and he never wavered in his allegiance to it. His unselfish devo- tion was happily recognized, in 1869, by Governor Geary, who selected him to fill the vacancy on the bench of the Court of Common Pleas in the city of Philadelphia, occasioned by the appointment of Judge F. Carroll Brewster to the office of Attorney General of the State. This graceful act of the Exec- utive was heartily endorsed in professional circles, as well as the Republican party, and the high com- pliment paid Mr. Paxson was all the more marked as the appointment came to him entirely without solicitation on the part of himself or his friends. On the bench Judge Paxson developed rare judicial ability and gave such general satisfaction that at the close of the term the regular Republican nomination for the office was tendered him, by unanimous voice of the State Convention of June, 1870. At the polls he ran far ahead of his ticket, the people, without regard to party, thus testifying their respect and confidence in one who had proved himself a learned and upright magistratc. On the bench of the Com- mon Pleas, Judge Paxson made a record which was both distinguished and unassailable, and after he had served a few years his name was freely men- tioned in connection with even higher judicial honors. These came in 1874, when, having been nominated for the position of Justice of the Supreme Court of the State, he was triumphantly elected at the first elcction held under the new State Constitu- tion, and was duly commissioned on December 2d of the same year. In the exercise of his functions as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania,
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