USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania. With illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 51
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Mr. Wolverton carly realized the fact that the highest success in any avocation is attendant only upon n singlenes of aim, coupled with persevering toil. As, therefore, it was his greatest ambition to excell in the practice of the law, he has upplied all his energies in that direction ; and, although he has been often solicited to become a candidate at different times for various positions of public trust and honor, he has declined to do so, and has held himself aloof from all active participation in politics, and made his profession his specialty.
As might be expected, his career has been crowned with most signal success, and the legal eminence to which, when a youth, he so ambitionsly aspired, has been happily reached.
In this brief sketch of the life of this gentleman, is presented a most striking example of what can be accomplished by a resolute determination and persevering effort ;- nn example well worthy of imitation by all young men whose ambition prompts them to aspire to a high place in some noble enlling. "Perseverantia omnia vincit."
Socinlly, Mr. Wolverton is u man of genial manners and of obliging spirit, and combines all the elements of a thorough gentleman.
Hlv murried Miss Elizabeth D. Hendricks, daughter of Benjamin Hendricks, of Sunbury, and has a family of two daughters.
IION. T. H. PURDY.
The subject of this sketch was burn in Purdytown, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, June 26th, 1831. His futher, Harvey Purdy, was a native of the same place, and was a fariner and lumberman by occupation, His mother was Ruth Clark, of Clarksgreen, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, His ancestors on his father's side were among the set- tlen of Wayne County, previons to the Wyoming massacre. His great-grandfather, Rev. Willum Purdy, was the founder of what is known as the Abington Baptist Associa- tion. His grand-father on his mother's side was Rev. William Clark, a native of New England.
Mr. Purdy's boyhood and early youth were spent in the lumber woods and on the farm, and his facilities for education were those of the winter common school. After his
143
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Inther's death, which occurred when young Purdy was seventeen years of age, he carried on the Inmber and form business for some two years, during which period he spent a short time at the Madison Aendemy, in Luzerne County, and also taught a school during one winter.
When abont twenty years of age, he beenme assistant instructor in the Madison Academy, where he spent two years us teacher and student. At the expiration of this time, the principal of the neademy, Profesor UI. D. Walker, was elected principal of the academy connected with the University of Lewisburg, and urged Mr. Purdy to accompany him to that place, which he did, and became a tuneher in the newlemy there, and at the same time entered as n strulent, the freshmen's class of the university, where, at about the age of twenty-seven, he completed his conrse.
About a year later, he was induced by the stockholders of the Union Argus, at Lew- isburg, to assume the editorial management of that paper, and, at the expiration of two yenrs, he had bought np all the stock and owned the establishment. He then sold the same, and continued the study of low in the office of Judge Joseph C. Bucher, of Lewis. burg, with whom he had emmmeneed reading a year jereviens.
On the 8th of March, 1861, by the urgent solicitation af n number of the citizens of Northumberland County, he came to Sunbury, und started the Northumberland County Democrat, beginning with only three hundred subscribers.
In the Autumn of 1864, Mr. Purdy was elected to the House of Representatives of the Pennsylvania Legislature, and re-elected in 1865.
In 1867, he sold the Demnerat to Messrs. Eichholtz and Day, the paper at that time having a circulation of tiso thousand nine hundredl. He then finished his law studies with Judge Alexander Jordan, of Sunbury, and was arhnitted to the bar here in 1868. Previous to this, Mr. Purdy hnul been, from time to time, purchasing vnrions traets of Innd adjoining the borough of Summary on the cast, which are now laid out into lots, nud constitute what is kinen as Purdytown. The lots have been nearly all disjurer of, and ure nlready covered with dwellings, stores, shops, etc., firming quite a plensunt little village.
In 1865, he purchased a beautiful knoll of some two arres, in the vicinity, which he henntified with trees, shrubs, flowers, and walks, and upon which, in 1872, he erected his present palatial residence, a view of which will be found among the illustrations of this work.
In 1870, Mr. Purdy was connected with S. P. Wolverton, Esq., in obtaining the charter for the Sunbury Gus Works, und the establishment of the same, which works are principally owned by these gentlemen,
In 1872, he delivered, by appointment, the historienl oratinn at the centennial eule- bration of Sunbury, in that year. It was a carefully prepared and very valuable pro- duetion.
In April, 1876, Mr. Purdy, in company with Dr. II. Long, of Sunbury, and J. B. Ewing, Esq, of Harrisburg, purchased a large tract of lamil lying between the Pennsyl- vanin Steel Works and the Lochiel Iron Works, below Harrisburg, which land has been Inid ont into a town called Ewington, and thirty-two thousand dollars' worth of luts were sold between April 10th and September 1st, 1876. A large number of buildings also have been erected thereon.
On December 16th, 1861, Mr. Purdy was married to Miss Mary E., daughter of Dr. Robert E. James, of Northampton County, Pennsylvania. This union has been blessed with the birth of three sons and one daughter, one of the former ilecensed.
Mr. Purdy is a gentleman of superior mental organizatinu, clear judgment, grent cantion, and of unusually fine business abilities What, perhaps, is most noticeable in his character is his remarkably quiet, unassuming disposition, and his candid, unimpns- sioned manner of dealing with things. With these elements ure united a power of read- ing human nature, which is developed far above the uvernge. He belongs to the valid, conservative class of men, and is heirl in high esteem by the community.
In politica he is n Demverat, to which party he has ever maintainedl an naswerving fidelity. In religious viens he is a Raptist, and has been for many years the leading member of this denomination in Silinry.
Mr. Purdy possesses also a Insge amount of genial Immor, coupled with asthetie literory abilities of a high order, as is illustrated in his historieul oration at the Sunbury centennial, on July 4th, 1872. Hle hus itlso in preparation a poetical volume un science and religion, some of the ulvance pages of which the bingrapher has been privileged to examine, and from which, hal he permission, he would ghully minke some extraeis. In all thnt constitutes the essentials of true poetry, the work will compare favorably with the productions of our lust antheory,
THE CAKE FAMILY.
JOHN CAKE, Sn.
This gentleman was a native of Scotland, and when quite a young man was brought to America, sometime previous to the Revolution. Ilis wife was Jane Cummin, also burn in Scotland, who was likewise brought to this country prior to the great American struggle, aml at the age of twelve, was nt Valley Forge at the time that General Wash- ington was there encamperl.
Mr. and Mrs. Cake had bnt one child,
JOHN CAKE, JR.,
who was born in Chester County, Pa., and was brought to Northumberland, this county, when a child, when he grew up to munhood, and married Miss Sarah MeCord, a native of Easton, Pa., who came with ber father's family to Northumberland when she was quite young.
Mr. Cuke was a cooper by trade, and for many years carried on the business in Northumberland quite extensively, frequently having in his employ at one time, as many as thirty-five or forty worknien. Ilis wife's father, Mr. Joseph MeCord, was a carjenter and builder, which business he followed in Northumberland to a good old age.
Mr. and Mrs. Cake died in Northumberland, the former at the age of seventy-eight, and the latter in 1873, in her eighty-fifth year.
Mr. Cake had a family of six sons and four danghters, as follows:
Colonel J. W. Cake, of Sunbury ; Mrs. Mary Ann (John) Harlan, now a widow, und residing in Trummma, Schuylkill County, Pa .; Sarah M. Cake, Isaac M. Cake, Lucetta R. Cake, and George Cake, all residents of Northumberland, Pa .; General Henry L. C'ake, of Philzulelphin. In addition to these, were Alphens and Sarah, both of whom died in infancy.
GENERAL HENRY L. CAKE,
the youngest son, served four years in the late war, going out as colonel of the Twenty- fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for the three months' service, under Generals Stone and Patterson. He snfrequently organized the Ninety-sixth Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, at Pottsville, and served us its colonel for nearly three years, and during most of the time was commander of a brigade; his last engagement being the famous battle of "Antietam," in which he led the terrible charge at "South Mountain."
COLONEL JOSEPH WARREN CAKE,
This gentleman is the oldest son of John Cake, Jr., just noticed. He was born in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of November, 1811. Being the son of a pioneer, he was cradled in the wilderness, and renred amid surroundings the humble nature of which the youth of the present day can form no adequate conception. ITis opportunities for learning were simply those of the pioneer common school, supple- mented by a few years' attendance upon what was then known as the Northumberland Academy, presided over by the late Judge Robert Grier. The studies pursued here at thent time were simply the common English branches, with the exception of a small eliss just beginning Latin. Mr. Cake, however, subsequently prosecuted his studies by himself, and acquired quite a considerable knowledge of the Natural Sciences, and also some acquaintance with the Latin und Greck classies. By extensive reading and elose obser- vation, moreover, he has accumulated a large fund of general information. He is one of those practical, self-made men, who are of far more value to a commodity than tho crudite theorist, who, however well versed in the lore of books, is unable to utilize his learning in its application to the mutter-of-fact ulfiirs of life.
When nbout vighteen years of age, he went to Harrisburg, where, under the direc- tion of Andrew Keefer-brother-in-law to General Cameron-he learned the business of ornamental painting, an occupation for which he carly ileveloped a special talent. Ilis progress was very rapid. In the brief period of six months be harl nequired such pro- ficieney in the art that he was promoted to the position of foreman in the establishment, und supplanted a man who had been imported from Philadelphia to fill this place.
Between two and three years were devoted to this trade, and although he might have taken a front runk us an artist, he nevertheless minde choice of the laws as his pro- fession, and at the age of twenty-one began the study under William MeClure, of Harrisburg, with whom he remained about a year and a half. He then repaired to Muncy, and, spendling about the same time, finished off in the office of the late William Cox Ellis.
Early in 1837, he was admitted to the bar in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pa. In May, of the same year, he located in Harrisburg, andl, with a few books, began the practice of his profesion, in which he continued for ten years. During this time he met with very encouraging success, and realized from his pmnetice a handsome income.
144
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
On the Ist af Angust, 1839, Mr. Cake was united in marriage with Miss Jutin Adain, n daughter of John Adum, of North Cannan, Cooncetient. Mis Anlam's grandfather was also Joho . Adam, Sr., and his grandmother, an only child of : Mr. John Forler, in whrer life may be mentioned the following interesting reminiscence ;
Early in the settlement of Connecticut, a Mr. Livingston, a very wealthy Seoteli- Irish immigrant, became the owner of quite a large section of land in the vicinity of North Cannan, in that State. He employed a poor Mack-anith by the name of John Forbes to make for him a trip-hammer, the price of which was to be some sixteen thollr. When Mr. Forbes had manufactured the hammer, Mr. Livingston, instead of jmying him the sixteen dollar, gave him a title to a large hill near by, at the same time asstring him that it contained vast quantities of iron ore, and advising him to build a formare mund "try mit" the iron. Mr. Forbes informed Mr. Livingston shut he hud no means with which to erect a fornice, upon which Me. Livingston offered to furnish the money for that purpose, and to wait for his puy till Mr. Forbes could make it ant of the iron, at fifteen cents on the dollar of the sales.
Mi. Forbes and his wife were greatly disappointed in not receiving the cash for the hummer. They know very little about this speculation in iron ore, and, at that time, cared less. Mr. Forhes laul Unt little faith in the project, Im his wife finally advised him to accept, undl rather spitefully addled, that "If the thing failed, mul Mi. Living-dom should lose his investment, he could blame nobody but himself!"
The furnace was Imilt and paid for, not the proceeds from the sales of the iron made Mr. Forbes independently wealthy. He had a daughter-an only child-why, as just stated, became the wife of Jolm Adam, St., and grandmother of Mr. Colonel . W. Cake.
Mr. Adam lind two daughter, and four sons. Lovy Adam beenme Mr- Julge Walker, uf Lenux, Massachusetts; the other daughter married a Me. Juhn Berkley, nf North t'unan, Commertient.
The sons were Sunnel, Leonard, Jubn, and William, of whom William is the only une surviving, and resides in North Canaan,
John Adam, the third son, was father of Mrs. Colonel t'ake, and his wife was Mis Amy Brown, a relative of the immortal Ossawattomie Brown.
Colonel t'ake has had a family of three daughters and two sons as follows:
Alice E. Cake, married James I. Lowery, of Elmira, New York, and now resides in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.
Joseph Warren L'ake, Jr., a member of the Pottsville bar.
John Adam Cake, a member of the Sunbury bar, and also president of the Angnsta Bnuk.
Amy Brown Cake, married Jo-eph Sannon Adam, un iron dealer mul chemist, uf North C'annan, Connecticut,
Edith Brown Cuke died in infancy.
JOIIX ADAM CAKE
was born in Harrisburg, August 25th, 1846. ITis education was abtuined in the ncaulemy at Pottsville, Pu .; the Russell Military Academy, of New Haven, Coon, and Yale and Princeton College, After being employed, for something over a year, IL asistant casbier, noder his father, in the office of the Philadelphia Conl Company, he commenced reading law with llon. Benjamin H. Brewster, at that time Attorney-General of Pennsylvania. In the Fall of 1868, he came to Sunbury, finished his law onulies under Judge Win. M. Rockefeller, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1870. In 1872, he received the numination of the working wen of Northumberland County, is a candidate to the Constitutiunul Convention. In the Spring of 1873, he was elected presi- deut of the Angusta Bank of Sunbury. He also served two terms as a member of the town council, being elected us an indeperulent candidate.
In February, 1868, Mr. Cake was married to Miss Minnie E. MeCullingh, of Ship- pensburg, Cumberland County, Pa. He has a family of six children -- thirve deceased.
In 1844 Colonel Cake conducted a suit in the United States Court, in Philadelphia, nudler the Fugitive Slave Law Art, which resulted quite complimentary to him.
Three male slaves had made their escape from Harford County, Mal, the property of John and George Hall; und, while parsing through Perry County, Pu,, when nem the Juniata River, they were resened hy the enraged juquilace, and their pursuers, the HIulle, were thrown into the canal-horse, linggy, and all. The Halls applied for rerlrerst tu l'olonel Cake, who, under the law as it at that time existeil, brought suit against the leaders of the mob, which emme to trinh, as just stated, The onse was arguedl befine Judge Baldwin. Dalomel Cake, am Drid F. Johnson, the Attorney-General of the Mate, being tuociated together in the proscention, and Win. M. Merrialith anil Heurs 31. Watts, for the defense.
There ling inoruse, Mr. Johnson conducted the first, and Colonel Cake the sound.
brief, but significant charge of Judge Baldwin. Drawing hi- watch from his jukket, Judge Baldwin said :
-
"Heuthamnen of the jury : I am obliged to go to Trenton to hohit conrt, and the boat will sturt " + " minutes; therefore, I have no time to make a lengthy charge tu yon. But Mr. Cabe has explained this case in a remarkably clear and candid minner. You trill pay attention to what he has said."
The jury returned an immediate verdiet for the proscention,
In the Autunm of 1846, was organized the Farmer's Bank of Schuylkill County, at Schuylkill Ilaren, Pa., of which institution Mr. Cake was made the enshier, und in the Spring of 1817, he moved his family to this place, In 1850, it was determined, hy the Iwviril uf directute, to move the bank to Pottsville, which was done early in 1831, when Mr, Cake changed his residence necordingly. The charter of this bank rau for u period of twenty-five years, beginning in 1845, so that jo 1870, it> affairs were wound mpound the institution eensed to he. During its whole existence, Colonel Cuke was identified with it, either as president or enshier.
For most of the time during this period, Mr. Cake was alan engaged in business projects in Sunbury, having, in 1858, purchased what was known as the old "Spott Farın," anıl in 1850, the old "Hunter Farm," ami shortly afterwards, the " Buyers," "Bright," anil " Hills" properties, making, in all, mpwants of four Inindred geres.
At this time, these pieces of real estate presented a sonst uninviting, dilupinted ajt- jeanince, The "Sentt" farm, especially, was in n very neglected condition, unit was purelused for sixty-eight dollars per acre. It contained one hundred mal sixty-seven ICTeh, The " Hunter " farm, of one hundred and six neres, was bought about one year later, for mw humfred and fifty dollars per ,Jere.
When Colonel Cake made the purelinse of these lands, it was more with a view of linlding them as an estate, than with the expectation of any very near speculation in them. His Itisiness sagacity, however, assured him that the time wouldl eventually rome when these arres would acquire a value far greater than the nominal amount at which they were then purchased. His chief object, however, us just stated was to obtain a quece of "terra firme," ujuun which he could settle down secure against the manifold contin- gencies that necessarily attach to all business transactions.
The site of his present residence is one upon which his eye lind long rested, with a conviction that it might be made a most delightful home, and the wisdom of his purchase at the same, together with the other adjoining properties, has been fully demonstrated.
At this time, the Sunbury and Erie Railroad-now the Philadelphia and Eric -- uns constructeri only tu Lok Haven, and Mr. Cake clearly foresaw that when this thorough- fure should be completed to Erie, it would canse an instantaneous rise in the value of property in Sunbury and vicinity. Henve to locate just at this puurtienlar point, there was presented to him the two-fold inducement of seenring a heantifui home, and of getting into his possession a property which would eventually become very valuable, The reali- zation, lumever, of this latter feature, came much sooner than he had allowed himself to
In September, 1863, this platen of four hundredl neres was laid out into town lots, and now formis what is known ns
CAKE'S ADDITION TO SUNBURY.
It extenils from the old borough line on the South to the North Branch of the Sus- quehunon ou the north, a distance of more than half a mile; mul from the main river on the west to the Catawissa rond on the east, a distance of abmit a mile. The tract forms a part of the " Manor of Pomfret."
Since the last-named date, Colonel Cake has sold off' lots to the amount of one Imoilred and Gitty thon und dollars, having disposed of ahont one-third of the original area.
This ndditiun is familiarly known as
CAKETOWN,
the streets of which are very wide, and cross euch other at right angles. In selecting the names for certain streets, Colonel Cake conceived the mique yet appropriate iden nf christening them with the pre-nominu of his children.
While carrying oo these operations here, Mr. Cake had his home in Pottsville, and from: 1858 10 1867, he was in frequent queenge between that joint and Sunbury, doing business us a banker in the former, and as the projector of a new town in the vicinity of the latter pluce.
In April, 1807, he received the apparutment of Collector in the United States Customs Huur, Philadelphia, and was there till May, 1869. The duties of this parition he " dis- charged with great ability and fidelity, mul to the entire satisfaction of the government."
Since the last-mued date, he has made his home alteruntely in Pottsville and Sun- bury, having a line residence (besides other hottes) in both of these Ineulties. ITis So- bury rrsilence, erveted in 1862, a view of which will be found among the illustrations of the Northumberland t'ounty History, is most beautifully located on the east bank uf the Sisquehanna River, a few rods below the junction of the north and west branches of that Hohle stream. Just neros the river, im the west side, lower the mountain-like bluffs of Snyder t'onnty, okul în their drapery of evergreen, presenting a stone of Jwuuty on which the eye may always rest withont weariness or satiety.
145
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
The country, tuo, for miles around, is af the most picturesque character. From a hill on the Catawiren rund on the cast, is presented a view of superlative beanty. From this point, fueing the west, may be seen the neat borongh of Northumberland, lying on the right at a distance of two muilo- up the river, on n point of land formed by the con- Inence of its tun branches; while on the shile opposite to the town, Inoms up the historic promontory of " Blue Hill," to a perpendicular height of perhaps five hundred feet from the water's edge. Immediately in front hes the level traet of luml of four hundred neres, which now constitutes " Cake's Addition In Simbnry, " beautifully laid out into sjucious Juls, with wide streets, many of which are already lined with shade-trees,
Here, too, are Inented the extensive shops of the Philadelphia att Erie Railroad Company, from which there arises the city-like din of industry, said shops luing the hemlquarter of over four hundred employees. On the left hunt, reposes the old boroughs of Simsbury, nestled under its century of trees, mal washeil on the south by a plucid Inkelet, formed by the waters of the Shamokin dam.
The two boroughs are thus hemmed in by the mountain ridges that skirt the river, and for miles, buth up and down the stream, there is presented to the eye a grand ponoramie view of hill and valley, bluff and river, town and country, with all their characteristic points of lewaty, the whole forming a scene of surpassing lovelines.
Indeed, some who have traveled in the cast, and have looked upon the finest Italian scenery, unhesitatingly declare that they have seen nothing that will rymd, in beauty und grandeur, the surroundings of the borough of Snubury?
But, aside from the exquisite loveliness of the location, this point presents some of the finest fiilities for mannfartmes to he found in the country. It is a natural centre, with water-power sufficient to run the mills of a continent, while inechaustible supplies of von underlie the surface of the country for leagues around. From this point, al-o, midiate five lines of railroads, which put it in immediate comummiration with all points of the compass. The educational facilities of the place, moreover, are fost taking rank mung the first in the Commnousrewith, while for healthfulutas, the loration cannot be
From its combmation of all these important features,-a combination so seldom Gund, uml yet so essential to business success and comfort,-Sunbury presents one of the mwst inviting points, to enterprising mul wealthy capitalists, to be found in the country, and it is surprising that a greater number of such men have ont, before this time, been attracted here. Calunel Cake, however, is one of n few who have taken advantage of the superior natural advantages of the place.
A bridge Inns been projected by Mr. Cake, to be thrown across the Ansquehannn nt the foot of Packer street, thus elleeting a direct business connection between Northmnber- land and Snyder contics, and attracting a portion of the trade of Snyder and Union counties to that part of Sunbury which he has so much improved. It is tatimated that the cost of this structure will be sume sixty thousand dollars, of which Mr. Cuke has sub- seribed twenty-five thousand.
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