USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 71
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
of the State," in order that the people might elect their own justices and other officers, which resolution passed the House by a very large majority, and many years afterward resulted in an amendment to the constitution, changing the custom of appointing to that of electing justices and certain other officers. While a member of the State Senate, in 1827, he offered a bill entitled "An Act to provide a fund in support of a general system of education in Pennsylvania." For this he received the encomium of the press throughout the State, and also the thanks of many private individuals; though his bill, sub- jected to a severe trial before the Legislature, while he persistently pressed it against an opposing majority of the members, was not enacted until 1834. This earnest and able advocacy, while a member of the Legislature, of a system of general education by common schools, which should be accessible alike to the poor and the rich, won for him an enduring reputation as a liberal minded phil- anthropist and a sound Republican statesman. He was also the projector or advocate of many among the most important public improvements in Schuylkill county, while his warning voice was uniformly raised against the incorporation of coal and other companies for purposes within the range of individual enterprise. In 1832 he was a candidate for Congress, but was defeated by the strength of party discipline. He was extensively engaged, from 1817 to 1842, in the business of buying and selling real estate, and in farming and lumbering, having mills on both the Schuylkill and Little Schuylkill rivers, fur- nishing employment to many people, but, as a result of the panic of 1837, he succumbed to the times in 1842. In that year he removed to Cumberland county, Pa., where he continued to reside on a farm till the time of his death, December 2nd, 1850, which, in the language of the Public Ledger, closed a life the principal portion of which had been devoted to objects of public usefulness and advantage. The press of the State very generally noticed the decease of Mr. Audenried as that of a man who had been a valuable citizen. The following editorial from the Philadelphia Ledger of December 9th, 1850, indicates the high appreciation in which he was held:
"Death of one of the pioneers of Schuylkill county.
The death of William Audenried, Esq., on the 2nd inst., at Hampden farm, Cumberland county, closed the earthly career of one who was distinguished formerly as one of our most active, enterprising and public spirited citizens. Mr. Audenried was born in Berks county, hav- ing removed from that county in 1800. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1822, and continued to repre- sent the district of Berks and Schuylkill till 1828. He early took a deep interest in popular education, and fos- tered and promoted the common school system, which was so much opposed, especially in the first named county. He was an advocate for all those political reforms which have recently been adopted, such as the election by the people of justices of the peace, prothonotaries and judges of the courts. He was also the projector of nearly all the improvements in Schuylkill county which have re- sulted so largely in developing the mineral resources of the interior of the State and contributed so much to the public benefit. In 1842 he removed to Cumberland county, where he continued to reside until his death, a few days ago, in his fifty-seventh year, which closed a life the principal portion of which has been devoted to objects of public usefulness and advantage."
LEWIS AUDENRIED.
LEWIS AUDENRIED, third son of Lewis Audenried, emigrant from Switzerland in 1789, was born October 19th, 1799, at Maiden Creek, Berks county, Pa. His ed- ucation was commenced in the German and subsequently in the English language, under private tutors, on the completion of which he entered into mercantile business at McKeansburg, Schuylkill county, Pa. In 1826 he combined lumber with his business, and in 1828 engaged in land speculations, and opened a coal mine near the town of Tuscarora. In 1829 he erected an iron forge, but being so much in advance of the iron age of this con- tinent failed. At a later time, through his success as miner and shipper of coal, he fully recovered, and paid his old indebtedness in full, with interest. From 1834 to 1839 he was prothonotary of Schuylkill county, and aided in editing a German paper at Orwigsburg, the county
seat. In 1842 he removed to Philadelphia, and embarked regularly in the coal trade. His father had sent coal in a wagon to Philadelphia as early as 1814, whilst he at a later date handled, for many years, over half a million of tons per annum. He was among the very first, if not the first, to ship coal from Port Richmond, having had a ripe experience of the trade whilst engaged in it in Schuylkill county. He was a most valuable ally to the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad in their early struggles to build up a coal tonnage. He was the occupant of the first pier finished at Port Richmond, and during his continuance in the trade occupied various piers at different times, doing at one time the largest business from that point. In 1847 he formed a copartnership for shipping coal under the style and name of Newell, Sturtevant & Co. In 1850 he visited Europe, as also in 1852, after the dis- solution of above copartnership. In 1853, after one of these trips, he established the house of Lewis Audenried & Co., coal and iron merchants, the senior partner of which he remained until his decease. In 1855 he became largely interested in the Honey Brook lands, on which now stands the town of Audenried. In 1856 he estab- lished, and placed in successful operation, the house of Audenried, Remington & Langdon, coal merchants at Elmira, N. Y., for supplying the northwestern and lake trade, but from this firm he soon afterward retired. In 1857 he successfully financiered his extensive business through the memorable panic of that year, and in 1858 for a fifth time visited Europe for recreation and recup- eration. He manifested great zeal and interest in behalf of the Republican party, and upon the breaking out of the war of the late Rebellion contributed largely and freely of his private means for its suppression. In 1866 he made a sixth and final visit to Europe for the benefit of his health, and upon his return till his death devoted his attention more particularly to his private business. For many years he was a director in the Bank of North America, besides being a prominent member of many of the institutions of Philadelphia. He was far-seeing, of an indomitable will, but kindly hearted. He has done much for his relatives, as well as contributing to public and private charities, the last of which was his donation of one hundred thousand dollars for hospital purposes. Ever active and zealous, careful of time, and to the last following closely the generalities of his business affairs, he forgot not to put his house in order before resignedly passing away to the better land, on the early morning of September 17th, 1873.
Davis Andenvied
Solomon foster
Hon. SOLOMON FOSTER was born at Ipswich, Essex county, Mass., July 22nd, 1790. His parents were Daniel and Mehitabel Foster, with whom, at an early age, he removed to Rowley, in his native county. When in his seventeenth year he went to Newburyport, Mass., and apprenticed himself to learn the shoemakers' trade. In 1815 he located in Haverhill, and engaged in business for himself, remaining there three years and removing, in 1818, to Reading, Pa., where he opened a shoe shop. Taking up his residence in Philadelphia in 1836, he was there engaged in the manufacture of whips about eight years. In 1830 he became a land-owner in Pottsville, and in company with his brother established a boot and shoe business there, which the latter managed. In 1846 he removed to Pottsville, and was successfully engaged in this business until his retire- ment, a few years ago. While a resident of Reading, Mr. Foster held several important offices in the militia, of which he was for some time major. In 1848 he was appointed one of the associate judges of Schuylkill county, to fill a vacancy then existing, and when his term of service expired he was elected for a subsequent term. He was prominent in the movement which resulted in the removal of the seat of justice of Schuylkill county from Orwigsburg to Pottsville, and acted as treasurer of the fund for building the court-house at Pottsville.
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
EDWARD OWEN PARRY, attorney at law, was born in Portsmouth, N. H., on the 3d of April, 1807. He is the eldest son of Edward Parry, who emigrated to this country from his birthplace, Anglesea, North Wales, in the latter part of the last century. Through his mother, a daughter of the Hon. Benaiah Collins, of Danvers, Mass., he claims descent from the early Pilgrim fathers of New England. Edward Parry the elder was a well known and highly respected merchant of New England for a number of years, but failing in business during the financial crash of 1817 he moved to Baltimore. From Baltimore, in 1821, he moved to New York, and from there, in 1822, to Philadelphia.
Edward Owen Parry was educated at the best schools of Portsmouth, N. H., at St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, and in the grammar school attached to the University of Pennsylvania. His father desired him to study law; but, wishing to earn his own living, he went to sea for one year, before the mast, in the hope and expectation of receiving the appointment of midshipman in the navy. Failing in this he yielded to his father's continued wish and studied law in the office of Henry Chester, in Phila- delphia. He was admitted to the bar in February, 1829, and in August, 1829, moved to Pottsville, where he has lived ever since, in the practice of his profession, highly respected and universally esteemed. In 1830 he was ap- pointed solicitor for the borough, which position he has filled, except for short intervals, until within a short time, when he declined a re-election. He drew up the borough charter in 1831, most of the ordinances for the govern- ment of the borough were passed at his instance, and he has been identified in a marked degree with all borough improvements. In July, 1831, he married a daughter of the late Judge Witman, of Reading. Since 1833 he has been a vestryman of Trinity church (Episcopal), and since 1838 he has represented that church in the diocesan con- vention, in which body he has always occupied a very
prominent position. He is now and has been for years a leading member of the Schuylkill county bar. After the death of Judge Hegins, in 1862, he received the appoint- ment of president judge of this district. He has been mentioned prominently in connection with the nomina- tion for judge of the Supreme Court. Without solicita- tion on his part most of the leading members of the coal trade in Schuylkill county and in Philadelphia united in recommending him as judge of the Circuit Court of the United States. Governor Curtin, without Judge Parry's knowledge, was on the point of recommending him for the appointment of brigadier general, but refrained by reason, as he expressed it, of the great service he was rendering at home. He was an earnest supporter of the war policy of the administration during the Rebellion, and has been a member of the Republican party since its organization. Both his sons, as well as his son-in-law, were in the regular army. He is at present in full prac- tice of his profession, and has earned reputation in the argument of a large number of important cases before the Supreme Court; he also acts as counsel for the Schuylkill and Columbia county portion of the Girard estate, a position of importance and dignity. He is a Christian gentleman, of ripe and extensive legal learning and of high literary attainments. He came to the county without means or friends and at once took a high posi- tion, a position which he has sustained and improved.
MAJOR J. M. WETHERILL.
The following sketch of the life of Major Wetherill is copied from the " Biographical Encyclopedia of Penn- sylvania," with slight necessary alterations:
Lieutenant-Colonel John Macomb Wetherill, soldier, was born in Philadelphia, February 11th, 1828. He is the son of Dr. William and Isabella (Macomb) Wetherill. His great-grandfather, Samuel Wetherill, was a member of the Society of Friends; but when the Revolutionary war opened discarded the peculiar tenets of that so- ciety in regard to non-resistance and took up arms on behalf of the patriotic cause, deeming it proper in certain cases to act in defense of the right. He was the founder of the sect of the Free Quakers (sometimes called "Fighting Quakers "); and, aided by others, erected the meeting-house at the southwest corner of Fifth and Arch streets, Philadelphia, now occupied by the Apprentices' Library and to the building fund of which both Washington and La Fayette contributed. John Macomb received a liberal education at the University of Pennsylvania. At the age of eighteen he removed to Pottsville, Pa., where he engaged in the business of managing coal lands and mines in Schuylkill county; the family being the owners of a large number of tracts in this section, he was selected to. look after their interests; it was probably the most im- portant property in the county. When he first arrived there it was entirely undeveloped; the theories of mining coal were crude and the principles of practical mining had not been applied or even discovered. The undulat- ing character of the veins and the basins which they formed was not known. While these lands were under his management the theories which had been broached respecting them were practically proved and applied. In their investigation he was prominent and indefatig- able. Much credit is, therefore, due to him for the suc- cessful and grand results since obtained. He was always enterprising and courageous in making experiments, costing much time, labor and free expenditure of means.
He has always taken an active part in politics, and holds Democratic principles. In 1857 he was the can-
I'M Withwill
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-MAJOR J. M. WETHERILL-BENJAMIN HAYWOOD.
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didate of his party for State senator in his district, but, owing to a division in its ranks, he was defeated by Robert M. Palmer. Since he attained his majority he has always been connected with the militia; entering a volunteer company as private, and being elected succes- sively as major, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel. He now holds the office of major in the National Guard of Penn- sylvania. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he immedi- ately joined the army upon the first call made by the President for volunteers. On the 19th of April, 1861, he was mustered into the service as aid-de-camp and act- ing assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of captain, and was attached to Keim's division of Patterson's com- mand. This was a three months' service, at the expira- tion of which he entered the 82nd regiment Pennsylvania infantry as major, serving three years and one month; seeing much active service during its entire connection with the Army of the Potomac, his regiment forming a part of the sixth army corps. A short time previous to the battle of Gettysburg (June 14th, 1863) he received promotion to the rank of lieutenant-colonel for his very gallant and meritorious services. He served in the bat- tles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, the seven days fight before Richmond, Malvern, Chantilly, Antietam, Williamsport, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, Mine Run, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Fort Stevens, and was in the cam- paign on the Shenandoah under Sheridan. His cour- age and general course during the war obtained for him the high opinion of his superior officers, especially at the battle of Cold Harbor, where Colonel Basset was wounded and the command of the regiment devolved upon him. He was mustered out of the service Septem- ber 16th, 1864, at the expiration of his term, having done his duty bravely and nobly, and shown himself a fearless soldier and a gallant officer. On his return home he re- sumed the management of his estates, which were sold to the Reading Railroad Company in 1871, though he con- tinued to superintend them until July Ist, 1873. He was chosen a delegate to the constitutional convention held in Philadelphia in 1872 and 1873, and gave a good ac- count of his stewardship. In that body he served as a member of the committee on manufactures, mining and commerce. He proved himself to be a very useful mem- ber in shaping legislation for the benefit of the coal in- terest. He has ever been a useful, honorable and con- sistent member of his party; seeking no remuneration, but laboring in its ranks from conscientious and patriotic motives, never having held any public office save in the instance already referred to. His distinguished patriot- ism in the cause of his country and his efforts for the advancement of his party stamp him as a man of generous and unselfish impulses.
BENJAMIN HAYWOOD.
Benjamin Haywood, manufacturer, was born in South- well, near Nottingham, England, November 9th, 1804, and died July 9th, 1878.
His father and grandfather had both been manufactur- ers of hardware, and at the age of twelve he was ap- prenticed to a blacksmith, with whom he served his time. When twenty-four he emigrated to the United States,
landing at New York in 1829. Not succeeding in finding work, he went to Philadelphia, and thence, on foot, to Reading, where he was advised to try his fortune in Pottsville. After working there for a short time as a journeyman, he contrived to commence business in a small way on his own account. The system of mining coal below the water level being introduced about this time, his keen foresight showed him the future mechan- ical needs of Pottsville, and he went to Philadelphia in 1833, where he purchased a steam engine and some other machinery for his shop. This engine was put up by George W.Snyder, and was the first employed in Schuylkill county. In 1835 his sound judgment led to his formation of the well known firm of Haywood & Snyder, Pottsville (his small machine shop being removed from Port Car- bon for that purpose), established for building steam en- gines and mining and other machinery. In 1845 the firm erected an extensive machine shop and foundry at Dan- ville, Pa. At that place and in Pottsville they constructed the machinery for the Montour Iron Company, the Phoenix Iron Company, for Peter Cooper, at Trenton, N. J., and for Bevan, Humphries & Co., of Allentown, Pa. They made the first set of rolls for the manufacture of T rails in the United States, and constructed, in 1845, the first apparatus for sawing hot iron. Aside from this business they were heavily engaged in coal mining oper- ations, as Milnes, Haywood & Co. The main burden of this business fell on the subject of this sketch, who in 1850 disposed of all his different interests and went to California, but was at first unsuccessful. He had shipped a large number of frame houses to San Francisco, but they proved unsaleable and did not realize the cost of freight. With customary energy he engaged in the lum- ber business, erecting for that purpose a steam engine and saw-mill near Sonora-the first put up in California outside of San Francisco. He was again unfortunate and returned to San Francisco without means. Borrow- ing a little money from one of his apprentice boys he started as a blacksmith; subsequently adding the making of iron shutters, fire-proof doors and bank vaults. In this he was highly successful, and while there had many offers of positions of trust and responsibility, but declined them all. He became intimate with General William T. Sherman and Governor Geary, of Pennsylvania, remain- ing a firm friend of the latter till his death. He organ- ized the Mechanics' Institute of San Francisco-now the most flourishing one on the Pacific coast-and was its president till his departure.
After an absence of five years he decided to settle in Pottsville, and disposed of his business in the West at a handsome profit. His return to his old field of action was greeted by a perfect ovation; the old workmen of Haywood and Snyder met him at the depot, and escorted him into the town in triumphal procession. He then pur- chased an interest in the Palo Alto rolling-mill, at that time a small concern. It was first carried on by the firm of Haywood, Lee & Co .; then by Benjamin Haywood & Co .; and still later by Benjamin Haywood alone, who was its sole proprietor until his death, and the establish- ment grew into vast proportions. The capacity of the works was 20,000 tons annually, the number of hands employed 500, with a monthly pay-roll of $20,000; and the yearly amount of business was from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. After the beginning of the late depression in the iron industries of our country these works were for some time continued in operation with the benevolent intention of giving employment to the men, as the pro- prietor was independently wealthy from other sources. In
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
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1862, he superintended the erection of the works of the Allentown Rolling-Mill Company, and was its president for some years. He also built, in 1865, the Lochiel Iron Works at Harrisburg, by express desire of Simon Cameron. He was a man of almost universal powers and attain- ments; possessed of a large brain, a firm, determined will, unusual activity and energy, an extensive knowl- edge of men and things, he seemed to perform his work of all kinds by a species of intuition and was cer- tainly one of the most extraordinary men in the State. He was active in politics (though uniformly declining of- fice) and was early a member of the old Whig or Home Industry party, but later joined the Republicans. He was one of the commissioners for organizing the Union Pacific Railroad, with Colonel Thomas A. Scott and J. Edgar Thompson. His sound judgment and clear in- sight of the merits of a case having long pointed him out as a leader in his party, and one whose opinion it was well to obtain before deciding upon any important measure, he was frequently summoned to Washington to aid with his counsel on critical occasions, when serious matters concerning the politico-industrial interests and welfare of the country were at stake; and was intimate with most of the eminent statesmen of the day, including some of our Presidents. He belonged to the Methodist church and was long an accredited minister of that body. In 1829 there was no church in Pottsville; but with others he labored whenever he had opportunity and sowed some of the first religious seeds in the town. An ardent advo- cate of temperance, he was ever ready, by word or purse, to advance the cause. His mind being stored with cor- rect information on most subjects, he was competent at a moment's notice to preach an impressive sermon, deliver a powerful temperance lecture, or make a telling stump speech. He was a kind friend to the colored people; a generous benefactor to the working man and the poor. During the war he was selected by Governor Curtin to visit the Pennsylvania troops and look to their com- forts; and by authority reclothed many regiments, one of them being the Fourth Pennsylvania volunteers, of which Governor Hartranft was colonel. He was also chairman of the investigating committee in the Girard clothing troubles, resulting in the complete vindication of A. G. Curtin. He was an entirely self-made man- the architect of his own fortune-and, though his early education was much neglected, had a wide knowledge of books and was well read on most subjects. His most congenial studies were the Bible and the poets, of whom Shakspeare was his favorite.
In 1830 he was married to a daughter of Daniel Rhein-the first friend he found in this country, and a fine specimen of an honorable, godly man-who died at the age of ninety. His domestic relations were peculiarly happy, and his marriage was somewhat tinged by romance -it being by his wife's father's direction that he settled in Pottsville. He had five children by this union-two sons and three daughters-of whom two daughters only are living. One of them is married to Hugh W. Adams, a patriotic and active Union officer, who served under General Grant at Vicksburg, gaining an honorable mili- tary record. He is now engaged in the wholesale dry goods business at Lexington, Kentucky, and in high commercial standing. The other is the wife of Thomas F. Wright, a successful iron and blast furnace proprietor in New York State, and a worthy and excellent gentle- man.
Much of the above sketch was drawn from the pages of the " Biographical Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania."
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Charles F. Kopitzsch was born in Neustadt-on-the-Osla, Saxony Weimar, Germany, April 5th, 1820. His par- ents were John Michael and Johanna Kopitzsch. In 1842 he came to America for the first time, and he has since twice visited his native country, having crossed the ocean five times. April 5th, 1845, he was married, and he has been the father of twelve children, six of whom are living. In 1843 Mr. Kopitzsch came to Pottsville, and bought of William F. Redlick a small soap and can- dle factory on Callowhill street, near Railroad, and en- gaged somewhat extensively in the manufacture of can- dles. In 1848 this establishment was burned and Mr. Kopitzsch bought of Jacob Kohler a livery stable on Race street, between Second and Third streets, which soon gave way to a soap factory, where he greatly increased his business. In 1873 his factory was destroyed by fire, but he immediately bought all of the surrounding lots and built the large three-story brick building which he has since occupied. It has a frontage of 75 feet on Third street, and extends 150 feet back to an alley, and con- tains all of the latest improvements in soap-making, in- cluding three large soap kettles, two of which have a capacity of 35,000 pounds and the third a capacity of 20,000 pounds, together with several smaller kettles for manufacturing toilet and cold-made soaps; Hersey Broth- ers' steam-power and Dapp's soap presses, with steam-pow- er soap pump, crutching machines, etc., and a steam-power printing press for printing labels and wrappers. The old factory was repaired and fitted up as a store-room and warehouse, and on other lots Mr. Kopitzsch erected three large brick dwelling houses. The capacity of the works
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