History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 2

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1390

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forces to bear upon the great economic ques- tions of the day, and as a cogent and forceful writer upon such topics has gained the atten- tion of thinking minds throughout the world. He has established his points by well-taken tenets, enforced by wide and discriminating observations, careful study of minute details and cognizance of statistical values. His essays along these lines have been published in the New York and Philadelphia papers, Boston papers and magazines, and have commanded pronounced recognition for their wisdom and freedom from partisan bias, while his pamph- lets on finance --- notably the silver question- have been circulated by the thousands. On Feb. 14, 1890, in response to a request from the Reform Club of New York City, Mr. Far- quhar delivered an address upon the great economic question of the day, and subsequently this was embodied in a publication of nearly five hundred pages, bearing the title of "Eco- nomic and Industrial Delusions," the same be- ing a discussion of the case for protection. The titles of the several chapters give an idea of the scope of the work: The Case for Pro- tection Examined, Abuse of Party Allegiance, Balance of Trade and Currency Supply, Pa- ternal Governments and Industrial Progress, Foreign Countries as Commercial Rivals, Prices versus Wages, the Home Market, the Ideal Revenue with Incidental Protection, Pro- tection and Agriculture, Special Discussions, the Silver Question. In the compilation of this most meritorious work, Mr. Farquhar had as an able collaborator his brother, Henry Farquhar, and the book is considered in the light of an authority upon the various topics touched, bearing the unmistakable mark of patient study, careful research and wide knowledge, and showing the spirit of utmost fairness, while voicing honest convictions ably guarded against attack. In this publica- tion Mr. Farquhar clearly elucidates the ills that would arise from the free coinage of sil- ver and from a high protective tariff, demon- strating that the first would unsettle the finan- cial stability of the country, and that the latter stands as a barrier to the exchange of the manufactured goods of our workshops.

Mr. Farquhar's distinctive individuality is nowhere more apparent than in the matter of his political proclivities, since he exercises his franchise not according to the regulation party lines, but as his judgment dictates. He was

GATEWAY AT EDGECOMBE RESIDENCE OF A. B. FARQUHAR, YORK, PENNSYLVANIA

THE ITALIAN GARDEN AT EDGECOMBE RESIDENCE OF A. B. FARQUHAR, YORK, PENNSYLVANIA

BIOGRAPHICAL

a strong supporter of President Cleveland, whose administration he considered an honest one, tending to conserve the best interests of the nation. At previous elections he had sup- ported Lincoln, Blaine and Garfield.

In 1892 Mr. Farquhar was nominated, by Hon. Robert E. Pattison, then governor of the State of Pennsylvania, as one of the State commissioners to represent the old Keystone Commonwealth at the World's Columbian Ex- position held in Chicago in 1893. At the meet- ing of the State commissioners he was elected executive commissioner, and later was still further honored in being chosen president of the National Association of Executive Com- missioners, representing all the States. He visited Europe about this time, acting under a commission from the government, and there rendered valuable service in the interests of the World's Fair.

In January, 1897, Mr. Farquhar was ap- pointed by Gov. Hastings as delegate from Pennsylvania to the Coast Defence Convention called by the governor of Florida to meet at Tampa, that State, and over which Gen. J. M. Schofield presided. On that occasion Mr. Farquhar delivered a very able address, whose lofty sentiment and broad humanitarian princi- ples impressed his audience deeply. Mr. Far- quhar is a member of the American Peace Congress and of the World's Peace Congress, and in this connection has made addresses which have attracted world-wide attention, notably at the great Peace gatherings held at Washington, D. C., Boston and Mohonk Lake. He belongs to almost every Reform Society in America, being an active member of at least twenty such bodies. He is also a member of the world-famous Cobden Club of England. No man in York county is more widely known or more highly esteemed at home and abroad.

Gasette. He is a director of the Philadelphia Museum and president of the York Hospital; vice-president and member of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Manufacturers ; and a member of the Cosmos Club of Washington, D. C. He is also presi- dent of the Park Commission, and it was through his efforts that York secured her at- tractive park system. At the time of the war of the Rebellion, when York was invaded by Confederate forces, Mr. Farquhar arranged with the commanding officer of the enemy for the protection of the town, by payment of a comparatively small sum, and not a dollar's worth of property was taken. For this timely service he received the personal thanks of President Lincoln and the Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton.

In person Mr. Farquhar has a physique that is typical of strength and vitality, and he de- votes the major portion of his time and atten- tion to the great industrial concern at whose head he stands. In speech he is quick and de- cisive, impressing his hearers with the evi- dence of his sound judgment and his power of instantly comprehending and summing up the true values of things, there being no vacillation or hesitation in his manner of address. He is easily approachable, cordial, and signally free from ostentation. Generous and quick in his sympathies, he is honored by and holds the af- fectionate regard of his employees, while he wins friends wherever he goes. Those in his employ realize that he has cognizance of true manhood and that he feels a deep interest in their welfare, ever standing ready to reward their faithful service.

Mr. Farquhar was married, in 1860, to Miss Elizabeth Jessop, daughter of Edward Jessop, who was a leading hardware merchant of Balti- more, and president of the Short Mountain and the Tunnelton Coal Companies, his country seat having been in Spring Garden township, York county. To Mr. and Mrs. Farquhar and Francis.

From the foregoing it will be seen that Mr. Farquhar is not limited by his business interests-they. if anything, widened his out- look and strengthened his position on other three sons have been born, William E., Percival subjects. He ranks deservedly among the distinguished and successful men of the nation, yet he never loses sight of matters per- JERE CARL, president of the York Wa- ter Company, and a prominent capitalist of York, has been variously identified with this city for considerably over a quarter of a cen- tury, and has done much for its material de- velopment and prosperity. Mr. Carl is the only surviving child of Martin and Mary (Dear- taining to the welfare of the city of his resi- dence, and has done much to further its prog- ress and material prosperity. He is a mem- ber of the Board of Trade; a director in the York Trust, Real Estate & Deposit Company ; and was until recently proprietor of the York

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

doff) Carl, and his birth occurred in Franklin anything in the State in utility, effectiveness township, York county, July 21, 1829.

Martin Carl was born Oct. 17, 1782, and was reared and educated in York county, where for a number of years he was engaged in mer- cantile pursuits. He was a Democrat in poli- tics, and usually took an active part in the man- Mr. Carl was married Jan. 10, 1861, to Miss Adeline Weiser, daughter of Charles Wei- ser, of York, and to this union three children were born : a son, who died in infancy ; Charles, who died Feb. 27, 1882 ; and Bella, who mar- ried, Nov. 5, 1896, William A. Keyworth, treasurer of the Martin Carriage Works. Mrs. Carl died Feb. 23, 1897. agement of local affairs, holding at different times nearly all of the offices in Franklin township. He served one term as director of the poor for York county. His death oc- curred June 29, 1855, his remains being inter- red in Prospect Hill cemetery. He had been the father of eleven children, all of whom are deceased except Jere : Henry; Martin D .; Jere Carl has been uniformly active in re- ligious matters, and in various philanthropic and charitable movements. He is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, has been the Lewis; Jere; Sarah, who married Christian Bender, of York; Mary A., who married Pe- ter Wolford; Lydia, who married Joshua Green; Elizabeth; Andrew; and two who died lay representative to the General Synod to that in infancy.

Jere Carl was educated in the common schools, and was reared to habits of economy and thrift. At an early age he became an ap- prentice in the office of the York Democratic Press, where he learned the trade of printer, which, however, he never followed. At the close of his apprenticeship Mr. Carl was made a clerk in the store of his brother Lewis, at York, and remained with him for seven years. On Jan. 1, 1853, he secured a clerkship in the old York Bank, which he held up to Jan. I, 1867. In the latter year he formed a partner- ship with Charles Weiser and Charles S. Weiser, under the firm name of Weiser, Son private banking business until Jan. 1, 1889, when their bank was consolidated with the York County National Bank, with which insti- tution Mr. Carl has remained as an officer and director.

Mr. Carl has also turned his attention to other business concerns and projects. He has been a leading spirit in the advocacy of good roads, and to his efforts is largely due the pres- ent meritorious condition of a number of the best roads in York county. He is president of me York and Gettysburg Turnpike Company, treasurer of the York and Chanceford Turn- pike Company, and has for some years been secretary of the Wrightsville Turnpike Com- pany. He is also president of the York Wa- ter Company, which erected the splendid new system of water works, which is unexcelled by

and completeness, and which has a capital stock of nearly a million dollars. The water works were built with an immense capacity, not only providing for present needs, but fu- ture contingencies and increased population.

church on several occasions, is a member of the board of Church Extension and of the church council. Mr. Carl is a member of the various Masonic bodies, and in his earlier years was one of the chief spirits in the organization of the various branches. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat, and was elected chief burgess of the borough of York in 1874, 1876 and 1878, but has carefully eschewed partisan politics as an office seeker or promoter.

Mr. Carl is, perhaps, prouder of no con- nection in his busy and successful career than the part he has taken as a member of the Vol- unteer Fire Department of York. He joined the Vigilant Fire Co., Oct. 8, 1848, and retired & Carl, bankers. This firm continued to do a as an officer Jan. I, 1904, having been an of- ficer of that noted organization for a con- tinuous period of fifty years. Mr. Carl is a traveled and cultivated gentleman, having vis- ited all of the prominent countries of Europe, and his intelligent observations while abroad form the theme of most interesting conversa- tion, Mr. Carl's conversational powers being far above the ordinary.

HON. W. F. BAY STEWART, for ten years Judge of the Courts of York county, and prominently connected with several mammoth enterprises whose scope and influence are as far-reaching as the confines of the country, has been the architect of his own fortune. Pro- fessionally he has attained a high position through his sterling integrity and sound judg- ment, as well as his erudition; while in the in-

Mf. Naplward

BIOGRAPHICAL

dustrial and financial world his projects have, by their uniform success, shown the master mind that conceived and executed them.

Judge Stewart is of Scotch-Irish extrac- tion in both paternal and maternal lines. He was born in Chanceford township, York coun- ty, Feb. 25, 1849, son of Thomas Roland Stew- art. His mother was a daughter of Thomas Bay, of Coopstown, Harford Co., Md., who for many years was Judge of the Orphans' Court of Harford county, and who commanded an artillery company at the battle of North Point.

Judge Stewart secured a good English education, both classical and scientific, and has always been a close student, particularly in the realm of abstruse thought and speculative philosophy. He attended the public schools until seventeen years of age, and later was a student of Pleasant Grove Academy, in Lower Chanceford, and afterward in the historic York County Academy, at York. He received the honorary degree of A. M. from Ursinus College. After leaving school he taught in the public schools two years and then in the York County Academy-the same institution in which Thaddeus Stevens once taught. Early in his career he determined upon a professional life, and when he gave up teaching it was to enter upon the study of law with Col. Levi Maish, who was afterward a member of Con- gress from the York-Adams and Cumberland district. He was admitted to the Bar Nov. 3, 1873, and two years later he formed a partner- ship with John Blackford, then district at- torney of the county, and a leading lawyer of the York Bar. This partnership continued un- interruptedly until Mr. Blackford's death, in 1884. On Oct. 1, 1884, Judge Stewart entered into a partnership with Henry C. Niles and George E. Neff, and this was terminated only with the elevation of Judge Stewart to the Bench in 1895. It was but a short time after he began practice that he found himself in the front rank of the legal practitioners. Lawyers grown old in experience looked with favor on this young man, whom learning and natural ability had made "a foeman worthy of their steel." Quick to grasp details, prompt in exe- ·cution, gifted with keen insight into legal prin- ciples, he was bound to win prominent place in whatever career he chose. In 1895 came to him, unsolicited, the nomination of the party for the judgeship, and although he declined to make a personal canvass to secure the election

he won by a large majority over his competitor, who was just completing a ten years' term on the Bench.

Judge Stewart has always been a busy man. While giving much care and study to the profession he adorns, he has shown great activity in other lines. He has always taken a deep interest in economics and finance and at the time he was elected Judge he was presi- dent of the Security Title & Trust Company, which he assisted in organizing, and which is now one of the leading financial institutions. of the city. At the same time he was interested in many corporations, in nearly all of which he was a chief promoter, and all of which have been exceptionally prosperous. From 1883 to April 1, 1894, Judge Stewart had been en- gaged in the foundry, machine and tanning business as a partner of the firm of Baugher, Kurtz & Stewart, composed of William H. Kurtz, a local capitalist and himself. Mr. Kurtz had no practical knowledge of the busi- ness, and.at the time the enterprise was started Judge Stewart had still less, but the latter applied himself closely to learn the details, and by his business sagacity soon made it one of the largest and most successful industries of the city, employing large numbers of men. At a time when there was a disagreement among the officers of the York Card & Paper Company, manufacturers of wall paper, he took hold of the business, became its presi- dent, and has made it one of the largest plants of its kind in the world.

In addition to the industrial concerns al- ready referred to above, Judge Stewart was instrumental in the establishing, in 1889, of the York Knitting Mills Company, of which he is president. In 1900 he also established and organized the Norway Iron & Steel Com- pany, and is its president. Judge Stewart was one of the two organizers of the York Haven Water & Power Company, being vice-presi- dent of the same, with Henry L. Carter as president-these two being the principal own- ers. The placing of all the bonds of this great project by Judge Stewart at a time when work had not been begun was regarded in the finan- cial world as evidence of unusual ability in this line, and established his reputation as a financier of high order. Among other interests of the Judge may be mentioned the York Haven Paper Company; and the York County Traction Company-he and Grier Hersh, to- gether with Capt. W. H. Lanius, having

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

brought about the consolidation of the two elec- tric light companies, the steam heating com- pany and a dozen or more electric railway companies, in all of which Judge Stewart was a director. His interest in the Security Title & Trust Company did not begin and end with his official position, but he was the president of the company at the time of building the elegant structure which that company owns and occupies.

The enterprises named have all been con- fined to York county, but beyond the borders of his home Judge Stewart has set on foot several companies that will play a prominent part in the development of Alaska. He was one of the chief organizers and is president of the Valdez-Yukon Railway Company, now building a railroad from Valdez, in Alaska, through the Capper river country to the Yukon river, a distance of 412 miles. It certainly would require a large volume to tell intelli- gently of all the industrial and financial con- cerns in which he is interested. The mind that can conceive and execute so many great and varied enterprises is beyond the conception of the average man, however much may be appre- ciated the upright character that has accom- plished so much, and even in the fierce lime- light beating on the holder of exalted station he can show an unblemished honor and untar- nished reputation.

Judge Stewart was married to Laura E. Danner, daughter of the late Edward Danner, one of York's wealthiest and best known citi- zens. She died Oct. 10, 1900, and her only daughter has since presided over the comfort- able home on West Market street, York.

Judge Stewart retired voluntarily from the Bench on Jan. 1, 1906, after a service of ten years thereon. Asserting that it was beneath the dignity of his judicial office to enter into an active canvass to secure a renomination or election, he refused to be an active candi- date to succeed himself. He left unspotted the judicial ermine which he assumed ten years ago, and his declination was received by the people generally with sincere and manifest regret.

MICHAEL B. SPAHR, a retired mer- chant and business man of York, Pa., has had connection with the commercial interests of the city for half a century. During that period his operations at times have been extensive, es- pecially during the time of the Civil war, and

he has been at all times a prominent factor in business circles. In 1901 he retired from ac- tive work, but still retains an interest in some of the financial concerns of the city, and takes a lively interest in its growing prosperity.

Born in 1830, in East Berlin, Adams Co., Pa., as a boy his first business experience was in a country store, where he was employed for three or four years. In 1848 he changed his residence to York, Pa., to become a student in the York County Academy for a short time, and there he again accepted a situation as clerk in a store where he was employed until 1855. At this time he engaged in the wholesale and retail notion business, for himself, in a small way at first, but as trade increased he kept add- ing a greater variety of stock, from time to time, in 1858 adding a line of boots and shoes. This had never before been attempted in York -the carrying of a large stock of boots and . shoes to supply retail stores, and Mr. Spahr may justly claim to have been the pioneer wholesale boot and shoe merchant of York. This line eventually grew to become his prin- cipal business. In 1877 he discontinued the retail business entirely. From 1884 the busi- ness was confined to a single line, the jobbing of boots and shoes. In that year the firm of M. B. Spahr & Sons was founded-Mr. Spahr admitting into the firm his three sons, George Walter, Philip B. and Franklin-which was. continued until 1901. During the forty years. there were many traveling salesmen employed, soliciting orders from samples, the larger part of sales being made in this way. The business. was located on Centre Square, York. In 1870 Mr. Spahr purchased the northeast corner of Center Square, which was considered the most valuable business location in the town, and after demolishing the old building he erected the most attractive business house in the town at that time, known as the Spahr building. It is three stories high, with a handsome mansard roof, and for architectural beauty it has not been surpassed in the city to this day, although it was built thirty-five years ago. It stands as. a monument to the ability, courage and intelli- gent foresight of the builder, anticipating his wants for the future, and he still owns the property, which is not likely to change hands during his lifetime. He now occupies an office in the Rupp building, on Center Square, where he attends to his private business.

The following items serve to show how

HRASONS.

M. B. SPAHR BUILDING, YORK, PA.

BIOGRAPHICAL

long and important has been Mr. Spahr's con- nection with the interests of the city : He was a charter member of the Farmers National Bank of York, and served as director of same con- tinuously for thirty years; is one of the two oldest living members of the board of trustees of the York County Academy (the oldest edu- cational institution in York), having served thirty-seven years in that capacity ; an ex-presi- dent of the York County Historical Society ; and the oldest living member of the Board of Church Extension of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States, on which he has served twenty-five years, being its present vice-president.

JACOB HAY, M. D., was for over forty years engaged in medical practice in the borough of York and surrounding country. He had an extensive patronage, practically succeeding his father in the confidence and popular esteem of the community. For the long period of over three-quarters of a century father and son attended faithfully to the ardu- ous duties of the most exacting of professions, and with such success that they counted several generations of many families among their friends and patrons. Both represented that class in the profession generally known as "family physicians," the doctors on whom pa- tients rely so implicitly that their mere pres- ence is a comfort in times of sickness or dis- tress.

The family of Hay is of Scottish origin, being descended from Thomas Hay, a hus- bandman of Scotland who, with his two sons, was working in a field near the battlefield of Loncartie, during an invasion of Scotland by the Danes in the year 980. Seeing the enemy's steady advance he and his two sons rushed to the head of the Scottish troops, and with no weapons but their ox-yokes succeeded in rally- ing the frightened soldiers and at length drove the Danes to their ships. As a reward for his bravery he was called before the King, Ken- neth II, who knighted him, and loosing a fal- con, said he would give Hay all the land over which the bird should fly, "from sunrise till sunset," which comprised a considerable estate in the County of Perth. Since that time many of the descendants of Thomas Hay have held high office in Scotland, notably Gilbert, who was a partisan of Robert Bruce, and was con-

stituted by him Lord High Constable of the Kingdom in 1315, for life, "with remainder of his heirs forever." The present head of the house is Charles Gore Hay, LL. D., Earl of Errol, Baron Kilmarnock, of Slains Castle, Cruxden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

The family has been long represented in York county, the first member to settle here having been Jacob Hay, who emigrated from Scotland in Colonial days and made his home in what was then the Province of Pennsyl- vania, at York. He became a prominent mer- chant, and served as a justice of the peace.

Dr. Jacob Hay, Sr., son of the emigrant, was born in York, and received his early edu- cation there. He completed his literary train- ing with a course at Princeton College, gradu- ating from that institution, and then became a student of medicine with the famous Dr. John Spangler, in his day so well known all over York county. He graduated in medicine at the University of Maryland, and afterward lo- cated in the city of York for general practice, in which he continued actively for fifty five years. His standing in his profession was un- surpassed by any physician of his day in the city or county, and he was equally prominent as an enlightened and public-spirited citizen of the municipality, ever ready to give of his time and means to the furtherance of any good pro- ject. Perhaps his intimate association with the lives of the people, and his extensive riding into different localities in the pursuit of his professional work, gave him an insight into the needs of the community that few had the op- portunity to gain, and the affectionate esteem which so many had for him made his influence a power to be reckoned with. He took an in- terest in everything that pertained to the local welfare, served as a trustee of the York County Academy and was for a number of years president of the York Bank.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 2

Author: Prowell, George R. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1390

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1390