History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 116

Author: Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1046

USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 116
USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 116

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MICHAEL BURKE.

Michael Burke was born on the 20th of September, 1797, in Templetrathen, County Tipperary, Ireland. Having received a limited education, he left his native land in his eighteenth year for Newfoundland, where an unele was extensively engaged in the fisheries off that coast. There he remained only a brief period. being eager to reach the United States. His fir-t destination was Lockport, N. Y., where he secured a position as book-keeper for a prominent coutractor. He here gained his first idea of a business which he subsequently succes-fully followed. In 1824 he :e- cured a contract on the Erie Caual, and upon it> completion went to Akron, Ohio, to construct a sec- tion of the canal at that place. From thence he came to Pennsylvania, this State being largely en- gaged in perfecting her system of internal improve- ments, and a wide field for Mr, Burke's business ener- gies was open before him, Seenring the contract for that portion of the Juniata division of the Penn-yl- vania Canal between Mexico and Lewistown in I >22, he fixed his permanent home at Harrisburg. Tienti- fying himself with the business and welfare of the town of his adoption, he was chosen to the Borough Coaneil, and in the establishment of the first system

of water-works took an active and warm interest. During a portion of this period he was president of the legislative body of the town, and on several oc- casions became personally responsible for the pay- ment of loans secured for the coostruction of the water-works. Upon the completion of the through transportation to Pittsburgh by the Pennsylvania Canal, Mr. Burke, with several others, commeneed a packet-line from Philadelphia to the former place, he having his office at Harrisburg. He also became interested in the Portable Line, in which enterprise, however, he sustained a loss of thirty-five thousand dollars ; but not discouraged, he continued in other busines> ventures. The first or pioneer blast-furnace erected at Harrisburg was by Mr. Burke and Governor Porter, It was erected along the line of the Penn- sylvania Canal above State Street. While in success- ful operation several years, Mr. Burke withdrew from the firm, owing to his connection with several con- tracts on the various railroads then building in the State. He constructed portions of the Pennsylvania road between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, and on the Northern Central between Harrisburg and York. He had contract- in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and was also engaged in the construction of reservoirs, building one at Baltimore, Md., in 1860, and was en- gaged in the erection of one in Washington City at the time of his death, He died at Harrisburg on the 15th of August, 1864, in his sixty-seventh year. Few meu have exhibited more public spirit than Mr. Burke, and during his entire residence at Harrisburg he was held in the highest esteem by his fellow-citizens, who admired his energy and remarkable business capacity. To those who knew him best he was kind, obliging, genial, and noble-hearted.

Mr. Burke married, on April 6, 1824, Mary 1. Finley, of Lockport, N. Y., who survives. Their children have been : William (deceased), John Mi- chael (deceased), George Washington, Josephine i married James Brady, second), Martina (married Edward P. Kearns), and Regina.

WILLIAM CALDER, SR.

William Calder, eldest child of John Calder and Naomi Norris, was born in Belair, Harford Co., Md., July 24, 1788. The father was a native of Spot- land. William remained on the farm of his parents in Harford County until he was of age. when he re- moved to Baltimore, and soon thereafter to Lancaster, Pa. When the seat of government was removed from Lancaster to Harrisburg he came to the latter place, and re-ided there up to the time of his death.

In Ist7 he married Mary Kirkwood, who was born in Armagh, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish parents, and emi- grated to this country when seven years ofage. Their children were John, Mary wife of Wells Coverlys, William, Matilda (wife of Charles A. Keller), and James. His wife died in 1853, and in tego he married Margaret C. Walter. of Dauphin County, by whom

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

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he had no issue. He died March 5, 1861, and of his children none now survive him except the youngest, Rev. James Calder, D.D., of Harrisburg.

Immediately upon leaving Harford County, Mr. Calder became interested in lines of stage-coaches and the United States mail service, and for fifty years this was his chief busine -<. Up to the time of the sale of the public works of Pennsylvania he was as- sociated with Alexander Wilson, of Lewistown, Jacob Peters, of Philadelphia, Sila- Moore, of Hollidays- burg, and other gentlemen in the " Pioneer," "Good Intent," and " Express" companies for the transpor- tation of passengers and mails by cars and caval packet-boats. He never lost his fondne- for farming and live-stock, and maintained several of the most fertile farms in Dauphin County. Enterprises for the development of the resources of the country and par- ticularly the business of Harrisburg received his support. He built many houses, favored the intro- duetion of manufactures, and at the time of his death possessed an ample fortune.

WILLIAM CALDER.

John Calder (1749-1806) resided near Belair. Md. His eldest son, William ( 1788-1861), married Mary Kirkwood ( 1790-1858), whobere him children : Jobn, Mary ( wife of Wells Coverly, proprietor of the Coverly House, Harrisburg, William subject of this sketch), Matilda ( wife of Charles Keller), and Rev. James Calder (the youngest surviving in 1852).

William Calder was born July 31. 1521, and died July 19. 1880. He had limited education from book -. being inducted into the stage-line business at the age of twelve years. At the age of sixteen his father put him in charge of the Philadelphia Packet Line from Columbia to Pittsburgh. In 1851 he assumed the management of his father's business. and in 1857 undertook the completion of the Lebanon Valley Railroad. In 1558 he became a member of the well- known banking firm of Cameron. Calder, Eby & Co .. which afterwards became the First National Bank. of Harrisburg, of which Mr. Calder was chosen presi- dent. The same year he was elected a director of the Nortbern Central Railway, and was active in pre- serving Pennsylvania's interests in that corporation. At the breaking out of the rebellion be rendered the goverment important service through his large knowl- edge in the purchase of horses, and supplied the government with no less than forty-two thousand horses and sixty-seven thousand mules, establishing the price ($125 and all2.5) so low as to effect a very great saving to the government in this department. Mr. Calder was always foremost in the promotion of Harrisburg's industrial enterprises. He was one of the founders of the Harrisburg Car-Works, the Lochiel Rolling-Mills, the Harrisburg Cotton-Mills, Foundry and Machine-Works, the Fire-Brick Works, and the Pennsylvania Steel-Works.

In 1873 he was commissioned by Governor Hartranft a trustee of the Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital, and reappointed in 1876. In 1876 he was appointed by the same Governor a member of the commission to devise a plan for the government of eities, and in 1880. just prior to his death, he was elected a director of the Pennsylvania Institute for the Deaf and Dumb. For many years he ably officiated in the management of city affairs through it- Conneils. He was among the founders of the Harrisburg Hospital and the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was an at- tendant. He was formerly a Whig, latterly a Re- publican, and influential in local and State polities, and one of the Presidential electors from this State in 1876.

Upon the occasion of President Lincoln's visit to Harrisburg, when a plot was laid to assassinate him on his return to Baltimore, Mr. Calder was selected to escort him safely to take another train from the one intended at first, and thus his enemies' designs were thwarted. His widow is Regina Camilla, daugh- ter of Jacob and Catherine ( Krause) Greenawalt. Their children are Edmund Kirkwood (died Dec. 31, 1862. aged thirteen years, William Jacob, Catharine Krause. Theodore Greenawalt, Regina, and Mary Kirkwood Calder.

MAJOR BRUA CAMERON.

William Brua Cameron, son of Simon Cameron and Margaret Brua, was born Aug. 1, 1826, at Har- risburg. Pa. He received a elassieal education, and graduated at Princeton College in 1847, studied law with James Jh Cormick, and was admitted to the Dauphin County bar Jan. 23, 1849. He located at Middletown, managing certain bu-ine-s enterprises of his father. Ile was appointed major and paymas- ter in the United States army May 1, 1861; retired the 4th of November, 1863, on account of impaired health. Maj. Cameron died at Middletown, Jan. 13, 1664, and is buried in the cemetery at that place. He married, Oet. 18, 1852, Elizabeth Bastedo. daugh- ter of Gilbert and Marian Bastedo, of Nelson, Prov- ince of Ontario, Canada. Mrs. Cameron, while on a visit to her old home in Canada, took ill, and died there in 1870. They had issue,-Marian Bastedo, married David Watts; Simon Brua. d. . p .; an.] Janet.

JOHN CAMERON.

John Cameron. son of Charles Cameron and Mar- tha Pfoutz, was born Feb. 8, 1797, in the village of Maytown, Lancaster Co. Pa. He received the or- dinary education of the public schools of the town, and at an early age apprenticed to the trade of a tailor. He came to Harrisburg in 1816, where he started in business. Governor Shulze appointed him register and recorder of the county ot Dauphin, Jan. 17, 1824. He was frequently chosen member of the Borough Council of Harrisburg. He sub-equently en-

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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

gaged in merchandising, dealt largely in cattle, and | in the construction of loeks and bridges ou the Pens- became interested in the through stage lines. In ' sylvania Canal, and in connection with the famous stage-lines of Slaymaker & Co. and the Good Inte .. Packet Line. His wife, Mary Griffith Chan ller. died in Harrisburg on the 29th of July, 1837. In 1830 he married Julia Ann Mowrer, who had been reared in the family of George Prince. She was born in Sunbury, Northumberland Co., and died in Harrisburg, July 22, 1882. Jonathan Chandler died in Harrisburg, Jan. 6, 1847. His children by the first marriage were Benjamin Franklin, Jehu Harlin.

1837 he removed to Lancaster, retired from business, and died there May 7, 1841; buried at Harrisburg. Mr. Cameron was twice married,-first, to Catharine Hutman, daughter of Matthias Hutman, of Harris- burg, horn Sept. 1, 1796, died Nov. 1. 1821 ; secondly, to Mary Shulze, of Myer-town, Lebanon Co., a sister of Governor John Andrew Shulze. He left a son and a daughter ; the former died early, the latter be- eame the wife of Dr. Muhlenberg, of Lancaster. Mr. Cameron was qniet and unobtrusive, an intelligent . Rachel Ann, Ellen Louisa, and William Griffith : and enterprising business man.

JOHN CARSON.

John Carson, the son of John Car-on and Sarah Diekey, was a native of Paxtang, born in 1758. His father was a settler on the Susquehanna as early as 1733, kept a store, and was a captain on the frontier in 1755-57. His mother was a daughter of Moses Dickey, who was quite prominent in pioneer times. He received a frontier education, which, among the Scotel-Irish settlers, was thorough, and was raised np on his father's farm. He was an early associator, and an officer during the Jersey campaign of 1776. From 1786 to 1791 he served as a member of the Assembly. Under the Constitution of 1790 he was commissioned an associate judge of the county, Ang. 17, 1791, an office which he filled acceptably and creditably until his sudden death from apoplexy on Friday, Oct. 10, 1817. His wife, Sarah Dickey, born in 1760, died March 2, 1823.

JONATHAN CHANDLER.

Jonathan Chandler was born in Beaver Valley, New Castle Co., Del., about eight miles from the city of Wilmington, in 1792. He was one of the sons of Jehu Harlin Chandler. His ancestors were Quakers, who came from England shortly after the arrival of William Penn, and settled in that part of Delaware and in the lower part of Chester County, Pa. The family became so prominently identified with Beaver Valley that in the early times it was known as Chan- dler's Hollow. Jonathan Chandler received the or- dinary education within his reach in those primitive days. When quite a young man he left his Beaver Valley home and settled in the upper end of Chester County, near Sad-buryville. and carried on quite ex- tensively for those days the business of blacksmith- ing, which he had learned in Delaware. On the Ist day of June, 1812. while living in Chester County, he married Mary Griffith, who was born at the Trappe. in Montgomery County, Pa .. in 1793. but came to Chester County when a young woman. Mr. Chan- dler removed from Chester County to Harrisburg, arriving on the HIth day of August. 1828. Here he continued his business for some years, and became quite prominent in it in the preparation of iron used

by the second, Mary Elizabeth, Sarah, George Prince and Julia Ann. Mr. Chandler took much interes! in all that pertained to the prosperity and welfare of Harrisburg during his life here, was a man of fine social qualities and liberal views.

COL. ROBERT CLARK.

Robert Clark, son of Charles Clark and Ann Brown- field, was born Jan. 2, 1740, in Derry, Lancaster ( now Londonderry) township. Dauphin Co. His father was one of the first settlers in the " Barrens of Derry," his first warrant bearing date April 3. 1734, for two hundred acres. In 1765 his wife. Ann Brownfield Clark, having died, 12th of April of that year ho divided his land between his sons, Robert and Wal- ter, and died a few years thereafter. Robert was brought up as a farmer, receiving the limited educa- tion of frontier times. During the French and In- dian wars he was in active service, both as a private and an officer. He was with Col. Clayton on his march to Wyoming, and with Col. Bouquet in 1764. When the thunders of the Revolution rolled from the eastward he entered heartily into the contest. On the 11th of August. 1776. he was commissioned captain in the Flying Camp, and wa- in the Jersey campaign of that year. He was commissioned sub- lientenant of Lancaster County, April 26, 1780, and May 4, 1781, appointed one of the auditors for paying the depreciation certificates at Lebanon. During the entire struggle for independence Col. Clark was ae- tive, energetic, and patriotie. He repre-ented the connty of Dauphin in the Assembly of the State from 1785 to 1788, having previously represented the enunty of Lancaster, when he declined a re-election. During the organization of the militia, after the Rev- olution, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Fourth Battalion of Dauphin County. About 1795 he removed to Chilli-quaque, Northumberland Co .. Pa. Although well up in years, his military ardor seems to have remained, and he was commissioned Ang. 2, 1800, captain of the Second Troup of cavalry, Second Brigade. Ninth Division, composed of the counties of Northumberland, Lycoming, and Lu- zerne. Ile died at Chillisquaque, Jan. 23, 1821, at the age of eighty-one years. Col. Clark's life was a long and eventful one, and he witnessed mans changes in the affairs of the State and nation, and

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

in which he had performed a prominent part. He was a man of influence in his native county, and his pious walk and conversation was none the less re- markable. lle was one of the elders of Old Derry Church, an humble and consistent Christian. Col. Clark married. Ang. 20, 1765, Sarah Hutchison, born June 7, 1745, in Derry, died Aug. 19, 1820, daughter of John Hutchison, who died Sept. 6, 1765. Their children were, as taken from the family record in Col. Clark's own handwriting,-

"Charles Clark, our first born, was born Aug. 3, 1766.

"Our twin children were born July 6, 1768; one died when twenty-two hours old, and the other, Mar- garet, died Sept. 4, 1768.

"Our daughter, Ann, was born Oct. 3, 1769.

"Our daughter, Mary, was born Oct. 17, 1772, and died Feb. 4, 1773.

"Our daughter, Margaret, was born Dec. 26, 1773.

"Our son, John, was born June 6. 1776.

"Our son, Robert, was born Sept. 28, 1778.

"Our daughter, Mary, was born Sunday, March 25, 1781.

"Our daughter, Sarah, was born Feb. 9, 1786."

The remains of Col. Clark and his wife lie in Derry graveyard, now Montour County, Pa.

PHILIP CLINE.

Philip Cline, son of Philip Kline, was born in the Dis- triet of Northern Liberties. Philadelphia, on the 14th of July, 1780. Receiving a preliminary English educa- tion in the schools of the city, he learned the trade of brick-maker, and located at Harri-burg about the year 1803, where he established brick-works and a pottery. Most of the brick used in the State capitol were fur- nished by him. During the second war with England he served as first lieutenant in Capt. Richard Knight's company, and on the latter's resignation at Baltimore was promoted to captain. For almost thirty years Capt. Cline filled the position of high constable of the borough of Harrisburg. He was a man of influence, and highly respected by his fellow-citizens. He died in the year 1850. Capt. Cline married about 1803. Hannah, daughter of Patrick Walters, a wagon- master in the Continental army of the Revolution. She died at Harrisburg, Aug. 18, 1830.

CAPT. JAMES COLLIER.

James Collier was born of Scotch-Irish parents, in what is now Swatara town-hip. Dauphin Co., April 20, 1752, on the farm adjoining the village of Church- ville on the east. He began his military career in 1776, as first lieutenaut of Capt. John Reed's com- pany of the " Flying Camp," was employed in many of the skirmishes around New York and up the Hud- son; was at the battle of Long Island, and among those who covered the retreat. For bravery in this campaign he received a captain's commission, and for meritorious conduct at the battle of Brandywine, Gen.

Lafayette presented him with a sword and epaulets. During the last years of the war Capt. Collier was em- ployed principally on the frontiers against the Indians. and achieved distinction as an Indian-fighter. In 177> he huilt Fort Muney, near which one of his soldiers, Peter Boal, lost his scalp, but survived the injury. Upon the return of peace. Capt. Collier re- tired to his farm, and was known as a quiet, peace- loving citizen. He was, however, in common with every other patriot of his day, a genuine hater of Tories. His feeling- in this respect were the more bitter on account of the Tories of North Carolina having for years sought the life of his brother, Col. John Collier, who lived in that State and was an officer in the army. Failing in their attempts upon his life, . they destroyed his property and burned his house. One of the leading spirits in this outrage was one Lytle, who had formerly been a resident of Paxtang, but had removed to North Carolina shortly before the war. Against this man Capt. Collier felt peculiarly aggrieved, and had frequently been heard to declare that if ever he "laid eyes on the rascal he would chastise him severely." One Sunday morning. - ome years after the war, the captain was sitting in his pew at Paxtang Church. awaiting the opening of the moru - ing service, when a stranger entered, whom Collier immediately recognized to be Lytle the Tory. He was on a visit to some friends at Middletown and ac- companied them to church. The sacredness of the place protected him for the time being, but when the congregation was dismissed the captain quietly pro- vided himself with a stout section of a grape-vine, which he put to soak in a neighboring spring. At the conclusion of the afternoon service, when the con- gregation was about to separate, Collier armed himself with his grape-vine and rode up to Lytle, who had just mounted, and introduced himself as the brother of John Collier, of North Carolina, and explained that there was an unsettled account between Lytle and the Collier family which he proposed now to ad- just, and immediately brought his grape-vine into requisition. The Tory ran his eye over the speeta- tors, but seeing no sympathy in their enuntenances put spurs to his horse and galloped off, with the eap- tain close beside him belaboring him at every jump. They passed many people jogging along on their way home from church, and among others one of the deacons and his wife, The deacon was silent, but the wife called out, " Lay it on, Jamie, lay it on!"' The race was " neck and neck" for a quarter of a mile, when the Tory, who had the better hor-e, began to leave Collier behind, but not before the grape-vine was worn to a stump. This transaction met with gen - eral approval. There were, however, a few good people who deemed it a breach of the Sabbath and thought the captain should be sessioned. Complaint was there- fore made to Rev. John Elder, pastor of the church, who replied in some such lainguare as this: "Served him right ; he had no business to come to my church.

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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

I am, however, sorry it happened on the Lord's Day, but if I had witnessed it I should have told the cap- tain to lay on." This opinion from the moderator of the session, although not delivered officially, settled the business, and Collier never was called to account. In 1791 he sokl his farm in Swatara township and went to Northumberland County, Pa. On the 31st of May, 1814, he started with his family for Ross County, Ohio, where he arrived on the 9th of July. Here he purchased a farm and spent the remainder of his days. He died Jan. 3, 1844, at the great age of ninety-two, and was distinguished throughout life for his frankness, integrity, and manly independence. #

COL. JACOB COOKE.

Jacob Cooke, son of John Cooke, was born in Lon- donderry township, Laneaster (now Danphin) Co., Pa., in 1735. His father was an early emigrant from near Londonderry, Ireland, and wa- a gentleman of means and influence. The son received the best edu- cation afforded in the Scotch-Irish settlement, and was brought up to the life of a farmer. During the French and Indian war he served as an ensign in Col. Elder's ranging battalion, and commanded the first military company enrolled for the war for inde- pendence in Pennsylvania, "The Association of the Liberty Company in Lancaster County." This com- pany was organized in April, 1775, and portions of the command were in active service during the campaigns of 1776 and 1777. Col. Cooke filled the office of -ub- lieutenant of Lancaster County, as-isting in the or- ganization of troops. He was a justice of the peace many years, and served in the Assembly under the Constitution of 1776 from 1780 to 1785. He was an ardent patriot, a brave officer, and an influential citi- zen. He died in January, 1790, at his residence near the Round Top. He owned a large estate, especially in Northumberland County lands. and left at his death John, Mary (married John Lukens Wallis), Sarah (married Joseph Work), Elizabeth (married Charles Irwine;, and Robert. The two latter resided on the Muncy farms. Col. William Cooke, of the Pennsylvania line, a gallant soldier of the Revolu- tion, was a brother of Col. Jacob Cooke, and one of the administrators of his estate.

CAPT. JAMES COWDEN.

James Cowden, the fourth child of Matthew Cow- den and Martha Johnson, was born in Paxtang township, Lancaster (now Dauphin) Co., Pa., on the 16th of June, 1737. James was brought up on his father's farm, enjoying, however, the advantages of that early education of those pioneer times, which among the Scotch-Irish -ettler- was remarkably com- prehensive and ample. Apart from this he was well grounded in the tenets of the Westminster Confes- sion, which among our pious ance-try formed a part of the instruction given to all.

Until the thunders of the Revolution rolled towards

the Susquehanna, Mr. Cowden remained on the pa- ternal acres, busily engaged in farming. At the outset he was a strong advocate for active defen- sive measures, and in favor of independence. H. was one of the leading spirits at the meeting at Mid- dletown, June 9, 1774, of which Col. James Burd was chairman, and whose action, in conjunction with those of Hanover, nerved the people of Lancaster in their patriotic resolves. Suiting the action to the word. Mr. Cowden and the young men of his neigh- borhood took measures towards raising a battalion of associators, of which Col. James Burd was in com- mand, and a company of which was intrusted to Capt. Cowden. His company, although not belong- ing to the Pennsylvania line, was nevertheless in sev- eral campaigns, and did faithful service at Fort Washington, in the Jerseys, at Brandywine and Ger- mantown, and in the war on the Northern and West- ern frontiers, defending them from the attacks of the savage Indian and treacherous Tory.

At the close of the war Capt. Cowden returned to his farm. Under the Constitution nf 1790 he was appointed the justice of the peace for the district of Lower Paxtang, April 10, 1793, which he held up to the time he was commissioned by Governor Thomas Mifflin one of the associate judges of the county of Dauphin, on the 2d of October, 1795, an office he filled acceptably and creditably. In 1809 was chosen Presidential elector, and was an ardent supporter of Madison.

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History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 116

Author: Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901 Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1046

Author: Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1046