USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Lives of the eminent dead and biographical notices of prominent living citizens of Montgomery County, Pa. > Part 53
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Very soon after graduating he became a member of the Mont- gomery County Medical Society, in whose meetings he takes a lively interest. Not long since he wrote and delivered at one of the sessions an elaborate paper on "Hernia," which was very highly commended.
Several years ago Dr. Shrawder married Sarah J., daughter. of Andrew and Ann Rebecca Morgan, of Fairview; their liv- ing children are Larrie E. and Joseph. A few years ago, after- a short interregnum, he located himself at the village of Am- bler, in Upper Dublin township, where he is enjoying a grow- ing practice. He possesses qualities as a man and physi- cian that must ultimately give him a leading position in the profession-public spirit and devotion to the study of his call -- ing .*
Dr. Shrawder is not only a man of benevolence, intelligence- and public spirit, but he wields a piquant and trenchant pen,. which is often used in bringing matters of general concern to popular attention. He is a frequent contributor to the columns. of the North Wales Record and other papers of the county.
*An incident of late occurrence is worth noting here to his credit. A colored womans on a visit to Quakertown, about to become a mother, started to join her husband in the city of Philadelphia by way of the North Pennsylvania railroad. On reaching Ambler- she became very sick, left the train, and in her extreme necessity sought shelter witlı several families of the village. With the usual response of selfishness, however, all re- fused, saying, "We can't accommodate you." While thus applying she was directed to the office of Dr. Shrawder, who, acting the Good Samaritan, took her in, and hired a wo -- man to attend to her wants and necessities. After the birth of her child, and when she was sufficiently recovered, he sent her on her way in joy and peace, An incident like that ought to be worth as much as a year's practice to a young physician, for the profes -- sion is eminently one of mercy and fidelity to the sick.
569
CHARLES P. SHANNON.
CHARLES P. SHANNON.
. Charles Porter Shannon, the genial and well known gentleman whose name stands at the head of this page, is the second son of Robert L. and Elizabeth Porter Shannon, of Shannonville, Lower Providence township, Montgomery County, and was born March 27th, 1809, in the village and mansion in which he at present (1879) resides, the former taking its name from the family which has re- sided there and owned the property for nearly or quite a century. His father, Robert L., was a grandson of Robert Shannon, who was one of the five Commissioners to fix upon a site for the new county of Montgomery in 1784. This appointment shows that the Shannon family was of the highest respectability and ca- pacity at that early date, its members being attached to the Epis- copalian faith and form of worship, and members of St. James' Church, Evansburg, for perhaps a century and a half, or since its foundation. 3 The subject of this notice, Charles P. Shannon, though not in early life a communicant, has been for about twenty- five years past an active member, and for many years also one of its vestrymen and frequently a lay delegate to Diocesan conven- tions of the Church. His interest in the old mother church at Evansburg may be inferred from the fact that some sixteen years ago he invested a sum of money in its name which yields about a hundred and forty dollars annually to aid in making it self-sup- porting. Besides being a man of leisure, means and religious im- pulses, he has been active in promoting the growth and success of St. Paul's Church, Upper Providence, a prosperous mission church mainly under the patronage of Mrs. Gumbes, near by. He has been a member of its vestry also since its organization, in which he took an active part.
Having given the religious affiliations of our subject, we turn aside to state more at length the personal history of his branch of the Shannon family. His father, Robert L. Shannon, lived all his life in his native village, where for many years he was a successful merchant. He was early in life married to Elizabeth Porter, a niece of General Andrew Porter of Revolutionary fame. She was one of nature's noblest women, and survived her husband (who died at the age of 59 in 1844) in widowhood twenty-one years, dying
570
CHARLES P. SHANNON.
in 1865, at the advanced age of eighty. During all those years our subject, with his sister, Mary Lane, resided at the homestead ministering to the mother's comfort and cheering her declining pathway to the tomb. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Shannon are the following :
The eldest, John Lane, learned the trade of a carpenter in Phil- adelphia, went to Louisiana, lost his health, returned home and died in 1848. Our subject is the next on the family record. The third was Basheba Elton, a sister. The fourth, Dr. Samuel Horning Shannon, born 1814, graduated in medicine at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in the class of 1836, and soon after settled at Schuylkill Haven, where he died after many years residence, Jan- uary 17, 1879, of a lingering illness. The Chronicle of that place and a correspondent of the Philadelphia Times, in announcing his death, said :
The sad news comes to us just as we go to press, and forbids an extended notice of the deceased at this time. We sincerely regret the decease of another distinguished citizen, especially one who has been such a useful member in society as Dr. Shannon .- Chronicle.
The deceased had a varied and extensive practice of forty years. He was one of the largest property holders in the county. Dr. Shannon was a friend and benefactor to the poor, to whom his ser- vices were dispensed with liberality, and who will have occasion to deeply mourn his loss .- Times.
The fifth is Mary Lane, who resides (1879) with our subject at the family homestead. The next child was Harriet Porter, who died young, as did also the seventh, Jane Hooper. The eighth was Stephen Porter, who died in infancy. 3 The youngest, Benjamin Franklin, studied medicine, located at Schuylkill Haven, and after many years' practice died August, 1878. The appended notice of his death is from the Pottsville Chronicle :
On Thursday at a few minutes before I0 o'clock, Dr. B. F. Shannon, one of the best known citizens of this county, died at his residence in Schuylkill Haven. For the past three years he has suffered much, and only at intervals was he able to attend to any of the duties of his profession. Two weeks ago he was prostrated by softening of the brain, since which he rapidly declined until death relieved him.
Dr. Shannon was born in Montgomery county, this State, and at the age of twenty removed to this county. For thirty years he has been a medical practitioner, and was recognized among the profes- sion as a physician of the greatest skill. For a period of twenty- five years he was physician at the county alms house and occupied that position for a greater length of time than any of his predeces- sors. He married a daughter of Mr. Gideon Bast, who survives him,
571
CHARLES P. SHANNON.
but he leaves no children. Dr. Shannon was a man of the most exemplary character and enjoyed the respect and esteem of all his acquaintances. Among the medical profession his great skill was recognized and his opinions were highly prized.
Of Robert Shannon, the father of our subject, it may be added, he was an active, enterprising, thorough business man, alive to the subject of education, as shown by the liberal training bestowed up- on all his surviving children, as well as by his contributions and encouragement given to the free schools of the neighborhood, and to all objects of public interest in the community. His daughters were graduated at Kimberton Female Seminary, and the sons (after an apprenticeship on the farm, which originally extended to the Perkiomen) were sent to school at Philadelphia where they gradua- ted with honor.
We return now to narrate the business life of the proper subject of this biographical sketch, Charles P. Shannon. When but a boy of fifteen, in 1824, he joined the State corps of Engineers to make early surveys for the canal improvements, then so largely occupying public attention all over the State. Of course, at that period he was only a rod man, in proving the feasibility of opening lock nav- igation between the Delaware and Ohio. After some service in this capacity he returned home and took a mathematical course under that noted scholar and mathematician, Benjamin Moore, hav- ing for his schoolmates the since distinguished Elijah F. and Uriah V. Pennypacker, Samuel Baugh and others. After completing his scholastic course he spent a short period teaching in his native township, after which he entered the service of the State again in various capacities on the public works until 1837, when he started south, having been offered a position as sub assistant engineer of a railroad then projected and being built in Alabama, where, without any solicitations on his part, he was advanced step by step to the position of Chief Engineer of a railroad 87 miles in length. This position, as the custom then was in the south, involved or conveyed the legal and military title of Colonel-a dignity for which he had never felt any aspirations. It was very needful, however, " down south," for when the opening came in 1840, of the first forty miles of the road east of Montgomery, he was necessarily, as Chief En- gineer and Superintendent, in a most conspicuous public position, in which the honors of the occasion were freely showered upon him by such public men as Belser, Elmore, Hayne, Yancy, Goldthwaite and others. The first sight of a locomotive and a working rail- road produced great enthusiasm among the people in attendance
572
CHARLES P. SHANNON.
upon the Grand Opening. After being four years in the construc- tion and management of the road, his health gave way under the debilitating effects of the climate. He returned home to recuper- ate, intending to remain north, but had been back but a short time, when, meeting by appointment the heaviest stockholder of the Al- abama road in Philadelphia, the latter represented that things had gone so badly after Mr. Shannon left, and plead so hard for him to return, that he was prevailed upon to go back to his old post, and thus continued there some two years longer. This arduous service, however, completely undermined his health, and he finally returned to Pennsylvania just after the death of his father in 1844, and to take charge of his considerable estate. With some years of rest his health was partially restored, and he now (1879) enjoys a re- tirement from the cares of business with a competence mainly the result of labor and frugality in his early years.
In politics, Mr. Shannon, as his father was, has always been a Democrat, and but for his proverbial modesty and distaste for pub- lic service might have worthily served his county in the Legislature or Congress. He has, however, filled the business position of Di- rector of the Bank of Montgomery County, and frequently the lo- cal posts of Auditor, Juror, School Director, and the like.
Although Mr. Shannon lived six years south, and formed numer- ous friendships there, when the secession rebellion broke out he felt no sympathy for the aims and purposes of the " erring sisters," but cheerfully sustained the Union with his vote, taxes and volunteer contributions.
Notwithstanding a morbid sensitiveness, Mr. Shannon possesses a cheerful, playful affability of manner that renders him a most agree- able companion, and he has therefore many cherished friends and acquaintances who hold him in high esteem ; for he has just enough of spice and Attic salt in his mental endowment to make him a cheerful companion.
573
MAJOR GENERAL ARTHUR ST. CLAIR.
MAJOR GENERAL ARTHUR ST. CLAIR.
The future he saw of his nation. The sacrifice asked at his hand; To his patriot heart, life, wealth, station, Were nanght to the good of his land.
-"Regulus," by H. Allyn Heydon. Oh! I am Fortune's fool .- Shakspeare.
We approach the task of adding a historical sketch of Gen. St. Clair with a melancholy yet grateful interest, for there is no other eminent man in our annals whose memory has rested under such a cloud of undeserved obloquy as his. To relieve an unfortunate patriot, therefore-not from a real mal-award of past history, but the crude and hasty aspersions of his embit- tered cotemporaries-if not a hopeful, is at least a pleasant duty.
In contemplating such lives as the one under consideration it is very hard to hold fast the general belief in Providence, and not rather adopt the Pagan notion of chance; or refer all events to capricious Fortune, who, as a goddess, was supposed to blindly dispense her favors.
Had Washington fought but the two battles of Brandywine and Germantown, his name in like manner would have gone down under the same haze that for nearly a century has ob- scured the memory of Arthur St. Clair.
That our subject was a man of undoubted honor and patriot- ism is shown by his sacrificing a fortune acquired in the inte- rim between the French and Revolutionary wars in the latter cause. That his compatriots had full confidence in his integ- rity and administrative ability in civil affairs is manifest by their electing him, after the close of the war, to the last Con- tinental Congress, and that body placing him in the chair as President of the same. But these reflections and comments are premature.
Arthur St. Clair was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1735, though some authorities give the town of Thurso and 1736 as the place and time of his nativity. He belonged to the upper
*In explanation and arology for the absence of this eminent man's life in our first edition, it is due to say that histories were examined and verbal inquiries made of per- sons likely to know, but no definite information could be obtained that Gen. St. Clair ever had a "residence" in our county. Since then, however, facts sullicient to bring him within the rule have transpired. [Sce Appendix. ]
574
MAJOR GENERAL ARTHUR ST. CLAIR.
ranks of life, and was well educated. When near his major- ity he entered the British army as. Ensign, joining the Forty- second Regiment of Highlanders, and arrived in Canada with the troops under General Wolf. He was at the storming of Quebec, and reputed one of the first to plant the flag on the Heights of Abraham. At the conclusion of the French and Indian war he received from General Gage, then commanding in America, charge of the conquered posts on the Ohio. Not long after he took up a thousand acres of land, donated as a reward for his services, in what was then Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on which he settled, and which took the name. of Ligonier, probably after that of a French fort of the same name. Here he was doubtless a leader among the Scotch- Irish, who then thronged into and settled the southwestern counties of our State. While living there he was appointed by the colonial Governor to be Prothonotary, Register, and Re- corder, of Bedford county.
Early in 1775 our Revolutionary leaders resolved to secure the military posts which had recently been taken from the French at Pittsburg and vicinity, and sent a commission or secret expedition to secure them to the patriot cause. Being familiar with these and their surroundings, St. Clair left his home at Ligonier and joined the party, doubtless as an effi- cient leader in the enterprise, which was entirely successful. This was his first service in our glorious cause. When the failure of General Schuyler's invasion of Canada and death of Montgomery took place, in the fall of the same year, he was at his home in western Pennsylvania. Early in January, 1776, Congress sent him a commission as Colonel, and authorized him to raise a regiment in Pennsylvania, which he did in six weeks, reporting with his battalion at Philadelphia, and a few weeks later with six companies reinforced Generals Schuyler and Arnold, who were still in the neighborhood of Quebec, but falling back towards the Hudson. He was soon raised to the rank of Brigadier General, and was serviceable to those of- ficers in covering the retreat. But a like retreat of Washing- ton's army from New York across New Jersey happening at the same time, General St. Clair, probably leaving his com-
575
MAJOR GENERAL ARTHUR ST. CLAIR.
mand with the Northern army, was ordered to join the Com- mander-in-chief in his retreat on Pennsylvania, thus being with him in the brilliant attack on the Hessians at Trenton on De- cember 25th, 1776, and also in the fight at Princeton. In the spring of the following year, having been advanced to the rank of Major General, he was again transferred to the Northern army, and with two thousand ill equipped troops was placed in command of Fort Ticonderoga, near Lake Champlain.
Here he remained until July 5th, when finding himself al- most surrounded by Burgoyne's large army, which was ad- vancing into the States, under the unanimous advice of a coun- cil of four general officers he evacuated the fort in the night, making good his retreat and handing over his force to Sulli- van, a superior officer. This judicious and unavoidable move- ment, though subsequently approved by Washington, was has- tily condemned by those who did not know the situation. It was fully vindicated, however, by the ultimate capture of Bur- goyne's whole army shortly after, and by the help of these very troops saved to the patriot cause. Still the thoughtless cla- mor of the public led to the relieving of the General and his transfer again to Washington's army, then manœuvering for the defence of Philadelphia.
Being thus on detached duty, though not in command, he was present as aid at the battle of Brandywine, and suggested to Washington the turning of the right flank of the British at the same time Howe was turning ours. Owing, however, to the unpreparedness of the Pennsylvania militia under General Armstrong the movement was not undertaken.
After the British evacuated Philadelphia in the summer of 1778, and during the following year, when both armies were operating in the South, General St. Clair was charged with the duty of recruiting, organizing and forwarding reinforcements from Philadelphia, as also commanding a small force to pro- tect that city from a possible second invasion of the enemy from New York, which latter place they occupied at that time.
It was during this period (1779) of relieved duty that the General, as appears by civil records, acquired a residence at or
576
MAJOR GENERAL ARTHUR ST. CLAIR.
near Philadelphia, purchasing a house in Pottstown, which he held until September, 1797. [See Appendix.]
About the time of the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781, General St. Clair was placed in command again and given a body of two thousand troops with orders to reinforce General Greene, who was then engaged in driving the British and their Tory allies from the more Southern States. This duty was faithfully performed, and the war was at an end.
Independence being established, the General set about look- ing to his private affairs. Finding his estate in western Penn- sylvania gone to ruin, or hopelessly involved in debt, he took up his residence in Philadelphia and obtained the lucrative ap- pointment of city auctioneer, which place he held until he was elected in 1786 to the last Continental Congress. This shows the high repute he enjoyed among his fellow-citizens, and his election soon after as the President of that body further evinces the confidence reposed in his integrity and administrative abil-
ity by his legislative compeers. This was the Congress that negotiated with the State of Virginia for the cession of the great Northwest Territory to the United States for the payment of the national debt, and during the next year (1787) it passed the great ordinance for its government and settlement.
In 1788, one year before the present Constitution and gov- ernment went into operation, General St. Clair, having had large experience of frontier life, with acknowledged military ability, was chosen to be the first Governor of what now con- stitutes the great States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Iowa. As is well known, the Indians had always been dissatisfied with British rule in America, and during nearly the whole of Washington's first administration were continually raiding upon the Western settlements. In 1790 or 1791 Gen. Harmer, who held command of the military in the territory, was twice defeated by them near Fort Wayne, Indiana, when Washington resolved to chastise them with a heavy force put in motion from the neighboring States of Pennsylvania, Vir- ginia and Kentucky, and which General St. Clair was to com- mand in person. His instructions to muster an army were placed in his hands on March 25th, 1791, but owing to the
577
MAJOR GENERAL ARTHUR ST. CLAIR.
failure of the government or the contractors in forwarding sup- plies and reinforcements to the Ohio, the army was not in the neighborhood of the hostile savages until the 12th of October. It then commenced making advances and building forts or block-houses, until November 3d, when it was almost too late to operate troops effectively, there being no green forage for the horses.
Says the committee of Congress which subsequently took testimony and made a report :
" On the 3Ist of October, 1791, about sixty of the Kentucky militia deserted in a body, and the First Regiment, consisting of three hundred effective men, was detached with a view to cover a convoy of provisions which was expected to arrive in camp. On the 3d of November, therefore, the army consisted of about four- teen hundred effective men, and on the morning of the 4th, about half an hour before sunrise, a general attack was commenced by the Indians. In a few minutes the whole army was surrounded by the enemy. The action continued about four hours, during which sev- eral charges were made that caused the enemy to give way, but pro- duced no good effect. * * The Commander-in-chief appears to have been cool and deliberate in the whole action, and the of- ficers in general active and intrepid."
The defeat of our army, however, was complete, the troops falling back upon the forts or settlements, and the campaign was at an end.
In extenuation of General St. Clair's conduct and fighting under such disadvantages the same committee further says:
"The orders to the Commander-in-chief were express and un- equivocal to proceed with the expedition, so much as in the opin- ion of the committee to preclude him from exercising any discre- tion relative to the object."
But the main cause of the failure of the campaign was the absence, tardiness and inefficiency of the Quartermaster who was charged with forwarding supplies. The Secretary of War, · General Knox, adds his testimony also, under date of Decem- ber 23d, 1791, addressed to General St. Clair, as follows:
" Be assured, sir, that however great the defeat, that both your reputation and the reputation of the troops under your command are unimpeached."
It is stated that Washington, who had cautioned the General, in setting out, against the danger of a surprise from the wily Indians, was greatly exasperated by the disaster; but on Gen.
578
MAJOR GENERAL ARTHUR ST. CLAIR.
St. Clair's demanding a court of inquiry he declined to accede, on the ground that there were no officers of competent rank in the army to hold one. The committee of Congress, how- ever, fully exonerated him from all blame, and so reported, as also in favor of the payment of numerous claims which he pro- secuted before that body as late as 1812, and especially for the sum of eighteen hundred dollars, which he advanced in 1776, while commanding at Ticonderoga, to promote in Pennsylva- nia the enlistment of troops for the service. These claims were once or twice reported favorably, but owing to the adjourn- ment of that body were never passed or discharged.
As a matter of course his defeat by the Indians closed his connection with the army, General Wayne taking command in the following year and compelling them to sue for peace, but he remained Governor of the territory until 1802, when it is supposed he returned to Ligonier.
In summing up his grievances and losses on this head, he says, referring to the territory :
" To the establishment of that country, which was by me led up from thirty men to upwards of sixty thousand in fourteen years, the general government never contributed one cent except the salary, which was not equal to my traveling expenses, for many years."
Again :
" The expenses I was exposed to in the Northwestern Territory had forced me to contract a debt, which had run on interest for many years. My creditors got a judgment at that unfavorable mo- ment (during the embargo, when there was no money), and my property was forced to sale-a most valuable tract of land, mill, dwelling, and iron furnace, costing and worth many thousands of dollars, were sold for four thousand."
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