USA > Pennsylvania > Portraits of the heads of state departments and portraits and sketches of members of the legislature of Pennsylvania, 1893-1894 > Part 7
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HOUSE OF
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
PENNSYLVANIA.
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House of Representatives.
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G EORGE A. VARE, of Philadelphia, for two sessions has represented the First ward in the lower house. He has the distinction of being one of the youngest members ever sent to the Legislature from Philadelphia. He was born in the old historic district of Southwark on February 7, 1859, but subsequently took up his residence in the First ward, where he began to take an active interest in politics from the time he cast his first vote. Mr. Vare's education was obtained in the public schools. His family has long been identified with public contracts in Philadelphia, and, associated with his brothers, they have for several years been the successful contractors for the cleaning of the streets, the contracts LEVYTYPEČA PHIL running into the hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. He has been a member of the Republican Ward Committee for a number of years, and is also an active spirit in the Union Republican Club of his ward, which is known as one of the political institutions of down town. Mr. Vare has been selected as a candi- date for the Legislature solely by reason of his popularity with the young men, he being a concession partially to that element and for the political strength he rep- resented. Mr. Vare has served his party as a delegate to city and ward con- ventions, has been a liberal contributor to the finances, and has never held a Federal place, although he has been in a position to command it. He is known as one of the most trusted and tireless lieutenants of Amos M. Slack, the Republi- can leader of the First ward.
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House of Representatives.
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A DOLPH BEYERLEIN, JR., has rep- resented for two years the First district of Philadelphia in the House. This district comprises the First ward and is one of the most populous in that city. He was born in the Quaker City July 16, 1856, of German parentage. Throughout his youth he attended the public schools, going through several of the grades. He adopted the business of a milk dealer as his life's vocation and has succeeded in building np one of the largest businesses in that line in the the southern section of the city. Mr. Beyerlein is not a "talking member " of the Legislature, but is attentive in his attendance upon the sessions of the House and his committee assignments. He has long been active in the Repub- lican politics of the First ward and was chosen by his leader as a candidate for the Legislature for the reason of his popularity and his claim for active service upon the party. The competition for place in so large a ward as the First is naturally fierce and it is a great compliment to Mr. Beyerlein that he should have been chosen by the party leaders twice to fill a place on the legislative ticket. He is an active member of the Union Republican Club of the First ward. His popularity among the younger element of his party is somewhat remarkable as his vote on both occasions, both in the nominating conventions and at the polls, has attested. He has never been an applicant for a Federal place, his private business being such as to render him independent of such. He is a leading member of the Milk Exchange of Philadelphia.
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House of Representatives.
HARRY C. RANSLEY, of Philadel- phia, representing the Second ward, is one of those rare instances of a man who sits in the Legislature of Pennsyl- vania who has been sent there for two consecutive terms from an antagonistic rock-ribbed district. Mr. Ransley was born on the 5th day of February, 1863, in the ward which he represents, and consequently he is one of the youngest men who was ever elected to the Penn- sylvania Legislature. His education was derived in the public and private schools and when attaining his majority he identified himself with his father in the manufacture of gold leaf. In 1890 Mr. Ransley was chosen by the Repub- lican minority in the Second ward to lead a forlorn hope for his party as a LEVYTYPE CO. PHILA. candidate for the Legislature in a gubernatorial year. He was matched against George McGowen, the recognized leader of the Democracy of his district and a former member of the House. Mr. Ransley's election created a surprise in political circles throughout the commonwealth, his victory by 375 majority over a city and state leader of the reputation of Mr. McGowen being considered a note- worthy event. Mr. Ransley was brought out as a candidate for the State Senate in the First district and loomed up as a formidable competitor for the nomination. Events so shaped themselves, however, as to require his withdrawal when he was re-nominated for the lower house. His popularity was submitted to the strain of a presidential year and, notwithstanding an unprecedented Democratic vote was thrown, Mr. Ransley's majority was increased over his former election, he having 538 majority. Mr. Ransley is a splendid type of the young Republicans who are advancing to the front in the politics of Philadelphia. His loyalty to his friends, his geniality in the social side of life and the popular side he has invariably taken on questions effecting great public questions, are strong points in his individuality.
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House of Representatives.
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A LPHONSE RICHARDSON, of Phila- delphia, belongs to the galaxy of young men in the Quaker City delega- tion which has made the delegation in the House of 1893 remarkable in that respect. He is a native of Philadel- phia, having been born in the old and historic district of Southwark on the 23d day of December, 1863. He passed through the different grades of the public schools, after which he entered mercantile pursuits. Mr. Richardson has been actively a Republican since he first became a voter, and living in a strong and natural Democratic ward he has stood up manfully for his party, his services rendering him so conspicuous as to make him the candidate for the Legislature in 1892. Mr. Richardson for the last dozen years has been a dele- gate to the city conventions of the Re- publican party, and is one of the confidential group of leaders which has out- lined the party policy of the ward. When the Harrison administration came into power and his party secured control of the mint, Mr. Richardson was one of the first Republicans of the city to be selected for a place in that institution. In the Legislature of 1893 Mr. Richardson was cast upon a number of important com- mittees, including Mines and Mining, Public Buildings, Congressional Apportion- ment and Banks.
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House of Representatives.
R OBERT J. MOORE, of the Fourth district, Philadelphia, was born June 20, 1858, and was educated in the public schools. He learned the trade of printing, and was for a long time a member of Typographical Union No. 2, from which organization he was a dele- gate to the meeting of the International Typographical Union, held in June, 1886, at Pittsburg. He worked at his trade until he was appointed an auditor in the office of the city controller of Philadelphia, September 21, 1891. Mr. Moore retained this position until his election, in 1892, to the Legislature from the Fourth Legislative district, which comprises the Fourth ward, a Democratic stronghold in Philadelphia. Through the active efforts of himself and friends Mr. Moore succeeded in de- feating John Donohue, one of the most prominent Democrats in the district, and who represented the district in the Legislature for many years. The vote for member from the district was as fol- lows : Moore, 1,615 ; Donohue, 638 ; Robbins, the nominee of the County Demo- cracy, 528, Mr. Moore receiving a majority of 451 votes over both his opponents.
Mr. Moore has taken an active part in politics since he became of age. Prior to his election to the Legislature he was elected a member of the sectional school board in 1889. He was a member of the State Republican Conventions in 1891 and 1892. He is a member of the Republican City Campaign Committee, and has always had the unanimous support of the Republicans of the Fourth district for any position for which he had been a candidate. He is one of the most active members of the House, and is serving on the most important committees. He takes great interest in all legislation pertaining to Philadelphia, and is always on the alert when the interests of his constituents are at stake.
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House of Representatives.
JACOB DAVID SCHICK. Representa- tive of the Fifth Philadelphia dis- trict, was born in that city thirty-six years ago. He has long been one of the most influential district leaders of the city, and his power as a Republican politician in the Fifth ward is steadily growing. His father, David Schick, was a piano manufacturer. The family were of German descent, and their thrift gained them a competency. The em- bryo legislator and sagacious counsellor in the city and ward organizations of his party was educated in the public schools of his native city, but, at the age of sixteen, went out to begin his successful business and political career. He became an ice dealer and, while the owner of the business of the Franklin Ice Company, also conducted a grocery store for about six years. For the last five years he has been in the real estate business. He was a constable of the Fifth ward for seven years, and resigned that position when elected to the House of Representatives of 1891. He was re-elected to the present House by 2, 117 votes against only 803 cast for his Democratic opponent, Daniel McCauly. The nomi- nating and other conventions in which Mr. Schick has figured prominently as a delegate would make a long list. He has been a member of the Republican State Committee for six years. Among the House Committees of which he is a member are those on Labor and Industry, Manufactures, Public Buildings and Geological Survey. His vigorous physical constitution is needed for his untiring application to work in the interest of his constituents. His invariable geniality and fidelity to friends account for his popularity.
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LEVYTYOFCO AHILA
TOHN CRUISE, of the Sixth district, L was born in Philadelphia March 4, 1855. He was educated in the public schools in that city. In 1874 he ob- tained a position in a lumber yard and has since been engaged in that business. He was elected a member of the House of Representatives November, 1891, to fill the unexpired term of James Frank- lin, resigned. He was re-elected for full term November, 1892.
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House of Representatives.
LEVYTTRE LA PALLA.
H JENRY K. BOYER, the Representa- tive from the Seventh district, Philadelphia, was born in Evansburg, Montgomery county, Pa., February 19, 1850, and received his education in the common schools of his native town and in the Freeland Seminary (now Ursinus College) of which institution he is now one of the directors. Upon leaving that institution Mr. Boyer became a school teacher, which profession he followed for six years, during part of which he was principal of the Kaighn's Point Gram- mar School, Camden, N. J. He resigned his position and adopted law as his permanent profession, and entered the office of the late ex-Attorney General Benjamin Harris Brewster, with whom he read law. He was admitted to the Philadelphia bar in November, 1873, and since then he has followed the
practice of his profession, it being a general civil practice, the occasions upon which he has consented to appear in the criminal courts being exceedingly rare. His practice includes considerable of the business transactions of a mercantile character and relating to real estate, and while they have been frequently of great importance they possess no element of public interest. Mr. Boyer is an able and warm exponent of the doctrines of the Republican party, but did not enter active politics until 1882. In the fall of that year he was elected upon the Republican ticket a member of the House of Representatives to represent the Seventh district of Philadelphia by a handsome majority. His work in the House was so satis- factory that his constituents re-elected him, by an increased majority, in 1884. and again in 1886. At the nominating convention in 1888 he was unanimously en- dorsed for another term, to which he was elected without trouble. In 1887 he was elected Speaker of the House by the Republicans, and filled the trying and responsible position with great ability and impartiality. Mr. Boyer's political career has been as clean and prominent as his work at the bar has been successful and brilliant. In 1889 he was re-elected Speaker. On both occasions he received the unanimous vote of his party, both in caucus and in the House. In 1889 his election was made unanimous, the first instance of the kind in this State. In 1889 he was unanimously nominated for the office of State Treasurer, and received a majority at the polls of 60,926, though an "off year," and that the only State office to be filled. He is the author of the revenue act of 1891, which passed by a handsome majority in each House without the necessity of a conference com- mittee. In 1892 Mr. Boyer was re-elected to the Legislature. He is chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, a member of the Rules Committee, the Judiciary General and other important committees, He is a ready debater, logical talker and a parliamentarian with few equals in the State.
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House of Representatives.
JOHN M. SCOTT, of Philadelphia, was born in that city on September 19, 1858. The first of his ancestors to emigrate to this country was the third son of John Scott, of Ancrum, county of Roxburg, Scotland, who reached here about 1700, and received the rights of citizenship of the city of New York in 1702. He was afterward the command- ant of Fort Hunter, on the river Mo- hawk, in the present county of Scho- harie. The eldest of his children was also named John Scott and died in 1733, leaving one child, John Morin Scott, an eloquent and able lawyer of New York. He was a member of the old Congress of the United States. He was a brigadier general of the New York State militia, in the service of the United States, and Secretary of State of New York. ITVYTYFFIA PHILA General Scott died in 1784, and was succeeded in his post of secretary. and in his profession, by his only son, Lewis Allaire Scott, of New York, who in turn became the parent of John Morin Scott, of Philadelphia. This John Morin Scott was also a lawyer. He was elected in 1815 to the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, where he served two or more terms, and was again elected to that body in 1836. He was also a member of the Constitutional Convention of this state of 1837, and took an active part in the debates of that body. In 1841 he was elected mayor of the city of Philadel- phia, and was twice re-elected, holding the office for three years. The eldest son of Mayor Scott was Lewis Allaire Scott, who was also a lawyer by profession, and is still living. The subject of this sketch is the eldest child of the last mentioned Lewis Allaire Scott, and his wife, Fanny W., daughter of Richard Wistar, of Phil- adelphia, whose family was also among the early settlers of this country. He received a careful education ; studied law and was admitted to practice in Phila- delphia on November 12, 1881, since which time he has diligently pursued his profession, and has acquired considerable practice. He was twice elected a mem - ber of the Eighth Sectional School Board of his native city, serving two consecu- tive terms. He was elected in the Eighth district of Philadelphia in the fall of 1886 as a member of the House by a handsome majority, and re-elected in 1888 by an increased majority. He was not a candidate for the nomination for the session of 1891, and during these two years devoted himself entirely to the practice of his profession. He was, however, in the fall of 1892, unanimously nominated by his party for the session of 1893, and was elected for a third term. He is a member of the Judiciary General, Federal Relations and other committees of the House and. has presented several important bills to the House. He was married in De- cember of 1888 to Miss Anna F. Barker, of Philadelphia, a descendent of the well- known Wharton family of that city. . He is a life member of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution.
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House of Representatives.
COURTLANDT K. BOLLES, Repre- sentative of the Ninth Philadelphia district, was born in Portland, Me., on May 9, 1865. His father is the Rev. E. C. Bolles, D. D., of New York city, who is of New England ancestry. The son graduated from Tufts College, Massa- chusetts, and, in 1891, from the law department of the University of Penn- sylvania as an LL. B. While a Univer- versity student he also studied law in the office of Biddle & Ward, the head of which firm is George W. Biddle. Mr. Bolles has practiced his profession ever since graduating, but had previously begun journalistic work, at which he spent about a year, at first on New Eng- land newspapers and afterward on the Philadelphia Inquirer. He never held any public office until elected to the House of Representatives in November, 1892. He is in his second year as treasurer of the Ninth ward Republican Execu- tive Committee and is a member of the Union Republican Club and the Young Republicans. As an alternate delegate from the Second Congressional district in the Republican National Convention at Minneapolis, in 1892, he was ardently for Blaine until the latter's nomination was clearly impossible. Mr. Bolles has fre- quently been a delegate in city nominating conventions, latterly as chairman of his ward delegation. His majority of more than 600 over his Democratic opponent for Representative was the largest ever given to any candidate in the Ninth district. He is very active and prominent in the Zeta Psi fraternity, being a member of the Zeta Psi Club of New York, and of several grand chapters of the society. He is chairman of the Executive Committee of the Fish and Game Committee of the House, being a well-informed sportsman with a special leaning to trout fishing. He is also secretary of the Judiciary Local Committee, and a member of the Committees on Accounts, Public Buildings, Judicial Apportion- ment and Military. Among the bills introduced by him are several in relation to law procedure and other legal subjects. Mr. Bolles is a clear, logical and force- ful public speaker, as was demonstrated by his speech in support of the bill for the abolition of the Public Buildings Commission of Philadelphia. The success of the movement for the establishment of the Naval Battalion of Philadelphia, in which "Mr. Bolles is an ensign, is largely due to his efforts, and he has labored assiduously for the promotion of legislation in the interest of this new and popular branch of the National Guard.
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House of Representatives.
W TILLIAM R. LEEDS, one of the . Representatives of the Tenth dis- trict (Sixth and Tenth wards), of Phila- delphia, has, for a generation, been one of the principal leaders of the Republi- ean organization in that city, where he was born on January 31, 1837. His father was a tailor. When eleven years old the boy's public school training ended, and he became employed in the wholesale grocery business, in which he remained until appointed a letter carrier by Postmaster Walborn in 1861. A year later he was made superintendent of the letter carriers at the Dock Street postoffice. In 1864 he was appointed a deputy sheriff by Sheriff Henry C. How- ell, and was given charge of the personal estate sales. President Grant appointed lim collector of internal revenue for the Second Congressional district in 1869, and in 1870 he was elected sheriff of Philadelphia by 6,889 majority. His chief deputy, Enoch Taylor, was subsequently chosen sheriff by 29,000 majority. Mr. Leeds was a trustee of the Philadelphia Gas Works continuously from 1866 until the amended city charter took effect, in 1887. He was chosen, in 1864, chairman of the Republican City Campaign Committee, and re-elected every year until 1869, when he resigned during his candidacy for sheriff. In 1877 he was again elected to the Republican City Committee, and in 1880 again made the chairman, which position he held until 1887, when he was once more the Republican nominee for sheriff, with A. J. Maloney as the Republican candidate for city controller. The Republican ticket was defeated, Charles H. Krumbhaar being elected sheriff and Colonel Robert P. Dechert re-elected controller. Mr. Leeds was a member of the . House of Representatives in 1887 and 1891, but, in the latter term, resigned to accept the United States marshalship for the Eastern district of Pennsylvania, to which he was appointed by President Harrison. He resigned the marshalship shortly before being re-elected to the present House of Representatives. He has been a member of the Union League for twenty-five years, a member of the Union Republican elub since its organization in 1869, and was president of the club for ten years after 1882. He was a delegate to several Republican National Conven- tions, being with the one in Cincinnati, 1876, when he voted first for Hartranft and then for Hayes, for President. Governor James A. Beaver wrote, in 1887 : "There is no man in office, or that has held office, elected on the Republican ticket, within a quarter of a century, but that owes to Mr. Leeds a debt of grati- tude. There is not a Republican voter interested in the success of Republican principles and Republican candidates and party supremacy in state and nation but is under obligation to the skilful, tireless, courageous and faithful labors of William R. Leeds." For his famous work, lasting over a year, in managing the successful contests which ousted Democratic officials who claimed to have won in the elections of 1868, Mr. Leeds, who declined pecuniary compensation, was the subject of eulogistic resolutions adopted by the Union League.
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House of Representatives.
F RANK M. RITER, born in Phila- delphia, Pa., May 20, 1855.
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House of Representatives.
A LBERT CRAWFORD. representing the Eleventh district (Eleventh ward) of Philadelphia, was born in that city in the year 1843, October 9. He was educated in the public schools and his occupation is butchering. He first entered the Legislature as member of the House of Representatives in 1874 and served in that session and the ses- sions of 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1883, 1885 and 1893.
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House of Representatives.
H TARRY COFFIN is one of the young- est members of the Philadelphia delegation and has the distinction of being a Republican representing a ward that had, for an unbroken line of years, been represented in the House by a Democrat. He was born in the Third ward of Philadelphia, November 5. 1865. When a child his parents moved into the Twelfth ward, where he has ever since resided. Mr. Coffin learned the trade of a barber, which occupation, after following for some years, he abandoned to enter commercial life. He received a common school education, but did not gradnate. A few years ago he established himself in the flour and feed business at 404 and 406 North Fourth Street and in which he has been largely successful. He is a member of LKWY TYPE CE. PHILA the Philadelphia Commercial Exchange. Mr. Coffin has been an active party spirit in his ward for several years and has served as a delegate to all the important city nominating conventions of his party of late years. He was one of the promoters of the Edwin S. Stuart Club of the Twelfth ward, an influential and flourishing political organization. He has acted as its secretary from its start. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and American Mechanics. For twelve years he has been a member of the Republican Executive Committee of his ward. Last fall he was nominated for the Legislature in opposition to the political boss of the ward, who preferred another candidate. He ran against Charles R. Gentner, who was particularly strong with the Germans, who constitute the bulk of the voters of the district and who had been the Representative for a number of years. Against Gentner's popu- larity and the secret influence of the ward leaders which favored Gentner some- what, he was elected by 179 majority, being the largest majority ever given a Re- publican candidate in the ward previously. Mr. Coffin is endowed with social qualities of a high degree which makes him exceedingly popular with the younger element of his district. In business his standing and credit is high.
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House of Representatives.
H. THOMAS DUNLAP, of Phila- delphia, is a native of Bucks county, having been born at Kintners- ville March 29, 1852, and in 1872 he moved to Philadelphia. His father was a tailor. Mr. Dunlap attended the public school of his native village until his thirteenth year. At that time the school term, as now, was but five months of the year. The poverty of his parents compelled him even at that tender age, to seek his own livelihood. He obtained employment as a canal boy on the Lehigh and Delaware canal, which oc- cupation, with its hardships and vieis- situdes, he followed sturdily until his seventeenth year. It was then determ- , ined that he should have a trade and he was accordingly apprenticed to a local carpenter, which apprenticeship he faithfully served. Mr. Dunlap took a course of two years of instruction in the city of Philadelphia under the direction of the great builder, Richard J. Dobbins, recently deceased. He continued as a trusted employé of Mr. Dobbins for ten years when he embarked in the carpenter- ing business. For fifteen years or more Mr. Dunlap has actively participated in political affairs. He has always been a Republican and made his influence felt in his party in the Thirteenth ward of Philadelphia. Under the administration of President Harrison he was tendered the responsible position of United States store keeper in the internal revenue department, which position he held for two years and a half. While still in that employ he was unanimously nominated as a candidate for the Legislature in his district in the fall of 1892. The vote by which he was elected was a flattering tribute to the esteem in which he was held and of his popularity. While the presidential electors received a majority of 632, that of Mr. Dunlap reached 862. He was the author of bills for the publication of additional advertisements of sheriff's sales in German newspapers ; for the tax- ation of malt liquor and for the reduction of the fee for brewer's licenses. Mr. Dunlap is the architect of his own fortune, fighting his way up from a poor coun- . try lad, thrown upon his own resources at thirteen, to a position of independence, honor and influence in the metropolis of his native state.
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