USA > Pennsylvania > Prominent and progressive Pennsylvanians of the nineteenth century. Volume I > Part 23
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On June 5, 1863, his father-in-law died of injuries received in an accident on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. In his will Mr. Lankenau was named one of the Executors, and, owing to the demands made by business upon the time of Francis Anthony Drexel, his brother-in-law, the burden of management of the estate soon rested entirely on Mr. Lankenau's shoulders. The work of I .- 20.
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carrying out the terms of the will has extended over thirty-three years, and has not yet been completed. Mr. Lankenau became a Member of the Board of Trustees of the German Hospital soon after Mr. Drexel's death, his father-in-law having been Treasurer of that institution. In January, 1869, he was elected its President, and has filled that office from that time. It was largely through his efforts that the removal of the Hospital to its present site was made possible; and the rapid but substantial development of the institution, the erection of new buildings on such a magnificent scale, the introduction of Lutheran Deaconesses, and the conse- quent change in the administration of the affairs of the Hospital are due to his untiring energy and to his personal efforts. The institution has been his especial care, and he continues to bear a heavy part of its running expenses. The improvements at the German Hospital, and at the Mary J. Drexel Home and Mother House of Deaconesses have been made greatly from his own private fortune. In May, 1873, his wife died, and in February, 1877, he lost his only son, Frank, in whom he had vested all a father's hope. It was while returning from the Continental tour, ordered by their physician, that daughter and father formulated the plan of the Mary J. Drexel Home-a memorial to the lost mother-in which the aged and homeless patients cured in the Hospital should find a resting place. In November, 1886, the corner-stone of the Home was laid; but the daughter, who had made so many of the plans for the Home, died in 1882. Mr. Lankenau was also Chairman of the Commission in charge of the German Exhibit of the Centennial Exposition. For that and his good services at the German Hospital, he was decorated by Emperor William I., but he also received recognition from this country, which proved more congenial to his retiring nature.
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LOUIS J. LAUTENBACH.
IN no other city of the world is the same attention bestowed upon diseases of the eye as in Philadel- phia, and in this line Dr. Louis J. Lautenbach is recognized both here and abroad as a leading investigator and author. As a medical writer and practitioner in his special line of eye, ear, nose and throat work, he has achieved noteworthy eminence, due no less to his untiring energy and perseverance than to his natural talents and inherited love for his profession.
LOUIS J. LAUTENBACH, born in Philadelphia in 1860, is the son of August J. Lautenbach, a retired real estate dealer of Philadel- phia, and formerly an associate editor of the German Democrat, with which he was connected for years, together with the late Dr. Morwitz, Mr. Hoffman and Dr. Kellner. During his early man- hood the father was prominent in the political world and widely known as a campaign orator in the days of Buchanan. His wife was formerly Miss Katherine Von Deran, a descendant of the Alsace-Lorraine family of lawyers. For generations Dr. Lauten- bach's family has been one of physicians ; a brother, Dr. B. Frank Lautenbach, was Demonstrator of Physiology at the University of Pennsylvania and at the age of twenty-four was elected Professor of Physiology at the University of Geneva, Switzerland; this is the only instance of an American being chosen to fill such a chair at so early an age. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia, graduating from the Central High School in 1878. He then matriculated at the University of Pennsylvania in both the Medical and Philosophical departments. Upon graduation, in 1881, he was awarded the H. C. Lea prize
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by the Medical Department for his thesis on "Broom and its Alkaloid ; " also the George B. Wood prize from the Philosophical Department for a thesis on "Strychnia and its Antidotes," a record rarely equaled.
Immediately after graduation he entered into the general prac- tice of medicine, but three years later began to devote his entire attention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. For a period of three years he was one of the physicians of the Philadelphia Dispensary, and was Chief of the Eye Clinic at the German Hospital for a similar period. From 1881 until 1893, the year of its discontinuance, he was identified with the Eye and Ear Department of the Philadelphia Dispensary as Surgeon; since the organization of the Pennsylvania Eye and Ear Infirmary, in 1893, until the present year, he has been its Surgeon. For several years after his graduation Dr. Lautenbach devoted considerable time to the study of the eye at the Philadelphia and Norristown Hospitals for the Insane, and at the same time studied the eye conditions found in the nervous clinics in several of the hospitals of Philadelphia. During the past six years he has served as Nose and Throat Physician at the Odd Fellows' Homes.
He is a member of the International Medical and American Medical associations, and of the Pennsylvania State Medical and Philadelphia County Medical societies; also of the Northern Medi- cal Association, Medical Club, Neurological and the Medico-Juris- prudence Societies; the Alexis Club, the Belmont Cricket Club, League of American Wheelmen, the Municipal League, Grand Fraternity, Secretary of the Eighth Ward Association of the Mu- nicipal League and one of the Board of Managers of the Alumni Society of the Central High School. He was one of the organizers and directors of the Philadelphia Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Institute, holding the position of Surgeon-in-Charge; is a member of the Civil Service Reform and the Citizens' Municipal Associa- tions, life member of the Philadelphia Medical Alumni Association of the University of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Historical Society, Mercantile Beneficial Association, Merchants' Fund, and Mutual Aid Society of the Philadelphia County Medical Society.
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His chief interests at present are centered in his work on dis- eases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, and in putting into practice new ideas concerning the treatment of ear diseases by massage methods. He is the author of more than fifty papers on such theories, and his special papers on Oto-massage have attracted world-wide attention. He has invented numerous instruments now in use by specialists in his line of work; by far the most import- ant of them are his Oto-masseurs or ear massage appliances, by which the drumhead and middle ear can be restored to their nor- mal functional activity by the breaking up of the adhesion bands, so common in cases of deafness, and by the stimulation of the ear nerves.
In writings on inflammations of the eye, his special aim has been to direct attention to the need of most extreme cleanliness and of frequent treatments, especially at home by the nurse; this is markedly illustrated in papers on Epidemic and Gonorrhoal Conjunctivitis. His works on Corneal Astigmatism, the Formation of the Corneal Curves and their Changes, Ophthalmic Measure- ments of the Cornea, especially after Cataract Operations, and other kindred subjects, have opened up an entirely new field in optical treatment.
The need of teaching civic matters in the public schools has induced him to found the "City Government Prize" in the Cen- tral High School, and he is now about to establish similar prizes in the Manual Training Schools. By this movement he is only endeavoring to inculcate anew the doctrine laid down by Penn when he founded the Commonwealth, outlining a school course containing civic ethics; but this branch apparently has been neg- lected in the later years. Recently the Doctor commenced to agi- tate the question of the need of local history to the public school pupils of Philadelphia, similar studies having been introduced with profit into the public schools of Boston, as well as in those of Delaware and Chester counties, adjoining Philadelphia.
Dr. Lautenbach married, on Christmas day, 1889, Miss Amy Pauline Warren, of Wrentham, Massachusetts. They have one child, Marguerite, born January 30, 1892.
CHARLES LAWRENCE.
OR six years Charles Lawrence served in Common Council of Philadelphia, resigning from the Presi- dency of that body to take charge of the impor- tant office of Harbor Master of the city. When the advisability of training boys for the mer- chant marine service on a schoolship was first broached, Mr. Lawrence took hold of the matter with considerable enthusiasm and finally succeeded in having the "Saratoga" established at the port of Philadelphia as a schoolship. For eighteen years he was President of the Vessel Owners' and Captains' Association, and as a business man, too, he has won wide recognition.
CHARLES LAWRENCE was born in Philadelphia, July 20, 1837. His father, Captain Alexander Lawrence, died when Charles was an infant of seven months, and his mother, who was Hesther Mahoney, when the cholera was raging in Philadelphia, in 1849, nobly volunteered as nurse in the city hospital, and through her zeal fell a victim to the scourge. His father served in the War of 1812, and his grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Lawrence attended the Northeast and the Newton schools, from which he went to the High School. When fifteen years old he became an apprentice to William Neal, sailmaker, and through his diligence and close application acquired a thorough knowledge of the business. When he attained his majority he accepted a situation in the United States Arsenal and engaged in the business of making tents until the Civil War broke out, when he entered the navy as sailmaker. On the sloop of war " Pensa- cola " he participated in all the engagements under Farragut, including the capture of New Orleans. The Admiral's attention
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was attracted to his valorous feats and he was recommended for promotion. He received the rank of Master, which was the only case on record where a sailmaker was promoted and commissioned. He was assigned to duty on the sloop of war "Portsmouth." When hostilities ceased he returned to Philadelphia and estab- lished a business for the manufacture of sails and flags, now suc- cessfully carried on by his son, Charles P. Lawrence, at 16 North Delaware Avenue, who became the successor of the founder in 1890.
Mr. Lawrence was selected a member of the Board of School Directors in the first section and was made its President for one term. He represented the ward in Common Council from 1882 until April, 1888, being President of the Chamber from 1884 until he declined a re-nomination as Councilman in 1888. He offered and advocated the bill to establish the police patrol system now in successful operation. In February, 1887, Mr. Lawrence was ap- pointed to the position of Harbor Master by Governor Beaver. The establishing of a schoolship at the Port of Philadelphia was suggested by him, and he made many trips to the Capital before he could persuade the government to give Philadelphia the schoolship, but, this once accomplished, Mr. Lawrence brought his untiring attention to organizing the institution. After the passage of the necessary bills through the Legislature and Councils had been effected, the establishment of a Board of Directors brought about, and a complement of naval officers appointed by the Secre- tary of the Navy, Mr. Lawrence was elected President of the Board of Directors. When the "Saratoga" sailed on her first cruise he followed her to England and took under his care the boys who could not afford the expense of trips ashore, with them visiting the interesting places, and personally defraying a large portion of the expenses.
On May 11, 1891, Mr. Lawrence was unanimously elected by the Board of Charities and Corrections to the position of Superin- tendent of the Philadelphia Almshouse and Hospital, and his selec- tion was generally recognized as the best that could have been made. The responsibilities of the position received from him such careful attention that many reforms were brought about. In the
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affairs of the old volunteer fire department Mr. Lawrence was very prominent. As one of the originators of the Vessel Owners' and Captains' Association he rendered efficient service to the merchant marine and its development; as President of the Association for eighteen years he brought into the executive office his excellent business methods and able talents. In March, 1894, he declined a re-election, but was, in spite of this, re-elected. In 1895, how- ever, he finally enforced his original intention, and sent in his resignation, which was reluctantly accepted.
In 1857 Mr. Lawrence was married to Margaret J. Rodgers. As a result of this marriage, seven children have been born: Fannie, Ida, Maggie, Charles P., James A., Jerry S., and Frank S. Lawrence. When Mr. Lawrence retired from the Presidency of the Common Council, in April, 1888, he was made the recipient, from his fellow members, of one of the most flattering testimonials ever presented to a city representative. Mr. Lawrence's chief interests at present are found in the Superintendency of the Almshouse and Philadelphia Hospital. Captain Lawrence is identified with the Masonic Order, and is a member of George G. Meade Post, No. I, Grand Army of the Republic; Loyal Legion, Naval Vet- eran Legion, of which he was the first Commodore, and the Union Veteran Legion, having served a term as Department Commander of the latter.
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HARVEY A. LOWRY.
T HE important part which the sturdy Scotch-Irish race has played in the history of Pennsylvania has been told of time and time again by those who have written of the progress of the State as a body politic; but in a work of a purely biographical nature the individual efforts of various leading representatives of this energetic stock may well be narrated. One of the most successful of the younger representatives of the early Scotch-Irish settlers in the State of Pennsylvania is Harvey A. Lowry, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, the present Sheriff of Allegheny County. He has united in him the most desirable traits of the men and women who helped to build up the prosperity of the Common- wealth many scores of years ago. Although still a young man, he has had many triumphs, political and otherwise, to his credit, and these he has achieved as a result of indefatigable effort on his part.
HARVEY A. LOWRY was born on Congress Street, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1859. The house of his parents was then in the Seventh Ward, in which his father, James Lowry, Jr., had a large political following, as it had been his home for a number of years. He was at one time Mayor of Pittsburg and was one the city's best known men. He was one of the first Scotch-Irish settlers of that section of the State. Mr. Lowry's mother was of English descent, her maiden name being Eliza Shore. Both of his parents came to Pittsburg when they were children, about 1826. Mr. Lowry's early education was received in the Franklin Public School of the Seventh Ward. When he had passed through the common schools he was sent to the Curry University for a
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business course. Upon leaving school, like many other young men of eighteen or nineteen, he became fascinated with the life of a railroad engineer, and, in 1878, he obtained a situation as a brakeman. He was then promoted to the post of fireman and finally was made an engineer, serving in the last capacity for eight years. Prior to his work as a railroad man, he had spent about a year with the wholesale boot and shoe commission firm of Scott, Wheelock & Company, of Pittsburg, as assistant bookkeeper. During his entire work-a-day life he had made many friends on every hand, and when a large and earnest constituency decided that he was the proper man to represent them in the administra- tion of their municipal laws and ordinances, he was assured of a large vote.
In 1890 Mr. Lowry was elected from the Seventh Ward to Common Council, serving two years. So satisfactory was his administration of the interests he represented that, in 1892, he was re-elected, serving until 1894, when he was once more sent to Common Council from the Seventh Ward, that in which he was born. In 1896 Mr. Lowry was elected for his fourthi term. That year, after a warm contest with two competitors, Mr. Lowry, backed up by a large constituency, including the imposing following of the labor element, was nominated for the office of Sheriff of Alle- gheny County. He was elected, in November, by a large majority and, on January 4, 1897, entered upon his duties. He has already demonstrated his entire fitness for the office, and his conduct of affairs has proved thoroughly satisfactory to the people, irrespec- tive of party.
His management of the office of Sheriff is characterized by strict business methods, and, already, a number of needed improve- ments have been instituted under his personal direction. In the political affairs of the city of Pittsburg, and the entire county, as well, Mr. Lowry is an important factor. His personal popularity goes for much, but, aside from that, his acknowledged ability for the duties entrusted to his care in the affairs of State has tended in like measure to gain his political triumphs.
Sheriff Lowry was married September 2, 1880, to Clara D.
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White, daughter of William J. White, ex-Chief of the Pittsburg Fire Department. The marriage has proved a very happy one, and six children, five living, are the result thereof. The latter are Grace K. and Edith W., who are attending High School, and C. Oliver, Lois and H. Addison Lowry. Mr. Lowry is a popular member of several prominent organizations and is in every sense a representative and progressive Pennsylvanian.
LOUIS N. MEGARGEE.
THERE was a time when the assertive personality of the writer was a conspicuous feature of American journalism; in those days the name of the editor- ial giant was always associated with his paper's utterances-in fact, the writer and what he had to say were more regarded than the particular medium through which the message was delivered. The tendency of journalism is at present, however, towards the absolute impersonality of the newspaper; the writer, the news gatherer, are only parts of a huge enterprise. The name of the author of an article rarely comes to the surface. It is, therefore, especially noteworthy when a journalist rises superior to this rigid condition of affairs, and through the possession of exceptional talent, ability and skill, through brilliancy in writing, or daring exploit in news gathering, succeeds in bringing his name and work prominently to the attention of the reading public. In Louis N. Megargee we have a striking, a notable example of a newspaper writer, whose rare journalistic equipment and clearness and brilliancy of composition, have made his name familiar to an army of readers.
LOUIS NANA MEGARGEE was born in Philadelphia, November 7, 1855. He is the son of the late Sylvester J. and Anna M. B. Megargee. His first schooling was obtained at the Jesuit College of St. Joseph, and he afterwards was a pupil of the public schools of Philadelphia. When but sixteen he was graduated from the Central High School. He entered upon commercial pursuits, his first position being with the wholesale auction house of Samuel C. Cook, and his last when he represented his father's special partnership in the firm of Daniel J. Walsh & Co. It was Charles 306
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Cathcart Taylor, then the City Editor of The Press, who first recognized young Megargee's talent and induced him to enter journalism. Mr. Taylor had been selected as City Editor for the new Philadelphia Times, and he persuaded Mr. Megargee to become a member of his staff. In the first issue of that paper, which was published March 13, 1875, the leading local article was written by Mr. Megargee, and upon this article was based the first editorial leader that Colonel McClure wrote for The Times. It is a matter of journalistic history to recall that this editorial article sounded the death knell of the Highway Ring of that day. From the first young Megargee's marked ability made him conspicuous among active newspaper workers. He early developed a particular antip- athy to the humbugs, frauds and political corruption of the day, and in warring upon these some of his exploits were of the most audacious and daring character, and were all engineered with skill, persistence and success. It was he who exposed Dr. William C. Harbeson and sent him to jail; it was he, who, disguised as a plumber, entered the household of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Bliss, then the most famous mediums in the country, and succeeded in putting an end to their spiritualistic seances. In this case Mr. Megargee figured in a conspiracy suit, but finally had the satis- faction of seeing the humbuggery of spiritualism exposed as it had never been exposed before. In September, 1879, he was made the City Editor of the Daily News. He remained in that position until June, 1880, when he accepted the same office on the Phila- delphia Press, then in a condition of re-organization. As the leader of the local force of the Press he continued-even excelling -- his achievements of previous days. His remarkable onslaught upon the then corrupt detective force of Philadelphia is one of the memorable episodes of his career. It may be said that through ' this every member of the force in the employ of Philadelphia, with the exception of one, was discharged, Mr. Megargee believing that that one was honest. To mark the success of this under- taking, Mr. Megargee was honored with a breakfast at the Hotel Bellevue, at which Charles Emory Smith presided. Shortly after this he began an investigation of the stealing of dead bodies for
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medical colleges. He succeeded, after a series of sensational inci- dents, in running down the grave robbers, who were subsequently tried and sent to prison, and the State Legislature passed a law relating to the use of dead bodies for medical colleges, which gave no further excuse for the robbing of graves by medical men. One of the most daring adventures, in this connection, was his seizing, at midnight, within the city limits, a horse and wagon con- taining three live men and six dead bodies, the latter having been taken from graves which had been opened in Lebanon Cemetery. In September, 1884, Mr. Megargee became one of the proprietors of the Daily News. New life and vigor were given to that journal, and he himself became famous as the writer of the sprightly articles signed "Bystander." These articles were copied all over the country. Subsequently he went to New York as a correspondent of The Times, and for a time was the Editor of the Illustrated New York Graphic. Then he became chief of a syndicate which furnished New York correspondence to twenty leading newspapers. All this time he had retained his residence in Philadelphia, which he visited weekly. He returned to journalism in that city in Jan- uary, 1891, and was made City Editor of The Times, which posi- tion he filled until he took up special writing for that paper over his own name, which was on September 24, 1895. From that time he has contributed daily to The Times signed articles. The fluency of his style, his almost phenomenal fund of information, his aptness in summing up matters, his clear cut, logical reason- ing, his independent tone of thought and his almost wonderful versatility-all these have made him a writer eagerly read, not only in Philadelphia, but throughout the country. Among his fellow associates and workers upon the press he is held in high esteem. This was shown in his election as President of the old Journalistic Club, by his repeated election as President of the Pen and Pencil Club, and his selection, by all the press clubs of the United States, to serve as President of the International League of Press Clubs. He is a member of the Hibernian Society, one of the charter members and a Director of the Clover Club, and is associated with a number of important business enterprises.
A.E.Frantis &Du
I Leslie Mestezat
STEPHEN L. MESTREZAT.
T HE citizens of Fayette County, which constitutes the Fourteenth Judicial District of Pennsylvania, with one accord commend the Judges of that Court for the immutable integrity and sound judgment which has ever characterized their decisions. Of this tribunal is Judge Mestrezat, who owes his elevation to the Bench solely to his conservative character and wide legal learning.
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