USA > Pennsylvania > Prominent and progressive Pennsylvanians of the nineteenth century. Volume III > Part 32
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Mr. Thompson was also an active spirit in the Bi-Centennial Celebration, in 1882, to commemorate the landing of William Penn, being a member of the Executive Committee, and also having charge of affairs on Industrial Day. He was appointed Chairman of the Executive Committee on the Constitutional Celebration in 1887, when President Cleveland and Mrs. Cleveland paid their first visit to Philadelphia, and the Diplomatic Corps, Governors of all the States, and many other notable and prominent persons were present. He is one of the most active members of the Union League, and is President of the St. George's Hall Association, succeeding the late William Massey. He is Past Master of Lafayette Lodge, No. 71, Free and Accepted Masons, St. John's Chapter, and Past Commander of St. John's Commandery, No. 4, Knights Templar.
Mr. Thompson was married in September, 1863, to Margaret Flickenger, daughter of Isaac Flickenger, a member of the then prominent dry-goods house of Flickenger & Koons. They have two children, T. Mason and Helen Thompson.
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ERNEST LEIGH TUSTIN.
HAT birth, inclination, education and environment are important factors in the development of men to a state of eminence in their professional pursuits or business life is unquestioned. This is especially true of those who, in their early life, make choice of a professional career and afterwards achieve honorable success. Prom- inent among the younger progressive Pennsylvanians who give evi- dence of this fact is Ernest Leigh Tustin, the subject of this biography. His parents were deeply interested in educational matters and his grandparents were men and women who appreciated intellectual cul- ture and who moved in the most intelligent circles of society. His early association with books, the opportunity of a higher education and his living in the very atmosphere of learning gave him an innate love of knowledge. His mind, thus trained, was supplied with a solid basis upon which to build the superstructure of a broad scholarship.
ERNEST LEIGH TUSTIN was born, December 20, 1862, at Lewis- burg, his parents being Francis Wayland Tustin, Ph.D., and Maria M. Tustin (Probasco), both of whom were descendants directly from Revolutionary stock. Indeed, several of Mr. Tustin's ancestors bore commissions and fought in the War of the American Revolution. On his paternal side he comes from the Phillips family of Chester County. His great-grandfather, Josiah Phillips, raised a company of militia in what is now Chester County, and, marching at the head of his command, entered the Continental Army. He fought throughout the long and bitter struggle, and retired to his home at the con- clusion of the conflict, with the full rank of Captain. Captain Phillips' brothers, David and Thomas, also entered the Continental Army, Thomas holding a commission as Lieutenant at the end of
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the War, and David holding a similar commission, when, during the strife, he gave up his life for his country. David was taken prisoner by the British and died on board a British pest ship that was anchored in the Hudson River.
Mr. Tustin's ancestors were the Probasco and Van Wieklen families, prominent Dutch colonists, who first settled in New Amsterdam about 1630, and afterwards acquired large grants of land from William Penn along the Raritan River. Here both families did excellent service in the New Jersey troops during the Revolutionary War, several of them holding commissions, among whom was Mr. Tustin's direct ancestor, Hendrick Probasco, who served as a staff officer during the entire war. Mr. Tustin's father, Francis Wayland Tustin, was one of the founders of Bucknell Uni- versity, and was closely identified with that institution for thirty-five years. He was Professor of Greek languages, Vice-President, and for a time acting President of the University. As a recognition of his faithful services in the development of that institution, the Tustin Gymnasium, at Bucknell, was erected and equipped in his honor. He was one of the best known men of the Baptist denomination in the country, frequently contributing scholarly papers on denomi- national and Biblical subjects.
Ernest Leigh Tustin was prepared for college at private schools and Bucknell Academy, and entered Bucknell University in 1880. That he was a conscientious student and possessed to a high degree a faculty for the acquirement of knowledge, is shown by the fact that he was graduated with the first honors in 1884. He then registered as a law student with S. P. Wolverton, of Sunbury, Penn- sylvania, and was admitted to the Northumberland County Bar in September, 1886. Mr. Tustin then took a post-graduate course in the Law Department of the University of Pennsylvania, and, in the spring of 1887, was admitted to practice in the Philadelphia courts and opened an office in that city. He has since been admitted to the Supreme Court of the State of Pennsylvania, the Circuit and District Courts of the United States, and the Supreme Court of the United States. He has been associated with Charles F. Warwick, formerly City Solicitor and later Mayor, and also with Alfred S. Miller, as attorneys-at-law.
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Mr. Tustin's inclination is not in the direction of public life, nor would he ever permit the use of his name in connection with candidacy for office. He has always been a Republican, though not a partisan in politics, having never taken an active part in political matters. His time is devoted almost entirely to the prac- tice of his profession, his deep knowledge of law and his recog- nized ability as a counsellor having brought him a large clientage. Though a member of the Philadelphia Bar for eleven years only, he has one of the largest and most remunerative practices in this city. He is a member of Masonic bodies, the Sons of the Revo- lution and the Union League; is President of the Baptist Social Union of Philadelphia, Trustee of Bucknell University and Director of the American Baptist Publication Society, Pennsylvania Baptist Educational Society, and other kindred organizations. He is a Trustee of the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia, and Superin- tendent of the large Bible School of that Church.
Mr. Tustin married Ella Mae Woodruff, of Philadelphia, daughter of Charles H. Woodruff, on June 4, 1889.
George a Vare
GEORGE A. VARE.
T HAT the young man in politics is an important factor in the strength of both parties has been indi- cated time and again in Pennsylvania's political his- tory. One of the most noteworthy examples of the progressive tendencies of the younger branch, as well as a thorough illustration of the business success which attends careful management, is furnished in the rise and advancement of Senator George A. Vare, the subject of this biography. Born in the old district of Southwark, and continuing in business there all his life. Mr. Vare has deservedly won the esteem and confidence of his party in that section of the city, and after having served three terms in the lower branch of the State Legislature he is now caring for the inter- ests in his charge as a member of the Senate of Pennsylvania.
GEORGE A. VARE was born in Southwark, Philadelphia, on Feb- ruary 7, 1859. His parents were Augustus and Abigail Vare, and both of them were well known in the lower part of Philadelphia, where Augustus Vare was a contractor, a business which has been followed by the Vare Brothers for many years. In fact, George A. Vare has long been identified with public works, and he and his brother have for several years been among the most successful con- tractors for cleaning the streets, the amounts involved running into hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. When quite a young man he took up his residence in the First Ward, which was contigu- ous to the section in which he was born, and there he began to take an active part in politics, an interest which dates from the time he cast his first vote. He had been educated in the public schools of lower Philadelphia, and, upon the foundation of scholastic training received in these institutions, was enabled in later years to build up
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an edifice of business ability and progressive administration of local affairs that marked him as a man of remarkable aptitude. When he left the public schools of the First District he went into business as a contractor with his brothers, and the firm became known as one of the most prominent of its kind in the State. It was not long before the Vare Brothers were able to give employment to a small army of men in every section of the city. While he was winning business recognition as a contractor, Mr. Vare was advancing himself in the general esteem of the public of Philadelphia as a representative of the political interests of the lower section of the city.
It was about twelve years ago that Mr. Vare began business as a contractor, and almost at the same time that he commenced to exert himself in the political affairs of the First Ward. He was made a member of the Republican Ward Committee, in which capacity he wielded a large influence in the administration of the Republican organization's affairs. For a considerable period he has been an active spirit in the Union Republican Club of his Ward, which is generally recognized as one of the most important political institu- tions of the lower section of the city. He served his party as a Delegate to State Conventions in 1889, 1891 and 1893, and each time added new friends to his ranks and won a wider constituency through his adherence to their best interests. He has always been a liberal contributor to the finances of the party, but until the year 1891 he never would accept any public honors in the political sense; notwith- standing this fact, he always participated in the councils of the organization.
In 1890 Mr. Vare was given the nomination for the State Legis- lature, and was elected by a good majority to the lower branch. The trust reposed in him has been so well kept that for three sessions he has represented the First Ward in the State Legislature, having been re-elected twice. In 1891 he enjoyed the distinction of being one of the youngest members ever sent to the House from Philadel- phia, a fact which indicated the progressive nature of the young Representative from the First Ward. The fact that he was sent to Harrisburg by a plurality of 3,300 evidenced the esteem in which he was held by the Republicans of his district; in 1895, having again been
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sent to represent the First Ward in the lower house, making a con- tinuous record of three sessions of service in behalf of the interests of that thriving section of the city. While in the Legislature, Rep- resentative Vare has served on the Committees of Bureau of Statistics, Legislative Apportionment, Municipal Corporations, and Retrenchment and Reform. But the most decisive indication of his political strength was illustrated in November, 1896, when he was elected to the State Senate, having polled 12,493 votes more than his Democratic opponent. During his occupancy of the chair of State Senator Mr. Vare has amply indicated his interests in the welfare of South Philadelphia, particularly his own Ward. Every improvement possible and every favorable legislation obtainable he has been active in securing.
On December 7, 1882, Mr. Vare was married to Clara B. Hunter, and they have one son, who is now thirteen years of age. Mr. Vare's original election to the Legislature was largely by reason of his popu- larity with the young men of the party, and it was at first considered as a concession to that element for the political strength which it repre- sented. While Mr. Vare has grown in influence, and while the estima- tion in which he is held throughout the First Ward generally has increased, he still has the welfare of the younger branch of the Repub- lican organization at heart. In his duties in the Senate of Pennsyl- vania are centered his largest interests, but as a business man he is still concerned with the development of the large industry of general contracting carried on by the progressive firm of Vare Brothers.
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PETER D. WANNER.
L OCAL prominence and a high position in manufactur- ing circles have come to the subject of this biography as the just rewards of an almost phenomenal activity that began during his school days and has ever since been among his most marked traits. Endowed by nature with conspicuous talents, he has never failed to take advantage of an opportunity either to advance himself or to procure the prosper- ity of the community in which he resided, and in the conduct of whose affairs he has long held a foremost position, winning universal recog- nition as one of the city's most enterprising residents.
PETER D. WANNER was born near Kutztown, Berks County, Pennsylvania, on the Ist day of December, 1840. His father was William Wanner, a well-known farmer in the neighborhood, and his mother was Elizabeth Deysher Wanner, both being of French-German extraction. The early years of the subject of this biography were spent upon his father's farm, assisting at such duties as usually fall to the lot of a farmer's boy. He was able to attend school, although only for short periods during the winter months. He improved every opportunity, however, so thoroughly that, during the winter of 1857 and 1858, he was able to secure a position as teacher. This post was of the greatest advantage to him, as it not only enabled him to thor- oughly review the fundamental parts of the branches then taught in the country schools, but gave him ample time for reading and study. So well did he improve these opportunities that, in 1859, he was able to enter Union Seminary, located at New Berlin, Union County, Penn- sylvania. In this institution he spent a year or two of earnest study, following which he took a course for a like term in Fairview Semi- nary, Kutztown, Berks County, Pennsylvania, in which institution he
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prepared himself for entrance into Franklin and Marshall College, at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he remained from 1862 to 1865, grad- uating on the 26th day of July, in the latter year. Mr. Wanner's remarkable aptitude and diligence cannot better be illustrated than by a statement of his achievements during these years. He entered Franklin and Marshall College in September, 1862, as a member of the Sophomore Class. He was graduated in July, 1865, and was admitted to the Bar at Lancaster within two months, afterwards reading law under Isaac E. Heister, thus having completed in three years not only a four years' college course, but a two years' course in law. At Lancaster he was admitted to the Bar on the motion of his pre- ceptor, Mr. Heister ; but as he considered Reading a better field for his endeavors, he removed to that growing city, and, on motion of J. Glancy Jones, was admitted to practice in its courts on the 4th day of November, 1865.
Mr. Wanner has ever since remained a resident of Reading and has taken an active part in politics and in all public and semi-public enterprises, and has come to be known as one of its most progressive citizens. He has always allied himself with the Democratic party and has risen to high standing in its councils. His political prominence, coupled with the public recognition of his eminent legal talents, led to his election to the post of District Attorney for the County of Berks in 1871, and so capable was his administration of the duties of the office that he was selected for the position of County Solicitor in 1877. In 1878 Mr. Wanner was a candidate for the Democratic Nomina- tion for Congress against Heister Clymen, and came very near defeating him at the primaries.
It was in 1879 that Mr. Wanner turned his attention to manu- facturing and mercantile pursuits. In this year he became connected with the Mellert Foundry and Machine Company, Limited, of Reading, and in 1885 with the Reading Foundry Company, Limited. His chief interests at present are centered in the affairs of this latter company, of which he is Chairman, and in the management of a number of water works throughout the State. Mr. Wanner is President of the Foundrymen's Association of Philadelphia; also of the Pennsylvania Water Works Association and of a number of other private companies
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as well, at Steelton, Bridgeport, Hamburg, Newport and elsewhere. While a member of the Bar, Mr. Wanner was eminently successful almost from the beginning, and was employed on one side or the other in most of the important cases that came before the courts of his county from the date of his admission until the time that he withdrew from the Bar in the early part of the eighties. Since this time, by strictly honest, straightforward dealing, hard work and indefatigable energy, he has become prominent in the political, busi- ness and social circles of Reading.
He was married on the 5th day of September, 1872, to Kate Mellert, the daughter of the late Arnold Mellert, of Reading. They have three sons and two daughters. He resides at his beautiful suburban place, called "Mount Penn Home," at the head of Walnut Street.
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GEORGE W. WARREN.
EORGE W. WARREN was born in New Egypt, New Jersey, January 7, 1863. 1 His father was Daniel A. Warren, M.D., now deceased, and his mother was Sarah J. Bryan, both being American born. His father was a native of New Hampshire and of a well- known New England family. He left his native State early in life and, after receiving his medical degree, settled in New Jersey, where he practiced up to the time of his death. The son was sent to the common schools of his native town and received a rudimentary education and, after this, he went to the Peddie Institute, of New Jersey, to take a special course. His education in the larger sense, however, has been obtained in the great school of practical experi- ence. Thus prepared, he decided to adopt a profession, and to this end left his native State, coming to Pennsylvania and, after a short time, entered the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. He graduated from this institution in the class of '86-'87 with honors, being unanimously chosen by his classmates as their valedictorian. He at once began to practice in Philadelphia. From the very first, success seemed to reward his efforts, but his desire to perfect himself in his profession led him to even a wider field than that of private practice. He received the offer of a position in the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, from which he had graduated, and, accept- ing the same, was installed as Demonstrator of Operative Dentistry. He held this post for one year, at the end of which term his efforts in behalf of the college and of dentistry were substantially recognized by the faculty. He was appointed Chief of the Clinical Staff, and within a short time introduced many improvements in the methods of his department and in other ways gave evidence of his interest in his
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Alma Mater. So well did he fulfill the duties of his position that he has ever since held that office, also occupying the position of Instructor in Crown and Bridge Work and Lecturer on Metallurgy. In the execution of his college duties he won the love and admiration of his students. He has been a never-failing source of inspiration to them, and, as a member of the Executive Committee of the Inter-Collegiate Young Men's Christian Association work, has done them much good outside of the regular college duties.
Doctor Warren's knowledge of dentistry and dental surgery in all its branches, as well as his mental activity, has been indicated in his labors as an author. He has written, at the request of the pub- lishers, a manual on "Dental Pathology and Dental Medicine ;" and later, a manual on "Dental Prosthesis and Metallurgy." These are numbered among the standard dental publications and stamp the author as a man of more than usual ability. The subject of this sketch was also, after the death of the late Professor Richardson, invited to revise and edit Doctor Richardson's "Treatise on Mechanical Den- tistry," which had for years stood as an authority upon the subject in the colleges and universities of this country as well as abroad. A very able and prominent editor of a professional magazine, in review- ing one of his works, thus speaks of it : "By an intelligent and, withal, expert use of descriptive language, the salient points of both topics have been clearly given. The whole work bears evidence of the author's experience and training as a teacher. Especially is this mani- fested in the lucidity with which the various points are set forth, so that they may be readily understood by the novice."
About five years ago Doctor Warren was notified of his election to the position of Assistant Editor of the International Dental Journal, the independent organ of the dental profession, which position he has since filled.
As may be seen, Doctor Warren is a great worker outside of his private professional work, and has received all his honors entirely unsolicited. His advancements in the Pennsylvania College have been made solely upon the strength of his ability and his conscientious work, and these, too, have come entirely unasked.
Doctor Warren was married in Philadelphia, shortly after his
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graduation, to Helen Warner Collins. He has two boys, Harold Collins and George Peirce, aged seven and three respectively.
We cannot bring this sketch to a better close than to quote from one of the most able physicians of Philadelphia. He said, in part : "As a practitioner, Doctor Warren stands in the front of the profes- sion. Not only for his mechanical skill, but as a pathologist, he has made many forward steps in the profession which have been most gratifying to his friends. It is to hard, faithful work only that he owes his position. He goes to the bottom of diseases, and is not satisfied with a mere performance of his professional duties as a dentist. If he finds a patient suffering from any physical derangement calculated to impair the condition of the nerve force and nourishment, and sub- sequently induce disease of the teeth, he sets to work not only to restore the imperfection manifest in the mouth, but also to check the inroads which diseases of the body are liable to produce upon the patient's general system. In correcting deformities of the mouth, which the average dentist would regard as impossible, Doctor Warren has made some remarkable achievements, and this has brought to him a class of patients unsurpassed by any dentist in the country. As a man he is of splendid character, of broad and liberal views, a firm friend and a Christian gentleman. He stands in great favor as a teacher, and is loved and respected by his students. As a pathological clinical dentist he stands pre-eminently foremost."
ARCHIBALD N. WATERHOUSE.
L IFE insurance companies are well to the fore among the giant business organizations of the United States, and of these the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York is said to be pre-eminent, having the record of being the most extensive in the world. In fact, it has been asserted that the annual receipts of this great com- pany would be sufficient to pay the total cost of running some of the governments of Europe. The well-directed and energetic efforts of an army of men are employed in its service, stretching over a far-reaching territory. One of the largest agencies is that of Pennsylvania, the policy-holders being numbered by tens of thou- sands. The General Agents for the State are Lambert & Water- house, with offices in the Mutual Life Building, on the corner of Tenth and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia. The individual members of the firm are William H. Lambert and Archibald N. Waterhouse, the latter being the subject of this review. They have managed the affairs of the company in their jurisdiction with conspicuous success, and by their intelligent and energetic services have contributed largely to the substantial prestige and the wealth of the company. Mr. Waterhouse is known and honored wherever life insurance is practiced, and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania he stands in the front rank of insur- ance officials.
ARCHIBALD N. WATERHOUSE began life in New York City, where he received his education in the public schools and made preparation for college, but, owing to severe illness, was compelled to alter his plans, becoming, instead, a clerk for the Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany. This was in 1867, and then he passed step by step through different positions until he reached that of Auditor, which he held for
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eight years, and is now a member of the Board of Trustees, having been elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Theodore A. Havemeyer. The multifarious duties that devolved upon him in the position of Auditor can scarcely be understood by the outside world. Transactions extending over the globe and involving many millions of dollars annually must all pass the inspection of the Auditor, and to properly fill such a position requires the highest business capacity and immense versatility, with the faculty of prompt decisions. That Mr. Waterhouse possesses these qualifications has been proven by his promotion in the service of the company. Only the most exact system of bookkeeping could make it possible for one man to super- vise so comprehensive a field of accounts, and yet it was the work of but a few hours for him to make a complete tabulated statement of the company's financial condition. The Mutual Life is generally spoken of as being the largest financial institution of its nature in the world. Its last annual report shows assets of nearly $254,000,000 and a net surplus of over $35,000,000. The reserve for policies and other liabilities is stated at $218,278,243 and the insurance and annui- ties in force $936,634,496. Mr. Waterhouse has visited nearly every country in the world on business of insurance, greatly to the advan- tage of his company, which has been benefited by the information and advice rendered by him.
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