USA > Pennsylvania > The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 1 > Part 17
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moted to the position of General Manager, which he now retains. Soon after settling in Altoona, he united in mar- riage with Lois Buchanan, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Buchanan, of Oxford, Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, and niece of the late President, James Buchanan.
ARDNER, JAMES L., Rear-Admiral United States Navy, was born in Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, November 20th, 1802. Appointed Mid- shipman from Pennsylvania, May 10th, 1820, his first service was in the schooner " Dolphin " and ship " Franklin," flag ship of Commodore Stew- art, in the Pacific Ocean, from 1821 till 1824. In August, 1825, he joined the frigate " Brandywine," and sailed to France, the frigate bearing to his native home General Lafayette, who had been "the Nation's Guest" in the country he had aided to free. He afterwards served for a time in the Mediterranean, and returned to the United States in 1826. In October of that year he sailed in the " Brandywine," then flag-ship of Commodore Jacob Jones, for the Pacific Ocean. In that frigate, the schooner " Dolphin " and ship " Vincennes," he served until June, 1830. Of the latter ship he was for nearly three years the navigating officer, and in it, in 1829-30, he circumnavi- gated the globe. May 17th, 1828, he was commissioned Lieutenant. The summer of 1832, he was upon duty as senior Lieutenant in the schooner "Experiment." The years 1833-34 he passed on the " Delaware," flag-ship of Commodore Patterson, commanding the Mediterranean Squadron. In April, 1837, he was ordered to the " Inde- pendence," flag-ship of the Brazil Squadron, Commodore Nicolson, and served in Russia, England and Brazil until 1839. From 1840 to the close of 1844, he was upon duty as senior Lieutenant in the sloop " Cyane" and frigate " United States," flag-ship of the Pacific Squadron, nearly three years of the time in the latter. The four years fol- lowing, he was in command of the receiving-ship at Phila- delphia. In May, 1850, in the brig " Porpoise," he sailed for the coast of Africa, and made a cruise of three years in command of that vessel and the sloop of war " Dale," re- turning to Boston in April, 1853. He was commissioned as Commander May 17th, 1851. The summer of 1855, he was upon duty as Fleet Captain of the West India Squad- ron. In 1860, he was ordered to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. May 19th, 1861, he was commissioned as Captain. In'September of that year, he was placed in connand of the steam frigate " Susquehanna," of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, blockading South Carolina and Georgia. He took part, under Du Pont, in the capture of Port Royal, his services in that action being so conspicuous that his name was sent to Congress, by President Lincoln, for a vote of thanks from that body. Flag Officer Du Pont wrote to him :
" Your noble ship, throughout the whole of the battle, was precisely where I wanted her to be, and doing pre- cisely what I wanted her to do; your close support was a very gallant thing."
In May, IS62, he assumed command of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron, with the flag of Rear-Admiral. In December, he returned to Philadelphia, invalided by a se- vere attack of yellow fever, by which disease, during the summer of 1862, his ship lost forty gallant officers and men. July 16th, 1862, he was commissioned as Commo- dore. In May, 1863, he took command of the West India Squadron, with the flag of Rear-Admiral, and remained upon that duty until October, 1864, when the squadron was withdrawn. July 25th, 1866, he was commissioned as Rear-Admiral. From the year 1864 to 1869, he was upon special duty as member of Courts Martial and Examining Boards. In 1869, he was appointed Governor of the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia, where he remained until 1872. No officer has served his country more faithfully and gallantly. Though an officer of "the old school," he ever keeps pace with the advancing spirit of the age. In time of action, his coolness, decision of character, professional knowledge and energy are invaluable. Ile is an honor to his profession and to the country whose flag he upholds.
ORAN, JOSEPH MICHAEL, Lawyer and Judge, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October Ioth, 1800. Ilis parents were beth natives of Ireland, and belonged to the Catholic Church; they emigrated to America in 1795, leaving Dublin in company with four ladies, one of whom, his aunt Theresa, founded the Nunnery at George- town, District of Columbia. His mother's maiden name was Mary Lalor, a cousin of Patrick Lalor, Member of Parliament. His father entered into trade in Philadelphia, and was for many years extensively engaged in the cloth business at the corner of Chestnut and Second streets. His preliminary education he received at the school of Grey & Wiley, a Presbyterian educational establishment. The higher branches of study he pursued at the University of Pennsylvania, from which institution he graduated in 1820. He immediately devoted himself to the study of law, and entered, as a student, the office of Hon. Joseph R. Inger- soll, with whom he remained until he was admitted to practice. Establishing himself in his native city, the ability, honesty, and the energy he displayed in his profes- sion, quickly gained him not only reputation, but a large and lucrative practice, in which his success was distin- guished. He was an active member in the Convention of 1837, to revise the Constitution of Pennsylvania, being one of the delegates from the city of Philadelphia. In 1840, he was appointed to the bench of the Court of General
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Sessions of Philadelphia, in which position he served for | tow-boats to ply between Philadelphia and Havre de Grace, three years. He died June 6th, 1859. Throughout life, with great earnestness, he devoted himself exclusively to the practice of his profession ; and although his business was very large and laborious, he always preserved his habits of study, and his ability, attested as well by his pro- fessional success as by the concessions of his brother law- yers, cause him to be remembered with respect by the latter, and with gratitude by the many whom his labors have benefited.
UDD, HENRY, Merchant, was born in the city of Philadelphia, April 20th, 1810, and is de- scended in a direct line from Thomas Budd, born about 1620, who was a minister in the Estab- lished Church of England, and pastor of the Parish of Martook, Somersetshire, but in 1600 became a Quaker preacher. Ilis son, also named Thomas, emigrated to America in 1678, and settled at Burlington, New Jersey. He was the author of a work entitled, Ac- count of Pennsylvania and New Jersey in 1685, which at- tracted some notice in its day, and is still regarded as of historical value. From William Budd, a brother of Thomas, were descended William Bingham Bradford, Attorney General of the United States under President Washington, and William Bingham Barring, afterwards Lord Ashburton. Henry Budd was educated at the best schools of his native city, the greater part of his school years being spent under the tuition of the eminent scholar, Charles Keyser. At the age of eighteen, he entered the mercantile house of T. Latimer & Co., where he remained, after the decease of Thomas Latimer, with William B. Potts, the" surviving partner, until January, 1836. The excellent advantages which his connection with this house afforded for a thor- ough mercantile training, Latimer & Potts being regarded as among the best business men of their day, he improved to the utmost. At the age of twenty-one, by the death of both his parents within the space of twelve months, he was left the sole supporter of seven younger brothers and sisters, whom, without other means than his talents and industry, he managed to educate and to settle comfortably in life. January Ist, 1836, he entered into a co-partnership with Thomas Ridgway, previously a member of the house of Ridgway & Livizey, the new firm being known as Ridg- way & Budd. They carried on the flour business quite making himself generally known and esteemed in the mer- cantile world. While in this connection, he had an oppor- tunity for the display of that public spirit which has ever been his prominent characteristic. The trade of the Sns- quehanna and Juniata rivers, at that time of great impor- tance to Philadelphia, was likely to be diverted to Baltimore by the completion of the tide water canal. He took an active and leading part in the establishment of a line of
by which means the canal was converted into a benefit to the city, while the declining energies of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Company were greatly reinvigorated. About this time also, with his usual generous publie spirit, he gave what time his regular business permitted to the duties of a Director, and subsequently to those of Presi- dent of the Beaver Meadow Railroad and Coal Company. In connection with this enterprise, he exhibited those qualities of tact and energy for which he has been ever distinguished. On the Ist of January, 1846, Roland Kirk- patrick, who had long been with the house, became a partner in the firm of Ridgway & Bndd, remaining until 1849, when he withdrew, and the original parties continued the business until IS50, when Thomas Ridgway retired and S. I. Comly became an associate. Impressed with the lack of system in this business, and the importance of cooperation and a thorough understanding among those engaged in it, the senior partner invited to meet him at his house twelve gentlemen prominent in the trade. Subse- quent meetings were held, and a plan of organization was agreed upon, from which resulted " The Corn Exchange of Philadelphia," one of the most important institutions of the city, and which has given the flour and grain trade a prominence it could not otherwise have attained. He has been connected with the Northern Liberties Gas Com- pany ever since its organization, and has been for at least fifteen years its President. He was a member of the Board of Trade for many years, and always took an active part in the proceedings of that body. Since retiring from mercan- tile life, he has retained the position of a Director of the Penn Township Bank-now known as the Penn National Bank-which he has filled for twenty years. He has been for five successive years elected to the Presidency of the Green and Coates Street Passenger Railway Company. He is also Vice-President of the time-honored Fire Insurance Company of the County of Philadelphia.
ROCKTE, WILLIAM, Merchant, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, December 23d, 1834. His ancestors were farmers both on the side of his father and mother, although his father afterwards engaged in baking in Edinburgh; but as bis preferences lay in other directions, after he had he entered a mercantile house in Leith, Scotland, in 1849. That city continued to be his home until 1855, when he removed to Liverpool, where he obtained a position as clerk, and subsequently an interest, in the old established shipping house of Richardson, Spence & Co., of Liverpool and Philadelphia. On the death of the senior member of that firm, he came to Philadelphia to represent it in America (1865). His extensive knowledge of mercantile
extensively, the latter being especially active, and soon ! completed his education m the High School of Edinburgh,
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transactions, and the sound judgment with which he is naturally gifted, enabled him to prosecute the business of the firm with satisfactory results to all interested, and he rapidly took a prominent position in the commercial world of Philadelphia. His name has been frequently sought, to lend weight to corporations, and he has repeatedly been urged to take an active part in bringing their claims before the public; but this he has usually declined to do, not from lack of public spirit, but from a natural modesty which is as commendable as it is rare in this age and country. He is a Director of the Insurance Company of North America, and an active member and Director of the Commercial Exchange. Although he arrived in this city without acquaintances, he has gathered around him a circle of warm friends who appreciate highly the excellent traits which adorn his character. Not the least of these is the deep and sincere religious feeling which actuates his life. An active member of the Presbyterian Church, he has also been prominent in furthering the objects of the Young Men's Christian Association, and other enterprises of a re- ligious and charitable nature. Ilis marriage took place after his arrival in this city, to a Philadelphia lady.
ITTLE, AMOS R., Merchant, was born in the town of Marshfield, Massachusetts, July 27th, 1825. He is the son of the Ilon. Edward P. Little, and grandson of Captain George Little, who commanded the United States frigate " Bos- ton," during the short war between France and this country in 180 !. Hle received the usual amount of education bestowed upon farmers' sons, mostly at home, though latterly attending boarding-schools in Sandwich and Providence, Rhode Island. At the age of nineteen, he bade farewell to the old homestead, and came to Pennsyl- vania. He decided to select a mercantile career, although at this time he did not possess the slightest idea of any of the duties or responsibilities attendant upon such a pursuit. His capital stock consisted of energy, integrity, and deter- mination to acquire all that was necessary. His first year was passed in a country store at Milestown, Pennsyl- vania, where his compensation was his board and five dol- lars per month. There he obtained his first insight into mercantile traffic, and learned the rudiments of that busi- ness which was to be of service to him in the future. Being eager for promotion, he entered the wholesale house of Maynard & Hutton, in Market street, Philadelphia, at a salary of three hundred dollars per annum, which was steadily increased until the close of 1849. . In that year he married the daughter of George Peterson, a retired mer- chant of the city. The following year he undertook the responsibilities of a Commission Ilonse on his own account, under the firm-name of Little & Peterson, afterwards Withers, Little & Peterson, then Little & Stokes, which
was again changed to Little, Stokes & Co., and finally. in 1866, to Amos R. Little & Co., which name it still retains. Throughout his entire business carcer, he has been success- ful not only in the accumulation of means, but in securing a reputation as a man of strict integrity, honorable in his dealings, prompt in the fulfilment of engagements and in the discharge of liabilities. Ile passed successfully through all seasons of financial troubles. In his youth he acquired a taste for gunning and fishing, which he has retained through his life. He attributes his continued good health to the putting aside of business cares twice a year and in- dulging in these manly sports in a rational manner.
ORRELL, EDWARD R., Lawyer, was born at Frankford, Philadelphia, April 22d, 1844. IIis education was received at the public schools of the city. He graduated from the Central High School in July, 1861, which also conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts in 1866. Three years later he was elected to deliver the Annual Oration before its Alumni, which he did in a highly credit- able manner. After leaving school, he entered the office of the Ilon. James Ross Snowden, as a student of law, and was admitted to practise that profession in December, 1865. Ilis success has been satisfactory, and he has de- voted himself to his growing duties with undivided atten- tion, thoughi always taking a lively interest in the progress of Democratic principles, to which organization he has constantly been attached. At the solicitations of his friends, he consented to become a candidate for the mem- bership of the Constitutional Convention, which met at Ilarrisburg and Philadelphia in 1872. He was elected, and has left an honorable record of his activity in the meet- ings of that body. A member of the Masonic Order, he occupies the position of High Priest of the Chapter and Senior of his Lodge. Religiously, he subscribes to the doctrines of the New Jerusalem Church.
LODGET, LORIN, Meteorologist, was born May 25th, 1823, near Sugar Grove, Warren county, Pennsylvania, on a farm situated partly in New York and partly in Pennsylvania. Ile comes of an old Puritan stock, the common ancestor of the Blodgets in America having been Thomas Blod- get, merchant of London, who was among the first sworn as freemen at the founding of Boston, in 1632. During the Revolutionary war, his ancestors emigrated to Pennsyl- vania, where his grandfather took up arms on the patriot side in that struggle, and a relative, Samuel Blodget, was well known at the close of the last century as a wealthy Philadelphia banker. In the war of 1812-14, his father
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was an officer in the American army, and served with credit on the Canadian frontier. Destined for a collegiate education, he was placed at Jamestown Academy, Chatau- qua county, New York, but was obliged to leave college before he graduated, on account of his father's death in 1838. In the following spring, although not yet eighteen years of age, he was persuaded by a wealthy neighbor to take charge of an expedition to Wisconsin, to examine and purchase lands for a colony. This promised a gratification to the scientific tastes which had early been developed in his mind, and accepting the offer, he passed nearly two years in traversing Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. The at- mospheric phenomena of these regions especially interested him, and he made many valuable and suggestive notes during his journeys. These subjects he continued to study attentively after his return, his time being alternately occu- pied with teaching and farming, but meteorology never being neglected. In politics, he was an active Whig, and took the stump with the so-called " Barn-burners" of New York against the nomination of General Taylor in 1848, in which year he was also a delegate to the convention which nominated Van Buren and Adams. He attached himself to that branch of the party which advocated the " free soil " doctrines, and opposed the extension of slavery. The con- tributions which he had made to meteorological science had long won for him a high reputation in this branch of sci- entific investigation, and led to an invitation being extended to him, in the fall of 1851, to remove to Washington City and take charge of the department of Physical Science in the Smithsonian Institute. This flattering distinction he accepted, and remained in the position thus proffered until 1854. While in this post, he had the supervision of sup- plying the Pacific Railroad surveys with scientific instru- ments, as well as the reduction of their observations of altitude, climate, etc. It deserves to be mentioned here, that the survey of the routes of the Pacific Railroad was one of doubtful accuracy by the ordinary modes, and a survey by the use of the barometer was then unknown. He not only advocated its use for this purpose, but secured the action of Congress, by which the surveys were ordered to be completed in this manner, and for this reason they were placed under his direction. As the result, all of the six lines then surveyed across the Continent, from the Mis- sissippi to the Pacific, are now relied upon as base lines for other roads, and as being practically accurate. Such success had never been attained even by French engineers, who used the barometer in the Alps only for single deter- minations. During the three years he had charge of the System of Climatological Observations at the Smithsonian Institute, he prepared the forms and instructions then and ever since in use in that system and at the United States military posts, and published several papers of general re- sults of climatological research from 1852 to 1855, particu- larly at the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in 1853, at Cleveland, He pre-
pared, by order of the War Department, in 1854 and 1855, parts of several volumes of Pacific Railroad Reports, and a general report, in quarto, of Results of Observations at the United States Military Posts since 1819, with Isothermal and Rain Charts. This report elicited glowing eulogiums from Baron Humboldt and all the distinguished savans of the day, and it may be said, without exaggeration, to reflect honor both upon him and his country. In 1856-57, he delivered lectures, illustrated by Isothermal and Rain Charts of the United States, before several of the State Legisla- tures and scientific institutions. His greatest reputation is due to his valuable work on Climatology of the United States, which was published in Philadelphia in a large royal Svo volume, with Isothermal and Rain Charts. This is a standard work on the climates of the temperate latitude, of which a large edition was sold in Europe. It received the high approval of Humboldt and other European physicists, and is still considered authority on that subject. Its author did not confine his attention to purely scientific subjects, though every year brought forth publications of value from his prolific pen. From 1857 he became engaged chiefly in general public interests, being Associate Editor of the North American from 1857 to 1864; Secretary of the Philadelphia Board of Trade, 1858 .to 1864; and at Washington as a general officer of the Treasury Depart- ment, 1863 to 1865. From 1865 to 1872, he prepared many tariff acts and bills with special papers in support and explanation of the resources of the Government. In 1364 and 1865, his pamphlet on The National Resources was printed in very large numbers in the United States, and twice in Germany, being accredited with much influence in sustaining the cause of the Union at that critical time. As an active Republican, he was conspicuous in aiding the Union cause during the war. He originated the Bounty Fund of Philadelphia, by which $530,000 was paid to aid that cause, in 1862 and 1863, from voluntary contributions, and was Secretary of the Fund. He also raised one of the reserve regiments of Philadelphia. In 1865, he was ap- pointed by President Lincoln to the Treasury office of United States Appraiser at Large, residing at Philadelphia. Hle continues to hold this important position, as indeed it would be difficult to find any one more thoroughly qualified to perform its duties. He has always been a good Chris- tian, and is at present an active vestryman of the Church of the Messiah, at the corner of Broad and Federal streets, to which he has contributed largely. In all that makes a good citizen and valuable member of society he stands eminent, and no one in Philadelphia has done more to for- ward the interests of the city with the General Government. It is not too much to say that the final action in regard to League Island was due largely to his personal influence and exertions. Himself a large property holder on South Broad street, he realized the great value of a Naval Dej &t in that locality. In person, he has a dignified carriage, with a thoughtful countenance, in which the perceptive
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and reflective faculties are evenly balanced. Not only in the history of Philadelphia, but in the scientific record of . the world, he has undoubtedly made his mark.
AURY, FRANCIS F., M. D., Surgeon, was born near Danville, Kentucky, August 9th, 1840. HIe is directly descended from a Huguenot family which settled in Virginia. His father was an Episcopal clergyman. Having received a colle- giate education at Centre College, Danville, Ken- tucky, he subsequently studied medicine at the University of Virginia, and at the Jefferson Medical College of Phila- delphia, from which institution he received his diploma in 1862. A month previous to his graduation he was ap- pointed resident physician to the Philadelphia (Blockley) Hospital. Eighteen months afterwards he was chosen as visiting obstetrician to the same institution." In 1865 on the resignation of Professor Samuel D. Gross, he was elected his successor as one of the surgical staff of this hos- pital. He brought with him to the discharge of the duties of this responsible position the experience derived from five years' service as chief of the Surgical Clinic of the Jeffer- son Medical College, and from three years'sservice as one of the surgeons of the South Street - United States Army Hospital. At the time of the form it off of an auxiliary faculty to the Jefferson College, he was appointed. to .lecture on Venereal and Cutaneous Diseases.In all of these post- tions he has worked with marked' ability and fidelity, and he has given such attention to general medicine and sur- gery as to build up a large and lucrative practice in the city of his adoption. For so young a man, he has won a singularly high position in his profession. The clinical lectures which his hospital positions require him to deliver are popular among the students, and always well attended. Many of them have been printed in The Medical and Sur- gical Reporter of Philadelphia, and have been widely read and admired by the profession at large. The descriptions of cases they contain are terse and lucid, and the treatment recommended such as to recommend itself to professional readers. Articles from his pen have also appeared in other scientific periodicals.
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