USA > Pennsylvania > The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 1 > Part 24
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Galaxy Pub Co Frulada
George A. Conzon
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and he was connected with many of our leading benevolent institutions. He took a great interest in the Pennsylvania Hospital and Haverford College, in each of which he was a manager ; was for many years a manager of the House of Refuge, and at the time of his death a vice-president. Hle was elected a director of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb in 1843, and a vice-president in 1872. Ile was sole owner of the Conestoga Mills, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and, both as a merchant and manufacturer, his name has always stood in the front rank. As a member of the Society of Friends, he held an influential position, being earnest and steadfast in his principles both in public and private life. He participated freely in all undertakings looking to the advancement of the trade and commerce of Philadelphia, and was ever in favor of an enlarged and liberal policy. Ile died June 11th, 1871.
ASTINGS, FULTON W., A. M., Professor, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, September 30th, 1825. Ilis ancestors were of English and Irish descent. He was educated at West Alexander Academy, and subsequently took a course of pri- vate instruction with a view to a special and tho- rough preparation as a teacher. He engaged in teaching in 1853, and in 1854 became the principal teacher in West Alexander Academy, at that time under the care of the Synod of Wheeling. In response to a cordial invitation from his friends, he opened an academy at Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1856. This institution, under his care, grew from a mere handful to a prosperous school of more than one hundred pupils. He was married on the 7th of July, 1859, to Mary E. Elder, the daughter of Colonel Samuel Elder, of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. In Sep- tember of the same year, at the earnest solicitation of Rev. John McCluskey, D. D., his former preceptor, and other friends, he organized Mantua Academy, in West Philadel phia, with but five pupils. The number increased each en- suing year, until more than one hundred were in daily at- tendance. His school is always filled to its utmost capacity, and many who seek admission find every available space pre-occupied, and are forced to wait for a vacancy. A visi- tor is at once struck by the rapidity, accuracy, and thorough- ness with which the pupils do their work, indicating the most efficient drill and discipline. This gifted teacher owes much of his eminent success to his ability to make study at- tractive to the youth committed to his care, and to the active sympathy which exists between him and his pupils. Many young men have gone out from under his care to enter upon brilliant careers in life, carrying with them the moral, as well as the mental force, which they gained there. The students from his Academy usually stand among the highest in the colleges of our land, whose rolls of honor testify to the careful culture and accurate drill of those prepared under
his care. He was a member of the Board of Publication for many years previous to the reunion of the two branches of the Presbyterian church, He was one of the prime movers in the establishment of the Presbyterian Hospital, and of the committee on Hospitals and Homes, appointed by the Presbyterian Alliance of Philadelphia. He was or- dained an elder in the Princeton Presbyterian church in 1861, and has since contributed much, by his counsels, to the spiritual welfare of that people. He has been for many years the able superintendent of their Sabbath school. Hle became a member of the Board of Education in June, 1872, and has since been an active promoter of that valuable aux- iliary of the church.
OUGHIERTY, JAMES, Manufacturer, was born in Cecil county, Maryland, in October, 1815. He is the son of Dennis Dougherty, who emigrated from Ireland, where he had been engaged in the manufacture of woollens, and pursued the same calling in the new world. He received but a very limited education in the common schools of the day, and when quite young removed to Dayton, Ohio, where he found employment for a time in the dry goods and grocery store of Harker & Co. Here his pleasing manners and steady habits attracted the attention of Mr. Cleg. an iron- founder, who induced him to learn the business. He re- mained with him for two years, but, in order to become thoroughly acquainted with the craft, received further in- struction at the establishment of Graham & Coon, Cincin- nati, Ohio. When but twenty years of age he went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was given the responsible position of manager in the foundry of Shreve & Co. He afterwards effected an engagement with Leads & Co., of New Orleans, where he remained one winter, and gave so much satisfaction that he was tendered the superintendency, which he declined. In the spring of 1857 he came North, and sought employment in Boston, New York, and Phila- delphia. It was a season of great financial depression ; the banks had all suspended specie payments, and trade was completely demoralized. Finally he obtained the position of general superintendent in George Wolf's foundry, Colum- bia, Pennsylvania. About this time he was experimenting on a new invention, which eventually proved successful, and which he patented. This was the " double-plate car wheel," from which modifications have since been made. In 1840, he came to Philadelphia as manager of Wolf's Foundry, Thirteenth and Buttonwood streets, where cast- ings were made for Eastwick & Harrison, and also for Nor- ris & Co.'s locomotive works. By the latter firm he was engaged, in 1842, to erect and superintend a foundry for them ; and so successfully did he fulfil his engagement, that he was induced by them to proceed to Vienna, Aus- tria, and act as the superintendent of their establishment
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in that city. During his absence in Europe, he was the recipient of several offers, one being to Russia, in the great manufactory of Harrison & Co., but all these were de- clined. IIe sojourned in Vienna for two years, during which time he made large additions to Norris & Co.'s works, be- side superintending the castings of the " retaining plates " for the great suspension bridge over the Danube at Pesth, Hungary, being the largest work of the kind ever under- taken in Austria.' In 1848, he returned to the United States after a tour through various portions of Europe. During his absence, he found that his car-wheel patent had been infringed upon ; and commenced suit against the par- ties in Boston. He had for his counsel Hon. Daniel Web- ster and Hon. Benjamin Curtis, who gained the case. Soon after this the patent expired, and was not renewed. He next engaged as manager of Merrick & Towne's foundry in Philadelphia, in which city, after a two years' residence, lie constructed the extensive works of Reaney, Neafie & Co., in which concern he was given an interest, until 1853, when, in company with William B. Bement and others, he laid the foundation of the " Industrial Works," which name he him- self bestowed upon the new enterprise. To this almost un- rivalled establishment he devoted his whole time and energy. To the great regret of his partners, he retired from the firm in 1870. He manifested no interest whatever in politics until the inception of the Municipal Reform Club, with which movement he deeply sympathizes. One thing is worthy of notice, occuring during the Rebellion. When General Lee invaded our State, he was the first to respond to Governor Curtin's call for troops. He raised a company from the " Industrial Works," and his liberal and generous heart prompted him to provide for the families of its mem- bers until their return. Since his retirement from business he has visited California, and is now preparing for a two years' tour through Europe.
EAKLEY, JAMES M., Lawyer and Editor, was born April 12th, 1839, in Dickinson township, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, of Seotch- Irish ancestry. Receiving but the ordinary edu- cation of country schools, he commenced teaching at the age of sixteen, devoting his leisure to self- culture. On his arrival at manhood, he chose the legal pro- fession, and registered himself as a student in the office of William HI. Miller, of Carlisle, with whom he read, and after the required examination was admitted to practice in 1861. His abilities soon brought him business, and having a natural love of using the pen, in the summer of 1864, he became connected with the Carlisle Herald as editor, a post he continued to fill until the year 1874. Under his care this paper has largely increased in circulation and influence, and is now regarded as one of the most prominent in the Cum- berland Valley. In May, 1869, he was appointed by Gover-
nor Geary, Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth, and in this position continued until 1872. By that time he had become well known as an ardent Republican, and in 1871, he received the nomination of his party for the State Senate from the Nineteenth Senatorial District, embracing the counties of Cumberland and Franklin. The majority at his election was unexpectedly heavy, a result due chiefly to his own personal popularity. While thus engaged in editorial and political avocations, he has not permitted their demands upon his time to divert his attention from the pursuit of his legal occupation, and continues to maintain a high position at the bar of his district. ITis marriage occurred several years ago, and he at present resides with his family in Car- lisle.
ETZ, JOHN F., Brewer, was born in Möhringen, Kingdom of Wirtemberg, April 8th, 1831. In the following year, his parents, hoping to better their fortunes, emigrated to the United States, lo- cating in Pennsylvania. He received his educa- tion in Schuylkill Haven and Pottsville, Pennsyl- vania, assisting his father during his seasons of vacation.' When but thirteen years old he entered the brewery of I). G. Yuengling in the latter city, and remained there eight years, during which time he acquired a full knowledge of the business. Having devoted himself continuously to his vocation and won the confidence of his patron, during the last three years of his engagement there, he was entrusted with the practical management of the brewery. In 1852, he visited Europe, and remained for some time in Stuttgart to familiarize himself with the method of malting and brew- ing in vogue in that city ; and he afterwards made an ex- tended tour through the Continent, visiting Patsburgh in Austria, and passing through Hungary, Germany, Italy, and France to England, and thence to the United States. On his arrival in New York, he entered into business with his uncle, with whom he remained four years. In 1865, he leased the brewery, of which he had become sole owner, to his brother. Fie next visited Richmond, Virginia, and in con- nection with Yuengling and Byer, erected a large estab- lishment, known as the James River Steam Brewery; here he remained until 1867, when he sailed for Europe, and sojourned abroad until the autumn of 1868, when he once more returned to the United States. Taking up his residence in Philadelphia, he leased the establishment long known as Gaul's Brewery, in New Market street, which he still holds, and where he has done a large and rapidly in- creasing business to the present time. Possessed of but few early advantages, either of property or edneation, but en- dowed with a sound mind in a healthy organism, and with a mature and practical judgment, he has met with constant success in all that he has undertaken. Upright in all his dealings, he combines the cautiousness of the Teuton with
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Eli K. Price.
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the liberality of the American ; and his plans are charac- terized by enterprise and generosity. A large block of buildings known as " Betz's Block," was erected by him in New York City, on Ninth Avenue, extending from Forty- fourth to Forty-fifth streets; and he has offered repeatedly to become one of a hundred, in Philadelphia, to improve and beautify Broad street in Philadelphia, on an extensive and princely scale, by each placing a mansion on that noble avenue which should cost, when finished, $100,000.
HIURCHI, IION. PEARSON, Lawyer, was born in Meadville, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, March 15th, 1858. IIe is the son of Hon. Gay- lord Church, who was President Judge of the Sixth Judicial District from 1842 to 1851, and in 1858, an associate Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. His mother, Anna B. Pearson, aiso came from a legal family, being the sister of Hon. John J. Pear- son of Harrisburgh. Having been educated in the best schools of the neighborhood, and finally graduated with credit at Alleghany College, in July, 1856, he commenced the study of law with his father. In his office he not only enjoyed the best of instruction, but also an immediate initia- tion into one of the most extensive legal practices in that section of the country. In 1858, he was admitted to the bar, and at once became closely absorbed in the business of his profession. More or less of his time has always been taken up by various offices of trust and honor in the finan- cial world, having been Director in various corporations and local associations. Ife was elected a delegate, to the Constitutional Convention of 1872 and 1873, where he proved himself active in debate and indefatigable on com- mittees. A Democrat in politics, and an Episcopalian in religion, he is socially a polished gentleman, courteous and obliging to all. In 1868, he married Kate Law, of New York, and has two children., His present residence is in Meadville, where his family have long been thoroughly identified with the interests of that section of the State.
latter, he entered the store of his brother-in-law, John W. Townsend, at West Chester, where he remained for a twelve. month. In the spring of 1815, shortly after the receipt of news that a treaty of peace had been signed between the United States and Great Britain, he repaired to Philadelphia, where he obtained a position in the counting-house of Thomas P. Cope, a leading shipping and commission mer- chant in the Liverpool trade, with whom he remained for some time; when, having resolved to pursue a mercantile career, and desirous of being familiar with the details of the China trade, he passed a year in the silk store of Isaac C. Jones, Oakford & Co. During his tutelage in mercantile life he devoted his leisure hours to readings in commercial law, the study of general history, and lessons in the Latin, Spanish, and French languages, becoming quite a proficient in the latter. Besides all this, he attended courses of lec- tures on Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, and Anatomy. Thus he acquired his education, and when he had attained his majority, he had decided to make his start in the world, but found the times were unpropitious. The return to specie payments, which had been suspended during and sometime after the " War of 1812," had caused a great mercantile reaction ; all importations had ceased, and trade was every- where depressed. Having already some knowledge of Commercial Law, he resolved thenceforth to devote himself to the legal profession, and in 1819, entered the office of HIon. John Sergeant, at that time regarded as one of the leaders of the Philadelphia bar. Here he applied himself so closely to study as to seriously impair his health, to re- store which he took a trip to Europe in 1821, being absent about six months, nearly half of which time was passed upon the ocean, voyages in those days being dependent solely upon the winds. Shortly after his return, he was admitted to practise at the bar, May 28th, 1822, where, for over a half century, he has pursued his calling in the civil courts, and is yet (1873) an active member of the profession. Though deeply versed in all that relates to mercantile jurisprudence, yet his specialty is the law of real estate, the examination of and the perfecting of titles, especially where the latter are in any way defective. In this department, it may be remarked, that he stands at the head of his legal brethren, not only as far as age and long practice are concerned, but for ripe experience and thorough comprehension of the sub- jeet matters under consideration, however intricate they may seem even to a practiced eye. He is no politician, al- though he has filled office on several occasions, having been a member of the first Board of Revenue Commissioners in 1845; and again of the Second Board in 1848, being the author of the Report of the latter body to the State Legisla- ture. In 1850; he was sent in conjunction with Judge Cadwalader to Harrisburgh, and placed before the mem- bers of both houses, assembled in conference, several weighty arguments why the city and county of Philadelphia, then consisting of a dozen separate and distinet municipali-
RICE, HON. ELI KIRK, Lawyer, was born July 20th, 1797, in East Bradford, Chester county, Pennsylvania, two miles south-west of the town of West Chester, in view of the Brandywine battle-field. Ile is a son of Philip and Rachel Price, one of a family of eleven children, ten of whom-five sons and five daughters-grew up and married. His ancestry on both sides were members of the Society of Friends. He received his primary education in a country school, which was supplemented by a year's residence at the West-Town Boarding School, then and now under the patronage and direction of the Friends. On leaving the ties, should be consolidated : but no definite action was
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taken at that time. The inhabitants of the " city proper " [ ful, and he attributes it to a sound and vigorous constitu- had been subjected to a bitter experience by the incursions tion, leading a strictly temperate and regular life, indus- trionsly filling all his time with work or study, frequent and regular exercise in the open air, and taking a due amount of refreshing sleep. He has furnished the profession with a work On Limitations and Liens, and the public with nu- merous essays and addresses published in pamphlet form, and in the present year ( 1873) with The City's Consolidation. Many of his arguments before the Supreme Court from 1825 to the present time, are printed in the Reports, and are scattered through the one hundred and twenty-one volumes that have been printed since that date. He has also pre- pared and printed, for private circulation, The Life of Philip and Rachel Price, his parents, (1852,) one hundred and ninety-two pages ; Rebecca, (1861,) being the life of his daughter ; and The Family, as an element of government, being two essays read before the American Philosophical Society, in which work is also contained an account of his ancestry read before a meeting of the family descendants, on the occasion of the centennial anniversary of his father's birth. He is a member of the American Philosophical So- ciety; of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society, and, at present, its presiding officer ; besides of several charitable bodies. Ile is also a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, and a commissioner of Fairmount Park, serving in the latter as chairman of the committee on land purchases, and as such has assisted in all purchases of land, beside examining fully and critically the several titles which have passed to the city of Philadelphia. He was married in June, 1828, to Anna, daughter of James and Rebecca Embree, of Ches- ter county, whom he survives. By this union he lost his membership in the Society of Friends, although he is in the habit of worshipping with that society on every first day in the week. of the lawless, and riot, arson, and murder were constantly on the increase. The volunteer fire department had to bear a great deal of the blame, for, as then constituted, it seemed as if an alarm of fire was the preconcerted signal of a general riot, which was sure to take place if any rival companies trespassed on the other's line. The consequence was that a number of leading citizens met in council, and, forgetting political differences, labored side by side for the common good. It was early seen that nothing but the most stringent legislative action could effect the end desired ; and the committee who had the matter in charge, insisted that to the subject of this sketch should be confided the re- presentation of the old city in the State Senate. Though he was exceedingly averse to this position, yet through the influence of his friends, and, above all, by an eloquent let- ter written with this view by Hon. Horace Binney, he re- luctantly yielded, though with the proviso that the other candidates on the reform ticket should be committed to the cause of consolidation. He was triumphantly elected, and his first act, after the organization of the Senate was effected, was to place before that body a carefully prepared memo- rial, urging consolidation of the several municipal districts and townships of the county with the (old) city of Philadel- phia. The bill was formed in a committee of which he was chairman, and was in great part his work. He reported it to the Senate, and in favor of its adoption made a lengthy and exhaustive argument ; and, on the 18th of January, less than a fortnight after the meeting of the Legislature, it passed the upper house unanimously. Subsequently,, with a few alterations, which the Senate accepted, it passed the lower house, and on the 2d of February following became a law. During this, his first term of legislative life, he ap- plied himself so closely to his duties as to somewhat injure his health ; to recuperate, he devoted his vacation to a trip to Europe, where he was absent five months. Returning to the scene of his public duties with renewed strength, he again encountered the heavy routine business at the Capitol. Hle was abundantly prepared by his long and varied prac- tice at the bar, to discern wherein changes in the law were required. During his three years' service in the Senate he was instrumental in perfecting, beside the great Act of Con- solidation, several important statutes for the improvement of the law, especially with a view to the security of Land Titles and to the unfettering and freer alienation of Real Estate. ITis great services in the Legislature are attested by the many wise and benificent general laws emanating from his pen, passed while he held his seat there. Promi- nent among these is the Act of April IS, 1853, " Relating to the sale and purveyance of Real Estate," which is to-day known throughout the legal profession as the " Price Act." Notwithstanding the fact that he never enjoyed the ad- vantages of a regular collegiate education, yet he has studied deeply and well. His career has been most success-
ORTON, GEORGE FIRMAN, M. D., Physician, was born at Terrytown, Bradford county, Penn- sylvania, January 2d, 1806. Ilis father, Major John Horton, was a native of Orange county, New York, and descendant of Barnabas Horton, who emigrated from England in 1638, settling in Long Island in 1640. His mother, Deborah Terry, was a native of Long Island, and also of English descent. She belongs to the history of the country, having been one of the inmates of the famous Forty Fort, the night after the battle and massacre of Wyoming, in 1778. He himself re- ceived liis elementary education in the Log School-Houses of Bradford county, and, after following the avocation of teacher for a few years, entered the Rensselaer school (now known as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) at Troy, New York, where he graduated in August, 1827. He studied medicine under Dr. Samuel Hargam, of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and commenced practice in the au-
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tumn of 1829, at Terrytown. Ile soon acquired an exten- sive reputation as an able physician and skilful surgeon, and has continued in the practice of his profession to the present day. Settling in a wild region, he carried on his business on horseback, and still prefers a horse to any other mode of locomotion. Though constantly engaged in the duties of his profession, he was not indifferent to those he owed to society in other directions. For twenty years he acted as Postmaster; was County Auditor in 1836, and Township Treasurer and Town's Clerk for ten years. Be- sides these, he was Surgeon of the 15th Regiment Pennsyl- vania Volunteers in 1831. Ile was elected delegate from the Fourteenth Senatorial District to the Constitutional Convention for revising the Code of Pennsylvania, in 1872-3. In the Convention his course has been bold and honorable. Ile has spoken on the question of Women's Suffrage, in support of which he advances Bible arguments. On the 4th of June, 1832, he was married to Abigail Terry, by whom he has had eight children, five of whom still live. IIe has never taken an active part in politics, though firm in his anti-slavery principles, and thinks himself fortunate in having kept aloof from professional politicians and rings.
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