USA > Pennsylvania > The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 1 > Part 32
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which time he delivered numerous courses of lectures on nearly every branch of medical science, and laid the foun- dation of a solid and enduring reputation as a great author. He became the intimate friend and professional adviser of Jefferson and Madison, and his home at Charlottesville was the centre of a refined and charming circle of friends. In 1833, he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, etc., in the University of Maryland, and remained in Baltimore for three years, thence, removing to Philadelphia, where, in June, 1836, he was appointed Professor of the Institutes of Medicine in Jefferson College, a chair created expressly for him. This school, not long after, entered upon a career of prosperity unequalled in the annals of medical teaching. At the outbreak of the war, the class numbered six hundred and thirty, being the largest ever assembled on this conti- nent. As Dean of the college, and instructor in one of its most important departments, he remained at his post, work- ing faithfully for the interests of science until ill-health, in the spring of 1868, compelled him to resign. He was cre- ated Professor Emeritus, but did not long enjoy that honor. Ilis health continued to fail until his death, April Ist, 1869. His world-wide reputation had secured him many testimonials-altogether about one hundred-of . respect from medical, scientific and literary associations. in this country and Europe. From Yale College he received, in 1825, the degree of M. D., and Jefferson College that of LL. D. in 1852. He was without doubt the most volumi- nous medical author of his day, and all his works are characterized by profound scholarship, accurate 'judgment, beauty and correctness of style.
| he had repaired to Philadelphia, where he worked in several printing offices, finally being engaged in the estab- lishment of Lawrence Johnson, the celebrated type-founder, where, after receiving the necessary instructions, he added the art of stereotyping to his knowledge of printing. After a visit to Reading, where he had received the offer, already noted, he thought it for his interests to decline it, and directed his course to Pottsville. On his arrival there, he found the office of the Miner's Journal in the hands of the sheriff; and, believing that this was a fair opportunity and his future field of operations, concluded to purchase it. Almost all his ready funds were embarked in this enter- prise ; and the subscription list numbered but two hundred and fifty. This took place in April, 1829, and he was connected with this one paper for a period of nearly forty- four years. On July Ist, 1866, he disposed of one half of his interest in the establishment, and on January Ist, 1873, sold the other moiety to the present publisher. The sub- scribers had increased to over four thousand, and its weekly circulation was only excelled by three other politi- cal journals in the State outside of the large cities. His first vote was cast for John Quincy Adams for President, in 1828, and he has voted at every Presidential election since that period, and. always in opposition to the Demo- cracy. Indeed, during his whole life, he has never voted for a Democrat, where there was a contest between the political parties." He has always been a firm and undevi- ating supporter of Protection to American Industry, and proposed and organized the first Tariff League, in 1840, after the disastrous effects of the Compromise bill had be- come apparent, which led to the adoption of the Tariff of 1842, the most beneficial measure ever passed by Congress. In 1841, and also in 1861, he collected signatures to the longest petitions ever laid before the National Legislature, praying for protection to home industry. For a period of fifteen years he held the position of School Director, and for fourteen years was President of the Board. During this period he suggested to Governor Pollock the present admirable Normal School system of the State in all of its .details, which was afterwards adopted. Ile also can claim-as far back as 1857, when he first proposed it, and published a series of articles on the subject-the plan for a National Currency. His views were communicated to several prominent bankers, who acquiesced in his sugges- tions, and -who admitted that it would be the best currency obtainable; but it could not be carried out, as the States had usurped the power from the General Government, and as the latter had acquiesced in it so long, that the States would never surrender. Ile even prepared circulars, em- bodying his views, and distributed them through the two Houses of Congress, but it received very little attention from any of the members. Four years elapsed, and the war of the Rebellion broke out, and a National Currency . became a necessity. He communicated with Secretary
ANNAN, BENJAMIN, Journalist and Political Economist, was born in Union township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, April 22d, 1807. Ilis father was a farmer and teacher, occupied in agricultural pursuits during the summer, and teaching in the winter season. He died when his son was but eight years old. Benjamin went to school for a period of about two years altogether, during the next seven years, for at that time schools were only open in the winter season for some three months at a time. It was at Unionville where he was inspired with the idea of-becom- ing a printer and editor, from reading the Village Record, to which the teacher subscribed. Having learned the nt- most that was taught in the schools of that day, at the age of fifteen he was indentured to learn the printing business in the office of the Berks and Schuylkill Journal, of which George Getz was proprietor, where he remained six years. During his term of service the same industry and honesty of .purpose and action which has characterized his whole life, as to win the highest regard of his preceptor, resulted in an offer to become his associate and partner in the business. Meanwhile, at the close of his apprenticeship, ! Chase, and afterwards visited the latter, recalled his
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which time he delivered numerous courses of lectures on nearly every branch of medical science, and laid the foun- dation of a solid and enduring reputation as a great author. He became the intimate friend and professional adviser of Jefferson and Madison, and his home at Charlottesville was the centre of a refined and charming circle of friends. In 1833, he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, etc., in the University of Maryland, and remained in Baltimore for three years, thence, removing to Philadelphia, where, in June, 1836, he was appointed Professor of the Institutes of Medicine in Jefferson College, a chair created expressly for him. This school, not long after, entered upon a career of prosperity unequalled in the annals of medical teaching. At the outbreak of the war, the class numbered six hundred and thirty, being the largest ever assembled on this conti- nent. As Dean of the college, and instructor in one of its most important departments, he remained at his post, work- ing faithfully for the interests of science until ill-health, in the spring of 1868, compelled him to resign. He was cre- ated Professor Emeritus, but did not long enjoy that honor. Ilis health continued to fail until his death, April Ist, 1869. His world-wide reputation had secured him many testimonials-altogether about one hundred-of . respect from medical, scientific and literary associations. in this country and Europe. From Yale College he received, in 1825, the degree of M. D., and Jefferson College that of LL. D. in 1852. He was without doubt the most volumi- nous medical author of his day, and all his works are characterized by profound scholarship, accurate'judgment, beauty and correctness of style.
ANNAN, BENJAMIN, Journalist and Political Economist, was born in Union township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, April 22d, 1807. His father was a farmer and teacher, occupied in agricultural pursuits during the summer, and teaching in the winter season. He died when his son was but eight years old. Benjamin went to school for a period of about two years altogether, during the next seven years, for at that time schools were only open in the winter season for some three months at a time. It was at Unionville where he was inspired with the idea of-becom- ing a printer and editor, from reading the Village Record, to which the teacher subscribed. Having learned the ut- most that was taught in the schools of that day, at the age of fifteen he was indentured to learn the printing business in the office of the Berks and Schuylkill Journal, of which George Getz was proprietor, where he remained six years. During his term of service the same industry and honesty of purpose and action which has characterized his whole life, as to win the highest regard of his preceptor, resulted in an offer to become his associate and partner in the business. Meanwhile, at the close of his apprenticeship, ! Chase, and afterwards visited the latter, recalled his
he had repaired to Philadelphia, where he worked in several printing offices, finally being engaged in the estab- lishment of Lawrence Johnson, the celebrated type-founder, where, after receiving the necessary instructions, he added the art of stereotyping to his knowledge of printing. After a visit to Reading, where he had received the offer, already noted, he thought it for his interests to decline it, and directed his course to Pottsville. On his arrival there, he found the office of the Miner's Journal in the hands of the sheriff; and, believing that this was a fair opportunity and his future field of operations, concluded to purchase it. Almost all his ready funds were embarked in this enter- prise ; and the subscription list numbered but two hundred and fifty. This took place in April, 1829, and he was connected with this one paper for a period of nearly forty- four years. On July Ist, 1866, he disposed of one half of his interest in the establishment, and on January Ist, 1873, sold the other moiety to the present publisher. The sub- scribers had increased to over four thousand, and its weekly circulation was only excelled by three other politi- cal journals in the State outside of the large cities. His first vote was cast for John Quincy Adams for President, in 1828, and he has voted at every Presidential election since that period, and. always in opposition to the Demo- cracy. Indeed, during his whole life, he has never voted for a Democrat, where there was a contest between the political parties." He has always been a firm and undevi- 'ating supporter of Protection to American Industry, and proposed and organized the first Tariff League, in 1840, after the disastrous effects of the Compromise bill had be- come apparent, which led to the adoption of the Tariff of 1842, the most beneficial measure ever passed by Congress. In 1841, and also in 1861, he collected signatures to the longest petitions ever laid before the National Legislature, praying for protection to home industry. For a period of fifteen years he held the position of School Director, and for fourteen years was President of the Board. During this period he suggested to Governor Pollock the present admirable Normal School system of the State in all of its details, which was afterwards adopted. He also can claim-as far back as 1857, when he first proposed it, and published a series of articles on the subject-the plan for a .National Currency .. His views were communicated to several prominent bankers, who acquiesced in his sugges- tions, and who admitted that it would be the best currency obtainable; but it could not be carried out, as the States had usurped the power from the General Government, and as the latter had acquiesced in it so long, that the States would never surrender. He even prepared circulars, em- bodying his views, and distributed them through the two Houses of Congress, but it received very little attention from any of the members. Four years elapsed, and the war of the Rebellion broke out, and a National Currency . became a necessity. He communicated with Secretary
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circular and compared it with the bill which Secretary Chase had prepared, and it was found to be in perfect accordance with his proposed plan of 1857, except in a few unimportant particulars and one important feature, which was not incorporated in the bill, i. e. introducing an expand- ing limit. This was not done, as it was impossible to foresee what the exigencies of the country might demand. The idea of having an issue of currency in proportion to the wealth of the country, and expanding it on that basis, seems to have been original with him. It was submitted to the late Stephen Colwell, of Philadelphia, who was also a writer on currency, and who had collected all the works written on currency and money in all languages from all countries, numbering upwards of seven hundred volumes and pamphlets, and in none of them had he observed a similar proposition or idea broached. As a writer and thinker on important public matters, he has earned for himself an honored and respected name among the ad- vanced and progressive sentiment of the country, and wherever he is known, whether at home or abroad, his opinion and advice are solicited and made use of. As a practical reformer, he belongs to an advanced school, being foremost in proposing and carrying out ideas and projects tending to the improvement and advancement of his fellow men, particularly of the laboring classes. As a writer on matters pertaining to the coal trade, his experience of over forty-four years in the anthracite region has fitted him with peculiar and special qualifications. The great work which he undertook to publish, and which he had prepared for publication principally by Samuel II. Daddow, Mining Engineer, he only furnishing the statistics and outlines for the same, is entitled, Coal, Iron and Oil. It was the most expensive single volume issued by any publisher during the Rebellion, reflects great credit upon him, and has elicited from the London Mining Journal the statement, that no single volume ever published in England affords so much information on the subjects treated of in that publi- cation. Suggested by the peculiar circumstances of the time, he has, within a few months past, published a monograph on Our National Currency and how to Improve it, which takes the ground, as originally suggested in his first circular of 1857, of adopting an expanding limit to its issue, keeping the paper issue unconvertible into coin on demand hereafter, but allowing a proportion of it to he received in payment of duties; the legal tenders of the Government to be received in payment of taxes and debts due to the Government; and the issue of national bank notes to the several banks in pro- portion to their wealth; the fractional currency to be cancelled, and a debased silver coinage substituted, which would therefore always remain at home; this was done in England some forty years ago, and the consequence has been that they have always retained - the silver. These features may be somewhat novel and startling at first reading, but he has discussed his propositions
so clearly and forcibly that by many it is believed they will be received with more favor as they are studied and comprehended by an impartial, unbiassed mind.
ELLEY, WILLIAM DARRAH, Lawyer and Poli tician, of Philadelphia, was born April 12th, IS14, in the Northern Liberties, Philadelphia county. He is the youngest son of William and Hannah (Darrah) Kelley, and grandson of Major John Kelley, of the Revolutionary army. His birth occurred, it will be noticed, during the " War of 1812," and when business of all kinds was depressed. When peace was declared, the financial embarassments still continued, and almost every family was thereby affected, some being utterly wrecked in fortune. This was the fate reserved for the Kelley family, and to add to their distress, death re- moved the husband and father, leaving the widow without any estate, and with four little children to provide for and educate. Right nobly did she struggle against adversity and accomplish the great charge ; and, it may be added, she lived to witness the brilliant course pursued, and the honor- able stations filled, by her distinguished son. Until he was eleven years old he attended school, and then made his first start in the battle of life, first as an errand boy in a book- store, and afterwards as a copy-reader in the Inquirer office. . Finally concluding to learn a trade, he was indentured as an apprentice in the jewelry manufactory of Rickards & Dubosq, with whom he remained until 1834. At this par- ticular period, there was an intense political fever pervading the whole country, and young Kelley was affected by it. He embraced the tenets of the Democratic party, and was so outspoken in their favor as to interfere with his efforts to obtain his daily bread. He therefore proceeded to Boston, where he effected an engagement with Clark & Curry, and remained there several years, laboring with the greatest in- dustry at his trade, and employing his leisure hours in study, contributing also to the periodical press, besides achieving no small fame as an eloquent lecturer and debater. HIe returned to Philadelphia, in' IS39, and shortly after entered the office of Colonel James Page, as a student at law. He was admitted to practice at the bar, April 17th, 1841, and at once attained an honorable and lucrative practice. In January, 1845, he was appointed Deputy Prosecuting At- torney for the State, and in March, 1846, was commissioned by Governor Shunk one of the Judges of the Court of Com- mon Pleas. Here his course was put to a severe test in the celebrated contested election case of Reed vs. Kneass, where the Democratic party lost their case. For this act, he was ostracized by those with whom he had formerly sympathized. In 1851, the Judiciary was made elective, and having been nominated on an independent ticket he was triumphantly elected, the people, to whom he appealed, thus confirming and vindicating his course. During his last years of service
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on the bench, the political horizon was disturbed by the Repeal of the Missouri Compromise. He saw his party had become sectional in character, and he abandoned it forever. He may be termed one of the founders of the National Republican Party, his maiden speech on " Slavery in the Territories " having been delivered in 1856. IIe was nominated for Congress in that year, but the party was too young to achieve success. He resigned his position as Judge, and returned to the practice of his profession. In October, 1860, he was returned as Representative in Con- gress from the Fourth District, and has ever since held that position. During his entire course in the National Legis- lature he has always stood in the advance line of his party, and is now regarded as one of its most prominent leaders.
ACKER, HON. ASA, Railroad President, was born in New London county, Connecticut, in 1806. Ilis paternal grandfather was Elisha Packer, the leading business man of his town, a farmer, tanner and shoe manufacturer; also a prominent member of a Christian church. The father of Asa was Elisha Packer, Jr., who was noted for good sense and industry, but was unsuccessful in business. The son was at an early age employed in the tannery of Elias Smith, of North Stonington, where he soon became the confidential friend and adviser of the proprietor of the establishment. This connection being severed by the death of his employer, the young man entered the service of John Brown, a farmer. At the age of seventeen, he resolved to seek fortune elsewhere, and accordingly started on foot for Pennsylvania. Ile reached the town of Brook- lyn, Susquehanna county, with only a few dollars in his pocket, and his remaining possessions in a knapsack on his shoulder. Here he apprenticed himself to a carpenter and joiner, and, after acquiring the trade, followed it industri- ously for several years. With habits of temperance and economy, he was enabled to save a considerable proportion of his earnings, with which he purchased land on the upper Susquehanna, and thus laid the foundation of the princely fortune which he has since acquired. Here he entered upon the arduous and frugal life of a pioneer, clearing land with his own hands and building the hut in which he resided for eleven years, and to which he con- ducted his young wife, a daughter of Joseph Blakeslee, one of the pioneers of Northern Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1833, he left his farm in Susquehanna county and settled permanently in the Lehigh Valley, with whose interests he has ever since been most prominently identified, and whose immense resources he has done so much to develop. The great wealth of this section in coal, iron, timber, lime, ce- ment and slate, had been made partially available by the improvements introduced by Josiah White and Erskine terms in the Congress of the United States. In 1868, he Hazard, of Philadelphia. With a few hundred dollars | polled a very heavy vote as nominee of the Democratic
capital, he engaged in boating coal from Mauch Chunk to Philadelphia, acting as master of his own boat, and display- ing that energy and perseverance which have ever been his marked traits. His business talents brought him to the notice of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, with which he became connected, greatly to his advantage, and with which he remained associated for many years. He then, in company with his brother, Robert, went into a general merchandising business in Mauch Chunk, the firm name being A. & R. W. Packer. The house rapidly ac- quired prominence, and soon became extensively known for its large transactions both on the Lehigh and Schuyl- kill rivers. Through his coal-mining operations, he was brought into close relations with the late Commodore Stock- ton, between whom and himself there sprang up a warm and enduring friendship. These relations were of great service to him, especially when he was pushing to comple- tion that great enterprise, the Lehigh Valley Railroad, when Commodore Stockton, the New Jersey Railroad Company, and other rich corporations which were to be benefited by this improvement, came forward and made large advances by subscriptions to its stock and bonds. The Lehigh Valley Railroad was completed and delivered to the company, Sep- tember 4th, 1855. The addition which this railroad has made to his fortune is computed by millions. To his sug- gestions and efforts were mainly due the extension of a line of railroad through the Susquehanna Valley, the great table- lands of the State of New York, and connecting with the New York and Erie Railroad. In 1865, on his return from a visit to Europe, he endowed that excellent and widely-known insti- tution, the Lehigh University, donating for the purpose sixty acres of land and $500,000 in money. Ilis intention was to found an institution where young men could pursue the study of any branch of knowledge which they might desire. The University was formally opened, September Ist, 1866, and has so far fully realized the intentions of its founder, and is a source of pride to the State in which it is located, as well as a magnificent monument to the taste, judgment and liberality of its projector. It has already taken rank among the foremost educational establishments of this . country. The energy and skill with which he has carried out his great railroad and mining enterprises have won for him a position second to none in his State as a developer of the great natural resources of the commonwealth and a promoter of her material prosperity. His popularity, and the entire confidence which his fellow citizens repose in his integrity, have caused him to be much sought as a candi- date for various public offices. Ile has served in the Legis- lature of the State for several years, acquiring a praise- worthy reputation as an efficient working member. In 1843, he was elected Judge of the County Court, for the county in which he resides, and held the position for five years. Hle represented his district for two consecutive
Sub, Co Philada.
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party for Governor of Pennsylvania, but the State was too | included in the establishment. Its senior partner has oc- Republican in tone to admit of his election. An energetic business man and the possessor of a magnificent fortune, he has gained a national reputation by his various public enterprises, and especially by his liberal endowment of Lehigh University.
OMLY, SETHI I., Merchant, was born in Phila- delphia, in 1815. He comes of the old stock of orthodox Quakers. His father, Charles Comly, was a prominent merchant of Philadelphia, having been the senior partner in the firm of Comly & Allen, one of the largest and most influential shipping houses in the city. During the financial crisis, that extending from the year 1814 to 1818, caused such wide-spread disaster, the firm failed. Charles Comly then removed from the city to Milton, Northumberland county, in the same State; commenced business again, in 1820, as a general merchant, and proved very successful. In seventeen years he had amassed a competency and re- tired. IIe only lived to enjoy his well-earned case for three years, his death occurring in 1840. A man of the strictest commercial probity, singular ability, many virtues, and kindliest disposition, he commanded the high esteem of all with whom he came in contact. His son received a sound education at the Milton Academy, of which Rev. Dr. George Judkin, as President of the Board of Trustees, and Rev. David Kirkpatrick, as Principal, were the then controlling authorities. Among his school-mates were many who have made themselves honored names in politics, commerce, literature or science, Governors Pollock and Curtin, with his brother Joshua W. Comly, the distinguished lawyer, being some of the more prominent. Leaving school, at about the age of eighteen, he was taken by his father into the business at Milton, and on the retirement of the latter, in 1837, he carried on the establishment with marked tact, enterprise and success. Ten years later, desiring a some- ONALDSON, HON. WILLIAM, Merchant, was born in Danville, Pennsylvania, on July 28th, 1799. His father was John Donaldson, and his grandfather William Donaldson, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, throughout its entire period. At the age of seven years he was left fatherless, and with his widowed mother and several sisters struggled successfully for support, and in addition acquired a fair Eng- lish education. Hle learned the business of a merchant with the late. Matthew New kirk, in Philadelphia, and soon after- wards started in his native town of Danville. There his ex- tensive operations in the purchase and sale of grain and other products of the country, then sent to market in arks on the Susquehanna river, made him widely and favorably known to all the leading merchants and dealers in the Valley of the Susquehanna, as far south as Baltimore. In 1829, he married a daughter of John Conden, a merchant of Northum- what more extended sphere of action, he removed to Balti- more, Maryland, and opened'an office as commission mer- chant. Ile remained there but three years ; came to Phila- delphia, and in a short time entered the flour, grain and produce commission business, as a member of the firm of Budd & Comly. This copartnership, after continuing for a period of sixteen years, was dissolved by the retirement of HI. Budd. The remaining partner then associated with himself his nephew, Charles C. Norris, and the style of the firm was changed to S. I. Comly & Co., by which title it still remains known to, and greatly respected by, the.com- mercial community. This choice of a partner has proved very judicious, the new member showing himself a tho- roughly informed man of business, prompt and energetic, honorable, and pleasing in manners. The firm occupies, and has occupied for some years, extensive stores on Market street, below Twenty-first, four adjoining buildings being Iberland, Pennsylvania. In 1837, he became the principal
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