USA > Pennsylvania > The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 1 > Part 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
IRARD, STEPIIEN, Merchant and Banker, was born near Bordeaux, France, May 21st, 1750. When but ten years old, he shipped as cabin boy on a trading vessel bound to the West Indies, and subsequently to New York. He continued in sea-faring life for several years, rapidly advancing through the several grades, until at the age of eighteen he was master and part owner of a coasting vessel. In this latter capacity he earned enough to warrant him in engaging in business. in Philadelphia towards the close of 1769. IIere, by judicious management, aided by a remarkable business tact, he succeeded more and more year after year. On the outbreak of the Revolutionary War he was engaged in the grocery and liquor business, which pursuit he followed both in Philadelphia and Mount Holly, finding many cus- tomers in the ranks of the army. In 1780 he renewed his trade with the West Indies and Louisiana, and for a while was associated with his brother John. Having erected a row of spacious stores, he effected an advantageous lease of the same, which returned him a handsome income. In 1792 the insurrection in the island of St. Domingo was the means of largely angmenting his fortunes. Two of his ves- sels happened to be in the port of Cape François at the time, and these received on board treasure to the amount
.
ISI
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.
of over $50,000, for which the owners never applied, they having subsequently perished in the massacre. It was about this period that the terrible pestilence of more southern climes-the yellow fever-made its first appearance in his adopted city. Those of the inhabitants who could do so conveniently fled from the scourge, and sought a refuge in a more healthy neighborhood; but there were more whose means or avocations would not permit them to leave their homes, and these were' smitten with the plague. A noble band of citizens, however, remained in the stricken city, who, surrendering their time, comforts, business engage- ments, and health, enacted the part of good Samaritans in the care of the sick and relief of the needy; and the " no- blest Roman of them all" was Stephen Girard, who took the parts of physician and nurse. Twenty years thereafter his already large fortune had so materially increased, that in 1812 he purchased the old building of the Bank of the United States-of which he already owned much of the stock-and commenced the banking business himself. When the " War of 1812" with Great Britain was declared, he took the whole of the Loan of Five Millions of Dollars, which in those days was considered almost impossible to be borne by a single individual. After a residence of over sixty years in the city of his adoption, he died December 26th, 1831, leaving the princely fortune of over nine mil- lions almost exclusively to charitable and benevolent objects. The great college which bears his name, and is supported solely from the revenue of the estate donated by him, is undoubtedly the finest monument ever designed to com- memorate the virtues of a philanthropist. It is perpetually devoted to the " poor orphan children " of the city of Phila- delphia.
USTON, ANDREW C., the oldest living journalist in Pennsylvania, was born in Philadelphia, March, 1787. His father, Matthew Huston, was of Scotch-Irish descent. Ilis mother's ancestors came over with the Swedes and Finns more than two centuries ago. His father's family had long been residents in the country. Both his father and uncle, John Huston, were officers in the Revolutionary army. IIe learned the printer's trade under Zachariah Poulsen. In 1807 he went to Northumberland with his father, who took charge of the Northumberland Argus, founded some years before by the late John Binns. His father dying soon after, the conduct of the paper devolved upon him. He was a pointed and vigorous writer, both in prose and rhyme; and though now in his 87th year, possesses in a great measure his native originality and power. For the last fifty-four years of his life he has lived in the family of his brother-in- law, John Taggart, where three generations of children have played about his knees. In all that time he has been a constant and untiring reader. IIe has certainly averaged ten hours a day for half a century. He has employed some
of his leisure hours in manufacturing with his own hands a library of scrap books of almost inestimable value. In his selections he has shown remarkable literary taste, and in naming his books a humorous originality. Few men of his natural gifts and attainments have led so uneventful a life.
EWLIN, JAMES W. M., Lawyer, was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 17th, 1844. The family of which he is a member is one closely identified with the early history of this common- wealth. Their common progenitor, Nicholas Newlin, a prominent member of the Society of Friends, settled in Chester county in 1683. and was a mem- ber of the Provincial Council, as well as Justice of the county court. Nathaniel Newlin, son of this immigrant, first purchased and settled Newlin township, Chester county. In 1725 the title of Nathaniel Newlin to this township was disputed by. the Indians, and the matter brought before the Assembly. The question threatened to disturb the peaceful relations with the Indians, and was the subject of an address from the Assembly to the Governor. Finally, an amicable settlement was made between the Indians and Nathaniel Newlin, and this agreement was filed in open Assembly. The Assembly minute for April 3d, 1726, recording this agreement, concludes thus : " Then Nathaniel Newlin was called in and acknowledged the said writing to them; so they shook hands together, and parted fully reconciled." He was one of the Trustees of the Provincial Treasury, for many years a member of the Assembly, and in 1701 one of the committee of five who framed the new Charter of Liber- ties, the constitution of the then province, which made radi- cal changes in the organic law. His son, of the same name, was likewise member of the Assembly of the province and Presiding Justice of the county courts. Still another Na- thaniel Newlin, grandson of the last named, was elected a delegate from Delaware county, in 1790, to the Constitu- tional Convention of the State; he also was at various times a member of the Senate and House of the State Legislature, and was tendered a seat in Congress by the dominant party, but declined. It is, to say the least, a remarkable coinci- dence that a third member of the family, who is the fifth lineal descendant from the second named Nathaniel New- lin, should also have been chosen by his fellow-citizens to assist in framing a new constitution for the State. By pro- fession a lawyer, he was appointed, in July, 1867, Deputy Attorney General of the State, and subsequently served for two years as secretary of the Republican State Central Com-
mittee, and in numerous party conventions. As a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1872-'73, he was elected from Philadelphia county, and was chairman of the com- mittee of fifteen which perfected the organization of that body, and served on other important committees. In its deliberations he advocated numerous reforms in the admin-
.
IS2
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.
istration of justice, particularly those permitting parties to testify in their own behalf in all criminal proceedings ; changing the jury system so as in civil cases to allow three- fourths of a jury to give a verdict ; allowing parties to waive jury trial and leave both law and facts to the court, and prohibiting the waiver of exemption laws. He also favored provisions giving seats in the Legislature, without votes, to the heads of executive departments and permitting constitu- encies to elect any citizen a member of the Legislature whether a resident or non-resident of the district. IIc secured the adoption of an amendment to the Eighth Sec- tion of the Bill of Rights, prohibiting any warrant of arrest or search being issued unless the oath or affirmation upon which it issued was first " subscribed to by the affiant," thus breaking up a dangerous and common practice of making arrests and seizures on insufficient verbal testimony which, not being reduced to writing, could rarely be proved against the affiant. He advocated the total abolition of all municipal commissions, but failed twice. Finally, he pro- cured the adoption of an amendment prohibiting such com- missions-present or future-from making any contract or incurring any liability, " except in pursuance of an appro- priation therefor first made by the municipal government." He opposed all sectarian appropriations, and favored a complete separation of Church and State. IIe voted to restrict the powers of corporations, and contended that Con- gress, under its power to regulate commerce between the States, should take control of the transportation system of the country.
-
ULTON, ROBERT, Civil and Mechanical Engi- neer, was born in Little Britain township, Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, in 1765. Ile was of Irish descent. Having received a common school education, he went to Philadelphia, in 1782, and commenced painting landscapes and portraits. By this means he was enabled to purchase a small farm for his widowed mother in Washington county, Pennsylvania. At the age of twenty, by the advice of friends, he repaired to London and became a student of Sir Benja- min West, remaining with him several years, and forming a member of his household. During all these years he was attracted to the shops of mechanics; and while prosecuting his profession as a painter in Devonshire, he became ac- quainted with the Duke of Bridgewater, and also with Lord Stanhope, the latter of whom was an able mechanic. While in Birmingham he devised an improved mill for sawing marble; a machine for spinning flax and making rope ; pro- jected a plan for an improved inland navigation, with dou- ble inclined planes for the raising and lowering of canal boats; and in 1796 published a work on canals. In the following year he went to Paris, and was received into the family of Joel Barlow, with whom he remained seven years, | highly prosperous, and had extended to many parts of the
studying physics, chemistry, and mathematics, besides be- coming acquainted with several modern languages. In December, 1797, he made his first experiment in the Seine, for a submarine explosion. It was a failure, though his plan for a submarine boat was afterwards successful. In 1801 he made the acquaintance of Chancellor Livingston, of New York, who explained to him the importance, in America, of navi- gating boats by steam. Fulton had already been impressed with this idea, having some eight years previously addressed Lord Stanhope on the subject. He reapplied himself to the matter, and succeeded. He did not, however, claim the steamboat as his invention; but only the application of water wheels to move the vessel. In 1807, by the help of Livingston, he built the " Clermont," with which he navi- gated the Hudson, at the rate of five miles per hour. In February, ISog, he patented his steamboat. In 1810 he published his torpedo war. In 1811 he constructed two steam ferryboats for crossing the Hudson river, and also projected an ingenious floating dock for their reception. In 1813 he obtained letters patent for a submarine battery. Next he conceived the idea of a steam man of war, and Congress passed a bill making a heavy appropriation for this object, which was built and launched : she was called " Fulton, the first." He was employed in improving his submarine boat, when he suddenly died, February 14th, 1815. He married, in 1808, Harriet, daughter of Robert R. Livingston.
UTCHIER, WASHINGTON, Merchant and Rail- way Director, was born at No. 49, North Water street, in Philadelphia, December 9th, 1814. His parents, Amos Wright and Susannah Tyson Butcher, were highly esteemed members of the Orthodox division of the Society of Friends. There is little record of his early life; but as in those days there were no Commercial or Business Colleges, his mercantile education was of necessity a practical one. He commenced business for himself, at the age of twenty-four, by forming a partnership with his brother, Thomas Tysan Butcher, with the title of T. T. & W. Butcher. The brothers succeeded to their father's business, in the same premises, on Water street, which their grand- father and father had occupied for many years previously. In 1841, he joined the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia, of which he remained a valuable member till his death. On May 27th, in the same year, he was married to Mary Eliza- beth Wattson. In 1856, he was elected a deacon of the church to which he belonged, and also one of its ahnoners, which positions he held till his decease, fulfilling his duties with zeal and punctuality. During the eighteen years which had intervened since he started, his business, though checked by occasional reverses, had been in the main
IS3
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.
Union, especially to the Southern States, with which his transactions had been very important. The store in Water street was found too small to accommodate this increased trade, and he, accordingly, removed to a larger one, in Front street, where his sons still carry on the business. The commencement of the war, in 1861, utterly paralyzed him and he was compelled to suspend payments. He met this blow with fortitude, using every exertion to retrieve his position, and was ultimately able to pay every dollar of his indebtedness, when his business became more prosperous than before his failure. As an evidence of the appreciation of his conduct by business men, the following extract from the minutes of the Directors of the Bank, under date October 26th, 1868, is worthy of record :
" The Board of Directors have learned with great pleasure of the payment by Washington Butcher, Esq., of the balance of principal and interest of a debt due from him to the Bank, and from which obligation he was fully discharged by compromise many years ago. The Board, with a full appreciation of the feeling prompting Mr. Butcher, beg to congratulate him on the consummation of an act so highly honorable to him as a man and as a merchant, and unite in the expression of the hope that he may long live to enjoy the reflection of so worthy a deed, and the respect of his fellow-citizens."
The foregoing was ordered to be recorded, and a copy sent to him. A second congratulation, from another bank, was couched in similar language, and was accompanied by the present of a silver pitcher and a pair of silver goblets as a token of regard. With the lapse of years, he accumula- ted a far greater fortune than he had lost. So highly es- teemed was he by his fellow-citizens that at the time of his death he held the following offices of trust : Deacon and Trustee of the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia ; Senior Director of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company ; President of the American Steamship Company of Philadelphia; Di- rector of the Philadelphia & Trenton Railroad Company ; Director of the Cumberland .Valley Railroad Company ; Director of the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad Company ; Director of the West Jersey Railroad Company ; Director of the Connecting Railroad Company ; Director of the Bel- videre Delaware Railroad Company ; Director of the South American Mining Company ; and Manager of the Commer- cial Exchange. When the illness which terminated his life became known, a general sorrow was expressed, and the press issued daily bulletins of his condition till his decease, which took place on the morning of January 8th, 1873. Letters of condolence came from all parts of the country, and resolutions of respect and sympathy were passed at meetings of the Boards of all of the companies with which he had been connected. These cannot be quoted here in detail ; but, as throwing some light on his business career, this' short extract from those adopted by the Directors of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, dated January 10th, 1873, has value :
Mr. Butcher became a member of this Board, in December, 1849, and has served the interests of the company for a longer period than any of his colleagues. . . His zeal and earnestness in the discharge of his duties were especially devoted to the prosperity of the city of Philadelphia, and to the promotion of its commercial welfare, etc."
CHALL, EDWIN, Journalist and Soldier, was born with his twin brother, Edward, at the Green Lane Works, in Montgomery county, Pennsylva- nia, on February 15th, 1835. He was the son of General William Schall, proprietor of exten- sive iron works in Norristown. He obtained his elementary education at Ehnwood Institute, Norristown, afterwards spending several years in military academies, at Norwich, Vermont, Pennbrooke, Brandywine Springs, and Bristol. After graduating at the last-named institution he entered the office of B. M. Boyer, of the Montgomery county bar, to study law. Subsequently he went to the Poughkeepsie Law College and later to the Ohio State Law School, whence he graduated, and was admitted to the bar. For a time he practised law in Iowa, but returning home he reentered the office of Mr. Boyer, and after the prescribed probation, was admitted to the practice of law in Pennsyl- vania, and opened an office in Norristown. At the solici- tation of many of his friends he also assumed the Editorship of the National Defender, a local newspaper, and soon after became its proprietor. This journal he conducted with marked ability, and while its editor, was elected twice in succession Chief Burgess of the borough, which office he held at the outbreak of the rebellion. At the call of the President for three months volunteers he enlisted, with four of his brothers, and was elected Major of the 4th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, made up almost entirely from Montgomery county, and in great part from Norristown. At the expiration of their term of service he returned with his regiment, and with his twin brother Lieutenant Colonel Edward Schall, was publicly presented with an elegant sword, by the men whom they had commanded. Resigning the office of Chief Burgess he volunteered again, this time for three years, and was appointed Major of the 5Ist Regi- ment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. Subsequently he was promoted to the Lieutenant Colonelcy, and then Colonelcy of the regiment. He served with the Ninth Army Corps, commanded by General Burnside, in all its campaigns, dis- tinguishing himself always as a gallant and efficient leader. He participated with his regiment in the battles of Roanoke, Newbern, and Camden ; the forced marches to reinforce the retreating army of General Pope and rescue Washington from Lee's pursuing forces, being present at the second battle of Bull Run, and at Chantilly; the protection of Maryland and Pennsylvania from invasion ; the battle of South Mountain, with his colonel (now Governor Hartranft),
1
184
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.
and brother officers, at the head of his men storming at | year for the front, to join the Army of the Potomac. For the point of the bayonet the bridge at Antietam ; the battle of Sulphur Springs, Virginia; the desperate attack upon Fredericksburg; the campaign; in Kentucky and around Vicksburg, passing safely through the battles near Jackson and the Siege of Vicksburg; and in East Tennessee, the battle of Campbell's Station, and the heroic defence of Knoxville. During the campaign in East Tennessee he commanded the Brigade, of which his regiment formed a part. After a short leave of absence with his regiment at home, he again joined Burnside's Corps, and, by forced marches, reinforced General Grant. IIe was present in the terrible battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court Hlouse, and Cold Harbor. In the last engagement, on June 3d, 1864, he fell in front of his men, while gallantly rallying the left wing of his regiment. A true patriot, his heart and soul were in the cause for which he fought andi died. He was beloved and honored by his men, and in private life was esteemed for his ability, attainments, high: integrity, pure life, earnest purpose and public spirit.
-
OYER, ZACCUR P., Iron Manufacturer, was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, October 28th, 1832. Ile is the son of Samuel P .. Boyer, an early operator, in various ways,, in that region, who died when his son was. but ten years of age, leaving him and the rest of the family, very poor. The lad, however, obtained a fair education, commenced in the public schools of Pottsville and finished in a private academy. His natural industry and perseverance mani- fested themselves even at this early age, as when still a little boy he worked hard in the mines, and, with the assistance of his brothers, managed to support the family and educate the younger children by the proceeds of their joint labor. He afterwards went to Patterson, where he worked at min- ing for Charles Silliman, who, taking a great fancy to him, helped him up the ladder which he had already begun rapidly to climb. IIe rose from miner to the position of clerk and bookkeeper, at the same time devoting much of his leisure to the improvement of his mind and increasing his knowledge of books, of which he was very fond. When twenty-one, he entered a dry-goods store as clerk, and hav- ing saved some money, in a year's time ( 1854) he married Catharine C. Williams, of Port Carbon, by whom he has five children. In the same year, he started, with a few hundred dollars of capital, in the mining business on his own account, and at first was successful ; but, after working for three years, failed, owing to adverse circumstances. Not disheartened by this check, he again commenced, with- out any means, and working steadily until the outbreak of the Rebellion, just managed to make a living. In 1861, he entered the Ninety-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment, as Lieutenant, leaving Pottsville November Sth of that
eleven months he saw active service with his regiment, participating in the seven days' campaign and all the preli- minary engagements of that army. He was then appointed, by the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania, Lieutenant- Colonel in the 173d Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment, and, at about the same time, was elected Major in his original regiment (Ninety-sixth Pennsylvania volunteers). Ile went with his new regiment to Norfolk, Virginia, on staff duty, and while there was appointed President of the Military Commission and Assistant Military Governor of that portion of Virginia, holding these offices until the battle of Gettysburg. IIe remained in the army, engaged in various duties, till August, 1864, when he resigned. Re- turning home, he entered into the coal business, which he carried on successfully till 1870. Having made money, in 1866 he purchased, from an Eastern company, the Port Carbon' Iron Works, for the sum of $85,000. The estab- lishment was then producing an annual value of $50,000; but, by the additions and improvements which he rapidly effected, in the erection of a rolling mill and a spike factory, the latter shortly afterwards enlarged, it soon reached the capacity of thirty-five tons a day, requiring the employment of 130 additional hands, and increasing the productions to $300,000 a year., These additions cost $125,000. In 1870, he disposed of his interest in his coal and other outside business, in order to devote his time and attention exclu- sively to the development of the iron works, to which, in 1872, he made further addition, by building a blast furnace, capable of producing 200 tons of metal a week. This new erection cost $156,000, and required the addition of fifty men to the force employed. It actually produces 175 tons a week, or about $:50,000 a year. In 1873, he put up a building for making T rails and street rails, the manufac- ture of the latter increasing the business $250,000, and adding seventy-five more hands to those already employed. The goods manufactured, viz., bars, squares, flats, muck bars, railroad iron and spikes, are sold in the neighborhood, to Pittsburgh and to railroads generally ; the production of the last article alone amounts to four tons in every ten hours. The total annual returns of the business now reach to nearly $1,000,000. This enormous and almost unprece- dented increase, of twenty-fold from its production ($50,000) in 1868, sufficiently attests the business capacity of its pro- prietor. He is assisted, in the direction of the works, by his brother, Valentine, a young man about twenty years old, who acts as general superintendent. He is a thorough and practical mechanie and moulder-trades which he learned on the premises-and, being honest, sober, ener- getic and careful in everything, constitutes a most valuable manager. He has, it is understood, an interest in the con- cern. The works are models of good arrangement, and are almost independent of outside help. They have their own railroad cars and lime quarries, and mine their own coal and most of their ore. Everything is systematized, and
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.