USA > Pennsylvania > The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 1 > Part 46
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TOKES, JOIIN WOOLMAN, Lawyer, of Phila -; delphia, was born in Burlington county, New Jersey, April 29th, 1813. He is the son of John: and Elizabeth (Woolman) Stokes. . His father was an old-fashioned farmer, a member of the' Society of Friends; his mother was the daughter of John Woolman, an esteemed and able minister of the same society, after whom he was named. Ile was educated in the Friends' School; subsequently studied in the law department of the University of Pennsylvania, and gradu- ated therefrom with the degree of Bachelor of Law. It was his intention to begin at once the practice of his pro- fession, but owing to circumstances over which he had no control, he was obliged to turn his attention to a different course of life and toil. An uncle, who had for some time been very successful as a merchant tailor, became his pre- ceptor, and he remained in his establishment for six years, becoming thoroughly acquainted with the trade. At the expiration of this term of service he commenced business on his own account in a very small way ; but being indus- trious and accommodating, he was able to retain his old customers, and add many new ones continually. To the retail trade, to which he had exclusively confined himself at first, was now added the wholesale, and after a period of thirty years of successful management he retired from this business, and gave his attention to the profession which he had so long previously selected as the one of his choice. Ile formed a copartnership with Hon. James Cooper, then United States senator, and commenced the practice of law. This partnership he maintained after Senator Cooper's term
had expired, and he removed to Philadelphia. Ile was identified with the old Whig party, and has filled several positions of trust in the City and National governments. He was Chief Clerk in the County Treasurer's office under John M. Coleman, who was the first Receiver of Taxes un- der the Consolidation Law. Subsequently he was appointed Chief Clerk in the Department of Agriculture at Washing- ton, District of Columbia, and on the death of Isaae New- ton, who was for some time the head of that department, he became the Acting Commissioner, and as such made the contracts and built for the Government the buildings be- longing to and now occupied by that bureau. Ile also purchased the collections which formed the nucleus for the present interesting museum. He was afterwards ap- pointed Assessor of Internal Revenue for the Fourth Con- gressional District of Pennsylvania : and during the war of the Rebellion was the Chief Clerk of the United States Purchasing Agent. He married Eliza Lippincott of Phila- delphia.
ARKIN, JOHN, JR., Capitalist, was born in Concord township, Delaware county, Pennsyl- Vania, October 3d, 1804, and is a son of John "Larkin, a farmer, After a limited education in the common. schools, he labored on his father's place until he was twenty one years of age. Then he rented a farm in Lower Chichester township, and worked it for two years. In 1827, he married Charlotte, daughter of Captain Erasmus Morton. After keeping a store at Chiches- ter Cross Roads for one year he removed to Mareus Hook, where he engaged in the same business for three years. Ilaving purchased a freight vessel in 1832 he established a packet line between Marcus Hook and Philadelphia, which he continued until 1839, when he sold his vessel, wharf, and business interests. He was elected sheriff of Delaware county for three years in 1840, and after the expiration of his term removed to a farm of 155 acres in Lower Chiches- ter, which he had seeured by seven purchases, and upon which he had erected new and commodious buildings. Ile was elected to.the -Legislature in 1844, and re-elected in IS45. In 1848 he built two vessels to establish a daily line of packets between Chester and Philadelphia, the pre- vious accommodations having been but twice a week. In the autumn of the same year he purchased a property in Chester, and having creeted a dwelling removed thither. He then engaged in business with William Booth, forming in March, 1849, the eopartnership of Booth & Larkin, to run a daily line of packets between Chester and Philadelphia in connection with the lumber and coal business. The firm enjoyed a prosperous career until March, 1852, when the partnership was dissolved, and he gave his time and attention to real estate operations. This was consequent upon the exchange, in 1850, of his farm for eighty-three
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acres in the north ward of Chester, belonging to John | ! Cochran, which had been previously occupied as a race- course. In 1854 he proposed to erect a mill for Abraham Blakeley of any dimensions, and to finish it before October Ist of that year. Ilis offer was accepted, and he erected a handsome three-story brick structure, 100 by 45 feet, com- pleting it two months before the specified time. He also built during the same year twenty-two dwelling-houses, and by the large sale of lots and strenuous efforts was enabled to carry out to the full extent his beneficent enterprise. This movement gave the first impetus to manufactures in Chester, and he has followed it by the erection of a total of one hundred and thirty-eight dwellings in Chester, and forty- two in Marcus Hook, beside thirteen manufacturing estab- lishments. Ile was for eleven years a member of the Borough Council, and for six years was President of that body. Chester having been incorporated in 1866, he was the first mayor, and was re-elected for three years in 1869. He is president of the Chester Rural Cemetery Company, of which he was an originator, as well as of the First National Bank, to the presidency of which he was elected in 1871, and of which he previously had been a director. Ile was one of the movers in the conversion of the old Delaware County Bank into a national institution, and was for two years a director. IIe has long, been prominent in the settlement of estates, and is now engaged in extensive real estate operations at Marcus Hook, where he achieved his first marked success. Few men have. contributed more to the promotion of public enterprise, or had honor and official trust so forced upon them. He is uniformly re- spected for his abilities and sterling integrity.
OLLINS, EDWARD A., Lawyer and Insurance President, is a native of New Hampshire, and was born in the town of Wakefield in that State, December 8th, 1828. He is a son of Hon. Daniel G. Rollins, Judge of Probate, and Susan Binney Jackson. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, and studied law in the Law De- pariment of Harvard, Massachusetts, University. At the proper time he was duly admitted to the bar of his native State, and for some time practised his profession at Great Falls, New Hampshire. In 1861, he was elected a mem- ber of the House of Representatives of the State Legisla- ture, and was re-elected in 1862. For these two years he was honored by being elected Speaker of the same. In 1863, he was appointed Cashier of Internal Revenue, at Washington, District of Columbia, being the first incum- bent to hold that office after its creation. In 1864 he be- came Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and in 1865, was promoted to the position of full Commissioner, which office he filled with signal ability until 1869, when
he resigned. Shortly afterwards he removed to Philadelphia, and was elected Vice-President of the National Life In- surance Company of the United States of America, in which position he proved himself so valuable to the company, that upon the resignation of Clarence II. Clarke, he was elevated to the office of president.
AUER, FREDERICK, Brewer, was born in the Province of Palatine, now Rhenish Bavaria, October 14th, 1810. Hle is a son of George and Katrina Lauer, both of whom are now deceased. He attended school (German) until he was twelve years of age, and 'during this period learned the French language. His father had been one of the largest property holders and taxpayers in the country, and was the man who raised the first liberty-pole on the French borders. On account of his liberal and patriotic sentiments he had to suffer, and for nine years was unable to gather any crops owing to the presence of the army. Finding himself getting more and more impoverished, he concluded to emigrate to America, and with his family landed in Baltimore in August, 1823. Ile at once started for Reading, where his married daughter was then living. IIere Frederick became, for the first four months of his residence, a butcher boy, assisting his brother-in-law-who was a victualler-in various ways. But he left this employ- ment when his father commenced the brewing business at Womelsdorf, Berks county, where he assisted him until he removed to Reading, and continued his calling there. During this time the lad had four months' schooling, all that he ever received in this country, and through three months of this period the tuition was by night ; but he has ever been a book-worm, and each leisure hour has been de- voted to close study. It was in the spring of 1826 that his father returned to Reading, where he established a small brewery in an old log house, which had been erected many years before by Read, the founder and owner of the town. Frederick, who was theu not quite sixteen years old, was made foreman and clerk, and with one assistant did all the brewing. Ile built up his first kettle with a capacity of five barrels, which in two months time was increased to ten. HIe rose at 2 A. M., finished the brewing by daylight, and after breakfast would deliver the beer to customers in town. In 1835 he became the proprietor of the brewery, enlarged it, and by the aid of more assistants extended the business. During the first five years nothing was made but what was known as " strong beer." The brewing of ale and porter was begun in 1831, and of lager beer in 1844. The original site of the brewery in 1826 was in the midst of a wretched swamp. The wonderful improvements which have since sprung up by means of his industry and tact, and without capital, have resulted in a town of itself. In 1849, he commenced buying up vacant lots, and therein quarried ex-
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tensive vaults in the solid limestone rock for the storage of | house in the spring session, thus securing its repeal. In lager beer. In 1866, he erected a large brewery on this 1857, Governor Parker was elected by 37,000 majority, and this result was in a great measure owing to his personal in- fluence, as he went throughout the State, to every town of prominence, and urged the election of his favorite by all the eloquence in his power. The licence law of 1858 is prin- cipally due to his exertions ; it was passed but three days before the adjournment of the Legislature. During the war of the Rebellion he espoused the Union cause, and gave freely of his means to sustain it. IIe literally gave thousands upon thousands of dollars. Whole regiments were regaled by him at a time, and he had words of encouragement for all. As above remarked, he is no politician nor office- seeker; he has been tendered, more than once, the Con- gressional nomination ; but his business interests would not permit him to serve in the National Legislature. He always has taken a deep interest in the government and prosperity of Reading, and has been a member of the Town and City Councils for many years. He has always been an active member of the Berks County Agricultural Society, and at one time was its President. He was one of the corporators and original stockholders of the Reading & Columbia Railroad. He was an intimate friend and regular corres- pondent of the celebrated Dr. Hebbe, the Swedish Revolu- tionist, who was driven from his native land. In one of his letters to him, written many years ago, he foretold the Southern Rebellion, which would result, he thought, from the continued aggressions of the Abolitionists. Ile has also been regularly in correspondence with the United States Consuls abroad, interchanging views, and keeping well in- formed of foreign matters, as well as being in advance of the movements which afterwards took place. He has made the acquaintance of all the prominent members of Congress, of both houses, during the past thirty years, to which may be added all the Presidents of the Nation in the same period. IIis efforts in connection with the Internal Revenue tax on fermented liquors have invariably been crowned with suc- cess, and as President of the Brewers' Congress he has been indefatigable in his services to the trade. Personally, he is of a frank, hearty, cordial disposition, with an abrupt good humor, which inspires friendship and confidence. He is quick and nervously active in his movements, and will go any length to serve a friend. Shrewd, far-seeing and in- dustrious, he has made his establishment one of the most suc- cessful in the United States. locality, containing all the latest improvements, and com- plete in every respect. In connection with this brewery is a fine park of seven acres, planted with shade trees, a park house with porticos, etc. He has always favored the estab- lishment of these gardens, thinking it the duty of the State Government to encourage their establishment, that good music might be discoursed and malt liquors and domestic wines sold. He had quite an extended correspondence with Senator Eli K. Price, of Philadelphia, on the subject ; in which he maintained that fermented liquors taken in moderate quantities are not only harmless but beneficial to the system, and that the soothing influence of music has a wonderfully beneficial effect upon the mind. Although no politician, in the modern acceptation and definition of that term, never seeking office of any kind, he has always mani- fested a deep and intelligent interest in politics. From the day he was permitted to cast his maiden vote until the pre- sent time, he has been a strong, unwavering, unflinching Democrat. His first vote was cast in the gubernatorial election of 1832 for Henry A. Muhlenberg, and a few weeks afterwards for General Jackson for President. Ever since in all national struggles his vote has been " straight Democrat." In local issues he chooses the best man, irrespective of politics. In 1835, Joseph Ritner, Whig, was elected Gover- nor, through the division of the Democratic party, and, in July, 1836, he was elected a member of the " Peace, Union and Harmony" Convention, which met at Harrisburg, to cement the two sections of the party. He was very in- strumental and influential in gaining this important end, which resulted in the election of Governor David R. Porter, in 1838. During the campaign of 1840, he took an active part when Van Buren was defeated. In 1846, the Free Soil movement was inaugurated, and he arrayed himself on the constitutional side, favoring the passage of a law by Congress which would provide for the compensation of the Southerners for their slaves ; had this been effected, the war of the Rebellion would not have occurred. During the Buchanan campaign, in 1856, he took an active part in his favor; and in May, 1860, he and Hiester Clymer were elected delegates to the Charleston Convention from Berks county. These two used their utmost exertions to prevent division and war, and by their influence the border States were kept in the Union. They sought to bring out William Guthrie, of Kentucky, as a Compromise candidate ; this action pleased the border States, and they were preserved to the Union. He attended the Baltimore Convention, in ARTON, BENJAMIN SMITII, M. D., Physician, Professor, Botanist and Author, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, February 10th, 1766. ITis father was a clergyman of the Church of England, and his mother was a sister of Ritten- house the astronomer. After remaining for some years in Philadelphia prosecuting his studies, he went to 1872, but, left before the time of nomination, instructing his alternate to vote in the negative on all questions. In State politics he has been very active, especially in the mis- called temperance movement of 1853, when the " Maine Liquor Law" was defeated by one majority. So also in IS55, after the " Jug Law " had been previously passed, he was instrumental in defeating the Know-nothing temperance | Edinburgh and London to attend the medical lectures.
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Subsequently he repaired to the University of Gottingen, where he passed a successful examination and took the de- gree of M. D. On his return to Philadelphia, in 1789, he commenced the practice of medicine, and in the same year was elected Professor of Natural History and Botany in the College of Philadelphia; afterwards was appointed Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Pennsyl- vania, and on the decease of Dr. Benjamin Rush, succeeded him as Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in the same institution. He was distinguished by his talents and professional attainments. Ile was a great contributor to the progress of natural science, and his various works indicate closeness of observation and extensive learning. He was the first American to give to his country an elemen- tary work on botany. He died December 19th, 1815.
UDWIG, WILLIAM C., Merchant, was born in Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1809. He was educated at the Reading Academy, and at the age of eighteen years came to Philadelphia and entered the dry goods house of Eckel & Warne as clerk. He remained here a year and a half, when by the death of the junior partner the firm was changed to Eckel, Spangler & Co. By this change he became a partner in the concern, in which he remained for a period of eleven years. He then retired from the house and formed a co-partnership with Mr. Kneedler, un- der the style of Ludwig & Kneedler, which was afterwards changed to Ludwig, Kneedler & Co. For a long series of years he gave his untiring devotion to the interests of this house, and it has stood pre-eminent for soundness and re- liability among the many great business firms of the city. In 1869, however, he was obliged to retire from mercantile life, owing to the precarious state of his health ; not, how- ever, without the great regret of the remaining members of the house, who felt that their most able head and director ANE, ELISHA KENT, M. D., the Arctic Ex- plorer, was born in Philadelphia, in 1822. IIe was a son of the late Judge Kane, of the United States District Court. He was educated at the Universities of Virginia and Pennsylvania, graduat- ing at the latter as M. D., in 1843. Having been appointed surgeon to the (first) American Embassy to China, he availed himself of the facilities afforded by his position to explore the Philippine Islands, which was chiefly done on foot. He was the first adventurer to descend the Crater of the Tael Thence he departed for India ; visited Ceylon, the upper Nile, and the classic grounds of Europe. After his return home he obtained a commission in the navy, and made his first cruise on the coast of Africa. He visited, while on this station, the various slave factories and baracoons of Dahomey. During the Mexican War he per- formed the brilliant feat of carrying the despatches of Presi- would no longer mingle with them in their avocations. But while so devoted to his own immediate interests, he found time and opportunity to advance the interests of his adopted city in various directions. IIe was one of the original corporators of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the co-laborer of S. Morris Waln, Charles II. Fisher, J. Gilling- ham Fell, Edward C. Knight, Edmund Roberts and John Welsh, in that giant enterprise. He has been a member of the Board of Directors from its organization, and yet re- mains as such. For twenty years he has been a Director of the Penn National Bank ; and also in the Board of the Delaware Mutual Safety Insurance Company. He was one of the originators of the Merchants' Fund Society of Phila- delphia, and its Treasurer. This is one of the most estim- able of the many charities for which the city is celebrated, its aim being to assist and relieve the old and decayed merchants, especially those who are infirm. He has also I dent Polk to General Scott in safety. His spirit of adven-
served for the past twenty-eight years as President of the Mercantile Beneficial Association, and still holds that office. Until the failure of his health he was engaged in every pub- lie enterprise which could redound to the benefit of the city; and at the time he retired from active business life he was connected with no less than nineteen different associations. His credit has always been unimpeachable from the be- ginning of his career ; and he has frequently been the means of sustaining and encouraging those who, from accumulated disasters, were threatened with ruin. To young men, whether in business or desiring to enter it, he has never turned a deaf ear; and to this class his advice and assistance have proved of incalculable benefit.
VANS, MILLER D., Lawyer, was born in Down- ingtown, Chester county, Pennsylvania, November 3d, 1836. His parents were William and Rachel Evans, of the same place. ITis academical edu- cation was obtained at Downingtown, and on its completion he began the study of law, under the instruction of Henry W. Smith, of Reading. In 1862, he commenced reading law, and so successfully that two years afterwards (1864) he was admitted as a member of the Norristown bar. Since that date he has practised in Potts- town, bearing the reputation of an able and skilful lawyer and barrister. His political opinions are Republican, and he is intimately identified with that party. In May, 1873, he was appointed School Director of Pottstown, which posi- tion he now holds, to the interest and satisfaction of the community in which he resides. He was married, in May, 1872, to Anna L., daughter of General James Rittenhouse, of the same place.
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ture led him to take the barometrical altitudes of Popocateptl. | of New Holland, and subsequently attended the lectures On the return of peace, he was assigned to the Coast Sur- vey. While in the Gulf of Mexico, he volunteered his services to accompany the squadron fitted out by the United States in search of Sir John Franklin, and was appointed senior surgeon. The Second Expedition he commanded. Broken down in health upon his return, he sought to re- cuperate his strength by a winter's residence in Cuba. But it was too far exhausted ; he died at Havana, February 16th, 1857.
ARTRAM, WILLIAM, Botanist, was born at the Botanic Garden, below Gray's Ferry, Pennsyl- vania, now in the corporate limits of Philadelphia city, in 1739. He was the son of John Bartram, whose grandfather, Richard, was one of the com- panions of William Penn on his first visit in 1682. He passed six years in Philadelphia engaged in mercantile pursuits, and thence went to North Carolina to continue in the same sphere; but having inherited from his father his passion for exploration in search of new specimens of the flora of his country, he abandoned the counter for the woods, and repaired to Florida, returning home in 1771. In 1773, at the request of Dr. Fothergill, he examined the natural productions of the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida, which occupied five years. In 1782, he was elected Professor of Botany in the University of Pennsylvania, but declined the appointment on the score of ill health. He published, in 1791, a detailed account of his southern travels, which was re-published in London in the following year. Besides his discoveries in Botany, he prepared the most complete table of American ornithology prior to Wilson's great work, and he was the assistant of the latter in a portion of. the same. He died suddenly ; he had just completed writing a sketch of a new specimen of a plant a few minutes before his death, on July 22d, 1823.
UTHER, MARTIN, M. D., Physician, was born March 16th, 1826, at New Holland, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Dr. John Luther, now deceased, who was a prominent physician of that locality ; was also very active in political life, and an influential and leading mem- ber of the Masonic body. His grandfather was also a physician, and his three sons were all educated in the same profession. It is a somewhat singular coincidence that his father should also have three sons who were all devoted to the same pursuit. He was educated at the leading aca- demies of West Chester and of Berks county, subsequently studying under a private tutor. IIe commenced the study of medicine in the office of his brother, Dr. John W. Luther,
delivered in the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. After complying with the regulations of that institution, he graduated therefrom in the spring of 1848 with the degree of M. D. For the two years succeeding this event he prac- tised his profession in company with his brother-preceptor. In 1850, he went to Reading, and established himself in practice alone, and lias succeeded in securing an extensive patronage. Ile was appointed Physician to the Berks County Alms-house in 1853, and served in that capacity until 1855. He then was named Physician to the County Prison, and was attached to the same for two years, ending in 1857. In 1862, he was placed in charge of the United States Army Hospital at Reading, and held that position until it was no longer required. In the same year he was appointed surgeon to the State in making the necessary ex- aminations of those who had been drafted into the military service; in. 1864, he served as surgeon to the Board of Enrolment of the Eighth Congressional District, and re- mained in that position until the close of the war. Ile took a prominent and leading part in properly establishing the Reading Dispensary, in 1868. This institution has been of much benefit in affording relief to the sick and needy who have availed themselves of its charities. He has been, and still is, a member of the Berks County Medical Society, and has filled the office of President of the same. While holding this position, he was a delegate to the State and National Medical Congress. He is also a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. At present he stands at the head of his profession in Reading, and is a surgeon of the greatest ability. He is highly respected as a citizen ; is a most genial companion, a warm-hearted, sympathizing and benevolent man. Traditionally, he is a descendant of the brother of Martin Luther, the great Protestant Reformer, and is said to resemble him very strongly in appearance.
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