USA > Pennsylvania > The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 1 > Part 47
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INTZER, WILLIAM, Merchant and Lumber Dealer, was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, May 11th, 1820. His parents were William and Sarah Mintzer, of the same place. He received his education at the academy of Joshua Hooper, in West Chester. On leaving school he entered his father's dry-goods store, where he remained till 1839, at which time that parent died and the store and property were sold. He then purchased another property, at the corner of High and Harmony streets, where he carried on the mercantile business extensively for about six years. Disposing of this concern, he embarked in the lumber busi- ness, in Schuylkill county, and while thus engaged bought a large tract of land in the same county, above Tamaqua. Returning to Pottstown, he established a banking business there, which he conducted for some time, till he was induced
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to enter the Pottstown Bank, in the capacity of cashier. This position he occupied until the death of the President, Ilenry Potts, when he was elected to succeed him, and it is said that the Pottstown National Bank owes much of its present prosperity to the ability he displayed as its presiding officer. In 1863, he started the large and well known estab- lishment called the Pottstown Iron Works. In politics, he was a steady and conscientious Republican, warmly but unostentatiously supporting the principles of his party. Ile was a member of the Episcopal Church, and a benevolent and active worker in its cause. In 1841, he was married to Rebecca Evans, of Chester county, Pennsylvania. IIe died, in 1867, at the early age of forty-seven years. Though no brilliant event characterized his career, his quiet and steady course of active industry could not fail to exert a beneficial influence and to materially advance the interests of the community.
cavalry, and performed signal and valuable services. Not only is he an able attorney and a devoted student in legal matters, but he takes a deep interest in mineralogy and geology, and has read much on these kindred subjects. Ile has collected many fine specimens in our own country, while his museum is not wanting in many choice varieties of ores, fossils, etc., from England, Germany, Russia, etc. In connection with this, he has commenced to collect In- dian curiosities, and has a valuable cabinet of these in his possession. He is a good German and French scholar, and a great admirer of the first Napoleon. He has a fine lib- rary filled with the most valuable and substantial works by English, French and German authors, in the perusal of which he takes special delight. Ile is a member of the German Reformed Church, and is prominent in its various interests and effectiveness in promoting the welfare and spiritual blessing of its members. He is a man universally respected-a most genial gentleman in every respect. He was married, first, in January, 1852, to Louisa E. Bechtel, whose first and only son is now studying law with his father ; and again in June, 1864, to Annie E. Teed, of Reading, who is now the mother of six children.
OUNG, SAMUEL L., Lawyer, was born in Rock- land township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, September 24th, 1822. IIe is a son of Daniel Young, whowasengaged in the iron business as manager of the. works of General Daniel Udree. Ile was at one period Prothonotary of Berks AILEY, CHARLES L., Iron Founder and Worker, was born in Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, March 9th, 1821. His father was an Englishman and his mother a native of Wales. Ile was educated at the Westtown school, Chester county. On leaving school, he entered the drug store of Evans & Co., corner of Third and Spruce streets, Philadelphia, as clerk, remaining there till about eighteen years old. He then joined his father in the iron business, at Coatesville, Chester county, acting as clerk. In 1844, his father's business at that place terminated, and, in 1845, he removed with him to the Pine Iron Works, Berks county, where he became a partner, the name of the firm being Joseph Bailey & Sons. In 1852, he left his father, and in 1853 commenced at Harrisburg the Central Iron Works. While there, he was in partnership with Mr. McCormick, and the firm carried on the manufacture of nails, in con- junction with the iron works. This association lasted till 1866, when his interests in both branches of the business were closed out. In 1867, in connection with his brother, Dr. Bailey, he built the Chesapeake Nail Works at Harris- burg, which soon proved very successful. Ile still retains an interest in these works. In 1869, he removed to Potts- town to take charge of the Pottstown Iron Company, of which he became Treasurer and Manager, a position he still retains. He was married, in 1856, to M. H., daughter of William and Sarah E. Dale, of Harrisburg. He has constantly shown himself to be a man thoroughly imbued with the spirit of progress and enterprise, as may be seen county, and in 1851 was elected Associate Judge and served in that position for five years. His son, Samuel L., was educated at Bolmar's celebrated academy in West Chester, Pennsylvania. After leaving school he commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. William Strong, recently of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and now of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was admitted to practice at the bar in Reading in the year 1847, and opened an office in that city, where he has continued ever since, having an excellent patronage, and is deemed an eminently safe, reliable, trustworthy and conscientious counsellor ; he stands in the front rank of his profession. He was appointed, in 1855, a Commissioner of the Circuit Court of the United States by Judge Grier. At present he is the counsel of the Berks County Railroad Company. Ile commenced early to take an interest in political matters, and was an earnest advocate of Democratic doctrines. In 1858, he took a prominent part in the Congressional contest between J. Glaney Jones and Major John Schwartz. On the break- ing out of the Rebellion he became a thorough Republican in sentiment, and volunteered his services in the cause. He was appointed Chief of Staff to Major-General William II. Keim, and remained with him in active service until the command was relieved at Harper's Ferry by General Patterson. When General Lee first invaded Pennsylvania he raised a company of cavalry for State service, of which he took and retained command until after the battle of Antictam, when they returned home. Again, in 1863, he entered the service as chief of a reconoitring party of | by the numerous industrial undertakings he has embarked
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în, which have largely contributed to the interests of his native State, and placed him in the prominent position he now occupies. He is highly esteemed by his fellow- citizens, for his general character and the great business ability evinced in his able management of the two impor- tant companies under his control.
ARD, WILLIAM, Lawyer, was born in Phila- delpia, January 2d, 1837. After arriving at a suitable age he attended the public schools of Philadelphia until he reached the age of ten years, when he entered Girard College. During the five years spent in that institution he attained to the rank of No. I of the first class. He was apprenticed to the printing business with Y. S. Walter, of the Delaware County Republican, in 1853, and, after serving his . full term of four years, entered the office of Hon. John M. Broomall as a student at law, in November, 1857. Owing to his undisputed qualification, Judge Harris made a special . exception in his case, and admitted him to practice in August, 1859, before the expiration of the regular proba- tionary term. He has since been engaged in a practice in-) volving Constitutional questions, land . titles, water rights, railroad suits, and general civil and criminal business. He married Clara E., daughter of Samuel Ulrich, of Chester, in February, 1860. In 1862 he engaged in large and suc- cessful land operations in the South Ward, and what is now South Chester. He has evinced a deep and increasing in- terest in all public affairs, but has never held a purely political office, though he served several years in Borough and City Councils, and was Solicitor of Chester for thirteen consecutive years, after which he voluntarily retired. The City Charter, as well as those of the Water Works and the Chester Creek Railroad, were obtained mainly through his exertions ; the latter was only secured by a persistent, de- termined effort, which gave Chester the terminus of the road in spite of the obstinate attempts of the opposition to effect a junction with the Philadelphia & West Chester Railroad. Ile associated with George Baker as Ward & Baker, on January Ist, 1868, and engaged in the banking business ; but, having disposed of his interest to his partner, he retired January Ist, 1873. He was one of the originators, and has since been a director, of the First National Bank of Chester; was treasurer of the Second Chester and South Ward building associations until the expiration of their charter. He is president of the Sharon Land Association, whose lands lie upon the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad, about midway between Philadelphia and Chester. He is secretary and treasurer of the Chester & Delaware River Railroad, of which he was the projector, and, in January, 1873, he secured the purchase, by the Reading
of land, with one mile of river frontage with a depth of twenty-five feet of water, which will ultimately be connected, through the Chester & Delaware River Railroad, with the Reading Railroad at Ridley Junction. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Chester Improvement Company, organized in 1871, with the design of improving navigation and railroad facilities, and encouraging manufactures and mechanics ; it has now within its limits twenty-five dwelling- houses and three factories, one of which is in operation for the production of very fine yarn, while the others are de- signed for the manufacture of jeans. He has acquired a very large practice, and is a very prominent real estate operator, but confines his operations to Chester and vicinity, where he has devoted his whole energies to improvements. Ile donates by rule a lot of ground to every church desiring it for the erection of a new edifice. It need not be added that he is a liberal and public spirited man, and that he is an active promoter of every enterprise projected for the benefit of his community.
UIER, LEVI, Manufacturer of Fire Bricks, was born at Rittersville, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, . March, 11th, 1835. He is the son of Manas and Julia. (Mclose) Quier. He was educated in the public schools of his native place, attending them till the age of seventeen years, and making the most of his opportunities. On leaving school, he was ap- prenticed to his uncle, Isaac MeHose, who was engaged in the business of bricklaying and building blast furnaces. After serving, in this capacity, for three years, his early attention to study becoming manifest, and it being shown that he was qualified to enter the office of the Allentown Iron Works as clerk, book-keeper, and paymaster, he received that important position, and occupied it for five years. On leaving that employment, he brought into requi- sition the knowledge he hid acquired during his appren- ticeship, by building blast furnaces, under contract, in con- nection with his uncle, Samuel McHose, a business which he continued for two years. On October 22d, 1861, he was mustered into the United States army, as lieutenant in the 54th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and, subse- quently, was promoted to the rank of quarter-master, an office he retained for three years, serving principally on bri- gade and division duty, in the Army of West Virginia. On January Ist, 1865, be purchased an interest in the Reading Fire Brick Works, the business in which he is occupied at the present time. He is, also, a director in the Millerstown Iron Company, and in the Reading Mutual Insurance Com- pany at Reading, Pennsylvania. In politics, he belongs to the Republican party, and, both he and his family, are members of the Reformed Church. IIe was married, Railroad Company, of a tract of about five hundred acres ! October 20th, 1868, to Emma A. Addams, of Reading, by
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whom he has one boy. He attributes his success in life to | be characterized as the " Linnaeus of our country." So steady and upright conduct, in every particular. He has risen to his present prominent position in the community entirely through his own efforts and merits, as he com- menced business without capital or influential friends to push him forward.
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ORDA, EUGENE, Mining Engineer, was born in Paris, France, on January 13th, 1825. He is a son of Edmond Borda, a prominent merchant and manufacturer of cloth. Having determined to embrace the profession of an engineer, he entered the College of St. Barbe, a celebrated institution of science and engineering school, where, after a close and prolonged course of study, he graduated, and received the usual diplomas granted those who were able to pass the severe ordeal of examination. He then pro- posed to engage in the iron business, but the Revolution of ; 1848 had just broken out, Louis Philippe had fled, the Con- stitutional Monarchy been overturned, and a quasi Republic proclaimed, which was regarded as exceedingly unstable, and destined in its turn to be destroyed. All enterprises were. paralyzed, and any new venture could not be attempted. Owing to these causes, he determined to'emigrate to the United States, where he might find a favorable opening and use the talents he had acquired. He went first to Lara- coming and undertook the management of a furnace and coal mine. After remaining there a year, he changed to Chestnut Hill, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he became Superintendent of an iron mine ; and, in 1852, he passed into Schuylkill county, where he successfully managed a large estate. His stay in this locality lasted ten years, when, in 1862, he removed to Philadelphia, and has since been engaged in the mining and shipping of coal. From a small beginning he has become a most extensive producer, with a considerable trade, which is constantly increasing, and by unceasing attention to his business he commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he has commercial relations. He is emphatically a self-made man.
UHLENBERG, REV. AND HON, HENRY AUGUSTUS, Clergyman and Congressman, was born at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, May 13th, 1782. Ile was the eldest son of Rev. Henry E., and grandson of Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the American ancestor of the family, who emi- grated from Saxony, in 1741, as a missionary of the Luthe- ran Church to the German population of Pennsylvania. Reverend Henry E. was an erudite and profound scholar and theologian, a celebrated mineralogist and botanist, and an author of so great repute in the latter science as to
learned a man was he, and so happy in his instructions to his son, that the latter was most thoroughly and liberally educated; and it was deemed unnecessary to send him to college, as before the period of life at which young men most commonly are matriculated at such an institution he had completed the usual collegiate course. In those days party spirit in the land was running high, and his father's family and connections were all imbued with " Republi- can," or, as they were afterwards termed, " Democratic " principles. The odious " Alien and Sedition Laws " had been passed, and the Germans of Pennsylvania were sorely harassed by their provisions; and many able men were en- gaged in opposing their spirit and endeavoring to secure their repeal. Though but sixteen years of age, he was writing in defence of Jefferson and Mckean, and his pen gave promise of the potent influence which in after years it was destined to wield over the German mind of his native State. . According to the wishes of his father, he proceeded to. New York, to study theology under Rev. Dr. Kunze, and, in 1802, having been duly licensed to preach, took charge of the congregation of German Lutherans in Read- ing, Pennsylvania, which he retained for twenty-seven years. During a greater portion of this time he was a member of the Synod, and filled the offices of Secretary, Treasurer, and finally,' by unanimous election, that of President, to which he was subsequently re-elected, as often and as long as the constitution would permit. As a pulpit orator he was celebrated ; his great learning, his complete know- ledge of his subject, his splendid rhetoric and profound logic, combined to make in him one of the finest preachers of his church. His health becoming impaired, he resolved to withdraw from ministerial duties and retire to a farm ; and no sooner did he signify his intention of so doing than his fellow-citizens, who had long admired his quiet and consistent support of Democratic principles, solicited him to represent the district in' Congress. To this request, which was urgently pressed, he acceded, and in June, 1829, he resigned his ministerial office, having during the preceding October been elected as Representative. In December, 1829, he took his seat at Washington, and gave his earnest support to the administration of President Jackson, who had been inaugurated the previous March. The latter, as the new leader of the Democratic party, was attracted by the position assumed by Henry A. Muhlenberg, who, though he might have been deemed inexperienced in the forms of legislation, was yet so thorough in his understand- ing of the measures proposed, and so energetic in the manner in which he advocated their adoption, that in the very outset of his Congressional career he established an influence in the party which few men attain after many years of service. His views on the Tariff question were very moderate. He believed more in the permanency of the system than in the amount of protection ; the latter to be purely incidental, and the adjustment of duties to be such
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as should furnish a revenue to defray the expenses of the government. He was opposed to the United States Bank, and coincided in all the views hostile to that institution as expressed by the President. It was he who, on the 18th of February, 1834, after more than two months of daily ap- peals on behalf of the friends of the bank, moved the pre- vious question, and by the vote which was then taken settled forever its destiny. He continued for nine years his position as member of the House, and was indefatigable in his duties to his constituents and the country. In 1835, he was a candidate of a portion of the Democratic party for the Governorship of Pennsylvania, but was defeated. In 1836, when it seemed more than probable that each section of the party would nominate an electoral ticket, he induced his friends to give way and support the ticket already chosen. They did so, and Martin Van Buren was elected. In IS37, the latter tendered him a seat in the Cabinet as Secretary of the Navy, and afterwards the Russian Mission, both of which for private reasons he was obliged to decline. In 1838, he was named Ambassador to Austria; he was un- animously confirmed, and remained at Vienna until the close of 1840. In 1844, he was nominated by the State Convention for the post of Governor, which he accepted, but died suddenly, on August 11th, 1844, two months prior to the election.
RAFF, FREDERICK, the builder of Fairmount Water Works, was born in 1774. At an early age he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, and served his time, becoming thoroughly con- versant with the art. A short time after attaining his majority, he met with an accident which en- tirely incapacitated him for the trade he had learned. While still on crutches, he chanced to meet II. B. Latrobe, the architect of the old Pennsylvania Bank, who employed him to make the working drawings for that building. In 1799, he was engaged as draughtsman and assistant engineer in erecting the first water works for the city. After this improvement had been completed, he went to Virginia, where he remained some years, and on his return to Phila- delphia again became an assistant at Centre Square, and, in 1805, was made Superintendent. These works were very insufficient to supply the city, and it soon became ne- cessary to provide others having more capacity. The site at Fairmount was purchased, and work commenced in August, 1812. The entire establishment was designed and executed by him, with the exception of the steam engines ; at the same time he continued the management of the old works at Centre Square. When water power superseded the steam power, he designed the canal and locks on the west side of the river; the forebay, head arches with their gates, the reservoirs, mill buildings, pumps, in fact, every- thing except the dam and the first three wheels. He de-
vised and perfected the iron-pipe system ; the cast-iron water wheels to supersede those of wood, the stop-cocks, fire plugs, etc. All these emanated from his genius, there being no other water works in the country to serve as a guide, while those of Europe were far inferior in design and capa- city to what was here erected ; in fact, he sent to England patterns of fire plugs and stop-cocks which were acknow- ledged to be superior to any thing of the kind known there. In the year 1833, while upon duty, he contracted the seeds of that disease which at a later period had a fatal termina- tion. IIe died April 13th, 1847. In addition to Fair- mount, he supplied the detailed information to upwards of thirty-seven corporations that have erected water works in this country, including New York and Boston.
AY, J. TUNIS, Merchant, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1819. IIe is the son of James Way, a very successful commission merchant. IIe was edu- cated in the private schools of the day, which can be favorably compared with the public schools of the present time. While a mere youth, he entered the dry-goods store of Townsend Sharpless, and, commencing at the lowest round of the ladder, passed through all the different grades of the business, learning his part thoroughly and well. This store was then probably the most extensive retail dry-goods store in the city, and to have graduated there, as he may be said to have done, was equivalent to being thoroughly conversant with that description of trade, in all its varied forms. From this establishment he passed to the well-known house of Day & Co., and after having remained with the firm one year he succeeded Mr. Day, who retired. In 1842, the house became known as Smith & Way. In 1849, another change was made, and the firm became J. Tunis Way & Co.
REDICK, BENJAMIN S., Merchant, is a native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he was also educated in the public schools. At a very early age he commenced to learn the dry-goods business ; and having gained a thorough know- ledge of the same in all its details, began ope- rations on his own account in the town of Dover, in his native State. In 1836, he came to Philadelphia, and be- came a partner in the great firm of David S. Brown & Co., the leading house in the trade of American domestics. Here he remained till 1847. In the following year, in connection with Samuel E. Stokes and Stephen S. Cald- well, he established the well-known and singularly success- ful house of Tredick, Stokes & Co. Their business was confined strictly to American goods sold on commission,
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and their establishment was on south Front street, below Market. Here the senior partner remained until 1865, and their career was most prosperons. At this period his health became very precarious, and necessitated his retirement. Since that date he has travelled much in his own country and abroad. He is greatly interested in the work of the American Sunday School Union, and is constantly aiding it in the great mission for which it was instituted. During the war of the Rebellion he, in common with the other members of the firm, was exceedingly liberal towards all objects of a national and patriotic nature, and freely contri- buted to their support.
LLIOTT, HION. WILLIAM, High Sheriff of the County of Philadelpha, was born of Scotch-Irish parents, March 2d, 1816. His parents located in Philadelphia in 1820, and there he has since resided. His father, Thomas Elliott, was a man of great mental and physical power, and was a contractor on the public works of the State. He attended private or " subscription " schools in his early youth, in- cluding that of Professor James .Goodfellow, on. Sansom street, between Eighth and Ninth, and laid the foundations upon which he has since built by self-culture and research. Ile left school in 1832, and became an apprentice to the trade of marble cutting, with Edwin Greble, whose yard, located in Southwark, was then one of the largest in Phila- delphia. After the expiration of his apprenticeship, in 1837, he continued at the business until 1846, becoming foreman for Mr. Greble, and afterward engaging in busi- ness on his own account. ITe married Mary, daughter of John Gilkey, a prominent and respected citizen of Philadel- phia, May 14th, 1844, and has an interesting family of sons and daughters. He entered into public affairs before at- taining his majority, participating actively in the campaign of 1836, as an earnest advocate of the doctrines of the old Whig party. He cast his first presidential vote for Wil- liam Henry Harrison, in 1840, and subsequently supported Henry Clay in 1844, Zachary Taylor in 1848, Winfield Scott in 1852, John C. Fremont in 1856, Abraham Lincoln in ISoo and 1864, Ulysses S. Grant in 1868 and 1872. He was Prison Inspector from 1852 to 1854, by the choice of Mayor Charles Gilpin, and one of the aldermen of the old city, but upon the municipal consolidation, in the latter year, he was not a candidate for re-election. He took strong ground against the extension of slavery, and vigorously sup- ported Jacob B. Lancaster, the Anti-slavery delegate to the Baltimore Convention in 1852. He was a delegate to the National Republican Convention at Chicago, in 1860, and cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has been an active member of the Union Leagne of Philadelphia almost from its organization ; was a member of the Philadelphia Gas Trust from 1865 to 1871, when he resigned. He re-
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