USA > Pennsylvania > The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 1 > Part 63
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never shunned bearing the responsibility of any of his actions : he did what he considered his duty no matter what the consequences might be. Above all, throughout the whole of his public life, he was a man of unswerving integrity, and unblemished honor; he would do nothing, however great the inducements to the contrary, which could lower himself in his own esteem, or in that of others. Ilis standard was ever a high one, and when he believed him- self to be right, no power on earth could divert lim from the path which honor, good faith, good feeling, and his own judgment pointed out. He possessed an ample fortune, from which he was ever ready to contribute to all objects whether charitable, religious, political, or literary, which deserved his support. As a citizen of Reading, he was fore- most in advancing, by pen, tongue and purse, all projects which could benefit or increase the prosperity of his native place. ITad he lived, he would have written his name on the historical records of his country, and would have im- pressed his character on her legislation ; cut off, untimely, in the flower of his youth, and in the very maturity of his powers, his loss was a great calamity to the Common- wealth. He was married, in November, 1847, to his cousin, Annie II., daughter of the late Dr. F. A. Muhlenberg, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and a son and only child, born October 27th, 1848, survives him.
HAPMAN, NATHANIEL, M. D., late Emeritus Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in the University of Pennsylvania, was the second son of George Chapman, and was born May 28th, 17So, at the family seat, " Summer Hill," (then) in Fairfax county, on the bank of the Potomac river, about midway between Washington and Alexandria, Virginia. He was of English descent on his father's side, his paternal ancestor having been one of the original settlers of the colony, and was a second cousin of Sir Walter Ra- leigh ; his mother's family were of Scotch extraction, and her forefathers had also emigrated to Virginia at a remote day. Ile attended school at a tender age, and when but eight years old, he had successfully imitated some of the carly efforts of Pope, and paraphrased some of Horace's Odes. He also studied at the Classical Academy at Alex- andria-founded by Washington-where he remained s'x years ; and subsequently passed a short time in two colleges, though he took no degree. He commenced his medical studies in the office of Dr. John Weems of Georgetown, District of Columbia, with whom he remained for over a year, and afterwards with Dr. Dick of Alexandria. In the autumn of 1797, he came to Philadelphia, and became the private and favorite pupil of Dr. Benjamin Rush, attending the lectures in, and following the course of studies pre- scribed by, the University of Pennsylvania, whence he graduated, in ISor, as M. D. He sailed for Europe,
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without delay, to supplement his medical learning, and | having charge, in connection with Dr. Thomas T. Hewson, passed a year in London as a private pupil of the celebrated of the city yellow fever hospital. For a long period, he gave clinical lectures in the Philadelphia Almshouse; and for nearly a quarter of a century delivered a summer course of lectures in the Philadelphia Medical Institute, which he had founded in 1817, though he generously declined any participation in the fees, or control in the appointment to professorships. He was connected with several medical and learned societies; was several times president of the Philadelphia Medical Society, and was the successor of the venerable P. S. Duponceau, in the presidency of the Ameri- can Philosophical Society. He was also a corresponding member of several learned societies of Europe. In private life, he was eminently noted for his courteous manners, as an excellent conversationist, a brilliant punster, and a most delightful companion. His wit was without malice; he was frank, open-hearted, and generous. He died July Ist, IS53, of a slow and gradual decay, rather than from any positive disease. Dr. Abernethy. Thence he repaired to Edinburgh, where he attended the University lectures, and again took a de- gree. During his residence in this latter city, he became acquainted with many of the celebrities of the day, among them were the Earl of Buchan, Brougham (afterwards Lord Chancellor), and Dugald Stewart. On his return to the United States, his first preceptor, Dr. Weems (who was also his kinsman), proposed that he should become his as- sociate and partner in his practice at Alexandria; but as he deemed that Philadelphia was a more promising field in which to reap success, he concluded to settle in that city. In 1804, he commenced his career as a medical practitioner in the city, which was his home for nearly half a century. His attractive manners and high reputation won for him an early and remunerative patronage. IIe became a favorite with a large portion of the influential families in the city, which he retained through his long life, until the advancing infirmities of age caused his retirement to private life. During his first year's residence, he also began his career as a teacher, delivering a private course of lectures on Ob- stetrics, which prove I highly popular. In IS53, he married OARDMAN, REV. GEORGE DANA, D. D., Clergyman, was born August 18th, 1828, in the city of Tavoy, Kingdom of Birmah. His grand- father, Sylvanus, and his . father, George Dana Boardman, were both clergymen before him. HIe is of American parentage, his father being from Maine and his mother (Sarah Hall) from New Hamp- shire. The latter was married a second time, to the Rev. A. Judson, D. D. He came to this country when but six years old, arriving in Boston in the year 1834, after a tedious voyage of eight months. He was educated in Worcester, Massachusetts, and graduated in Brown University, Rhode Island, in the year 1852. During the course of his aca- demic education he commenced the study of law, which he followed for a short time, in Indiana and Illinois. On graduation from college he entered the Newton (Massa- chusetts) Theological Seminary, graduating in 1855. That year was memorable in his life for two other important events. During its course he was married to Ella W. Covell of Albany, New York, and, in October of the same year, he was ordained as minister in South Carolina. After re- maining but a short time in that State, he removed to Rochester, New York, where he became pastor of the Second Baptist Church, remaining in charge of its con- gregation for a period of nearly eight years. At the end of this time he gave up his position and removed to Phila- delphia, in May, 1864, to become pastor of the First Bap- tist Church, situated at the northwest corner of Broad and Arch streets. He has now for more than nine years held that responsible trust. In 1865, Brown University con- ferred upon him the degree of D. D. Gifted as a preacher and teacher with more than ordinary talents, endowed Rebecca, daughter of Colonel Clement Biddle, a prominent and distinguished citizen of Philadelphia, with whom he lived in the greatest harmony and domestic felicity for up- wards of forty years. During the same year he was asso- ciated with Dr. Thomas C. James as an instructor of ob- stetries, until the latter was elected to the newly-created Chair of Midwifery in the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Chapman, however, continued his course of lectures, and his connection with Dr. James underwent no change. In 1813, when Dr. Rush died, Dr. B. S. Barton was trans- ferred from the professorship of Materia Medica to the va- cant chair, that of the Institutes and Practice of Medi- cine. About the same time Dr. Chapman was elected to the professorship vacated by Dr. Barton, and at the age of thirty-five became officially recognized as a full professor in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania. On the death of Dr. Barton, in 1816, he succeeded the latter, being unanimously elected by the trustees as Profes- sor of the Practice, Institutes, and Clinical Medicine of the same school, where he continued to deliver his lectures until the spring of 1850, when he finished his last course. Ile was thereupon elected Emeritus Professor. During his long term of service, he was the recipient of many tes- timonials from the different classes which he had instructed. During the cholera epidemic of 1832, he was in charge of one of the city hospitals, and when the scourge terminated he, in common with the other physicians who had super- vision over the several hospitals in the city and neighbor- hood, was presented by the corporation with a valuable silver pitcher " for his disinterested and intrepid exertions in a period of public calamity." He also performed a similar service during the yellow fever epidemic of 1820, i with exemplary piety, kind and benevolent in his social
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intercourse, he has peculiarly endeared himself to every member of his congregation, and won a high position in the respect and esteem of the community.
HAFFER, THOMAS, Mechanical Engineer and Mill Manager for the Phoenix Iron Company, was born in West Chester county, New York, May 22d, 1815. His father and paternal grand- father were extensive paper manufacturers. The latter emigrated from Germany to America prior to the American Revolution, and having built a paper mill, which was located in New York city-at a location since known as the " Five Points "-operated the same, and was one of the two paper makers who furnished the Govern- ment with paper for printing the " Continental Currency." Thomas Shaffer was left an orphan at an early age, and as his future depended upon his own exertions, he does not appear to have had any educational advantages, but became an errand boy in a paper mill, and when twelve years of age entered the Ulster Iron Works, at Saugerties, New York, where he became a general favorite, not only with the employes, but also with the proprietors. Here. he re- mained eighteen years, steadily advancing, step by step through every department of the works, learning everything relating to iron manufacture, including even the secret and occult modes employed by the imported- artisans ;" for these latter tenaciously adhered to their rules and practice, and until they had imparted their valuable information and usages to him, had not divulged their secrets to any Ameri- can. The manager of these works, who had acquired, his skill not only in England but also in France, took pleasure in teaching his youthful protege all the minutiæe respecting the manufacture of iron, so that he became the first " finished American workman " in this business. During the last of his years of service in this establishment he had reached the position of Workman Manager in charge of the three trains of rolls, being the highest station occupied by an employe. In 1845, he removed to Pompton, New Jersey, as- Master Workman of a rolling mill there, and remained there. about a year. He then was employed by Thomas Hunt, of Phila- delphia, in a similar capacity, and at the expiration of twelve months became Mill Manager and Master Workman of the Fairmount Iron Works. In 1850, he removed to Safe Ilar- bor, Pennsylvania, to take the position of the Superintendent of the rail and puddle mills at that place, and finally, in 1856, entered the service of the Phoenix Iron Company, at Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, as Mill Manager, and which he still continues to hold. Under his care and supervision these 'mills have grown to their present vast proportions, and are known as the most extensive and complete works of the kind in the United States. All the practical ex- perience and work requisite to put into successful operation the several valuable patents owned by this company have|
been furnished and performed by him, or under his direc- tion. The wrought-iron chair; the wrought-iron cannon ("Griffen gun" ); the wrought-iron beams and columns, all owe their successful manufacture to his untiring skill and industry. He is also an inventor of some note himself, having taken out a large number of patents, and allowed a still larger number of improvements to become public pro- perty. IIe has educated very many artisans in the most finished style, taking pleasure and pride in imparting the information he has acquired during his connection of nearly half a century with the manufacture of iron. During his whole career he has never sought employment ; all his posi- tions have sought him. In political matters he has been especially active, first as a Whig and then a Republican. But though a patriotic politician from a sense of duty, he would never accept any public office. During the Civil War he aided the Union cause materially by his own active exertions, freely using his entire income for that purpose, excepting what was necessary for the support of his family. The care of the families of soldiers was with him a special 'object, and he still continues his benefactions to the relatives of those who laid down their lives for their country. For ithirty-two years he has been an acceptable member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and during nearly this whole ; period has served the congregations with which he has been connected in .some official capacity. He was married, in 1836, to Jane .Vosburgh, of Ulster county, New York, and of his family of three children two are living. His only son, Vosburgh N. Shaffer, received a liberal collegiate edu- cation, and.is by profession a civil and mechanical engineer and iron manufacturer, having filled already several respon- sible positions. He is at present in the publishing business, as editor and proprietor of the Independent Phenix, a paper published at Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
UCAS, JOHN, Manufacturing Chemist, was born at Stone, Staffordshire, England, November 25th, 1823. He is the eldest son of Thomas Lucas, of the same place, and a descendant of John Lucas ; of Ashbourn, Derbyshire, the warm friend and companion of the celebrated Izaak Walton. IIe received a liberal education at Fieldplace Commercial Academy, near his native town, which having terminated he entered the store and counting-room of his father, who was a grocery and tea dealer, where he remained for a short time. Finding, however, that mercantile pursuits were not to his taste, he commenced the study of agricultural chemistry. His progress in this and its kindred branches was so marked that to it he owes his present attainments as a manufacturer. As he desired to see something of the world, before selecting his future home, he left England, in 1844, for a visit to the United States and the Canadas. He was so well pleased with the former that on his return to
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England he made the necessary arrangements for immi- | pre-eminence they now hold in the trade. Having become grating, and becoming an American citizen. It was in an American citizen by naturalization, he has ever since identified himself with every national movement. At the outbreak of the Rebellion, in 1861, he threw all his heart and energy into the Union cause, and took an active part in organizing, drilling, and equipping volunteers for the army. The location of his large interests in New Jersey has naturally caused him to feel a deep interest in the pros- perity of the Camden & Atlantic Railroad, of which he has been for some years a Director, and through it in the welfare of the town at its terminus on the sea-coast. His works, near " White-Horse Station," contribute revenne in no small degree to the road from the amount of freight shipped and. received at that point. Personally, he is genial and affable, combining the shrewd man of business with the polished gentleman ; while among the mercantile community his name for honesty and integrity has no superior. IS49 that he finally quitted the " old country," and it was to Philadelphia that he directed his steps. On his arrival, with the usual energy and activity which have ever marked his life, he entered at once i to business, and for a while pursued the calling of a foreign commission and shipping merchant. He represented several large European manu- facturing houses, selling goods F. O. B. in Europe, or im- porting to order. ITis first store was at No. 33 north Front street, where he confined himself almost exclusively to paints and colors, or materials used in the manufacture of the same; but finding it a difficult matter to ascertain- through the medium of the wholesale trade-the most de- sirable articles needed in the American market, and by painters, he took a large store on Fourth street, north of Arch, the locale then, as now, of the paint and color trade, and himself served behind the counter, thus coming into direct contact with the practical painter, for the purpose of discovering what were his actual requirements. By this means he learned that a good green paint was needed to UNDORE, FRANKLIN, Merchant, son of Gab- "riel and Lydia (Davies) Dundore, was born in Berne township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, April 6th, 1838. The family is one of the oldest & in the State, having been settled in Berks county more than a hundred years at the time he was His immediate ancestors have all been engaged in born. take the place of the Paris or arsenical green, so deficient in body and so injurious to those using the same, Now, his proficiency in chemistry was of immense service to him, and, after repeated experiments, he discovered: a : method of producing the required article, and has received letters: patent for valuable improvements in the' machinery requi- site in manufacturing the same. In '1852, for the purpose agricultural pursuits, he being the first of his family who
of extending his business, he associated Irimself. with Joseph. Foster, a relation of his, who was an old and experienced color manufacturer. They removed their establishment to No. 130 Arch street, and he purchased a tract of land in Camden county, New Jersey, on which there was a large sheet of remarkably pure water, entirely devoid of iron or lime (the head-waters of Cooper's creek). Thereon he erected the " Gibsboro' White-lead, Zinc and Color Works." The purity of the water enabled him to produce the beau- tiful permanent " Swiss " and " Imperial French Greens," now so favorably known and so extensively used through- out the United States and the Dominion. The perfection to which he has brought the white oxide of zinc, effected by continued and careful chemical experiment, may be un- derstood when it is stated that the best judges of the article have pronounced it to be not only superior to any manu-" factured in this country, but fully equal to the world re- nowned Vieille Montaigne Company's production. The pulp steel and Chinese blue and primrose chrome yellow have superseded the French and English, and are now used by all the leading paper-hanging manufacturers in the United States. In 1857, Joseph Foster withdrew from the firm, when the senior partner was joined by his brother, William H. Lucas, who took charge of the salesroom and financial department, leaving the former at liberty to devote his sole attention to the manufacturing and chemical de- partments, a plan which has enabled the firm to attain that
has- devoted himself to mercantile life. ITis education, which he received partly at home and partly at Pittsburgh, being finished, he began his mercantile career as book- keeper in the hardware stores, first of Bard & Reber, and afterwards of J. L. Stichter, both of Reading, Pennsylvania. From thence he entered the office of Seyfert, McManus & Co., at their works in the same city ; where he served for a period of two years, acquiring under their auspices a thorough and practical knowledge of the iron business in all its details. Having successfully passed through this probationary period, he became, in 1862, a partner in the house of McHose, Eckert & Co., iron manufacturers, also of Reading. .. Upon the dissolution of this firm, which oc- curred in 1864, he was appointed Treasurer of the West Reading Iron Company, a position he resigned in the fol- lowing year. In the . carly part of 1866, he left Reading andt settled himself in Philadelphia. Ilere he at once set to work on his own account, opening an office for the trans- action of the iron commission business, dealing largely also in railway supplies, and at the same time acting as agent for Isaac Eckert (subsequently Eckert & Brother), the well-known iron manufacturer and banker, of Reading. This business he has actively pursned with success to the present time (1874). He is one of the rising men of the city and State, a clear-headed man of business and complete master of his calling, which is one of the most important and lucrative in the country, and which in its development
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and extension is undoubtedly destined to play a chief part | must be performed as the only remedy. In this exigency in the national progress. He married, in 1861, Mary J., eldest daughter of Charles Rick, senior, of Reading.
ERING, CONSTANTINE, M. D., Physician, one of the first who introduced Homoeopathy outside of Germany on this Continent, was born in Os- chatz, Saxony, January Ist, 1800. Ilis father was instrumental in introducing a system of edu- cation called the " people's schools," which at a later period was adopted in Prussia, and became known as the " Prussian System." He attended the classical school at Zittau, in ISI1, and continued his studies there for a period of seven or eight years. Following his incli- nations and tastes, he employed his leisure hours in roaming the country, and amid its mountains and valleys he studied the natural sciences, and made large collections of minerals, plants, and crania of animals. He pursued his medical studies in the Surgical Academy of Dresden, and the Uni- versity of Leipzig, where his preceptor, Dr. J. Henry Robbi, who had been a surgeon in the army of the First Napoleon, introduced him to practical surgery, and, in 1820, made him one of his assistants. While thus employed, Dr. Robbi was requested by the founder of a publishing house (where at a later day a homeopathie journal was published, and which is now the oldest extant) to compose a work against homeopathy. This Dr. Robbi declined, but referred the publisher to his young assistant as one perfectly competent for the task. The latter undertook it, and had nearly com- pleted the book, when reading Hahnemann's note for his reviewers (see Hahnemann's Lesser Writings, translated by Dudgeon, p. 659), he was struck by the truth of his re- marks. Unwilling even to do Hahnemann injustice, much less to misrepresent him, he paused in his work until he could test by experiments the truth or falsity of the state- ments. The results so convincingly sustained Hahnemann that he resolved to examine the system' as a whole, and thus to sift the truth from what he still honestly believed to be the errors of the doctrine. He pursued his new study with ardor, against the counsels of his teachers and the en- treaties of his friends. In this he persevered, notwithstand- ing his excision from society, and the persecution, poverty and pressing want which were the penalties he was forced to endure. Two years of close and searching investigation constrained him to acknowledge that Hahnemann was right, and he avowed unhesitatingly his adhesion to this faith. At this time an incident occurred which largely contributed its share to the decision at which he arrived. In making a very difficult post-mortem examination for the authorities, he received a dissection wound, which would not yield to the usual treatment. The wound assumed a very un- favorable aspect, dry gangrene threatened, att efforts for his relief were baffled, and it was decided that amputation
he met an old friend, a homoeopathist, who encouraged him to take medicine by the mouth. This treatment proved successful, and he thereupon pledged himself to live for homeopathy. In 1325, a younger brother by a loan of money enabled him to proceed to the famous pathologist Schonlein, and attend the hospitals at Würzburg. He there passed his examination with honor, and, in accordance with the customs of the German universities, read a treatise, or thesis, the subject of which was, De Medicina Futura, in which he resolutely maintained the doctrine of Hahne- mann. Ile subsequently received, March 22d, 1826, his diploma as Doctor of Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics. Soon after his graduation he accepted a situation as teacher of mathematics and the natural sciences in an academy at Dresden, which was devoted chiefly to the education of young noblemen. IIere he remained during the summer .. In the following autumn, the President of the institution proposed that he should visit South America, especially Surinam and Cayenne-under the auspices and protection of the king-to make researches and collections in zoology. IIe accepted the position, stipulating only that an old and valued friend, Christophe Weigel, should accompany him as the botanist of the expedition ; and they together accord- ingly sailed for South America. His preliminary reports and letters were satisfactory; but he also addressed some communications to the Homeopathic Archives, which, when published in that journal, gave great offence to the king's physician, who was an old and bitter adversary of Hahne- mann. On his remonstrance, the Minister of the Interior caused a polite note to be addressed to the distant explorer, requesting him in future to attend to his zoological duties exclusively, and to refrain from publishing anything that would be construed as objectionable. On the day after he received this communication, he despatched by the first vessel that sailed his reports, with a full statement of his accounts, accompanied with a courteous letter in reply, in which he closed his connection with the mission. Ile then commenced the practice of medicine in Paramaribo, but still continued his researches and collections. Ile, how- ever, soon perceived that one or the other must be aban- doned. His decision was made, to confine his attention solely to the practice of his profession, and he thereupon presented his valuable collection-zoological and botanical -to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, for which that institution paid him the compliment of an elec- tion as corresponding member. A few years later and he sailed from South America, intending to return to his native land; but stopping in Philadelphia, in January, 1833, to assist in introducing homoeopathy there, he found that his former student, George Bute, had already opened the way by his remarkable and successful treatment of Asiatic cholera during the previous year. Instead of returning home, however, he remained in Pennsylvania, and adopting the plans proposed by Dr. Wesselhoeft, opened a School
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