The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2, Part 14

Author: Robson, Charles. 4n; Galaxy Publishing Company. 4n
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Philadelphia : Galaxy Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 894

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YRE, HON. JOSHUA PUSEY, Merchant, was | course of legal reading and study. He passed his examina- born in Chester, Pennsylvania, July 14th, 1803. Caleb Pusey, a maternal ancestor, came from England as the representative of William Penn, with the first expedition sent out by the latter.

Ilis paternal ancestor was also one of the same company ; and the family having settled in the vicinity of Chester, became the proprietors of a large landed estate, a considerable portion of which is still in possession of the family. Ilis father, Jonas Eyre, was born, April 28th, 1767, and died, March 21st, 1836; the mother, Susanna (Pusey) Eyre, was born, October 17th, 1776, and died, October 27th, IS41. He received all his education in the common schools, which at that date afforded limited advantages. Ile served an apprenticeship to the dry goods business with Townsend Sharpless, of Philadelphia ; and after the expira- tion of his term, returned to Chester, where he engaged in general merchandizing on his own account. Ile subse- quently became associated with his brother, William Eyre, Jr., in the lumber and coal business, which they continued until March 25th, 1847. Ile was elected to the State Legislature, in 1841; but after the expiration of his term declined a re-election, and ever thereafter eschewed political office. Ile was a prime mover in the organization of the Farmer's Market, in Philadelphia ; and was the first Presi- dent of the association, continuing in that office for several years. IIe was also an originator of the Chester Rural Cemetery Company, of which he was President ; a Director of the Delaware Mutual Insurance Company ; and for many years previous to his death, on April Ist, 1872, had been a Director of the Delaware County National Bank. Ile was a man universally esteemed for his integrity and worth.

tion and was admitted to the bar in April, 1854. For twelve years he was associated in a law partnership with Darwin Finney, of Meadville, who was a State Senator dur- ing this connection, and subsequently a member of Congress. This partnership was dissolved in 1866, and for the following three years he conducted his business alone, but in 1869 he associated with him Colonel D. C. McCoy (late Colonel of the 83d Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers), which business connection still continues. For nine years he held an influential position in the School Board of Meadville. In 1870, he was a candidate, on the Republican ticket, for President Judge of his district. Ile has been counsel for several of the railroad corporations of his section, and has for some time occupied that official post in the Titusville and Petroleum Centre Companies. He was married, in October, 1853, to Lavantia Densmore, of that section of l'ennsylvania.

ACKEY, ROBERT W., State Treasurer and Vice- President of the Allegheny National Bank of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a native of that city, where he was born, December 22d, 1837, and is the fourth son of Robert, and Rebecca ( Howard) Mackey"; his father being of Irish, and his mother of English descent. He was educated in both the public schools and private academies of the city, and he finished his studies in the .Western University. After leaving college, The obtained a clerkship in the banking house of William A. Hill, where he remained for a long time, and then took a similar position in the Allegheny Bank of Pittsburgh. After being found capable and industrions, he was elected Teller, and soon after Assistant-Cashier. In 1865, he became Cashier; which position he retained until 1871, when he was elected Vice-President, and still fills that office. From youth, he took an interest in political matters, and was an active worker at the polls before he was entitled to a vote. When he reached his majority, he was valued as a young man whose influence was worthy of notice. lle was at one time nominated .by the Republicans of the Third Ward, as their candidate for City Councils. The ward was strongly Democratic, with a, majority of 600 to overcome; and yet he carried the day by a majority of 300. In 1869, he was clected State Treasurer, by the Legislature ; but was defeated in 1870, by a combination being effected between the dis- satisfied Republicans and Democrats, after having received the nomination of the Republican party, in caucus, by a vote of fifty-two to ten. In the following month of January, IS71, he was again a candidate, and was successful, and was re-elected in January, 1872. A change in the constitu- tion making the office an elective one by the people, instead of the Legislature-which had been the course up to that period-rendered an clection in Januar,, 1873, unnecessary ;

OUGLASS, JOSHUA, Lawyer, was born in Rochester, New York, August Ist, 1826. Ilis parents were of the thrifty stock of New England, his mother, Martha (Crocker), being a native of Vermont, and his father coming originally from East Haddam, Connecticut. When he was about six years of age the family removed to Meadville, and iņ the schools of this place he acquired his preliminary cduca- tion, completing his studies by an extended course of several years at the academy. In his twentieth year he engaged, in connection with his father, in farming, continuing so em- ployed for four years. In 1850, shortly after the breaking out of the " gold fever," he emigrated to California, thinking to force from the carth a larger and more speedy fortune than could be obtained by the slow means of farming. An experience of about eighteen months sent him home to Pennsylvania, where for two winters he was engaged in teaching school. He had already determined upon becom- ing a lawyer, and during his leisure time from school duties he was industriously employed in completing the necessary and an act was passed by the Legislature extending his

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term until May, 1874, or until a successor was elected and qualified. He was nominated by the Republican State Convention, held at Harrisburg in August, 1873, and was elected at the ensuing October election, to serve two years from May, 1874. Ile has discharged the important trust committed to him in a most acceptable and efficient manner ; and during the first three years of his incumbency, has paid off over five millions of the public debt of the State. During this his fourth year of service, he has liquidated the indebtedness of the Commonwealth at the rate of $200,000 per month. Ile is of a delicate physique, the result of years of physical suffering ; yet with all his ailments, he is strong enough to endure labor which would appal men , of better health and larger frame, and is rarely, if ever, prevented from attending to his official duties. Ile is of the nervous, sanguine temperament ; and from his immense nerve strength is able to sustain much excitement, and influence others, Ile is unmarried,

YRE, WILLIAM, JR., Merchant, a brother of Hon. Joshua Pusey Eyre, was born in Chester, April: 25th, 1807. After some preliminary education, he was sent to Samuel Gummere's boarding C school, at Burlington, New Jersey. . , After'leaving school, he associated with his brother, Joshua P., as J. P. & W. Eyre, in the lumber and coal trade. The brothers were enterprising and progressive; they ran a packet between Chester and Philadelphia, and continued a highly successful career until the dissolution of the partner- ship in 1847. William was no politician, but was a public spirited man and a generous supporter of all beneficent en- terprises. IIe died, March 6th, 1853, mourned by a large circle of friends, who valued him for his consistent adherence to the right. IIe had been for many years a Director of the old Delaware County Bank, For a long time previous to its removal to Philadelphia, he had been President of the Delaware Mutual Insurance Company, being the first to hold that office ; but he then resigned, and for the remainder of his life continued in the board of directors. Ile was twice married, his first wife having been Anna Louisa, daughter of Dr. Job Terrell, of Chester, March 4th, 1835; she died after a brief period of wedded life, and he was again married, November 26th, 1844, to Rebecca P., daughter of Caleb Churchman, of Darby.

LEMING, DAVID, Lawyer, was born in Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, July 17th, 1812; is one of a family of eleven children, and the son of Samuel and Sarah ( Beckett) Fleming. His father was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and was a farmer by occupation, A few weeks after his birth, the family removed to Dauphin county, where his father had purchased a large farm, about twelve miles east

of Harrisburg, on which he managed to rear his children respectably, giving them all a good common school educa- tion. David was thus brought up, laboring on the farm during the summer, and attending school during the winter months ; he was also taught Latin by a good classical scholar who resided in the neighborhood. When seventeen years of age, he commenced teaching school; and so continued for several years, alternating with attending school himself at the " Harrisburg Academy " and elsewhere, until he had acquired a fair academical education. IIe subsequently taught a select school in Baltimore county, Maryland, embracing Latin, Greek, and the higher branches of mathe- maties, being himself the hardest student in the academy. HIis health becoming somewhat impaired, he accepted a position as clerk for Dr. D. N. L. Reutter, who had a con- tract for furnishing ties for the Baltimore & Port Deposit Railroad, then being constructed ; and when this was com- pleted, remained with his employer, and became interested in a contract for furnishing yellow pine timber to the Wash- ington Navy Yard; having charge of the shipment of it from North Carolina, which he did by vessels he chartered in ,New York, going himself as supercargo in several. IIe passed over a year in this operation, and got a good insight into business matters. Ile made quite a number of voyages, and on more than one occasion was exposed to the perils `of the sea. Qa the conclusion of the undertaking he returned to Harrisburg, in 1838, and the Legislature being in special session under the then new constitution, he com- menced reporting the proceedings for the public press, and corresponded daily for four Philadelphia journals, including the United States Gazette ; so he continued for several years, besides assisting to edit a local paper. During this period, he devoted his leisure hours to general study ; and, in 1839, entered the law office of William McClure, as a student ; was admitted to the bar at Harrisburg, in November, 1841, and has ever since practised his profession in that city. IIe closed his connection as newspaper correspondent in 1847, when he was elected Chief Clerk of the House of Repre- sentatives, and served during that session. Ile was re- nominated by the Whigs, in 1848; but owing to a tie in that body, and by the accidental absence of one of his friends, the Democratic candidate succeeded by a majority of one. In 1854, he was elected District Attorney, and served for the term of three years, declining a re-election. In 1863, he was elected to the State Senate, and served for three years in that body, being Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary during his second year; he was chosen Speaker in the closing session of his term. During his residence in Harrisburg, he has been concerned in many of the business enterprises of the city. He was one of the first small number who organized and erceted the Harris- burg Car Works; and he subsequently obtaine 1 its charter, and has ever since been a stockholder and member of the board, as also of the foundry and machine company which originated from the same enterprise. 1Ie was Secretary

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of the Board when the Harrisburg Gas Works were built, and for several years after. He was also a member of the Board and the Counsel for the Lochiel Iron Company, and assisted in the organization of its successor the Lochiel Rolling Mills. Ile has been for many years the Counsel, and also a Director of the Harrisburg National Bank, and was one of the Corporators in organizing the First National Bank of Harrisburg. He assisted to organize the Keystone Life Insurance Company, and the Cash Mutual Fire In- surance Company of Harrisburg, serving for several years as a Director and Counsel for the same. He was a Di- rector of the Inland Telegraph Company, and afterwards of the United States Telegraph Company, until its consolida- tion with the Western Union lines; and has been Counsel for the latter, as well as for the Atlantic and Ohio and the Pacific and Atlantic Telegraph Companies, the Columbia Oil Company, and many other large corporations in several important suits involving the taxation of these corporations by the State. He has been Secretary and Treasurer of the Harrisburg City Passenger Railway Company since its or- ganization. Ile is a Trustee of the " Home for the Friend- less " of Harrisburg, and President of the Board of Trus- tees of the First Presbyterian Church. ITis legal practice is not strictly confined to Dauphin county, but he has been often employed in other parts of the State, including both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. He has also regularly prac- tised in the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth since 1843, and the reported decisions of that tribunal will show that he has been concerned in a large proportion of the cases removed from the courts of his county-many of them involving principles of great importance-and also in cases removed from other counties. Of late years he has at- tended to bankruptcy practice in the two Federal Courts. Ile has been urged by his friends to become a candidate for President Judge of his District, and also as Representa- tive in Congress-to either position he could have been elected-but has invariably declined, preferring the labors and independence of professional life to the honors and res- ponsibilities of the bench or legislative duties at Washington. From all these statements, it is apparent that lie is a laborious, useful and enterprising citizen ; and when it is taken into consideration that from the age of seventeen, when he left home, until his father's death, in 1851 (at the great age of ninety years), he never called upon him for any pecu- . niary assistance, he may emphatically be termed a self-made man. While a newspaper correspondent, he earned as high as $54 per week, and from the date of his admission to the bar he has enjoyed a lucrative and increasing patron- age. Of late years, his practice has brought him $10,000 per annum. Recently, he has associated with him S. J. M. McCarrell, who was a student in his office and has remained with him ever since his admission to the bar. Ile was married, January Ist, 1852, to Susan, youngest daughter of Charles Mowry, one of the first Canal Commis- sioners of Pennsylvania.

LEMING, JAMES PATTERSON, Lawyer and Real Estate Operator, was born at Mount Plea- sant, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, May 24th, 1824. His ancestors came originally from the Netherlands, in the beginning of the six- teenth century, and settled in Worcester, Eng- land, whence several members of the family subsequently removed to Ireland, where they took an active part in the Irish Rebellion ; his grandfather was a distinguished officer under Emmet, and was ultimately obliged to flee from Ire- land and seek shelter in Glasgow, Scotland. ITis father, John E. Fleming, a native of England, was a graduate of the college at Glasgow, and won fame as a mathe- matician and astronomer; he came to the United States in 1819, and settled in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he was noted for his scientific research. James P. Fleming was educated at Duquesne College, now known as the Western University of Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1843; he then studied law with IIon. A. W. Lewis, and later, with IIon. Edwin M. Stanton, of New Lisbon, Ohio. Ile was admitted to the bar at Xenia, Ohio, in May, 1866, and afterward removed to Phoenixville, Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in practice. IIe moved to Wirt county, Virginia, in 1848, but at the expiration of six months proceeded to Pittsburgh, where he pursued his pro- fession for a brief period. Ile then engaged in the drug business in Allegheny City, having become familiar with its details in the store of his brother, before his entry at Du- quesne College. He continued this occupation till 1863, when he sold out and devoted his attention to real estate, his operations in which have been signally successful. IIe has labored to secure improved designs and architecture, and has probably contributed more than any other man in his county to the improvement of cottage homes, many of which he has erected in a style noticeable for taste and comfort. Ile has never held an office of profit, and has re- peatedly and firmly declined political preferment and emolu- ment. Ile is Secretary of the Board of Managers of the Allegheny County Work-House; and has for many years been a Manager of the Pittsburgh Alms House, the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and various other public charities. Ile is President of an organization for building a railway on the south side of the Ohio river, from Pittsburgh to Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania, and his indomitable energy will doubtless make the projected enterprise a success.

G ARDING, J. BARCLAY, Journalist, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November Ist, 1830. Ile was the son of Jesper Harding, belonged to a family that for more than forty years has been prominent in the newspaper, printing and pub- lishing business in Philadelphia, and was himself a journalist by birth, education and taste. He exhibited in early life much talent, though of a somewhat versatile cha-

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racter; but this defect was counteracted by the practical train- | the publication of a special translation of Victor Hugo's ing he received on his father's paper-the Inquirer-and he great story of " 93," immediately upon the production of the original in Europe. This new departure in Anglo-Saxon journalism it is proposed to follow up by the presentation of other great works from time to time. The originator of the paper lived to sce it well established and rapidly gain- ing in public favor ; though at his death it had by no means attained to the importance, either as regards circulation or influence, which it at present possesses ; enough, however, had been accomplished to indicate the future results, Ilc. had always enjoyed excellent health till within a few weeks of his death, and being naturally of a robust constitution and accustomed to active pursuits in life, he disregarded those symptoms which were the forerunners of his fatal illness. After a brief sojourn in the country. he was attacked with chills and fever, but nevertheless attended to his usual busi- ness till the malady assumed a congestive form and carried him off suddenly, on October 29th, 1865, when still in the prime of life. Ile was married at an early age, and left a widow and two children. The journal is now conducted by his surviving partner, a shrewd business man, animated by the true journalistic spirit. soon developed a special aptitude for his future profession. In 1856, he became the editor of the Daily Morning Times, and strongly advocated the cause of Fremont in the presi- dential campaign. The Times was an outspoken Republi- can journal and did not live long, as the advocacy of such principles was not so profitable then as now. On the de- mise of that paper, he was for a time Clerk of Select Coun- cil ; but subsequently returned to his position on the In- quirer. In the latter part of 1863, the only afternoon news- paper published in Philadelphia was the Evening Bulletin, it being the only one to survive out of several evening papers that had been started. Under these circumstances, he thought there was room for another evening journal, and prevailed on his brother-in-law, Charles E. Warburton, to join him in the enterprise. This was the origin of the Evening Telegraph, the first number of which was issued January 4th, 1864, from its present office, No. IOS south Third street. It was then a folio sheet, 24 by 36 inches, containing seven columns to a page, and was sold at two cents a copy, or six dollars a year. In its salutatory ad- dress it disclaimed all intention of basing its hopes of suc- cess on any previous want experienced by the community ; but rather founded its expectations on the rapid growth of the city and its environs, and upon the fact that there was but one afternoon paper, which, in spite of its ability, could not satisfy the diversified opinions of all. It declared itself entirely independent in politics, but a firm supporter of the Government in its endeavour to crush the Rebellion. It recognized the President, his Cabinet, and the sworn officers under them to be "the Government," unless they should knowingly and willingly fail to perform their duty. The latitude thus claimed allowed the Telegraph to firmly up- hold the Government of Lincoln, to strongly denounce that of Johnson, and again cordially to endorse the Grant ad- ministration. Its tenor, on the whole, has been decidedly Republican, though it has never hesitated to denounce men of that party whom it considered unfit for office. The new paper met with considerable encouragement from the bc- ginning, and introduced some features which were novel- ties in Philadelphia journalism. Amongst them were occa- sional illustrations, which, regarding the difficulties of print- ing on ordinary paper and at a rapid rate, were often re- .markably fine, and a series of biographical notices of pro- minent military men, accompanied by their portraits, which were read with much interest by the public. In April, 1864, he and his partner began the issue of double sheets on Saturdays, and continued that addition till towards the close of the year, when the present quarto form was per- manently adopted. The journal has always been noted for ils carefully compiled articles in explanation of important new items, its elaborate and accurate biographical sketches published promptly on every occasion, and for its general dash and enterprise, the latest manifestation of which was

ARRISON, JOSEPHI, JR., Locomotive Engine Builder, was born at the northwest corner of Front and Noble streets, Philadelphia, Septem- 'ber 20th, ISIo, and was the son of Joseph and Mary (Crawford) Harrison, formerly of Gloucester county, New Jersey. Ile attended school until after he passed the age of fourteen years, and by his apt, quick habits, and his love of reading, had laid at that time the groundwork of a fair English education. Subsequently, during his apprentice life, he enjoyed a short period of night schooling, and during this period he mastered Bonnycastle's MMensuration of Superficies and Solids. When fifteen years old he went on trial into the machine shop of Frederick D. Sanno, and, after a satisfactory probation, was indentured to him as an apprentice to learn steam-engineering. In less than two years thereafter his employer failed in business, and his indentures were cancelled. He soon found another place, being indentured to James Flint for a term of four years and three months; and having acquired considerable information with his previous employer, was enabled to make better terms with his second master. Learning his trade at a better advantage, he very rapidly acquired pro- ficiency and soon had the best work entrusted to him. Be- fore he was twenty he was made foreman, having the over- siglit of thirty men and boys. Ile was occupied in the making of cotton machinery and all descriptions of sta- tionary steam-engines. Ile was with Thomas Flint, of the firm of Ilyde & Flint, for nearly a year after his apprentice- ship had ceased, and then found employment in Philip Garrett's machine shop, near Walnut and Fourth streets,

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where he engaged in much finer work than he had done hefore, such as small lathes, presses for bank-note engravers, etc. lle remained in this shop until the summer of 1833, when he went to Port Clinton, Pennsylvania, to put up some machinery for Arundius Tiers, with whom his father had been for many years engaged as accountant. In 1834, the building of locomotive engines was attracting consider- able attention, but he had no experience whatever in this description of work. Out of curiosity, he one day in the early part of that year visited the shop of Long & Norris, and to his surprise was greeted by his first master, F. D. Sanno, whom he had not seen for some years, and who was now foreman in the shop. Ile was tendered work in the concern, and accepted it. He found the establishment to be of no very high grade ; bad tools, bad workmen, bad foreman- ship-resulting in locomotives of poor design and mainly unsuccessful in practice, though several had been produced. Colonel Long was never there, and although the other part- ner daily passed some hours in the shop, the latter knew nothing practically of the business. He immediately set to remedy the defects in some work that had been almost ruined by the hands ; and his manner of proceeding excited much interest among the employés, besides attracting the attention of the junior partner. In a fortnight he was ap- pointed foreman, at increased wages. He remained here about a year and a half, and being ambitious to learn, was glad to be of assistance in making drawings and in directing the work. In the summer of IS35, he left the shop, and engaged with Garrett & Eastwick as foreman. This firm was showing some skill in the building of locomotives. Ile here designed and built the engine " Samuel D. Ingham " for the Beaver Meadow Railroad Company. This locomo- · tive had many novel points, among which the most original were certain modes of reversement worked out entirely by the junior partner of the firm. The same device was used on the engines that were subsequently made in Russia by Ilarrison, Winans & Eastwick. This locomotive proved a success, and led to the building of others for the same com- pany. In 1837, he was admitted as a member of the firm of Garrett, Eastwick & Co., his only capital being his skill ; soon after it became Eastwick & Harrison. In the hands of the former the S-wheel engine, with four driving and four truck wheels, was first brought into practicable shape. It is now almost exclusively used in this country for passen- ger trains, and has obtained a very satisfactory reputation . in Europe. The present modes of equalizing the weight on the driving wheels, indispensable to this engine, were patented by Joseph Harrison, in 1838, as an improvement on A. M. Eastwick's patent of 1836. They are now applied by all manufacturers of locomotives in this country. In IS51, an engine called the "Gowan and Marx," weighing but little over eleven tons, with four connecting driving wheels, was designed and built by this firm for the Phila- delphia & Reading Railroad. The performance of this en- gine in drawing 101 loaded coal cars over that road at-

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The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2, Part 14

Author: Robson, Charles. 4n; Galaxy Publishing Company. 4n Publication date: 1874 Publisher: Philadelphia : Galaxy Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 894

Author: Robson, Charles. 4n; Galaxy Publishing Company. 4n
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Philadelphia : Galaxy Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 894