USA > Pennsylvania > The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2 > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80
49
1
386
BIOGRAPIIICAL ENCYCLOPÆDIA.
Pennsylvania Reserves, then organizing for service. While his regiment was awaiting at Camp Wright the call to the front, he was summoned to Harrisburg and made Assistant Commissary-General of the State, with the rank of Lieuten- ant-Colonel. It was here that his capacity for organization, his energy, and his rigid and exaet attention to details soon attracted the attention of the authorities, and upon the transfer of the Commissary Department to Washington, Governor Curtin invited him to become his private Secre- tary. The military staff of the Governor having been dis- pensed with about this time, the duties of these officers, together with the then enormous correspondence of the Executive office, devolved upon the private Secretary, all of which were diligently and methodically performed. In August, 1862, he was selected to command the 134th Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, nine months' service, and continued to fill that position until chosen by Governor Curtin to attend to the delicate and responsible duties of State Agent at Washington. His resignation having been accepted, it arrived immediately upon the eve of the battle of Fredericksburg, into which fight he accompanied his regiment, eliciting by his conduct a complimentary mention in general orders. Ile fulfilled with great credit all that was required of him as State Agent ; and the Legislature, in 1863, in order to meet the urgent needs of the service, created the office of Military Secretary, and Governor Cur- tin, remembering the invaluable services of his former pri- vate Secretary, immediately recalled him and assigned him to the newly created post. Upon the death of Colonel W. W. Sees, Superintendent of Transportation and Telegraph, the duties of that office were transferred to him. Ilolding these important and confidential relations to the Governor until 1865, he resigned them to take his seat in the Legis- Inature, to which he was elected, in 1864, to represent the Distriet of Washington and Beaver counties. In this body he was made Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, and among the many important measures reported and passed during the winter of 1867 which bore his stamp was the act relieving real estate from taxation. In 1866, the electi m of James R. Kelley as Speaker was mainly due to the individual and untiring efforts of the member from Beaver, and in the following year the latter himself became a candidate for Presiding officer. It was a bitter contest, for the Republican party was divided into two fac- tions on the question of the United States Senatorship, one supporting ex-Governor Curtin and the other Simon Came- ron. The latter, desirous of success, determined to defeat Colonel Quay, which was effected finally by the defection of those upon whom he relied. In 1868, the war of the factions was renewed, and the following winter saw the anti-Cameron candidate elected State Treasurer. In 1869, the breach was healed; and Hon. John Scott elected United States Senator, and Robert W. Mackey State Treasurer. In this year also Colonel Quay was Secretary of the Repub- lican State Central Committee, and his faculty for organiza.
tion was observable in every stage of its progress. About this period he established the Beaver Radical, and issued the first number without a subscriber. This paper was con- ducted with rare ability, and soon fought its way to a lead- ing position among the journals of the State ; and its opinions, which were quoted extensively, contributed largely towards shaping public sentiment. In the canvass which resulted in the election of General Hartranft as Governor he was his devoted and unswerving advocate, and exerted a power- ful and controlling influence. When the new Executive was inaugurated, the latter invited him to his couneils as Secretary of the Commonwealth. In this position his ex- perience in legislation, his vast acquaintance, his knowledge of the character of our publie men, and his quick observation and good judgment have been of incalculable advantage to the administration.
OOPER, TIIOMAS V., Journalist, and State Senator, was born at Cadiz, Ohio, January 16th, 1835, and is a son of Dr. J. W. and Henrietta (Fields) Cooper. When but an infant his father removed to Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he received a common school education, At the age of sixteen he commenced as an apprentice to learn the printing business in the office of the Delaware Republican, at Wilmington, Delaware, and in his twentieth year re- moved to Media, Pennsylvania, where, in connection with Dr. D. A. Vernon, he started the Delaware County Ameri- 'can, and served as one of its Editors until the breaking out of the Civil War. Ile aided in organizing the Fourth Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, in which he was tendered a First Lieutenantship, and served as such for a period. Directly after the battle of Fair Oaks, he enlisted and served in Company C, 26th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and con- tinued in the same until the close of the war, being con- nected with the Third Army Corps, Second Division, com- manded by General IIJoker. Just prior to Grant's Wilder- ness Campaign, he was detailed in charge of Government printing (by order of the War Department) at Camp Dis- tribution, Virginia, and while in charge of the office was Editor of the Soldiers' Journal, a paper which in eight months cleared $2800 for the benefit of the United States Sanitary Commission. After the close of the War, he was offered the Editorship of a periodical published in Philadel- phia, but declined it, and resumed his connection with the Delaware County American. Ile was elected a member of the lower branch of the State Legislature in 1870, and was re nominated in 1871, but defeated at the polls, owing to his supporting " Local Option " and other measures. In 1872, he was again a nominee, and gained Soo votes over the previous year. IIe served during the session of the House on many prominent committees, and was Chairman of the Conference Committee which framed the bill for the conduct of the Constitutional Convention. It was during
.
.
Harrison Allery
-
387
BIOGRAPIIICAL ENCYCLOPÆDIA.
this session that he did General IIartranft signal service. The leading characters in what has come to be known as the " Evans' swindle " sought to induce him to introduce resolutions impeaching Auditor-General Hartranft and State Treasurer Mackey. Instead of complying with their re- quest, he reported the whole details of the interview to the House, and this exposure contributed largely to the success- ful vindication of General Hartranft. In the ensuing cam- paign he took an active part, confining himself, notwith- standing calls from every portion of the State, to a canvass of Lancaster, Chester and Delaware counties, speaking every day for seven consecutive weeks, and acquiring a State reputation as an off-hand stump speaker. After the election of Governor Hartranft, he was prominently named as the Secretary of the Commonwealth, but refused to be considered a candidate. In 1873, he was one of the candi- dates for the Republican nomination of State Senator for Chester and Delaware counties against II. Jones Brooke, a gentleman who had the advantage of thirty years' legislative experience. There were three candidates in the field on election day, and an exciting contest resulted in his being returned by a majority of 700. In the Senate he was ap- pointed Chairman of the Committee on Vice and Immo- rality, taking cognizance of the question of Local Option; Secretary of the Committee on Corporations, and a member of the Committee on Constitutional Reform and Printing.
LLEN, HIARRISON, Lawyer, Brevet Brigadier- General United States Volunteers, and Auditor- General of Pennsylvania, was born in the town of Russellburg, Warren county, Pennsylvania, December 4th, 1835, and is a son of Samuel P. and Mary (Thompson) Allen. ITis father was of Scotch-Irish descent ; his grandfather a nephew of General Anthony Wayne. On his mother's side he is partly of Ger- man extraction. Ile was reared on a farm until he reached the age of twenty years, and during the winter months at- tended the district school; he was unusually industrious as a student, improving his leisure hours and gaining all the information to be acquired in the schools which the neigh- borhood afforded. Ile possessed a retentive memory, and was quick to comprehend an idea and to act upon it, it being his aim to know his duty and to do it. In the school he was an excellent declaimer, and exhibited ability and taste for such exercises. In the autumn of 1855, he at- tended the academy at Jamestown, New York, and during that and the following winter taught school at Farmington, in his native county, meeting with excellent success. During 1856 and 1857, he was a student in the academy at Randolph, New York, where he stood high in his classes, and received the highest honors of the school and the lite- rary society of the school. In the spring of 1856, he left school to engage in business, of which " lumbering " was
an important part, in order to earn the money to sustain himself and to prosecute his studies ; and, in 1857 and 1858, attended the Fredonia Academy. Here he again won dis- tinction, securing the highest honors, one of which was his election successively to the Presidency of the literary socie- ties with which he was connected. In 1859, he entered the law office of Judges Johnson and Brown of Warren, I'ennsylvania, where he remained until the spring of 1861. IIaving a taste for military affairs he devoted considerable attention thereto, and served as aide-de-camp (with the rank of Captain) on General Brown's staff, 20th Division, Penn- sylvania Militia, and was promoted by election as Lieuten- ant-Colonel of the regiment in his own county. At the out- break of the Rebellion he voluntecred, April 20th, 1861, for the three months' service as a private, and was elected by the men Captain of the Company ; after two months hc re-enlisted his company for three years. He was ordered to Pittsburgh, and thence up the Allegheny river twelve miles to Camp Wright. He drove the first tent-peg on the ground, and had command of the camp until relieved by Colonel McLean of Erie. At that time the 10th Regiment of Pennsylvania Reserves was organized, including his com- pany; at Camp. Wilkins, and he was elected by the men Major of the regiment, and commissioned by the Governor. Ile was tendered the Colonelcy of the 11th Regiment of Reserves, but declined it, preferring to serve under Colonel John S. McCalmont and.remain with his men. He joined the Army of the Potomac with his regiment, and, in 1862, organized the 151st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was elected Colonel, serving during the term of his enlist- ment. Ile was brevetted Brigadier-General United States Volunteers, and was especially complimented for gallantry and efficiency by Generals Doubleday, Meade, Reynolds and Ord for services in the engagements at Drainsville, Port Conway, the 2d Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettys- burg, and Williamsport. IIcre, as a mark of confidence, he was assigned by General Doubleday to command the advance line of the division, and successfully routed the rebels, took possession of their line and held it-the enemy retreating under cover of -the night. On the expiration of his term of service he returned and resumed his studies, and was admitted to 'practice as an attorney-at-law. In 1865, he was nominated on the Republican ticket as Repre- sentative in the Legislature from the Warren and Venango District, and was elected. The following year he was re- nominated by acclamation, and elected by a majority of 11 S2 in his own county, running largely ahead of his ticket. IIe served with great credit and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents, guarding their particular interests, and also faithfully conserving the interests of the whole State. During his term he took part in all of the important dis- cussions, especially signalizing his service by an eloquent speech upon the Constitutional Amendment. His influence as a legislator was marked. In 1868, he was a Delegate- at-large to the Soldiers' National Convention at Chicago,
388
BIOGRAPHIICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.
and also District Delegate to the Republican National Con- vention, by each of which General Grant was nominated for the Presidency. He took a very active part in the cam- paign which followed, in speaking and organizing. In 1869, he was a candidate for the State Senate in the Mercer, Warren and Venango District against a very prominent member of his own party, and after an animated contest carried seventy nine out of ninety-nine delegates in his own county. The contestant withdrawing, he was nominated by acclamation, endorsed by the District Conference, and after a hard-fought contest was elected by over one thousand majority. During his term in the Senate, as in the House, he was always upon the side of right, and ranked as one of the strongest and most faithful members of that body, taking a leading part in all important discussions with marked ability. Ile was earnest in support of all measures pointing to economy and reform. During the discussion upon the con- tested election cases in the Senate, he did himself great credit in a speech upon the Right of Petition. In 1872, he was elected Auditor-General of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- vania, by the unprecedented majority of 36,780, and entered upon the duties of his office December 2d of that year. In this position he is still serving, his present term expiring in May, 1875. Ile has ever been the " Poor Man's Friend," a title which was given to him at a meeting of Democrats of his own locality, held during the heated contest of IS72, when a series of resolutions were adopted containing the following language:
" Ile has been almost the first in every charitahle enter- prise, and has thereby blessed the homes and lightened the hearts of the needy, without reference to creed or condition. Ile has not only proven himself a good citizen, a true and brave soldier, but when fortune had favored him with means he opened his hand in charity, and seattered his gifts libe- rally to the deserving poor, and many have blessed him for his acts of kindness. Ile has provided homes for the home- less, cheered the fallen, and strengthened and encouraged the weak when temptation was dragging them down to ruin and to death."
As a publie man, he has always been true to his politi- cal professions, always courteous but firm, leading the way to consistent action, striving to do justly by all, planting himself on the doctrine of the Declaration of American In- dependence, that " all men are created equal," and scouting all political distinctions based upon the accidents of color or birth. Ilis success is the result of earnest purpose, de- termination which never flagged, exactness and promptness in the transaction of business, a deep sympathy with others' wants, a sacred regard for his word, and a faithful discharge of all obligations, with a settled purpose of right which knows no such word as fail. He was married, in 1865, to Mrs. Anne E., widow of the late Colonel George A. Cobham.
ODD, HION. JAMES, Lawyer and Judge, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, December 25th, 1786. ITis parents, who were of Scotch ex- traction, were born, educated and married in the north of Ireland, whence they came to the United States shortly after their marriage and settled in York county, Pennsylvania, where his father engaged in teaching school. In the early part of 1787, his parents re- moved to Westmoreland county, where his mother died during the same summer. His father only survived her a few months, but previous to his death entrusted his infant child to the care of Daniel McLean, a Scotchman and an elder in the Presbyterian Church. In this family he was raised, laboring on the farm until nineteen years of age. Previous to this time his education had been of the most limited character, such only as could be afforded by a year and a half's attendance at the common schools in a neigh- borhood recently settled. Being very desirous, however, of improving his education he availed himself of every oppor- tunity that presented itself, reading such books as were to be found in a new settlement and studying late at night after the completion of the day's labors. After two years of such study he began to teach school, devoting himself more assiduously than ever to improving his education; and having joined a debating society, was so successful in their contests, and developed such ready powers in debate, that his attention was directed to the study of the law and to local politics. In the fall of 1815, he was elected one of the Commissioners of Fayette county, and was re-elected in 1816. While Commissioner, he, in company with the late Judge Bouvier, began the study of law under the direction of the Ilon. Andrew Stewart. Upon the expiration of his term as Commissioner, he was elected to the State Legisla- ture, and re-elected for five successive terms, taking an active and leading part in its proceedings. Having been admitted to the bar of Fayette county, in 1824, he met with imme- diate success, which continued during his whole professional life. In December of 1835, he was appointed Attorney General by the late Governor Ritner, and thereupon re- moved to Philadelphia ; which position he held until he re- ceived the appointment by the same Governor of the Presi- dent Judgeship of the Court of General Sessions for the City and County of Philadelphia, in which position he remained until the court was aholished by Act of the Legislature. Ile then resumed the practice of law in, Philadelphia, and at once took a front rank among the leaders of that bar, and continued therein until 1852, when being compelled by ill health he retired from the active duties of his pro- fession and removed to Westmoreland county, in this State. In early youth he united himself with the Presbyterian Church, in which he became a Ruling Eller, and eontinned all through his life an active and consistent Christian, de- voting much of his time to the labors of the Sabbath-school and kindred duties. Such a combination of firmness, in- tegrity and true benevolence as was manifested in his life
.
389
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPÆDIA.
is rarely witnessed. IIe died at Greensburg, Pennsylvania, | lishment, which was built expressly for his accommodation, September 3d, 1863, and no better summary of his life and character can be given than that embodied in the resolution offered by the IIon. Edgar Cowan at the meeting of the Greensburg bar commemorative of his death. It was as follows :
" Resolved, That while we lament the death and do honor to the memory of Judge Todd, the example of his life, so eminent for ability, integrity and patriotism, ought not to be lost to the young, but held up for encouragement and imitation. Ile was the architect of his own fortune, and, subsisting by his labor, without the aid of schools or masters, he won his way to the Legislature, to the Bar, to the Cabi- net, and to the Bench, aequitting himself in all with dis- tinction. Ile was also an ardent lover of his country, a temperate and just man and a sincere Christian. Ilis years were as full as his honors, and extended almost to fourscore."
YATT, COLONEL TIIEODORE, President of the Pennsylvania Military Academy, located at Chester, Pennsylvania, was born in West Chester county, New York, April 28th, 1827. He is the son of Elijah Lee Ilyatt and Sarah. Minthorn Ilyatt, formerly of New York city, and his ances- tors are among the oldest families in the State. His mother having died in his early youth he missed her fostering and protecting care amid the dangers and trials of youth. Ile. was prepared for college principally under the direction of private tutors, but much of his preparatory education was obtained by his own self-culture during the' intervals of teaching. Ile entered the Sophomore Class at Union Co !- lege, in September, 1846, and, in April, 1847, removed to Princeton College. Ilaving completed his course, he was allowed to engage in teaching, in April, 1849, and gra- duated in June following. Ile first established the Wilm- ington Classical Institute, and, in 1857, obtained a charter for the Delaware Military Academy, also located at Wilm- ington. The outbreak of the War found his school in a prosperous condition, and over one hundred of his cadets entered the Union army, mostly in official capacities. The arms in his possession, consisting of two new brass cannon and about one hundred stand of Harper's Ferry rifles, were demanded by the State authorities, but peremptorily refused, although subsequently he was advised by the United States District Attorney to avoid a collision by giving them up; within a month of their delivery they were collected by the general Government. The Pennsylvania Military Academy having been chartered in April, 1862, he removed to the building previously occupied by Bolmar's school at West- chester, Pennsylvania, where he opened September 4th fol- lowing. This school continued a successful career until January Ist, 1866, when it was found advisable to remove to the building erected for a normal school, at Chester, Pennsylvania, by the late John P. Crozer, which he con- tinued to occupy until the completion of his present estab-
and to which he removed July Ist, 1868. It stands upon an eminence, and the grounds include some twenty five acres. The imposing structure has a frontage of 225 feet, with a depth of about 60 feet, and is four stories in height above the basement. It contains every convenience, being lighted by gas, heated by steam, supplied by pure water from a 'spring throwing 20,000 gallons per day utilized by means of a steam force-pump, and having a most approved and thorough system of ventilation. It affords ample ac- commodation for one hundred and fifty cadets, with quarters for officers and apartments for the private family of the President. There is also a drill hall and gymnasium, 100 by 60 feet, and a fine parade ground of some ten acres ex- tent. During the invasion of the State by General Lee, Colonel Ilyatt took his battery of six guns manned by ca- dets to Harrisburg and tendered their services to Governor Curtin, who, though refusing to allow them to go into ac- tion, subsequently accepted them for two months' service on the frontier of the State. The public appreciation, as expressed by liberal patronage, is the best testimonial to the ability and energy of this oldest teacher of a military school in the country. He married, December 23d, 1850, Matilda E., daughter of James Rice of Wilmington, Delaware.
AVIS, ELISHA W., Lawyer, and Brevet Brigadier- General United States Volunteers, was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, September 8th, 1828, where he received a common school edu- cation; at fourteen he removed to Venango county. Ile commenced life as a laborer at the Rockland Blast Furnace, being employed at the works for nine months of the year, and teaching school during the winter ; while so teaching he was equally a student him- self. From being merely a workman, he rose to the posi- tion of clerk, and having proved his fidelity to the interests of his employers, and his marked ability for the oversight of the establishment, he was promoted to be Superintendent, and finally became proprietor of the furnaee. IIe also commenced the study of law, and, in 1857, was admitted to practice at the bar of Venango county. In 1859, he was elected a member of the lower branch of the Legislature, secured a re-election in 1860, and was Speaker of that body during its session of 1861. In the spring of 1862, in con- nection with Colonel Chapman Biddle, he raised a regiment, entering the service as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 121st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. IIe was in command of the same at the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, where it suffered severely, being exposed to a terrific fire. In this engagement his horse was shot under him, and for his gal- lantry and bravery upon the battle-field he was openly com- mended by Major-General Meade ; he won here his brevet rank of Brigadier-General. Ile was compelled to resign
390
BIOGRAPIIICAL ENCYCLOPAEDIA.
from the service, in 1863, owing to severe sickness, and re- moved to Philadelphia, in 1864. In the fall of the follow- ing year, he was re-elected to the House of Representatives, and re-elected five consecutive times. For a second time, during the session of 1868, he was chosen Speaker. Such unqualified confidence did his constituents repose in him, that, in 1871, he was elected to the Senate, and is now (May, 1874) serving his third year in that body. IIe is a nfember of the Finance Committee, and Chairman of the Committee on Railroads. He is one of the most punctual members of the Legislature, and never misses a session of that house of which he is a most honored member. Ile is a ready debater, and in political questions a bold, fearless and determined leader. Ilis creed was first that of an old line Whig until that party ceased to exist; and he has ever been affiliated with Republicanism from its earliest incep- tion. In the Legislature he has always been the champion advocate of charitable and educational institutions, and during the ten years of his career at Harrisburg he has never opposed or voted against any appropriation for such objects. Ile was married in 1849; and of his family of six children four are now living.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.