USA > Pennsylvania > The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2 > Part 17
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ARTRANFT, JOIIN FREDERICK, "Lawyer, Brevet Major-General United States Volunteers, and Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- vania, was born in New Ilanover township, Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania, December 16th, 1830, is the son of Samuel E. and Lydia (Bucher) IIartranft, grandson of Leonard and Elizabeth (Engle) Hartranft, and on both paternal and maternal sides is of German extraction. IIis education was commenced in the private schools of his native township, and when his father removed to Boyerstown, in 1840, he received instruction from a private tutor employed by a few gentlemen of that place for the training of their sons. In 1844, on his father's removal to Norristown, he entered the school of Rev. Samuel Aaron, where he remained four years. In 1847, he went to Mercersburg, and attended the preparatory department of Mar- shall College for two years, after which he matriculated at Union College, Schenectady, New York, and graduated there- from in 1853. After leaving college, he adopted the profession of a civil engineer, and was engaged on the Manch Chunk & White Haven Railroad and other works. In 1854, he was appointed a Deputy Sheriff by Michael C. Boyer, and was re-appointed in 1856 by Samuel D. Rudy. After the expiration of Sheriff Rudy's term of office, he engaged in the study of the law, first under the preceptorship of James Boyd, and subsequently with A. B. Longeaker, and was admitted to the bar October 24th, 1860. In December, 1858, he was elected Captain of a company of uniformed militia, called the Norris City Rifles, and afterwards be- came the Colonel of a regiment, which position he hekl at the outbreak of the Rebellion. When the call came for
volunteers, his regiment repaired immediately to Harrisburg and enlisted for three months. Their term of service ex- pired on the eve of the first battle of Bull Run, and he transferred command of the same to his Lieutenant-Colonel, he himself remaining and participating in the engagement as an aide to General Franklin. Stimulated by the dangers threatening his country he returned to Norristown, and re- organized the old 4th into the 51st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and entered the service for three years. IIis command was assigned to General A. E. Burnside, and par- ticipated in his successful campaign upon the Atlantic coast, after which their corps joined the army of General John Pope at Fredericksburg, sharing its fatigues and dangers. On the last night of the (second) battle of Bull Run, after the Union line had been broken, and the army was in full flight towards Alexandria, his regiment-which was among the last to leave the field-was surrounded by a large force of the enemy, and a surrender was demanded. Ile imme- diately responded, " No, never," adding, " Follow me, my men," and himself leading the way, his command broke through the line and escaped. At South Mountain and Antietam he led his regiment with the same intrepid courage. At Fredericksburg he was in command of the advance sent over in boats, and was the very first man to step on the shore of that town .... Following the fortunes of the gallant Ninth Corps, he went West, participated in the sieges of Vicksburg and Jackson, and afterwards with his command endured the severe trials of the Tennessee Campaign, and the siege of Knoxville, where he commanded a Division. His regiment re-enlisted, January 2d, 1864, for three years, and after a short sojourn at home rejoined the Army of the Potomac under General Grant, and hastening forward en- gaged in the battle of the Wilderness .. Ile here received a slight wound in the wrist, but remained at his post, and for the gallantry he displayed in this engagement was com- missioned a Brigadier-General, May 12th, 1864. He served with distinction at Cold IIarbor, and all the subsequent battles before Richmond and Petersburg. When one of the forts of the Rebel line, before the latter city, was blown up, July 30th, 1864, he, who was ever foremost in battle, led a charging party that took possession of the demolished works. When aid failed to reach them and their position became untenable, he, with his usual disregard for personal danger, returned to the Union line under the hottest fire rather than be made a prisoner. When Fort Steadman fell into the hands of the Confederates, on the morning of March 25th, 1865, he advanced his gallant Division of Pennsylvania troops at double-quick to the rescue and re- took the fort. For this service he was made a brevet Major- General, his services being recognized not only by Major- General Parke, commanding the Ninth Corps, but by Lieu- tenant-General Grant and President Lincoln. He continued to hold this commission until he was mustered out of the service in the fall of 1865. He was ever at the head of his command and in the most dangerous part of the battle,
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and had many marvellous escapes; two horses were shot | by John Kelly. While still a youth, he felt that filial duty under him, and many balls passed through his hat and other parts of his clothing, while on one occasion a star was torn from his shoulder by a bullet. Every soldier who was ever under his command is proud in being able to say that he followed a commander who shrank from no danger while the interests of his country were at stake. After his return home at the close of the war, he was appointed by the l'resident Colonel of the 34th Regiment Infantry, United States Army, but declined to accept the commission. In August, 1865, he was nominated by the Republican State Convention as their candidate for Auditor-General, and was elected in October of that year by nearly 23,000 ma- jority. Before the expiration of his term, he was re-nomi- nated and re-elected for the term ending May Ist, IS72, but his successor, Dr. Stanton, dying before he was in- ducted into office, his term was extended by an Act of the Legislature to December Ist, 1872. Ile received the no- mination of the Republican party for Governor at the State Convention, held April 9th, 1872, and was elected in the following month of October by nearly 36,000 majority. lle was inaugurated, January 21st, 1873, being escorted by the Fire Company and the Norris City Rifles, of which he is an honorary member, while a large number of his fellow- citizens followed him to the Capitol. To the fame he ac- quired as a soldier, he has added a noble record. in the civil service of his State. Before his official life commenced, he was ever at the head of every enterprise for public im- provement, and for several years was an active Director of the public schools. Ile is one of those popular men whom the people delight to honor for their sterling merit, strict integrity, noble and unselfish patriotism. Ile was married, January 26th, 1854, to Sallie, daughter of the Ilon. William L. Sebring of Easton, Pennsylvania.
RAILAM, JAMES L., Bank President, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in ISIS, and is a son of William and Frances Graham, who having left Ireland ten years previously, located in Pittsburgh. Ilis father began his mercantile life in that city, in ISTI, and was always regarded as an intelligent, honorable and successful business man ; his mother was dis- tinguished for her devoted, pious, Christian character, and was a member of the first Methodist class meeting ever organized in Pittsburgh. When he was about six years old his parents removed to what is now the city of Allegheny, where he has ever since resided. Although the facilities for acquiring a thorough education were not so numerous or convenient forty years ago as at present, yet by diligently availing himself of those within his reach he acquired in his youth a good practical English education, the principal part of which he obtained at what was familiarly called " The Old Academy," in Allegheny city, then conducted
required him to assist his father in business; and this obli- gation he discharged faithfully and cheerfully. By diligence in business, honesty in his dealings, and courteous treatment towards all with whom he came in contact, he soon gained the confidence and good will of the public, thus securing a very lucrative trade, which in a few years rendered him comparatively independent. Notwithstanding his business engagements he did not relinquish his studies, but employed his leisure hours in storing his mind with useful knowledge. While thus " diligent in business," he was not unmindful of the other precept of being " fervent in spirit ; " hence in his youth he attached himself to, and became an active mem- ber of, the Methodist Episcopal Church; and when but twenty years old was licensed as a local minister of the same. Shortly after he attained his majority, he was called into pub- lic life by his neighbors and fellow-citizens, and has held various positions of honor and trust ever since. For twenty consecutive years he served as a School Director in the city of Allegheny. For nine years he was one of the Direc- tors of the Poor, and during a portion of the time, when the Asiatic cholera prevailed as an epidemic, he, with his associates in the Board, tendered his services to the City Councils for the purpose of caring for those who were stricken down with the disease, and who were unprovided-for want of means --- with proper treatment and attention. Ile served for one term as a member of City Councils. In 1858, with- `out any special effort on his part, he was nominated and elected Iligh-Sheriff of the County of Allegheny. In the fall of 1862, he was chosen a Senator of Pennsylvania, and took his seat in that branch of the State Legislature, January 13th, 1863, as the colleague of the late John P. Penney de- ceased, and has ever since remained a member of that body ; having been unanimously re-nominated four several times by the Union Republican party of the County of Allegheny, and on each occasion elected by an overwhelming majority. Ile is now serving (May, 1874) his twelfth year in the Senate, and has always occupied a prominent position in that body. At the close of the session of 1867, he was elected Speaker during the recess ; so that in case a vacancy had occurred in the office of Governor during that time he would have become the Executive by provision of the Con- stitution. When the Senate was organized, in IS6S, he was again elected Speaker; and served as such during that session. In IS70, he was appointed Chairman of the Finance Committee, and-except during the session of 1871, when the Democrats had a majority of one in that body-he has remained its Chairman. In 1872, he was appointed Chair- man of the celebrated " George O. Evans Investigating Committee ; " and has at sundry times been named to nul- merous other responsible positions in the Senate, a fact tes- tifying to his ability, integrity, fidelity, and the confidence reposed in him by those intimately acquainted with him. In 1873, he was selected and appointed by the Governor as one of the three Commissioners from Pennsylvania to
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represent that State at the Vienna Exposition. IIe has been frequently chosen by the people of his native county and district to represent them in both State and National Con- ventions. He presided over the Republican State Conven- tion, held in Philadelphia in 1869, when General Geary was re-nominated for Governor; he was also a Delegate to the National Convention which placed General Grant before the people for President. He has been twice recommended by the Republicans of that part of Allegheny county em- braced in the 23d Congressional District as their choice for Representative in the popular branch of the National Legis- lature, the first time unanimously, and the second time by three-fourths of all the votes cast. From the date of the organization of the Republican party until the present, he has been a firm and consistent believer in its principles, and in the policy which has marked its administration of the Government. A devoted friend of the Union, he has, when it was imperilled, labored unceasingly to sustain the Government at Washington in their efforts to save the life of the nation. Ilis time and means were freely given to raise and support troops for its defence ; and when Pennsyl- vania was invaded he volunteered and marched to the front as a soldier to assist in repelling the insurgents from its soil. Ile has been President of the Allegheny Savings Bank for the past fifteen years ; and under his management that insti- tution has had a successful business career, being regarded as one of the most reliable banks of its character in the country. Ile is emphatically a self-made man ; commencing in comparative poverty, he has gained wealth and honor by pursuing a straightforward, true, honest, and upright course. Ile has been eminently successful in all he has undertaken. Whatever station he has filled-at his business stand, in his bank-parlor, on the rostrum, in the Senate Chamber, or in the pulpit-he has manifested capacity, zeal, and faith- fulness. As a Senator, his views have been broad and liberal, and he has carefully guarded the publie treasury. In financial matters, he has always advocated a true economy. Ilis life and actions have been before the public for nearly forty years without a breath of suspicion resting upon his character.
ERKES, HION. HARMAN, Lawyer, was born in Warminster township,_ Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, October 8th, 1843. Ile is a son of Stephen and Amy (Montanye) Yerkes, his paternal an- cestors having been Swedes or north Germans, and his mother's family of French descent. The Yerkes family were prominent members of the Society of Friends and among the earliest residents of that locality, having settled in Pennsylvania over two hundred years ago. Being reared upon a farm, Harman Yerkes spent a period in the common schools, after which he entered Tennent School at Hartsville, in his native county, whence he passed, after some years, to the well-known Williston Seminary at
East Hampton, Massachusetts, where he completed his academic education, in 1861. Having subsequently be- come a student at law with Hons. Thomas and Henry O. Ross of Doylestown, he was admitted to practice at the Bucks county bar, November 2d, 1865. lle immediately engaged in practice there, and quickly won a recognition of his legal talent. Having early entered the political arena, he soon became an influential member and recognized leader in the Democratic party of his county. He was elected District Attorney for the Courts of Bucks county for three years, in the fall of 1868, and while he exercised the functions of that office acquitted himself with marked ability and general acceptance. Ile was a Delegate to the Baltimore Convention, in 1872, and was one of the twenty- one staunch advocates of the claims of IIon. Jeremiah S. Black for the Presidential nomination given to IIon. Ilorace Greeley. In 1873, he received the Democratie nomination fer State Senator from the Seventh District, comprising the counties of Bucks and Northampton, and liaving been elected for three years entered upon his duties in January, 1874. lle has ever stood in the very front in every political con- test since he attained his majority, and has repeatedly de- monstrated his power to conduct a successful campaign. He was for a number of years a member of the Democratic State, Central Committee. Few men have, so early in life, had honors so thrust upon them, or made a purer or a better record.
MITII, THOMAS J., Receiver of Taxes for the City and County of Philadelphia, was born in that city, May 17th, 1837. Ile was left an orphan at the age of seven years, and had his own way to make in the world. Ilis education was received in the public schools of Philadelphia, which he left at the age of fifteen; for eighteen months thereafter he was in the employ of William W. Moore, wholesale shoe manufacturer. At the expiration of this period he be- came an apprentice to Smith & Brown, Second street, north of Race, with whom he learned the pattern-making busi- ness. He remained with them, after his term of apprentice- ship expired, working as a journeyman for some years; and, in 1863, engaged in the same calling on his own account, at Front and Race streets, where he continued for about three years. In 1866, he relinquished this pursuit and em- barked in the flour and grain business, on Poplar street, east of Fourth street, in which he continued until he assumed the duties of the office which he holds at present. Ile be- came interested in political matters soon after he attained his majority, and filled several offices of honor and trust in . his native city. IIe held a prominent position in the School Board of his district for two years, and was carnest and zealous in the performance of his duties. He has been a delegate to several of the State Conventions of the Repub- lican party, and, in 1869 and 1870, Secretary of the Repub-
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lican City Executive Committee, In the fall of 1869, he | lishment. His master having observed his studious habits, was nominated and elected a member of Select Council, and took his seat January Ist, 1870, continuing therein until his resignation, in December, 1872. IIe had previously been nominated for the office of Receiver of Taxes by the Republican County Convention, and was clected thereto, in October, 1872. The canvass was an exciting one, but such was his popularity that, although he had a formidable opponent, he not only was elected by a handsome majority, but polled the largest vote of any candidate upon his ticket. Ilis term was for two years, to expire with the close of IS74. But by the provisions of the new State Constitution the freemen of the city were called upon, in February, 1874,
to elect his successor. Ilis able administration of the office had given such universal satisfaction, that he was unani- mously nominated by his party for re-election, and again he had a strong competitor on the other side. As at his first election, so he once more ran ahead of his ticket and was successful, his term now being for three years, or ex- piring on December 31st, 1877. During neither of these political contests, which were carried on-and particularly the last-with more than usual acerbity and rancor, was a single charge, imputation or insinuation brought against his ability or character. Calumny had no opportunity, for his record in Select Council was most notably a pure one, while his conscientiousness and carefulness in the discharge of his official duties as Recciver of Taxcs was apparent to all. The people felt their interests were secure in the hands of so faithful a publie servant, and in the second contest marked their appreciation of his services by returning him to the office by an increased and overwhelming vote. During the War of the Rebellion he volunteered among the emergency men of 1862, and held the position of Second Lieutenant. Again, in 1863, when Lee invaded the State, and prior to the battle of Gettysburg, he was found marching to the front to assist in repelling invasion, and was First Lieutenant in that campaign. He is a member of Post No. 2 Grand Army of the Republic.
OIINSTON, THOMAS S., A. M., D. D., Clergy- man, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 4th, ISIS, and is the son of the late Cap- tain Thomas and Mary Johnston, both of whom were of Scotch descent, and also natives of Scot- land. lle received his early education in a pri- vate school in his native city, and when eleven years old had the misfortune to lose his father, and was thus thrown upon the world, being completely destitute of means, and experiencing withal the extremes of poverty and adversity. At the age of fourteen he was indentured to a hatter, and during his apprenticeship acquired the greater part of his education, and was in the habit of studying at night, using the workshop for this pursuit, aided by the light of the fires which were built around the kettles and boilers of the estab-
kindly gave him every advantage and opportunity to im- prove, and of these he eagerly availed himself. Thus he not only acquired a good English education, but delved into the classics and supplemented these with theology. In the neighborhood where he lived there were quite a num- ber of highly educated students, who cheerfully tendered him their assistance and advice whenever he desired it, and through their kindness he was enabled to gain access to the shelves of a well-selected library. He remained as an apprentice until he had attained his majority, although he had been licensed, at the age of twenty, to preach the Gospel. As soon as he left the workshop he selected the ministry as his profession, in which he has ever since con- tinued. For fifteen consecutive years he was settled in the pastorate in Philadelphia, and thence removed to the country, having been settled at Bristol, Pottsville, and some other places, and finally at Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where he has resided for the past ten years as Pastor of the German Re- formed Church in that town. Like all self-educated men, his style of preaching is sui generis, strikingly original, and not in accordance with the method or character of the schools. He has published a considerable number of Dis- courses, Addresses, and Lectures upon various subjects, which have acquired much popularity, and have been most favorably noticed and commented upon by the public press. He has also contributed largely to newspapers, periodicals, etc., as well on theological as on literary subjects ; and he has frequently been solicited to deliver orations and addresses before societies, colleges, and other institutions of learning. Hle has been a member of all the higher ecclesiastical bodies, and has preached also before Synods and General Judica- tory Assemblies of the Church. He received the honorary degree of Artium Magister from Delaware College, Dela- ware, and that of Doctor of Divinity from Marysville College, Tennessee; besides other distinguished compli- ments from various institutions throughout the country. Ile has ever been a hard student, and he attributes his sue- cess as a pastor and as a scholar to his own individual exertion and energy. When it is remembered that he left school at the age of cleven, never again to have the advan- tages of an instructor, the fact that he is a self-made, self- educated man is most apparent. He is a most valuable citizen in the community where he resides, and all classes bear witness to his urbanity, liberality and generosity. Of his family of six children, all of whom are highly educated, two sons are physicians in good practice, and one of his daughters is a member of the Faculty of the Female College at Allentown, Pennsylvania. In the ranks of the self edu- cated occupants of the American pulpit he stands one of the most distinguished. lIe is rarely equalled by those who have had greater facilities, proving most conclusively that even adverse circumstances will conduce to develop human excellence, and that untiring energy and laborious perseverance will be crowned with success.
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ENSZEY, A. WILSON, President of the Common Council of Philadelphia, was born in that city, October 8th, 1836, and is a son of Samuel C. Ilenszey, a member of the Society of Friends, who was for many years connected with the Bank of North America, and also with the old Western Savings Fund, besides holding various other important positions of trust and responsibility. He went to school both in Philadelphia and in New Jersey, where he resided for many years. Ile was connected with his father until he was nineteen years old, assisting him on the farm. From boyhood he was imbued with Republican, or, more strictly speaking, Anti-Slavery principles, and was interested in every effort to improve the condition of the African race. So very conscientious was he in his opinions, that at one time he declined using any article manufactured or fabri- cated by slave labor ; and the first money, $300 in amount, that he possessed was devoted to the purchase of a slave, in order that his freedom might be secured. At the age of nineteen he was thrown upon his own resources, and was occupied in various employments until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he entered the army, and served therein in divers capacities with credit and honor to himself, 'Being an open, avowed Republican, he became known to his fel- low citizens as a life-long believer in its principles, and soon after being mustered out of the military service he was, in 1867, selected by the citizens of the Tenth Ward as their Representative for two years in Common Council, wherein he served with distinguished credit to himself and advantage to his ward until the expiration of his term. In 1869, he was nominated by the Republican party and elected to the Senate of Pennsylvania, in which body he sat for the three years, at the close of which (in 1872) he was again nomi- nated and elected to Councils. After a period of six months he was chosen by that body as their Presiding officer, and has been re-elected for the term ending in 1875. He has the credit of being one of the best parliamentarians in Coun- cils; his decisions are ever impartial and according to the rules of parliamentary law, although they may be adverse to the private views of himself or of his party. He is a member of the Public Buildings Commission ; of the Park Commission ; and of the Girard Trust, besides holding other important positions in the city Government. Having de- voted himself exclusively to political 'matters, he naturally takes a great interest in the continued success and welfare of the Republican party ; and tluring the several political campaigns he has traversed the length and breadth of the Commonwealth, taking an active part in the contests, and delivering addresses favorable to the cause which he has so much at heart. 1Ie has the reputation of being one of the best orators in his party. Personally, he is a most esti- mable citizen, and has a large circle of acquaintance ; among these he is recognized by many as a true, tried friend ; and being once a friend, he always remains such, never forgetting old ties.
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