USA > Pennsylvania > The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2 > Part 18
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UMPHREYS, MILES S., Labor-Reformer, and Senator of Pennsylvania, was born in Richmond, Virginia, where his parents were temporarily re- siding, August 25th, 1837. Ile is the first and only son of Jonathan and Hannah ( Miles) Ium- phreys. When he was but nine months old his mother returned with him to Pittsburgh, which had been his parents' residence, while his father continued his studies at the Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, and after a four-years' course in that institution also returned home, where he subsequently died, in the year 1840. The son received his education in the public schools of Pittsburgh, and at the age of fourteen left them to enter a rolling mill, where he learned his trade thoroughly, becoming complete master of its details. He always took an interest in the cause of the laborer, and has become intimately identified with the " Labor movement," and was for many years a member of, and finally President of, the Workingman's As- sociation of Pittsburgh; and also President of the Local Association of the same city. He is a strong advocate of Trades Unions, believing them to be superior schools of intelligence. During the years 1867 and 1868, he was the Director of a newspaper company in Pittsburgh, whose mission it was to advocate the interests of the laboring classes. «Ile has ever labored to reconcile labor and capital, believing that the latter must learn ultimately to regard the power ,and appreciate at its true worth the former; that the laborer should be treated as an equal, not as an inferior being; and that the laborer must acknowledge that the capitalist also has rights which must be respected ; that both sides must be educated to think properly, and then they can act harmoniously. This he believes is the great and important matter to endeavor to effect, and the mission of the labor unions and trade associations. He admits, how- ever, that sometimes these become-like all other organiza- tions-mere means for political ends, and thus their original mission is lost sight of, and they are thus liable to abuse. In political faith, he is a radical Republican, and, in the fall of 1868, was elected a member of the lower branch of the Legislature, and having honored the trust confided to him was twice thereafter re-elected. At the October, IS73, election he was chosen a member of the Senate, where he has, just completed ( May, 1874) his first term. During the period when the iron-masters of Pittsburgh by their action reduced the wages of the boiler-makers from $9 to $7 per ton, and there was a consequent suspension of work, gene- rally termed a " lock-out " -- it was in the dead of winter when this attack was made upon the laboring man, and they suffered under it for many months thereafter-he was made the Chairman of the Conference Committee which was ap- pointed to protect the interests of the laboring classes, and was the author of the Address to the iron manufacturers of Pittsburgh and vicinity. The propositions submitted, how- ever, failed, as the latter intended they should do, as they were secretly engaged in making a special purchased im-
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portation of foreign labor, which ultimately completely failed, and the manufacturers finally compromised by offering the very terms which the " Boilers' Union " had demanded a half year previous. Ile was married, at the age of twenty, February 6th, 1858, to Mary A. Jones.
ROOKE, IIUGII JONES, Legislator, was born in Radnor township, Delaware county, Penn- sylvania, December 27th, 1805, and is a son of the late Nathan Brooke, of Montgomery county. Ilis mother's maiden name was Jones, her family belonging to Delaware county. He at- tended the common schools of the district until he reached the age of fourteen years. Not only his early years, but also those of manhood were passed upon a farm, and to the life of an agriculturist he has devoted the greater part of his time. In 1843, he was elected, on the Whig ticket, a member of the lower branch of the State Legislature, and was subsequently re-elected. In 1849, he was elected a member of the Senate, in which body he served for three years. He was again elected to this body in 1868, his term closing with the session of 1871. - JIe has, in all cases, served as a member of the Finance Committee, and was its Chairman during one term. He was also, for several years, Chairman of the Committee on Claims, also on that of Corporations. In early life he had been created County Auditor. At the breaking out of the late civil war, he was appointed Commissary of Purchases, in Pennsylvania, and held this position partly under Cameron's and partly under Staunton's terms. When the town of Media, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, was projected, and which afterwards became the shire town of the county, he repaired thither, and was prominent and active in its future growth and prosperity; and has ever been closely and largely identified with all its public improvements. He has been a Director of the Bank from the date of its or- ganization, and is a Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble-minded Children. For the past thirty years he has been a Director of the Delaware Mutual Safety Insurance Company. He was the organizer of the Farmers' Market Company, of Philadelphia, and its first President; and afterwards was instrumental in the organization and establishment of the Twelfth Street Mar- ket in the same city, and has occupied the position of President of the corporation from its inception to the present time. For many years past he has been an in- timate friend and strong supporter of Senator Cameron, who claims him as one of his oklest friends and admirers. In his various positions he has, through life, proved him- self an estimable and valucable citizen. Ilis private worth is commensurate with his public usefulness. He was mar- ried, in 1828, to J. Longmire, a native of England.
ITTLE, R. R., Lawyer, was born in Delaware county, New York, March 13th, 1820, and in early childhood went to Bethany, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, where he attended school and ob- tained all the education that could be acquired in the village academies. When fourteen years old, he removed to Susquehanna Spring, and subsequently en- tered the office of Lusk & Little, attorneys at law in Mont- rose, Pennsylvania, where he devoted himself to the study of that profession which he had selected for his future career. He was admitted to practice at the bar of the courts of Susquehanna county, in 1842, and thence proceeded to the new county of Wyoming, which had just been created, and attended the first session of the court thereof. IIe forth- with engaged in the practice of his profession, opening his office at Tunkhannock, which had been made the shire town of the new county. In 1847, he was elected a mem- ber of the Legislature to represent his district in the lower llouse, and was re-elected in the following year, thus serving his constituents through the sessions of 1848 and 1849. After the lapse of precisely a quarter of a century he was again elected, in the fall of 1873, to the same body. During the year 1857, he was appointed by President Buchanan Judge Advocate of the Naval Court of Inquiry, constituted under a special Actsof Congress; and he filled that position until the business before that body was completed and the court dissolved. With the exception of these positions he has' been constantly occupied with the pursuit of his pro- fession. Ile has been a member of the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Wyoming and Tunkhannock ever since its organization, in 1865, and is also connected in the management of various other corporations.
cCORMICK, HENRY II., Lawyer, was born in Stewartsville, Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, November 24th, 1840, and is a son of John and Esther (Sonash) McCormick, his father being of Irish descent and his mother of French extrac- tion. Ilis preliminary education was obtained in the public schools of the neighborhood, and he subsequently attended the Irwin Academy, completing his studies at the New Derry Normal School. Ile then commenced prepar- ing himself for admission to the bar, and after the usual course of reading was added to the roll and became a mem- ber of the bar of Allegheny county, at Pittsburgh, in the year 1863. During the War of the Rebellion he served in the ninety days' service Pennsylvania Volunteers, and also as First Lieutenant in the 6th Regiment Artillery of the Pennsylvania Line. At the close of the war he went to West Virginia, with the intention of embarking in the petroleum oil business ; but soon ascertaining that its pros- pects in that locality were far from encouraging, he returned to Pittsburgh, where he shortly afterwards opened an office
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and settled himself down to the practice of his profession, and having applied himself with diligence to the cases en- trusted to hiis care, succeeded so well that he soon became a popular and well-appreciated solicitor. Ilis practice in- creased, and he rapidly rose and became one of the leading members of the profession. Having originally commenced in the criminal courts, he soon added civil suits to his docket, and by so doing his practice has grown most lucra- tive. IIe is the Solicitor of the Board of Health of Alle- gheny County. He has ever been a most carnest Republican, and was among the first to advocate and urge the giving of cqual political rights and the ballot to all classes, with- out regard to race, condition or color. Ile was honored by his fellow citizens, in 1872, by being nominated and elected to represent them in the Legislature, and on taking his seat, in the month of January, 1873, he was universally admitted to be the one best calculated to fill the Speaker's chair; and when the hour arrived for the choice of a pre- siding officer he was elected to that position without oppo- sition. Ilow well he served the Commonwealth in that most arduous position can best be determined from the fact that, notwithstanding the many difficulties that would neces- sarily arise from working under the new Constitution, and the novelty of his position, very rarely was an appeal taken from his decision ; and that, moreover, in every instance when an appeal was taken, his decision was invariably sus- tained; herein is ample testimony to the soundness of lis judgment and the precision of his rulings. IIe returned at the close of the session to his home, having served with honor to himself, his constituents and the Commonwealth. His friends, who are a host in themselves, desired that he would accept the nomination for Congressional Representa- tive, but he declined the same, as also the position of United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, preferring the simple private practice at the bar to the toils of public life. In the political field, however, he is a most energetie, active laborer, and has thrown the full weight of his strength into the contests of the past ten years.
TRANAIIAN, JAMES ALEXANDER, Lawyer, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 7th, 1839. IIis parents were natives of County Down, Ireland, and had emigrated to America several years prior to his birth. His father was a merchant in Philadelphia for a number of years, but moved with his family, in the spring of 1851, to Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming. Prior to leaving Philadelphia, his son had attended school, and had a good knowledge of the common branches. In the new location he continued to study during the winter months, varying in the other seasons with farming and mining in an ore bank which had been discovered on the farm. From 1857 to 1860, he attended Westminster Col- lege, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, and the Union School
at Mercer. In the fall of 1860, he went to Johnson county, Kentucky, prospecting for oil, but not proving successful, he passed the winter there in teaching a select " silent " school, and returned to Mercer in the spring of 1861. En- tering the office of Griffith & Trunkey he commenced the study of law, and shortly after took editorial charge for several months of the Western Press, a semi-weekly paper, then published in Mercer. In June, 1863, he became a member of a company which was raised in response to President Lincoln's call for six-months' troops, and was commissioned First Lieutenant. He was detailed as Post Adjutant at the City of Cumberland, Maryland, where he remained until discharged, in February, 1864. On re- turning from the army he resumed his law studies, and was admitted to the bar during the ensuing month of April, con- tinuing in the office of his instructors until July, 1869-the last three years of the time as a partner. Ile then opened an office on his own account and soon acquired a large and lucrative practice. Ile has always taken an active part in politics, being an admirer of Democratic principles, and during the Rebellion was an adherent of the " War- Demo- crats." In the fall of 1873, he was elected to the Assembly of Pennsylvania from Mercer county, as a Democrat, by a majority of 485 over his Republican competitor, notwith- standing the fact that the county gave a majority of over 800 for the . Republican party at the same time. On taking his. seat, in January, 1874, he was appointed a member of the most important committees in the body, and both in committee meetings and on the floor of the IIouse has taken an active and prominent part in preparing and shaping legis- Iation under the new Constitution. IIe is in favor of all the reforms of the day, has ever been an earnest and pro- minent temperance man, and has proved himself a ready supporter of all those measures which aim to secure and protect public and private weal. Ile was married, May 14th, 1867, to Mary E., daughter of Rev. W. M. Robinson of Mercer; she died March 17th, 1868. Ile was sub- sequently united, February 25th, 1874, to Lizzie, daughter of Benoni Ewing, of Hartstown, Crawford county, Penn- sylvania.
AMP3ELL, IION. ANDREW L., Legislator, is a son of Robert Campbell, and is of Scotch descent, his ancestors having come to the United States several generations ago. He was born on March 9th, IS27, upon the spot where he at present re- sides, in Butler county, Pennsylvania, now known as Argyle. Ile was reared upon a farm, and enjoyed such educational advantages as the common schools of his na- tive county afforded at that early day. IIe began to teach in his eighteenth year, and continued for seven years so em- ployed during the winter terms, devoting himself assiduously to reading and study, and spending his summer months upon his father's farm. IIe became a volunteer musician in the
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Marshall Band at the age of fourteen, and continued with | them for nine years. He has taken great interest in the elevation of the standard of common school education, and has probably done as much as any man in his loeality in that direction, having been an active and efficient member of the School Board for many years. At the outbreak of the War, in 1861, he and his brother were both desirous of entering the service, but as only one could be spared from home the matter was submitted to his father, who de- cided that his brother, having the smaller family and fewer business ties, should go. He then devoted himself earnestly and patriotieally to the work of raising volunteers, and eon- tinued his efforts throughout the struggle. His brother's term of service having expired, he seized upon the oppor- tunity and joined company L of the 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry, September 19th, 1864, and served in various de- partments to the close of the war. He became interested in the development of the oil region, in 1870. Having visited the base of operations for close observation of local indications, and having carefully studied up the matter from the writings of the most skilled operators, he became con- vineed that oil was to be found in his own locality. Ile accordingly effected a lease, on April 24th, 1871, and hav- ing formed a company commenced operations, which re- sulted successfully, on November 20th following, when they obtained a flow of oil from the famous " Wild-cat Well." Ile thus hecame the first man to engage in the development of the oil production of Butler county, and has since managed large tracts of oil territory, pushing forward the work with marvellous energy and success. His career in life had been so noted for honor and integrity and he had so won the confidence and esteem of his community that when, in June, 1873, his name was brought before the Republican party of his distriet for nomination to the State Legislature he received a nearly unanimous vote, and was triumphantly eleeted in October following. He took his seat, January Ist, 1874, and was an active worker, not only for the good of his own constituency, but for the promotion of the best in- terests of the whole Commonwealth. He was re-nominated June 7th, IS74, by a large majority over all the candidates, six in number. IIe has never aspired to political honor, but was too patriotic to decline the marked expression of the desire of the people of his district. Ile is widely es- teemed for his intrinsic worth and his social qualities.
ROCKWAY, CHIARLES B., Lawyer, was born in Berwick, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, April Ist, 1840, of New England parentage. While yet a lad it beenme evident to him that he had to make his own way through the world, and for several years he alternated between driving on the canals and working in the harvest fields. Then he became a resident of Senator Buekalew's family,
and for the first time enjoyed some educational advantages. Ile was subsequently employed as Weigh-master on the canal at Beach Haven until Senator Buckalew returned from his South American mission, in 1855, when he again became an inmate of his family, and then entered the em- ploy of - Beach, at Beach Haven, as clerk. In Jannary, 1858, he was appointed Chief Clerk in the Attorney Gene- ral's office at Harrisburg, which position he held until the close of the Legislative session. Soon after, his patron, Senator Buckalew, was appointed Minister Resident at Quito, Ecuador, and he accompanied him as private Secre- tary. In August, 1859, he returned home, and during the following winter taught school in Luzerne county. In April, 1860, he returned to Bloomsburg, read law with E. II. Little, then District Attorney, and during the following winter taught school in that town. In IS61, at the outbreak of the Rebellion, he was the first man to enlist in the ranks from Bloomsburg, and was soon after appointed Sergeant in the " Iron Guards " (Company A, 6th Regiment Pennsyl- vania Volunteers). Preferring the artillery, he enlisted for three years as a private in Battery F, Ist Pennsylvania Light Artillery, and was soon made Sergeant. The battery was at first attached to the Reserve Corps at Tennallytown, but was soon afterwards detached and ordered to Banks' com- mand at Darnestown, Maryland, where a section of Parrott guns was added to it, and, being short of officers, he was unanimously elected First Lieutenant, and at once took command of the section, then the only light artillery on the Potomac between Harper's Ferry and Cumberland. The duties were incessant, much frontier having to be guarded, and the enemy evincing a determination to cross the river. Until February, 1862, he was in command, when a question arising as to a vacancy having existed in the battery at the time of his eleetion, he resigned his commission and re- turned to the ranks; but soon thereafter was unanimously eleeted Second Lieutenant, and was subsequently promoted as vacancies arose. Ile saw an immense amount of service, and his was the first Union battery to enter Winchester, Virginia. In April, 1862, it joined MeDowell's Corps, when important engagements took place, and its service was pronouneed by Colonel Bryan to be as fine practice as any in the regular service. It afterwards served in the Shenan- doalı Valley, and covered the retreat at the second battle of Bull Run, where he was captured by the rebels as one of Pope's felons and conveyed to Libby Prison, where he re- mained until exchanged. Ile was thus a prisoner while Antietam was fought, the only engagement of the war in which his battery participated that he missed. He was in the battle of Chaneellorsville, where he rendered important service ; and also in the famous battle of Gettysburg, re- pelling the grand charge of Early's Division, headed by the famous Louisiana Tigers. From this time forward it was attached to the Second Corps, and was on the Rapidan, formed the rear-guard during Meade's retrograde movement on Bull Run, fought the battle of Bristoe's Station, and
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was the only artillery in the battles of the Wilderness, 1864. It participated in all the subsequent battles of the campaign, elo-ing with Petersburg. He was appointed Assistant Chief of Artillery to General Hazzard, but being attacked with typhoid fever was sent to the hospital. Having somewhat recuperated his health, he was ordered on light duty with Sheridan in the Valley of Virginia, and afterwards served at Rock Island, Illinois, His health continuing feeble, he resigned the service, having been breveted Captain for gal- lant and meritorious conduct at Bull Run. He was sub- sequently commissioned Captain of his old battery by Gover- nor Curtin, but declined, having learned that his acceptance would interfere with the promotion of other officers. IIe returned home, resumed his studies, and was shortly there- after admitted to the bar. In 1867, he took charge of The Columbian, which he conducted until nominated for Congress, in 1870. He is a prominent Mason, having re- ceived the 32d degree of the Scottish rite, is a Past Grand of the Independent Order Odd Fellows, and holds a high office in the Knights of Pythias.
LLEN, GEORGE W., Lawyer, was born in the town of Russellburg, Warren county, Pennsyl- vania, in the year 1844, and is a son of Samuel P. and Mary (Thompson) Allen. ITis father was of Scotch- Irish descent, his grandfather a nephew of the celebrated General Anthony Wayne; and his mother is partly of German extraction. Ile passed his youth on a farm, and attended the district school during the winter months until he attained his fifteenth year, when he entered the Edinborough Normal School, in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1862-occupying himself during the winter months in teach ing school. At the latter date, he entered the military service as private Secretary to his brother, then Colonel of the 151st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, afterwards General Harrison Allen. Ruturning home, in 1863, he finished his studies, and, in 1868, entered his brother's office -who was then a prominent legal practitioner of Warren, Pennsylvania-and commenced reading law. In 1871, he was admitted to the bar, and opened an office in Tidioute, Warren county, where he soon established a lucrative prac- tice, being regarded as one of the most promising young men at the bar. In 1873, he was nominated by the Repub- lican party and elected a member of the lower branch of the State Legislature, where he has made a most honorable record, having delivered some very strong and creditable speeches on different subjects, and taken a leading part in the various debates of the session. His course has met with the approbation of both parties of the district, and at the close of the session on his return home he was received with a perfect ovation by the whole people, and was complimented by his fellow-citizens with an address of congratulation, endorsing his legislative career.
UTLER, GEORGE H., Lawyer, and Senator of Pennsylvania, was born in the town of Guilford, Vermont, October 29th, 1809, and is a member of one of the oldest New England families. He attended school in his native county, and also in Cayuga county, New York, where he obtained a first-class academical education. When nineteen years of age, he left school and engaged in the study of law at Homer, Cortland county, New York, in the office of Ross & Aiken, and was admitted to the bar, in November, 1840, at Erie, Pennsylvania, having completed his studies with Judge Galbraith of that city. Hc at once engaged in the practice of his profession, and has ever since made his re- sidence there. He was a Democrat in political faith until 1861, when he left its ranks with many others, and was eminently active and patriotic in support of the Government and the maintenance of the Union arms. He was never an aspirant for political honors, and always declined nomina- tions tendered him by his admirers, until 1872, when he was prevailed upon to become the Republican nominec for Senator to represent Erie and Warren counties, and was elected in October of that year. He took his seat, in January, 1873, and was placed on the Committees of Con- stitutional Reform, Judiciary (local), Estates and Escheats, and Retrenchment and Reform. Ilis course as a legislator, a professional man, and a citizen, has been such as to command respect and confidence.
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