USA > Pennsylvania > The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2 > Part 26
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DGE, JOIN PENNELL, Physician, was born in East Caln township, Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, June 221, 1822. Ilis ancestors on the father's side came from England early in the eighteenth century, and settled in Edgmont, Delaware county, Pennsylvania. His mother's family were descendants of early English and Welsh set- tlers. He received a sound classical education at West. town school in his native county. From 1840 to 1843, he was engaged in teaching in various private and public third day, he displayed great coolness and daring during
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the whole contest, being in the hottest of the fight, and { those of his ancestors and family, who are prominent helped to retake the Union battery on Cemetery Hill. At leaders in the Society of Friends. He was married, in 1868, to Mary Channing, a daughter of Frederick A. Eustis, a descendant of the Massachusetts family of that name, and prominent citizens of that Commonwealth. Iler mother was a daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Chan- ning, so universally known that further mention of lim, in this connection, is unnecessary. the close of the battle, he was shot through the leg, which disabled him during the balance of his term of enlistment. For his gallant conduct at Gettysburg he was brevetted Colonel, and honorably discharged from the service. Re- turning to Warren, he resumed his legal studies, and was shortly afterward admitted to the bar, where he has met with much success, 'being at this time widely known as one of the best read and promising members of the legal profession in his section.
ISTER, WILLIAM ROTCHI, Lawyer, and Lieu- tenant-Colonel United States Volunteers, was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, December 7th, 1827. Ilis father is a gentleman of much promi- nence in various enterprises, being President of the Duncannon Iron Company, and Treasurer of the North Pennsylvania Railroad Company, besides hold- ing other responsible positions. Ilis mother is a daughter of the late William Logan Firbee, one of the great iron manufacturers of Pennsylvania. Ile received a liberal and classical education in the Germantown Academy, and graduated in the class of 1846, from the University of Penn- sylvania. Ilis predilections being in favor of the legal profession, he shortly thereafter entered upon his studies in the office of the late Benjamin Gerhard, under whose pre- ceptorship he prepared himself for the bar, to which he was admitted in 1849, and has been actively engaged in the various duties of an Attorney and Counsellor at Law for the past quarter of a century. In 1858 and 1859, he served with credit to himself and his constituents in the Common Council of Philadelphia, but, preferring the interests of his clients, he has not been a candidate for any office since that time. He entered the military service of the United States in June, 1863, as Orderly Sergeant of the Wissa- hickon Cavalry, a company mustered for the then existing emergency. When the company became a part of the 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Mr. Wister was made the Lientenant-Colonel of the regiment, which rank he held when mustered out at the expiration of the term of service (six months). Ile was emphatically a supporter of the Union cause during that troublesome era, and was a con- tributor of his substance towards the maintenance of the war. Ile is a stockholder and director of the Bloomsburg Iron Company, and is also a special partner in the firm of J. & J. Wister, of Harrisburg, who are engaged in the manufacture of pig iron; and in various other ways is asso- ciated and interested in iron manufactures. He is Solicitor for the North Pennsylvania Railroad Company; also for several other large corporations, including the National Bank of Germantown. In religious faith-although not an active member of any church-his sympathies are with
EBSTER, BENJAMIN CRAMPTON, is the son of Orrin Webster, Merchant, of Litchfield, Con- necticut, and was born at Ilartford, in that State, October 8th, 1821. After being educated at various schools in Connecticut, he was for four years clerk to the Hon. E. D. Morgan, of New York, and for eighteen months clerk to the then Governor of New York, living at Albany during that time, and rendering important services to the State. His first step was in the ship-chandler business, with Marshall O. Roberts, who offered him the business, which was being carried on in his own name. After continuing in this for several years, he became interested in Mexican mines, and sold out his ship-chandlery. He now devoted four years to working a silver mine in Mexico, seeing life in many phases. In 1850, he became, and was for many years afterwards, a Director in the North River Bank of New York. In 1852, his father, who was then Treasurer of the Society for the Promotion of a Collegiate and Theological Education in the West, died; and, after settling up the books, he was elected Treasurer in his place, holding the office for about eight years, working faithfully and effectu- ally for a worthy object, without pecuniary. reward. In 1863, he went to Philadelphia, as President of the Lehigh Zinc Company, and the same year moved to Bethlehem, taking entire charge of the works and mines. During his administration, the business of the Zine Works has greatly increased, new mines have been developed, and the rolling of sheet zine has been added, a branch never before carried on in this country. The first sheet zine ever made in America was rolled under his direction, April Ist, 1865. The capacity of the sheet zinc mill has been developed to 3000 casks, or 1680 tons per year, and the capacity of the oxide works is now 3000 tons per annum. The annual yield of the mines near Friedensville is about 17,000 tons of ore, requiring 40,000 tons of coal for their reduction. He employs about 600 operatives. On January 19th, 1872, a monster engine, capable of pumping 12,000 gallons of water, from a depth of 300 feet, which had been built by him, under the superintendence of John West, was started at the mines. It is believed to be the largest in the world. Ile was married, in 1849, to Eliza Wilbur, of New York city, and has three children, all young. Ilis business capacities are of the highest order, and his genial and
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modest manners have rendered him the most popular of all | About this period, George Crane, an iron master at the gentlemen who have managed the zine company at Bethlehem.
OBERTS, SOLOMON WIIITE, Civil Engineer, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 3d, 1811, and is a son of Charles and Hannah ( White) Roberts, both of whom were members of the Society of Friends. His paternal ances- tors came from Wales, in the time of William Penn, and settled near Gwynedd, about eighteen miles from Philadelphia, while his mother's father, Solomon White, was a successful merchant in the same city. Ilis father taught one of the Friends' schools, and his uncle, Joseph, was Principal of the mathematical department in the academy where he received his education. When about sixteen years old, he left school and went to Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, where he entered the family of his uncle, Josiah White, the principal founder of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, and Acting Manager and Superintendent of their works. By him he was employed as an assistant, and under his direction the first railroad in Pennsylvania was constructed and opened for use, in the spring of 1827. This was the line from Summit Hill to Manch Chunk, nine miles long, and he rode on the first train of cars that were dispatched from the initial point to . Mauch Chunk. Ile next became rodman to a party of engineers, under Canvass White, Chief Engineer of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, and was subse- quently Assistant Engineer on a section of the eanal in the mountainous region below Mauch Chunk. This work was begun in 1827, and finished in the autum of IS29. On its completion, he entered the service of the State of Pennsyl- vania, on its canal, upon the Conemaugh river, and was stationed at Blairsville, with Sylvester Welch, Principal Engineer, who had also been Resident Engineer on the Lehigh canal. This improvement was completed in the spring of 1831 ; and now the Portage Railroad, over the Alleghanies, was undertaken. Ile bceame its Principal Assistant Engineer, and led the exploring and loeating party, though but twenty years of age, upon the western half of the line, which included the great viaduct over the Conemaugh at Horse Shoe Bend, which was designed and superintended by him, and which is still used as a part of the Pennsylvania Railroad, located many years afterwards. After the completion of the Alleghany Portage Railroad, with its ten inclined planes and twenty stationary engines, he remained as its Resident Engineer and Superintendent of Transportation, thus beginning his career as a railroad superintendent. Ile resigned from this position in 1836, and sailed for Europe to procure iron for the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, ete. Ile was absent two years, pass- ing a large portion of his time in the iron region of South Wales, superintending the manufacture of railroad iron.
Yniscedwin, near Neath, succeeded in smelting iron ore on a practical commercial scale, by the use of anthracite coal and the hot blast, and his claims as the inventor of the process were finally fully established by the result of legal proceedings in England. Solomon W. Roberts became his friend, visited his works, and subsequently called the attention of Pennsylvanians, and especially of the Franklin Institute, to the matter. Soon after this, Josiah White and his associates established the Crane Iron Works, on the Lehigh, which have since been very successful, and the anthracite iron trade thus inaugurated has been immensely augmented throughout Pennsylvania. From 1838 to 1841, Solomon W. Roberts was the Chief Engineer of the Cata- wissa Railroad. In 1842, he was the President of the Philadelphia, Germantown & Norristown Railroad Com- pany, and also its Superintendent. From 1843 to 1845, he was the President of the Schuylkill Navigation Company, and formed the general plan for the enlargement of the works, by which the tonnage of the boats has been more than doubled. In 1847, the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany was chartered, he being much interested in the work, though he would not accept an official position; but, at the instance of the Directors, he consented to become a candi- date for membership of the Lower House of the Legislature, and was elected, and served during the session of 1848. Ilis great experience in railroad matters enabled him to take the lead on all questions pertaining to this subject, and very important legislation-as regarded Philadelphia, the Commonwealth, and the Pennsylvania Railroad Company --- was effected through his exertions. An Act was also passed to incorporate a company to eonstruet the "Ohio & Penn- sylvania Railroad," from Pittsburgh to the Ohio State line. In 1848, he became its Chief Engineer, and located the line, not only to the State line, but beyond as far as Crest- line, Ohio, the site of that town and Alliance being by him selected and named. In 1849, by appointment of the Board of Trade, he represented the city of Philadelphia in the National Pacific Railroad Convention, held at St. Louis. Ile planned the railroad bridge across the Alleghany river at Pittsburgh, connecting the Western line with the Penn- sylvania Railroad. As the different divisions of his road were opened for use, he became the General Superintend- ent of the working of the line. It reached Crestline, Ohio, April 11th, 1853, where it intersects the Cleveland, Colum- bus & Cincinnati Railroad. This road now forms the Eastern Division of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway, one of the most successful and valable lines in the country. When he first beeame interested in it, the company, though organized, had not $500 in eash, and for some time he served without salary. Ile continued in charge of the road until 1856, when he resigned, and re- turned to Philadelphia to reside. In the same year, he beeame the Chief Engineer and General Superintendent of the North Pennsylvania Railroad, which had been com-
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pleted to Gwynedd, and under his direction the work was ! continued and the road opened to Freemansburg, on the Lehigh, January Ist, 1857, and to Bethlehem, July 7th of the same year. Since that time he has continued in charge of this line, and its business has grown apace with each successive year. He has declined the Presidency of several railroad companies, preferring to devote himself to his pro- fession as a Civil Engineer. In his long eareer, it has ever been his aim to promote the interests of his native eity, with which his welfare has always been identified.
ARNES, JOSEPH K., Brigadier-General, Brevet Major-General, and Surgeon-General United States Army, was born at Philadelphia, July 2Ist, 1817. IIe studied medicine in the office of Dr. Thomas Harris, and graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Penn- sylvania, in 1838. Ile then served one year as Resident Physician at the Blockley Hospital, and one year as "Out- door Physician to the Poor " for the Northwestern District of Philadelphia. He entered the army as Assistant Sur- geon, June 15th, 1840, and July 10th, following, was as- signed to duty at the United States Military Academy, whence he was transferred to Florida, November 9th, IS40, seeing his first field service in Harney's expedition to the Everglades, during the war against the Seminole Indians. Ile left Florida in 1842, and was stationed at Fort Jessup, Louisiana, until it was abandoned, in 1846, when he con- ducted the convalescents of the 2d Dragoons and 3d and 4th Infantry to Corpus Christi. He was Chief Medical Officer of the Cavalry Brigade during the Mexican War, and participated in every action on both General Taylor's and General Scott's line except that at Buena Vista. After the close of the Mexican War, he was in charge of the General Hospital at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and subse- quently on duty at various posts in Texas and the Western departments, and as Medical Director of the Department of Oregon. Ile was stationed at West Point from January 311, 1854, to June Ist, 1857, and during that period was commissioned Surgeon, August 29th, 1856. The outbreak of the war, in 1861, found him on duty on the Pacific coast, and he was among the first officers ordered thence to Washington. Ile was appointed Medical Inspector, February 9th, 1863; Inspector-General, August 10th, 1863; and Surgeon-General, August 22d, 1864, having then been on duty as Acting Surgeon-General since September 3d, 1863. Ile was made a Brevet Brigadier-General United States Army for meritorious and distinguished services during the Rebellion, as well as a Brevet Major-General United States Army for faithful and meritorious services during the Rebellion, both commissions dating from March 13th, 1865.
ANDALL, IION. SAMUEL J., Merchant and Congressman, was born in Philadelphia, on Oc- tober 10th, 1828, and received an excellent academic education, the foundation for which was laid in the public schools of that city. Finishing his studies with considerable distinc- tion, he entered, at the age of seventeen, a large dry goods house, and for a number of years applied himself with industry and success to mercantile pursuits. Immediately upon attaining his majority, he entered the political arena, and became a member of the City Councils, serving the three years immediately preceding the consolidation (in 1854) of the various districts into one municipality. This first public service was commenced when he had reached the age of twenty-three years only, and in its fulfilment he won the gratitude and esteem of his constituents, the pos- session of which he has ever since retained. In the years 1858-59, he served in the Senate of Pennsylvania, filling the unexpired term of Charles B. Penrose. In 1862, by an overwhelming majority, he was elected as Congressman from the First Congressional District of Pennsylvania. Ile was then, as he has since been, unswervingly devoted to the principles of true Democracy, and his elevation to the Thirty-eighth Congress was regarded as a just tribute not only for the valuable labors he had performed disinter- estedly as a municipal and State legislator, but for his party zeal. He was successively re-elected to the Thirty- ninth, Fortieth, Forty-first, Forty-second, and Forty-third . Congresses. . While more of a worker than a speaker, there have occurred numberless occasions in which he has shown his possession of a fine talent for oratory, and for clear and cogent reasoning. Ilis speeches, usually terse and to the point of the matter under discussion, are invari- ably listened to as the utterances of a practical mind. Among the finest specimens of elegiac oratory are classed his eulogies on the death of IIon. Charles Denison, and HIon. Darwin A. Finney, the latter of whom, though hold- ing political opinions antagonistic to his own, was one of his warmest friends. In the session of 1868, he delivered a strong argument against the impeachment of President Johnson, and constantly urged, whenever any discussion was sprung upon the condition of the South, a large sub- sidy to relieve its impoverished people. In the session of 1869, when it became somewhat popular to talk of repudi- ation, in replying to Mr. Mungen's speech, which was framed in that vein, he emphatically declared that to renounce the debt would be a violation of national honor, and a lasting disgrace. Ile has invariably maintained his belief in the superiority of the " greenback" over the national bank note, and, in all of the many discussions relative to the existing currency and proposed modifica- tions, has shown himself a careful student of financial topics. Conspicuous services have been rendered by him as a member of various committees, and he is now on that of Banking and Currency, Post-offices and Post-roads,
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Rules, and Mississippi Levees. Ile has been at all times | a diligent and worthy representative, and has secured a high reputation for his fidelity to his constitueuts, for his liberality, for his unchanging firmness in the advocacy of his principles, and for the undiscriminating courtesy he pays to all who approach him. A war Democrat, he served himself for some time with the First Troop of City Cavalry, commanding that organization at Gettysburg, in 1863. Ilis vote was cast in favor of every army appropriation asked from Congress. For the past ten years he has been looked upon as a leading Democrat, and has always, in the organi- zation of the party of his choice, held prominent positions, having been frequently Chairman of the City, State, and National Executive Committees.
OWLAND, JOSEPHI, Physician and Surgeon, was born in Ilaverford township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, October 9th, 1814, his parents being Robert Rowland, of Chester, and Mary Jones, daughter of John Jones, of Mont- gomery county. Ilis education was received in the common schools of Haverford ; and so apt was he as a student, that at the early age of seventeen he was solicited to teach in one of the institutions where he himself had once been a pupil. Ilis ambition was to secure a thorough collegiate education, and, by patient industry and judicious economy, he at length paved the way to it. After passing some years as a tutor, he entered Delaware College, at Delaware City, then under the care of Dr. Ely, a gentle- man of fine tastes and a ripe scholar, and remained there twelve months. Thence he proceeded to Newtown town- ship, in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and conducted a private school. He seems to have enjoyed rare success as an instructor, even beyond that of many greatly his seniors both in regard to age and experience; and this may, per- haps, be accounted for upon the ground that he himself was yet a student, continuing his studies and investigations with a zeal that was spurred by one ambition, that of being a collegian. There was, then, a sympathetic relation be- tween him and those under him which was mutually advantageons. Hle was at this time particularly engrossed with the study of medicine, pursuing it with avidity under the mentorship of Dr. Ervin, a celebrated practitioner of that day. lle maintained this special application during the three years of his residence in Newtown township, and when, in 1838, he became a matriculant of the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, he did so with an excellent foundation upon which to conduct the studies provided in the comprehensive course of that insti- tution. The fruits of his careful reading were quickly developed, and in two years, very much sooner than his co-matriculants, he took his degree as an M. D., and commenced at once the practice of his profession. ! hardware altogether, and' confined their business to nails,
Ile located in Media, and secured, in a comparatively short period, a large and lucrative patronage, which he still retains. While his practice is a very general one, he has made obstetrics a special feature of it, and in this connec- tion has secured more than local celebrity. But, while heavily engrossed with the responsibilities of his position as a physician, he has not overlooked his relation as a citizen. Ile has been identified with all the conspicuous local im- provements of Media for many years past, and is one of the most enterprising as well as liberal men. In 1864, he was appointed on the corps of Volunteer Surgeons, and in May of that year was called to the front, by the Surgeon. General, and rendered important services during the battle of the Wilderness. Ile remained on the field where this terrific conflict occurred, and where the Union army subsequently encamped, a number of months, doing everything in his power to alleviate the misery of the sick and wounded victims of that encounter. He has always been closely identified with the Republican party in this State, and has been elevated to various positions of local trust and respon- sibility. Ile is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1845, he married Jane Eves, daughter of W. Eves, of Lower Providence, Delaware county, and of the eight children born to them, six are now living.
AND, JAMES C., Merchant, was born December 6th, ISOS, in Alexandria, District of Columbia, while his parents, residents of Philadelphia, were on a visit to that place. Ilis father, Caleb Iland, was a prominent ship-owner of Phila- delphia, and the founder of various lines to the South, among them particularly " Hand's Line of Packets " to Alexandria, Portsmouth, and Norfolk, Virginia, and which has since been extended to New Orleans. Ilis mother was of Swedish descent, her ancestors coming over with the earliest Swedish settlers, some time before the advent of William Penn into this country. Her father, John Keen, in his day attained considerable celebrity as an architect and builder. James C. Iland was educated in the schools of Philadelphia, and at the age of fonfteen entered the commission house of D. W. Prescott, with whom he continued until he reached his twenty-second year. It was while thus employed that he early developed that keen foresight and fine business tact which have since carried him successfully through life. In May of 1830, he ventured to Cuba, in the expectation of commencing busi. ness there; but, circumstances being unfavorable, he re- turned to Philadelphia in the September following. In January, IS31, he associated with Benjamin T. Curtiss in the hardware business, under the firm name of Curtiss & Hand. Within a few years of the commencement of this mercantile enterprise, they dropped the ligh.er articles of
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steel, pig iron and the heavy American manufactures, Their trade increased with great rapidity, and, with a generous regard for a number of faithful employés, they elevated them to the position of junior partners. In De- cember, 1859, Mr. Curtiss died, and on the Ist of the January following a new co partnership, under the title of James C. Hland & Co., by which it is still known, was formed. The senior partner is a man of great activity and of the most undaunted enterprise. As a citizen, he has done much to increase the commercial and mercantile pros- perity of Philadelphia. Since the year 1842, he has been a director of the Bank of North America, and for upwards of twenty-five years his influence has heen prominent in the management of the Delaware Mutual Safety Insurance Company. Ile is one of the original stockholders of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, having been one .. of its most sanguine supporters at a time when only a few could be found who believed in the ultimate success of the scheme. At the first meeting for organization, he not only invested largely his own means in what many were pleased to regard as a vast Utopian project, but secured subscriptions amounting in the aggregate to a heavy sum. In pursuance of a settled policy, he gave a hearty support to the American Steamship Line, as he did to the various coastwise lines, believing that every citizen should lend. material encouragement to enterprises calculated to restore Philadelphia to its lost commercial pre-eminence. . Active in business, he has also labored- generously as a philan- thropist, and has given liberal aid : to> institutions whose aim is to gratify and cultivate the artistic faculties of the people. Ile is prominently identified, with the Philadel- phia Academy of Music, having been one of its organizers, and for fifteen years its President. Ever since its inception, he has been one of the principal supporters of that noble charity, " The Philadelphia Merchants' Fund," and the success of many other benevolent societies is in great part due to his careful and constant labors. During the civil war, he contributed largely and in various ways towards supporting the Government in its emergency, and to alleviate the sufferings of sick and wounded soldiers, Ile was one of the commissioners of the " Citizens' Bounty Fund" of Philadelphia, and gave time and means unspar- ingly in the furtherance of its object. Ile is a member of and a regular attendant at Christ Church (Protestant Episcopal). Ile married, on the 22d of June, 1842, a daughter of James Martin, of the Society of Friends, and one of the firm of Thomas & Martin, extensive wholesale dry goods dealers. The fruits of this union are six children, ali of whom are living. Of his three sons, the eldest, llenry J., is a member of the firm of James C. lland & Co. The next in point of seniority is in Colorado, in the stock business, and the youngest, in March, 1874, graduated with high honors from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, and is now practising medicine in his native city.
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