USA > Pennsylvania > The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2 > Part 29
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UMPHREYS, ANDREW A., Brigadier and Bre- vet Major-General United States Army, was born in Philadelphia, November 2d, IS10, and at- tended school in his native city, following this study with a three years' course in the Moravian School, at Nazareth, Pennsylvania. IIe entered the United States Military Academy, July Ist, 1827; gradu- ated, July Ist, IS31 ; was promoted Brevet Second Lieu- tenant 2nd Artillery; and soon receiving his commission as Second Lieutenant, was assigned to duty at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina, where he remained until January 5th, 1832, when he was detailed for special duty at West Point. On April 18th, of the same year, he was sent to the Chero- kee nation ; from 1833 to August 22d, 1834, was on duty at Fort Marion and the Augusta Arsenal, Georgia, and was then appointed to make topographical surveys in Western Florida, and at Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Com- pleting this difficult work, he participated in the Florida War against the Seminoles, taking part in the engagements at Oloklikha, March 31st, 1836, and at Micanopy, June 9th, following. In recognition of his meritorious services, he was made First Lieutenant 2d Artillery, August 16th, 1836, and having resigned, September 30th, of the same year, became a civil engineer in the employ of the National Government, assisting Major Bache in preparing the plans of the Brandywine Shoal Light House, and the Crow Shoal Breakwater, in Delaware Bay. He continued these efficient labors until July 7th, 1838, when he was reap- pointed to the United States Army as First Lieutenant Topographical Engineers, taking charge of the important and costly improvements of Chicago Harbor; being the Assistant Topographical Engineer in planning the Oswego Ilarbor Defences; and subsequently taking charge of the survey of Whitehill Harbor, New York. In 1840, he be- came an Assistant in the Topographical Bureau at Wash- ington, remaining there until the outbreak of the Florida War, in 1842, in which he was prominently engaged. Upon his return to Washington, he was engaged in pre- paring the plans of bridges, re-assuming his position as Assistant, until 1844, when charge of the Coast Survey Office was given him. On May 31st, 1848, he was ap- pointed Captain of Topographical Engineers; in 1849, was assigned to duty in the field; in 1850, was ordered to make a topographic and hydrographic survey of the delta of the Mississippi river, with a view to the protection of the adjacent country from inundations, by deepening the chan- nel; continued in this work until 1861, having in the in- terval (in 1853-54) spent some time in Europe, and having been engaged also in geographical and other explorations and reconnoissances west of the Mississippi, as well as in the construction of the military road from Fort Benton to Fort Walla Walla. In addition, he was appointed member of the Light House Board, April 24th, 1856, continuing as such until April 5th, 1862. From January 12th to April 24th, ISGo, he sat with the board appointed " To Revise
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the Programme of Instruction at the United States Military Academy," and was one of the commissioners appointed under Act of Congress to examine into the organization and discipline of that institution. Early in 1861, being relieved of all other duty at his own request, he completed his im- portant report upon the Mississippi river. Being commis- sioned as Major of Topographical Engineers, August 6th, 1861, he was assigned to the Staff of General MeClellan, then General-in-Chief, and became Colonel of Staff, and Chief Topographical Engineer of the Army of the Potomac, March 5th, 1862. Ile served as such through the Penin- sular campaign, participating in the siege of Yorktown and Williamsburg, and in all the movements before Richmond, especially at Malvern Hill, where he rendered most effec- tive service. On August 30th, 1862, he took command of a brigade of newly raised troops; September 12th, 1862, assigned to command of a division of new troops, forming part of Fifth Army Corps; September 16th, commenced forced march to Antietam, where his command (Third Division, Fifth Corps) supported the batteries; October 16th and 17th, commanded reconnaissance to Lcetown, and in the general advance of the army his division was conspicuous for its gallant assaults at Fredericksburg; De- cember 13th, made Brevet Colonel. United States Army ;
cal Society of Philadelphia, in 1857; honorable member of the Imperial Royal Geological Institute of Vienna, Austria, in 1862; member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Boston, in 1863; corporator of the National Academy of Sciences, March 3d, 1863, and of the Royal Institute of Science and Art of Lombardy, Milan, Italy, in 1864. Ile married Rebecca II., daughter of Henry Hollingsworth, of Philadelphia, June 19th, 1837, and had two sons in the army during the entire war, who were placed on staff duty.
LEXANDER, JOIIN, Merchant and Capitalist, was born on his father's farm, in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, July 21st, 1805. His parents, IIugh and Jane (Gray) Alexander, were descended from Scotch-Irish families of good standing and sub- "- stantial wealth, and came to this country after the Irish: Rebellion of 1798, in which his father took a promi- nent part .. Their ancestors were zealous Covenanters, and were marked for compass of mind and decision of character ; also for their firm' adherence to their faith, which brought upon them many of the heavy blows inflicted in the days March 3d, 1863, Colonel of Engineers; May 24th, assigned of the persecution in Scotland. Ilis grandfather was an to command of Second Division, Third Corps'; took con- officer in Lord Charlemont's celebrated corps of Irish Vol- unteer's. His mother's brother, James Gray, D. D., a grad- uate of the University of Glasgow and an accomplished au- thor and divine, was well known in Philadelphia in the early part of the present century, as the pastor of the Spruce Street Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; another brother was a merchant in the West India trade, and re- sided in New York city. Ilis father, after the War of 1812- '15, in which he served with General Harrison in the North- west, reduced both in health and means, removed with his family to Pittsburgh, where John Alexander, as he neared manhood, learned cabinet-making, but, his health failing, he travelled east and went by sea to New Orleans. He was owner of a part of the cargo of the brig in which he sailed, and in New Orleans invested the proceeds of his venture in rice, which he shipped by river to Pittsburgh, and there sold, realizing a handsome margin above all expenses. This trip restored his health, gave him considerable knowledge of the world for one of his years, and encouraged a taste for mer- cantile pursuits. He embarked in business on his own ac- count, in Pittsburgh, in 1831, and with his brothers, one of the firm of William G. Alexander & Co., and the other of Sterling, Baird & Alexander, of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, took position among the active and prominent dry goods merchants of the former city. About this time he became largely interested in pine lands, on the upper Allegheny river, and, with a partner, built a saw mill in Venango county. Ile removed to Philadelphia in 1836, and, with his brother Hugh, as J & II. Alexander, succeeded the firm of Sterling, Baird & Alexander, and for the twelve follow- spicuous part in all the movements and battle's which cul- minated at Gettysburg, where he 'acted with the utmost courage and gallantry ; July 8th, 1863, commissioned Major-General of Volunteers, and appointed Chief of Staff of the Army of the Potomac, participating in all its battles; May 12th, 1864, in personal command of the Fifth and Sixth Corps, at Spottsylvania; November 25th, 1864, as- signed to command of Second Army Corps, which he held until the disbanding of the army, July 7th, 1865, having been engaged in the siege of Petersburg until its fall, April 3d1, 1865, and in the pursuit of Lee's retreating forces, until the surrender at Appomattox Court House, April 9th, 1865. All the correspondence between Generals Grant and Lee, relative to the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, preceding the interview, passed through his hands. On July 28th, he was appointed to the command of the District of Pennsylvania, Middle Department ; re- lieved December 9th, and placed-in charge of examination of the Mississippi Levees, continuing this duty until ap- pointed Brigadier-General, and Chief of Engineers, United States Army, August 8th, 1866, and placed in charge of the Engineer Bureau, at Washington ; August 31st, 1866, mus- tered out as Major- General of Volunteers, and made Brevet Brigadier-General United States Army, for gallantry at Gettysburg, and Brevet Major-General United States Army, for meritorious services at Sailor's Creek, Virginia, both commissions dating March 13th, 1865. His skill and research as a scientist have had many favorable recogni- tions. He became a member of the American Philosophi-
Sokan Alexander
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ing years was engaged in a large wholesale dry goods business, which extended over the South and West. This house passed safely through the memorable panic of 1837, and those of the decade following, promptly meeting all obligations. His business connections took him upon long and frequent journeys to the South and West, which gave him an extensive knowledge of the country, its resources and developments. In 1837, associated with J. B. Warden, he purchased the site and laid out the town of Temperance- ville, which is now a part of the city of Pittsburgh. Two years subsequently, he passed several months in the Indian Territory, in 1839, as Commissioner from the Reformed Presbyterian Church to look after the interests of its Indian missions. Travelling alone, he had many adventures and narrow escapes, and met with many of the noted Indian characters of that day. Ile brought home one of his guides, a bright young Cherokee, to whom he gave a col- legiate education. The firm of J. & H. Alexander was dissolved in 1848, the senior member removing to Pitts- burgh, and shortly after the branch firm of Alexander & Day, of that city, was also dissolved. He now built a thoroughly equipped steam saw mill in Venango county, which was an innovation in that section, and also quite an undertaking, as all the machinery had to be taken from Pittsburgh by boat and ox-teams. The lumber was shipped as far as St. Louis, and, although he was the pioneer in departing from many of the conservative modes of manu- facturing and shipping forest products, his plans, being laid with sound judgment and business ability, worked out suc- cessfully. After a prosperous career of over twenty-five years, he withdrew from active business, in 1856, with a generous fortune, and resided for some years in Xenia, Ohio, but returned to Philadelphia in 1864. Prior to going to Ohio, he had become a large purchaser of lands in Iowa and other Western States, the care of which, together with that of other property still retained in Pennsylvania, kept him fully occupied. He took a great interest in the petro- leum discoveries in Western Pennsylvania, and, while on a health seeking visit to Europe, in 1862, invited attention to that then new development, and in London urged the importance of railway connections with that field. The same year he made an experimental consignment of the crude product to London, which was one of the first at- tempts made to introduce it into England. During the late war, he was an earnest supporter of the Government, and promptly responded to the frequent demands upon his means it brought with it. Ilis active temperament still keep, him at work, and he is now ( 1874) found, with all the vim and vigor of one of half his years, energetically engaged in the development of a large lumber property in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania ; and, as the President of an Indiana railway company, projecting great improvements for the opening up of the block-coal fields of that State. He is also a director in the Corn Exchange National Bank of Philadelphia. Ile has always been active in church and
Sabbath school matters in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and more recently in the United Presbyterian Church. He has been a ruling elder for over thirty years. In 1869, he was appointed a Commissioner from the Gene- ral Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church to the General Assemblies of the different Presbyterian bodies in Scotland and Ireland. He was one of the founders, and the first President of the National Association for securing the religious amendment to the Constitution, and is one of the most earnest supporters of the movement.
EINTZELMAN, SAMUEL P., General United States Army, was born at Manheim, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, September 30th, 1805, of German descent, his family having been among the primitive settlers of that State. Having at- tended the common schools until 1822, he was in that year nominated by IIon. James Buchanan to the United States Military Academy, graduating from that in- stitution July Ist, 1826, and being promoted to Brevet Second Lieutenant 3d Infantry. He served in various capacities and sections of the country, rising meanwhile in grade, until 1835-37, during which period he participated in the Florida War, acting as Adjutant to Major Kirby, in the expedition to Mosquito Inlet, Florida, and in the action near that place, September Io.h, 1837, when he com- manded the artillery of the " Dolphin," which covered the landing of troops. He was made Captain of Staff, July 7th, IS38; Captain of Infantry, November 4th, 1838; and in 1842, acted as one of the Court appointed to investigate Florida Military Claims. In 1845, he commanded Fort Gratiot ; in 1846, was sent to Louisville to raise troops for the Mexican War; in 1847, was assigned to the defence of convoys from Vera Cruz; on September 12th, 1847, par- ticipated in the action against Padre Juaranta, at Paso los Ovejas ; at Humantia, October 9th, and at Atlixco, October 19th, same year. For gallantry at Humantia he was made Brevet Major, and was complimented by the Legislature of his native State. In 1848, after a brief connnand at Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor, he was ordered to Cali- fornia, whence he proceeded in a sailing vessel around Cape Ilorn, and upon his arrival was assigned to frontier duty, his headquarters being at San Diego. Hle engaged actively in field duty, leading the expeditions against the Y'uma Indians, establishing Fort Yuma, at the confluence of the Gila and Colorado rivers in 1851, commanding at the skirmish of Coyote Canon, December 21st, 1851, and in the final expedition, in 1852, which terminated hostili- ties. For services in that department he was made Lieu. tenant. Colonel, December 19th, 1851, and continued in charge until 1854, being then assigned to recruiting duty at Newport Barracks, Kentucky. March 3d, 1855, he was commissioned Major; was made Superintendent of Western
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Recruiting Service, July Ist, 1855, and was ordered to Fort | ment of Washington and the Twenty-second Army Corps. Duncan, Texas, in 1859, being for the ensuing year in Ile assumed, October 13th, 1863, command of the Northern Department (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan), sup- pressed the secret order of the " Sons of Liberty," aided in sending off 40,000 soldiers from Ohio; was relieved October 1st, 1864, and mustered out of the volunteer service August 24th, 1865, and placed on waiting orders; and was commissioned Brevet Major- General United States Army, dating from March 13th, 1865, for his services at Williamsburg. In 1866, he took command of the whole District of Texas, proceeding theuce with his regiment, the 17th Infantry, remaining there until 1867. On February 22d, 1869, after a continuous service of nearly forty-three years, he was retired as Colonel; but, in recognition of his great achievements, Congress passed a joint resolution retir- ing him with the full rank of Major-General United States Army. He is a member of the Loyal Legion of the United States, of the Society of the Third Corps, and of the Society of the Army of the Potomac. Ilis record is a most honor- able one, and, though now advanced in years, he retains the full vigor of a remarkable mind. command on the Rio Grande against the Mexican marau- ders under Cortinas. He continued in service on the Texan frontier until he apprehended, in 1861, the surrender of General Twiggs, when he procured leave of absence and came North. In AApril, 1861, he became Superintendent of General Recruiting Service in the Eastern Department ; in May, was assigned to duty as Inspector-General of the Department of Washington ; May 14th, was commissioned Colonel of the 17th Infantry, and a few days after was made Brigadier-General of Volunteers. On the 24th of May, 1861, in command of a large force, he crossed the Long Bridge, capturing Alexandria and Arlington Heights, after which he was placed in charge of the defences to Washington, his headquarters being at Alexandria. Enter- ing upon the Manassas campaign, in July, 1861, he par- ticipated in the skirmish at Fairfax Court House, the first battle of Bull Run, where he was wounded in the arm, having his injured limb dressed while in the saddle. Ile followed the general retreat to Washington, having been twenty-seven hours on horseback. Ilis injuries did not permit him to take the field until the following October, when General MeClellan placed him in command of a division holding the left of the line of Washington defences, E FRANCE, HON. ROBERT M., Lawyer, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, near Sandy Lake, July 224, 1826, his father, John De France, and his mother, Mary Darley, being both natives of Pennsylvania, their native counties being re- spectively Lycoming and Mercer. Both were persons of refinement and culture, and took an unusual personal interest in the education of their son. Ile was first sent to Grand Rivers Institute, on what was known as the Western Reserve, in Ohio, where his progress was so rapid and thorough that, before he had finished his course, his services as teacher of mathematics were solicited and given. For this abstruse science he entertained a decided inclination, and possessed an inherited talent for its study. In order to make himself a thorough master of its higher branches, he became one of the pupils of Professor II. N. Robinson, a fine scholar and mathematician, who was then preparing at Cincinnati a course of lectures on his favorite pursuit. Having finished his studies under this gentleman, he removed to southern Indiana, and taught the Academy in Princeton, Gibson county, for one year; then migrated to Kentucky, where he followed in the same capacity another year, and in May, IS51, returned to Mercer county, where he commenced the study of law, registering his name in the office of the Ilon. Samuel Griffiths. After two years of constant application, aiding that gentleman very materially in his large civil practice, he was admitted to the bar, and entered at once upon the practice of his new profession. As a lawyer, he soon secured a good reputa- tion, and in some of the features of the profession has few superiors. ITis reading has been very extensive, and very which he held until March 16th, 1862, receiving then the command1 of the Third Army Corps, for the Peninsular campaign. This corps consisted of the three divisions of Generals Fitz John Porter, C. S. Hamilton, and Joseph Ilooker, Porter's division being subsequently detached. With 30,000 men he participated in the successful siege of Yorktown, and, after a desperate encounter at Williams- burg, gained the first substantial victory of the war, being made Major-General of Volunteers for his gallantry. Ilis corps, coming to the rescue of Casey's division, saved the day at the battle of Seven Pines, on the Chickahominy. On the Ist of June, 1862, he assumed command of the Fourth Army Corps, in addition to his own, took the ( ffen- sive at Fair Oaks, and drove the enemy within four miles of Richmond, and was still pressing on when General MeClellan ordered him to fall back. For this brilliant achievement he was made Brevet Brigadier-General United States Army, dating May 31st, 1862, there being no vacancy for a full Brigadier-General in the Regular army. Ilis men showed conspicuous courage at the battles of the Orchards, Savage Station, Glendale, Malvern Hill, and at Harrison's Landing. Subsequently, joining the Northern Virginia campaign, he took part in the battles of Manassas, August 29th, 30th, and Chantilly, September ist, IS62. On September 2d, his corps re-encamped at Fort Lyon, with Inuit 6000 of the 40,000 men which he had led away less than five months before ; but it had never been vanquished in action. From this time until February 2d, 1863, he commanded the defences of Washington south of the Potomac, and then was placed in command of the Depart-
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carefully conducted, being continuous from the date of his | tions of the city. For nearly forty years he was a member admission, and the result is that few jurists have a more of the Board of Trustees of the College of New Jersey, frequently taking part in the examination of the students in the Department of Physical Science. Ile was prominent in all the educational and charitable movements of his native city, and held a high place in the affections of all with whom he was brought in contact. lle died June 5th, 1867. profound knowledge of law, in all its departments, than he has. He early allied hin.self to the Democratic party, and became one of its most influential members. In the fall of IS53, being elected to State House of Representatives, by the voters of that party in his district, he served meritoriously, and was re-nominated for the same office in the year fol- lowing by the coalitions which made up the Know No- thing party. He has always been a firm and consistent Democrat, having an abiding faith in the correctness of its principles, and has often been honored by his party for va- rious positions of trust and responsibility. In the first Presi- dential campaign of General Grant he was defeated for Congress by the Ilon. C. W. Gilfillan. On October 6th, IS69), while on his way from his office to his home, he suf- fered a shock of paralysis, which almost completely disabled him from further exertion. Notwithstanding this physical affliction, the members of his party desiring him in a place of great responsibility, made him their nominee for County Treasurer, in 1870, but he was defeated by only three hun- dred votes, running largely ahead of the general ticket. In addition to his duties of a lawyer, which after his partial paralysis are mainly those of a Counsellor in Cham- bers, he continued to exercise the functions of a notary pub- lie, to which position he had been appointed by Governor Willi.un F. Packer. In 1872, he was elected by the De- mocracy to the State Constitutional Convention, in which body his course has been that of an intelligent and con- scientious gentleman, having at heart the highest interests of the Commonwealth. He was always in his seat, and carefully attended the many important duties devolving upon him. On May 15th, 1856, he married Sarah, the youngest daughter of Samuel Powell, of Venango county, Pennsylvania, a lady distinguished for her refinement and amiability.
:TIPPEN, WILLIAM, M. D., Physician, Scientist and Philanthropist. was born in Philadelphia, January 29th, 1792. He was the grandson of Dr. William Shippen, one of the founders of the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, and a Surgeon in the Revolutionary War. He was educated at an excellent academy in Ger- mantown, Pennsylvania, where he was prepared for col- lege ; entered the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated in the class of ISto. Ile commenced the study of medi- eine under Dr. Caspar Wistar, and subsequently received his diploma from the university, in which institution he for ! upon his reading with that energy and determination to
some time filled the Chair of Anatomy. Resigning his position he removed to Bucks county, where he engaged in the practice of his profession until 1836, when he re- turned to Philadelphia and devoted his time to the public schools, as also to various charitable and religious institu-
ARTON, IION. GEORGE WASHINGTON, Lawyer and Judge, was born in the city of Lan- caster. Pennsylvania, September 2d, 1807. Ile was the son of David Bartou, and grandson of Rev. Thomas Barton, who had married Esther Rittenhouse, a sister of the celebrated astrono- mer. This clergyman was for many years Rector of St. James Episcopal Church, Lancaster, having originally been a missionary sent out from England by the venerable So- ciety for the Propagation of the Gospel. He was a man of great refinement and cultivation, and he assisted in the education of David Rittenhouse, who attributed much of his knowledge and high attainments to the superior excel- lence of his instructor. George W. Barton was educated at home, which, however, he left in boyhood, being impel- led by a desire to see the world, and, like the majority of adventurers in those days, betaking himself to the Missis- sippi Valley. Having reached Nashville, he set about looking for employment, which he finally found by becom- ing the Assistant Editor of a journal published in that city. This position aided him materially in making and cultivat- ing the acquaintance of the higher class of residents, among whom was the hero of New Orleans, the celebrated General Jackson. In him he found much that interested him, espe- cially as he was of the same political faith. When but twenty years of age, he returned home, and General Jack- son having meanwhile been nominated for President, young Barton took the stump in his favor, and advocated the claims of the soldier for the highest office in the gift of the people. Such was the brilliancy of his addresses, together with the elegance and eloquence of his delivery, that he at- tracted the attention of every one who listened, and among the rest, the Ion. James Buchanan, then a prominent lawyer of Lancaster. Notwithstanding the disparity in their ages, a firm and enduring friendship ensued between them, which was only terminated by the death of Judge Barton. At the suggestion of Mr. Buchanan, his young friend was induced to commence the study of the law in his office, and under his patronage and instruction. He entered
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