USA > Pennsylvania > The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2 > Part 40
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nineteen, an inmate of the Pine Grove Academy, whence he entered Casseville Seminary in order to study for the church. Subsequently he taught school at Treught Creek Valley, and while thus occupied, was licensed as an ex- horter in the Methodist Church by Dr. Clark ; later, he was appointed to the Shellsburg circuit, under Rev. John A. Collins, presiding elder. Entering the theological school, through which all young ministers of the Methodist Episco- pal Church must pass, he entered upon a four years' course, graduating finally in theology. Ile had, during ten years, travelled as Itinerant, when the Rebellion broke out, where- upon he enlisted .as the first Volunteer Chaplain in the United States; assisted in raising a regiment, and partici- pated in the first battle on Briar Mountain. June 2Sth, IS61, he was commissioned by Governor Pierpont, Chaplain of the 3d Virginia Regiment. Later, he held the rank of Captain of Cavalry ; participated in the battles of Cross Keys, Brandy Station, Culpepper Court House, Antietam, and Mine Run ; and, for meritorious conduct, was presented by the Legislature of West Virginia with a superb medal representing on the obverse the West Virginia Coat-of-arms, and on the reverse, " Presented by the State of West Vir- ginia." On the entablature is engraved, " Honorably Dis- charged." After three years' active service, he returned to his home, but so seriously had his health been impaired by exposure while battling for the Union, that he was unable to pursue his regular calling. Accordingly, he engaged in mercantile pursuits, but soon after was elected to the Con- stitutional Convention of Pennsylvania to revise the organic law. Ile was afterward elected to represent the counties of Blair, Somerset, Fultham, and Bedford. January 16th, 1873, he was elected, by unanimous vote of the Convention, to the Chaplaincy ; he has also served two years in the City Council at Altoona, Pennsylvania ; and, while in the Con- vention, was a member of the Committees on Legislation, Agriculture, Mining, Manufactures, and Commerce. Hc came to Altoona, April Ist, 1864, and has continued to reside there up to the present time. Ile was married, March 19th, IS57, to Elizabeth Barndollar, daughter of James W. Barndollar, of Bedford, a well-known and worthy merchant.
URRY, REV. J. WILSON, was born in Hunting- don, Pennsylvania, September 25th, IS31. His ISNER, RENSSELAER J., Machinist, was born in Warwick, Orange county, New York, March 2d, 1860. Up to his twenty-third year, he was 6 engaged on a farm in his birthplace, attending school in winter, and in summer employed as a farm hand. Ile then removed to Troy, New York, and entered the dry goods business, a pursuit in which he continued until IS48; during this time, he was three years in Troy and two years in Binghampton. Re- moving to Pittston, then a small place containing less than four hundred inhabitants, he occupied himself in the gene- grandfather was a participator in the siege of the city of Londonderry, Ireland; his mother was from Scotland, and emigrated to this country when in her eighteenth year, and, in Boston, Massachusetts, became acquainted with Willi.im Curry, to whom she was subsequently married in that place. Ilis father arrived in the United States in ISIS, and, after a short residence in Boston, removed to Huntingdon, Penn- sylvania. Being in comparatively poor circumstances, he was unable to afford to his son that thorough education to which he had aspired. However, the youth became, when Iral mercantile and forwarding trade until 1857. At thi,
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date he purchased the foundry and machine shop of W. [ of the mercantile department of this establishment, and held Stevens, in Pittston, and carried on that business until 1864, that position for nearly five years. After an absence of one year from Pittston, he returned in 1850, and occupied him- self with land and coal operations. In connection with others, he was at one time the owner of 2000 acres of coal lands, the whole of West Pittston, Pleasant Valley, and various other points. In 1856, he built a large steam flour mill, which he managed personally during six years, then leased it to others for a term of three years. In 1867, he went abroad, and remained in Europe for a time. At the first election of Grant, he was the Republican candidate on the ticket of the Twelfth Congressional District, composed of Luzerne and Susquehanna counties. ITis opponent was Judge Woodward; and though not elected, he reduced greatly the average Democratic majority. IIe was one of the organizers of the First National Bank, and as President of that institution, has, during the past five years, given to it his entire time and attention. In IS72, he was a member of the Electoral College, and throughout his public life has always been an active and determined ally of the Repub- lican party. At present, he is connected with the foundry and machine shop in West Pittston, as the partner of R. J. Wisner ; is President of the Pittston Depot Bridge Company, connecting Pittston with West Pittston; and has been for several years a Director of the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg Railroad, now owned by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company. In 1854, he was married to Mary Benedict Hudson, of New York ; and later was mar- Plains, Dutchess county, New York. His brother is Judge Strong, well known for his varied attainments, his learning, and his ability. As a developer of the resources of Pennsyl- vania, great credit must be awarded to him. It is through the agency of men of his nature and energy, that the mineral and agricultural interests of our country are for- warded and expanded. when his establishment was entirely destroyed by fire. At once he erected another. establishment in West Pittston, which lies on the opposite side of the river from his former location. This building is 240 by 50 feet, with a wing 50 by 50 feet, and all necessary outbuildings requisite to carry on a business employing about sixty hands, and engaged principally in the manufacture of mining machinery. In 1853, he, in connection with other capitalists, purchased a tract of 160 acres on the west bank of the Susquehanna directly opposite Pittston, and here laid out the town of West Pittston ; a place which now numbers over two thou- sand inhabitants, and of which he may be called the pro- jector and founder. This site is a charming spot, occupied almost entirely by the handsome residences of the leading business men of Pittston, the only exception being the machine works of its originator ; and there are two substan- tial bridge connections joining the old town and the new. The streets are regularly laid out, and are wide, with spa- eious sidewalks, while abundant gaslights, and an unfailing supply of water are not among the least important of the comforts attached to this new site. The building up and successful establishment of West Pittston is due chiefly to his exertions and perseverance, and it is an enterprise which reflects upon him the greatest eredit. He has been Burgess of the town, a position to which he was appointed without any solicitation on his part, as he is noted for his aversion to participate in political movements, or to render himself | ried for the second time to Elizabeth D. Wilson, of Pine prominent before the public. In 1853, he was married to Anna L. Johnson, daughter of Sylvester Johnson, of Dun- daff, Pennsylvania. She dying in 1862, he was again married, in 1863, to Margaret Falls, daughter of W. A. Falls, of New York city. To men of this stamp our country is largely indebted for its thriving industries and marvellous developments; for its countless able mechanics who, in- duced to emigrate from the old world by the prospects of steady employment and remunerative wages, form eminently useful and desirable portions of our active and working population.
TRONG, TIIEODORE, Machinist and Banker, was born in Somers, Connecticut, January 25th, 1820. Ilis father was Rev. W. L. Strong, a Congregational clergyman of Connecticut. IIe received a general and thorough education in the Bacon Academy, and in the Geneva Lyceum of New York State. Subsequently, he acted in the capacity of teacher in Lyme Academy, opposite Saybrooke, Con- necticut ; and in the Quaker Boarding School of Burlington, New Jersey. In 1843, he removed to Pittston, and en- gaging in mercantile pursuits, connected himself with the Butler Coal Company, the only coal company then in opera- tion at the place. Ile afterward became Superintendent
OSTER, WILLIAM EMILE, Soldier and Law- yer, seventh son of Lewis and Pauline Doster, was born at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, January Sth, 1837. IIis father was a native of Nieder- hofen, near Heilbroner, in Wurtemberg, Ger- many, and emigrated to America in 1817, and settled in Bethlehem; here he married, in 1826, Pauline, daughter of Matthew and Maria Eggert, leading Moravians. In 1837, he leased from the Moravian Society their co- operative woollen mill, and five years later purchased the establishment. In 1857, he built the extensive Moravian Woollen Mills, which were totally destroyed by fire in 1862. Ile also dealt largely in lumber, and acquired con- siderable fortune. He died May 30th, 1860, aged sixty-four years ; his wife, Pauline, still survives. William received his preliminary education at the schools of the Moravian
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Church in his native town, completed his preparatory course under the preceptorship of Professor B. Vankirk, and grad- unted at Yale College, New Haven, Connecticut, in the class of 1857. In his Junior year he took the Latin prize for prose composition, and in his Senior year the Livonian Valedictory. Deciding upon the adoption of the legal profession, he pursued his studies with that view at the Law School at Yale, and afterwards under the tuition of Gover- nor A. HI. Reeder, of Easton, Pennsylvania. In IS59, he graduated at the Harvard Law School, when he was chosen to deliver the class oration. The same year he sailed for Europe, visited his relatives in Germany, and continued the study of civil law at the Universities of Heidelburg and Paris. Returning to this country upon the death of his father, he was professionally engaged in Philadelphia when the commencement of the Civil War changed, for a time, the current of his life. Responding with alacrity to his country's call for aid, he recruited a company at Bethlehem, and, on August 15th, 1861, was mustered into the United States service as Captain of Company " A," 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry. On October 18th of the same year, he was pro- moted to the Majority of his regiment, and the December following was assigned to an independant command of the cavalry attached to Keys' Division of the Army of the Po- tomac. In February, 1862, he was placed in command of the mounted Provost Guard of Washington City, and, after the departure of the army under General Mcclellan, was appointed Provost-Marshal of the Capital and of the Mili- tary District of Washington. In this position his duties were most important and of the highest responsibility, his lines extending from Washington City to the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. Ile was necessarily invested with almost unlimited power, which, however, he exercised with mode- ration and to the satisfaction of the citizens of Washington and Georgetown, as well as Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, to whom he was directly responsible. After one year of this arduous, thankless and really unpleasant duty, he requested permission to rejoin his regiment, which was granted. In October, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and, in March, 1863, he assumed command of the 4th Cavalry, then attached to the 2d Bri- gade, 2d Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. Following the fortunes of that army, he served successively under Generals Averill, Kilpatrick, Duffie, Gregg and Pleasanton. He participated in Stoneman's raid, during which he commanded the 2d Brigade, and in the cavalry actions of Kelly's Ford, Beverly Ford, Bealton, Rapidan, Rappahannock Station, Brandy Station, Chancellorsville, Aldie, Middleburg, Snicker's Gap, Shepperdstown, Gettys- burg and many others; at Middleburg he was taken and hell for a short time a prisoner, but succeeded in escaping and rejoined his command. Prior to the battle of Gettys- burg his regiment was for a week daily in action, and, on July 5th, it was the first to enter Gettysburg, tear down the barricades and pursue the retreating enemy. On this march
the 4th Cavalry captured about 500 prisoners, and was it- self reduced from 500 to 27 mounted men. On the return of the army to the Rappahannock, Colonel Doster was pros- trated with malarious fever, and while in the hospital re- ceived orders transferring him to the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry, but his health continuing critical, he requested leave of absence, and resigned in December, 1863. In March, 1865, he was brevetted Brigadier General United States Volunteers, for "gallant and meritorious services during the war." In May, 1865, he was appointed by the. Government counsel for the prisoners Payne and Atzerodt at the "Conspiracy Trial." In September of the same year, he returned to his native county and began the prac- tice of law at Easton, where he still resides. At the same time he associated himself with D. I. Godshalk in founding the Bethlehem Times, of which he continued one of the editors until 1867. Ile took a most active part in the or- ganization of the New Street Bridge Company of Bethle- hem, and to his influence it is greatly indebted for its success. In June, 1867, he was appointed Register in Bankruptcy of the Eleventh Congressional District of Pennsylvania, which position he still holds. In August of the same year, he was . married to Evelyn A., daughter of E. A. Depew of Easton. In IS70, he built a residence on land adjoining his father's homestead, and there resides. Ile has one son living to inherit the honors which he has so nobly earned.
INTON, WILLIAM W., Merchant and Banker, was born at Butternuts, Otsego county, New York, January 29th, 1815. His parents were Andrew Winton and Fannie (Glover) Winton, of Connecticut. When sixteen years of age, his family removed to Scranton, then known as Pro- vidence. Ilere, during three years, he was engaged in teaching school, and subsequently was employed in the same capacity at Danville, Pennsylvania. In 1842, he en- tered into business, and opened a general store for produce and merchandise of all kinds in Abington, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. During eight years he carried on a thriving and prosperous trade ; but deeming the area of his pursuits too limited, he removed to New York, and, in 1850, in connection with Mr. Rockwell, engaged in the hat, cap and straw .goods business, in Cortlandt street, opposite the old Merchants' Hotel., In the beginning his trade was natu- rally very small and limited, but later it assumed the pro- portion of a half million per annum. At the expiration of five years, in 1856, just previous to the great panic, the partners decided to retire from this business, and the af- fairs of the establishment were brought to a satisfactory close. William Winton then returned to Scranton, and oc- cupied himself principally in canal operations, with several of which he is extensively connected at the present time, and from which he is constantly realizing large profits. In
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1864, he became one of the organizers of the Second Na- |laneous timber. On that occasion he realized handsome tional Bank of Seranton. Of this now well-known institu- returns, and thereafter continued to carry on this trade for more than twenty years. At the expiration of this lengthy period, he leased his timber lands, and since has been actively engaged in mining operations, real estate, and com- mission business. In connection with other capitalists, he is interested in the copper and silver ore districts of the Lake Superior country ; and has formed a company known as the "Scranton Silver Mining Company," whose lands lie about one mile and a half from the lake shore. Though not as yet thoroughly developed, these regions give abun- dant evidence and promise of future large returns in cop- per and silver ores. He is also largely interested in ex- tensive tracts of lumber land situated in Randolph county, Virginia, in which it is confidently believed there are large and rich coal deposits, and considerable iron and marble. In 1845, he was married to Elizabeth Wadhams, whose family was among the early settlers of Plymouth, Pennsyl- vania, and is now surrounded by a pleasant and thriving progeny. In manners, he is unaffected and retiring, cour- teous in his demeanor to rich and poor, and generous to the needy and deserving. tion he was chosen President, and still occupies that im- portant and honorable position. In 1870, he obtained a charter and organized the Scranton Savings and Trust Com- pany, which is the largest institution of its kind in this sec- tion of the State, having deposits that run annually con. siderably over one million of dollars. In 1873, ever inde- fatigable, he organized the Miners' Savings Bank and Trust Company, at Providence, which is on the outskirts of Scranton, and where he resides. Of this bank he is Director, and works constantly and arduously to further its interests, and benefit all therein interested. Finally, he is one of the most important and heaviest coal operators in the valley ; or, in other words, he is the largest owner of eoal lands, and leases them to parties for mining purposes. One of these leases alone pays him a royalty of seventy-five thou- sand (75,000) dollars per annum, and many others yield approximately large returns. In 1835, he was married to Catherine Heermans, whose family was originally from Connecticut. IJe is a man of indomitable energy and per- sistency of purpose ; is, after mature deliberation, prompt and decided, and has never devoted his time and attention to any business, investment, or speculation which has not, sooner or later, been enduringly successful.
OLPH, EDWARD, Merchant, was born in the township of Blakely, Luzerne county, Pennsyl- vania, about five miles from Scranton, December 16th, 1814. His father, Alexander Dolph, was one of the early pioneers of the valley, and was highly esteemed by his friends and neighbors. Ilis mother, Susanna London, belonged to an old English family who, when arrived in this country, settled originally in the vicinity of Cape May, New Jersey. In early life, few opportunities were presented to him for acquiring that thorough education for which he had ever nourished an ar- dent desire. Owing to surrounding circumstances he was able to attend school but a few months during each winter, while the rest of his time was fully occupied in laboring on a farm. Agricultural life engaged his attention solely until he had attained his twenty-seventh year, when his ser- vices were sought for by the County Commissioners, and he abandoned farm work to take a position as clerk in their office at Wilkesbarre. In this capacity he served creditably for three years, and was then engaged as a clerk for one year in the office of the Recorder. After leaving this posi- tion, he engaged in the lumber trade. As the railroad was then in process of construction through this section of the State, he shrewdly judged that ultimately there would arise a demand for timber. AActing promptly on this thought, he invested largely in lumber, and eventually supplied the rond with great quantities of joists, sleepers and miscel-
LY, THEODORE N., Engineer, was born in Watertown, New York, June 23d, 1846. His father was Adine Ely, who was born in Lyme, Connecticut, whence he removed to Watertown, New York, where he resided until his decease. Ilis education he received at Rensselaer Poly- technie Institute, of Troy, New York, and, in 1866, he graduated as Civil Engineer. During one year he was em- ployed at the Fort Pitt Foundry in Pittsburgh, also one year assisted in mining coal in the neighborhood of the Monongahela river. From June, 1868, to July, 1869, he was Assi tant Engineer of the Philadelphia and Erie Rail- road Company, residing meanwhile at Erie, Pennsylvania. From July, 1869, to June, 1870, he was appointed Super- intendent of the Middle Division of this road, residing meanwhile at Renovo, Pennsylvania. From June, 1870, to March, 1873, he acted as Assistant Superintendent under the same employ, residing meanwhile at Erie, Pennsyl- vania. From March, 1873, to July, 1874, he filled the post of Superintendent of the Motive Power, having his residence at Erie until October, 1873, and afterwards at Williams- port, Pennsylvania, until July, 1874. This latter position he still holds, supervising the arrangements of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad between Pittsburgh and New York, and on all its branches. He was married, May 19th, 1874, at Erie, Pennsylvania, to Henrietta Brandes, daughter of Charles Brandes, M. D. HIe is a man possessed of a vigorous and enterprising nature, and is highly esteemed for his ability, his sagacity, and a deportment which is at once pleasing and determined.
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ENUES, CHIARLES, Lawyer, was horn in Shrewsbury, York county, Pennsylvania, August 2Stlı, 1823. Ilis father, Charles Denues, was a well-known farmer and practical gunsmith of that township. Ilis mother was the daughter of a prominent organist and music teacher in Prussia. Both of his parents were of German descent, having come from one of the provinces bordering on the Rhine. Ilis early education was limited, consisting in what he could acquire by means of a term of less than nine months passed in the common schools of his birthplace. When in his thirteenth year, he removed to Lancaster, and was employed in the manufacture of powder-horns. For- saking this trade, three years later, he went to York, York county, Pennsylvania, where he entered the cabinet shop of Captain Ilay. At the expiration of one year, he re- moved thence, and, returning to Lancaster, engaged in general employments. While here, he connected himself with a volunteer artillery company, and upon one occasion, while exercising the guns, lost his right hand hy the pre- mature explosion of the piece of which he was gunner. Turning his attention to study, he applied himself diligently for three years to the pursuit of the particular hranches in which he desired to become proficient. In 1843, he entered the law office of the late Thaddeus Stevens, and, after a rigid course of study and reading, was admitted to the bar in 1845. Immediately beginning the practice of his profession in Lancaster, he soon acquired a promising clientage; later, he removed to York, and, in 1846, was admitted to the bar of York county, on motion of Thaddeus Stevens. A year later, he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he soon obtained a large and lucrative practice ; but, being attacked there by chills and fever, he was obliged to return to the East, and took up his residence in Lancaster, May Ist, IS48. In the following October, he occupied himself in teaching school at Soudersburg, near Lancaster, where he remained for one year, then taking charge of a school at Mabel Grove, near New Holland. Three years later, he was appointed Principal of the New Holland High School, and subsequently, Principal of the Central Graded School, at Millersville, Lancaster. Ilere he re- mained nine years, and met with great success. While teaching in this latter place, he was elected Justice of the Peace; resigning this position after a short but creditable experience, he commenced the study of divinity under the tutorship of Rev. Dr. Harbaugh, and completed his course under Rev. Dr. E. B. Gerhart. He was then examined, and licensed to preach at Hummelstown, Dauphin county, where he delivered his first sermon while still acting as a teacher. During six months he occupied the pulpit of the Reformed Church, at Columbia. In 1862, he organized a company of soldiers, and on the 12th of Angust of that year was mustered into service as Captain of Company E, of the 135th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. He served in this capacity until the expiration of the term for
which the company had been enlisted. During that time he was appointed Justice of Georgetown, District of Co- lumbia, and was also selected to serve on the Court Martial at the headquarters of General Doubleday. He partici- pated in several skirmishes, and in the battle of Chancel- lorsville, where he lost twenty-five men. May 24th, 1863, he was'mustered out at Harrisburg, and returned to Lan- caster, in order to resume his professional life. In 1864, he was elected on the Republican ticket to the Lower Ilouse of the State Legislature, and re-elected in 1865. In 1867, he was appointed by Governor Curtin, Notary Public, and has since held that position, while continuing the prac- tice of his profession. Ile is Treasurer and Solicitor for the Manor Turnpike Company, and Solicitor for the Mil- lersville & Lancaster Passenger Railway. Ile is also Treasurer of the Arsinaus Union, and was for many years Trustee of the Normal School at Millersville. He was married, August 20th, 1859, to Miss Haines, one of the teachers of the school at Millersville.
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