USA > Pennsylvania > The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2 > Part 41
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IIENK, RUDOLPHI WARFEL, Lawyer and Banker, was born in Conestoga township, Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, October 4th, 1834. Ilis father, Christian Shenk, was a wealthy and prominent farmer and politician, and one of the leading men of the township; he was, moreover, noted for his many philanthropic acts, and his constant willingness to aid in any scheme promising to benefit his county or fellow citizens. Ilis paternal grandfather, Rudy Shenk, moved from Lancaster county to that of Eric, in IS2S, and became one of its most influential settlers and leading citizens. His mother was a daughter of Abraham Warfel, a well-known agriculturist in Conestoga township. Rudolph began his education at Litiz, Lancaster county, under the tutorship of Professor John Beck. Subsequently, he entered the Erie Academy, at Erie, Pennsylvania, and thence went to Randolph Academy, in Cattaraugus county, New York. In 1854, he entered Dartmouth College, from which he graduated with high honors in 1858. Later, he entered the law office of W. S. Lane, in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he remained for a few months, then moved to Lan- caster, and entered the office of the late Thaddeus Stevens. As, during his college course, he had been constantly read- ing law, he soon prepared himself for the bar, to which he was admitted in November, 1859. Immediately com- mencing the practice of his profession, he rapidly acquired an extensive business, and since that time has been actively engaged in legal pursuits. In 1865 and IS66, he was elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature, where he served with credit to himself, and to the entire satisfac- tion of his constituents. As a politician, he has been an active and esteemed member of the Republican party since his admission to the bar. Prior to this, in April, 1861, he
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entered as a private in Company F, of the Ist Regiment | profit to his employers. In 1873, he received the appoint- of Pennsylvania Volunteers, where he served until the ment of Notary Public for Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. On the Ist of September, 1874, he will take charge of the Keystone Coal Manufacturing Company, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. In 1866, he was married to Susan Coffman, daughter of William Coffman, of Page county, Virginia. expiration of the term for which the regiment was enlisted. In August, 1862, he again entered the service of the United States, and was appointed Major in the 135th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. On this occasion he served until the regiment was mustered out, and during the greater portion of the term was intrusted with its command. Hle participated in the first battle of Fredericksburg, and also took an active part in the battle of Chancellorsville. For several months he was on the James river, making arrangements for the exchange of prisoners, and in this capacity exhibited much coolness, sagacity, and determi- nation. Subsequently, he was appointed Deputy Provost- Marshal for the Ninth District of Pennsylvania, which ap- pointment he hekl until he resigned to take his seat in the Legislature. Ile was for seven years Solicitor for the Board of Directors of the Poor of Lancaster county. IIe has been the President of the Lancaster & Reading Narrow Gauge Railroad Company since its organization ; and also President of the Lancaster & Quarryville, and Lancaster & Millersville Railroads, which are being constructed under the same charter as the Lancaster & Reading Narrow Gauge Railroad. At present, he is a member of the banking firm of Bair & Shenk. He was married, Novem- ber 3d, 1863, to an adopted daughter of David Bair, one of the oldest and wealthiest merchants in Lancaster.
RANCE, ROBERT LEE, Engineer, was born in Washington, District of Columbia, July 7th, 1839. Ilis father was Colonel Richard France, of Balti- more, who took an active part in the prevalent politics of the day, and was noted for his bravery, perseverance, and indomitable energy. Robert was the recipient of private tuition until 1856, when he entered" St. Timothy's Co'h giate School, situated near Baltimore. At the conclusion of his course of studies, he engaged in business in connection with his father, in Baltimore and New York. Upon the breaking out of the war, he entered the Southern army, under the command of General Long- street ; at first, private, his energy and coolness won him favorable notice, and he was promoted to the rank of Ordnance Sergeant. Whilst doing duty as a scout during the last year of the contest, he was surprised and taken prisoner. A week prior to the fall of Richmond, and the close of the war, he was sent South again. Subsequently, he was engaged in farming and agricultural pursuits for about two years, and became connected with the Pittsburgh & Connellsville Railroad Company, as Assistant Enginecr. While acting in this capacity, he was actively engaged in the construction of the Land Patch Tunnel. He afterward was appointed Paymaster and Special Agent of this Com- pany, which position he still fills with credit to himself and
LLET, COLONEL CHIARLES, JR., Civil En- gineer, was born at Penn's Manor, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, January Ist, IS10. Ilis name has become celebrated in connection with a great number of important public works, either as the prime projector of them, or as being inti- mately concerned in their execution. The famous " wire bridge " at Fairmount (which was the first of the kind built in the United States) was constructed by him, in 1841. He also built bridges of the same kind at Niagara Falls, and at Wheeling, West Virginia. He was employed for a considerable time, in his capacity of Engineer, on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and in many other great engineering enterprises; among which the remarkable tem- porary track of the Virginia Central Railroad, across the Blue Ridge, is deserving of special mention. In 1861, while residing in Washington, he conceived a plan, which he submitted to the War Department, for cutting off the Confederate army at Manassas; his scheme was rejected, and thereupon he drew public attention to the matter by the publication of two pamphlets, in which he vindicated his idea, and severely censured the conduct of General Mc- Clellan. After this, he projected the construction of a fleet of "rams" on the Mississippi river, which was finally realized and put into operation, and for which he received a Colonel's commission in the army. By means of these " rams" he succeeded in destroying several Confederate gunboats, off Memphis, and, in consequence, effected the capture of the place. In the action on this occasion, he was mortally wounded by a musket ball. He published several scientific works and essays on subjects connected with his special department.
OWER, CHARLEMAGNE, Lawyer, was born April 18th, ISog, in the then township of Paris (named from a benevolent man in the early his- tory of that section), and now Marshall (after the Chief Justice), Oneida county, New York, about twelve miles south of Utica. He is the son of Reuben Tower, a native of Rutland, Worcester county, Massachusetts, who was the fifth in descent from John Tower, who left Old Hingham, England (where his father, Robert Tower, is buried), and came to Massachusetts in 1637, giving the name of Hingham to the locality where
John Dicksonh.D.
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he settled. ITis early education was obtained in the com- mon schools of the southern part of Oneida county, New York; and to these succeeded studies, pursued at Oxford Academy, Chenango county, Clinton Academy, Oneida county, and the Utica Academy. During a part of this time he taught school in his native county, and, in 1825, was an assistant teacher in the Utica Academy. These years of study were not gained without a struggle; for, while a mere lad, he worked on a farm, and a little later had a clerkship in a store, thus learning industry and frugality. In 1826, he placed himself under a private tutor in Cambridge, Massa- chusetts, and studied hard, in order to gain admission to college. In February, 1827, he entered the Freshman class of Harvard University, being less than eighteen years of age, and graduated in August, 1830. Ile was a class- mate and intimate friend of the late Charles Sumner, the intimacy continuing to increase as years rolled on, the latter visiting him at his house in Pottsville. He stood the third in his class at graduation, thus rivalling the great Senator. On commencement day, it fell to his lot to intro- duce Charles Sumner to the audience, when the latter remarked that he " never surpassed him in anything but alphabetical precedence." Immediately after graduation, he commenced the study of law with Hermanus Bleecker, in Albany, New York, who was at one time a member, of Congress, and subsequently United States Minister to the Hague, during Van Buren's administration ; he was a man of high standing, enlarged views, profound education, and of the strictest integrity. ITis readings were, however, in- termitted for a period, as he accompanied his father-who was in failing health-to Florida, in the autumn of 1831, and who died there after a sojourn of six months. . On his return North, he resumed his legal studies in the office of John L. & James L. Graham, of New York city, and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court, Utica, October, 1835. Ile commenced to practice his profession in the office of Graham & Sanford, New York city, where he re- mained one year, and then removed to Waterville, Oncida county, where he became engaged in commercial and manufacturing pursuits ; but he finally returned to his pro- fession, which he followed assiduously and successfully for six years. In 1848, be removed to Orwigsburg, then the shire town of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania; and when the county scat was removed to Pottsville, in IS51, he also changed his domicile, and ever since has made Pottsville his residence. In 1853, he was elected Prosecuting Attor- ney of the county, and served for the term of three years in that capacity. ITis legal career in Pennsylvania was, in the highest degree, honorable and successful : his scholastic acquiremente placed him in the front rank of a bar second to none in the State, and he has never yet seen the occasion when he was unable to hold his position and perform every duty required of him. As a business man, he has been equally fortunate, and no one living to-day can look back upon a career of a quarter of a century, passed in this
Commonwealth, with prouder feclings of satisfaction. When the great war of the Rebellion broke out, in 1861, though he had passed the age which would render him liable to be called upon to perform military duty, he was among the first men in Schuylkill county to move to the support of the Government. Hle raised, in Pottsville, a company of 270 men for the three months' service, and proceeded with them to Harrisburg. Ilis company, being too large, was divided, forming two perfect companies, and part of a third. The company remaining under his com- mand was HI, of the 6th Regiment Pennsylvania Volun- tcers, and of this he was commissioned Captain, April 21st, 1861. Ilis regiment joined General Robert Patterson's command, which proceeded, by the way of Chambersburg and Hagerstown, to Virginia, crossing the Potomac river at Williamsport, June 21st, and participating in the skirmish at Falling Waters, being one of the first engagements, if not the very first, of the war. The movements of Patter- son's command are now a part of history ; and in all, Cap- tain Tower took his sharc, enduring with his men the many fatigues and privations through which they passcd, and performing meritorious services. After the thrce months' term of service was over, the regiment returned home, and, was mustered out of service, July 26th, 1861. After the first battle of Bull Run, there were dark days throughout the North, and great efforts were made by the State and National Governments to stem the tide of rebel success. In this emergency, he displayed great patriotism and liberality, He paid a bounty of five dollars per man for a full company, raised in Pottsville, which was com- manded by Captain Pleasants, who afterwards rosc to Brigadier-General. The company was C, of the 48th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, recruited for three ycars; it distinguished itself in many battles, and gained honor on numerous hard-fought fields. In 1863, he was appointed Provost. Marshal of the Tenth Congressional District, composed of the countics of Schuylkill and Leba- non, and served in this capacity more than a year, perform- ing duties of a most onerous and trying character, and giving general satisfaction by his firmness and fairness. Ile has been closely identified with the Republican party ever since its formation, and has ever been active and zeal- ous in the support of its candidates. Ilis name was brought forward, at the close of 1872, as a candidate for the United States Senate.
ICKSON, JOIIN, Physician, was born in Cecil county, Maryland, May 24th, 1812. His parents, John and Mary Dickson, were of Scotch- Irish descent, and were noted as possessing the pecu- liarly sterling traits of that blood. It was his privilege to receive a full measure of the excel- lent qualities of both his father and mother. Carly dis- playing a remarkable fondness for study, he was afforded
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every advantage of his day and locality in obtaining an education, After the completion of his preparatory course, he entered the academy in Clinton, Pennsylvania, and so rapid was his progress in the higher branches that he was graduated therefrom at the age of sixteen years, and imme- diately assumed the post of Preceptor of the District School of Allegheny county. In his seventeenth year, he began the study of medicine under the tuition of Dr. Letherman, of Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania. The same energy and natural power for the absorption of knowledge which characterized him as an academician, marked his course as a student of the profession of his choiee. Attending lectures for two years in the city of New York, he graduated from the medical university of that State, and in his nineteenth year began the practice of medicine. He located, at first, in Sewickley, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where he was well known ; and so marked was the favorable impres- sion which his early life and attainments had made upon the entire community, that in spite of the great drawback of youth, he at once entered upon a large and most respeet- able connection. After ten years spent directly in the midst of his earliest friends, he removed to Pittsburgh, still, however, retaining his practice in his original home. In Pittsburgh he remained for ten years, busily engaged in meeting the demands of an extensive and ever-increasing practice ; then, without resigning his professional connection in Pittsburgh, he returned to Sewickley. IIe is now (1874) in the sixty-third year of his age, and for forty-three years of his life has been actively engaged in practice. There are no signs of mental or physical disability to mark that nearly half a century of a most laborious life has passed over him. Amid the cares and hourly demands of his large practice, he finds time to take a warm and active interest in every matter relating to the general welfare of his profes- sion, and pays the most diligent every-day attention to all new discoveries in his own and kindred sciences. With such diligenee, joined to a mind discursive, yet perpetually observant, it is not wonderful that he should have acquired a vast store of varied information. The fields of knowledge which his intellect has traversed, and to which his memory can recur-especially in ancient literature, in history, and the many forms of philosophy-wre immense. He was married, in 1840, to Mary Way; and eight children, six daughters and two sons, have been born to bless their union. The two sons, John S. and Joseph II., have both inherited the mental vigor and professional tastes of their parent, and are, as practising physicians, in business connee- tion with him. John S. was born April 11th, 1844, received his medical education under the tuition of his father, and graduated at Jefferson College, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1868. Joseph H., the youngest son, was born April 8th, 1846, and he also, after enjoying the advantages of his father's preceptorial care in his elementary studies, graduated at the Jefferson Medical School, and began the praetiee of his profession in the twenty-third year
of his age. A better school for young physicians could not be desired than that enjoyed by the sons of Dr. Dickson. The experience, attainments, and every-day occurrences of their father's life were admirably adapted to nurture and bring into vigorous and comprehensive development all the desirable qualities of mind calculated to fit them as suc. cessors to their senior's reputation and business. Their abilities are held in high repute, and they bid fair to eventu- ally become prominent men in their profession. Dr. Dick- son enjoys, in a remarkable degree, the affectionate regard of all who know him. Both socially or professionally, he is venerated for his extensive knowledge, his eminent abili- ties, his long and valuable services, his earnest integrity, and the spotless purity of his moral character.
cCLINTOCK, JOIIN, D. D., Clergyman, was born in Philadelphia, in 1814, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1835. In the fol- lowing year, he entered the Methodist ministry ; shortly afterwards was elected Professor of Mathe- matics in Dickinson College, and retained the chair until 1848. From 1848 until 1856, he was editor of the Methodist Quarterly Review, and in the latter year went as Delegate to the Methodist Conference in Europe. During 1857-'58, he was pastor of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, in Philadelphia, and, in 1859 and 1860, President of the Troy University. In 1860, he went to Paris to assume the care of the American Chapel there, and remained until 1866. He was subsequently President of the Drew Theological Seminary. IIe was the translator (in connection with Professor Blumenthal) of Neander's Life of Christ, and, together with Professor Cook, wrote a series of Greek and Latin text-books. Ile was also asso- ciated with Dr. Strong, in the production of The Biblical and Theological Dictionary, and was the author of several other valuable historical and theological works. Ile died at Madison, New Jersey, on the 4th of March, 1870,
NGERSOLL, CHIARLES JARED, Lawyer and Diplomatist, was born in Philadelphia, October 3d, 1782, and was the son of Jared Ingersoll, a distinguished jurist of that city. Ile followed his father's profession, and studied law; but eventually became interested in politics, and was attached to the United States Embassy in Paris. While in the French Legation, he took the opportunity of travelling through Europe, and of making himself thoroughly ac- quainted with the people and customs of the old world. Having returned to America, he became a member of Congress in 1812; was the United States District Attorney for Pennsylvania, from 1815 to 1829; then served in the
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State Legislature, and again in Congress from 1841 to | formed a new partnership under the name of Reed, McGraun 1847. Subsequently, he was nominated by President Polk as Minister to France, but the nomination was not con- firmed by the Senate. He was a member of the Conven- tion for Internal Improvements of Pennsylvania, which met at Harrisburg in 1825; of the State Convention, in 1827; of the National Assembly for the Encouragement of Domestic Manufactures, in 1829, and of the State Con- stitutional Convention, in 1837-'38, in which he wrote reports on currency, the judiciary, etc. He was the author of several important literary and historical works, one of which-A History of the War of 1812, 4 vols., 8vo .- is highly valued. He associated himself politically with the Democratic party, and was the only one of his family who espoused that cause. Ilis death took place in Philadelphia, January 14th, 1862, at the advanced age of eighty years.
EED. GEORGE K., Banker, was born in Lan- caster, Pennsylvania, December 22d, 1826. Ilis father, Henry R. Reed, was formerly Cashier of the Branch Bank of Pennsylvania, and subse- quently, of the Farmers' Bank of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Ilis mother was a daughter of Jolın Hoff, a prominent and influential citizen of Lancaster. Ilis paternal ancestors were of Irish descent, his maternal of German. When in his eighteenth year, George forsook school life, and, January 8th, 1844, hired himself as an errand boy in the dry goods and grocery house of C. Hager, and was gradually promoted until he was appointed to take charge of the books of the establishment. In 1847, he became the book-keeper for the County Treasurer. While thus employed, he manufactured, during spare hours, shoe blacking, and also trafficked in lime, and roofing slate for the Peach Bottom Slate Quarries. In 1849, the term for which the County Treasurer had been elected having expired, he started a private banking-house, there being at that time no institution of that nature in the city or county. Possessing a general knowledge of book-keeping, he went to Philadelphia, and while there, spent three weeks in a prominent house on Third street, in order to obtain a clearer insight into the workings and details connected with bank- ing. In January, 1850, he opened his establishment under the name of J. F. Shroder & Company. This venture proved perfectly successful, and was rapidly increasing in prestige and in its general capacities until 1856, when two of the oldest banking institutions in the country failed utterly. Loss of public confidence naturally ensued, the general suspensions of 1857 weakened still further public confidence, his partner was compelled to suspend payments, and he was reluctantly forced to relinquish all hope of again restoring to his business its former esteem and popularity. Within a year's time the affairs of the bank were satisfac- torily settled, and every claim fully paid. In 1858, he Pennsylvania, and has four children.
& Company, a firin which is still in existence, and doing a large and prosperous business. He has represented his district for a small term in the City Council, and, for one year, acted as President of the lower branch of the Common Council. Although a warmly-interested Republican, he has never participated as an active politician in any of the prevalent political campaigns, and is averse to the troubles and vexations attending a publie career. Each position held by him has been accepted only after persistent solicita- tions that would take no refusal. On one occasion, he was nominated by the Republican party for Mayor, but was defeated by a small majority. Since 1850, he has been intrusted with the management of the Lancaster Gas Com- pany, acting as their Treasurer; and has also filled many other positions of trust and honor in various associations and corporations with which he has been connected as director, treasurer, or trustee; finally, he was one of the most respected and able Directors of the National Railroad Company. Ile was married, June 8th, 1852, to a daughter of John G. Fetter, an enterprising and honored citizen of Laneaster, Pennsylvania.
UTTING, LYMAN, Mine Operator, was born in Maine, May 24th, 1824. His father was Lyman Nutting, a prominent and influential farmer and citizen in his locality. He was educated in Maine, at the Bridgeton, and North Yarmouth Academies. After completing his course of studies, he engaged in school teaching in Maine, and subsequently, in Pennsylvania and Ohio. When in his twenty-fifth year, he turned his attention to the study of law, but, upon the breaking out of the " California Fever," he abandoned this pursuit, and moved to the Western gold fields. Here he met with good average success in mining and trading. In 1859, he returned to Maine, whence he soon removed to Pennsylvania, and engaged in the coal business at Pine Grove. In this enterprise he succeeded in amassing a considerable sum of money, and is still interested in it to a large extent. In 1864, he connected himself with the iron business, at Middletown, Dauphin county, and purchased an interest in the two furnaces located there. In 1867, he became interested as part owner in the furnace at Lebanon, and in 1870, removed to this loeality in order to overlook its management and progress. To the financiering department his attention is particularly directed, and as a counsellor and manager, he has often evinced unusual shrewdness, foresight, and ability. He is also the proprietor of several large farms, whose leases yield him a handsome income, and owns an interest in the Lebanon Manufacturing Company. He was married, in 1861, to Louisa Kalter, of Pine Grove,
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