The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2, Part 65

Author: Robson, Charles. 4n; Galaxy Publishing Company. 4n
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Philadelphia : Galaxy Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 894

USA > Pennsylvania > The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2 > Part 65

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ELL, HON. JAMES MARTIN, Lawyer and State Senator, was born at Bell's Mills, Autis township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, December 7th, 1799. He was the son of Edward Bell, one of the original settlers in the Tuckahoe Valley of Pennsylvania. The times and locality did not afford many advantages for the acquirement of education, and he was mainly self-taught ; he did, however, attend school for a short time in Huntingdon, and here he displayed remarkable intelligence and great aptitude in the acquisition of knowledge. Immediately upon leaving school he commenced the study of law under the tuition of Robert Allison, of Huntingdon, who was then considered one of the first lawyers in the county. Bringing the same intelligence and industry to bear upon his legal course that had distinguished his carlier days, he was enabled to pass a more than creditable examination, was admitted to the bar, and engaged in the practice of his profession in Hunt- ingdon, in 1826. As a lawyer, he had few equals, being endowed with a wonderfully retentive memory, a high order of intellect and a clear, vigorous and practical mind. In legal questions, involving titles to land, he had no supe- fior, and he was frequently employed in cases of that nature in other States. He removed, in IS45, from Huntingdon to Hollidaysburg, where he engaged in the banking business, afterwards organizing State banks in Johnstown and Huntingdon ; at the time of his death he was President of the First National Bank of Huntingdon. He was largely connected with and held a heavy pecuniary interest in the iron business in Blair county. He was ever active in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his country and society, and was a leading man of great influence in his section. In IS38, he was elected to the State Senate, where his high intelligence, legal knowledge and practical business quali- fications made him a most valuable and prominent member. Ile was married, January 27th, IS29, to Mary Page Ward,

of Poughkeepsie, New York, and died at his home in HIol- lidaysburg, June 4th, 1870, full of years and honors, loved and respected by all who knew him.

EYNOLDS, JOHN FULTON, Major-General United States Army, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, September 21st, 1820. Ile was educated in the schools of his native city until he was appointed, in 1837, as a Cadet in the West Point Military Academy. Ile graduated June 3cth, 1841, standing number twenty-six in his class, which included many men now noted in history. July Ist of the same year he was appointed Brevet Second Lieutenant 3d United States Artillery, and was ordered to Fort MeHenry, Baltimore, Maryland; three months later he received his full commission. In IS43, he was ordered to St. Au- gustine, Florida, and at the elose of the same year was transferred to Fort Moultrie. In 1845, he was sent to Corpus Christi, and subsequently to Fort Brown. In June, IS46, he was promoted to the First Lieutenancy of his battery, and accompanied General Taylor's army to Mexico. Ile was breveted a Captain for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle of Monterey, with rank dating from September 23d, 1346; and further breveted Major, with rank from February 23d, 1847, for gallant conduct at the battle of Buena Vista. Both of these brevets were awarded by Congress, in August, IS4S. After the close of the Mexican War, he was sent to the forts on the coast of New England, where he remained four years. During Febru- ary, IS52, he acted as Aide to General Wool, and on March 3d, 1855, received his full commission as Captain of Artillery. He also served upon the staff of General Twiggs. Ile formed part of the command which was sent across the plains to Utah, reaching Salt Lake City in August, 1854. In March, 1855, ordered to California, lic was partienluly distinguished for brave conduct during the several conflicts with the Indians near the Rogue river, in Oregon, during the year 1856. In 1859, he commanded Company C, of the 3d United States Artillery, and stood number thirty-seven upon the lineal roll of artillery officers. At the commencement of ISGI, he held the appointment of Lieutenant-Colonel and Commandant of the West Point Cadets. He was also Instructor of Cavalry, Infantry and Artillery Tactics at the Military Academy. On May 14th, 1861, he was commissioned Lientenant- Colonel of the 14th United States Infantry, one of the new regiments, and on Angust 20th of the same year he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General of Volunteers and ordered to the command of Fort Hatteras. But at the request of Governor Curtin he was assigned to the command of the First Brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. He marched and fought his command on the Peninsula and in Pope's command. In September, 1861, he commanded at

a.G. Justin

603

BIOGRAPHIICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.

Cheat Mountain, Virginia, when the enemy under General Robert E. Lee attacked him in strong force to drive him from his position, but were forced to retire. Made Major- General of Volunteers, in 1862, he was attached to the Army of the Potomac. He served with conspicuous gal- lantry in all the battles of that army in that memorable year. In September, 1862, when Pennsylvania wasthreatened with invasion, he was placed in command of the forces for the defence of the State, and his skill and energy were most effective in giving check to the enemy. IIe commanded a division under Burnside, and, when General Hooker was placed in command, he was assigned to the First Army Corps. He was killed at Gettysburg, July Ist, 1863, while leading a charge on the enemy's works. Ilis body was buried in the family enclosure in the cemetery at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on July 4th, 1863. His was a character for study and imitation. Ile was modest, reticent, studious and brave. Ile possessed all the qualities of a great mili- tary leader ; severe in his discipline, he had no merey for a delinquent officer, but a never-failing indulgence for the errors of the private soldier. He was the idol of the great Pennsylvania Reserve Division. Proud and pure, he was no talking General ; honors came to him because they were deserved, not asked.

URTIN, ANDREW GREGG, ex-Governor of Pennsylvania, was born on April 224, 1817, at. the village of Bellefonte, Centre county, Pennsyl- vania. Ilis father, Roland Curtin, had settled there in 1Soo, having emigrated to this country from Ireland in 1793 He was a wealthy manu- facturer of iron, both forge and furnace, and was also a gentleman of fine attainments, having been educated at the French capital, where he was sent at the age of eighteen. Ilis maternal grandfather was Andrew Gregg, for many years a member of Congress, a United States Senator, Secretary of State under Governor Iiester, and candidate for Governor in opposition to John Andrew Shulze. One of seven children, he was educated in the best private schools at home, afterwards sent to an academy under the charge of Dr. Keagy at Harrisburg, and finally placed in a widely-known institution at Milton, of which the Rev. Dr. Kirkpatrick was the principal. At the last-named place he finished his academic education. Returning to Belle- fonte, he commenced the study of law with William W. Potter, afterwards a member of Congress from that district. Attracted by the fame of Dickinson College, which at this period had a law department in a flourishing condition, he was matriculated there, and became a pupil of Judge Reed, who was at that time regarded as one of the ablest lawyers in the State. In IS37, he was admitted to the bar in Centre county, and commenced practice at Bellefonte, in partner- ship with John Blanchard, an eminent lawyer and after- words member of Congress. At the very outset of his

career he took a leading rank in his profession, and carly entered the political arena, where his keen sense of humor, united with his more solid advantages, made warm admirers as well as powerful opponents. In those days he was an earnest Whig. In 1840, he labored for the elevation of General Harrison to the Presidency, and, in 1844, made a successful canvass of the State for Ilenry Clay, exciting great enthusiasm wherever he appeared. In 1848, he was placed upon the electoral ticket, and contributed largely to the successful issue of General Taylor's campaign. He was also an elector in 1852. In 1854, he refused the nomi- nation for Governor which was urged upon him, and worked earnestly for his friend, Governor Pollock, under whose administration he was appointed Secretary of the Commonwealth. This was a post of signal honor and re- sponsibility, as in addition to the duty of Secretary proper he was ex-officio Superintendent of Common Schools. To his fostering care at this juncture the schools of Pennsyl- vania are largely indebted for their present admirable con- dition. In 1860, he was nominated as a candidate for Governor, and his election by a majority of over thirty-two thousand votes virtually secured the election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency in the November following. When he was called to the gubernatorial chair, the gravest problems ever presented to American statesmanship had to be solved. The political importance of Pennsylvania, as well as its geographical position, rendered the duties of its chief officer peculiarly responsible, both North and South looking to it to avert war, and every expression of its gov- ernment was awaited with profound interest. Under these trying circumstances the Governor spoke for Pennsylvania with decision and wisdom, and made a record honorable in the highest degree. The conflict obliterated the old land- marks in political teaching, but the relations of the States to each other, and the duties of patriotism as proclaimed by him in his first official utterance, remain unchanged and were indorsed throughout the North. No one better un- derstood the magnitude of the impending conflict at the breaking out of the war. With a long line of southern border exposed to the sudden incursions of the enemy, and the National army composed of only three months' men, and likely, even with these, to be outnumbered in the field, he determined not to rely upon the mistaken conceptions of the National authorities for the protection of the State. Thousands of men were already in camp, or were on their way, their services having been accepted, when the order of revocation was received. The Governor, instead of dis- banding them, directed that they preserve their organization, and immediately applied to the Legislature for authority to form a corps of thirteen regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, and one of artillery, to be organized and equipped by the State, to be subject to the call of the National Gov- ernment if needed, and to be at all times in readiness for immediate service. This was the origin of the afterwards famous Pennsvarwnia Reserve Corps. He was also ceise-

604

BIOGRAPIIICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.

less in his devotion to the interests and wants of the soldiers. [ humanity that has made him single from the common race No letter from a soldier at the front, whether officer or of officials; and these records, written ineffaceably by his official acts on the brightest annals of our Commonwealth, have endeared him to his people without regard to party prejudices. He married Catharine, daughter of William J. Wilson, M. D., of Centre county, and has one son and four daughters living. private, was ever received without being promptly an- swered. In 1863, he was formally tendered a first-class Foreign Mission, which the Governor signified his willing- ness to accept when his term should expire. . But in the meantime he was nominated for re-election, and relinquish- ing his intentions of going abroad he accepted the call of his fellow-citizens, and again entered upon the canvass. In 1864, his health was so much impaired by the arduous duties of his position that he was ordered to Cuba by his physi- cians, and thither he proceeded. After the close of the struggle, President Johnson tendered him a Foreign Mis- sion, which he declined. In 1867, he was a prominent candidate for the United States Senate, and, in 1868, he was warmly supported for Vice-President, in connection with General Grant. Soon after the latter's inauguration, he was nominated as Minister to Russia, and the nomination was promptly confirmed by the Senate. Just before embarking for his new duty he was the recipient of a marked evidence of public respect. The Councils of Philadelphia unani- mously invited him to a public reception in Independence 1 Iall, and, in addition, the leading citizens, without distinc- tion of party, united in giving him a banquet at the Aca- demy of Music. On his return from Russia he was elected a delegate at large to the State Constitutional Convention of 1872 and 1873. No man in official position in l'ennsyl- vania had such an opportunity to serve his State and country as had Governor Curtin during the ever memorable six years of his administration of the office of Chief Execu- tive of Pennsylvania; and he more than met the measure of his responsibilities. Of all the State Executives of the loyal States, he was most conspicuous, because of the ex- eeptionably grave duties which devolved upon him. Ilis State, second to but one in population, surpassed by none in her material wealth and diversified industry, exposed for hundreds of miles to border incursions from the enemy, and potential in every political utterance in declaring the will of the nation touching the policy of the Government in prosecuting the war, he spoke and acted almost as an oracle for the whole North, and no one State officer was so widely respected and obeyed. And in all the various new and complicated duties accepted by him as Governor of the State, he moulded the policy and dictated the actions of other faithful Commonwealths. Ile was the first Executive to reinforce the defeated and demoralized Army of the Union after Bull Run ; the first to have his State officially represented at the Capital to care for the interests of the soldiers in the field; the first to have the officers of the State with every army where the Pennsylvania warrior was in service, to feed the hungry, minister to the sick and wounded and return the dead for burial with their kindred, and he was the first to gather the orphans of the fallen sol- diers into homes and schools as the children of the State. These were all his measures -- the creation of that enlarged

GRUBB, CLEMENT B., Iron Manufacturer, was born in Mount Hope, Lancaster county, Pennsyl-" vania, February 11th, 1815. His ancestors were of Welsh extraction. His father, Henry B. Grubb, was a well-known and wealthy iron mas- ter of New Hope, who unfortunately died when his son was but seven years of age. The business was, how- ever, carried on by the mother, a lady of remarkable charac- ter, the daughter of Daniel Buckley, a large farmer and promi- nent iron-worker of Lancaster county. Every educational advantage that wealth could bestow was freely lavished upon the boy. His preliminary studies were conducted in the' schools of Long Island and Flushing, New York; the learning of his riper years he acquired in the high schools and private academies of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the age of seventeen, in 1832, he entered the establishment conducted by his mother, in the capacity of book-keeper, and remained in that subordinate but responsible position until he had attained his majority. Ile then, in connection with his elder brother Edward, assumed control of the entire estate and carried on the business under the firm- title of E. & C. B. Grubb. The advent of the new part- nership was marked by the exhibition of youthful energy and enterprise. They immediately proceeded to rebuild the old furnaces and to erect new works upon such an ex- tensive scale that they soon became the heaviest iron manu- facturers in Pennsylvania. The marked success which at- tended the efforts of the young firm is attributable to the superiority of their product, their new appliances and intel- ligent management soon gaining them the reputation of making the best charcoal iron in the State. About the year 1851, the copartnership was dissolved by mutual con- sent, and two years later, in 1853, Clement B. Grubb built the St. Charles Anthracite Furnace at Columbia, .Pennsyl- vania. Ile was also largely interested in the Port Deposit Furnace. Ile subsequently disposed of his interest in several furnaces to his brother, Bates Grubb, and also made sale of all the original works except " The Codprus," which he still owns in connection with a large tract (many thou- sand acres) of timber land. In 1872, he associated in partnership with himself his only son, Charles, under the firm-title of C. B. Grubb & Son, and they are now operat- ing the St. Charles and Henry Clay Furnaces, near Colun- bia, Pennsylvania, and are doing a most extensive business. The firm owning several tracts of iron land, which produce a very valuable quality of ore, are enabled to compete suc-

605

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPAEDIA.

cessfully with all others in the trade. Mr. Grubb is an energetic promoter of internal improvements and ever alive to the interests of his section and State. Ile built and was for many years President of the North Lebanon Plank Road, and is now the President of the First National Bank of Lan- caster. lle is a leading member of the St. James' Episcopal Church and is a perfect type of the cultivated, high-minded, Christian merchant and gentleman. He was married, Feb- ruary 27th, 1841, to a danghter of Charles Brook, an exten- sive iron manufacturer of Chester county, Pennsylvania.

ARLEV, HENRY, Operator in Oil, was born in Canton, Stark county, Ohio, April 28th, 1839. His preliminary education was acquired in the common schools of his native place, and, when in his sixteenth year, he entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, at Troy, New York, from which, in 1858, he graduated with all the honors of the in- stitution, as a Civil Engineer. Subsequently, he became Assistant Engineer upon the Troy & Boston Railroad, and Iloosae Tunnel, of which General Herman Haupt, at an earlier date Chief Engineer of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad, was Chief Engineer. He was afterward ap- pointed Principal Assistant Engineer of this enterprise, and the entire management of the work of the Hoosac Tunnel was confided to his care. He was thus occupied until the outbreak of the Rebellion in 1861, when, Massachusetts withdrawing her aid, operations were temporarily sus- pended. In 1862, he moved to Pittsburgh, and, interest- ing himself in the Petroleum trade, met with great success, being the active partner of the firm of Richardson, Harley & Co., then one of the most extensive petroleum commis- sion houses in the western section of the State. In 1863, branch houses were opened in New York and Philadelphia, and, moving to the latter city, he undertook the sole super- vision and direction of this department of the business. Subsequently, associating himself with the Hon. Augustus Schell, the late Benjamin Nathans, John Bloodgood, James McLean, and other capitalists, he became interested with them in the purchase for oil development of large tracts of land in West Virginia. In the autumn of 1864, owing to the engrossing nature of his new venture, he was obliged to dissolve his connection with the house of Richardson, Ilarley & Co. In 1855, the West Virginia essay not prov- ing snecessfal, he became engaged on Oil Creek, in Ve- nango county, Pennsylvania, in constructing pipe lines for the more rapid and economical transit of petroleum from the wells to various points of shipment. The pipe line from Pit Ilole to Miller Farm, constructed in the fall of 1865, by Mr. Van Syckle of Titusville, involved its pro- jector in financial embarrassments, and ultimately came into the possession of Abbot & Harley, who then owned one- half the Pit Iole and Miller Farm Line, while HI. Harley

owned individually the whole of the Benninghoff Run Line; these two lines were consolidated, and for a short time the business was prosecuted under the firm-name of Abbot & Harley. About this time the latter commenced the construction of a pipe line from Benninghoff run to Shaffer farm, and while occupied in that important under- taking met with much and dangerous opposition from the resident teamsters, who looked upon such enterprises as violations of their rights. In the spring of 1866, however, despite their turbulence and open warfare, the line was completed, success crowned every effort, and he was ni- versally applauded for his fearless energy and perseverance. In 1867, the Western Transportation Company, hokling the only charter granted by the Pennsylvania Legislature, at that period, for transporting oil from the wells to railway stations, fell under the control of the partners, and their lines were then organized under the charter of the old Western Transportation Company, and entitled the Alle- gheny Transportation Company, 11. Harley being subse- quently elected its President. In 1868, this organiz. ti m was recognized as one of the leading institutions in the oil country, and Jay Gould obtained control, by purchase, of its extensive and valuable interests. II. Harley was then appointed Superintendent of the Oil Traffic of the Atlantic & Great Western and Eric Railways, and acted in this responsible capacity until he embarked for Europe. In August, 1871, he became the chief organizer of the Pennsylvania Transportation Company, with a capital of $1,700,000, owning and operating nearly 500 miles of pipe line running throughout Trimuph, Pleasantville, Tidioute, Irwineton, Oil City, Shawburg and Titusville, and having its apex at Miller farm; eventually, after acting as Director in that enterprise, he was elected President. The above company is one of the most substantial and extensive estab- lishments in the country, while its stockowners are men of great wealth and tried ability. At the present time its President is a resident of Titusville, and is widely admired and esteemed for his many sterling talents and the pleasant courteousness which characterizes all his actions, whether in public or in private life.

ELLES, CHARLES F., Landholder, was born at Glastonbury, Connecticut, November 5th, 1789. His father was George Welles, fifth in descent from Governor Thomas Welles, who founded the family in America in the year 1636. The origin of the family was Norman; and during the reigns of the Plantagenet kings of England there were six barons of the name in line, holding seats in Parliament and lands in Lincoln and Yorkshire. Two brothers were prelates in the time of Richard and John; Ilugo de Welles, called " Saint Ilugh," Bishop of Lincoln, and Josceline de Welles, Bishop of Bath and Wells. These men were in

606

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.

large part the constructors of the splendid cathedrals of | lenback, of Wilkesbarre, by whom he had a large family of children, all but two of whom survived him. He died, from the effects of a fall from his carriage, September 23d, 1866, aged nearly seventy-seven years.

Lincoln and Wells. A third brother, Simon, went with Cœur de Lion on his crusades. During the Wars of the Roses, the family lost their titles and estates, the heads of it per- ishing one by one as York or Lancaster in turn gained the ascendency. George Welles, whose wife was Prudence, daughter of Colonel Elizur Talcott, removed with his family from Glastonbury to Athens, Bradford county, Penn- sylvania, about the year 1798. His second son, Charles, was sent a few years later to his native State, where he received some advantages of education at the famous Bacon Academy at Colchester. He was of a poetic and imagina- tive turn of mind, and during his youth wrote some passable verses which were generally published in the Port Folio, a monthly miscellany of elegant literature, published in Philadelphia by Joseph Dennie. In 1812, upon the erection of Bradford county, he was appointed by Governor Snyder its first Prothonotary, Register, Recorder and Clerk of the Courts. During his tenure of these offices he took an active part in politics, owning the press and good-will of the Democratic county organ, the Bradford Gazette. The party spirit in those days ran high, particularly in small border neighborhoods; and the trenchant character of his Subsequently, he entered upon a more extensive course of studies, and, when in his seventeenth year, became a student in Jefferson College. IIe afterward commenced the study of law under A. W. Foster, an eminent practitioner of Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and in January, 1827, was admitted to the bar. In December, 1828, he moved to Warren, Pennsylvania, and since has chiefly resided in that place. He soon secured a large and lucrative practice and engaged actively in the land agency business, dispo-ing of lands owned by various capitalists and introducing many settlers into the regions, promising hand- some returns to those able and willing to develop their vast resources. While interested in the latter occupation, how- ever, he found that, owing to the lack of railroad facilities, it was no easy matter to draw the attention of emigrants to the vast tracts placed in his charge. To secure the opening up of the wilderness partly in the State of Pennsylvania and partly in that of New York then became an all-engrossing idea. In 1836, as a delegate from Warren county, he to k his seat in the convention held at Williamsport, convened to consider the best means of securing to Philadelphia a share in the large trade of the lakes. From this meeting arose the scheme for the Sunbury & Erie Railroad, and he, with others, was appointed to lay the subject before the Legislature. Eventually, the passage of the bill was secured, but was not brought to a vote until April, 1837. In the organization of the company he was chosen a Director, while Nicholas Biddle, the financier, acted as President; in 1838-'39, careful surveys were made, the line located, and the work of grading commenced in 1840. A return of the financial panic of 1837, however, caused a cessation of libor until 1851, and it was not until 1862 that the road was political writings was such as would in later days produce a strong sensation. In 1818, he was succeeded in office by the appointees of Governor Findlay, toward whose elec- tion he had contributed by zealous and incessant labors. This apparent ingratitude had the effect of disgusting him with political life; and in 1822 he removed to Wyalusing, in the same county, where, in the various pursuits of agri- culture, surveying and the care of great landed estates, he passed the remainder of his days. IIe was originally edu- cated for the bar, which fact was of great value to him in his land business; and it was said of him that no man in northern Pennsylvania had so extensive and accurate a knowledge of the nature and situation of land titles and the laws bearing upon them. He was also a practical surveyor, and knew personally every rod of the boundary lines of several large estates which were in his charge. He was the model of an indulgent landlord; and no matter how vindictive the spirit of opposition on the part of the " Squatters," whose possessions he was forced to interfere with, his good sense and forbearance, combined with judicious firmness, invariably won the day and turned enmity into friendship. When asked for the secret of his uniform success in his numerous land-suits, he replied : "I always know my case before I begin." Ilis tastes were literary and his reading large, the science of geology being his favorite study. In social life he was generally pleasant and genial : somewhat taciturn and reticent in mixed company; but, when wakened by the suggestion of some, favorite topic, he was one of the most instructive and delightful of talkers. Tall and of erect and dignified carriage, his port was that of the old school gentleman. fle manied, in 1$16, the daughter of the Inte Judge Hol finally completed; throughout the whole of that period

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2, Part 65

Author: Robson, Charles. 4n; Galaxy Publishing Company. 4n Publication date: 1874 Publisher: Philadelphia : Galaxy Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 894

Author: Robson, Charles. 4n; Galaxy Publishing Company. 4n
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Philadelphia : Galaxy Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 894