The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2, Part 7

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

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at the several points, and as he had by this time gained | man. In 1870, he purchased the farm and adjoining pro- considerable reputation as a furnace builder, he found it perty at North Cornwall, designing and erecting a furnace there. In 1873, he was elected President of the Lebanon Rolling Mill. Ile owns also large interests in different iron companies, etc., outside of the estate of which he has charge. Upon the Cornwall estate there are now six fur- naces, which have the capacity of six hundred tons per week. Ile is eminently a "self-made man," and has carved out for himself an honorable distinction among his contemporaries. Ile has many and warm friends, and he enjoys the utmost confidence and respect of every one in the community where he resides. necessary to secure and employ a force of competent mechanics while engaged in his various contracts. In July, 1853, he returned to Cornwall, and was engaged by R. W. Coleman, at a stated salary, as Superintendant and Assis- tant. In 1854, he designed and supervised the erection of Furnace No. 2, without any assistance. All the brick needed in its construction he had made on the estate, and all the other articles needed for the structure he himself purchased, even to the most minute matters. All the de- signs, plans, etc., for this, as well as all other structures which he ever constructed for any one, were the work of his own hands : he is a self-taught draughtsman. When this Furnace No. 2 was completed, it devolved upon him IEGLER JACOB, Editor and Politician, was born September 19th, 1813, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Ilis early education was received in the small school which subsequently grew to be Gettysburg College. While his parents intended him to become a farmer, his own inclinations led him to wish some other occupation, and as he could not gain their con- sent, he took the alternative of leaving home secretly, and seeking his fortune alone in the world. Greater success followed this attempt than is usual. Wandering to Butler, Pennsylvania, he reached that town with only twelve cents in his pocket, but there found employment in the office of a small newspaper, The Repository, and served an apprentice- ship of two years and six months to the printing business, which he thoroughly mastered. In a few years he became partner in the paper, and, thus established, married a daugh . ter of Captain Abram Brinker. The activity of his mind and the popularity of his manners rendered him a favorite with his fellow-citizens, and as early as the age of twenty- one he was chosen Clerk to the County Commissioners, and two years later was appointed Prothonotary by Governor Porter. When, in 1837, this office became clective, he again received it for three years. In 1844, he was elected Assistant Clerk to the State Senate, having previously held the position of Transcribing Clerk. Three years subse- quently he was sent to the Legislature, and, in 1849, held a Clerkship in the Pension Office in Washington. Though successful in his political aspirations, he was strongly at- tracted by the gold developments of California, which com- menced at this time to excite general attention. IIe there- fore started in 1850 for that promising field, and spent two years among the placers, years full of startling and curious adventures. On his return, he was clected several times Clerk of the House of Representatives, and, in 1871, Clerk of the Senate, and at the request of the Legislature wrote a Legislative Manual, which is still in use. At present, al- though his sympathy in the fluctuations of politics is by no means abated, he is engaged chiefly in the editorship of a paper of which he is also proprietor, entitled Ziegler's Democratic Herald, which has a large circulation in the section where it is published. to " blow in" the same, and he continued as supervisor in and out of the office until 1856, when the manager resigned, and the supcrintendence of the concern devolved upon him ; though he did not immediately accept the position, until he had given two wecks' consideration to the offer, which he finally accepted. From that time forward his duties were excessive and arduous. In 1857, he made the estimate for, and advised the purchase of, the " Dudley," now known as the " Donaghmore Furnace," at Lebanon, and thus an- other great concern was placed under his care and manage -. ment. In 1860, he had still other duties added to the responsibilities of his position. At this date R. W. Cole- man gave him a general power of attorney to execute and sign all papers, and to take charge of all the finances of the estate. This was a great burden, which he reluctantly un- dertook, and only after giving the subject a year's consider- ation. About this date, also, he was elected a Director of the Cornwall Railroad, which connected that place with Lebanon, and had been built by R. W. Coleman in 1854. In 1861, he purchased the Cornwall "Turnpike," so- miscalled, and became its President. This was a dilapi- dated plank road, but under his able management it was thoroughly changed, and has become one of the best five- mile roads in the country, having been macadamized in the best manner. In 1863, he recommended the re-modelling of the Cornwall Mansions, which was done under the joint supervision of himself and John McArthur, Jr., ap eminent architect of Philadelphia. In 1864, R. W. Coleman died, and he succeeded him as President of the Cornwall Rail- road. In 1864-65, he was prominent in the projection and completion of the " Spiral Railroad," running from the base to the summit of " Big Ore Hill." This hill is 300 fect in height, and the road in its construction makes the entire circle of the hill, on an ascending grade of 200 feet to the mile, its length being 112 miles. Locomotives and trains daily ascend the hill and transport thence the ores which are mined near its summit. In November, 1865, on the death of Colonel Freeman, he was made one of the Admin- istrators of the Cornwall Estate, and still acts as such, with a general power of attorney from the heirs of R. W. Cole-

David Trames

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EIM, GENERAL WILLIAM IIIGII, Statesman / and Soldier, was born at Reading, Pennsylvania, June 13th, 1813, and was the son of Benneville and Mary (High) Keim of that city. Ile was educated at the Mount Airy Military School, where he graduated in 1839, Before he was seventeen years old he became Orderly Sergeant of the Washington Greys of. Reading, commanded by his cousin, Captain Daniel M. Keim, and seven years later succeeded the latter. He rose to the grade of Major, then Brigadier- General, and in 1842 was elected Major-General of the Fifth Division. While holding this command, and indeed every other military position, he proved a model soldier. Thrown into contact with General Scott and Colonel. Rich- ard M. Johnson, who visited him in their official capacity, he obtained and put to good use the results of their age and experience. For over twenty years he was constantly being selected as commander of encampments of State troops. In 1844, he was ordered to Philadelphia with a portion of his command during the riots of that year, and elicited from General Patterson, the senior Major-General, a most complimentary notice. In 1848, he was elected Mayor of Reading, and in 1859, was nominated and elected to Congress as Representative of the Berks District, though the majority of the party opposed to him had always reached several thousand. Shortly after this he was chosen by the people Surveyor. General of Pennsylvania. In 1860, warned by the signs of the approaching storm that subsequently broke over the country, he suggested, among other impor- tant matters, a general encampment of the State troops. The York Encampment, which began September 3d of that year, was the result of that suggestion, and he was placed in command. When the Rebellion was inaugurated, it is a matter of history that the first troops to respond to the eall of the President were from his command-the Ringgold Light Artillery of Reading, which arrived in Washington April 18th, 1861. He was at once ordered to Washington, where the Government immediately gave him full power to prepare for defence. Two divisions of troops assembled at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, of which he commanded the second; the first being that of Major-General Patterson. On June 15th it encamped at Ilagerstown, Maryland, and July 2d crossed the Potomac, and subsequently forced "Stonewall " Jackson, at Falling Waters, to retreat. After this campaign on the upper Potomac was ended, he was appointed by President Lincoln Brigadier-General of Vol- untecrs, and joined the Army of the Potomac. At the bat- tle of Williamsburg he greatly distinguished himself, though he was at the time an inmate of the hospital, which he left against the advice of the surgeon. IIe was highly compli- mented by General Mcclellan, and was by him ordered to the post of honor, in advance of the army. He led his command in the advance, but his pains and weakness warned him that he could not endure long. He returned home, where in a few days he died, May 18th, 1862, and

was buried with military honors. Ile was married, in 1836, to Lucy Jane, daughter of Colonel Beverly Randolph of Front Royal, Virginia.

RAINER, DAVID, Manufacturer, and President of the Delaware County National Bank, was born in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, July 9th, 1814. Ile was brought up on the farm where he was born and still resides, and enjoyed such cduca- tional advantages as the subscription schools of that period afforded. Ilis father, also named David Trainer, had purchased, in IS05, the property, consisting of the farm and a flouring mill, erected before 1753 by Jolin Price, and the lad was employed on the farm and shout the saw-mill, which had been erected by his father in IS12, until 1837, when an addition, eighty by forty feet, two and a half stories high, was made to the old flouring mill ; and the whole having been fitted with machinery was put into ope- ration for the manufacture of cotton goods by the son and ¿John' Hastings, Jr. The firm became deeply involved by the failure of their commission merchant, in 1842, and having dissolved the partnership, David Trainer resolved to retrieve his fortunes single-handed. Upon the death of his father, March Ist, 1849, he fell heir to the estate, con- sisting of the mills and some 150 acres of land. A disas- trous fire, utterly destroying the old mill and leaving no- thing but the walls of the portion erected in IS37, occurred October 8th, 1851. Nothing daunted, he took immediate steps for rebuilding, and by August Ist, 1852, the old flour- ing mill had been replaced by a new structure, three and a half stories high, 110 by 50 feet, the other mill restored, the whole entirely refitted with new and improved ma- chinery, and operations resumed. Having triumphed over so great adversity, he has continued upon the same spot a career of uninterrupted success, having added ninety feet to his No. 1 mill, in 1865, erected No. 2, 60 by 202 feet, with additions in 1869, and put No. 3, 60 by 238 feet, into operation in October, 1873. The mills are models in point of arrangement and systematic conduct. In addition to them, he has erected three mansion houses and fifty-five dwellings for the accommodation of his operatives, in whose comfort and welfare he manifests a deep interest. Having thoroughly educated his sons, and acquainted them with all the practical details of cotton manufacture, he gave to each an interest as he attained his majority, and the firm of D. Trainer & Sons well sustains the reputation so long enjoyed by the father and senior member. Ile became connected with the Bank of Delaware County-organized in IS15-in 1833, and upon its reorganization as the Dela- ware County National Bank was chosen a Director, dis- charging the functions with great acceptability until early in 1874, when he was elected its President. For the last- named position his sterling integrity and well known busi-

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ness capacity eminently fit him. He is public spirited and | others of his family, gave largely of his time and means to- enterprising, courteous to all, and a vigorous and active supporter of every publie improvement. wards the erection of a Parish Church, He was married, February 4th, 1799, to Mary, daughter of James May of Reading, and had seven children, three sons and four daughters, all of whom have died except the youngest daughter, Mrs. Wirt Robinson, of Richmond, Virginia. Ile died August 20th, 1852.

EIM, GENERAL GEORGE DE BENNEVILLE, Iron Manufacturer, was born in Reading, Penn- sylvania, December 16th, 1778, and was the second son of John and Susanna (de Benneville) Keim of that place. He received his education in the school held in the Friends' old meeting-

house. In 1798, he was taken into the iron business by his father, and continued with him until 1803, when the latter retired, leaving the management of the house to his sons. Ile extended his interests largely, until he became either sole or part owner of the Reading Furnace, Schuyl- kill Furnace, Charming Forge, Susan Forge, and Little Schuylkill Forge, In 1809, he entered into a eopartner- ship with William Allibone, of Philadelphia, in the buying and selling of breadstuffs, and in exporting largely to Liver- pool, England. This firm was dissolved by mutual consent, in 1814, owing to the condition of thing ; produced by the war with England. He took a lively interest in the de- velopment of Schuylkill county, and was among the first projectors of the Little Schuylkill Railroad & Navigation Company, the Mount Carbon, the Mine Hill and Schuyl- kill Haven Railroads, and was one of the incorporators and most active supporters of the Reading Railroad, Ile had been previously prominent in the Canal and Turnpike, superseded by this great corporation. Ile was Democratic in his political faith, hut at the same time earnest in advo- cating protection to home manufactures, and.was a member of the General Convention of the Friends of Domestic In- dustry, held in New York, October, 1831, where he pre- sented the report " On the product and manufacture of iron and steel." Though an ardent politician, he was no office- seeker, filling no position save that of Burgess of the Bo- rough, and President of the Town Council for a number of years. He was a warm personal and political friend of Governor Iliester, who, in 1821, appointed him as aide-de- emp on his staff, with the rank of Colonel. In 1830, he was elected Major-General of the Sixth Division-his op- ponent being Simon Cameron. Ile was President of the Branch Bank of Pennsylvania for over thirty years; and was also one of the founders of the Reading Water Com- pany, in 1822, For many years he was a Trustee of the Reading Academy, and also aided in the establishment of the Reading Female Seminary. Ile was President of the Youths' and Apprentices' Library. In 1819, he was instru- mental in organizing the Berks County Bible Society, and was also a Manager for many years; he was also President of the Reading Branch of the Pennsylvania Colonization Society. Ile was for a long time Senior Warden and a Vestryman of Christ Episcopal Church of Reading, and, with

URVIANCE, IION. JOIIN N., Lawyer, was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, September 27th, ISIO, IIe is a son of the late Colonel Jolin Purviance, one of the earliest settlers of Butler county, also an attorney-at-law by profession, and, during the War of 1812, Colonel of the 2d Regiment of Infantry ; the latter had married a daughter of Rev. Samuel Anderson, of Frederic City, Maryland. Ile received such education as the common schools and academies of the neighborhood afforded, and afterwards became a student at law in the office of the late Judge Bredin, and was admitted to practice at the bar in 1832. Soon after this date he was appointed Deputy Attorney- General by the late Chief Justice Lewis, and subsequently re-appointed by the late Hon. George M. Dallas. He con- tinued in the practice of his profession until 1845, when he received the appointment of Anditor-General of the Com- monwealth, at the hands of the late Governor Shunk, and was re-appointed in 1848. At the close of his official term he returned to his home in Butler county, where he resumed his legal business until the breaking out of the Rebellion. Then, true to his native instincts, he raised a company of infantry, was elected Captain, and served as such until the formation of the 13th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volun- teers, into which his command was merged, and in which he was elected Lieutenant-Colonel, serving in that capacity until mustered out of service by reason of the expiration of the term of enlistment. Ile again resumed the practice of the law, and continued until his appointment as Register in Bankruptcy, which he held for four years, and then re- signed, again returning to the bar, until he was nomi- nated and elected as one of the delegates, on the Repub- lican ticket, from the Twenty-sixth District, in the Conven- tion called to remodel the Constitution of Pennsylvania, which met in Harrisburg in the fall of 1872, and subse- quently adjourned to Philadelphia, continuing there until its close in the summer of 1873. In this body he par- ticipated in the various debates, taking a prominent part in the arduous labors which devolved upon its members. IIc was a member of the Committee on the Executive De- partment, and also on that of Accounts and Expenditures. In early life he was a member of the Democratic party, but abandoned the same when it adopted the pro-slavery dogmas, and gave in his adhesion to Republican principles. He was a member of the National Convention that nominated

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John Bromley

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Abraham Lincoln for President. In religious belief, he is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Ile is eminent as a lawyer, eloquent as a speaker, of incorruptible honesty, and regarded by all, whether among his own or the opposite party, as one possessing the strictest integrity, as a safe counsellor, and able defender of the right.

ROMLEY, JOIIN, Carpet Manufacturer, is a na- tive of the village of Hanging Ileaton, distant about seven miles from Leeds, England; and so termed from the circumstance of the houses being erected on the hill side, and the buildings thus literally overhanging the valley. lle was born there April 25th, 1800, and is the son of John Bromley, a woollen manufacturer, whose family for many generations back had been engaged in the same calling. John Brom- ley, the elder, sold the goods he manufactured at the Leeds Cloth IIall ; they embraced, among various articles, blankets, army goods, and particularly the gray top-coats of the sol- diers. IIe gave his son the ordinary school education of the day, and he also availed himself of the instructions of his brother who was possessed of attainments of a high order, and was a very successful teacher. He was edu- cated to the business so long followed by the family, and who were all noted for the excellence of their productions. Remaining with his father until he had reached his twenty- eighth year, he then commenced business on his own ac- count in his native village. Ile had the usual obstacles to encounter, but being possessed of indomitable energy, overcame them; and although several times on the verge of failing, succeeded in escaping'that fate, and triumphed at last. He found a market for his manufactures' in the north of England, and in Scotland. He had for some time only operated his works by hand; but a new factory was established to be propelled by steam-power, and he was invited to become a partner. After consulting with his father, who looked favorably upon the undertaking, he em- barked his capital in the establishment. It was a joint- stock concern, there being twenty-four persons participating therein, and traded under the style of Hirst, Mayman & Co. The elder John Bromley was one of the Managers, there being a committee appointed by the shareholders to superintend affairs, which served for three months. The wool was carded and pulled by steam-power, and then taken home, the remainder of the work being done by hand-power, each partner having his share of the work to be so performed. The works were sitnated at Batley Carr, near Dewsbury, and about a mile from Hanging Heaton. In the course of time the business languished, and the financial panie of 1837 brought matters to a close. After a period of inactivity, John Bromley resolved to try his fortunes in the New Would, and with his wife and family embarked from Liverpool in the " Shenandoah,"

one of Cope's line of packet ships, and after being fifty- seven days afloat, landed in Philadelphia, March 11th, 1841. HIe had brought a small amount of money with him, with which he embarked in the business of spinning carpet filling, locating himself at Little Falls, near Patterson, New Jersey; he had associated himself with another, but the business did not prove lucrative, and becoming dissatisfied, he returned to Philadelphia in 1845. In the old District of Kensington he settled down as a carpet-weaver, and by diligently laboring, and persevering through many difficul- ties, which he surmounted one by one, he found success gradually dawn upon him. Ile resolved to manufacture nothing but a good article of ingrain carpeting, and sold his products to the Ornes. Ile had rented a place where he erected his looms and employed as hands to work them his own boys. Gradually enlarging his operations, he manu- factured also Venetian carpeting. In 1859, he purchased a dye-house which had succumbed for want of the necessary capital to operate it, and into this he put thirty-eight looms. In a few years he found it necessary to enlarge it. ITis sons, who were now in partnership with him, urged him to build again. In 1868, this partnership was dissolved, and three of his sons erected a building for themselves

With a remaining son he continued operations at the old stand, and others have since associated with him. From the small beginning and the humble surroundings a quarter of a century ago, have grown the heavy operations carried on at the establishment at North Front and York streets, where 260 hands are employed, including many women and boys. Sixteen looms are propelled by steam power and ninety-nine by hand, which turn out every working day of the year 2500 yards of carpet, valued at $300,000. During the panics of 1857 and 1873, the works were continued in oper- ation. He has been married twice. Ilis first wife was Susannah, daughter of Joseph Day, to whom he was mar. ried in 1827, and who died in New Jersey. ITis second wife, to whom he was joined in 1843, was Lucinda Jane, daughter of Jacob Smalley, of Little Falls, New Jersey.

OMEROY, JOSEPII, Merchant, Banker, and Poli- tician, was born in Lurgan township, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, October 18th, 1804. Edu- cationally his advantages were only such as the common schools of the district afforded. While a mere boy he was placed in a store at Shippens- burg, Pennsylvania, where he acquired a thorough know- ledge of country business. Shortly after attaining his majority, that is, in 1826, he commenced business on his own account at Concord, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, continuing the same for twenty-five years, and becoming, in IS41, associated with William R. and John M. Pomeroy in a steam tannery at the same place. In April, 1851, he re- moved to Juniata county, where he had previously acquired

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considerable property, and where he still resides, conduct- ing a very large business in merchandizing, tanning, milling and farming. In 1867, he was elected President of the Juniata Valley Bank, Mifflintown, a position which he still holds. Ile has devoted considerable attention to politics, and has been the recipient of several marked tokens of favor from his party-the Republican. In 1831, he was elected to the State Legislature as Representative from Franklin county ; in 1861, Associate Judge of Juniata county, being the only successful nominee on the Republican ticket; and in 1872, the Representative of his Congressional District in the National Republican Convention held in Philadelphia in June of that year. le has been married four times ; on July 11th, 1826, to Eleanor, daughter of Robert Maclay, of Concord; on May 5th, 1847, to Ann B., daughter of Dr. Samuel Crawford, of Concord; on January 13th, 1857, to Jane E., daughter of David Maclay, of Franklin county ; on August 27th, 1868, to Mary S., daughter of John Stewart, formerly of Frederick county, Maryland. He is a man of extraordinary enterprise and energy, of firm convictions and great tenacity of purpose, combined with strong common sense, good judgment and excellent address. . To these qualities his success in life, which has been without inter- ruption, is wholly due, for he commenced. with limited means and only such friends ,as his talents and character had won.

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The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2, Part 7

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