The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2, Part 78

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 78

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On his retirement in 1849, he again devoted his time to | and courteously declined. Ilaving graduated among the business pursuits, being also interested in internal improve- ments and finance. In 1857, he was elected for the second time to the United States Senate for six years, but resigned in IS61 to become Secretary of War under President Lin- coln. Ilis views, especially with regard to the enrolment of the negroes in the army, being at variance with those of the administration, he resigned, and accepted the appoint- ment of Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia. While at St. Petersburgh, his fears were aroused for the success of the Federal arms, and deeming the situation critical, he re- signed his office, returned to America, and from thence up to the end of the war exerted himself most strenuously in the Union cause. In 1867, he was elected for the third time to the United States Senate, and became a member of the Committees on Foreign Relations, Military Affairs, and Ordnance, and Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture. In I873 he was re-elected. lle was one of the founders of the Republican party, and in 1860 was a candidate for nomination to the Presidency.

OODS, GEORGE, LL. D., Chancellor of the Western University of Pennsylvania, was born € January 24th, 1812, in what is now called Yar- mouth, on Casco bay, eleven miles from Portland, Maine. Ilis father, Joseph Woods, of Scotch descent, was an industrious and pious mechanic, and possessing a large library, stored his own mind from its contents, while stimulating his children to improve their literary taste by well-directed studies and reading; he was warmly interested in educational matters, and was one of the first contributors to the endowment of the well-known North Varmonth Academy. Ilis mother, Elizabeth Woods, was of English extraction, a woman of great beauty, marked and estimable characteristics, from whom he re- ceived much aid and encouragement in his efforts to obtain a thorough education. The public schools then afforded but limited educational advantages, and were in session for two months only in the year, the major portion of the pupils being occupied for the remainder in farm labor. At one period, while attending a private school, he was advised to pursue a collegiate course, and when in his seventeenth year, he became a pupil at the academy situated near his home, in the meantime applying himself to work in order to pay the expenses attending his course. In 1833, he entered Bowdoin College, with only twenty dollars to call his own, but by labor and teaching, he succeeded in defraying all his expenses with the single exception of one hundred dol- lars, a debt with which he was encumbered at the date of liis graduation. A number of gentlemen whose attention had been attracted by his extraordinary efforts, learning of that debt, voluntarily offered him aid, which he uniformly

first of the large class of 1837, he turned to account the reputation he had already acquired as a teacher, and from the many positions tendered him, selected a situation in the Gorham Seminary, at that time the most flourishing in- stitution of its grade in the State. In 1839, he left Gorham, having with him high testimonials from the Board, to accept the Chair of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in Jack- son College, at Columbia, Tennessee, under the President of which he had fitted himself for college. The financial distress of Jackson College caused him to withdraw in 1841, and his health having suffered from close application to study, he spent the year following at Andover Seminary and in attendance upon lectures in Boston. From the date of his graduation he had received repeated invitations to assume the principalship of the academy in his native town, which has risen to a high rank among its kindred institu- tions. Liberal offers coupled with his interest in his native place induced his acceptance in 1842, and though still suf- fering from impaired health, he entered with great vigor upon the discharge of his duties. Students were attracted from the various States, also from Cuba and St. Domingo, and the academy was speedily acknowledged to be with- out a superior in the State. Ile continued there until 1854, and afterwards received invitations from various educational institutions, including one under the control of a sect dif- fering widely from him in religious belief, but which ten- dered him absolute control for ten years of property, in- come, and a large endowment to be increased by many thousands of dollars. lle taught for two years at Auburn, Maine, after which one year was spent in business in Port- land. In 1859, without his solicitation, he was nani- mously elected Principal of the Western University of Pennsylvania, located at Pittsburgh. This institution had suffered from two disastrous fires, and mismanagement, hav- ing been suspended from 1849 to 1856. He took charge with the prejudices of the community against it, with but thirty-five pupils, two full teachers, and two instructors in the modern languages ; the whole property of the University was not worth over $50,000, and it had no classes in the collegiate course. Under his able administration it has steadily grown, until it now numbers sixteen professors and over 200 students in the preparatory, collegiate, engineer- ing and scientific departments and has a property worth $350,000. In 1863, he received the degree of LL. D. from Jefferson College. lle excels in executive ability, and clearness in imparting instruction. As a lecturer his powers are frequently called into requisition, and, in addi- tion to the many pubhe addresses which have been pub- lished, he has contributed largely to various journals. Ilis writings evince deep and earnest thought, and are received with great avidity by numerous admirers. Ile was mar- ried in 1843, and from this first marriage sprang five children, three of whom are living; he was again mar- ried in 1964, and by this relation has three children.

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LUMER, W. II., Banker, is one of the prominent | to the stock of the corporation. Ile was married, in 1851, residents of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Ile is to a daughter of the late William Iback, a well-known citizen of Lancaster, and has a family consisting of four children. largely the architect of his own fortunes, and, while attending energetically to the promotion of his own interests, has always labored for the material and moral advancement of the commu- nity in which he dwells. No public work has been pro- jected that has not found in him an earnest and generous helper, and no scheme of practical benevolence has failed to obtain his support. As a banker, he has enjoyed many opportunities to aid in the development of the resources of the district, and these he has always availed himself of as becomes a public-spirited citizen. He is a man of firm and decided character, of unquestioned integrity and honor, of enlightened and progressive ideas, and is held in high estimation in a wide circle.

ITNER, C. AUGUSTUS, Merchant, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, January 14th, 1830, his father, an American citizen of German descent, having been a greatly respected resident of the place for many years. He was educated in the private schools of his native city, and at an early day obtained employment upon the line of the Penn- sylvania Railroad. Noting the necessity for better and more complete facilities for transporting produce and sup- plies to and from Lancaster and its neighborhood, he started a market car, and even at the outset met with great success. In 18448, he became associated in partnership with his brother, John R. Bitner, in the same enterprise, and the business was prosecuted with marked energy and prosperity for many years. He has large monied interests in numerous different manufacturing enterprises, among which are the Lancaster Manufacturing Company and the Lancaster Bolt Works, in both of which corporations he is a Director. He is also a Director in the Board of Management of the Lancaster & Millersville Railroad, and the Lancaster & Quarryville Railroad. He is one of the Board of Directors of the Northern Market House Com- pany, and of the Lancaster Hotel Company. For several years he was a member of the City Councils, and is now Chairman of the Board of Street Commissioners. IIe is extensively engaged in real estate transactions, and has done much to beautify and to advance the material interests of his native city, by the erection of numerous handsome and substantial buildings. Ile has, moreover, a large amount of capital embarked in the coal trade, in which his business is very extensive, his sales amounting to up- ward of 20,000 tons per annum. Ile is noted for his liberality in all commendable measures brought to his notice, and donated the ground upon which the works of the Adams & Perry Watch Company are to be erected, and, in addition to that munificent gift, subscribed largely

PRECIIER, GUSTAVUS ADOLPHIUS, M. D., Physician, was born in Chambersburg, Pennsyl- vania, August 4th, 1844. Ile is the son of Rev. Dr. S. Sprecher, President of Wittenburg Col- lege, Springfield, Ohio; nephew of the late Rev. Dr. S. Schmucher, Principal of the Theological Seminary of Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, Pennsyl- vania, aud brother of Rev. S. P. Sprecher, of Utica, New York, an eminent Presbyterian divine. He graduated at Wittenburg College, and began immediately the study of medicine. During his course he suffered greatly from acute rheumatism, and after using, in vain, the usual remedies, accidentally began the use of electricity, with which he effected an immediate cure. This led him to investigate the electric method as a curative agent, and upon the completion of his medical course he applied him- self to the study of this new branch, and thoroughly mas- tering its details and application he determined to make a specialization of its practice. He engaged actively in the prosecution of his professional line, and in a very short time acquired a most extensive and lucrative connection, in which he is still engaged. During the war, he served in the Union army, for three years, as Hospital Steward of the 17th Ohio Volunteer Battery. He is Vice-President of the Local Land Improvement Company of his city, and a Past Officer in a number of secret societies.

OWE, HON. THOMAS M., Merchant, Banker, and Statesman, was born in Williamstown, Orange county, Vermont, April 20th, 1SOS. Ilis father, Thomas Howe, was a native of West- moreland, New Hampshire, who removed to Vermont about 1Soo; his mother, Clarissa (How- ard), born in Windham county, Connecticut, was mar- ried, at Williamstown, Vermont, January Ist, 1806, to Thomas Howe, who, removing in 1817 to Bloomfield, Ohio, was repeatedly elected a member of the State Legis- lature. Thomas M. received a classical education at the Warren Academy, and after serving for a few years as a store clerk, settled, in March, 1829, in Pittsburgh. Here he engaged himself as clerk in a wholesale dry goods house at a salary of $350 per annum. In 1833, he com- menced business for himself, prosecuting it with success until 1839, when he accepted the Cashiership of the Ex- change Bank, now the Exchange National Bank, of Pitts- burgh. As Cashier and President, he remained with this institution for over twenty years, and to his management

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is universally ascribed its subsequent great success. Ile | in Juniata county. He continued teaching until the break- has recently been extensively engaged in mining and manufacturing operations, and early appreciated the value of the mineral seetion of the southern shore of Lake Superior, and, with six others, sunk the first regular shaft there in 1844, near the present Light House at Copper IIarbor. For over twenty-five years he was a Director and Treasurer of the prosperous Pittsburgh & Boston Min- ing Company. He was an original proprietor of the Penn Cotton Mill, and, after the development of copper on Lake Superior, he, with Rev. Charles Avery and Dr. C. G. Hussey, under the firm-name of C. G. Hussey & Co., commeneed, and still continues, the manufacture of copper. With Dr. Hussey, he also projected the large steel manu- facturing establishment now operated by Hussey, Wells & Co. ; and, associated with General J. K. Moorhead and his brother, Joel B., and other prominent men, perfected the Monongahela Slack Water Improvement to Browns- ville. In 1850, he was elected to Congress, and re-elected in IS52. In 1860, he was a member of the Electoral College, which cast Pennsylvania's Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. During the war, as Chairman of the Allegheny County Committee to Promote the, Recruiting for the Union Army, he evinced sterling loyalty and generous energy in aiding the Government in various. efficient ways. *

cFARLAND, COL. GEORGE; F., Teacher, Edi- tor, Soldier, etc., was born in Swatara township, Pennsylvania, April 28th, 1834. His parents,' John McFarland, for about eighteen years a teacher, and Elizabeth (Fisher), were both of Scotch descent. Ilis limited education he ac- quired at the common schools during the intervals of farm labor. Hle profited so well by his instruction that, at the age of sixteen, he became the teacher of a select school, where he remained for several years. When nineteen years old, he employed part of bis earnings to pay for eighteen months attendance at the Freeburg Academy. For a year and a half after, he was employed as a ticket agent at Lewistown, Pennsylvania. On March 20th, 1856, he mar- ried Addie D. Griesemer, of Berks county, and commenced OIINSON, HON. SAMUEL PORTER, Lawyer and Judge, was born in Venango county, Penn- sylvania, January 31st, 1809. He is the second son of the Rev. Robert Johnson, who was one of the pioneer Presbyterian preachers in north- western Pennsylvania, commencing in ISor, and officiating a> pastor for more than fifty years. He received a liberal education, and finally graduated at Jefferson Col- lege, in 1830. Shortly after, he took charge of an academy at New Berlin, Union county, Pennsylvania, and, a year later, became Principal of the Academy at Danville, then Columbia, now Montour county, which institution he con- wedded life with a capital of fifty-three dollars. His repu- tation was such, however, that the Trustees of the Freeburg Academy, of which he assumed change, leased the school to him for four years, upon his personal security. The undertaking, though heavy, he bravely sustained, for he was used to responsibility and struggles, having from the age of fourteen been obliged to earn his own living and to assist his family ; when fifteen years old he ran a canal boat, and his first book was purchased with the proceeds of the sale of a load of chips. He remained in Freeburg until Decem. ber, 1858, making a success of his Institute, and saving sufficient money to purchase the McAllisterville Academy, ducted successfully until the summer of 1833. In the

ing ont of the Civil War, when he recruited a company from his pupils, other students and fellow-teachers, and entered the 151st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, of which he was elected Lieutenant-Colonel. ITis military record and the deeds of his command have earned an enviable place in history. In many well-fought battles he led his men and proved his valor and ability. At Gettysburg, 466 men and 21 officers of his regiment went into action, and only 113 men and 7 officers lived to answer roll-call at the close of the day; he himself was severely wounded, being shot in both legs ; the bones of the left were shattered, and amputation of the right limb below the knee was necessary. . For eleven months he was confined to his bed, but a good constitution, the result of a perfectly temperate life, enabled him to regain health, and he continued his avocation of teacher" even when prostrated, his pupils coming to the bedside to recite. In April, 1864, he was appointed Clerk in the State Statistical Department, his helpful wife going to Harrisburg for reports which he compiled in bed and published. He continued thus employed until the organi- zation of the Soldiers' Orphans' Schools, October 7th, 4. 1864, the changed his institute into such a school, being the

first to inaugurate the noble system in this State. Indeed, he may be called the originator of the benevolence. Ile prepared the act authorizing them, which was passed almost without amendment, and gave his time, labor, money and influence to perfect the system; to him it was a work of patriotism and self-sacrificing love, nobly and thoroughly performed. * Ile is ever active with pen and voice in behalf of education, temperance, and morality, every moment of his time that can be spared from his business-he owns an extensive nursery and florist establishment-being de- voted to the public good. He has delivered many ad- dresses ; his oration at Gettysburg, July 31st, 1866, being an especially able and eloquent effort. As editor of the Temperance Vindicator, he has built up its circulation from 300 to 5000. Ile never wearies in doing good and is ably assisted by his family, consisting of his wife, two sons, and two daughters.

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meantime, he studied law under Hon. Robert C. Grier, late | ok] Anti-Slavery party, and was a Delegate to the Buffalo Judge of the United States Supreme Court, and was ad- Convention that nominated Martin Van Buren as a candi- mitted to the bar at Sunbury, Northumberland county, ! date for the Presidency. In 1850, he was induced to Pennsylvania, November 3d, 1833. Returning to Venango, Franklin county, he commenced his professional career and met with merited success. In September, 1834, he removed to Warren, Pennsylvania, and associated himself in practice with Thomas Struthers :. He soon extended his connection into all of the surrounding counties, and attended the various courts punctually for nearly a quarter of a century. In 1840, he organized the new firm of Johnson & Brown, and continued in extensive practice until he was elected, in 1860, to the President Judgeship of the Sixth Judicial Dis- trict of Pennsylvania, composed of Erie, Crawford, Warren, and, later, Elk counties. In IS70, he declined a renomina- tion and resumed his labors at the bar, his practice extend- ing ultimately over six counties and into the United States courts, in which he is still actively engaged, and distinguished for his talents and abilities. Ile has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for several years past, and is a gene- rous contributor to all religious, charitable, and educational enterprises. He was a member of the Whig party during its existence, and, since its dissolution, has been attached to the Republican organization. In 1837, he was married to the daughter of Dr. Laben Hazeltine, of Jamestown, New York ; she, dying in 1858, left four children; in 1859, he was again married to a sister of his partner (Mr. Brown), then a widow with one son, who is now a practising lawyer in the city of Erie, Pennsylvania.

assume the editorship of the Youngsville Express, in War- ren county, continuing at the same time his professional labors. At the end of two years that journal was consoli- dated with the Warren Mail, and being interested in pro- perty in Lawnville, Crawford county, he removed thither, and engaged in a general country mercantile business. Later, connected with Orange Noble, he engaged in the extensive manufacture of dressed hogshead staves for the West India market. Upon the development of petroleum in the adjoining county of Venango, in 1859, the firm of Noble & Delamater began to operate as oil merchants, sinking several wells, and in May, 1863, striking the re- nowned Noble Well, the largest ever struck in the Penn- sylvania Oil Region. Rapidly accumulating a large for -. tune in this enterprise, the latter partner withdrew almost entirely from the oil business, and, purchasing a superb home in Meadville, devoted himself to the education of his children. In 1870, he received the Republican nomi- nation of the Twenty-ninth District for the State Senate, and was elected over J. Ross Thompson, of Erie county. Declining a renomination, he returned to the enjoyment of the tranquil life which it has ever been his desire to lead. IIe has been engaged in many of the most extensive and useful branches of industry in northwestern Pennsylvania; is a quarter owner of the Erie Blast Furnace; is interested in the Erie Rolling Mill, and importantly identified with several banking enterprises. He is interested also in the mining of coal and of iron ore in the Superior Region. Ile was one of the projectors of the Shenango & Allegheny Railroad, is one of the principal owners of its securities, and is among the largest of the holders of real estate in Meadville. At the present time he is Acting President of the Board of Directors of Allegheny College, and a Trustee of Oberlin College, Ohio. Ile was married, March 24th, 1847, to Susan C., daughter of Noah Town, of Towns- ville, Crawford county, by whom he has had four children -three sons and one daughter.

ELAMATER, HON. GEORGE B., Lawyer, was born in Whitehall, New York, January 14th, IS21. llis family is of French Hugnenot ex- traction, and his ancestors came to this country from Holland, about 1656. Originally the name was De Le Maitre, and the founder of the family in America was Israel De Le Maitre, who settled in Ulster county, New York, and whose life, with a notice of his progeny, was published in the Historical New England Genealogical Register, vol. xiv., issued in 1860. Ilis father, Thomas Delamater, was an early settler of Craw- ford county; his mother, Martha Day, was a resident of MITHI, JOHN COLEV, A. M., Principal of the Iron City Business College, Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania, was born in Mariaville, Schenectady county, New York, September 29th, IS23. Ilis education was received at Hamilton College, of which institution he is a graduate. He considers himself a self-educated man, however. After leaving col- lege he tanght common school at Sharon, Schoharie county, New York, and left there to become Principal of the Union Schools of a town in Montgomery county ; was afterwards Principal of the Union School at Rome, Oncida county ; Granville, New York. He was educated irregularly at an academie institution in Waterford, and in the preparatory de- partment of Oberlin College. After leaving the latter institution, he continued his studies under Dr. Barker, President of the Allegheny College at Meadville, and, at a later date, commenced the study of the law with Hon. John Furnalley, but without purposing definitely to become an active practitioner. In 1847, he was admitted to the Crawford county bar, and practised his profession in Mead- ville for almost two years. Interesting himself in politics, he beeine one of the organizers in Crawford county of the . Professor of English Literature in Carlisle Seminary, Scho-

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harie county, and Professor of Mathematics in Fairfield [ of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and Seminary, Herkimer county, all in his native State. In by his conscientious and skilful management, as well as by the personal influence he exerts as a man of superior abilities and an author of numerous works of deep learning and great value, he greatly benefits the whole denomination which he represents. January, 1840, he married the eldest daughter of Samuel Hayes, M. D., of Newark, New Jersey. 1857, he came to Pittsburgh to take charge of the book- keeping department of the Iron City Business College, which had then been in existence three years. Three years later, he became a partner in and associate principal of the college. It had, to that time, been a financial failure, but the new management brought liberal patronage from all parts of the country: Eighteen thousand young men have graduated from it during the twenty years of its existence, two thousand of whom are engaged in various callings in the city of Pittsburgh alone, many of them being successful merchants, bankers, railroad officials, etc. In 1870, Pro- fessor Smith became the sole proprietor and principal of the college.

ACOBUS, MELANCTHON WILLIAMS, D. D., LL. D., was born at Newark, New Jersey, Sep- tember 19th, 1816. Ile was the eldest son of Peter and Phoebe (Williams) Jacobus. In his fifteenth year, he entered Princeton College, Sophomore class, and three years later graduated with first honors from that institution. One year later, he matriculated at the Theological Seminary at Princeton, and on completing his course was appointed Assistant Professor in the Hebrew Department. Here he remained a year, when, in answer to a unanimous call, he assumed charge of the First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, New York. Ile was installed in 1839, and to him .this church owes its perpetuity and success. In 1850, his health failing, he visited Europe, and, with his wife, went into Egypt, Pales- tine and Syria, returning home by way of Constantinople and Greece. During his absence he was elected Professor of Oriental and Biblical Literature in the Theological Semi- nary at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Resigning his ministerial work, he assumed the duties of his chair in 1852, and con- tinued actively engaged therein until ill health obliged him, in 1866, to make a second tour in Europe. Ile is the author of many and valuable works upon theological sub- jects ; in 1848, he published a volume of Notes on the New Testament, entitled Matthew with the Harmony ; sub- sequently, The Catechetical Question Book, Mark and Luke, a Commentary on St. John's Gospels, and The Acts of the Apostles. In 1864-'65, two volumes on Genesis were issued by him, and, in 1873, the first volume on Exodus, entitled Egypt to Sinai. These, with many other works and pam- phlets, are now accepted as among the standard theological literature of the day. In 1852, the degree of D. I). was conferred upon him by Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, and in 1867 he was created an LL. D. by his alma mater. At the General Assembly of the Old School Presbyterian Church, in New York, May, 1869, he was chosen Modera- tor, and he also occupied a most important position in the Assembly of 1870. He now fills the position of Secretary

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The Biographical encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2, Part 78

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