Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Eli Kirk PRICE
"PRICE, Eli Kirk, lawyer, born in Bradford, Chester County, Pennsylvania, 20 July, 1797 ; died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 14 November, 1884. His ancestor, Philip, a Welsh Quaker, came to this country with William Penn, and settled on a tract of 1,000 acres in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania Eli was educated in his native county, and entered the shipping-house of Thomas P. Coke in 1815, but abandoned merchandise for law, and became a student in the office of John Sergeant. He was admitted to the bar in 1822, and soon established a reputation as a chancery and real-estate lawyer. It is said that no other member of the Philadelphia bar was ever intrusted with so large a number of valuable estates. He was in active practice for sixty years, and had little to do with politics, except as a member of the state senate in 1854-'7. During this service he was the author of several acts for the better security of real-estate titles and the rights of married women, and originated and secured the passage of the "Consolidation Act," by which the towns that are included in the present city of Philadelphia were united in one municipal government. The year before his election to the senate he framed and succeeded in making a law that is known as the " Price Act," relating to the sale and conveyance of real estate. He was an originator of Fair-mount park, and a commissioner from its foundation in 1867, and as chairman of its committee on the purchase of real estate examined all the titles of lands that were inclosed within its borders and acquired by the city of Philadelphia. He was an active member of the American philosophical society and a constant contributor to its " Transactions," a member of several foreign scientific and literary societies, president of the University hospital, of the Preston retreat, of the Pennsylvania colonization society, and of the Numismatic and antiquarian society, a vice-president of the American philosophical society, and a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania.
He published "Law of Limitations and Liens against Real Estate" (Philadelphia, 1851); several treatises that were contributed to the American philosophical society; and the memorial volumes "Philip and Rachel Price " (printed privately, 1852); " Rebecca" (1862); and the "Centennial Meeting of the Descendants of Philip and Rachel Price" (1864). See a " Memoir" by James T. Rothrock (Philadelphia, 1886), and "Address on the late Eli K. Price," delivered by Benjamin It. Brewster before the Bar association of Philadelphia (1886)."
ELI KIRK PRICE was born July 20th, 1797, in East Bradford, Chester County, Pennsylvania, two miles south-west of the town of West Chester, in view of the Brandywine battle-field. He is a son of Philip and Rachel Price, one of a family of eleven children, ten of whom—five sons and five daughters—grew up and married. His ancestry on both sides were members of the Society of Friends. He received his primary education in a country school, which was supplemented by a year's residence at the West-Town Boarding School, then and now under the patronage and direction of the Friends. On leaving the latter, he entered the store of his brother-in-law, John W. Townsend, at West Chester, where he remained for twelve months. In the spring of 1815, shortly after the receipt of news that a treaty of peace had been signed between the United States and Great Britain, he repaired to Philadelphia, where he obtained a position in the counting-house of Thomas P. Cope, with whom he remained for some time. He then passed a year in the silk store of Isaac C. Jones, Oakford & Co. When he had attained his majority, he had decided to make his start in the world, but found the times were unpropitious. Having already some knowledge of Commercial Law, he resolved thenceforth to devote himself to the legal profession, and in 1819, entered the office of Hon. John Sergeant. Here he applied himself so closely to study as to seriously impair his health, to restore which he look a trip to Europe in 1821, being absent about six months, nearly half of which time was passed upon the ocean, voyages in those days being dependent solely upon the winds. Shortly after his return, he was admitted to practice at the bar, May 28th, 1822, where, for over a half century, he has pursued his calling in the civil courts, and is yet (1873) an active member of the profession. In 1850, he was sent in conjunction with Judge Cadwalader to Harrisburgh, and placed before the members of both houses, assembled in conference, several weighty arguments why the city and county of Philadelphia, then consisting of a dozen separate and distinct municipalities, should be consolidated: but no definite action was taken at that time. The inhabitants of the "city proper" had been subjected to a bitter experience by the incursions of the lawless, and riot, arson, and murder were constantly on the increase. The consequence was that a number of leading citizens met in council, and, forgetting political differences, labored side by side for the common good. It was early seen that nothing but the most stringent legislative action could effect the end desired; and the committee who had the matter in charge, insisted that to the subject of this sketch should be confided the representation of the old city in the State Senate. Though he was exceedingly averse to this position, yet through the influence of his friends, and, above all, by an eloquent letter written with this view by Hon. Horace Binney, he reluctantly yielded. He was triumphantly elected, and his first act, after the organization of the Senate was affected, was to place before that body a carefully prepared memorial, urging consolidation of the several municipal districts and townships of the county with the (old) city of Philadelphia. On the l8th of January, less than a fortnight after the meeting of the Legislature, it passed the upper house unanimously. Subsequently, with a few alterations, which the Senate accepted, it passed the lower house, and on the 2d of February following became a law. During his three years' service in the Senate he was instrumental in perfecting, beside the great Act of Consolidation, several important statutes for the improvement of the law, especially with a view to the security of Land Titles and to the unfettering and freer alienation of Real Estate. He has furnished the profession with a work On Limitations and Liens, and the public with numerous essays and addresses published in pamphlet form, and in the present year (1873) with The City's Consolidation. He has also prepared and printed, for private circulation, The Life of Philip and Sachet Price, his parents, (1852,) one hundred and ninety-two pages; Rebecca, (1861,) being the life of his daughter; and The Family, as an element of government, being two essays read before the American Philosophical Society, in which work is also contained an account of his ancestry read before a meeting of the family descendants, on the occasion of the centennial anniversary of his father's birth. He is a member of the American Philosophical Society; of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society, and, at present (1873), its presiding officer; besides of several charitable bodies. He was married in June 1828, to Anna, daughter of James and Rebecca Embree, of Chester County, whom he survives. By this union he lost his membership in the Society of Friends, although he is in the habit of worshipping with that society on every first day in the week.
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