Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Edward LONGSTRETH
Mr. Longstreth is one of the proprietors of the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia.
Edward Longstreth was brought up at the Homestead, and received a good English education at Ercildoun Friends' Boarding School. Having a decided taste for mechanics, he went to Philadelphia in 1857, being then eighteen, and began his apprenticeship with Mathias Baldwin, of the Baldwin Locomotive Works. Trained in habits of industry, punctuality and strict integrity, he carried these qualities into his new work. During the entire five years of his apprenticeship he never reported late for duty. When less than three years of his time had elapsed, and before he was yet of age, he was made assistant foreman of one of the departments, and eight months later became foreman of the second floor of the works. All the while he was working upon a gauge system, which he in time perfected. This gauge system makes it possible to fit together completed locomotives, and to replace broken parts, with extreme simplicity, and is one of the characteristic features of the Baldwin locomotives. He also patented locomotive trucks, and other appliances.
In August, 1867, he became foreman of the erecting shop, and in January, 1868; superintendent of the works. He was admitted into the firm in 1870, continuing his control of the mechanical and construction departments, which employed three thousand men. Because of impaired health, the consequence of close application to his onerous duties, he retired from active partnership in 1886.
He was interested in philanthropic and educational movements, and after his
retirement from business, gave much of his time to such matters. He was a liberal patron of the Spring Garden Institute, which conducts evening classes for young men, by which he himself had profited during his apprenticeship. He was vice-president of the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia; director of the Williamson Industrial School for Boys, being appointed by the will of the founder; director of the Delaware Insurance Company; member of the Merchants' Fund, a charitable organization of the Society of Friends; member of the Union League, and of the Engineers' Clu
He was a member, and for many years a trustee and director, of the Bucks County Historical Society, and took an active part in the work of preserving the records and archives of the county in which his ancestors had lived since the time of Penn. He gave to the Society the land on which to erect a building; he supplied the funds for the monument erected in 1902 on Old York Road in Warminster Township to mark the spot where John Fitch was sitting when he first conceived the idea of the steamboat (see page 64); for restoring the monument that marks the site of the skirmish of Crooked Billet, (see page 52); and for marking other historic places.
He was deeply interested in civic affairs, being one of the most energetic members of the Committee of One Hundred which defeated the corrupt political faction in Philadelphia in 1884. He was a lifelong member of the Society of Friends, having his membership at Fourth and Green Street Meeting.
He had a kind and generous nature, ready to extend a helping hand to young men beginning life, and to contribute to charitable and scientific enterprise. He was respected by his associates, and died lamented and honored by all.
The name of his wife, Anna W. Longstreth, stands as a milestone to mark the progress of woman's achievement, and is held in precious memory by her contemporaries. When leisure from household cares came to her, she turned her executive ability to that larger household, the community, where her service was greatly needed. She was active in various charitable associations, being especially interested in the welfare of homeless children. It was one of her fondest hopes that in time some means might be devised for providing individual homes for little waifs instead of gathering them into institutions. She was prominent in the history of women's clubs, being long identified with the New Century Club of Philadelphia, one of the oldest and most influential of these clubs. For three years (the unwritten law of limitation) she was its president, and for many years a director; and her policy is still noticeable in its managemen
Extending her executive power beyond the limits of her own club, she supervised the formation of the State Federation of Pennsylvania Women; she was deeply interested in the General Federation of Women's Clubs, which embraces the whole country. As the leader of the local committee, she planned and helped to carry out its third biennial meeting held in Philadelphia
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