Andrew McCalla
Eastwick
Locomotive Builder
Excerpt from Encyclopedia
of Pennsylvania Biography, p. 10 – 12.
To
none of the men who have helped to make her history does Philadelphia revert
with a more just and laudable pride than that with which she cherishes the
memory of those captains of industry to whom she owes, in great measure, her
international renown. In this group stands the late Andrew McCalla Eastwick, of
the firm of Eastwick & Harrison, of world-wide reputation as builders of
locomotives. As a citizen Mr. Eastwick was notable for public spirit.
Andrew
McCalla Eastwick. son of Thomas and Margaret (McCalla) Eastwick. was born
September 14, 1810, in Philadelphia. and attended the public schools until his
twelfth year. His first employment was in a machine shop, and while working
through the day he attended night school. He next entered the service of Philip
Garrett, a locomotive builder. of Philadelphia, and ere long was advanced to
the position of foreman. At the age of twenty-one, he was admitted to
partnership, the firm name being Garrett & Eastwick, noted locomotive
builders. In 1835 they took as foreman the late Joseph Harrison, and in 1837,
when Mr. Garrett retired, Mr. Eastwick admitted Mr. Harrison to partnership,
forming the firm of Eastwick & Harrison. In 1840 two Russian engineers
(Colonels Melnckoff and Kroft). travelling in the United States, were so
favorably impressed with the locomotives built by Eastwick & Harrison that
they carried the plans to their own country, where they were found so
satisfactory that the builders were inquired for. After many negotiations, Mr.
Eastwick and Mr. Harrison, both of Philadelphia, and Thomas Winans, of
Baltimore, entered into contract in the sum of three million dollars with the
Russian Government through its agent. Major George Whistler, father of the
distinguished artist, James Whistler, to build the locomotives and rolling
stock for the St. Petersburg and Moscow railway. This was in 1844, and the same
year Mr. Eastwick went to Russia. The success of the undertaking won the favor
of Emperor Nicholas, and other contracts followed, but at the end of the first
contract, in 1849, Mr. Eastwick returned to Philadelphia. having retired from
active business, severing his connection with the firm. He continued, however,
to interest himself in business matters, notably in the City Bank of Philadelphia,
of which he became president. Always public-spirited, he became, after the
consolidation of the city, a member of the Common Council from the
Twenty-second Ward. In politics, he was first a Whig and later a Republican,
and was one of the original members of the Union League and an active member of
The State in Schuylkill. He and his family were members of St. James'
Protestant Episcopal Church, Kingsessing, of which he was a vestryman. To his
talents as a business man Mr. Eastwick joined those of an inventor. To him the
world is indebted for what is known as the equalizing beam which is used
universally on all locomotives made at the present day.
After
his return to the United States Mr. Eastwick was able to fulfill a long
cherished desire of his boyhood days, which was to own Bartram's Gardens on the
banks of the Schuylkill river. In 1850 he purchased this estate of the
descendants of John Bartram, the well-known botanist, and lived in the old
Bartram house (built of stone in 1770 and still standing) while he built a
modern one to suit the requirements of his family. In this house, which was
called Bartram Hall, they took up their abode its 1851, and it was there that
Mr. Eastwick spent the remaining years of his life. On his return from Russia
he brought with him much statuary, and his widow presented to the city two
large iron lions which had been cast in the locomotive works at Alexandrovski,
three miles from St. Petersburg. These lions are now in front of Memorial Hall
in Fairmount Park. After Mr. Eastwick's death the city of Philadelphia. through
Councilman Thomas Meehan, who had at one time been his head gardener, acquired
for a city park a portion of the Bartram place. including the old Bartram house
and gardens and a few acres surrounding them.
Andrew
McCalla Eastwick was a man of genial disposition, and his home, Bartram Hall,
was the seat of a gracious hospitality. It was there that he breathed his last
on February 8, 1879, his widow passing away on December 15, 1890.
Mr.
Eastwick married, April 12, 1832, in Philadelphia, Lydia Anne James, of
Colonial descent, born February 14, 1815, in that city, daughter of John and
Maria T. (Quicksall) James. Mr. and Mrs. Eastwick were the parents of fourteen
children, ten of whom married and left descendants, as follows:ÉÉ
EastwickÕs Bartram Hall,
Philadelphia - adjoined Bartram
Gardens, 1865 Source: Unknown
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