Background
William Lukens Elkins was born near Wheeling, West Virginia, the seventh and youngest child of George Elkins, a pioneer paper manufacturer in the United States, and his wife Susanna Howell.
Businessman investor art collector
William Lukens Elkins was born near Wheeling, West Virginia, the seventh and youngest child of George Elkins, a pioneer paper manufacturer in the United States, and his wife Susanna Howell.
He received his education in the public schools of Philadelphia, whither the family had moved in 1840.
In 1847 he left school and started to work as clerk in a grocery store.
In 1852 he went to New York City for a year where he engaged in the produce business.
Returning to Philadelphia, he formed a partnership with Peter Sayboldt under the firm name of Sayboldt & Elkins in the same line of business.
As the firm prospered it soon became necessary to keep perishable fruit for long periods.
To do this Elkins built the first large refrigerator in Philadelphia.
In 1860 he bought out his partner and continued the business under his own name until other activities forced him to abandon it.
While residing in New Mexico he became a large landowner and an extensive owner of mines in Colorado.
For a time after 1876 he devoted his attention to legal practise and the presidency of the Santa Fe First National Bank, which he had founded.
He also had a business office and a winter home in New York in connection with certain land, coal, and railroad interests.
After 1890 he became interested in options on large tracts of coal lands on the Monongahela near Morgantown.
In 1902 he purchased the Morgantown & Kingwood Railroad and by 1907 had completed it eastward to connect with the Baltimore & Ohio at Rowlesburg and made it a valuable factor in the industrial development of the region.
He also had an interest with Henry G. Davis in the Coal & Coke Railway.
In national politics Elkins became prominent in 1884, as adviser and political lieutenant of James G. Blaine, the Republican candidate for president.
For three successive presidential campaigns he was a member of the Republican National Committee.
In 1888 he extended his reputation in West Virginia by speeches on the tariff and by a forcible, practical address on American civilization before the literary societies of West Virginia University.
In December 1891 he was appointed secretary of war and served until the close of Harrison’s administration.
In February 1895 he was elected to the United States Senate, defeating J. N. Camden, the Democrat candidate.
Pennsylvania he made a thorough survey of the oil region, organized many oil companies between 1861 and 1880, and operated extensively in the industry.
In 1875 he became a partner in the Standard Oil Company but disposed of this interest in 1880.
After spending some time in the oilfields he concluded that the refining of the oil for illuminating purposes offered tremendous opportunities for profit if it could be conducted on a sufficiently large scale.
He therefore established a small refinery in Philadelphia and as opportunities arose acquired or built others until he controlled the oil-refining business in that city.
The first gasoline made was the product of one of his refineries.
In 1873, in addition to his other enterprises, he became engaged in the manufacture of illuminating gas.
He secured an interest in a number of gas works throughout the United States, and was one of the organizers of the United Gas & Improvement Company.
In the same year he also became interested in street railways as an investment and was one of the organizers of the Philadelphia Traction Company, later the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company.
In the course of a few years he was connected with similar companies in New York City, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
His investments in street railways in Philadelphia led him to engage in developing the outlying parts of that city.
With P. A. B. Widener he purchased large tracts of land in the northwest section, erecting thereon some three thousand homes.
He also took a keen interest in civic affairs and served one term in City Council in 1876.
In 1873 he was a commissioner to the Vienna Exposition and in 1900 went in a similar capacity to the Paris Exposition.
He also served as an aide-de-camp with the rank of colonel on the staff of Governor J. F. Hartranft of Pennsylvania (1874 - 79).
He might have held other offices but cared more for his home and his business.
At the time of his death he was a director in twenty-four corporations and left a fortune estimated at $25, 000, 000.
He actively aided the construction of the West Virginia Central & Pittsburgh Railroad (Western Maryland) of which he was vice-president. He was considered one of the most successful and sagacious capitalists of Philadelphia and the varied character of his activities bears witness to his remarkable executive ability.
As head of the committee on interstate commerce he had charge of measures designed to remove the railroads from politics, to reform and punish abuses in transportation, and to secure larger covery of petroleum.
Besides accumulating a very valuable art collection he established a prize of $5, 000 for the most meritorious painting exhibited by an American artist at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
United States Senate
Santa Fe First National Bank
He actively aided the construction of the West Virginia Central & Pittsburgh Railroad (Western Maryland) of which he was vice-president.
member of the Republican National Committee
head of the committee on interstate commerce
In the Senate he carefully studied the larger legislative questions, and by his commanding personality combined with genial good nature, courtesy, and optimism he won a leadership especially in commercial and business affairs.
He possessed a sturdy physique, and was affable and hearty in manner.
On January 21, 1857, he married Maria Louise Broomall of Chester County, Pa. , by whom he had two sons and two daughters.
His later life was influenced by his second marriage, on April 14, 1875, at Baltimore, Maryland, to Hallie, daughter of United States Senator Henry G. Davis.
(1859-1904, married to Sydney Fredrick Taylor)
(1863-1892, married to Kate Felton)
(1858 married Stella E. McIntire)
(1861, married to George Dunton Widener)
