BIO: Thomas ELDER, Dauphin County, PA

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http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm
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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 191-192. 
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  ELDER, THOMAS, grandson of the Rev. John Elder, born January 30, 
1767; d. April 29, 1853, in Harrisburg, Pa.  He received a good English 
and classical education, especially under Joseph Hutchison, a 
celebrated teacher in his day.  He subsequently attended the academy at 
Philadelphia, where he graduated.  Studied law with General John A. 
Hanna, and was admitted to the Dauphin county bar at the August term, 
1791.  He at once began the practice of a profession in which he became 
distinguished, and which he followed with great success for upwards of 
forty years, and "was eminent as a safe and sagacious counselor, a 
laborious and indefatigable lawyer."  During the Whiskey Insurrection, 
he volunteered as a private in Captain Dentzel's company, which marched 
westward, preferring the ranks to that of a commissioned office, which 
his company offered him.  He subsequently held the office of lieutenant 
colonel of the militia, and was frequently designated by the title of 
colonel.  As a citizen in the early years of the borough of Harrisburg, 
Mr. Elder possessed public spirit and enterprise in advance of his 
contemporaries generally.  He was the prominent and leading spirit in 
organizing a company to erect the Harrisburg bridge, the first 
constructed over the Susquehanna, and for many years the longest in the 
Union.  Upon the permanent organization, he was unanimously elected the 
president, which office he held by annual re-election of the directors 
until his resignation in June, 1846.  He was chosen president of the 
Harrisburg Bank in June, 1816, which office he held until his death.  
Governor Hiester appointed him attorney general of the Commonwealth, a 
position he filled with marked ability from December 20, 1820, to 
December 18, 1823, but he ever after positively refused to accept 
office, although he took deep and active interest for many years in the 
political affairs of the State and Nation.  He was blessed with a 
physical constitution which enabled him to accomplish an extraordinary 
amount of labor without diminishing the elasticity of his spirits or 
the vigor of his mind.  He lived to the advanced age of over 86 years.  
Mr. Elder was twice married; married, first, March 23, 1799, Catharine 
Cox, d. June 12, 1810; daughter of Col. Cornelius Cox, of Estherton, 
Pa.  Thomas Elder married, secondly, May 30, 1813, Elizabeth Shippen 
Jones, born December 13, 1787, in Burlington, N. J.; died October 31, 
1871, in Harrisburg, Pa.; daughter of Robert Strettell Jones and Ann 
Shippen.