Price, Eli K. (Eli Kirk), 1797-1884

Variant names

Hide Profile

Eli Kirk Price, Esq. was assignee of Joseph Reed, Esq., and trustee of the George J. Ewing estate.

From the description of Papers, 1829-1841. (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). WorldCat record id: 122689789

Eli K. Price was a Philadelphia lawyer and was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1854.

From the description of Papers, 1820-1853. (American Philosophical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 122632853

Eli Kirk Price was a Philadelphia lawyer.

From the description of Receipt book, 1826-1833. (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). WorldCat record id: 122489199

Eli Kirk Price (1797–1884) was a noted Philadelphia lawyer and legal reformer. He was born in East Bradford, Chester County, Pennsylvania, to a Quaker family descended from Philip Price, an early Pennsylvania settler.

Eli K. Price attended Westtown, a Quaker boarding school. He then worked for Thomas P. Cope, a Philadelphia merchant, and studied law in his leisure time. After four years with Cope, Price entered the law offices of John Sergeant. He was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1822. Price became one of the leading Philadelphia experts on equity and real property law.

In 1845 and 1848, Price was a member of the new Board of Revenue Commissioners and wrote the 1848 report. Price was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1854 to shepherd a bill consolidating various separate political entities into the city of Philadelphia. The "Consolidation Act" of 1854 became the new city charter and transformed the city from 1200 acres to 122 square miles.

Price was also instrumental in the passage of other important legislation reforming real property law and domestic relations law, before and after his senatorial career. He wrote "An Act Relating to the Sale and Conveyance of Real Estate" (1853), an act broadening the law of descent (1855), "An Act for the Greater Security of Title" (1856), and an act supplementary to the statute of limitations (1859). He also played an important role in the passage of an 1855 act protecting a wife’s property from her husband’s creditors and an 1856 act aiding deserted wives. He served in the State Senate through 1856.

In 1867, Price helped found the Fairmount Park Commission and served as chairman of the organization until 1884. He examined the titles of land purchased for the park and was the force behind the park’s acquisition of a variety of tree species.

Price authored a variety of publications: Digest of the Acts of Assembly and of the Ordinances of the Inhabitants and Commissioners of the District of Spring Garden (1833), Institutes of Morality for the Instruction of Youth (1838), Memoir of Philip and Rachael Price (1852), Our Unknown City Laws (1855), Of the Limitations of Actions, and of Liens, Against Real Estate, in Pennsylvania (1857), Memorial of Our Daughter, for her Child (1862), Centennial Meeting of the Descendants of Philip and Rachael Price (1864), The Proprietary Title of the Penns (1871), The History of the Consolidation of the city of Philadelphia (1874), and The Act for the Sale of Real Estate in Philadelphia (1874).

In 1828, Price married Anna Embree. They had three children, Rebecca Embree, John Sergeant, and Sibyl Embree. Rebecca was the subject of Memorial of Our Daughter .

During his lifetime, Price was active in many Philadelphia institutions. He served as president of the University Hospital, Preston Retreat, the Pennsylvania Colonization Society, and the Numismatical and Antiquarian Society. He was a trustee at the University of Pennsylvania, vice president of the American Philosophical Society, and a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Price died in Philadelphia in 1884.

Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1888. Vol. V. 117. Biographical Sketches of James Embree, Philip Price and Eli K. Price. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1881. 57-67. Dictionary of American Biography. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1963. Vol. VIII. 211-212. National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. New York: James T. White & Co., 1990. Vol. X. 412-413. Who Was Who in America. Historical Volume 1607-1896. Revised Edition. Chicago: A.N. Marquis Co., 1967. 495.

From the guide to the Eli K. Price papers, 1822–1886, (University of Delaware Library - Special Collections)

Eli Kirk Price (1797–1884, APS 1854) was a lawyer. Price was particularly well-known for his expertise in real estate law. He played a leading role in many civic and learned organizations and commissions in Philadelphia, including the group that established Fairmount Park. He served as Vice President of the American Philosophical Society from 1877 to 1884.

Price was born in 1797 in East Bradford, Chester County, Pennsylvania, one of eleven children of Rachel and Philip Price, members of the Society of Friends. Young Eli received a classical education at Westtown School, a private Quaker school near his home. In 1814 he was apprenticed to the shopkeeper John W. Townshend of West Chester, and a year later he entered the well-known shipping-house of Thomas P. Cope (1768-1854, APS 1843) in Philadelphia. Price then spent a year with J. C. Jones, Oakford & Co. to further his mercantile training. Presumably due to poor prospects in a profession that was increasingly depressed, Price decided to study the law. He became a student of the Philadelphia lawyer and politician John Sergeant (1779-1852, APS 1813) and in 1822 was admitted to the bar.

Price’s mercantile training turned out to be an asset for his legal work since it facilitated a better understanding of shipping and commercial law, an area in which he initially specialized. Eventually he turned his attention to real estate law. It was in this field that he distinguished himself as a particularly skilled expert.

Price maintained a private practice but his legal services were also frequently solicited on behalf of public causes. In 1843 Price was selected a member of a revenue commission charged with revising the property tax assessments in Pennsylvania. The result of the revaluation was a significant increase in the state’s tax revenue. In 1851 Price wrote an essay in which he argued against a proposal to lift the tax exempt status of churches, colleges, asylums and other charitable institutions. Two years later, Pennsylvania Governor William Bigler (1814-1880) requested that Price draft an act that was “designed to promote the alienability of real property and vest in the courts the jurisdiction to determine the propriety of the disposition of a title in a case provided for in the statute.” The so-called Price Act was signed into law in April 1853.

Price was the author of several additional acts, most notably the Act of May 4th, 1855, which, among other points relating to the rights and duties of husbands and wives, and parents and children, enabled the wife to become a femme sole trader, to own her own earnings, and to dispose of her property. In addition, in 1854 he was a sponsor of the consolidation bill that combined the governments in the County of Philadelphia into one entity.

In 1853 Price, who was an active supporter of municipal reform, was nominated by like-minded citizens for the State Senate. Despite his lack of confidence in the integrity of the “elective franchise,” which he deemed “almost valueless,” he accepted the nomination. He was elected later that year. As a state senator he opposed the Prohibitory Liquor Bill on the grounds that the proposed prohibition of the “manufacture and sale of alcohol and ardent spirits” violated the rights and liberties of the people. Not surprisingly, this action earned him much criticism from members of the temperance movement. His supporters, on the other hand, applauded what they saw as an unwavering loyalty to his convictions and to the Constitution.

Price published numerous essays on a broad range of legal topics, but his interests extended beyond the study and practice of law. In 1852 he published a biographical memoir of his parents Rachel and Philip Price; ten years later he wrote a memorial of his daughter Rebecca for her child. In 1872 he completed a history of Philadelphia that had been solicited by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. That same year he also published a critical essay about the relatively new theory of evolution. While Price eventually accepted the abstract idea of evolution, he questioned to what extent it could be considered operative.

Price was involved in many civic and learned organizations and projects. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1854 and served as its Vice President from 1877 to 1884. In the 1870s he was chairman of the committee in charge of executing the trust of François André Michaux (1770-1855, APS 1809), a French botanist and fellow member of the American Philosophical Society. Price shared with Michaux a particular interest in trees; in fact, Price was an ardent advocate of the protection of American forests. He was also one of the original members of the city’s Park Commission, founded in 1867. As its chairman he was responsible for acquiring for the city the land tracts that later comprised Fairmount Park.

In 1872, Price helped coordinate efforts to celebrate the Centennial in Philadelphia. One outcome of his involvement was the decision to refurbish Independence Hall in time for the festivities. In 1879 he received the Silver Medal of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society, of which he was the president. He also served on the Board of the University of Pennsylvania and as President of the Pennsylvania Colonization Society. In addition, he was President of the University Hospital and the Preston Retreat, a maternity hospital in Philadelphia.

Price was married to Anna Embree. They had three children, including John Sergeant, who was named after his father’s mentor.

From the guide to the Eli K. (Eli Kirk) Price papers, 1820-1853, 1820-1853, (American Philosophical Society)

Eli Kirk Price (1797-1884) was a prominent Philadelphia Quaker. A real estate lawyer, he was an active member of the American Philosophical Society. He served in the Philadelphia State Senate for a partial term in order to pass a bill uniting the city and county governments of Philadelphia.

Edward Shippen Burd (1779-1848) was a Philadelphia lawyer.

From the guide to the Edward S. Burd and Eli K. Price papers, 1805-1855, (Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Powel family. Powel family papers, 1681-1938. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Lowrie, Sarah Dickson, 1870-1957. Biography of Eli Kirk Price, 1936. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Pennsylvania. Revenue board of commissioners. Records, 1845. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Marian S. Carson collection of manuscripts, 1656-1995 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Price, Eli K. (Eli Kirk), 1797-1884. Papers, 1820-1853. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Meredith family. Meredith family papers, 1756-1964, bulk 1772-1873. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn William Tilghman papers, 1771-1838, 1771-1838 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIf, 1866-1886 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad Company. Records, 1831-1847. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Price, Eli Kirk, 1797-1884. Receipt book, 1826-1833. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Price family. Papers, 1809-1878. Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
referencedIn Levis, Hosea J. Minutes, 1840-1843. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Edward S. Burd and Eli K. Price papers, 1805-1855 Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
referencedIn Cook, Lyndon W. Lyndon W. Cook research collection on Thomas L. Kane, 1845-1979. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Beeson, John, 1803-1889. John Beeson letters to Eli K. Price, 1859 Jul-Oct. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Eli K. (Eli Kirk) Price papers, 1820-1853, 1820-1853 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Meredith, Joseph D. Papers, 1845-1857. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Price, Eli Kirk, 1797-1884. Papers, 1829-1841. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown Rail Road Company. Records, 1843-1847. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Joseph Brevitt Townsend papers, 1810-1917, 1840-1896 University of Delaware Library - Special Collections
referencedIn Francois André Michaux papers, 1802-1911, 1802-1911 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Edward Morris Davis papers, 1830-1941 (inclusive), 1837-1850 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn United States. District Court (Pennsylvania : Eastern District). Equity dockets and case files, 1790-1847 [microform]. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Rothrock, Joseph T., 1839-1922. Letters, 1878-1884, to Eli K. Price. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown Rail Road Company. Trusteeship documents, 1843-1847. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Eli K. Price papers, 1822–1886 University of Delaware Library - Special Collections
referencedIn Weems, James N., d. 1822. Records, 1810-1831. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn LeConte, John L. (John Lawrence), 1825-1883. Papers, 1812-1897 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Joseph T. Rothrock letters, 1878-1884, to Eli K. Price, 1878-1884 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Library. Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection. 1668-1983. American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Cannon, George Q. (George Quayle), 1827-1901. Letter to Eli K. Price /by George Quayle Cannon, 1875 Jan 14. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Beeson, John, 1803-1889. John Beeson letters to Eli K. Price, 1859 Jul-Oct. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Agassiz, Louis, 1807-1873 person
associatedWith American Philosophical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Armitage, Benjamin person
associatedWith Banks, Joseph, Sir, 1743-1820 person
associatedWith Beeson, John, 1803-1889. person
associatedWith Burd, Edward Shippen, 1779-1848 person
associatedWith Cannon, George Q. (George Quayle), 1827-1901. person
associatedWith Carmalt, Jonathan, et. al. person
associatedWith Carson, Marian S., person
associatedWith Carson, Marian S., person
associatedWith Carson, Marian S., collector. person
associatedWith Cook, Lyndon W. person
associatedWith Cooper, Thomas, 1759-1839 person
associatedWith Cope, Thomas P., & Sons person
associatedWith Coues, Elliott, 1842-1899 person
associatedWith Cuvier, Georges, Baron, 1769-1832 person
associatedWith Darlington, William, 1782-1863 person
correspondedWith Davis, Edward Morris, 1811-1887 person
associatedWith Edison, Thomas A., (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931 person
associatedWith Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955 person
associatedWith Everett, Edward, 1794-1865 person
associatedWith Ewing, George J. person
associatedWith Fitch, John person
associatedWith Genth, F. A., (Frederick Augustus), 1820-1893 person
associatedWith Gray, Asa, 1810-1888 person
associatedWith Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872 person
associatedWith Harding, Warren G. person
associatedWith Jones, I. C., Oakford & Company person
associatedWith LeConte, John L., (John Lawrence), 1825-1883 person
associatedWith Levis, Hosea J. person
associatedWith Lowrie, Sarah Dickson, 1870-1957. person
associatedWith McClure, William, b. 1807 person
associatedWith Meredith family. family
associatedWith Meredith, Joseph D. person
associatedWith Michaux, Francois André, 1770-1855 person
associatedWith Mott, James, et. al. person
associatedWith Newcomb, Simon person
associatedWith Newton, Isaac, Sir, 1642-1727 person
associatedWith Oakford, Richard person
associatedWith Pennock, Abraham Liddon, 1786-1868 person
associatedWith Pennsylvania. Revenue board of commissioners. corporateBody
associatedWith Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown Rail Road Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Poinsett, Joel Roberts, 1779-1851 person
associatedWith Powel family. family
associatedWith Price family. family
associatedWith Rawle, Charles C. person
associatedWith Reed, Joseph, 1772-1846. person
associatedWith Rittenhouse, David, 1732-1796 person
associatedWith Rothrock, Joseph T., 1839-1922. person
associatedWith Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813 person
associatedWith Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe, 1793-1864 person
associatedWith Seybert, Adam, 1773-1825 person
associatedWith Smith, George Washington, 1800-1876 person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Stevens, Henry person
associatedWith Sully, Thomas, 1783-1872 person
associatedWith Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824 person
associatedWith Tilghman, William, 1756-1827 person
associatedWith Townsend, Joseph Brevitt, 1821-1896 person
associatedWith United States. Congress person
associatedWith United States. District Court (Pennsylvania : Eastern District). corporateBody
associatedWith Waterton, Charles, 1782-1865 person
associatedWith Watmough, John Goddard, 1793-1861 person
associatedWith Wayne, Anthony person
associatedWith Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852. person
associatedWith Weems, James N., d. 1822. person
associatedWith Wharton, J. J. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Subject
Education
African Americans
Assignments (Law)
Commercial law
Commercial law
Decedents' estates
Early National Politics
International trade
Law
Personal property
Practice of law
Real property
Trusts and trustees
Occupation
Lawyers
Activity

Person

Birth 1797-07-20

Death 1884-11-14

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63j3g40

Ark ID: w63j3g40

SNAC ID: 71221475