| editor, The Biographical Dictionary of America… (1906)
“ Abell built the Sun iron building, the first of the kind erected in the United States. At the death of Mr. Simmons in December, 1855, Mr. Swain and Mr. Abell formed a new partnership, continuing the publication of the Public Ledger in Philadelphia and the Sun in Baltimore. In 1864 Mr. Abell sold his interest in the Public Ledger, and at the death of Mr. Swain in 1868, became sole proprietor of the Sun. He was the first printer to adopt the rotary printing machine, and received for publication the first document transmitted over the telegraph line between Baltimore and Washington. ”
