USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume II > Part 25
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Robert Watson married in Chester, August 26, 1896, Bessie Harkins, dangliter of Joseph and Elizabeth ( MeGlone) Harkins, both born in Ireland, came to the United States, where he died in 1906, aged ninety-eight years ; his wife died in 1902. Children : Frances, died young : Catherine, born in Chester, June 1, 1909 ; Dorothy, born in Chester, April 3. 1911.
ROACH Just why the term "Captains of industry" should be applied to present day financiers, solely because they have financed great industries, is not easily explained. But among those who justly bear the proud title must ever stand foremost. John Roach and his no less capa- ble son, John B. Roach, and when the industrial record of the United States shall be made up for final inspection, no names will have better title to the "Roll of fame" than they. The name Roach (originally Roche) is best known in connection with iron and steel shipbuilding on the Delaware river at Chester, although for years prior to the coming to Pennsylvania, John Roach was a fore- most iron manufacturer and heavy engine builder of New York City. When
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the demand for an iron clad navy arose, it was to John Roach that the govern- ment turned for their first steel ships, yet it was from the hands of the same government that he received the blow that swept away his fortune and carried him to his grave.
John Roach, shipbuilder and manufacturer, was born at Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland, December 25, 1815, son of a merchant of high standing and integrity. His mother was a woman of intelligence, an untiring worker with a keen and a buoyant spirit. qualities she transmitted to her son. John was the eldest son of a large family and until he was thirteen years of age re- ceived the best educational advantage his birthplace afforded. At that age a crisis occurred in his father's affairs caused by his endorsing heavily for a friend, and in the struggle to make his endorsement good, he broke down his health and soon afterwards died. At the age of sixteen John decided to come to the United States, believing his industry and ambition would there bring him better returns than elsewhere. He landed in New York and then traveled sixty miles on foot to Allaire, in Monmouth County, New Jersey (now a for- gotten village), and there secured work at the Howell Iron Works, then a pros- perous enterprise in a prosperous village. He began at a wage of twenty-five cents daily, but by his industry and bright cheery manner, made a most favora- ble impression on the owner of the works, James P. Allaire, who advanced him and gave him every advantage possible. In a few years he had by careful saving and increasing his savings in other ways, twelve hundred dollars on de- posit with Mr. Allaire, and in 1840 he drew five hundred dollars of it and jour- neyed westward to Illinois, where he purchased three hundred acres of land where the city of Peoria now stands, paying his five hundred dollars as a par- tial payment. About this time Mr. Allaire failed and Mr. Roach lost not only the seven hundred dollars, due him, but also the five hundred dollars paid on his land. He at once obtained a position in New York City, where he learned to make marine engine castings and similar foundry work, receiving one dollar per day. He again accumulated a small capital, then in company with three of his fellow workmen he purchased a small foundry in New York and was again started on the road to prosperity. He soon bought out his partners, en- larged his works and in 1856 was worth thirty thousand dollars. In that year his plant was destroyed by the explosion of a boiler ; he was not able to collect the insurance, and after paying all his debts and obligations of every kind, found himself again without a dollar. But he had established a name in the business world for enterprise and integrity, that now proved to have a money valtie. He was able to secure substantial credit, rebuild his works and as the Etna Iron Works entered upon an era of great prosperity. He specialized in the heaviest type of marine engine, and built up an immense business. He built the great engines for the steam ram "Dunderberg:" those used in the steam frigate "Neshaning," and in the Sound steamers "Bristol" and "Provi- dence," all of which were the largest ever built in the United States at that time. In 1868 his business was increased to such an extent that he purchased the immense plant of the Morgan Iron Works in New York City, and soon afterwards the Neptune Works, the Franklin Forge and the Allaire Iron Works, and Reany Son & Archbold shipyard at Chester, Pennsylvania. This latter property was already a well established yard, fairly well equipped, with a river frontage of about a quarter of a mile on the widest and deepest portion of the Delaware river. A number of vessels had been built there, including several monitors for the United States Government. The firm of John B. Roach & Son was now re-organized as the Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding & Engine Works, the Chester plant in charge of John B. Roach, becoming the- largest part of their business. This plant will be more fully spoken of in the.
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portion devoted to John B. Roach, who was in charge there, his father rarely visiting the works oftener than once a week. John Roach, as president, con- ducted the financial affairs of the corporation from New York, and supervised the operation of the New York Works. The great bulk of the work done at both Chester and New York was, until after the Civil War, with private parties and corporations. Previous to 1865, the only work done for the government was in the building of large engines for government war vessels. He became convinced that a radical change was required in the construction of marine engines and advised the government that much of the machinery they were buying was a waste of money. This resulted in the Navy Department order- ing Mr. Roach to build compound engines for the "Tennessee." He had great plans for building up our merchant marine and interested prominent statesmen in his project. In 1875 he constructed a sectional dry dock at Pensacola and in 1883 began the construction at Chester, of the famous dispatch boat "Dolphin," and the cruisers "Atlanta," "Boston" and "Chicago," the first ships of the new navy. These were built under the direction of the Naval Advisory Board, au- thorized by Congress and appointed by the President, consisting of two civi engineers and several naval officers, who drew plans, models and specification for the cruisers. When the "Dolphin" was completed, she was accepted by the board, after a trial, as coming up to the conditions and requirements of the contract. The then secretary of the navy, William C. Whitney, refused to ac- cept the vessel and appointed another board to put her through further special tests. He also ruled that Mr. Roach's contract was not legal. As his large capital was involved in these contracts, his failure to effect a settlement with the government led him for the protection of his bondsmen and creditors to stop business. On July 18, 1885, he made an assignment and from that day until he lost consciousness he could never refer to the subject without uncon- trollable emotion. His life was a marvel of industrial labor and he impressed his genius and individuality upon the time in which he lived, probably to a greater extent than any other American manufacturer. His life was typical of the great possibilities open to a man of courage, initiative and energy, being dominated by rare fortitude, courage and perseverance, and combined with his abilities, commanded national and international regard, closing as it did amid circumstances that excited the warmest human sympathy. Under the strain his powerful constitution and iron will broke, and he died January 10, 1887, of cancer of the mouth, similar to that which caused the death of General Grant.
He married, in 1837, in New Jersey, Emmeline Johnson. Two of his sons were eminent in the business world, John Baker Roach, of whom further, and Stephen W. Roach, who was connected with the Morgan Iron Works, of New York City.
John Baker Roach was born in the city of New York, December 7, 1839, second in a family of seven sons and two daughters. He was educated at Ashland Collegiate Institute, Greene County, New York, and began business life in a wholesale coffee establishment, but later entered his father's office. The confinement was injurious to his health and for a time he was manager of a large farm in Dutchess County, New York, owned by his father, where he regained health and strength. After the purchase of the Morgan Iron Works by Jolin Roach in 1867, he admitted John B. Roach as a partner under the firm name, John Roach & Son. In 1871 when the shipyard at Chester was pur- chased, it was decided to place the son in active management of that branch, which later made the name of Roach famous. Immediately after the purchase of the yard and the organization of the Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding and Engine Works, John Roach, president, John B. Roach, Secretary, and repre-
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sentative of his father, they began building iron steamships on a scale hitherto anheard of. New lines were established, and old ones encouraged to add to their fleets the style of iron ships, which the old sea captains contemptuously dubbed "tin ships." One after another the steamship companies placed orders for the "Roach ships," and in three years a force of two thousand men, drawn from the surrounding states, was employed at the Chester Works. At the other Roach industries an equal number were employed in the furnishing of material and building engines for the ships at Chester. The great forges, foun- deries and shops were kept running at full speed and an era of great prosperity for Chester set in. The first iron vessel built by the Roach firm was the "City of San Antonio," a small vessel for the Mallory line, followed by many others for the same company, including in 1904 the "San Jacinto," a double screw steamship, the finest coasting steamer ever constructed. On March 18, 1874, the Pacific Mail Steamship "City of Peking" was launched, at that time the largest ship in the world, except the "Great Eastern." There stands to the credit of the Roach yard the first compound engines ever built in this country ; the first iron sailing ship, and the first steel ships, the "Dolphin," "Chicago." "Boston" and "Atlantic." the first vessels of our modern navy. After the as- signment made by John Roach, on July 18. 1885, the business on hand was closed up and in 1887 the company re-organized with John B. Roach, presi- dent of the Delaware River Works and vice-president of the Morgan Iron Company. He was in complete charge of the Chester plant and in a short time the company was again in a prosperous condition. The Roaches were pioneers in iron shipbuilding, and in all the years since, their shipyard has been one of the leading yards in the country. There have been built the finest of steamships, steamboats, ferry boats, yachts and sailing ships to the value of many millions of dollars, and at the great works has been educated one of the finest bodies of mechanics to be found in any industry in the country. Dur- ing all the years no strike, or serious difficulty, has occurred at the yards, Mr. Roach's policy having always been to deal with his men direct and to listen in person to every legitimate complaint. These men built the "Priscilla," then the largest and handsomest steamboat leaving New York Harbor, and the product of their skill may be found in every United States Port. Mr. Roach was per- sonally familiar with the details of the construction of every vessel laid down in the yard, and few men in any business so completely grasped the details of a complicated industry as he. Every mechanic in the yard recognized him as a critical judge of the work and all strove for his approval. Besides his large interests in the shipbuilding company, he became a director of the Scaboard Steel Casting Company. the Chester National Bank, the Cambridge Trust Company, and gave financial support to many enterprises of a minor nature. Ilis cancer as a shipbuilder rivals that of his father, whose close business asso- ciate he was for many years, while as representative and successor at the head of the great Chester shipbuilding plant he has always been supreme. True "Captains of industry" both, and identified with every plate, beam, bolt. shaft or part of the great engines and ships they built. Pioneers in a full sense, they gave to the world a new industry and to the city of Chester a posterity and a name that shall ever endure. In political faith Mr. Roach is a Republi- can. He is a member of the Union League of Philadelphia, the Engineers' Club of New York, and the Penn Club of Chester.
He married, in 1861, Mary Caroline, daughter of David and Gertrude Wallace of Staatsburg, New York. Of their eleven children. five grew to adult years: Sarah E., died in 1893, married Charles E. Schuyler, of New York : Emmeline Wallace, married, in 1892, William C. Sproul, the capitalist and statesman of Chester ; Mary Garretta, married (first) in 1893. Dr. Frederick
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Farwell Long Jr., who died in May, 1906, and she married (second) in Decem- ber, 1912, George Forbes, lawyer, of Baltimore, Maryland ; John, married, in .899, Hortense Moller, of Hoboken, New Jersey, and resides in New York ; William McPherson.
William McPherson Roach, youngest son of John B. Roach, was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1877. He was educated in private schools, Pennsylvania Military College, Chester, and Columbia University, leaving the latter in his junior year. He resides in Chester engaged in the management of his own private estate. He is a Republican in politics. He married, in the City of Mexico, April 25, 1906, Julia Josefina Enriqueta Hidal- goy de Vries, daughter of Senator Don Juan Hidalgo. Child: Juan Federico Farwell Hidalgo Roach, born in Mexico City, February 2, 1907.
FOX Although a resident of Chester since childhood, Mr. Benjamin C. Fox was born in Germany, being brought to Chester when young. He was born February 24, 1868, and obtained his primary educa- tion in the public schools of Chester. In 1889 he entered Pennsylvania Mili- tary Institute at Chester, continuing through a course of three years. Choos- ing the profession of law he began study under the preceptorship of Judge William B. Broomall, continuing his studies under the judge's instruction un- til 1895, when he was admitted to the Delaware County bar. He at once be- gan the practice of law in Chester and now is well established in practice with offices in his own, the Fox Building, on Welsh, near the corner of Fifth street, Chester. He has been for several years largely interested in real estate in all sections of Chester, and until recently was the owner of the large building on the corner of Fifth and Welsh streets, now used by the New Chester Water Company. The Fox Building adjoining, recently completed, is an office build- ing and one of his latest improvements to the city.
Mr. Fox has always been interested in public affairs ; is a firm believer in the commission form of government for American cities, and in his study of the best forms of municipal government has traveled all over the United States, Great Britain, and the countries of Continental Europe. He is a Republican in politics and in 1911 was a candidate at the primaries for the nomination for mayor of Chester. He is an active member of the Chester Board of Trade, served for three years as secretary, and in 1909 was president. He is a mem- ber of the Masonie order belonging to Chester Lodge, No. 236, Free and Ac- cepted Masons ; Chester Chapter, No. 258, Royal Arch Masons : Chester Com- mandery, No. 66, Knights Templar, and Luln Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Philadelphia. He is also a member of the Tall Cedars, No. 21, and Chester Lodge, No. 488, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Fox married, December 30, 1911, in New York City, Ingeborg Jor- gensen, born in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Tracing English family history back through the centuries,
DOWNING the antiquarian finds a clear line of Downing de-cent from Geoffrey Downing, born March 7, 1524. He was a dignitary of county Essex, styled "gentleman" and bore arms: "Gules a fesse naire, be- tween two lions passant, quadrant ermine." Crest : "Out of a dueal coronet a swan or." The quartering and color show royal descent, which came through the marriages with Plantagenets, of both Geoffrey Downing and his grandson Calybut. Geoffrey married October 8. 1548, Elizabeth Winfield and died September 17, 1595, leaving male issue.
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Arthur Downing, son of Geoffrey Downing, was born at the family seat in county Essex, England, Pynest, Poles, Belchano, born August 1, 1550, died at Lexham, county Norfolk, England, September 19, 1606. He married June IO, 1573, Susan Calybut and had issue : Calybut, see forward; John, born 1581, died 1617 ; Dorothy, born 1584, died 1651 ; Anna, born 1586, died 1658; Susan, born 1589, died 1642.
Calybut Downing, eldest son of Arthur Downing, was born June 1, 1574, and had his estates in Sherrington, Gloucestershire, England, where he died in 1642. He married (first) January 8. 1594, Elizabeth ( Winfield) Morrison, widow of Edward Morrison. He married (second) August 5, 1604, Anna Hogan ; children : Emanuel, see forward; Calybut (2), born 1596, died 1644; Elizabeth, born 1598, died 1660; Susan, 1601, died 1651.
Emanuel Downing, son of Calybut Downing, was born at Sherrington, Gloucestershire, England, December 10, 1594, died in London, England, July 26, 1676. He resided in Sherrington, Dublin, Ireland, Salem, Massachusetts (coming to America in 1638), and London, England. He married (first) June 7, 1614, a Miss Ware of Dublin. ( second) April 10, 1622, Lucy Win- throp ; children by second marriage : George, born 1625. died 1654; Nicholas, born 1627, died 1698; Henry, see forward.
Henry Downing, son of Emanuel Downing, was born March 10, 1630. died September 25, 1698. He held an officer's commission in the Kings Own Guards and had his family seat at East Hatley, Cambridgeshire, England. He married, June 2, 1665, Jane Clotworthy, and had issue : Adam, see forward ; John, born 1667, died 1736; George, born 1668, died 1729: Elizabeth. born 1669, died 1740; Daniel, born 1670, died 1733; Anne, born 1672, died 1674; Margaret, born 1675, died 1723; Anne, born 1678, died 1757.
Colonel Adam Downing, eldest son of Henry Downing, was born March 18, 1666, died May 17, 1719. He was a resident of London (Downing street) for many years ; a strong partisan of King William of Orange and accompan- ied him to Ireland in 1689, holding the rank of colonel ; fought at the siege of Londonderry ("Derry"), and was later deputy governor of Londonderry coun- ty. He married, November 15, 1693, Margaret Jackson, of Colerain, county of Derry, Ireland, and had issue: Henry, born 1697, died 1712; John, see for- ward.
John Downing, youngest son of Colonel Adam Downing, was born April 16, 1700, died September 3, 1762. He was a resident of Dawsons Bridge, Bel- fast and Rowesgift in Derry. He married, June 10, 1727, Margaret Rowe, of Rowesgift, and had issue: Clotworthy, see forward: Dawson, born 1739, died 1808; John, born 1740, died 1792.
Clotworthy Downing, son of John Downing, was born April 4, 1728, spent his life at Dawson's Bridge, Ballaghy and Rowesgift in Derry, and died No- vember 13, 1801. He married, June 14, 1753, Elizabeth Gifford, and had is- sue : William, see forward: John. born 1760, died 1820: Gifford, born 1762, died 1830.
William Downing, son of Clotworthy Downing, was born March 13, 1754, died April 10, 1803, after a life spent in his native county at Dawson's Bridge. Ballaghy and Rowesgift. He married August 5, 1784, Jane Colwell, of Money- more, in county Derry : children : William Colwell, born 1786, married 1811, died 1868: James, see forward.
James Downing, son of William Downing, was born November 10, 1798, resided at Moneymore, county Derry, and died February 14. 1874. He mar- ried, October 20. 1830, Elizabeth Brown Duff, and had issue: Robert William, see forward ; Jane Elizabeth, born 1837, died 1839.
Robert William Downing, only son of James Downing, was born January
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22, 1835. He became a resident of the city of Philadelphia, where he rose to exceptional prominence in civic affairs. He also became an official of the Pennsylvania railroad, holding the position of assistant comptroller by appoint- ment in February, 1872, and being elected to that position in May, 1874. He resided in the fourteenth ward of Philadelphia, where he held the office of school director and represented that ward in select council 1871 to 1875, serv- ing as president of that body 1874-1875. He was also a member of the com- mission in charge of the erection of the city hall, Broad and Market streets ; member of the board of Fairmount Park commissioners ; member of the Board of City Trusts; member of the Board of Prison Inspectors for Philadelphia county and comptroller of the Board of Education. He served in the war be- tween the states as a non-commissioned officer of the Seventeenth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. In political faith he was a Republican.
He married (first) March 8, 1854, Elizabeth Lefferts Addis, born March 8, 1836, died December 13, 1885. He married (second) February 1, 1887, Catherine Parker Dackson, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Children, first six by first marriage, two by second marriage: Charles Gardner, born December 26, 1854, married Mary Leah Brown, of Philadelphia, born September 17, 1857 : Frank Taggart, see forward ; Robert Brown, born and died 1858; William Col- well, born April 16, 1860, married, 1883, Martha Jane Taylor of Philadelphia, born September 11, 1861 ; Lillian, born 1861, died 1882; Robert William (2), born 1864, married November 4, 1886. Charlesanna Heritage Myers of Phila- delphia, born August 5. 1866; Spencer Brown, born 1893: Roberta Brown, 1895.
Frank Taggart Downing, son of Robert William Downing and his first wife, was born in Philadelphia. February 21, 1857, resided in Moylan, Penn- sylvania, where he died in the fall of 1905. He was a well educated man and at the time of his death was assistant to the comptroller of the Pennsylvania railroad. He was a member of the Union League Club and a Republican in political affiliation.
He married, in 1882, Belle Rank Howard, of Philadelphia, born May 13, 1857 ; children : Frank Taggart (2), horn and died February 7, 1885 ; Elizabeth Addis, born December 27, 1886, in Philadelphia, married Elwood J. Turner, (q. v.) ; Addis Howard, see forward: Isabel, born May 17, 1891, mar- ried, January 15, 1913, Charles Willing Huber, and resides in Merion, Penn- sylvania.
Addis Howard Downing, son of Frank Taggart and Belle R. (Howard) Downing. was born in Philadelphia, February 14, 1889, of the fifteenth re- corded generation of his family, dating from Geoffrey Downing of Essex, Eng- land, 1524-1595. He attended a private school in Media, Pennsylvania, until he was twelve years of age, then until 1906 was a student at the Episcopal Academy on Locust street. Philadelphia : then entered Phillip's Academy, Exe- ter, Massachusetts, whence he was graduated class of 1910, and then for one year was a student of the Wharton school, University of Pennsylvania. In De- cember, 1912, he located in Chester, Pennsylvania, establishing the real estate and insurance firm of A. H. Downing & Company, with offices in the Cam- bridge building, where he is conducting a satisfactory business. He is an en- ergetic, capable young business man and inherits the many virtues of his sires. He is an independent in politics; an attendant of the Presbyterian church ; member of Phi Kappa Psi (University of Pennsylvania). Kappa Epsi- lon Psi (Phillips Exeter Academy ) ; the Canteen Club ( University of Pennsyl- vania), and the Springhaven Country Chib.
Mr. Downing married, June 23, 1913, in St. Paul, Minnesota, Ruth Eve- lyn, born in St. Paul, daughter of Edward A. Konantz, a lumber dealer of that
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city and his wife, Minnesota Hendrickson. The family home is in Moylan, Delaware county.
From far-away Germany came about 1850, William NOTHNAGLE Nothnagle, born in Hesse in 1837, who located in Ches- ter. Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the butcher bits- iness until he retired in 1888. His death occurred in 1905. His widow, Ber- tha ( Weis) Nothnagle, born in Germany. survives him. a resident of Chester. with her grandson, Dr. Frank R. Nothnagle. Children of William and Bertha (Weis) Nothnagle: 1. Frank, born in Chester in 1861, now engaged in the butcher business there; married Lizzie Henry, of Chester, deceased. 2. Charles A., of whom further. 3. Edward, born in Chester in 1865, now a painter and decorator ; married Margaret Goff, and resides in Chester.
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