USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume II > Part 29
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George Geary was born in Philadelphia, in 1827, and died in Nether Providence in 1913. He married Susannah Armstrong, a native of county Armagh, Ireland, and who died in 1898. George Geary worked at farming, in an axe factory, and as a general laborer. In 1868 he purchased a property in Nether Providence and resided upon it until his decease. George and Su- sannah Geary were the parents of twelve children: Charles C., Susannah E. Bishop, George, Robert, Catharine Dietrich, William H., John B., Annie V. Vernon, Sarah E., Alexander B., Laura E. and Joseph L., ten of whom are living in 1913.
Alexander B. Geary is a member of George W. Bartram Lodge, F. and A. M., of Media, Pennsylvania ; Chester Lodge No. 253. I. O. O. F. ; Penn Club of Chester, Chester Club, the Lawyers' Club of Philadelphia, and the Demo- cratic Club of Philadelphia. He is also a member of the Laymen's Evangeli- cal Association of the Chester Presbytery, and of the Carrell Reunion. He is a member of the Wallingford Presbyterian Church of Wallingford, and for several years was superintendent of the Sunday school connected with that church.
On May 10, 1902, he was united in marriage with Miss Eleanor J. Wilson,
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of Chester, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Geary is a daughter of Joseph Osgood Wil- son and Isabel (Cornog) Wilson, the former of whom was born in the state of Delaware, and the latter in Delaware county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Wilson is a veteran of the civil war, having served in the navy, and the inventor of a number of patented appliances in connection with stationary steam engines and boilers.
Mrs. Geary was educated in the public schools of Chester, and is a gradit- ate of Peirce School of Philadelphia. She studied law with George M. Booth, Esq., of Chester, Pennsylvania, and was admitted to the Delaware county bar on September 19. 1898. She has not been engaged in practice since hier mar- riage, but has been interested in many movements for civic advancement. She is a member of the Woman's Club of Media, Pennsylvania, of the Philadelphia Music Club of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Delaware county. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Geary lived in Chester until 1906, when they moved to their present residence, then newly erected. They reside on part of a large tract which was granted by William Penn to the Vernon family in 1682, and this portion of which remained in that family until 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Geary are the parents of two children : Eleanor Wilson, born in 1903, and Alexander Brooke, born in 1906.
BOSSARD Six generations of Bossards have lived in Monroe county, Pennsylvania, the first settler of the name being Philip Bos- sard, born in France in 1687. He was a man of means, bring- ing ten thousand dollars with him to this country. He purchased from the Penns a large tract of land, now included in Monroe county, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1777. Of his five sons, only Peter grew to manhood, the oth- ers being killed by the Indians, who passed the log home of the Bossards on their way to the Wyoming Valley, where the massacre soon afterward fol- lowed. Peter alone of the children escaped. The name was originally spelled Bossert.
(H) Peter, son of Philip Bossard, was a farmer of Monroe county, Penn- sylvania. He married and had a son Peter, of whom further.
(IH) Peter (2), son of Peter (1) Bossard, was also a farmer of Mon- roe county, Pennsylvania. He married and had a son Melchoir, of whom further.
(IV) Melchoir, son of Peter ( 2) Bossard, was a farmer of Monroe coun- ty, Pennsylvania. He married and had a son Jacob, of whom further.
(V) Jacob, son of Melchoir Bossard, was born in Monroe county, Penn- sylvania, died in Ida Grove county, Fowa, in 19to, aged nearly ninety years. After a life spent in farming in Monroe county he moved to Jowa in his old age with his wife, who was a Miss Reis, who died there in 1908, aged eighty-five years. Children, all born in Monroe county: 1. Samuel, see forward. 2. Ed- ward, a coal dealer in Wilkes-Barre. Pennsylvania, where he died in 1903. 3. Idla, twice married, all deceased. 4. Alice, married John Hauser, a building contractor, now residing in Wilkes-Barre.
(VI) Samuel, son of Jacob Bossard, was born in Monroe county, Penn- sylvania, in the autumn of 1841, died in Chester, Pennsylvania, March, 1909. He was a farmer and school teacher of Monroe county until his retirement in 1904, when he joined his son in Chester. He was a veteran of the Civil War, serving in a Pennsylvania regiment for three years. He was captured at the battle of Antietam and held a prisoner in Libby Prison for six months, then exchanged. He rose to the rank of sergeant. In political faith he was a Democrat, a man of high character and respected by all. He married Mar-
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garet Edinger. born in Monroe county, Pennsylvania, in 1840, died in Strouds- burg, Pennsylvania, in March, 1909, daughter of Abraham Edinger, a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature and a wealthy cattle dealer ; he married a Miss Pennell. Children of Samuel Bossard, all born in Monroe county: 1. Martha, born in 1805; married George F. Bartholomew, a clerk, and now re- sides in Stroudsburg. Pennsylvania. 2. Susan, born in 1867; now residing in Chester, unmarried. 3. Catherine, born in 1869; married Allen Musselman, now proprietor of Chester Steam Laundry. 4. Robert Lee, see forward. 5. Frederick Philip, born in June, 1876: now a partner in business with his brother Robert L. ; he married Lizzie Morgan, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
(VII) Robert Lee, son of Samuel and Margaret (Edinger) Bossard, was- born in Monroe county, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1874. He attended the pub- lic school until 1890, then began business life as a grocer's clerk, continuing un- til 1893. In that year he visited the World's Fair, held in Chicago, later re- turning and working in a grocery store for one year. He then became a cloth weaver, working at Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, until 1896. He then engaged in the manufacture of cigars in Stroudsburg, continuing until 1902, when he moved to Philadelphia, opening a branch laundry office. In 1904 he located in Chester, forming a partnership with his brother, Frederick P. Bossard, and establishing an ice-cream and confectionery business. They have prospered exceedingly and now have two large well-stocked and furnished stores at No. 314 Market street and No. 607 Edgmont avenue. The brothers are well known business men and prosecute their business with an energy that means success. Mr. Bossard is an Independent in politics : a member of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, of Chester, and the Woodmen of the World.
He married, in New York City, in November. 1907, Margaret Brennan, born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Milton Brennan, de- ceased. Children, both born in Chester : Roberta, December 20, 1908; Sam- uel, February 4, 1912.
CHEETHAM The original Eyre settler in Delaware county was Robert Eyre, a member of council and a man of importance. The line of descent from him to Mrs. Philena Eyre Cheetham, is through his grandson, Adam Evre, who was a son of either Robert (2) Eyre or his brother, William Eyre, both sons of Robert Eyre, the emigrant from England.
Adam Eyre was born in Delaware county, died in Ohio, grandson of Rob- ert (I) Eyre. He was a farmer and a member of the Society of Friends. He married Sarah Larkin, born May 14, 1771. in Bethel township, Delaware coun- ty, died in Ohio, daughter of Joseph and Ann (Salkeld) Larkin, and grand- daughter of John Larkin, who came from England : children: 1. Joseph, born 1798. 2. William, born March 18, 1800, married and had issue : Mary Ann, Sarah Jane, Melcina, William and Phoebe. 3. Nathan L. (see forward). 4. Lewis, died young. 5. Lewis (2), born March 14, 1805, married Jane Hunter and had a son William H., who married Hannah Graham, whose children are : Harry C., William H. (2) married Millie Haas and has a son William H. (3), died March 30, 1910. Lewis G., married Mamie Detra and has a daugh- ter Dorothy May. 6. Elizabeth Ann. born January 12, 18OS, married William Heacock. 7. Ann S. Price, born September 15, 1812, died April 1, 1863, mar- ried Joseph Larkin, had daughter Sarah Elizabeth, married Alfred England. They had daughter Ella Irene.
Nathan L. Eyre, third son of Adam and Sarah (Larkin) Eyre, was born in Virginia, February 22, 1803, died in Bethel. Delaware county, Pennsyl- vania, August 9, 1864. He moved with his parents settling in Highland coun-
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ty, Ohio, but after their deaths came to Delaware county where he finished his education, married and engaged in farming until his death. He was a member of the Society of Friends and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
He married, September 26, 1838, Ann Larkin, born in what is now the city of Chester, April 7, 1806, died April 1, 1863. She was the daughter of Salkeld and Sarah (Pennell) Larkin, both of old Delaware county families; children (all born in Bethel township, Delaware county) : I. Sarah, born March 1, 1839, died at Bethel, January 17, 1859, unmarried. 2. Joseph Lar- kin, born January 26, 1840. He enlisted in 1861 in the 97th Regiment Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry and was killed at Port Royal, South Carolina, Au- gust 4, 1863. 3. Philena (see forward). 4. Pennell, born August 30, 1843, now living in Chester. He married, May 19, 1864, Eliza A. Hanby, deceased. 5. Louisa, born April 29, 1846, died May 25, 1853. 6. Nathan, born May 28, 1849, now living in Chester, married Sarah Cheetham, deceased.
Philena Eyre, daughter of Nathan L. and Ann (Larkin) Eyre, was born in Bethel township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, August 21, 1841. She was educated in the public school and Friends school at Ercildoun, Pennsyl- vania, also was taught privately at home. She is a birth-right member of the Society of Friends and a woman of charming gracious manner.
She married, April 26, 1865, James Cheetham, born October 13, 1840, in Aston township, Delaware county, died in Chester, Pennsylvania, May 30, 1902, son of Charles and Sarah Lawrence (Elliott) Cheetham. Charles Cheet- ham, born in England, came to the United States when a young man, natural- ized and became a resident of Delaware county. He rented the mills now known as the John B. Rhodes mills, which he operated successfully for a time, later bought and operated the Concord Cotton mills. James Cheetham was ed- ucated in the public school and until his marriage worked in his father's mills. He then engaged in farming until 1869, when he established and maintained a successful dairy business until his death. He was a veteran of the Civil War, serving for one year with the 124th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He later re-enlisted, was commissioned second-lieutenant, but his command was not again called into service. He was a Republican in politics and a man of high character. Children: 1. Sadie, born July 17, 1866, died November 3, 1886. 2. Anna Eyre, married, June 18, 1902, James H. McClymont, a promi- ment architect of York, Pennsylvania : child, James Cheetham. 3. Madella, born in Maryland, married January 2, 1901. William Harlan Rigby, born in Concord, Delaware county, a descendant of the early Sharpless family which came in 1682 ; child : Madella Johns. 4. Samuel Dutton. 5. Jean Meyer, mar- ried January 8, 1902, Hugh Carlon Aiken-children : Richard Page and Louise Eyre. Flugh Carlon Aikin was a member of Company C, Sixth Regiment, National Guard Pennsylvania, and served during the Spanish-American War. 6. Joseph Larkin Eyre, married October 12, 1911, Catherine Marguerite Hughes-child: Joseph Larkin Eyre (2) ; Joseph Larkin Eyre Cheetham was a member of Company C, Sixth Regiment, National Guard Pennsylvania, and served during the Spanish-American War. 7. Philena Pennell.
Mrs. Cheetham, since becoming a widow, has continued her residence in Chester, her home being at Eleventh and Madison streets.
GARRETT In early times the Garretts were important millers of Upper Darby township. Delaware county. William Garrett came in 1683 from England, settling on two hundred and three acres that was surveyed to him March 5. 1688. In 1766, William Garrett was as- sessed on a leather mill and a blade mill, also in 1774 on a fulling mill and a
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blade mill. In 1782 Osborn Garrett was assessed on a fulling mill and in 1788 on a skin mill, also on a plaster mill. In 1798, Thomas Garrett owned a tilt mill at the site of the later Union Mills and there Thomas and Samuel Garrett conducted the tilt mill, oil mill and cotton factory for many years. These were all descendants of the emigrant, William Garrett, the founder of the Garrett family of Delaware county. The line of descent from William (1) to Edwin Garrett of Chester is through William (2) Garrett and Mary Smith, married in Darby Meeting 1-5-1726 or 1727. Their second son, Isaac Garrett, and his first wife, Elizabeth Hatton, who were married in Concord Meeting 3-26-1742; their son, Isaac (2) Garrett and Elizabeth Thatcher, who were married in Concord Meeting 4-24-1783. They settled on one hundred forty acres in Willistown township, Chester county, inherited from Isaac ( 1) Garrett.
Their youngest son, William Garrett, born 2-1-1800, died 4-22-1854- killed in an accident. He was a paper mill owner and a farmer of Willistown, where he inherited a part of his father's land. He married in Goshen Meet- ing, Eliza Sharpless, born 6-26-1807, died 11-25-1889, daughter of Jesse and Ann ( Harvey) Sharpless of East Goshen.
Their third son, Harvey S., born 6-16-1834, is now a resident of West Chester, Pennsylvania. He owned and operated the paper mills in Willistown for many years and also owns a large and fertile farm in Chester county. He married Mary D. Worrall of Upper Providence township ; children : Edwin (of further mention) : Phelena, died aged eighteen years ; Joseph Harvey, lives on the old farm and operates the paper mills there, married Emma Williams ; Phoebe S., married Willard Evans.
Edwin, eldest son of Harvey S. and Mary D. ( Worrall ) Garrett, was born in Willistown township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1860. He attended the public school of Willistown, finishing his studies at the Westches- ter Normal School. He worked in his father's paper mills until 1884, then moved to Chester, Pennsylvania, and there established a stationery store at No. 516 and 518 Welsh street. He has been very successful and does a large business, both wholesale and retail. In 1891 he bought the Franeis Tempest paper mill at Beaver Valley, which he also operates. For fourteen months he resided at Beaver Valley, then purchased a residence in Media at No. 7 West Third street, where he now resides, dividing his time between mill and store. He is an active resourceful business man, honorable and upright, as the Gar- retts ever were and in political faith a Republican. Mr. Garrett married at Westtown. Chester county, Pennsylvania, Belle Hoopes, born at Westtown, ed- ucated there and at West Chester, daughter of Elwood and Minerva ( Bernard) Hoopes, both deceased, farm owners ; children : Elwood Hoopes, born March 9, 1892, graduate of Media high school, finishing his studies at Mercersburg academy-now engaged with his father : Laura, born March 9, 1894, educated in the public schools of Media and in George's school in Bucks county, Penn- sylvania.
(The Sharpless Line).
The Sharpless family of Pennsylvania spring from Geoffrey and Margaret Sharpless of Wybunbury, Cheshire, England, through their son John Sharp- less, who was baptized at Wybunbury, August 15, 1624. died 4-11-1685, near Chester, Pennsylvania. The date of his coming is fixed as in 1682 and it is supposed that he came in the ship "Lion," arriving the 13 da. of 6 mo. John Sharpless became a land owner of Chester county and was a member of the Society of Friends. He married, April 27, 1662. Jane Moor, born 1638, died 9 mo. 1, 1722.
Joseph Sharpless, son of John (1) Sharpless, was born at Hathierton, Ches-
DELAWARE COUNTY
hire county, England. 1678, died in Middletown, Chester (now Delaware) county, Pennsylvania, 1758. He was a land owner, constable of Nether Provi- dence township and an elder of the Middletown Meeting. He married at Hav- erford Meeting, 3-31-1704, Lydia Lewis, born in Glamorganshire, Wales, 1683, died 1763.
Jacob Sharpless, sixth son of Joseph Sharpless, was born in Middletown, Delaware county, 10-14-1722, died in Concord, 7-19-1775. He married at Con- cord Meeting, Ann, daughter of Charles and Susanna Blakley, who came to Philadelphia from England, died 10-8-181I.
John Sharpless, eldest son of Jacob Sharpless, was born 9-28-1749, died 10-29-1834. He was an industrious farmer, prosecuting his business with en- ergy and acquiring considerable real estate. One season he raised eighty bush- els of cloverseed, which he sold for twenty dollars per bushel, which feat caused his fame to spread widely. Both his marriages were performed by a magistrate, which caused him to be disowned, but he was later received with his family into the society. It is said that as fast as his children married, he placed them upon farms, but as he had twelve children, this would imply vast holdings or small farms. He married (first) Elizabeth Yearsley, born 12-1I- 1752, died 7-31-1796, daughter of Nathan and Susanna (Wright) Yearsley of Thornbury.
Jesse Sharpless, third son of John Sharpless, by his first wife, was born in Concord, Pennsylvania, 2-11-1779, died in East Goshen 6-22-1866. He set- tled after marriage on a part of his father's land in East Goshen on the road from Rocky Hill to Goshenville. In 1818 he purchased from Evan Griffith and wife an adjoining farm of eighty-three acres. He married, 3-14-1805, at Ken- net Meeting, Ann Harvey, born at Pennsbury, 5-31-1783. died in East Goshen 8-28-1866, daughter of Amos Harvey, son of William (2) son of William (I) Harvey, who came from Worcestershire, England, in 1712.
Eliza, second of the nine children of Jesse and Ann (Harvey) Sharpless, married in Goshen Meeting, William Garrett, of previous mention, and they became the grandparents of Edwin Garrett of Chester and Media, previously recorded.
SCHAFFER That passing years and changing conditions have not served to dim the lustre which has been characteristic of the Dela- ware County Bar from the earliest times, sufficiently appears by any review of the character and attainments of the lawyers of the county in this present day, among whom no name stands out more prominently than that of William I. Schaffer. A notable member of a bar of which much is expected, his reputation marks him already, when barely in his prime, as an advocate worthy of the best traditions of his profession. His ability as a lawyer and his other gifts have already made him a state wide figure, and broader fields seem merely to develop latent powers, with splendid promise of future years and further triumphs in political and forensic endeavor.
Mr. Schaffer comes of Scotch-Irish and German stock, and is the son of George A. and Mary H. (Irwin) Schaffer, having been born in Germantown, Philadelphia, on February II. 1867. In 1874 his parents moved to Chester, Pennsylvania, where he obtained his education in the public schools; so that he may be truly claimed as a product of the county. After leaving school, he acted as clerk for a short time, but his natural aptitude and inclination were toward a professional career. Mr. Schaffer confesses even yet to some weak- ness toward the study of medicine, but financial difficulties stood in the way of acquiring a medical education, and an opportunity opening to study law with
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William B. Broomall, Esq., who was already a giant in the profession, direc- tion was thus early given to his career. Although a mere boy, he at once dis- played the qualities of mind which have since marked him, and by intense ap- plication and unflagging industry he not merely mastered his student tasks, but acquired a proficiency in stenography which stood him well in hand in his stu- dent and early professional days. He was prepared to seek admission to the bar before he had attained the minimum age of eligibility, so that on his twenty-first birthday, February II, 1888, he achieved the first step of his ambition and be- came a lawyer. One year later he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court, being one of the youngest men of his generation admitted to practice before that tribunal.
He continued to be associated in his professional career with Mr. Broom- all as first assistant, and in the office of his former preceptor he found not only opportunity for valuable experience, in cases involving every form of legal procedure, but the advantage of association with a senior of pre-eminent abil- ity. He early won his spurs as a trial lawyer by his defense in the famous "Fire-bug" case, and thereafter his services were in constant demand. Since then he has figured on one side or the other, in most of the important causes tried in the county, and in many tried in other jurisdictions in the state, nota- bly in the famous "Capitol" cases in Harrisburg, in which he was one of the leading attorneys for the defense. His success is attributable not merely to his more than first rate ability in all the peculiarly professional fields, but to a winning personality and a loyalty to friends and clients which with him raises advocacy to the highest plane of service.
In 1900 he was appointed Reporter of the Supreme Court of Pennsyl- vania, which position he continues to hold. He is now engaged in practice in Chester, with offices in the Gibson Building.
Mr. Schaffer has been interested in political affairs from his youth. He is a lifelong Republican and early in life was engaged as an organizer and campaign speaker, his services being in constant demand. He served many terms as a member and chairman of the county committee; was a frequent delegate to county conventions and in 1890 was a delegate to the State Con- vention of his party. In that convention, he was a supporter of General Hast- ings for the gubernatorial office and in an eloquent speech seconded his nomi- nation. At the Harrisburg Convention of 1894, he made the speech nominating John B. Robinson for Lieutenant Governor, and in 1903, he placed William L. Mathues in nomination for State Treasurer. One of his nominating speeches which attracted widest attention was that placing Judge Robert van Moschzis- ker in nomination for Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He has done yeoman service for his party friends and has not been unrewarded. The convention of 1891 nominated him as a delegate at large to the Constitutional Convention, and in 1893, he was elected District Attorney of Delaware county, taking office January, 1894, serving through a re-election, a period of six years. He won general commendation for his administration of his office, one which by learning, experience, energy and ability as a public speaker, he was eminent- ly qualified to fill. His gifts as an orator have brought him many calls for speeches, not only in his own, but in other States, where hard political battles were being fought. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the State and County Bar Associations and of many societies, organizations and clubs, including the Masonic Order and the Union League of Philadelphia.
Mr. Schaffer married, December 23, 1893, Susan A., daughter of Charles F. Cross, of Towanda, Pennsylvania.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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The Green family in America springs from English stock and GREEN it is highly probable, in fact, every item of information concern- ing the early members of the family confirms it, that the progeni- tors of the American family were socially and politically distinguished and prominent, as well as possessing great wealth. The following letter, published in "The Nation," at Boston, in October, 1888, serves to throw some light upon the early generations, whose history and traditions are closely shrouded in time's misty veil :
To the Editor of the Nation.
SIR-I may perhaps be trespassing on your space if I ask you to publish the following "Simple Tale."
I happen to be the Rector of the parish of Green's Norton, Northamptonshire, Eng- Jand. In the parish church are several mutilated tombs, belonging to the family of "Green," who, for six generations between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were the Jords of the manor. The first Sir Henry Green was Lord Chief Justice of England about the end of the thirteenth century ; the last Sir Thomas Green was the father of Maud Green, who married Sir Thomas Parr, of Kendal, Westmoreland, and was mother of Kate Parr, Queen of England by marriage with Henry VIII.
The only information I can arrive at by inquiry from the oldest inhabitant of this parish about the Green family is that many years ago a gentleman from America (my informant mentions Boston doubtfully) came to this church, presumably to inspect the beautiful tombs and brasses belonging to the Green family.
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