USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume II > Part 31
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Dr. Harry Leedom Smedley, son of Dr. Abram Pennell and Lydia Emma (Bishop) Smedley, was born in Media, Pennsylvania, October 12, 1858. His primary, intermediate and preparatory education was obtained in the Media public school and Friends Central School, 15th and Race streets, Philadelphia. He then entered Swarthmore College after which he entered the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, whence he was graduated Ph. G., class of 1880. He then entered the University of Pennsylvania (dental department), whence he was graduated D. D. S., class of 1882. He continued at the university (medical department) obtaining the degree of M. D., class of 1883. having taken the dental and medical courses together until his last year, when he attended medi- cal lectures only. He at once after graduation began practice with his father, electing from the three professions he was qualified to follow, that of dentistry. He practiced in association with his father until the death of the latter, since then practicing alone. He is thoroughly modern in his practice ; his offices be- ing equipped with the latest electrical and other devices pertaining to the den- tal profession and every attention paid to perfect sanitary and hygienic con- ditions. He is a member of the Pennsylvania State Dental Society and the Chester and Delaware Counties Dental Society, having served as president of the latter society. He belongs to George W. Bartram Lodge, No. 208, Free and Accepted Masons of Media; the Media Club: Media Hook and Ladder Company, No. I, of the fire department. having been a member since its or- ganization. In politics Dr. Smedley is an independent Republican and has al- ways been most active in his interest in borough affairs. He served three years on the board of education, being president of that board one year ; was elected burgess of Media by the votes of the people, irrespective of party, serving three years, introducing many needed reforms that tended to better civic con- ditions, particularly in the matter of public health and general appearance of streets, alleys and vacant lots in the borough. He is a member of the Delaware county board of prison inspectors and in all things is the friend of progress and reform.
He married, January 28, 1892, in Springfield, Ohio, Mary .A., daughter of George Henry and Rebecca (Clark) Christian, of Media, both deceased. Both the doctor and his wife are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Media, and hoth are active, useful workers in church and Sunday school, he having been superintendent of the Sunday school for a number of years and is a member of the official board, governing the church. Mrs. Smedley is a member of the Woman's Club, of Media, and prominent in the social life of the town. The family home and the doctor's offices are at No. 13 East Wash- ington street, one of the best and most desirable residence districts of Media. The doctor like his father, is fond of out-of-doors and gives his sanction and encouragement to all wholesome athletic sports. He is a most desirable citi- zen and is held in the highest esteem, both professionally and socially.
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The Westcotts of Media, Pennsylvania, represented in the
WESTCOTT present generation by Walter S. Westcott, county treasurer, and proprietor of the Charter House, the oldest hotel in Media, descend from the New Jersey family founded by Daniel Westcott, a prominent public official at Stamford, Connecticut, in 1639, representing his district in the general assembly three terms. The Westcott family is spoken of in the "History of Devonshire, England," four centuries ago, as "an ancient and honorable one as far back as A. D., 1170." The name was then de West- cote, a form yet retained in some branches.
Daniel Westcott, of Stamford, aforementioned, was voted town lands for "services rendered against our common enemy," presumably meaning the In- dians. In 1694 he disposed of all his property in Stamford, and with a number of other citizens of that town removed to New Jersey, naming the locality in which they settled Fairfield, the name of their home county in Connecticut. Mr. Westcott died in 1702, leaving sons, Samuel, Daniel, Ebenezer, who were among the founders of settlements in Salem and Cumberland counties. The Westcotts were active in founding the First Presbyterian Church at Fairfield, many of them serving as ministers. elders and deacons. All of the New Jer- sey branch of the family trace their descent from Daniel Westcott through his three sons, aforementioned.
The first of the family to settle in Media, Pennsylvania, was Henry West- cott, born in Cedarville, New Jersey, died in Media, in October, 1907. After completing his studies in the common schools of his home town, he learned the trade of carriage builder, which occupation he followed for a number of years, establishing a shop and factory in Media, whither he removed about the year 1870. Five years later he removed to a farm in Marple township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged successfully in agriculture until 1883, when his buildings, stock, implements and grain were totally destroyed by fire, this proving a serious loss. Nothing daunted by this misfortune, he at once set about repairing the damage. He remodeled another house which was on the property, occupying it as a dwelling, erected a new barn and other buildings, and continued his operations thereon, putting the property into excellent condi- tion, continuing until failing health caused his retirement from active labor. He then returned to Media, where he again engaged in the carriage building busi- ness, which he followed nntil about two years prior to his decease, which oc- curred in the year 1907. He was an active member of the Presbyterian church, devoting his time and means to its welfare, and a staunch and earnest Republi- can, although never seeking or holding public office, preferring to devote his time to his other interests. He was a man of the highest integrity and upright- ness of character, honored and esteemed by all who knew him, and had he so chosen could have had any position in the gift of the people. He married Mary Stewart, born in Ridley township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, a devoted member of the Baptist church, whose death occurred January 18, 1912, and whose body was interred beside that of her husband in Media cemetery.
Walter S. Westcott, son of Henry and Mary (Stewart) Westcott, was horn in Media, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1873. He spent several years of his early life on the farm in Marple township, and his education was acquired in the public schools of Cedar Grove and Media. Completing his studies at the age of twelve years, he at once sought employment and secured work as an operator with the Media Telephone Exchange. Later he became an office boy for George Darlington and Horace Manley, attorneys remaining for one year, and then entered the employ of William Campbell, proprietor of a grocery and feed store, remaining four years, receiving a salary of one hundred dollars yearly. Having obtained as thorough a knowledge of the grocery business as
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was possible under the circumstances, he spent a year in Philadelphia as man- ager of a grocery establishment, returning to Media at the expiration of that period of time. He then became outside collector and solicitor for the "Dela- ware County Record," serving in that capacity for six years, during which time he became well known as a perfect encyclopedia of information concerning Delaware county, its road, villages, farms and people. He then engaged in the grocery business in Media, continuing in business until May, 1912, when he disposed of the same, having been elected county treasurer the previous No- vember, taking office, January 1, 1912. His market, to which he later added a meat department, was located on the corner of State and Orange streets. He was highly successful in this enterprise, receiving an extensive patronage which increased in volume and importance with each passing year. In August, 1912, Mr. Westcott leased the Charter House, in Media, which under his cap- able management has taken on a new lease of life, Mr. Westcott and his wife doing all in their power to promote the comfort of their many guests and pa- trons. There is no bar connected with the house, hence all their efforts are di- rected to insuring clean rooms, good and comfortable beds, wholesome and well cooked food, and every little attention which goes to make up an ideal hotel. Mr. Westcott is a loyal Republican, active and prominent in local poli- tics, and aside from the office of county treasurer, which he is filling to the sat- isfaction of all concerned, he served for three years on the Republican county committee. He is public-spirited and enterprising, and every movement in his community which has for its object the betterment of the place finds in him a hearty supporter. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he contributes liberally of his time and means.
Mr. Westcott married, on Thanksgiving Day, 1896, Clara J., daughter of Hubert J. Riley, of Chester, Delaware county, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of one son, Milton Riley, born August 16, 1898. Mrs. Westcott is a member of the Episcopal church, and a helpmate to her husband in the broad- est sense of the word.
An almost lifelong resident of Media, Mr. Westcott has there met his re- verses and scored his successes. Known to more people than any other man in the county, probably, he has been honored by them with the most important office in their gift. From boyhood to the present he has lived an active, ener- getic life, and by his own honorable exertions and moral attributes has carved out for himself, affluence and position. By the strength and force of his own character, he overcame obstacles which to others less hopeful and less courageous would see unsurmountable, difficulties but serving as an incentive to greater efforts. He is as well liked as well known, and numbers his personal friends by the hundreds and his acquaintances by the thousands.
FRONFIELD The Fronfields were early settlers of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and there Dr. Fronfield's father, Joseph M. Fronfield, was born. He was a miller and farmer, holding the town offices of school director and justice of the peace for many years. He was a member of the Episcopal church, while his wife Eliza ( Rogers) Fronfield, was a member of the Society of Friends ( Hicksite), and of high standing in the society. Joseph W. Fronfield died in March, 1897: his wife died in April, 1892; and both are buried in Oakland Cemetery, West Chester.
J. Harvey Fronfield was born in Phoenixville, Chester county, May 31. 1859. He prepared for college in the public schools, finished the course, and was graduated in 1876. He then entered the University of Michigan, taking a
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course in chemistry. Then he taught in the public schools of Chester county for five years, but abandoned that profession and began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Isaae Massey, of West Chester. He next entered the Medi- cal Department of the University of Pennsylvania, whence he was graduated M. D., class of 1883. Dr. Fronfield began to practice in Chester county near White Horse, continuing there for five years. In the spring of 1888 he located in Media, where he has since been in continuous practice for a period covering a quarter of a century. His large practice, both medical and surgical, is general in character, and his reputation as a skillful physician and surgeon, rests on his many years of successful treatment of difficult cases. Dr. Fronfield is a nieinber of the American Medical Association, Pennsylvania State Medical and Delaware County Medical societies, having served as president of the county society. He also belongs to the Masonic order, the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows and the Spring Haven Country Club. Outside of his private practice Dr. Fronfield has many public engagements. He is surgeon for the Pennsylvania railroad, physician to the county jail, and examiner for many insurance and fraternal organizations. In political faith he is a Democrat, and he is an interested observer of public affairs.
Dr. Fronfield married, June 9, 1887, Frances A., daughter of William H. and Anna (Taylor) Pyle, of West Chester. Their only child, Marian, is a graduate of Media High School, Swarthmore Preparatory School and Swarth- more College. Mrs. Fronfield is a member of the Woman's Club, and inter- ested in the social life of Media. The family home is at the corner of Second and Jackson streets, where Dr. Fronfield has his offices.
ALLISON The name Allison occurs quite frequently among the Scotch- Irish, who settled in the southwestern part of Chester county, Pennsylvania, from 1718 to 1740. Perhaps the most influential person of the name, during the early period, was Rev. Francis Allison, D. D., born in 1705. in county Donegal, Ireland ; educated at the University of Glas- gow, Scotland ; came to Pennsylvania in 1735 ; licensed as a Presbyterian min- ister, 1735; soon afterward installed over the church in New London, Chester
county, remaining fifteen years ; located in Philadelphia in 1752 ; was in charge of an academy there ; beeame viee-provost of the college, now University of Pennsylvania, on its establishment, 1755; was professor of moral philosophy ; also assistant pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia : Yale College conferred on him the degree of Master of Arts in 1756, and the Uni- versity of Glasgow that of Doctor of Divinity, 1758. It is said he was the first clergyman in this country to receive the degree of D. D. He married Hannah, daughter of James Armitage of New Castle, Delaware : his death oc- curred November 28, 1779.
The name was for many years a very prominent one among Philadelphia manufacturers, made so by the famed car builders, Murphy & Allison, suc- ceeded by the still more noted W. C. Allison & Sons, and the Junction Car Works and Flue Mill. The founder of this business, William C. Allison, was born of Quaker parentage in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1817. When six years of age his father died. and at ten years he was left an orphan, de- pendent upon his own efforts. He obtained an education and a trade before he was nineteen years of age, for at that age lie established in business on Broad street, near Vine, as a wheelwright and wagon builder. Hardly had he become well established when the panic of 1837 oeeurred and made his undertaking a more difficult one. He struggled along until 1841, when he was obliged to surren- der along with many an older Philadelphia industry. But perhaps this failure
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was a blessing as it brought forth his latent strength and energy, and while it left him penniless, it proved the man. He soon regained the lost ground and after discharging every obligation against him, found himself with an established reputation for integrity, that he ever afterward upheld. At about this time there was a demand from railroads for rolling stock, he turned his attention to car building. Having no blacksmith shop, he was obliged to depend on a neigh- bor for iron work. This was John Murphy, with whom he later, in 1851, en- tered into partnership for the manufacture of cars, under the firm style Mur- phy & Allison. They soon had a flourishing business and were in fact for many years the only car builders in the state of Pennsylvania. They furnished most of the work for the large transportation companies between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and for the West Chester road and the Germantown & Norris- town railroad. After the completion of the Pennsylvania railroad and the al- teration of the state road by which the terminus was fixed on Market street, Philadelphia, the firm of Murphy & Allison erected extensive shops on Market, west of Nineteenth street, which they equipped with the most perfect machin- ery for car building then obtainable. The demand for cars of all kinds was enormous and the enlarged shops were run to fullest capacity. It was there that the first really comfortable passenger cars were built, and the first sleep- ing car constructed. An era of street car extension was then at hand and the firm enlarged their business by entering into the manufacture of street cars. In 1856 they bought the Girard Tube Works on the Schuylkill, at Filbert street wharf, and added the manufacture of butt welded gas and steam pipes to their car building operations. There were but two other plants similar to the Girard in the whole country, and the demand for pipes was enormous. In May, 1863, their car building plant at Nineteenth and Market streets was de- stroyed by fire, entailing a heavy loss upon the firm as they had on hand an immense stock of material to be used in government contracts, as well as large railroad orders, on which they could not. of course, make deliveries, but within a fortnight they had extemporized a plant and were doing their best to meet the demands being made on them. They leased for a time the large buildings in West Philadelphia at Thirty-first and Locust streets, belong to the Archi- tectural Iron Works Company, and within two months they were again building cars. About this time they began the erection of a very large plant, later known as the Junction Car Works and Flue Mill, covering ten acres in West Philadelphia, between the tracks of the West Chester and Philadelphia and the Connecting railway. This was during the dark days of the civil war and the prospects were far from bright. but they persevered, and in 1864 occupied the new works conceded to be the largest and best equipped in the country at that time. The plant had a capacity of two passenger coaches, six city passenger cars and thirty-five freight cars weekly, was run to full capacity. In 1866 they discontinued the building of passenger cars, but added a new branch, the making of lap welded iron tubing for boiler flues and for oil well purposes, the demand for both then being immense. The amount of business done was enor- mous, particularly in the oil region, where the Allison tubing has gained the highest reputation. The line required the erection of large additional buildings and machinery, requiring nearly a year to complete and in the meantime the firm was dissolved by the death of Mr. Murphy. A reorganization was quick- ly effected, however, by the introduction of the two sons of William C. Alli- son, J. W. and Thomas Ellwood Allison, both of whom had been for several years associated with their father in the varied business of Allison & Murphy. They were now admitted as partners, the firm becoming William C. Allison & Sons. The buildings were completed and a most prosperous business conducted until July 25. 1872, when the fire fiend again exacted tribute, destroying almost
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the entire plant with its acres of buildings. The insurance of three hundred thousand dollars, did not cover the actual loss, without taking into considera- tion the great loss from interruption of business. The firm again returned to their old quarters at Thirty-first and Locust streets, and there with inferior facilities managed to continue manufacturing. Meanwhile they again rebuilt, erecting more complete and more substantial buildings, and on May 1, 1873. occupied their new works and resumed business on a more extended scale than heretofore. At the height of their prosperity, fifteen hundred men were em- ployed, fourteen acres were occupied, more than seven acres of which were covered with roofed buildings, and a train of twenty freight cars produced each day. Over three miles of railroad tracks traversed the grounds on which the company used their own locomotives, while a business of from five to six millions of dollars was annually transacted in eighteen separate and distinct departments. An idea of the magnitude of their business may be gained from the fact that the works annually consumed twenty million feet of lumber, sev- enteen thousand tons of wrought iron, eight thousand tons of cast iron, four hundred thousand pounds of brass, six hundred and seventy-five feet of tin, eighty thousand gallons of oil, twenty thousand car axles, forty thousand car wheels, fifteen hundred tons of bolts, nuts and washers, and five thousand kegs of nails, with equally enormous amounts of raw material and supplies of a varied nature. In addition to all their other industries, the firm in 1874 built a large wharf on the east side of the Schuylkill, above the South street bridge, capable of loading four vessels and several canal boats at the same time. Their old plants connected with their plant at Thirty-second and Chestnut streets, and their lines, included besides those mentioned, lumber by the cargo, iron works, forgings, bridge work and contractors supplies. The Allison boiler tub- ing was rated so highly among engineers that in a few years no salesmen were employed, the demand being so well established. William C. Allison continued at the head of the business until his death, November 30, 1891, after an active business connection of over half a century. From the little wagon shop of 1837 he rose through sheer merit, energy and undaunted courage, to the head of the then largest concern of its kind in the State. He established a new in- dustry-car building-in his State, and left an impress on the tube industry that neither trusts nor competition can ever efface ; a selfmade man and one who, in every particular, was a credit to the city and State that claimed him as a son.
Thomas Ellwood Allison. son of William C. Allison, was born, reared, lived and died in the city of Philadelphia. He was well educated and early in life became associated with his father, then junior member of the firm of Murphy & Allison. He was employed in the various departments, and on the death of Mr. Murphy, in 1866, he was so well qualified to assume large respon- sibilities, that he was admitted, with his brother, as a partner, the firm re-or- ganizing as William C. Allison & Sons. He bore with his father and brother the burdens of the immense business, and proved most competent. He could not, however, continue under the load of responsibility, and March 23, 1881, he (lied from pneumonia. His father continued as president until 1891, when he was succeeded by Frank Ross Tobey, the Allisons retiring. Thomas Ellwood Allison married Florence Gregory, born in Philadelphia, who still survives him. T. Ellwood Allison, only and posthumous child of Thomas Ellwood and Florence (Gregory) Allison, was born in Philadelphia, June 29. 1881. He was educated in the Hill School at Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and at the University of Pennsylvania and is now a resident of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, with offices in Media. He is largely engaged in handling Delaware county real estate and is one of the energetic, useful young capitalists of that section. He is in-
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terested in public affairs, is generous and philanthropic in disposition and al- ways willing to assist in those enterprises that promise to improve conditions in his community. He is a member of the Masonic order; Phi Delta Theta fraternity : a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife are members of the Episcopal church. He married, June 1, 1905, Eleanor K., daughter of Ed- mund B. and Emily ( Bailey) Aymar, of New York City and Philadelphia, re- spectively. Children : T. Ellwood (2), Aymar K., and Eleanor M. Allison. The family home is a beautiful mansion in Wallingford. Delaware county.
Work well performed may not always bring a visible reward to
SMITH the doer, but in the present instance the reward has followed closely. \ faithful teacher, A. G. Criswell Smith was elevated to the highest educational position under the public school system and for twenty-six years has made Delaware county schools the paramount interest of his life.
A. G. Criswell Smith was born near Cochranville, Chester county, Penn- sylvania, September 16, 1853, son of Jesse Jackson and Mary M. Smith. He was educated in the public schools of West Fallowfield township, Chester county, at Hebron Hall in Cochranville and in a private school kept in his father's house, known locally as the "Smithsonian Institute." He did not take kindly to his father's occupation as farmer, but in 1873 began teaching, his first school being in Sadsbury township, Lancaster county. Feeling the need of better equipment for the teacher's profession, which he had decided to perma- nently follow, he resigned his school in March and entered Millersville State Normal School, whence he was graduated in June, 1876. The next year he taught a school in East Donegal township, Lancaster county. then two years in Highland township in Chester county. He resigned the latter position in March, 1879, to accept the principalship of the Lansford borough schools in Carbon county. He continued there, gaining experience and reputation until 1881, when he was elected principal of public schools in Media and moved to that borough. After four years of successful service there he was elected principal of the schools of Lower Chichester township in Delaware county and in 1885 entered upon the duties of that position. He was not, however, long allowed to continue, as in May, 1887, he was elected by the school directors of Delaware county, superintendent of public instruction for a term of three years. So well did he fill this position that he was again elected in 1890 and has been reelected each succeeding three years until in 1914 he will complete his ninth term as the able head of the county public school systemn.
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