USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume II > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
Born in the neighboring State of Delaware, and a Pennsyl-
ROBINSON vanian by adoption, yet the boyhood of V. Gilpin Robinson was spent in localities far remote from those states. But from the age of fifteen years he has been a resident of Delaware county, Pennsyl- vania, and since 1900 a leading member of the Philadelphia bar.
Mr. Robinson is a son of Jacob F., and a grandson of Joseph Robinson, of English ancestry, both native born sons of the state of Delaware. Joseph Robinson was well known in Wilmington and Philadelphia, especially in ship- ping circles, he having been owner and operator of a line of packets plying on
660
DELAWARE COUNTY
the Delaware between those cities for many years. This line, known as Rob- inson's Packets, was an important one and was a favorite passenger and freight line of that day. He died in 1818, leaving a large family of children.
Jacob F., eldest son of Joseph Robinson, was born in Wilmington, Dela- ware, there he was educated, married, and spent the earlier years of his man- hood. Later he moved to the state of Indiana, thence to Paris, Bourbon coun- ty, Kentucky, but on the outbreak of the Civil War returned east, settling in Philadelphia. Later he moved to Chester, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1867. His wife, Rebecca Ellen Little, was born in York, Pennsylvania.
Vincent Gilpin, eldest of the five children of Jacob F. Robinson, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, August 21, 1851. He accompanied the family in their travels through Indiana, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, obtaining in vari- ous schools a good English education. At the age of sixteen years his father died and he became the head of the family.\ His first position was as clerk in the office of O. F. Bullard, prothonotary of Delaware county, with offices in the court house at Media. Here he obtained his ambition to become a lawyer and two years later he resigned his clerkship and began study under the pre- ceptorship of Edward A. Price, a capable lawyer of the Delaware county bar. He passed the required examination, and on August 26, 1872, being then twen- ty-one years of age, he was admitted to the bar. He at once began practice in Media. continuing with Mr. Price for one year, then and until 1883, contin- uing in practice alone. He quickly took a leading position at the Media bar, and in 1875 was elected district attorney of Delaware county, and in 1878 was re-elected. In 1876 he applied for and was admitted to practice at the Phila- delphia bar, and from that date has been in continnous practice in the Phila- delphia and Delaware county courts, as well as all State and Federal courts of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In ISS3 he formed a law partnership with Horace P. Green, practicing until 1892 as Robinson & Green. After this partnership was dissolved, Mr. Robinson continued to practice law in Media until about 1894, when he became a member of Rich, Robinson & Boyer, of Philadelphia, having offices at Sixth and Chestnut streets. This firm dissolved about 1895, and Mr. Robinson has been alone in practice ever since, and is now located in the Stephen Girard Building. He has had a very successful career as a lawyer, being especially strong in trial cases. He has been promi- nently connected with important will cases, and has been uniformly successful in his legal contentions. Perhaps his most notable case was the Letitia Robin- son will case, tried in Media by Mr. Robinson, associated with his former law partner, Mr. Green. This, one of the celebrated cases of Pennsylvania courts, was begun on October 9, 1901, the verdict not being rendered until November 16th following. The case was bitterly contested, and the victory brought Mr. Robinson well deserved congratulation. He is learned in the law, carefully prepares for his legal battles, and is most skillful in the application of his knowledge.
A Republican from his youth, he was the youngest candidate ever pre- sented for the office of District Attorney in Delaware county. His re-election was a deserved recognition of the value of his services to the county as pros- ecutor, and but for his youth he would have followed his second term by be- ing elected county judge. He took active part in Delaware county politics dur- ing his residence in Media, serving as secretary of the Republican County Com- mittee, and sitting as delegate to many conventions of his party. In Novem- ber, 1910, he was elected representative for the Second Delaware Legislative- District, serving on the committees on judiciary general, judiciary local, mili- tary pensions and gratuities, public health and sanitation. and railroads. In
661
DELAWARE COUNTY
1879 he began his long connection with the Pennsylvania National Guard. He was commissioned in that year major and judge advocate, served in various offices until July 1, 1895, when he resigned as aide-de-camp with the rank of captain on the staff of Brigadier General John W. Schall, commanding the First Brigade.
Mr. Robinson has not confined his activity entirely to his profession, but is interested officially with the Rittenhouse Trust Company of Philadelphia, of which he was vice-president and solicitor, and he is also director, solicitor and one of the incorporators of the Media Title and Trust Company. He is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to George W. Bartram Lodge, No. 298, Free and Accepted Masons : Media Chapter, No. 234. Royal Arch Ma- sons, of which he is past high priest ; and is a thirty-second degree Mason of Philadelphia Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. In religious faith he is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and has served Christ Church, Media, many years as a vestryman, and has held the same position af- ter moving to Philadelphia, in St. James Church, Twenty-second and Walnut streets. He is a member of the National, State and County Bar Associations, and of many clubs and organizations, including the Union League, Lawyers and Young Republican of Philadelphia, and the Historical Society of Penn- sylvania. He is fond of travel, and his days "off duty" each year are usually spent in touring the United States. Europe, China, Japan, or some oth- er country whose history and people he wishes to become more familiar with. This gives one a fair idea of Mr. Robinson's character ; he never does any- thing solely because he will gain pleasure from the doing, but all his trips and vacations are planned with the double motive, pleasure and benefit. He is genial, friendly and generous, delights in association with his fellows; sees the good there is in men, and is always willing to "lend a hand" in any good work. He is held in the highest estcem by his brethren of the bar and has many friends.
He married, November 17, 1874, Sallie M. Baker, who died in 1883. daughter of J. Mitchell Baker, of Chester county, and sister of Captain Jesse M. Baker, a law student under his brother-in-law, V. Gilpin Robinson, dis- trict attorney of Delaware county, and a major in the United States service. On December 5, 1894, Mr. Robinson married A. May, daughter of Dr. John Whartenby, a well known Philadelphia physician ; she died February 8, 1902. On July 16, 1908, he married Mary A. Kent, daughter of Thomas Kent, a manufacturer of Clifton Heights, Delaware county, Pennsylvania. The fam- ily home is at Clifton Heights, Delaware county.
The Daltry family, of which John Lewis Daltry, of Media,
DALTRY Delaware county, Pennsylvania, is a representative, is of Eng- lish origin, the father of Mr. Daltry having come to this coun- try about the middle of the nineteenth century.
James Daltry was born in Oldham, England, January 21, 1841, died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 3. 1893. Until the age of eighteen years he lived in England, where he was educated, then decided to come to the United States. At first he lived in Philadelphia for a time, then removed to St. Clair, where he found employment as a fireman at a furnace. Later he took up mining in Schuylkill county, at which he continued until the strike of 1874-75, when he removed with his family to Philadelphia, and the remain- der of his life was spent in that city and Chester. He obtained a position with the Frog & Switch Company of Philadelphia, and with other railroad supply companies. He was a Republican in politics, but never held public
662
DELAWARE COUNTY
office. Mr. Daltry married, October 14, 1866, Winifred Phillips, born in Wales, July 4, 1844, and now living in Philadelphia, daughter of a miner in Schuylkill county. Mr. and Mrs. Daltry had children : 1. John Lewis, of whom further. 2. Jennie, now deceased, was the wife of Thomas M. Mudford, a machinist, and lived in Philadelphia. 3. Alice, died at the age of two years. 4. James, died when he was about thirty-three years of age. 5. Paul, a molder, married Margaret Vogel; lives in Philadelphia. 6. Elwood, engaged in the insurance business ; married Mabel Spence; lives in Philadelphia. The father and mother of these children were members of the Primitive Metho- dist church.
John Lewis, son of James and Winifred (Phillips) Daltry, was born in St. Clair, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, March 23, 1868. The early years of his life were spent in St. Clair, but he attended the public schools of Phila- delphia, where he acquired an excellent and practical education. The first position he occupied in his business career was that of messenger boy at Wan- amaker's. In 1881 he became an employe of the factory of the Frog & Switch Company, where he worked at intervals for a period of twelve years. He next entered the employ of Mr. Roach, the well known ship builder, and fol- lowing this engagement was connected with work on the Chester lines of the car trolley system. His duties, during the period he was with this company, were varied and interesting, and his work took him in all directions from Chester. In 1897 Mr. Daltry accepted a position under the County Commis- sioners, remaining until December, 1907, when he was transferred to the pro- thonotary's office at Media, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where he is still engaged. In political matters he is a Republican, and his religious adherence is given to the Baptist denomination. He is a member, and has filled all chairs, of the Order of Independent Americans, and the Improved Order of Red Men, also a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America and Command- LIV of same.
Mr. Daltry married, October 18, 1888, Clara E. Blizzard, born in Chester, April 1, 1868, da ighter of William and Elizabeth (Donaldson) Bliz- zard, the former a lumber sorter, and still living at the Soldiers' Home, in Hampton Roads, at the age of seventy-five years. Mrs. Daltry had sisters and brothers: 1. Mary, deceased, married George S. Brod. 2. Thomas, died in early youth. 3. Frank Black, a pipe welder in Youngstown, Ohio; married Agnes Pollock. 4. Lillian Price, lives in Chester ; married Dr. F. L. Hamil- ton, now deceased. 5. Harry, lives in Camden. Mr. and Mrs. Daltry have had children. I. Lewis C., born August 1, 1889 ; a clerk in Chester, where he also lives; married Edna L. Pollock, and has two children: Louis C. Jr. and Arthur Holmes. 2. James, born February 19, 1891 ; lives in Media and works in a pattern shop: married Bertha E. Habersett. 3. Harry, born February 25, 1896. 4. Paul, born February 6, 1898. 5. Lillian, born July 23, 1904. 6. Jack, born December 23, 1906. 7. Frank, born August 16, 1908.
As superintendent of the Springfield Water Works, A. B. CHEYNEY Cheyney is in charge of one of the most compact, complete and best equipped water supply systems to be found anywhere. The main building of the plant and pumping works is located near Springfield, Delaware county, on Crum Creek, where the works were first established ; the old plant having been superseded by the present works. The buildings, of tasteful design, are built of dressed stone and surrounded by carefully kept grounds. The machinery is of the most modern and wonderful construction, and consists of four engines, one capable of pumping five million gallons of
663
DELAWARE COUNTY
water daily, one of two and a half million gallons, one of two million gallons, one of two million six hundred thousand gallons-four thousand eight hun- dred and fifty horse power being necessary to drive these monsters. The Springfield Water Company controls the water rights of the district with pow- ers to prevent pollution of the sources of supply. The system includes five res- ervoirs and two stand-pipes, that supply the towns of Delaware county within a radius of ten miles from the central station at Springfield. There the water is impounded in a large settling basin, with a capacity of ten million gallons, then passed through thoroughly modernly constructed sand filters to the sup- ply reservoir, thence the gigantic pumps force it into the mains, clear, pure and wholesome to the homes of the consumers. A daily analysis of the water is made by a chemist. under the direction of the state board of health, and every precaution made to insure absolute purity. The officials of the com- pany are: Joseph H. Keen, president; Bayard Hodge, secretary; George Bunting, treasurer ; H. P. Keen, general superintendent operating department ; J. W. Ladoux, chief engineer ; Arthur B. Cheyney, superintendent of the Springfield Works : George Mitzky, division superintendent.
Arthur B. Cheyney, son of Charles B. M. and Sallie (Hall) Cheyney, was born in Bethel township, Delaware county, January 25, 1865. His early edu- cation was obtained in the public schools, after which he entered Drexel Insti- tute, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated electrical engineer. After graduation he was retained in the service of the institute as electrical engineer for three years, going thence to a similar position at the Warden Power Build- ing, in Philadelphia, remaining two years. After two years in the same capac- ity at the Mutual Life building, Philadelphia, he became officially connected with the Springfield Water Company, and in December, 1898, was appointed to his present position, superintendent of the Springfield Works, a position he most efficiently fills.
Mr. Cheyney is a Republican in politics and both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. He married (first) Clara Maxwell, (second) in June, 1897, Margaret, daughter of Emil and Margaret (Love) Le Claire. By the first marriage Mr. Cheyney has two children.
SWANK Originally of a Lycoming county family, Mr. William Harvey Swank came to Delaware county about 1886. He is the son of of John R. Swank, born near Shamokin, died at Pennsville, Pennsylvania, in 1891. He was a wheelwright by trade, an ardent Democrat and a member of the Lutheran church. His wife, Catherine Bussler, born in Lycoming county, died in Pennsville : children : Edward, deceased ; Henry, de- ceased ; Jeremiah ; John : James ; William Harvey ( of whom further) ; Kate ; Regina, ( deceased ) ; Clara and Mary.
William H. Swank was born at Hartley Hall, Lycoming county, Pennsyl- vania, April 8, 1862. He was educated in the public schools, finishing at the County Normal School at Muncy, whence he was graduated with honor after a special course. He engaged in teaching in Lycoming county, continuing for several years, then coming to Springfield township, Delaware county, where he has been engaged in teaching in the public schools. His record as an edu- cator is of the best, the schools over which he has presided showing a marked efficiency in scholarship and attendance. During his thirty-six years as an in- structor, Mr. Swank has missed but one day of a regular school session, a most remarkable record and one showing his devotion to his chosen profes- sion. He is one of the oldest teachers in point of service in Delaware county. and is there thoroughly appreciated and highly respected, both as teacher, citi-
664
DELAWARE COUNTY
zen and neighbor. He is a member of Cassia Lodge, No. 273, Free and Ac- cepted Masons of Ardmore ; Rose Tree Lodge, No. 275, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past noble grand.
Mr. Swank married in 1891, Ella, daughter of Samuel F. and Mary Eliz- abeth (Leech) Pancoast, of an old Delaware county family. Children : Mary : Seth Ellsworth : Samuel Levis; Elizabeth : Martha ; Laura and Ella, wife of William Harvey Swank ; child : Viola. The family attend Friends' Meeting.
Among the citizens of Lansdowne may be mentioned the
UNDERHILL name of Frederick S. Underhill, who belongs to that class of men who are worthy of the respect and esteem of their fellows, men who labor earnestly to build up our commerce and manufactures, who give employment and labor to others, and whose efforts tend to im- prove the section in which they reside.
Frederick S. Underhill was born in Montreal, Canada, November 12. 1865, son of John and Annie (Ireland) Underhill, who were born in Man- chester, England. and Belfast, Ireland, respectively. They left their native lands prior to their marriage, which took place in Montreal, Canada, where they resided until the year 1871, when they removed to Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, and there he established in business as an optician, a profession he studied in early life, and he continued along that line until his death in the year 1877, survived by his wife, whose death occurred in 1910, aged about seventy years. They were members of the Episcopal church, and Mr. Under- hill was a member of the Benevolent Order of Buffaloes. Their family consisted of four children : Clara. deceased; Frederick S., of whom further ; Morley, deceased ; John P., a lumberman, resides in Evergreen, North Carolina.
Frederick S. Underhill attended the public schools in the neighborhood of his home, and later, in order to supplement the knowledge thus gained. was a pupil in the night school of the City Institute. Being deprived by death of his father when he was only twelve years of age, he was early thrown upon his own resources, beginning his career at that time by engaging as office boy for the Baldwin Locomotive Works, remaining with them for four years, dur- ing which time he was promoted from time to time until he became assistant to the manager of the extra parts department. He then secured employment with George I. McKelway, a chemist, remaining with him for three years. He then became a manufacturer of umbrellas at No. 905 Vine street, Philadel- phia, which business he disposed of after conducting it successfully for sev- eral years, and then engaged as stenographer with Thomas Potter, Sons & Company, serving in that capacity for some time. In 1888 he became asso- ciated with James Strong & Company, lumber dealers, with whom he re- mained for ten years, during which time he gained a thorough knowledge of the business in all its details, and then felt competent to engage in business on his own account. entering into partnership with R. Wyatt Wistar, under the firm name of Wistar & Underhill, conducting a wholesale lumber business. A few years later a Mr. Nixon was admitted as a member of the firm and the name was then changed to Wistar, Underhill & Nixon, which still obtains. They have a mill in South Carolina and assembling yards in West Virginia and Nashville, Tennessee, and from these they ship to the Middle Atlantic and Eastern States, also to Canada, and having connections through- out the entire United States are capable of filling orders of all kinds expedi- tiously and efficiently. They make a specialty of hardwoods, having an ex- tensive supply constantly on hand from which they fill their many orders for this article. They have about twenty-five experienced men constantly
665
DELAWARE COUNTY
on their payroll, and also give employment to many others when the necessity arises. The members of the firm are men of the highest integrity and of un- questioned business ability, and the large degree of success which has attended their efforts is the natural sequence of events.
Mr. Underhill is prominent and active in business circles, and has been chosen by his fellow business men to act as president of the Lumber Exchange of Philadelphia, president of the Philadelphia Wholesale Lumber Dealers' Association, and first vice-president of the National Hardwood Lumber Asso- ciation, trustee of National Wholesale Lumber Dealers Association, in all of which he is serving at the present time, and is also first vice-president of the American Lumber Trades Congress and vice-president of the American For- estry Association. He has served as school director of Lansdowne, where he has resided since 1893, when at home, being elected on the Republican ticket. He has attained prominence in the Masonic Order, affiliating with Washing- ton Lodge. No. 59: Harmony Chapter, No. 52: Pennsylvania Commandery, and Lulu Temple.
Mr. Underhill married, November, 1886, Hannah W. Dukes, a native of Tuckahoe, New Jersey. daughter of Captain John M. Dukes, a sea captain. Mr. and Mrs. Underhill have no children of their own, but they have adopted as their own two nieces and two nephews, namely : Rosalind W .. A. Morley, Arthur B., Alma C. The young men are now in the senior and freshman classes, respectively, at Pennsylvania State College.
Prior to the arrival of William Penn, came Daniel Walton to WALTON Pennsylvania, where he founded the family of Walton so well and favorably known in Eastern Pennsylvania. He was one of four brothers: Nathaniel. Thomas, Daniel, and William, who arrived in New Castle early in 1675. all young and unmarried men. From New Castle they pro- ceeded along the Delaware in search of a place for settlement, carrying their whole stock of farming and cooking utensils on their backs. While there is a statement made that they settled at Byberry in 1675 and bestowed that name in honor of their English home, the statement is controverted and later author- ities state they settled there in 1682, which would make their arrival coinci- dent with that of Penn. The four Waltons were sons of William Walton of Oxhill, in the county of Warwick.
Daniel Walton, one of the four sons. was a well-to-do, res- pected member of the Society of Friends, and lived a long and useful life. He married Mary Lamb in 1688, died 1719, leaving six sons and a daughter, Mary.
Daniel (2) Walton, the second son of Daniel (1) Walton, married Eliz- abeth Clifton, and spent his life in Byberry, a farmer and a Friend.
Daniel (3) Walton, only son of Daniel (2) Walton. married Ann Knight and settled on the homestead farm in Byberry, where he died in 1776.
Daniel (4) Walton, eldest of the two sons of Daniel (3) Walton, settled at Sandyford, near Philadelphia. He married Mary Woolens.
Charles D. Walton, son of Daniel (4) Walton, was a resident of Philadel- phia. He married Henrietta F. Spittall.
Charles Spittall Walton, son of Charles D. and Henrietta (Spittall) Wal- ton, was born in Philadelphia, April 16, 1862. He was educated in the city schools, entered the University of Philadelphia, whence he was graduated Bachelor of Science, class of 1882, having taken the mining engineering course. He early in his business career became connected with the leather manufacturing house of England, Walton & Company, successors to England and Bryan, the original founders of the house, prior to the civil war. Begin-
666
DELAWARE COUNTY
ning in an inferior position. Mr. Walton has advanced through successive- steps to the presidency of the company. He has been successful as an up- builder of trade and during his connection with the company as executive, their business has largely increased. The company is now erecting a large addition to their building at Third and Vine streets, which will, when completed, give them greatly increased facilities for handling their constantly increasing busi- ness. He has other large and varied business interests ; is president and direc- tor of the Central Trust and Savings Company; treasurer and director of the Tanners Mutual Fire Insurance Company: director of the Union National Bank : the National of the Northern Liberties ; the Fidelity Mutual Fire Insur- ance Company ; the Employers Indemnity Company and the American Bap- tist Publication Society. In all these companies he takes active official interest and is a prominent factor in shaping their business course.
He is a member of the Baptist church, an active helpful member and one who by personal effort and example promotes the growth and extends the in- fluence of his church. He is deeply interested in the work of the Young Men's Christian Association. During the campaign for funds to erect the new associ- ation building on Broad street. Philadelphia, he not only gave liberally person- ally, but entered into the campaign with all his energy and was very helpful. He is a director of the Philadelphia Young Men's Christian Association, and in every department of the Christian work of the association has aided by freely giving of his time and business sagacity. In political faith he is a Republican, and for the past thirteen years has served as treasurer of the school board of Wayne township, Delaware county, where he is now erecting a magnificent country scat.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.