USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume II > Part 50
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
Samuel F. Pancoast was educated in the public schools of Springfield township, became a successful, prosperous farmer and died on his estate there in 1890. He was a Republican in politics and a birth-right member of the Society of Friends. He married ( first) Elizabeth, daughter of John Leach, a blacksmith and hotel keeper of Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, and his wife, Catherine Cokenspiger. John Leach had issue: Elizabeth; John, de- ceased ; Isaac ; Charles ; William ; George, deceased ; Margaret ; Catherine, de- ceased ; Sarah ; Hettie. Samuel F. Pancoast married ( second) Ellen B. Sloan. Children by first wife : Mary, married Isaac Lewis : Ella, married William H. Swank : Seth (3), married Minnie R. Reynolds ; Samuel L., of whom further ; John, deceased ; Annie, deceased ; all members of the Society of Friends. Chil- dren by the second wife : Elizabeth : Malachi ; Mattie and Laura, the two last named deceased.
Samuel L. Pancoast, second son of Samuel F. Pancoast and his first wife, Elizabeth Leach, was born in Springfield township, Delaware county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1869, and there his earlier life was spent. He was educated in the public school and until seventeen years of age he was a farm worker. In 1886 he began an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade with Charles J. Evans of Springfield township, continuing his full term and becoming an expert smith. He located in Broomall, Marple township, after serving his time securing em- ploying with Charles Dickinson, with whom he worked two years, he then es- tablished his own shop and business, which he successfully continues, having his place of business on the lot in the rear of his residence. He is highly re- garded as a smith and as a good citizen. He is a Republican in politics and has served his town in important positions. He has been township treasurer eight years ; assessor seven terms and is now, 1913, serving his ninth term as collector of taxes. He is a member of the Society of Friends and is past master of Accacia Lodge, No. 273, Free and Accepted Masons.
Mr. Pancoast married, April 18, 1895, Elvira Leedom, born at Leedom's Mills, Delaware county, in 1873, daughter of Maris W. Leedom, born in Dela- ware county, in 1825, a miller ; his wife, Elvira Clark, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1826, died 1887. Maris W. Leedom had issue: 1. Elwood, died in infancy. 2. Sarah, married Henry Lobb and has : Ridge- way. Bessie, Francis, Florence, Evans, Harry. 3. Ridgeway, married Mary Sauter and has : Maris, Hanman, Harry, Francis, Bessie, died in infancy, Hor- ace, Marsden. 4. Mary W., married B. Hayes Anderson and has : Edward, Hayes, Elvira, Elizabeth, Mary, Helen, died in infancy. 5. Elvira, married Samuel L. Pancoast (of previous mention ) ; children : Helen, Maris Leedom, died in infancy. Samuel F., Mary Elizabeth, Seth Ellsworth.
748
DELAWARE COUNTY
The Forwoods came to Pennsylvania from the state of Dela- FORWOOD ware, coming from England about the year 1700, and from them spring the Forwoods of Pennsylvania, Alabama and Virginia. Maternally, Dr. Jonathan Larkin Forwood descends from John Larkin, who settled in Maryland, where in 1682. before the coming of Penn, he became owner of a large tract of land in Cecit county.
Dr. Jonathan Larkin Forwood, son of Robert and Rachel (Larkin) For- wood, was born in West Chester, Chester county, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1831. His parents moved to the state of Delaware a few years after his birth, and there he grew to youthful manhood. He had few opportunities to attend school, three months in the winter being about all the farmer boy of that day could expect. But education is not necessarily dependent upon schools ; the lad thirsted for knowledge, and he secured it by studying far into the night, and so improving every opportunity that at the age of eighteen he was able to pass a teacher's examination. When nineteen years of age, he dis- covered by a mere chance that teachers were needed in a school in Montgom- ery county, Pennsylvania. Without imparting his intention to any one, he made the journey to Eagleville, Pennsylvania, passed a satisfactory examina- tion and was awarded by the directors the school at Evansburg. He was noti- fied of his appointment late in the evening. As his school would not open for several weeks, he decided to return home for a time. He was twenty-three miles from Philadelphia, and there was no conveyance to that city. With another school applicant he made the journey thither that night. on foot, reach- ing Philadelphia at daybreak on Sunday. There he took a stage for Darby, from thence walking to Chichester, Delaware county, where his parents then resided. When the time came to open his school. he left home with his few belongings. Ile taught until the following spring at a monthly salary of $25, saving sufficient money to take a summer course at Freeland College. By teaching a class in geometry and paying all the money he could procure. he remained at Rockdale until 1854. He then applied for the position of teach- er in the Springfield Central School in Delaware county, and taught there stiecessfully until 1855. One of the school directors, Dr. Charles J. Morton, be- came interested in him, and learning that he cherished an ambition for a pro- fessional life offered him office instruction and the use of his medical library. This was the turning point in his career. and for the first time his path shone clear and bright. But his medical education had yet to be accomplished. and while friends had been providentially raised up there were years of hard work and privation yet to be encountered. He taught faithfully during the winter, studying medicine at all available hours, and in the spring of 1855 was rewarded with a silver cup as a testimonial-a relic which is today one of his most highly prized possessions. In the fall of 1855 he entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. with just sufficient means to carry him through a single term. It was suggested to him that his money would go further in a more humble college, but he decided that his profes- sional education would be his sole capital, and he determined to obtain his med- ical degree from an institution of first importance. When his means were ex- hausted, he again returned to the school room, teaching at Middletown. Dela- ware county. In the summer of 1856 he won a University scholarship, which, with the money he had saved, carried him through until the spring of 1857, when he was graduated with honors in the seven branches of medicine. re- cviving from the University of Pennsylvania the degree of M. D.
Dr. Forwood at once located in Chester, Pennsylvania, and there his life of great usefulness has been passed. As soon as he secured a foothold. he be- gan to give especial attention to surgical cases-a department of his profes-
0
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
.
749
DELAWARE COUNTY
sion that had been neglected by the resident physicians. In 1858 he per- formed a leg amputation-the first in Chester for fifty years. He rapidly ac- quired confidence in himself, and performed many difficult operations, includ- ing lithotomy-one rarely performed outside medical colleges and by surgical professors. He became famous as a surgeon, even before the present modern methods became general, and gained both fame and substantial reward. In 1864, when the Municipal Hospital in Philadelphia was burned, the board of health transferred its work to the Lazaretto in Delaware county, and Dr. For- wood was requested to take charge of this temporary hospital until the new buildings were completed, to which he acceded. In 1863. after the fearful bat- tle of Gettysburg, he was called to the assistance of the government in the hospital at Chester, and there performed important operations, including am- putation at the hip joint. Several of his cases are reported at length in the magnificent "Medical and Surgical History of the War."
Throughout the course of his half century of practice in Chester Dr. For- wood has been a prime leader in his profession, and many of his surgical cases have been of such unusual interest and so successfully treated, that they have been reported in full in the leading professional journals. While sur- gery has been his chief specialty, he has neglected no phase of his profession, and whether a case required skillful diagnosis and medical treatment, or the more heroic treatment of the surgeon, he is equally well qualified. He has de- voted much time and special study to gynaecology, and has a reputation in that department that extends far beyond local limits for his most successful record of cases. He has performed four successful caesarian operations upon one woman, while his minor operations, in themselves difficult, are numbered by the hundred. When the Chester General Hospital was built Dr. Forwood was appointed chief surgeon and has held that position for 24 years, and in its various departments, his surgery has kept up with all modern methods, and his reputation in this department is widely known. He is held in high esteem by his brethren of the profession, and with them is associated in the American Medical Association : the Pennsylvania State Medical Society; the Delaware County Medical Society, of which he is president ; the Physicians Association of Delaware county : the Medical Club of Philadelphia ; and has been a dele- gate to the International Surgical Congress. He has been chief of staff of the Chester Hospital from the time of its building, twenty-four years ago, and through his efforts it has reached the highest standard. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania State Quarantine Board, the National Board of Trade. the Alumni Society of the University of Pennsylvania, the Academy of Nat- ural Sciences, the American Congress of Surgeons, and of the International Congress.
Dr. Forwood was one of the leading Democrats of Delaware county until 1886, when he differed with his party on the tariff question, and since then has affiliated with the Republican party. In 1867 he founded the "Delaware Coun- ty Democrat," and although the Democratic county committee declared that a partisan paper could not be sustained, by untiring energy he created such en- thusiasm that it was not only made a financial success, but became one of the most outspoken, fearless and unflinching Democratic organs in the state. In the same year Dr. Forwood was elected councilman from the middle ward of Chester. served on the street committee, and for more than three years was its chairman. He took a leading part in council proceedings, and in the spring of 1872 was elected mayor, after the most exciting municipal campaign ever known in the city, on account of the large Republican majority to be overcome. He was re-elected mayor in 1875. and again in 1882, and in face of the fact that the city was normally Republican. He was again elected mayor in 1886.
.
750
DELAWARE COUNTY
In 1874 he was the Democratic nominee for congress, and in 1876 he was an elector on the Tilden and Hendricks state ticket. In 1880 he was a delegate in the Democratic National Convention that nominated General Hancock for the presidency, and also in the convention of 1884 which nominated Grover Cleve- land for the same high office, and labored arduously for his election. In 1886 he broke away from the political friends of a lifetime, and has since taken no active part in public affairs. He was a most able political leader, a powerful and eloquent public speaker, and was held in high esteem in the councils of his party.
Now long past the meridian of life. Dr. Forwood is still alert and active. physically and mentally, and devotes his great skill to the alleviation of human suffering with all the enthusiasm of his younger days, and with a broadened humanitarianism growing out of wide experience. His life has been eminently useful, and the half century he has given to Chester have been years of great advantage to the city, and not a little of the material and moral good that have come to it may be traced to his life example and earnest personal effort.
He married, November 15, 1864. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Catherine A. DeSilver, daughter of R. Wilson and Catherine .A. (McGlensey ) Wilson. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One child died in infancy. His wife is living at the present time (1913).
POMEROY For many years Richard S. Pomeroy has been connected with the upbuilding of Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, and he has just reason to be proud of the fact that to his efforts can be traced many a substantial enterprise or advancement contributing greatly to the growth and prosperity of this section of the state. In every sense of the word he is a representative citizen and a business man of marked capacity. It is to the inherent force of character and commendable ambition and the unre- mitting diligence of Mr. Pomeroy himself that he has steadily advanced in the business world until he now occupies a leading place among the active and enterprising men of Delaware county.
A native of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Richard S. Pomeroy was born April 15. 1853. He is a son of John H. and Mary A. ( Shields) Pomeroy, the former of whom was born in England, in 1808, and the latter in Ireland, in 1817. Mr. and Mrs. Pomeroy each came to America separately about 1835 and they located in Philadelphia, where they met and were event- ually married. He was a plasterer by trade and spent most of his active career in that line of work, achieving a fair success. He was summoned to the life eternal in 1875, aged sixty-seven years, and his cherished and devoted wife passed away in 1874, at the age of fifty-seven years. Both are interred in Philadelphia. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pomeroy : Joseph H., who is living retired from business cares in Philadelphia : John S., a contractor by occupation and a resident of Ridley Park; Richard S., the immediate sub- ject of this review ; and David G., an insurance man in Philadelphia.
Richard S. Pomeroy was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia, being graduated in high school in 1868. Soon after leaving school he became a clerk in the offices of W. J. McCohan & Company, wholesale grocers, and he has been connected with this concern during the long intervening years to the present time, 1913. Through various promotions he rose gradually to the po- sition of a partner in the firm in 18844. In 1892 the company was incorporated as the W. J. McCohan Sugar Refining Company under the laws of the state of Pennsylvania and Mr. Pomeroy was elected treasurer, a position he still holds. He is now one of the oldest men in the company and has seen the same
75I
DELAWARE COUNTY
grow from meager beginnings to triple its size since 1892. In addition to his interests in the above concern Mr. Pomeroy is a heavy stockholder and one of the directors in the Francisco Sugar Company of New Jersey.
In his political affiliations Mr. Pomeroy is a stand-pat Republican. In 1884 he established the family home in Ridley Park, being one of the first suburbanites to make his home in this delightful spot. After Ridley Park be- came a borough, in 1888, he was elected secretary of the school board. Subse- quently he became a member of the borough council and in 1897, at the time of the demise of Mr. Kenney, the borough's first chief burgess, Mr. Pomeroy was elected to fill the vacancy, holding the office of chief burgess for three years. Mr. Pomeroy belongs to the Ridley Park Presbyterian Church and for twenty-five years has been chairman of its board of trustees. In the time honored Masonic order he is a member of St. Alban Lodge, No. 529, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Palestine Chapter, No. 240, Royal Arch Masons ; Mary Commandery, No. 36, Knights Templar: and Lulu Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
In 1875 Mr. Pomeroy was united in marriage to Miss Josephine E. Knott. a native of Baltimore, Maryland.
Mr. Pomeroy is a man of fine mentality and broad human sympathy. He thoroughly enjoys home life and takes great pleasure in the society of his fam- ily and friends. His business career has been characterized by honorable and straightforward methods and his public and private life have been exemplary in every respect.
HORTON William Frazer Horton, an intelligent, successful and highly respected citizen of Llanerch, where he has resided for many years, winning for himself the confidence and respect of his fellow townsmen by his integrity of character and the honorable manner in which he conducts his business affairs, is a native of Radnor township. Dela- . ware county, Pennsylvania, born February 28, 1869, a descendant on the pa- ternal side of an English ancestry and on the maternal of a Welsh ancestry.
John Horton, grandfather of William F. Horton, was born in England, from whence he came to this country in young manhood accompanied by his two brothers, one of whom located in New York, the other in the west, and he in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, settling on a farm consisting of one hun- dred and ten acres located in Newtown township, where he spent the re- mainder of his days. He served in local offices, being elected on the Republi- can ticket, was a member of St. David's Episcopal Church, as was also his wife, and their remains were interred in the graveyard connected therewith. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. He married Jane C. Lindsay, who bore him four sons and three daughters, as follows: Andrew, Harry, Bernard V., Samuel, Elizabeth, Mary, Christianna, all deceased but Samuel, who resides in Norristown, Pennsylvania, retired from active pursuits.
Bernard V. Horton, father of William F. Horton, was born in Newtown township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania. He was brought up in that town- ship, attended the common schools of the neighborhood, and upon attaining manhood inherited a portion of the homestead on which he conducted his farm- ing operations, which proved highly successful. Later he moved to Radnor township, where he continued his farming operations, and subsequently moved to Haverford township, purchasing a farm on Westchester Road, which he cultivated and worked, and there his death occurred in the year 1894. He took an active interest in the Republican party, and both he and his wife were con- sistent members of St. David's Episcopal Church. During the civil war he en-
752
DELAWARE COUNTY
listed for a period of three years, but only served for about three months, ow- ing to the cessation of hostilities. He married Hannah Green, born in New- town township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, daughter of William Frazer and Lydia Green, who were the parents of seven children : Rebecca, Rachel, Hannah, Jennie, Mary, Elizabeth, Lewis; Jennie and Mary being the only sur- viving members of the family at the present time ( 1913). William F. Green was born in Pennsylvania, and after his marriage to Lydia who was born in Wales, having been brought to the United States in early life by her parents, settled in Newtown township, where he was the owner of a small farm, which he cultivated, and also followed his trade of butcher, from which he derived a good livelihood. He remained there until his death, leading a quiet and peaceful life. Mr. and Mrs. Horton had two children: William Frazer, of whom further, and Jennie, married Franklin Gettz, son of Charles W. Gettz, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work, and they reside in Marple township.
William F. Horton obtained an excellent education by attendance at the Radnor township schools, the Marple township pay schools and Pierce's Busi- ness College. He assisted his father in his labors until he was about twenty- six years of age, and then engaged in business on his own account, establish- ing a milk route, and about the year 1900 he took up his residence in Llanerch and has conducted a city milk route ever since, his patronage increasing year by year, owing to the excellent quality of his product and the prompt service they receive. Upon his removal to Llanerch he erected a substantial house on the Coopertown Road, which he still occupies, and which is equipped with everything needful for the comfort and well being of his family. He casts his vote for the candidates of the Republican party, the principles of which he fully approves, and has attained high rank in the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in Cassia Lodge, No. 273; Montgomery Chapter, No. 262; St. John's Commandery, and Lulu Temple.
Mr. Horton married, November 14, 1900, Margaret, daughter of David Gettz, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
John George Gardner, a progressive and public-spirited citi-
GARDNER zen of Bryn Mawr, is a man of good business tact and judg- ment, prompt and reliable in the performance of all obliga- tions, and by the exercise of those characteristics which insure success in life, industry, perseverance and enterprise, has attained a place of prominence in business circles.
Richard Gardner, grandfather of John G. Gardner, was a native of Eng- land, in which country he spent his entire life, honored and esteemed by all with whom he had dealings for his trustworthiness and faithfulness. For the long period of sixty years he served as builder and clerk of the works of Spen- cer Lucy, now Lord Lucy, whose estate was Chalcotte Park, situated near Wellsbourne. lle was an exceedingly competent man, faithful and conscien- tious in the performance of his duties, and as a reward for his years of toil was retired on a pension, a most fitting testimonial from his employer. He lived to the great age of ninety-three, having well passed the allotted scriptural age of three score years and ten. He married who bore him among other children: John, of whom further, and Robert who was a suc- cessful architect and builder, who emigrated to the United States, and erected the Vendome Hotel in Boston and a number of the buildings of Wellesley Col- lege.
John Gardner, father of John G. Gardner, was born in Stratford-on-
753
DELAWARE COUNTY
Avon, England, there grew to maturity and was educated in the common schools. Being very skillful in the use of tools, in fact, a natural born me- chanic, he naturally turned his attention to that line of work upon arriving at a suitable age to choose his life vocation, and learned the trades of gunsmith, locksmith, bellhanger and blacksmith, building up an extensive trade, which brought him good returns, and subsequently the business was conducted by his eldest son, who assumed control, and he moved the shop to Birmingham, be- lieving that the advantages for business were greater there than in the old loca- tion. Mr. Gardner spent his entire life in his native land, his death occurring there. For many years he served as justice of the peace, and always took a keen and intelligent interest in local affairs. He staunchly upheld the princi- ples and measures advocated by the Liberals, and served in the capacity of warden of the Episcopal church. He married Elizabeth Mabley, born in Stratford-on-Avon, England, daughter of Robert Mabley, who was a game warden on the Chalcotte Park estate, serving as such for many years. Four sons were born of this marriage, as follows: I. Garrad, who, by virtue of being the eldest son, received his father's estate, and now resides in Birming- ham. England, where he is ranked among the successful business men. 2. Richard, who emigrated to the United States, and who immediately secured the position of manager of the Vanderbilt Estate at Newport, Rhode Island, in which capacity he has served ever since. 3. John George, of whom further. 4. Harry, who emigrated to Australia and is now a successful woolen mer- chant in Adelaide.
John G. Gardner was born in Stratford-on-Avon, England, July 14, 1851. His educational advantages were obtained in the public schools in the neigh- borhood of his home, and for seven years thereafter he served an apprentice- ship at the trade of nurseryman and florist, becoming highly proficient during this period of time. He then went to London and entered the employ of Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Kings Road, Chelsea, where he gained consider- able knowledge about propagation, an important branch in that industry, and he also acquired a practical knowledge of laying out landscapes and gardens. His scope of activity being too limited to suit him. Mr. Gardner decided to come to the United States and join his uncle, Mr. Robert Gardner, previously mentioned, at Wellesley, Massachusetts, where he was erecting the college buildings. This was in the year 1874, and six months later he returned to England, there settled up his affairs, and returned to the United States. His first work here was the laying out of an extensive new landscape at Newport, Rhode Island, for Mr. Pierre Lorillard. He next secured employment on the Rancocas Stock Farm in New Jersey for Mr. Lorillard, laid out the farm, built game preserves and managed the gardens, also performed similar work at Tuxedo Park, New York, for the same employer, and in all served him for sixteen years, his work being highly satisfactory, as evidenced by the many years he was retained in his service. He then laid out the Stoke Pogees, an estate for Frederick and Morro Phillips at Villanova, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and afterwards established a nursery of his own in order to be enabled to set out first class gardens without undue delay. In all he has laid out sixty gardens on the main line between Philadelphia and West Chester. none of these having a duplicate. In 1906 he removed to Haverford township and purchased a farm consisting of twenty-two acres, located on Coopertown Road, remodelled on old building, making of it a modern and comfortable resi- dence, and has resided there ever since, his three sons being employed in the business with him. He has gained a wide reputation for the excellence of his work, to which he has devoted the utmost care and thought, and he well merits the success which has attended his efforts. He is a member of the Epis-
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.