USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume II > Part 53
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Isaac Price Garrett, second son of Benjamin and Mary (Haines) Gar- rett, was born in the state of Delaware, August 4, 1844. When five years of age he was committed to the care of his uncle, for whom he was named, Isaac Price, of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, with whom he remained until death re- moved the relative who had bestowed upon the lad a loving care that equalled that of a parent. He was educated in the public schools, finishing his studies
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with an advanced course in the Friends Boarding School at Westtown, Ches- ter county. From the time he left school until 1889, the young man was en- gaged in successful farming operations. In the latter year Mr. Garrett was appointed cashier in the Philadelphia Customs House, under the administra- tion of President Harrison, continuing in that position, enjoying the confidence of his official superiors, four years and eight months. Ile continued his resi- dence in Lansdowne, but engaged in the insurance business in Philadelphia un- til July 7. 1897, when he was appointed by President Mckinley postmaster at Lansdowne. After four years of efficient service, Mr. Garrett was re-ap- pointed by President Roosevelt for a term of four years beginning January 13, 1002. In 1906 the management of his office having been strongly commended, President Roosevelt again extended his term four years, and in 1910 Presi- dent Taft again endorsed his conduct of the office by an appointment for an- other term, expiring in 1914. His term of service then will have covered the entire period of seventeen years, 1897-1914. This represents, however, but one detail of the public service of Mr. Garrett. In 1880 he was the successful Republican candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Assembly, and again in 1888 he was chosen to represent his district. During these four years of service in the legislature, he served on important committees and was identified with the legislation beneficial to his district and state. He served for years as school director in Upper Darby township, and on the board of education of the borough of Lansdowne, fifteen of these years being president of the board. In purely local affairs he has held about every office in his town, and such is his reputation for integrity and executive ability that in an active politi- cal life of forty years he has never suffered a defeat at the polls. In educa- tional matters his interest has always been deep and his service valuable. .1 firm believer in the value of the public school system to the youth of our land, he has always aided and encouraged every movement in its favor and to him is, in a measure, due the present efficiency of Lansdowne schools. Mr. Garrett and family, like their ancestors. are members of the Society of Friends.
Ile married, November 12, 1868, Sarah Emlen Bell, born July 30, 1846. daughter of Chalkley and Mary ( Emlen ) Bell, of Bloomington, Illinois, but prior to their removal there, residents of Chester county, Pennsylvania. Chalk- ley Bell, born April 16, 1821, died in 1892, son of Hughes and Sarah (Com- fort ) Bell. Ile married, April 14, 1842, Mary, daughter of James and Sarah (Foulke) Emlen, then of Westtown township. Chester county. Their chil- dren : 1. James Emlen, deceased. 2. Walter Edwin, married Sarah Flagg. 3. Sarah Emlen, married Isaac Price Garrett, of previous mention. 4. Mifflin Emlen, government supervising architect, appointed under both the Republi- can president, Chester A. Arthur, and the Democratic president, Grover Cleve- land. Ile married Susan Adelaide Van Hoff. 5. Samuel K., deceased. 6. George, died in infancy. 7. Arthur H .. married Delia Thatcher. 8. Charles Emlen, married Ellen Wickham. Children of Isaac Price and Sarah Emlen (Bell) Garrett: Annie Emlen, born March 17, 1870: Charles Taylor and Samuel Emlen, who both died in infancy.
HAWTHORNE This record deals with the life of a man born across the sea in historic Derry, Ireland, whose long life since his eighteenth year has been passed in Pennsylvania. Born of well-to-do parents, but early orphaned and his patrimony diverted from him, John K. Hawthorne did not lose courage, but boldly sailed for the United States, where from the penniless lad of eighteen he has become the affluent, 'onored citizen of ripened years. Greater even than his financial success has
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been the high character he has established for honesty and integrity. Now aged eighty-four years, Mr. Hawthorne is in good health, faculties unimpaired, and rated high in the esteem of the community wherein he has spent so many of those years. To few men in Delaware county has a greater span of years been granted, and to none of equal years, has been given greater faculty to en- joy the success won in earlier years.
John K. Hawthorne, to whom this record is dedicated, was born of Scotch ancestors, both paternal and maternal, in Londonderry, or county Derry, about nine miles from Londonderry, the capital of that county. He is the son of Robert Hawthorne, who owned a farm in Derry, where his short life of twenty-five years was passed. Robert Hawthorne married Nancy, daughter of William Campbell, a large owner of town and grazing lands. Robert was a son of William Hawthorne, a landowner and farmer of Derry, who had two sons, Robert and John, the former owning a good farm, which he willed to John K. Hawthorne. Robert died in 1834, aged twenty-five years ; his wife Nancy, died in 1833. They were the parents of two sons. John K. and Thomas. The latter came to the United States, locating at Elkington, Maryland, where he became a well-to-do farmer and stockraiser. He died in 1855 or 1856.
John K. Hawthorne. eldest son of Robert and Nancy ( Campbell) Haw- thorne, was born in August, 1829. He was but five years of age when his father died; his mother having died the preceding year. After the death of his father, the lad naturally became the charge of his uncle, John Hawthorne, who took charge of both the lad and the farm left to his eldest son by Robert Hawthorne. The uncle used the property as his own, and denied the real owner, his nephew, even the advantages of an education, although the farm was a profitable one. He was sent to a paid teacher for three winter terms. this being all that was allowed him. The lad endured the life under his uncle until he was eighteen years of age, then he sailed for the United States, glad to get away, even at the sacrifice of the farm left him by his father. On ar- riving in Philadelphia, John K. was possessed of but six shillings, but he at once found a job. Before the first week ended his employer borrowed his small capital. got drunk and not only did not repay the six shillings, but did not pay him for his week's work. But the lad who did not hesitate to cross the ocean to a strange land, was not to be held down. He obtained a position with Patterson & Hopper, grocers, becoming manager of their store. After six years of hard work and close economy he had saved a small capital, which he invested in a small grocery at No. 514 Fifteenth street, Philadelphia. He there continued in business until 1866, when he erected a store building at No. 2042 Pine street, where he conducted a grocery and provision store, prospered and accumulated a modest fortune. Port of this he invested in twenty-two and a half acres of land in Haverford township, Delaware county, paying there- for seven thousand five hundred dollars. This property which he yet owns is valued at one hundred and ten thousand dollars, a most wonderful increase in value. After purchasing this property he did not give up business, but con- tinued until 1885, when he sold out and located on his farm in Haverford township. He there has specialized in the breeding of full blooded swine, his imported Berkshires. Red Jerseys and Chester Whites, being known wherever swine breeders are found. He dealt largely, often having on his farm three hundred and fifty of the choicest full blooded animals. He found a ready mar- ket for all his stock, the demand in a short time exceeding the number he could supply. While he had the usual supply of other farm animals, Mr. Haw- thorne has confined his efforts in breeding entirely to swine and the three strains previously mentioned. He is a Republican in politics and, although
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reared in the Church of England, is a member of the Presbyterian church, lo- cated at Fifteenth and Locust streets, Philadelphia.
Mr. Hawthorne married. June 22, 1848, Jane Knox, born in county Tyrone, Ireland, died at the farm in Delaware county, December 24, 1905. daughter of Samuel and Mary ( Sayers) Knox. Her father died a young nian, his widow later coming with her children to this country, settling in Philadel- phia. Children of Samuel and Mary Knox: 1. Samuel (2), a contracting bricklayer. 2. Jane, married John K. Hawthorne. 3. Matilda, married Johni Cayan, a farmer of Haverford township. Children of John K. and Jane ( Knox) Hawthorne : 1. Matilda, born July 12, 1849. died in 1867. 2. William A., born June 14, 1851, died July 7, 1852. 3. Anna B., born April 27, 1853 : married Charles Manley and resides in Media. Pennsylvania. 4. John C., born June 22. 1855. now a leading dry goods merchant of Carlisle, Pennsyl- vania, and president of the corporation operating a large store. 5. Jane. born June 1, 1857 : married Andrew C. Haines and resides at the corner of Nine- teenth street and Erie avenue, Philadelphia. 6. Elizabeth, born June 13, 1859. died November 13, 1871. 7. Mary B .. born September 5, 1861, resides with her father. 8. Charles L., born December 18. 1863, died July 17, 1865. 9. William A., born May 8, 1866, resides with his father. 10. Thomas, born May 20, 1860, died 1892; was cashier with the Finley-Acker Company. 11. Catherine. married a Mr. Treadway, a printer, and resides in New Rochelle, New York.
BRITTINGHAM A native son of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, John T. Brittingham has been a resident of Chadds Ford since early youth. Here he conducted a blacksmith shop for a number of years and he has served his community in various posi- tions of important responsibility. At the present time, in 1913, he is auditor of Birmingham township and he is candidate for the local postmastership, of which office he was incumbent during the Cleveland administration. He is loyal and public-spirited in all that pertains to civic affairs and as a business man is reliable and trustworthy in every respect.
October 22, 1851, occurred the birth of John T. Brittingham, the place of his nativity being Brandywine Summit. in Birmingham township, Delaware county.
Ilis father, Eber Brittingham, was born at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. February 26. 1824. His paternal grandfather owned the ferry at Valley Forge prior to the erection of a bridge at that point. The latter was reared. lived and died at Valley Forge. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Bartholomew, died at Charleston, Pennsylvania, in 1871, aged eighty-eight years : she was a Methodist, and she and her husband were the parents of the following children : James: Ann, married David Glasby ; Eber, mentioned further; Joseph. never married : Robert, married Mary Ann Mckeever. All of these children are deceased.
Eber Brittingham, father of John T. Brittingham, passed his boyhood and youth at Valley Forge and attended the Concord public school. After his sixteenth year he learned the trade of blacksmith and was identified with that line of work during the entire period of his active career. His brother Robert, was a soldier in the civil war, having enlisted for service in Company I. Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. He participated in many important conflicts marking the progress of the war and served for a period of four years. Eber Brittingham died at Chadds Ford, November 11, 1908. He married Sarali Ann Mckeever. of Brandywine Hundred. Her father, John Mckeever, was
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a farmer and teamster and he was the first man to haul a load of lime, sand or stone for the construction of the Pennsylvania railroad's main line. He died at Chadds Ford in 1880, aged eighty-nine years. He and his wife, who was Susan Talley prior to her marriage, had six children, concerning whom the fol- lowing brief data are here recorded : Charlotte, married Daniel Fawcett : Han- nah, remained single : Sarah Ann, married Eber Brittingham, as already noted ; Susan Talley is the wife of Cheney Smith and they maintain their home at Chester, Pennsylvania ; Thomas, never married ; Margaret became the wife of Jacob Pennell, steward of the Delaware County Home for many years. To Eber and Sarah Ann (Mckeever) Brittingham were born seven children : John T., he whose name forms the caption for this article: Isabella, married Bayard Sharp; Mary, remained single as did also Joseph: Ella, married Charley B. Walker ; Eber E., born December 29, 1867, married Gertrude Rus- sell ; and Susan married Eugene Summeril. Of the above all are deceased except Jolin T., Ella and Eber E. The mother is still living, her home being at Chadds Ford ; she is a Baptist.
John T. Brittingham accompanied his parents to Chadds Ford when he was a mere child. He attended Beech Grove School No. 2, at Birmingham, and after completing his education entered upon an apprenticeship to learn the trade of blacksmith from his father. He has been engaged in that line of work during the long intervening years to the present time, in 1913, and for that entire period has been a resident of Chadds Ford. He is a Democrat in his political convictions and during the Cleveland administration he was post- master of Chadds Ford. He is candidate for the local postmastership at the present time and he is also filling the office of township auditor. In Masonic circles he is a member of Concord Lodge, No. 625, Free and Accepted Ma- sons ; he is likewise affiliated with Centerville Lodge, No. 37, Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, and Winona Tribe, No. 75. Improved Order of Red Men.
November 2, 1876, Mr. Brittingham married Miss Josephine King. of Upper Uwchland, Chester county, Pennsylvania. Her father, Plummer E. King, was born at Locust Grove, in Chester county. He was a farmer for a number of years and subsequently worked at the trade of cooper. He died in 1892. His wife was Margaret Russell and she bore him seven children : Sarah, married Bayard Burnett: Joseph, single ; John; George, married Liz- zie Henry; Charles ; Elizabeth, married John Quird ; and Josephine. Mr. and Mrs. Brittingham became the parents of two children : Clarence F., born De- cember 24. 1877, married Florence Gifford and they have one son, Jack Taylor, whose birth occurred September 29, 1909: and Cornelia H., born May 8, 1886, is unmarried and resides at Chadds Ford. Mrs. Brittingham attended the Baptist church : she was summoned to the life eternal February 29, 1912, and her loss is universally mourned throughout Chadds Ford, where the cir- cle of her friends was coincident with that of her acquaintances.
STACKHOUS No name is better or more favorably known in Dela- ware county, Pennsylvania, and vicinity, than that of the Stackhous family. The ancestry of the family is traced back in this country to the year 1682, and in England to the year 1086, and the representatives of the family in the various generations have been men of ex- cellent business ability and executive force, carrying forward to successful completion whatever they undertake, no obstacle being too great for them to overcome.
(I) John Stackhous, probably a lineal descendant of Thomas Stackhous, the pioneer ancestor of the family, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania,
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January 4. 1793, died March 24, 1862. He engaged in agricultural pursuits, conducting his operations first in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and subse- quently in Cecil county, Maryland, where he lived on Big Elk creek. He mar- ried Sarah Moon, born December 16, 1803. Children: John W., of whom further : William David, born May 12, 1836, died May 7. 1843, aged seven years.
(If) John W. Stackhous, son of John and Sarah ( Moon) Stackhous, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania. December 16, 1829. died October 6, 1910. He was brought up in the neighborhood of his birthplace, attended its common schools, and being reared on a farm naturally gave his attention to that occupation upon attaining a suitable age to begin the activities of life. Ile was successful in his undertaking, owing to the fact that he was careful and thorough in his work, progressive in his ideas, using every method to bring about results. He and his wife were members of the Friends' church, and he was a Republican in politics. He married Amanda M. Zane, born in Chester county. Pennsylvania. December 19, 1829, died February 26, 1888. Children : 1. William W., born in New Garden township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, a miller by occupation ; married Lizzie M. Maxwell ; child, Lawrence W. ; they reside at Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. 2. Frank J .. of whom further.
(III) Frank J. Stackhous, son of John W. and Amanda M. (Zane) Stackhous, was born in' New Garden township. Chester county, Pennsylvania, February 12, 1863. He attended the public schools of the neighborhood, as- sisted with the labors of the farm during his early years, and at the age of eighteen turned his attention to learning telegraphy, in which line of work he became highly proficient, possessing a natural inclination and liking for that special subject for many years. He became an operator at Landenberg June- tion, Chester county, Pennsylvania, for the Pennsylvania railroad. continuing as such for some time, and from December, 1886, until January 6, 1905, served as operator and agent for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. the length of his service denoting that his duties were discharged to the satisfaction of those in control. In the latter named year he purchased the Chadds Ford Hotel and grounds, the latter consisting of twelve and a half acres, a portion of which is cultivated in order to produce fresh fruit and vegetables for the table, and the remainder is tastefully laid out in lawn and flower beds, extremely pleas- ing and attractive to the eye. There is a livery stable and garage connected with the hotel, and everything about the premises is modern and up-to-date, fully meeting the demands of the most critical and fastidious patron. The Chadds Ford Hotel is one of the leading landmarks of this section of the state, having been operated as a hostelry since 1737. and up to eleven years ago was owned and operated by members of the Twaddell family, in whose possession it was for many generations. Mr. Stackhous is an ideal host, ever ready to contribute to the comfort and well being of his guests, who fully appreciate his efforts by their constant patronage and by inducing new people to seek a shel- ter there when in need of temporary quarters. Mr. Stackhous is well informed on the issues of the day, takes an active and personal interest in all borough affairs that have for their object the advancement and improvement of the community in which he resides, and casts his vote for the candidates of the Republican party, but has neither time nor inclination for public office.
Mr. Stackhous married ( first) February 16, 1885, Philena E. Cloud, born in New Garden township, Pennsylvania, daughter of Edwin C. and Elizabeth Cloud. No children. He married ( second) January 10, 1905, Lydia F. Ferguson, daughter of B. F. and Mary Ferguson, of Chester county, Pennsylvania. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stackhous : Amanda M. and Lydia F., died at birth, and Mary M.
FEB 2 0 1934
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