USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume III > Part 14
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James Henry Little, only son of Henry and Margaret (Wood) Little, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, December 1, 1835, died at his home in Wallingford, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, October 15, 1906. At the time of the birth of James Henry Little the family home was in Philadelphia, but Henry Little having planned a church to be erected at Baltimore, and having supervision of the erection of the same, made that city his temporary resi- dence until the completion of the church, and then returned to Philadelphia. James Henry Little grew to manhood in Philadelphia and received his educa- tion in the public schools. He graduated from the high school with honors. He chose law as his profession and prepared therefor under the preceptorship of the late Charles E. Lex, of Philadelphia. Mr. Little was a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States and of the bars of Philadel- phia and of Delaware counties. He was learned in his profession and able-
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in its practice, honorable and upright. He held the confidence of a large and influential clientele, and was highly regarded by his fellow members of the bar. He pursued his course through life, both private, professional and public, with lofty purpose and high ideals. He was progressive and public-spirited, and contributed to the full extent of his ability to the upbuilding of the commu- nity in which he had cast his lot. He is remembered as a man of strong char- acter and of noble life-"a gentleman of the old school." He volunteered for service during General Lee's invasion. He enlisted in Company A, a Philadelphia regiment of artillery, recruited among the lawyers and judges of that city. The regiment was ordered to the front at the field of Gettysburg, the colonel of the regiment having asked his brother-in-law, Major-General Reynolds, for an honorable position in the coming fight. However, owing to a delay at the front, caused by some of the other volunteer regiments refusing to go forward, the regiment was so late in arriving at Gettysburg, that when it arrived the battle was virtually over. In politics Mr. Little was a Repub- lican. He was a churchman and a member of Grace Church, Philadelphia, the same church of which his father was the architect and builder, and of which parish his father was a member. For many years Mr. Little made Wallingford his home and was a resident of Wallingford at his death.
On June 9, 1864, he married Louise Bucknell. Mrs. Little was born in Philadelphia, March 6, 1840, and still resides at Wallingford. She is the oldest daughter of the late William and Harriet Burr (Ashton) Bucknell, of Philadelphia. Her father died in Philadelphia, aged seventy-nine years, a successful man of business, philanthropic and generous, and of high character and purpose. Her mother was a daughter of the Rev. William Easterly and Harriet Maria (Burr) Ashton, of Philadelphia. The children of James Henry and Louise ( Bucknell) Little are: I. Margaret, who married Thomas H. C. Reed, of Maryland; Mrs. Reed is a member of the Colonial Dames and resides in Philadelphia. 2. Henry Ashton, a graduate of the college depart- ment and of the law department of the University of Pennsylvania, and a member of the Philadelphia and Delaware county bars. Mr. Little occupies the law offices formerly occupied by his honored father at No. 424 Walnut street, Philadelphia, and is engaged in the practice of law and a real estate operator ; his residence and farm is at Glen Olden, Delaware county, Penn- sylvania; Mr. Little married Mary Downing Hatch, of the city of New York, and their children are: James Henry 2nd, Mary Sanford, Anna Down- ing, Henry Ashton 2nd, and Nathaniel Hatch, the latter, however, having died in infancy. 3. Amanda Louise, resides with her mother, Mrs. Louise Little, at Wallingford. 4. William Bucknell, died in infancy. 5. Laura, who mar- ried Walter Godley, of Philadelphia, and whose children are: Laurence, Henry, Ashton, Frederick and Louise, the latter, however, having died in in- fancy.
The home of Mrs. James H. Little at Wallingford is one of the most attractive of the many handsome Delaware county estates. The mansion is of gray stone, massive in its proportions and beautiful in its surroundings, the natural charms of the location enhancing its beauty. The house is located on an elevation that affords a fine view of the gracefully rolling country that is typical of this most beautiful portion of rural Delaware county. The entire estate bespeaks the pride and pleasure taken in its possession by the owner.
Lytlecote Home of Mrs. James Af. Little, Wallingford, Ja.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
AS' OH FA X AND TLF UNDA ONS.
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HITCHENS
Dr. A. Parker Hitchens, of Sharon Hill, is at present direc-
tor of the Biological Laboratories of the H. K. Mulford Company, manufacturing and biological chemists.
Dr. Hitchens was born in Delmar, Delaware, September 14, 1877, son of William S. and Fannie (Parker) Hitchens, both natives of the vicinity, the family having located in Sussex county about the year 1780. William S. Hit- chens was reared and educated in Delaware, was a successful merchant there for many years, continuing in that line until 1888, when he removed to Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, and is still engaged in mercantile business. He and his wife are the parents of three children.
Dr. Hitchens' early education was acquired in the public schools of Del- mar and Philadelphia. Later after a preparatory course in Temple University he matriculated at the Medico-Chirurgical College, from which he graduated in 1898 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. During the year after his gradua- tion he was resident physician at the Samaritan Hospital, Philadelphia. Follow- ing this he did graduate work in bacteriology at the University of Pennsylvania. He was for two years assistant in the department of Pathology and Bacteriol- ogy in the Medico-Chirurgical College. In 1907 he did special work in the Immunization Department of St. Mary's Hospital, in London, under Sir Alm- roth Wright. In 1900 he had given up the general practice of medicine in order to devote his entire time to laboratory work, in that year entering the Biologi- cal Laboratories of the H. K. Mulford Company, and six years later he be- came director of these laboratories, in which capacity he is serving at the pres- ent time (1914).
Dr. Hitchens resided at Glen Olden from 1908 to 1909, and since then in Sharon Hill. He married, June 20, 1906, Ethel Bennett, born in Philadelphia, in 1880, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Bennett. She is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church.
Dr. Hitchens is a Fellow of the Philadelphia College of Physicians and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is secretary and treasurer of the Society of American Bacteriologists, chairman of the Council of the American Association of Immunologists, and an ex-president of the Philadelphia Clinical Association. He is a member of the American Medi- cal Association, the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, the Delaware County Medical Society, the Philadelphia Pathological Society, the Philadelphia Medi- cal Club, the American Association for the Study and Prevention of Tubercu- losis, the American Public Health Association and others. He is author of the Section on "Bacterial Vaccines" in "Sajous's Cyclopedia of Practical Med- icine," seventh edition, Davis, Philadelphia. Among his numerous contribu- tions to medical science, published in American and foreign journals may be mentioned, "The Preventive Dose of Tetanus Antitoxin for the Horse," "The Bacteriology of Common Colds," "The Treatment of Simple Catarrh of the Respiratory Passages with Bacterial Vaccines," "Serums and Vaccines in the Prevention and Treatment of Undulant Fever," "An Improved Syringe for the Injection of Precise Amounts," "A Chamber in which Dried Tubercle Bacilli may be Handled without Danger," "Refrigeration in its Relations to the Bio- logical Materia Medica," and "Current Developments and Problems in Vac- cine Therapy." Fraternally he is a member of the chapter and commandery of the Free and Accepted Masons.
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This branch of the Pierce family came to Pennsylvania from
PIERCE Brandywine Hundred, Delaware, a locality in which the Pierces had long been located. The first of the family to settle in Del- aware county was Albin, father of F. Newton Pierce, of further mention.
(I) Albin Pierce was born in Brandywine Hundred, Delaware, in 1821, died in Bethel township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1888. He grew to manhood in Delaware, learning the stone-mason's trade and working at farming, moving after his marriage to a farm in Bethel township, near Booths Corners, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, on which he resided until his death. He was a Democrat in politics and held the offices of tax collector and school director of Bethel township. Both he and his wife were members of the Siloam church. He married Mary J. Hance, of Concord township, Delaware county, who died in 1882. Children: I. Margaret E., deceased. 2. Samuel H., a hardware merchant of Downington, Pennsylvania, married Anna Moore. Children, Laura E., Wesley, and Anna. 3. A. Atwood, now connected with the Eddystone Print Works, married Ella Painter. Children : Emily. Carrie, Ella, Lawrence and Warren. 4. Sarah J., married Isaac Pen- nington, a blacksmith and present supervisor of Middletown township. Chil- dren: Florence, Bella, Clarence, Edgar, and Norman. 5. Harriet T., deceased, married (first) George Grawl, (second ) Charles Schlacter. Chil- dren, Mary, Bertha, and Alice. 6. Adam, died in infancy. 7. F. Newton, of further mention. 8. Albin, a carpenter of Linwood, Pennsylvania, married Margaret Barlow. Children: Elmer and Herman.
(II) F. Newton, son of Albin and Mary J. (Hance) Pierce, was born in Bethel township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1865. He was edu- cated in the public school at Booths Corners and began business life as a clerk in the general store there, remaining four years. He then spent three years on a farm in Concord township, then moved to Brandywine Hundred, Dela- ware, for three years, returning to Delaware county in 1895, locating in Middletown township, where he purchased the Malin farm of sixty-five acres, where he yet resides. He has made many improvements to the farm and there carries on a successful farming and teaming business. He is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and in political faith is a Republican.
He married in March, 1889. Elfie W. Weer, of Brandywine Hundred, Delaware, daughter of William C. and Mary J. ( Barlow) Weer. Mary J. Barlow is a sister of E. L. Barlow, of Chester township, Delaware county, whose family sketch appears in this work. Children of William C. and Mary J. Weer : 1 and 2. Elizabeth and Ella, deceased. 3. Edward Tatnall, a farmer and large land owner of Newport, Delaware. He married Elizabeth Han- num and has children: George Clyde, Earl, Anna, Josephine. 4. Laura A., married Thomas Watts Zelley, of Booths Corners, Delaware county. Chil- dren : Mary, married R. Harry Hannum, of Concord, Delaware county ; Ed- ward, married Bessie Mclaughlin, of Booths Corners ; Clarence, married and resides at Booths Corners ; Lewis : Thomas, deceased. 5. Leila Lorain, mar- ried John Trimble. Children : Clara, married William Hunter ; Paul, Rupert, Fred, Ellen Cora, Marshall. 6. Elfie W., of previous mention, married F. Newton Pierce. 7. Fred, married Fannie Scott, of Kennett Square, Penn- sylvania, and has a son, Winfield. 8. Wilmer, a farmer of Upland, Delaware county, married Lottie Pierce. Children: Ethel, Albert, Fred, Lillian, Mar- garet, Walter and Mary J., deceased. The only child of F. Newton and Elfie W. Pierce, Mildred, is a graduate nurse, educated in the public schools and at Northfield, Massachusetts, now a nurse in Media Hospital.
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In 1657, Isaac Thomas, a farmer of Devonshire, England, THOMAS sailed from London for the New World, where he hoped to make his fortune, and which accomplished he expected to re- turn to his native land and spend the remainder of his days. After a long and stormy voyage he debarked at New York, where he remained several months, and then made his way up the Hudson river. He became enthused over the prospects of the country, its resources, the fertility of the land, and decided that he would make his permanent home in one of the colonies. He wrote for his wife and their young family to join hin in the new land, which they did; and together they canoed up the beautiful Hudson and located on the west shore. Here he took up wild land, cleared and erected a log house on it, and culti- vated the fields. Isaac Thomas died on his homestead that he had so heroically rescued from the wilderness, and his sons, of whom there were many, wan- dered away to other colonies, and thus was the present numerous Thomas fam- ily founded in America. One of the sons went to Pennsylvania, and is thought to be the forbear of the Thomas families in Lancaster and Chester counties.
Isaac Thomas, a descendant of the English immigrant, was born in Penn- sylvania, and spent the greater part of his life in Lancaster county, where he farmed successfully. In his declining years he moved to Chester county, Penn- sylvania, and died in 1875, at an advanced age. He married Mary L. Smith, daughter of a neighboring farmer in Lancaster county, who died in Chester county, also at an advanced age.' Children : Abraham, of whom further ; Wil- liam, who went to sea and is supposed to have drowned, as he was never heard from after sailing.
Abraham, son of Isaac and Mary L. (Smith) Thomas, was born in 1834, in Lancaster county. He was partially reared in Lancaster county, and was educated in the common schools of the day. After his marriage he went to Wilmington, Delaware, for a time, about 1875. From there he moved to Chester county, Pennsylvania, becoming a successful farmer, and lives at the present time (1913) in Chester county. He has been locally prominent in pol- itics in whatever community that he has lived in, though he has never accepted any public office. He is a member of the Baptist church, supporting it liberally. He married Lydia Hammond, like himself of straight English descent, who was born in Chester county, and died there in 1881. She was a devout member of the Baptist church, and was greatly beloved by all who knew her. She was the daughter of John E. and Mary E. (Down) Hammond, oldtime residents of Chester county, where they held the esteem of their neighbors. He was a farmer of the county and died at Coatesville, Pennsylvania, when well along in years; his wife was also a native of the county. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Hammond: Sallie, married Stephen R. Smedley; Mary L., dead; Lewis, dead ; Lydia, wife of Mr. Thomas. Children of Abraham and Lydia (Ham- mond) Thomas: John E., of whom further; Mary L., dead; George, dead ; Lydia, dead: Ida May, married J. Calvin Shinne, of Montana; Frank C., married Mabel Sharpless, resides in Chester county.
John E., son of Abraham and Lydia (Hammond) Thomas, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1866. He was educated in the public schools in the various places in which he lived with his parents. When nine years old he accompanied them to Wilmington, Delaware, and later re- turned with them to Chester county. He remained at home until he reached the age of sixteen, when he decided that he would enter the business world for himself. He was in the employ of various farmers in Chester county for four years, during which time he established a reputation for industry and in- tegrity. At the expiration of that time he moved to Delaware county, Penn- sylvania, and located in Upper Providence township, where he rented farms, . 56
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and became known as one of the thrifty. successful farmers and dairymen of that section. He remained there for seventeen years, and in 1910 he pur- chased the Miller farm, comprising eighteen fertile acres, situated near Rose- tree, Pennsylvania, two and a half miles from Media, where he has built and equipped a modern and model dairy. It is one of the up-to-date plants of Del- aware county, and commands the admiration of every one who sees it. The stables are new and perfectly sanitary : all of the stalls and interior are white- washed and disinfected. The dairy is supplied by twenty high grade milch cows, their average yield per day being about two hundred quarts of rich milk, which is disposed of to customers in Media. The fresh milk from the cows is placed in disinfected cans in a separate department of the dairy, great care being taken to avoid anything that will impregnate the milk with any odor. The cans are then placed in the spring house, which was built at a cost of over $400, and with the view of keeping it fresh and sweet in a wholesome and sanitary manner. The milk is placed in bottles that have been subjected to a high degree of heat and then cooled in a vat of clear, pure spring water, after which they are sealed and are ready for a quick delivery. This sterilized milk is greatly sought after in Media and the surrounding country. Mr. Thomas takes great and justifiable pride in his fine plant as well as his blooded stock. and has won his customers by the purity of their product and his manner of handling the same. He has a thorough knowledge, practical and theoretical, of the dairy business, and keeps abreast of the times through reading periodicals of the newest methods and patents that are calculated to assist him in its de- velopment. He ranks as one of the most progressive dairymen in the state, and justly so. He is a public spirited citizen, and holds the esteem of his fel- low men. He is independent in politics, voting for the man who will best fill the position ; and has served as register and assessor of the township. He is a member of the Grange, and of the Baptist church.
He married, March 22, 1887, Tillie Yarnall, born in Thornburg, Pennsyl- vania, a daughter of Edward and Abbie (Sharp) Yarnall. Her father was a blacksmith and farmer in Chester county, and died in 1881 ; his wife was also born in Chester county, and died at the age of seventy-nine. Besides Alrs. Thomas, the children of Mr. and Mrs. Yarnall are: Annie, married Robert Johnson, of Media: Isaac, married Katie Worrell; Maggie, married Henry White: Mary. married Thomas N. Rodgers: Thomas, married (first) Tillie Moris, ( second) Ruth Broomall ; Susannah, married Lewis Ridenbaugh : Min- tor, married Sallie Mullen; Joseph, married Sallie Mullen ; John, married Annie Worrell : William, married Fannie Lear : Samuel, married Mary Wil- liams. The children of John E. and Tillie ( Yarnall) Thomas: I. Lena J .. born July 8, 1888; married John M. Chrystal : resides at Nether Providence, Pennsylvania. 2. Clifford A .. horn April 26, 1893: married Edna Gallagher ; one child. Clifford Jr., born in 1913.
From an ancient and honorable Welsh ancestry sprang Thomas THOMAS Thomas, a tailor of Upper Darby township, Delaware county, where he died aged about fifty years. His wife, Hannah Pal- mer, died aged about forty-five years; both were members of the Society of Friends. Children: John, Nehemiah, Thomas, Palmer. Mary and Wil- liam.
William, son of Thomas and Hannah ( Palmer ) Thomas, was born in Upper Darby township, Delaware county, February 16, 1817, died at his farm in Marple township in 1892. He grew to manhood in Upper Darby, obtain- ing there a public school education. He made several changes and moved
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around considerably until about 1850, when he purchased the farm in Marple township upon which he lived until death, and which is now the home of his son, Leonard S. During the years prior to 1850 he learned the miller's trade, working in different localities, then became a butcher, then for two years rented and worked a farm in Chester county. The farm in Marple township consisted of forty acres, lying along the Springfield road, and was purchased by William Thomas from Philip Welling. At the time of purchase the land had had little cultivation, the improvements being a small stone house and a log barn. Mr. Thomas added a log addition to the house, which was later replaced by a modern frame addition to the old stone house. He brought the land under a good state of cultivation and prospered. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Society of Friends; his wife was a Presby- terian. He married Naomi Snyder, born in Upper Darby, died aged seventy- eight years, daughter of Leonard Snyder, a farmer and tanner, who died in 1864. His wife, Sarah Powell, was born in Upper Darby; children of Leon- ard Snyder: Naomi; George; Joseph; John; Hannah; Mary; Sarah and Andrew, all deceased. Children of William Thomas: Sarah, died unmarried ; Mary, now residing at the home farm; Leonard S., of whom further; Ella, died young.
Leonard S., only son of William and Naomi (Snyder) Thomas, was born in Upper Darby township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, October, 1850. He was educated in the public school of Marple township, and in Philadelphia. He began business life as a butcher, but later became a farmer, succeeding to the farm in Marple township purchased by his father about 1850. To the old stone building he added a modern dwelling and has otherwise improved the farm. He maintains a small dairy in addition to his general farming, and by a judicious use of bone fertilizer produces abundant crops. He has added seven acres lying across the Springfield road, a piece of land well improved and occu- pied by his son, Howard. Mr. Thomas is a Republican in politics, has served his township as assessor, collector of taxes and supervisor, and now ( 1913) is a member of the school board of his district.
He married, February 6, 1878, Joanna Pugh, born in Marple township, in 1857, daughter of Davis F. Pugh, born in Radnor, Delaware county, in 1824. died in Marple township, 1909. His wife, Elizabeth E. Barr, born in Haver- ford township, died February 19, 1904. Children : 1. Howard C., died in Octo- ber, 1912, married Emma Lyon. 2. Joanna, married Leonard S. Thomas (of previous mention) ; children-Bertha, married Seth E. Duey, and resides in Marple township, children: Grace and Anna; Howard W., a farmer, mar- ried Jennie Riegner, children-James and Elizabeth M .; Elizabeth P., resides with her parents.
This branch of the Hipple family in Pennsylvania descends from HIPPLE Henry Hipple, who came from Germany to Pennsylvania, accompanied by his brothers, George, John and James. Henry Hipple settled in Chester county, where he engaged in farming until his death at the age of eighty-six years. He married Jane Garrett, of an old Penn- sylvania family, and had issue : Henry (2) of whom further ; George, Elijah, Jessic, Lawrence, Elizabeth, Margaret, Garrett and Sarah.
Henry (2), son of Henry (I) and Jane (Garrett) Hipple, was born in Goshen, Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1816, died at his farm in Marple township, Delaware county, in December, 1878. He was educated in the public school and became a farmer. About 1838 he purchased a farm in Marple township, near Cedar Grove school house, containing one hundred
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and sixty acres, now the home of his son, Harry L. Hipple. Here he lived in prosperity the remainder of his sixty-two years. He was a Republican in poli- tics and held the office of school director, and both he and his wife were mem- bers of the Society of Friends. He married Rachel Roberts, born in Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania, in 1816, died at the Marple township farm aged ninety-two years. She was the daughter of Amos and Mary (Ellis) Roberts, he a farmer of Montgomery county until his death, leaving issue: William, Isaac, Joseph, Rachel, Lydia, Mary, Sarah and Jane, all deceased. Children of Henry (2) and Rachel ( Roberts ) Hipple: Mary J., deceased; Margaret, deceased; Jesse, of Springfield township, a farmer; Elizabeth, residing in Media : A. Retta, residing in Media; Harry L., of whom further; William P., married Hannah Bartram.
Harry L. Hipple, son of Henry (2) and Rachel (Roberts) Hipple, was born on the Marple township homestead, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, December 14, 1852. Here his youth was passed, his years of active labor, and here in his declining years he still resides. He attended the public schools and Swarthmore College, early becoming his father's assistant, and on the death of the latter succeeded to the ownership of the estate, one of the most fertile and well cultivated in the township. In addition to general farming Mr. Hipple maintains a dairy of thirty cows, producing three hundred quarts of milk daily, that is disposed of to the retail dealers of the district. He is of the modern type of farmer ; asks not more of his land than it can give, and returns to it each year, in bone fertilizer, the elements extracted by the preceding crop.
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