USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume III > Part 15
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Mr. Hipple is a Republican in politics, has served as school director eighteen years, and for six years was a commissioner of Delaware county, filling these offices with a zeal and an integrity that is a pleasure to contem- plate. He is a birth-right member of the Society of Friends and attends their meeting. He is a member of the Rose Tree Hunt, and is a lover of the out-door sports indulged in by the members of that club. His life spent amid the beautiful surroundings of his home has been an open one, and there is no man held in higher esteem by those who know him.
He married, April 6, 1909, Harriet A. Castle, born at Upland, Delaware county, May 20, 1855, daughter of Augur Castle, born in Yorkshire. England, died in Delaware county in 1904, a manager of woolen and cotton mills; he married Elizabeth Harrison, born in England; children: Harriet A., wife of Harry L. Hipple; Mary J., unmarried; Hannah, unmarried; Sarah, unmar- ried : Elizabeth, married Herbert G. Coe; Robert, an overseer for Crozer ; and Lincoln, a druggist of Chester, Pennsylvania ; both married.
OLD LAMB TAVERN Consideration for the welfare of travelers and a desire to regulate the sale of liquors seemed to the early colonists to be important reasons and to justify the licensing of taverns. Yet they were not opened wholly for the convenience of travelers, they were for the comfort of the community-for the interchange of news and opinions-the sale of liquor under restrictions and the incidental sociability. In fact the importance of the tavern locally was far greater in the early day to its local neighbors, than to the traveler. The history of Pennsylvania shows that its taverns were many in number and good in quality. Philadelphia had a great number and many were needed, for many strangers visited the city, and a strong current of immigration poured into that port. So in Chester and Delaware counties there were many taverns. and of one of these this article treats.
LAMB TAVERN
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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For one hundred and seventy-five years the Old Lamb Tavern has stood with welcoming doors for the traveler or transient dropper-in, and around its hospitable board many of the famous men of six generations have gathered. Landlord after landlord has passed in succession, but the popularity of the house has not diminished and it is to-day as much sought for as a resort for the automobilist, as it was for the coaching party, farmer or traveler of the long ago.
The old landmark stands in what is now Marple, Springfield township, Delaware county, and was probably built in 1739, as on August 26, 1740, Benjamin Maddock petitioned the court for license, stating in his application that he had: "Recently built on the Cross Roads that leads from Darby to the Back inhabitants where Palantines has of late much frequented with wagons, likewise the greate road that leads from Chester to the Schuylkill." Although his petition was signed by thirty-five persons, including Abraham Lincoln, the court declined to grant his petition. In 1748 Benjamin Maddock again presented his petition for a license, receiving this time a favorable rul- ing of the court.
In 1761 Isaac Glease was granted a license for the tavern, and in 1762 and 1763, Richard Mall was also licensed. In 1764 and 1765 John Wayton was landlord, followed in 1766 by John Gibbon Jr. From the granting of Gibbon's license in 1766 until 1835, the court continued the tavern as a licensed house of entertainment, when it was discontinued. During this period of nearly a full century the house had become one of the well known historic taverns of the county. On the night after the battle of Brandywine its doors stood wide open for the fleeing Americans, and at 10 o'clock a wagon load of wounded men arrived with a detachment of troops. The best the house con- tained was freely placed at their order; their wounds were dressed and every convenience of the house brought into service to insure their comfort, and in the morning they were breakfasted and sent on their way, they being in danger of capture by the British had they remained.
In 1808 Emmor Eachus, who had had difficulties at the Blue Ball Tav- ern, moved to a house a short distance from the Springfield Meeting House. and obtaining a license from the court gave to the new inn the name of "The Three Tuns." It was at this house that Captain Morgan's company of drafted men assembled in 1814, previous to beginning their march to Marcus Hook. The license for this house was continued to Emmor Eachus until 1820, when he was succeeded as landlord by John Jones. Five years later John Fawkes became landlord for a short time and was succeeded by his widow, Susan Fawkes, who continued as proprietress until 1829, when she married Wayne Litzenberg, who was the next petitioner for a license. In 1830 John Black followed as proprietor, succeeded by Isaac Johnson in 1835. The Old Lamb Tavern kept by Joseph Gibbons Jr., having ceased to be a licensed house, Landlord Johnson discontinued the name under which his house, "The Three Tuns," had been known since 1808. and continued business under the name of the older house, calling it "The Lamb."
In 1837 John Ford was the proprietor, continuing until 1848, when Forrester Hoopes applied for license for "The Lamb," his being the first application under the first local option law, he was granted leave by the court to keep a temperance house, a privilege he was not at all pleased with. But after the law interdicting the sale of liquor in the township had been declared by the Supreme Court unconstitutional, he received full license, continuing as landlord until 1853, when the owner of the property. George Worrall, became also proprietor. In 1858 Worrall was succeeded by Joseph H. Black, who after a year was succeeded by the owner and former proprietor, George Wor-
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rall. In 1863 Peter H. Hill obtained a license which he afterward transferred to Worrall. In 1864 William F. Woodward was proprietor, followed in 1868 by Malachi W. Sloan who in 1869 surrendered the tavern to Benjamin Rod- gers. In 1873 Mr. Sloan again became proprietor, and Leedom Kirk in 1875 and James A. Stevenson in 1878. In the meantime Malachi W. Sloan had become owner of the property. He died August 16, 1881, and in his will directed : "It is my will and desire that the Lamb Tavern property in said will named, shall after the expiration of the present lease, be no longer used for the pur- pose of a hotel." Under this provision the "Lamb Tavern" ceased to be a licensed house. The historic old inn was closed as a house of entertainment for about fourteen years, when the property was purchased by B. Worrall who restored it; obtained a license and later sold to Luton B. Severance, who sold to Charles H. Miller. Dr. William B. Werntz, a veterinary surgeon, next kept the tavern, then Charles McGovern rented it eighteen months. In 1910 Charles G. Hause purchased the property and, expending a large sum in reno- vation and improvements to interior and exterior, has brought back to the old inn its former popularity, and made it a favored stopping place for the Philadelphia automobilist.
VAN LEER John George and Mary Von Lohr, who were the ancestors of the Van Leer family in Pennsylvania, emigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania with their family in 1697. Upon their arrival they settled in Marple township (now Delaware county), first on the farm later owned by Felix Velotte, but later on that owned by the heirs of Garrett Williamson. John George Von Lohr died in 1748, leaving a sec- ond wife, Rebecca.
( II) Dr. Bernhard or Bernhardus Van Leer, son of John George Von Lohr, the emigrant, was born at Isenberg, in the Electorate of Hesse, Germany, in 1686, died in Marple, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1790, aged one hundred and four years. He was a lad of eleven years when his parents came to Pennsylvania, where he remained a few years, then returned to Ger- many for the purpose of studying medicine in his native land. He remained in Germany seven years, and not only studied medicine but the classics and French. Some time after his return to Pennsylvania, but shortly after com- mencing the practice of his profession, he married Mary Branson, daughter of a wealthy Philadelphia merchant. He took up his residence at the Velotte farm, which was his home during the remainder of his long life. He prac- ticed medicine there until his death, doing chiefly an office practice. He had a peculiar manner of diagnosis, and his remedies were usually from the veg- etable kingdom, and generally of the mildest nature. He was a man of great physical strength and vigor. When in his one hundredth year he rode on horseback from Marple to his Chester Valley farm, a distance of thirty miles, in one day. In his one hundred and second year he was cruelly beaten by burglars, who entered his house, because he refused to disclose his hidden treasures. The injury then received no doubt hastened his death two years later. After the death of his first wife, who bore him five children, he mar- ried a wife much younger than himself, who bore him nine children, including a son. Bernhard (2). a physician, and a son, Branson, also a physician of Delaware county.
( III ) Dr. Bernhard (2) Van Leer, son of Dr. Bernhardus Van Leer by his second wife, lived on the old homestead in Marple township, where he practiced medicine until his death in February, 1814. He married and left a son. Bernhard.
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(IV) Dr. Bernhard (3) Van Leer was the third of the direct line to practice medicine in Marple township. He married and had a son, Jolin Franklin.
(V) John Franklin Van Leer was a farmer of Marple township, where most of his life was spent, although his latter years were passed in Chester where he died.
(VI) William Grover Van Leer, son of John Franklin Van Leer, was born in Aston township, Delaware county, where he was educated in the pub- lic schools. He located in the butcher business in Village Green, where his after life was spent. He was a successful man, an elder of the Presbyterian church, his wife also being a member of that denomination. He married Amy Anna Mullen, born in Middletown township, daughter of Philip Mullen, a farmer and auctioneer. Mrs. Van Leer survives her husband and continues her residence at Village Green. Her brothers, Philip and Emmor, and sister, Alice, who married Daniel Yeager, are deceased, leaving her the sole survivor of her family. Children of William G. and Amy A. Van Leer: Frank, mar- ried Lillian King: Philip, married Mary -: William Grover (2), mar- ried Rebecca Jester, deceased ; Clarence H., of whom further ; Albert, died aged two years; Alberta, married J. Engle Halsey.
(VII) Clarence Harvey Van Leer, fourth son of William Grover and Amy Anna ( Mullen) Van Leer, was born in Chester township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1876. He was educated in the schools of Village Green and at Prof. George Gilbert's Academy in Chester. In the intervals occurring in his school life he learned the type setter's art in the office of the "Delaware County American" at Media, having a five years' con- nection with that paper. He began his mercantile career as clerk in the gro- cery of John B. Rhodes at Aston Mills, remaining with Mr. Rhodes six years. For the next six years he was manager of the Columbia Tea Company, ill Media, then in 1907 engaged in the business for himself at Rockdale. At the end of two and a half years he sold out to his brother-in-law, Charles P. Griffith, and in 1910 located in Media where in partnership with a Mr. Jones he opened a grocery, trading under the firm name of Van Leer & Jones, a very successful and responsible firm, well established in public favor. Mr. Van Leer is a Republican, and both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
He married, June 22, 1899, Cecelia A. Griffith, born at West Branch, Aston township, March 26, 1882, daughter of Hayes W. Griffith, loom boss. now residing in Rockdale, and his wife, Cecelia Costello. Children of Hayes W. Griffith: Frank, married Mary Curry; Charles, married Annie Cullen ; Cecelia A., married Clarence Harvey Van Leer; Nellie, married Isaac Hab- bersett ; Hayes (2), married Kate O'Brien; Margaret, unmarried.
Children of Clarence H. and Cecelia A. (Griffith ) Van Leer ; Cecelia M., born July 22, 1900; Amy A., March 22, 1902; Clarence Harvey (2), June 5. 1904: William J., June 22, 1906; Hayes W., October 3, 1908; Jessie M., September 23, 1910.
FORD The Fords have been for several generations residents of Dela- ware county, the earlier members being usually tillers of the soil, well-to-do and prominent.
John Wesley Ford was a farmer of Middletown township, where he died December 2, 1905, aged eighty-five years. He married and left issue. Wil- liam Henry, see forward; Hampford: Andrew, married Ella Lodge; James; all now living (1913) but parents both deceased.
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William Henry, son of John Wesley Ford, was born in Middletown town- ship, November 18, 1849. He was educated in the public schools and Maple- wood Institute, and grew to manhood in his native township, spending his early life on the farm. Later he learned the carpenter's trade, and is now a successful contractor and builder of Media. He is a Republican in politics, served eight years as school director and is a loyal party man. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
William Henry Ford is a member of the following lodges: Junior Order American Mechanics of Media, Patriotic Order Sons of America of Chester, Knights of Malta of Chester, Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Chester, Lucius H. Scott Lodge of Masons of Chester. He married Anna Mary Tay- lor, born in Darby, Pennsylvania, daughter of Robert Taylor, a landscape gardener, now deceased, whose children were: Edward; Anna Mary, wife of William Henry Ford ; Joseph ; Harry, and a daughter, who died in infancy-all others living. Children of William Henry and Anna M. Ford ; William, died in infancy; Eva May, married William Roser and lives in Chester; Lawrence Crawford, married Irene Terry and resides in Media; John Wesley (2) mar- ried Marian Williams and resides in Media; Wilbur Ulysses, married Mary Harrington and resides in Media ; Norman Malcolm Layton, of whom further ; William Summers, unmarried.
Norman Malcolm Layton, son of William Henry and Anna Mary (Tay- lor) Ford, was born at Knowlton, Middletown township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, December 29, 1887. His early years were spent in South Media and Nether Providence township, his education acquired in the public schools of Wallingford, finishing in the high school. He learned the painter's trade and until 1909 always worked with his father. In that year he estab- lished as a painting contractor for himself and is now considered one of the most successful contracting painters in this section of Delaware county. He is a Republican in politics ; a member of Kossuth Lodge, No. 393, Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Media, and of Morton Lodge, No. 364, Patriotic Order Sons of America of Morton, and in both he holds an official position. In religious preference he is a Methodist.
Mr. Ford married, July 23, 1910, Mary Ann Vollmer, born in Darby, January 19, 1892, daughter of Jolin Frederick and Minnie ( Huber) Vollmer, the former a fruit gardener near Rutledge, the family home. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Vollmer: Minnie, married Edward Shillingford, now of Cleve- land. Ohio: Mary Ann. wife of Norman Malcolm Layton Ford : Florence and Frances.
VERNON The first members of the Vernon family in Pennsylvania were three brothers-Thomas, Randal and Robert. Thomas came from Stanthorne, county of Chester, England, about the same time as William Penn in 1682. While not excessively annoyed he had not entirely escaped religious persecution in England. because of his membership in the Society of Friends. With his brother, Randal, hie settled in Nether Providence, Delaware county, on contiguous tracts, for some time occupying only one dwelling, at which the meetings of the Society of Friends were held. His name is on the list of jurors for the first court ever held for the county of Chester. He died in 1698. Randal Vernon was likewise an active and influential member of the Society of Friends and frequently had charge of the public business of that sect. In 1687 he served as a member of the Pro- vincial Assembly. He died in 1725. aged eighty-five years, having survived his wife, Sarah, six years. Robert Vernon came from Stoaks, Cheshire, Eng-
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX MNO TILDIN FOUNDATIONAL
Albert, Vernos
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land. He was a member of the Society of Friends, but took no such active part in its affairs as did his brothers. A member of the family, prominent in the war of independence, was Captain Job Vernon, born in Lower Provi- dence, 1750, died in Concord township, 1810. He served in the Army of the North, and participated in all its engagements up to the storming of Stony Point.
From this early Vernon family sprang Samuel Vernon, a miller at Dut- ton's, Delaware county, born November 15. 1755, died in Aston township, Delaware county, in 1812, aged sixty-two years. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Society of Friends. He married Ann Hall, who died near Bridge- water, on Chester creek, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, leaving issue.
(II) Abner, son of Samuel and Ann (Hall) Vernon, was born in Chester, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, April 1, 1791. His early life was spent in Aston township, where he obtained an education in a private school. Leaving school he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed all his life. Toward the end of the war of 1812-14, he was drafted for service, but the end of the conflict came soon after and he saw little active service. Politically he was a Whig, and served two terms as supervisor of Lower Chichester. With his wife he was a member of the Episcopal church, in which he was a vestryman and warden. He married Esther Bullock, of Concord township, Delaware county, died in Claymont, Delaware, aged seventy-four years, daughter of John and Sarah (Hampton) Bullock. Children: I. Lavina, born October 14, 1816; married Benjamin Larkins. 2. Sarah Ann, born November 17, 1818; married James Price. 3. John B., Harried, June 8, 1821, Margaret Brooke. 4. Samuel (of further mention). 5. Abner, born April 26, 1826. 6. Mary G., born August 27, 1828; married John Brooke. 7. Frank S., born May 19, 1830, married Elizabeth Otty. 8. George W., born October 6, 1833 ; married Mary Kim.
(III) Samuel, son of Abner and Esther (Bullock) Vernon, was born in Aston township, Delaware county, September 7, 1823. His early years were spent in Aston and Concord townships, where he followed the occupation of his father-the carpenter's. In politics he is a Republican, and was the first burgess of Marcus Hook. He is very prominent in fraternal circles, being one of the oldest living members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to which he has belonged for sixty-four years. He has held all the grades of offices in this fraternity, as he has in the Improved Order of Red Men, of which he has been a member for forty-one years. He is a communicant of the Episcopal church. He married, April 14, 1853, Caroline Moore, born in Pedricktown, Salem county, New Jersey, daughter of John, a farmer, died aged seventy-four years, and Priscilla (Kate) Moore. Children of John and Priscilla Moore: George, married Mary Handy, of Brandywine Hundred, Delaware: Susie, married Samuel Butler. of Wilmington, Delaware; Caro- line (of previous mention). Children of Samuel and Caroline (Moore) Ver- non: I. John M., born June 22, 1854: married (first) April 25, 1886, Cather- ine Carter, (second) February 12, 1897, Mary Fogarty. 2. Esther, born September 11, 1856; married, September II, 1879, Elwood B. Worrilow. 3. Samuel C., born March 25, 1859; married, September 1, 1886, Ada Lantz. 4. Albert H. (of further mention). 5. Abner, born March 4, 1863; married, October 17, 1894, Lorna Downes. 6. George M., born November 14, 1864; married Ruth Lewis. 7. Eva C., born October 24, 1866. 8. Lillie May, born April 30, 1874; married, November 19, 1895, John W. Gosch.
(IV) Albert H., third son and fourth child of Samuel and Caroline (Moore) Vernon, was born in Claymont, Delaware, April 1, 1861. He obtained his education in the public schools of Upper Chichester, and later gradu-
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ated from the mechanical draughtsmanship course, class of 1898, of the International Correspondence School at Scranton, Pennsylvania. His first employment was as a carpenter, at which he worked until he was twenty years of age, abandoning this to accept a position with the Jackson & Sharp Com- pany of Wilmington, Delaware, with whom he remained for two and a half years. On March 1. 1884, he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania rail- road as a station agent and telegraph operator, in which capacity he now serves. For seven years he was in Washington, D. C. In politics he is a Republican, and has been town clerk and road commissioner of Lower Chiches- ter. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Farmers and Mechanics Lodge, No. 85. of Linwood, Delaware county, and to Freeman Encampment, of the same town. He passed all chairs in the subor- dinate lodge, and in September. 1894, was elected a representative to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and has been reelected for each succeeding year up to the present ( 1913). In March, 1909, he was elected district deputy grand master for Delaware county, an office he held for one year, according to the rule of the country districts. He also belongs to Lucius H. Scott Lodge. No. 352, Free and Accepted Masons, of Chester, Pennsylvania : Florence E. Joslyn Lodge, No. 287, Daughters of Rebekah, Linwood, Pennsylvania, and the Veteran Odd Fellows Association of Pennsylvania.
He married, April 27. 1887. at Linwood, Delaware county, Mary P. Mc- Cafferty, born at Wilmington, Delaware, July 12. 1865, daughter of William G. and Anna M. ( Price ) McCafferty; children: Mary P. ( of previous men- tion ) married Albert H. Vernon: Edward J .: Laura E .: Anna E .: William G .; George R .; Frank H. and Edith M. Children of Albert H. and Mary P. ( McCafferty ) Vernon: I. A. Willard, born February I. 1888. 2. Anna R., born December 30, 1894. 3. S. Howard, born May 8, 1896.
GOMMOLL A native of the neighboring state of New Jersey, Mr. Har- ry Gommoll first came to Delaware county. Pennsylvania, in the year 1900, and although a newcomer, began business in the oldest smithy in Delaware county, the old shop at Hinkson's Corner, where from the early days of the county, a flaming forge has gleamed.
Harry Gommoll was born in Essex county, New Jersey. April 13, 1875. a son of a well known landscape gardener, Frederick Gommoll, and his wife, Wilhelmena. Harry Gommoll attended public school until twelve years of age, when he began working in a blacksmith shop, where he served an apprentice- ship of four years. In 1893 he came to Pennsylvania. and followed his trade for eight years as a journeyman smith, working in Philadelphia, Norristown, Collegeville, Reading and other Pennsylvania cities, and becoming an expert horseshoer and general iron worker. In the year 1900 he settled permanently in Delaware county, starting in business for himself on Labor Day of that year, as successor of Ezekiel R. Norman, the oldest smith in Delaware county, in the shop at Hinkson's Corner. Here he prospered for two and a half years : then. he moved his business location to Media, locating in the Broadhead shop. April I, 1903. He continued at that location until April 1, 1909, when he moved to his present place of business on Baker street. He has established himself firm- ly in the good opinion of his numerous patrons, and is one of the successful prosperous men of the borough.
Mr. Gommoll is a member of Garfield Lodge, No. 94, Knights of Pythias ; treasurer of Kossuth Lodge, No. 393. Independent Order of Odd Fellow's ; and of Morning Star Encampment of the same fraternal order. In religious faith.
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Mr. Gommoll, with his family, is a member of the Baptist church, while in po- litical preference he is an Independent.
On April 9, 1902, Mr. Gommoll married in Norristown, Pennsylvania, Clara Bechtel, daughter of Henry L. and Annie E. Bechtel. Mrs. Gommoll has brothers and sisters: William H., married Carrie Dellar : Walter I., married Katie Rex; George W., married Ella Davis; Mary E .; Laura G .; Samuel L., and Howard L. Children of Harry and Clara ( Bechtel) Gommoll: Anna G., born January 27, 1903; Robert L., July 24, 1904; Norman L., September 20. 1906; Edna M., October 19, 1910.
The first members of this branch of the McKnight family
MCKNIGHT came to this country about the commencement of the nine- teenth century, and they have been conspicuously identi- fied with important business interests since their arrival here, and have been intensely patriotic citizens.
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