USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume III > Part 16
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(I) William McKnight, the emigrant ancestor, was born in Ireland, and after his coming to this country, made his home in Philadelphia, where he died at the age of fifty-six years. He married Gylac Hagerty, who died in 1833 in Philadelphia. Children: Robert, deceased; John; David, see forward; and Annie, deceased.
(II) David, son of William and Gylac (Hagerty) McKnight, was born in Ireland, March 4, 1831, and is now living in Philadelphia. He was very young when he arrived in that city with his parents, and attended the public schools of that city. It is an interesting fact to note, that he was a member of the ninth class of the Central High School of Philadelphia; his son, William, was a member of the sixty-ninth class; Paul was a member of the seventy-ninth class, and David Jr., was a member of the eighty-ninth class. David McKnight was a schoolmate of Prof. Daniel Howard in the school house which stood on the present site of Wanamaker's store. For many years he held the position of live stock agent of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company, but is now living in retirement. He formerly belonged to the Whig party, but upon the organization of the Republican party, joined the ranks of that body, and later joined the Progressive party. During the civil war he was a member of Company K, Gray Reserves, but was not called into active service. He married Mary A. MacPherson, born in Anne Arundel county, Maryland. She was a daughter of William and Eliza (Doherty) MacPherson, the former for many years foreman for Brooke & Pugh, flour merchants in Philadelphia, and who died, leaving two children: Mary A., mentioned above, and William John, who was a member of Company D. One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Pennsylvania Regiment. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Knight have had children: William: Albert, died in infancy; Paul, see for- ward; Jessie, died April 27, 1903, at the age of thirty-seven years; Mary ; David Jr .; and Elisabeth.
(III) Paul, son of David and Mary A. (MacPherson) McKnight, was born in Philadelphia, November 26, 1863. His early years were spent in Philadelphia, where he attended the public schools and, upon the completion of his education, he was engaged in business for some time. He then enteerd the Young Men's Christian Association Training School in Springfield, Massa- chusetts, and filled various positions in Young Men's Christian Associations. May 13, 1891, he formed a connection with the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, which is still in force. He has risen from one position to another, until at the present time he occupies the position of freight agent at the West
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Philadelphia stock yard station. In political matters he is an Independent Republican.
Mr. McKnight married, October 10, 1894. Anna Howell, born in Philadel- phia, a daughter of Abram B. and Maria ( Elwell) Thomas, the latter born in Pennsylvania; the former, who was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, was a worker in leather goods, and is now living in Philadelphia, being over sev- enty years of age. They had six children: Harvey B., deceased; George, died young ; Anna Howell, mentioned above; Sara; Mary J .; William Bon- sall. Mr. McKnight has no children. He is a member of George W. Bar- tram Lodge, No. 298. Free and Accepted Masons; Media Chapter, No. 234. Royal Arch Masons: Kossuth Lodge, No. 393, Independent Order of Odd Fellows: Media Fire and Hook and Ladder Company, No. I, of Media. He and his wife are Presbyterians. When he came to Media in 1894, he at once affiliated with the church, and since then has officiated as an elder and a trus- tee; he was the secretary of trustees for seventeen years, and has been treas- urer of that body three years. He takes a great interest in the young people's church work, and does everything in his power to further it.
On the fifth day of May. 1675. a company from England, princi-
WARE pally members of the Society of Friends, landed from the ship "Griffith," which had brought them from England to find a home in West Jersey. The leading spirit of the enterprise and the owner of the lands now included in what are now known as Salem and Cumberland counties. New Jersey, was John Fenwick, from which the colony received its name. The landing place of the Fenwick colony appearing to Fenwick as a good location for a town he called it New Salem.
Among these Fenwick colonists was Joseph Ware, of Monmouthshire, Wales. Thomas Shourds, in his "History of Salem County," says that Joseph Ware came as a "servant" to Edward Wade. But as Smith, in his "History of New Jersey" says-Fenwick's daughters, Anne and Elizabeth, married two of his "servants," it would seem that the meaning of servants then was one who worked for wages and not one of inferior social position. But that is of little moment. Joseph Ware soon became a man of importance in the colony, his name appearing several times as a member of and sometimes as a foreman of the grand jury. He bought within a few years five hundred acres of land on Lower Alloways Creek, part of which is yet owned by descendants. He died March 30, 1711, leaving a will in which he divided his property among his chil- dren, after providing for his widow Mary. He made no mention of his son, John, who early in life became a follower of George Keith, known as the Quaker Baptist, which fact probably estranged him from his father. Joseph Ware married (first) May 30, 1683, Martha, daughter of John Becket, of Es- sex, near Kingston-on-the-Thames. England : four children. He married (sec- ond) Mary, who is mentioned in his will, who bore him a daughter, Patience.
John Ware, second son of Joseph Ware by his first wife, Martha (Becket) Ware, was born in New Jersey about 1688: his will, probated June 20, 1734, was made May I, preceding, when he declares himself "sick and weak in body. but of sound mind and perfect memory." He was styled "yeoman" and de- clares in his will that he is a resident of Cohansie. Salem county, Province of New Jersey. He left to his "loving wife. Bathsheba" all his "plantation lands buildings with the appurtenances situate and being in Cohansie" until his first born son Jolin, born 1722, "shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years." After that she was to have one-third of all he possessed so long as she remained a widow.
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Elnathan Ware, second son and fourth of the six children of John and Bathsheba Ware, has had no mention of his early life preserved beyond men- tion in his father's will in which he was given twenty-five acres and ten pounds in gold. There is no record of him until 1760, when he gave bond to. the state when he obtained "License of Marriage" to "Mercy Moore." He was then resident of Greenwich, Cumberland county, New Jersey, his wife, Mercy, a daughter of Enoch Moore of the same town. Elnathan and Mercy ( Moore) Ware were the parents of nine children of which Joseph was the sixth child and the fifth son.
Joseph Ware, fifth son of Elnathan and Mercy (Moore) Ware, born Au- gust 27; 1771, in Greenwich, Salem county, New Jersey, removed to Cape May, New Jersey, where he died. He married (first) Deborah Whillden, (second) Harriet Whillden, supposed to have been sisters. Children: I. Sam- uel Fithian, born October 16, 1800, died 1876; married (first) Esther Teal, (second) Lydia Thomas. 2. Deborah Whillden, born May 4, 1804, died 1866; married Thomas Eldredge. 3. James Whillden, born January 12, 1806, died 1890; married Deborah Hampton. 4. Joseph, born May 16, 1809; married (first) Ann Hughes, (second) Lydia Leaming. 5. Daniel Crowell, born No- vember 1, 1810, died 1891 : married (first) Rachel , (second) Louisa Ford. 6. Welmon W., see forward. 7. Maskell, born 1822; married (first) Leah Mathias, (second) Mary J. Warrick. 8. John G. W., born 1825.
Welmon W. Ware, fifth son of Joseph Ware and his second wife, Harriet (Whillden) Ware, was born in Cape May, New Jersey, 1818, died in July, 1886. He was educated in the public schools, and became one of the promi- nent men of Cape May county. He was a Republican in politics, member of the State Senate eight years and for sixteen years was superintendent of the United States Life Saving Station at Cape May ; mayor of Cape May several terms, also serving in the city council several terms. In the years following the civil war he was proprietor of the Willard Hotel in Washington, D. C., later returning to Cape May. He was a man of public spirit and used his influence always for the betterment of public conditions in his city. He married (first) Mary B. Schellinger, (second) Lydia C. Schellinger, (third) Bell West.
Preston W. Ware, son of Welmon W. Ware and his second wife, Lydia C. (Schellinger) Ware, was born in Cape May, New Jersey, June 1, 1866. He vas educated in the public schools of Cape May, which was his home in youth, save for the few years spent in Washington, D. C., while his father was pro- prietor of the Willard Hotel, the family making their home there during that period. After leaving school he became a plumber's apprentice and became thorough master of all branches of that business. He followed his trade as a journeyman in Cape May and other New Jersey and Pennsylvania towns until his marriage in 1889, when he located in Media. He there established in busi- ness for himself in plumbing and steam heating in all its branches. He has. gained an enviable reputation as an expert workman and a reliable contractor. His business covers the territory surrounding Media and for a time included the contracting of buildings as well as their fitting out with plumbing and steam fitting. He is a member of the Order of Artisans, and he and his wife and family are active members of the Presbyterian church; workers in both church and Sunday school. In politics he is a Republican, but although interested in all that pertains to the public good has never sought or accepted public office.
Mr. Ware married, October II, 1889, Matilda J., daughter of John and Catherine Schowerer, of Media. Children: Elsie, married Freeman B. Ches- ley, of Marlton, West Virginia; Louise, now attending West Chester Normal School; Walter, now a student in Media. The family residence is at No. 4 West State street, Media.
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The English family came to Media from Ohio, but earlier gen- ENGLISH erations were of Pennsylvanian birth. The settlement in Ohio was made in 1835, by Daniel S. English, who settled on a farm in Stark county, not far from Canton. He married Elizabeth Severn, who bore him thirteen children. Both he and his wife died on the farm in Stark county.
Josephi Edward, son of Daniel S. and Elizabeth ( Severn) English, was born near Canton, Stark county, Ohio, March 30, 1855. He attended the dis- trict public schools and spent his boyhood at the home farm. At the age of fourteen years he began learning the trade of marble cutter, working in the marble yard during the summer months, and in the coal mines of Columbiana county, Ohio, in the winter. He continued this method of work until 1876, when he came east to Delaware county, Pennsylvania, settling in Media, Feb- ruary 2, 1882. From 1876 until 1882 he worked at marble cutting in Phila- delphia and nearby towns as a journeyman, but after coming to Media engaged in business for himself in a small way in the line of monuments and grave- stones. He had little capital, and all work in the beginning, from the rough stone to the finished monument, was done by his own skilled hands. Mr. English has prospered through thrift and industry, and now has a shop, well equipped with machinery for cutting and polishing, in fact a complete modern stone working plant. While his principal line is monuments, he also maintains a department for building purposes, furnishing marble and granite work of every kind at the builder's order. He is himself a finished workman, and he demands the same excellence of workmanship from his employed cutters, giv- ing close attention to detail of design and plan. This thoroughness has brought the deserved reward, and has extended his business all over Dela- ware county and into the states of New Jersey and Delaware, although he employs no solicitors or traveling salesmen. His business comes entirely from his well known superior workmanship and strict business integrity, every patron bringing him others.
In politics, Mr. English has been a life-long Republican, active and deeply interested in the welfare of his town, but always refusing offers of political office for himself. He belongs to the Junior Order of American Mechanics ; his three sons are also members. He is a member of the official board of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his wife and children are also members of that church.
Mr. English married, June 26, 1879, Lydia, daughter of John and Charlotte (Kitson) Broadbelt, of Delaware county. His two sons, Lewis E. and Franks, are associated with him in business; his third son, Frederick E., is a bookkeeper in the Delaware County Trust Company. The family home and marble works are situated on the corner of East Washington and Vernon streets, Media.
MCCAULEY
The McCauleys, of Scotch ancestry, settled in county Ar- magh, Ireland, whence came Hugh McCauley who married, soon after his arrival in Philadelphia, Margaret Means.
John, son of Hugh McCauley, was born in Concord, Delaware county, July 29, 1804, grew up a farmer, and lived in Chester county until 1843. In that year he moved to Harrisburg where he was manager of iron mines in Dauphin and Luzerne counties. In politics he was a Democrat, later a Repub- lican, and in religion belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. He was also a member of the Masonic order. He married, in 1834, Lydia Gheen, who
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bore him ten children. Mr. McCauley died in West Chester, September 11, 1889; his wife died April 4, 1850, leaving a large family.
William, son of John and Lydia (Gheen) McCauley, was born in Lan caster county, Pennsylvania, May 6, 1839, and died there June 3, 1902. He was a contracting painter and lived in the same community for over fifty years of his life. He was a man of personality, held decided opinions, and was remarked for his general uprightness of character. In religion he was a strong Presbyterian, and in political faith a Democrat. Mr. McCauley married Sarah Johnson and left issue.
James Jasper, son of William and Sarah (Johnson) McCauley, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, December 16, 1862. He attended the public schools of his neighborhood, and at a suitable age began learning the painting and paper hanging business with his father. After becoming master of his trade, he went to Philadelphia, where for two years he was in the employ of Webber & Howe, big contractors of railroad painting, operating over a large extent of country. After his marriage in 1888, he returned to Media, where he worked with his father for about one year. He then entered the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad, working at his trade with that company for thirteen years. In August, 1898, he began his residence in Media, and in November, 1905, he began business as a painting contractor. He has built up a large business in Media and surrounding boroughs, his contracts even extending to the city of Philadelphia. He is an expert workman in all kinds of plain and decorative work, and has won fairly a reputation as a leader in his business.
Mr. McCauley is a Republican in politics, but while interested in all that pertains to the public welfare, has never accepted office. He belongs to the fraternal orders, Knights of Pythias, Knights of the Golden Eagle and Im- proved Order of Red Men. Both he and his wife are active workers in the church and Sunday school of the United Presbyterian Church of Media. The family home is at No. 18 West Second street, Media. Mr. McCauley married, in 1888, Sarah Elizabeth Work, daughter of Robert and Letitia D. (Robinson) Work, of Russellville, Chester county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. McCau- ley have no children.
The Seal family, of Media, descends from William Seal, born in SEAL England. who at an early day settled in Birmingham, Delaware county, Pennsylvania. He married there, October 3, 1718, Hannah Gilpin, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Gilpin, of Birmingham township. Children : Rachel; Joseph; Hannah, married John Bennett ; William; Joshua ; and Caleb. From William Seal descend all of the Seal name in Delaware county. The family is a large one, and in past generations has been repre- sented by farmers of large industry, with good business and substance. The descent in this branch is from William (2) Seal, son of William (1) Seal, the emigrant. William (1) Seal died in 1742, and his wife in 1746. William (2) was a distiller, and a member of the Society of Friends. When that body an- nounced its opposition to their members engaging in harmful occupation, Mr. Seal converted his distillery into a mill for the manufacture of castor oil. He owned six hundred acres of farm land in Birmingham township. He married Mary Hunt, of Birmingham township, brought up a large family, and died in 1821.
William A. Seal, a descendant of William, the emigrant, was born in Del- aware county, and lived there, settling in Media after his marriage, where he made his home until his death. He was a plasterer by trade. He was an honor-
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able, upright man and a good citizen, quiet and unobtrusive, and a member in high standing of the Hicksite branch of the Society of Friends. During the war between the States he was a soldier of the Union, doing thereby violence to his natural feelings, and incurring the displeasure of his church. He mar- ried Mary Ann Cline, also born in Delaware county.
Joseph C. Seal, son of William A. and Mary Ann (Cline) Seal, was born in Media, Pennsylvania, August 2, 1864. He attended the public schools, and began business life as a clerk in a Media store, acting in that capacity several years. He then attended Shortlidge Academy in Media for one year, and then apprenticed himself to Charles Walter, of Media, to learn the carpenter's trade. Until 1885 he worked as apprentice and journeyman carpenter, when he began business for himself. He has continued in the building business ever since, and has won fairly his reputation as one of the leading contracting builders of Media. He has erected many of the best residences in Media and the sur- rounding country. Mr. Seal is himself an expert workman, and in his business dealings adheres strictly to principles of highest integrity. He is both capa- ble and reliable, these qualities having brought him deserved success. In poli- tics he is a Republican ; he has always been active in public affairs, and for six years, has served in the borough council.
Mr. Seal married, March 31, 1889. Wilhemina Cosgrove, daughter of Adam Cosgrove, of Media; and both are members of the Hicksite Society of Friends. Their only son, Jesse B. Seal, is connected with his father in busi- ness ; their only daughter. Edna C., is a successful music teacher. The fam- ily resides at No. 322 North Orange street.
In far away Germany, that land of thrift and industry, was born HOLL Sebastian Holl and Maria Wappler, both natives of Würtemberg. They came to the United States, and while still young met and were married in Philadelphia, where Sebastian Holl became a successful manufacturer of fine furniture, retiring from business in 1900. He died Jan- uary 10, 1910. Maria, his wife, died March 13, 1888. Of their four sons: one died in infancy; Albert, now resides in Philadelphia: Emil, resides in Media; and Julius, died in 1911 in Philadelphia.
Emil, son of Sebastian and Maria ( Wappler) Holl, was born in Philadel- phia, October 14, 1853. He was educated in the public schools of Philadel- phia and after finishing his education became a watchmaker's apprentice, serving the full term of years required, and becoming an expert jeweler and watchmaker. He worked at the bench until 1877, when he embarked in busi- ness for himself, opening a jewelry store in Media, where he has since been in continuous, successful operation for a period of thirty-six years. A business extending over so long a space of years, necessarily has its reverses as well as its successes, but in Mr. Holl's case, the latter have greatly predominated, and is now located at the northeast corner of State and Orange streets in a fine store well stocked with a modern line of jewelry store goods, and pos- sessing an adequate repair department. His reputation for the "square deal" has brought him generous patronage, well deserved prosperity and the high regard of his townsmen. He is vice-president and director of the Media Title and Trust Company, president and a director of the Second Building and Loan Association, and actively interested in other Media enterprises.
Mr. Holl has always taken an active and prominent part in the business and public affairs of the borough of Media. He is a Democrat in politics and has played a leading role in party affairs. He has served as chairman of the Democratic County Committee, and in 1894 he was appointed postmaster
THE NEW NORE PUBLIC USRABY
ASTOR 190091 1NL TINA - INAT UN8.
Terrence Reilly
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of Media by President Cleveland, for a term of four years. He has also been the Democratic nominee for presidential elector, for assemblyman and for state senator, but the district in which he lives is so strongly Republican that a Democrat is rarely elected to any state or district office, no matter how high the standing or popularity of the candidate. In religion Mr. Holl and his family are members of the Roman Catholic church; he is a Knight of Columbus and a member of other church organizations.
He married, January 10, 1878, Anna F., daughter of Theodore Kampen, of Philadelphia. Children: Cyrilla M., Albert E., Julia C., S. Herman, Frances, Frederick T. and Helen.
Among the native sons of Ireland, who came to Delaware county MAJOR in the long ago, was John Major, who came when quite young, and settled in Media where he became prominent as a contractor and a man of public affairs. He was a member of the Presbyterian church in religious faith, and a Democrat in politics with all of his countrymen's love of public office. He was active in party affairs and held various local offices. His wife, Margaret Callahan, whom he married here, also came from Ireland when young. Both are now deceased.
George Major, son of John and Margaret (Callahan) Major, was born in Media, June 1, 1867, where has always lived. He was educated in the public schools, and began business life as his father's assistant in his contracting oper- ations. However, early in life he became a plumber's apprentice, finishing his trade and working as a journeyman until 1893, when he established himself in the plumbing business, opening a shop in Media. He has greatly extended his business in the years intervening, and is one of the successful, substantial men of his town, upright in character and held in high esteem. In politics he is an Independent, and interested in public affairs, although he has never sought or accepted office. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, which he serves as trustee, and of the Sons of Veterans, by virtue of his father's service during the civil war, as a private in Company F, 126th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry.
Mr. Major married, in November, 1893, Letitia A. McIlrath, daughter of Thomas and Sarah McIlrath, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to New York City, and later returned to the North of Ireland. Children: George Adams, born August 6, 1894; Sarah, February 27, 1896; Lillian and Ethel May, No- vember 17, 1897 ; all are students in the Media schools. The family home is at No. 33 West State street, where Mr. Major's place of business is also located.
The Green Isle of the Sea never gave to America a bigger- REILLY hearted man, a truer patriot, or better citizen than Terrence Reilly, a resident of Pennsylvania sixty-one years, and of Media thirty-nine years.
Terrence Reilly was born in Ireland in 1821, died in Media, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1896. He was brought to the United States in 1825, and his home was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, until 1857. He obtained a common school education and developed an unusual aptitude for business. He worked and clerked for several years, finally accumulating sufficient capital to start a store .. He continued in prosperous merchandising in Philadelphia until 1857, when he moved to Media. He there established a tannery and from the first pros- pered. He enlarged his business and was a most prosperous leather manufac -. turer until his death thirty-nine years after his first coming to Media. His life
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of seventy-five years covered the period of wars waged by the United States in both of which Terrence Reilly bore a part under the flag that was his, only by adoption. He was a private in the Mexican War and in the war between the States won the rank of first lieutenant. He had all of an Irishman's love of battle, yet was especially noted in Media for his kindness of heart and liberality to those in distress. He gave large sums in charity each year and no man ever appealed to him in vain, if in need. He was an industrious, energetic man himself, scorning the idler, but ever ready to advance the interests of the worthy. He was a Democrat in politics with all the love for public life and political power that seems inherent in his race. He served in the Media bor- ough council for several terms and was twice elected chief burgess, serving the borough well and faithfully. He took a deep interest in the Media Fire Com- pany, assisted in its organization, was its first president and but one week prior to his death was re-elected. His life was a busy, useful, successful one, begun in a faraway land, from which he was so early transplanted that to him Amer- ica was more his own than an adopted home. While he never married, he had adopted as his son a nephew. Peter H. Reilly, on whom he lavished all a fath- cr's love and interest. A feature of his character was his strong sense of duty and his courage in maintaining his opinions when satisfied he was right. He was absolutely fearless in his advocacy of public measures and never lost sight of the interests of his community. A member of the Roman Catholic church and faithful to his religious obligations he was broadminded and liberal, hold- ing every man's creed sacred and when he passed from their midst every man regardless of religious creed or political faith, had a kind word for Terrence Reilly.
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