USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume III > Part 17
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Peter H. Reilly, adopted son of Terrence Reilly, was born in Media, Penn- sylvania, April 12, 1866, and there has always lived. He was educated in the public schools, La Salle College and Pierce's Business College of Philadelphia. He was taught the tanning business by his adopted father and with him was associated until the death of the latter in 1896. During their long connection he grew to thoroughly appreciate the excellence of character of Terrence Reilly und unconsciously perhaps absorbed many of his most striking characteristics, becoming very much like him in many respects. He formed the same energetic business habits, is broad-minded and liberal in his charities, has the deep inter- ests in public affairs and the same regard and devotion to the interests of Me- dia. He belongs to the same political party, the Democratic, and has served with the same fidelity that distinguished Terrence Reilly in his public life.
Peter H. Reilly was appointed by Judge Isaac Johnson in 1904 to fill out an unexpired term of a member of the board of county auditors, and in the fol- lowing year was regularly elected to membership on the same board for a term of three years. In religious faith he is a Roman Catholic ; member and chair- man of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul : member of the Knights of Colum- bus and prominent in both organizations. He has a private library of several hundred well selected books, which show evidence of daily use and indicate their owner's love of good literature. Fond himself of out-of-door sports, he gives hearty support and assistance to all helpful athletics and is a firm friend of young men. The business founded by Terrence Reilly has been wisely con- tinued by the adopted son and its old time prosperity in no way diminished. Faithful alike to the upright principles of the founder and his own high ideals, he has carried out the unspoken wishes of his benefactor and holds in the affec- tions of the people the place first won by the warm-hearted Terrence Reilly.
Peter H. Reilly married, June 9, 1907, Anna, daughter of Abram and Anna Cohen, of New York. The family home is an attractive residence at No. 114 North Edgmont street, Media.
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DOAK In point of interesting and profitable reading, biography certainly yields to no other subject. Moreover, it is especially noteworthy to mark the progress made in the varied fields of industry by those who have come to these shores from another country, and to observe the eagerness displayed in acquiring the methods and customs in vogue here, and the facility with which they adapt themselves to circumstances in their new surroundings. In the majority of cases the best traits of the ancestors are retained, and mingled to the best advantage with the progressive ideas to be found in our manner of conducting business transactions. A case in point is that of James L. Doak, of Media, Pennsylvania, who is of Scotch-Irish descent.
Joseph Doak, father of James L. Doak, was a native of Scotland, and came to the United States when he was a very young lad. He was engaged in farming throughout the active years of his life, and died in April, 1908. He mar- ried Mary M. Wiggin, who had been born in Ireland, and had come to this country when a child with her parents. Both the Doak and the Wiggin fam- ily settled in Delaware county, Pennsylvania.
James L., son of Joseph and Mary M. (Wiggin) Doak, was born at Wal- lingford, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, June 21, 1876. His early life was as uneventful as the usual one of a farmer's son. He acquired a good, prac- tical education at the district school, during the intervals when he was not engaged in assisting his father in the cultivation of the homestead farm. When he attained young manhood, he determined to branch out for himself, as his ambitious and energetic nature was not satisfied with the humdrum existence he had hitherto led. He accordingly removed to Media, where he engaged in business as a contract teamster, and in several other enterprises, of which he made a financial success. By these means he amassed considerable capital, and in 1908 opened a livery and boarding stable business in connection with his contract teaming and heavy hauling, and these numerous activities engage his attention at the present time. They have become very extended in the course of events, and they are enterprises which are still steadily and con- sistently growing. Mr. Doak wields a considerable influence in the political affairs of the county, and is a member of the Republican county committee. He also holds the office of assistant fire chief, and he has filled other public offices of trust and responsibility. In 1913 he was the Republican candidate for county comptroller of Delaware county. Fraternally he is a member of Media Lodge, No. 139, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Doak married, September 1, 1906, Anna, daughter of Michael and Jennie (Snappe) Burnley, whose children are: Anna, George, Elsie and Clarence. The Burnley family has been resident in Garrettford, Pennsyl- vania, for many years. Mr. Doak keeps well abreast of the times in all public movements, and is ever ready to give his personal service as well as his means, to further any project for the general benefit of the community.
WAGNER
This branch of the Wagner family came to Media from Tren-
ton, New Jersey, where Nicholas Wagner and Anna Von Lochems were married. Both were born in Germany and came to the United States when young and both members of good substantial German families. Nicholas Wagner engaged in the iron manufacturing busi- ness, with which he was connected successfully, until his retirement in 1887. His business life was spent in Trenton, but after his retirement he moved to Philadelphia, where he yet resides. Anna, his wife, died in 1887.
Nicholas H. Wagner, son of Nicholas and Anna Wagner, was born in
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Trenton, New Jersey (as were all his brothers and sisters), May 3, 1862. He was educated in the public schools and Trenton Business College, beginning business life as a bookkeeper for the Mercer Pottery Company, remaining five years. For the next eight years he was traveling salesman for different Tren- ton pottery companies, his territory covering almost the entire country. He then spent three years prospecting in Arizona, New and Old Mexico, but did not permanently locate, returning at the end of this period to his home in the East. Soon afterward he became actively engaged in iron manufacture, and until 1900 was secretary or treasurer for twenty-three different corporations in the United States, engaged in different branches of iron manufacture. In 1900 he retired and purchased the Colonial Hotel in Media, a well-equipped summer hotel, accommodating one hundred and fifty guests. This house, built in 1854, until coming under Mr. Wagner's ownership, was conducted only as a summer hotel, but he has made it an "all the year" home for traveling and permanent guests. Always a favorite resort for Philadelphians and others, the house has increased in popularity under his management and is one of the best patronized houses in rural Pennsylvania. Every modern convenience has been installed and every provision made for the entertainment of guests during the "out of doors" season. The Spring Haven Country Club golf links are but ten min- utes walk distant, while in a spacious hall, forty by sixty feet, semi-weekly dances are given. The hotel, situated in the midst of a magnificent natural grove of chestnut trees, is near the Pennsylvania railroad depot and within two blocks of three trolley lines, connecting with Philadelphia, Chester and all sur- rounding country. Mr. Wagner succeeded in ownership Mrs. Herman Hoeck- Jey, who conducted the house for more than forty years. The Colonial opens as a summer hotel, May I, of each year, but a welcome and the best of treat- ment awaits the guest any day of the year. Mr. Wagner has proved as popu- lar as a landlord as he was successful as a business man and is known to the traveling public as a most genial, generous and obliging "mine host," and the Colonial Hotel, situated among surroundings of historic interest and natural beauty, has a nation-wide reputation as a delightful, hospitable and enjoyable summer home. Mr. Wagner is a Republican in politics and interested in all that pertains to the welfare and prosperity of his town.
He married, November 16, 1892, Sophia A., daughter of James W. and Helen (Albertson) Moyer, of Philadelphia, the former dead, his wife yet liv- ing. Children : Frances Chandler, born March 4, 1895 ; Nicholas H. (2), May 4, 1896; Helen Moyer, March 8, 1898.
ANDERSON The Andersons came to Chester, Pennsylvania, from the adjoining state of Delaware, where they were residents of Newark for several generations. John Anderson, grand- father of Arthur B. Anderson, was a finished wood worker, learned his trade in the day when a carpenter was expected to be able to make anything per- taining to a house, including stairs, sash and even furniture. He had a chest of tools that included everything known to the trade, and was expert in the use of all. He was born in Scotland, coming to this country a young man. He married a Miss McVey and left issue : John B., (see forward) ; Samuel K., now a cabinet maker of Wilmington, Delaware; Emma, died in North East, Maryland, when young, in 1878.
John B. Anderson, son of John Anderson, was born in Newark, Delaware, in 1844. He is now a grocer of Wilmington, Delaware, having first begun business forty years ago in North East, Maryland, thence coming to Wilming- ton. He served as a justice of the peace in North East; is a member of the
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Methodist Episcopal church and of Knights of Pythias. He married Ella Benjamin, born in North East, Maryland, in 1852, died in Chester in May, 1898, daughter of I. N. Benjamin, deceased, and his wife, Adeline. Chil- dren, all born in North East, Maryland: Emma, born in 1877, married Clar- ence H. Kirven, of Tennessee, now a title searcher for the Delaware County Trust Company, residing in Chester; Arthur Benjamin (of whom further) ; Samuel, died in North East, aged sixteen years; John, born in 1886, tele- graph operator by profession, now a clerk in the store of his brother, Arthur B., he married Lena Turner, of Upland, Pennsylvania; David, born 1890, now a draughtsman with the Duplex Metal Works of Chester.
Arthur Benjamin Anderson, son of John B. and Ella (Benjamin) An- derson, was born in North East, Maryland, October 17, 1879. He was edu- cated in the public schools, also for a time attended a private school. He left school at the age of fifteen, beginning business life as a grocer's clerk in Chester, continuing five years. From 1899 until 1903 he was in the employ of M. B. Fahey, then with the Pennsylvania railroad for a year, then again a grocery clerk until 1908. In that year he decided to use for his own advantage his knowledge of business gained during these years. He opened a light lunch cafe at the corner of Seventh street and Edgmont, Chester, where he has built up a large and profitable business-probably the largest of its kind in the city. He gives it his personal management and in every detail has proved his ability to organize and conduct the business of a caterer to the public appetite. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religious faith a Methodist.
He married, November 22, 1910, in Chester, Anna Hyland, born in Up- land, Delaware county, daughter of James W. and Edith Hyland, who reside on their farm near Upland; child: Iola Edith, born in Chester, December 23, 19II.
LOBB The Lobbs of Pennsylvania trace their descent paternally from Welsh, and maternally from English forbears. The grandfather of E. Oscar Lobb, of this narrative, was William Lobb, who for many years was a teacher of hotany in the Philadelphia high schools. Retiring from the pedagogical profession, in which he had earned distinction, he pur- chased a small farm in Chester county, where he devoted his latter years to stock raising. Many of his horses were bred from fine stock, and nothing gave him more genuine pleasure than the exhibition of a well-formed, strong, hand- some, blooded horse. He and his wife were members of the Society of Friends, and both are buried in the churchyard of the Darby Friends Meeting-house. He was the father of thirteen children, of whom the following are living : Ethelbert, a builder of Berwyn, Chester county ; Clayton A., a lumber dealer of Devon ; Henry, lives retired at Broomall, Delaware county ; Maria, married Edward Dutton and lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania; Mary, married Wil- liam Clegg (deceased) ; Margaret, married Thomas Taylor (deceased) ; Louis D., of whom further.
(II) Louis D., son of William Lobb, was born near Berwyn, Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1856. After receiving a public school education he learned the trades of cabinetmaking and undertaking under the direction of his father-in-law. For four years he continued in those pursuits, then began building operations in Berwyn under the firm name of L. D. Lobb & Sons. In 1909 he moved to Oakmont, Delaware county, where his son, E. Oscar, was engaged in a contracting and building business, and entered his employ. He is a Republican in politics, and with his wife is a member of the Baptist church.
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He married Mary E. Otty, born at White Horse, Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1857, daughter of Enoch and Anna E. (Mercer) Otty, from near Media, Delaware county. Enoch Otty, died 1911, was a cabinetmaker of wide reputation, many of his pieces of work being held at great value by the owners. Because of the extreme care taken in its manufacture, the finely fitting joints and smooth finish, there is little, if any, of his work upon the market. Every secret of the cabinetmakers' art was his and his smallest article is a masterpiece of neatness and beauty. His earliest occupation was as the driver of a tram car up and down the mountains in search of closely-knitted, straight-grained lumber for use in the manufacture of various articles of furniture. Besides the work he did in this line he was frequently called upon to act as undertaker, a business he had learned when a young man. Although he was a member of the Society of Friends he nevertheless forsook the doctrines of the "peace- ful sect" at the outbreak of the civil war, and took up arms in defence of what he believed to be a greater principal than universal peace, universal free- dom. He was a Democrat in political belief. He married Anna E. Mercer and had children : George, a carpenter of West Chester, Pennsylvania ; Anna E., married Harry Lewis and lives in Malvern, Pennsylvania; Mary E., married Louis D. Lobb, of previous mention ; and six others, all deceased. Children of Louis D. and Mary E. (Otty) Lobb; E. Oscar, of whom further ; Clyde, a contracting painter, married Gertrude Griffith, and lives in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania ; Victor, married Rosamond Mousman, and lives at Conshohock en, Pennsylvania : Edith, Marion, and Russell, all living at home.
(III) E. Oscar, eldest son and child of Louis D. and Mary E. (Otty) Lobb, was born near Berwyn, Chester county, Pennsylvania, August 6, 1880. He obtained a public school education at Berwyn, Pennsylvania, and later at- tended Drexel Institute at Philadelphia, there taking a business course of one year's duration. This he followed with a three years' correspondence course in architecture, a profession in which he progressed rapidly because of certain innate ability and talent. His first position was with his father in the firm of L. D. Lobb & Sons, with whom he remained until 1908, when he determined to enter business independently and came to Llanerch, establishing as E. Oscar Lobb, builder. Being the designer of all of his own houses, he soon gained a reputation for original taste and individuality which created a great demand for his services in the erection of houses in the vicinity. Since starting in busi- ness in Llanerch he has built eighty-six houses, also dealing in real estate in a small way. Mr. Lobb is a valuable member of the Llanerch community and one from whom much may be expected in the future, as he is an indefatigable worker, well-liked, and public-spirited, all qualities and attributes which make for success. He is deeply interested in all political questions and is an ardent supporter of the Progressive party. His church affiliations are Baptist, while his wife is an adherent of the Presbyterian faith. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order, belonging to lodge, chapter, commandery, and shrine . also to the Improved Order of Red Men and the Independent Americans. He is a member of the Shrine Club and the Delaware County Auto Club.
He married, in February, 1902, Rae H. Huntly, born near Berwyn, Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Robert, an engine inspector of the Penn- sylvania railroad, now retired, and Mary Huntly (deceased). Children : Ellen. born July 5, 1904 : Ethel, born May 5, 1906.
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Frederick A. Scheck, a retired carpet and rug manufacturer
SCHECK of Llanerch, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, is a descendant of an honored German family, and has attained an enviable place in industrial and financial circles by reason of his indefatigable energy, close application and great care in the management of the business interests with which he has been connected.
His father, Herman Scheck, was born in Frankfort-on-the-Main, Ger- many, and died in the United States in 1907. He was the recipient of a fine education in his native country and was for a number of years successfully engaged as a teacher. At the age of twenty-eight years he came to America, and immediately crossed the continent, making his home in Sacramento, Cali- fornia, where he was a wholesale and retail provision merchant. After a time, acceding to the request of a favorite sister, he came east and opened a pro- vision shop in Philadelphia, at Frankfort avenue and Adams street, where he was located for a period of nineteen years. He then removed to a nearby location where he engaged in the wholesale business solely, and after having conducted this for seven years, retired permanently from business responsi- bilities. This was eighteen years prior to his death, and after he had amassed a considerable fortune. He was active locally in the interests of the Demo. cratic party, and served three terms as a school director on the Thirty-first Sectional Board. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Red Men. A devoted husband and father, he was of very domestic tastes and found his chief pleasures in the home circle. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Scheck married Pauline Sonneborn, born in Phila- delphia, died in 1910, a daughter of - Sonneborn, a German by birth. and a well known carpet manufacturer of Kensington. They had children: Herman, died young; George, died young; Frederick A., whose name heads this sketch; Etta, married Dr. Randel C. Rosenberger, and resides at No. 2330 North Thirteenth street, Philadelphia; Clara M., unmarried, lives with her sister, Etta; Marie M., married Charles Quigley, and lives at No. 6157 Chestnut street, Philadelphia; Mathilde, married Harry Stephens, and lives at No. 5106 North Tenth street, Philadelphia.
Frederick A. Scheck was born in the Kensington district, Philadelphia, May 27, 1873. Having acquired an excellent and practical education in the public, grammar and high schools of his native city, he was for the next thirteen years, engaged in learning the manufacture of carpets and rugs of all varieties, and mastered this art in every detail. He then established him- self in this line of manufacture, opening one factory at Howard and Palmer streets, and another at Nos. 1710-12-14 North Front street, operated these very successfully for eleven years and then retired from business. He was also the president of the Palruba Manufacturing Company, whose offices were in New York and Philadelphia, but he has sold out these interests. For many years he has been active in political affairs on behalf of the Republi- can party, and has done exceptionally fine work along educational lines. He served two terms as a school director in the Twenty-eighth Sectional Board in Philadelphia.
Mr. Scheck married, June 3, 1896, Laura Mae Moyer, of Reading, Penn- sylvania. They are both members of the Lutheran church. Since October. 1908, Mr. Scheck has lived in Llanerch, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, at No. 321 Davis road, where he has a beautiful home. Mr. Scheck is held in the highest esteem as a public spirited citizen. While he was still at the head of his well paying industry, he not only won prosperity in his trade transac- tions, but he also gained the confidence of those with whom he had dealings, by reason of his strict conformance to the ethics of commercial life.
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A fine example of what may be accomplished by means of well BERNER directed effort and original and methodical business ideas is furnished by John Berner Jr., of Llanerch, Delaware county.
Pennsylvania. The courage and ambition which sustained his father during the trying times of the civil war have been inherited by him in rich measure, and he has been one of the representative men of the county.
John Berner Sr. was born in Wittenberg, Germany. July 30, 1836, and came to the United States in 1863. He at once became a citizen, and enlisted in Company F, Third Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, and served a nine months' term. For some time he was a member of the bodyguard of General Meade, and was an active participant on the last day of the battle of Gettys- burg. After the close of the war he made his home in Philadelphia, where he lived for many years. He had learned the baker's and miller's trades in his native land, and, when he located in Philadelphia, he opened a bakery at Tenth and Sargent streets. At the end of three years he removed to Fourth and Pine streets, where he was in business for a period of thirty-five years. He then retired from active business and removed to Clifton Heights, where he and his wife are still living. He is a man of robust health, having survived the loss of one leg, and is familiarly and affectionately known as "Old Hickory." In political affairs he was formerly a Democrat, but of late years has affiliated with the Republican party. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Berner married. in 1865. Barbara Geckler, born in Wittenberg, Germany. July 7, 1843, who came to the United States with her parents prior to the civil war, and they have had children: Frederick, a con- fectioner in business in Philadelphia ; Elizabeth, married George Chestnut, and lives in Philadelphia : Katherine, unmarried, lives with her parents : John Jr., who is the subject of this sketch : Charles, lives with his parents and is in the employ of the Philadelphia and Western Traction Company.
John (2), son of John (1) and Barbara (Geckler) Berner, was born in Philadelphia, August 27. 1871. He attended the public schools of the fifth ward in Philadelphia. and at a suitable age was apprenticed to learn the baker's and confectioner's trade. After he had acquired this knowledge he went to the West and held a position as a "cow puncher" in Wyoming for a period of three years. This was during the time of the "Rustling" troubles. Upon his return to the East he worked for his father for a time, and then entered the employ .. f A. M. Taylor as a night watchman at Germantown, holding this position nine months, and leaving it in order to accept a position for the same man at North Thirty-second street and Mantua avenue. During the Spanish-American war he was employed by the Midvale Steel Company, then returning to A. M. Taylor, he had charge of Castle Rock Park for five seasons, then conducted this place for himself for one season. During the next four years he had charge of the waiting room at Sixty-third and Market streets, and then es- tablished himself in the junk business. At the expiration of two years he abandoned this in favor of the huckstering business, with which he was also occupied two years, and was then an ice dealer for one year. He then took up huckstering again with which he is identified at the present time, having a well paying route in the suburbs of the city. For many years he has been an active worker in the interests of the Republican party. and served one year as township clerk for the borough of Llanerch. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his fraternal affiliations are with Fern- wood Lodge. Free and Accepted Masons, and University Chapter. Royal Arch Masons. He has lived in Llanerch about thirteen years, and has built a beau- tiful house at No. 300 Coopertown Road.
Mr. Berner married. August 10. 1905. Bertha May, born in Delaware
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