USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume III > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
William (2) Faries, son of William ( I) and Theresa ( Magdalena) Faries, was born at Smyrna, Delaware, August 25. 1848. He was engaged in the mercantile business as a dealer in hardware. His political affiliations were with the Prohibition party, and he served for a time as town and county com- missioner. He was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILD' N FOUNDATIONS.
Gilbert Stubbe Faries
923
DELAWARE COUNTY
Faries married Mary Stubbs, born in Milford, England, November 5, 1849; she is a daughter of James and Harriet Stubbs, the former born in Derby- shire, England, April 13, 1813, the latter born in the same town, December 25, 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Faries had children: Gilbert Stubbs, whose name heads this sketch; Ethel Hall, born February 5, 1890.
Gilbert Stubbs Faries, son of William (2) and Mary (Stubbs) Faries, was born in Smyrna, Delaware, June 29, 1880. He acquired his education in the public schools of his native town and was graduated from the high school in the class of 1896; he then became a pupil at the Goldey Commercial College, from which he was graduated in 1898. His first business position was in the hardware store of his father, and he continued this association for a period of ten years. Removing to Concordville in 1908, he there conducted a fruit and poultry farm for three years, then abandoned this enterprise and purchased the lumber, coal and feed business of J. C. Rhodes & Company, at Chester Heights, in 1911. He has been successfully identified with this undertaking since that time, and it is in a most flourishing condition. He has always had the courage of his convictions in political matters and prefers to form his independent opinions. He is always allied with the Reform element in every inanner, believing that constant progress is at the root of the prosperity of the entire country. He has never sought political preferment, but he has served as postmaster of Chester Heights, this being a civil service appointment. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has gone through all the chairs. He is a member of and a generous contributor to the Crozerville Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Faries married, at Smyrna, April 15, 1908, Bertha James Price, born in Smyrna, Delaware, December 17, 1881. She is a daughter of David James Price, a farmer, now deceased, who made a specialty of fruit growing, and whose wife was Anna Burton ( Pep- per) Price. They had one other child: Harry Wallace Price, deceased. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Faries is: James Price, born January 31, 1912.
NELSON Education and financial assistance are very important factors in achieving success in the business world of to-day, where every faculty must be brought into play, but they are not the main elements. Persistency and determination figure much more prominently and a man possessed of these qualities is bound to win a fair amount of success. Julius Nelson, whose career forms the subject of this article, earned his own education and during the latter years of his life he has climbed to a high place on the ladder of achievement. He is a prominent citizen in Darby, where he has won considerable prestige as a builder and contractor.
Julius Nelson was born in Denmark, October 3, 1870. His great-grand- father was Christian Nelson, a native of Denmark, where his birth occurred in 1745. Nels Nelson Sr., son of Christian Nelson, was born in Denmark in 1797, and his son, Nels Nelson Jr., was born in Denmark, October 21, 1829. The latter was the father of the subject of this review. Nels Nelson Sr. was a tailor by trade and he spent the entire period of his life in his native land, where death called him in the year 1874. His wife, whose Christian name was Mary, passed to eternal rest in 1875. All their children are deceased. In re- ligious faith they were staunch Lutherans. Nels Nelson Jr. was reared to adult age in his native land, where he completed a public school education and where he was graduated in the military college "Altona," as a member of the class of 1853, as a non-commissioned officer. He served as a non-commis- sioned officer in the Denmark army for three years but not during war time. He was a civil engineer by profession and for a period of six years served as
924
DELAWARE COUNTY
county commissioner in his home community. He died in Denmark in 1882, aged fifty-three years. He married Mary Hanson. a daughter of Knudsen Hanson, who was a blacksmith in Denmark, where he died in 1875. They were the parents of ten children, as follows: Mary, deceased; Mary, deceased ; Anna, Mary, Dorothea and Fredericka, all living : Nels, deceased ; Nels, living ; Julius, deceased ; and Julius, the immediate subject of this review. The moth- er of the above children died in Denmark in 18 -.
To the public schools of Denmark, Julius Nelson is indebted for his pre- liminary educational training. At the age of fifteen years he immigrated to the United States, locating in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he subsequently attended the Young Men's Christian Association College, at the corner of Fifteenth and Chestnut streets, graduating therefrom in 1901. Im- mediately after he went across the continent to California, where he learned the trade of carpenter. He returned to Philadelphia in the following year and after a brief sojourn in that metropolis located permanently at Darby, where he has since won distinction as a house builder. He has erected at least one hundred houses in this locality and he has sold all of them except eleven. In 1913 he had six buildings in process of construction. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat, manifesting great interest in all matters projected for the good of the general welfare. As a business man he is reliable and honest and he has many loyal friends in Darby. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Lodge No. 131. Free and Accepted Masons, of Philadelphia, and with Green Hill Lodge, No. 154, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed through all the of- ficial chairs.
September 24. 1902, occurred the marriage of Mr. Nelson to Miss Emma Hanson. who was born in Denmark, in 1875, a daughter of Frederick Hanson, a farmer in the old country, where he passed to the life eternal in 1908. at the venerable age of seventy-two years. The maiden name of Mrs. Nelson's mother was Mary Kofoed and she was born in Denmark in 1845. She is now living with her daughter and son-in-law at Darby. Following are the names of Mrs. Nelson's brothers and sister : Matilda (in Denmark), Christian ( in Aus- tralia), Karl. Fred and John. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have no children. They were reared in the faith of the Protestant Lutheran church and are prominent members of the church of that denomination in Darby.
McCAFFERY The paternal ancestor of Hugh McCaffery, of Chester. Pennsylvania, was also Hugh McCaffery, born in county Cavan, Ireland, in 1808, died there in 1883, a farmer and road contractor. died there 1886. He married Emily Brady, born in county Cavan, in 1813, Children. all born in county Cavan: I. Catherine, born 1838; married Thomas Rooney, who died in 1911; she now (1913) resides at No. 730 Norris street, Philadelphia. 2. John, born 1840, died in Queensland, Australia; a farmer, unmarried. 3. Philip, born 1842. died in Chester, Pennsylvania, March, 1908, unmarried. 4. Elizabeth, born 1843, died in Ireland, in 1905: married Bernard Fitzpatrick, a farmer. 5. Alice, born 1845. married Thomas Donahoe, a farmer, now residing in county Fermanagh, Ireland. 6. Patrick, born 1847. died in Philadelphia. 1899, a railroad contractor. 7. Hugh (2), see forward. 8. James, born 1851, died in Australia, a farmer. 9. Joseph, born 1853. died in Ireland, a grocer. 10. Michael. born 1855: married Miss Mclaughlin and resides on the old home- stead in county Cavan.
Hugh (2), seventh child of Hugh ( 1) and Emily ( Brady) McCaffery, was born in county Cavan, province of Ulster, Ireland, July 18. 1849. He
Hugh Me Caffery
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDA NE
925
DELAWARE COUNTY
attended the neighborhood school kept by Master Cusack until 1863, when he left home and came to the United States. He found a home on a dairy farm at Darby Hill, Delaware county. Pennsylvania, working there eight months, then going to Philadelphia and working for eighteen months as stable boy; after which he apprenticed himself to Theodore Apple, a cooper, with whom he worked four years and seven months, becoming an expert mechanic. He followed his trade as journeyman cooper from 1869 to 1878, at Baker's Sugar Refinery, in Chester. From 1878 to 1880 he was police officer at the Pennsylvania railroad depot in Chester. He then returned to his trade at the Chester Oil Works, continuing until May 14, 1885. He then engaged in the liquor business at Third and Kertin streets, Chester, until 1894, when he pur- chased of Samuel Power, the old American House, then standing on the site of the present elevated station of the Pennsylvania railroad. On April 5 he sold this property to the railroad company, and purchased the large building at No. 616 Edgemont avenue, which he rebuilt, converting it into a modern hotel, naming it the New American House, now one of the leading hotels of Chester. He also built a large garage on the same property, which ranks with the largest and best equipped in the state. He is director of the Consumers Ice Company, the Lanstraugh Cemetery Association, and the Del- aware County Trust Company, all of Chester, and is a trustee of the Penn- sylvania Catholic Benevolent Legion. He is a treasurer of Division No. I, Ancient Order of Hibernians, an office he has held for the past twenty years. He also belongs to Chester Lodge, No. 488, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a member of the Church of the Resurrection (Roman Catholic ) of Chester. In political faith he is a Democrat.
Mr. McCaffery married (first) Mary, born in county Donegal, Ireland, in 1849, died in Chester, June 14, 1903, daughter of John and Ellen McGolrick, both deceased, he in Ireland, she in Chester. He married (second) July 25, 1904, in Philadelphia, Marian Brady, born there February 22, 1883, daughter of Patrick and Catherine ( Kernan) Brady, he a safe manufacturer. Chil- dren of second marriage: Hugh (3), born in Chester, May 31, 1905: Joseph, September 13, 1906.
MARSHALL The Marshall family, worthily represented in the present generation by C. H. Marshall, of Sharon Hill, actively and prominently identified with the varied interests of his com- munity, is an old and honored one, tracing back many generations, members thereof coming over with William Penn, their history being linked with that of the state of Pennsylvania.
(I) John Marshall, the earliest known ancestor of the branch of the fam- ily here under consideration, was born in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, in which section his ancestors settled upon coming to this country. He followed the occupation of farming, bringing his land to a high state of cultivation, and therefore he derived from it a goodly crop. He married (first) Elizabeth Evens, of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and (second) Sarah Bonsall. Among his children was Charles, of whom further.
(II) Charles Marshall, son of John Marshall, was born in Delaware coun- ty, Pennsylvania, was reared and educated there, spent his active career there, which was devoted to farming, and his death occurred there. He was a man of influence in the community, taking an active part in its development. He married Phoebe Swayne, born in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Knoblit) Swayne, both natives of Delaware county,
926
DELAWARE COUNTY
and early members of the Friends' Church. Among their children was John, of whom further.
(III ) John Marshall, son of Charles and Phoebe (Swayne ) Marshall, was born in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1838, died in February, 1903. He obtained a practical education in the subscription schools of his native county. In early life he removed to Breslin, Philadelphia, becoming one of the pioneers of that section, and during his residence there witnessed many changes, the land rapidly being transformed from a wilderness to cul- tivated fields with farmhouses dotted here and there, and later still streets with stores and houses taking the place of the farms. Having been reared to the life of a farmer and inured to that toil, he devoted his attention to it upon assuming the responsibilities of life, and in addition he set fences for the resi- dents of that section, the proceeds from this adding to his income from his agricultural pursuits. He was a Republican in politics. He married, in 1858, Martha Flood, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, daughter of Henry and Lydia (Crise ) Flood, both natives of Philadelphia, and granddaughter of John and Charlotte (Evens) Flood, Friends in religion, both of whom lived to be over ninety years of age, and granddaughter of Joseph and Eliza- beth Crise, Friends in religion, the former named a cooper by trade. Chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall: C. H., of whom further; daughter, mar- ried a Mr. Lepertis; J. H., ex-sheriff of Delaware county ; Isaac and Grant, residents of Delaware county. Mr. Marshall returned to Delaware county prior to his death.
(IV) C. H. Marshall, son of John and Martha ( Flood ) Marshall, was born in Breslin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1860. His parents returned to Delaware county, Pennsylvania, when he was six months old, hence he was reared and educated there, attending the schools of Darby township. He first secured employment as a butcher at the location of Twelfth and Market streets, and there remained until 1887, when he engaged in the coal business at Oak Lane in partnership with his brother, J. H., under the style of Marshall Brothers, and this connection continued until 1898 or 1899, they achieving a large degree of success. The partnership was brought to a termination by C. H. Marshall being elected county commissioner on the Republican ticket ; he served for two terms, a period of six years. His term of office expired in the year 1905, and in the fall of that year he purchased a half interest in the business of John Swayne, the name being then changed to Swayne & Marshall, dealers in coal, feed, lime, etc., and this partnership continued until July, 1907, when Mr. Marshall purchased the interest of his partner and was the sole owner of the business up to September, 1909. when he admitted to partnership Wil- liam J. Pabst, and the business is now conducted under the name of Marshall & Pabst. It is numbered among the leading business firms of that section of the county, the partners being capable men of affairs, conducting their busi- ness along progressive lines and in a straightforward business way, which is certain to bring good results. Prior to his election as county commissioner, Mr. Marshall served as school director of Darby township, his services on the board being of the greatest valne. He holds membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and in Lodge No. 449. Free and Accepted Masons of Philadelphia.
Mr. Marshall married, November 1, 1891, Margaret Coller, and they have children: Harold J. Coller, died aged two years; Lydia. The family are members of the Presbyterian church.
927
DELAWARE COUNTY
JOYCE Among those men who have been actively and prominently iden- tified with the business and farming interests of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, for a number of years, is Thomas N. Joyce, of Edgmont.
Nicholas Joyce, his grandfather, was a native of Ireland, where he also died at an advanced age. He married Mary Welch, who also lived to a ripe old age, and they had fourteen children, of whom the following named came to the United States, and raised families here: John, Austen, Jane, Cather- ine, Patrick, the last mentioned, deceased.
John Joyce, son of Nicholas and Mary (Welch) Joyce, was born in Ireland, and emigrated to this country in 1866, landing in the month of Feb- ruary. He settled on a farm of twenty-eight acres, which he purchased in Radnor township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and is still living there. He married, in February, 1867, Margaret Hagan, born June 24, 1831, and they have had children: Thomas N., see forward; John, who died at the age of twenty-one years.
Thomas N. Joyce, son of John and Margaret (Hagan) Joyce, was born in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, February 12, 1868. He was educated in the public schools of Radnor township, Delaware county, and then commenced to assist his father in the earnest business of life, and in this manner became practically well acquainted with all the details of the work to be done and the responsibilities incurred in the management of a general and dairy farm. At the age of twenty-one years he branched out for himself, and for the next eleven years was engaged in the milk business at Wayne. Upon the death of his father he continued the management of the homestead farm for a time, then sold this property, receiving seven hundred dollars per acre for it, and, in 1900, removed to Philadelphia, where he remained until 1904. In that year he migrated to Edgmont township, where he has resided since that time. He owns his own home in Edgmont, and this is upheld in the best manner. In 1910 Mr. Joyce purchased one hundred and three acres of land in Edgmont, and sold it to advantage two years later. He acquired another farm of like size, which he rents to others, while he occupies a smaller home adjoining his property. While he was in the dairy business he kept a herd of fourteen cows, all fine Ayrshire cattle raised by himself. He is a Democrat in political opinion, while his religious affiliations are with the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Joyce is unmarried.
Davis Gravell, of Gradyville, Edgemont township, Delaware
GRAVELL county, Pennsylvania, descends from ancient English stock, long established in the state. The early history of the family reads like a romance, and is inseparably interwoven with that of Pennsylvania since its founding.
In 1676, William Penn, son of Sir William Penn, of England, with sev- eral associates, obtained from the English Crown, in lieu of sixteen thousand pounds due him by the government from his father's estate, a grant of terri- tory in the new world, since known as Pennsylvania. By royal charter he was made feud proprietor and could settle on it whomsoever he chose. His great desire was to establish a refuge for his co-religionists, who at that time were undergoing harsh persecutions simply because they were members of the religious sect known as Quakers or Friends. In 1680 Penn sailed from Lon- don and joined his colony in Pennsylvania, he having sent the majority of them across the ocean at his own expense. He inaugurated many improvements, among them the laying out of Philadelphia. He returned to England the lat-
928
DELAWARE COUNTY
ter part of 1684, and was instrumental in securing the release from prison of sixteen hundred Quakers, whose only crimes were that they were Quakers. Among the co-religionists released from jail through the interposition of Wil- liam Penn was Edward Grevill, (now written Gravell). After consultation with Penn, Grevill determined to leave for America, where he could worship in his own way. Accompanied by his wife and young family, he sailed, April, 1687, from London, and landed two months thereafter in Philadelphia. He at once turned his attention to farming as the quickest and surest way of earning a support for his family. He was granted a tract of land by special order of Penn, which he cleared, fenced a portion and built thereon a stout log house. Owing to the wise treaty of lasting friendship with the Indians made by Penn in 1683, at Shakumaxon, now Kensington, Pennsylvania, he was enabled to live in peace with his red neighbors during his lifetime, and to farm unmolested. It was not until a generation or so later that the colony began to suffer from Indian hostility, depredations and massacres, during which many of his descendants fell beneath the tomahawk and rifle of the ruthless savages. Edward Grevill reared seven sons and two daughters. His sons farmed in peace, married and reared families, and his daughters married neighboring farmers' sons. His descendants are to-day citizens of Penn- sylvania.
(I) Silas Gravell, a direct descendant of Edward Grevill, was born in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and died in the county of his birth in 1856. He was reared on his father's farm, educated in the common schools and was a member of the Friends' church. Like all of his race, he was sturdy, upright and honorable, a good friend and neighbor. He was a farmer until the day of his death. He married Sarah Thompson, born June 22, 1816, in Dela- ware county, and died there at the advanced age of ninety-three. She was the daughter of Joseph and Sarah Thompson, both of whom were of English descent. Among their children was Davis, of whom further.
( II) Davis Gravell, son of Silas and Sarah (Thompson) Gravell, was born December 26, 1852, in Newtown township, Delaware county, Pennsyl- vania. At the age of four years he suffered the loss of his father, and was reared by his mother on the farm. He received his education in the public schools of Middletown, Pennsylvania, and on leaving began to farm. This he has continued until the present time. He bought, in 1913, nine acres of land on which he does intensive farming profitably. In politics he is indepen- dent, voting for the man he thinks is best suited to fill the position. He is an influential citizen in the community in which he lives, and is highly respected throughout Edgemont township. He married (first) in 1878, Sarah B. Howard, who died in 1909; married (second ) Beulah McCormick, in 1911. Children by second marriage: Mildred, born October 10, 1911; John, Sep- tember 2, 1912.
FRIGAR A man of state-wide reputation, through his professional and
political activity, John Frigar has never held a public office to which a salary was attached. He led the Roosevelt forces in Delaware county during the campaign of 1912, as chairman of the county ex- ecutive committee of the Washington party, working zealously for the success of his chief. An ardent Republican for forty years, he did not hesitate which path to choose when party or principle became the issue. As one of the leaders of the progressive movement in Delaware county, he was brought prominently before the public, which had hitherto known him only as a prominent engineer and business man of unusual ability.
John Figar
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATION8.
929
DELAWARE COUNTY
John Frigar was born at Trenton, New Jersey, October 14, 1853, son of Constantine Frigar, born in Basle, Switzerland, April, 1828. Constantine Fri- gar came to the United States in 1849; lived for a time in Trenton, New Jer- sey, then came to Pennsylvania, spent many years in Delaware county and died in Philadelphia during the year 1900. By trade he was a shoemaker ; in politics a Republican, and in religious faith a Lutheran. He served four years and three months, enlisting in Company K, Twenty-sixth Regiment Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, taking part in twenty-six battles. At the second bat- tle of Bull Run he was wounded, and at Gettysburg received a shot in the hip that lamed him for life.
He married Mary Connor, born in Galway, Ireland, died in Chester, Penn- sylvania, in her sixty-ninth year, daughter of John Connor, a blacksmith, who died in Galway in his eightieth year. Children: John, of whom further; Mich- ael, born in 1856, married, in 1880, Caroline Reed ; Mary, born in 1859, died in 1893, unmarried ; Catherine, born in 1864, married F. Francis McGinnis ; Ed- ward, born 1861, died aged seven years.
Jolın Frigar, eldest son of Constantine and Mary (Connor) Frigar, has been a resident of Delaware county for fifty-seven years, coming when a child of three years. He received his early education in the public schools of Ridley Park, and in early manhood began his engineering work in the shops of Miller & Allen, of Chester, becoming a machinist and a thorough mechanical engineer. He continued his residence in Chester until 1889, when he moved to Boothwyn, where he yet resides. In the year 1887 he became chief engineer and superin- tendent of the Drexel building, Philadelphia, where he still continues, after a service of twenty-five years. He has been identified with several engineering works in the city and state, chiefly in an advisory capacity and with the estab- lishment of electric lighting plants. He was one of the organizers of the Clin- ton Electric Light Company.
In politics Mr. Frigar was forty years a Republican, but broke party shac- kles in 1912, becoming one of the leaders of the progressive movement in Dela- ware county, serving the Washington party with all his zeal, as chairman of the county executive committee. He has always taken a deep interest in the affairs of Delaware county, where his life of uprightness, his sterling manly qualities and fearless championship of the principles he believes in, have won him a legion of friends. His long years in the county, and association with public men and works, have furnished him with an almost inexhaustible fund of information concerning prominent men of the county, while his genial per- sonality makes him a welcome everywhere. His home in Boothwyn is a model country residence, the house built in the English Gothic style, surrounded by spacious, well kept grounds, being one of the handsomest in that section. He is a member of the Masonic order and of several of the engineers' clubs and societies of Philadelphia.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.