USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume III > Part 26
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September 25, 1906, Mr. Drewes married Miss Ada May Lee, who was born at Vineland, New Jersey, and who is a daughter of George L. Lee, a retired resident of Darby. Mrs. Lee, whose maiden name was Rhoda Wool- ford, bore her husband four children: Charles R., Minnie, Dr. Walter E ..
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and Ada May (Mrs. Drewes). She is living in Darby. Mr. and Mrs. Drewes have no children.
Mr. Drewes is prominent in fraternal circles. He is affiliated with Fern- wood Blue Lodge, No. 543, Free and Accepted Masons, of Philadelphia ; Orphans Rest Lodge, No. 132, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Darby Lodge of the Junior Order of American Mechanics; Darby Washington Camp of the Patriotic Order Sons of America; West Philadelphia Lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men; and West Philadelphia Lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a devout member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, as is also his wife. They are prominent in connection with the best social affairs of Darby and their attractive home is noted for its generous hospitality.
BROWNE Among the venerable and representative residents of Oak
View, who risked their lives in defense of the Union during the civil war, is John Trites Browne, born in Lansdowne, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1837, son of Henry and Eliza (Trites) Browne. (I) Browne, the first member of the line here under consideration of whom we have definite information, was a native of New York state, where he was reared and educated. He was a machinist by trade, which line of work he followed throughout the active years of his life, deriving therefrom a lucra- tive livelihood. Late in life he removed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, accom- panied by his five sons, all of whom went west prior to the civil war, one of whom, Isaac Browne, became a Rebel general. The father resided in Philadel- phia for the remainder of his days.
(II) Henry Browne, one of the five sons abovementioned, was born in New York state, in 1810, and died in 1849, at the early age of thirty-nine years. After attaining a suitable age he learned the trade of machinist, which he fol- lowed as a means of support, and for a number of years resided near West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He married Eliza Trites, born in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, 1820, died in 1900, daughter of John Trites, a half-brother of Daniel Boone, a native of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where he lived and died, attaining the venerable age of one hundred and four years. John Trites served in the revolutionary war; he saved up $30,000 in Continental money, which he walled up in his log house, but which later became worthless. He was the owner of a farm near Kingsessing, Pennsylvania. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Browne: John Trites, of whom further; Rebecca, married William Helms, and resides at Tinicum, Pennsylvania ; Eliza, married, and resides at Tinicum; Ellen, married Charles Gliken, and resides at Darby, Pennsylvania. After the death of Mr. Browne his widow married Harvey Horne, by whom she had two children: Phoebe, married, and resides at Philadelphia ; Lewis, a farmer at Tinicum. Mr. and Mrs. Horne resided at Marcus Hook, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where her death occurred at the age of eighty years.
(III) John Trites Browne, only son of Henry and Eliza (Trites) Brown, is self-educated, never having enjoyed the advantage of attending school. When a very young boy he left home and worked for his board at whatever he could find to do, some of his employment being fishing in the Delaware river and shooting river birds during September of each year. In 1860 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was placed on board the United States fri- gate "Sabine," Captain R. B. Lowrie, with a crew of seven hundred. He served for six years on her, and during that time was wounded three times. He be- came sergeant and captain of a great gun, firing a ball that weighed seven hun- dred pounds, and took twenty-five pounds of powder. During the civil war he
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assisted in the taking of Fort Fisher and participated in a number of other battles. After the termination of the war, he left the marine service and at first was employed in Allison's Car Works at West Philadelphia, and three weeks later, having proven his ability as a mechanic, was promoted to the posi- tion of foreman in which capacity he served faithfully for seven years. He then accepted the position of foreman at the Fernwood cemetery, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and filled that responsible position to the satisfaction of all concerned for thirty-five years, having under his personal supervision twen- ty men, all of whom honored and respected him for his fair and impartial treat- ment of them. Having accumulated considerable capital during his years of active service, he erected a substantial house at Oak View, wherein he resided, active service, he erected a substantial house at Oak View, wherein he resided. He is now a resident of Drexel Hill. He is also the owner of other houses, from which he derives an income, and of other valuable real estate. He takes a keen interest in politics, but is not an office seeker ; is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Browne married, in September, 1860, Anna Louisa Freyburg, born in Kingsessing, Pennsylvania, died in 1898. Children: 1. Anna, married Arthur Brown; resides at Media, Pennsylvania. 2. Eliza, married Charles Drewes, owner of a bakery in Darby, Pennsylvania.
The Watt family has been established in the state of Pennsylvania
WATT for a number of years, and came to this country from Ireland, bringing with them the thrifty habits which are characteristic of those who come from that land.
John Watt, the first of whom we have record, was of county Fawn. Ireland.
John (2) Watt, son of John (1) Watt, was born in county Fawn, and his entire life was spent in his native land. He was twice married, his second wife being Mary Ann, daughter of James Rankin, of county Boncrannon, Ireland. Children of first marriage: I. Robert, a night watchman in Phila- delphia ; married Tillie McCartel and has seven children. 2. Mary, died unmarried. Children by second marriage: 3. Samuel George, see forward. 4. John, married, and has five children living, one dead; engaged in the gro- cery business at Fifty-fourth and Webster streets in West Philadelphia. 5. James, married, wife dead, no children; lives retired from business in Cam- den, New Jersey. 6. David, unmarried, died in 1913; lived in retirement in Delaware. 7. Joseph, unmarried, lived in Ireland; he came here about four years ago and still lives here. 8. Elizabeth, married George Brown and has two children. 9. Alexander, married a Miss Chambers, has no children. 10. Annie, married William Bogg, has no children. James Rankin lived and died in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and served as a soldier during the civil war.
Samuel George Watt, son of John (2) and Mary Ann (Rankin) Watt, was born in county Donegal, Ireland, August 12, 1851, and died November 6, 1907. He obtained his education in his native land, and at about the age of eighteen years emigrated to the United States, and commenced working on a farm in Haverford township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania. For some time he continued this occupation and, being of a thrifty and industrious nature, he rapidly acquired a practical knowledge of the manner of transacting business and managing a farm in this country, and it was not a very long time before he had amassed a sufficient sum of money to enable him to purchase a milk business of his own. At this time he came to Upper Darby, and has continued in this business up to the present time. His reliability is best attested
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by the fact that many of the people who were among his first customers retained that relation for many years. In 1886 he purchased the farm of twenty acres owned by John Smith, and this he converted into a model dairy farm. The same honest and up-to-date methods which characterized his conduct of his business from the start were carried into effect with the most satisfactory results. In political matters he was a Republican, and he gave his staunch sup- port to the party with which he was allied. His religious belief was that of the Presbyterian denomintaion and he was a most generous donor to the church and its missions.
Mr. Watt married ( first ) Caroline Transue, born in Bucks county, Penn- sylvania, who died in 1892. He married (second) Jennie, daughter of Joseph W. and Elizabeth ( Hancock ) Warwick, the former of Delaware county, Penn- sylvania. Children of first marriage: Elwood Samuel, see forward; Syl- vester G., unmarried, is a blacksmith in Chester county, Pennsylvania; Mary, married Walter C. Ferry; Bertha. Children of second marriage: William H. and Jennie.
Elwood Samuel Watt, son of Samuel George and Caroline (Transue) Watt, was born in Haverford township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1885. When he was about one year of age his parents removed to Upper Darby township, and after passing through the grammar schools he became a student at the Lansdowne High School, which he left at the age of fifteen years. He then became the assistant of his father in the conduct of the dairy farm, and in this manner obtained a thorough and practical working knowledge of this entire business. Finally he purchased his father's milk route, and after operating this for a period of five years, decided to go west and see something of the country of his birth. One and a half years were spent away from his home, the greater part of this time being passed in and near Los Angeles, California. He returned to Delaware county in May, 1909, with a fund of valuable experience. In June, 1912, he located on the home farm, where he is still following dairy farming with a marked degree of suc- cess. He gives his active support to the Republican party, and he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Watt married, June 14, 1911, Eva Shoester, born at Millbank. Pennsylvania, (see Shoester forward), and they had one child: Ronald, who died at birth, April 19, 1912.
Leonard Shoester, great-grandfather of Mrs. Watt, was of German des- cent and lived in Upper Darby township. He was a carpet weaver and quilt maker by trade, and employed six assistants in his carpet weaving, which was a large number for that time and section. He served as a soldier during the Revolutionary war. He married Sarah Hayes, who was a member of the Society of Friends.
Jacob Shoester, son of Leonard and Sarah ( Hayes) Shoester, was born in Upper Darby township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, 1801, and died in 1876. He was a supervisor on the Delaware county roads for a number of years, and served for a long time as school director and tax collector. He was a Whig when that party was in existence, then joined the ranks of the Republican party upon its organization. Farming was his principal occupa- tion. He married Phoebe Smith, born in Philadelphia, died in 1889. She was a daughter of William and Lydia Smith, who were the owners of a dairy farm in West Philadelphia. They were members of the Society of Friends, while Mrs. Shoester was a Baptist. Jacob and Phoebe (Smith) Shoester had children : Mary, deceased, married William Watkin; Elizabeth, unmarried, lives with Mr. George J. Shoester; Phoebe, married William Watkin after the death of her sister; George Jacob, see forward; John, Lydia and Sarah, died in childhood of scarlet fever.
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George Jacob Shoester, son of Jacob and Phoebe ( Smith) Shoester, was born in Keystone, Upper Darby township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1848. He attended the public schools and at the age of four- teen years he was apprenticed to learn the miller's trade, under William Wat- kin. At the expiration of three years he went to Powell & Hansell, at Lans- downe, with whom he remained three years, then, for another three years was clerk in the general store of N. J. Reed, in Haver ford, Pennsylvania. By this time he had accumulated a considerable capital and established himself in the milk business with which he was identified for a period of eleven years. He then sold this and went to Chester county, where he was the manager of the Cochranville Hotel for one year, then returned to Upper Darby, Penn- sylvania, and was employed in the flour and feed establishment of V. E. Bonds for three years. He then opened a general store in Keystone, which he con- ducted very successfully for fifteen years, when he sold it and became shipper and receiver for the firm of I. T. Shick & Son, manufacturers and importers of millinery goods at West Philadelphia. Mr. Shoester bought a house at Key- stone in 1890 and still resides there. He is a Republican, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Junior Order of American Mechanics and Fernwood Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. He married, March 19, 1879, Elizabeth, born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, died March 21, 1911. daughter of Leedom and Sabina Kirk, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, where the former was a merchant and farmer, but now retired. Children: Emma, married Ernest Shick, lives in Highland Park: Jane, married Louis Cobler, resides in Philadelphia: Eva. see forward: Myrtle, unmarried; Blanch, unmarried. The two last mentioned live with their father.
Eva, daughter of George Jacob and Elizabeth ( Kirk) Shoester, mar- ried Elwood Samuel Watt ( see Watt ).
DRAYTON The career of the late George Drayton, of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, is one which furnishes much food for thought. At the time of his death he was one of the leading financiers of his section of the country, having risen to this eminent position solely by his own unaided efforts. His popularity and splendid reputation were won by be- ginning his business career as an upright man with no false pretenses, and continuing in that path throughout all the years of his long life. He was en- dowed in an unusual degree with the ability to recognize opportunities when they presented themselves, and of making the best possible use of them.
His father, John Drayton. was a son of George Drayton, a contractor and builder in England. John Drayton came to America in 1820. He was a maker of ladies' shoes by trade, and, settling in Philadelphia, he became foreman in the shop of De Grasse and Samuel Beans, and held this position until his death in February, 1832. He had married, in England, Harriet Bullivant, who came to America in 1820, with their only child, George, and died in 1823.
George Drayton was born in Hibblestow, near Brigg. Lincolnshire. Eng- land, April 9, 1818, and died at Chester Heights, May 14, 1909. He was two years of age when he was brought to this country by his mother, so that in everything but the actual fact of birth he was an American. From his sixth to his tenth year he attended the schools in Philadelphia, which at that time had not reached the degree of excellence they have at the present day, and at the last mentioned age he was sent to Richard Fimple, a farmer in Marple town- ship, where he remained until the age of sixteen years. For the services he rendered during this time he received his board and clothing, and he had the privilege of attending school for two months in each of three winters. It may
GeoDrayton
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very fairly be stated that Mr. Drayton was a self-educated man. He then found employment on the farm of Jehu Jones, who paid him five dollars per month during the summer, and in the winter months allowed him his board, for which he was obliged to care for twelve cows and three horses, and cut suffi- cient wood to supply the family needs. He remained with Mr. Jones two years, during this time attending school three months every winter, and paying for his tuition himself. David Worrell was his employer during the next three years, and he paid him ten dollars a month for his work on the farm. At the end of the first year he took charge of the farm of Mr. Kenny, where Lans- downe is now located, received eleven dollars a month, and held this position until his marriage. His course was a continuous but gradually upward one. After settling near Springfield Meeting House, Mr. Drayton found employment on the farm of his former employer, Jehu Jones, and morning and night walked the two miles which lay between that farm and his home. He entered the en- ploy of James Ogden in 1846, receiving fifteen dollars a month, on which he supported his wife and two children, and also managed to lay aside a little from time to time. Two years were spent in the employ of George B. Lownes, after which he took charge of the farm of Christopher Fallon, being the sole man- ager for a period of nine years. During this time he superintended the erec- tion of the buildings on the place in addition to giving all other details his at- tention. He bought his first land property, "The Acres," this being the farm now owned by Mr. Farnum. He next purchased the "Mendenhall place," and was a farmer, trader, auctioneer and engaged in the real estate business. With all these varied interests he became a man of considerable importance in the community, laid out the town of South Media, and became the owner of real estate on Chestnut street, Philadelphia. He opened an office there for the trans- action of coal and lumber and was very successful in this enterprise. Chester Heights was the next scene of his business activity, as the coal and lumber yards he opened there were a success from the very outset. He was obliged to withdraw from this last venture in 1887, owing to the multitude of other business interests which claimed his attention. At the outbreak of the civil war Mr. Drayton was appointed marshal to take the roll of Concord township. and when President Lincoln issued his second call for troops, he at once en- usted in Captain B. T. Green's Delaware County Guards, was made quarter- master-sergeant of his regiment, was engaged in guard or patrol duty at Read- ing, Pennsylvania, and served in this capacity until his term of enlistment had expired.
In the world of finance the record of Mr. Drayton was also a notable one. He was one of the organizers of the Media Title and Trust Company, incor- porated under the laws of the state of Pennsylvania, January 15, 1891 ; was president of the company many years, and under his careful management it became one of the financial strongholds of the county. It engages in general trust business, deals in real estate, makes loans, receives deposits on interest, and attends to the general run of business of institutions of its kind. Mr. Dray- ton was also one of the organizers, and the first president, of the Charter National Bank of Media, which was opened in April, 1887. He served as pres- ident of this institution until January, 1894, at which time he positively de- clined re-election. For many years Mr. Drayton was a staunch supporter of Whig principles, his first presidential vote being cast for William Henry Har- rison. Subsequently he joined the Republican ranks, and was then for a num- ber of years affiliated with the Prohibition party. He was elected county com- missioner in 1863, serving three years. In 1891 he was the candidate for state treasurer for the Prohibition party, and in Philadelphia received the highest vote cast for any candidate for congress of the party for that year. He was a
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member of Bradbury Post, No. 149, Grand Army of the Republic. He was an active member of the Baptist church, and assisted generously in the erection of the church of that denomination at Brandywine. He was a lifelong and total abstainer from intoxicating drinks, and never used tobacco in any form.
Mr. Drayton married (first) January 29, 1840, Judith Flounders, who died November 1, 1890, a daughter of James Flounders, of Springfield. He mar- ried (second) February 22, 1898, Lottie, a daughter of Thomas W. Johnson, of Concord township. Children, all by first marriage: I. Elizabeth, married the late Smith Sharpless, and had one child: May, married Perry C. Clark, had children : Helen and Ethel; Ethel married George T. Parsons. 2. Han- nah, unmarried, died in 1898. 3. John, died at the age of five years.
On April 9, 1898, Mr. Drayton was the honored guest upon a remarkable occasion. On the evening of that day about one hundred and fifty prominent men-clergymen, judges, legislators, lawyers, bankers, editors, physicians, mer- chants and public officials-tendered him a banquet at the Media Club House. It was a splendid tribute to a noble life, and was an occasion without a counter- part within the history of the county, perhaps of the state. The floral and flag decorations were of great beauty, and conspicuously placed was a portrait of the honored guest, wreathed in the national colors. An orchestra from Phila- delphia entertained with well chosen selections at intervals during the evening, a bounteous banquet was served, and appropriate addresses made. Horace P. Green, as toastmaster, in his opening address, made a summary of the life work of Mr. Drayton, saying in part : "Whatever he has undertaken to do, he has tried with all his heart to do well, and his whole life has been characterized by the most thorough, sincere earnestness." Captain Isaac Johnson said: "His object was to benefit his fellow man. Many a poor fellow on his downward road has been halted and turned back in the right way by George Drayton." Ex-Senator Cooper said of him: "His motto was to do right under all cir- cumstances." John B. Rhodes said : "His life has been a pure and open one." Remarks of some similar character were made by V. Gilpin Robinson, Profes- sor Joseph Shortlidge and Samuel Greenwood. Dr. George W. Smith, of Philadelphia, read an original poem on "Our Honored Guest," in which the entire career of Mr. Drayton was agreeably reviewed, and ended with the fol- lowing lines :
"A county that can proudly boas1 Of great names all along its line. And high among this honored host George Drayton's name shall ever shine."
Mr. Drayton, in replying to these numerous flattering addresses said: "I don't think I deserve any great credit. I owed it to my God and my fellow man. to do what was right." The simplicity of these few words and the sentiment they express, were characteristic of the entire man. It was a principle which guided him in every relation of life, and one from which he never deviated, even under the most trying financial conditions. His example is one which must of necessity be of wide spread and lasting influence, and it is to such men that the prosperity and reputation of our country is due.
The forbears of Dr. C. Irvin Stiteler, both paternal and mater- STITELER nal, were early comers to the province of Pennsylvania. The family seat was in Upper Uwchland township, Chester county, the emigrant Stiteler coming from Germany. The Benners came from Wales prior to 1700, also settling in L'pper Uwchland township. The Stitelers are also connected with the family of Pennypacker, and on October 18, 1877 ..
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many of them were in the train wreck at Kimberton returning from a family reunion, when eight were killed and a number injured.
Henry Stiteler, son of George Stiteler, was born in Upper Uwchland township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1807, died in West Vincent town- ship, same county, in March, 1887. He grew to manhood at the home farm and became a farmer of his native township, continuing there until he attained the age of sixty years, then moving to West Vincent, his home for twenty' years. He was a deacon of the Baptist church, and in politics a Whig, later a Republican. He married Penninah Benner, born in Chester county, in' 1810, died in West Vincent township in 1888; children: George R., a farmer of West Pikeland township, died in 1911; Anna, married Jesse Orr, of Read- ing, now deceased, a member of the Orr Painter Stove Works Company, and she survives him, a resident of Reading; Sarah, died in Upper Uwchland, in 1912, married Jacob H. Dewees, now a retired farmer and director of the Phoenixville National Bank: William H., a veteran of the civil war, died in 1913, in Chester Springs, a retired farmer; Mary, married William Mock, a farmer of Chester county, whom she survives a resident of West Vincent township; John and Henry, died in infancy; Elizabeth, now residing in Read- ing, Pennsylvania, unmarried; I. Newton, A. M. F., now residing in Uwch- land, a dealer in coal and lumber.
I. Newton Stiteler, son of Henry and Penninah (Benner) Stiteler, born April 11, 1850, is now a resident of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania. He is a farmer and mill owner, a deacon of the Vincent Baptist church since 1887, succeeding his father in that office: superintendent of the Sunday school for over thirty years ; a Republican in politics, and past noble grand of Lionville Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married Catherine R. Lat- shaw, born in Chester Springs, May 19, 1851, daughter of Jacob and Ann (Pennypacker ) Latshaw, both deceased, he a farmer of West Pikeland town- ship all his life. Children: 1. J. Harry, born September II, 1875; now treasurer of the Orr & Sembower Engine and Boiler Works Company. He married Susan Kutz and resides in Reading. One son, I. Newton Stiteler Jr., born 1901. 2. C. Irvin (see forward).
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