USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume III > Part 32
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Garrett Lewis Woodward, father of Frank J. Woodward, of Media, was born July 18, 1845, at Kennett Square, Chester county, Pennsylvania, died August 12, 1896. He was educated in the public schools and grew to man- hood on the farm. He later located in Lima, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where for twenty-five years he engaged in the meat business, living retired during his latter years. He was a Democrat in politics, filling various town- ship offices. Both he and his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Eliza Jobson, born February 16, 1856, at Lima, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, who still survives him. Children: Frank J., see forward ; Anna Louisa, married Isaac C. Snyder and resides in Media : Harold E., also residing in Media.
Dr. Frank J. Woodward, eldest son of Garrett Lewis and Eliza (Jobson) Woodward, was born in Lima, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, May 13, 1876. He was educated in the public schools and Palm's Business College, Philadel- phia. He entered the veterinary department of the University of Pennsyl- ,ania, whence he was graduated in June, 1901, remaining in Philadelphia six months after graduating, then locating as a veterinary surgeon at Malvern, Chester county, practicing his profession there for three years, most success- fully. He then accepted the appointment as veterinary surgeon at Glen Mills Reform School, remaining four years. In 1909 he came to Media succeeding to the practice of Dr. Thomas D. Young, who died in 1908. Dr. Woodward, however, retaining his position as visiting veterinarian at the reformatory to the present time. He has been very successful as a veterinarian and at his hospital in Media treats all animal cases of both surgical and dental nature. His practice is very large, extending over a vast extent of territory surround- ing Media. He is thoroughly reliable in his dealings and has won the entire confidence of the farmers and stock owners of the county. He is a member of the Keystone Veterinary Medical Society, the Veterinary Alumni and General Alumni Societies. University of Pennsylvania, and the National Vet- erinary Society, keeping thoroughly abreast of all medical discovery in treat -. ment of diseases of the horse. He has always been an active, loyal Republican, a worker for party success, but never seeking or accepting office for himself. In religious faith he is a Methodist, both he and his family being active work- ers in both church and Sunday school.
Dr. Woodward marricd, June 7, 1899, Ida M., daughter of Peter and Bar- bara Pratt, of Lima, Delaware county, Pennsylvania. Children : Clarence, Ida M., Phineas, Iradel. Edna. Clifford. The family home is at No. 20 West Washington street, Media, where Dr. Woodward also has his office.
FEMordwang
TAR NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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The only son of his parents and of the first American born
NELSON generation of his family, Mr. William H. Nelson has so entirely absorbed the spirit of energetic progress, that characterize this country, that he has outstripped competitors and is at the head of the largest private grocery business in Chester.
His father, Joseph Nelson, was born near Belfast, Ireland, in 1816, died in Chester in 1899. He was brought to the United States in 1822 by four elder brothers-William, James, John and another, all settling in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Joseph Nelson became a provision merchant, but later in life purchased a farm in Lancaster county, which he successfully cultivated until 1891, when he retired, and lived in Chester until his death. He was an active Democrat and a devoted member of the Belle View Presbyterian Church at Gap, Pennsylvania. He was an excellent business man and held in high esteem for his upright, manly life. He married Margaret Lytle, born in Lan- caster county, in 1815, died in Chester in 1891, a descendant of a family of French Huguenots. Children: Martha, died at Gap, Pennsylvania, 1883, married Newton Trout, also deceased, leaving a son, Nelson, now a clerk with the Pennsylvania Steel Casting Company of Chester; Anna, married Harry Kurtz, of Salisbury township, now a retired farmer living in Gap; Elizabeth, died in infancy: Sarah, now residing with her sister, Anna, unmar- ried ; Josephine, married J. Milton Slack, a grocer, deceased without issue, she resides in Gap; William H., see forward.
William H. Nelson, only son and youngest child of Joseph Nelson, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1852. He attended the public schools of his district and Parksburg Academy, finishing his studies at Millersville State Normal School in 1872. He taught school for two years in Salisbury township, Lancaster county, but a business life so strongly appealed that he gave up teaching and in 1875 he moved to Chester, becoming clerk in the grocery store owned by his brother-in-law. J. Milton Slack. He remained with Mr. Slack two years, then in 1877 formed a partnership with Simeon Lantz, and for two years they operated as Lantz & Nelson. In 1879 he opened a store of his own at Third and Pennell streets, Chester, but later was manager for Mrs. J. C. Slack at her store, Second and Fulton streets, continuing until 1890. He then opened the store at No. 427 West Third street, where he now conducts one of the largest and most prosperous grocery stores in the city. He has thoroughly mastered the problems involved in catering to the public appetite, and by the excellence of his goods and his square dealing methods, has established a bond of confidence that assures him continued prosperity. He is president of the Chester Grocers' Association, organized in 1887 as the Busi- ness Men's Association, but in 1902, the name was changed to the Grocers' Association, and Mr. Nelson elected president. The object of the association is co-operative buying, they having a large store house at No. 126 West Third street. Mr. Nelson has devoted a great deal of time to this association and as president has put forth his wisest effort to have it prove a benefit to its mem- bers. In this he has succeeded so well that he has been kept continuously in office. His interest in co-operation carries him beyond local limits, and he is perhaps the best known retail grocer in the state. He is treasurer of the Re- tailers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Pennsylvania; treasurer of the Retail Merchants' Association of Pennsylvania, and treasurer of the Penn- sylvania Merchants' Trade Paper, published at Erie, Pennsylvania. He is held in highest esteem by his brother merchants of these associations as well as by the merchants of Chester; and his fellow townsmen. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and for sixteen years has been an elder of the First Church of Chester. He is a member of the Penn Club of Chester and is a
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Democrat in politics, actively interested in all that concerns the public good.
Mr. Nelson married April 15, 1880. in Cape May, New Jersey, Sarah B. Marcy, daughter of Dr. V. M. D. Marcy, an eminent physician of Cape May county, and his wife, Mary Bennett, both deceased. Children: Joseph, born May 20, 1881, graduate of Pennsylvania State College, now an electrical engineer with J. G. White & Company, New York City; Mary J., born May 12, 1883, graduate of Chester High School, residing at home; William H. (2), born February 17, 1890, graduate of Pennsylvania State College, now a civil engineer with J. G. White & Company, New York; Margaret A., born July 18, 1892, graduate of Chester High School, residing with her parents. The family home is in Chester at No. 222 West Second street.
FITZGERALD A man's reputation is the property of the world. The laws of nature have forbidden isolation. Every human being submits to the controlling influence of others or, as a mas- ter spirit, wields a power, either for good or evil, on the masses of mankind. There can be no impropriety in justly scanning the acts of any man as they affect his public and business relations. If he is honest and eminent in his chosen field of labor, investigation will brighten his fame and point the path that many others may follow with like success. From among the ranks of quiet, persevering citizens, there is no one more deserving of mention in a work of this kind than William John Fitzgerald, of Ardmore, Haverford township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania.
His great-grandfather, Charles Fitzgerald, was born near Glasgow, Scot- land, and went to Ireland to purchase horses for the English army. He took with him his son, John Fitzgerald, and they traversed nine counties of Ireland in order to make their purchases in the most satisfactory and profitable manner.
John Fitzgerald was very much pleased with conditions in Ireland and with the country in general and decided to make his home there. He settled in the parish of Pratla. County Clare, Ireland, and, coming to America in 1840, died in this country and is buried in the graveyard of St. Mary's Church, in Philadelphia. He married Margaret Scanlon, born in Belfast, Ireland, and had children : John, see forward : Charles and Michael, deceased, went to Cal- ifornia during the "gold fever" of 1849: Catherine, married John Scanlon ; Mary, married John Quigley : Alice, married Charles C. Barry ; Elizabeth, died unmarried.
John Fitzgerald was born in Chicago, Illinois, January 2, 1814, died in 1898. For a time he was connected with Gilliman & Company, liquor dealers, then formed an association with the Hamilton Dray Company which later be- came the Adams Express Company of Philadelphia. He also had charge of all the stevedoring on the Delaware piers and docks for many years. At the time of the civil war he was appointed first assistant inspector in the United States Tobacco warehouse. Soon after the close of the civil war he lost the greater part of his large fortune in unfortunate investments in the oil fields. He was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party when he joined its ranks. In religious belief he was a Roman Catholic. He married (first) - Brady, by whom he had children : Michael, died at the age of forty -- six years: Patrick, died at the age of twenty-four. He married (second ) Mary B. Lee, born in Salisbury, Maryland, 1825, died in 1903. She was the- daughter of Charles B. and Catherine (Robeson) Lee, the latter born in Vir- ginia. Charles B. Lee was a native of England. and came to this country prior to his marriage. He lived at Salisbury, Maryland, where he was a farmer and planter, and he served bravely during the Indian wars. The children of Charles.
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B. and Catherine (Robeson) Lee were: Charles, deceased, lived in Chicago; Patrick, deceased, lived in Philadelphia; Mary B., who married Mr. Fitzger- ald ; Ann, married Flood; Catherine, married John Hearon; Mary, married Campbell. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald had children: William John, the particular subject of this sketch; Margaret, now Sister Mary Rose of the Kearney Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Mary, married William Barry, and lives at No. 1414 Harrison street, Franklin, Pennsylvania; Catherine, died at the age of twenty-one years; Elizabeth, lived to attain the age of nineteen years.
William John Fitzgerald was born at Byberry, Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, February 7, 1864. He attended school at his native town, then the pri- vate school at Andalusia, and subsequently the Academy School at Holmes- burg, Philadelphia. He was about to enter Villanova College, when the financial reverses of his father rendered this proceeding impossible, and Mr. Fitzgerald was obliged to abandon his studies. At this time he was eighteen years of age and he at once went to the home farm and assisted actively in its cultivation for a time. His subsequent business connections were as follows : In the nursery business of Ball Brothers at Holmesburg; gardener for Dr. Caleb Horner at Bryn Mawr, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania ; gardener for R. B. Allison for four years ; for a short time manager for H. H. Harrison at Glenside, having full charge of the estate; gardener for Colonel A. McClure, at Wallingford; again with Dr. Horner at Bryn Mayr; and since the past five years he has been a salesman for a varnish company. His home is at No. 303 Cricket avenue, Ardmore. He takes an active part in local political affairs, af- filiating with the Republican party. His religious connection is with St. Den- nis Catholic Church, at Oakmont, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Tem- perance A. B. Society, and has never taken alcoholic stimulants. He is a char- ter member of the I. C. B. U. of Villanova, a Catholic society.
Mr. Fitzgerald married, January 15, 1884, Mary Josephine, born in Dov- er, Delaware, a daughter of John and Bridget McCaffrey, the former a farmer in his younger years, later superintendent of a section on the Western Mary- land railroad, on which he was injured and died. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald had children : John, married Mamie Donnelly, and resides in Media, Delaware county. Pennsylvania ; Mary, A. McClure, Helen, Marjorie.
BREWSTER Among the many institutions that have been planned and are operated for the benefit of "God's unfortunates" is the school in Lansdowne, known as "The Brookwood School," established by Miss Rachel Wood Brewster, for the care and development of backward children. Fitted both by nature, education and experience for her peculiar field of usefulness, Miss Brewster, with the aid of three resident and one visiting teacher, employs all modern thought in the development of back- ward minds, and accomplishes results little short of marvelous. Owing to the peculiar character of her school, but a small number of children can be accommodated and all vacancies are promptly filled by those parents with ample means to give their child the great advantage of instruction in "Brookwood."
Miss Brewster is the daughter of Robert C. Brewster, born at Woodbridge, New Jersey, in 1835, who for many years was treasurer of the Fifth and Sixth Streets Passenger Railway of Philadelphia, now one of the lines owned by the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company. He married Elizabeth Perrine, born in New Jersey, in 1838, died in 1908. Mr. Brewster now resides in Williams- port, Pennsylvania. Miss Brewster has six sisters: Charlotte, married C. B. Jordan, a civil engineer of Upper Darby township, Delaware county, Pennsyl-
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vania ; Sarah, married H. P. Lincoln, superintendent of the Williamsport divi- sion of the Northern Central railroad and resides in Williamsport, she is pres- ident of the Williamsport Young Women's Christian Association and an ac- tive member of the Patriotic Order Daughters of the American Revolution ; Anna, deceased ; Roberta, principal of the Kindergarten School in Lansdowne ; Jessie, married William C. Schuster, a contractor and builder of Lansdowne ; Edith, married F. Evans, a practicing lawyer of Lansdowne.
The Brewster genealogy of this family traces far into the past and in America to Elder William Brewster, of the earliest Massachusetts settlement.
Rachel Wood Brewster, fourth daughter of Robert C. and Elizabeth ( Per- rine) Brewster, was born in Vineland, New Jersey, but from the age of three years until age of twenty lived in Rahway, New Jersey, which was the home of her parents during that time. She received a thoroughly practical education and after eight years connection as a teacher with the Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble Minded Children, in Delaware county, and believing the de- velopment of such children to be a work worthy of her highest effort, estab- lished "The Brookwood School" on Shadeland avenue, Lansdowne, where she still continues her labor of sacrifice and duty. She has adopted the methods of Montessorri, the talented Italian woman of the present day, and employs only the best proven methods of other noted educators, endorsed by her own experience, theory and practice. The school, though comparatively small, is surrounded by seven acres of fertile land that supply the needed vegetable food and furnish an outlet for the surplus energy of the pupils and the required out-door exercise. The heated summer months are usually spent by the school at some quiet spot at the seashore, where suitable quarters are secured. While some children have been with Miss Brewster for the past ten years and always will be, many have left "Brookwood" greatly forwarded and able to take their place in the world.
BERMAN In 1890 from far away Russia came Jacob Berman, son of Maurice Berman, who was born and died in Russia, an edu- cated Hebrew of talent and ability.
Jacob Berman was born in Russia (Kave) in August, 1858. He came to the United States in 1800. settling in Philadelphia where for the past twelve years he has been successfully engaged in the real estate business. He is a noted Hebrew scholar, fully and legally authorized to preside as Rabbi. He is an Independent in politics and a true follower of the Jewish faith. He mar- ried Sarah Raboy, born in Russia, where she was finely educated, daughter of Moses Raboy, who, prior to his decease, was recognized by the Russian gov- ernment as a leader of his people and bestowed upon him official honors. His wife, Zeporah, is also deceased. Children: Albert, a wholesale clothier of Philadelphia, married Gertrude Silver and has children Paritz and Nina ; Esther, graduate of Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, married Solomon Rivales, a highly educated scientist, won an important scholarship at the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania. also a gold medal for excellence. is one of the fore- most chemists of this country and is a registered manager of pharmacy in nineteen states : Frank, of whom further : Rose, resides in Philadelphia : Louis J .. a traveling salesman of New York City: Maurice, graduate of National Farms School : Maime, a student in Chester high school.
Frank, son of Jacob and Sarah (Raboy) Berman, was born in Kave, Rus- sia, March 4. 1883. At nine years of age he came to the United States to join his father who had preceded his family by two years. His education be- gan in Russia, was in both the Hebrew and Russian languages and in Philadel-
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phia was continued in English. He began business life as a clerk in a dry goods store in Philadelphia, continuing until 1899. He then for two years was traveling salesman for the Gilt Edge Company of Philadelphia, then for two years under the firm name of J. Berman & Sons, engaged in the manufac- ture of clothing in Philadelphia. In 1903 he withdrew and for the next six years was salesman and collector in Chester. In 1909 he established a store- at the corner of Third street and Edgmont, moving the following April to No. 37 West Third street, Chester, where he has a large store devoted to ladies and men's automobile accessories, also house furniture, being a large and suc- cessful dealer in these lines. In politics, Mr. Berman is an independent Re- publican and in religion an orthodox follower of the faith of his fathers. He is a member of the Masonic Order, holding the thirty-second degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Philadelphia Consistory; member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Chester ; the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, Philadelphia, and Chester Lodge, Loyal Order of Moose and to the Brith Sholan of Chester.
He married November 20, 1910, in Philadelphia, Zaida Askins, of that city ; child, Johanna Goldy, born November 7, 1911.
SHARKEY The prosperity of a community or a nation depends not so much upon the achievements of the few who attain exalted positions, as upon those who carry on the everyday operations of life, and carry them on in a methodical and successful manner. This has been done in an especially excellent manner by the various members of the Sharkey family of which this review treats. They came to this country origi- nally from Ireland, and brought with them the best traits of the natives of that land of industry and thrift.
(I) Daniel Sharkey was born in county Donegal, Ireland, 1833, and died in America, April 9, 1885. His sisters and brothers, all of whom came to Amer- ica and lived in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, were: Frederick; James ; Harry; Edward; Bernard, now an attorney in Philadelphia; William, a book- keeper ; and Nancy. Daniel Sharkey came to America as a young man, and his first occupation in this country was to work in the provision business of Robert Smith, in Lansdowne, Delaware county, Pennsylvania. Energetic and industrious he amassed a considerable fortune, and purchased a farm of sixty- eight acres in Upper Darby township, which is now known as Drexel Heights,. and spent the remainder of his life on this farm. He was an active member of St. Charles Catholic Church. He also owned and operated a spinning mill at Clifton, Pennsylvania. Small in stature, but of a sturdy, wiry build, it is a remarkable fact that all of his sons were more than six feet in height. He- married Mary Ellen Hannigan, born in Kellyville, Delaware county, Pennsyl- vania, 1840, died December 4, 1898. She was a daughter of Philip and Ellen Hannigan, both natives of Ireland, who came to Delaware county, Pennsyl- vania, about 1840, and located in Kellyville, where he died about 1853. In ad- dition to Mrs. Sharkey they had children, all now deceased : John, William, Nancy, Susan. Mr. and Mrs. Sharkey had children: Anna, Maggie, Ella, Anna, and another daughter, all died at a very early age: Frederick. deceased ; Daniel, lives in Altoona, Pennsylvania : John, died at the age of eight years; Samuel, is a carpenter and lives in East Lansdowne; Frank, lives in Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania; Milner, holds a position in the post office in Philadel- phia ; Benjamin, deceased : Clement J., see forward : Clara, married William Gallagher and lives in Chester, Pennsylvania ; Emma, married William Koeh-
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ler, manager of Kent's Manufacturing Company, at Clifton, Delaware county, Pennsylvania.
(II) Clement J., eighth son and thirteenth child of Daniel and Mary Ellen (Hannigan) Sharkey, was born in Garrettford, Delaware county, Pennsyl- vania, March 3, 1873. He attended the public schools near his home, and there acquired an excellent practical education. At the age of sixteen years he devoted his entire time to assisting his father in the cultivation of the home farm, and followed this occupation until he was twenty years of age. He then found employment in the spinning mill of his father at Clifton, Pennsyl- vania, and remained there until 1901, when he purchased the Fernwood Hotel in Fernwood, which he has conducted very successfully since that time. The service is of the best, and the cuisine is excellent. Mr. Sharkey entertains in- dependent opinions in political matters, refusing to be held by partisan ties. His religious affiliation is with the Catholic church, to which he is a gen- erous donor.
Mr. Sharkey married, October 7, 1902, Mary McCahill, and they are the parents of : William and Florence.
WHITE It would be difficult to discover any of the old American families whose history to the present time has been so indissolubly con- nected with that of the Society of Friends, that having been the family faith since its founding in the province of New Jersey. most of the name still continuing to worship according to its simple tenets. The line of George Foster White traces from John White, of England, to Christopher, the emigrant, from Cumrew, Cumberland county, England, born in 1642, died in New Jersey, in 12th month, 1693, who married, IIth month 16, 1668, Hester Biddle, who died in 6th month, 1698. Christopher White arrived at Salem, New Jersey, in the ship "Kent." Gregory Marlow, master, 6th month 23, 1677 with his wife, his daughter, Elizabeth, his son, Josiah, a maid and a man ser- vant. Through Christopher the ancestral line continues to Josiah White, born 7th month 3. 1675, died in 1713. married, in 1698, Hannah Powell. His son Josiah (2), born 6th month 21, 1705, died 5th month 12, 1780, married, 10th month 1, 1734, Rebecca Foster, born Ioth month I. 1708. died 12th month 6, 1771. John, son of Josiah (2) White, was born 7th month 9. 1747, died 8th month 21, 1785, married 6th month 7, 1775, Rebecca Haines, born 7th month 27, 1744, died 3rd month 22, 1826, was the father of Joseph White. Another of his sons, Josiah, was one of the promoters and organizers of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, a vignette portrait of him appearing upon the stock certificates of that corporation at the present time. Joseph White was born 12th month 28. 1785, died 5th month 25. 1827, married 12th month 17 1807, Rebecca Smith, born 3rd month 29, 1787, died Ist month 3, 1865.
Joseph White, in partnership with Elisha Hunt, in 1812 built the "Enter- prise." a steamboat of primitive pattern, the first boat to navigate the Missis- sippi river against the current under its own power.
Rebecca Smith was a member of an old English family, descending from William Smith, of England, born in 1570; Richard, baptized 5th month 18. 1595, Richard (2), baptized 8th month 15, 1626, died in 1688, married Ann Yeates; Samuel, born 3rd month 1, 1672, died 4th month 18, 1718, married Elizabeth Lovett ; Richard, born 7th month 5, 1699, died 11th month 9, 1751. married 8th month 20, 1719, Abigail Raper, born Ist month 6, 1699; William Lovett, born 9th month 19, 1726, died 12th month 14, 1794, married 9th month 15, 1749, Mary Doughty, born Ist month 27, 1731, died 5th month 15, 1798: Daniel Doughty, born 7th month 29, 1751, died 7th month 27, 1827, married
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