USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume III > Part 34
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In business he was active and enterprising, keenly sagacious, diligent, adhering closely to upright, honorable principles which ever brought him abundant success. His name was a synonym for integrity, and in his com- munity no man was held in higher respect. In his public life he was ever found on the side of progress and improvement. Many of the enterprises he assisted to develop are now strong and successful. In his private life he was most kind, neighborly and considerate. He gave freely to those less fortunate than himself, but in such a quiet, unostentatious way that few of his deeds of kind- ness were known save to himself and the beneficiary. But his chief interest was in his home, and in the midst of his family his noble qualities shone brightest. He was a birthright member of the Society of Friends and ever guided his life by the teachings of that faith.
Mr. Garrett married, October 3, 1866, in Chester Meeting, Mary W. Maris, born at Upland, September 1, 1835, died May 20, 1897, daughter of Jesse J. and Mary (West) Maris, of Chester. Jesse J. Maris, a highly esteemed Friend, was for nineteen years prior to his death president of the Bank of Delaware County. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Garrett: Mary M., born Jan- uary 24, 1870; Edward J., April 24, 1872, died April, 1896; Arthur Sellers, of whom further; George Spencer, November 2, 1880, died October 28, 1907.
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Arthur Sellers Garrett, son of George Sellers and Mary W. ( Maris) Gar- rett, was born in Upper Darby township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, November 24, 1873. He attended the Friends Boarding School at Westtown, and then entered Cornell University, from which he graduated in the class of 1897 with the degree of Mechanical Engineer. In 1902 he founded, in con- junction with his brother, George Spencer Garrett, the American Water Soft- ener Company, a prosperous concern, engaged in the manufacture and instal- lation of mechanical and chemical systems for the purification and filtration of water, and of this company Arthur S. Garrett was chosen president in 1908. They have installed two filter plants on the Isthmus of Panama for the United States government, besides water purification plants for numerous railroads, manufactories and municipalities, as well as for the U. S. government. The offices of the company are at No. 1011 Chestnut street, Philadelphia. Mr. Garrett is a director in the Lansdowne Trust Company, the Lansdowne Build- ing and Loan Association, and trustee of Elwyn Training School for the Fee- ble Minded. He is a member of the Engineers' Club of Philadelphia, and Cornell Club.
Mr. Garrett married, in 1906, Hannah Worrell Ogden, born at the Ogden homestead at Swarthmore, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, in 1873. daughter of Charles T. and Anna M. Ogden. Children: George Sellers, born July 25. 1907; Margaret Ogden, July 15, 1911: Charles Spencer, December 19, 1912. Mr. Garrett resides in the old family homestead in Upper Darby, now known as Drexel Hill.
Joseph Wilde, a substantial and esteemed citizen of Drexel Hill,
WILDE where he has resided for over three decades, now retired from ac- tive pursuits, was born in Frankfort, now a part of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 12. 1838, son of Samuel and Sarah ( Shoul- ter) Wilde.
Samuel Wilde, father of Joseph Wilde, was born in Middleton, England, 1795, died in Springfield township, Pennsylvania, February 14. 1874. His par- ents were natives of England. Their children, upon attaining suitable age, em- igrated to the United States, among whom were four sons: Samuel, who con- ducts a cotton mill at Frankfort, Pennsylvania : James and John, who were partners in a cotton mill on Darby creek, Delaware county, Pennsylvania ; Sam- uel, aforementioned, who was reared and educated in England, learned the trade of cotton spinner, which he followed for some years in his native land, in 1836 emigrated to this country, settling in Philadelphia, and at first operated a cotton spinning mill at Frankfort, and later purchased a mill at Hayville on Darby creek, Springfield township, which he conducted for half a century, pro- ducing woolen knitting yarn. He resided in Springfield township above the mill. He married, in England, Sarah Shoulter, born near Middleton, Eng- fand, 1798, died in Springfield township. 1872, her parents being natives of England, where they lived and died. her father being a saddler by trade. Chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Wilde: 1. Ann, married William Murphy ; at the pres- ent time (1914) she is residing near her brother. Joseph, having attained the venerable age of eighty-five years. 2. John, deceased; worked in his father's mill. 3. James, deceased : was a machinist in his father's mill. 4. Joseph, of whom further. 5. William, died in early life.
Joseph Wilde obtained a practical education in the public schools in the neighborhood of his home, and early in life began working in his father's mill, continuing until the death of his father. In 1874. in partnership with his brother, James, he took over the business formerly conducted by their father.
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and under the name of E. Hay & Company conducted the mill for thirty years. producing all kinds of woolen yarn. In 1906 they disposed of the business, having accumulated sufficient capital during their many years of business life to retire and enjoy the fruit of their toil. The success which crowned their efforts was the result of skill and ability displayed in the management of their enterprise, which was conducted along progressive lines and in a straightfor- ward and business-like manner. Mr. Wilde is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is an Independent in politics. He resides in the substantial house on Drexel Hill erected by him in 1880, and is held in high esteem by all with whom he is brought in contact.
Mr. Wilde married, July 3, 1865, Mary Jane Morton, born in Darby town- ship, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, October 28, 1843, died March 2, 1897, daughter of Samuel and Mary Morton, the former named having been a butch- er by occupation. Children: 1. Sarah, married Joseph Carpenter ; resides in Clifton, Pennsylvania. 2. Mary, unmarried, acts as housekeeper for her father.
SHELLER George Sheller, of Primos, is well fitted for the occupation which has received his attention during his active career, that of gardener, for he possesses an artistic, but decidedly practical mind. Active and upright in every relation to his fellowmen, Mr. Sheller has won for himself the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact, and has long been considered one of the worthy citi- zens of his adopted town.
George Sheller was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1855, son of Peter and Catherine (Hoffner ) Sheller, both natives of Philadel- phia, and the parents of seven children, five of whom lived until recently, two living at the present time (1913). Peter Sheller resided in his native city all his life, followed the occupation of gardener, from which he derived a good livelihood, and by his integrity of character and straightforward business meth- ods, won and retained the confidence of all with whom he associated, in bus- iness or social life. He was a son of George Sheller, who had the misfortune of being deprived of his sight, but this did not deter him from making his own way in the world, as he was actively engaged in basket making, having a willow garden for that purpose. He was married twice, the christian names of his wives being Susan and Elizabeth. George Hoffner, father of Catherine ( Hoff- ner ) Sheller, was a native of Philadelphia, and there for many years was suc- cessfully engaged in gardening, which proved a most lucrative enterprise.
George Sheller attended the public schools of Philadelphia, thus acquiring a solid foundation for an active and useful life. When old enough he assisted his father in his labor, and possessing a natural inclination for that line of work he adopted it for his active career, establishing a business of his own in Philadelphia, about the year 1881, continuing the same until 1912, a period of about three decades, and on February 28, 1912, removed to Darby township, where he purchased eight acres of land, upon which was a substantial house, barn and outbuildings, and since then he has here pursued his chosen occupa- tion, to which he has added the raising of all kinds of vegetables, his products being noted for their excellence. The entire appearance of his property indi- cates that he has a thorough knowledge of his business, and that he not only looks after the practical side, but also strive to make his place attractive in every respect. He is interested in all that pertains to the improvement of the community in which he resides, and is willing to contribute his full share in
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the work. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and his political allegiance is given to the candidates of the reform party.
Mr. Sheller married, January 28, 1889. Hettie Rile. Children: Harry, deceased ; Catherine, Sarah, Mary, George, Elsie. Mr. Sheller is in all respects a good citizen, and he has also performed well his duty as son, hus- band and father.
LYONS Edward John Lyons, proprietor of a fine hardware business in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, is carrying on a successful and extensive business which is the legitimate result of his own well directed and persevering efforts. Even in a republic like ours, where there is no fav- ored road to fame and wealth, where all may aspire to the highest point that ambition may set without natural hindrances, individual failures are more num- erous than individual successes ; and it requires excellent business qualities, the closest application and untiring energy, to conquer the circumstances which force a man to make his own way upward.
Thomas Lyons, father of the above mentioned, was born in Ireland, and came to America in his early youth. He settled in Philadelphia, where in the course of time he became a well known contractor and excavator. He has been engaged in this line of business for many years and has met with well deserved success. During the past forty-five years he has been a resident of Haverford, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where he and his wife are mem- bers of the Catholic church. He married in Philadelphia, Catharine Lynn, also a native of Ireland, and they have had four sons : James, who is a plumber, re- sides in Oakmont : Thomas, also a plumber, lives in Ardmore : Edward John, whose name heads this sketch : Nicholas, a bicycle dealer, lives in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
Edward John Lyons was born in Haverford, Delaware county, Pennsyl- vania, June 25, 1878. His education was furnished by the public schools of Bryn Mawr and the parochial schools, and at a suitable age he was appren- ticed to learn the machinist's trade. This knowledge was acquired under the auspices of his brother. James, and Mr. Lyons followed this occupation for a number of years. In 1909 he established himself in the hardware business, opening a store on Lancaster avenue, Ardmore, and has built up a trade which is second to none of its size and class in the county. He carries a stock which averages twelve thousand dollars, and his business dealing is noted for its in- tegrity and reliability. He is a Republican in politics, and he and his wife are members of St. Dennis church, on Eagle Road, and generous contributors to the support of this institution.
Mr. Lyons married, in 1904, Mary, born in Philadelphia, a daughter of
and Catherine C. Wahl. They have no children. The life of Mr. Lyons is one of fidelity to duty and of sterling worth, and he has a host of warm friends throughout the community.
MAGUIRE Thomas Maguire, born in county Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1828,
came to the United States in 1848, and died in Chester, Penn- sylvania, in July, 1912. He settled first in Lenni, Delaware county. Pennsylvania, worked for several years as railroad section hand, fin- ally became private gardener for John B. Roach, of Chester. He was a Demo- crat in politics, and a member of the Roman Catholic church. He married, in Delaware county, Bridget McEntee, who came from Ireland in her sixteenth year and died in Lenni in 1910, daughter of Peter McEntee, born in Ireland,
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died in Delaware county, Pennsylvania. Children : John C., of whom further ; Thomas, a textile weaver of Lenni, Pennsylvania, unmarried ; James. a designer of Philadelphia, unmarried; William, a stone cutter, married; Edward, a machinist of Chester, unmarried ; Rose, deceased; Anna, married W. Costello, «leceased, a spinning room foreman in Philadelphia, where his widow resides ; Mary, married Lawrence Connor, a machinist, and resides in Lenni, Pennsyl- vania; Elizabeth, resides in Lenni, unmarried.
(II) John C., son of Thomas Maguire, was born in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, in 1858, died in Chester, May 23, 1904. He was a grocer at Second and Kerlin streets, Chester, many years, but after the financial panic of 1900 was employed by the Chester Traction company. He was a mem- ber of the Roman Catholic church and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and a man of excellent character, highly respected by all. He married Mary J. Cos- tello, born in Delaware county, 1862, died in Chester, July 1, 1907, daughter of William Costello, of Aston Mills. Children: W. P., of whom further; Rose, married Martin J. Connolly, of Chester, a molder by trade, now engaged in the insurance business; Margaret, resides in Philadelphia, unmarried; Mary, resides in Philadelphia, unmarried; Marcella, resides in Philadelphia, unmar- ried; Anna, resides in Philadelphia, unmarried; Thomas, resides in Philadel- phia, unmarried.
(III) W. P., eldest son of John C and Mary J. (Costello) Maguire, was born at Aston Mills, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, January 14, 1883. He attended first the parochial, then the public schools of Chester, but was obliged to leave school at fourteen years of age, becoming messenger boy for the West- ern Union Telegraph Company, continuing as such two years. In 1899 he learned telegraphy, but on account of his youth could not obtain an operator's position.
He worked as clerk for E. B. McClenahan in his stationery store for eight months. In 1900 he entered the employ of the Johnson Frog and Switch Company, remaining one year. For the next two years he was with the Tide Water Steel Company, and in 1903 was appointed manager and operator at Princess Ann, Maryland, for the Western Union Telegraph Com- pany. Three months later he resigned to become operator at the West Phila- delphia office of the Postal Telegraph Company. In 1905 he came to Chester as night operator for the same company, and three months later he was appointed manager to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the manager, W. H. Larkin. This position he has since most acceptably filled until the present date. Mr. Maguire is an Independent in politics, a member of the Roman Catholic church and the Loyal Order of Moose.
He married, October, 1907, in Chester, Mary F. Connolly, daughter of the late James Connolly, who was a clothier of Chester, and his wife, Margaret (Crosley) Connolly, now residing at No. 1119 Parker street, Chester. Children : Margaret Helen, born in Chester, July 24, 1908; William Francis, March 12, 19II.
RAWSON James Rawson, a retired business man now living at Llanerch,
Delaware county, Pennsylvania, is a descendant of an old and honored English family. He is a man of strong purpose and has been an important addition to the business force of the community in which his active business years have been spent.
Thomas Rawson, his father, was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, England, and spent his entire life there. For many years he held the position of foreman in : a worsted factory and his death occurred when he was near ninety years of age.
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He and his wife were members of the Episcopal church. Mi. Rawson married Hannah Dickinson, also a native of Halifax, who died in her eighty- eighth year. They had children as follows: Thomas, who died in England ; Elizabeth, married John Franklin, is now a widow and lives in Halifax, Eng- land; Mary Ann, now deceased, married Aaron Squire ; Eliza, unmarried, re- sides in Halifax, England ; David, came to the United States in 1880, and died in Iowa in I9II: James, the subject of this sketch; William, is a tailor, and lives in Manchester, England.
James Rawson was born in Halifax, Yorkshire county, England, August 15, 1851. The public schools of his native town furnished him with a practi- cal education, and he was then apprenticed to the firm of Frederick Smith & Company, wire manufacturers of Halifax, remaining with them for a period of six years. During the next two years he was in the employ of Richard Johnson, of Manchester, England, and then formed a partnership with his brother. David, and a Mr. Housen, in the manufacture of wire in Manchester. This partnership was dissolved at the expiration of three years, when there was a serious business depression in all lines in England, and Mr. Rawson. who had had an excellent business offer from the city of New York, decided to try his fortune in the New World. Upon his arrival here he accepted a posi- tion with Carey & Moen, in the same line of business with which he had been identified, and then remained with this firm for a period of two years, at which time he received a far more advantageous offer from R. H. Wolff & Co., to act as their superintendent, which he did for five years. Mayor Abram S. Hewitt, of New York City, then made him a very favorable offer to go to Trenton, New Jersey, in order to take charge of his business interests there and introduce better and more original methods, as under the old management the business had gone decidedly backward. The factory at Trenton was en- gaged in the manufacture of specialties, such as piano wire, watch and clock springs, etc., and Mr. Rawson had full charge for fifteen years, the factory gaining in prestige under his able management, and at the end of this time he retired, having the intention of going to England and spending the remainder of his life in his native land. Unfortunately. Mrs. Rawson was taken seriously ill before this plan could be carried out, and her health has never been so fully restored as to make the plan feasible. Mr. Rawson is still engaged as a con- sulting manufacturer in the line with which he was so actively connected for many years. In this direction the knowledge he has gained in the course of years of the German, French and American methods, in addition to his earlier experience in the English field, has been of inestimable value. As Mr. Rawson was an enthusiast in all matters pertaining to athletic sports, especially cricket, he decided to make his home at Llanerch, knowing that there he would find kindred spirits. He has always been an exceptionally good cricket player, and for many years past, has never failed to represent some club in a match during the cricket season.
Mr. Rawson is a member of the Trenton Cricket Club and the Dela- ware County Golf Club. His political adherence is with the Republican party, and he has served as treasurer of the Llanerch Civic Association. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been treasurer for the past six years. Mr. Rawson married. in 1878. Martha Ann, born in Halifax, England, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Hallowell) Roberts.
They have been blessed with one child: Emily, who married C. C. Haven, and lives in Llanerch. They have children: Arthur Rawson, Law- ence and Ethel Beatrice. Mr. Rawson is of a social and kindly hearted dispo-
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sition, and makes friends readily. He has taken an active interest in the move- ments tending to the development and progress of the locality in which he has made his home, and has been instrumental in promoting its improvement.
There is no surname in the English language whose derivation
PALMER is more full of interest than that of Palmer. The use of it as a surname traces from the time of the Crusades in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, when the seekers for the Holy Sepulchre carried it as their emblem. Charles W. Bardsley, in his work "Our English Surnames," re- fers to it as follows: "The various religious wanderings of solitary recluses, though belonging to a system long faded from our English life, find a perpetual epitaph in the 'directories' of to-day. Thus we have still our 'Pilgrims' or 'Perlerins' as the Normans termed them. We may meet with 'Palmers' any day in the streets of our large towns-names distinctively relating the manner in which their owners have derived their title. The 'Pilgrim' may have visited the Shrine of St. Thomas of Canterbury ; the 'Palmer,' as his sobriquet proves had forlorn and weary battled against all difficulties and trod the path that led to the Holy Sepulchre." In literature the name frequently appears, always in connection with the deeply religious folk who spent their lives in such a holy quest. Chaucer, Spenser, Milton, Scott and Shakespeare make frequent refer- ence using the name.
Early in the history of the Society of Friends in England the Palmers were devoted members of the sect, braving uncomplainingly the persecutions and indignities that were heaped upon them for their non-conformity to the state religion. Besse, in his "Sufferings of the Quakers," mentions members of the family in many places, two of the extracts reading : "In 1659, Thomas Palmer and two others were subpoenaed into the Exchange at the suit of John Dyke, a priest, for tithes, valued at 14 s. : they appeared accordingly, but refus- ing to swear to their answer, were imprisoned for contempt in a low dungeon at Warwick, twenty steps deep, where the said Thomas Palmer lay ten months"; and "In 1664 Ezekiel Palmer, of Cambridgeshire, had seven cows taken, worth 22 pounds, for non-conformity to public worship."
The first member of the family in Pennsylvania was John Palmer, who settled in Concord township, then Chester county, now Delaware, about 1688. It is probable that he was one of a class of immigrants known as "Redemp- tioners," who pledged themselves to work in payment for their passage after they arrived in America. In 1688 a patent on one hundred acres of land was granted to "John Palmer his heirs and assigns forever." John Palmer married Mary, daughter of Robert Southery. The deaths of John and his wife, Mary, occurred within a few years of each other, his in 1742, hers in 1745. Both were members of the Society of Friends. Children: John, of whom further ; Catherine : Eals (Alice) ; Margery ; Aun ; and Mary.
(II) John (2), son of John (I) and Mary (Southery) Palmer, was born in Concord township, now part of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, about 1690, died 5th month, 1771. He followed the occupation of a farmer, first on the farm inherited from his father, later on a tract of one hundred and seventy- five acres, purchased from Henry Peirce. He was a man of prominence in the community and one of the first to promote the establishing of schools. He married, 6th month (June) 9. 1714. Martha, daughter of John and Elizabeth Yearsley, whose family came to Thornbury. Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1700, from Middlewich, England. Children: I. Mary, born 6th month 21, 1715, died young. 2. John, born 8th month 20, 1717, died young. 3. Isaac, born 9th month 13, 1719, died young. 4. Moses, of whom further. 5. Eliza-
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beth, born 3rd month 24, 1724. 6. Rebecca, born 8th month 1, 1726. 7. Mar- tha, born 3rd month 11, 1729. 8. Susannah, born 10th month 24, 1731, died in infancy. 9. Susannah (2), born 12th month 14, 1732, died young. 10. John (2), born 8th month 1, 1736, died 4th month, 1793.
(III) Moses, son of John (2) and Martha ( Yearsley) Palmer, was born in Concord township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, 5th month 26, 1721, died 6th month 20, 1783. In his early life he was instructed in cordwaining, but forsook that occupation for the more congenial one of farming. He cul- tivated the land obtained from his father in 1748 for many years, and also the tract adjoining it on the north, where he made his home for the latter years of his life. During his lifetime he acquired a great deal of real estate, which at his death he willed to his wife and children in a testament dated 6th month 10, 1783. He was an adherent to the family faith, a member of the Society of Friends. He married ( first) Abigail, daughter of John and Mary (Wood- ward) Newlin, of Concord: (second) Abigail (Sharp) Sharpless, widow of William Sharpless, and daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Pyle) Sharp, born 2nd month 28, 1729, died 211d month 1.4. 1805. Her father was an Irish emigrant.
Children of Moses Palmer by his two marriages, the first, John, of further mention, being the only child of his first marriage: 2. Martha, born gtli month 7, 1753, died 2nd month 18, 1831. 3. Moses, born 4th month 12, 1757, died 8th month 29, 1840. 4. Joseph, born 4th month 21, 1759, died 7th montli 30, 1838. 5. Abigail, born 8th month 26, 1762, died 3rd month 10, 1842. 6. Aaron, born 7th month 17, 1765. died 3rd month 10, 1842. 7. Mary, born Ist month 24, 1768. 8. Ann, born Ist month 9, 1771, died about 1821.
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