USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume III > Part 35
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(IV ) John, son of Moses and Abigail (Newlin) Palmer, was born in Concord township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, IIth month 4. 1745, died 9th month 18, 1801. He erected buildings on the eastern part of the original Palmer tract, afterward. bequeathed `to him by the terms of his father's will, and in connection with farming followed the occupation of a saddler. He married, 4th month 26, 1769, in Concord Meeting-house, Hannah, born 2nd month 18. 1753, died 4th month 11, 1842, daughter of Abraham and Lydia (Weldon) Martin. William Peters and John Brinton, appointed by the Friends Meeting to attend the wedding, as was customary, reported that "it was orderly accomplished and a good degree of moderation at the house of entertainment and where the youth appeared otherwise advice was adminis- tered." Children of John and Hannah ( Martin) Palmer, all born in Con- cord township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania: I. Benjamin, of whom further. 2. Abraham, born 12th month 16. 1771, died 7th month 2, 1852. 3. Moses, born 12th month 14. 1773. died in infancy. 4. Abigail, born 2nd montli 22, 1776, died 3rd month 2, 1815. 5. John, born 6th month 16, 1778. died 3rd month 29, 1868. 6. Lydia, born 1780. 7. Thomas, born 1786, died 10th month, 1820. 8. Moses (2), born 2nd month 25, 1788, died 2nd month 16, 1875. 9. Hannah, born 5th month 5, 1790, died 8th month, 1857. 10. Nor- ris. born 6th month 15, 1792. died 5th month 10, 1842.
(V) Benjamin, eldest son and child of John and Hannah (Martin) Pal- mer, was born in Concord township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, 2nd month 26, 1770, died 10th month 2, 1824. He made his home in Aston town- ship, Delaware county, on a tract of land purchased from the Martin family, where he was proprietor of a general store and postmaster of the village. After his death his wife resided in Upper Providence township. in which locality she was familiarly known as "Aunt Nancy."
He married, in 1800. Ann, daughter of James and Lydia (Walter) Pen- nell, and was complained against for marrying out of Friends Meeting. His wife was received into Friends Meeting at Concord. IIth month 7, 1810, and
THE ORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LINÓX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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took a certificate to Chester Meeting, 4th month 27, 1837. Children of Benja- min.and Ann (Pennell) Palmer : I. James Pennell, born 2nd month 26, 1801, died 12th month 10, 1860. 2. Susan, born 8th month 20, 1802, died 6th month 16, 1865. 3. T. Chalkley, of whom further. 4. John, born 7th month 14, 1806,. died 3rd month 16, 1823. 5. Abraham Martin, born 7th month 25, 1808, died 12th month 6, 1834. 6. Benjamin (2), born 9th month 19, 1811, died 8th month 27, 1841. 7. Lydia Ann, born 5th month 18, 1815, died 2nd month 27, 1816. 8. Catherine S., born 5th month 12, 1817, died 2nd month 27, 1904.
(VI) T. Chalkley, second son and third child of Benjamin and Ann ( Pen- nell) Palmer, was born in Aston township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania,. 6th month 8, 1804, died in Media, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, 2nd month 4, 1883. He attended the public schools and early in life learned the miller's trade, his first place of business being Beatty's Mills, on Crum creek, a site now occupied by the Springfield Water Works. In 1834 he moved his seat of operations to Upper Providence and Marple townships, purchasing the Jones- mill property, on the same stream as his old mill. In 1866 he purchased the homestead of John Sharpless, his father-in-law, in Nether Providence, where he and his wife resided until the latter's death, after which he lived in Water- ville and later at Media, his death occurring in the latter place. Both he and his wife were lifelong members of the Orthodox branch of the Society of Friends. T. Chalkley Palmer was a Christian gentleman of the highest worth, living an upright life in accordance with the tenets of the faith he professed.
He married, at Chester Meeting, IIth month 5, 1828, Sarah, born 8th month 21, 1804, died 3rd month 12, 1872, daughter of John and Ruth ( Martin) Sharpless. She was a member of the old English family of Delaware county (see Sharpless) and a descendant of John and Jane (Moore) Sharpless, who. came to Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1682, from Hatherton, Cheshire, England. Children of T. Chalkley and Sarah (Sharpless) Palmer: I. Lewis, born Ist month 13, 1830, died 12th month 31, 1881. 2. John S., born 5th month 17, 1833. 3. Rebecca, born 6th month 21, 1836, died 9th month 10, 1838. 4 .. Henry, born Ist month 1, 1839. 5. Beulah, born 3rd month 4. 1844.
(VII) Lewis, eldest son of T. Chalkley and Sarah (Sharpless)
PALMER Palmer, was born January 13, 1830, died December 31, 1881. He was well educated and for five years was a teacher in the Westtown Boarding School. He obtained a knowledge of mills and milling from association with his father and later purchased the Media grist and saw mills, which he successfully operated for several years. He then sold his water privileges and power to the borough of Media for the establishment of a water works system for that borough, and established a retail ice business in Media that was so successful that it was continued by his widow for several years. He was a well known naturalist and was an authority on minerals and botany, owning a rare collection of valuable specimens. He took a deep interest in pub- lic affairs and at the time of his death was a member of the borough council of Media. He was a member of the Society of Friends and a man held in the highest esteem.
He married, December 16, 1858, Mary C. Wildman, born March 23, 1838, died January 25, 1906, daughter of John (2) Wildman and his wife, Ann Comfort, of Lower Makefield township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Chil- dren : Ruth Anna, born November 24, 1859, died the same day : Thomas Chalk- ley, of whom further : Anne, born November 11, 1866, married May 18, 1887. George S. Thorp and resides at Media; John W., born July 1, 1867, married, July 1, 1890, Mary W. Yarnell and resides in Media, an electrician ; Beulah,
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born July 27, 1869, married Edward F. Stimson and resides in Philadelphia ; Sarah S., born December 17, 1872, married May 16, 1894, William S. Evans, whom she survives, a resident of Philadelphia ; George Martin, born March 14, 1876, married April 16, 1902, Marian E. Rodgers and is in business in New- ark, New Jersey ; Charles W., born August 9, 1879, now professor of science at Westtown Boarding School, married Anna C. Stanton; Edith Lewis, born March 2, 1881, resides in Media.
(VIII) Thomas Chalkley, eldest son of Lewis and Mary C. (Wildman) Palmer, was born October 23, 1860. He prepared at Westtown Boarding School, then entered Haverford College, whence he was graduated with the degree B. S .. class of 1882. He then took a special course in chemistry at Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, and in the private laboratory of Prof. Henry Trimble.
He began professional life as chemist for the Sharpless Dye Wood Ex- tract Company of Chester, continuing until that company was succeeded in 1904 by the American Dye Wood Company. He was elected a director of that company at its organization, a responsible position that he yet holds, being also a stockholder. Mr. Palmer ranks very high in the branch in which he has specialized and is a recognized authority on the chemistry and use of dyes. He has written many papers for technical journals, and is a contributor to the publications of societies dealing with Natural Science. His investigations nat- urally led him to rocks and plants and in both mineralogy and botany he is well informed.
Mr. Palmer is a member of the Delaware County Institute of Science, suc- ceeding in 1894, John MI. Broomall as president, and is still holding that posi- tion ; member of the Royal Microscopical Society of London ; the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and vice director of the Section of Biology and Microscopy ; member of the Franklin Institute; the Society of Chemical Industry of London ; the Chemical Society of France ; the Botanical Society of Pennsylvania, and the American Chemical Society. He is a Republican in poli- tics and a member of the Society of Friends (Orthodox).
Mr. Palmer married H. Jane Walter, born October 15, 1858, at Parkers- ville, Pennsylvania, daughter of William H. and Edith B. Webb. Children : 1. Walter, born March 30, 1888, in Media, graduate of Haverford College, class of 1910, now taking a special course at Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology ; he is an electrical and mechanical engineer in the employ of the Amer- ican Dye Wood Company. 2. Lewis, born July 28, 1889, graduate of Friends' Select School of Philadelphia, 1907; spent one year at Haverford College, then became manager of his father's farm. The family home is a farm of one hundred acres owned by Mr. Palmer in Middletown township.
The Beaumont family of Yorkshire, England, has long been BEAUMONT known as prominent members of the industrial workers of that country. They have have been connected with some of the best interests of England, especially in its linen, woolen and cotton manu- facturies. About the year 1836 Richard Beaumont, of Yorkshire, emigrated to the United States, where the opportunities offered to ambitious young men were greater than in the mother country. He landed in Philadelphia, and eventually drifted to Watertown, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and there died at the age of forty-eight. He held several important positions in differ- ent woolen mills, among them being that of foreman in the carding depart- ments. Both he and his wife were devout members of the Protestant Epis- copal church, and reared their family in that faith. He married Hannah Mills,
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born in Chester, Pennsylvania, where she died after his death. They were the parents of eight children, four of whom are still living ( 1913). These are: Thomas, lives in Chiester, Pennsylvania ; Charles, lives in Chester ; Emma, married J. Irvin Taylor, of Chester ; Eliza, married Edward Adams, of Upland, Pennsylvania. Those deceased are: William, of whom further; George; Thomas and Josephine.
(II) William Beaumont, son of Richard and Hannah ( Mills) Beaumont, was born March 18, 1851, at Waterville, Delaware county, Pennsylvania. He was reared in Darby, Pennsylvania, and received his education in the common schools of the day. At an early age he was apprenticed to H. Bickle, a tin- smith of Norristown, Pennsylvania. When he had thoroughly learned the trade he engaged in it at Norristown and later in Philadelphia, and other towns in Pennsylvania. In the meantime he moved to Lenni, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and in conjunction with his brother, George Beaumont, he estab- lished a tinsmith shop and they succeeded in building up a lucrative business by close attention to it and unfailing courtesy to their patrons. George Beau- mont died March 26, 1900, and was succeeded in the partnership by William Beaumont Jr., a son of the senior member. Under the new management the business continued to prosper and had reached its zenith when Mr. Bean- mont Sr. was unfortunately killed in an accident on the Pennsylvania railroad, March 18, 1911. He was greatly mourned in the town toward which he had contributed much in its upbuilding, and where he was regarded as an indus- trious, honorable and progressive citizen. He was highly esteemed by his fel- low townsmen and business associates. He was a devoted husband and father and afforded his children splendid educational opportunities, thus fitting them to cope with the world. He was a Republican by conviction and voted with and worked for that party, but never held nor aspired to office. Since his death the business has been under the management of William Beaumont Jr., assisted by his brothers. Mr. Beaumont married Fannie Miller, daughter of Joshua and Anna (Richardson) Miller. Children: I. Annie, born January II, 1873; died June, 1877. 2. Richard, born January 5, 1874; died, January 19, 1874. 3. Eliza, born June 2, 1875; married William Roberts, of Lenni. 4. William Jr., born May 14, 1878; married December 10, 1910, Saralı M. Hopkins ; he was educated in the public schools of his section; under his fath- er's tutelage he learned the tinsmith's trade, and in 1900 he was taken into the firm as a partner, since which time he has been manager and now runs it with the aid of his brothers. He is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, No. 29, standing high in the order, and is also a member of the American Mechan- ics, of Chester, Pennsylvania. 5. Eva, born March 7, 1880; lives at home with her mother. 6. Joshua, born March 8, 1882, a graduate of Park and Eckles College, and is now an embalmer in New York City. 7. Maggie, born Novem- ber 19, 1883; died February 6, 1884. 8. James, born December 1, 1884; tin- smith in Lenni. 9. John, born March 24, 1886; loom repairer in Ashton Mills. 10. Morris, born November 24, 1888; died, July 4, 1889. 11. Harvey R., now a tinsmith in Lenni. 12. George B., born January 27, 1890, employed in cloth mills at Lenni. 13. Maurice, born February 14, 1892; tinsmith in Lenni. 14. Sarah, born February 7, 1894; at home. 15. LeRoy, born October 2, 1896. 16. Florence, born September 7, 1898. James, John, George and Maurice Beaumont are members in high standing in the Order of American Mechanics, No. 803.
(The Miller Line).
Joshua Miller, father of Mrs. William Beaumont Sr., was a native of the United States and was a spinner and weaver by vocation, and also a farmer.
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He was a staunch Republican and a member of the Episcopal church. He mar- ried Anna Richardson, born in 1836, in Scotland, and died at an advanced age in Pennsylvania. She was a devout member of the Protestant Episcopal church, but later affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal, at Mount Hope, Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller died in Chester, Pennsylvania, aged seventy-five. Children : I. James, living in Philadelphia. 2. Joshua, lives in Clifton, Pennsylvania. 3. Daniel, lives in Rockdale, Pennsylvania. 4. Josephine, married Henry Logan, of Chester, Pennsylvania. 5. Emma, married Charles Mathews, of Media, Pennsylvania. 6. Eliza, married George Marshall, of Media, Pennsylvania. 7. Annie, widow of Richard Allen, of Clifton, Pennsylvania. 8. Fannie, married William Beaumont (see above). 9. Thomas, deceased. 10. Sallie, deceased, married William Miller. II. Eliz- abeth, deceased ; married William Turner.
ROBERTS It is a pleasing task to outline the lives of those who have come to our shores from other countries and have contributed in such marked degree to the prosperity which reigns over this land. The pride of America is in her selfmade men, and in return for the opportunities she offers she receives the loyal support of those who have found homes and protection under the starry emblem of the republic. It is of people of this class, the Roberts family of Llanerch, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, that this review treats.
(I) James Roberts was born in England, and came to this country as a child with his parents. At first they settled in Valley Forge, Chester county, Pennsylvania, and after his marriage, he made his home in Berks county, in the same state. His death occurred in 1909. He was a miner by occupation, and he and his wife were members of the Episcopal church. He married Alice Tridgeon, also born in England, and brought to this country by her parents while she was still a child. She also lived in Valley Forge, where they were married. They had children: Thomas, who died in Chester county, in early childhood ; Rebecca, married Joseph Lahr and lives in Chester county ; Mary, married Ora Painter ; William James, see forward : Richard, born in Chester county, is a stone cutter by trade ; a child who died; Philip, died in infancy ; Philip, died at the age of eighteen years.
(II) William James, son of James and Alice (Tridgeon) Roberts, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, November 14, 1867. He was educated in the public schools of his district and at a suitable age commenced his business career. He was apprenticed to learn the trade of stone cutting, but not finding this to his liking, abandoned it in favor of mining in association with his father, and was thus occupied until 1893. On May 26, 1893, he came to Llanerch, as superintendent of the Llanerch Real Estate Company, which was then engaged in cutting up the Llanerch district into building plots and streets. He was an important factor in the laying out of the town and became the owner of a large amount of real property. He continued in office as superintendent of this com- pany until about 1910. In the meantime, about 1904, he had embarked in the general contracting business, and later added the sale of coal and building ma- terials on the West Chester road in Llanerch. This was but a few of various enterprises with which he was connected. He is the proprietor of a boarding stable for horses, and has added a dray business in order to undertake heavy hauling as well as express business. He has twelve men and a number of teams constantly in his employ and is one of the most prominent citizens of the town. His political affiliations are with the Republican party. Mr. Roberts is unmar- ried.
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One of the best general farmers in the history of Delaware RIGNEY county, Pennsylvania, one who was considered an authority by all the farmers in his vicinity, was the late John Rigney, whose farm was located near Coopertown. He was of Irish birth, his parents being Richard and Catherine Rigney, both natives of Ireland, where their lives were spent. The father was a fruit grower near the city of Dublin and marketed his product in that city. He had three sons and one daughter, of whom Patrick and John came to America. Patrick, who settled on a farm in Wisconsin, died there at a ripe old age.
John Rigney was born in Balbriggan, county Dublin, Ireland, June 13, 1818, and died in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, March 31, 1903. His educa- tion was the usual one of a farmer's son of that period, and was acquired in the common schools of his section. He labored as an assistant to his father until he was more than thirty years of age, then decided to emigrate to America, as conditions were not satisfactory in his mother country. He arrived at Phila- delphia, and from there went to Haverford township, Delaware county, Penn- sylvania, where he rented a farm and engaged in general farming. He culti- vated this so successfully that in the course of time he had amassed a sufficient capital to purchase a farm of his own. This was located near Coopertown, and he was busied with its cultivation until his death. It consisted of twenty- two acres, and he was a pioneer in the field of intensive cultivation. Every- thing he did was done in a systematic and scientific manner, and the results he achieved fully justified his methods. He gave his political support to the Dem- ocratic party, and his religious affiliation was with the Catholic church. Mr. Rigney married Mary, born in Philadelphia, a daughter of John Travis, and she died July 25, 1898. Children : Catharine Eulalia, lives in West Philadel- phia ; Mary Ella, married John C. French, and has had ten children of whom seven are now living; Sarah Louise, married Patrick J. Kelly, and lives in Llanerch, Pennsylvania; they have had ten children, of whom nine are now living. Mr. Rigney was known as a man of unswerving integrity in all the re- lations of life, and this may be said to have heen the keynote of a character which ever appealed strongly to the confidence and esteem of all with whom he came in contact.
MENDENHALL John Howard Mendenhall, one of the leading citizens of Gradyville, and widely known as a most successful horse breeder and cattle raiser, is a descendant of one of the oldest colonial families of Delaware county. He is of the sixth generation in America, being a direct descendant from Benjamin Mendenhall, who with his brothers, John and George, came from England in company with William Penn, in 1682. John settled in Chester county, while George, after a short stay, returned to England. Benjamin Mendenhall married Ann Pennell, of Delaware county, and they had two sons-Robert and Benjamin.
Robert Mendenhall was born in 1719; he married Phoebe Taylor, by whom he had thirteen children, and of these, John, great-grandfather of John Howard Mendenhall, married Tabitha Newlin, and their children were Cyrus, Martha, Esther, John and Anne.
John, son of John and Tabitha (Newlin) Mendenhall, was born in Edg- mont, May 27, 1793. He married, in 1821, Hannah, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Sharpless, of Chester township, Delaware county. Children: Rebecca, who died ; Henry, of whom further ; Joseph, who settled in Kansas, where he was for many years actively engaged in business.
Henry, son of John and Sarah (Sharpless) Mendenhall, married Deborah 65
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Passmore, of Chester county, by whom he had children : Mary Ella, who be- came the wife of George S. Yarnall : John Howard, of whom further ; Walter P .. unmarried ; and Anna R., who became the wife of W. Horace Long.
John Howard Mendenhall, son of Henry and Deborah ( Passmore) Men- denhall, was born July 26. 1864. He received his early education in the Friends' School of his native town, and later attended for three terms the famous Westtown Friends' School, after which he returned home to assist his father on the home farm. At the early age of eighteen years he determined to enter upon life upon his own responsibility, and rented from his father the farm of one hundred and forty-three acres, and from the outset and for several years he conducted every detail of the work thereon. At the beginning he gave his attention to the old-time general farming, but as he progressed he came to believe that there were larger opportunities in the breeding of horses and rais- ing of cattle. This he determined to make his prime object, and every subse- quent step demonstrated the wisdom of his judgment. and success attended him from the first, and with constantly increasing measure. In addition to his fine stud of horses, which are a source of pride as well as profit, and have the ad- miration of horse lovers throughout a large region. he maintains an excellent dairy, and his blooded cows afford a daily output of two hundred and fifty quarts of milk. His farm also produces large quantities of hay. grain and veg- etables, which always find a ready market.
Mr. Mendenhall gives active and intelligent interest to various lines of community affairs. A Republican politically, he is a charter member, director and active leader in the Republican Club of Media. He has filled various township offices, having served for many years as justice of the peace, and for more than a score of years as a member of the election board. He is affiliated with a number of fraternal societies-the Knights of Pythias, Improved Order of Red Men. Junior Order of American Mechanics, and Patrons of Husbandry, and in the three last named has filled all the official chairs. As have been his ancestors in each generation, he and his family are consistent members of the Society of Friends.
Mr. Mendenhall was married, May 6, 1886, to Aimee Baker, daughter of Jackson and Emeline (Mercer) Baker, of Edgemont. Children : Emma Bak- er, born July 8, 1887: Joseph Harlan, born August 3. 1890: Marie Howard, born November 11, 1894: and Walter Paul, born June 2, 1902.
PRATT Gifts of money to a city may be used in its adornment and add to its beauty and attractiveness : but the man who founds and keeps in successful operation extensive business interests, wherein are employed many people, does much more for the substantial development and permanent progress of the city than he whose generosity is manifested in the other way. Commercial activity is the life of a community, and those who are at the head of activities of this sort are to be considered in the light of general benefactors. Edward W. Pratt, of Manoa, Delaware county, Penn- sylvania, is a man of this caliber. His grandparents were natives of Ger- many, and when they emigrated to this country they located in Philadelphia, making their home where the wheel pump is now to be found in Germantown. They had children: Martha, married and lives in Philadelphia : Charles, see forward; George, deceased, was a blacksmith in Norristown, Pennsylvania ; William, deceased, was a farmer; a daughter, now deceased.
Charles Pratt, son of the preceding, was born in Philadelphia in 1828, and died in November. 1910. In his early life he was a stove molder, being in the employ of the McDowell & Leiburgs Stove Works, and subsequently
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became a teamster. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. He married Rose Kaltenthaler, born in Rochester, New York, 1827, died in August, 1904. She was the daughter of Jacob Kaltenthaler, who was ship- wrecked on his way to America, off the coast of New Jersey, and later made his home in Rochester. He was a tanner by occupation, and when he located in Philadelphia he established a tannery at Fifth street and Cohatsan creek. He had lost the greater part of his fortune in the shipwreck and was obliged to take a partner who could provide the necessary funds to carry on the busi- ness. He invented the process for making patent leather, but his partner, taking advantage of the fact that Mr. Kaltenthaler was without means, defrauded him of the honor and profits of this invention. He had been a sol- dier in Napoleon's army for many years; was a member of his body guard at the time of his marriage to Marie Louise, and was with him in the Moscow campaign. Although he was by birth a German he had spent many years in France, and it was from that country that he came to America. He married and had children: Frederick, deceased, was a molder ; Louise, married (first) Mann, (second) Shondig ; Jacob, deceased, was a tanner in St. Louis, Missouri, being the first man to establish a tannery west of the Mis- sissippi river ; Susan, married William Esthonoch; Rose, who married Mr. Pratt; William, deceased; several children who died young. Charles and Rose (Kaltenthaler) Pratt had children: Charles, deceased; Jacob, deceased : William, a farmer, resides at Willistown, Chester county, Pennsylvania; Ed- ward W., whose name heads this sketch; Anna L., unmarried, lives at Bryn Mawr, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania.
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