USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume III > Part 45
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TURNER The ancestors of Ellwood J. Turner on both the paternal and maternal sides were early settlers of the state of Delaware, the Smiths also pioneers of western Pennsylvania at Pittsburgh, where his great-grandfather operated the first regular ferry across the Ohio river. Miss Sellers, who married a Smith was also of an early Pittsburgh family, her father and brothers losing their lives at the hands of the Indians. The Turners were residents of Dover, Delaware, but later moved to Pittsburgh, where George Turner, grandfather of Elwood J. Turner, died.
George Turner, born in Dover, Delaware, died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, aged fifty-four years. He was a well educated man and for a time taught school, later became a contracting builder, erecting many buildings in Delaware, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, including the famous old hostelry,
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Congress Hall, long the pride of Cape May, New Jersey. He came from a noted Methodist family, three of his brothers being members of that church. He was an active layman of that denomination, a Whig in politics, later a Re- publican and a strong supporter of the cause of temperance. He was a member of the Home Guards, organized during the civil war for state defense. He mar- ried a Miss Smith, of Dover, Delaware, and for several years lived in Phila- delphia, where all their children were born. Children: 1. Joseph, died in Phila- delphia, a young man. 2. Anna, died in Philadelphia ; married George Hack- man, now residing in that city, has a daughter Annie. 3. George, a soldier of the civil war, met his death in the army by drowning and is buried in Mount Moriah cemetery. 4. Mary Emma, married a Mr. Talbot, both deceased, leav- ing a son, Howard B., now a resident of Darby, Pennsylvania. 5. Katrina, married W. A. Macan (or McCann), now superintendent of the Ehret Man- ganese Covering Company, residing at Ridley Park, Pennsylvania ; children : Dolly Rose, William A., Mary. 6. Benjamin Franklin, a druggist of Philadel- phia, died unmarried. 7. Frederick Fairthorne, of whom further. 8. Alice Gray, resides in Philadelphia, a private secretary.
Frederick Fairthorne Turner, youngest son of George Turner, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1861, now a resident of West Hinkley avenue, Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia, Friends' School in Wilmington, Delaware, and the West Pitts- burgh schools. He is now in the manufacturing of manganese coverings and is officially connected with the Manganese Covering Company, and is also secre- tary of the Ridley Park Realty Company. Mr. Turner is a Republican in poli- tics ; an attendant of the Presbyterian church ; member of the Ridley Park Civic Association ; the Business Science Club of Philadelphia ; the Barnstormers of Ridley Park and of the Ridley Park Fire Company.
He married, in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, north side), Virginia, daughter of George and Grace (Huron) Short, both deceased. Chil- dren: I. Irene May, born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, in 1882; married Frank Verner Lindsay, of Pittsburgh, and resides near Whittier, California. 2. Ellwood J., see forward.
Ellwood J. Turner, only son of Frederick Fairthorne and Virginia (Short ) Turner, was born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, August 9, 1886. In 1888 his parents moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania, later to Wilkes-Barre, where for eight years he attended Hilton's Private Academy. From there the family moved to Chester, Pennsylvania, where Ellwood J. attended the high school from whence he was graduated, class of 1904. In the fall of that year he entered Swarthmore College, continuing one year. He then spent three years in the law school of the University of Pennsylvania, receiving his degree of LL. B. with the class of 1908. In the university he was class president each year, there being but one other instance of a student having been similarly honored. He was a member of the varsity football team, the Mask and Whig and of the James Wilson Law Club. He was admitted to the bar, March 8, 1909, practiced in Philadelphia until November, 1912, when he moved to Ches- ter, opening offices in the Cambridge building, and is already well established as a capable and successful practitioner. He is secretary and treasurer of the Delaware County Business Men's Association; secretary of the Ridley Park Civic Association ; president of the Ridley Park Realty Company ; president of the A. H. Downing & Company Real Estate and Insurance Company ; mem- ber of the Sons of the Revolution ; the Business Science Club of Philadelphia ; the Ridley Park Fire Company ; the Plays and Players Club of Philadelphia ; the Barnstormers Club of Ridley Park : the Springhaven Country Club of Wall-
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ingford; Chester Board of Trade; the Delaware County Bar Association and a communicant of Ridley Park Presbyterian Church; also a member of the Usher's Association of that church, which he has served as vice-president and president.
Mr. Turner married, in Moylan, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1911, Eliza- beth Addis Downing, born in Philadelphia, daughter of Frank Taggart Down- ing, deceased. Child, Elizabeth Addis, born in Ridley Park, in 1912.
SMITH This branch of the Smith family was founded in the United States by Lloyd Jones Smith, born in Wales, who after coming to the United States settled in Philadelphia, where he practiced law until his death. He married and left issue.
Cyrus Talbot Smith, son of Lloyd Jones Smith, was born after the coming of his parents to the United States, but spent his early life in Jefferson, Ohio, where he was educated, became a lawyer and there died at age of thirty years. He married Charlotte Jones, born in Front street, Philadelphia, a daughter of Robert Jones and his wife a Miss Clark. Children: Lloyd, died at age of twenty-one years; Henry D., deceased; Uselma, married Fannie Micheson ; Cyrus T., of further mention. The mother of these children died in Philadel- phia-both she and her husband were members of the Episcopal Church, he a vestryman.
Cyrus Talbot (2) Smith, son of Cyrus Talbot (1) and Charlotte (Jones) Smith, was born in the state of Arkansas, September 22, 1837. His early life was spent in Jefferson, Ohio, where he was educated in the public schools. He engaged in the drug business in Ohio for several years, then came to Philadel- phia, where he was engaged in the real estate business. He was a Republican in politics and held the position of inspector of wharves. He served in the civil war and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In religious faith a Methodist. He married, in Sodus, New York, December 5, 1867, Margaret A. Pulver, born in Plymouth, Ohio, daughter of John Pulver, deceased, born in the District of Columbia, and his wife, Mary (Goetschus) Pulver, deceased, born in New York state; children : Laura, Harriet and Margaret A. Children of Cyrus and Margaret A. (Pulver) Smith: Lloyd, married Anetta Reyes ; Clark C. T., married Gertrude Sherry ; Charlotte, married Neville Hunsbrager. Mrs. Smith survives her husband and resides at Alden, Delaware county, Penn- sylvania.
STERNER Dr. John Henry Sterner in his professional service has been prompted by a laudable ambition for advancement as well as by deep sympathy and humanitarian principles that urge him to put forth his best efforts in the alleviation of pain and suffering. He has gained recognition from the profession as one of its able representatives and the trust reposed in him by the public is best indicated by the liberal patronage awarded him. Dr. Sterner has been engaged in the active practice of his pro- fession at Norwood, Pennsylvania, since September 4, 1912.
Dr. Sterner was born December 25, 1888, and he is a son of Dr. Lewis H. and Amy (Tailor) Sterner, the latter of whom died in 1889. The paternal grandparents of the subject of this review were John and Sarah (Hilderbrant) Sterner, both of whom were descended from a sterling German ancestry. John Sterner was a farmer by occupation and he spent the major portion of his active career in York county, Pennsylvania, where he was a man of mark in all the relations of life. He and his wife were devout Lutherans in their religious
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faith, and they became the parents of four children, one of whom, Dr. Lewis H. Sterner, is still living.
Dr. Lewis H. Sterner was born on the old homestead farm in York county, Pennsylvania. He received his preliminary educational training in the district schools of his native place, and as a young man decided upon the medical pro- fession as his life work. In 1886 he entered the Hahnemann Medical College, at Philadelphia, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1889, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He had previously attended the Millersville State Normal School for a number of terms. He initiated the active practice of his profession at Porters, in York county, Pennsylvania, and there has been most successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery during the long intervening years to the present time, in 1913. He is a Demo- crat in his political convictions, and in religious faith is a devout Lutheran. Dr. Sterner married (first) Amy Tailor, who bore him one son, Dr. John Henry, of this notice. She was a daughter of Henry Tailor, of English extraction, a farmer in York county, where he died in 1907. Mrs. Sterner died in 1889, and in 1893 Dr. Sterner married (second) Virginia Bowman. One daughter was born to the second union, namely: Mary, whose nativity occurred in 1894.
To the public schools of Hanover, Pennsylvania, Dr. John Henry Sterner is indebted for his preliminary educational training, which was later supple- mented with a course of study in the Collegiate Institute, in which he was graduated in 1906. He obtained his medical discipline in his father's old alma mater, the Hahnemann Medical College, in Philadelphia, in which he was gra luated in 1910, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. For one year fol- lowing his graduation he was an interne in the Hahnemann Hospital and for a year following that was resident physician in that institution. Thereafter he was associated in practice with his father for a short time, at the end of which, September 4, 1912, he came to Norwood. in Delaware county, where he resides at the present time. Here he is gradually building up a splendid practice. The successful doctor requires something more than mere technical training-he must be a man of broad human sympathy and genial kindliness, capable of inspiring hope and faith in the heart of his patient. Such a man is Dr. Sterner.
April 21, 1911, Dr. Sterner married Abbie A. Jackson, who was born De- cember 1. 1890, and who is a daughter of James and Sarah ( Hillard) Jackson. Dr. and Mrs. Sterner have no children. He is a member of the Lutheran church and she is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church. In fra- ternal circles Dr. Sterner is a member of Hanover Lodge, No. 348, Free and Accepted Masons. In politics he is a Democrat and he is serving on the Nor- wood Board of Health.
STRAIN Among those of foreign birth who have become well known in business circles in Ardmore, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, is George Strain, now living retired from business cares. His suc- cess in all his undertakings has been so marked that it must be of interest to others. He has based his business principles and actions upon strict adherence to the rules which govern industry, economy and unswerving integrity. His enterprise and progressive spirit have made him a typical American in every sense of the word, and he well deserves mention in a volume treating of the business life and substantial development of Ardmore. What he is to-day he has made himself, for he began in the business world with nothing but his own energy and willing hands to aid him. By constant exertion, associated with good judgment, he has raised himself to the position he now holds, having the friendship of many and the respect of all who know him.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILD N FOUNDATIONS.
John Armstrong
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His grandfather, Charles Strain, lived and died in county Donegal, Ireland, where he and his family were members of the Roman Catholic church. He married Sarah Hagerty. Children: Mary, died in Ireland; Annie, married
Herold, lives in Ireland; Sarah, died in Ireland; Catherine, married -- McManegal, lives in Ireland; Hannah, died in Ireland; Rose, died un- married in New York; Bridget, married Slavin, lives in Ireland ; John, see forward; Charles, Hugh and William, died in Ireland.
John Strain, son of Charles and Sarah (Hagerty ) Strain, was born in county Donegal, Ireland, 1829, and died in 1913. He was an excellent farmer, owning his own farm, and lived a quiet, retired life. He married Rose, born in county Donegal. Ireland, daughter of George and Catherine (Evans) McGrannaghan, whose other children were: James, died in Pennsylvania; George, died in Ireland; Catherine and Margaret, died in Pennsylvania ; Letitia, who is a sister in St. Joseph's Convent, Utica, New York; Hannah, died in Pennsylvania ; Mary, married Charles McMonigal, and is living in Philadelphia. John and Rose (McGrannaghan) Strain had children: Charles, died in Ardmore, Penn- sylvania : George, see forward; Hugh, lives in Germantown, Pennsylvania; James, an iron worker in a wagon factory, lives in West Philadelphia ; John, lives in Ireland; Francis, a chauffeur in Philadelphia ; Sarah, married Francis Sciferd, now deceased. resides in Ardmore; Mary, is unmarried, and lives in Ireland.
George Strain, son of John and Rose (McGrannaghan) Strain, was born in county Donegal, Ireland, September 15, 1859. He acquired his education in the national schools of his native country, leaving them at the age of thirteen years, when he commenced to be an active assistant to his father on the home farm. In his twentieth year he emigrated to America, having come to the con- clusion that there were better opportunities for advancement to a young man of energy and ambition. Results have proved the wisdom of this course of action. Arriving in Philadelphia alone, he commenced working as a gardener at Ger- mantown, and followed that occupation for a period of eighteen years. By this time he had amassed a considerable capital, and determined to establish himself in the dairy business, with which he was connected for twenty years, retiring in the spring of 1913. He built a home for himself and family in 1910, directly on the county line in Ardmore, Haverford township, Delaware county, Penn- sylvania. His political affiliations are with the Democratic party, while his religious adherence is given to St. Denis' Catholic Church. He is a member of the T. B. A. Society of the Catholic church, and of the Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Strain married at Villanova, Pennsylvania, Rev. Father Joseph Locke officiating, April 26, 1887, Catherine, born in Ardmore, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Patrick and Margaret (McGillighan) Gallagher ; the former died October 10, 1894, at the age of sixty-nine years, the latter died March 31, 1900, at the age of eighty years. Mr. and Mrs. Strain have had children : John, born May 9, 1888; Margaret, August 8, 1889, mar- ried James Burlington and resides in Bryn Mawr; George Jr., September 12, 1890, died January 22, 1905; Frances, August 31, 1892 ; Mary, September 15, 1894; Patrick Leo, March 18, 1899. Mr. Strain is a broad-minded man, of strong character, kindly disposition and is esteemed by all. He is ever ready to lend his influence and support to any cause operating for the good of society.
ARMSTRONG John Armstrong Jr., son of John Armstrong Sr., was born in the North of Ireland, February 16, 1844. He was brought to this country by his parents in 1847, and resided in Avondale until twelve years of age. He received his education in the public
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schools of Ridley township, and he remembered with kindliest feelings his first teacher, Harry Donaldson, who gave him the best of instruction and advice. He began life as a wage earner in the woolen factory of Simeon Lord, continu- ing with him until his enlistment as a soldier during the civil war, and after the cessation of hostilities he settled in Rose Valley, Delaware county, Pennsyl- vania, where he entered the employ of Antrum Osborn in the capacity of boss carder in his woolen mill, and he was in his service continuously for a period of twenty years, until the total destruction of the mills by fire. He had previ- ously purchased property in Darby, Pennsylvania, whither he removed after the fire, locating in one of his own houses there, remaining to the present time. He secured a position in the United States custom house in Philadelphia under Thomas Cooper, remaining in government employ twenty-one years, resigning in June, 1912, leaving behind him a record for efficiency and faithfulness in the performance of duty. He has always been a staunch adherent of Republican principles, been active in public affairs, serving as a member of the borough council, but resigning before the completion of his second term, and was assessor and collector of the borough for twelve years, his tenure of office being noted for conscientious service. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian. Dur- ing his many years of active labor, Mr. Armstrong has been faithful to every trust reposed in him, whether public or private, and is held in high regard by those who have the honor of his acquaintance. He manifested his loyalty and patriotism by offering his service in behalf of his country during the trying time of the civil war, enlisting in Company I, One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Regiment Infantry, serving until honorably discharged in 1864. Mr. Arm- strong keeps in touch with his fellow soldiers by membership in Bradbury Post, Grand Army of the Republic. Upon his discharge from the government service he returned to his home and resumed his usual vocation.
Mr. Armstrong married Annie Creighton, born in Ridley township, Dela- ware county, Pennsylvania, in 1844, died in December, 1884, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Ewing) Creighton, the former named born in Ireland. Chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong: I. William E., serving as foreman in the factory of Harrison's Chemical Company; married Jennie Whipp. 2. Lillian M., teacher of Domestic Science. 3. Ernest, lost his life in a fire in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1901. 4. Annie E., deceased. 5. Thomas J., serving as sales manager and secretary of Harrison's Chemical Company, of Philadelphia ; married Gertrude Chaundy ; resides in Colwyn, Pennsylvania. 6. Jennie, married Rev. Henry W. Miller, a minister of the Presbyterian church, pastor of a church in Baltimore, Maryland. 7. Albert H., serving as chief of bureau of anthracite coal statistics, Philadelphia ; married Mabel Haslam.
ARMSTRONG Thomas Armstrong, a highly respected and prominent resi- dent of Wallingford, is a native of Delaware county, Penn- sylvania, born May 8, 1848, son of John Armstrong, who was a native of the North of Ireland, from whence he emigrated to this country in 1847, locating in the state of Pennsylvania.
Thomas Armstrong obtained his education in the schools of Delaware county. At the age of sixteen he enlisted from Delaware county, Pennsylvania, September 3. 1864, in Company B, Two Hundred and Third Regiment Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned to the Tenth Corps, Army of the Potomac, participating in the following engagements: Chapins Farm, Sep- tember 28, 1864; New Market Road, September 30, 1864; Darby Town Road, October 27, 1864; Fort Fisher, December 24-25, 1864, and January 13-15, 1865; Wilmington, North Carolina, February 18, 1865. He joined General Sherman's
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army at Goldsboro and marched through the Carolinas to Raleigh, where Gen- eral Johnson surrendered, April 8, 1865. Other members of the Armstrong family also offered their services and served faithfully, thus making a credit- abie record of military service in the civil war, namely: William Armstrong, served in Company F, Fifteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry ; Oliver Crom- well Armstrong, served in Company C, First Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves ; John Armstrong, served in Company I, One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. After the war was over Thomas Arm- strong was appointed to a position in the United States mint at Philadelphia. He married Anne Elizabeth Hollingsworth, born March 19, 1848, at the old homestead, "The Views," on the Rose Valley road, Wallingford, Pennsylvania, where she still resides. She attended the public school at Wallingford and Rev. J. W. Dale's Private School at Media, Pennsylvania. The following mem- bers of the Hollingsworth family also served in the civil war, namely: Joel Hollingsworth, in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and John Ham Hollingsworth, who enlisted April 19, 1861, in Company F, the first company from Delaware county to respond to the call for troops.
Anna H. Armstrong, daughter of Thomas and Anne Elizabeth (Hollings- worth) Armstrong, was born in Wallingford, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, August 15, 1887. She is a graduate of Wallingford high school, class of 1903; Swarthmore high school, class of 1905, and of Swarthmore College, class of 1909, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. During the summers of 1911 and 1912 she was a student of the University of Pennsylvania Summer School. After her graduation Miss Armstrong was appointed a teacher in the Walling- ford high school, a position she most capably and satisfactorily fills. Perhaps no county in Pennsylvania can show so many educational institutions of a public and private nature as can Delaware county, grading from kindergarten 10 college. This abundance of opportunity has resulted in a high percentage of highly qualified graduates who have gone out from these institutions to grace the school rooms of the county and impart to others the results of their own years of special preparation, and among these is Miss Armstrong. She is a member of the Somerville Society of Swarthmore College, and interested in the different phases of woman's work. In religious faith she is a Presbyterian.
CULVER In taking up the personal history of Delos Culver, deceased, late of New York City, and whose widow is now the postmistress of Addingham, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, we have before us the life record of one who has long been prominently and honorably connected with important business interests, and who, by the faithful discharge of all the duties of public and private life, and by his support of all measures for the pub- lic good, became a valued citizen of the community.
Delos Culver was born in England, August 29, 1835, and died May 19, 1905. He was about six years of age when his parents emigrated to the United States, so that in almost everything except the actual fact of birth, he was an American, and he always had the welfare of his adopted country deeply at heart. He was educated in the public schools of New York City, where his parents had made their home, and studied the profession of civil engineering. Soon after receiving his degree as civil engineer, he opened offices for the practice of his profession in New York City, and was engaged in general work of this kind for many years. The reputation he established for himself resulted in his receiv- ing important contracts, and these necessitated his making trips to all parts of the United States, although he always considered New York City as his head-
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quarters. He was a devout member of the Episcopal church, and was liberal in his support of this institution.
Mr. Culver married, 1879, Anna Collop and they had children: 1. Edward D., is a mill worker and resides in Addingham. 2. Marie, is a clerk in the post office and lives with her mother. 3. Delosa, is in the employ of the Kershaw Textile Mills. 4. Delos, is an assistant at the Academy of Natural Science, in Philadelphia, and bids fair to become a great scientist. Mrs. Culver and her children adhere to the Roman Catholic religion which was that of her ancestors.
Mrs. Anna (Collop) Culver was born in France, a daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Roller) Collop, and at the age of six years was brought to this country by her parents, who made their home in the city of New York. He died in 1873, while his wife died in 1906. Mr. Collop was a chemist by profession, and served his adopted country bravely during the Mexican war. Mrs. Culver was the only child of her parents. She is a woman of great mentality and of ex- ceptional executive ability and business tact. In August, 1897, she took up her residence at Addingham, Upper Darby township, Delaware county, Pennsyl- vania, and, April 2, 1904, she was appointed postmistress of Addingham, an office she has filled very capably since that time. She has purchased the Burn- ley estate on Darby creek and resides at that place with her family.
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