USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume III > Part 49
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Rufus C. Hoopes, son of the above mentioned, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania. 1842, and died July 7, 1910. In his youth he was occupied as a journeyman carpenter, and after his marriage lived for a time in Orange, New Jersey, and then in Wilmington, Delaware, as a carpenter and builder. He removed to Fernwood, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, about 1871, and was in the employ of the Allison car shops for a period of two years. He was then engaged as a contractor and builder in Delaware county until 1890, when he purchased the old Bartram coal and lumber yard in Fernwood. Later he added the sale of feed, and continued this business until his death. He conducted his business along very successful lines, so that he was, in the course of time, enabled to invest considerable sums in the purchase of real estate in the various boroughs and in Upper Darby township. In 1874 he built a fine house in Fern- wood, which he occupied upon its completion. This was one of the first houses built in Fernwood, and was considered a model of its kind. Mr. Hoopes was Republican in his political views, and served for a time as township supervisor. His fraternal affiliations were with the Masonic fraternity. He married Eliza- beth B. Lowden, who was born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 1855. They had children: Anna Mary, who died at the age of eight years ; J. Willard, resides in East Lansdowne, where he is engaged in the real estate and insurance business ; Lena C., unmarried, lives on the homestead with her brother, Fred- erick Cyrus : Edwin, twin of Lena C., died in infancy ; Frederick Cyrus.
Frederick Cyrus Hoopes, son of Rufus C. and Elizabeth B. (Lowden) Hoopes, was born in Fernwood, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1875. He attended the public schools of Fernwood, and for a time the school at the corner of Nineteenth and Barker streets, Philadelphia, after which he worked under the supervision of his father, in the same business as the latter.
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until he was eighteen years of age. He then went to the city of New York, where he was employed as manager by the firm of Olin & Lowden for a period of fourteen years. Returning to his old home in 1906, he assumed the position of manager in the business which had been established by his father, and has been giving this his attention down to the present time. In addition to this he has had to assume the responsible duties of executor of the estate left by his father. He gives his staunch and consistent support to the Republican party, but has never desired to hold public office, deeming that he was laboring for the best interests of the community by increasing its material prosperity in the shape of adding to its business importance. He is a member of Fernwood Lodge, No. 543. Free and Accepted Masons; University Chapter, of Philadel- phia ; Senior Order of American Mechanics; Delaware County Automobile Club.
Mr. Hoopes married. April 17, 1900, Margaret, born in New York, a daughter of Henry Ott, of that city. They have one child : Charles Frederick, born August 7, 1905.
MIRKIL Originally of German descent, the Mirkils have been residents of Pennsylvania for several generations, but Thomas H. Mirkil was the first in direct line to settle in Chester, his residence in that town covering a period of nearly seventy years. He is one of the three men now living, who were directors of the Union League of Chester during the civil war period, the other two being David M. Johnson and Edward Barton, both now living in Chester. During this period of seventy years, Mr. Mirkil has witnessed the great development of Chester's manufacturing industries and business enterprises ; has seen its boundaries enlarged and population doubled and trebled and in some of these movements has had a part.
He has witnessed the great change wrought by the civil war, in which he did a soldier's duty, saw the shackles drop from off four million bondsmen, and has lived to see a strong united country rise from the ashes of discord and sectionalism. He has also witnessed the passing of his business home for thirty-four years, the United States mint in Philadelphia, from its old home on Chestnut street to its present location. The thousands of radical changes and improvement effected in every department of human life and effort during Mr. Mirkil's years, eighty-five, have not left him behind, but he has grown and kept pace with the times, bearing well his part wherever placed, and now in his old age is alert, active and eager to welcome the further advancement and develop- ment of his native city and state.
Thomas H. Mirkil is a son of John Mirkil, born in Philadelphia, 1808, died there 1886. He was a Democrat in politics until 1861 and for many years department superintendent of the county prison. He became a Republican when slavery became an issue, ever afterward affiliating with that party. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a member of the Ma- sonic order. He married Sarah Sifeheldt, born in Philadelphia in 1803, died in 1843, also of German descent. Children: 1. John, born 1825, lived in Phila- delphia and there died in 1888; clerk for many years in the United States mint ; married Miss Firth, also deceased. 2. Thomas H., of further mention. 3. Amanda, born 1829. died of yellow fever during an epidemic in South Carolina, she there acting in her professional capacity as nurse. 4. Catherine, born in 1831, died 1909; married Mr. Finch, a real estate dealer of Hartford, Con- recticut. 5. Charles, died young.
Thomas H. Mirkil was born in Philadelphia, December 22, 1827. He attended the public schools until he was fourteen years of age, then became a
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waterman, following the call of heredity, his grandfather having been a sea- man, lost with his vessel, it is supposed in a gale off Cape Hatteras. From 1841 to 1851 Thomas H. Mirkil was employed on boats plying the Delaware and Chesapeake bays, in the meantime taking up his shore residence in Chester, which has been his home since 1844. From 1851 to 1861 he was engaged in general business activities and in the latter year began his long term of service in the gold smelting department of the United States mint at Philadelphia. Here he was continuously employed for thirty-four years, until 1895, when at the age of sixty-eight years he retired. During the war he enlisted in an inde- pendent emergency battery and was at Chambersburg and Gettysburg, Penn- sylvania, and Hagerstown, Maryland, during Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania. He is a Progressive in politics, and formerly attended the Methodist Episcopal, but now is a regular attendant of the Protestant Episcopal church in Chester. He is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to Chester Lodge, No. 236, Free and Accepted Masons ; Oriental Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Phila- delphia ; and Commandery, No. 2, Knights Templar, also of Philadelphia. He formerly was a member of Post No. 25, Grand Army of the Republic, of Chester.
Mr. Mirkil marrie-1, January 21, 1851, in Chester, Maria Hunsicker, born October 9. 1833. daughter of Henry Hunsicker, a foundryman from near Beth- lehem, Pennsylvania, and his wife, Mary (Saip) Hunsicker, whose children were: I. Mary, born 1821 : married William Borden. both deceased. 2. Caro- line, born 1823; married John Postle, whom she yet survives, a resident of Sigourney, Iowa. 3. Harriet, born 1825, deceased; married Frederick Borhek. 4. Helen, born 1827 ; married Levi Mercer, both deceased. 5. Leven, born 1829, died in Monroe, Louisiana, a city of which he was mayor for two terms; he married Mary Myers. 6. Henry, born 1831 ; an inventor ; both he and his wife Barbara are deceased. 7. Maria, wife of Thomas H. Mirkil. 8. Sarah, born 1835, died young. 9. Missouri, died young. 10. A son, died in infancy. Children of Thomas H. and Maria (Hunsicker) Mirkil: 1. Sarah, born De- cember 31, 1852, died October 15, 1912; married James M. Byer, the present secretary of the American Ice Company, of Philadelphia. 2. Thomas H., born August 15. 1858; now president of the Pole Engineering Company, of Balti- more, Maryland : he married Susan Hayes, of California. 3 John, born Febru- ary 25, 1860: now a leading real estate dealer of Chester. 4. Emma, born February 22, 1862 ; married Samuel Lyons, a lawyer and real estate agent of Chester. 5. Isaiah, born October 5. 1865 ; a lawyer of Philadelphia and attorney for the Girard estate: he married Mary Shaffer. The family home of Mr. Mirkil is at 418 East Thirteenth street. Chester, where he is enjoying a con- tented old age, secure in the regard of his friends. and after a well spent life turns with confidence to the future.
An Englishman by birth, an American by adoption, William T.
GALEY Galey after passing through several business experiences that de- veloped his business character has raised himself to a secure posi- tion as one of the leading merchants of Chester. He inherited a wise business sagacity from his grandfather. Thomas W. Galey. born in London, England, in 1828, and a wealthy, now retired, business man of Norwich, England.
Thomas L. Galey, son of Thomas W. Galey, was born in London, Eng- land, in 1855, now living in West Philadelphia. He came to the United States in 1892, settling in Philadelphia where he has since been engaged in general business. He married Jessie J. Jeans. born in London. Both are members of the Protestant Episcopal church. Children : William T., of whom further ;
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Daisy, Charles and Walter, all died young in London; Henry, died young in Philadelphia ; Helen and John, residing with their parents.
William T. Galey, son of Thomas L. and Jessie J. (Jeans) Galey, was born in London, England, May 4, 1883. He attended the London schools until nine years of age, then joined his parents in Philadelphia, they having come over a few months earlier. The vessel upon which he sailed landed him in New York, but he made his way without difficulty to Philadelphia, where he attended school until 1897. At age of fourteen years he entered the em- ploy of J. B. Shannon, the Chestnut street hardware merchant, with whom he remained seven years, rising to better positions each year. In 1904 he ac- cepted a position with the hardware firm, William P. Walters Sons, of Phila- delphia, but in 1908 returned to "Shannon's" for six months. He had become well known in the retail hardware trade and when N. H. Benjamin, of Phoenixville, needed a manager, he sought out Mr. Galey and offered him the position of assistant manager, which offer was accepted. He remained in Phoenixville nine months, when he found that the Harper Hardware Com- pany's business in Chester could be bought. He at once investigated and with his years of retail experience to guide him, decided that it was his opportunity. The sale was consummated in 1909, and the results have justified Mr. Galey's judgment. He has been very successful; has built up a large prosperous business and ranks as one of Chester's leading merchants, with years of youth still before him, before even he reaches the prime of life. Verily the old grandfather in England and the old father in Philadelphia transmitted to this young man a rich heritage of energy, ambition and business intelligence. But while heredity must be credited with its just due, Mr. Galey must also be credited with his rapid rise in sixteen years from office boy to a well established profitable business at age of thirty. He filled every position well, constantly strove for better results from his work, gained the commendation of his em- ployers and now is the prosperous employer instead of the employee as many of his fellow clerks yet remain. To account for his success it can only be said that he seized every opportunity, and where there were no opportunities. he created them.
Mr. Galey takes a deep interest in civic affairs of Chester ; is president of the board of trade : member of the Third Street Business Men's Association ; has served as secretary and is a member of the Civic Government Committee. He is a Republican in politics, and while a resident of Philadelphia was com- mitteeman of the thirty-fourth ward. He is member of the Penn Catholic Church; Lodge No. 488, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and the Artisans Order of Mutual Protection. His clubs are the Alpha Boat and Penn, both of Chester. He is unmarried.
SANDERSON As a poet, historian and educator, Christian Carmack San- derson has gained an enviable reputation in Delaware county, although a native of Montgomery county, where his parental ancestor first settled.
Robert Sanderson, the pioneer ancestor of this branch, was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, in August, 1835, son of George Sanderson, a noted sea captain who married Ann Young, daughter of Robert and Rose (Semp- rel) Young, the Young family being one of the oldest Scotch-Irish families in Northern Ireland. Robert Sanderson came to this country when young, settling in Philadelphia. He became a master painter, employing many men and executing many large important contracts. He raised a company in Philadelphia at his own expense which was attached to the Twenty-sixth Regi-
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ment, l'ennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He went to the front with his com- pany, of which he was first lientenant, serving with great bravery until killed at the battle of Chancellorsville in May, 1863. He was an ardent Whig and anti-slavery man, joining with the Republican party when the old party passed out of existence. He married, in 1856, Elizabeth McClellan, born May 28, 1840, now living at Oaks, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where she (in 1913) celebrated her seventy-third birthday; she is a member of the Presby- terian church, her husband having also been a communicant of that faith. Elizabeth (McClellan) Sanderson was the daughter of Thomas and Ann (McMullin ) Mcclellan, the latter named being a daughter of Major James McMullin, of the Tenth Fusileers ; he served with distinction in the battle of Waterloo. They were also representatives of noted Scotch-Irish families. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson: Robert Melville, of whom further ; William James, born December 11, 1858, a noted inventor of small tools for mechanical purposes, now president of the Sanderson Tool Company of Bir- mingham, Alabama.
Robert Melville Sanderson, eldest son of Robert and Elizabeth (McClel- lan ) Sanderson, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 3. 1857, died April 26, 1898. He entered Girard College when a boy whence he was graduated at the age of eighteen years. The remainder of his life was spent in Phoenixville and Montclare, Pennsylvania, becoming superintendent of the Phoenixville Steel Plant in 1896. He married, June 17, 1880, Hannah Rebecca Carmack, born July 10, 1856, at Port Providence, Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania, daughter of Christian Smith and Sarah Ann (Kram) Carmack. Christian Smith Carmack was the son of Jacob and Ann Rebecca ( Winnell) Carmack. He was born in Maryland, 1830, and when a few years old went by team with his parents to their new home in Ohio. He was a direct descendant of old King Carmac, of Ireland, and also of the Carmac who built Blarney Castle. Christian Smith Carmack was the superintendent of the puddling work of the Phoenixville Iron Works. He was a veteran of two wars; he enlisted in Company B, Sixteenth Regiment United States Army, for service in the Mexican war, and was at Vera Cruz, Cerro Cordo and the City of Mexico, entering that city after its capture with the victorious American army, under General Scott. When the war between the states broke out he enlisted in Com- pany E. Eighty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was elected its captain and fought at Second Bull Run, Chantilly. South Mountain and Antietam, receiving a severe wound that ended his military career. He died at Port Providence, April 7, 1899. His wife, Sarah Ann ( Kram) Carmack, born in Upper Providence township. Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, May 3. 1832, daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Buckwalter) Kram, bore him the fol- lowing named children : Hannah Rebecca, married Robert Melville Sanderson ; Samuel W., born January 1. 1859, died in infancy ; George W., born May I. 1864, married Susan M. Reed: Mary Emma, born March 4, 1866, died in in- fancy : Geneva Gertrude, born November 5. 1868, married, July 8, 1892, Clar- ence A. Rowland ; Christian Clifford, horn July 2, 1871, married, July 11, 1895. Eliza Fornev : Charles Thompson, born December 26, 1873, died Sep- tember 8, 1800. Children of Robert M. and Hannah R. (Carmack ) Sander- son : Christian Carmack, of whom further : Robert Melville, born September 12, 1884, married, September 18, 1909, Laura Elizabeth Hewitt.
Christian Carmack Sanderson, son of Robert Melville and Hannah R. (Car- mack ) Sanderson, was born at Port Providence. Montgomery county, Pennsyl- vania, January 7. 1882. He was educated in the public schools of Port Provi- dence and Montclare, finishing at West Chester normal school, whence he was
THE YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
Dorps Q. Connell.
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graduated in June, 1901, with a teacher's qualifications. He began teach- ing at Garwood, Upper Providence township, Montgomery county, going thence to the Port Providence school. He has also taught the Locust Grove, Pocop- ton and Dilworth town schools in Chester county and the Chadds Ford school in Delaware county. For one summer he had editorial charge of the "Phoenix- ville Republican." He is the author of many magazine articles on historical sub- jects, and has also published several poems that have attracted public atten- tion and obtained a wide circulation, among which are: "The Battlefield of Brandywine :" "A School Master's Trip Thru New England ;" "In The Land of The Story of Kennett:" "Amid The Haunts of Thomas Buchanan Read;" "A Yankee's Trip Thru Dixie:" "Last Year's Recollections;" "Back East On The Brandywine ;" "Amid The Trees of Birmingham."
Mr. Sanderson and his mother reside in the old historic house at Chadds Ford that was occupied by General Washington as headquarters during the battle of the Brandywine. Mrs. Sanderson and her son are members of the Episcopal church. Mr. Sanderson is a past master of Birmingham Lodge. Patrons of Husbandry, and a member of the Chester County Historical Society. In memory of his grandfather, Christian Smith Carmack, a veteran of two wars, he has been elected to membership in the Veteran Volunteer Association of the Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania Regiment.
CONNELL Josepli R. Connell, a progressive West Philadelphian, is a representative scion of a family that has since the last century was in its teens done things, big things, for the good of the city, state and nation. Bred to great activity and responsibility, versed in the study of human nature, actively participating in extensive enterprises, the suc- cess of Mr. Connell is conceded in the business world to be due to the rare sagacity and original methods he has displayed. Public-spirited motives have always characterized his affairs. As an instance of this there stands at Oak- mont, a beautiful suburb of Philadelphia, the massive high school of Haverford township, Delaware county. When the people of that vicinity were perplexed as to ways and means to acquire a suitable site for a building for the education of their children, Mr. Connell settled the question by donating two acres of valuable ground and a portion of the money toward the construction of this magnificent building, which to-day is the pride of the entire county. All of his enterprises have been eminently successful, and many of his companies have made profits of over one hundred per cent. within a year after their formation, The increase in realty values in some of his enterprises have reached the two million dollar mark within two years, and others have forged alread more rapidly.
Heredity had much to do with Mr. Connell's success. He comes from colonial stock, being a lineal descendant of Isaac Pennock, an officer in the army of William. Prince of Orange, who settled in Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1685, and upon the paternal side the first of his forebears in this coun- try was the son of an Episcopal clergyman, George Connell, who settled at Marcus Hook, Delaware county, and at his own expense fitted out a flect to patrol the Delaware river during the revolutionary war. In the next generation came John Connell, merchant prince, man of affairs, scholar, traveler, philan- thropist and servant of the people. He it was who presided at the first great meeting held in Philadelphia to raise funds to carry on the war of 1812. The Connell homestead in those days stood at the corner of Broad and Chestnut streets, and there John Connell entertained Lafayette on his memorable visit to the United States. There, too. Webster. Clay, Gallatin and President John
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Quincy Adams were his frequent guests. It was in his arms that John Quincy Adams, in the speaker's room of the national capitol, breathed his last. George Connell, the grandsire, a constructive statesman, was elected to the senate in 1860. Cameron, Curtin, Connell, was a trio that rendered heroic service to the state and nation at a time that "tried men's souls." Colonel Alexander Mc- Clure, the veteran editor and historian, than whom no other man had more intimate and comprehensive knowledge of the state's history, referred to Sena- ton Connell "as the brainiest man in the brainiest senate of Pennsylvania." In truth, the activity of this man during the twelve years of his incumbency was prodigious. His influence as a dealer was incalculable and his accomplishment, both for the state and for the nation, was a matter of signal good fortune. Mark his sagacity at a critical time of great excitement, when as chairman of the finance committee, a position he held until the time of his death, his bill to place the state of Pennsylvania on a financial war footing was introduced by him a full month before Fort Sumter was fired upon. This bill, while defeated, was passed by the same body within thirty days after the above unhappy event, at an extra session of the legislature upon the urgent recommendation of Gov- ernor Curtin. His also was the bill for a stay law to save innocent debtors from sacrifice. Among the many other measures introduced and advocated by him, which would in themselves establish his far-seeing statesmanship, were the repeal of the state tax upon real estate and imposing in lieu thereof a tax upon banks and gross receipts of railroad companies; an act for the payment of the interest of state debts in national currency in place of coin, and, the redemption of the odious tax upon our state loans. Verily to interpret the signs of the times is the prerogative of statesmanship. Among many of the great things accomplished by Senator Connell in the interest of Philadelphia was the extension of Fairmount Park from a little parcel of ground of about three acres to over three thousand acres, in which Philadelphians pride them- selves to-day. As a part of this magnificent plan, there grew out of his fertile brain the Fairmount Park commission, which has since administered the affairs of this great holding of the city. It was largely due to his influence that some- thing like adequate compensation was secured to the judges of the courts of Philadelphia. Realizing that the office should be one of dignity and premanency. he made earnest efforts to have a similar bill enacted in favor of the judges of the supreme court. The handling of the city trusts and the reforming of the management of Girard College were "footprints" which he left "upon the sands of time." His heroic battle which resulted in the taking of Girard College out of politics, placed that great institution upon the basis where it stands to-day, the greatest of its kind in the world.
The father of Joseph R. Connell is Horatio P. Connell, one of Philadel- phia's most esteemed citizens, who, through the persuasion of his friends, took up the work of his distinguished sire. Possessing the quiet demeanor of "Wil- liam, the Silent," the loyalty of a MacGregor. a will iron, a deep sense of knightly honor and an indefatigable purpose, he easily and naturally took his place as a leader among men. During his four terms in the assembly, he was one of the most popular and influential members, where honorable success char- acterized his legislative career. Subsequently. as sheriff of Philadelphia, he established moral business standards in that office which were quickly recog- nized and most gratefully appreciated by the members of the legal profession, and at the expiration of his term of office he was highly eulogized by the news- paper press of the city. His heart is as tender as that of a child and the acts of charity and benevolence that have rained from his hand have endeared him to countless numbers. He is a life member of St. Albans Lodge, Free and
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